"....Be Content...."

"Let your conduct be without coveteousness be content with such things as you have.  For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" (Hebrews 13:5)

We are visiting with some of our family for a few days and I am writing this in the only location which has Wi-Fi--------- a pool!  No, I'm not in it, just under a shade tree, little kids splashing and yelling, over the fence a young boy playing basketball.  Sarah, Jill, and the two oldest granddaughters are out picking blueberries.  How idyllic. 

Into very similar scenes centuries ago, as Oswald Chambers put it, "God became a baby," the greatest, "stumbling block," and, "foolishness," the world had ever heard.  You see, man desires a fanfare god, a far-off god, one he can bow to five times a day, have devotions with, acknowledge him in what does not affect man's personal control over his own life. But, as John's Gospel declares, Jesus Christ, "the only revealed God, has explained." We see our wonderful God moving among men, women, children, soldiers, politicians, religious leaders, merchants, farmers, ranchers, Himself being, "The Light of the world,...the Good Shepherd,..the King of kings, and Lord of lords," the One Whose last Words were spoken three times to humanity in the last chapter of the last book of the Bible, "Behold, I am coming quickly,..Behold, I am coming quickly,..Yes, I am coming quickly."  He is the great Bookends of history.

In today's latter New Testament reading, Hebrews 13, Paul deals with some very "down-to-earth" issues, things with which much of the church today does not deal.  Yet our text is so very practical in light of the inordinate fear driving the world's stock markets; I think a better word would be, "panic."  Today in the midst of all this, Jesus warns us of wanting too much, and commands us to, "be content with such things as you have." Then He gives the only real basis for contentment, "I will never (literally, "positively never, ever") leave you nor forsake you."  The Apostle adds, "So we may boldly say: 'The LORD is my helper; I will not fear."  Take with you today that The Living Triune God, revealed solely in Jesus Christ, "is my helper," moment by moment, in the every-day, in the "smallest" issues of life, not far off, but near, even------ "in you." 

Father, in Jesus' name, in a world full of so much uncertainty, I am so thankful for Your Certainty.  Amen.

****************

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

"An Uproar of the People" (Note Below the Timeline of Divided and Reunited Berlin)

"But they said, 'Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people.'"  (Mark 14:2)

The events of our text take place during the beginning of what Church Theology calls "the Passion of the Christ."  But I want to divert for a moment to this seeming "aside" comment of the Jews, "lest there be an uproar of the people."  This is not taking our text out of context.  On the contrary, even though the crucifixion of Jesus was in the appointed administration of Father, there is a principle of life here which must not be overlooked, a principle which has determine the outcomes of history in the nations of the world.  "An uproar of the people," is a most powerful force which drives men and nations.  Remember, "But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified.  And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed."   

Human history, right up to the present hour, has revealed just what, "an uproar of the people," can accomplish.  The United States of America is a direct result of, "an uproar of the people."  As I wrote yesterday, in just two days we will commemorate the day in history when there was a "road closure caused by the wall of shame" (did you notice the tram tracks on one of the photos going right into the wall.  I call them "tracks to nowhere).  Make absolutely no mistake about it; that "road closure" was reversed by, "an uproar of the people."  Just consider the Middle East and the antiwar protests in the 60's and 70's in the US, all, "an uproar of the people," which affected history.  Derek Prince once said that people "get the government they deserve."  Argue, take issue, disagree, but it is a solemn warning to which Biblical Theology attests, all of Biblical Theology, Old and New Testament. 

What sort of, "an uproar," is coming from you and me?

Father, in Jesus' Name, never let me forget this "life lesson."  Amen.

***********************

(See Timeline of Events Below)         

Berlin Wall Timeline

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May 8, 1945 World War II is over and Berlin is divided into 4 sectors: the American, British, French in the West and the Soviet in the East June 30, 1946 At the instigation of the Soviet Military administration the demarcation line between East and West Germany is safeguarded October 29, 1946 A 30 day valid Interzonenpass is required to travel between the sectors in Germany June 23, 1948 Currency reform in Berlin, Berlin is divided into two different currency zones June 24, 1948 Begin of the Berlin blockade June 25, 1948 Berlin Airlift begins May 12, 1949 End of Berlin blockade May 24, 1949 Federal Republic of Germany is founded (West Germany) September 30, 1949 End of Berlin Airlift October 7, 1949 German Democratic Republic is founded (East Germany) May 26, 1952 Border between East and West Germany and between East Germany and West Berlin is closed. Only the border between East and West Berlin is still opened *June 17, 1953 Uprising of East Berlin building workers against the imposition of increased working norms, suppression by Red Army tanks November 14, 1953 The Western Powers waive the Interzonenpass, the Soviet Union follows but East German citizen need a permission to travel to the West December 11, 1957 Leaving East Germany without permission is forbidden and violations are prosecuted with prison up to three years August 13, 1961 The Berlin sectorial border between East and West Berlin is closed, barriers are built August 14, 1961 Brandenburg Gate is closed August 26, 1961 All crossing points are closed for West Berlin citizens June 26, 1963 President J. F. Kennedy visits Berlin and says: "Ich bin ein Berliner." ("I am a Berliner.") December 17, 1963 West Berliner citizen may visit East Berlin the first time after more than two years September 3, 1971 Four Power's Agreement over Berlin visiting becomes easier for West Berliners June 12, 1987 President Ronald Reagan visits Berlin and urges Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall. September 10, 1989 Hungarian government opens border for East German refugees *November 9, 1989 Berlin Wall is opened December 22, 1989 Brandenburg Gate is opened October 3, 1990 Germany is reunited

Berlin Wall: 50th Anniversary "Tribute"

"And what more shall I say?  For the time would fail me to tell of............" (Hebrews 11:32)

"....to tell of," whom?--- thousands, millions of the Faithful, those who, "follow the Lamb wherever He goes," those who could as easily be in Hebrews 11 and those who are there.

This coming Saturday, August 13, 2011, will be the 50th anniversary of the Berlin Wall.  The city was divided at the Potsdam Conference in 1945 (I have been in the building where the conference was held), and barbed wire and other barriers existed prior, but it wasn't until 1961 that the Russians realized that their East German buffer state was losing people at an alarming rate, and the barbed wire was replaced with concrete.  The Church particularly came under intense pressure.  People who were members of congregations in West Berlin were not heard from for months, some for years.

I cannot begin to tell you how I felt when I first stood at Check Point Charlie.  John Kennedy said, essentially, that if people wanted to understand the cold war, the confrontation between communism and democracy, "Let them come to Berlin."  I felt exactly the same when I first stood at the Berlin Wall.  History is full of such attempts to divide a people group for many reasons.  But as I stood at Check Point Charlie for the first time, I remember the words which I spoke, "This is an aberration of history; it can't last."  It didn't.  Such is the end of all wickedness.  Hebrews 11 tells us that no matter what we may have to face as individuals or as the Church of Jesus Christ, as Franklin Roosevelt said moments after the attack on Pearl Harbor, "we will gain the inevitable triumph, so help us God."  Well, God will help us.  All committed radically to Jesus Christ have the whole of Sacred Writ to attest to "the inevitable triumph" of, "the Church of the Living God, the pillar and ground of the Truth," even Jesus the Christ.

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for Your "inevitable triumph."  Amen.

**********

A Map of Berlin and border crossings

The construction begins

It will be 50 years on August 13, 2011.  It was actually a Sunday.  The church in which I was to have some friends years later, gathered on that Sunday. August 13 morning.  Half of the congregation did not show up.

Once called "The Most Dangerous Place on Earth"

Sign at Check Point Charlie.  

U.S. Tanks of the 40th Armor at Friedrichstrasse

Check Point Charlie, Late October, 1961

I Stood at the spot to which the arrow is pointing during my first time in Berlin, May 1986.  Beyond is East Berlin Border with guard tower

I stood on the brown platform on the left.  This is Potsdammer Platz.  It was once the most busy intersection in Europe.

There were over 116 guard towers along the wall 

A City Divided

Couple of Bernauerstrasse, Berlin, "wave to relatives after their wedding, 8th September 1961. The newlyweds live in the western sector of Berlin, while their relatives living on the same street are in the Eastern sector and unable to attend the ceremony." 

According to Google Translator, the sign reads, "Road closure caused by the wall of shame"

Videos Account of Confrontation:

http://youtu.be/tb9AMndjr2U

http://youtu.be/-pUmfKX3C04

"The Very Image of the Good Things"

"For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect." (Hebrews 10:1)

But Jesus can, did, does.  Here is the basis for Wesley's theology of "Christian Perfection," not my works, efforts, amazing insights and giftedness,  "The Law [is] a shadow of the good things."  Jesus Christ is, "the very image of the things...."  And in Jesus Christ, we who, "approach," the Living Triune God are, yes, you read correctly, "perfect"------------------- just some, "of the good things to come...."

I could write today of debt crises, markets out of control, political philosophies which have destroyed and will continue to destroy men and nations, but I choose to speak of Him Who Is, "the very image of the things...."  I write and speak of Jesus Christ because while Jesus Christ, "is foolishness to those who are perishing,..to us who are being saved...[He is] the [very] power of God,..to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks (Gentiles) foolishness...."  This is never said in Scripture of Father and the Holy Spirit.  Jesus Christ dominates the ancient Creeds for this very reason.  Humanity has basically said, "We have no problem with Him Whom you Christians call "Father" or even the Holy Spirit.  It is this Jesus Who gives us problems."  Of course, because it is precisely This Jesus Who Is, "the very image of the things...,the good things to come," the, "good things," which came, and, "the good things," Who Is yet, "to come"------------- again!

To speak only of God is to perpetuate the illusion of God, vagaries, self made gods.  Speak only of God and we can make Him anything we desire.  The Bible says that, "No one has seen God at any time," and the same is true of the Holy Spirit.  Ah, but when, "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us," the world did see Jesus, the One Who claimed, "I and the Father are One," and, "no man comes to the Father except through (literally, "on account of, because of") Me."  Now all of a sudden the world was confronted with no more, "glass darkly," theology.  There He Was, standing in the Temple, going out of His journey to Nain to raise from the dead a widow's son, manifesting just What and Who David's, "my Shepherd," Was------------ and Is.

According to the, "God-Breathed," Word, you and I have a race to run today.  That race never ceases even when sleeping.  And the great cry from the "Throne Room" of Heaven is to run this race, "Looking unto Jesus," literally, "to look away from all else at."  It means, "Looking unto Jesus," and nothing and no one else.  It does not mean isolating ourselves in a cave somewhere, "forsaking the assembly," etc.  It means that in the race of life we have no other, "Author and Finisher," no other source of salvation, redemption, healing, deliverance, peace, joy, overcoming victory.  It means that if people know anything of me, they know of Jesus Christ, "the good things."  

Father, in Jesus' Name, I just thank You again today for Your Words, which are continually, "Life to," me.  Amen.
*****************
News, Commentary at:      www.apf327.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

"....By Any Means...."

"....if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them." (Romans 11:14)

This quarter through Romans, I noticed particularly the phrase in our text, "....if by any means I may...save some...."  This is Paul's response to, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations."  May it be yours and mine.

My Dad would have been 100 years old on August 1.  He was the most effective soul winner and "follow-up" person I have ever known.  I remember two incidents as a boy.  The first was in the early 1950's in Somerset, Pa.  My Dad had brought to Jesus a man with a particularly rough background.  This man was a great fan of professional wrestling.  He would invite our whole family to his house after the Wednesday evening prayer and Bible study meeting to watch wrestling.  I remember particularly the great sandwiches his wife would prepare.  I never heard my mother complain.  But I recall that even as a young boy, I knew what my Dad was up to, "....if by any means I may... save some."

The second was a man in my Dad's parish in Johnstown, Pa.  He had been having difficulty in his marriage.  He finally realized his weakness and inability to change and gave his heart to the Lord Jesus.  He worked the evening shift at the local newspaper; so, every evening before he went to work my Dad had him come by the house to pray with him before he went to work -------------------------"....if by any means I may...save some...."

If you would like to pray something "else" for me, I ask that you always pray that my heart will be, "....if by any means I may...save some...." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I could not have asked for a greater earthly father.  I pray that his passion would always be mine.  Amen.

***************

Read of Israel's communist "infestation" at:  www.apf327.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2