April 27 & 28, Holocaust Remembrance-- "Never Again"?

"'They have greatly oppressed my from my youth,' let Israel say; 'they have greatly oppressed me from my youth....'" (Psalm 129)


SCULPTURE AT DACHAU CONCENTRATION CAMP

Site of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Execution (Sarah, our two daughters and I were there in 1999)

Holocaust Remembrance is observed from Sunday evening, April 27 to Monday evening, April 28.  There may be marches and/or remembrance services in your area of your country.  We have been involved in the Pittsburgh March of Remembrance directly since 2011.  While we remember the six million+ Jews who were murdered by the Germans, we must also remember that there were millions of others also murdered by the German Nation, a nation of nearly 67 million people which, as William Shirer said, "descended into Hell in the mid Twentieth Century."  There are many numbers given as to the death count in Europe as well as the whole world during World War 2.  The truth is, no one knows how many.  Many in Dachau alone were never documented.  I repeat Winston Churchill's famous statement, "Man has improved himself every way except morally."

Just two days ago Hamas and the PA signed a "unity accord."  Any who think "never again" means that the enemies of the Living Triune God and His People have gone out of business, had better wake up to reality.  The desire and attempts to kill Jews and see the total destruction of the State of Israel is as alive today as it was over 80 years ago in Germany.  But while the Jews and the Nation of Israel are still under threat of murder and attempted annihilation, while the persecution and attempted genocide of Followers of Jesus is still alive in many parts of the globe, the Psalm 129 tells us of the faithfulness to His People everywhere and throughout history of, "the Great King," our Lord Jesus Christ, "....BUT THEY HAVE NOT GAINED THE VICTORY OVER ME." 

So too is the promise to you and me as individuals.  Whatever you face today, remember this great promise is just as much for you, "But they have not gained the victory over me."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You for Your great faithfulness to me: My enemies, "have not gained the victory over me."  Amen. 
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Yesterday the US Administration seemed shocked by the PA and Hamas "deal."  I will not say what I am tempted to say, but you can read more about it at:     jhs58.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

"....In the Middle of the Throne...Stood a Lamb...."

"And I looked, and behold, in the midst (literally, "in the middle") of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth."  (Revelation 5:6)

This is all I saw yesterday as I read our text in another book:  "And I looked, and...in the middle of the throne...stood a Lamb as though it had been slain...."  One can only drop to one's knees.

There are Biblical passages which speak of Jesus, "....seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens," or, "at the right hand of God."  Our text, however, "places" Jesus where He has always been, "in the midst/middle of the Throne...."  From, "days of eternity," as Micah relates, Jesus, Son of our Father, is in the Father and Holy Spirit, "in the Middle of the Throne."  But at a point in time/space history, this Glorious Lamb, our Lamb, came to us, not as a victim, but rather as a willing sacrifice, the sacrifice for my sins, for your sins.  And today I say with John, "Behold!  The Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world!"  

I read the other day Leviticus 16.  The most "moving" portion to me of that Day of Atonement offering is when the innocent goat is driven into the wilderness.  "Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man."  Then Hebrews 13 tells us of the sacrificial animals whose blood is shed in the Tabernacle,  "The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp.  And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through His own blood.  Let us, then, go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore.  For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come."

But now, my friend, our Glorious Lamb, "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world," is nowhere but, "in the middle of the Throne," of the Universe.  And glory of glories, we are "there" with Him in this moment.  Whatever surrounds you today, whatever the, "cares of this life," we are even right now, right here, right there, the ones whom Father has so graced that He, "has raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus...in the middle of the Throne."  Did Jesus not tell us, "....that where I am, there you may be also"?  Please permit me one more: "To him who overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His Throne."

  

"Jesus paid it all

All to Him I owe

Sinned had left a crimson stain

He washed it white as snow."

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

"Fan Into Flame the Gift of God"

"I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience....I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother...and your mother...and...now lives in you also.  For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you...."  (2 Timothy 1, NIV)

When I read our text in one of today's readings, I was reminded again of my great heritage (I even posted a photo of my Mom and me on Facebook).  I cannot express my thanks enough to our Lord Jesus Christ for four Grandparents and both Parents who were Believers in Jesus.  I can remember a parishioner who said to me many years ago, "But I don't have such a heritage."  I said, "Start one."

Many people do not have ancestors who were faithful Followers of Jesus.  They do, however, have a choice.  They can live in regret, blame, resentment, or they can choose Jesus and follow Him.  And Paul gives very great advice, nay, a command for an overcoming, moment by moment victorious life in Jesus, "....Fan into flame the gift of God...."  I believe that Great and Marvelous Gift is none other than His Blessed Majesty, the Holy Ghost.  Whether one has, "a goodly heritage," or no, anyone who surrenders his/her life to Jesus can walk in power, the power in the Holy Spirit, daily, every moment of the day, any time anywhere, not just in meetings, in fact, right there, right now. Then, whether there are "answers" or no "answers," whether family or friends are following Jesus or not, we can walk in victory, a victory which is only in Our Father, in Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit. 

So, I encourage you today to, "fan into flame the gift of God."  The battle/warfare spoken of in Scripture is increasing in intensity around the Globe.  The need for you and me to, "fan into flame the gift of God," is, if we could so say, even greater now.  "And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed."

Father, in Jesus' Name, Blessed Holy Spirit, please keep reminding me to, "fan into flame the gift of God."  Amen.
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A week from tomorrow we leave for our Spring Mission.
    May 1:            Depart USA
    May 2:            Arrive Berlin
    May 5-8:        Woody in Bosnia
    May 12-19:    With Prayer team in Berlin-- May 13 in Wittenberg (Lutherstadt)
    May 20:         Return to USA

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

You And I Have A Continual Choice

"Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan." (1 Timothy 5:15, NIV)

I looked at the "Resurrection Story" from the perspective of one of today's readings.  Anyone who refuses to believe the eyewitnesses accounts of the Resurrection of Jesus has, "turned away to follow Satan."  This, "turned away," decision ruled in the majority in the hours following the first Easter.  It's the day after the resurrection.  Life must be chaotic in Jerusalem and throughout the region, Pilate attempting to explain to the Roman Hiearchy just what happened, and the Jewish leaders attempting to forge a story as to how the Body of Jesus disappeared.  They had, "already turned away to follow Satan." 

Nothing much has changed.  The world is still is the same mode.  "It just could not have happened.  His followers just made up the whole thing."  Yet history tells us that all the original remaining 11 Apostles died violent deaths, yes, many also include John in this.  One question remains.  Why would someone knowingly die for a lie.  Now Muslim terrorists will die for Koranic principles, but they actually believe there are all those promises of the after life awaiting them; they die for "truth" as they see it.  But it is quite another thing to knowingly forge a lie about a physical event, expand on it theologically, then consummate it by dying for that deception.

I choose to accept as the truth the eye witness accounts, "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.  After that, He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.  Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all He appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born." 

So there you and I and the whole of humanity throughout history have it.  What we believe about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is based upon what others have told us.  Yes, that's right, what others have told us.  To the spiritually arrogant who would say, "O, no.  I believe it because it is in the Bible."  Really?  What do you think is the source of the Biblical accounts of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus?  It is, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched-- this we proclaim concerning the Word of life."  Today the vast majority of humans are as Thomas, "Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."  That is simply their choice.  I choose today to believe those many hundreds who, "were eyewitnesses and servants of the word."  I choose today to believe Peter, who wrote, "For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty."  And because I have chosen and continue to choose to believe the, "eyewitnesses of His majesty," I am a blessed person indeed.  

Father, in Jesus' Name, I glory in Your Resurrection.  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