DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES (Like the soap opera)

"After him (that is Jephthah), Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.  He had thirty sons.  And he gave away thirty daughters in marriage, and brought in thirty daughters from elsewhere for his sons.  He judged Israel seven years.  Then  Ibzan died and was buried at Bethlehem.  After him Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel.  He judged Israel ten years.  And Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried at Aijalon in the country of Zebulun.  After him, Abdon, the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel.  He had forty sons and thirty grandsons who rode on seventy young donkeys.  He judged Israel eight years.  Then Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mountains of the Amalekites."  (Judges 12:8-15)

There were all kinds of judges over Israel.  Some did great things and the record of their lives takes many words to describe.  Others, like today's readings, are rather unremarkable, and it takes only a few words to summarize their life.  They lived and they died.  The greatest achievements recorded is that they had kids and grandkids, some of whom rode on donkeys.  I mean, give me a break.  Is this all that could be said for them?

At one memorial I attended, during the open mike, the only thing people could talk about was stories about his golfing game.  Golf, golf, golf for 45 minutes. 

As I look at my own obituary, it won't take more than a few words to tell my story.  I lived.  I died.  I was buried.  I had some children, grandchildren, and a few great grandchildren.  What more can be said, or needs to be said?

I guess the point is that life will go on after I am gone.  A new generation will take my place.  I can only hope that the record that tells of their victories for God's kingdom will be greater than mine.  God's work will continue without me. May He raise up a new generation that will accomplish great things for His glory.

That said, I do want my life to count for Jesus.  The point is not to expect a lengthy obituary, but to live pleasing to the Lord. As the poet wrote:  "Only one life to offer, Jesus my Lord and King.  Only one tongue to praise You, and of Your mercy sing.  Only one heart's devotion.  Savior, O may it be consecrated alone to thy matchless glory, yielded fully to Thee."  This is my desire.

 Love,  Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- GOD REMEMBERS

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – GOD REMEMBERS

"Now therefore, if you have acted in truth and sincerity in making Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him as he deserves – for my father fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian; but you have risen up against my father's house this day, and killed his seventy sons on one stone, and made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother –"  (Judges 9:16-18)

This a rather convoluted piece of history in the nation of Israel.  To get the full picture, one must go back to the previous chapter – verses 34-35.  "Thus the children of Israel did not remember the LORD their God, who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side; nor did they show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal (that is Gideon) in accordance with the good he had done for Israel."

 

Gideon was aka Jerubbaal.   When he died, he left 70 sons by various mothers.  One of those sons, Abimilech, who was the son of one of Gideon's female servants, aspired to be king.  So he slew the other sons to eliminate the competition.  One of Gideon's sons, Jotham, escaped this slaughter and spoke out against Abimelech and the people of Shechem who followed him, and foretold the judgment that would befall them.   Then Jotham ran for his life.

The point of today's meditation is:  Don't expect people to remember the good things you have done in your life.  After you are gone, they will soon be forgotten.  And it happens all too often that there is rivalry and dissension between the surviving heirs.

It happened to Gideon's family, and it can happen in ours.  No matter how godly and patriarch is, the memory of his godliness soon fades into the dimly lit past.  But God does not forget.  As we read in Hebrews 6:10:  "But God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love…."    God keeps good records, and He will repay on judgment day.   

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- WHEN IS TOO MANY TOO MANY?

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – WHEN IS TOO MANY TOO MANY?

"And the LORD said to Gideon, 'The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying "My own hand has saved me." ' " (Judges 7:2)

God's math and my math are so different.  I think that the more people that are on my side, the better it is.  But God has a different perspective.  

Here's the difference.  When we have amassed a large army, we are tempted to take the credit for the victory unto ourselves instead of giving God the glory.  That is human nature.

God can work through a large number of people or He can work through a small number.  Often, it is only one person who has faith that brings the victory.  Jesus did not count on a large group of people following Him.  Instead, He put His confidence in a small group of rag-tag followers that were faithful to Him.  

May God deliver us from the notion that the more people we have, the greater our prospect of success.  God uses the minority – those who are willing to trust Him.  In Gideon's situation, Gideon started with 32,000, and then 10,000, and ended up with 300.

An illustration for us might be prayer meetings.  Often many people will answer the call to prayer.  But as the weeks pass, the number gets smaller and smaller until there are only a faithful few who attend these prayer gatherings.  It can be discouraging, but let us remember that God does not need a large group.  He can accomplish His victory through a few faithful people.  

Too many is too many when we think that a lot of people is the answer to our problems.  When people get the glory instead of God, then it is too many.  

We give God the glory, regardless of how many people are involved.  He does not need a lot of people to solve problems.  He can do it with one.  

Love,  Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- WHEN IS TOO MANY TOO MANY?

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – WHEN IS TOO MANY TOO MANY?

"And the LORD said to Gideon, 'The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying "My own hand has saved me." ' " (Judges 7:2)

God's math and my math are so different.  I think that the more people that are on my side, the better it is.  But God has a different perspective.  

Here's the difference.  When we have amassed a large army, we are tempted to take the credit for the victory unto ourselves instead of giving God the glory.  That is human nature.

God can work through a large number of people or He can work through a small number.  Often, it is only one person who has faith that brings the victory.  Jesus did not count on a large group of people following Him.  Instead, He put His confidence in a small group of rag-tag followers that were faithful to Him.  

May God deliver us from the notion that the more people we have, the greater our prospect of success.  God uses the minority – those who are willing to trust Him.  In Gideon's situation, Gideon started with 32,000, and then 10,000, and ended up with 300.

An illustration for us might be prayer meetings.  Often many people will answer the call to prayer.  But as the weeks pass, the number gets smaller and smaller until there are only a faithful few who attend these prayer gatherings.  It can be discouraging, but let us remember that God does not need a large group.  He can accomplish His victory through a few faithful people.  

Too many is too many when we think that a lot of people is the answer to our problems.  When people get the glory instead of God, then it is too many.  

We give God the glory, regardless of how many people are involved.  He does not need a lot of people to solve problems.  He can do it with one.  

Love,  Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- YAHWEH SHALOM

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – YAHWEH SHALOM

"Now Gideon perceived that He was the Angel of the LORD.  So Gideon said, 'Alas, O Lord GOD!  For I have seen the Angel of the LORD face to face.' Then the LORD said to him, 'Peace be with you; do not fear, you shall not die.'  So Gideon built an altar there to the LORD, and called it The LORD is Peace."  (Judges, 6:22-24a)

Here was Gideon.  He was threshing wheat in a winepress because He was afraid of the Midianites when God appeared to him with a special calling to deliver the Israelites from the oppressors.  Gideon recognized his weakness since he was the least in his father's house which was the least in the tribe of Manasseh.  He was fearful of the job God had given him to do.  But God said to him, "Surely, I will be with you" (vss. 12 and 16).  

Now the fear of the Midianites was replaced by fear of the Angel of the LORD, which was undoubtedly a Christophany, and the task God was calling him to.   The Angel of the LORD allayed that fear by announcing peace to Gideon.  Gideon built an altar, naming it The LORD is Peace – Yahweh Shalom.  Yahweh Shalom – The LORD is Peace.  This is one of the most wonderful names that we have for our God.

We can have the same confidence.  When we face troubling situations, just to  know that God is with us brings us peace.  And as we present our needs to Him with thanksgiving, the Peace of God which passes all understanding keeps our hearts and our minds through Jesus Christ our Lord (Philippians 4:6-7).  As the song says, "If Jesus goes with me, I'll go anywhere.  Tis heaven to me wher'ere I may be if He is there."  

We can rest in His peace.  He is Yahweh Shalom and He is with us.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- YO-YO CHRISTIANS

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – YO-YO 

"And when the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed them and harassed them.  And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they reverted and behaved more corruptly than their fathers, by following other gods, to serve them and bow down to them.  They did not cease from their own doings nor from their stubborn way."  (Judges 2:18-19)

As we work our way through the book of Judges, it is well to remember the last verse of the book:  "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone what was right in his own eyes" (Joshua 21:25).

The book of Judges is the story of the ups and downs of a nation.  It is the story of Israel's sin, God raising up a judge for deliverance, then sin, then God's deliverance, then sin, then deliverance.  Well, you get the picture.  

God had told them to destroy all of the nations which they conquered, to cleanse the land.  But for one reason or another, they failed to do this.  Because of this failure, they were plagued with a thorn in their side, and the gods of these nations became a snare to them (Judges 2:3).  The Israelites were drawn to the worship of these foreign gods, which caused the yo-yo effect.

This is a lesson for us.  If we allow things in our lives which are forbidden by God, we will also be yo-yo Christians.  Victorious for a season, and defeated for another season.  I am thinking of a man I knew who would not let go of the things of the world.  He would confess his sin, but a few months later, he would be back confessing his sin again with no true repentance.  This happened over and over again.

God is gracious and full of pity and hears our groanings.  But this is not His not his plan for victorious living.  His plan is for us to forsake the sin and live in His freedom.  Israel failed to understand this.  And so do I, sometimes.  

Love,  Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- CLAIMING GOD'S PROMISES

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – CLAIMING GOD'S PROMISES

"Now the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of meeting there.  And the land was subdued before them.  But there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes which had not yet received their inheritance.  Then Joshua said to the children of Israel:  'How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers has given you?"  (Joshua 18:1-3)

Israel had entered the promised land and in these chapters of the Book of  Joshua, the land was being divided between the twelve tribes of the sons Jacob.  Actually, there were thirteen because the two sons of Joseph each received a share of the land.  However, the sons of Levi only received cities and some farm land, but did not receive any territory because they were dedicated to the tabernacle and to worship.

Apparently, the nation had slacked off on their job of conquering the land from the pagan inhabitants.  Perhaps some thought that the job was done when they set up the tabernacle at Shiloh.  But Joshua prodded them.  "How long will you neglect possessing the land?"  There was still a job to be completed and sitting back on their laurels of the victories they had achieved was not acceptable.

God has given us great and exceeding great and precious promises (II Peter 1:4).  It is easy to remember the victories God has given us in the past and rest on our laurels when there are still more  promises of God for us to claim. We get satisfied in our salvation, which is indeed great, when there is still much land to be claimed for Him.

What victories might God have in store for us if we don't get so satisfied that we neglect the opportunities God has placed before us.  

Love,  Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- WHEN DO I GET TO RETIRE?

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – WHEN DO I GET TO RETIRE?

"Now Joshua was old, advanced in years.  And the LORD said to him, 'You are old, advanced in years, and there remains very much land yet to be possessed."  (Joshua 13:1)

The message to Joshua is a message for the older generations, but it also applies to younger Christians.

The goal of most young people is to reach retirement age, when they can kick back and not have any more duties and obligations.  Enjoy retirement.  That is the human goal.  But is it God's goal?

I meet Christians in our retirement community and our church who say, "I've put in my time.  I was a Sunday School teacher.  I sang in the choir.  I was an usher and greeter.  I was an elder.  I've served my time, and it is time to do what I want to do."

But I wonder if God might say as He did to Joshua:  "There remains very much land yet to be possessed."  

When do I get to retire?  When I get to heaven.  The old saw says, "Working for God may not receive the best pay, but the retirement plan is out of this world."

Love,  Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- WORKING TOGETHER WITH GOD

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – WORKING TOGETHER WITH GOD

"And it happened, as they fled before Israel and were on the descent of Beth Horon, that the LORD cast down large hailstones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died.  There were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword."  (Joshua 10:11)

There are three approaches to seeing God's work accomplished in this world.  One approach is to set back and believe that God will do it all without my help.  Another approach is to think that everything depends on me.  A third approach, which I believe is more biblical, is God and man working together.  

I believe this is the pattern throughout Scripture.  God has the ability to do his work without any help from me.  After all, He created the universe without my help.  But more often than not, God gives us a part in kingdom work.  

In today's Scripture, God gave the Israelites the task of conquering the Promised Land.  But they did not do it on their own.  Beginning at Jericho when He made the walls come tumbling down, the part of the Israelites was to march.  Throughout the years of conquest, Israel did battle but God gave the victory.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul said that we are workers together with Christ (II Corinthians 6:1).   Jesus gave his disciples the commission to go into all the world but promised that He would be with them (Matthew 28:19-20).  So "they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them" (Mark 16:20).  

Martin Luther said, "Pray like it all depends on God, then work like it all depends on you."  But I suggest that we pray like it all depends on God and then work like it all depends on God.  In God's great plan, the work of the Kingdom is a combination of our work and God's work.  We can sit on our hands and let God do it all, or we can do it all ourselves.  But the best way is to work in cooperation with God who brings true success.   

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- VICTORIOUS LIVING

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – VICTORIOUS LIVING

"And Joshua said, 'Alas, Lord GOD, why have You brought this people over the Jordan at all – to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us?  Oh, that we had been content, and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan!' " (Joshua 7:7).

Remember the scenario?  Israel had crossed the Jordan into the land that God had promised them as their inheritance.  The first city they encountered was Jericho, and it fell before them after seven days of marching around it.  That was so easy, that when they came to Ai, they thought it would be a piece of cake.  All they thought they needed was two or three thousand soldiers.  But they were soundly defeated.

Joshua went to the right place to find the answer.  He went to God, asking, "Alas, Lord GOD, why have you brought us here?"  It seemed to Joshua that it might have been better to stay on the East side of Jordan than to suffer such a defeat.  The problem was that there was sin in the camp. Achan had taken some silver, gold, and clothing, against God's command, and hid it in his tent.

It seems to me that when we follow God into new territory only to suffer defeat, we are prone to think it would have been better to stay in our comfort zone on the East side of Jordan. A better approach would be to step back and ask God, "Why have you brought us here?"  Setbacks could be Satan hindering our success.  Or perhaps God is trying to expose some hidden fault that needs to be taken care of before we go to the next challenge.

Self-examination is always in order because we can go no farther in our walk with Christ than our dedication to our personal holiness and obedience.  God uses failure to bring us to the place of confrontation with our own character so that we can move forward to secure our promised inheritance.  The Holy Spirit will show us our need if we will seek the Lord.  

In the case of Joshua and the Israelites, removal of the sin from their midst was the secret to their future success.  In our lives, hidden sin will keep us from experiencing victorious living.  Confession and repentance will clear the way for God to work in our lives.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- ANOINTING FOR MINISTRY

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – ANOINTING FOR MINISTRY

"On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they had feared Moses, all the days of his life."  (Joshua 4:14)

Joshua was a great leader, but he was prepared by forty years of training as an aide to Moses.  Moses had chosen Joshua to be his successor.  Joshua had distinguished himself as a leader. He had proven himself as a military leader soon after the exodus from Egypt as he led a victorious campaign against the Amalekites (Exodus 17:8-13).  He was also a man of faith.  He was only one of two men – he and Caleb – who survived the forty years in the wilderness to enter the promised land (see Joshua 5:4) because they had been the only two spies who had searched out the land and returned to give a report of faith to trust God (Number 13 and 14:1-9).  So Joshua became an assistant to Moses (Numbers 11:28), accompanying him even to Moses' journey to Mt Sinai to receive the commandments from God (Exodus 24:13).  

Joshua's position as leader was not just because he was a great man.  It was because God had called him and anointed him to lead the nation.  "Then Moses spoke to the LORD, saying, 'Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be like sheep which have no shepherd.'  And the LORD said to Moses:  'Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him;  set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and inaugurate him in their sight.' "  (Numbers 27:19)

When we see people who are leaders in Christ's Church, we need to understand that their position is not just because of their personal abilities or preparation, but because God has raised them up.  History is filled with great men who have had powerful influence in Jesus' Kingdom – Luther, Moody, Wesley, Edwards, and Billy Graham among others.  God raises people up and anoints them to ministry, not because they are so great but because God is great.   Thank God for spiritual leaders.  We need them now more than ever.  

Love,  Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- OUR SUBSTITUTE

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – OUR SUBSTITUTE

"Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested.  And there was one name Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion … But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them….So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified."  (Mark 15:6-7; 11; 15)

This part of the Passion Story never fails to grab my attention.  Pilate had a practice of releasing a prisoner each year at the Passover.  It was like what we have today in a presidential or governor pardon.  

Barnabas was not a good guy.  He was a rebel and had no qualms about killing people.  He was indeed a bad dude.  So it would make sense to Pilate that people would rather have a man like Jesus, in whom He could find no fault, rather than releasing on society a killer.  

But Pilate did not understand the depth of the wrath that the Jewish leaders had for Jesus.  They demanded that Barabas be released and that Jesus be crucified.  This caught Pilate by surprise.  "Why, what evil has He done?"

The fact is that Jesus took the place of Barabas, who was guilty and deserved death.  Jesus was innocent and deserved life.  But Jesus took the guilt of Barabas and was crucified in his place.

This is the story of salvation.  I was guilty and deserved death, for the wages of sin is death.  But Scripture is clear.  "For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly…But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:6, 8).    "...Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures" (I Corinthians 15:3b).  "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (II Corinthians. 5:21).  The substitutionary atonement is a firm fact.

I am like Barnabas.  As the poet said, "I should have been crucified, and I should have suffered and died.  I should have hung on the cross in disgrace.  But Jesus, God's Son, took my place."  Oh, the grace of the Lord Jesus.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE "I AM"

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THE "I AM"

"And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, 'Do You answer nothing?  What is it these men testify against You?'  But He kept silent and answered nothing.  Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, 'Are You the Christ, the Son Of the Blessed?'  Jesus said, 'I am.' "  (Mark 14:60-62a)

Jesus was on trial before the high priest and the rest of the Sanhedrin.  There were many people called as witnesses remained silent through these accusations.

Finally, the high priest asked Jesus, "Are You the Christ?"  Jesus did not back away from this question.  Jesus broke His silence to respond to this question, and declared boldly, "I am."  This answer would be understood by the Jews in a way that it would not be to us today.  They knew that God had identified Himself as the "I AM" when He appeared to Moses.  When Jesus said, "I AM," He was proclaiming that He was indeed God.  That is what outraged the Jewish leaders.

This was the crux of the matter.  Was Jesus the Christ, the promised Messiah?  Was He indeed divine?  

It still remains the pivotal question today.  Who was Jesus?  Was he just a prophet?  Was He a blasphemer?  Or was He indeed God in the flesh?  The rest of the questions pale in comparison to Who He was and is.

Critics of Christ and of Christianity will come up with all kinds of ideas that are only distractions from the true question:  "Is He God?"  The answer that He would give today is the same:  "I am." People can reject His claim just as the Jews did, but that does not change Who He is. He is still the "I Am."   He is indeed God, and He is worthy of our worship, our devotion, and our obedience.  

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- SUPPORT IN TIMES OF DISTRESS

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – SUPPORT IN TIMES OF DISTRESS

"Then they came to a  place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, 'Sit here while I pray.'   And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed.  Then He said to them, 'My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.  Stay here and watch.' "  (Mark 14:32-34)

 

Jesus was fully God but He was also fully human.  He knew what was soon to come His way.  He had predicted His suffering, His crucifixion, and His death many times to His disciples.  Now the time had come.  He knew that this was the appointed hour.  And not just the physical torture, but the spiritual agony of carrying our sins and paying the penalty that was justly ours.  He who knew no sin was about to become sin for us.

All of this caused Him great distress.  He needed His disciples to be there for him in His time of distress.  He took the three disciples who were closest to Him and asked them to stay alert.  They could not carry His burden, but they  be a support to Him through this difficult time.

Scripture admonishes us to bear one another's burdens and fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).  But in the same breath, Paul said that each one shall bear his own load (vs. 5).  The truth is that I cannot experience the sorrow, the grief, the distress of another person.  It is their burden.  I may have sympathy but I cannot take their load.  All I can do is be there as a support to them when they go through their trial.  And no one can carry my burden.  It is mine to carry but it is good to know that there are others who are standing with me in my ordeal to give me their encouragement and prayers of support.

Peter, James, and John slept through this time of struggle.  They apparently did not understand the depth of Jesus' distress.  May God help us to be sensitive to other people's distress so that we can be the support to them as they go through their valleys, because we may need someone to support us in our time of trouble.    

Love,  Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- EXTRAVAGANT WORSHIP

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – EXTRAVAGANT WORSHIP

"And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard.  Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head.  But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, 'Why was this fragrant oil wasted?  For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.' And they  criticized her sharply.  But Jesus said, 'Let her alone.  Why do you trouble her?  She has done a good work for Me.' "  (Mark 14:3-6)

Have you ever been accused of being too fanatical in your love and service for Jesus?  There are always those around us who do not understand our devotion to Christ.  The woman in this story was so in love with Jesus that she was extravagant in her worship.

There were those who considered her extravagance a waste of valuable resources.  But the woman was not concerned with how much her worship cost.  She freely poured it out.  

.

There will always be people who criticize extravagant worshipers.  If someone becomes emotional during the worship service, the critics think it is inappropriate to have such outbursts.  Even the simple act of raising our hands in worship will cause some people to think it is an attempt to get recognition.  Some will say, "They are just showing off their piety to get attention."

But Jesus did not criticize the woman.  Instead, he said, "Let her alone," and He praised her for the good work she had done.

We need to be careful in our criticism of other people's style of worship.  Sure, there are fakes, but Jesus will take care of them.  Some people are more reserved and worship quietly, while others are more expressive.  Jesus receives both when they come from the heart of love.    

Love,  Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- DROWSY CHRISTIANS

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – DROWSY CHRISTIANS

" 'Watch, therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming – in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning – lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping.  And what I say to you, I say to all:  Watch!' "  (Mark 13:35-37)

Do you ever have fear that you will miss an appointment, or miss the airplane, or miss some important event because the alarm clock did not go off or you slept through it?  There is one great event that is coming that we don't want to miss.

In His discourse about His second coming, Jesus ends with one word: "Watch!"  Don't sleep through it.

I would venture that most Christians do not have the return of Christ at the top of their appointment calendar.  They are asleep or drowsy – half awake.  They know that it is a promise of God, but they do not think it will happen today or in the near future.  So they walk through life, oblivious to the reality that Jesus could come today. 

Jesus understood human nature.  If a promise is not fulfilled immediately, it loses its importance and moves to the back burner.  Yes, it is there, but it is not a hot item on the agenda.   

Jesus may come in the evening, at midnight, in the early morning when the rooster crows, or during our lunch hour.  God's timetable is set, and since we do not know when He is coming, we need to beware of drowsiness.  

Jesus says to all of us:  "Watch."  Stay alert; don't become apathetic. Between now and His return, let us not be napping.  He could come today.

Love,  Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- INFORMED FAITH

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – INFORMED FAITH

"Jesus answered and said to them, 'Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God?' " (Mark 12:24)

The Saduccees  tried to trap Jesus with a theological question, asking about how things are going to be in the resurrected state regarding marriage.  They did not even believe in a future resurrection,  so the disingenuousness of their question was apparent because they asked about something they did not even believe in.

Jesus identified the basic problem of their worldview.  They were deceived because they did not believe the Bible, and their God was a small god with no power.  They had no basis or authority on which to base their beliefs, and they did not believe in a supreme omnipotent God.  They were, in effect, secular humanists.  The only thing they could use to support their faith was their own reasoning and intellect.  They were their own authority.

We rub shoulders with skeptics every day who are in the same boat.  The only basis they have for their beliefs is their own limited mental and rational ideas.  

There was an article in the news recently about the discovery of heretofore unknown galaxies in the universe.   The reporters demonstrated their own ignorance by stating that this discovery takes us back billions of years closer to the Big Bang.  There is no proof of a "Big Bang."  And what standard do they have to measure billions of years?    These things are not scientifically provable and are only ideas that come out of fertile imaginations. They do not want to accept the Scriptures nor the idea of an omnipotent God who could create something out of nothing. What they believe is not science.  It is as much a faith-based religion as Christianity.  They are truly deceived by their ignorance of Scripture and the power of God.

As Christians, we acknowledge that our world-view is faith-based.  But there is much evidence to support our belief in an all-powerful God who has spoken through the Scriptures.  It is not blind faith.  It is informed faith.   

Love,  Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- IS GOD UNREASONABLE?

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – IS GOD UNREASONABLE?

"Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.  And Peter, remembering, said to Him, 'Rabbi, look!  The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.'  So Jesus answered and said to them, 'Have faith in God.' "  (Mark 11:20-21)

At first glance, this incident in the ministry of Jesus is perplexing.  The background is found in yesterday's reading.  The day before, Jesus had come from Bethany on His way to Jerusalem, and He was hungry.  Seeing a fig tree along the way, He went up to the tree to see if there was any fruit on it.  All He found was leaves because it was not the season for figs.  Finding no sign of fruit, Jesus cursed the tree (Mark 11:12-14).

Now, the next day as Jesus and His disciples were on their way back into Jerusalem, they passed that fig tree and it was dried up from the roots.  It died very quickly.  Peter was amazed at the rapid transformation.  Jesus simply responded, "Have faith in God."  In other words, "Trust Me."   It should have been no surprise to the disciples that what Jesus said came to pass.

Was Jesus being unreasonable to expect figs when it was not the right season?  I want to suggest that even though it was not the season for harvesting figs, still one might expect that there might be some first fruits.  I know that not all of the fruit on my orange tree ripens at the same time, and there are usually some oranges that ripen earlier than the harvest time.  Perhaps that is what was going on.  It was not unreasonable to expect that there might be some early fruit.  

God might expect some fruit in my life even though much of it has not matured. I would hope that there might be some evidence that there is fruit coming.   If Jesus walked by my life today, would He find any fruit?  I hope so.  Jesus can reasonably expect that there will be fruit developing in my life.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- WHAT WOULD JESUS SEE?

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – WHAT WOULD JESUS SEE?

"And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple.  So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve."  (Mark 11:11)

Jesus had had a full day beginning with the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. Toward the end of the day, he went into the temple and looked around at all things.  What He saw did not make Him very happy.

I believe that everything recorded in Scripture is important, and this is no different.  The fact that He went into the temple and looked around seems to be just an off-hand, insignificant comment.  But I believe it was very important.  

What He saw was a desecration of the Holy mount of worship.  He saw merchandising in the temple. The fact is that there were pilgrims who were in Jerusalem for the Holy day of Passover.  They did not bring sacrificial animals with them so they had to purchase them.  Also, being from many parts of the world, they would need to change their currency into Jewish money.  Hence the need for money changers.  But the merchants were a bunch of thieves, selling the animals for sacrifice at high prices, and charging exorbitant fees to change the money.  They were a dishonest bunch of crooks, a den of thieves.

Jesus did not do anything at that time, but the next day when He returned to the t, He had had a night to think about it, and when He saw this desecration of the temple, He was incensed and drove them out.

If Jesus came to our church and looked around, what would He see?  Would He be pleased by what He saw or would He be incensed?  God's house is a house of prayer.  Would He see prayer?  God's house is a place of worship.  Would He see true worship?  God's house is a place of training in God's Word and encouraging each other in the faith.  What would He see if He came to our church?   And when He looks at me, His temple, what does He see?  

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- FOLLOWING JESUS

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – FOLLOWING JESUS

"Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed.  And as they followed they were afraid.  Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would  happen to Him: 'Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him.  And the third day He will rise again.' "  (Mark 10:32-34)

Jesus was leading His disciples to Jerusalem where He was about to experience bad things.  He was walking into the den of lions who wanted to destroy Him. And the disciples were following.  

The disciples were both afraid and amazed.  I think they may have been amazed that Jesus would so calmly speak of His suffering and death, but also they were afraid at the prospect of what lay before them.

Followers of Jesus are committed to going wherever Jesus leads.  It may not always be the most pleasant place but it will end up good in God's divine plan.  The end of Jesus' journey ended in resurrection.

The Good Shepherd does not always lead his followers into green pastures beside still waters.  Sometimes He leads them into the Valley of the Shadow of Death.  But when Jesus is leading, we can say confidently, "Thou art with me."

As followers of Jesus, we may sometimes have reservations about where the path will lead, but we can be assured that the end of the road will be resurrection.

A favorite Gospel song says, "Follow, I will follow Thee, my Lord.  Follow every passing day"   – even into the jaws of death.   

Love,  Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- ONE THING YOU LACK

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – ONE THING YOU LACK

"Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack:  Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you  will have treasure in heaven, and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.' " (Mark 10:21)

This is a story about a good man.  He had a heart for God, and kept His law from his youth. As far as he was concerned he was blameless. 

Jesus shines the light on the real situation.  This man was very good at keeping the laws that pertained to other people.  When Jesus listed the laws, they were all from the second half of the 10 commandments.  But not so much when it came to the laws that pertained to God.

There are lots of people who consider themselves pretty good because they treat their neighbors well.  They don't murder or commit adultery.  They don't steal.  They are truthful and honest in their speech.  They don't defraud anyone.  And they treat their parents well.  

What's not to love about a man like that?  Jesus loved him because he had a good and honest heart.  But there was one area that Jesus pinpointed that perhaps he had not considered.  It was the first commandment:  You shall not have any other gods before Me (Exodus 20:3).   He was wealthy, and his possessions were more important to him than following Jesus.  He was not willing to forsake all to follow Jesus.  

The reality is that his possessions were his god.  He loved them more than God.  They were more important to him than his walk with Jesus.

It may not be money.  It may be because of family, or status in the community, or other desires that I am not willing to commit wholly to God.  I may be a good person, but if God is not first in my life, then the one thing I lack is the most important.     

Love,  Dad