When was the last time you were afraid of God?

Intro:

Continuing in my process through the God Encounters book – today, chapter 2.4

Questions:

• What part of your life forgets to tremble?

I don’t tremble.  I haven’t trembled in years.  It’s not who I am.  I fix things – if something is scary, I fix it, subdue it, avoid it, or crush it.  I’m not saying this is the best way to handle things, it’s just what I’ve learned.  If I can’t fix it, I get a bigger hammer.

As I write that, I’m impressed to explore the suppress, subdue, and/or crush scenario.  Hmmm…

So, I suppose the answer is- in all aspects.

Whoa. Note to self: Need some work here.  This is a spiritual discipline that I not only need to work on, but I didn’t know it existed.

• When was the last time you were afraid of God?  What caused your fear?

As mentioned in the book, maybe we’ve done such a good job rejecting Jonathan Edwards’ Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, that we’ve forgotten that fear and trembling are OK.

However, I think I’m afraid now.  Afraid that God won’t live up to the promises I cling to.  Will He really take care of us?  Will He really shield us from persecution?  Will He really see us through this mess?

We only have enough money for two more house payments.  What happens God?  What happens next?  Did we hear you wrong?  Did we misunderstand?  What if our theology is wrong?  Will you still take care of us?

Over the past several months, since my Smiling Son was weaned, I’ve had the delightful opportunity to develop a deeper relationship with him.  It’s really been fun, exciting, rewarding, and meaningful.  There have been times where I can tell that he just adores me.  However, something happened recently.  Mommy and Darling Daughter went to an event and it was just the boys at home.  Suddenly, he got shy, timid, and maybe even a bit afraid of his Dad.

I was taken aback some.  He hadn’t acted that way with me ever.  Of course I adapted, but it was obvious that he was still quite attached to his Mommy and hadn’t quite developed that trust level with me yet.  It was as if he was looking at me, thinking, “Do you have what it takes to take care of me?  Do you know where the food and diapers are?  What if I start crying?  Will you be able to handle that?  Maybe you ought to call Mommy right now – just in case?  Maybe you ought to get her over here… um, now – just in case I start crying or something.”

So how did I handle this?  Well, a less secure parent might have been hurt and wounded to the core.  I could have taken it as an affront to my competence – or worse, as a doubting of my unconditional love of him.  But I didn’t.  I realized this was his issue, not mine.  I backed off and gave him some space.  I dialed up the fun quotient and turned on the attraction.  IOW, attraction, not promotion.  It had moderate success.  We didn’t end up with a wailing toddler begging for his Mommy – but he was sure glad when Mommy got home.

Where did I learn this? From watching others.

I’ve watched people who seemingly adore children or pets.  They walk in the door and immediately they want said children to snuggle with them.  But, um, those said children don’t know this stranger.  They have no relationship – no trust.  The kids hang back in apparent shyness.  My mother was one of those people – loved kids and was dying to snuggle with them.  Kids avoided her.

What I do is basically ignore the kids.  Say hi, smile gently, but don’t try to touch them (handshake, high-5, etc) – just focus on the tasks at hand, or the adults I came to see.  Before too long, the kids are my friend.  Same with pets – but for different reasons.  I’m not naturally drawn to other people’s dogs (especially yappy, little dogs) – or cats.  But by ignoring them, pretty soon all cats end up in my lap. (sigh)

Since that experience with my Smiling Son, we have continued to grow our relationship.  In fact when I ran a quick errand to the store Friday afternoon, he caught my attention, thumped his chest and said, “Me? Me?”  He desperately wanted to go with me – and we had a great time together.

So, here’s how I see it.

I’m hanging back, wondering: “Are you up for this God?  Do you know where the food is?  What if I start crying?  Will you know what I need?  What if I misbehave, are you going to whack me?”  Where’s this going?  Is Mommy ever coming back?  No one consulted me on this change?  I’m not so sure I can really trust you…“

Is it possible that God has adopted an attraction model also?  Is He just waiting for me to come to Him?

I think so.  I believe I don’t need to be afraid.

Before my kids could talk – and long before they could even begin to express why they were crying – they still had needs.  As a parent Dad (Mom’s have an intuitive skill/knowledge – they just know.  I always skipped the 20 questions and just asked the Mom – it was quicker), it is our job to play 20 questions and figure out why they’re crying.  But here’s the deal – just because I couldn’t figure out what was wrong, that didn’t mean that I abandoned my kids.  Even if I didn’t understand their pleas, I didn’t leave them to their own devices.

But also, children never stop asking until they get what they need.  And in those early years, they get everything they ask for.  When they get older, they try to get more than they need – and we, as parents, use our judgement to determine whether they need it or not.  We look at the big picture, the little picture, the needs vs. wants, the treat vs. spoiling, the special occasion vs. routine, and so on, and so forth, et cetera, blah, blah, blah…

My conclusion on this. It is my “job” to ask.  It is God’s job to answer.  Sometimes I’m the one-year old and sometimes I’m the 13-year old.  Sometimes I cry and babble inconsolably – sometimes I throw a tantrum – and sometimes I want something that is not only unnecessary, but downright harmful.

If I really need it, He will give it to me.  If I don’t need it – He will think about it.  If it is harmful, he won’t let me have it.

• What strikes profound reverence or awe in you? Explain.
  

Impossible answers to prayer always amaze me.  Either physically impossible, or psychic impossibilities.

10 years ago I was running out of money, soon to be married, and at a dead-end.  As I surrendered that, God showed up in the form of an email offering me a job.  All I could do is weep.

A year later, while going through the one-week church planter assessment process, I was at a crossroads in my life.  I had moved to Michigan to attend the seminary, but I wasn’t convicted that I was staying – so I didn’t unpack.  I attended church planting assessment and seminary orientation at the same time.  Towards the end of the week, while having some QT3 with God, I felt His presence.  It was intense, for it felt like He’d been silent for over nine months.  Since calling me into full-time ministry, I hadn’t really heard from Him.  But that day He showed up.

It was as if He had His hand on my shoulder and was saying, “I’ve been here the whole time.” I knew in that moment that I would be staying in the seminary and not doing a church plant anytime soon.  When the church planting assessment team sat down with me the next day to tell me the same thing, I just nodded my head knowingly.

It is these moments that inspire awe.

So here’s a self-devised question: Why can’t I anticipate that awe?  Why not act as if?  As if the answer has already been received – and start doing the awe thing already.

When my kids see me do something that would be impossible to them, they stand there, mouths agape, laughing, giggling, and begging me to do it again.  So, once again I toss the orange in the air and bounce it off my bicep and back into my hand.  Over and over, and they laugh.

• How would you define the difference between the fear the disciples experienced and the fear being advocated in Deuteronomy 10?

The disciples were afraid, God asks us to revere Him.

• In what ways can fearing and loving God happen simultaneously?  Can you love God and yet fear Him?  Explain.

Probably – or He wouldn’t have asked us to do it.

Questions like this reveal the superficiality of my faith.

Prayer:

Father God – take me to a deeper level – please.  Oh, you are?  Yeah, I was afraid of that…

Discussion:

Saturday night while cooking dinner, I put my iPod on random to play on the home stereo.  Whenever I do this, I pray that God will direct the music selections.  He always comes through.  The following song came on – it comes from the first Jars of Clay album that was pretty much my theme from 1995 to 1999.  This song, as I listened to it the other night, is a prayer I’ve been praying for several years.  The Lord is in the midst of answering this prayer.

Scary? YES!

Needed? Yes.

Trusting? I’m learning?

Beauty

Image via Wikipedia

The last few months have been difficult.  That’s putting it mildly.  God gave me a message and a vision for my church, but it didn’t involve those who would like to think of themselves as leaders.  Instead, it involved the marginalized, the broken, the un-churched.  The vision was a for a passionate, deep, transforming relationship with Jesus.  Deeper than anything a mere knowledge of the “truth” could ever bring.  This kind of transformation only comes about through much fasting and prayer.  This type of transformation only comes when we quit trying on our own strength.

As I’ve been hiding out in Adullam’s Cave, I had this urge to read what Jeremiah wrote.  The more I read, the more discouraged I became.  I wasn’t reading about a world 3000 years ago.  I was reading about today – and it isn’t good.  I can’t bear the weight of that knowledge anymore.  I had to let it go.

So, I attempted to go back to my regular Bible reading and journaling format.  But even that led me into Ezekiel and other prophetic words of doom and conviction.  Like Elijah, I just wanted to rest on the banks of the brook Cheroth and rest.  I imagine though that in Elijah’s resting, there was hurt, dismay, mistrust, anger – I’m pretty sure he wallowed in the words God gave him and the unfairness of the leadership.  He may have even poured over the words of the prophecy.

“Did I miss something,” he wonders. “Did I misunderstand what God wanted me to say?  Maybe I was too harsh?  Not harsh enough?  Maybe I shouldn’t have run away – should I have stayed and fought for the people?  What about my family?  My cousins, brothers?  Uncles?  Oh my, what have I done?!”

For the past week or two, I’ve felt impressed that I need to find a morning worship tool that is refreshing and uplifting.  I began to look for my copy of the God Encounters book - a devotional/discipling book, co-written by some friends of mine.  But it wasn’t showing up.  Then I found it.  I promptly plopped down on the couch in my office and started reading where I left off – chapter 2.  Here is my journey…

◊◊◊◊◊ ◊◊◊◊ ◊◊◊ ◊◊ ◊

Encounter

◊ The secret is out. What difference is it going to make in your life today?

As I read the preceding pages, about God’s love through the creative process.  At first, it was just words.  “So what?”  I said.  He did that with everyone – billions of people.  That doesn’t make me special.  It’s almost like a factory…  billions of people, knit together, next!

But then it hit me.  I don’t feel that way about my kids.  Each of them is special in their very own way.  They were conceived in love – they are surrounded by grace.  They are cherished, adored, and very precious.  I feel that way about my family too – especially my nephew and nieces – not to the depth of my own kids, but pretty significant, nonetheless.

I don’t have the capacity, or the time, to love billions – but why do I doubt that He does?  I’m not so sure I doubt – it’s more like unfathomable.  I just can’t wrap my head around that.  Intellectually, I get it.  Emotionally, for some reason I feel like I’m in fourth grade again, being picked last for kickball and standing ignored in the corner of the gym.

◊ What perceptions have changed for you?  What can no longer be the same with what you now know?

Suddenly, I see the teacher looking my way.  Though I’m standing forgotten in the corner, the one in charge sees me.  One time, he came over and urged me to step into the fray.  Another time, he pointed me out to one of the team captains who was picking teams.  And still another time, he took me into his office as I cried hot teardrops of brokenness.

My God sees me.  He knows me.  He loves me – just as I am.

◊ What difference will this secret make in your life the next time you worship (alone or with people)?

Just thinking about it makes me want to worship.  I want to express my love to Him for being the lover He is.  The fullness in my chest is bursting.

◊ Why is this secret so important to living a life of God encounters?

I believe it has much to do with legalism vs. grace.  If I worship God because I have to, it is worthless.  But if I worship Him because I want to – well, that is love.

• What experiences have you had that inspired awe in you?
  • Awe can be an illusive thing.  But there have been moments:
    • When I was out of money, in seminary, ready to get married, and out of the blue I’m hired by the Rocky Mountain Conference – I wept.
    • When I had been asked to take a position in Rwanda, and after debating over it for weeks, finally I surrendered to the possibility, and God said no.  That not only brought awe, but pause.
    • Sitting on the shore of Glacier Bay, Alaska – the last morning there.  The water was like a mirror of unblemished glass, a lone wolf watched me, dolphins circled the bay, and the mountains rose is mighty and spectacular majesty.  I could only whisper, “wow.”
    • The night before, in Glacier Bay, there was a bright moon, the most spectacular Aurora Borealis that had been seen in years, a pack of wolves howling, dolphins in the bay, and the ubiquitous stars.  Magical – purely magical.
    • When my kids were born – truly stunning, humbling, awe-inspiring.
• Top five most beautiful things:
  • My kids born
  • Glacier Bay
  • Top of Mt. Whitney – with the sun rising and moon setting simultaneously.
  • The starry night from an isolated fired in Baja
  • An empty snowfield in an isolated Cascade mountain.
• Who do you enjoy sharing beautiful things with?  What motivates you to bring it to their attention?

This question baffled me a bit.  It’s like asking a man, “How do you feel?”  I don’t know the answer to that question.  Ask me what I’m thinking about and I might have more success…might.

I like to share beautiful things with my wife, my kids, those close to me – especially if they appreciate it.

But what motivates me?  Hmmmm.  I guess it would be the opportunity to make a connection.

• What might you imagine was God’s intention in creating beauty?

Well played Yoda.  You set me up with these questions.

I can only imagine that God is looking to establish a connection with us.  Which makes me think.  Instead of just sharing beauty with those in my physical realm, wouldn’t it be neat to enjoin God into the conversation – and vice versa.

IOW, sometimes, I just want to get out on my own and commune with God.  Share the beautiful sunrise with Him.  Enjoy the quiet of the awakening birds with Him.  But what if I brought my kids and taught them to appreciate God’s beauty – with God – and with me?  Or, vice versa, if I’m at the beach with my kids and I see something beautiful, what if I pointed it out to God first, and then my family?

hmmmmm…..

Prayer:

Father God.  Teach me to be more aware of your presence in my life.  Teach me to understand you, appreciate you, commune with you, and to walk with you.

Superficial Treatments

Scripture	Observations/Paraphrase	Application
Jeremiah 8	September 11, 2009
1 “In that day,” says the Lord , “the enemy will break open the graves of the kings and officials of Judah, and the graves of the priests, prophets, and common people of Jerusalem.2 They will spread out their bones on the ground before the sun, moon, and stars—the gods my people have loved, served, and worshiped. Their bones will not be gathered up again or buried but will be scattered on the ground like manure.3 And the people of this evil nation who survive will wish to die rather than live where I will send them. I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken! Deception by False Prophets 4 “Jeremiah, say to the people, `This is what the Lord says: “`When people fall down, don’t they get up again? When they discover they’re on the wrong road, don’t they turn back? 5 Then why do these people stay on their self-destructive path? Why do the people of Jerusalem refuse to turn back? They cling tightly to their lies and will not turn around. 6 I listen to their conversations and don’t hear a word of truth. Is anyone sorry for doing wrong? Does anyone say, “What a terrible thing I have done”? No! All are running down the path of sin as swiftly as a horse galloping into battle! 7 Even the stork that flies across the sky knows the time of her migration, as do the turtledove, the swallow, and the crane.s They all return at the proper time each year. But not my people! They do not know the Lord ’s laws. 8 “`How can you say, “We are wise because we have the word of the Lord ,” when your teachers have twisted it by writing lies? 9 These wise teachers will fall into the trap of their own foolishness, for they have rejected the word of the Lord . Are they so wise after all? 10 I will give their wives to others and their farms to strangers. From the least to the greatest, their lives are ruled by greed. Yes, even my prophets and priests are like that. They are all frauds. 11 They offer superficial treatments for my people’s mortal wound. They give assurances of peace when there is no peace. 12 Are they ashamed of these disgusting actions? Not at all—they don’t even know how to blush! Therefore, they will lie among the slaughtered. They will be brought down when I punish them, says the Lord . 13 I will surely consume them. There will be no more harvests of figs and grapes. Their fruit trees will all die. Whatever I gave them will soon be gone. I, the Lord , have spoken!’ 14 “Then the people will say, `Why should we wait here to die? Come, let’s go to the fortified towns and die there. For the Lord our God has decreed our destruction and has given us a cup of poison to drink because we sinned against the Lord . 15 We hoped for peace, but no peace came. We hoped for a time of healing, but found only terror.’ 16 “The snorting of the enemies’ warhorses can be heard all the way from the land of Dan in the north! The neighing of their stallions makes the whole land tremble. They are coming to devour the land and everything in it— cities and people alike. 17 I will send these enemy troops among you like poisonous snakes you cannot charm. They will bite you, and you will die. I, the Lord, have spoken!” Jeremiah Weeps for Sinful Judah 18 My grief is beyond healing; my heart is broken. 19 Listen to the weeping of my people; it can be heard all across the land. “Has the Lord abandoned Jerusalem?s” the people ask. “Is her King no longer there?” “Oh, why have they provoked my anger with their carved idols and their worthless foreign gods?” says the Lord . 20 “The harvest is finished, and the summer is gone,” the people cry, “yet we are not saved!” 21 I hurt with the hurt of my people. I mourn and am overcome with grief. 22 Is there no medicine in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why is there no healing for the wounds of my people?	Jeremiah speaks of their graves being desecrated by their enemies.  Those that survive will wish to die, rather than to go where God is sending them. God says, “When they fall down, don’t they get up again?  When they discover they’re on the wrong road, don’t they turn back?  Then why won’t these people turn from their self-destructive path?  Why do they refuse to turn back and cling tightly to their lies?” God says that He listens to their conversations but doesn’t hear a word of truth.  Is anyone sorry for doing wrong?  Does anyone say what a terrible thing they have done?  No.  All are running down the path of sin – as swiftly as a horse galloping into battle! Even the migrating birds know when it is time to come home.  But not God’s people.  They do not know God’s laws. They say, “We are wise because we have the word of the Lord. – but your teachers have twisted it by writing lies.  These wise teachers will fall into the trap of their own foolishness – for they have rejected the word of the Lord. Are they really so wise after all? God will give their property to strangers, their lives are ruled by greed. Yes, even the prophets and priests are like that – they are all frauds. They offer superficial treatments for my people’s moral wound.  They offer assurances of peace, when there is no peace. Are they ashamed?  Not at all.  They don’t even know how to blush. “The harvest is finished,  and the summer is gone,” the people cry,  “yet we are not saved!” Jeremiah weeps.  His heart is broken.  He says: “I hurt with the hurt of my people.   I mourn and am overcome with grief. Is there no medicine in Gilead?  Is there no physician there?  Why is there no healing  for the wounds of my people?”	I have been resisting/avoiding my continued reading in Jeremiah.  It’s just too heavy, to sad, and too overwhelming.  The scenes are just too similar to our current situations. As I’ve gone through the paths I’ve been walking lately, I somehow expected the logic of the situations to spring forth and the attacks on me would stop.  But they didn’t, and they haven’t.  Jeremiah and God faced this – the people just continue to cling to the lies. Spiritual blinders.  The more God cried out through Jeremiah, the more the people refused to listen.  Does this say something about their true heart? God isn’t hearing truth spoken. Normally, when I have an encounter with God, a couple of things happen. First, I see the beauty of God and I want to draw close to Him. Next, I see my own inadequacy, and I am ashamed. Third, I am enveloped by God’s grace, and I am broken. His love then steps into my life to raise me from that brokenness. Finally, I am left with a great evangelistic zeal – I want everyone to experience what I’ve experienced? But God’s people say they are wise, but they only twist the words and fall into traps of their own doing. Are we really wise? Even the leaders are this way – they offer superficial treatments for mortal wounds.  But are they ashamed?  Not at all. They don’t even know how to blush!
Prayer

Father God.  These are hard passages and they make me concerned about my family.  Teach me how to care for your entire family.

G

Original Document

Cave of Adullam

Scripture	Observations/Paraphrase	Application
Psalm 62	September 3, 2009
For Jeduthun, the choir director: A psalm of David. 1 I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. 2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken. 3 So many enemies against one man— all of them trying to kill me. To them I’m just a broken-down wall or a tottering fence. 4 They plan to topple me from my high position. They delight in telling lies about me. They praise me to my face but curse me in their hearts.     Interlude 5 Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. 6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. 7 My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. 8 O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.     Interlude 9 Common people are as worthless as a puff of wind, and the powerful are not what they appear to be. If you weigh them on the scales, together they are lighter than a breath of air. 10 Don’t make your living by extortion or put your hope in stealing. And if your wealth increases, don’t make it the center of your life. 11 God has spoken plainly, and I have heard it many times: Power, O God, belongs to you; 12 unfailing love, O Lord, is yours. Surely you repay all people according to what they have done.	I wait quietly before God, for it is from Him that my victory comes.  He alone is my rock and my salvation – my fortress where I will never be shaken. So many enemies against one man – all of them trying to kill me.  To them, I’m just a broken down wall, or a tottering fence.  They plan to topple me from my high position.  They delight in telling lies about me.  They praise me to my face, but curse me in their hearts. Let all  that I am, wait quietly before God – for my hope is in Him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation.  My fortress where I will not be shaken.  My victory and honor come from God alone.  He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. Oh people, trust in Him at all times.  Pour out your heart to Him – for God is our refuge. Common people are as worthless as a puff of wind, and the powerful are not what they appear to be.  If you weigh them on the scales, together they are lighter than a breath of air. Don’t make your living by extortion or put your hope in stealing.  If your wealth increases, don’t make it the center of your life. God has spoken plainly and I have heard  it many times.  Power, oh God, belongs to you – unfailing love, oh Lord, is yours.  Surely you repay all people according to what they have done.	I have wanted to really get into Jeremiah’s story for about the last 9-10 months.  And it’s been longer than that where I have been asking the question, “Is there room for an Ezekiel, or a Jeremiah, in today’s church?”  The answer that comes back to me, through prayer, through others, and through outright common sense, is no – there is not room for a prophet that calls for repentance in today’s church. And yet, I have felt led to push forward with this message.  I didn’t want to.  But, like Jeremiah, I had to. Undoubtedly, I’ve been treated far better than most of the prophets in the Bible. [NOTE: I'm not saying I'm a prophet, but I do believe that I have been called to share a message - big difference.  I'm just using the word/label: prophet for comparison purposes] Most of God’s messengers were killed, imprisoned, maimed, beaten, stoned, etc.  The only thing  that has happened to me is that I’ve lost my job – and any sense of security that has gone along with that. Yesterday’s reading of Jeremiah 7 really rocked me.  Seeing the comparisons of todays secular and church cultures, to the times of Jeremiah, well it was scary really. But today, after three surgeries in three weeks, a loss of income, finding nothing but job-seeking dead-ends – well, I am just spent. Like David, my only strength is in God. I do feel attacked on every level. The move out here, was hard, then my wife got sick – few people either understood that, or were sympathetic.  As I focused on taking care of her, I let some tasks slide – but apparently that was unacceptable. I feel as if I’ve been labeled a liar, a cheat, a thief.  I feel as if people have decided that I am evil.  I feel as if they seek to take revenge on me by denying reimbursements, withholding financial remunerations, and making me jump through hoops   which I neither have the time, the energy, or the will to do right now. I’ve been scrambling to take care of medical issues, before we loose healthcare insurance.  I’ve been applying for work, networking, and seeking financial avenues.  I’ve been trying to work with our bank, the state, and other agencies as I seek to find a way out of this financial morass that we have being sucked into. But in the meantime, it feels as if the very people who should be sympathetic to our issues, are putting more pressures on us to prove ourselves for every dime.  There appears to be little or no sympathy, no mercy, and definitely no charity. I feel increasingly backed into a corner.  Beaten down.  Exhausted.  It is just really hard.  The Church, at this point in my life, definitely looks more like Jeremiah 7 then it does John 4. Lord, you are my only strength.
Prayer

Today God – just for today.  I just couldn’t read anymore of Jeremiah.  I felt impressed, by You, yesterday, to just take some time in the Cave of Adullam – to rest, recharge, and renew.  That is hard for me to do right now God.  There are so many pressing issues.  So many priorities, and so many deadlines looming.  But like the text that Jennifer read yesterday, you have promised to take care of us – so, I am leaning on you today God – please take care of us.

I need to let go of those who consider me an enemy.  I need to let go of those who seek to do me harm.  My friend told me they would seek to murder me, if they found out what I really stood for.  He was right.  It has been really hard – very unexpected – and very damaging.  Please help us God – please help us.

G

Original

That’s One. That’s TWO!

Scripture	Observations/Paraphrase	Application
Jeremiah 6	August 27, 2009
Jerusalem’s Last Warning 1 “Run for your lives, you people of Benjamin! Get out of Jerusalem! Sound the alarm in Tekoa! Send up a signal at Beth-hakkerem! A powerful army is coming from the north, coming with disaster and destruction. 2 O Jerusalem,s you are my beautiful and delicate daughter— but I will destroy you! 3 Enemies will surround you, like shepherds camped around the city. Each chooses a place for his troops to devour. 4 They shout, `Prepare for battle! Attack at noon!’ `No, it’s too late; the day is fading, and the evening shadows are falling.’ 5 `Well then, let’s attack at night and destroy her palaces!’” 6 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: “Cut down the trees for battering rams. Build siege ramps against the walls of Jerusalem. This is the city to be punished, for she is wicked through and through. 7 She spouts evil like a fountain. Her streets echo with the sounds of violence and destruction. I always see her sickness and sores. 8 Listen to this warning, Jerusalem, or I will turn from you in disgust. Listen, or I will turn you into a heap of ruins, a land where no one lives.” 9 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: “Even the few who remain in Israel will be picked over again, as when a harvester checks each vine a second time to pick the grapes that were missed.” Israel’s Constant Rebellion 10 To whom can I give warning? Who will listen when I speak? Their ears are closed, and they cannot hear. They scorn the word of the Lord . They don’t want to listen at all. 11 So now I am filled with the Lord ’s fury. Yes, I am tired of holding it in! “I will pour out my fury on children playing in the streets and on gatherings of young men, on husbands and wives and on those who are old and gray. 12 Their homes will be turned over to their enemies, as will their fields and their wives. For I will raise my powerful fist against the people of this land,” says the Lord . 13 “From the least to the greatest, their lives are ruled by greed. From prophets to priests, they are all frauds. 14 They offer superficial treatments for my people’s mortal wound. They give assurances of peace when there is no peace. 15 Are they ashamed of their disgusting actions? Not at all—they don’t even know how to blush! Therefore, they will lie among the slaughtered. They will be brought down when I punish them,” says the Lord . Israel Rejects the LORD’s Way 16 This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, `No, that’s not the road we want!’ 17 I posted watchmen over you who said, `Listen for the sound of the alarm.’ But you replied, `No! We won’t pay attention!’ 18 “Therefore, listen to this, all you nations. Take note of my people’s situation. 19 Listen, all the earth! I will bring disaster on my people. It is the fruit of their own schemes, because they refuse to listen to me. They have rejected my word. 20 There’s no use offering me sweet frankincense from Sheba. Keep your fragrant calamus imported from distant lands! I will not accept your burnt offerings. Your sacrifices have no pleasing aroma for me.” 21 Therefore, this is what the Lord says: “I will put obstacles in my people’s path. Fathers and sons will both fall over them. Neighbors and friends will die together.” An Invasion from the North 22 This is what the Lord says: “Look! A great army coming from the north! A great nation is rising against you from far-off lands. 23 They are armed with bows and spears. They are cruel and show no mercy. They sound like a roaring sea as they ride forward on horses. They are coming in battle formation, planning to destroy you, beautiful Jerusalem.s“ 24 We have heard reports about the enemy, and we wring our hands in fright. Pangs of anguish have gripped us, like those of a woman in labor. 25 Don’t go out to the fields! Don’t travel on the roads! The enemy’s sword is everywhere and terrorizes us at every turn! 26 Oh, my people, dress yourselves in burlap and sit among the ashes. Mourn and weep bitterly, as for the loss of an only son. For suddenly the destroying armies will be upon you! 27 “Jeremiah, I have made you a tester of metals,s that you may determine the quality of my people. 28 They are the worst kind of rebel, full of slander. They are as hard as bronze and iron, and they lead others into corruption. 29 The bellows fiercely fan the flames to burn out the corruption. But it does not purify them, for the wickedness remains. 30 I will label them `Rejected Silver,’ for I, the Lord , am discarding them.”	Run for your lives, get out of Jerusalem.  Sound the alarm, a powerful army is coming – with disaster and destruction! Oh Jerusalem, you are my beautiful and delicate daughter – but I will destroy you. Enemies will surround you, like shepherds.  Each chooses a place for their troops to devour.  They shout, “Prepare for battle!  We attack at noon!” No, it’s too late, well then, let’s attack at night and destroy her palaces. God, Himself gives instruction for battle. This is the city to be punished, for she is wicked, through and through.  She spouts evil like a fountain.  Her streets echo with the sounds of violence and destruction.  I always see her sickness and sores. Listen Jerusalem, or I will turn from you in disgust.  Listen, or I will turn you into a heap of ruins, a land where no one lives. Even the few who remain will be picked over again. Who will listen to this warning?  Their ears are closed.  They scorn the word of the Lord and they don’t want to listen.  So, now there is fury – God is tired of holding it in. Children, young men, husbands and wives – all will receive the pouring out of my fury.  Even those who are old and gray.  Their homes will be turned over to their enemies, as will their fields and their wives.  I will raise up a powerful fist against the people of this land, says the Lord. From the least to the greatest, their lives are ruled by greed.  From prophets to priests, they are all frauds.  They offer superficial treatments for the mortal wounds.  They give assurances of peace, when there is not peace. Are they not ashamed of their disgusting actions.  Not at all, they don’t even know how to blush.  Therefore they will lie amond the slaughtered.  They will be brought down when I punish them, says the Lord. Stop at the street corner and look around.  Ask for the old, godly way – and walk in it!  Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, No, that’s not the road we want. I posted watchmen over you who said, Listen for the sound of the alarm. But you replied, No, we won’t pay attention. Therefore, listen to this.  Take note of the situation.  Listen:  I will bring disaster on the people.  It is the fruit of their own schemes, because they refuse to listen to me.  They have rejected my word. There is no use offering sweet perfume.  Keep it.  I will not accept your burnt offerings.  You sacrifices are not pleasing. God will put obstacles in our path.  Everyone will fall over them, everyone will die together. Look!  A great army is coming from the north!  They are planning to destroy us. We are afraid.  Don’t go out.  Mourn and weep, as for the loss of an only son.  They are upon you soon. Jeremiah, I have made you a tester of metals, so you may determine the quality of my people.  They are the worst kind, full of slander.  They are as hard as bronze or iron, and they lead others into corruption.  The bellows fan the flames to burn out the corruption, but it does not purify them – for their wickedness remains. I will label them, rejected silver – for I, the Lord, am discarding them.	The title says, Jerusalem’s last warning.  How many warnings does God give them?  How many times do they get a last warning. The other night, my son was being fussy at the dinner table.  He wouldn’t eat, wanted to crawl around in his chair, and generally was being quite disruptive.  His mother had asked, told, and demanded him to obey numerous times – but to know avail. It was at this point that I looked him in the eye and asked, “Do you want to go in timeout?”  Firm, authoritative, and non-anxious. He looked back, much more subdued.  “no.” he weakly replied.  But immediately began to fuss. That’s one, I said.  He subdued – but in a few minutes, began to get restless again.  “Two.” I said. He wasn’t deliberately disobeying, as much as he was restless, tired, and testy.  I was really, really trying to be patient.  On top of that, it is sometimes difficult to know if this is the point where one should draw a line in the sand, or not.  What is willful disobedience, and what is the fussy, tiredness of a two year old boy who doesn’t know which way is up. This is where a parent steps in.  First, it is our job to establish boundaries.  Second, it is our job to be grace-filled and forgiving.  And finally, it is our job to determine the best course of action for the given situation. I didn’t want to punish my son.  I didn’t really want to discipline him.  He really wasn’t bothering me – but he was being disruptive.  Whether I wanted to, or not, it is my responsibility – always – to help him grow up in a way that will honor God. Again, he began to wiggle, fuss, and demand.  I just looked at him – and gave him “the look.“  He settled down.  I was really, really, really trying hard to not say, “three.”  I was giving him a lot of rope – but I didn’t want him to hang himself. As I’ve been reading Jeremiah for the past couple of weeks, I see the same attitude.  He loves His people.  He wants them to succeed.  But they’re not listening to His warnings.  They aren’t stopping their negative behaviors. But what in the world are they doing that is so bad?  From other biblical accounts, we don’t necessarily get the idea that they are like Sodom and Gomorrah – we don’t see the evil of the early Roman centuries.  No. Instead, what I see, is self-sufficiency, pride, arrogance, selfishness, and a lack of mercy and caring for others.  “Sleek and fat,” is the way it was said in chapter 5.  But the worst thing that I can see, is the total abdicating of their role on earth. Israel was raised up to be a blessing to all people (see Genesis 12:1-3).  And someone they had lost sight of this.  All of God’s people are God’s children – He wants a relationship with all of them – not just a few. Instead of taking care of the poor, they bought bigger houses and nicer cars.  Instead of assuring that everyone had proper health care, they spent their money on cosmetic surgery for themselves, and antidepressants.  Instead of taking the good news of Jesus’ death to the world, they chastised their pastors for not spending enough time with the “chosen.” I believe this is where God’s greatest anger came from.  Just like when I see one of my kids mistreat the other, that’s when I tend to get angry – especially when the oldest sibling is picking on the youngest.  “Darling Daughter,” I say in an angry tone.  “What are you doing?  You’re supposed to be helping your little brother, setting an example for him, treating him with a lot of love and patience!” I hear God saying that to Jerusalem.  “What are you people doing!?  You’re supposed to be out their loving your neighbors like yourselves – not to mention, loving me with all your heart and soul!  Stop it!!!” But not only do they not listen, they don’t want to hear him.  They are too caught up in their own drama.  So, God begins to count. “That’s one.”  He says. “That’s two!”  Oh, how he hopes they will repent – which just means to turn around and go the other direction.  He doesn’t want to step in.  He doesn’t want to hurt them.  He doesn’t want to make a scene.  He loves His kids – and He doesn’t want to hurt them. But the damage they are doing to others (“The leading cause of atheism today is when Christians honor God with their mouths but do not honor Him with their lives.” DC Talk) In other words, by doing nothing, God is actually doing more harm, than by stepping in and stopping this arrogant approach of selfish, unrepentant behavior. The church (and nation) are very similar today – to what Jeremiah was seeing. God doesn’t want to say three.  He’s giving us the look.  He sending warnings.  He is shouting at us to stop.  But very soon, he will say, “It is finished.”
Prayer

Dear God.  Yesterday I awoke concerned about how I’d make my next house payment.  It is very frightening, but as I read Jeremiah 5’s message, I got even more frightened.  Why worry about a silly house when we all may lose all of this very soon.

Original.

Teach me how to raise my children so that they will love you with all their heart, and soul, and mind.  Teach me how to teach them to love their neighbors, as much as they love themselves.  Teach us to teach them – how to turn to you, and not themselves, when trouble surrounds them.

Thank you God!

I love you too!

Created for God’s Glory

Scripture	Observations/Paraphrase	Application
Jeremiah 4	August 19, 2009
1 “O Israel,” says the Lord , “if you wanted to return to me, you could. You could throw away your detestable idols and stray away no more. 2 Then when you swear by my name, saying, `As surely as the Lord lives,’ you could do so with truth, justice, and righteousness. Then you would be a blessing to the nations of the world, and all people would come and praise my name.” Coming Judgment against Judah 3 This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: “Plow up the hard ground of your hearts! Do not waste your good seed among thorns. 4 O people of Judah and Jerusalem, surrender your pride and power. Change your hearts before the Lord ,s or my anger will burn like an unquenchable fire because of all your sins. 5 “Shout to Judah, and broadcast to Jerusalem! Tell them to sound the alarm throughout the land: `Run for your lives! Flee to the fortified cities!’ 6 Raise a signal flag as a warning for Jerusalem: `Flee now! Do not delay!’ For I am bringing terrible destruction upon you from the north.” 7 A lion stalks from its den, a destroyer of nations. It has left its lair and is headed your way. It’s going to devastate your land! Your towns will lie in ruins, with no one living in them anymore. 8 So put on clothes of mourning and weep with broken hearts, for the fierce anger of the Lord is still upon us. 9 “In that day,” says the Lord , “the king and the officials will tremble in fear. The priests will be struck with horror, and the prophets will be appalled.” 10 Then I said, “O Sovereign Lord , the people have been deceived by what you said, for you promised peace for Jerusalem. But the sword is held at their throats!” 11 The time is coming when the Lord will say to the people of Jerusalem, “My dear people, a burning wind is blowing in from the desert, and it’s not a gentle breeze useful for winnowing grain. 12 It is a roaring blast sent by me! Now I will pronounce your destruction!” 13 Our enemy rushes down on us like storm clouds! His chariots are like whirlwinds. His horses are swifter than eagles. How terrible it will be, for we are doomed! 14 O Jerusalem, cleanse your heart that you may be saved. How long will you harbor your evil thoughts? 15 Your destruction has been announced from Dan and the hill country of Ephraim. 16 “Warn the surrounding nations and announce this to Jerusalem: The enemy is coming from a distant land, raising a battle cry against the towns of Judah. 17 They surround Jerusalem like watchmen around a field, for my people have rebelled against me,” says the Lord . 18 “Your own actions have brought this upon you. This punishment is bitter, piercing you to the heart!” Jeremiah Weeps for His People 19 My heart, my heart—I writhe in pain! My heart pounds within me! I cannot be still. For I have heard the blast of enemy trumpets and the roar of their battle cries. 20 Waves of destruction roll over the land, until it lies in complete desolation. Suddenly my tents are destroyed; in a moment my shelters are crushed. 21 How long must I see the battle flags and hear the trumpets of war? 22 “My people are foolish and do not know me,” says the Lord . “They are stupid children who have no understanding. They are clever enough at doing wrong, but they have no idea how to do right!” Jeremiah’s Vision of Coming Disaster 23 I looked at the earth, and it was empty and formless. I looked at the heavens, and there was no light. 24 I looked at the mountains and hills, and they trembled and shook. 25 I looked, and all the people were gone. All the birds of the sky had flown away. 26 I looked, and the fertile fields had become a wilderness. The towns lay in ruins, crushed by the Lord ’s fierce anger. 27 This is what the Lord says: “The whole land will be ruined, but I will not destroy it completely. 28 The earth will mourn and the heavens will be draped in black because of my decree against my people. I have made up my mind and will not change it.” 29 At the noise of charioteers and archers, the people flee in terror. They hide in the bushes and run for the mountains. All the towns have been abandoned— not a person remains! 30 What are you doing, you who have been plundered? Why do you dress up in beautiful clothing and put on gold jewelry? Why do you brighten your eyes with mascara? Your primping will do you no good! The allies who were your lovers despise you and seek to kill you. 31 I hear a cry, like that of a woman in labor, the groans of a woman giving birth to her first child. It is beautiful Jerusalem gasping for breath and crying out, “Help! I’m being murdered!”	The Lord says that Jerusalem is welcome to return at anytime.  Just throw away the idols and don’t stray anymore. If you do so, with truth, justice, and righteousness – you will be a blessing to the nations of the world – and all the people will come and praise my name. God says this to Judah and Jerusalem.  Don’t waste your seed among thorns.  Surrender your pride and power.  Change your hearts, or my anger will burn like an unquenchable fire. Shout, and sound the alarm!  Run for your lives, flee to the fortified cities.  Flee now, do not delay.  Terrible destruction is coming from the North. A lion stalks, headed your way to devastate your land.  Your towns will lie in ruin – no one will live in them anymore. Put on clothes of mourning and weep with broken hearts.  The fierce anger of the Lord is upon us. In that day, the leaders will tremble in fear.  The pastors will be struck with horror.  The prophets will be appalled. But, the people have been deceived.  Peace was promised, but the sword is at their throats. A time is coming, “My dear people,” a burning wind is blowing – not a gentle breeze, it is a roaring blast sent by God – “Now I will pronounce your destruction.” The enemy rushes down on us like storm clouds.  Fast, swift, and terrible.  We are doomed. Oh Jerusalem, cleanse your heart that you may be saved.  Don’t harbor evil thoughts.  Your destruction will be announced from the hilltops. Warn the surrounding nations and announce this.  The enemy is coming from a distant land, they will surround us.  My people have rebelled against God. “Your own actions brought this upon you – this punishment is bitter, piercing you to the heart.” Jeremiah weeps and writhes in pain.  My heart pounds – I cannot be still.  I have heard the blast of the trumpets – and the roar of the enemy’s battle cries.  Destruction rolls over the land.  Everything is destroyed and crushed.  How long must I witness this? My people are foolish – they don’t know me, says God – they are stupid children without understanding.  They are clever enough at doing wrong, but have no idea how to do it right! I looked, and the earth was empty and formless.  There was no light from the heavens.  The mountains and hills trembled.  The people were gone, the birds had flown away.  The fields had become wilderness.  The towns were in ruin – crushed by the Lord’s anger. The Lord says, the whole land will be ruined – but I will not destroy it completely, says the Lord.  The earth will mourn – and the heavens will be draped in black – because of God’s decree – and he will not change His mind. When the people hear the approaching army, they will flee in a panic.  The will hide in the bushes, run for the mountains, and will abandon the cities.  Not a person will remain. God asks, what we are doing.  We act like we’ve just plundered someone.  We dress in beautiful clothing, put on Gold jewelry – but our primping will do no good.  Our lovers will be our enemies. I hear a cry – a painful cry.  It is beautiful Jerusalem, gasping for breath and crying out: “Help!  I’m being murdered.!”	God doesn’t hold grudges.  He just wants whaat is best for us.  Like a parent, if our child quits  doing naughty things, we embrace them and send them on their way. If they don’t stop making poor choices, we have to find methods to convince them that continuing on that path is not a good one. I see here, the promise given to Abraham, re-spoken.  The blessings from God were not so much for the benefit of Israel.  God wanted to bless everyone on Earth – and He chose Israel to exemplify that relationship.  Ultimately though – it isn’t for the people, it is for the glory of God.  I’m not sure why we make this about ourselves – it is about the two great commandments: 1) God, 2) others. He continues to call us out of the danger zone.  To let go of the pride and power, and change our hearts – this is where the real change needs to take place. Jeremiah, from God, continues to try and wake the people up.  Shout and sound the alarm – run for your lives! At the very least, we can mourn for our sorry state of affairs. Jeremiah paints a vision of the future.  Leaders, pastors, prophets will all be terrified.  But why not now? He says the people have been deceived.  They’ve been told that peace is their destiny, but there is a sword to their throat.  EGW says that in these last days, there will be people who proclaim “Peace, peace,” but to avoid them. It seems as if those who get elected in a political system, have to cry peace, peace.  Those that tell the truth, Like George Bush, Sr. did (eg; he will raise taxes), will not get reelected.  Those that portray a vision of growth, safety, freedom, and prosperity – well, they are the ones who keep their positions. I am amazed that a church that teaches end-time events as a part of their core and substance, does not understand the implications of these end-times?  They seem to think that everything will be fine until Jesus comes.  They seem to think that there is nothing they must do to prepare for His return.  Just keep on doing what we’ve always done – and we’ll go home with Jesus in the end. But God is telling us here to cleanse our hearts so we can be saved.  We must proclaim the warning and quit rebelling against God! It is our own actions that has brought this upon us. Jeremiah weeps in pain.  This passage has caused me pause.  Jeremiah portrays his emotions deeply.  I don’t know if he was this expressive verbally – I certainly am not.  However, inside, this passion shouts from my soul. But somehow, in shouting that we need to awaken and that we need to make changes has led people to decide that I don’t love them.  This has been one of the most troubling and confusing issues for me. If I didn’t love them – from God’s heart, why would I care. But this is where I get my answer.  Even God says they are foolish and stupid.  If He thinks that, why do I believe I can get through to them. The whole earth is doomed.  But we will most likely wait until the last minute and we will cry out – “I am being murdered!”
Prayer

Dear God, help me to speak more clearly the repentance that must occur.  Teach me to be more patient with those who don’t get it.  Help me to change my heart and motives and to follow you always!

G

Original Post here.

Be My Children Again

Scripture	Observations/Paraphrase	Application
Jeremiah 3	August 18, 2009
1 “If a man divorces a woman and she goes and marries someone else, he will not take her back again, for that would surely corrupt the land. But you have prostituted yourself with many lovers, so why are you trying to come back to me?” says the Lord . 2 “Look at the shrines on every hilltop. Is there any place you have not been defiled by your adultery with other gods? You sit like a prostitute beside the road waiting for a customer. You sit alone like a nomad in the desert. You have polluted the land with your prostitution and your wickedness. 3 That’s why even the spring rains have failed. For you are a brazen prostitute and completely shameless. 4 Yet you say to me, `Father, you have been my guide since my youth. 5 Surely you won’t be angry forever! Surely you can forget about it!’ So you talk, but you keep on doing all the evil you can.” Judah Follows Israel’s Example 6 During the reign of King Josiah, the Lord said to me, “Have you seen what fickle Israel has done? Like a wife who commits adultery, Israel has worshiped other gods on every hill and under every green tree.7 I thought, `After she has done all this, she will return to me.’ But she did not return, and her faithless sister Judah saw this.8 She saw that I divorced faithless Israel because of her adultery. But that treacherous sister Judah had no fear, and now she, too, has left me and given herself to prostitution.9 Israel treated it all so lightly—she thought nothing of committing adultery by worshiping idols made of wood and stone. So now the land has been polluted.10 But despite all this, her faithless sister Judah has never sincerely returned to me. She has only pretended to be sorry. I, the Lord , have spoken!” Hope for Wayward Israel 11 Then the Lord said to me, “Even faithless Israel is less guilty than treacherous Judah!12 Therefore, go and give this message to Israel.s This is what the Lord says: “O Israel, my faithless people, come home to me again, for I am merciful. I will not be angry with you forever. 13 Only acknowledge your guilt. Admit that you rebelled against the Lord your God and committed adultery against him by worshiping idols under every green tree. Confess that you refused to listen to my voice. I, the Lord , have spoken! 14 “Return home, you wayward children,” says the Lord , “for I am your master. I will bring you back to the land of Israels— one from this town and two from that family— from wherever you are scattered. 15 And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will guide you with knowledge and understanding. 16 “And when your land is once more filled with people,” says the Lord , “you will no longer wish for `the good old days’ when you possessed the Ark of the Lord ’s Covenant. You will not miss those days or even remember them, and there will be no need to rebuild the Ark.17 In that day Jerusalem will be known as `The Throne of the Lord .’ All nations will come there to honor the Lord . They will no longer stubbornly follow their own evil desires.18 In those days the people of Judah and Israel will return together from exile in the north. They will return to the land I gave their ancestors as an inheritance forever. 19 “I thought to myself, `I would love to treat you as my own children!’ I wanted nothing more than to give you this beautiful land— the finest possession in the world. I looked forward to your calling me `Father,’ and I wanted you never to turn from me. 20 But you have been unfaithful to me, you people of Israel! You have been like a faithless wife who leaves her husband. I, the Lord , have spoken.” 21 Voices are heard high on the windswept mountains, the weeping and pleading of Israel’s people. For they have chosen crooked paths and have forgotten the Lord their God. 22 “My wayward children,” says the Lord , “come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts.” “Yes, we’re coming,” the people reply, “for you are the Lord our God. 23 Our worship of idols on the hills and our religious orgies on the mountains are a delusion. Only in the Lord our God will Israel ever find salvation. 24 From childhood we have watched as everything our ancestors worked for— their flocks and herds, their sons and daughters— was squandered on a delusion. 25 Let us now lie down in shame and cover ourselves with dishonor, for we and our ancestors have sinned against the Lord our God. From our childhood to this day we have never obeyed him.”	A man won’t take back a woman whom he has divorced, so why would he take back one who has prostituted herself with many lovers?  Why is Israel trying to come back to God? You can see shrines on every hilltop where this prostitution has taken place.  Even now, we sit like prostitutes beside the road – waiting for the next customer. We have polluted the land with this prostitution. This is why it doesn’t rain in the Spring. You say, but you’ve always been my guide, my father, you won’t be angry forever, but there is no stopping the evil behavior. Because Israel treated this all so lightly, no even Judah is following in these steps of prostitution. But even as Israel has repented, yet returned to her evil, Judah saw this was all so common, that she never sincerely returned and only pretended to be sorry. Israel is faithless, but Judah is treacherous. The Lord says, “Oh my faithless people, come home to me, again – I am merciful.  I will not be angry forever.  Just acknowledge your guilt, admit you rebelled and committed adultery by worshiping idols.  Confess that you refused to listen.” “Return home, my wayward children.” Say the Lord. “For I am your master and I will bring you back to the land.  I will give you leaders after my own heart who will guide you with knowledge and understanding.” When the land is filled again with people, you will no longer wish for “the good’ol days” when you possessed the Ark.  You won’t need to rebuild the Ark, for Jerusalem will be known as “The Throne of the Lord.”  All nations will come to honor God.  They won’t stubbornly follow their own desires.  Judah and Israel will return from Exile.  They will return to the land given their ancestors. God would love to treat us as His own children.  He wants to give us this land – the finest in the World.  He wants us to call Him Father, and not turn from Him. But we have been unfaithful.  Like a faithless wife who leaves her husband. The voices of God’s people are heard on high.  Weeping, pleading – for we have chosen crooked paths and have forgotten our Lord. Come back, Says God.  I will heal you. We are coming.  You are our God.  Our religious orgies were a delusion.  We can only find salvation in you.  We have seen everything squandered in delusion. We now lie down in shame and cover ourselves in dishonor.  We and our ancestors have sinned against God.  We have never obeyed.	I have always compared marriage to our relationship with God.  This symbol, between a man and a woman is sacred – for many reasons.  It is sacred because it is the closest any human can be to another.  It is sacred because it represents the relationship we have (or could have) with God. When we prostitute ourselves – spiritually, physically, or emotionally – we are polluted.  Many will say that sex in and of itself is not evil.  One should be able to be sexual with whomever they please – it doesn’t hurt anyone and it is no different than a hug. I disagree.  As a refugee from the sexual revolution, take my word for it – it leaves scars.  I have seen the scars I left in others, and I have been left wounded from the encounters others had with me. (but that’s another story) When the verse talks about a prostitute waiting by the road, it makes me think of Judah’s daughter-in-law.  He thought she was a prostitute, because of where he encountered her – but in reality, he was the one prostituting himself with the first woman who came along. No rain in the Spring.  Reminds me of Elijah and the drought.  Was this drought a punishment from God – or just a way to wake them up to their needs.  I see us currently in a spiritual drought, because of our disobedience.  We are not going to experience the Latter Rain until we repent of our actions, deeds, and intentions. Our leadership, our actions cause others to fall also.  The lack of spirituality in the church testifies greatly of a lack of faith.  We treat our relationship with God so lightly, that others toss God off like so much bad advice.  We give fuel to atheists and other unbelievers.  Because our relationship with God is so polluted, they see no reason to even draw near to Him. But even when we repent, the unbeliever never sees the need fully. We may be faithless, but Judah is treacherous.  This is a scary reality.  What have we done?  What monsters have we created. I see this in our kids.  Because of faithless parents, our kids are treacherous. But God still says, come home.  Acknowledge our guilt, repent, he will take us back. This was the message I was trying to preach.  I wanted us to acknowledge our guilt, our lukewarm approach, our sinfulness.  Repent, cast ourselves before God and be healed. It seemed as if people got hung up on the “we are sinners” part of this message, but coulldn’t see what it would take to get back into a right relationship with God. It’s not enough to just say, “Yeah, you’re right. I’m a sinner.  I’m sorry.  Now what?” There has to be a deep repentance, a deep remorse, and a deep healing.  This isn’t something that happens in a few minutes.  This is also why I believe my former church is the loser in all of this.  Not only were they unwilling to go here, but they no have turned their backs on this invitation.  It is going to be even harder next time. God’s promises, for when we return to Him are glorious.  Great gifts.  He wants so much to bestow great things on us.  He wants that love relationship that is so deep. Yes, we’ve been unfaithful, but if we’re willing, God will embrace us and have that closeness like none other.
Prayer

Dear Lord, please help me to forgive.  It isn’t me that they were rejecting.  It was You.  They want to make it look like it was me – to assuage their guilt.  But it is your love vs. their love of the World.  Help me to let go.

See Original here.

The Message

Scripture	Observations/Paraphrase	Application
Jeremiah 2	August 15, 2009
The LORD’s Case against His People 1 The Lord gave me another message. He said,2 “Go and shout this message to Jerusalem. This is what the Lord says: “I remember how eager you were to please me as a young bride long ago, how you loved me and followed me even through the barren wilderness. 3 In those days Israel was holy to the Lord , the first of his children.s All who harmed his people were declared guilty, and disaster fell on them. I, the Lord , have spoken!” 4 Listen to the word of the Lord , people of Jacob—all you families of Israel!5 This is what the Lord says: “What did your ancestors find wrong with me that led them to stray so far from me? They worshiped worthless idols, only to become worthless themselves. 6 They did not ask, `Where is the Lord who brought us safely out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness— a land of deserts and pits, a land of drought and death, where no one lives or even travels?’ 7 “And when I brought you into a fruitful land to enjoy its bounty and goodness, you defiled my land and corrupted the possession I had promised you. 8 The priests did not ask, `Where is the Lord ?’ Those who taught my word ignored me, the rulers turned against me, and the prophets spoke in the name of Baal, wasting their time on worthless idols. 9 Therefore, I will bring my case against you,” says the Lord . “I will even bring charges against your children’s children in the years to come. 10 “Go west and look in the land of Cypruss; go east and search through the land of Kedar. Has anyone ever heard of anything as strange as this? 11 Has any nation ever traded its gods for new ones, even though they are not gods at all? Yet my people have exchanged their glorious Gods for worthless idols! 12 The heavens are shocked at such a thing and shrink back in horror and dismay,” says the Lord . 13 “For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me— the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all! The Results of Israel’s Sin 14 “Why has Israel become a slave? Why has he been carried away as plunder? 15 Strong lions have roared against him, and the land has been destroyed. The towns are now in ruins, and no one lives in them anymore. 16 Egyptians, marching from their cities of Memphiss and Tahpanhes, have destroyed Israel’s glory and power. 17 And you have brought this upon yourselves by rebelling against the Lord your God, even though he was leading you on the way! 18 “What have you gained by your alliances with Egypt and your covenants with Assyria? What good to you are the streams of the Niles or the waters of the Euphrates River?s 19 Your wickedness will bring its own punishment. Your turning from me will shame you. You will see what an evil, bitter thing it is to abandon the Lord your God and not to fear him. I, the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken! 20 “Long ago I broke the yoke that oppressed you and tore away the chains of your slavery, but still you said, `I will not serve you.’ On every hill and under every green tree, you have prostituted yourselves by bowing down to idols. 21 But I was the one who planted you, choosing a vine of the purest stock—the very best. How did you grow into this corrupt wild vine? 22 No amount of soap or lye can make you clean. I still see the stain of your guilt. I, the Sovereign Lord , have spoken! Israel, an Unfaithful Wife 23 “You say, `That’s not true! I haven’t worshiped the images of Baal!’ But how can you say that? Go and look in any valley in the land! Face the awful sins you have done. You are like a restless female camel desperately searching for a mate. 24 You are like a wild donkey, sniffing the wind at mating time. Who can restrain her lust? Those who desire her don’t need to search, for she goes running to them! 25 When will you stop running? When will you stop panting after other gods? But you say, `Save your breath. I’m in love with these foreign gods, and I can’t stop loving them now!’ 26 “Israel is like a thief who feels shame only when he gets caught. They, their kings, officials, priests, and prophets— all are alike in this. 27 To an image carved from a piece of wood they say, `You are my father.’ To an idol chiseled from a block of stone they say, `You are my mother.’ They turn their backs on me, but in times of trouble they cry out to me, `Come and save us!’ 28 But why not call on these gods you have made? When trouble comes, let them save you if they can! For you have as many gods as there are towns in Judah. 29 Why do you accuse me of doing wrong? You are the ones who have rebelled,” says the Lord . 30 “I have punished your children, but they did not respond to my discipline. You yourselves have killed your prophets as a lion kills its prey. 31 “O my people, listen to the words of the Lord ! Have I been like a desert to Israel? Have I been to them a land of darkness? Why then do my people say, `At last we are free from God! We don’t need him anymore!’ 32 Does a young woman forget her jewelry? Does a bride hide her wedding dress? Yet for years on end my people have forgotten me. 33 “How you plot and scheme to win your lovers. Even an experienced prostitute could learn from you! 34 Your clothing is stained with the blood of the innocent and the poor, though you didn’t catch them breaking into your houses! 35 And yet you say, `I have done nothing wrong. Surely God isn’t angry with me!’ But now I will punish you severely because you claim you have not sinned. 36 First here, then there— you flit from one ally to another asking for help. But your new friends in Egypt will let you down, just as Assyria did before. 37 In despair, you will be led into exile with your hands on your heads, for the Lord has rejected the nations you trust. They will not help you at all.	God gives Jeremiah another message to share with the people. Starting with the history of the people, God recounts the young love that was shared.  An eagerness and a willingness to follow. The Lord shares how he treated the people as holy and he protected them – especially when other nations harmed Israel. “Listen,” God says. God wants to know what the people found to be wrong with God?  Why did their ancestors stray?  They worshiped worthless idols and became worthless themselves. The were not seeking God.  They weren’t longing for Him. Even after God brought them great gifts, they defiled those gifts.  The teachers ignored God and the leaders turned against Him.  The prophets spoke in the name of a false God. Therefore, God says, I will bring charges against you, your children, and your children’s children. * God asks them to look around – has any other nation swapped out their gods?  Even though, they are merely superstitious idols – they don’t abandon them. Yet, God’s people have done this! The heavens are shocked and dismayed – they shrink back in horror. God says, His people have done two evil things.  First, they abandoned him – the fountain of living water.  Second, they have dug their own wells – cracked wells that can’t hold water. Now, here are the results.  They have been carried away as plunder, the land has been destroyed, the towns are ruined.  Egypt has destroyed their power and glory. But, they have brought this on themselves. God wants to know what they’ve gained from these unholy alliances? Your choices – your bad choices will bring their own punishment.  You will see bitterness and evil as a result.  You will find that losing the fear (respect) of God is a bad thing. God has spoken. Long ago, God released us from bondage and the yoke of oppression.  He set us free from our slavery.  However, we prostitute ourselves everywhere. Though He carefully selected Abraham, somehow we grew to be a corrupt vine.  No amount of soap will make us clean or remove our guilt. God sees the stain of guilt. He has spoken. But we say, “That’s not true.” We haven’t worshiped false gods. God says, “Go look.”  We are like a female camel looking for a mate – desperately!  Like a wild donkey, sniffing the wind at mating time – our lust cannot be restrained. God wants to know when we’ll stop panting after other gods.  But we say, we are in love with these other gods and we can’t stop loving them now. We are like a thief that only feels shame when we are caught.  Everyone is guilty – kings, priests, officials, prophets.  Everyone. We call wood and stone our parents – but when things get really tough, we run to God! For some reason we don’t trust the wood and stone with the real issues – we don’t believe they will save us.  We have as many gods as we do towns in Judah. We accuse God of doing wrong – when actually, it was us who rebelled. We don’t respond to His punishments – and we have killed the prophets. God wants to know why you won’t listen?  Is he like a desert – a land of darkness? Probably not, but you say you are free and you don’t need Him anymore. Does a woman forget her valuables?  Does she hide her bridal dress?  Yet, God’s people forget Him. We plot and scheme to win other lovers.  Experienced prostitutes could learn from us.  Our clothing is stained with the blood of the innocent and poor. We continue to say, we’ve done nothing wrong.  Surely God isn’t angry with US! But God says He will punish us – severely – because we claim we’ve done nothing wrong. We go from one ally to another asking for help – but our new friends continue to let us down. In despair, we will be led into exile, for God has rejected the nations we put our trust in.  They won’t be any help at all!	This is the message I’ve been called to preach.  I see it so clearly.  It isn’t a message i want to preach.  But, really, I’m just the messenger. As I’ve struggled with my own spirituality for the past 30+ years, I’ve not found the answers I’ve looked for. First, it was religion via rules.  Follow the rules and everything will be OK.  But I couldn’t keep the rules – it was too much.  So then they told me to make sure I confess my failures and the slate would be wiped clean – but what if I lost track?  What if I missed one?  I was screwed! So, I chucked it all.  I sought a life of absolute freedom.  I will make my own rules, I will do my own thing.  That worked for awhile – I remember dancing with glee.  I had discovered an unburdened life.  It was awesome.  For awhile. Pretty son, the method became my prison.  I couldn’t stop.  I couldn’t get out of the rut.  They call this addiction.  Sex, drugs, Rock’n Roll.  It was terrible.  I was in a pit of despair and I couldn’t get out! So, after several failed attempts at different brands of spiritual enlightenment, I went back to church.  How depressing.  Really.  There was no Spirit there – no life. So, my mother gave me this advice: “You don’t go to church to receive, you go to give.” My reply was, “but I have nothing to give.” After a long conversation with my brother, where I listed all the things wrong with the church, my brother told me, “You can’t fix it from the outside, you have to fix it from the inside.” So, I took that advice – if you can’t beat them, join them. I have worked hard at this.  Probably too hard.  But like my friend Lawrence says, “there are two reasons I do this, one is biblical, the other is dysfunctional.”  That’s me. I tried to work inside a contemporary foundation, but found it seriously lacking.  I tried working inside of a generational niche, but that didn’t work so well – it was fun, but…  I went to school and learned from the best.  I read a couple hundred books, went to seminars, attended presentations, subscribed to newsletters, listened, watched, learned, traveled, and investigated. Then, with all that energy and insight, they put me in a church that was just fine the way they are, “thank you very much.”  I couldn’t wait to get out of there, and the feeling was mutual.  I tell people, it nearly killed me and it nearly killed them. And yet…  There were some true seekers in that church.  They wept when we left.  They wept for a long time. Then we were given the opportunity to start a church from scratch.  “Yay!” I shouted.  “Finally, we’ll correct all the errors.” We built the church from the ground up – a church without walls, so-to-speak.  We designed it with much prayer, a deep commitment to be used by God, and a deep desire to reach out to the unchurched seekers.  For some odd reason, we thought the unchurched would come running – “Finally, a church that gets it!”  We also thought the denomination would start throwing resources our way – “Finally, a church that knows how to reach the unchurched!” None of that happened. Well, some of it happened.  We were reaching the unchurched – we just needed more time.  Our funding was only for 5 years.  The majority of those attending our community of faith, were from unchurched backgrounds – many 12-steppers and recovering addicts.  Though our attendance was averaging a mere 100, we had an actual congregation size of around 150-200 and our reach was around 400. If given another few years, I believe we could have crested the wave.  But we needed more resources.  We needed a second pastor. In the long run though, the unchurched have such a prejudice against church, that they really don’t want anything to do with anything that even looks like church.  The church has such a fear of apostasy, that they don’t want anything to do with anything outside of the mainstream. So, that brings us back to the present.  Given the opportunity to pastor a church in a traditional format, we thought it would be easy.  We thought we could just be ourselves and not wrestle with the big issues.  We thought our fellow believers would cradle us in comfort and security. Unfortunately, what we found was a deep-seated mediocrity.  It was so hard to overlook.  I felt God calling me to preach repentance and commitment. It was really interesting.  The people on the “fringe” – those that weren’t a part of leadership and had no real voice in the church, they responded well to this clarion call.  People would come to me with tears in their eyes.  Thanking me for the courage to speak the truth.  Thanking me for speaking up.  Thanking me for speaking truth into their lives. Unfortunately, those in leadership tried to shut me down – they thought my message was discouraging and disheartening.  Eventually they were successful in shutting me down.  I was fired. But at least I wasn’t put in prison, stoned, or killed.  I’m still alive. Two days ago, as I prepared to preach to another local congregation, I had an interesting conversation with the Lord.  It was as if He was telling me to continue to preach this message in Scappoose.  Now, I had nothing to lose.  I could return – and unlike other zealots the church has faced in the past – I really have no axe to grind. To me, it’s not about so-called Historical Adventism, or the proper use of Ellen White’s writings.  It’s not about which version of the Bible is correct, whether we eat cheese, or not, or how we pray.  I’m not going to stand up in the worship service and denounce the preacher, I’m not going to hijack Sabbath School classes with some harbinger of “truth.” Instead, it is an opportunity to speak the truth through a life lived in harmony with the Creator and Savior. As I continued to work through this thought, I was reminded of Jesus’ example to shake off the dust.  He also reminded me that He released me from service in Scappoose, a couple of months before I was terminated. However, at this point, I’ve not been released from pastoral ministry.  And I’ve not been released from denominational service. I am called to preach.  I am called to bring Kingdom values into the lives of people.  I am called to help people truly experience God. Saturday morning, I went and preached.  The reception was good – and once again I was affirmed that the message is clear. We live in a day, not much unlike the days of Jeremiah.  We have turned our backs on God – if not fully, we don’t fully commit to Him.  It is time to let go of the distractions, and move forward.
Prayer

Father God, just for today, help me to walk with courage and transparency. Let my words be few.

* In my opinion, this isn’t because God is mean and vindictive, but because the actions of our ancestors affect their children.  For instance, when my great-grandparents decided to come to Oregon in the 1880s, that forever had a determination on my life.  I love it in Oregon, but I often wonder what my life would have been like in Wisconsin – or to take it further back, in England, or Germany?

When God imposed something on His people, it was bound to affect multiple generations.  He was just recognizing it here.

Hear His Calling

Scripture	Observations/Paraphrase	Application
Jeremiah 1	August 14, 2009
Jeremiah 1 1 These are the words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests from the town of Anathoth in the land of Benjamin.2 The Lord first gave messages to Jeremiah during the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah.s3 The Lord ’s messages continued throughout the reign of King Jehoiakim, Josiah’s son, until the eleventh year of the reign of King Zedekiah, another of Josiah’s sons. In Augusts of that eleventh year the people of Jerusalem were taken away as captives. Jeremiah’s Call and First Visions 4 The Lord gave me this message: 5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” 6 “O Sovereign Lord ,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!” 7 The Lord replied, “Don’t say, `I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you.8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord , have spoken!”9 Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth! 10 Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant.” 11 Then the Lord said to me, “Look, Jeremiah! What do you see?” And I replied, “I see a branch from an almond tree.” 12 And the Lord said, “That’s right, and it means that I am watching, and I will certainly carry out all my plans.” 13 Then the Lord spoke to me again and asked, “What do you see now?” And I replied, “I see a pot of boiling water, spilling from the north.” 14 “Yes,” the Lord said, “for terror from the north will boil out on the people of this land.15 Listen! I am calling the armies of the kingdoms of the north to come to Jerusalem. I, the Lord , have spoken! “They will set their thrones at the gates of the city. They will attack its walls and all the other towns of Judah. 16 I will pronounce judgment on my people for all their evil— for deserting me and burning incense to other gods. Yes, they worship idols made with their own hands! 17 “Get up and prepare for action. Go out and tell them everything I tell you to say. Do not be afraid of them, or I will make you look foolish in front of them. 18 For see, today I have made you strong like a fortified city that cannot be captured, like an iron pillar or a bronze wall. You will stand against the whole land— the kings, officials, priests, and people of Judah. 19 They will fight you, but they will fail. For I am with you, and I will take care of you. I, the Lord , have spoken!”	Josiah was eight when he assumed the role of king and Jeremiah began hearing from God in Josiah’s 13th year of reign.  That means Josiah would have been about 21.  This gave Jeremiah about 18 years to preach before Josiah is killed by Pharaoh Neco II. Josiah instituted many reforms and got rid of the symbols of idolatry.  But at his death, the downward slide of Judah began to take over. There is no doubt that the Lord was talking to Jeremiah.  He is regarded as one of the two great prophets , but Christians, Jews, and Islam. God tells him, I’ve known you for a long time – before you were even born – and I’m the one that formed you there.  I am your creator! But, in typical fashion, Jeremiah, like many before and after him, claims to be unqualified. In this case, he states his youth as a limiting factor. Rarely does God take no for an answer though.  No excuses here, he just says “Go. Don’t be afraid, say what I tell you to say, and I will protect you.” And then the hand of God touches Jeremiah.  Unlike Isaiah’s experience, or others, we aren’t told of how Jeremiah reacted.  However, God goes on to tell Jeremiah his role and authority to carry out that role. We often think that the servants of the Lord are only to bring blessings.  But here, God says he’ll also  be tearing down, destroying, and overthrowing.  Others, he will build up and plant. God tells him that He is watching and God’s plans will be carried out – like an almond tree that grows, because that’s what it was supposed to do. Then Jeremiah is told of God’s plans to send an invading army from the north.  Like a pot of boiling water, it is ready and already spilling out. God tells Jeremiah that the people are going to experience discipline (judgment) for their  disobedience. The invading armies will attack. And yet, God is fortifying Jeremiah.  He will be made strong – unless he cowers – if he  is afraid, he will look like a fool. God has made him strong like an iron pillar or a bronze wall.  He will stand against the whole land.  They will fight him, but they will fail – because God said so.	I don’t remember exactly when I first believed that I was being called to lead, but I know it goes way back into my childhood.  I was raised in a secular home though – and really didn’t have much of a concept of God. Around the age of 14-15, though I was pretty nerdy and shy, people began to seek me out to speak and lead in  spiritual matters.  But without a good foundation, I ran away for awhile. Over the last 15+ years, God has been actively prodding me to speak.  I seem to see things that others don’t.  I have big picture ideas in my head that seem to get lost in the busyness we call life. Probably the scariest of all these impressions is that the church, the organized church, is missing the point.  People have not torn down their idols  or high places.  They continue to walk in two places, serving polytheistic gods.  They are unwilling to let go of their humanistic idols. Much like Jeremiah, I argue with God.  First, I don’t have the education necessary to do this.  Theologically, I’ll get blown out of the water by those who can quote Greek and Hebrew – or who know the Bible  through and through. Yet, I hear God saying, to me, through this passage is, “So what?”  Since when did education have anything to do with success?  I can use you if you let me use you – but otherwise, you’ll just look foolish. I’ve been touched by God before, but I let the cares, stressors, and idolatry get in the way.  I begin to lose sight of that moment. Upon arriving in this area, I was shocked at the state of the church.  I didn’t want to, but I had to say something.  It wasn’t my choice. What I find confusing is that despite God’s promises to protect, I still lost my job.  Now, granted, I wasn’t stoned, hung, crucified, or murdered in some other horrible way, but losing my paycheck and health insurance is still pretty scary. I wonder when this will be, but I’m pretty sure Jeremiah had the same questions. I am convinced that I need to look at these promises differently.  God doesn’t say that Jeremiah won’t be harmed.  Only that they will fail and he won’t be captured. I need to see this spiritually.  I’ve always felt that the forces were not “flesh and blood” but powers of Satan.  I believe that Satan was trying to destroy my spirituality and stop the message I was preaching.  And, granted, there were times when I did hesitate, or was in bondage so I couldn’t speak – but I will never stop. I may be wounded, but the Word of God will prevail! What I hear, in this passage is that  my courage and willingness to be obedient is what keeps me from looking foolish.  And yet, isn’t it just like God to ask someone to do something foolish, so they won’t look foolish.  For isn’t preaching a message of repentance pretty foolish in an age when people just want to be told that everything is fine?

Father God,

For several months I’ve been wanting to dive into Jeremiah’s story.  I’ve felt this leading from you.  I’m sorry it’s taken so long.  I see so many similarities between this story and what happened to me here.  I have 100 excuses, but none of them valid.  Please forgive me for taking so long.  I sometimes wonder if I would have been more bold if I had taken this up – or less.  Maybe I wouldn’t have felt so beaten up and attacked?  Either way, those days are passed and I’m ready to hear your words.

As I stated above, one of ny biggest questions centers around the idea that “no harm will come to me.” While this seems to be a popular myth within the church world, I really don’t see any basis for it in the Bible accounts.  Some seem to think that being in Your Will is the safest place on earth.  I don’t believe that – in my head.  However, my heart wants to believe that.

Instead, what I believe is that “they can kill the body, but not the Spirit.“  They may hurt me, kill me, or worse, make my life a living Hell – but they can never take away your love and grace.  Being a melancholy though, I have a real propensity to give it up.  Sometimes it just doesn’t feel like I want to keep doing this – I just want to crawl into a cave and be  depressed.  I want to throw away my faith, like I did 30 years ago.  I want to hide from you – as if I could.  I want to quit being so bold about the things I see.

It is hard for me to be in organized churches.  The mediocrity, the majoring in minors, the gossip, the lack of worship – and by that I mean inspired worship.  I want to help – but on the same token, I’m afraid to be me.  For some, like my wife, it’s good enough.  For my kids, it’s really good.  For me, I see it as destructive to your image.

Lord, let me never speak out of my own pain – only out of your calling.

Teach me to rely on you – always.

Thanks God.

I love you too!

G

Afraid of the Dark

Scripture:

Isaiah 50:10-11 Who among you fears the Lord and obeys his servant?  If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the Lord and rely on your God. 11 But watch out, you who live in your own light and warm yourselves by your own fires.  This is the reward you will receive from me: You will soon fall down in great torment.

Observations:

This is the first time I’ve either read, or noticed, the juxtaposition of the fear of God with darkness.  In our culture, the fear of darkness is a socially acceptable phobia.  We acquire it when we are toddlers and some never lose it.  Infants have no fear of darkness, but somewhere around the age of two or three, children begin to fear darkness.

Unfortunately, very few children are taught to fear the Lord.  We do however teach children to be self-sufficient (e.g. the create their own light and warm themselves with their own fires.

Applications:

For several months now, I’ve been trying to create my own heat and light, but without success.  The message I was preaching, the leadership I was offering, and the vision I was casting were from my walk with God.  Sure, I made my share of mistakes, and I’ve sought to make amends for those, but that doesn’t denigrate the path I was blazing.  I’ve never seen myself called to be a manager of the status quo.  I’ve known from the beginning that I was called to push forward and do damage against the kingdom of darkness.

However, when I started to get some push-back, I recanted.  In order to protect my family, in order to protect our source of economic income, I pulled back and quit pushing.  I apologized, I expressed remorse, I sulked, I became depressed and despondent, and I tried hard to stop the inevitable loss of my employment.  In retrospect, I see that I was only trying to kindle my own fire and create heat and light for me and my family.

Reading the above text, the contrast was vivid.  I had to ask myself, why do I fear the darkness more than I fear God?  Why do I fear a loss of income, more than I fear God?  Why do I fear men, more than I fear God?  Why do I fear church leadership, more than I fear God?  Why do I fear mortgage creditors, tax returns, and car repairs more than I fear God?

Just asking those questions, makes me laugh.  Not a violent, mad-scientist laugh, but a chuckle – at my self.  And of course, it begs the question, what does it mean to “fear God?”

Fearing God is about respect.  We fear the darkness because we have a certain respect for the darkness.  While there may or may not be evil lurking in the darkness, we do know that we are limited in the sense that we can’t predict the future by taking in information by sight.  We have to rely on our sense of hearing – and very few of us could adequately identify the sound of a cougar ready to pounce from a tree.  Very few of us could identify the smell of a snake coiled in the brush.  And how many of us could identify the feel of a taste of a spider that accidentally crawled into our mouth?

We have learned to identify these dangers by sight.  Likewise, we have learned to determine our financial security and foundation by thinking logically.  We know that if we have $X in the bank and our income is greater than our expenses, we will be OK.  We know that we need to put so many dollars away each month for retirement.  And we know that as we pay our bills, we will be able to keep our house, cars, and our children fed.  We know this by logic.

However, God’s power, God’s direction, and even God’s presence defy logic, our senses, and our perceptions.  He is able to do above and beyond what we could ever imagine.  Our respect for Him, if we really knew Him, would surpass our respect for money, safety, darkness, security, financial planning, employment, etc.

If we really knew God, as Enoch knew Him.  If we knew God like Moses knew Him.  If we knew God like Elijah knew God – we would never fear the temporal issues of today’s world.

What is really interesting, ironic even, about the story I read earlier in 1 Samuel 4, is how Israel was defeated by the Philistines.  After one rousing battle, they called up the Ark and went to battle with the Ark of the Lord.  They were using it like a superstitious amulet.  God didn’t ask them to do this, instead they were kindling their own fire.

As the battle raged, Eli trembled in fear.  What was he afraid of?  He was afraid for the Ark.  But if that was God’s Ark, and God dwelt there, he shouldn’t have feared.  After the defeat, Eli died.  Eli didn’t really know God.

My fear and respect have to be in God – not myself, or man-made institutions!

Prayer:

Father God.  It’s really all about you, isn’t it.  Not me, but you.  Continue to teach me how to fear and respect you.  Continue to teach me how to not fear the financial insecurity and darkness that lies ahead.

Thanks – I love you too!