Friday, October 31

Oh, say can you see ....

Mark 10.46-52 tells the story of Bartimaeus, a blind man who lived near Jericho.  When he heard that Jesus was passing by, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"  Others told him to quiet down, but he shouted all the more.  If only the sighted could see our need as well as he!   

Bartimaeus was not content to imagine his surroundings; he wanted to see things -for better or worse- as they actually were.  He was not content to be a beggar (as was the common practice of the impaired in his day); perhaps he wanted to contribute to his community.  For these, he had but one need:  Jesus.    

In the Old Testament, God often opened the eyes of man to see invisible realty.  In Genesis 21.19, God opened the eyes of Hagar to see water in the desert.  In 2 Kings 6.17, God opened the eyes of Elisha's servant to see the Army of God.   Mind you, these were sighted people. In the New Testament, we see Jesus as the eye-opener.  Each of the four gospels contains accounts of Jesus healing the physically blind; his power, mercy and compassion are unmatched!  Perhaps more amazing, Jesus also gives sight to the sighted.

Revelation 3.17 sums what I've learned today.  "You say 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and don't need a thing. But you do not realize that you are wretched, poor, pitiful, blind and naked."   I have certainly seen that, apart from Christ, I have all these attributes.  And 21st Century American culture could certainly be described as such. We are so rich in terms of finances, academia, power, possessions, influence ... that we need Jesus to open our eyes.  We need to see the the truth about  who we really are, and we need to see the Truth of who He is.  

Wednesday, October 22

Hinges...


Matthew 23.37"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing."

More than ever before, I am beginning to understand how Jesus felt as he wept over Israel.   His tears were for what would not be ...  If only Israel had accepted the Truth.  (I feel much the same way about my country.)   If only Israel had repented and turned the One True God, Jesus Christ.  If only Israel had been willing...  

The first Charter of Virginia (King James I, April 10, 1606)

Lastly and chiefly the way to prosper and achieve good success is to make yourselves all of one mind for the good of your country and your own, and to serve and fear God the Giver of all Goodness, for every plantation which our Heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted out.

  

The Mayflower Compact

Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together…”

 

Samuel Adams, “Let divines and philosophers, statesmen and patriots, unite their endeavors to renovate the age by impressing the minds of men with the importance of educating their little boys and girls, inculcating in the minds of youth the fear and love of the Deity… and leading them in the study and practice of the exalted virtues of the Christian system.” [October 4, 1790]

 

Benjamin Franklin: | Portrait of Ben Franklin
“ God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel” –Constitutional Convention of 1787 | original manuscript of this speech (Note: And Ben Franklin was not a "religious" man!)

These are but a few examples of our nation as it has been ... as it could be again...

Oh, that we would return to Jesus, even at this late hour, and ask for His mercy.  That we would repent for untold millions murdered each year in the name of convenience.   That we would turn from the false gods of money and possessions.  That we would teach Truth to our children.  That we, the church, would repent for not obeying the greatest commandments or fulfilling the great commission.  The future of nation depends not on which political party is in power; nor does it depend on what happens on Wall Street.  America’s future hinges on what happens in the hearts of her people.

Monday, October 20

Happily Ever After...


As I read to the kids from the Bible this morning, I came across something interesting.  We read about Moses, who was wearing a veil.  (A little concerning to Sam, considering we read about men wearing gold earrings  just the day before.)  I told him there was a reasonable explanation.  Moses was wearing a veil because the Israelites were more than a little freaked out at how shiny his face was after He'd spent 40 days on Mt. Sinai in the presence of God Himself!  Exodus 34.33-34 tells us, "When Moses finished speaking to them (Israelites), he put a veil over his face.  But whenever he entered the LORD's presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out."  Without the veil, Moses was vulnerable, open, willing, humble before God; and God was accepting and loving, inviting Moses to a deeper relationship. 

Like many women, the only time I've worn a veil was on my wedding day.  In keeping with tradition, my father lifted the veil at just the right time in the wedding ceremony.  That moment signified the beginning of a much deeper relationship, a profound union, an increasing intimacy.  I believe the same thing happened when the veil in the Temple was torn at the moment of Jesus' death. (Matt. 27.51)  At that moment our Heavenly Father "lifted" the veil that separated us from our beloved Groom, Jesus, allowing a profound union between God and man.

Whether Old or New Testament, Scripture reveals a God who not only calls us into a deep, abiding relationship with Him, but also provides a way for us to have that relationship.  His name is Jesus.  

Sunday, October 12

Choose this day...


In The Family Man, Tea Leoni plays a character named Kate. Kate is beautiful, smart, and funny; but what I find most appealing is her commitment to her husband.  (In all fairness, Nicholas Cage plays her husband ... so it's probably not that hard.)  In one of my favorite scenes, Kate expresses her loyalty to Jack (Nick's character) in a way that somehow sounds familiar to this Army wife.  "I choose you", she says, "and that's more important than our address."  I choose you.  Hmmm...

Russ & I live in The Great State of Texas.  Only, it doesn't always seem so great to us.  Having moved here from a very green and very metropolitan city in Northern Virginia, the adjustment to living in such sandy isolation has been a difficult one for us.   As of late I find myself thinking on Kate's words ... in regard to my husband but ultimately in regard to the Lord. Despite the words "Department of United States Army" on the heading of our orders, we know that God Himself brought us here to El Paso.   (I don't claim to understand all the why's for this PCS, but I'm thankful that "Permanent" usually only means 2-3 years.)  I choose Him...no matter where I lay my head at night.  He is my One constant in life.  And while we're on the subject, I'm even more thankful that God has chosen me. 

Monday, October 6

Truth ...

"I am the way, the TRUTH and the life..." John 14.6

Truth.  What is it?  Is there absolute truth?  Only one truth?  What is it?  Or more accurately... Who is it?  I believe Jesus is the only real Truth.

My husband is amazing.  He often says things that intrigue me ... that make me think ... hard.  He simply commented the other day on the fact that we think the laws of nature are true. Undeniably.  Absolutely.  Physics, mathematics, nature itself.  Are they?   In reality, we must look beyond these phenomena to find the Truth.   Jesus, the man, walked upon the water.[a]  He didn't sink because He not only wrote the laws of physics but also determines the operation of those laws.  And He can change them any time He wants. HE is Truth.  God created math (much to my daughter's dismay) but is not restrained by it.  HE is Truth. With God, 5 + 2 can equal 7 or  >5000.[b]  By the way, I have examples of this kind of thing using my own family's budget.  Quite a few of them, too.  In our world, animals don't actually talk, but HE is Truth.  2 Peter 2.13  refers to a donkey in the Old Testament speaking with a human voice.   (Of course, we political junkies see that almost daily, so it may not seem quite as big a deal as it did then.)  The laws that govern the universe simply do not - CANNOT - govern the Creator of those laws!  

So for my friends awaiting the doctor's report, for our nation at an economic, moral, and political precipice, for our own children as they head into an increasingly anti-Christian world, my prayer is that we will know Truth.  Because circumstances aren't always what they seem, and knowing Truth makes all the difference.  

a. Matt. 14
b. Mark 6

Friday, October 3

Look-alikes...

Our three children do not look exactly alike, although they were all conceived by the same parents.  Russ and I see the diversity within our own family as a great asset.  Although we expected  that our children would resemble us, we in no way had any expectation that they would be carbon copies of each other.  We continue to see the differences in personalities, talents, interests, and passions in a positive light.  How strange (ineffective or dysfunctional, at least) our family would be if all the children were the same!   The fact that we birthed these children is the qualifier, not their physical features.

My question:  Why do we expect all churches to look exactly alike?  The Church universal is still the Church, even though it is made up of various bodies.  Those bodies may sing different songs, wear different clothes, meet at different times, but as long as they are birthed by the same Father (God) and remain connected to the Head (Jesus), aren't they still the Church?  Would we be so arrogant as to judge fellow brothers and sisters as illegitimate simply because they don't look like us?