In Thee

In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed:
deliver me in thy righteousness.
Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily:
be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.
For thou art my rock and my fortress;
therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.
Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me:
for thou art my strength.
Into thine hand I commit my spirit:
thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.
Psalm 31:1-5

Words like these are so true and so tender, revealing the heart of God for us. He is our Rock. He is our Fortress. He is our Defense. And yet, how inadequate are these words to convey the totality of God’s love for us. This psalm of David’s reveals David’s heart for God as well as God’s heart for His people. David speaks to God of his troubles, but he does not forget that God is his source of strength and safety. It is a praise, a prayer, a song of joy.

These things should be our daily reminders also.

God – Let me remember your guidance. I pray that I may be always trustful of You. You do hear my prayer. You do lead me into the place of safety. You are a place of refuge for me. I need to lean on You more often. I need to lean on You more completely. I need to make You my strength, and reject the strengths that I see in the world around me. The lure of the secular world leads me away from You, but still You are ready at any moment to give me guidance. If only I accept it.

My commitment to You is greater than yesterday, but I still do not rest in trust. Like a baby rests and sleeps in loving arms, so should I rest in Your strength and guidance. That is a true commitment of the spirit. I long for closeness with You, greater closeness every day. As I reach up my hand to You, I know that Your hand will be extended back to me in guidance. Thank you for Your redemption, Your deliverance and Your guidance.

Sign of Rain

He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good,
and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Matthew 5:45

Wouldn’t it be convenient if God was good only to the Good and the righteous person? Wouldn’t it be great if only the good person’s business prospered or if only the righteous person’s wealth increased? How simple it would be, to tell if someone was really good, really righteous. Just look at farmer Jones, he must be unrighteous, his garden didn’t get any rain last night, but farmer Smith’s garden has been gently watered all night! And the new store in town must be owned by a righteous man, because his sales are increasing. But the owner of the old store must be doing something evil, because no one buys from him anymore. Well, now we know who God approves of and who He does not!

And each of us would know the minute we did something wrong or walked away from God. We could go out every morning and see and feel the sunshine of God’s approval, or know that God had placed a cloud overhead. And how simple it would be to convince a person to accept Christ and become a believer: look, you want to prosper, to do well in life? Just become one of God’s children, and He will remove all your problems and give you ease and wealth. How convenient, how easy it would be for us!

But how hard-hearted this would make us. No need to love farmer Jones, he’s obviously an evil man. No need to make a choice to behave with consistency to all people; just ignore the unrighteous. And for ourselves, no need to search our own heart, no need to examine our own lives. Just look for that cloud to see if you are doing God’s will or not. And if the choice to become a Christian was based on material prosperity, would we value the sacrifice of Christ? How would we feel about a Savior who died so we could prosper in business?

God gives rain to all and He makes the truth of His Word available to all men. This shows the goodness of God. But it also means that we must make the choice to love others, even when others are failures, even when others reject God’s truth. It means we are in charge of our own daily walk. God doesn’t treat us like trained animals, who do tricks for a reward. We choose to be the children of God because He loves us. We choose to believe His promises because they were bought with a great price, and the result is a reward we will not see until the return of Christ.

A Fountain of Life

The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
to depart from the snares of death. Proverbs 14:27

God’s Word is renewed like a fountain. It provides an unending flow of pure life-giving water. God’s blessings are renewed continuously, like a fountain. When we fear (reverence) God, we remember this, and we put our reliance on God and His promises. And God does promise to send us help. He promises a powerful help, one that will save us from death and give us life that flows without end.

Only through the belief in the statements God makes can a human being be given eternal life. There simply is no other way. No other “god” or belief system holds out the possibility of eternal life to everyone. And no other “god” or belief system proposes that a reward after death can be obtained without great effort or sacrifice. God gives us this promise because He is good, because He is a good Father. Good fathers want to be with all their beloved children. Being in the presence of a good father is never so difficult that many children will fail to achieve it. A child might reject the father’s presence, but children are immature, and do not always know what is the greatest blessing.

We forget that our source of life is God, and that He alone can provide a full abundant life. A full and abundant life starts not with us, but with Him.

Citizenship

And be not conformed to this world… Romans 12:2

We are not citizens of this world. We have become God’s people, with citizenship in a new place. And yet, our bodies, our fleshly beings, are still present in the world. Our bodies are full of worldly needs, but our spirit and our inner being longs for God. No wonder we have conflict in the world. Our own nature wars against itself. Our mind tells us that we must live our lives by the rules of this world if we are to survive and to thrive. But God tells us that we do not belong here.

When we try to fit in to this world, we find the fit is very uncomfortable. The discomfort comes because when we try to conform to the world, we deny our own true nature; we deny that our citizenship is with God. Comfort comes when we act like what we are – God’s people. This doesn’t mean that we ignore the world or pretend that we have no interaction with it. We’re here – we’re just visiting.

Acting like one of God’s citizens is a lifelong learning process. It takes us years to learn about being a citizen of America, why should we expect to be instant citizens for God? To become a knowledgeable citizen of this country we study its history, laws and customs so we can act with understanding; in other words, we read the manual, and then put it into practice. Becoming God’s citizen is no different; read the manual, God’s written Word, and then put it into practice.

Prepare for the Blessing

Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours,

even empty vessels; borrow not a few. II Kings 4:3

This woman was in need. She was in need to the point of desperation. She had no way to pay the debts left by her husband when he died. The creditors were coming to take her two sons to be servants to pay off the debt. So she appealed to the prophet Elisha. Her only resource was a small amount of oil in a pot. From this seed, Elisha found a blessing for her to pay all the debts and still have money left over.

But first, a place had to be prepared for the oil. Elisha told her to borrow all the pots and vessels she could from her neighbors. This act of believing was in direct proportion to the size of the blessing her received.

And Cornelius waited for them,

and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. Acts 10:24

Cornelius also prepared to receive a blessing. He sent his servants to invite Peter to come and preach in his household. Before Peter arrived, Cornelius was so confident of receiving a blessing that he invited his kinsmen and friends to share it. What if Peter had refused to come? What if the servants were unable to find him? But Cornelius was full of belief in the surety of the blessing, and he also made a large preparation to receive.

…prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts,

if I will not open you the windows of heaven,

and pour you out a blessing,

that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Malachi 3:10

If you ask a blessing of God, prepare to receive it. Make a place for it. Both Cornelius and the widow woman took three crucial steps in obtaining a blessing. Each first asked. The widow asked Elisha and Cornelius asked Peter. Then each prepared the place for the blessing. Finally, they each acted to reach out for the blessing and take hold of it.

I Form the Light

I form the light, and create darkness:
I make peace, and create evil:
I the LORD do all these things. Isaiah 45:7

How can God, who is good, create darkness and evil? And we know that God is good; His goodness does not stop, but continues without change or end. His Word proclaims that …the goodness of God endureth continually… Psalm 52:1

The light that God creates is not just physical light. His Word, which is truth in spiritual matters, is light. Think of a room in late afternoon, when the light of the sun begins to dim. At first, your eyes adjust to the dimness, and you continue as when the light was brighter. But when you turn on the first lamp, shadows are created in the corners. The difference between light and dark becomes distinct. The far corner is no darker than it was before the light was turned on, but it appears darker because of the contrast with the light.

So does God’s Word reveal the untruth of the world around us. God does not create evil any more that you created darkness when you turned the light on. It is simply that His light reveals the darkness and makes it distinct from the light. We often become used to the uncaring world. We begin to expect the worst from people, and shrug off evil as something we must get used to. But like turning on a light in a dim room, the light of God’s Word reveals the evil around us, and makes us realize that it is evil. God also gives us a way out of evil; He promises us His goodness.

Our Help

I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2

The pagan altars were located on the hills. The Psalmist looked up and saw that he was surrounded by the worship of idols. But he knew that God does not dwell on the hills. God is not worshipped on the hills, and so our help does not come from there. Instead our help comes from God.

The Goodness and the Willingness of God

Why callest thou me good?
there is none good but one, that is, God: Matthew 19:17

No one is as good as Jesus, and Jesus said that only God is truly good. But we all know what goodness is. We know what it is to be good to our own children. If any of us has a child that is cold or sick or wounded, we will try to help. We will not deny a child food if we have it, or allow a child to feel lonely if we can provide comfort. The goodness of God will always exceed the goodness of a person.

When my father and my mother forsake me,
then the LORD will take me up. Psalm 27:10

As parents, we know that our willingness to provide for our children is always there. We are willing to give to our children. If a child has a real need, and not just a desire, we do not make them wait. And we do not condition our comfort on the goodness of our children. If a child is sick, we do not wait to provide comfort because the child was disobedient earlier. Can God be less good than this?

God is always willing to heal, always willing to comfort, always willing to hear our prayer. It is we who are unable to receive from God. Our own unbelief in the goodness and the willingness of God prevents us from receiving from Him. Even our disobedience does not prevent God from be willing to bless us, it only prevents us from being able to receive. Did you wait for Salvation? Did you have to work to become a better person before God would grant it to you? Just as Salvation is immediately available to all who believe and is not dependant on our goodness, God’s blessings are immediately available. He never wants His children to be sick or hungry or brokenhearted. Open your hearts to receive the blessings of God.

Youthful Authority

An elder must not be a new Christian,
because he might be proud of being chosen so soon,
and the Devil will use that pride to make him fall.
Before they are appointed as deacons,
they should be given other responsibilities in the church
as a test of their character and ability.
If they do well, then they may serve as deacons. I Timothy 3:6, 10

When I was eleven, I thought I was a real hot-shot horsewoman. At the stable where I rode, I was given extra free time riding as a helper in large groups. I groomed and saddled horses, and then helped their riders, many of them adults, to mount. I showed them how to hold the reins, and adjusted the stirrups for them. During the ride, if anyone had trouble with their horse, I would switch and ride the problem horse. By the time I was thirteen, I was riding horses no one else dared to try. I started riding privately owned horses to retrain them for owners (usually adults) who did not have either the time or skill for the horse.

But I began to realize that skillful riding involved more than managing a problem horse. I didn’t have the least idea how to take a horse smoothly over a course of jumps or perform complex maneuvers with a minimum of effort. All my efforts in managing horses involved strength, determination and the ability to calm the animal. After riding for more than ten years, I finally began to learn some of the true skills of horsemanship. My lessons included jumping, cross-country and ringwork. I learned how to show and win in different classes. And yet, although I’m a good rider, I’m not really outstanding. I’m certainly not as good as I thought I was when I was eleven.

When I was young, I didn’t know how much I still had not learned. I simply thought that I knew a great deal. Once I learned more about horsemanship, I realized that there was so much to know, and I had only begun. What seemed great knowledge was really the knowledge of a beginner. For every field this is true. A little knowledge at the beginning seems great wisdom. If the beginner is given responsibility without guidance from a more knowledgeable expert, the beginner becomes prideful, thinking that their quick rise to authority is proof of their superior abilities.

A person wishing to be a leader of God’s people, whether a pastor, teacher or mentor, is subject to this kind of pride when he is elevated too quickly. He becomes quite sure of his own words of wisdom, and knows that he perceives deep truths that others see only dimly. Unchecked, this attitude leads to arrogance and a rejection of experienced teachers. This kind of youthful pride is not limited to those young in years. Any new or inexperienced Christian may fall into this error.

A new Christian is often bold and eager to serve God more completely. This worthy aim must be nurtured by knowledge of the Word, in study and in practice. Everyone who wishes to serve God should be given the opportunity to do so. They should be mentored into greater responsibility and into acting through the love of God for the good of the Body of Christ.

The Sand for a Bound of the Sea

Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not: Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it? But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain…
Jeremiah 5:21-24

Fire in the Valley 2007

Photos from Fire in the Valley are available here. This annual event will be taking place on August 15-19 this year. For the schedule and directions, look here.

Why Do the Wicked Prosper?

The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Psalm 1:4-6

The first Psalm contrasts the ways of the Godly and the ungodly. But there seems to be an inconsistency here. The Psalm says that the wicked are not like the Godly, but they will be like chaff in the wind. But we see the ungodly every day, and they seem to prosper. They have positions of power and honor, acquire great wealth, and are praised by others. Why is this so?

There is more than one kind of prosperity. Prosperity can be in spiritual matters or it can be in worldly matters. The ungodly often prosper in worldly ways, but never in spiritual matters. But those who strive to follow God’s ways will grow in spiritual prosperity. And God promises that our needs in this world will be met.

So why does this verse declare that the wicked will be as chaff? When do we get to see them blow away like chaff in the wind? Verse 5 says that the wicked will not stand in the Day of Judgment. They will not be among the righteous. The ungodly may prosper in the ways of the world, but that prosperity is a small and tarnished prosperity compared to the spiritual prosperity of God’s people, and the prosperity of the wicked is only for a short time. On the Day of Judgment they will be gone, but we will enter into everlasting life.

Integrity

Where does your integrity lie? What are you loyal to, and which allegiance do you choose above another? In an ideal world, this would be an easy choice. Being honest and having integrity should not result in a conflict. So how should you choose, when loyalty to two friends pulls you in two directions? What do you do, when the demands of a job cost you time with your family? And when you have two obligations, but can only fulfill one, can you retain your integrity?

“This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” Daniel 3:4-6

Now there’s a choice! Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were government officials, dedicated to serving the King. Their integrity obligated them to obey all of the King’s commands. But they had another loyalty – one to God. So these three young men had only two choices: obey the King or obey God. No matter which they decide, they will be disloyal to one authority.

There really are only two choices in life: obey God, or obey the way of the world. Don’t choose between two friends: make the Godly choice. Don’t try to satisfy the needs of a job and the family: make the Godly choice. Whatever your obligations, choose God first. Your choices may never be as obviously dangerous as the one faced by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, but God can still bless you and protect you when you make the right one.

Blind Eyes

And he said, Go, and tell this people,
Hear ye indeed, but understand not;
and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
Make the heart of this people fat,
and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes;
lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears,
and understand with their heart,
and convert, and be healed. Is 6:9-10

This was part of Isaiah’s charge from God – that Isaiah should go to the people (the Israelites) and speak to them for God. God acknowledges that the people will be slow of understanding, but Isaiah is to go and speak anyway. God knows that many people will never hear and understand and believe His Word, but Isaiah went and spoke it anyway.

People have not changed very much. This verse is quoted by Jesus and by Paul to illustrate the people who hear and see God’s Word, but do not understand or believe it. Because they have not believed, they are robbed of the blessings and the healings that God wants to give. People even now are the same. Many hear the Word, see miracles before their eyes, but they are blind and deaf to the Truth. Many never understand and believe the salvation and power available from God.

And those of us who have believed in Jesus’ resurrection, who have accepted him as Lord, still have our blind moments. There is power and peace and forgiveness from God, just waiting for us to claim. But our blindness to portions of God’s grace and bounty keeps us from obtaining this power and peace and forgiveness. God is able to open our understanding, if we simply go to Him and ask for His insight when we study His Word. He will open our eyes and ears to His Truth.

Perspective

Occasionally I pass on a message from another Christian.

This one is from our sister-in-Christ, Helle K.

A man whose family was German aristocracy prior to World War Two owned a number of large industries and estates. When asked how many German people were true Nazis, the answer he gave can guide our attitude toward fanaticism.

"Very few people were true Nazis" he said, "but many enjoyed the return of German pride, and many more were too busy to care I was one of those who just thought the Nazis were a bunch of fools. So, the majority just sat back and let it all happen. Then, before we knew it, they owned us, and we had lost control, and the end of the world had come. My family lost everything. I ended up in a concentration camp and the Allies destroyed my factories."

We are told again and again by "experts" and "talking heads" that Islam is the religion of peace, and that the vast majority of Muslims just want to live in peace. Although this unqualified assertion may be true, it is entirely irrelevant. It is meaningless fluff, meant to make us feel “better”, and meant to somehow diminish the specter of fanatics rampaging across the Globe in the name of Islam.

The fact is that the fanatics rule Islam at this moment in history. It is the fanatics who march. It is the fanatics who wage any one of 50 shooting wars worldwide. It is the fanatics who systematically slaughter Christian or tribal groups throughout Africa and are gradually taking over the entire continent in an Islamic wave. It is the fanatics who bomb, behead, murder, or honor kill. It is the fanatics who take over mosque after mosque. It is the fanatics who zealously spread the stoning and hanging of rape victims and homosexuals.

The hard quantifiable fact is that the "peaceful majority" the "silent majority" is cowed and extraneous. Communist Russia comprised Russians who just wanted to live in peace, yet the Russian Communists were responsible for the murder of about 20 million people. The peaceful majority were irrelevant. China's huge population was peaceful as well, but Chinese Communists managed to kill a staggering 70 million people. The average Japanese individual prior to World War II was not a warmongering sadist; tet, Japan murdered and slaughtered its way across South East Asia in an orgy of killing that included the systematic murder of 12 million Chinese civilians; most killed by sword, shovel and bayonet. And, who can forget Rwanda, which collapsed into butchery. Could it not be said that the majority of Rwandans were "peace loving"?

History lessons are often incredibly simple and blunt, yet for all our powers of reason we often miss the most basic and uncomplicated of points: Peace-loving Muslims have been made irrelevant by their silence. Peace-loving Muslims will become our enemy if they don't speak up, because like my friend from Germany, they will awake one day and find that the fanatics own them, and the end of their world will have begun. Peace-loving Germans, Japanese, Chinese, Russians, Rwandans, Serbs, Afghans, Iraqis, Palestinians, Somalis, Nigerians, Algerians, and many others have died because the peaceful majority did not speak up until it was too late. As for us who watch it all unfold; we must pay attention to the only group that counts; the fanatics who threaten our way of life. Lastly, at the risk of offending, anyone who doubts that the issue is serious can contribute to the passiveness that allows the problems to expand.

Better Tools

Study to shew thyself approved unto God,
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth. II Timothy 2:15

My Grandmother often reminded me and my cousins that “A good workman never blames his tools”. This saying was used to stop complaints and encourage us to be more diligent. After all, if your work is not your best, you should not blame your tools or materials. It took me a long time to see the hidden assumptions and flaws in this statement.

A good workman becomes a good workman by practice and by training. He first learns from someone with more experience, then he perfects his craft by practice. A good workman doesn’t hurry to finish because the quality will suffer. A good workman knows what is the best tool and the best material for the job. A good workman cares for his tools. He keeps them in good condition and protects them from damage. Finally, as the good workman gains skill, he acquires new tools, higher quality tools, and learns to use them skillfully.

So a good workman doesn’t blame his tools. And not just because he works diligently, but because he has the best tools, and he keeps his skill with constant practice. God wants us to be workman also, but our tool is His Word. His instruction to us is to learn it, to gain skill in using it, and to care for our knowledge. As good workmen, we must perfect our practice of the Word by making it a part of our daily lives. As we achieve a level of knowledge or skill, we should aspire to learn more, and become more skillful in a new area of the Word. And God in His part will reveal more of the word and provide us with higher quality tools to accomplish His will.

Take out the Trash

So don't worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will bring its own worries.
Today's trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:34

Every afternoon, when I’m done at work, I finish my last task and put it away, rinse out my coffee cup and turn off the computer. And I also clean up my office. I put every pen, ruler, elastic, paper clip and memo pad in the drawer. Every book goes back on the shelf, every file in the cabinet. I throw away / put away every letter, note, bent staple and scrap of paper. I pick up the airplane that didn’t make the wastebasket. The chairs go back into place and the keyboard and mouse placed straight. Before I turn out the light, I take tomorrow’s work and put it in the middle of the clean desk, with the most important items on top.

Our spiritual lives should follow this model. We should deal with the tasks and problems of the day with all our effort and with an ear to God’s leading. But when the day is over; when the task is complete; when the trial is at an end; and we have done all we know how to do, put away those tasks and trials. Put the problem on the shelf. Discard the unfruitful effort. Save the tasks brought to completion, but close the door on them. Finally, clear away the trash and prepare for the next day, the next trial.

And then rest in the presence of God, knowing that you have done your best to follow His guidance. When tomorrow comes, turn your attention to the next task or trial without the debris of yesterday. You will see what is important in your life because the weeds have been pulled out. Prepare your heart and mind with the peace of God to be victorious throughout tomorrow.

…let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely,
and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.
Hebrews 12:1-2

Guardian Angels

But angels are only servants.
They are spirits sent from God to care for those who will
receive salvation. Hebrews 1:14

Guardian angels. Yes, really, they do exist, although not called by that name. Angels are spirits, created by God, usually functioning as messengers. Angels have appeared to Abraham, Hagar, Jacob, Elijah, Mary and many others. This first chapter in the Book of Hebrews contrasts Jesus with the angels. God calls Jesus His son, but He calls upon the angels to worship His son. Angels are “messengers swift as the wind, and servants made of flaming fire”, but God “has anointed you [Jesus], pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else”. Jesus sits in honor at the right hand of God, but the angels are “spirits sent from God to care for those who will receive salvation”.

Was there a time in your life that you were without God? A time before you knew the Word of Salvation? Then you had an angel (at least one) to care for you until the time that you believed. You needed that care, because you did not yet believe. You could not yet rely on God, because you did not know Him. So God sent an angel to look after you until your day of Salvation.

I know that the power of God covered me before I became a Christian. I remember many times I came close to death, but was prevented from that one last misstep, and remained unharmed. Once I almost stepped out in front of a speeding car. I heard no noise, felt no wind or had any indication that a vehicle was approaching. One step more step would have taken me in front of the car, but I stopped without knowing why. The car sped past me, close enough to touch. Many other times I have been preserved, kept safe from drowning, falling through ice, off horses, slippery rocks, dark alleys.

God preserves His people. Unfortunately, we often work against God instead of with Him. We do foolish things, fill our lives with fear and unbelief, rely on our own strength. If we work against God, he will not override our free will. If we refuse the protection of God, He will allow the consequences of our actions. Those strong arms of God are always ready to hold us up, but we must make the choice to lean on them.

New Growth

The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree:
he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Psalm 92:12

Every spring, the trees of the forest reawaken, and growth begins again. The sap flows to bring nourishment, the leaves unfold to the sun, and then the branches grow longer. The longer branches provide more places for new leaves, more nourishment for the whole tree. New growth is obvious on evergreen trees. The new needles are a lighter green, the bark a lighter brown.

New growth is essential to the tree. If it does not grow, it dies. A tree grows better and faster if the conditions are right. Give the tree plenty of sun and water, good soil, and room to spread branches, and the tree will grow quickly. The new light green growth adds inches each spring to the tree. But the young tree that lives in the shade of older trees, and competes with them for a limited amount of sun and water, grows slowly. The new green growth is still there, but is much smaller. Sometimes young trees die, crowded out of the things they need to grow.

We have choices in how we grow. We can water our lives with the living water of the presence of God. We can choose to plant our spiritual roots deeply in the Word. We can turn our faces towards God’s light. Or we can choose to ignore the spiritual nourishment Gods provides us. We can live in darkness and in cold. Do you see new growth in your life? Are you reaching further each day? Do you grow closer to God and warm yourself in His presence? Your growth is determined by your choices.

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word,
that ye may grow thereby. I Peter 2:2

Sunsets

Sunsets – no two alike. Some are have deep red clouds, some silver. Some are quiet and misty; others streak across the sky in bands of color. The clouds might be large white and grey puffs, or they might be flat horizontal stripes. One evening the sun hides behind the clouds, the next it hangs glowing orange above the horizon.

Stand on the same hill and you’ll never see the same sunset. And sunsets change as you watch, so rapidly there’s no time to paint them or even run for a camera.

Think of all the sunsets seen from every hill, every ocean, every housetop; all different, changing, never duplicating. How beautiful is this one aspect of God’s creation. How much more glorious and dynamic must the Creator be! He must have infinite facets, endless capabilities. Only a small part of the power and variety of God is apparent to us. But we look forward to the moment when we shall see as God now sees us, when we will know as God knows us.

For now we see through a glass, darkly;
but then face to face: now I know in part;
but then shall I know even as also I am known. I Cor. 13:12

This is so much fun

…a still small voice. I Kings 19:12

The first time I rode a motorcycle was so much fun. Mark started me off down the road, to go to the next intersection, turn around, and come back. Half way down to the intersection, I’m all the way up to second gear, 15 MPH!!! This is so much fun!! And I thought, if 15 MPH is fun, I should remember that, even when I can go 75 MPH around corners. There’s no need to always look for the next biggest thrill. There’s a thrill right here at 15 MPH.

Travis is a klutzy horse. He’s old – about 25 years. And he hasn’t been ridden for a long time. But we went for a ride and just walked. He has new shoes, and is more comfortable on his feet. I’ve had fun on other horses, going over jumps, in shows, racing in a field past all the other horses. But Travis doesn’t do that. He’s a klutz.

But a walk on Travis is still fun. A motorcycle ride at 15 MPH is still fun. Which is better, a walk on Travis or sitting in front of TV? Which is better, 15 MPH on the bike or watching the mailbox rust? How many little pleasures in life do we miss because they are not big and exciting? How many times do we miss the leading of God because we are looking for something big and spectacular, but God speaks in quiet ways? God does not live up to our expectations; we must adjust our expectations to meet God. He does not give us thunder and fireworks upon demand; we must recognize the quiet power of God in the way He makes it available.

…And, behold, there came a voice unto him… I Kings 19:13

Words Fulfilled

"But if you abandon me and disobey the laws and commands I have given you, and if you go and worship other gods, then I will uproot the people of Israel from this land of mine that I have given them. I will reject this Temple that I have set apart to honor my name. I will make it a spectacle of contempt among the nations. And though this Temple is impressive now, it will become an appalling sight to all who pass by. They will ask, `Why has the Lord done such terrible things to his land and to his Temple?'And the answer will be, `Because his people abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and they worshiped other gods instead. That is why he brought all these disasters upon them.' "
II Chronicles 7:19-22

The Temple is now gone, destroyed by the Romans is 70 CE. The golden dome is the Moslem shrine called the Dome of the Rock.

To depart from God

“…the ark of God has been captured.” When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man and heavy. I Samuel 4:17-18

During my Sunday school years, I thought that Eli, the High Priest, was a kind and wise man of God. He took in Samuel as a young boy, and taught him about serving God. Eli gave Samuel a part of the service in the Temple and also showed Samuel that the words he heard were from God. Eli was respectful of the message Samuel brought from God. When the ark was captured by the Philistines, Eli’s heart was distressed – so heart-wrenching was this news, that Eli fell and died upon hearing it.

And yet, a deeper look reveals another side to Eli. When he first sees Hannah in prayer, his immediate reaction is “How long will you keep getting drunk?” [I Sam 1:14] And Eli’s two sons were well known to be corrupt and greedy. Although they served as priests, their wickedness was obvious. Eli allowed their wickedness to continue, and he allowed them to continue in service as priests. Because of this, God no longer spoke to Eli. The word of the Lord was rare. The consequence of Eli’s sin was that his family line would end. There would be no atonement, and so his family would be wiped out.

Eli was a man with good and evil qualities. He loved God and brought Samuel up to know God. But he did not restrain his own sons from evil, and was quick to condemn Hannah. Like all mankind, he failed to be perfect. But what Eli did not do was to turn back to God in repentance. Other examples of sinners are in God’s Word. King David, Jacob and Peter all had times of sin and separation from God, but all repented when they realized their sin. God has not changed in this regard – we still need to recognize our departure from God, repent of it (turn back to God), and obtain His forgiveness.

Turn Back

And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes. II Kings 22:11

King Josiah became king as a boy of eight years. He succeeded his father, Amon, and his grandfather Manasseh. They reigned for a total of 57 years, and both worshipped idols. But Josiah turned to God, and ordered that the Temple be cleaned and refurbished. In this clean-up, the book of the law was found, and read for the first time in decades.

Josiah was truly repentant when the book of the law was read to him. Although the lawbook had been lost for many years, Josiah recognized God’s Word in his ears. His reaction was to tear his clothes, a sign of distress or mourning. His reaction was mourning that he and all of Judah had departed so far from the will of God. But he did not stop at mourning and distress; he took steps to put himself into the right relationship with God. He turned back to God, and made a commitment to follow God’s commandments. As a result, the entire country was blessed and protected.

And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. II Kings 23:3

Repentance is a continual process. As our shortcomings are revealed to us, we should turn to God, and commit to follow God, in heart and soul, and to perform the will of God.

Fully Believe

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses … Hebrews 12:1

These witnesses are the people listed in the previous chapter, people like Abel, Enoch, Abraham and Sarah, Moses and Rahab. Witnesses give testimony, like witnesses in court. They say what has happened, and testify to the truth of events. But these witnesses are all dead, and their testimony is not in their words, but in their lives. Like a Last Will and Testament, their lives have been recorded in the Bible for us to read.

All these followers of God lived believing God’s promises, but they did not see the fullness of the propmise; they all died while still looking forward to the promise of the Messiah. And now we have that promise. Christ has made the sacrifice, and has risen from the dead. But even we have not seen the fullness of the promise, because Christ has not yet returned; and when he does it will be as King and as Lord. Upon his return we will see the dead arise and put on immortal perfect bodies.

So we are encouraged to be patient and joyful in our time on earth. We are still beset with troubles, but we have already seen more of the fulfilled promise than Moses or Joseph or David. Having seen the promises given to these witnesses come to pass, we should fully believe the promises God has given us.

The Acceptable Year

And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

Luke 4:17-21

Jesus read this passage from Isaiah and made this astounding statement in the synagogue at Nazareth. It was the custom to have seven readings from the Bible, one by a priest, one by a Levite and five by others present in the congregation. A person reading the scriptures would stand, and would sit when he began teaching. There are many instances recorded of Jesus teaching in the synagogue, but this is the only recorded instance of Jesus reading the scriptures. Nevertheless, we know that Jesus studied the scriptures, because he “found the place” where he wished to read. He knew the book of Isaiah so well that he found the right place without chapters, verse markings or punctuation. This event happened early in Jesus’ ministry, just after his baptism by John and his temptation in the wilderness. The statement is really an announcement of what Jesus would accomplish.

First, he says that he comes with authority; an anointing from God. He comes for the poor, the brokenhearted, the captives, the blind and the bruised. He brings the gospel, healing, deliverance, sight and liberty. He announces the Acceptable Year of the Lord, a reference to the year of Jubilee, when debts were forgiven and those in captivity would be released. And finally, he says that this prophecy is now accomplished. God has sent him to proclaim the Acceptable Year, and this is that proclamation.

When compared with the verses in Isaiah, we see that Jesus stopped in the middle of a sentence. That is because the next part of the prophecy is not yet accomplished. Those are all to happen in the future. What we have now are the accomplishments listed in Luke. Now that we have the good news (gospel) of Christ, we are no longer poor in spirit, but rich with what God has given us. We were brokenhearted (broken, crippled), but now are bandaged, bound up (in the newness of life). We have been delivered from the bondage of this world and given instead citizenship in God’s Kingdom. We now have the indwelling spirit to guide us into the light and out of spiritual darkness (blindness). And we have been set free of the weight of sin by the resurrection of Christ. We are indeed in an Acceptable Year.

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me;
because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek;
he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,

and the day of vengeance of our God...

Is 61:1-3

Wickedness

For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood,
but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world,
against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world,
and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12

It is sometimes hard to remember where our real fight is. We encounter so many situations where other people fail us, disappoint us, and even work against us. It is so easy to see them as the source of wickedness. But this wickedness, these evil purposes and desires, have a spiritual source. Jesus spoke of wickedness to describe the Pharisees when they asked questions so that they might trap and accuse him (Matt 22:15).

In the new Church of the Body, we have tools to deal with evil. We are told not to fight the devil, but that if we resist, he will flee (James 4:7). Knowing when and how to resist requires knowledge – knowledge of God’s Word. We are to be “wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matt 10:16). Most importantly, we have the armor God gave us, but we must make the choice to don and implement it.

The armor is of several parts: truth, righteousness, peace, faith (believing), salvation, the Word of God, prayer and vigilance. Of these, the first ones: truth, righteousness, peace, faith (believing) and salvation are for our defense. Our only offensive weapon is the Word of God. And it is by prayer and vigilance that we perceive our enemy and know the right time to use these tools.

Last Words

The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me,
He that ruleth over men must be just,
ruling in the fear of God…II Samuel 23:3

The last words that a person utters before death are often considered very significant. History records the last words of many famous men. Some words are inspiring or valiant, many more are simply trivial. These last words of King David are significant for two reasons. First, they are included in God’s Word, and therefore must be there for our learning. Secondly, David states that he is speaking with inspiration from God Himself.

David begins as he has lived his life, with the humble reminder that he is only the son of Jesse. His accomplishments are not that he was a great leader or general, not that he was King, but that God raised him up to a position with anointing. He looks back on the psalms he wrote in praise of God, not on his deeds as King. When he does talk about leadership, the first qualification is that the leader rule with the fear (respect) for God. Next, he warns his descendants that they must be faithful to God to retain the promised blessings.

David throughout his life encountered ungodly people, the sons of Belial. He describes them as thorns that cannot be pushed away with bare hands. The only way to overcome these influences is through iron (a symbol of strength) and a staff of a spear (the strength of lawful authority). This is not just the evil of ordinary people, but wickedness which is spiritual.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:12-13

I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From whence does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,

who made heaven and earth. Psa 121:1-2

Pagan worship sites were on the hilltops. The groves of Asherah were on the hilltops. Our strength does not come from the worship of pagan gods, but from God alone. He is our strength.

Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills,
and from the multitude of mountains:
truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel. Jeremiah 3:23

The King Rebuked

“I have sinned…” 2 Sa 12:13 and 1 Sa 15:24

The first two Kings of the united kingdoms of Israel and Judah, Saul and David, were both specifically chosen by God. Neither one became King because his father was king; neither one was chosen by the people, or ruled because he took over by his own strength. Saul was chosen first, and from humble beginnings became a skilled leader in war. At first, he was obedient to God, and checked for God’s approval before taking action.

Later, David was chosen, as “a man after God’s own heart”. David was wholeheartedly for God; and when he sinned, he was wholehearted in his repentance. When Nathan rebuked him, David’s reaction was, “I have sinned against the Lord”, and no more. He did not make excuses, or minimize his sin. Nathan replied that the Lord had put away David’s sin.

When the prophet Samuel rebuked Saul for disobedience, Saul appears to accept the correction. But his answer to correction is less repentant; he blames other people for his sin. “I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.” How easy it is for God to put away our sin. How hard it is for us to repent wholeheartedly.

Fire in the Valley Photos

Please look at the photo collection on Flickr taken at Fire in the Valley last summer. Click on one of the photos or the link at the bottom of the Flickr Badge. I'll be adding more photos over the next few days.

Blessings Renewed Each Day

While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest,
and cold and heat, and summer and winter,
and day and night shall not cease. Gen 8:22

Springtime and the growth season of summer are one way that God reminds us of His renewed promises and blessings. His promises are not for a single moment. One failure our part does not end God’s promises.

Pagans worshiped the cycle of the year and the harvest. They took a tiny bit of god’s Truth and built their own theology on it. Just as the rainbow is the symbol of God’s promise to never again bring a flood of complete destruction upon the earth, so are God’s blessings renewed with each morning light.

No matter what sorrows we have had in the day; no matter the failures and losses in each season. God promises a new day each morning, a new season and harvest to follow the old. God still has Blessings left to give us each a new one every day.

Two Ways

For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Gal 6:8

The Bible gives us two choices in life: God’s way, and every other way. It’s us to us which to choose. With each choice comes a consequence, or a result. The result of choosing the way of the world, also called “the flesh”, is corruption. The result of choosing God’s way, also called “sowing to the spirit” is life everlasting.

The choice referred to in this verse is an ongoing choice; we have already chosen to be Christians, but the daily choice to live a Godly life is renewed daily.

Marriage 101

And the LORD God said,
It is not good that the man should be alone;
I will make him an help meet for him. Genesis 2:18

God makes the statement that it is not good that man be alone. The first truth inherent in this statement is the need people have for companionship. We are all unhappy if we are without friends or family. Close relationships often spring up at work simply because we spend so much time there. We do not choose an employer because there are people there we want for friends; we choose an employer, and then become friends with the people we find there.

But there is a deeper truth here. Look at the companion God provides for Adam – a woman. He does not provide a friend similar to Adam, He provides a companion that is different from Adam. Friends are often chosen because of similarities: they are often the same gender, have the same interests, likes, hobbies, sports, background. A spouse is not chosen for a shared interest in football; they are attractive because of the differences; exciting because of their mystery. The relationship of husband and wife goes deeper than friendship; it becomes companionship.

The first, most basic trait of companionship is that of being present. A married couple should be together. They make contact: physical contact, verbal contact, emotional contact. They are there for each other. The most basic element in a marriage is that this is someone you want to be with, and they want to be with you. Herbert Stein wrote about marriage after his wife’s death, and described the need for companionship, the first most basic element, in marriage.

Commentary on 1 Samuel 2, part 4

And there came a man of God unto Eli,
and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord… I Samuel 2:27

The final character in this chapter is un-named, called just “a man of God”. His name and family are unknown to us, the whole rest of his life is unknown to us, but this moment is the highlight of his life for God. This man of God is obedient. God has given him a task, a message to deliver, and this man is obedient to God’s will.

And what a task he has been given; that a man so insignificant that we do not even know his name should go to the High Priest, the leader of the anointed Levites and the nations of Israel, to deliver the message that the High Priest has failed in his service to God. Eli is told that his sons have sinned and despised the office of priest and as a consequence they will die. And Eli himself has disobeyed God because he has honored his own sons above God and as a consequence his family will die out and another will be put in its place.

This man of God exhibits true obedience to God. He is the bearer of dire news to Eli, a powerful and apparently righteous man. He can expect no reward, no commendation, not even acknowledgment from anyone that he has done well. His delivers his message knowing that Eli may choose to ignore it, and continue to allow his sons to profane the office of priest. And when the message is delivered, what does he do? We don’t know; there is no record. Did he return home, maybe a journey of many days, to take up the routine of his life? Did he remember for the rest of his life that on this day he was obedient, when the man entrusted with the guidance of the entire nation was not?

Commentary on 1 Samuel 2, part 3

But Samuel ministered before the Lord,
being a child, girded with a linen ephod. 1 Sam 2:18

Samuel is still a child while Eli’s sons are grown. He was brought to the temple to be raised by Eli, when he was weaned. It may be that he was 2 or 2 years old, or maybe 6 or 7, old enough to be separated from his mother. Surely his mother Hannah taught him well, but still he was a child when he left her. Her trust in the Lord is again shown; how else could she have left her son with Eli, knowing the sins of his sons?

So Eli raises the child Samuel in his old age, long after he would normally have a child. Did the example of his own sons motivate Eli to teach Samuel God’s ways? Perhaps, but Eli still did not restrain his own sons, because while Samuel was growing, the news of the sins of Phineas and Hophni came to Eli, and was common knowledge country. Even as a child we have the choice to be obedient or willful. Samuel chose obedience to God.

Obedience is rewarded by God, no matter how small the matter may seem. The child Samuel “ministered before the Lord, and as a result, grew in favor with the Lord. Phineas and Hophni continued in their greed and lusts, and as a result, the family of Eli was removed from the service of God.

Commentary on 1 Samuel 2, part 2

Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial;
they knew not the Lord. 1 Sam 2:12

The next people in this chapter (see part 1) are Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phineas. Like their father, they were Levite priests, descendants of Aaron through Ithamar. Since the offices were assigned by family the position of High Priest came to Eli, and would pass to one of his sons when he died. Knowing this, Eli was responsible for training his sons to fulfill the highest and most powerful position in the country. At that time, Israel did not yet have a King, and did not have a Judge to lead them.

Instead of being satisfied with their powerful position, Hophni and Phineas used their position for personal greed by forcing people to give their sacrifices to the priests instead of seeing them go to God, and they led women who came to worship into sexual immorality. This is not the kind of behavior that can be kept quiet; it was known to the people. And what did Eli do? Not much.

When Hophni and Phineas were young, Eli should have instructed them better. He should have taught them love and respect for God. And now that they are grown, Eli does not restrain them as he should. Eli is still the High Priest and he has authority. But his correction to them is weak. He asks them “Why do ye such things?”, but their greed is obvious, and asking why is pointless. There is no justification for what they do. Eli tells his sons that he knows what they do is wrong, but it is all weak talk and no action. Is it any wonder that the sons ignore Eli?

Commentary on 1 Samuel 2, part I

…The Lord shall judge the ends of the earth;
and he shall give strength unto His king,
and exalt the horn of His anointed. 1Sam 2: 10

This chapter is loaded with some of the most interesting characters in the Bible. Eli is the High Priest, the leader of the Hebrew people. His sons, who should follow him in leadership, are corrupt. Hannah is a woman who dedicates her son, Samuel, to the service of God. And there is a “man of God” who comes with a message for Eli. The chapter begins with Hannah’s prayer, praise for God, and a prophecy for the future. She has just left her young child in the care of Eli, and she rejoices in the steadfastness of God.

She must have had very great trust in God. Not only was she leaving her only, longed for son behind. She was leaving her son in the care of Eli, whose two sons were notoriously corrupt, profaning the service before God. She must have trusted that God would oversee the care and education of her child.

Hannah was also a Prophetess. Her song is in the poetry format used by Prophets, and she foretells the final judgment of the earth and the coming of the King. This is the first time that Christ is referred to as the anointed of God, the Messiah.

I Don't Know

Be still and know that I am God. Ps 46:10

These are three of the hardest words to say in our society. From the moment a child begins to talk, a question requires an answer. The question may be simple, such as, “Do you want a drink of water?” But there is an answer. The question may be uncomfortable, such as, “Did you hit your sister?” But there is an answer. “I don’t know” is just not acceptable.

In school, the teacher expects the students to be prepared with answers. “I don’t know” means the student is not paying attention, or is lazy. Even a guess or a partial answer is more acceptable than “I don’t know”. And when the student grows up and goes to work, the employer expects knowledge of the job, and specific answers to problems. Only the lazy or incompetent worker is without an answer. Throughout our lives, there is pressure to have an answer.

And yet, there are times when even the best person doesn’t have a piece of knowledge. No one can know everything. But it’s still hard to admit we don’t know. So we guess or give a partial answer, everything but the truth. We say anything to avoid saying “I don’t know”. The half answer, the wild guess, the joke or evasion to change the subject, all become little lies. It’s hard to be honest.

The things of God are often turned upside down. We have to start with the admission that we don’t have the answers to life, that we don’t know how to go on without God. Maybe this is why some people never come to God – they can’t admit that they can’t figure it out; they can’t admit that they don’t have the answer. Even as mature Christians, we don’t know it all. I don’t understand every concept in the Bible. I don’t know everything God has done for me. I don’t know how things are going to work out.

That’s OK.

In fact, it’s a good beginning place. It puts me in the right place to listen from God. That way I can learn a little every day. I can hear a little better every day. I don’t need the answers; God has them. There’s a lot I don’t know, and that’s just fine with God.

The Source of Evil

Now the serpent was more subtil
than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made.
And he said unto the woman,
Yea, hath God said,
Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? Gen 3:1

Adam and Eve must have spent a long time in the Garden of Eden, but little is recorded of what they did. We are told that Adam’s job was to work in the Garden “to dress it and to keep it”. All they knew from God was goodness. So where did evil come from? Why is there evil today? Many people believe that we can achieve goodness and peace through education and without God, but will this work?

The first indication of evil or deception in the Bible is from the serpent, not from God. The serpent was more subtil than any other living thing. No wonder Adam and Eve were led away from God. But the evil did not originate with them or with God. There is another source.

The serpent’s deception started with a very simple question. Implicit in this question is the idea that God Himself might not be telling Eve everything. So when the serpent contradicts God’s Words, it seems plausible. Evil often seems very simple, very subtil. It often starts out not appearing to be wrong, just another idea to think about. But soon, evil questions what God has said. Evil soon makes God’s Words sound just a little off. Evil blurs the line between right and wrong, morally right and morally wrong, between good and evil. Soon it is easy to set aside God’s Words for us. This is why goodness without God is impossible. Without God, there is no standard, no way to know if you are pursuing good, or falsely led astray by evil.

Leadership Training

The following was suggested by a sermon given by Doug LaPlante of the Wilmington Baptit Church on April 22, 2007.

You therefore must endure hardship
as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
No one engaged in warfare entangles himself
with the affairs of this life,
that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
And also if anyone competes in athletics,
he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
The hardworking farmer
must be first to partake of the crops. II Timothy 2:4-7

The two letters to Timothy are written by Paul to instruct a younger man in leadership in the Church. People today who desire to be leaders can also learn from the instructions given to Timothy. Paul describes the standard of endurance and steadfastness that a leader must possess:

A Christian leader is like a soldier; he endures hardship, he puts his attention fully on the task at hand without entangling himself with civilian life, and he is in obedience to a single authority, who is God.

The leader is also like an athlete who competes. If he competes, then he knows the value of consistent training and practice. At the competition, he obeys the rules, so that the victory is honestly achieved.

And he is like a farmer, who plants seeds, tends the field, and waits until the proper time for the harvest. The leader must remember that the purpose of this work is to produce fruit.

It is not necessary for every Christian to be a leader, but it is often a desire that grows as the Christian matures. Anyone who desires greater growth may be instructed by God; His instructions are in His Word.

Consider what I say;
and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. II Timothy 2:7

Coffee at Mom's House

According as his divine power hath given unto us
all things that pertain unto life and godliness,
through the knowledge of him
that hath called us to glory and virtue. 2 Peter 1:3

Every week I have dinner with my Mother. After dinner I make coffee. The coffee pot is on the counter, right at hand. The grounds are in the refrigerator, the filter in the far right-hand cabinet. The measuring spoon is in the small drawer. Water from the sink. To get the cups, I open the far left cabinet; the saucers are in the middle one. Spoons are in the big drawer. Sugar is on the counter, no, it’s on the table. Mom’s sweetener should be on the shelf, but it’s tucked behind a jar on the counter. Two simple cups of coffee, and I’ve managed to open every door, cabinet and drawer in the kitchen. I’ve searched the counter and the table. Did I mention the coffee grounds were hidden behind the milk?

Getting coffee should be simple, but people tend to make things complicated. We tend to see uncertainty where there is clarity; we see many choices where there are only two. But God made things simple for us. He put all we need in one place. The Bible. Between two covers, on pages you can pick up with one hand, you will find all you need in this life.

But wait, there’s more! In this same place, you can find all you need for godliness. The same place. No searching, no looking in place after place. If you want something complicated, have a cup of coffee. When you’ve gotten it, sit down and try something simple. Open up those pages and read about life and godliness.

Direct My Path

Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
Take heed to the path of your feet,
then all your ways will be sure.
Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil. Prov 4:25-7

It's Not Fun to be a Horse

My heart is in anguish.
The terror of death overpowers me.
Fear and trembling overwhelm me.
I can't stop shaking.
Oh, how I wish I had wings like a dove;
then I would fly away and rest! Psalm 55:4-6

It’s not fun to be a horse. At least, not always. There are some times when it is great to be a horse. Travis the horse spends his summer day in the pasture, sun on his back, shady trees for the heat of the day. There’s a brook of cool water for a drink and sweet grass for a snack. And there’s this person who brings grain every morning, and provides a new pasture when the grass is all eaten.

But we’re in the middle of a big storm. It’s cold and rainy. The whole pasture is mud covered with sloppy snow. The wind blows cold rain up under his fur and icicles hang off his sides. So I put Travis in the barn and now he’s mad. He whinnies when I leave and looks longingly out the door. He doesn’t like the stall. It’s a nice stall, with a dry floor and out of the wind. But Travis remembers the summer pasture, green and warm, with lots of room and a sandy place to roll. He’d like to go out there and I won’t let him.

Travis forgets the storm. It’s just above freezing. The rain has soaked the snow and the mud underneath is ankle deep. There is no grass. The brook is frozen. Travis can look out the barn door and see all this. He’s still mad and wants me to let him out of the stall. But he’s in the stall for protection from the storm. It’s not as nice as a summer pasture, but it’s better than the storm. When the storm clears, I’ll let him out.

God protects us, too. He brings us into shelter, and we long for the summer grass, not seeing the storm that rages outside. We too, get mad, and complain about the shelter God provides. But we’re in the shelter for a reason. If we didn’t have shelter, we’d be in the storm.

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you,
whose thoughts are fixed on you! Is 26:3

Small Things

But truly God has listened;
he has attended to the voice of my prayer.
Blessed be God,
because he has not rejected my prayer
or removed his steadfast love from me! Ps 66:19-20

There is nothing too large for God, and nothing too small. He can make the sun stand still, or find a lost earring. So why is it that we ask God for help only when we are desperate? Why do we go to Him only as a last measure, when everything else (that is, ourselves) has failed? When we are sick, or a friend betrays us, we turn to God. When we have a financial need, or face the grief of death, our prayers go to God.

But what about the little things? What about that lost earring, what about the stubbed toe, the hurried day? God should hear from us at the small times as well as the large troubles. God should be before us and a part of our lives at every moment. No moment is too small or trivial for God to attend to.

When you see the morning light, your thought should be thankfulness to God for providing it. When your day is rushed, you should remind yourself of the peace of God. When you feel guilty for your thoughtless words, you should rely on the forgiveness of God. Go to Him continually. When you go to God for small things, you learn to rely on Him; you build the relationship with God that will be there when you really need Him. Learn to know God everyday, and He will be with you on all days.

…do not be anxious about anything,
but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God. Phil 4:6

Adopted

…but ye have received the Spirit of adoption,

whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Rom 8:15

Why are we adopted? We say that we are born again (I Pet 1:23), so why aren’t we the natural sons of God? Does this mean that we have received second-best? When a child is adopted, it is the parent who chooses the child, the child does not choose the parent. But we have chosen God through our belief in His Son. Instead, God is trying to tell us something about our sonship and about God as our Father.

Our culture sees the natural child as the best child, and the adopted child as second best. But the Bible was not written in our times or in our culture. Adoption was almost completely unknown in Hebrew culture. A Hebrew man could marry more than one wife, so usually had opportunity to have several sons to inherit. But in the Greek and Roman customs, a man might not have a legal son to inherit; so adoption became a legal means for a man to adopt a son who would inherit all that he owned.

Children in the Roman world were under the authority of their father. This law, called Patria Potestas, gave the father authority over his children. But there was one significant difference between a natural child and an adopted child. A natural child could be disowned or rejected. But once a son was adopted, the father could never reject him. So when Paul says that we are God’s adopted children, he is telling us that we a re permanently, completely God’s, and that God will never reject us. I glad that I’m adopted.

Who Is Jesus? Who Is Christ?

But Jesus held his peace.
And the high priest answered and said unto him,
I adjure thee by the living God,
that thou tell us whether thou be
the Christ, the Son of God. Matt 26:63

Is there a difference? Usually these names are used interchangeably, as if there is no difference between them. We know Jesus. He is our Savior, our Redeemer. We know that he is the Christ. So why does he have two names? People then usually had only one name, and if it was a common name, they might add “the son of John”, or “the one from Galilee”. But we aren’t confused about which Jesus we’re talking about, are we?

“Christ” is used only in the New Testament, and is a Greek word. “Messiah” is a Hebrew word, and is used in the Old Testament. It means “Anointed One”. It appears twice in the Gospel of John, but is a Hebrew word carried over into the Greek text. The Old Testament is full of prophecies about “the Messiah”. The Messiah is someone who would come to redeem the people of Israel, the promised King, but no one knew who or when he would come. Christ, or Messiah, is a title, like “King” or “President”.

“Jesus” is just a name. Through the centuries it has been spelled and pronounced differently, just as the modern name “John” is “Ivan” in Russian and “Jean” in French today. In the Old Testament, it was “Yesua” and “Joshua”, but still a name that any boy might be given.

Put the two together, and we have a man’s name: Jesus; and a title: Christ, Anointed One. During Jesus’ lifetime, he was not referred to as Christ Jesus. At most, he was called, “Jesus, who will be the Christ”. That is because he was not completely “the Christ” until his resurrection. Only then did he become the King. “Jesus Christ” is the man Jesus who would become the Christ. Christ Jesus is the risen Lord, the Anointed King.


But these are written,
that ye might believe that Jesus is
the Christ, the Son of God;
and that believing ye might have life
through his name. John 20:31

Test Them

Dear friends, do not believe everyone
who claims to speak by the Spirit.
You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God.
For there are many false prophets in the world. I John 4:1

This verse makes it clear that there is falseness, deception, in the world. That deception is of a spiritual nature. And the deception takes the form of someone who appears to speak in conformance with God’s will. We would not be deceived by something that is obviously evil. The evil hides behind an apparent good or truth, and so we are deceived.

So how should we learn to know the false from the truthful? God tells us to “…test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God”. God would not give us instructions and not give us the tools to obey, so we do have the means to test false spirits. Deception that is secular (fleshly) in nature can be perceived by secular (fleshly) means. But deception that is spiritual can only be perceived by spiritual means.

Many false prophets and teachers are in the world, and many people believe and follow them. Just because someone has followers does not make them Truthful.

These people belong to this world,
so they speak from the world's viewpoint,
and the world listens to them. 1 John 4:5

How do we know if a new teacher “passes the spiritual test”? The True Teacher or Pastor will preach Christ. And spirit knows spirit. The spirit of God within the Christian believer teaches us the truth if we ask of God.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world,
but the spirit which is of God;
that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. I Cor 2:12

Freedom Through Discipline

…a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea
that is driven and tossed by the wind.
People like that should not expect
to receive anything from the Lord.
They can't make up their minds.
They waver back and forth
in everything they do. James 1:6-8

Have you ever watched an ice skater perform, and thought how effortless it seemed? All the skater’s strength and determination is overshadowed by the beauty and freedom of the performance.

What does it take to achieve this beauty and freedom? The skater practices with discipline. She practices each portion of the routine; every jump and twirl. Even the practice session has a routine of warm-up, individual moves and then a series of moves. New techniques are tried again and again to perfect them. The performance routine is practiced with extra attention to weak areas. Finally the skater does the cool-down routine. This practice schedule is adhered to week after week, year after year. The beauty and freedom of the performance is the result of disciplined practice.

Our spiritual life should also be disciplined, one of diligent adherence to God’s precepts. Just as the beauty and freedom of the skater is the result of discipline, the successful walk with God will result only from the discipline of putting on the thoughts of God.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing
as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts
on what is true and honorable and right.
Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable.
Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Keep putting into practice all you learned from me
and heard from me and saw me doing,
and the God of peace will be with you. Phil. 4:8-9

Replacement Soldiers

You therefore must endure hardship
as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
No one engaged in warfare entangles himself
with the affairs of this life,
that he may please him who enlisted him
as a soldier. 2 Titus 2:4-5

This world is not always a comfortable place to be. That is because we are strangers here. We are not citizens. And we are not here permanently. But there is more to the discomfort we experience, because we also are not guests. We are instead soldiers in a spiritual war. And we are a special kind of soldier.

The spiritual war has been going on for a long time, since the very beginning as recounted in Genesis. So we aren’t the first to be called to fight; we are the latest in a long line. When a nation goes to war, the first soldiers are those who have been soldiers for a while. They are trained and ready. Their equipment has been tested. Their supplies are in place. If the battle continues, more soldiers are deployed. Eventually the well-trained and fully equipped soldiers are all fighting. What happens, if still more soldiers are needed? The reservists are called up, and the nation asks for more citizens to enlist. These replacements do not have time for the training given to the soldiers who were called first.

We are the replacements. We go into the fight and learn about the battle as we fight. But God has not sent us out unequipped. He has given us tools and strength and power to withstand the evil in the world. He has sent His spirit to give us guidance. We are fully equipped to stand firm in the spiritual battle.

Be strong with the Lord's mighty power.
Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm
against all strategies and tricks of the Devil.
For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood,
but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world,
against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world,
and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.
Use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil,
so that after the battle you will still be standing firm. Eph. 6:10-13