What Now? The Focus

What do you want for Christmas? Ice skates, tools, clothes, a new kitchen gadget, or maybe some toasty mittens for those frosty mornings. Then there is the New Year. What might your wish be for the coming year? Not a repeat of 2020 might be high on everyone's list. For many of us this week leads to the celebration of our Lord's first advent, His first arrival. The commercialized event can bring challenges to one's spirit to not be swept away with the egregious pace of it all. Christmas itself is a bit of an odd holiday. The day chosen nearly 2000 years ago was more political than spiritual but it indeed holds a long standing tradition. Celebrating Messiah's birth still seems like a good thing even if we are off a bit on the date. Which, by the way, isn't given to us precisely in Scripture. So, I will let December 25th be a special day. December 25th in the year 2020 will possibly be like no other in our life time. The CoVid19 residual fear and government restrictions still swirl around us and political tensions are yet to be resolved. Rumors are that 2021 will not be much better, at least at the start. Further restrictions, shutdowns, isolation, and economic hardships are in the forecast. So much for a "Happy New Year". For believers and followers of Messiah Jesus the "What now?" question can be a bit daunting. We want to move forward, but may question how. This is my last post to try to offer some perspective based on the prayer our Lord gave us in Matthew 6. His counsel in prayer applies to broader aspects of our lives as well. We conclude with a thought that should be ours on a daily basis. One that should be our focus in life and one that helps keep our vision clear.

"For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen" (Matthew 6:13b). The ending of the prayer brings our focus back to the majesty of the object or focus of our prayer. I understand the textual variants and some leave this phrase out. However, it is one of longstanding, one I learned as a child, and one that cannot be disputed as theologically true. Thus, today we will let it stand. Our tendency in life, be it our physical or spiritual lives, is to maintain comfort. Much of our prayer time is spent on the desire for our comfort or that of someone else. Relief from pain, sickness, distress, financial hardship or some kind of oppression likely fill our prayer journals. Our prayer of daily bread, forgiveness, even for God's kingdom to come may have our comfort at the forefront. We feel powerless and need God's power to make us feel better. To feel more comfortable in whatever situation we find ourselves to be in. Looking forward that may yet be our focus. "Lord give me a comfortable New Year".

Is that really to be the focus of our lives? John the baptizer put it simply, "He must increase but I must decrease" (John 3:30). Life is not about my comfort but about God's kingdom and God's glory. If  my discomfort results in God's glory I should be content. The Apostle Paul recognized this truth. He didn't always enjoy it but he learned to be content. In dealing with an oppression from the devil Paul asked for relief, to be more comfortable. However, he shares this response with the Corinthians. " And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (2 Corinthians 12:9). Boasting in my infirmities isn't high on my New Year's list. Paul gives the believers in Corinth some other council as well, "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). And the following, "For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us" (2 Corinthians 1:20). God's glory and putting His power on display is apparently more important than being comfortable.

Many of us live as pampered Christians thus our prayer lives may focus on the desire to remain pampered. None of these things are bad or evil but they are self centered. If my objective is to advance God's kingdom, which was the message of our Lord here on earth, my prayer life should coincide with that purpose. My life is to be about God's kingdom, God's power, and God's glory forever. Perhaps our prayers should include the desire for God's glory. "Lord, whatever brings You glory and best advances your kingdom, handle my cancer in what is best for You. I am your servant", rather than just, "Take away the cancer and heal me, let me be comfortable." Healing may be God's way of putting His power and glory on display. However, if another path is more effective in advancing His kingdom am I willing to be content or even desirous for the disease to progress? Not an easy thought to ponder. 

The new year may hold some difficult, even evil, occurrences as the weeks unfold. Should the progressive party prevail our religious liberties may be curtailed. Messages on God's view of marriage and the value of life could be hate speech. The ongoing pandemic will give more opportunities to target houses of worship to be shut down. Medical care could be rationed or required by our governing authorities. Our enemies may prosper and our allies suffer on multiple levels. I am not wishing for these and I am not a prophet, however, we would be naive to ignore the possibilities. In all of the potential of the days and months to come what will be our focus? God's kingdom, power, and glory or our personal comfort and a pampered life hidden in the shadows. If you study the Scriptures or even history, those who stood boldly for God's glory did not always fair well in this world. Yet, their focus was on advancing God's kingdom and glory no matter what the cost. How will we answer the. "What now?" question?  Will it be about just our comfort? Or will our focus be on God's kingdom, power, and glory? I suppose we also have the option to just leave out that final phrase of the Lord's prayer and take comfort in the shadows. But there is not much glory in that.

What Now? Be Prepared

 The year 2021 is on the horizon and many hope it will be a year of returning to normal. This past year has certainly been disruptive to our usual experience of life. The isolation and limitations placed upon us have left many wounded and afraid. There is a need to go beyond where we have been. God and His Word are essential guides for those who believe in Messiah Jesus and His coming kingdom. There are many places to find direction within the pages of God's revelation to us. Over the past few posts we have considered the truths found in the familiar prayer found in Matthew 6. "What now?" is a question that should lead us to our Heavenly Father for direction. We need to realize that the advancement of His Kingdom is not derailed because of a virus or an election. We need to recognize our dependence upon the Lord day by day and be quick to forgive and support those who share our faith and strive for faithfulness. All this is well and good. However, God is wise enough to alert us to another reality.  As we attempt to look forward we dare not be naïve concerning the opposition we will face. Our enemy has come to rob, kill and destroy. That has been his plan and desire from the beginning. The battle continues today. 

Knowing this, our Lord told His disciples to pray, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." Satan and the evil spirits that invade our lives want to rob us of our freedoms, our worth, and our purpose in serving the Lord. They come to kill the unborn, the elderly, the young through war and social unrest. They hold an unrelenting desire to destroy families, communities, and the fellowships of believers. The path they propose may appear to be one of light and prosperity, however, the way may be the road to addiction and destruction. The way of temptation is one of enticement urging us to experiment with new things that appear benign on the surface but conceal the poison that draws us away for truth and into the snare that grips us and leaves us wanting. We need to pray that we would be aware, alert, and sensitive to the way of temptation. Paul warned those in Corinth, "And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14). We dare not deceive ourselves into following our desires into the shadows of compromise and delusion. Thus, we must pray that we will not be lead into temptation or to allow ourselves to be tested in areas of personal weakness. We are warriors for God's kingdom and be are to be prepared for the battle. "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand" (Ephesians 6:13).

There is a second aspect to this prayer. We are not only to avoid being lead into temptation we are also told to pray for deliverance. "Deliver us from the evil one" is the given prayer. There are times when we need to be rescued for the evil one, or from evil, as some translate this prayer. The meaning of the Greek word for evil is pretty broad.  It is translated as labors, annoyances, hardships, peril, pain, and trouble. If we are honest the "evil one" is adept at ruining our day with hardships and damaging friendship through annoyances. His attacks are often subtle and deceitful. How much damage has come to your attitude from some "idiot" driver who cut you off? We need to be aware of our need to have our Deliverer present with us all the time. Well, He actually is. We are the ones who are unaware. Perhaps praying for sensitivity to our Deliverer's presence could help blunt the evil one's attack and keep us on the path of righteousness while avoiding that other path.

What Now? If we are to move forward and to advance God's kingdom we have no option but to cling to our Heavenly Father. Temptation and the assault of Satan and his minions will never cease until the Lord returns and His kingdom comes in all its fullness. We must pray to avoid the siren call to the shadows of death and be all the more aware of the presence of our Deliverer. Each day is a new opportunity to live out the Spirit's fruit and walk in step with our Lord and Commander. And each day is a battle to be fought and, by His power, won. "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12). "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:37). Tomorrow is yet another day to answer the "What now?" question. Perhaps the real question concerning moving forward is, "Are we prepared?"

What Now? Humble Trust

 Wouldn't it be nice if God just did what we asked on our time schedule? We ask for good things and it often seems to take an extraordinary amount of time before anything happens. There are those moments when the Lord seems to answer even before we ask. However, it is not unusual for us to sit in  that heavenly waiting room to receive some response from the Almighty. As we have noted, 2020 has been a difficult year for many people and God's people are not exempt. For some, the turmoil from the American election goes on unabated. In addressing these things there are still things we can do. Advancing God's kingdom does not stop due to a virus or the outcome of an election. With that in mind we have been looking to the familiar verses of Matthew 6:9-13, what is commonly known as, "The Lord's Prayer".

First, we are called to keep going forward, knowing that our heavenly Father is with us. By His holy name we can find comfort and purpose. Second, we were reminded to advance His kingdom. We can do so in a variety of ways, one being the opportunity and responsibility to live out the nine aspects of the fruit of the Spirit. The world needs to see the children of God putting, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, on display. The Lord's encouraging words go on to instruct us to pray for God to give us our daily bread and to be those whose lives are marked by forgiveness. They are examples of holding a humble trust for the God and Father Who loves us.

For some of us praying for, "Our daily bread", might seem a bit of a waste of time. After all many of us live beyond abundance. Finding daily bread might seem easier that trying to curb the intake of bread to help reduce our waste-lines. The phrase would be more meaningful if we were Jewish folk following Messiah Jesus around the highways and byways of Judea. Daily bread was an absolute necessity for the Hebrews during forty years of wilderness wanderings. Manna was the daily bread that came down from heaven to allow the children of Israel to survive. Without God's daily provision the people would have perished. It was a powerful reminder that they were fully dependent upon the Lord for their survival. If you have food in the cupboard such dependence and trust might seem unnecessary. We live in the illusion of self sufficiency. It is humbling to recognize our dependence upon God. Jesus is our bread from heaven. We need Him daily, moment by moment, if we are to survive in this fallen world. John 6:35 explains, "And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst." We need to be humble, trusting, dependent, people if we are to advance His kingdom and move forward in the days to come.

Humility is one of those difficult things to foster and integrate into our lives. We prefer to be independent and self sufficient. This trait may become glaringly obvious when someone offends us. We say things like, "I don't get mad, I get even" or "I can forgive but I will never forget". We hang onto offenses and irritations like they were precious metals. Morbid jewels infesting our lives or closeted away in lock boxed memories. The guardian of pride protects the hurt and eventually sucks the very life from our bones. The Lord knows the danger. Thus, He instructs us to forgive those who have trespassed or become indebted to our wounded spirits. It takes a humble person to forgive. It is often much easier to proudly hold onto the trespass or emotional debt we maintain in their account. It is wise to remember this warning from James, "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6). If we are to ask our Heavenly Father's forgiveness we must forgive others as well. We cannot move forward anchored to past hurts and preserved transgressions.

The New Year is approaching. Many are praying this would be a year of revival and the outpouring of God's Spirit in new and refreshing ways. To see God's will done here on earth as it is in heaven. If we are to be a part of that revival or to have the power of prayer with us, we need to be those who live with humble trust. To come to the Lord fresh every morning asking to to nourished by the very Bread of Heaven Who rescues our souls. We must be those quick to forgive and slow to take offense. To follow Paul's directions to the Ephesians in 4:32, "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." 

There are yet a few more  forward thoughts here in Matthew 6, but this is enough to think about for this week. What now? Maybe we need a little more of that humble trust and forgiving spirit if we are to advance God's kingdom in the days to come. 

What Now? The Kingdom

Has life improved over the last week? Has a little less stress and a little more confidence in the future become your reality? Probably not. They speak of a new surge in the Covid19 pandemic. New government restrictions and a limited Christmas celebration. It is all for our good, so they say. The cacophony of voices can drown out that still small voice of, "Peace on earth, good will toward men." In my last post I spoke of assurance we can find in a common prayer that many of us have memorized. It is recorded for us in Matthew 6 and Luke 11. A reminder that God is our heavenly Father. He has a perspective that we can lean on and a love we can trust. Our heavenly Father is not unaware of our situation. We are welcome to call Him, Abba, and rest in His arms of comfort and protection. In the times and situations we find ourselves in we may adopt a, sort of, bunker mentality. "Keep your distance and just let me hide away until it is all over." However, that attitude may well be self defeating when it comes to God's answer to the "What Now?" question. God's prayer not only gives us comfort it also gives us purpose.

"Your kingdom come, Your will be done", is the request we are to make of the Lord God Almighty. It is a thought provoking phrase. If I do not pray will that prohibit the coming of His kingdom? And what of God's will? In the long run can we ever escape His will? I mean, isn't God going to do what He desires to do? As sovereign Lord doesn't He have this all worked out in advance? If I sequester myself in my basement would it make any difference? That odd tension between God's will and my responsibility never seems to go away. Paul's question to the Romans's in 10:14 comes into play when we think of hiding in our attics. "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?" We are the answer to the "how." Praying, like faith, takes action if it is going to be effective. James uses a bit of an edge as he directs those scattered to have a faith that works. James 2:16, "One of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what good is it?" If you are praying for God's Kingdom to come you need to be doing things to advance His kingdom now, day by day. Covid or not, government edicts or not, we are to be actively advancing His kingdom. We still have a purpose. We still have responsibilities.

To accomplish this we simply have to do God's will. That, in and of itself, could fill a significant number of posts. Knowing and doing God's will has been a means of selling a plethora of books while leaving many a weary believer feeling inept or discouraged. Jesus asks us to pray that God's will would be done, "on earth as it is in heaven." That is supposed to be helpful. However, I have yet to visit heaven or have viewed a valid documentary on exactly how heaven works. I do imagine it runs smoother and more in tune with God's will than our current situation here on earth. Fortunately the Lord has given us a book on establishing His kingdom readily available to most of us. We need to be well versed in His Word if we are to know His will. Let me just give a few hints that may be helpful. We should be those who live by the power of the Holy Spirit. That is a bit easier to know. The Apostle Paul was directed to give the Galatians a list of nine aspects of the Spirit's fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Each day, even each moment, allows us to put this fruit on display. Our responsibility is to incorporate these various aspects of Spiritual fruit into our lives. It is fairly easy to imagine that being in glory would reflect these attitudes so we can both, do God's will, and advance His kingdom, as we live out Spiritual fruit.

Society is fragmented and hatred has spread like a cancer infecting millions. Sacrificial Godly love is the cure. We are surrounded by anxiety and fear so showing joy and peace would be a kingdom response. How about those lines with angry people joining in the odd contest of toilet paper hording? Could a bit of patience and self control put God's kingdom on display? Our communities could obviously use some gentleness and kindness. That just leaves the opportunity to weave a bit of faithfulness and goodness into our interaction with the local representatives of humanity. With that we are on our way to doing God's will and helping to get a little of His heavenly kingdom into our earthly realm. Could that be doable? We could even start tomorrow with minimal training. We simply need to make the choice to produce spiritual fruit instead of the world's corruption. It is one simple step forward that does not require governmental approval or the "right" person in the White House. 

What now? How about coming confidently to our loving heavenly Father, trusting in His care. Then we might start praying for God's kingdom to come and His will to be done. We could go about advancing His kingdom a little each day. There are lots of ways to be obedient. If you need a place to begin, living out His Spiritual fruit might be a place to start. It certainly couldn't hurt.

What Now? Going Forwrd.

 How do you feel about the past months? There are few places where the events of CoVid19 has not had an impact and if you are in the USA you can add the joy of a national election. Much of life has been disrupted. The question for all of us, and especially believers, is, "What now?" How do we move forward from where we are to where we need to be. For some it is a time of great distress. It seems the powers of darkness have gained more than a foothold and the future is uncertain in the midst of a growing darkness. Should the USA, indeed, be guided by a new administration things are likely to change. 

For some it is a time of rejoicing with the potential removal of an arrogant and un-presidential tyrant. Then there is the promise of free healthcare, free education, forgiven student loans, a guaranteed income with the government taking care of them. The government only wants what is best for us. We just need to be compliant. 

For others it will be the codification of the "right" to kill babies and to progressively move toward the elimination of those who lack the quality of life that would prove to be a drain on society. They see an expansion of government control that tells us religious practice is "nonessential" and religious conviction is disallowed as "hate speech". The pandemic has been an effective tool to limit worship meetings and penalize people of faith. Numerous governors has become lush with new powers that control the lives of the masses. All in the name of keeping us safe. The proposed plan is to regulate what you drive, where you live, how much energy you can use and how to protect yourself and your family. A false security with the price tag being your freedom and liberty. Either view leaves you wondering what to do from here.

It occurred to me that we, as followers of Messiah Jesus, have been given a plan, a guideline, to follow from the Word of God. That should not be unexpected. However, the truth that most of us have already memorized the directions might come as a surprise. In this, and a followup post or two, I want to give a possible answer that God impressed upon my heart in the quiet of the night while I recovered from some mild food poisoning. Yes, sometimes the LORD has to put me on the recliner looking up to see what He has for me. This is not a vision wrought from indigestion but just some thoughts that rolled over me when the silence outweighed the usual conflagration of my overactive midnight brain. Matthew and Luke give variations of the direction from the Lord. It is a simple answer given by the Lord as a response to a simple "How" question brought by His disciples. We will use Matthew's account but either gives us an answer to give us hope and remind us that. perhaps, nothing has really changed.

Mathew gives us this message in Matthew 6:9-13. I invite you to give voice to these familiar verses with me, "Our Father, Who art in heaven, holy is Your name, Your kingdom come Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen" (a slightly modified version of the NKJV). These verses can serve both as a reminder and a map to follow as we continue our journey with the God of all creation and His Son, Messiah Jesus, empowered by His Holy Spirit. It helps keep my mind straight and it helps that I learned this through simple repetition as a child never thinking, "Oh, this comes from Matthew 6". Childhood memories to the rescue.

"Our Father, Who art in heaven". Turning our attention to our heavenly Father in times of foggy reality is never a bad place to begin. He is the personal God and Father Who invites us to call Him, Abba. The intimate name from a child to their daddy. He is the Father Who hears and understands. He is the Father that has a heavenly perspective. One Who sees beyond our limited existence and experience. He has worked in the past, through every difficulty we can imagine. He is not unaware of our situation or the thoughts that may bring unrest and discomfort to our thoughts and emotions. He is not bound by politics or elections. He was not absent through four hundred years of slavery or the forty years of wilderness wanderings. He did not forsake David as he cowered in the caves or Daniel as he stood, in faith, among the lions. He was not absent at the cross nor did He abandon the women at the empty tomb. I can trust my Heavenly Father to be with me today. Perhaps, I just need to hear His words to David and "Be still and know He is God" (Psalm 46:10). Like Elijah, I wait for the mighty wind, or earthquake, or roaring fire, and miss the "still small voice" (1 Kings 19). No matter what the day brings I can rest in Him.

"Holy is Your name". The name above all names. The unspoken name among His Hebrew children as they show deference and respect to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He is our loving Father. He is also the awesome God of all creation. He is not to be taken lightly or for granted. He name is separated from every other name. Our God shares this nobility with His Son, "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth" (Philippians 2:9-10). Ephesians 1:21 offers a similar truth, That His Son Messiah is "far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come." No matter how the enemy works to turn God's name or the name of His Son into a meaningless profanity it does not change the reality of the holiness of His name. In time all of mankind will recognize that truth and bow before Him. We should not allow the turmoil of this present age to overshadow the wonder of His name or the power of His presence.

We have a more to consider from this familiar prayer given to us by the Lord Himself. Those will find their way to Torah Paranoia in the weeks to come. However, perhaps this will give you a few things to reflect upon and ponder. Perhaps it is a prayer you can revive as you enter each day and maybe, just maybe this prayer was given to us for such a time as this.   

Death of the Spirit

There was a time when humanity saw a correlation between the natural and the supernatural. A time when events that surrounded us had a spiritual connection. People believed that the gods and goddesses were at work in helping, punishing, or toying with mankind. Today we live in a rational world with a rational culture. When people act on an emotional level we proclaim them to be irrational. The supernatural is replaced with the natural so we may wander about with the illusion of control. This illusion has its foibles, however, for there are times when the rational has its limitations. Yet, we continue to find ways to avoid the uncomfortable possibility that we do not have the ability to solve everything. The supernatural will simply not go away.

In those old primitive days humanity was concerned with keeping the local deities happy. Drought, fire, storms, pandemics among other "natural" disasters were a warning that the gods or goddesses were not happy. Somehow they had been offended and now must be appeased. Often times the people were clueless as to what they had done. In Acts 17 Paul addresses the Greek philosophers on Mars Hill. Paul had seen many altars to the "Unknown God" around the city and uses this as a way to introduce the Lord God and His Son, Messiah Jesus. The background of the altars came from a pandemic that swept through the city. No one knew which god or goddess they had offended so they released sheep to wander around and whatever temple they went near they were offered up to that deity to appease them and ask them to stop the plague. However, some sheep never found a temple, so the people of Athens built an altar to the "unknown god" and made a sacrifice just in case there was a god they were not aware of. The point is, plague equals angry god. We have grown far beyond those foolish days of superstition and ignorance. Now we can explain troubling events and natural occurrences with logic and science. When we do not have an explanation we just blame things on poor management, global warming or manmade climate change. There is no need to revert to the unsophisticated days of the supernatural. 

For those who are believers in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob the supernatural is not, at least in theory and rhetoric, unreasonable or foreign. We speak of the power of God and the power of His Spirit. God is a supernatural being who is worthy of our worship, praise and obedience. He is also a God Whom we have come to contain and surround by our theological fences. He is a God of love and compassion Who demonstrated that through the birth of His Divine Son who lived, was crucified, died, was buried and rose again, conquering death. This God offers forgiveness and life eternal to those who accept and believe in His Son, Messiah, Jesus. These are all truths to be accepted, except for the theological box thing. We, as believers, tend to struggle to keep things in balance. We spring from one doctrinal belief to another and find Scripture  to support our position. We also tend to ignore the texts that bring an opposing point of view. Sometimes we are a bit like those in Athens, not sure what to do with God or what to do with the natural events that surround us.

It is clear from God's Word that there were and will be natural events of a tragic nature that touch our lives. Floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, fires and plagues that exterminate lives have been with humanity from the earliest times, Some are a simple result of living on a fallen planet that is touched by sin and, like us, "creation groans" (Romans 8:22) under the weight and corruption caused by man's rebellion against the Creator. These are the natural consequences of events in Genesis 3 that are with us every day. However, God also makes it clear that such events may be of His design to alert His people, or to bring judgement on those who reject His call to believe and follow Him. The question might be, "How can you tell?" Is this a message from the Lord wrapped in an earthquake or a pandemic? The follow up question could be, "Does it matter?"

In our rational, despiritualized culture such natural events are passed over or excused. The people of God used to understand that such situations were a call to introspection and prayer. Is every tragic occurrence the judgement of God? Probably not. However, there are indeed times when the Lord does bring such discipline upon His people. In 2 Samuel 21:1 we read. "Now there was a famine in the land in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David inquired of the Lord." The famine was indeed a message from the Lord, a judgement due to the brutality of Saul upon the Gibeonites. Out in the wilderness the Israelites rebel against Moses and Arron and we read of this result, "So Moses said to Aaron, “Take a censer and put fire in it from the altar, put incense on it, and take it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them; for wrath has gone out from the LORD. The plague has begun.” Drought, famine, plague, and you can add the earthquake when Korah rebels and the drought called by Elijah in the days of Ahab (See 1 Kings 17-18). Famine was predicted in Acts 11 and famine, death, and fire will come by God's hand in Revelation 18.

In addition to "natural" disasters, God will sometimes use the unrighteous to discipline or challenge His own to repent. It is a call to wake up and rekindle their devotion to Him. God used the oppression of the Philistines, Babylonians and Romans, to name a few. Within the past year we have seen fires, earthquakes, a few volcanic eruptions, a world wide pandemic, and leaders desiring power who flaunt the truth and righteousness of God. Are these God's judgements? Is the Apocalypses upon us? Are we under the wrath of God? Is this the end of life as we know it? An end to the USA? (Which, by the way, does not seem to be a power worth mentioning in any Biblical prophecy.) What do we do with all of this? It seems believers either find little prompting toward confession and repentance in the face of such things or find a spiritual battle hidden in everything, So believers I have known stressed over which cereal to buy, "Does this company have ties to some godless regime?" Where is the balance?

It seems that we do, indeed, need to pay attention to the world and the calamities that surround us. They certainly should be a reminder to walk with purity and humility before the God we say we follow. Introspection is not a  bad thing. Neither is confession and repentance. As the years go by we may well find that our devotion to God and to the principles of His word are less and less acceptable to the world around us. It would be naïve to think that the Lord does not notice the growing depravity of our society or the gradual acceptance of evil by His own. Things that were appalling or unacceptable have quietly invaded the Body of Christ. Profanity and sexual impropriety are woven into what we see as entertainment. The push for acceptance of perversion and the killing of the unborn as an acceptable a social norm is a daily assault on God's holy standards. How would this not invite some divine repercussions? 

The question for today is simple. Has rationality brought about the death of the Spirit? Do we explain away the actions of a Holy God or do they draw us to repentance and a call to holy living. It is much easier to ignore or explain away the disasters that surround us. The natural answer is less disturbing than falling into the hands of an angry God. Just how rational have we become? Just what would God have to do to capture our attention? Famine, fire, plagues, godless people coming to power, an assault on our religious liberties and freedoms. Is this a warning sign or just a sign of the times. Is it God's hand upon us or just the course of nature randomly unfolding? If nothing else, maybe it is something to think about when you see God's creation convulsing around you.   

Psalm 23 - A Parody

 I am, for the most part, a people person. I like to talk to people and I end up with lots of spontaneous conversations in shopping lines, parking lots, the beach and pretty much anywhere. It is surprising how quickly people confide in you when you listen and ask a few questions, I like the people in our church family. I am closer to some but I enjoy talking to all of them. I admit there have been times when there have been those who have turned away and even tried to discredit me, my ministry and even my family. However, that has not quenched the joy I receive from talking and listening.

 That being said, the forced separation required by power consumed politicians has been very wearing upon me. It has been draining physically (months with no time at the gym), emotionally (seeing people I care about given to fear), spiritually (being denied worship and fellowship with other believers), and mentally (interaction and the sharing of ideas stimulates one's brain). Thus, my life has been drained of significant vitality. And the governmental edicts continue even as deaths and hospitalizations become rare.Each time a milestone is reached the government and governor find new reasons to continue the power play and fear mongering. Threats have been added to insure compliance to the message of fear. 

When these things happen, isolation and time to let my brain play with itself, a random strain of sarcastic creativity begins to ferment. I usually do not write much that is overtly political. I do fear the destruction of the country I love and the freedoms I have enjoyed by the growing socialist movement that has consumed the Democrat party. We have come a long way from President Kennedy challenging all Americans to, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but, what you can do for your country." Now the party says, "Give us power and give up your freedom and government will take care of you". For many, the promise of freedom from responsibility at the cost of personal freedom is all too inviting. A country filled with the equally poor ruled in perpetuity by the powerful elite is not the freedom I desire. 

My being always seeks an avenue to release the frustration my body absorbs over time. When I was younger I ran distance to burn off and release the tension. My knees can not endure running any more so I have adjusted to the elliptical machine to release the needed endorphins. However, I cannot do that with the required mask as it stirs up my allergic asthma and leaves me gasping and light headed. As an alternative my brain finds new ways to achieve the needed release. So I ponder, imagine, my mind gets weirdly creative and the sarcastic parody gene kicks in. I have ruined many a song for my children when this has occurred in the past. I have hesitated to publish this, as it is a parody of scripture and that may cross the line of my personal sensibilities. However, I can excuse the behavior due to the stress this quarantine has placed upon my system. I can say, without hesitation, that I pray for governing officials. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 gives me that direction. I do not dislike my Governor, however, there is little he does that I agree with, support, or accept. Much of what he does violates God's Word and qualifies, Biblically, as evil. So I pray that the Lord will reveal Himself in such a powerful way that the governor will experience the personal revival only the Spirit of God can bring. 

All that being said, and with my apologies to the Psalmist David and the Lord who inspired the original, I give you this parody.

A Psalm of Albany (The Twenty-Third)

Cuomo is a shepherd I do not want.

He tells me, “Lie down and be silent”.

He leads me beside still restaurants, 

He sucks life from my soul.

He leads us down paths of unrighteousness,

For his own sake.

Yea, he puts old folks in homes,

Overshadowed by death,

They die alone. 

This is evil.

His rules and his edicts,

They oppress me.

He takes the food from my table

To give to my enemies

He taxes my house and my oil

My cup’s full of holes.

Surely no goodness or mercy

Shall come from his life

And I will dwell with a mask on, forever

Are You A Fuzzy Monkey?

 Is Genesis 2:18 true? After all that the Lord God had made He came to the conclusion that He had not done His best. God had made the heavens, the earth, the seas and dry land. He had made plants and all kinds of sea creatures and finally, He created man. A remarkable feat of creation when one considers the complexity of our cardio vascular system, our ability to see, and the ability of our muscles to move us and allow us to get from place to place. Add to that our mental capabilities and we are, indeed, a marvel. Yet for all this God said, "It is not good". What could possibly qualify as "not good" in the midst of all that? Oh, it is "not good for man to be alone". We were designed to be social beings. Just give a thought to the nervous system so sensitive that you to feel a stray hair tickle your arm. We were designed to touch, to feel, to know the warmth of another human being that cares for us. 

Just how important is this function of touch and tender connection? Well, as my mind has been wandering back to the early days of my education, Harry Harlow, wandered into the grey matter. Harlow is best known for his social or psychological studies using rhesus monkeys. The experiment was pretty simple. He took baby monkeys and placed them in cages with wire mom monkeys with bottles attached and other monkeys in cages with fuzzy mom monkeys with bottles attached. The wire mom babies did not fare well. In fact many died or developed severe behavioral problems. Not so with the fuzzy moms. Their baby monkeys grew up, for the most part,  healthy and normal. Harlow tested the monkeys further by putting in both a wire mom monkey with the bottle and the fuzzy mom with no bottle at all. The baby monkeys would leave the fuzzy mom, nurse from the wire mom and then scurry back to cuddle with the fuzzy mom. His conclusion was that warm, nurturing, touch was essential for proper development. He discovered that it was not good for baby monkeys to feel alone. 

What is true for rhesus monkeys is true for human beings as well. We do not do well in isolation. We need family, we need community, we need one another. It is not good for us to be alone. The touch of another human being is vital to our well being. It has been God's plan for human beings to function as a community. The Scriptures are filled with phrases that contain the words, "one another". When prisoners are put into solitary confinement or isolation it is not a reward. Children placed in mass wards in orphanages, with little human contact, do not develop well. Many do not survive. We were not created for perpetual "social distancing". We were designed for community and comforting touch.

God recognizes the need to isolate those who carry a potentially deadly disease. Leviticus 13 gives instructions to isolate someone with possible leprosy to protect the community. Quarantine for contagious members of the community was not just allowed, but necessary. However, we are now told that everyone is a potential threat. Everyone must isolate. No one should have contact with another. The message of fear has replaced the need for social interaction. We are told it is not just dangerous but life threatening to get within six feet of another human. We are told to lock ourselves away and avoid other people, even family members. Even though much research shows that the threat is not what it has been. The death rate has plummeted and the recovery rate is very high. Still the fear mongers tell us to stay alone, to avoid others, to enjoy our solitary confinement. It is for our own good. If we disagree, rules are declared to force us to comply.

There are a consequences to this mandated isolation that do not get much publicity. Throughout the United States thousands of seniors have been isolated in nursing homes and assisted living centers. Some have been denied the opportunity to be taken to the homes of their children or grand children. No, for their own protection they are locked away from human companionship, the touch of a child's hand or the embrace of a loved one. Not for days but for months. In New York alone, thousands have been isolated to die alone. Some from a virus, some from loneliness. Some, who enjoyed the simple things of life have given up in isolation. Now, depressed, they just wait to die. No fuzzy monkey available to bring some comfort or warm touch. Isolation breeds death.

The other neglected group are the recovering addicts and mentally ill who need both accountability and comfort. I personally know of those who, laid off from work, isolated at home, not able to be with friends, have returned to the comfort of drugs, both prescription and illegal. That toll in destruction and death will likely never be measured. I wrote a post a few weeks ago, "Which Spirit" reminding us that there is a spirit who desires to, "rob, kill, and destroy". That spirit thrives in the isolated lives of the vulnerable. His quiet voice calls the addict to his drugs, the depressed to their pills, those who suffer from a variety of emotional challenges and Post Traumatic Stress, to just yield to the battle and end their lives. So they do. All alone in their quiet apartment cages, longing for the touch of someone to talk them out of the pressure they feel to end the pain. However, no friend can come. No brother or sister can comfort. For they too are isolated in their own government mandated isolation chamber homes. So they die alone, protected from the deadly virus.   

Our nation, if not the world, has become an enormous laboratory experiment. "Let us see how large segments of population deal with extended isolation." "Let us see how much fear we can instill to keep the experiment going." I am not suggesting there is no threat or that the vulnerable ignore reasonable precautions, however, social science and the Word of God tell us that there will be consequences for the ongoing isolation and fear. When we violate God's design to replace them with man's edicts of "safety" there will be a price to pay. Our oldest generation has become the victim of fear and isolation. Others that government sets out to "protect" are left with wire monkey moms and no comfort as they spiral into the darkness of their own personal pain. But,we know, not all the monkeys are expected to survive the experiment. There is always an acceptable cost when we run the tests and evaluate the process. Not to sound cynical, but have you noticed the government folks, like those in white lab coats, still travel, still wander about talking to folks, still have their social calendars. Perhaps for them, they know that it is not good for man to be alone. That is just for the little monkeys. But, you know, it's for their protection.          

Pavlov's America

 It seems one cannot fully escape one's past. Our minds have the uncanny ability to drag up things we did not know we could remember. Forty-four years have come and gone from my college graduation day. Yet, random things I was required to read find their way to the frontal lobes and pierce my thoughts and cause me to ponder. My studies were multi-faceted, with equal credits in psychology, sociology and Bible and a collection more in history and speech. An interest and further pursuit in cultural anthropology has been the unintended consequence. It has led to a, perhaps, unusual approach to my study of God's Word and my presentation of the Scriptures each Sunday morning. Keeping in mind the Jewish culture, idioms, history of the time and the background of the speaker or writer, as well as the audience, consumes a portion of my preparation. Knowing that Paul was a practicing Jewish Rabbi and a pharisee writing to his disciple, Timotheos, who was likewise a practicing Jew, both faithful to Torah and Jewish tradition, may well place Paul's correspondence in a different light. Our tendency to look at Scripture as if it was written to Americans with no thought to the original culture and history may rob us of the richness of the text. We may even create difficulties in interpretation that can be resolved if the context of the culture and history are considered. However, this is a unintended rabbit trail. My real point goes back to the psychology thing.

In my college days I was treated, exposed and, perhaps, mildly infected with the works of such psychologists as Pavlov, Skinner, Harlow and others whose investigations into behavioral psychology were a hot topic back in the 70's. They were interesting and required reads at the time. The question of nurture and environment verses a growing interest in the genetic links to behavior stirred controversy within the academic community. These became woven into cultural anthropology as one sought to understand how societies functioned and passed on traditions and variations of cultural norms. The concept of "stimulus and response" became a tool to evaluate how and why people did what they did. Pavlov's accidental discovery of salivating dogs became his claim to fame, as it were, and it has been copied and used as a foundation for a significant part of behavioral psychology. If you are not familiar, Pavlov noticed that when he fed his test subject dogs they began to salivate at the presence of his lab assistants even before the bowl of meat powder arrived. The very sight of the lab assistants generated a response. The lab assistants were replaced with a bell or a flashing light, creating the same response. The dogs associated the bell or light with food and began to drool before the food got there. 

The experiment was rehashed in a number of variations. Each time, without any intent by the subject, a response was triggered by stimulus. Positive reinforcement could encourage or alter a behavior. We have been borrowing this for years. "Make your bed and you get a quarter". The child will begin to make their bed automatically, at least as long as the quarters keep coming. The positive behavior will eventually become a response in the expectation of the reward; even if the reward discontinues the behavior will persist. This may wane if the reward is withheld for a period of time. Negative reinforcement was found to be more powerful. A light comes on and voltage passes through the floor of the rat's cage. He jumps on the wooden shelf to avoid the shock. After short amount of time the light comes on and the rat is on the shelf. You can discontinue the shock treatment, however, the rat will be on the shelf every time the light comes on. It will take a long time before the rat will test the floor to see if the shock still occurs. I am not suggesting you tag your child with a cattle prod every time their bed is not made; however, hanging the cattle  prod just outside their bedroom door will likely result in a made bed for quite some time to come. The simple reality is, you can control people's behavior with either a positive or negative reinforcement.

Pavlov's findings have taken on an experiment on a grand scale. A national, perhaps even international, scale. My point is not to promote one opinion or another, but, perhaps we need to think about the bigger picture. "Masks probably do not help", "Masks might be helpful", "Wear a mask to flatten the curve", "Wear a mask to help protect yourself if you are vulnerable", "Wear a mask or you will die",  "Wear a mask or you will kill others", "Wear a mask or you cannot shop". "Wear a mask or get arrested and fined". So we wear a mask. For some it is an inconvenience. For some it is assumed this will pass. For some it is life threatening due to anxiety, PTSD, or respiratory problems. However, for many, it is now a necessity. A matter of life or death. The message to provide the negative stimulus has taken hold. When the light comes on, the threat of the upcoming shock has them grab their mask. The desired result of controlling the subject has been realized. The negatively reinforced message has been ingrained and the poor little mouse will jump on the mask shelf in fear and never be able to know if it is safe again. The experiment to see if control can be achieved through fear has been a success. Now we can introduce new control factors. "The vaccine is there if you want it", "The vaccine is there for the vulnerable", "The vaccine will keep you safe" "If you refuse the vaccine you will kill others", "The vaccine is required by law", "You cannot shop without proof of the vaccine", "It matters not if you have recovered from covid19, the vaccine is required". "We can provide your children with a curriculum", ""We require that your children use this curriculum", "Your children will not be able to go to college or get a job unless they complete this curriculum", "If you do not comply, we will take your children." 

Far fetched? Just check out the history of so many countries that responded to the government's "provision" and "protection". Social utopia has a cost. Just your freedom and your rights. Government knows best. Hear their bell? Put on the mask. Pavlov would be so proud.         

Which Spirit

Have you noticed, if you have lived for a few years, that the world seems to follow a pattern of change. We follow cycles in the seasons, in the days and months and also in human history. Solomon was right when he said, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3:1). However, there are some constants. God is always good, always loves, and is always working toward the realization of His Kingdom. He is the God of life, and not just life, Jesus promised "life abundant", in John 10. The Lord also gave us another constant. In this world, there is a thief who comes to rob, kill, and destroy. While we live on this earth those two realities are with us. Now we know that light will defeat darkness. Good will triumph over evil and God will be victorious. Yet, until that day the battle continues. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:2. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." The spirit that wants to rob, kill, destroy, divide, spread fear and anxiety is always there to attempt to keep us from, life abundant, love, unity, truth and freedom. In essence there are two spirits that are at work around us. The question is, which one do you support.

What makes the battle even harder to engage in are the tactics of our enemy. He is a thief, so he is subtle in his attacks. He is an adept liar, and deceiver. 2 Corinthians 11:14 gives this warning, "And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light." We can be influenced by  false teachers, false prophets and people in power who are set out to deceive and control us. While Christ promises us that we have no need to fear the enemy tells us to be afraid, to be very afraid. The Lord told us that we are free, "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 8:36). The enemy tells us to give up our freedom in exchange for a false promise of protection.So how do we proceed? What can we do? Matthew 7:20, gives us some help, “Therefore by their fruits you will know them." People, preachers, teachers, and politicians, can say pretty much anything. But what do their actions reveal? Which spirit do they support and serve?

We are at a time in American history when many of the shadows have been burned away so that the forces of light and darkness have become more evident. At least more evident in the 67 years that compose my life. We have the amazing privilege and responsibility that the people back in Bible times never had. We can have a say in who has power over us. The lines are clearly drawn as to which spirit holds sway over those who desire to be given the positions for the governing of this nation. One party and its candidates hold to the value of life, seeing every life as a gift and treasure from God. No matter what pigmentation, mental capability, economic position, born or in the womb, all of these lives have value and are created by the very hand of God Himself. The other sees life as a biological chance to be disposed of  by the judgement and whim of mankind. They not only devalue life but stood up in NY to celebrate the freedom to execute a child even as it leaves the womb. Others feel that a child should not be considered viable until its quality of life can be ascertained. The unworthy burdens to society can mercifully be left to die. God sees the little ones and the older ones as precious. This pandemic has shown the hand of some in leadership who have assigned the elderly to die alone in nursing home where no visitors may visit them, In some cases it is illegal for family members to take there parents and grandparents out of the institutions to bring them home to care for them as a family. Protect life, or kill and destroy. The fruit reveals the spirit.

I am old enough to have lived through some difficult times and have seen riots and destruction in days past. In those days there was an agreement that these were tragic and needed to be brought to an end. Now protesters, who literally rob, kill, and destroy, are encouraged and protected by governors and mayors of one political party. They have declared the violence to be covered by "free Speech" while denying churches and synagogues, and other places of worship to meet. Liquor stores, strip clubs and casinos are essential but Bible studies, little health food stores, churches and small businesses are not. All on the whim of one person who has assumed power. One party supports family life disrupted, family businesses destroyed,  families encouraged to be divided and take sides. All in answer to the spirit's call to rob, kill, destroy, divide, and dishonor the God who made them. The other party asks for a stop to the violence, destruction, and murder, Calling for the moral strength needed to protect the innocent and vulnerable. We were all appalled with the death of George Floyd. A death that should not have occurred and those responsible should be brought to the full measure of justice. But what of the actual hundreds of young men, women and even children of color that have died on the streets of Chicago and other major cities in the past weeks? Don't their lives matter? The spirit of darkness is celebrating the death and mayhem that strangles many of our cities. Those who over see the chaos from the comfort of their governor and mayoral mansions make excuses and de-fund the police. One party political party dominates this oversight of this anarchy and encourages the chaos.  Which spirit is winning? By their fruits you will know them.

I am grieved over the loss of life, the loss of freedom, the destruction of  lives and livelihoods. Cites overcome by fear and darkness. Perpetual attacks with the intent to divide and compartmentalize people and society. In the midst of this a dear brother I met at the gym is diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. He is in the hospital. I cannot visit, not even playing my "Pastor's" card. We text scripture verses and links to praise and worship songs. Only immediate family can see him. My daughter suggested that I pretend he is my son and sneak in past the hospital security. That is when I first mentioned that he is African American. Pigmentation has never mattered to either of us. We have known each other for a dozen years. Talked and laughed and shared prayer requests. Now my prayers are for him. That the One who gives life will spare his. The spirit of darkness has had enough victories in the past few months.

This is not intended to be a political post. It is about a spiritual war that rages here and around the planet. It is not new and it will not end with an election or change in political power here or anywhere in the world. However, those we elect will take us either further into the realm of "rob. kill, destroy" or toward the preservation of life for the most vulnerable of us, the unborn and aging. One toward the government control and freedoms curtailed. The other toward personal freedom and responsibility One toward legalized destruction and fear and one toward the protection of property and prosperity. One toward curtailing religious liberty and labeling Biblical morality "intolerance"  and the other toward religious freedom and freedom of speech. An honest evaluation of the choices before us support my concerns over the spiritual war that envelopes our communities, our states, our nation and the world. Two spirits. One brings life, freedom, and hope over fear. The other says,  kill, destroy, and be very afraid. Which spirit will you support?    

Renewed Every Morning

What are your thoughts when you watch the sun rise? Whether you are sitting alone on a beach, watching it burn through snow covered pines, or just see it creep through your kitchen window, there is something moving about a sunrise. A new day has begun. It is untainted by anything we have done and it holds  a promise of things to come. I know for some the new day is a painful reminder of things lost. Another day waking to an empty bed where a beloved spouse once lay. An expectation of painful cancer treatments or the hollow realization of another day to battle depression or abuse. Yet even in those circumstances a new day still can offer hope. In the midst of the Lamentations of Jeremiah he writes these often quoted words, "Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed,
because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23). The Hebrew word for "mercies" is, "חֶסֶד", hesed. It is a rich word that does not come easily into English. Often translated "lovingkindness". It is a reflection of the reciprocal love based in God's irrevocable covenant with His people. We are loved by Him and nothing can change that. We experience more of the depth of this love when we love God in return. David knew of this unchanging love, even through his failures. Jeremiah expresses it here in the midst of God's necessary discipline upon His people. Every day brings the reminder of God's unfailing love.

The Apostle Paul reminds the rather dysfunctional assembly of believers in Corinth that "love never fails". Pretty much every thing else will, however God's love is constant, no matter what the circumstances. Every sunrise is an affirmation of that truth. We may fail but God's love never fails. We are not worthless losers. Ephesians 2:10 assures us that, "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." We are new creations, (2 Corinthians 5:17). The sunrise tells us that we are no longer those who walk in darkness. Peter gives this encouragement, "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 1:9). And even though we may struggle in the journey Paul includes us in his letter to the Philippians letting us know that He Who began this good work will complete it, til the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6).

The world and our circumstances my try to tell us otherwise. However, we are God's chosen ones. We are loved and given a fresh dose of His unyielding love and compassion every morning. No scraps of grace from the day before. A new supply of the needed love and compassion of God with every sunrise. We are confronted daily with the bad news of the day. It seems much of the media is intent on discouraging us and marketing fear. Even the good news is couched in the darkest background and embedded with the cautions that even the good news is not really good at all. Stay under the covers and avoid the sunrise. The darkness is your friend. The light is too scary to deal with right now so cower in the shadows. That simply is not the message of God's Word. Paul says we are more than conquerors. We get renewed and rearmed with God's mercy and compassion every morning. Mercy from Him and compassion to share. We were created for good works not debilitating anxiety. And if ever you feel abandoned just praise Him. David writes, "But You are holy, O You that inhabits the praises of Israel" (Psalm 22:3). God is enthroned, elevated and becomes intimate and obvious to His people in the midst of their praise.

We are children of the light and called to reflect the glory of our God and Savior. We cannot do that hiding in the comfort of the darkness. Life is not easy. Each day will bring troubles of its own. No day passes without some kind of challenge. Thus, God provides a new measure or treasure of mercy, lovingkindness, and compassion every sunrise. They are provided new for you every morning. Great is His faithfulness. So get up and bask in the light of His warmth and compassion one more day. For you are His and He will never leave you alone.

Not the God I Wanted

Are you happy with the God of all creation, the Maker of heaven and earth? I have been walking with the Lord for about fifty years now. I had expectations when I began the journey. Ones that fit my maturity and needs of the time, and God seemed to be okay with that. My image of the Almighty has changed. I would like to think it has grown from those early days. Still, there are days when I remember wanting, even anticipating, a more reciprocal God. One where I did my part and He did His. I wanted a comfortable God that was all powerful, yet somehow predictable. Perhaps, in some measure, contained. When I read the Chronicles of Narnia, all those years ago, C.S. Lewis reminded me often that Aslan, the divine lion of the series, was not a tame lion. A nice reminder in the story, however, not all that comfortable in real life.

I have found that, in the honest intimacy of my spirit, that I still long for that tamer version of the Lion of Judah. One where my prayers are answered quickly and in accord with my own desires. Yes, it is true that the theological, rational, intellectual me is quick to remind me of all I have learned. The mind that tells me God is God and I am not. He will do what is best for His ultimate plan and my ultimate good, even if I am uncomfortable with the process. That does not mean I do not struggle with the process from time to time. "We live in a fallen world" may be the only answer when tragedy falls. Yet, it is an answer that can feel a bit hollow when I look at the reality and the pain in my heart when the dark days come. It is those times when I can be remarkably critical with myself. I can see  the struggle as failure and a lack of faith. The Lord has always come through. I have known "the peace that passes all understanding" (Philippians 4:7). And I experienced the truth that, "He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20). I have even been able to join Job in honestly saying, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him" (Job 13:15). Those thoughts and memories offer a bit of strength and resolve when I am seeking the tamer lion. However, I would be dishonest to say it is always satisfying.

I pray regularly for a lot of people, issues, missions, and concern for world events. I have seen God answer in remarkable ways. I have seen cancer removed, eyesight healed, people rise up from what everyone thought was their death bed. I have seem social events change the attitudes of people and tragedy unite families and congregations. God has been evident and responsive to my hurts and my prayers. I have also seen the other side. A longed for and anticipated child die at birth for no apparent medical reason. I have had a college room mate, and dear brother in the Lord, be used of God to further the gospel in almost unimaginable ways. Brilliant mind, excellent communicator, able to speak eight languages, struck down in freak car accident at age forty. I have stayed up all night with a couple praying for a child who died in the morning. I have felt the loss of a friend, more like a brother, who has left a hole that the Lord has yet to heal. I have stood in the dark and asked why, knowing there is no why to be found. I have seen ministries grow and selfish, angry people work to destroy them. In all of these situations God could have intervened and chose not to. Even in the current situation where covid 19 has grown into debilitating fear for so many, believers and unbelievers alike, God has the power to change things. Yet the one who "robs, kills and destroys" seems to gain an upper hand in too many lives and communities.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a God Who just stepped in and did what we wanted? A tame yet powerful lion we could direct. One we could come to and say, "I pray, You answer, that's the deal. And I need it by tomorrow." That is not the God of the Bible, nor the God of real life. Feelings have to give way to faith. Wishing and wanting needs to be overshadowed by trust. Discouragement replaced with obedience. Doubt and fear with truth and love. I really do not want a tame lion. I really do need one way bigger than me. One Who can take the questions of life and the disappointments of living and give me that assurance that it will be okay. The Lion has got this. Even through the pain and scars that linger and may always hide below the surface, this Lion has never left my side. And when the days come to an end He will carry me through the valley of the shadow of death to a new home that has no more good byes, no more tears, no more pain and gently present me to my Heavenly Father. A place of joy unspeakable and full of glory. In the darker days I remember this. He is not a tame Lion, but He loves me, and that is enough.

Don't Let the Devil Win

God's church has done pretty well in the midst of challenging circumstances. Historically we usually do.  Satan had a great opportunity to deliver a blow to God's mission. Most of us have been unable to meet together. For the first time Resurrection Sunday services were canceled world wide. Our greatest celebration set to the side. The isolation has continued for longer than any of us had hoped or expected. However, families reconnected. We have made phone calls and checked up on our senior members. We left meals and groceries on doorsteps. We found ways to place worship, devotionals, Bible studies and messages out there on the web. Some of us "Zoom" together while others "Duo", "Face time" or video chat.The message of the gospel and the opportunity to learn about the Lord has multiplied in ways we could not have imagined. What was meant for evil has been turned to good. It has been an amazing thing to behold and a time to give glory to the Lord God for the opportunities we have had. It is also a time to pray that all this spiritual social media will have a dramatic effect and that there would be a great harvest for God's kingdom. We have more than survived the pandemic, we have been conquerors in Christ Jesus. Working through the trial is something we have demonstrated we can do successfully. It is coming out of the trauma where we often do not fair so well. 

This time will not last forever. We are seeing the isolation begin to draw to a close. In the USA different states are giving various degrees of freedom for churches to gather together once again. Churches are putting together strategies and programs to reopen. It is not an easy task and the variables depending upon your location or restrictions make the challenges even greater. On top of that all of the churches that assemble across our lands are full of people. I do not mean the building, I mean the assemblies of living breathing people. You know, all those sheep with various gifts, personalities and experiences just trying to get along. I have been involved in pastoral ministry for over forty years now, and I have seen the Body of Christ splinter in the best of times over the most trivial things. We are often our own worst enemy. In times of struggle we put divisive things aside and look out for one another. That is how it should be. And that is what we have seen. Again, it has been a glorious and God honoring thing to behold. We need to be fervently praying that this would continue.

In the process of keeping up with folks I have spent a bit more time on the phone. Emails and texting are useful, however, talking to people on the phone has many advantages and offers a little better communication. What I have found is that there are a great divergence of opinions as to Covid 19, where it came from, how dangerous it is and what to do. Opinions vary from, "This is no beg deal, I've seen worse cases of flu and colds" to "This is the clear sign of the apocalypse in Revelation". There are conspiracy theories that suggest China is the cause, the "Illuminati" is setting up a one world government, the Democrats are forcing socialism on us, or the Republicans and big business set this up to thin out the elderly, non productive, populations and force us all to buy vaccines. Some are said with a bit of humor and some with real intensity as they hope to convert me to their cause. Thus, we should be meeting together like we always have, no need for masks or precautions this was all an overreaction, we will be fine. We should not be meeting at all. We should meet in cars in the parking lot. We should meet outside. We should put speakers in the church windows so people can meet inside or outside depending on how they feel. We should meet but all wear masks and stay six feet apart. We need hand sanitizer at every door and free masks. We should not pass an offering plate or communion tray for they may have germs. Just wait until the government says it is okay. The government has overstepped its bounds, we should ignore them and just meet anyway. 

Ahh, the joy of Christian unity. The one commonality we find in every book of the Bible is the question of unity and God;s people trying to get along. Think about it, can you think of any book in the Bible that does not have some kind of human conflict in it? It seems to be the devil's most effective tool. Churches divide, families split, fellowships are ripped apart, friendships destroyed. It happens all the time. The potential for this destruction is waiting on our doorstep. How will you respond to believers with varying view on this pandemic and how to move forward? Will you feel a bit judgmental toward those with a different point of view? Satan will flood our minds with thoughts of how naive some people are. How easily some are manipulated or duped by the press. Or how arrogant and unfeeling some people are who have not suffered loss. We will be tempted to think less of others, get irritated with their boldness or lack of caution. The unity in crises could be shattered as the crises comes to a close. 

We have to move forward. We will have to begin to meet together as we all long to do. Yet, we will need remarkable forbearance and patience with one another as we do. We are likely to not get it all right all the time. Be in prayer for your pastors and church leaders who will need to make decisions as to how your church fellowship will proceed. They will not be perfect, however, my guess is that they really do care for you and will do the best they can. If you can not wait to get together, that is fine. If you are cautious and need more time, that is okay as well. We really will be put to the test as to how well we will love and respect one another in this time. The world has been watching. They will continue to watch as we proceed. What will they see? Loving people dealing with one another with patience and gentleness or a divided church struggling with division and chaos. I agree with David's thoughts in Psalm 133:1, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" I also know the other side from Jesus' words in John 10:10,“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy." I know which one the Lord wants and which on the devil hopes for. I say, don't let the devil win. How about you?          

Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid

Be afraid, be very afraid. This is the grave message that has pummeled us for the last twelve weeks or so. The Corona Virus is out to get you and the only responsible thing to do is to cower in terror in your house. No matter what you think of the situation most of the world finds itself in being motivated by fear, This is a dangerous place to be. Exercising caution is a reasonable and prudent thing to do. However, the motivating message we have heard on the news, from our politicians and a number of medical experts is that of fear. Fear you will be infected and die or fear that you will infect someone else and their death is your fault alone. If you do not obey the message of fear you are selfish, hateful and rebellious. None of those qualities are Godly so just go home and try to sedate your fear with some entertaining distraction.

I have witnessed an almost irrational fear in some folks at grocery stores. Even within the body of Christ there are those who live in fear. God has given us another avenue to follow. In Deuteronomy 31:6 God gives this message to Moses, “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Paul gives Timothy a similar message, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (1 Timothy 1:7). It is not difficult to find Scriptures telling us not to fear. The only fear we are to have is a reverential fear of the Lord. 1 Samuel 12:24, "Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you." Being cautious is a responsible way to respond to a crisis, any crisis, be it health, military, or terrorist threat. However, responding in fear rather than trust in the God of creation is one step away from forsaking the God who delivers you.

Responses to life's issues always have consequences. Responding in fear is no different. John warns us that fear negates love. 1 John 4:18, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love." Loving God also means trusting Him. The God Who did not withhold His only Son for our salvation is One we can love and trust in return. We need not live in fear. Notice the danger of fear. "Fear has or holds torment". The Greek word is only used one other time in Scripture, “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life" found in Matthew 25:46. John uses the same word for everlasting torment or punishment for one who succumbs to the trap of fear. Fear robs us of life and love.

When I was in eighth grade my American history teacher approached our history with a blend of sociology, history, cultural anthropology, and philosophy. History was based in a culture and influenced by one's philosophical approach to life. America had a blending of cultures and its founding drew from the works of John Locke, Thomas Aquinas, and even Plato. The one principle I somehow hung onto was this statement. "Fear destroys freedom." If Columbus had been ruled by fear there would have been no new world. If the pilgrims or Sir Walter Raleigh had lived in fear there would be no Massachusetts or North Carolina. Fear would have kept the colonies under the tyranny of Great Britain. The settlers would not have moved west and much of what we enjoy would never have come to be. Remove fear and we learn to fly, and explore outer space, and find cures to disease. Fear keeps us from sharing the Gospel, being missionaries to foreign lands, teaching a Bible class or even listening to a sick child. Fear is far more destructive than we may realize.

Being aware of the dangers and responding accordingly is a sign of wisdom. God is aware of contagious disease. He instituted regulations for those who were ill or contagious. Leviticus 13 gives the regulations for those with skin ailments, including quarantine, to protect those who were healthy. (Just a note, God does not quarantine healthy people on the basis of fear.)  Keeping those infected at a distance from those who are not is a Biblical principle to protect the community. Leprosy was a horrible, contagious, and sometimes deadly disease. The community needed to be protected. Sometimes, just to be safe, people were isolated until a rash or infection could be verified as contagious or not. It was the best thing to do so that the infection would not spread. Prudent action to help prevent or limit the spread of a disease was part of God's instruction to His people. However, the instructions were not intended to bring fear into the lives of His people. The intent was to bring protection and security.

I do not know your circumstances. I do not know how this current virus has threatened you or your family. However, I do know that the Lord does not want your life filled with anxiety and fear. Perhaps we just need to remember the words of the writer to the Hebrews tells us, "So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Or any pandemic, or government, or whatever the world wants to throw at us. The Lord is always there. I will not be afraid.   

You are Special, this I Know, for the Bible Tells Me so

Do you ever wonder how important you are? When we view the universe, and the billions of people that have preceded us, how important are you really? You may find yourself with David asking the question, "What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? (Psalm 8:3-4). We can balance this out with David's other claim that, "we are fearfully and wonderfully made" in Psalm 139:14. We can look to God's love and provision. Reflect upon the sacrifice of Messiah and His resurrection. There are a number of places we can go to bask in the wonder of God's care and interest in humanity. Yet, in all the places we go to we may pass over the one that really began it all, way back in Genesis chapter two.

My last post spent a little time reminding us to consider the Creator there in Genesis one rather than a focus on the creation. Chapter two in Genesis has invited some interesting commentary and a bit of criticism as well. For some, it seems to be in conflict with the creation account. For others it is a curious expansion on what was already given. For most we just read it and move on to chapter three. However, if you take the time to go back and consider the context of the time and culture it is an amazing bit of prose that the Lord gives us to let us know just how special we are.

The summery of Genesis one gives us the record of day six in God's creative process. Here we read that God made all the critters, according to their kind, and then decided to make man in His image. Man is given stewardship over it all and told that man and beast will be vegetarians. God saw all he made, and it was very good. Chapter two starts off with the record that "God rested", which has given theologians pause as to why God would need to rest. How can an omnipotent being need a nap?  I doubt that the creation of woman exhausted Him to the point that He needed to recover, as some comedians have suggested. That is a post for another day. From verse 4 on God gives us a little history as to how exactly man can to be and the responsibilities he was to carry. It gives us the account of Adam naming all the animals and being found alone. For the first time God sees something that was "not good". Man needed a special companion. God borrows a rib from Adam and forms Eve, his ideal helper and companion.

It is  nice story, but why is it here? One again it helps if we do a little mental time travel and join the Israelites at the base of Mount Sinai, out there in the wilderness. The are standing in the fearful shadow of the Almighty. After about 400 years of slavery and oppression they have been set free. As we saw in Genesis chapter one, they know that their God is the Lord of all creation, maker of heaven and earth. He is greater and more powerful than any of the Egyptian gods or goddesses. However, He is also the intimate and personal God who made them, not just as a random thought of creative power but as a special creation in God's image holding the very breath of God to animate their beings. As believers we likely take this for granted. However, this was not the usual story at the time of the Israelites standing in the wilderness. Genesis chapter two sets Jewish theology apart from every other middle-eastern culture and tradition. No other people group has the creation of humanity as a special act of the divine. The Egyptians, Hittites, Philistines, the Babylonians, Persians, Greeks and Romans and every other culture had mythologies and doctrines about their gods and goddesses. None of them hold an account of humanity as a special creative act of their gods or goddesses. Humans were simply pawns or toys for the gods and goddesses to torment or play with. These deities could do what they wanted and humanity had to guess what might please them. Their subjects often lived in fear, offering whatever they could to appease the current mood of their gods. The god's could take a liking to them and cohabit with them and produce demigods if they so desired. Human beings were of little value and easily replaced.

As they leave Egypt, the nations surrounding Israel, the Hittites, Philistines, Jebusites and all the rest of the kingdoms of Canaan, hold nothing special for mankind. For them there is no story of creation, no awesome act to form them in their mother's wombs. No breath of God to give them life and make them living beings in God's very image. They are just objects with no recorded beginning. They may well have a fearful end in the hands of fickle divinities who will eventually grow tiered of them and end their lives. This holds true for the nations yet to come. The Babylonians, Persians, Greeks and Romans have no special origin of humanity. God's message to Israel, and to us, is that you are special. You have a beginning. You were carefully and intentionally designed and given life by the God who loves you and cares deeply about you.

As we approach Resurrection Sunday his truth is multiplied beyond measure. No other god or goddess came for you. None of them suffered, died, and rose again for you. None of them sacrificed themselves so you could be forgiven and restored to the God Who made you. Genesis chapter two is the amazing account of the divine creation of man. It is the unveiling of the heart of a God Who saw that, for all the wonder of creation, it was not good for man to be alone. It is the love story between God and man and the provision of a woman specifically designed for him that they would complete each other and be more than they could be alone. It is the record of this Creative God placing them in a garden and giving them all they needed to be fulfilled. No other culture, nation, or people knew of this remarkable reality of the devotion and provision of the Lord God, Maker of heaven and earth.

You are special, this I know, for the Bible tells me so. 

Creation, Maybe We Got It Wrong

Do you believe in the accuracy of Genesis One? In the beginning God created the Heavens and the earth." God revealed to Moses how the earth was formed. Lots of Study Bibles call this the "Creation Account" or the "Creation Story." But what if that is not really the point? What if God had something else in mind and the purpose of  Genesis Chapter One has a different focus entirely?

From my early days as a believer I was confronted with the question of creation and the authenticity of Genesis Chapter One. Way back when I was in high school the topic found its way into our biology class. Our teacher's main focus was on the theory of evolution. We spent weeks reviewing the logic and science of Darwin's postulation. She gave about ten minutes to the religious theory that this was an act of God. Most of us believed in God and that He had something to do with the stuff that allowed for evolution, however, the science and reason for an evolutionary process seemed overwhelming. That the creation account received ten minutes is more than most public schools would allow today. As time passed and I came to accept the truth of Jesus, Messiah, as my Savior and Lord I was introduced to other avenues of the creation story. Books by Henry Morris and Duane Gish found their way into my library and a few "Creation Research" conferences gave the Bible's account greater authenticity and authority. There was scientific evidence for a young earth and evolution became more of an act of faith than recognizing an intelligent designer. Obviously Genesis One was there to tell us of have God created the earth and the universe around us. You know, the creation story.

But what if that is not really the point. It is "a" point, but what is "the" primary point and purpose for this message from Moses? To understand my point you must put on your "way-back" sandals and travel back to somewhere around Exodus 19. Israel, God's people, have spent somewhere in the neighborhood of 400 years in Egypt, most of it as slaves to various Pharaohs. One of their jobs was to build. They built memorials to Pharaoh, cities, walls and many temples to honor the Egyptian gods and goddesses. No formal worship of their God. Elohim or Yahweh were known and practiced, however, all the worship celebrations surrounded the Egyptian deities. The Lord God takes on the main gods and goddesses of Egypt when He sends the plagues that would eventually free His people. Ra was the sun god so God took away the sun, Nut was the goddess of the sky which would rain fire and hail. Osiris was the goddess of vegetation, which was eaten by the locust. Hapi the god of the Nile's origin, the Nile is turned to blood. Horus is the protector of Pharaoh, not very effective. There is Anubis, the God of the dead, yet even Pharaoh's son dies. Isis the goddess of life and healing and Hathor, the goddess of  love and music. All proven to be impotent against the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. A visual lesson put on display for all of the children of Israel to see. Even in the end the mighty Ra and Horus, the god assigned to protect Pharaoh, are helpless while Pharaoh and his armies are drowned in the sea.

Now God's people are a strong nation of free people rather than slaves. They have not been free for a long time. They honestly have no idea how to function as a nation. God in His mercy and grace takes them to Mount Sinai and gives Moses the instructions and directions they need to properly worship and serve Him and the necessary guidelines to live together as His people. The first thing God tells them is that He is the maker of heaven and earth. Not Atam the Egyptian god of creation, not Ra or Isis or Nut or any of the gods and goddesses whose temples they built and whose festivals surrounded them. Perhaps, Genesis one is more about the Creator than the creation. Perhaps it is a beginning point for a new nation of God's people. He, Yahweh, is the maker of heaven and earth and all that is in them. He made the sun, not Ra, He brought vegetation, not Osiris. It is a significant claim. It goes in opposition of all they had been immersed in for generation after generation. This truth is not impressed upon Israel alone.

Here are a few examples. Genesis 14:22, “But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth” Joshua 2:11, Rahab is speaking, “And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.” 2 Kings 19:15, “Then Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said: “O LORD God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.” 2 Chronicles 2:12, Hiram also said: Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, for He has given King David a wise son.“ Jonah 1:9, So he said to them, “I am a Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” (emphasis mine) Even the pagan nations recognized this truth about the God of Israel, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,is the God of creation. With all the gods and goddesses that all the nations honored, the events of Egypt forever brand Him as the Maker of heaven and earth. 

Unfortunately, it is a reality Israel would struggle to keep in focus. However, it is the foundation for all that follows Genesis One. He is creator. The details simply put that on display. Genesis One is much more about the Creator than the creation. Israel needed to be reminded of this from the very beginning. Perhaps we need to spend less time defending the creation story and more time worshiping the Lord God, maker of heaven and earth.

The Grace Pandemic

Are you living in the "last days"? As we face the growing pandemic called the, Covid 19 virus, I thought I would add to the social media pandemic concerning the times we live in. We are in an unusual time when we can share our concerns, our hope, our hysteria, our information and misinformation with the tap of a button. We can add a little humor through nifty memes and links to comedy clips about toilet paper. It is, indeed, a time like no other. The reality that this will pass in time is of little consolation for those who suffer the pain and loss brought about by the spreading disease.

I have noticed varying perspectives of those who believe in God and the ministry of His Son, our Savior and Messiah. Some ask the honest question, "Are we entering the Great Tribulation?" others wonder if this is God's judgement on the world or on a specific country, be it China, Italy, or the USA. There are scriptures both of comfort and promised annihilation posted on Facebook and Instagram to add to your angst or your serenity. You can pick and choose whatever scriptures you like and, with the help of the internet, find articles and scholars to support your point of view. I, for one, see this as a display of God's grace. Times of distress can cloud the truth that we have a continually gracious God. God is good, all the time, even in the midst of the spreading Covid 19 virus.

Let me explain. Hardship and even oppression often are evidence of the grace of God. It is never enjoyable and never desired, however, sometimes it is necessary for God's grace to be extended. The Israelites spent around 400 years in slavery where God allowed them to grow as a nation in spite of the animosity of Pharaoh. Why would they be left there? After all they were God's chosen people. In Genesis 15:16, in the midst of the promise to Abraham, God tells him, "But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.” God is going to extend 400 years of grace to the Amorites and all of Canaan while Israel is in slavery. He is even telling Abraham in advance that this is what would be. God adds an additional seven days of grace to Jericho before judgement falls, as do the walls. Grace was extended to Rehab and her family due to their faith and trust in the God of Israel. Could God not as well done the same for a repentant city? He did to Nineveh after Jonah's message. As we move forward to times yet to come we know of the outpouring of judgement and God's just wrath revealed to us in the book of Revelation. Yet even in that, there is always grace and mercy for those who repent. God's just judgement simply draws people to His grace or drives them into further rebellion. However, their choice does not eliminate God's offer of grace.
    
If you are a regular church goer or involved in ministry you can find help to continue your fellowship and ministry even in the midst of limited social contact. I have been impressed with the desire of churches to continue ministry from pod casts, to streaming on Facebook, to audio posts on Blogspot. Efforts are being made to advance the Kingdom. Here are a few of the suggestions I have encountered. Stream on Facebook, set up email prayer chains, set up old fashioned phone chains to keep in touch, call your senior members a couple of times a week to be sure they are okay, activate your youth group into pairs and have them visit the seniors and empty their trash or kitty litter pans. You could have one family from church over for dinner and prayer times. Take your family to a shut in's home and sing a hymn or two to them on their porch and have a word of prayer for them. Have your service broadcast into your parking lot so folks can hear the message and still be isolated. How about having a church wide day of fasting and prayer without the encouragement of the government. Then there are those ancient things called letters and encouragement cards, maybe a birthday or anniversary card with a gift card from a local restaurant so when the ban ends, they can eat out and the restaurant has business now and when they reopen. Most offer gift cards on line. There are a plethora of possibilities that surround us. You can come up with your own list and post it on social media. Who knows what could happen if we put actions to our verbal concern for one another. Come to think of it, I am pretty sure this has been the Lord's desire all along. You know, to love one another, care for one another, encourage one another, and pray for one another.

Perhaps, the Lord has graciously provided us the opportunity to be who we were supposed to be all along. Just think if, after the virus is gone, and it will pass, we continued to stream and call and write and visit and pray for, love, and encourage one another. To check on our seniors and encourage our youth to minister and pray for the previous generations. Maybe our neighbors and communities would see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. Maybe some outdoor services or parking lot fellowships would put God's love and grace on display. Maybe our intimate family gathering for meals and prayer could spark a revival and God grace would be magnifies and He would be glorified by His people. Perhaps what is happening is an opportunity for God's grace to abound. Perhaps the choice is up to you.