Thoughts on suffering

In Shakespeare's hamlet, Claudius a character in the play says, "When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions."  This was certainly true of  Job's experience, one messenger after another came bringing him news of devastating loss.
Rapid-fire reports of devastating loss ripped into Job's heart.  Servants practically fell all over each other as they brought fresh reports of further disaster. 
In Job's era wealth was determined by the number of servants and the amount of property that you owned.  Both were weapons in the assault on Job's heart.  First, it was the loss of donkeys and oxen and then the death of servants, (1:14-15).  Soon after that came word that the "fire of God fell from heaven," consuming Job's sheep and some of his much loved servants (1:16).  Not long after this came the message that the Chaldean raiders had stolen the camels and killed even more of his loyal ranch hands(1:17).  With every announcement, the stakes rose as the losses were staggering. But the greatest losses came when the messenger arrived with the heart-wrenching news that Job's sons and daughters had been killed (1:18-19). 
When waves of heartache wash over us, whether single spies or whole battalions, their sheer weight and relentless nature can be suffocating.  Suffering simply overwhelms us.
Satan's final assault was on Job's health (2:1-8).  After that, Job sat in the dust scratching painful sores, bewildered by the turn his life had taken.  Job's wife and friends were with him, but in reality he was alone in his pain, alone but for the presence of his God.
The sense of isolation in seasons of suffering was given voice in the grief-stricken wail that left the lips of Christ on the cross: "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?.....My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me? I believe that would have been the cry of Job's heart, as he sat in the dust, suffering from his circumstances.
Over the thousands of years of human kind,, neither the nature nor the causes of suffering have changed. For some, suffering will never approach the horrors of Job's experience. For others, it may actually surpass them. But in every case, our suffering is uniquely our own and we feel the weight of that suffering because it is mysterious, overwhelming, and ultimately experienced alone.

A Little too Close

I was talking to a bus driver friend of mine who related to me about a tension-filled couple of minutes in Pittsburgh while he was driving his bus. He was telling how he was coming across the Roberto Clemente bridge, side by side with a big rig to his left. Coming to a traffic light there was an accident up ahead. This forced both the bus and the truck to slide over to the right to avoid oncoming traffic which was cheating by coming across the truck and bus lanes to also avoid the accident. Well the driver told me when he moved over to avoid either a close call or an accident the bus mirror hit the main post on the bridge and - "Bam!" the mirror was gone. The driver was telling me he couldn't understand how he could hit the mirror on the bridge in the first place so they went back to the scene to find that the bridge actually left little room for bus, truck or big rigs. The posts were too close to the road, thus the mirrors would hit the bridge.  The bridge beams had the markings to prove it was done regularly and often.
So what we had were responsible drivers caught in a bad situation because the bridge itself was not really built properly for todays vehicles.
I got to thinking how much life was similar to the close call for that bus.  How many times have we,  as human beings, come too close to something.  We're doing regular life, we're not up to something wrong or troublesome but then, "Bam!" a temptation, a sexual sin, a vulgar moment, a time when something bad is easy and is there right in front of us. But where did it come from, and what course of action would you take?  Would you go with it or deflect it? Would it be a close call where you just hit a mirror or would you have a full collision?
There are many factors and all of them are waiting for your response. How many near misses have we had in life when we were not doing anything wrong or looking for trouble, like the bus driver moving over just a little to avoid a potentially bad situation and "Bam!" he hits something that shouldn't be there. We are going about our careers, negotiating life in the corporate world, or daily punching the time clock and, "Bam!" there in front of us is a close encounter with an inter-office relationship, or a chance to embezzle some money or maybe an opportunity to fix someone's wagon who has hurt us on the job. That's when it hits us that we have come too close to a very bad human experience. It hit our mirror because we felt the encounter, we didn't  have a full blown collision but when we sit back and think about it, it was a really close call.

Ps 84:11-12; For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.  O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in Thee. (KJV)

 

5 Steps to a Effective Christian Life

Every Christian is responsible to live a life that glorifies God (1 Cor10:31) and to be a true ambassador (2 Cor.5:20) for Him.  Most Christians want to be used of God.  For them it's not enough just to know they are on the Christian pathway, they want to be faithful and effective. The question is, "How"? Where do we start? What is involved?" We can find some answers in the Bible where God uses Philip's encounter with the Ethiopian official to get some insight on how to do this.
First, God SOVEREIGNLY worked out all the details involved in Philip's effective witness to the Ethiopian.  He will do the same for you and me.
Second, Philip's LIFE witnessed to Jesus Christ.  He was chosen as a worker in the early church because of his character (Acts 6:3-5). A good life not only glorifies God but is a powerful witness to the world.  Our lives should demonstrate that we know Him.
Third, we find the HOLY SPIRIT vitally involved in Philip's life and ministry. "The Spirit told Philip, 'Go to that chariot and stay near it'"(Acts8:29) The Holy Spirit is the One who makes our lives attractive (Gal 5.22-23). He is our Teacher and Guide.  He gives us boldness and courage to witness.  Our responsibility is to be yielded fully to all the wonderful resources of the Holy Spirit. Philip was led to someone already "pre"pared.
Fourth, you will note the important part the SCRIPTURES play in telling another person about Jesus Christ. The Ethiopian was reading Isaiah 53 and asked Philip to explain the passage.  Philip took the same passage, which deals prophetically with the crucifixion, and "told him the good news about Jesus" (Acts8:35). Philip knew the Scriptures and was prepared to explain the good news of the Gospel.  If we are going to be effective Christians, we too must gain a working knowledge of the Scriptures to help others.
Last, the Bible is a record of God working mightily in and through the lives of ORDINARY people (just like us!)  Our responsibility is to step out in FAITH and trust God to use us.
This article is an exerpt from BGEA, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Christian Life and Witness course.

A Roman Confession

He had never seen a day like this. It was darker then any night he had ever experienced and it was just mid-afternoon.  Something different was taking place, something strangely ominous.  Whatever it was, he was sure it had nothing to do with him.  He was just doing his job, which was to execute people, serving Caesar with loyalty and without question. And Caesar had ordered this execution. His occupation was to execute outlaws in Palestine.  The breastplate that covered his heart bore the seal of his allegiance to the Emperor of Rome. He would gladly slice the throat of anyone who stood against the Emperor, for Caesar was like God to him.  There was honor in being a centurion, a mighty warrior in charge of 100 brave "fight till you die" soldiers trained to defend the Roman Empire. He knew how to make his heart like a stone as he watched foreign soldiers die by his hand.  It was his profession.
Today it seemed as if everyone was screaming.  The prisoners, the temple officials, even the centurion's own men were jeering at one of the criminals unmercifully.  An immense crowd had turned out to witness the execution of a man whose crime was written on the notice above His head. He was not a thief or a murderer but a "King of the Jews". This man was a Galilean and like no one the centurion had ever seen.  Stripped, whipped, bleeding, and with a crown of thorns gouging his skull, actually puncturing one eye, this Galilean didn't fight as the others. Neither did he mouth off and cuss as the others did, nor shout endless threats. Soldiers tried to steal his dignity but they couldn't. Even after they had cast lots for his cloak and had coated his dry tongue with vinegar, the Man wasn't condemning and he never pleaded for mercy.  Not once. That was unusual and noteworthy to him.
The prisoner was a Galilean man called Christ.
Something took place that tore at the soldiers stone-cold heart.  He was forgiving.  In all the years of executing prisoners and watching them die on these crosses, this Jesus was the only One who ever offered mercy to him, the killer. Now the centurion watched as the Galilean labored painfully for breath.  How he wanted to call out to accept that forgiveness.  But to call out would mean challenging Caesar.  To speak in favor of the King of the Jews would mark him as a traitor. To ask this prisoneer for life would mean his own death. Then, finally, the One being crucified cried out, "Father, into your hands I commit My spirit". And it was over.  He no longer labored.
 His Spirit's moment of release led to chaos as the earth began to quake and tombs burst open.  It was true.  Everything the centurion had heard about Jesus' preaching, healing, and miracles, was all true. Regardless of Caesar, regardless of the centurion's own fate, Jesus truly was the Messiah. In that moment, the centurion could utter only one confession. He couldn't hold it back. He couldn't quench that truth. He couldn't restrain himself. Suddenly, as though something inside of him wouldn't hold its silience any longer, he burst forth with little regard for self or safety, "Surely this was the Son of God'.  (Mark 15:39).
To be mighty in spirit is to recognize who Jesus really is.  That soldier did.  He viewed the criminals on crosses as you might look upon a convict on death row.  Yet when he saw Jesus, he knew something was different.  When he looked upon the Savior, neither his past nor his situation mattered.  He simply could not deny the truth.  The  testimony of that warrior was that he had seen the Savior.  He confessed that he had witnessed the Christ. Two thousand years later it is still possible to look upon Jesus the resurrected Son of God. 
I wonder......
What will your confession be?

For Future Generations

Gen 21:33-34
33 Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and he worshiped the LORD, the Eternal God, at that place. 34 And Abraham lived in Philistine country for a long time. (NLT)
I was reading my KJV on this verse and it says that  'Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba'. When I compared it to my NLT they said 'Abraham planted a tamarisk tree there in Beersheba'. Now, I don't know about you, but when I hear about trees being planted I think of oaks, maples, pear trees, and ornamental cherries, etc., but I've never heard of anybody planting a tamarisk tree. Its absence in other places only makes it more intriquing as to why he planted a 'tamarisk tree' here.
In Gen. 21:9-13, Abraham had a very difficult exchange of harsh words with his wife Sarah. She wanted Ishmael out of the way. This hurt Abraham because this was still his son.  Abraham was being forced to drive the two out of the community. Struggling w/ deep personal conflict because of this matter, God told him it was okay to send Hagar and Ishmael out. In doing this, God told Abraham that his descents would come from Isaac, the child born to Sarah, but that he would still honor the son born to Hagar and make a nation out of his descendents as well. By saying that, God guaranteed Hagar and Ishmael's safety and destiny, and that promise brought enough comfort to allow Abraham to release them.  In doing so, Abraham planted a grove of trees and those trees were tamarisk trees. But what is so significant about this tree? Why did he plant a tamarisk and not some other tree?
First, this tree is know for its long life, its very deep roots, its extremely hard wood, and being a great competitior among other plants. These trees have great staying power, are good for shade, can get water from very deep below the surface and they don't get crowded out by other species.They are hard because they take a lot of time to mature. A great tree for tomorrow but won't give you any kooling shade today!
But Abraham's clan was nomadic. You don’t plant a tamarisk for yourself because they grow too slow. And being nomadic, he and his family would hardly ever be around to use the shade from those trees. They grow to slow!
Dear one, Abraham wasn't thinking now, he planted it for future generations, not the present one. Abraham believed God's promise to him that there would be many people, many descendants to his extended family and that while there was plenty of space for him now, he began to live the vision God placed in him. He knew there would be many settling and making homes where there was now only sand and space. Abraham believed God so much that basically he was saying, I trust your word God, I am planting this tree for the many generations to come. My family is going to be living here. This shade is not for me but for the generations to come. I’ll never get to use it but they will.”

Now lets apply this perspective to us today. How much of what we do in life is done for just ourselves? Our comfort, our profit, our satisfaction? Do we do anything to bless or to plant a seed for the generations that are to come? Is there anything that you are currently involved in that will outlive you? Here's a thought...... do something this week that will benefit people long after you are gone.

Getting to the root!

In the King James Version, one of the names for Satan is Beelzebub (Mt. 12:24; Luke 11:18) – It means “Lord of the Flies” or “Lord of the Dung.” 

   A disgusting reference to waste and ultimately, a spiritual reference to moral degeneracy.

In other words, Satan, you are Lord of Manure!  That’s what you are king over! You are ’Lord of the Flies'.  Flies do not breed on waste - they are in the waste.......

When an animal is grazing, it eats the eggs on the grass or bushes, which then go through its system and don't get digested. Thus when the animal defecates, the eggs are right there.....in a perfectly controlled,

 temperature-friendly environment made naturally for hatching. Manure begins to work as soon as it is on the ground - and the temperature is warm  -  - great for hatching eggs.  It is a cycle that science fights to stop, but can’t. Therefore you get generation after generation of pests and infestation.

Defecate means, ‘to get rid of solid waste from your body’. That is what the devil is lord over, lord of manure, of flies.................pure evil, pure wrong, absent of any righteous....

In Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus fought satan, ‘the lord of manure,’ or ‘the lord of flies,’ and for forty days the 'lord of flies' could not defile Jesus...he couldn’t dirty our Savior. After the conclusion of that battle when Jesus was hungry, worn out, and undefiled, satan continued to attack him through 3 final tests of which Jesus succeeded to stay pure, unsoiled and undefiled.

But what is significant about Jesus' battle with Satan, is the 40 days. That 40 days is important, because in agriculture when you have an infestation of flies...which carry loads of disease and sickness...in order to kill the flies when you spray, you have to do it for 40 consecutive days. All flies have a life cycle that is under or  equal to the 40 days, so if you spray one day you will only kill the hatched flies of that particular day. The unhatched eggs buried in the manure are going to hatch at a later date, and you better spray again if you want to kill them, or else you will have more flies...and more eggs. So, you have to spray and spray and spray for 40 consecutive days in order to totally stop the infestation..........

Jesus fasted and was tempted by the devil for 40 days. Each day that He didn’t sin, He destroyed a root (egg) of sin until He completely and thoroughly destroyed the sin infestation of satan........

Before Jesus went out into His ministry, He had to be sure that there was nothing behind Him.  He had to know that the devil had already been defeated because Christ had all power and authority over him. There could be no doubt. His position as Son of God, with all authourity over everything He had created in heaven and on earth, had to be confirmed. Satan could have no doubt when in a conflict with Jesus that he would not succeed in any wrestling matches that would surely arise.  Jesus destroyed Satan's unchallenged power right there in the wilderness - He took all authority right there. There were no more eggs, or roots of a sin from this point, on that Jesus hadn't destroyed......

Not only was Satan defeated out there in the wilderness during those 40 days, but Jesus showed satan that there were no more eggs or any roots to come up later when our Savior was preaching and teaching. When you get the root out, it is over, it is done. Jesus was saying, basically, that there was nothing behind Him... no root to sprout an unwelcomed influence, nothing of Satan  rising up and causing Him a problem to come back and haunt Him, or distract Him later when He was ministering to hurting people.

Using that, remember, during your 40 days of Lent, don't just ask God to help you stay off of chocolate, or give up TV, or stop cussing for 40 days. Instead, go for something deeper and more meaningful. Ask Jesus to remove a deep root to the cause of your stumbling.  Make Lent a season of spiritual victory. God love ya.

The Road to Calvary

For many of us Christians, Easter Sunday is the most significant day of the year!  Christmas is about the birth of Jesus, but Resurrection Sunday is about His victory.  Think about it, dear ones, of all the billions in the world, only one man, Jesus Christ of Nazereth, came back to life after His horrible death -  - and still lives. For me, my soul stirs as I remember Jesus' victory over sin, satan, hell and death.
For centuries, Christians have observed a forty-day period of preparation that ends just before Easter - called Lent. They use these very solemn days to focus on what our Lord Jesus taught and went through during His last days on earth.
This Sunday I will be teaching on what Jesus did and how it shapes Lent. We will also be passing out a beautifully printed booklet to be used for the next 40 days called: 'Journey to the Cross - 40 days of discovery'.  You will enjoy a short reading, reflection and a space for meaningful comments for every day of the Lenten period. It's a great way to add meaning to these days & a great time to worship the Lord.
The first day of this special period is called Ash Wednesday.  During Ash Wednesday services, worshipers come forward, and the pastor makes a mark in the shape of a cross on each person's forehead or wrist. Is that kool or what?  The dastardly devil has the no. 666 but we have so much more, we have the cross!
This cross that is placed on the forehead or wrist is made of ashes, usually from palm branches from the previous year.
It might seem gloomy to today's world, but I think it creates a powerful impression on us that reminds us that trouble, sickness, and death came into God's perfect creation because two human beings rebelled and wanted to do it their way. God could have abandoned us, but He didn't.  Instead, He came even closer to us through His Son, Jesus Christ, who became a human being to rescue us.
Jesus paid a debt He didn't owe, because we owed a debt we could never pay. Now, we are free from the debt of sin! Sin has no more hold on us!  Because of Christ death, and resurrection we receive eternal life in heaven.  Those who don't know Jesus as Savior, have a destiny of hell and suffering eternally with Satan.
So Wednesday, Feburary 13th at 7pm come and receive the mark of a Christian - the mark of the cross! Bear it gladly-whether quietly on your wrist or boldly and visibly on your forehead, and if anyone asks about it, tell them: Jesus died and rose again for us!