January 2020
The Piddling Pond by Dan White
Look Up by Cynthia Saladin
February 2020
A Tale of Two Americas by Jim O'Brien
Yes, There is Good News by Bill Rollins
March 2020
Those Made Alive in Christ by Diane Kleeschulte
How Big is Your God? by Cynthia Saladin
A Personal God by Jim O'Brien
April 2020
Passover Preparations by Cynthia Saladin
Embrace the Pain by Jim O'Brien
31 Weeks of Proverbs by Diane Kleeschulte
June
What Will You Be? by Cynthia Saladin
July
Are You Worried About What's Coming? by Cynthia Saladin
August
How Blessed Are You? by Cynthia Saladin
On Being Had by Andrée Seu Peterson
Yes! There is Good News by Bill Rollins
September
Lessons from the Cat by Cynthia Saladin
Yes! There is Good News by Bill Rollins
October
Thoughts on the Feast by Cynthia Saladin
November
Producing . . . Ladders by Cynthia Saladin
I Will Not Ask by Ron Saladin
December
Dogma: A Perspective on Paul's Epistles by Dave Manning
January
The Piddling Pond
Homeschool Helpers Newsletter
Issue #359 - December 29, 2017
By Dan L. White
Some days are just tailor made for a walk. Before this recent cold snap, one was and I did.
And at the end of that walk, I passed an impromptu pond that had popped up overnight. Actually it was just a piddling puddle about a dozen feet round, where the water from a recent rain drained into a swale. But to the score of birds bathing in it, it was the Riviera. Owing to my ornithological ignorance, I don’t know what kind of birds they were. They were just medium size birds, dark color, fast flyers, bustling bathers. Oh, yes, and here and there a blazing cardinal dipped in, just to show off. Even I could recognize him.
Autumn was been exceptionally dry in the Arkansas River valley, with burn bans, and wildfires from those who spurned the burn ban. So two days of medium rains were more than welcome to the people, the plants and those birds. The winged marvels flew down and filled the whole puddle, splashing and dipping in the impromptu pond as if they hadn’t bathed for weeks. The water depth, or lack of depth, was perfect for them, because they could stand in its shallows, dip their feathers and then shimmy and shake water all over the place and each other. The piddling puddle pulsated with the happy birds, splashing and laughing.
Yes, I’m sure they were laughing.
On this walk, the mid-December air was sixty degrees warm and the clouds from the rains were delightfully dissipating, leaving a bright blue sky behind them as they faded away. The air smelled wet and warm, and a tiny bit of breeze barely nudged the cedar limbs, all of which dangled with heavy drops of sunlit water, sparkling with an unelectrified glow. The bare ground squished a little, not enough to be mud, just enough to know that life-giving water had again returned to the earth.
As I first left the yard, I stepped off the still greenish grass and trod onto the pavement, which resembled a two lane road because of a painted yellow line in the middle, but with no white lines on the side for lack of room. I passed the house and a stand of trees until I was by the hay fields, with an open view. Both to the north and south of the wide Arkansas River valley, hills rise and border the valley for miles and miles. The difference in temperature between those hills and this valley is often about ten degrees, good in summer, less so in winter. They’re not high hills, maybe a couple thousand feet elevation, but when you’re starting at only a few hundred feet, they’re still hills. Sometimes the clouds hang on those hills and leave the valley open, but this day the clouds did not hang heavy. They were just pleasantly puffy, not dark gray but merrily outlined in white from the ascendant sun. If clouds could smile, these did.
I did, too. No one was with me, no conversation to laugh at, but I smiled to myself.
And myself smiled right back.
I did notice one thing, though, that disturbed me. As I walked in this glorious creation on this warm, wonderful morn, through this picturesque valley left after Noah’s flood, I found myself –
Looking down.
I was walking on pavement, not on clumpy grass. I faced traffic, but the only traffic was one car ambling along, the driver waving at me as he passed. There was really no chance of me tripping on the road because there was nothing to trip over. I did not have to spy the pavement to find my way. And unlike dancing, I did not have to eyeball my feet to have them go where they needed to. In spite of all that, I walked head down, seeing only the pavement and missing the fields, the hills, the clouds and the encroaching blue sky.
Then I had an idea.
I looked up.
I lifted my gaze and instead of seeing just my feet, I saw the Head of the universe, surrounded by all that He made, and ended my walk by the piddling pond with the bevy of birds bathing.
Some days are just made for a walk. Maybe they all are.
Leisure
by William Henry Davies, 1911
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this is if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
"The first gulp from the glass of natural sciences will make you an atheist, but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you."
~Werner Heisenberg, father of Quantum Physics
Look Up by Cynthia Saladin
My labs are now twelve years old. They both have torn ACLs, which don’t seem to cause them any pain. It just makes them slower. They both have noticeable cataracts, especially Velvet who runs into things now quite frequently. But in this season of their lives, an amazing thing has happened. Their primary focus is no longer the squirrels to chase or the smells to investigate. They just want to be near me. That means when I go outside and call them, they come. Long gone are the days when they would lift their head to see if what I wanted was more important than what they’re doing. Gone are the days when they would disappear for a couple of hours, exploring who knows where. These days they poke around the barn and the trees close to the house, and then they take up their watchful positions on the front porch, content to be together.
This is not what I would really want for them. I miss those days when I could let them out and in 5 seconds they’d be out of sight. I miss the days when they were young and spry and full of youthful enthusiasm. But God is using them to teach me something again.
I can’t help but think about the young person who knows that perhaps they’re not making the best choice, that it’s not really the direction God would have them to go. But much like my younger labs, I was willing to postpone what was pleasing to God in lieu of chasing the equivalent of squirrels, my own idea of fun in those days. But as I get older and experience more problems and trouble, I find myself desiring just to be with God, in His word, thinking about His ways and what pleases Him.
I like Dan White’s article from December 2017 because it’s another analogy to express the same thing. We too often spend our time looking down, looking at our world, our agenda, our squirrels to chase. What we really need to do is to look up, focus on what pleases God, and seek to follow His direction for our lives, regardless of the troubles and sorrows.
This world is not our home. And we can’t live like it is. We can’t spend our time acting as if this is all there is., as if this were the goal. We are given this time, as a gift from God, to become His Bride, to be prepared for what comes next, and to share His light with the people around us. We can’t get so distracted by this life, with its pain and trouble, that our light grows dim. Or as Kent Hovind used to say, You can’t be “so earthly minded that you’re no heavenly good.”
Or perhaps you want it expressed in song:
Lift up your head. Redemption draweth nigh.
To the hills I’ll lift my eyes. Ah from whence shall come my help. My help comes from the LORD, maker of heaven and earth.
The turning of the calendar from 2019 to 2020 is not God’s calendar. But it is still another marker in the passage of time. It’s also a really good opportunity to evaluate where we are, where we’re going, and take some necessary steps to refocus our eyes on the Master. God can use all of what we’re experiencing in our education as disciples, in our purification as the Bride of Christ, in our sanctification as the people of God.
Just saying:
Ban pre-shredded cheese.
Make America grate again.
The first five days after the weekend are the hardest.
I child proofed my house, but the kids still get in.
The past, present, and future walk into a bar. It was tense.
They’re not going to make yardsticks any longer.
I checked into the hokey pokey clinic and turned myself around.
What happens if you get scared half to death twice?
Went to the air and space museum, but there was nothing there.
Frog parking only; all others will be toad.
If your car is running, I’m voting for it.
February 2020
A Tale of Two Americas by Jim O’Brien, February 2, 2018
There are lots of theories about how it happened, but there is no doubt that America is anything but united. We're split. One need only look at the Halls of Congress during the Presidential State of the Union address. Or follow the news media. Are they talking about the same country? The same President? The same constitution? The same values?
There is a cyclical pattern in the history of God's people. It is expressed in the story of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt. Joseph had died and the new generation forgot that he had saved their nation from famine. The history classes in the public schools edited that part of their history out of the textbooks. So the new king put the Israelites to forced labor. "The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. God heard their groaning and...looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them." (Exodus 2:23-25)
God called Moses saying to him, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians" (Exodus 3:7-8)
Like it or not, God does not do that for every nation. Lots of people have suffered under tyranny and were never delivered. But the people that God called His own He delivered. I realize that some people can't accept that kind of a God but He doesn't need the approval of man.
The big question is, why would a nation that was so blessed by God ever reject the God that blessed them? Where on earth was there a nation with better principles? Where was there a more virtuous nation? Was ancient Egypt with its slaves more virtuous than Israel? Was Pharaoh who customarily had his wives and servants buried with him more civilized than Moses or the Prophets? Was Babylon that believed in sacrificing children on an altar to a pagan god more honorable than Israel? Where were the Israelites going to go to find this nation of supreme virtue that would make the lives of the citizens better?
Consider the people who suffered under the heavy yoke of the Philistine oppressors and cried out to God for relief. Will they not rise up in the resurrection and condemn later generations who basked in wealth and prosperity but then rejected the God who delivered Israel?
Is America different than ancient Israel? Of all the people who appear to hate America, who protest and demonstrate-where is this nation of perfect virtue they seek? Is it Russia? Or Mexico? Or China? Or one of the Arab countries? Or North Korea? Then why do citizens leave those countries to come to America?
We were having church services a few years ago during a 4th of July weekend. As it happened the song leader chose “God Bless America” as a congregational hymn and a young man, new to the congregation, walked out of services. I called him later and he angrily responded that he was offended by a hymn that gave thanks to God for our country.
In a free country a person has every right to walk out. But, I wonder-if the day comes that America is enslaved to a barbaric tyrant, will such a person cry out for relief from oppression? Will he call on God to intervene and provide a nation of virtue where he can worship in peace-where his children can grow up without fear of the Nazi heel at their throat? And if God hears his prayer, and grants him such a virtuous nation in which to live-will he then sing praises of thanksgiving to the God who provides such a blessing? Will he be moved to sing a hymn asking for God to bless the nation that makes his life better?
Maybe the tale of two Americas is the one that is grateful and the one that isn't.
For every action, there is an equal and opposite criticism.
STRENGTH VS. COURAGE cybersalt.org Issue #4321, 12-28-17
It takes strength to be firm
It takes courage to be gentle.
It takes strength to stand guard.
It takes courage to let down your guard
It takes strength to conquer.
It takes courage to surrender.
It takes strength to be certain.
It takes courage to have doubt.
It takes strength to fit in.
It takes courage to stand out.
It takes strength to feel a friend's pain.
It takes courage to feel your own pain.
It takes strength to hide your own pains.
It takes courage to show them.
It takes strength to endure abuse.
It takes courage to stop it.
It takes strength to stand alone.
It takes courage to lean on another.
It takes strength to love.
It takes courage to be loved.
It takes strength to survive.
It takes courage to live.
~Author Unknown
Yes, There is Good News! - By Bill Rollins, Jan 21& 28, 2017
Do you know that God is good? There is a song that, for the most part, our grandchildren taught us to sing. The first few words are, “God is good, all the time; He put a song of praise in this heart of mine.” It is a delightful song, and I find it rolling around in my head from time to time. For me, it is a reminder that, not only God is good, but that He is good all the time. He is good even when I don’t feel good. He is good even when things around me seem quite troubling. He is good even when the nightly news tells me that the world seems to be falling apart. Yes, God is very good!
The good news is that this God and Father of ours has all things under control. As the scripture says, “He knows us, that we are but dust.” That quote is from Psalm 103:14. For this week’s article, I would like to look into Psalm 103 to see just how good God really is.
It begins by telling us to “Praise the Lord,” and to do it with all of our “inmost being.” It tells us to praise His holy name and to forget not all of His benefits. He forgives all of our sins, heals our diseases, redeems our lives from the pit, crowns us with love and compassion, satisfies us with good things and renews our youth. That’s quite a list! Some of us who are of a hoary head might question David’s enthusiasm.
In the opening words we are told to “praise the Lord.” The word “praise” is most often translated “bless.” Have you ever felt that you could bless God? In Hebrew the word literally means to bow or kneel. Have you ever bowed your knee when you approach God in prayer? Have you ever humbled yourself, in such a manner, before the mighty hand of God? When you approach the throne room of our Father to ask for forgiveness, healing, redemption, a crown of love and compassion, so you look to blessing Him, bowing before Him, kneeling in His presence? He is the creator!
In Verse 6 of this Psalm we read, “The Lord works righteous and justice for all the oppressed.” Some might say that they have felt oppressed, and yet God never worked these things for them. But when we do, who “are but dust,” kneel before the one who created all the hosts of Heaven, do we do so in poorness of spirit, meekness and purity of heart? (See Matthew 5:3 - 8.)
David goes on in Verse 7, to say that He made His ways known to Moses. Can we pause here and ponder this? God, the Creator of all things, who’s ways are higher than ours, stooped down to make His ways known to Moses, then allowed Moses to write them down so as to be passed on to us.
I, for one, am amazed at how King David, in verse seven, lets us read that God made known to Moses “His ways!” It has been said that Moses is the author of the first five books of the Bible. (Actually God is the author and Moses the scribe.) And as we consider what these five books contain, we see a beautiful preface to the entire Bible. God revealed to Moses first of all, the creation, then the flood, the calling of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Joseph’s rise to power in Egypt and finally, the Exodus from Egypt with Moses as leader and, of course, the wanderings in the wilderness. As an overview, we get to see the perfect will of God in action.
But let’s get back to Psalms 103. Verse eight begins. “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in loving kindness.” A couple of comments here are in order. First, this is a reiteration of God telling Moses, on Mount Sinai, what His name was: Ex. 34:5, “The Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him (Moses) and proclaimed His name, the Lord (Yahoveh). ‘The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger abounding in loving kindness and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.’” David, of course, knew this scripture. And secondly, David gives us a beautiful description of how he saw the awesome attributes of the wonderful God we serve.
Verse nine: “He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor His anger forever.” Yes, God is patient with us, and always willing to reinstate us into His good graces. The Israelites certainly tested God’s patience over and over again. His patience did seem to wear out when He first allowed first Assyria and then Babylon to take His people into captivity. But even then He says through the prophet Jeremiah, “Your wound is incurable, your injury beyond healing ... But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds ... I will restore the fortunes of Jacob ...” (Jer. 30:12 - 22).
Our God is more than just a loving Father, He is perfectly loving Father. He wants us to succeed and to be with Him in eternity. Remember how we started this article, “He knows our frame, that we are but dust.” We will see this phrase a little later on as we continue our look at the 103rd Psalm.
Until next time remember, “God is good, all the time.”
March 2020
Last fall, Keith exhorted us to write a psalm to God. Here is one of Diane’s psalms, based on Psalm 90:17 KJV – 17 And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.
Those Made Alive in Christ (based on Col 3:1-15) by Diane Kleeschulte
You are our Savior, seated at the right hand of God.
May we remember always His grace and mercy toward us.
Let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us.
Our minds should be set on things that are above
not on the world as it crumbles to pieces.
Let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us.
Our lives are hidden in Christ.
Therefore we have died to self.
Let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us.
We will appear with Christ in His glory.
He is our all in all.
Let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us.
Our carnal natures have been put to death.
Guard against the magnet pull of the world.
Let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us.
Our new ways have no room for the old.
We have become new creatures in Christ.
Let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us.
This new creature that we have become is being renewed,
yes, in the knowledge and image of Jesus Christ.
Let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us.
Our Savior is all, and is in all.
We are a chosen people.
Let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us.
Our lives should be dedicated to being holy.
We should be living as ones who are loved.
Let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us.
Our lives should bear fruit of the Holy Spirit.
There should be evidence of our fruit in abundance for all.
Let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us.
How Big is Your God?
by Cynthia Saladin
The latest film by Timothy Mahoney, Patterns of Evidence: Red Sea Crossing, Part 1, contrasts the two prevailing views concerning the exodus of Egypt by the Israelites. The Egyptian view postulates that there were probably only about 20,000 Hebrews who wandered about 12 miles before Pharaoh’s army caught up with them at the Sea of Reeds at the border of Egypt. The Hebrew position affirms that two million Hebrews traveled across the Sinai Peninsula before crossing the Red Sea into what is now Saudi Arabia.
The Egyptian stance says that there’s no way 2 million people, with all of their animals, could have been organized to cross a 150-200 mile stretch of desert in a matter of days. The food and water needs for that many people and all their animals would have been immense.
The Hebrew view maintains that the Bible states that God provided water (Psalm 68:7-10) and God provided food. God prepared Moses to lead the people - what was he doing in Egypt for the first third of his life?! And if it was only 20,000 Hebrews, why were the Egyptians afraid of them? (Ex 1:10-12) Why were the nations who heard of the events afraid of the Israelites? (Josh 2:9)
The Egyptian position states that it’s much more likely that a natural phenomenon, like wind, would have blown a path through the relatively shallow ancient Sea of Reeds and provided a way for the Israelites to cross. Anything deeper would have required a very heavy wind - too strong to stand up in.
The Hebrew view states that God is more than able to open a path through the Red Sea and to miraculously prepare a place for the Israelites to walk across dry-shod. Furthermore, it’s much more likely that all of Pharaoh’s army would be drowned in a deep sea rather than in a shallow lake, like the Sea of Reeds.
Remarkable, indeed, is the contrast between the Egyptian position and the Hebrew position. The Egyptian view looks for something easily explainable. The Hebrew stand affirms the miraculous power required by Almighty God to bring His people out of Egypt.
Looking out over the expanse of the Red Sea (specifically the Gulf of Aqaba) and knowing that at its deepest point it’s 6070 feet deep, it is inconceivable that a strong wind could have possibly parted that huge amount of water and dried out the sea bed overnight - unless it was a miracle of God.
But our God is in the business of miracles. And He had just shown the land of Egypt ten of them! Why not continued miracles - like providing food, water, and deliverance for a 150-mile desert crossing for over two million people and their animals? Does it take a mighty hand to accomplish the Egyptian position? No, but the Hebrew view definitely fits the Biblical description in Deuteronomy 26:8: And the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great deeds of terror, with signs and wonders.
The visual panorama at the edge of the Red Sea emphasizes the incredible power and majesty of our Great God and the lengths to which He went in redeeming His people.
Let’s replace the subject of the preceding sentence. We know that God bringing the Israelites out of Egypt is a type of bringing each of us out of slavery to sin. So let’s state it this way: The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ emphasizes the incredible power and majesty of our Great God and the lengths to which He went in redeeming His people.
Sometimes I think we become so used to thinking of Jesus as our Savior that we lose some of our awe. We forget that there is no other religion whose God is willing to die for His people. We become hardened to the phenomenal price paid on our behalf by our Savior.
So, in my mind’s eye, I stand on the edge of a shallow Sea of Reeds. Then I stand on the edge of a mammoth Gulf of Aqaba. Which of these two is a fitting type for what our Great God has done to redeem us from slavery to sin, to pay our penalty of death, to reconcile us to the Father?
We’re just a month from the New Year, six weeks from Passover. We’re in the preparation month for God’s spring holy days. I know I will take some time to contemplate the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea. I will thank God for the powerful visual object lesson He provided. And I will revel in the majesty and love of my God, who with His mighty hand and outstretched arm, redeemed me to Himself, to be part of the Bride of Christ.
A Personal God by Jim O’Brien (March 28, 2018)
There are scant records of ancient history. And history of any age is flawed. History is, as we say, written by the winners. The Pharaohs of Egypt were accustomed to erasing the name of political figures that preceded them. So there is no objective reason to believe that any record of history exists that is more accurate than the Bible.
Before God became incarnate, the average man had an incomplete understanding of his Creator, derived from an observation of nature. It was a rational universe, highly structured. There is day and night, seasons, weather patterns, differences between human beings. God made us male and female, each with our own gifts, and there are differences between man and animals which lack man’s capacity for thought and speech.
Structure provided something you could depend on. You could SEE nature. You knew the sun would rise tomorrow. You knew what season would come next. You knew to plant seeds in the spring and how long to plan before harvest. But sometimes the structure of nature could be devastating. Everyone knew of the "Flood" that destroyed all life. The Egyptians dealt with locusts and plagues and illnesses. Man was at the mercy of a world that was hard.
From the Tower of Babel forward men centralized the power structure and became divided into classes. Most were slaves. A very few were kings. The world into which Moses was born exemplified structure over spirit.
It was evident that this world was "hard-wired" by a Rational Mind, but that's about all that was known about the Creator after Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden.
Then the other side of the coin was revealed. Passover introduced "The Personal God" to the nation of Israel. This God took an interest in the life of the common man. He would intervene for you. He protects the little guy, saves him from Pharaoh the slave master. He is Spiritual and these few people were offered the opportunity to worship him in spirit and in truth. They were offered that opportunity so they could become Ambassadors for God to introduce the rest of the world to the "Personal God.”
At Passover God showed Israel that he would send his own son so that man could see what God is like. God would be the Passover lamb, the suffering servant that would save man. What other god was like this?
This God could bleed. What a revelation to man! This was far more than rocks and trees and seasons and mountains. This God was willing to suffer and spill his blood so man could be free.
Each year, many believers observe the Christian Passover. For many Christians the deep meaning of Passover must never be lost. In all mankind's history it is one of the most powerful examples of the goodness of God.
Enjoy freedom! Enjoy the privilege of Passover!
"I didn't go to religion to make me 'happy.' I always knew a bottle of Port would do that. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don't recommend Christianity."
~C. S. Lewis
Tradition: peer pressure from dead people
Out of the Mouths of Babes
A newscaster interrupted scheduled programming to announce the outcome of a political election.
"More on candidates at 10 P.M.," he said.
My ten-year-old granddaughter Ashley looked at me in disbelief.
"I didn't know they could call politicians 'morons' on national television!" she remarked.
April
Due to the current social distancing guidelines, we will make plans for the upcoming holy days as we get closer to them. Please check our facebook page, church website, or your email for updates as they become available. Once we begin holding weekly church services again, the sabbath school memory verses will again be posted on the website.
Passover service: Tuesday, April 7th - after sunset
First Day of Unleavened Bread - Thursday, April 9th
First day of Count to Pentecost - Sunday, April 12th
Last Day of Unleavened Bread - Wednesday, April 15th
Passover Preparations by Cynthia Saladin
There are several scriptures which get our attention at this time of year especially:
Deuteronomy 16:4a No leaven shall be seen with you in all your territory for seven days, . . .
1 Corinthians 11:27-29 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
So we are very diligently examining our houses and cars to get all of the leaven out. We’re reading ingredient labels. We’re cleaning out pantries, cars, toasters, refrigerators, ovens, vacuum cleaners . . . It’s a thoroughly examination of our possessions to eradicate the leavening from our lives.
As we de-leaven physically, we recognize the spiritual application. We are to make Godly choices to purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit out of reverence for God (2 Corinthians 7:1). In other words, we need to examine our lives. We need to stop doing things that are out of step with God’s ways. We need to turn. We need to repent. We need to seek a closer relationship with God. Those who have been bought by the blood of Jesus Christ, chosen by God, must walk worthy of the calling you’ve received. And if you’ve made choices that are contrary to His ways, He’s standing at the door, knocking, waiting for you to let Him in. He’s ready and faithful to forgive you, if you ask, and to purify you from all unrighteousness. So first you have to examine your relationship with God. Is it where you want it to be? Have you humbled yourself before your God to be used as He directs?
This examination often revolves around what you do with the resources you have been given. How do you use your time? How do you use your money and resources? How do you use your talents?
Time is a finite resource. How much of it do you devote to communicating with God? Do you read your Bible daily? Do you pray, at least once a day? Do you meditate on His word? How much of your time do you truly focus on God?
Money and other possessions are a finite resource. How much of your money demonstrates your dedication to God? Are you willing to help people who need help?
The talents God has given to you aren’t for your glory; they are for God’s glory. We are made for and by His pleasure. We are His bond servants. We are here to do His bidding, if we have been bought by the blood of Jesus Christ. Do you seek to use the talents God has given to you for His glory?
So far, in our examination, we’ve looked at our relationship with God and how the use of the resources we have been given reflects that relationship. So now we need to examine our attitude. When people look at you, what do they normally see? Someone who is going to grumble about what’s going on around them? Do you complain about what’s happening in your life? Or do you exhibit the peace of God, a calmness that is attractive to others (especially now with the virus threat). Do you live a life of praise to God? Our attitude is such a barometer of our relationship with God. God is not particularly fond of those who grumble (1 Corinthians 10:10). Grumbling says at least one of two things: either you don’t trust God that He’s giving you what you deserve, or you are criticizing what He has given you, like you know more than He does. It’s very good to remember that God opposes the proud. But if you humble yourself before the Lord, He will lift you up.
As you’re examining your attitude towards God, remember to take a close look at your feelings towards others. 1 John 4:20 says that if we think we love God, yet hate our brother, then we are liars. If there’s animosity in your heart towards the people of God, then there’s a problem. We need to rectify the problem, resolve the conflict, prior to coming before God with a offering on His holy days. So as you’re examining yourself prior to Passover, you should also examine your attitude, both toward God and toward others.
It’s a lot of work to clean a house thoroughly prior to Passover. And it’s always amazing to me how quickly you have to clean again once it’s been cleaned. The dirt has a way of creeping back in. Similarly, we need to be vigilant about our relationship with God, examining our use of the God-given resources of time, possessions, and talents as well as our attitudes toward God and others. It’s hard work. It takes time. But we don’t any of us want to come before Him without having examined ourselves. We don’t want to come without having accurately identified our desperate need for Jesus’ sacrifice and ongoing intercession. He, Jesus Christ, makes us worthy to participate in eating the bread and drinking the cup.
Embrace the Pain by Jim O’Brien
There is a philosophy that says avoiding pain is one of the central factors for motivating man. Some people say it is the prime reason we act or don't act.
That thought came to mind when I was on a flight that required a change of planes in Atlanta. People who have landed at Hartsfield International are often aware of the marathon taxiing that is required from certain runways. More than one passenger has remarked that the flight took less time than the taxi.
As we began our descent a lady on our flight was waiting in line for the Ladies Room just as the 'fasten seatbelt' sign came on. She was forced to return to her seat without completing her task. As chance would have it we landed on the runway furthest from the terminal and in the direction that placed us at the most distant point from the gate. After taxing for several minutes the lady, in desperation jumped up from her seat and literally ran to the lavatory. "I'm sorry!" she yelled to the amusement of the passengers who all seemed to understand her plight.
The Flight Attendant phoned the pilot and then the 250 passengers witnessed something none of us had ever seen before: the plane stopped on the taxiway to wait for the
lady to finish. This was followed by an announcement from the pilot that a passenger had to go to the restroom and they were not allowed to continue moving while a passenger was not in a seatbelt. After a minute or two the embarrassed passenger emerged from her place of solitary confinement and walked past a hundred fellow travelers - apologizing all the way before the plane could resume taxiing to its destination.
For a few minutes one lady's pain stopped a commercial airliner and held up the largest airport in America. Suffering may be an inevitable part of life but avoiding pain is built into our psyche.
All this is said to reinforce one of the essential characteristics of Passover-suffering. After Jesus was resurrected some of the disciples were walking on the road to Emmaus discussing the events of the previous few days. A stranger joined them on their walk.
Not recognizing that the stranger was Jesus, the men openly talked of their deep disappointment over the ignominious death of the one they believed to be the Messiah. The disciples were confused because they expected Jesus to restore Israel at that time. Then Jesus said to them, "Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" (Luke 24:26)
They expected immediate victory. The war had started and zealous Peter drew his sword attacking the Roman soldier-but he had misread the prophecies. Jesus could not be the Messiah without submitting to the sting.
Jesus could have escaped by just speaking a few words-commanding twelve legions of angels to intervene to stop the agony. But instead he embraced the pain. It had a purpose.
As many Christians prepare to celebrate the resurrection to life let us remember that without his death there could be no resurrection. Thank God for Passover.
31 Weeks of Proverbs
by Diane Kleeschulte
It was the third week of February that I decided to study the book of Proverbs. I have read it over the course of my Christian walk, but I have never studied it, chapter by chapter, verse by verse. As I began looking over the chapters, I realized how easy it would be for me to become overwhelmed by all of it- 31 chapters! Should I begin with a chapter a day? No, that seemed very overwhelming. How about study the chapter over the course of a couple of days? No, that felt too open-ended. Then the idea came to me that I should allot one week of study per chapter. So I decided to count ahead the number of weeks beginning with Sunday, February 23, until the fall holy days. I pulled out my planner, counted out 31 weeks, and ended at the week of Sunday, September 20. It just so happens that that is the week between Feast of Trumpets and Day of Atonement. I couldn't believe it! It seems this bible study may be in God's perfect timing. Now, I was getting really excited about the Proverbs study. However, even though I felt convicted to tackle this study, I had yet another problem to solve. If I have seven days to study a chapter, how do I approach each day of study in and of itself?
I scribbled down a few ideas and came up with the following:
First, I decided to begin each week of study on the first day of the week, Sunday.
Next, it was important for me to set aside a time of study each day. I tend to study best in the morning but I have had to be flexible with that, and instead have found myself, at times, studying in the late afternoon or early evening.
Then, I got my materials ready. I found an unused, small, three-ring binder with some dividers. I don't have thirty-one dividers, one for each chapter, but I will before I end the study.
Finally, I created the following outline, and so far it is has worked very well.
Sunday- Read background information: who, what, where, when, how, and why.
Monday- Read the chapter. Spend time in reflection on the point(s) the author has written.
Tuesday- Create a key word(s) or phrase list. Underline these in bible.
Wednesday- Define one or more words from previous day.
Thursday- Choose a key verse for memorization.
Friday- Find parallel scriptures for the memory verse from previous day.
Sabbath- Review each day of study, and then write a personal summary and application for what was learned this week.
Notes: On Sunday, I write down the background notes that I have found. Nothing elaborate, just a few things that I might want to remember. Sometimes I jot them down in my bible, as well. Also, you can substitute “Day 1” for Sunday, if you decide to start on any other day of the week. Or, you can condense several days into one day of study. I recently had to do that when we had out-of -state company for a few days.
I hope you find this a helpful encouragement to find a book (you have a choice of 66!!) or section of the bible that interests you so that you may begin, or perhaps tweak, your own study of God's word. Be a diligent student of the bible and seek Him daily.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
"Holiness is not the way to Christ. Christ is the way to holiness."
- Adrian Rogers
June
What Will You Be?
by Cynthia Saladin
Jennifer and I had walked up to get the mail at the mailbox recently and were coming back down our road when she stopped to pick up a rock. Rock collection must be in the blood because her grandmother can’t pass up an interesting rock either. 😁 I must admit it was a cool rock, hiding there in the midst of the rest of the gravel on the road, with curving layers and sharp edges left after having been crushed to the appropriate gravel size.
I couldn’t help thinking about the series of events which brought that rock to being in Jennifer’s hand. Likely, the rock was formed after Noah’s flood as the waters receded from the landscape, creating layers. This is the most likely explanation for the layers since the gravel was quarried just north of us near the Bourbeuse River. Earthquakes and weathering could also have played a roll in its shaping over the centuries. But at some point, it was quarried and scooped into the rock crusher. After undergoing at least one round of crushing, it was sorted and perhaps placed on the conveyor belt to undergo a more substantial crushing, until it reached the desired size. And then, a period of waiting began - waiting for a call from a customer who specifically wanted one-inch clean gravel to be delivered.
Here’s where it gets interesting! It could have been gravel used in the construction of the new Farmers and Merchants Bank in St. Clair. In that case, it would become part of the foundation under the building (a noble calling) or under the parking lot (an important, but less auspicious calling). It could have been used in any number of ways. But that particular rock ended up in our driveway. Now it’s been on our road for a year or so. It’s been driven over countless times. I’ve walked that section of road at least once daily. But it wasn’t until that particular day that it caught Jennifer’s eye and she picked it up.
As we walked on down the road, I was thinking about our development as the people of God. We are called living stones, being built into a spiritual house:
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:4-5, ESV)
We are the temple of the Living God. (2 Corinthians 6:16)
Isn’t it interesting that the stones for the physical temple were not cut and shaped at the temple site. Rather they were shaped at the quarry.
In building the temple, only blocks dressed at the quarry were used, and no hammer, chisel or any other iron tool was heard at the temple site while it was being built. (1 Kings 6:7, NIV)
Much like Jennifer’s rock, we are shaped into who we will be in God’s kingdom long before we ever arrive at the building site. That shaping requires some crushing, maybe some heat and pressure. It involves time. And waiting.
Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2, ESV)
We know we are being formed (quarried and crushed, if you will) into the image of our Elder Brother, Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 2:11; Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18) How appropriate that is!! He is the Rock of our salvation (Psalm 95:1) and spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4, ESV).
God is preparing a place for us, shaping us into the image of His Son, that we may not only be servants of Almighty God but also be adopted into His family.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9, ESV).
. . . He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:4-6, ESV).
What an unbelievable future for an insignificant rock that started out as so much raw material in God’s creation! Just as Jennifer picked up that rock in the middle of the road, God chose us. That’s what both 1 Peter 2:9 and Ephesians 1:4 (along with a myriad of other verses) say! We were chosen by God, for His purposes.
All of the crushing and shaping, the pressure and waiting, it’s all in God’s hand. Simply put, He’s sovereign.
Jennifer cleaned that rock (an insignificant piece of gravel), wrapped it with wire, covered it with resin, and made a necklace for me to wear. I can’t help but think it’s an appropriate Ebenezer for what we’ve all just come through these past three months.
🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝
A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.
~Winston Churchill
July
A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, "Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side."
Very quietly, the doctor said, "I don't know."
"You don't know? You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?"
The doctor was holding the handle of the door; on the other side of which came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.
Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside. He knew nothing, except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side. I know my Master Jesus Christ is there, and that is enough.”
~collected from cybersalt.org (Issue #4480)
I like this story. And it really doesn’t matter if you’re talking about death or facing something difficult in life. As long as you belong to God, why are you worried about the future?
That would be the rational response. But I worry. I think about where our world is going. I contemplate the choices of my offspring. I mull over decisions and relationships and words said and not said. And sometimes I get depressed.
Is it that I don’t trust God? Don’t I believe that He’s sovereign and He will take care of me? Well, yes . . .
I know He is sovereign. But I think of the verse that says God will not give us more than we can stand. What if I don’t want to stand as much as God thinks that I should stand in order to be a profitable servant and to prepare me for a position in His kingdom? Hmm. Maybe I’m just weary.
About the time when I start to feel discouraged and downcast, songs start running through my mind:
Oh soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior
and life more abundant and free.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus . . . .
or When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
when you are discouraged thinking all is lost,
count your many blessings, name them one by one,
and it will surprise you what the Lord has done. . .
or If your eyes are on the storm
You'll wonder if I love you still
But if your eyes are on the cross
You'll know I always have and I always will . . .
It’s comforting, when I start getting stressed about life events, that Jesus reminded His disciples trouble is a part of life: “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) I need to remember that struggle and pain is part of this world, but God is stronger than the world and the situation in which I find myself.
It’s funny. We love Psalm 42 because a favorite hymn, “As the Deer,” is based on this psalm. But there is a verse repeated again in this chapter and then again in the next: Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. (Psalm 42:5, 11; 43:5) David knew what it felt like to be discouraged and weary. But he also knew the remedy: Keep your eyes focused on Jesus Christ and the hope set before us. And more than that: desire a closer relationship with God, one that is like a deer panting for, craving, water.
I need that closer relationship with Jesus and I also need to prepare my mind for action because we likely haven’t seen anything yet. Jeremiah 12:5 (ESV) says, If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses? And if in a safe land you are so trusting, what will you do in the thicket of the Jordan? Events around us are likely to get a whole lot worse before the return of Jesus Christ. So that mental preparation for what is coming has to include fixing my hope on what God is preparing for those who love Him (1 Peter 1:13).
I thank God for the myriad hymns, psalms, and spiritual songs which exhort me to fight the good fight, to keep my eyes focused on Jesus Christ, and to trust Him no matter what. They are an important piece of my mental preparation.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
by Cynthia Saladin
Final Thought:
A man is flying a hot air balloon and realizes he is lost. He reduces height and spots a man down below. He lowers the balloon further and shouts, "Excuse me. Can you help me? I promised my friend I would meet him half an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."
The man below says, "Yes, You are in a hot air balloon, hovering approximately 30 feet above this field. You are between 40 and 42 degrees N. Latitude, and between 58 and 60 degrees W. longitude".
"You must be an engineer," says the balloonist.
"I am," replies the man. "How did you know?"
"Well," says the balloonist, "everything you have told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to make of your information, and the fact is I am still lost and you are of no help to me."
The man below says, "You must be a manager."
"I am," replies the balloonist, "but how did you know?"
"Well," says the man below, "you don't know where you are, or where you are going, You have made a promise which you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problem. The fact is you are in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but now it is somehow my fault."
August
How Blessed Are You?
by Cynthia Saladin
One of my favorite scenes out of Facing the Giants is the discussion between Coach Grant Taylor and his wife Brooke about God blessing them with a baby. He asks her if she will still love God, even if He doesn’t give them what they want. Eventually Brooke thinks she might be pregnant and goes to the clinic for a pregnancy test. The nurse comes back to tell her it’s negative . . . again. We see her walk out of the doctor’s office, heartbroken. Brooke tells God, “I will still love You.” Then the nurse realizes she’s gotten some names mixed up, that Mrs. Taylor is indeed pregnant and goes running out to share the life-changing message with her.
So my question is: How blessed are you?
I have a black lab whose cataracts are so bad, she’s virtually blind. She runs into things, falls over shoes left on the floor, steps on the cat when Virginia doesn’t move, runs afoul of Pepper when he’s already taken up residence in her bed, and recoils dozens of times a day over things she didn’t know were about to touch her nose. Her comfort level outside decreases almost by the day. But is she blessed? She’s healthy. She’s well-taken care of. She’s very much loved. I’d say that as far as almost 13 year-old blind black labs go, she’s blessed.
We live in a world that increasingly believes that work is a four-letter word. (It is a four-letter word, but not in the context that they mean.) Too many people don’t really want a job; they just want a paycheck. They believe the government - or some rich dude somewhere - owes them a living. We live in a nation where the idea of entitlement is rampant.
It’s a slippery slope and one that Christians have to be wary of approaching. Except in Christian terms, it sneaks up on us like this: I have some health issues. Some of my relatives/friends are giving me fits. Our insurance rates just went up. The clutch just went out in the pick-up. (It did! This morning! Right in the middle of using it!!) There’s mayhem and madness all around us. Conflicts. Stress. Problems. We sometimes slip into that mindset of “everything’s going wrong, and I’m so depressed.”
It’s the “can’t see the forest for all the trees” syndrome, or perhaps the “squeaky wheel gets the grease.” Because the reality is, if we belong to God, if we have been redeemed by Jesus our Messiah, we are already so blessed. Everything else is just icing. Think about that for a minute! We will have life eternal, adopted into the very family of God. What could be more wonderful than that single blessing?
Furthermore, Paul says, “For these light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal weight of glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17). Not only are we so incredibly blessed, but there’s a purpose in the “momentary” troubles that we experience. They are for our growth because God loves us so very much! As Ron Dart used to say, “God doesn’t want to spend eternity with a bunch of losers.” Our perseverance will bear fruit.
But just enduring is not God’s will for us. He wants us to follow Him with rejoicing. A popular comedian says that too many Christians need to send missionaries to their face! That is, they need to smile. What kind of witness are we, why would anyone want what we have, if we project that being a Christian is a depressing, hopeless, joyless condition?!
We can’t focus on the things that are going wrong. There are going to be lots of things that go wrong in this life; it’s part of entropy and our world being subjected to futility and decay. But that’s temporary! In the scheme of things, it’s just small potatoes. And Mom always said, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” Keep it all in perspective. Remember that God is watching to see who will persevere, enduring to the end. Grandad always said, “You hired on to be tough.” As the KJV says, “Gird up the loins of your mind” in 1 Peter 1:13. In other words, cinch that belt a little tighter and get serious about being a servant of God. The ESV says to “prepare your minds for action.” Then it continues, “ . . . and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
We are so incredibly blessed. I just need to keep my mind centered on that reality.
🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝
The following article was printed in the April 13, 2019 issue of World magazine. Andrée Seu Peterson is addressing the issue of pro-life vs. pro-choice, but it certainly has applicability to other current issues. See what you think:
On Being Had
by Andrée Seu Peterson
We have been had. The saying goes, “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.” And we have been fooled six ways from Sunday.
They said who knows when life begins. So we said, OK, let’s talk about when life begins. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you,” we quoted from Jeremiah 1, verse 5.
We’re not into religion, they replied. So we said fair enough, forget the Bible, let’s talk science, you like science, right? And if the
science proves when life begins, they you’ll stop killing babies in the womb, agreed?
They said not so fast, we grant that life of some kind starts when sperm and egg unite and make a being with a separate set of chromosomes and blood type from the mom, but well, it’s just a fetus at that point, and not a person, and a fetus is a blob of protoplasm lacking consciousness.
What if we show you that the fetus does feel pain, we said, would that make you rethink your policy? Maybe, they said. And so we came bristling with ultrasounds of babies flinching and recoiling in the womb at stimuli and mentioned how the state of Utah passed a law three years ago requiring docs to give a fetus slated for abortion anesthesia if it has passed 20 weeks in its gestation.
Well, pain is a subjective thing, they countered. You don’t know for certain that the flinching is from pain. And even if it is, it’s only after third-trimester pregnancies that that would be an issue. We’re good people, we don’t do abortions after 24 weeks like that horrid Dr. Gosnell who did them at 25 weeks - may he rot in prison.
But you do perform abortions after 24 weeks, we reminded them. Oh, they said, in extreme cases: Only when it’s really, really necessary, or the mother would feel really, really bad to have a baby at this time, and has a doc’s permission slip to prove how bad she feels. We care about the mother’s health, they said, don’t you?
But they had their fingers crossed behind their backs. And when we blinked, they passed a brand-new law in Albany, N.Y., that said you can kill babies up to 40 weeks or any time you want until the day they’re born. And when Virginia and Vermont saw what New York had done, they both took courage and suggested we could go still further.
And we stood with mouths agape and stuttered: “What about the things you said for years to us about not knowing when a fetal life is viable outside the womb? You said the matter hinged on viability. Big questions of biology, you said, as if you, like us, searched for truth. And now it looks like you were lying all along, and like your wrestlings were but so much dandelion fluff that blew away upon a puff of air.”
Kermit Gosnell has been had. The now-forgotten poster boy you used and cast away, the one you once found it convenient to revile as so different from you. No mention of him now, I see, who did no worse than your new law allows, but dons an orange jumpsuit in a cell while you shine pink lights on One World Trade Center. Stalin did no worse airbrushing Trotsky out of history.
Note well, all ye who take upon yourselves to dialogue with people of this world who with feigned searchings of the soul would plead their case on matters from abortion to aberrant sexuality. Beware the velvet glove that hides the iron fist. The pattern of persuasion will be similar across the board: at first the plaintive cry of suffering and social justice, to enlist your sympathy.
Then follows, in the blush of victories won, removal of the mask, abandonment of pretense, and the cackle of contempt toward all who thought they cared a whit about their former ratiocinations. Beware the scorpion who with smooth words seduces hapless frogs to ferry it across the pond, for in the end the poor naive amphibian will rue his gullibility.
🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝
Yes! There is Good News!
by Bill Rollins
Originally published Feb 4th and 11th, 2017
We have been looking into Psalms 103. We have seen God is loving, compassionate, and gracious. He is slow to anger and abounding in loving kindness. And I hope we have seen that these are not just things God has decided to do, but that they are inherently part of His personality.
It would be a decidedly foolish thing for Him to do: create a beautiful environment for life, provide everything needed in abundance and create a life form to dwell there, all the while ruing the day that He did so. No, God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son ... God, our God, loves us and wants us to love Him.
This is a beautiful Psalm! God so loves us that (Verse 20), “He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.” In other words, it is we who have gone astray in our respect and love for Him and still, His love is bigger than we are! His love is bigger than our foolishness. His love is bigger than our sins. Verse 11 says it all very well, “For as high as the heavens are above the Earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
Jesus Christ, while on the Earth, told us that we should call this great God of the entire Universe, “Father.” All of us had a father and perhaps many of you reading this are fathers. Some of us had wonderful, loving fathers, and others of us ... well, not so much. We do not live in a perfect world. But God our Father loves us with an undying love, with a love that goes beyond our understanding, and in Verse 13, we see King David using a metaphor that we can all grasp. He informs us that, “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust.
Oh, wait a minute here. Didn’t we just read there is a condition to that love from God? Doesn’t it say He has compassion on those who fear Him? What’s up with this fear? The word for fear in the original Hebrew has several nuances of meaning. Vines Hebrew Dictionary has this to say about the word “yare,” (fear): Used of a person in an exalted position, “yare (fear) connotes, “standing in awe.” This is not simple fear, but reverence, whereby an individual recognizes the power and position of the individual revered and renders him proper respect. In this sense the word may imply submission to a proper ethical relationship to God.” Yes, that’s a mouthful, but I believe you see how this word is used in Psalm.
In this 21st century, we sometimes lament the way children do not show respect for parents and elders. Do you, as a child of God, show respect and fear for Him?
* * * * * * * * *
Do you sometimes feel as though the days of your life are as the grass of the meadow or the flower of the field? We have been looking into King David’s praise of God in Psalm 103 and so we have come to verse 15, “As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field.” At this point in the Psalm he compares our life with God’s love: “The wind blows over it (our life as the grass) and it is gone and its place remembers it no more.” However, in verse 17 he says, “But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear Him.” God’s love never ceases. We just talked about God’s love as a father’s love. At what point would your love for your children ever cease?
If we would learn to fear (i.e. revere/stand in awe of) God our Father we would experience the never ending love that He has for us. I told you this Psalm is filled with good news! I hope you have gotten out your Bible and read along with this study into Psalm 103.
In verse 18 we are told to keep His covenant and obey His precepts. At this point my mind goes to something Jesus said when He was being tempted by Satan in the wilderness: “It is written, man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matt.4:4) When Jesus said this the only words that came from God and were written down were to be found from Genesis to Malachi (the Old Testament). Do we wish to have life? Then live by these words. Paul said as much when instructing Timothy in his letter to him, “You have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:-17). The only scriptures Timothy had at this point were the same ones King David is pointing us to in Psalm 103.
David then lets us know why this “fear of the LORD”, this “keeping His covenant and obeying His precepts” is to be our daily duty. In verse 19 he writes, “The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.” Our God is over all. He sits on a throne, not on this earth, but in the heavenly realms! And so David finishes the Psalm by including: the angels, the mighty ones, the heavenly hosts, His servants, all His works and everything in His dominion in giving “Praise to the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.” And I can only say at this point, “AMEN!”
Yes, God is good and His word is good.
🤟 🤟 🤟 🤟 🤟 🤟 🤟 🤟 🤟 🤟 🤟 🤟
"I had to surrender my 'if only' to Jesus."
- Corrie ten Boom
September
Lessons from the Cat
by Cynthia Saladin
We had a cat when I was growing up (Sir Richard the Lion-hearted), but he was an outside cat who stayed in our barn. So the addition of Verge to our family has been a learning experience. We knew she was a different critter than a dog, but we didn’t know just how different.
She lies on the porch rail and, if Pepper nonchalantly walks by waging his tail, she’ll take exception to that tail wag and shoot out claws to catch it. In similar fashion, one day Pepper trotted by her, intent on his own business. She didn’t like something about that and suddenly hissed at him and swiped a claw at him. He recoiled, his demeanor portraying, “What was that all about? What did I do?”
Pepper is not her only target. One evening she scared me half to death when I took the dogs outside before bed. I was star-gazing and keeping an eye on the dogs when unexpectedly a soft tail swooshed across my leg. Or there was the day Jennifer and I were picking blueberries. Verge has laid claim to one of the blueberry bushes. That first day she just pounced on my feet. It was a warning; there were no claws on my bare toes. But subsequent days saw a drastic uptick in aggressiveness; we saw both claws and teeth. She does NOT like us picking blueberries off her bush. Tail swish angrily!
And then there’s the issue of food. We have been conditioned by dogs - namely labs, who are not simply carnivores; they’re omnivores. And when I say they will eat anything, I am including watermelon and cantaloupe in that list. The cat, on the other hand, will show a definite preference for a sabbath evening cat dinner - canned cat food. (Normal day food is just dry food.) She’ll finish off her half can of food and lick the dish. The next morning, however, when I took the food out to her, she said, “Yuck.” O.K. She didn’t actually say “Yuck,” but her body language and actions all made it very plain what she thought of the meal offering. So I put a little of the canned food on my finger and put it up to her nose. “Yuck!” So I let Pepper slurp it off my finger. Verge immediately leaned WAY out from the porch rail and said, “What did you just feed the dog? Did you feed him my food? I wanted that!” O.K. She didn’t actually say that, but that’s what it looked like. So I pulled my finger away from Pepper’s voracious attention and offered the food to Verge again. “Yuck!”
Yes, there has been some head-shaking and eye-rolling going on as we adjust to life with a cat. But there have been some definite benefits as well. I don’t think it’s merely coincidental that we’ve had a lot fewer mice in the cars since she showed up.
Jennifer has discovered the truth of what we told her at the outset: Dogs have masters; cats have servants. She also understands why I was willing to have a cat, if she was an outside cat. Verge sometimes sleeps in Jennifer’s room, but routinely pounces on Jennifer’s feet, scratches under the bed, and otherwise keeps her from getting a good night’s sleep. I think Jennifer will be more reluctant to take on anything which is almost guaranteed to keep her up at night. (She’s solved the problem with her two older brothers, now she has a cat.)
Another good thing is enjoying the funny things she does: pouncing on crickets, following us out to the garden when we’re harvesting or pulling weeds, pouncing on the weeds we’re pulling, etc. Pets all have their own personality and they can bring joy, relieve stress, and lighten the mood - even while they add responsibility, care, and cost.
But what I really like about Verge’s addition to our family are some of the observations it has generated:
1. People (or pets) don’t always have the same likes/dislikes/behaviors as you. It doesn’t make them wrong, necessarily; different can be good.
2. Don’t assume you know what someone is thinking. Unless they are very close to you, you’re wrong - maybe a whole lot wrong, but almost certainly a little bit! Our families, church fellowships, and other friends would be so appreciative if we’d quit acting as if we had them completely pegged.
3. Grace and patience are wonderful to receive - and they make relationships function so much more smoothly.
4. We may think that we don’t like someone at all. But oftentimes getting to know someone reveals that they aren’t half bad. We may find out that we actually like them a whole lot. I like picking up Verge and stroking her long, silky fur. Who’d have ever thought that!?
5. Expanding your family to include another member (physical family, church family) requires a period of adjustment. There are going to be some bumps. But remember: there are some definite benefits!
6. Each person (or pet) brings their own set of talents, skills, or gifts to the family. You are much stronger together than separately.
7. I now have more inspiration for writing newsletter articles. 🙂
Of course, most of these thoughts were based on physical family and friends, but we could spend a long time talking about being adopted into the family of God and other spiritual analogies. Suffice it to say, it’s just another good reminder that there are lessons that we can learn all around us every day - if we only have eyes to see and sometimes you can learn something from a cat.
🐱 🐱 🐱 🐱 🐱 🐱 🐱 🐱 🐱 🐱
Yes, There is Good News
by Bill Rollins
I was struck by the words from Psalm 103, “His kingdom rules over all.” These words caught my eye because I had been thinking about the title of these articles, “Yes, There is Good News!” and considering how the message that Jesus proclaimed to the people began with, “The good news of the kingdom.” These two concepts crossed my mind at around the same time. Let us, then, dive into these two statements and see where they take us.
Does God’s kingdom rule over you? Please take this personally. We in this country are very blessed to have the type of government that is in place; a constitutional republic. But our familiarity with this type of government, one that is “of the people, by the people and for the people,” actually might limit us when we consider just how the kingdom of God operates. God’s kingdom is not a republic. It is a monarchy! In a true monarchy, when the king makes a decree it becomes a law and well, yes, the subjects must obey.
How many rules and laws enacted through our secular government do you break? We do not seem to do very well with the speed limits! That’s very obvious. And do we really come to a stop at the many stops signs we encounter? No, I’m not trying to point out the “speck in your own eye,” while I have a beam in mine. We have all broken a law or two in our time. But what about God’s law? Sometimes it doesn’t seem that we even care that God has given us His laws as a gift. Yes, a gift! Turn off the TV tonight and just sit and meditate quietly about how life in this society would improve if just one of the Ten Commandments were fully kept. “Thou shalt not steal.” Not only would we not need locks of any kind, but we would be safe traveling anywhere in any town. Remember I said, “Fully kept.” No one would try to steal another person’s life - “Thou shall not murder,” comes into play. It is an interesting exercise in meditation, try it sometime.
So I repeat, “God’s laws are a gift” - all of them! And yet if asked, could you recite all of the Ten Commandments? Do you even know where to find them in the Bible?
Let’s see what Moses had to say concerning theses laws of God. In the book of Deuteronomy, Chapter 4, we read this: “Hear now O Israel, the decrees and laws I’m about to teach you ... Do not add to what I command you, and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God ... Observe them carefully, for this will grow your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ ... What other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today? ... Be careful and watch closely ... do not forget ... or let them slip from your heart ... Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” Typing that last line almost breaks my heart when I think of our youth today and how many of them have never been taught the ways of God.
And yet! “His kingdom rules over all.” (Psalm 103:19) “Jesus came ... preaching the good news of the kingdom.” (Matthew 4:23) Is it good news to you that God’s kingdom rules over all? It seems to me that somehow our human nature resents being ruled over. Oh! Maybe the word “resent” is too strong and we should insert the word “reject.” Nevertheless, the question stands; do you reject (or resent) being ruled over? In other words, do you feel that God has no right to interfere in your life? This really seems to be where Eve and then Adam started out. And I think we pointed out, in a previous article, where that attitude led. Suffice it to say, it hasn’t been good news!
There is an old saying in Latin, “Rex Lex or Lex Rex.” “Lex” being the word for “law,” and “Rex” being the word for “king.” In other words, “Is the king the law, or is the law the king?” In the United States we live by rule of law. (At least, it’s supposed to work that way!) But in a monarchy it is just the opposite; the king is the law - what he says goes! The Bible tells us that God has set up a monarchy and so He rules over all.
Okay! That’s where we started this article, but we haven’t considered whether this is good news or not. Several weeks ago, we explored this idea that He was good and that He was good all the time. May I suggest that if He is good all the time, then we have a wonderful King? It has been said that the best form of government is a beneficent dictatorship. In many ways, our God dictates to us and we have come to the understanding that He is beneficent.
Our God is a loving Father! He is more than just a loving Father; He is a perfect, loving Father. Do you believe that?
Then let me reiterate something I said earlier, “The laws that He has given to us are gifts from Him and are for our benefit. “ The book of Job addresses this comment; in Job 35:6, Elihu (the one friend of Job who is not chastised by God) says this, “If you sin, how does that affect Him? If your sins are many, what does that do to Him? If you are righteous, what do you give to Him or what does He receive from your hand?” This says a mouthful toward the fact that God has given us laws for our benefit. The benefit is twofold - first, we learn how to act toward our neighbors (and they toward us), and secondly, but most importantly, we learn how our God would have us act toward Him. This is summed up in the two great commandments. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, strength, and life, and love your neighbor as yourself.
Well, I don’t know about you, but for me, the gift of His kingdom and its laws and commandments is really good news.
Until next time, think on the good things of God.
🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝
The Five Symptoms of Laziness:
1.
~Thanks to cybersalt.org
October
There’s a wonderful thing that happens when I’m headed home from the Feast of Tabernacles with a van load of young adults who squeezed as much “fun” into the week as humanly possible. Of course, they are all asleep - kind of a fulfillment of “We can sleep on the train.” So I’m left with 750 miles of driving, mile after mile of mostly interstate.
The first thing I had to do was sing all of the songs that were stuck in my head from a week of praising God within a large group of God’s people. Some of them, I had to sing a couple of times. 😀 I rejoiced in the baptism of my nephew!!! Then I thought about the conversations I had had, along with a regret that there was not more time. So many things unsaid. So many conversations that could have been. Then I jumped to reviewing the messages I heard.
It’s always interesting to me how messages seem to coalesce. Perhaps someone else would have a different impression overall, but my take-away was the emphasis on becoming vulnerable, submissive, and humble before God, trusting Him regardless of what happens - because things don’t just happen. My life is in the hands of my God who is molding me into the image of Jesus Christ. I may think His goal is to make me look like a golden cup; in reality, He wants me moldable like a clay vessel. In the end, I need to trust Him - fully, whole-heartedly - because we live in an increasingly ungodly world.
We shouldn’t be surprised that there are oppositions against us. We are coming to expect it more and more from society; how much more division can there be in our country before we have all-out civil war? But what can surprise us are the subtle attacks from Satan to divide families and friends. He knows that a three-fold cord is not easily broken. He knows that a house divided against itself cannot stand. He also knows his time is short. Thus his ferocity against God’s people is increasing. Satan throws his lies against us with devious intent.
We have to put on the full armor of God. We have to encourage one another as we see the Day approaching. We have to live by faith, exhorting each other to keep our eyes focused on our Savior, not on the waves around us. We have to seek the truth, repudiating the lies, relying on God’s Word to give us light to navigate the mire. We walk as ambassadors of Christ, confessing with our actions that God is good and trustworthy and worthy of praise. This life isn’t just about us; it’s about be a living sacrifice to the glory and honor of God. Although we make it our aim to live quiet lives in harmony with those around us, we also do not shrink back from declaring the good news of the kingdom as God sets opportunity before us. We are not just marking time; we are occupying until He comes, doing the tasks that He sets before us as good and profitable servants.
I thoroughly enjoyed the Feast of Tabernacles this year. I loved the music and the messages. I loved the conversations. I loved rehearsing the family reunion that we’ll have when Jesus returns. I loved seeing people I haven’t seen, in some cases, for years. Furthermore, I love the memories that pop up because of the history of feasting with God’s family. And I love the encouragement gained - not a new message, but the same encouragement packaged in different words to make it stick again. Praise God for His Feast days. Praise God for miles of uninterrupted meditation time to taste it all on my tongue and savor it fully.
So. What did you bring home from the Feast?
🚙 🚙 🚙 🚙 🚙 🚙 🚙 🚙 🚙
There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened.
🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝
These are real answers given by children:
Q: Name the four seasons.
A: Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar.
Q: Explain one of the processes by which water can be made safe to drink.
A: Flirtation makes water safe to drink because it removes large pollutants like grit, sand, dead sheep and canoeists.
Q: How is dew formed?
A: The sun shines down on the leaves and makes them perspire.
Q: How can you delay milk turning sour?
A: Keep it in the cow.
Q: What causes the tides in the oceans?
A: The tides are a fight between the Earth and the Moon. All water tends to flow towards the moon, because there is no water on the moon, and nature hates a vacuum. I forget where the sun joins in this fight.
November
Producing . . . . Ladders?
by Cynthia Saladin
We all know the saying, “Money doesn’t grow on trees,” but we were reminded recently that sometimes ladders do. Well, the ladder wasn’t exactly growing; the tree had grown around the ladder. Okay, the truth is the tree was the only part of the equation still growing.
How many times have you seen something similar? Where trees are plentiful and the soil is rocky, many times it’s easier to attach the fencing to the trees. Subsequently, the tree grows around the wire. A few years ago, we were shocked to see Ron’s chainsaw sparking as we cut down an old oak tree. Embedded in the heart of the tree was barbed wire. It had long since rusted away on the outside, but the tree had grown around the wire and had preserved it to dull Ron’s blade when he cut into it.
It’s an interesting object lesson, isn’t it. That is, there are things that don’t really belong in our lives, things that are not beneficial to our growth and development and actually are detrimental to our development. But we put up with them and develop around these foreign things (experiences, thoughts, relationships, behaviors, habits). They become part of who we are - to the point that, eventually, trying to eradicate them would mean major surgery - physically, mentally, or spiritually.
The crazy thing is: anyone looking at our lives could clearly see that the “thing” doesn’t belong in our lives any more than the ladder belongs in the tree. The thing adds stress, provides an entry point for disease, and is, at the best laughable, and at the worst, hideous.
We would like to believe that a “ladder-laden” person would be someone who has yet to come to Christ. It must be those sin-sick souls out of whom ladders would protrude as unsightly encumbrances. We would counsel them to heed the call of the Savior to repent and go under the waters of baptism, eschewing the world and its sinfulness, its foreign and harmful behaviors and ideas. And there’s a lot of truth in those words. Jesus does take the sinner, lost and lonely, rescuing each of us from the miry pit of sin, destructive behaviors and ungodly thoughts.
But as the apostle Paul eloquently describes in Romans 7, what we want to do as a new creation in Christ is at odds
with the carnal nature still within us. We do the things we don’t want to do. We unwisely allow ungodly behaviors to abide in our lives even as we strive to walk worthy of the calling we have received.
Do we recognize our continuing need for the Savior? Do we understand that God says He is cleansing and sanctifying us (Ephesians 5:26-27; Hebrews 10:14)? He is purifying a people for His own possession (Titus 2:14). Do we understand that even as we have to make Godly choices, repulsing the evil and desiring the good, we cannot rely on our strength and understanding? (Zechariah 4:6; 2 Chronicles 32:8) Do we comprehend our deep need for the transforming work of the Holy Spirit in our lives? (2 Corinthians 3:8; Romans 12:2) If we want to become Christlike, we have to draw near to Him, submitting to His work in our lives, choosing daily His ways and keeping our eyes focused on Him.
Our goal is to grow ever more like our Elder Brother, Jesus Christ, becoming like Him in thought, word, and deed. We want to be molded into a useful and God-honoring vessel by the Potter. That requires discipline and a willingness to bring every thought into submission to Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). It requires honest, ongoing self-evaluation. It requires spending time quietly meditating on the things of God. It requires everything we are. Otherwise, we could very well be walking around, proclaiming Christ all the while sporting a ladder or rusty barbed wire rather than the fruit of the Spirit.
I Will Not Ask
by Ron Saladin
Ahaz was not one of the good kings of Judah. 2 Chronicles 28 records he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, made molten images for Baalim, burnt incense in the Valley of the son of Hinnom, even burnt his own children in the fire. Yet he sounded very pious in a meeting he had with God and Isaiah. God wanted to give Ahaz a sign, perhaps to encourage Ahaz to trust in God.
Isaiah 7:10-12: Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying, Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, Neither will I tempt the LORD.
This sounds respectful, but it is actually an example, to say the least, of what I call backward thinking, i.e. reaching a reverse conclusion, differing from logical reasoning. It is not tempting God to do as He offers.
Many years ago, I belonged to a church which taught we should not vote. As God’s people we were not to be involved in “politics.” That seems to me now a rather bizarre way of thinking. As unconverted carnal people we were free to participate in choosing leaders which would affect the destinies of millions of people. However, as soon as we embraced Christ and Christian values, it was time for us to remove that influence we might have on the course our country would take. That seems to me an example of backward thinking.
In Romans 13:1 Paul makes an important statement about government: Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. The context is speaking to human governments and I believe our government is not the exception. God ordained our government to include a process in which the people would have the privilege of participating in the selection of the leadership. It is not being pious to ignore what God has ordained.
Nor do I believe it is wise.
In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25), Jesus tells of three men given varying amounts of talents to work with while He was away. They were expected to do something with what He gave. One did nothing with what he was provided. It did not go well with him when the Master returned.
We are all free to vote or not to vote, to vote for a write-in candidate which cannot win this election, or to vote for the ones we hope will take us closest to the values we hold.
I respectfully encourage us all to carefully consider the responsibility God has ordained.
December
Dogma: A Perspective on Paul’s Epistles
by Dave Manning
In 2 Peter 3:16 Peter states that Paul writes the same way in “all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other scriptures to their own destruction.” The “matters” that Peter references refer to the gospel message regarding Jesus the Messiah. In the light of that knowledge, Paul expounded on how we should order our lives with behaviors that are fitting with having such a Savior. With that in mind, today we shall look into some of these “hard to understand” writings of Paul.
It doesn’t take very long to find a hard saying in Paul’s writings.
Ephesians 2:11-22.
11 Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; 18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
Here we find a hard passage and a classic controversy. Some say that verse 15 shows conclusively that the Mosaic Law was abolished. But if that is true then how is this idea squared with other passages such as Romans 3:21 where Paul states: Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law. Or consider that later in the same book of Ephesians in chapter 6:1-2 Paul commands “Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” and then immediately supports his statement with a reminder of the 5th commandment: Eph 6:2 “Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise),” What shall we make of it? Is Paul back tracking from his position in Eph 2:15? Is the law abolished or not? What is Paul driving at?
Paul has a writing style that is a bit hard to follow. I suppose this is understandable considering 2000 years has passed and we are reading a translation. Even Peter thought it a challenge in his day to understand some of Paul’s points. As a scientist, I have noted that Paul’s style contrasts with that of modern scientific literature. In a typical scientific article an introduction section presents a historical context before the presentation of new findings. If done properly this approach helps to highlight the significance of new findings. Paul sometimes does this step backwards or intermixes new and historical information. For example, in Ephesians 2, he begins in verses 11-12 with a historical overview regarding the Gentile’s exclusion from Israel, then adds new information about Christ and his impact on the subject (verses 14-16). Then later in verse 17 he quotes: “And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near” which is more historical context taken from Isaiah 57:19. Part of Paul’s style is that he carefully prompts the reader by first introducing the concepts of far off and brought near prior to formally quoting Isaiah 57:19 which also contains the ideas of far and near. He has introduced his new findings in verses 13-16 before providing the support for his bold statement. This format seems backwards to me because he makes assertions before the historical context has been fully developed. It is important to recognize that the historic scripture that he references from Isaiah 57:19 is actually foundational to his bold assertions made earlier in verses 13-16.
So, what is Paul trying to say here in Ephesians? Before answering, let me raise another historical verse that is similar to Isaiah 57:19 but provides more context to the issue at hand.
Daniel 7:13-14
13 “I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him.14 “And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed.
Daniel 7:13-14 is an enormously important prophetic vision since it is one of the few visions of the Ancient of Days on his throne. And here, along with Isaiah 57:19, we find additional historical context that is central to Paul’s point. The vision states that ultimately all the peoples and nations will serve God. The problem before Paul was the huge disparity between the vision and the reality of his day. After Messiah comes, both the Gentiles and Jews will worship God together, so says the LORD. However, in Paul’s day Gentiles and Jews were very much separated. Peter wouldn’t even eat with the Gentiles at one point due to the prevailing views. Even further, consider that up to this point in history, the formal worship of God was at the temple and circumcision was the ticket into the temple. No circumcision meant No access. It is critical to understand Paul’s purpose in referencing Isaiah 57:19 in order to understand the controversial statement in Ephesians 2:15.
Another challenge with Eph 2:15 is the use of the word ordinance (NAS). Ordinance is an English translation of the Greek noun dogma [Strong’s 1378]. If asked, most in our day would define dogma (think of the related word dogmatic) as something rigid and immutable. It is settled, unchangeable. A topline internet dictionary defines dogma as “a principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true.” This modern definition for dogma is not the same definition that Paul had. In Paul’s time, dogma was not that strong of a word. The Stoic and Epicurean philosophers briefly mentioned in Acts 17:18 had philosophical schools of thought or principles that they thought to be true. These so called dogmas were defended and they distinguished the philosophical schools from each other. Dogma at the time of Paul was primarily an opinion.
Dogma’s primary definition as an opinion doesn’t necessarily mean that the opinion cannot have weight. Dogma can also be defined as a decision which is an opinion from an authoritative person or group such as a political body. For example, in Acts 16:4 we see that Paul and Timothy were traveling into the Gentile regions communicating the “decrees” [dogma Strong’s 1378] that had been decided by the council of elders in Jerusalem in the preceding chapter 15. At issue before the council was the question of whether believing Gentiles needed to be circumcised (Acts 15:1-2). After much debate, the council of elders issued their decision. This decision was the collective elder’s opinion on what to do regarding the current controversy and not God’s explicit command per se. Nevertheless, the ruling had weight because it was agreed upon by the body of elders. This episode is a biblical example of the meaning of the word dogma.
Over time, opinions or decisions if maintained turn into traditions and become part of the culture. For example, you cannot be a true Stoic if you do not believe its most famous dogma: “the only good is moral good and the only evil is moral evil”. Mark 7:1-23 describes a discourse with Jesus regarding Jewish dogma that had become tradition. Mark 7:3 3(For the Pharisees and all the other Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, thereby holding firmly to the tradition of the elders; 4 and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they completely cleanse themselves; and there are many other things which they have received as traditions to firmly hold, such as the washing of cups, pitchers, and copper pots.). Hitting closer to home, how about an example extant for many branches of the Churches of God? You must be male and wear a suit and tie to give a prayer or speak at worship services. Indeed, it is basic COG tradition, but nowhere in scriptures does God state such a requirement. Nevertheless, this viewpoint is part of established dogma and now sacrosanct. Or how about this one: “We are the one true Church of God”. You probably thought I was talking about your church. Catholics, Seventh Day Adventists, Mormons and yes, some COG branches make this claim. To me both of these ideas sound a lot like No Circumcision means No Access. The merits of any given dogma can be argued, they are opinion after all. Getting back to my main point, each of these examples began as an opinion or decision of the “elders” or leaders but later became an embedded tradition.
So, back to Ephesians 2, what is Paul really saying? He is saying now that Christ has come, Isaiah 57:19 is in effect. God’s plan and intent all along was for all humanity to come near and worship Him through Christ. But the reality at Paul’s time was that there was huge cultural divide and body of history that must be overcome. Please re-read Eph 2:11-16. See how Paul lays out his argument. Gentiles weren’t originally part of God’s covenant agreement. He unequivocally states: “They had no part in God” but Isaiah 57:19 and Dan 7:14 clearly show that this wasn’t always to be the case. What does Paul specifically say in verse 15? The mutual enmity (or mutual hatred) that is abolished is not God’s Covenant Law but rather the law of commandments contained in ordinances (Strong’s 1378, dogma). The rulings by the leaders of Israel are “the law of commandments contained in ordinances”. These decisions or rulings by men eventually became long-standing cultural traditions and these were the mutual hatred that prevented reconciliation of the two groups. Dogma is distinct from God’s specific commands. Just like in Acts 15, the opinions (dogma) had been written down, circulated and established by the religious rulers of Israel. These are the type of the decisions that were abolished by the Messiah’s appearing. Paul emphatically says throughout his epistles that since Christ has come the Jews need to re-evaluate their mindset regarding Gentiles. Something has changed and they need to respond to that change.
Jews and Gentiles should be serving God as one. In this light, it becomes evident that verse 15 has nothing at all to do with abolishing God’s Law. Rather, Paul referenced God’s explicit words in Isaiah 57:19 to show that God’s word on this subject rules and not the traditions and rules established by men.
Colossians 2: 8-16, particularly verse 14, 15 is another controversial scripture that uses the word dogma.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. 9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; 11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; 12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. 16 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— 17 things which are a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God. 20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)--in accordance with the commandments and commandments and teachings of men? 23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.
The same principle we’ve been discussing in Ephesians also applies here. Note how Paul introduces a leading statement in verse 8: See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men. The themes are the same: Christ is head over all rule and authority. Circumcision is referenced. Paul is again laying a foundation for the reader. The ingrained traditions which come from the decisions and opinions of men (dogma) need to be weighed against God’s very own words. Here in Colossians, see how Paul prompts the reader with the word tradition which by definition is the end result after an opinion or decision of man has become established or set into a culture. The prompt “tradition” points naturally to the word decrees [Strong’s 1378, dogma] found in verse 14. The NASB translation of verse 14 above is a bit awkward. The Concordant Literal New Testament reads: 14 erasing the handwriting of the decrees against us, which was hostile to us, and has taken it away out of the midst, nailing it to the cross…
Hand written dogma was the formal written decisions of the leaders. These are not unlike the written opinions of the Supreme Court. In this case, the decrees were hostile to the Gentiles because they were contrary to God’s intent to bring the Gentiles near. But Paul hangs his argument on the fact that Christ came, died on the cross and by the power of His resurrection overrules the decisions of the rulers. Not only did Christ forgive the sins of the Gentile believer, he also thereby erased or nullified the written dogma that was opposing God’s purpose. Does not the scripture (Acts 10, Acts 15) in the account of Cornelius testify that the circumcised were amazed when forgiveness and cleansing was granted to the Gentiles? The Jewish leader’s dogma was shown to be foolishness being inconsistent with God’s stated and now active purpose. The future is upon us. Dan 7:14 and Isaiah 57:19 are in effect. God has begun to take for Himself a people even from among the Gentiles. In this light, the next verse, Col 2:16, is particularly supportive of this view. The Concordant Literal New Testament version clarifies that this verse is emphatically written. In other words, it should be read as a command. Let no one pass judgement on you regarding a festival, new moon or Sabbath. Paul is saying it is good and proper for a Gentile to participate in these things. As a Gentile, you have a part in the proper worship of God through Christ. To further support this view, just down the page in Col 2:20 Paul provides an example of the type of degrees [Strong’s 1379 dogmatizo, verb] that are bad opinions. It is especially evident in this case that “don’t handle, don’t taste, don’t touch” are the opinions of men and not related to God’s Law. Can you see the structure of Paul’s argument? No longer can Gentiles be viewed as outcasts but rather as fellow heirs. Gentiles are to embrace God’s Law and participate in His proper worship.
The Piddling Pond by Dan White
Look Up by Cynthia Saladin
February 2020
A Tale of Two Americas by Jim O'Brien
Yes, There is Good News by Bill Rollins
March 2020
Those Made Alive in Christ by Diane Kleeschulte
How Big is Your God? by Cynthia Saladin
A Personal God by Jim O'Brien
April 2020
Passover Preparations by Cynthia Saladin
Embrace the Pain by Jim O'Brien
31 Weeks of Proverbs by Diane Kleeschulte
June
What Will You Be? by Cynthia Saladin
July
Are You Worried About What's Coming? by Cynthia Saladin
August
How Blessed Are You? by Cynthia Saladin
On Being Had by Andrée Seu Peterson
Yes! There is Good News by Bill Rollins
September
Lessons from the Cat by Cynthia Saladin
Yes! There is Good News by Bill Rollins
October
Thoughts on the Feast by Cynthia Saladin
November
Producing . . . Ladders by Cynthia Saladin
I Will Not Ask by Ron Saladin
December
Dogma: A Perspective on Paul's Epistles by Dave Manning
January
The Piddling Pond
Homeschool Helpers Newsletter
Issue #359 - December 29, 2017
By Dan L. White
Some days are just tailor made for a walk. Before this recent cold snap, one was and I did.
And at the end of that walk, I passed an impromptu pond that had popped up overnight. Actually it was just a piddling puddle about a dozen feet round, where the water from a recent rain drained into a swale. But to the score of birds bathing in it, it was the Riviera. Owing to my ornithological ignorance, I don’t know what kind of birds they were. They were just medium size birds, dark color, fast flyers, bustling bathers. Oh, yes, and here and there a blazing cardinal dipped in, just to show off. Even I could recognize him.
Autumn was been exceptionally dry in the Arkansas River valley, with burn bans, and wildfires from those who spurned the burn ban. So two days of medium rains were more than welcome to the people, the plants and those birds. The winged marvels flew down and filled the whole puddle, splashing and dipping in the impromptu pond as if they hadn’t bathed for weeks. The water depth, or lack of depth, was perfect for them, because they could stand in its shallows, dip their feathers and then shimmy and shake water all over the place and each other. The piddling puddle pulsated with the happy birds, splashing and laughing.
Yes, I’m sure they were laughing.
On this walk, the mid-December air was sixty degrees warm and the clouds from the rains were delightfully dissipating, leaving a bright blue sky behind them as they faded away. The air smelled wet and warm, and a tiny bit of breeze barely nudged the cedar limbs, all of which dangled with heavy drops of sunlit water, sparkling with an unelectrified glow. The bare ground squished a little, not enough to be mud, just enough to know that life-giving water had again returned to the earth.
As I first left the yard, I stepped off the still greenish grass and trod onto the pavement, which resembled a two lane road because of a painted yellow line in the middle, but with no white lines on the side for lack of room. I passed the house and a stand of trees until I was by the hay fields, with an open view. Both to the north and south of the wide Arkansas River valley, hills rise and border the valley for miles and miles. The difference in temperature between those hills and this valley is often about ten degrees, good in summer, less so in winter. They’re not high hills, maybe a couple thousand feet elevation, but when you’re starting at only a few hundred feet, they’re still hills. Sometimes the clouds hang on those hills and leave the valley open, but this day the clouds did not hang heavy. They were just pleasantly puffy, not dark gray but merrily outlined in white from the ascendant sun. If clouds could smile, these did.
I did, too. No one was with me, no conversation to laugh at, but I smiled to myself.
And myself smiled right back.
I did notice one thing, though, that disturbed me. As I walked in this glorious creation on this warm, wonderful morn, through this picturesque valley left after Noah’s flood, I found myself –
Looking down.
I was walking on pavement, not on clumpy grass. I faced traffic, but the only traffic was one car ambling along, the driver waving at me as he passed. There was really no chance of me tripping on the road because there was nothing to trip over. I did not have to spy the pavement to find my way. And unlike dancing, I did not have to eyeball my feet to have them go where they needed to. In spite of all that, I walked head down, seeing only the pavement and missing the fields, the hills, the clouds and the encroaching blue sky.
Then I had an idea.
I looked up.
I lifted my gaze and instead of seeing just my feet, I saw the Head of the universe, surrounded by all that He made, and ended my walk by the piddling pond with the bevy of birds bathing.
Some days are just made for a walk. Maybe they all are.
Leisure
by William Henry Davies, 1911
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this is if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
"The first gulp from the glass of natural sciences will make you an atheist, but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you."
~Werner Heisenberg, father of Quantum Physics
Look Up by Cynthia Saladin
My labs are now twelve years old. They both have torn ACLs, which don’t seem to cause them any pain. It just makes them slower. They both have noticeable cataracts, especially Velvet who runs into things now quite frequently. But in this season of their lives, an amazing thing has happened. Their primary focus is no longer the squirrels to chase or the smells to investigate. They just want to be near me. That means when I go outside and call them, they come. Long gone are the days when they would lift their head to see if what I wanted was more important than what they’re doing. Gone are the days when they would disappear for a couple of hours, exploring who knows where. These days they poke around the barn and the trees close to the house, and then they take up their watchful positions on the front porch, content to be together.
This is not what I would really want for them. I miss those days when I could let them out and in 5 seconds they’d be out of sight. I miss the days when they were young and spry and full of youthful enthusiasm. But God is using them to teach me something again.
I can’t help but think about the young person who knows that perhaps they’re not making the best choice, that it’s not really the direction God would have them to go. But much like my younger labs, I was willing to postpone what was pleasing to God in lieu of chasing the equivalent of squirrels, my own idea of fun in those days. But as I get older and experience more problems and trouble, I find myself desiring just to be with God, in His word, thinking about His ways and what pleases Him.
I like Dan White’s article from December 2017 because it’s another analogy to express the same thing. We too often spend our time looking down, looking at our world, our agenda, our squirrels to chase. What we really need to do is to look up, focus on what pleases God, and seek to follow His direction for our lives, regardless of the troubles and sorrows.
This world is not our home. And we can’t live like it is. We can’t spend our time acting as if this is all there is., as if this were the goal. We are given this time, as a gift from God, to become His Bride, to be prepared for what comes next, and to share His light with the people around us. We can’t get so distracted by this life, with its pain and trouble, that our light grows dim. Or as Kent Hovind used to say, You can’t be “so earthly minded that you’re no heavenly good.”
Or perhaps you want it expressed in song:
Lift up your head. Redemption draweth nigh.
To the hills I’ll lift my eyes. Ah from whence shall come my help. My help comes from the LORD, maker of heaven and earth.
The turning of the calendar from 2019 to 2020 is not God’s calendar. But it is still another marker in the passage of time. It’s also a really good opportunity to evaluate where we are, where we’re going, and take some necessary steps to refocus our eyes on the Master. God can use all of what we’re experiencing in our education as disciples, in our purification as the Bride of Christ, in our sanctification as the people of God.
Just saying:
Ban pre-shredded cheese.
Make America grate again.
The first five days after the weekend are the hardest.
I child proofed my house, but the kids still get in.
The past, present, and future walk into a bar. It was tense.
They’re not going to make yardsticks any longer.
I checked into the hokey pokey clinic and turned myself around.
What happens if you get scared half to death twice?
Went to the air and space museum, but there was nothing there.
Frog parking only; all others will be toad.
If your car is running, I’m voting for it.
February 2020
A Tale of Two Americas by Jim O’Brien, February 2, 2018
There are lots of theories about how it happened, but there is no doubt that America is anything but united. We're split. One need only look at the Halls of Congress during the Presidential State of the Union address. Or follow the news media. Are they talking about the same country? The same President? The same constitution? The same values?
There is a cyclical pattern in the history of God's people. It is expressed in the story of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt. Joseph had died and the new generation forgot that he had saved their nation from famine. The history classes in the public schools edited that part of their history out of the textbooks. So the new king put the Israelites to forced labor. "The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. God heard their groaning and...looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them." (Exodus 2:23-25)
God called Moses saying to him, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians" (Exodus 3:7-8)
Like it or not, God does not do that for every nation. Lots of people have suffered under tyranny and were never delivered. But the people that God called His own He delivered. I realize that some people can't accept that kind of a God but He doesn't need the approval of man.
The big question is, why would a nation that was so blessed by God ever reject the God that blessed them? Where on earth was there a nation with better principles? Where was there a more virtuous nation? Was ancient Egypt with its slaves more virtuous than Israel? Was Pharaoh who customarily had his wives and servants buried with him more civilized than Moses or the Prophets? Was Babylon that believed in sacrificing children on an altar to a pagan god more honorable than Israel? Where were the Israelites going to go to find this nation of supreme virtue that would make the lives of the citizens better?
Consider the people who suffered under the heavy yoke of the Philistine oppressors and cried out to God for relief. Will they not rise up in the resurrection and condemn later generations who basked in wealth and prosperity but then rejected the God who delivered Israel?
Is America different than ancient Israel? Of all the people who appear to hate America, who protest and demonstrate-where is this nation of perfect virtue they seek? Is it Russia? Or Mexico? Or China? Or one of the Arab countries? Or North Korea? Then why do citizens leave those countries to come to America?
We were having church services a few years ago during a 4th of July weekend. As it happened the song leader chose “God Bless America” as a congregational hymn and a young man, new to the congregation, walked out of services. I called him later and he angrily responded that he was offended by a hymn that gave thanks to God for our country.
In a free country a person has every right to walk out. But, I wonder-if the day comes that America is enslaved to a barbaric tyrant, will such a person cry out for relief from oppression? Will he call on God to intervene and provide a nation of virtue where he can worship in peace-where his children can grow up without fear of the Nazi heel at their throat? And if God hears his prayer, and grants him such a virtuous nation in which to live-will he then sing praises of thanksgiving to the God who provides such a blessing? Will he be moved to sing a hymn asking for God to bless the nation that makes his life better?
Maybe the tale of two Americas is the one that is grateful and the one that isn't.
For every action, there is an equal and opposite criticism.
STRENGTH VS. COURAGE cybersalt.org Issue #4321, 12-28-17
It takes strength to be firm
It takes courage to be gentle.
It takes strength to stand guard.
It takes courage to let down your guard
It takes strength to conquer.
It takes courage to surrender.
It takes strength to be certain.
It takes courage to have doubt.
It takes strength to fit in.
It takes courage to stand out.
It takes strength to feel a friend's pain.
It takes courage to feel your own pain.
It takes strength to hide your own pains.
It takes courage to show them.
It takes strength to endure abuse.
It takes courage to stop it.
It takes strength to stand alone.
It takes courage to lean on another.
It takes strength to love.
It takes courage to be loved.
It takes strength to survive.
It takes courage to live.
~Author Unknown
Yes, There is Good News! - By Bill Rollins, Jan 21& 28, 2017
Do you know that God is good? There is a song that, for the most part, our grandchildren taught us to sing. The first few words are, “God is good, all the time; He put a song of praise in this heart of mine.” It is a delightful song, and I find it rolling around in my head from time to time. For me, it is a reminder that, not only God is good, but that He is good all the time. He is good even when I don’t feel good. He is good even when things around me seem quite troubling. He is good even when the nightly news tells me that the world seems to be falling apart. Yes, God is very good!
The good news is that this God and Father of ours has all things under control. As the scripture says, “He knows us, that we are but dust.” That quote is from Psalm 103:14. For this week’s article, I would like to look into Psalm 103 to see just how good God really is.
It begins by telling us to “Praise the Lord,” and to do it with all of our “inmost being.” It tells us to praise His holy name and to forget not all of His benefits. He forgives all of our sins, heals our diseases, redeems our lives from the pit, crowns us with love and compassion, satisfies us with good things and renews our youth. That’s quite a list! Some of us who are of a hoary head might question David’s enthusiasm.
In the opening words we are told to “praise the Lord.” The word “praise” is most often translated “bless.” Have you ever felt that you could bless God? In Hebrew the word literally means to bow or kneel. Have you ever bowed your knee when you approach God in prayer? Have you ever humbled yourself, in such a manner, before the mighty hand of God? When you approach the throne room of our Father to ask for forgiveness, healing, redemption, a crown of love and compassion, so you look to blessing Him, bowing before Him, kneeling in His presence? He is the creator!
In Verse 6 of this Psalm we read, “The Lord works righteous and justice for all the oppressed.” Some might say that they have felt oppressed, and yet God never worked these things for them. But when we do, who “are but dust,” kneel before the one who created all the hosts of Heaven, do we do so in poorness of spirit, meekness and purity of heart? (See Matthew 5:3 - 8.)
David goes on in Verse 7, to say that He made His ways known to Moses. Can we pause here and ponder this? God, the Creator of all things, who’s ways are higher than ours, stooped down to make His ways known to Moses, then allowed Moses to write them down so as to be passed on to us.
I, for one, am amazed at how King David, in verse seven, lets us read that God made known to Moses “His ways!” It has been said that Moses is the author of the first five books of the Bible. (Actually God is the author and Moses the scribe.) And as we consider what these five books contain, we see a beautiful preface to the entire Bible. God revealed to Moses first of all, the creation, then the flood, the calling of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Joseph’s rise to power in Egypt and finally, the Exodus from Egypt with Moses as leader and, of course, the wanderings in the wilderness. As an overview, we get to see the perfect will of God in action.
But let’s get back to Psalms 103. Verse eight begins. “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in loving kindness.” A couple of comments here are in order. First, this is a reiteration of God telling Moses, on Mount Sinai, what His name was: Ex. 34:5, “The Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him (Moses) and proclaimed His name, the Lord (Yahoveh). ‘The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger abounding in loving kindness and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.’” David, of course, knew this scripture. And secondly, David gives us a beautiful description of how he saw the awesome attributes of the wonderful God we serve.
Verse nine: “He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor His anger forever.” Yes, God is patient with us, and always willing to reinstate us into His good graces. The Israelites certainly tested God’s patience over and over again. His patience did seem to wear out when He first allowed first Assyria and then Babylon to take His people into captivity. But even then He says through the prophet Jeremiah, “Your wound is incurable, your injury beyond healing ... But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds ... I will restore the fortunes of Jacob ...” (Jer. 30:12 - 22).
Our God is more than just a loving Father, He is perfectly loving Father. He wants us to succeed and to be with Him in eternity. Remember how we started this article, “He knows our frame, that we are but dust.” We will see this phrase a little later on as we continue our look at the 103rd Psalm.
Until next time remember, “God is good, all the time.”
March 2020
Last fall, Keith exhorted us to write a psalm to God. Here is one of Diane’s psalms, based on Psalm 90:17 KJV – 17 And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.
Those Made Alive in Christ (based on Col 3:1-15) by Diane Kleeschulte
You are our Savior, seated at the right hand of God.
May we remember always His grace and mercy toward us.
Let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us.
Our minds should be set on things that are above
not on the world as it crumbles to pieces.
Let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us.
Our lives are hidden in Christ.
Therefore we have died to self.
Let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us.
We will appear with Christ in His glory.
He is our all in all.
Let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us.
Our carnal natures have been put to death.
Guard against the magnet pull of the world.
Let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us.
Our new ways have no room for the old.
We have become new creatures in Christ.
Let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us.
This new creature that we have become is being renewed,
yes, in the knowledge and image of Jesus Christ.
Let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us.
Our Savior is all, and is in all.
We are a chosen people.
Let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us.
Our lives should be dedicated to being holy.
We should be living as ones who are loved.
Let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us.
Our lives should bear fruit of the Holy Spirit.
There should be evidence of our fruit in abundance for all.
Let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us.
How Big is Your God?
by Cynthia Saladin
The latest film by Timothy Mahoney, Patterns of Evidence: Red Sea Crossing, Part 1, contrasts the two prevailing views concerning the exodus of Egypt by the Israelites. The Egyptian view postulates that there were probably only about 20,000 Hebrews who wandered about 12 miles before Pharaoh’s army caught up with them at the Sea of Reeds at the border of Egypt. The Hebrew position affirms that two million Hebrews traveled across the Sinai Peninsula before crossing the Red Sea into what is now Saudi Arabia.
The Egyptian stance says that there’s no way 2 million people, with all of their animals, could have been organized to cross a 150-200 mile stretch of desert in a matter of days. The food and water needs for that many people and all their animals would have been immense.
The Hebrew view maintains that the Bible states that God provided water (Psalm 68:7-10) and God provided food. God prepared Moses to lead the people - what was he doing in Egypt for the first third of his life?! And if it was only 20,000 Hebrews, why were the Egyptians afraid of them? (Ex 1:10-12) Why were the nations who heard of the events afraid of the Israelites? (Josh 2:9)
The Egyptian position states that it’s much more likely that a natural phenomenon, like wind, would have blown a path through the relatively shallow ancient Sea of Reeds and provided a way for the Israelites to cross. Anything deeper would have required a very heavy wind - too strong to stand up in.
The Hebrew view states that God is more than able to open a path through the Red Sea and to miraculously prepare a place for the Israelites to walk across dry-shod. Furthermore, it’s much more likely that all of Pharaoh’s army would be drowned in a deep sea rather than in a shallow lake, like the Sea of Reeds.
Remarkable, indeed, is the contrast between the Egyptian position and the Hebrew position. The Egyptian view looks for something easily explainable. The Hebrew stand affirms the miraculous power required by Almighty God to bring His people out of Egypt.
Looking out over the expanse of the Red Sea (specifically the Gulf of Aqaba) and knowing that at its deepest point it’s 6070 feet deep, it is inconceivable that a strong wind could have possibly parted that huge amount of water and dried out the sea bed overnight - unless it was a miracle of God.
But our God is in the business of miracles. And He had just shown the land of Egypt ten of them! Why not continued miracles - like providing food, water, and deliverance for a 150-mile desert crossing for over two million people and their animals? Does it take a mighty hand to accomplish the Egyptian position? No, but the Hebrew view definitely fits the Biblical description in Deuteronomy 26:8: And the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great deeds of terror, with signs and wonders.
The visual panorama at the edge of the Red Sea emphasizes the incredible power and majesty of our Great God and the lengths to which He went in redeeming His people.
Let’s replace the subject of the preceding sentence. We know that God bringing the Israelites out of Egypt is a type of bringing each of us out of slavery to sin. So let’s state it this way: The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ emphasizes the incredible power and majesty of our Great God and the lengths to which He went in redeeming His people.
Sometimes I think we become so used to thinking of Jesus as our Savior that we lose some of our awe. We forget that there is no other religion whose God is willing to die for His people. We become hardened to the phenomenal price paid on our behalf by our Savior.
So, in my mind’s eye, I stand on the edge of a shallow Sea of Reeds. Then I stand on the edge of a mammoth Gulf of Aqaba. Which of these two is a fitting type for what our Great God has done to redeem us from slavery to sin, to pay our penalty of death, to reconcile us to the Father?
We’re just a month from the New Year, six weeks from Passover. We’re in the preparation month for God’s spring holy days. I know I will take some time to contemplate the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea. I will thank God for the powerful visual object lesson He provided. And I will revel in the majesty and love of my God, who with His mighty hand and outstretched arm, redeemed me to Himself, to be part of the Bride of Christ.
A Personal God by Jim O’Brien (March 28, 2018)
There are scant records of ancient history. And history of any age is flawed. History is, as we say, written by the winners. The Pharaohs of Egypt were accustomed to erasing the name of political figures that preceded them. So there is no objective reason to believe that any record of history exists that is more accurate than the Bible.
Before God became incarnate, the average man had an incomplete understanding of his Creator, derived from an observation of nature. It was a rational universe, highly structured. There is day and night, seasons, weather patterns, differences between human beings. God made us male and female, each with our own gifts, and there are differences between man and animals which lack man’s capacity for thought and speech.
Structure provided something you could depend on. You could SEE nature. You knew the sun would rise tomorrow. You knew what season would come next. You knew to plant seeds in the spring and how long to plan before harvest. But sometimes the structure of nature could be devastating. Everyone knew of the "Flood" that destroyed all life. The Egyptians dealt with locusts and plagues and illnesses. Man was at the mercy of a world that was hard.
From the Tower of Babel forward men centralized the power structure and became divided into classes. Most were slaves. A very few were kings. The world into which Moses was born exemplified structure over spirit.
It was evident that this world was "hard-wired" by a Rational Mind, but that's about all that was known about the Creator after Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden.
Then the other side of the coin was revealed. Passover introduced "The Personal God" to the nation of Israel. This God took an interest in the life of the common man. He would intervene for you. He protects the little guy, saves him from Pharaoh the slave master. He is Spiritual and these few people were offered the opportunity to worship him in spirit and in truth. They were offered that opportunity so they could become Ambassadors for God to introduce the rest of the world to the "Personal God.”
At Passover God showed Israel that he would send his own son so that man could see what God is like. God would be the Passover lamb, the suffering servant that would save man. What other god was like this?
This God could bleed. What a revelation to man! This was far more than rocks and trees and seasons and mountains. This God was willing to suffer and spill his blood so man could be free.
Each year, many believers observe the Christian Passover. For many Christians the deep meaning of Passover must never be lost. In all mankind's history it is one of the most powerful examples of the goodness of God.
Enjoy freedom! Enjoy the privilege of Passover!
"I didn't go to religion to make me 'happy.' I always knew a bottle of Port would do that. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don't recommend Christianity."
~C. S. Lewis
Tradition: peer pressure from dead people
Out of the Mouths of Babes
A newscaster interrupted scheduled programming to announce the outcome of a political election.
"More on candidates at 10 P.M.," he said.
My ten-year-old granddaughter Ashley looked at me in disbelief.
"I didn't know they could call politicians 'morons' on national television!" she remarked.
April
Due to the current social distancing guidelines, we will make plans for the upcoming holy days as we get closer to them. Please check our facebook page, church website, or your email for updates as they become available. Once we begin holding weekly church services again, the sabbath school memory verses will again be posted on the website.
Passover service: Tuesday, April 7th - after sunset
First Day of Unleavened Bread - Thursday, April 9th
First day of Count to Pentecost - Sunday, April 12th
Last Day of Unleavened Bread - Wednesday, April 15th
Passover Preparations by Cynthia Saladin
There are several scriptures which get our attention at this time of year especially:
Deuteronomy 16:4a No leaven shall be seen with you in all your territory for seven days, . . .
1 Corinthians 11:27-29 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
So we are very diligently examining our houses and cars to get all of the leaven out. We’re reading ingredient labels. We’re cleaning out pantries, cars, toasters, refrigerators, ovens, vacuum cleaners . . . It’s a thoroughly examination of our possessions to eradicate the leavening from our lives.
As we de-leaven physically, we recognize the spiritual application. We are to make Godly choices to purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit out of reverence for God (2 Corinthians 7:1). In other words, we need to examine our lives. We need to stop doing things that are out of step with God’s ways. We need to turn. We need to repent. We need to seek a closer relationship with God. Those who have been bought by the blood of Jesus Christ, chosen by God, must walk worthy of the calling you’ve received. And if you’ve made choices that are contrary to His ways, He’s standing at the door, knocking, waiting for you to let Him in. He’s ready and faithful to forgive you, if you ask, and to purify you from all unrighteousness. So first you have to examine your relationship with God. Is it where you want it to be? Have you humbled yourself before your God to be used as He directs?
This examination often revolves around what you do with the resources you have been given. How do you use your time? How do you use your money and resources? How do you use your talents?
Time is a finite resource. How much of it do you devote to communicating with God? Do you read your Bible daily? Do you pray, at least once a day? Do you meditate on His word? How much of your time do you truly focus on God?
Money and other possessions are a finite resource. How much of your money demonstrates your dedication to God? Are you willing to help people who need help?
The talents God has given to you aren’t for your glory; they are for God’s glory. We are made for and by His pleasure. We are His bond servants. We are here to do His bidding, if we have been bought by the blood of Jesus Christ. Do you seek to use the talents God has given to you for His glory?
So far, in our examination, we’ve looked at our relationship with God and how the use of the resources we have been given reflects that relationship. So now we need to examine our attitude. When people look at you, what do they normally see? Someone who is going to grumble about what’s going on around them? Do you complain about what’s happening in your life? Or do you exhibit the peace of God, a calmness that is attractive to others (especially now with the virus threat). Do you live a life of praise to God? Our attitude is such a barometer of our relationship with God. God is not particularly fond of those who grumble (1 Corinthians 10:10). Grumbling says at least one of two things: either you don’t trust God that He’s giving you what you deserve, or you are criticizing what He has given you, like you know more than He does. It’s very good to remember that God opposes the proud. But if you humble yourself before the Lord, He will lift you up.
As you’re examining your attitude towards God, remember to take a close look at your feelings towards others. 1 John 4:20 says that if we think we love God, yet hate our brother, then we are liars. If there’s animosity in your heart towards the people of God, then there’s a problem. We need to rectify the problem, resolve the conflict, prior to coming before God with a offering on His holy days. So as you’re examining yourself prior to Passover, you should also examine your attitude, both toward God and toward others.
It’s a lot of work to clean a house thoroughly prior to Passover. And it’s always amazing to me how quickly you have to clean again once it’s been cleaned. The dirt has a way of creeping back in. Similarly, we need to be vigilant about our relationship with God, examining our use of the God-given resources of time, possessions, and talents as well as our attitudes toward God and others. It’s hard work. It takes time. But we don’t any of us want to come before Him without having examined ourselves. We don’t want to come without having accurately identified our desperate need for Jesus’ sacrifice and ongoing intercession. He, Jesus Christ, makes us worthy to participate in eating the bread and drinking the cup.
Embrace the Pain by Jim O’Brien
There is a philosophy that says avoiding pain is one of the central factors for motivating man. Some people say it is the prime reason we act or don't act.
That thought came to mind when I was on a flight that required a change of planes in Atlanta. People who have landed at Hartsfield International are often aware of the marathon taxiing that is required from certain runways. More than one passenger has remarked that the flight took less time than the taxi.
As we began our descent a lady on our flight was waiting in line for the Ladies Room just as the 'fasten seatbelt' sign came on. She was forced to return to her seat without completing her task. As chance would have it we landed on the runway furthest from the terminal and in the direction that placed us at the most distant point from the gate. After taxing for several minutes the lady, in desperation jumped up from her seat and literally ran to the lavatory. "I'm sorry!" she yelled to the amusement of the passengers who all seemed to understand her plight.
The Flight Attendant phoned the pilot and then the 250 passengers witnessed something none of us had ever seen before: the plane stopped on the taxiway to wait for the
lady to finish. This was followed by an announcement from the pilot that a passenger had to go to the restroom and they were not allowed to continue moving while a passenger was not in a seatbelt. After a minute or two the embarrassed passenger emerged from her place of solitary confinement and walked past a hundred fellow travelers - apologizing all the way before the plane could resume taxiing to its destination.
For a few minutes one lady's pain stopped a commercial airliner and held up the largest airport in America. Suffering may be an inevitable part of life but avoiding pain is built into our psyche.
All this is said to reinforce one of the essential characteristics of Passover-suffering. After Jesus was resurrected some of the disciples were walking on the road to Emmaus discussing the events of the previous few days. A stranger joined them on their walk.
Not recognizing that the stranger was Jesus, the men openly talked of their deep disappointment over the ignominious death of the one they believed to be the Messiah. The disciples were confused because they expected Jesus to restore Israel at that time. Then Jesus said to them, "Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" (Luke 24:26)
They expected immediate victory. The war had started and zealous Peter drew his sword attacking the Roman soldier-but he had misread the prophecies. Jesus could not be the Messiah without submitting to the sting.
Jesus could have escaped by just speaking a few words-commanding twelve legions of angels to intervene to stop the agony. But instead he embraced the pain. It had a purpose.
As many Christians prepare to celebrate the resurrection to life let us remember that without his death there could be no resurrection. Thank God for Passover.
31 Weeks of Proverbs
by Diane Kleeschulte
It was the third week of February that I decided to study the book of Proverbs. I have read it over the course of my Christian walk, but I have never studied it, chapter by chapter, verse by verse. As I began looking over the chapters, I realized how easy it would be for me to become overwhelmed by all of it- 31 chapters! Should I begin with a chapter a day? No, that seemed very overwhelming. How about study the chapter over the course of a couple of days? No, that felt too open-ended. Then the idea came to me that I should allot one week of study per chapter. So I decided to count ahead the number of weeks beginning with Sunday, February 23, until the fall holy days. I pulled out my planner, counted out 31 weeks, and ended at the week of Sunday, September 20. It just so happens that that is the week between Feast of Trumpets and Day of Atonement. I couldn't believe it! It seems this bible study may be in God's perfect timing. Now, I was getting really excited about the Proverbs study. However, even though I felt convicted to tackle this study, I had yet another problem to solve. If I have seven days to study a chapter, how do I approach each day of study in and of itself?
I scribbled down a few ideas and came up with the following:
First, I decided to begin each week of study on the first day of the week, Sunday.
Next, it was important for me to set aside a time of study each day. I tend to study best in the morning but I have had to be flexible with that, and instead have found myself, at times, studying in the late afternoon or early evening.
Then, I got my materials ready. I found an unused, small, three-ring binder with some dividers. I don't have thirty-one dividers, one for each chapter, but I will before I end the study.
Finally, I created the following outline, and so far it is has worked very well.
Sunday- Read background information: who, what, where, when, how, and why.
Monday- Read the chapter. Spend time in reflection on the point(s) the author has written.
Tuesday- Create a key word(s) or phrase list. Underline these in bible.
Wednesday- Define one or more words from previous day.
Thursday- Choose a key verse for memorization.
Friday- Find parallel scriptures for the memory verse from previous day.
Sabbath- Review each day of study, and then write a personal summary and application for what was learned this week.
Notes: On Sunday, I write down the background notes that I have found. Nothing elaborate, just a few things that I might want to remember. Sometimes I jot them down in my bible, as well. Also, you can substitute “Day 1” for Sunday, if you decide to start on any other day of the week. Or, you can condense several days into one day of study. I recently had to do that when we had out-of -state company for a few days.
I hope you find this a helpful encouragement to find a book (you have a choice of 66!!) or section of the bible that interests you so that you may begin, or perhaps tweak, your own study of God's word. Be a diligent student of the bible and seek Him daily.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
"Holiness is not the way to Christ. Christ is the way to holiness."
- Adrian Rogers
June
What Will You Be?
by Cynthia Saladin
Jennifer and I had walked up to get the mail at the mailbox recently and were coming back down our road when she stopped to pick up a rock. Rock collection must be in the blood because her grandmother can’t pass up an interesting rock either. 😁 I must admit it was a cool rock, hiding there in the midst of the rest of the gravel on the road, with curving layers and sharp edges left after having been crushed to the appropriate gravel size.
I couldn’t help thinking about the series of events which brought that rock to being in Jennifer’s hand. Likely, the rock was formed after Noah’s flood as the waters receded from the landscape, creating layers. This is the most likely explanation for the layers since the gravel was quarried just north of us near the Bourbeuse River. Earthquakes and weathering could also have played a roll in its shaping over the centuries. But at some point, it was quarried and scooped into the rock crusher. After undergoing at least one round of crushing, it was sorted and perhaps placed on the conveyor belt to undergo a more substantial crushing, until it reached the desired size. And then, a period of waiting began - waiting for a call from a customer who specifically wanted one-inch clean gravel to be delivered.
Here’s where it gets interesting! It could have been gravel used in the construction of the new Farmers and Merchants Bank in St. Clair. In that case, it would become part of the foundation under the building (a noble calling) or under the parking lot (an important, but less auspicious calling). It could have been used in any number of ways. But that particular rock ended up in our driveway. Now it’s been on our road for a year or so. It’s been driven over countless times. I’ve walked that section of road at least once daily. But it wasn’t until that particular day that it caught Jennifer’s eye and she picked it up.
As we walked on down the road, I was thinking about our development as the people of God. We are called living stones, being built into a spiritual house:
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:4-5, ESV)
We are the temple of the Living God. (2 Corinthians 6:16)
Isn’t it interesting that the stones for the physical temple were not cut and shaped at the temple site. Rather they were shaped at the quarry.
In building the temple, only blocks dressed at the quarry were used, and no hammer, chisel or any other iron tool was heard at the temple site while it was being built. (1 Kings 6:7, NIV)
Much like Jennifer’s rock, we are shaped into who we will be in God’s kingdom long before we ever arrive at the building site. That shaping requires some crushing, maybe some heat and pressure. It involves time. And waiting.
Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2, ESV)
We know we are being formed (quarried and crushed, if you will) into the image of our Elder Brother, Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 2:11; Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18) How appropriate that is!! He is the Rock of our salvation (Psalm 95:1) and spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4, ESV).
God is preparing a place for us, shaping us into the image of His Son, that we may not only be servants of Almighty God but also be adopted into His family.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9, ESV).
. . . He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:4-6, ESV).
What an unbelievable future for an insignificant rock that started out as so much raw material in God’s creation! Just as Jennifer picked up that rock in the middle of the road, God chose us. That’s what both 1 Peter 2:9 and Ephesians 1:4 (along with a myriad of other verses) say! We were chosen by God, for His purposes.
All of the crushing and shaping, the pressure and waiting, it’s all in God’s hand. Simply put, He’s sovereign.
Jennifer cleaned that rock (an insignificant piece of gravel), wrapped it with wire, covered it with resin, and made a necklace for me to wear. I can’t help but think it’s an appropriate Ebenezer for what we’ve all just come through these past three months.
🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝
A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.
~Winston Churchill
July
A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, "Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side."
Very quietly, the doctor said, "I don't know."
"You don't know? You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?"
The doctor was holding the handle of the door; on the other side of which came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.
Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside. He knew nothing, except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side. I know my Master Jesus Christ is there, and that is enough.”
~collected from cybersalt.org (Issue #4480)
I like this story. And it really doesn’t matter if you’re talking about death or facing something difficult in life. As long as you belong to God, why are you worried about the future?
That would be the rational response. But I worry. I think about where our world is going. I contemplate the choices of my offspring. I mull over decisions and relationships and words said and not said. And sometimes I get depressed.
Is it that I don’t trust God? Don’t I believe that He’s sovereign and He will take care of me? Well, yes . . .
I know He is sovereign. But I think of the verse that says God will not give us more than we can stand. What if I don’t want to stand as much as God thinks that I should stand in order to be a profitable servant and to prepare me for a position in His kingdom? Hmm. Maybe I’m just weary.
About the time when I start to feel discouraged and downcast, songs start running through my mind:
Oh soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior
and life more abundant and free.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus . . . .
or When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
when you are discouraged thinking all is lost,
count your many blessings, name them one by one,
and it will surprise you what the Lord has done. . .
or If your eyes are on the storm
You'll wonder if I love you still
But if your eyes are on the cross
You'll know I always have and I always will . . .
It’s comforting, when I start getting stressed about life events, that Jesus reminded His disciples trouble is a part of life: “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) I need to remember that struggle and pain is part of this world, but God is stronger than the world and the situation in which I find myself.
It’s funny. We love Psalm 42 because a favorite hymn, “As the Deer,” is based on this psalm. But there is a verse repeated again in this chapter and then again in the next: Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. (Psalm 42:5, 11; 43:5) David knew what it felt like to be discouraged and weary. But he also knew the remedy: Keep your eyes focused on Jesus Christ and the hope set before us. And more than that: desire a closer relationship with God, one that is like a deer panting for, craving, water.
I need that closer relationship with Jesus and I also need to prepare my mind for action because we likely haven’t seen anything yet. Jeremiah 12:5 (ESV) says, If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses? And if in a safe land you are so trusting, what will you do in the thicket of the Jordan? Events around us are likely to get a whole lot worse before the return of Jesus Christ. So that mental preparation for what is coming has to include fixing my hope on what God is preparing for those who love Him (1 Peter 1:13).
I thank God for the myriad hymns, psalms, and spiritual songs which exhort me to fight the good fight, to keep my eyes focused on Jesus Christ, and to trust Him no matter what. They are an important piece of my mental preparation.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
by Cynthia Saladin
Final Thought:
A man is flying a hot air balloon and realizes he is lost. He reduces height and spots a man down below. He lowers the balloon further and shouts, "Excuse me. Can you help me? I promised my friend I would meet him half an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."
The man below says, "Yes, You are in a hot air balloon, hovering approximately 30 feet above this field. You are between 40 and 42 degrees N. Latitude, and between 58 and 60 degrees W. longitude".
"You must be an engineer," says the balloonist.
"I am," replies the man. "How did you know?"
"Well," says the balloonist, "everything you have told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to make of your information, and the fact is I am still lost and you are of no help to me."
The man below says, "You must be a manager."
"I am," replies the balloonist, "but how did you know?"
"Well," says the man below, "you don't know where you are, or where you are going, You have made a promise which you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problem. The fact is you are in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but now it is somehow my fault."
August
How Blessed Are You?
by Cynthia Saladin
One of my favorite scenes out of Facing the Giants is the discussion between Coach Grant Taylor and his wife Brooke about God blessing them with a baby. He asks her if she will still love God, even if He doesn’t give them what they want. Eventually Brooke thinks she might be pregnant and goes to the clinic for a pregnancy test. The nurse comes back to tell her it’s negative . . . again. We see her walk out of the doctor’s office, heartbroken. Brooke tells God, “I will still love You.” Then the nurse realizes she’s gotten some names mixed up, that Mrs. Taylor is indeed pregnant and goes running out to share the life-changing message with her.
So my question is: How blessed are you?
I have a black lab whose cataracts are so bad, she’s virtually blind. She runs into things, falls over shoes left on the floor, steps on the cat when Virginia doesn’t move, runs afoul of Pepper when he’s already taken up residence in her bed, and recoils dozens of times a day over things she didn’t know were about to touch her nose. Her comfort level outside decreases almost by the day. But is she blessed? She’s healthy. She’s well-taken care of. She’s very much loved. I’d say that as far as almost 13 year-old blind black labs go, she’s blessed.
We live in a world that increasingly believes that work is a four-letter word. (It is a four-letter word, but not in the context that they mean.) Too many people don’t really want a job; they just want a paycheck. They believe the government - or some rich dude somewhere - owes them a living. We live in a nation where the idea of entitlement is rampant.
It’s a slippery slope and one that Christians have to be wary of approaching. Except in Christian terms, it sneaks up on us like this: I have some health issues. Some of my relatives/friends are giving me fits. Our insurance rates just went up. The clutch just went out in the pick-up. (It did! This morning! Right in the middle of using it!!) There’s mayhem and madness all around us. Conflicts. Stress. Problems. We sometimes slip into that mindset of “everything’s going wrong, and I’m so depressed.”
It’s the “can’t see the forest for all the trees” syndrome, or perhaps the “squeaky wheel gets the grease.” Because the reality is, if we belong to God, if we have been redeemed by Jesus our Messiah, we are already so blessed. Everything else is just icing. Think about that for a minute! We will have life eternal, adopted into the very family of God. What could be more wonderful than that single blessing?
Furthermore, Paul says, “For these light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal weight of glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17). Not only are we so incredibly blessed, but there’s a purpose in the “momentary” troubles that we experience. They are for our growth because God loves us so very much! As Ron Dart used to say, “God doesn’t want to spend eternity with a bunch of losers.” Our perseverance will bear fruit.
But just enduring is not God’s will for us. He wants us to follow Him with rejoicing. A popular comedian says that too many Christians need to send missionaries to their face! That is, they need to smile. What kind of witness are we, why would anyone want what we have, if we project that being a Christian is a depressing, hopeless, joyless condition?!
We can’t focus on the things that are going wrong. There are going to be lots of things that go wrong in this life; it’s part of entropy and our world being subjected to futility and decay. But that’s temporary! In the scheme of things, it’s just small potatoes. And Mom always said, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” Keep it all in perspective. Remember that God is watching to see who will persevere, enduring to the end. Grandad always said, “You hired on to be tough.” As the KJV says, “Gird up the loins of your mind” in 1 Peter 1:13. In other words, cinch that belt a little tighter and get serious about being a servant of God. The ESV says to “prepare your minds for action.” Then it continues, “ . . . and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
We are so incredibly blessed. I just need to keep my mind centered on that reality.
🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝
The following article was printed in the April 13, 2019 issue of World magazine. Andrée Seu Peterson is addressing the issue of pro-life vs. pro-choice, but it certainly has applicability to other current issues. See what you think:
On Being Had
by Andrée Seu Peterson
We have been had. The saying goes, “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.” And we have been fooled six ways from Sunday.
They said who knows when life begins. So we said, OK, let’s talk about when life begins. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you,” we quoted from Jeremiah 1, verse 5.
We’re not into religion, they replied. So we said fair enough, forget the Bible, let’s talk science, you like science, right? And if the
science proves when life begins, they you’ll stop killing babies in the womb, agreed?
They said not so fast, we grant that life of some kind starts when sperm and egg unite and make a being with a separate set of chromosomes and blood type from the mom, but well, it’s just a fetus at that point, and not a person, and a fetus is a blob of protoplasm lacking consciousness.
What if we show you that the fetus does feel pain, we said, would that make you rethink your policy? Maybe, they said. And so we came bristling with ultrasounds of babies flinching and recoiling in the womb at stimuli and mentioned how the state of Utah passed a law three years ago requiring docs to give a fetus slated for abortion anesthesia if it has passed 20 weeks in its gestation.
Well, pain is a subjective thing, they countered. You don’t know for certain that the flinching is from pain. And even if it is, it’s only after third-trimester pregnancies that that would be an issue. We’re good people, we don’t do abortions after 24 weeks like that horrid Dr. Gosnell who did them at 25 weeks - may he rot in prison.
But you do perform abortions after 24 weeks, we reminded them. Oh, they said, in extreme cases: Only when it’s really, really necessary, or the mother would feel really, really bad to have a baby at this time, and has a doc’s permission slip to prove how bad she feels. We care about the mother’s health, they said, don’t you?
But they had their fingers crossed behind their backs. And when we blinked, they passed a brand-new law in Albany, N.Y., that said you can kill babies up to 40 weeks or any time you want until the day they’re born. And when Virginia and Vermont saw what New York had done, they both took courage and suggested we could go still further.
And we stood with mouths agape and stuttered: “What about the things you said for years to us about not knowing when a fetal life is viable outside the womb? You said the matter hinged on viability. Big questions of biology, you said, as if you, like us, searched for truth. And now it looks like you were lying all along, and like your wrestlings were but so much dandelion fluff that blew away upon a puff of air.”
Kermit Gosnell has been had. The now-forgotten poster boy you used and cast away, the one you once found it convenient to revile as so different from you. No mention of him now, I see, who did no worse than your new law allows, but dons an orange jumpsuit in a cell while you shine pink lights on One World Trade Center. Stalin did no worse airbrushing Trotsky out of history.
Note well, all ye who take upon yourselves to dialogue with people of this world who with feigned searchings of the soul would plead their case on matters from abortion to aberrant sexuality. Beware the velvet glove that hides the iron fist. The pattern of persuasion will be similar across the board: at first the plaintive cry of suffering and social justice, to enlist your sympathy.
Then follows, in the blush of victories won, removal of the mask, abandonment of pretense, and the cackle of contempt toward all who thought they cared a whit about their former ratiocinations. Beware the scorpion who with smooth words seduces hapless frogs to ferry it across the pond, for in the end the poor naive amphibian will rue his gullibility.
🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝
Yes! There is Good News!
by Bill Rollins
Originally published Feb 4th and 11th, 2017
We have been looking into Psalms 103. We have seen God is loving, compassionate, and gracious. He is slow to anger and abounding in loving kindness. And I hope we have seen that these are not just things God has decided to do, but that they are inherently part of His personality.
It would be a decidedly foolish thing for Him to do: create a beautiful environment for life, provide everything needed in abundance and create a life form to dwell there, all the while ruing the day that He did so. No, God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son ... God, our God, loves us and wants us to love Him.
This is a beautiful Psalm! God so loves us that (Verse 20), “He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.” In other words, it is we who have gone astray in our respect and love for Him and still, His love is bigger than we are! His love is bigger than our foolishness. His love is bigger than our sins. Verse 11 says it all very well, “For as high as the heavens are above the Earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
Jesus Christ, while on the Earth, told us that we should call this great God of the entire Universe, “Father.” All of us had a father and perhaps many of you reading this are fathers. Some of us had wonderful, loving fathers, and others of us ... well, not so much. We do not live in a perfect world. But God our Father loves us with an undying love, with a love that goes beyond our understanding, and in Verse 13, we see King David using a metaphor that we can all grasp. He informs us that, “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust.
Oh, wait a minute here. Didn’t we just read there is a condition to that love from God? Doesn’t it say He has compassion on those who fear Him? What’s up with this fear? The word for fear in the original Hebrew has several nuances of meaning. Vines Hebrew Dictionary has this to say about the word “yare,” (fear): Used of a person in an exalted position, “yare (fear) connotes, “standing in awe.” This is not simple fear, but reverence, whereby an individual recognizes the power and position of the individual revered and renders him proper respect. In this sense the word may imply submission to a proper ethical relationship to God.” Yes, that’s a mouthful, but I believe you see how this word is used in Psalm.
In this 21st century, we sometimes lament the way children do not show respect for parents and elders. Do you, as a child of God, show respect and fear for Him?
* * * * * * * * *
Do you sometimes feel as though the days of your life are as the grass of the meadow or the flower of the field? We have been looking into King David’s praise of God in Psalm 103 and so we have come to verse 15, “As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field.” At this point in the Psalm he compares our life with God’s love: “The wind blows over it (our life as the grass) and it is gone and its place remembers it no more.” However, in verse 17 he says, “But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear Him.” God’s love never ceases. We just talked about God’s love as a father’s love. At what point would your love for your children ever cease?
If we would learn to fear (i.e. revere/stand in awe of) God our Father we would experience the never ending love that He has for us. I told you this Psalm is filled with good news! I hope you have gotten out your Bible and read along with this study into Psalm 103.
In verse 18 we are told to keep His covenant and obey His precepts. At this point my mind goes to something Jesus said when He was being tempted by Satan in the wilderness: “It is written, man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matt.4:4) When Jesus said this the only words that came from God and were written down were to be found from Genesis to Malachi (the Old Testament). Do we wish to have life? Then live by these words. Paul said as much when instructing Timothy in his letter to him, “You have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:-17). The only scriptures Timothy had at this point were the same ones King David is pointing us to in Psalm 103.
David then lets us know why this “fear of the LORD”, this “keeping His covenant and obeying His precepts” is to be our daily duty. In verse 19 he writes, “The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.” Our God is over all. He sits on a throne, not on this earth, but in the heavenly realms! And so David finishes the Psalm by including: the angels, the mighty ones, the heavenly hosts, His servants, all His works and everything in His dominion in giving “Praise to the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.” And I can only say at this point, “AMEN!”
Yes, God is good and His word is good.
🤟 🤟 🤟 🤟 🤟 🤟 🤟 🤟 🤟 🤟 🤟 🤟
"I had to surrender my 'if only' to Jesus."
- Corrie ten Boom
September
Lessons from the Cat
by Cynthia Saladin
We had a cat when I was growing up (Sir Richard the Lion-hearted), but he was an outside cat who stayed in our barn. So the addition of Verge to our family has been a learning experience. We knew she was a different critter than a dog, but we didn’t know just how different.
She lies on the porch rail and, if Pepper nonchalantly walks by waging his tail, she’ll take exception to that tail wag and shoot out claws to catch it. In similar fashion, one day Pepper trotted by her, intent on his own business. She didn’t like something about that and suddenly hissed at him and swiped a claw at him. He recoiled, his demeanor portraying, “What was that all about? What did I do?”
Pepper is not her only target. One evening she scared me half to death when I took the dogs outside before bed. I was star-gazing and keeping an eye on the dogs when unexpectedly a soft tail swooshed across my leg. Or there was the day Jennifer and I were picking blueberries. Verge has laid claim to one of the blueberry bushes. That first day she just pounced on my feet. It was a warning; there were no claws on my bare toes. But subsequent days saw a drastic uptick in aggressiveness; we saw both claws and teeth. She does NOT like us picking blueberries off her bush. Tail swish angrily!
And then there’s the issue of food. We have been conditioned by dogs - namely labs, who are not simply carnivores; they’re omnivores. And when I say they will eat anything, I am including watermelon and cantaloupe in that list. The cat, on the other hand, will show a definite preference for a sabbath evening cat dinner - canned cat food. (Normal day food is just dry food.) She’ll finish off her half can of food and lick the dish. The next morning, however, when I took the food out to her, she said, “Yuck.” O.K. She didn’t actually say “Yuck,” but her body language and actions all made it very plain what she thought of the meal offering. So I put a little of the canned food on my finger and put it up to her nose. “Yuck!” So I let Pepper slurp it off my finger. Verge immediately leaned WAY out from the porch rail and said, “What did you just feed the dog? Did you feed him my food? I wanted that!” O.K. She didn’t actually say that, but that’s what it looked like. So I pulled my finger away from Pepper’s voracious attention and offered the food to Verge again. “Yuck!”
Yes, there has been some head-shaking and eye-rolling going on as we adjust to life with a cat. But there have been some definite benefits as well. I don’t think it’s merely coincidental that we’ve had a lot fewer mice in the cars since she showed up.
Jennifer has discovered the truth of what we told her at the outset: Dogs have masters; cats have servants. She also understands why I was willing to have a cat, if she was an outside cat. Verge sometimes sleeps in Jennifer’s room, but routinely pounces on Jennifer’s feet, scratches under the bed, and otherwise keeps her from getting a good night’s sleep. I think Jennifer will be more reluctant to take on anything which is almost guaranteed to keep her up at night. (She’s solved the problem with her two older brothers, now she has a cat.)
Another good thing is enjoying the funny things she does: pouncing on crickets, following us out to the garden when we’re harvesting or pulling weeds, pouncing on the weeds we’re pulling, etc. Pets all have their own personality and they can bring joy, relieve stress, and lighten the mood - even while they add responsibility, care, and cost.
But what I really like about Verge’s addition to our family are some of the observations it has generated:
1. People (or pets) don’t always have the same likes/dislikes/behaviors as you. It doesn’t make them wrong, necessarily; different can be good.
2. Don’t assume you know what someone is thinking. Unless they are very close to you, you’re wrong - maybe a whole lot wrong, but almost certainly a little bit! Our families, church fellowships, and other friends would be so appreciative if we’d quit acting as if we had them completely pegged.
3. Grace and patience are wonderful to receive - and they make relationships function so much more smoothly.
4. We may think that we don’t like someone at all. But oftentimes getting to know someone reveals that they aren’t half bad. We may find out that we actually like them a whole lot. I like picking up Verge and stroking her long, silky fur. Who’d have ever thought that!?
5. Expanding your family to include another member (physical family, church family) requires a period of adjustment. There are going to be some bumps. But remember: there are some definite benefits!
6. Each person (or pet) brings their own set of talents, skills, or gifts to the family. You are much stronger together than separately.
7. I now have more inspiration for writing newsletter articles. 🙂
Of course, most of these thoughts were based on physical family and friends, but we could spend a long time talking about being adopted into the family of God and other spiritual analogies. Suffice it to say, it’s just another good reminder that there are lessons that we can learn all around us every day - if we only have eyes to see and sometimes you can learn something from a cat.
🐱 🐱 🐱 🐱 🐱 🐱 🐱 🐱 🐱 🐱
Yes, There is Good News
by Bill Rollins
I was struck by the words from Psalm 103, “His kingdom rules over all.” These words caught my eye because I had been thinking about the title of these articles, “Yes, There is Good News!” and considering how the message that Jesus proclaimed to the people began with, “The good news of the kingdom.” These two concepts crossed my mind at around the same time. Let us, then, dive into these two statements and see where they take us.
Does God’s kingdom rule over you? Please take this personally. We in this country are very blessed to have the type of government that is in place; a constitutional republic. But our familiarity with this type of government, one that is “of the people, by the people and for the people,” actually might limit us when we consider just how the kingdom of God operates. God’s kingdom is not a republic. It is a monarchy! In a true monarchy, when the king makes a decree it becomes a law and well, yes, the subjects must obey.
How many rules and laws enacted through our secular government do you break? We do not seem to do very well with the speed limits! That’s very obvious. And do we really come to a stop at the many stops signs we encounter? No, I’m not trying to point out the “speck in your own eye,” while I have a beam in mine. We have all broken a law or two in our time. But what about God’s law? Sometimes it doesn’t seem that we even care that God has given us His laws as a gift. Yes, a gift! Turn off the TV tonight and just sit and meditate quietly about how life in this society would improve if just one of the Ten Commandments were fully kept. “Thou shalt not steal.” Not only would we not need locks of any kind, but we would be safe traveling anywhere in any town. Remember I said, “Fully kept.” No one would try to steal another person’s life - “Thou shall not murder,” comes into play. It is an interesting exercise in meditation, try it sometime.
So I repeat, “God’s laws are a gift” - all of them! And yet if asked, could you recite all of the Ten Commandments? Do you even know where to find them in the Bible?
Let’s see what Moses had to say concerning theses laws of God. In the book of Deuteronomy, Chapter 4, we read this: “Hear now O Israel, the decrees and laws I’m about to teach you ... Do not add to what I command you, and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God ... Observe them carefully, for this will grow your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ ... What other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today? ... Be careful and watch closely ... do not forget ... or let them slip from your heart ... Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” Typing that last line almost breaks my heart when I think of our youth today and how many of them have never been taught the ways of God.
And yet! “His kingdom rules over all.” (Psalm 103:19) “Jesus came ... preaching the good news of the kingdom.” (Matthew 4:23) Is it good news to you that God’s kingdom rules over all? It seems to me that somehow our human nature resents being ruled over. Oh! Maybe the word “resent” is too strong and we should insert the word “reject.” Nevertheless, the question stands; do you reject (or resent) being ruled over? In other words, do you feel that God has no right to interfere in your life? This really seems to be where Eve and then Adam started out. And I think we pointed out, in a previous article, where that attitude led. Suffice it to say, it hasn’t been good news!
There is an old saying in Latin, “Rex Lex or Lex Rex.” “Lex” being the word for “law,” and “Rex” being the word for “king.” In other words, “Is the king the law, or is the law the king?” In the United States we live by rule of law. (At least, it’s supposed to work that way!) But in a monarchy it is just the opposite; the king is the law - what he says goes! The Bible tells us that God has set up a monarchy and so He rules over all.
Okay! That’s where we started this article, but we haven’t considered whether this is good news or not. Several weeks ago, we explored this idea that He was good and that He was good all the time. May I suggest that if He is good all the time, then we have a wonderful King? It has been said that the best form of government is a beneficent dictatorship. In many ways, our God dictates to us and we have come to the understanding that He is beneficent.
Our God is a loving Father! He is more than just a loving Father; He is a perfect, loving Father. Do you believe that?
Then let me reiterate something I said earlier, “The laws that He has given to us are gifts from Him and are for our benefit. “ The book of Job addresses this comment; in Job 35:6, Elihu (the one friend of Job who is not chastised by God) says this, “If you sin, how does that affect Him? If your sins are many, what does that do to Him? If you are righteous, what do you give to Him or what does He receive from your hand?” This says a mouthful toward the fact that God has given us laws for our benefit. The benefit is twofold - first, we learn how to act toward our neighbors (and they toward us), and secondly, but most importantly, we learn how our God would have us act toward Him. This is summed up in the two great commandments. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, strength, and life, and love your neighbor as yourself.
Well, I don’t know about you, but for me, the gift of His kingdom and its laws and commandments is really good news.
Until next time, think on the good things of God.
🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝
The Five Symptoms of Laziness:
1.
~Thanks to cybersalt.org
October
There’s a wonderful thing that happens when I’m headed home from the Feast of Tabernacles with a van load of young adults who squeezed as much “fun” into the week as humanly possible. Of course, they are all asleep - kind of a fulfillment of “We can sleep on the train.” So I’m left with 750 miles of driving, mile after mile of mostly interstate.
The first thing I had to do was sing all of the songs that were stuck in my head from a week of praising God within a large group of God’s people. Some of them, I had to sing a couple of times. 😀 I rejoiced in the baptism of my nephew!!! Then I thought about the conversations I had had, along with a regret that there was not more time. So many things unsaid. So many conversations that could have been. Then I jumped to reviewing the messages I heard.
It’s always interesting to me how messages seem to coalesce. Perhaps someone else would have a different impression overall, but my take-away was the emphasis on becoming vulnerable, submissive, and humble before God, trusting Him regardless of what happens - because things don’t just happen. My life is in the hands of my God who is molding me into the image of Jesus Christ. I may think His goal is to make me look like a golden cup; in reality, He wants me moldable like a clay vessel. In the end, I need to trust Him - fully, whole-heartedly - because we live in an increasingly ungodly world.
We shouldn’t be surprised that there are oppositions against us. We are coming to expect it more and more from society; how much more division can there be in our country before we have all-out civil war? But what can surprise us are the subtle attacks from Satan to divide families and friends. He knows that a three-fold cord is not easily broken. He knows that a house divided against itself cannot stand. He also knows his time is short. Thus his ferocity against God’s people is increasing. Satan throws his lies against us with devious intent.
We have to put on the full armor of God. We have to encourage one another as we see the Day approaching. We have to live by faith, exhorting each other to keep our eyes focused on our Savior, not on the waves around us. We have to seek the truth, repudiating the lies, relying on God’s Word to give us light to navigate the mire. We walk as ambassadors of Christ, confessing with our actions that God is good and trustworthy and worthy of praise. This life isn’t just about us; it’s about be a living sacrifice to the glory and honor of God. Although we make it our aim to live quiet lives in harmony with those around us, we also do not shrink back from declaring the good news of the kingdom as God sets opportunity before us. We are not just marking time; we are occupying until He comes, doing the tasks that He sets before us as good and profitable servants.
I thoroughly enjoyed the Feast of Tabernacles this year. I loved the music and the messages. I loved the conversations. I loved rehearsing the family reunion that we’ll have when Jesus returns. I loved seeing people I haven’t seen, in some cases, for years. Furthermore, I love the memories that pop up because of the history of feasting with God’s family. And I love the encouragement gained - not a new message, but the same encouragement packaged in different words to make it stick again. Praise God for His Feast days. Praise God for miles of uninterrupted meditation time to taste it all on my tongue and savor it fully.
So. What did you bring home from the Feast?
🚙 🚙 🚙 🚙 🚙 🚙 🚙 🚙 🚙
There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened.
🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝 🗝
These are real answers given by children:
Q: Name the four seasons.
A: Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar.
Q: Explain one of the processes by which water can be made safe to drink.
A: Flirtation makes water safe to drink because it removes large pollutants like grit, sand, dead sheep and canoeists.
Q: How is dew formed?
A: The sun shines down on the leaves and makes them perspire.
Q: How can you delay milk turning sour?
A: Keep it in the cow.
Q: What causes the tides in the oceans?
A: The tides are a fight between the Earth and the Moon. All water tends to flow towards the moon, because there is no water on the moon, and nature hates a vacuum. I forget where the sun joins in this fight.
November
Producing . . . . Ladders?
by Cynthia Saladin
We all know the saying, “Money doesn’t grow on trees,” but we were reminded recently that sometimes ladders do. Well, the ladder wasn’t exactly growing; the tree had grown around the ladder. Okay, the truth is the tree was the only part of the equation still growing.
How many times have you seen something similar? Where trees are plentiful and the soil is rocky, many times it’s easier to attach the fencing to the trees. Subsequently, the tree grows around the wire. A few years ago, we were shocked to see Ron’s chainsaw sparking as we cut down an old oak tree. Embedded in the heart of the tree was barbed wire. It had long since rusted away on the outside, but the tree had grown around the wire and had preserved it to dull Ron’s blade when he cut into it.
It’s an interesting object lesson, isn’t it. That is, there are things that don’t really belong in our lives, things that are not beneficial to our growth and development and actually are detrimental to our development. But we put up with them and develop around these foreign things (experiences, thoughts, relationships, behaviors, habits). They become part of who we are - to the point that, eventually, trying to eradicate them would mean major surgery - physically, mentally, or spiritually.
The crazy thing is: anyone looking at our lives could clearly see that the “thing” doesn’t belong in our lives any more than the ladder belongs in the tree. The thing adds stress, provides an entry point for disease, and is, at the best laughable, and at the worst, hideous.
We would like to believe that a “ladder-laden” person would be someone who has yet to come to Christ. It must be those sin-sick souls out of whom ladders would protrude as unsightly encumbrances. We would counsel them to heed the call of the Savior to repent and go under the waters of baptism, eschewing the world and its sinfulness, its foreign and harmful behaviors and ideas. And there’s a lot of truth in those words. Jesus does take the sinner, lost and lonely, rescuing each of us from the miry pit of sin, destructive behaviors and ungodly thoughts.
But as the apostle Paul eloquently describes in Romans 7, what we want to do as a new creation in Christ is at odds
with the carnal nature still within us. We do the things we don’t want to do. We unwisely allow ungodly behaviors to abide in our lives even as we strive to walk worthy of the calling we have received.
Do we recognize our continuing need for the Savior? Do we understand that God says He is cleansing and sanctifying us (Ephesians 5:26-27; Hebrews 10:14)? He is purifying a people for His own possession (Titus 2:14). Do we understand that even as we have to make Godly choices, repulsing the evil and desiring the good, we cannot rely on our strength and understanding? (Zechariah 4:6; 2 Chronicles 32:8) Do we comprehend our deep need for the transforming work of the Holy Spirit in our lives? (2 Corinthians 3:8; Romans 12:2) If we want to become Christlike, we have to draw near to Him, submitting to His work in our lives, choosing daily His ways and keeping our eyes focused on Him.
Our goal is to grow ever more like our Elder Brother, Jesus Christ, becoming like Him in thought, word, and deed. We want to be molded into a useful and God-honoring vessel by the Potter. That requires discipline and a willingness to bring every thought into submission to Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). It requires honest, ongoing self-evaluation. It requires spending time quietly meditating on the things of God. It requires everything we are. Otherwise, we could very well be walking around, proclaiming Christ all the while sporting a ladder or rusty barbed wire rather than the fruit of the Spirit.
I Will Not Ask
by Ron Saladin
Ahaz was not one of the good kings of Judah. 2 Chronicles 28 records he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, made molten images for Baalim, burnt incense in the Valley of the son of Hinnom, even burnt his own children in the fire. Yet he sounded very pious in a meeting he had with God and Isaiah. God wanted to give Ahaz a sign, perhaps to encourage Ahaz to trust in God.
Isaiah 7:10-12: Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying, Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, Neither will I tempt the LORD.
This sounds respectful, but it is actually an example, to say the least, of what I call backward thinking, i.e. reaching a reverse conclusion, differing from logical reasoning. It is not tempting God to do as He offers.
Many years ago, I belonged to a church which taught we should not vote. As God’s people we were not to be involved in “politics.” That seems to me now a rather bizarre way of thinking. As unconverted carnal people we were free to participate in choosing leaders which would affect the destinies of millions of people. However, as soon as we embraced Christ and Christian values, it was time for us to remove that influence we might have on the course our country would take. That seems to me an example of backward thinking.
In Romans 13:1 Paul makes an important statement about government: Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. The context is speaking to human governments and I believe our government is not the exception. God ordained our government to include a process in which the people would have the privilege of participating in the selection of the leadership. It is not being pious to ignore what God has ordained.
Nor do I believe it is wise.
In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25), Jesus tells of three men given varying amounts of talents to work with while He was away. They were expected to do something with what He gave. One did nothing with what he was provided. It did not go well with him when the Master returned.
We are all free to vote or not to vote, to vote for a write-in candidate which cannot win this election, or to vote for the ones we hope will take us closest to the values we hold.
I respectfully encourage us all to carefully consider the responsibility God has ordained.
December
Dogma: A Perspective on Paul’s Epistles
by Dave Manning
In 2 Peter 3:16 Peter states that Paul writes the same way in “all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other scriptures to their own destruction.” The “matters” that Peter references refer to the gospel message regarding Jesus the Messiah. In the light of that knowledge, Paul expounded on how we should order our lives with behaviors that are fitting with having such a Savior. With that in mind, today we shall look into some of these “hard to understand” writings of Paul.
It doesn’t take very long to find a hard saying in Paul’s writings.
Ephesians 2:11-22.
11 Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; 18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
Here we find a hard passage and a classic controversy. Some say that verse 15 shows conclusively that the Mosaic Law was abolished. But if that is true then how is this idea squared with other passages such as Romans 3:21 where Paul states: Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law. Or consider that later in the same book of Ephesians in chapter 6:1-2 Paul commands “Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” and then immediately supports his statement with a reminder of the 5th commandment: Eph 6:2 “Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise),” What shall we make of it? Is Paul back tracking from his position in Eph 2:15? Is the law abolished or not? What is Paul driving at?
Paul has a writing style that is a bit hard to follow. I suppose this is understandable considering 2000 years has passed and we are reading a translation. Even Peter thought it a challenge in his day to understand some of Paul’s points. As a scientist, I have noted that Paul’s style contrasts with that of modern scientific literature. In a typical scientific article an introduction section presents a historical context before the presentation of new findings. If done properly this approach helps to highlight the significance of new findings. Paul sometimes does this step backwards or intermixes new and historical information. For example, in Ephesians 2, he begins in verses 11-12 with a historical overview regarding the Gentile’s exclusion from Israel, then adds new information about Christ and his impact on the subject (verses 14-16). Then later in verse 17 he quotes: “And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near” which is more historical context taken from Isaiah 57:19. Part of Paul’s style is that he carefully prompts the reader by first introducing the concepts of far off and brought near prior to formally quoting Isaiah 57:19 which also contains the ideas of far and near. He has introduced his new findings in verses 13-16 before providing the support for his bold statement. This format seems backwards to me because he makes assertions before the historical context has been fully developed. It is important to recognize that the historic scripture that he references from Isaiah 57:19 is actually foundational to his bold assertions made earlier in verses 13-16.
So, what is Paul trying to say here in Ephesians? Before answering, let me raise another historical verse that is similar to Isaiah 57:19 but provides more context to the issue at hand.
Daniel 7:13-14
13 “I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him.14 “And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed.
Daniel 7:13-14 is an enormously important prophetic vision since it is one of the few visions of the Ancient of Days on his throne. And here, along with Isaiah 57:19, we find additional historical context that is central to Paul’s point. The vision states that ultimately all the peoples and nations will serve God. The problem before Paul was the huge disparity between the vision and the reality of his day. After Messiah comes, both the Gentiles and Jews will worship God together, so says the LORD. However, in Paul’s day Gentiles and Jews were very much separated. Peter wouldn’t even eat with the Gentiles at one point due to the prevailing views. Even further, consider that up to this point in history, the formal worship of God was at the temple and circumcision was the ticket into the temple. No circumcision meant No access. It is critical to understand Paul’s purpose in referencing Isaiah 57:19 in order to understand the controversial statement in Ephesians 2:15.
Another challenge with Eph 2:15 is the use of the word ordinance (NAS). Ordinance is an English translation of the Greek noun dogma [Strong’s 1378]. If asked, most in our day would define dogma (think of the related word dogmatic) as something rigid and immutable. It is settled, unchangeable. A topline internet dictionary defines dogma as “a principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true.” This modern definition for dogma is not the same definition that Paul had. In Paul’s time, dogma was not that strong of a word. The Stoic and Epicurean philosophers briefly mentioned in Acts 17:18 had philosophical schools of thought or principles that they thought to be true. These so called dogmas were defended and they distinguished the philosophical schools from each other. Dogma at the time of Paul was primarily an opinion.
Dogma’s primary definition as an opinion doesn’t necessarily mean that the opinion cannot have weight. Dogma can also be defined as a decision which is an opinion from an authoritative person or group such as a political body. For example, in Acts 16:4 we see that Paul and Timothy were traveling into the Gentile regions communicating the “decrees” [dogma Strong’s 1378] that had been decided by the council of elders in Jerusalem in the preceding chapter 15. At issue before the council was the question of whether believing Gentiles needed to be circumcised (Acts 15:1-2). After much debate, the council of elders issued their decision. This decision was the collective elder’s opinion on what to do regarding the current controversy and not God’s explicit command per se. Nevertheless, the ruling had weight because it was agreed upon by the body of elders. This episode is a biblical example of the meaning of the word dogma.
Over time, opinions or decisions if maintained turn into traditions and become part of the culture. For example, you cannot be a true Stoic if you do not believe its most famous dogma: “the only good is moral good and the only evil is moral evil”. Mark 7:1-23 describes a discourse with Jesus regarding Jewish dogma that had become tradition. Mark 7:3 3(For the Pharisees and all the other Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, thereby holding firmly to the tradition of the elders; 4 and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they completely cleanse themselves; and there are many other things which they have received as traditions to firmly hold, such as the washing of cups, pitchers, and copper pots.). Hitting closer to home, how about an example extant for many branches of the Churches of God? You must be male and wear a suit and tie to give a prayer or speak at worship services. Indeed, it is basic COG tradition, but nowhere in scriptures does God state such a requirement. Nevertheless, this viewpoint is part of established dogma and now sacrosanct. Or how about this one: “We are the one true Church of God”. You probably thought I was talking about your church. Catholics, Seventh Day Adventists, Mormons and yes, some COG branches make this claim. To me both of these ideas sound a lot like No Circumcision means No Access. The merits of any given dogma can be argued, they are opinion after all. Getting back to my main point, each of these examples began as an opinion or decision of the “elders” or leaders but later became an embedded tradition.
So, back to Ephesians 2, what is Paul really saying? He is saying now that Christ has come, Isaiah 57:19 is in effect. God’s plan and intent all along was for all humanity to come near and worship Him through Christ. But the reality at Paul’s time was that there was huge cultural divide and body of history that must be overcome. Please re-read Eph 2:11-16. See how Paul lays out his argument. Gentiles weren’t originally part of God’s covenant agreement. He unequivocally states: “They had no part in God” but Isaiah 57:19 and Dan 7:14 clearly show that this wasn’t always to be the case. What does Paul specifically say in verse 15? The mutual enmity (or mutual hatred) that is abolished is not God’s Covenant Law but rather the law of commandments contained in ordinances (Strong’s 1378, dogma). The rulings by the leaders of Israel are “the law of commandments contained in ordinances”. These decisions or rulings by men eventually became long-standing cultural traditions and these were the mutual hatred that prevented reconciliation of the two groups. Dogma is distinct from God’s specific commands. Just like in Acts 15, the opinions (dogma) had been written down, circulated and established by the religious rulers of Israel. These are the type of the decisions that were abolished by the Messiah’s appearing. Paul emphatically says throughout his epistles that since Christ has come the Jews need to re-evaluate their mindset regarding Gentiles. Something has changed and they need to respond to that change.
Jews and Gentiles should be serving God as one. In this light, it becomes evident that verse 15 has nothing at all to do with abolishing God’s Law. Rather, Paul referenced God’s explicit words in Isaiah 57:19 to show that God’s word on this subject rules and not the traditions and rules established by men.
Colossians 2: 8-16, particularly verse 14, 15 is another controversial scripture that uses the word dogma.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. 9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; 11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; 12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. 16 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— 17 things which are a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God. 20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)--in accordance with the commandments and commandments and teachings of men? 23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.
The same principle we’ve been discussing in Ephesians also applies here. Note how Paul introduces a leading statement in verse 8: See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men. The themes are the same: Christ is head over all rule and authority. Circumcision is referenced. Paul is again laying a foundation for the reader. The ingrained traditions which come from the decisions and opinions of men (dogma) need to be weighed against God’s very own words. Here in Colossians, see how Paul prompts the reader with the word tradition which by definition is the end result after an opinion or decision of man has become established or set into a culture. The prompt “tradition” points naturally to the word decrees [Strong’s 1378, dogma] found in verse 14. The NASB translation of verse 14 above is a bit awkward. The Concordant Literal New Testament reads: 14 erasing the handwriting of the decrees against us, which was hostile to us, and has taken it away out of the midst, nailing it to the cross…
Hand written dogma was the formal written decisions of the leaders. These are not unlike the written opinions of the Supreme Court. In this case, the decrees were hostile to the Gentiles because they were contrary to God’s intent to bring the Gentiles near. But Paul hangs his argument on the fact that Christ came, died on the cross and by the power of His resurrection overrules the decisions of the rulers. Not only did Christ forgive the sins of the Gentile believer, he also thereby erased or nullified the written dogma that was opposing God’s purpose. Does not the scripture (Acts 10, Acts 15) in the account of Cornelius testify that the circumcised were amazed when forgiveness and cleansing was granted to the Gentiles? The Jewish leader’s dogma was shown to be foolishness being inconsistent with God’s stated and now active purpose. The future is upon us. Dan 7:14 and Isaiah 57:19 are in effect. God has begun to take for Himself a people even from among the Gentiles. In this light, the next verse, Col 2:16, is particularly supportive of this view. The Concordant Literal New Testament version clarifies that this verse is emphatically written. In other words, it should be read as a command. Let no one pass judgement on you regarding a festival, new moon or Sabbath. Paul is saying it is good and proper for a Gentile to participate in these things. As a Gentile, you have a part in the proper worship of God through Christ. To further support this view, just down the page in Col 2:20 Paul provides an example of the type of degrees [Strong’s 1379 dogmatizo, verb] that are bad opinions. It is especially evident in this case that “don’t handle, don’t taste, don’t touch” are the opinions of men and not related to God’s Law. Can you see the structure of Paul’s argument? No longer can Gentiles be viewed as outcasts but rather as fellow heirs. Gentiles are to embrace God’s Law and participate in His proper worship.
