"....This Seemed Very Wrong...."

"But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry."  (Jonah 4:1, NIV)

I know people who have been here; it's sad.

You have heard, maybe even uttered or thought yourself at times, "Why does God...?  Make no mistake about it; the argument is not just with God's ways, but God Himself.  People read the Bible; people look at life on Planet Earth and wonder, the wars, the babies dying, poverty, slavery, millions dying from starvation, on and on.  Then when they are asked about their "faith," whether or not they "believe the Bible," whether they have surrendered their life to Jesus, the response is usually, "....this seemed very wrong...."

I really don't know what to say to them.  I don't know if I can say categorically why such questions have never made my love or commitment to Jesus waver.  Grace?  Yes, I'm sure, and in His grace is that thinking and living of Job, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him."  Personally, I believe this was at the core of God's approval of Job.  Only this will enable us to survive, "in a warped and crooked generation."  

This age is not yet over.  There are things yet to happen in the earth which will try the faith of many.  But "when the howling storms of doubt and fears assail," do as the song writer said, "by the Living Word of God I shall prevail, standing on the promises of God."  To do any other is to find what another song writer said, who was actually just paraphrasing the Words of Jesus, "all other ground is sinking sand."  The "ground" of Jesus Christ is His, "God-Breathed," Words.  Dig deep today and keep building your life in, around, on Jesus Christ, His Words; then no matter what happens in life, you will never say to Jesus, "this seemed very wrong."

Father, in Jesus'  Name, convict me if I ever adopt, "this seemed very wrong."  You and Your ways are never wrong.  Amen.

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

* Another article on chaotic change coming in Europe:   jhs58.blogspot.com

* Please pray with us on a computer decision 

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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

Worship, Singing, Praying, Warring-- Life

"In God, Whose word I praise, in the Lord, Whose word I praise-- in God I trust and am not afraid.  What can man do to me?"  (Psalm 56:10, 11--NIV)

Today's Psalms reading is in the section which reveals David's day to day life-battles/struggles, perhaps more than any other five Psalms placed together in the Bible.  "Sunday School glasses" paint many of the Bible people with ethereal unreality.  

Take of those glasses today and look at David.  Read his psalms/songs.  Follow his life.  You just may see a little (or a whole lot) of yourself.  Yes, David was a king, a statesman/politician, but also a rancher, a musician, and in many ways, a needy-of-love creature.  I have pointed this out before, but again, it strikes me today that Psalm 56-60 reveal a sort of "day in the life of" David.  David worshipped, sang, prayed life's complex encounters, "I will extol you, my God the King; I will praise Your Name for ever and ever," and, "Be merciful to me, my God, for my enemies are in hot pursuit; all day long they press their attack....Deliver me from my enemies, O God....Deliver me from evildoers....You are my strength, I watch for you; you, God, are my fortress....Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless.  With God we will gain the victory, and He will trample down our enemies." 

Man can do nothing, "to me," because I live in and praise and serve and love and trust, "In God, whose word I praise."  The, "Word I praise," is not fundamentally print on a page.  The, "Word I praise," is a Person, the Person of Jesus, Who alone is, "The Word of God."  I pray today that you will see in this little "picture" of David's worship, struggle, praying, struggle, "declaring," struggle the true overcoming life.  The person who is steeped in Jesus Christ, "Whose Word I praise," is the person who can face life, life as it is, not as religionists attempt to paint it.  There is no more qualified person to deal with "real life" than the person who is immersed, filled, abiding in the Living Triune God, Father, Son Jesus, Holy Spirit.

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You so much for Your Word----- my very life.  Amen.
***********************
* Computer problems again.  I guess it's off to try to get a new one.
* Report on ongoing struggle in Europe and the invasion 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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

What In You Can Be Shaken?

"At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, 'Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.'" (Hebrews 12:26, NIV)

This speaks of the "latter days."  When this is to take place no one knows.  But it will be a most terrifying experience to those who know not our Lord Jesus Christ.

Today is "Veterans' Day," formerly know as "Armistice Day."  On November 11, 1918, at the 11th hour that guns fell silent.  It was referred to as "The War to End All Wars."  History reminds us of just how naive was such a statement.  Today, there are some who mock people who speak of The Great Tribulation.  They argue by giving examples of the horrendous things which have happened just in the 20th Century; therefore, to them there is nothing worse to come.  Both the "War to End All Wars" and the we-have-already-had-tribulation people do not realize that things will get worse, that the end of the age will bring great judgment, the worst war ever, and only our Lord Jesus knows what else.

For those who follow Jesus Christ there is no fear.  Later in chapter 12 we read, "The words 'once more' indicate the removing of what can be shaken--that is, created things--so that what cannot be shaken may remain.  Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our 'God is a consuming fire.'"  Our Lord Jesus teaches us that everything will literally be shaken to the core.  It will be unimaginable shaking.  The purpose is, however, "that what cannot be shaken may remain."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that the shakable in me will be gone.  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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

It's Coming, But No Fear-- He Is Coming Too

"For when he dies he shall carry nothing away; his glory shall not descend after him." (Psalm 49:)

The Bible is full of "end time" talk, not only of the close of the age, etc., but also of our individual "end time."  The Bible calls you and me to face the realities of human existence, and face them head on just as the eagle.  When a great storm is approaching, all the other animals of the desert run for cover.  The eagle, however, flies to the highest point, faces the approaching storm, spreads his wings, and makes the storm "work" for him.  He catches the winds of the storm and rides on what others fear. 

Some people think it morbid to talk of one's death.  Why?  Everyone dies.  Only those, "who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord," will not.  Psalm 49 today speaks of, "....wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless person perish, and leave their wealth to others.  Their inner thought is that their houses will last forever, their dwelling places to all generations.... Nevertheless man, though in honor, does not remain; he is like the beasts that perish."  We live among those whose life style reveals the philosophy of Byron, "Natalie, you and I will never die; don't you know that?"  There is even a popular song entitled, "I Will Never Die."  Without a life surrendered to Jesus Christ, all this is humanist bravado, an avant-garde philosophy of human existence, hopeful, yet fearful of the unknown.

Though the psalmist could speak of, "wise men die; likewise the fool...," he was also a Kingdom man and affirmed, "But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, for He shall receive me."  I believe/receive this.  Most of my life here is over.  If I would live as long as I have been alive, I would make it to 144 years old.  But I won't, and neither will you.  The Follower of Jesus can take the eagles approach to life.  Death comes for all like that raging storm of the desert.  Yet the one in whom Jesus Christ lives, those cleansed in His Most Precious Blood, can go to the highest point in the environment, face the approaching storm, spread our wings and, yes, you guessed it, "....mount up with wings like eagles,.. run and not be weary,..walk and not faint," and this only because of Jesus, "I am the Resurrection and the Life."

Father, in Jesus' Name, "I scarce can take it in," but I do.  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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

It's Coming, But No Fear-- He Is Coming Too

"For when he dies he shall carry nothing away; his glory shall not descend after him." (Psalm 49:)

The Bible is full of "end time" talk, not only of the close of the age, etc., but also of our individual "end time."  The Bible calls you and me to face the realities of human existence, and face them head on just as the eagle.  When a great storm is approaching, all the other animals of the desert run for cover.  The eagle, however, flies to the highest point, faces the approaching storm, spreads his wings, and makes the storm "work" for him.  He catches the winds of the storm and rides on what others fear. 

Some people think it morbid to talk of one's death.  Why?  Everyone dies.  Only those, "who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord," will not.  Psalm 49 today speaks of, "....wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless person perish, and leave their wealth to others.  Their inner thought is that their houses will last forever, their dwelling places to all generations.... Nevertheless man, though in honor, does not remain; he is like the beasts that perish."  We live among those whose life style reveals the philosophy of Byron, "Natalie, you and I will never die; don't you know that?"  There is even a popular song entitled, "I Will Never Die."  Without a life surrendered to Jesus Christ, all this is humanist bravado, an avant-garde philosophy of human existence, hopeful, yet fearful of the unknown.

Though the psalmist could speak of, "wise men die; likewise the fool...," he was also a Kingdom man and affirmed, "But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, for He shall receive me."  I believe/receive this.  Most of my life here is over.  If I would live as long as I have been alive, I would make it to 144 years old.  But I won't, and neither will you.  The Follower of Jesus can take the eagles approach to life.  Death comes for all like that raging storm of the desert.  Yet the one in whom Jesus Christ lives, those cleansed in His Most Precious Blood, can go to the highest point in the environment, face the approaching storm, spread our wings and, yes, you guessed it, "....mount up with wings like eagles,.. run and not be weary,..walk and not faint," and this only because of Jesus, "I am the Resurrection and the Life."

Father, in Jesus' Name, "I scarce can take it in," but I do.  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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

Melancholy Is Not Necessarily "Bad"

"'For as a belt is bound around the waist, so I bound all the people of Israel and all the people of Judah to me,' declares the Lord, 'to be my people for my renown and praise and honor.  But they have not listened.'" (Jeremiah 13:11, NIV)

The word, "melancholy," is an interesting word.  One source says, "a feeling of pensive sadness," another says, "a gloomy state of mind, especially when habitual or prolonged; depression, sober thoughtfulness."  I have noticed over my life time that I exhibit some of this.  I would experience it especially while traveling through East Europe during the communist era, some Followers of Jesus in location where they were all alone, no church, no fellowship.  If you were never there, it is difficult to relate the depressiveness of a dehumanizing system.  It was also at funerals in which I preached.  I brought a "positive message" of the hope of the resurrection, but could not help feeling saddened at the pain of the "left behind."  When you read the context of today's text, you can see why Jeremiah is called "The Weeping Prophet."  The World could use more like him; there is too much flippancy in modern American Christendom.

You can pick up on melancholy throughout the Bible.  Some of the "great heroes of the faith" dealt with it.  Now the more "spiritual" among us would tell us that melancholy is a symptom of unbelief, lack of faith---- perhaps, but then you would be accusing some of the great men and women of The Bible and Church History of such.  Not to justify any depression or sadness which may accompany melancholy, but there is no doubt that Jeremiah dealt with it.  How can one not experience a sadness when one contemplates with "sober thoughtfulness" the condition of a debauched age, e.g., 21st Century Humanity?  Look at the decline of America.  I have heard so many say that "times are changing."  This almost always means, "Get over yourself and accept it."  Well, I will not.  The change in the United States of America is more and more against Jesus Christ, His Church, His Kingdom Reign.  Never in the history of the USA did we have a President light up the White House, celebrating the degenerate life style of homosexuality.  No previous generation, whether there were believers or unbelievers, openly paraded and applauded and passed laws celebrating the murder of the unborn.  The list is endless.

Bob Mumford once quipped, "Someone told me to cheer up; things could be worse.  So I cheered up, and sure enough, things got worse."  So much religious hype in worship, preaching, ministry promotion is just that, hype.  So much of it could use a good dose of, "soberly thoughtful."  This does not mean one goes around "down in the mouth," or negative or grouchy or never smiling.  Neither does it mean that there is no "faith" in "soberly thoughtful," which can bring on from time to time a certain sadness.  Reading through the Psalms every month gives me an awareness that though the psalmists were men of faith, they also were not blind to the reality of sin, consequences of that sin, promises to which they held, yet many times seemed to be mocked.  "Pressing in," means just that, "pressing."  The Greek word translated, "press on," in Philippines 3, means, "aggressively chase, like a hunter pursing a catch (prize)."  In spite of the melancholy which attacks some, the great call to, "press on," is for our good.  The, "catch (prize)," Who is our Lord Jesus Christ, is well worth it.

Sorry for the lengthy writing today, but I want to encourage you if you are a person who tends to melancholy.  Don't allow it to depress you to the point of hopelessness, or quitting.  Rather, continue to think, live, pray with "sober thoughtfulness."  What you see around you, maybe at times even in you, what you see going on in the culture, if viewed, as did Jeremiah, with a "sober thoughtfulness," can bring you to a desperation-praying.  Somehow I feel as though we need more of this in the Church.

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to be a  "soberly thoughtful" person, then take what I "see" to You.  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.'"

Hebrews 12:2