"My soul has dwelt too long with one who hates peace. I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war." (Psalm 120:6, 7)
I saw this in the university and grad school. I have seen this throughout the 52 years of serving the Church of Christ Jesus. There were times when I did not respond "correctly," perhaps was unnecessarily combative myself. But notice the words, "hates peace-- for peace-- for war." I can say when I read our text in this, perhaps we could call, "the war capitol," I realized the cosmic struggle in which we are all involved. It is the history of mankind.
A very sobering day today on one of the "Wall" memorial sites (Check out some photos posted to FaceBook). There is a street there in the center of Berlin, much like Ankeny Avenue in Somerset, or Bond Street, in Johnstown, where the Wall just cut right across the street, separating me and Donny in Somerset, and me and Bob in Johnstown. This street in Berlin runs right into the Wall, or, we could say, the Wall just cut right across it. Yes, it was just that real here in Berlin, and I have thought so many times, "But for the grace of God...." 8 or 15 year old friends, just as Donny, Bob and I, found themselves cut off for decades when the border was closed. Maybe it was Helmut or Karl.
I don't think I am "anything special." As the Bible says, "It is of the Lord's mercies we are not consumed," all of us. We are facing possibilities in the US which were unthinkable a couple of generations ago. Since the 60s, however, I know that I for one have realized that America is headed for a "wall," maybe not the "wall" spoken of on our southern border, but nevertheless, a wall. The spiritual wall has been "up" for quite a while now. What the future holds for that "wall" or any other "wall," for that matter, no one knows.
I met with an old friend this morning; great seeing him. He told me that the number of "Pentecostal-type" congregations in Berlin have grown a lot in recent years. It was a blessing, since the other morning we prayed out of Psalm 86:17, "Show me a sign for good, that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed, because You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me." Yes, there are people who hate the Followers of Jesus, and anything you and I are about. They want to see us discouraged, fail, and give up. Not so here, my friend, nor there with you. We do not see a lot of prayers "answered," at least, not the kind of prayers we pray. But just to know that the "full gospel" churches have been increasing in Berlin since we have been coming here regularly, well, we'll take a little of that shared blessing.
Thanks to all who have prayed and will continue to pray for our time here. We have to leave our flat at 04:00 this coming Thursday morning, ugh. But we have had a great time walking in Jesus' purposes.
Father, in Jesus' Name, we pray that You, "Show [Your Church] a sign for good,..because You, Lord, have helped [us] and comforted [us]." Amen.
******************************
* I have re-thought and re-prayed about the "Word" journey of which I wrote the other day. I am thinking now, perhaps a little more soberly, about targeting the biggest humanist strongholds in PA, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Will let you know.
I saw this in the university and grad school. I have seen this throughout the 52 years of serving the Church of Christ Jesus. There were times when I did not respond "correctly," perhaps was unnecessarily combative myself. But notice the words, "hates peace-- for peace-- for war." I can say when I read our text in this, perhaps we could call, "the war capitol," I realized the cosmic struggle in which we are all involved. It is the history of mankind.
A very sobering day today on one of the "Wall" memorial sites (Check out some photos posted to FaceBook). There is a street there in the center of Berlin, much like Ankeny Avenue in Somerset, or Bond Street, in Johnstown, where the Wall just cut right across the street, separating me and Donny in Somerset, and me and Bob in Johnstown. This street in Berlin runs right into the Wall, or, we could say, the Wall just cut right across it. Yes, it was just that real here in Berlin, and I have thought so many times, "But for the grace of God...." 8 or 15 year old friends, just as Donny, Bob and I, found themselves cut off for decades when the border was closed. Maybe it was Helmut or Karl.
I don't think I am "anything special." As the Bible says, "It is of the Lord's mercies we are not consumed," all of us. We are facing possibilities in the US which were unthinkable a couple of generations ago. Since the 60s, however, I know that I for one have realized that America is headed for a "wall," maybe not the "wall" spoken of on our southern border, but nevertheless, a wall. The spiritual wall has been "up" for quite a while now. What the future holds for that "wall" or any other "wall," for that matter, no one knows.
I met with an old friend this morning; great seeing him. He told me that the number of "Pentecostal-type" congregations in Berlin have grown a lot in recent years. It was a blessing, since the other morning we prayed out of Psalm 86:17, "Show me a sign for good, that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed, because You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me." Yes, there are people who hate the Followers of Jesus, and anything you and I are about. They want to see us discouraged, fail, and give up. Not so here, my friend, nor there with you. We do not see a lot of prayers "answered," at least, not the kind of prayers we pray. But just to know that the "full gospel" churches have been increasing in Berlin since we have been coming here regularly, well, we'll take a little of that shared blessing.
Thanks to all who have prayed and will continue to pray for our time here. We have to leave our flat at 04:00 this coming Thursday morning, ugh. But we have had a great time walking in Jesus' purposes.
Father, in Jesus' Name, we pray that You, "Show [Your Church] a sign for good,..because You, Lord, have helped [us] and comforted [us]." Amen.
******************************
* I have re-thought and re-prayed about the "Word" journey of which I wrote the other day. I am thinking now, perhaps a little more soberly, about targeting the biggest humanist strongholds in PA, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Will let you know.
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
Hebrews 12:2
