Don’t sit down in the dark—fight

The white wolf called winter has dealt Western Minnesota a hard blow. For example, since winter season set in, I don’t believe our schools have had a full week of school; late starts, early dismissal or they have cancelled the entire day.  All of this, the relentless pounding snow, wind and cold has caused some of us to sit down in the dark. We have become despondent.

As Christians, as human beings, we will struggle with depression or despondency. Psalm 19:7 says, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.” This is a clear call that the soul of a saint needs to be “revived”. If it needs to be revived, it also means the soul was “dead”. A familiar verse is Psalm 23:2-3 “He leads me beside quiet waters” “He restores my soul.”

The intent of this blog is not to point to our collective misery but we need to be encouraged that we are not alone in this. Rather than sit in the dark, we need to mount a personal and collective fight against spiritual depression. How do we fight?

Jesus is again our example. The God-Man Jesus was facing the reality of going to the cross, the devil tempting him not to do it. Thus Jesus was “troubled” (John 12:17: "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour.’ "No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.; John 13:21: After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.") But in the same gospel, Jesus tells us, his disciples, in John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.”
When we are tempted to give up or tempted to give in to despondency, it is not sin. We must fight. How did Jesus fight the devil’s temptation to give up on the purpose Jesus was sent to do? Jesus purpose was to redeem fallen man by going to the Cross of Calvary.

Matthew 26:36-39 says:  "Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

We can learn how to fight the temptation of despondency from Jesus. Note:

1. He chose some close friends to be with Him (v.37)
2. He opened His soul to them (v.38). He told them He was grieved to the point of death.
3. He asked for intercession and partnership in battle (v. 39) “Remain here & keep watch”
4. He poured out His heart to God the Father in prayer (v.39)
5. He rested His soul in the sovereign wisdom of God (v.39) “Yet not as I will, but as Thou will.”
6. He fixed His eyes on things beyond the cross (Hebrews 12:2 – “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

We must not dwell just in the present; we must look beyond our moment of despair like Christ did. The white wolf of winter may buffet our soul but we must not sit alone in the dark. We must fight the temptation to give in; Jesus shows us how. Let’s follow Him. That is why we call Him “Savior”; that is why we call Him “friend”.

Seeing the tears in each others eyes

We have a group of “old friends,” yes, they are “old” like us but we have known them since we were just married. We have moved away from each other yet we have maintained contact. Each winter we, as a group, have a winter outing. We go to plays concerts or just go out to eat and visit. We all look forward to it.

This year we received an email from one of the group suggesting a certain outing. It was a blanket email sent to the other five couples. People have responded by email.

I am not an anti-technology guy but we hear much about the increase in loneliness, depression, and isolation, yet at the same time we have the highest level of so called connectivity with one another. Phones, cell phones, letters (do they still exist?), Facebook, email, texting—have I missed any??

Just in our group of 60-ish geezers, we started with the phone (land phones—yes, we are that antiquated). In the past, in order to organize a proposed winter outing, five phone calls needed to be made initially. The proposed outing was discussed, plus much more. More joys, concerns, more laughter, more tears and sometimes pure jubilation. Yes, we talked about more than the outing. Our response to the email was “Yes, we are interested, count us in”; quick, efficient but cold.

In this age of “high connectivity,” we’re quick, efficient, and cold. We have less and less opportunities to look across the table and see the tears in our friends’ eyes; they can be tears of sadness or tears of joy. The result is this—we are the loser for it all. We have lost compassion for one another (it can’t really be this bad). We have become impatient with each other (I don’t have time for this). We have withered away losing true concern and love our brother and sister. In our increasing isolation and superficial relationships, we pass ourselves off as having in “all together”. We live a lie and we know it.

Let’s slow up and look into each others eyes. Visit, share a cup of coffee and for once in a long time, and see someone else’s tears, happy or sad. We will be the better for it.

To attest to this, the women of this group gathered for coffee recently. We shared laughter, joys, and happenings in our lives, we talked about the outing as well. In fact, it was so intense and enjoyable that we did not notice that we were in the midst of still another snow storm! We all made it slowly but safely home. We vowed to get together again soon. (We used to do it every week when our kids were young.)

Five Years Later

It has been five years since I wrote the following on our CaringBridge site.  It was the day before I went in for prostate surgery.  God is good!  Five years later I am still cancer free.  Praise God from whom all blessings flow!  ~ Jerry

Sunday, January 8, 2006 2:28 PM, CST


This week someone asked me “why did you have to get cancer?” My unspoken response was, “Why not me?” Is the God who is sovereign worthy of praise and thanksgiving only when He does what we judge to be good or what we want to have happen? God is not our cosmic “butler” on call to do only what we please or desire when we want it and how we want it. We need to be reminded He answers to no man. Does God bring cancer into our lives? In John 9:1-12, Jesus heals a man blind from birth. Jesus’ disciples ask him “who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind?” Jesus responds in verse 3: “Neither this man nor his parents sinned but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”

Why did I get cancer? So God’s glory can be displayed. If I come through the surgery, “to God be the glory.” If I die, may I die well “to God be the glory.”

In John Flavel’s book "The Mystery of Providence" on p. 182, Flavel asks a question: “Does God perform all things for His people? Do not distrust Him then when new difficulties arise. Why should you think He that has done so many things for you will now do no more?” Isaiah 59:1 reads “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.” God will hear. Why would He not listen now? I am ready for whatever He has in store but I know for sure this cancer didn’t slip by when He was not looking or happen when He was asleep (He never sleeps). No, it happened for whatever reason God has in mind, even though I don’t know exactly what it is. I don’t need all the answers. I just need to OBEY and go forward in trust.

What questions should we be asking? I borrow from Jerry Bridges book "The Joy of Fearing God", p. 152. “Ask yourself these questions:

1. Do I wholeheartedly acknowledge God’s authority, both in His precepts and His providences, in my life? Do I resent or question any of His providential circumstances in my life?
2. Do I seek to live all of life under the authority of God’s Word, believing what it says and seeking to apply its teachings to every area of my life?
3. Am I chafing—either openly or secretly in my heart—under any God-ordained human authorities? Are there any relationships here in which I need to change my attitude or actions?” (Jerry’s definition: internal friction: God exercising control in our lives.)

We need these trials to do some (in my case, much needed) soul searching. 
Thank all of you for your concern and prayers and the love shown to our family. I will close with a benediction I sometimes use in country churches when I preach:

“May the roads rise up to meet you, may the prairie winds be always at your back . May the sun shine warmly upon your face and may the rain and snow fall gently upon your fields, til we meet again, May the Lord hold you in the palm of His hand, and may He keep your hand steady till the setting of the golden sun and His glorious return. In Jesus name. And all God’s people said Amen."

Note: The kids and Judi hope to update from the hospital to keep people in touch. Again, thank you all. ~ Jerry

Scriptures for reading and pondering: Acts 17:24-31; Deut. 8: 1-18; Job 2:9; John 9:1-12; Isaiah 59:1; Job 42:1-6.

Who will tell us the truth in these days?

A doctor in England admitted this week that he fabricated the results of a study linking autism to childhood vaccinations. The original study was published in The British Medical Journal. If we cannot trust them, who can we trust?

This week the new Congress came to power. The power in the House of Representatives has swung from the Democrats to the Republicans. Much has been talked about; a vision staked out, promises made but—I don’t believe any of it.

Yes, I’ve become a cynical doubting old man. Who will tell us the truth and how will we know what is the truth in these days? I mean, do you really believe the unemployment rate is 9.4%? I don’t. Do you really believe inflation is “rising slightly” as I heard on the news today? I don’t. Just look at your grocery cart and you’ll realize someone is lying to us.

In John 8:42-47, Jesus was talking to the Jews, who claimed they were children of Abraham. It says: 42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? 47 He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."

These verses teach us some important things appropriate for days such as these.

1. If God is our Father, we must love Jesus (verse 42)
2. Verse 44 is loaded.

a.  The devil is the father of lies. NOTE: The battle of the ages is good versus evil. Jesus versus the devil. It is being played out daily in battles of what is truth and what are lies.

b. There is no truth in the devil and there is no truth in his children. When considering something, consider the source. Whose child is this person? A child of God or a child of the devil.

3. Regarding Verse 47 – As believers, when we listen, we must listen to what God says.

a. Read His Word. Listen to His Word. Ask God to open your ears. Ask God to give you a discerning heart. Believers will hear what God says.

b. 1 Kings 3:7-14: "Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child1 and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?" 10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for--both riches and honor--so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life."

c. This should be our prayer.

God has and will always tell us the truth. Are we willing to humble ourselves and believe him? Trust Him in these days. In John 8:32 Jesus says, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Yes, He has set us free from being slaves to sin. We have experienced the ultimate freedom. Listen to Him in these days. Remember, He promised He would never leave us or forsake us. God has kept all His promises and He always will. Good, good news…in these last days. Lies may abound but Jesus is the Truth and the Light. Listen to Him alone.

A blot on the name of Olivia, Minnesota

I live ten miles from Olivia, Minnesota. During the last week, Olivia has been in the news due to the death of a little 19 month old girl, beaten to death by her Mom’s 19 year old boyfriend. As one person said, “This incident is a blot upon our town’s name.” I say, “It should be.”

In Luke 18:9-14 it says: “To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

This part of scripture has much to teach us. One point which has convicted me was the Pharisee (“a member of a Jewish sect of the intertestamental period noted for strict observance of rites and ceremonies of the written law and for insistence on the validity of their own oral traditions concerning the law”) was quick to condemn the actions of the publican (“a Jewish tax collector for the ancient Romans”) and showed no concern for the publican’s salvation. The Pharisee’s prayer was pretty much a blow-hard exposition on his self-righteous deeds.

I visited with some people in the community about the death of the little baby; no one seemed to know who the baby was. Someone said, “It was Hispanic.” Then another replied, “Oh, one of those.” No more was said. Yes, we barely flinch when it’s “one of them” that dies. I guess the Hispanics (or anyone else who is different from us for that matter) are the modern day publicans. We, as believers, become uncomfortably quiet (myself included) when a Hispanic baby dies a violent death.

Do we honestly show any love and concern for our Hispanic brothers or sisters? Are we truly concerned about their salvation? Or are we modern day Pharisees, regarding them in some way less than us? Are we self-centered like the Pharisee whose prayer is only about him blowing smoke about himself?

I believe we are guilty. How sad.

Lord Jesus, help us, wake us up, convict us of our sin of indifference towards all our brothers and sisters Hispanic or others. If the violent death of a 19 month old baby won’t wake us up, what will?

Living In-Between 1st and 2nd

“Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”  Hebrews 9:27-28

In baseball, it is not a good thing to be caught between 1st and 2nd. A quick decision must be made; do I go to second base or scoot back to first base and hopefully be ruled “safe”. I am not really concerned about baseball but it could make for an interesting analogy.

Today we live between the first and second advent of Christ. Advent is described as “the arrival of an event that has long been awaited with expectation.” We live between His birth (First Advent) and His 2nd coming (Second Advent).

As Christians, do we spend too much time on the baby Jesus and not enough time on our reigning champion Jesus who has completed His work and is coming again? He is coming not to suffer but to gather His own unto Himself. How are you waiting for His return; in childish fear or in joyful expectation of the returning Christ?

This Christmas let us rise in the power of the risen Savior and wait with courage for His expected return. Let’s wait with purpose and urgency to reach as many as we can with His message of hope, being made right with the eternal God.

How are you going to live the rest of your life—in fear or joyful expectation? The choice is yours; accept His gift, the gift of being His chosen one.

May God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit bless you this Christmas Season. May His army (us) wait in peace, ready for battle to do His work.

Let us arise from kneeling by the empty manger, seeing the empty cross, believing in the power of God’s resurrection, the empty tomb, and wait for the Father’s command to His Son Jesus to “go and gather my own.” Yes, then we will be safe on second. Right with God through eternity, all brought about by the life, suffering, death, and resurrection of God’s one and only Son Jesus. This is what we should celebrate this Christmas Season.

Come quickly Lord Jesus, come. Come and take your children home and we will be with You for eternity.

Praising God for what we have

My brother is in Abbott Hospital in Minneapolis fighting a very tough brain cancer. The intensity of the battle has taken another step higher—Jim now has an unknown form of pneumonia.  He is in the fight of his life.

Someone told me this week that “Jim is too young to die;” he is 70. I suppose he could be considered too young; none of us want to die but the Lord determines our day to be born and our day to die.

As it says in Ecclesiastes 3:1-14:

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:  a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,  a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,  a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,  a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,  a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,  a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,  a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.  What does the worker gain from his toil?  I have seen the burden God has laid on men.  He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.  I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.  That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil--this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him."

Carol, Jim’s wife of almost 50 years, was returning to the hotel late one night. Tired, lonely and battling to keep her spirits up for Jim and the kids, she encountered a couple at the hotel. The couple has a 13 year old daughter in Abbot with an inoperable brain tumor.

Carol said, “How sad, she is only 13, hasn’t even lived her life.” It was at that point that Carol was reminded that Jim has had 70 years of life and a good life at that. Carol said to me the next morning, “We must always be thankful for what we have rather than complain about what we do not have.”

We want Jim to live; we entrust his life and care to God’s hands. We thank you Lord for 70 years. May the young girl with the brain tumor experience the same.

Thank you, Jesus. Amen

Gold Cannot Save or One Too Many Gold Commercials

The TV commercials to buy gold pound on us; I should do a survey to see what percentage of advertisements are for the purpose to encourage us to buy gold and silver. Precious metals have seen a spectacular rise over the last ten years. It has been an excellent investment but it cannot save. No, it cannot save. We are to be wise stewards of God’s blessing upon us but God will save us, through His Son. Our gold and silver will not save us.

Ezekiel 7:19 says: “They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will be treated as a thing unclean. Their silver and gold will not be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’s wrath. It will not satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs, for it has caused them to stumble into sin.” Our gold cannot save us from the wrath of the Lord.

Without Christ we will stand in the street full of terror; our knees will be like water. (Ezekiel 7:17: “Every hand will go limp”), in shame and horror. Our gold and silver will lie at our feet as detestable.

Our love for gold and silver will be the stumbling block, concerning our sin. We want to grab a hold of all we can get in this life, hoping in gold, not in Christ.

In these last days, let’s be good stewards of God’s blessing. We must come to Christ; He alone is our hope. The love of this world, the love of stuff, can be the stumbling block concerning our coming to Christ for forgiveness. Without Christ, the picture is very sobering.

Trust God, not gold. Trust the one who holds the future. His name is Jesus Christ.

Read Ezekiel 7:14-27 from The Message:

14 'The trumpet signals the call to battle: "Present arms!" But no one marches into battle. My wrath has them paralyzed! 15 On the open roads you're killed, or else you go home and die of hunger and disease. Either get murdered out in the country or die of sickness or hunger in town. 16 Survivors run for the hills. They moan like doves in the valleys, Each one moaning for his own sins. 17 "'Every hand hangs limp, every knee turns to rubber. 18 They dress in rough burlap - sorry scarecrows, Shifty and shamefaced, with their heads shaved bald. 19 "'They throw their money into the gutters. Their hard-earned cash stinks like garbage. They find that it won't buy a thing they either want or need on Judgment Day. They tripped on money and fell into sin. 20 Proud and pretentious with their jewels, they deck out their vile and vulgar no-gods in finery. I'll make those god-obscenities a stench in their nostrils. 21 I'll give away their religious junk - strangers will pick it up for free, the godless spit on it and make jokes. 22 I'll turn my face so I won't have to look as my treasured place and people are violated, As violent strangers walk in and desecrate place and people - 23 A bloody massacre, as crime and violence fill the city. 24 I'll bring in the dregs of humanity to move into their houses. I'll put a stop to the boasting and strutting of the high-and-mighty, And see to it that there'll be nothing holy left in their holy places. 25 Catastrophe descends. They look for peace, but there's no peace to be found - 26 Disaster on the heels of disaster, one rumor after another. They clamor for the prophet to tell them what's up, but nobody knows anything. Priests don't have a clue; the elders don't know what to say. 27 The king holds his head in despair; the prince is devastated. The common people are paralyzed. Gripped by fear, they can't move. I'll deal with them where they are, judge them on their terms. They'll know that I am God.'"

Shopping in Willmar or Poor in the Midst of Great Possessions

On an early Thursday afternoon, Judi and I had business in Willmar. Judi had some shoes that needed to be returned to the store so I sat and waited while she transacted business.

A woman, I estimated to be in her late 70’s, sat down beside me with a sigh of relief. “I sure can’t shop like I used to” she said. “Yes, there was a day when I could shop from morning to night; now I must stop and rest.” She turned out to be an agitated woman and somewhat bitter about life. I watched all the shoppers; most had a furrowed brow; most did not look happy. Am I, as a Christian, happy? Do I understand how God has blessed me?

My mind came back to a devotional entitled, “Poor in the Midst of Great Possessions.” This is my rough translation of the work of German theologian Dr. Heinrich Muller. He was a local pastor who understood the plight of his people. It is from his book, “The Hour of Refreshing.”  I quote with a rough translation:

“This is said of the miserly, and it is true. Poverty and riches are in the mind. He who wishes for nothing more is rich; and he who is always wanting something is poor. I have what I do not desire; and that which I am always longing for is lacking to me. The miser never says he has enough. He is poor in the midst of wealth, because he has what he has as though he had it not. The only benefit he derives from “his stuff” is looking at it, and anyone can do that, even the poorest. It is not forbidden for me to look at the possessions of others, but I cannot take any of them, for they are not mine. The miser will not touch his own because gold is his god. Thus the miser gets no more out of his own than I do of others’ possessions. He is so poor that he has not even himself. He may be compared to a spider who spins her own web out of her own bowels; so the miser consumes and kills himself in caring for his life. What good does wealth do to a man if he be not allowed to partake of it?”

“It suits the Christian better to be poor in the midst of great possessions. He does not consider it right to pamper his body, but uses what he has in moderation. Therefore, he may be looked upon as poor, although he may be rich. And where is the poor man whose daily necessities are not supplied? God always gives a bit of bread, often in a wonderful manner, and in a way man would never dream of. Do not ascribe your riches to your own cleverness or industry, but look upon them as a gift from the bountiful hand of thy God, which has been given in answer to your unceasing prayers; so you are in reality as poor as the beggar who daily goes from door to door to collect alms. We need to look upon our means as a loan, over which God has not appointed us lord, but only steward, so that we may give to the poor—therefore we are poor in the midst of great wealth, for who can be poorer than he who has nothing of his own? We have not set our heart on what we have, but are ready, when God wills it, to deliver it up. If we meet with losses, we do not lose courage, but are content, saying with Job, in true humility and resignation, “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). So we are poor, although possessed of great riches. Temporal possessions are injurious to no man’s soul, unless the heart hangs unto them.”

I would like to summarize a statement by A.W. Tozer; “We can have everything, but we must possess nothing. For the thing we possess, we will love more than God.”

It is all a matter of our heart; yes it is but so hard to do.

Thanksgiving Prayer

Almighty God, who has given us this good land for our heritage, we humbly ask that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of your great favor and blessing. May we always be willing to do your will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord and confusion in these days. Save us from pride and arrogance.

Save us from every evil way. Defend our liberties. Fashion us into one grateful and thankful people, even though we have come from many lands.

Fill those with your spirit of wisdom, those in whom we entrust the authority of government. May there be justice and peace at home, and through obedience to your words may we show forth Thy praise to the nations. In this time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness and in the day of peril or suffering may our trust of you, Lord, not waver or fail. You are our only hope.

All we ask through Christ Jesus.   Amen

The Rainbow in the Clouds by John MacDuff

A quoted message from http://www.gracegems.org/: 

"When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will be seen in the clouds" Genesis 9:14


1. SOVEREIGNTY

"The Lord Reigns." Psalm 93:1

No rainbow of promise in the "dark and cloudy day" shines more radiantly than this. God, my God, the God who gave Jesus, orders all events, and overrules all for my good! "When I," says He, "send clouds over the earth." He has no wish to conceal the hand which shadows for a time earth's brightest prospects. It is He alike who "brings the cloud", who brings us into it, and in mercy leads us through it! His kingdom rules over all. "The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord." He puts the burden on, and keeps it on, and at His own time will remove it!

Beware of brooding over second causes. It is the worst form of atheism! When our most fondly cherished gourds are smitten; our fairest flowers lie withered in our bosom; this is the silencer of all reflections– "The Lord prepared the worm!" When the temple of the soul is smitten with lightning, and its pillars rent: "The Lord is in His holy temple!" Accident, chance, fate, destiny, have no place in the Christian's creed. He is no unpiloted vessel left to the mercy of the storm. "The voice of the Lord is upon the waters!"

Veterans Day 2010 – Perilous Days in America

In early October, I realized it had been forty years since I was discharged from the Air Force; a generation ago in Biblical terms. I was 22 years old. Over the years I have learned something: (1) being in the military does not make you a man. It hardens your heart in some ways; softens your hearts in others. Being a man means we have to do things we do not like to do. It’s not a matter of “feeling” it is a matter of leading a principled life.

The second thing it teaches you is that there are two kinds of people the decent and indecent—sinners all. I borrow the names of those two groups from Dr. Victor Frankl, a WWII concentration camp survivor.

Before I went into the service, my social experience was limited to people of Northern European extraction with a sprinkling of Native Americans. In the military I interacted with all groups; among them, I found the decent and the indecent, but sinners all.

I returned from overseas in April 1969. I walked into the San Francisco Airport at 4:45 in the morning to be greeted with cat calls and the occasional rotten fruit being thrown our way. Welcome home American soldier. The war protestors manned the entrance to the terminal 24 hours a day to sling venomous words and the occasional rotten fruit.

Many of the protestors and activists of the 60’s and 70’s have risen to become the ruling elite of our day. Scum does usually rise to the top.

Professor Angelo M. Codevilla, professor emeritus of International relations at Boston University, wrote an article entitled American Ruling Class—and the Perils of Revolution. Many of the bi-partisan ruling class today were subversives of the past and are to this day. They come from both sides of the political isle, Democrat and Republican. The ruling class is the West Coast and East Coast elites and the rest of us are the poor bastards who fight their wars. (Don’t take my word for it, read Professor Codevilla’s well documented article.)

Speaking of our Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), Codevilla said in part:

“After all, Republicans had been happy enough to approve of similar things under Republican administrations. Differences between Bushes, Clintons, and Obamas are of degree, not kind. Moreover, 2009-10 establishment Republicans sought only to modify the government's agenda while showing eagerness to join the Democrats in new grand schemes, if only they were allowed to. Sen. Orrin Hatch continued dreaming of being Ted Kennedy, while Lindsey Graham set aside what is true or false about "global warming" for the sake of getting on the right side of history. No prominent Republican challenged the ruling class's continued claim of superior insight, nor its denigration of the American people as irritable children who must learn their place. The Republican Party did not disparage the ruling class, because most of its officials are or would like to be part of it.”

Yes, they see us as irritable children. Take note:

“Today, few speak well of the ruling class. Not only has it burgeoned in size and pretense, but it also has undertaken wars it has not won, presided over a declining economy and mushrooming debt, made life more expensive, raised taxes, and talked down to the American people. Americans' conviction that the ruling class is as hostile as it is incompetent has solidified. The polls tell us that only about a fifth of Americans trust the government to do the right thing. The rest expect that it will do more harm than good and are no longer afraid to say so.”

Are these the seeds of revolution?

"The two classes have less in common culturally, dislike each other more, and embody ways of life more different from one another than did the 19th century's Northerners and Southerners -- nearly all of whom, as Lincoln reminded them, "prayed to the same God." By contrast, while most Americans pray to the God "who created and doth sustain us," our ruling class prays to itself as "saviors of the planet" and improvers of humanity. Our classes' clash is over "whose country" America is, over what way of life will prevail, over who is to defer to whom about what. The gravity of such divisions points us, as it did Lincoln, to Mark's Gospel: "if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand."

If you want to see how they really feel, Codevilla adds:

“Its attitude is key to understanding our bipartisan ruling class. Its first tenet is that "we" are the best and brightest while the rest of Americans are retrograde, racist, and dysfunctional unless properly constrained. How did this replace the Founding generation's paradigm that "all men are created equal"?

In light of all of this, “what did we fight for?” If we think the Republicans or the Democrats are going to save our country from this peril, wake up. Almighty God himself is our only hope.

Pastor Steve Brown says “The world drinks to forget and Christians drink to remember.” I think I’ll get a drink and do a little of both. Remember and forget for these are perilous days in America.

I’ll feed you from a rock…

Psalm 81:11-16 says, "But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. 12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices. 13 "If my people would but listen to me, if Israel would follow my ways, 14 how quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes! 15 Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever. 16 But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."

Our nation is in trouble. In farm country, we live in the midst of record yields and good commodity prices and yet our country is in trouble. This week the Federal Reserve purchased 600 billion dollars of our own debt—no one else wants to buy it any more.

In the 81st Psalm it tells of a nation who rejects or ignores God’s love. Our nation has been and is blessed by God but we, like Israel, “do not listen” or submit to God (v.11).

God has a limit to His patience. In verse 12 God says if this is the way you want it, you’re on your own. God then shows us the way to come back to Him.

1. Listen to God (v. 13). Read His word.

   2.  Follow His way (v.13). Put His word into action.

   3.  What will God do? Subdue their enemies (plural) v. 14.

   4.  Those who hate the Lord will cringe before Him—forever. (Can we see the light of Christ in this present momentary darkness?)

Then God blesses His people because we are His -- (just because we are His.) We can’t earn any favor, can’t impress Him with our works; no, He blesses and restores us just because we are His.

In verse 16 God then promises to feed us the finest wheat and honey. To do this, He doesn’t need to crank up the combines to get some wheat. He doesn’t need to search for a hidden honeycomb. If our God has to, He can bring wheat and honey out of a rock.

Remember this, because of the suffering sacrifice of God’s one and only son Jesus, we can come into God’s presence and the resurrected Christ will restore us to our Heavenly Father.
Our stubborn heart is made new, our ears are unplugged, we listen and we put His word into practice. He will subdue our enemies and feed us from a rock.

If this is true, what are we afraid of? We need to humble ourselves before the Mighty God, confess our sins and come to Jesus and live.

Fear of Exposure

The Christian life is a walk not a sprint. It is a life-long walk; steady, long, sometimes lonely, sometimes discouraging, other times joyous and exuberant. Sometimes we trudge, other times we walk with purpose and vision.

In 1 John 1:6 it says: “If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.”

If we profess to be Christians yet walk in darkness, we are living a lie. If our “Christian walk” consists of name and habit only, we are living a lie. Are we Christian in name only or do we “walk” (or trudge) in the light?

The reason we are reluctant to walk in the light is the fear of exposure. Light reveals truth; it exposes us for who we really are—sinners in need of a savior.

In John 3:20-21 it says: “Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."  This “exposure fear” is our fear of other people really seeing us as we truly are; as Luther said, “We are all beggars at the foot of the cross.” We work hard to keep our puffed up image before the world; we live in fear of being found out by the world. If we live by the Light, the world will see that our good deeds are all the result of a transformed life. Walking in the Light transforms us. All this is a gift of God.

The Good News is this: God knows who we are. In His light we are fully exposed yet He is willing and able to forgive and forget our sins. Isaiah 43:25 says, "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”

We should have no fear of walking in the light fully exposed. God knows all our sins; He is able and willing to forgive and forget. As for other people seeing us walking fully exposed in the light, it renders us transparent and approachable by a hurting world. Keeping up our inflated image of ourselves distances us from others. Step fully into the light for the time is short. A hurting world needs the Savior and we are His “fully exposed” witnesses.

Addendum to my previous blog

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=33863

Please click on the above link.  After reading my last blog, a friend shared this site from the Baptist Press.  It's great.

When Chilean Miners and lepers thank God

Last night I watched the conclusion of the rescue of the 33 Chilean miners. It was a proud moment for Chile and the world. There was much to be proud of; the Chilean government assembled a rescue team that consisted of the best people and the best technology that Chile and the world had to offer.

Watching these men come up, seeing the reunion with their families and fellow workers brought tears to my eyes. As the program concluded, a succession of the actual moments when each of the 33 miners got out of the capsule was shown. As I saw it, only one dropped to his knees and thanked God. This rescue was a miracle from God and only one showed visual appreciation and thankfulness for God’s miracle of deliverance from the bowels of the earth after 69 days. (I do not know the hearts of the others.)

This miner’s actions reminded me of the ten lepers; men whose situations was also desperate and hopeless, and only one came back to thank Jesus for the healing miracle. One out of ten for the lepers and one out of thirty-three for the miners; I guess not much has changed over the last 2000 years…in all things be thankful.

Barbarians at the gate or chariots of fire in the hills; what do you see?

My brother has cancer once again. He is tired; his wife is tired; but he plans to fight.

When we Christians live this life with its trials and tribulations, I ask, what do we see? Do we see the barbarians at the gate (cancer) or do we see the chariots of fire in the hills?

Second Kings 6 relates the story of a war between the King of Aram and the King of Israel. The prophet Elisha, through the power of the Holy Spirit knew everything the King of Aram was going to do. Elisha passed on his God-given insight to the King of Israel who benefited much from the revelations of the Prophet Elisha. King Aram figures out what’s going on and sends his army to capture the prophet Elisha.

Elisha is in the city of Dothan with his assistant. The assistant awakes early in the morning to see the Barbarians at the gate. The city is surrounded and they are looking for his boss, the Prophet Elisha. Concerned, the assistant says, what should we do? Elisha says in 2 Kings 6:16-18 "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, "Strike these people with blindness." So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.”

I ask you, what are you facing today? Who and what are the barbarians at your gate? Do not be afraid! Cancer, financial collapse, broken relationships…look to the hills, and by the power of God, see His angels, horses and chariots of fire. Remember, our battle is not with flesh and blood ("For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12)

Even though you feel weak, remember this, the weakest among us does not fight alone.
Do not focus on the barbarians at the gate. Look to the hills, look to heaven from whence your deliverance comes; your deliverance comes from the Lord.

Come quickly Lord Jesus, come. Oh Lord, open my eyes to see your horses and chariots of fire.

Prayers of Desperation

I don’t know where the idea came from that “prayers of desperation” are not “good form” for a believing Christian. One should not get that desperate; we should have our act together so prayers of desperation would not be needed. Tell that to…

• David --“This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.” Psalm 34:6

• Hannah--“In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD.” 1 Samuel 1:10

• Jeremiah—“the waters closed over my head, and I thought I was about to be cut off I called on your name, O LORD, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: "Do not close your ears to my cry for relief." Lamentations 3:54-56

• Jesus—“And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” Luke 22:44

• The Ten Lepers--"and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.” (Luke 17:13-14) The ten lepers had no other option to be healed; no antibiotics, no Mayo Clinic. Leprosy was a death sentence. They were desperate.

My favorite prayer of desperation was Jonah from the belly of the whale. Jonah 2:7-10 says, “"When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, LORD, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD." And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.”

Jonah prayed, “When my life was ebbing away. I remembered the Lord.” In verse 8 it says this, “Those who cling to worthless idols (things of this life) forfeit the grace that could be theirs… Oh, how true. Verse 9…"salvation comes from the Lord.”

Yes, in desperation, God answers. Are you desperate enough? Do you believe God really hears our prayers? He does. Forgive us O Lord.

James 5:13 says,  "Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise."

Living in tents…startled and frightened

Luke 24:36-37 - While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.

My camping experiences in tents have been interesting. (Judi says,"Interesting is a good way to describe it!") I remember standing in a tent filled with two adults and three children holding on to the fragile tent frame while 50 mile per hour winds and rain howled around us. That turned out to be the last time we tented!

Paul says in 2 Corinthians that our earthly bodies are tents; very temporary housing. (“Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.” 2 Corinthians 5:1.) We look forward to heavenly bodies and a heavenly dwelling place; the world pursues making this tent into a mansion. Face lifts, butt lifts, and other drastic measures are taken to preserve a “tent”. I believe Christians are as confused as the world about our current political, economic, and physical circumstances. We need to remember that they are temporary. We should not be startled or frightened. We look ahead towards the future, towards Heaven, remembering whatever happens, God’s plans are never thwarted. In the midst of this recent chaos, there is “a light” that shines and the Light’s name is Jesus Christ.

Remember our times are in God’s hands. Remember our bodies are a temporary dwelling place (tents). Our vision should be to look towards the eternal. Remember this, the body is sometimes curable; the soul is always so. Yes, we will fold up our tent and go home but our soul is eternal and in this life is always open to be renewed, healed, sustained and forgiven. Don’t be startled or frightened by these days. God is and will always be on the throne. His plans are never thwarted.

On the days when we want to pack up our tent and go home, remember the Lord calls us home. He packs the tents and we are along for the ride.

Why I stay on the farm

"The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place”   Acts 17:24-26 ESV

Recently I read the following and wanted to share it with you.  It is from Harris’ Farmer’s Almanac 2010 (p. 39).

Hardscrabble Life

The full-time country life, with its high maintenance, time-consuming lifestyle, can become a bit overwhelming for the aged or the injured, or those with a growing family. Homesteaders and farmers often give up, thinking the smart thing to do is to move closer to jobs and schools and hospitals. To those who have been doing the same chores morning and night, day in and day out, and driving to town to work, or to shuffle the kids to games and lessons, relocation can look like a good move. Or maybe it is the human condition to wish for an easier life.

So, you put the farm up for sale. Chances are that the new owner will not be someone who will pick up the chores list where you left off. Instead of passing the old home place on to another family who will prune the peach trees and patch the barn roof, more likely he will have it bulldozed, even the row of walnut trees, the apple orchard, and the creek full of watercress. Your new home in town may be next to a house of barking dogs, with street lights as bright as day, bad air, bad water, high utility bills, drunk drivers and aimless people snooping around in the middle of the night. For this you traded away the green hills, the sky full of stars, the hoot owls, the orchard in full bloom, and the porch that looks across the hollow on a lazy summer afternoon.