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.

Jesus Would be Hanging Out at Starbucks

Scripture:

Luke 15:1-2

1 Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. 2 This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them!

Observations:

Jesus associated with the unchurched, but why? Isn’t a pastor supposed to keep the flock?  And yet here he is, in the taverns, on the streets, hanging out at Starbucks.  So, that caused the Pharisees and other teachers of the Law to complain.

Applications:

I got heat for my time online – over 60% of Western Civilization is online.  I got heat for being in stores – and yet, what better place to find people?  I was given grief for being at Starbucks all the time – but that’s where the current culture gathers.  Bottom line is, they wanted me to take care of them.  But I saw my job as reaching out to the unchurched.  Those two views did not merge well.

Prayer:

Lord, may I never lose passion for those who don’t know you.

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!

Jeremiah tells us about the “Time of the End”

Scripture	Observations/Paraphrase	Application
Jeremiah 5	August 25,  2009
The Sins of Judah 1 “Run up and down every street in Jerusalem,” says the Lord . “Look high and low; search throughout the city! If you can find even one just and honest person, I will not destroy the city. 2 But even when they are under oath, saying, `As surely as the Lord lives,’ they are still telling lies!” 3 Lord , you are searching for honesty. You struck your people, but they paid no attention. You crushed them, but they refused to be corrected. They are determined, with faces set like stone; they have refused to repent. 4 Then I said, “But what can we expect from the poor? They are ignorant. They don’t know the ways of the Lord . They don’t understand God’s laws. 5 So I will go and speak to their leaders. Surely they know the ways of the Lord and understand God’s laws.” But the leaders, too, as one man, had thrown off God’s yoke and broken his chains. 6 So now a lion from the forest will attack them; a wolf from the desert will pounce on them. A leopard will lurk near their towns, tearing apart any who dare to venture out. For their rebellion is great, and their sins are many. 7 “How can I pardon you? For even your children have turned from me. They have sworn by gods that are not gods at all! I fed my people until they were full. But they thanked me by committing adultery and lining up at the brothels. 8 They are well-fed, lusty stallions, each neighing for his neighbor’s wife. 9 Should I not punish them for this?” says the Lord . “Should I not avenge myself against such a nation? 10 “Go down the rows of the vineyards and destroy the grapevines, leaving a scattered few alive. Strip the branches from the vines, for these people do not belong to the Lord . 11 The people of Israel and Judah are full of treachery against me,” says the Lord . 12 “They have lied about the Lord and said, `He won’t bother us! No disasters will come upon us. There will be no war or famine. 13 God’s prophets are all windbags who don’t really speak for him. Let their predictions of disaster fall on themselves!’” 14 Therefore, this is what the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies says: “Because the people are talking like this, my messages will flame out of your mouth and burn the people like kindling wood. 15 O Israel, I will bring a distant nation against you,” says the Lord . “It is a mighty nation, an ancient nation, a people whose language you do not know, whose speech you cannot understand. 16 Their weapons are deadly; their warriors are mighty. 17 They will devour the food of your harvest; they will devour your sons and daughters. They will devour your flocks and herds; they will devour your grapes and figs. And they will destroy your fortified towns, which you think are so safe. 18 “Yet even in those days I will not blot you out completely,” says the Lord .19 “And when your people ask, `Why did the Lord our God do all this to us?’ you must reply, `You rejected him and gave yourselves to foreign gods in your own land. Now you will serve foreigners in a land that is not your own.’ A Warning for God’s People 20 “Make this announcement to Israel,s and say this to Judah: 21 Listen, you foolish and senseless people, with eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear. 22 Have you no respect for me? Why don’t you tremble in my presence? I, the Lord , define the ocean’s sandy shoreline as an everlasting boundary that the waters cannot cross. The waves may toss and roar, but they can never pass the boundaries I set. 23 But my people have stubborn and rebellious hearts. They have turned away and abandoned me. 24 They do not say from the heart, `Let us live in awe of the Lord our God, for he gives us rain each spring and fall, assuring us of a harvest when the time is right.’ 25 Your wickedness has deprived you of these wonderful blessings. Your sin has robbed you of all these good things. 26 “Among my people are wicked men who lie in wait for victims like a hunter hiding in a blind. They continually set traps to catch people. 27 Like a cage filled with birds, their homes are filled with evil plots. And now they are great and rich. 28 They are fat and sleek, and there is no limit to their wicked deeds. They refuse to provide justice to orphans and deny the rights of the poor. 29 Should I not punish them for this?” says the Lord . “Should I not avenge myself against such a nation? 30 A horrible and shocking thing has happened in this land— 31 the prophets give false prophecies, and the priests rule with an iron hand. Worse yet, my people like it that way! But what will you do when the end comes?	God tells Jeremiah to run up and down every street.  Look high and low and see if you can find even one honest person.  If you can, I will not destroy the city. But even under oath, they lie. God is searching for honesty.  He struck them, but they ignored them.  He crushed them, but they refused to be corrected.  With faces like stone, they are determined and refuse to repent. Jeremiah asks, “what about the poor?” They are ignorant and don’t know God’s laws.  So, he went to the leaders of the poor, but they too had thrown off the yoke of God. So now, a lion from the forest, a wolf from the desert, and a leopard will attack. Their rebellion is great and their sins are many. “How can I pardon you?” God asks. “Even your children have turned from me.  They have sworn by gods that are not gods at all.  I fed my people till they were full, but they thanked me by being adulterous.  They were well-fed, lusty stallions. “Shouldn’t I punish them for this?  Shouldn’t I avenge myself?” Go down and destroy the vineyards and grapevines – leaving a few scattered ones alive.  These people do not belong to the Lord.  They are full of treachery against me.  They have lied about God: “He won’t bother us,” they said.  “No disasters will come to us.  There won’t be war or famine.  God’s prophets are all windbags who don’t really speak for him.  Let their predictions of disaster fall on themselves.” Then God says: “Because the people are talking like this, my messages will flame out of your mouth and burn the people like kindling wood.  I will bring a distant nation against you,” says God.  “It is a mighty nation, an ancient nation – a people who language you do not know – whose speech you cannot understand.  Their weapons are deadly and their warriors are mighty. “They will devour the harvest, they will devour our sons and daughters, they will devour our livestock, they will devour the fruit – and they will destroy our fortified cities – which make us think we are safe. But even then, I won’t blot you out completely says God. And the people ask, “But why did the Lord do all this to us?” Tell the people this: “Because you rejected Him and gave yourselves to foreign gods in your own land.  Now you will serve foreigners in a land that is not your own.” Make this announcement, God says: “Listen to me you foolish and senseless people.  You don’t see, you don’t hear.  Do you not have respect for me?  Why don’t you tremble in my presence?I made it all happen – I created it all. “But my people have stubborn and rebellious hearts.  They have turned away and abandoned me.  They do not say from the heart, ‘ Let us live i awe of the Lord our God, for He gives us rain in the Spring and Fall, he brings the harvest when the time is right. “Your wickedness has deprived you of these wonderful blessings.  Your sin had robbed you of all these good things. “There are wicked people who lie and wait for victims.  Like a cage filled with birds, their homes are filled with evil plots.  And now they are great, and rich, fat, and sleek.  There is no limit to their wicked deeds. “They refuse to provide justice to orphans and deny the rights of the poor.  Should I not punish them for this?”  Says God.  “Should I not avenge myself against such a nation? “A horrible and shocking thing has happened in this land – the prophets give false prophesies, and the priests rule with an iron hand.  Worse yet, the people like it that way!” “But what will you do when the end comes?”	Like Abraham asking God to not destroy Sodom.  This chapter is filled with references to other stories in the Bible. God is looking for one honest man.  Someone who is transparent, authentic, real.  Someone who can admit they are a sinner – someone who can testify to the mighty acts of God – especially in their own life. In his desperation to find honesty – truth – he struck them, but that didn’t get their attention.  He crushed them – but still no repentance. But what about the poor?  Maybe they will listen?  But due to their ignorance, Jeremiah goes to the leaders of the poor – but they too have abandoned God. Destruction is on the way. As I read this passage, thoughts of the end times in Earth’s history flowed through my head.  Adventists have always had a vivid description of the end times.  Persecution, imprisonment, hiding in the hills, trying to escape the authorities. But we seem to have been lulled into a false sense of security.  Our religious liberty department constantly defends the Sabbath – in the courts, in the legislature, and in the workplace.  We have come to believe that nothing can happen to us because we live in a country founded on freedom. Sometimes, as we hear the news, we think that time is short.  The economic situation could bring pressure on people to make changes – but we really don’t believe this will happen in our lifetime. As I read this passage, I thought, what if there were a violent transition of power and authority in the US.  What if our government fell? We have come to think of ourselves as the most powerful nation – ever.  So the thought that our government could be overthrown, or our country overrun, seems ludicrous to us.  Just as it probably seemed to Jerusalem and Judah when Jeremiah was preaching to them. But what if it happened?  What if suddenly, there was a revolution, a civil war, a major transition?  What if we were overrun by another country?  What if Russia rose up – or the Middle East?  What if China decided to foreclose? When I first became a Christian 20-25 years ago, I had visions in my head – a reoccurring dream, of soldiers and troops running through the hills on the Oregon Coast.  The problem was, they were not American soldiers on training, they were an invading army. I haven’t thought of those images in years.  In fact, I’d pretty much discounted them as a result of too many mind-altering substances, too many violent movies, and an over-active imagination. But as I read this chapter in Jeremiah, I was reminded of those scenes.  What if we were invaded by a foreign power?  What if? If God is in charge of sending – or allowing the invaders, who can stop them?  If we were a God-fearing country, and now we’re not, don’t these passages speak directly into who we are?  Is there anything, short of absolute repentance that could stop this from happening? I see a scenario in my head.  Not an absolute scenario, but a “what if” scenario.  Just as an abstract example, we were invaded by another country?  What if there was a sudden shift in power and authority?  What if, as citizens of a new leadership, we found ourselves lost, broken, destroyed?  What if we cried out for help – to the new government – not to God?  And instead of deliverance, instead we got all the prophecies that we used to preach?  Sunday laws, persecution, imprisonment, ostracizing, the end times?
Prayer

Oh dear God.  Until this morning, I’ve been afraid of losing my house and all the associated “stuff.”  I’ve been concerned about how to nuance the Gospel in a way that would not be offensive.  I’ve been seeking ways to reach the unreached.

Today, I am convicted to get my own house in order.  To be solid, 100% followers of Your Way.

I love you too God.

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.

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!

It Could Happen, Even if You don’t Believe it!

Scripture:

2 Kings 6:21-23 When the king of Israel saw them, he shouted to Elisha, “My father, should I kill them? Should I kill them?” “Of course not!” Elisha replied. “Do we kill prisoners of war? Give them food and drink and send them home again to their master.” So the king made a great feast for them and then sent them home to their master. After that, the Aramean raiders stayed away from the land of Israel.

2 Kings 7:2 The officer assisting the king said to the man of God, “That couldn’t happen even if the Lord opened the windows of heaven!”

2 Kings 7:32 Jehoshaphat was a good king, following the ways of his father, Asa. He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight. ³³ During his reign, however, he failed to remove all the pagan shrines, and the people never fully committed themselves to follow the God of their ancestors.

Observations:

There is a lot of history in 2 Kings 6 & 7, not to mention the other passages in today’s reading.  However, the above three selections capture some of the essence of what was going on in these times.

The story of the Arameans surrounding Israel, the servant being scared, and Elisha asking God to reveal the unseen armies is amazing al by itself.  However, then for God to make the Aramean army blind and for Elisha to lead them into Samaria – once again stunning.  But the capstone of this story is when Elisha tells the king to feed them and send them home.  From that point forward, they never had problems with the Arameans again.

While the juxtoposition of Jehoshaphat’s officer telling Elisha that God was incable of accomplishing something, doesn’t apply directly to this story, I couldn’t help but include it.  How often do we hear this from others?

The final text I included above gives us a summary of Jehoshaphat’s reign.  It was a good one, however, because of his willingness to tolerate a certain amount of idolatry, “the people never fully committed themselves to follow the God of their ancestors.”

Applications:

First, I never have to fear the forces that are marshalled around me.  God has armies that I may not be able to see.  In the case of Elisha and the Arameans, He may choose not to use those armies.  He may simply cause them to go blind.  Or in the case of Moses and the Egyptians, God may actually harden the heart of the leader (Pharaoh) and cause them to attack with even more vengence – but either way, He rescued His people.

Second, by treating His enemies with kindness, Elisha and the Israelites never had trouble with the Arameans again.

Third, don’t believe the naysayers.  It doesn’t matter how outnumbered, outwitted, or outflanked we are, God can still do amzaing things.

Finally, and this one really applies to me as a Dad – don’t hesitate to get rid of all the idolatry in one’s life.  Jehoshaphat didn’t, and the people never reached the pinacle of believing and devotion.

Prayer:

Father God, today, I put my trust in you.  Draw me close to you…

Faith, Fear, and Frustrations

Scripture:

Joshua 22:11 The rest of Israel heard that the people of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had built an altar at Geliloth at the edge of the land of Canaan, on the west side of the Jordan River.

Isaiah 28:29 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is a wonderful teacher, and he gives the farmer great wisdom.

Hebrews 11:27, 39, 40 It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.…All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.

Observations:

When the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-trib of Manasseh built an altar, the other tribes immediately assumed that it was to worship a false god.  Without cell phones, email, or other modern forms of communication, they had no way of knowing what their intentions for the alter were about.  Of course, being human, they immediately thought the worse and prepared to go to war against these three tribes.  Common sense reigned however, and they first sent a delegation to seek demand answers.  Once everything was cleared up, the delegation returned to their people, satisfied that this altar was erected in good faith.

Interestingly, jumping forward to Isaiah 28, we see that it is really the Lord’s armies that we should fear.  For they are truly great teachers.  God is able, and willing, to send armies to discipline His people.  I wonder if the armies assembled in Joshua 22 were assembled by God – or of people’s need to control?

And the third passage quoted above, reminds us of the great faith of God’s followers in the past.  Though great danger and fear surrounded Moses, he kept his eyes on God and was able to leave Egypt, unscathed.

Applications:

Reading Joshua 22 just made me seethe with frustration.  Why are people so quick to jump to conclusions?  Why do they assume the worst?  Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Noah, Lot, and many others were always building altars.  Anytime there was a significant event, they were piling rocks one on another to honor God’s mighty acts.  But then once the tribes have some order and government, suddenly they lose that spontaneity.  What’s up with that?

It’s as if the tribes that built the altar didn’t run this past the church board first.  They didn’t file the right paperwork.  They hadn’t gotten the proper permits.  But why did the other tribes automatically assume the worst?  Why were they so quick to go to war?  Sure, they didn’t have instant communication tools like email and the phone, but couldn’t they have just walked over and asked?  Wouldn’t that have been much easier than assembling an army and a delegation to interrogate the tribes?

Then reading Isaiah 28, I have to ask the above questions with even more certainty.  Isn’t God in control?  Won’t he take care of disciplining others, as He sees fit?  Nowhere in the above story do I see that God asked the other tribes to take care of the perceived disobedience.  Nowhere do I see that they sought out God’s advice.  Why did they think it was there responsibility to weed out the things they saw as disobedience?  Why do they think they are smarter than God?

Obviously Moses faced this same sort of opposition, not just from the Pharaoh, but also from the captive and enslaved Israelites.  But, he kept his eye on God and came out unscathed.  I wonder if Moses was ever as discouraged as I am?  I wonder if he ever felt like he should just abandon these disrespectful people?  I wonder how many times Moses just wanted to go back and be a shepherd again?

The cool thing about Hebrews 11 is that it talks about these feelings.  It says that the people could have gone back, but by faith they knew that God had something better up ahead.  So, they kept moving forward.

Prayer:

Father God, you alone are my Rock.  Please rescue me from those who speak harshly about me.