"Hurrying To Be" Somewhere

"For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost." (Acts 20:16)

Wait!  Paul acted like this, "....hurrying to be..," some place just to mark an anniversary?!?  How very un-spiritual of him, a waste of "support money."
 

Un-spiritual?  When I read this yesterday, I thought of our "hurrying to be at" Wittenberge, Germany, on October 31, the 500th anniversary of Luther's posting there of the 95 Thesis on the church building door.  This has to rank as one of the "top 5" historical events in the Church, and as a theologian, it is very important to me. 

Un-spiritual?  Last week when I was in DC, I visited the man with whom I used to spend the most time praying during those weekly times there.  I had not seen him for quite a while, and some things had changed in his life situation.  We talked and later had dinner together, enjoyed fellowship.  We did not spend a lot of time in prayer.  Shame on us.

Un-spiritual?  I had lunch with a pastor friend of ours who had been my in-laws' pastor for many years.  He is 83 and still goes to church camps and cooks for the camp.  He was an avid fisherman.  We talked of some of his fishing excursions to Canada, etc., even my motorcycling.  And we talked of our Lord Jesus, his mercy and care for us in the loss of our sons, and just the goodness of Jesus to us.  I often wonder if we might be better company to other Believers, and better, "fishers of men," if we were more like "men," you know, as Jesus was in all those dinner parties He went to.

Wouldn't it be better for all to read the Bible without those preconceived, religious glasses as to how Followers of Jesus should live their daily lives?  People would be more prone to see things they never saw, to see the "day-to-day" life of the Early Church closer perhaps to what it really was rather than what our 21st Century evangelical/charismatic glasses allow us to see.  Maybe we could see Paul sitting with the others while making tents.  Now most religious people imagine Paul sitting there endlessly quoting Scripture, speaking in tongues, singing, teaching the "deep things of God," an endless chatter of "spirituality."  Really?  You don't think he ever would have stooped so low as to talk of the sports events in the arenas, which, by the way, he used as illustrations in his teachings many times?  He just may have reminisced about the time they were seeking the Lord's guidance as to where to "minister" next, and missed it twice.  He may have even laughed at himself.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that my life manifests Your Life.  Amen.
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October 28-November 15, 2017, "hurrying to be at" 500th Anniversary of the "Reformation."

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

"The Lord Reigns....Tremble!

"The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble!  He dwells between the cherubim; let the earth be moved!" (Psalm 99:1)

Have you ever considered, "tremble," as a part of worship?

Today's Psalms readings are full of praise.  The Holy Spirit is calling us to, "....worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness."  The Psalms are full of prayers for deliverance, healing, provision, asking the Lord to, "deal with them," viz., the enemies of His People.  Yet with all the songs dealing with wars, sickness, betrayal, heartache etc., there comes this "interlude" in today's text, "The Lord reigns; let the peoples (nations) tremble!"

Here are some selected verses from Psalms 96-100: "Oh come, let us sing to the Lord!...Let us come...with thanksgiving....Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!...Let the sea roar....The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice....Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!...Break forth in song, rejoice and sing praises....Exalt the Lord our and worship at His footstool; Holy is He....Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.  Be thankful to Him, and bless His name."

Feel better already.  Our Lord Jesus is the reason for worship.  Apart from Him, we would not know the Living Triune God.  We would still be in our sin.  We would be self-absorbed, our focus on "me and mine."  When Jesus "met" us on our "road of life," He opened our eyes, opened them to, "Our Father," The Son, and The Holy Spirit.  We saw our sin, which caused us to recoil at our wickedness, to come to repentance, turning to The Lord God from our, "condemned already," life.  So I say with the song writer:
"Jesus is all the world to me."
"When I am sad, to Him I go;
No other one can cheer me so.
When I am sad, He makes me glad;
He's my friend."  This is the reason to, "Make a joyful noise to the Lord all ye lands.  And, to, "Serve the Lord with gladness...."

Father, in Jesus' Name, You are the reason I worship.  Amen.

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What is happening in Europe?    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

"THE PILLAR AND SUPPORT OF THE TRUTH"--GLORY!

"I am writing these things to you...so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the pillar and support of the truth." (1 Timothy 3:15, NASB)

Of course, needless to say that Paul is not referring to our times in church buildings, even though the question is always, "Where to you go to church?"  It is never, "With whom do you go to Church," or, "Where does your local Church family meet?"

The word translated, "household," can also be translated, "family," which is also a, "household."  Our "local" Church, "family," meets on Highland Ave. in Greensburg, PA.  Sarah and I have been a part of this, "household," for well over 13 years.  We would love to live closer to everyone of our, "family," but that is another matter.  But the, "household of God," for all of us is the Church Universal, the One Church of Jesus Christ, "....which is the pillar and support of the truth."  It is this last phrase which really blessed me today.

"....The household of God...is the pillar and support of the truth."  Now some are saying, "Well, not all."  O, contraire.  Yes, the True Church of God, the Church of Jesus Christ, THE CHURCH is very, indeed, "THE PILLAR AND SUPPORT OF THE TRUTH."  This defines the Church: "....the pillar and support of the truth."  This is why the central, foundational, fundamental characteristic of The Church of Jesus Christ is faithful preaching, teaching, and living-out the very, "Words of God."  Another way to put it is that, "....the pillar and support of the truth," always teaches, "The Word of God," Who is Jesus Christ, Himself, "....the Truth...," and the Words of Jesus, which is the Bible.

"The household of God, which is the pillar and support of the truth", is a People of praise, as 1 Timothy 2 says, gives themselves to, "petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving...for all people", a People who have committed to and are obeying the command of Jesus to, "Go and make disciple of all the nations."  The Church is, "The household of God," in which, and from which all people should be able to have confidence that if you want the truth, you contact these People.  Better yet, join them.

Father, in Jesus' Name, may our local Church always, in all ways manifest, "....the pillar and support of the truth."  Amen.

 
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The truth about UNESCO revealed:   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

"....Man Can Endure...Sickness, But As For a Broken Spirit...."

"Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions....He who gives an answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him....The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, but as for a broken spirit who can bear it?  (Proverbs 18:2, 13, 14, NIV)

V.2 is one of mankind's biggest issues.  Just listen to or watch any, and I mean ANY, talk show and I absolutely guarantee you that you will see vs. 2 played out.  Have you ever heard anyone respond, in a political discussion particularly, to the other person by saying, "You know; I have never thought of that.  Good point"?  I haven't. 

I have been involved in and observed discussions where people are waiting for others to finish what they are saying just so they can start telling you the most important opinion.  Not that I am that good of a listener, but I can tell you that I have received much, "understanding," from listening to people.

V. 13 is a sort of consequence to a not-listening-just-waiting-your-turn life style.   If I am not really listening to you, then whatever response I may have very likely is not dealing with what you have just said.  Beware of "counselors" who have the answer to your problem before you tell them.  This is especially dangerous with those whom we know the best.  "Well, I already know what your problem is, so let's just get to what I have to say."

V. 14 is Jesus' "specialty," and, I might add, the specialty of anyone in whom Jesus Christ lives.  Have you ever been in a discussion with someone, and they are just looking right through you?  They may ask you about your life, kids, work, etc., but everything in their demeanor says, "I really don't care."  This is not someone in whom Jesus Christ lives.  Be careful when we ask someone, "How are things."  They just may tell you; are you then ready?  This happened to me a few weeks ago with someone whom I have only met a couple of times.  When I asked him about his wife who had been in a bad accident, he told me.  He not only went in to great detail, but spoke of her history with a kidney transplant of which I was aware.  It was a classic, "That's more information than I needed."  Maybe it was, but it was just what he needed.

I listened and listened to him, knowing that if I even looked away for a moment to see all the activity going on around us, it would have devastated him.  I cannot imagine Jesus ever looking away from, "a broken spirit...."  And that is what I sensed, "....a broken spirit..," in not only him, but I saw it also in his wife.  Now they had that "cook-out" persona about them, but you could tell of the pain.

My only exhortation to you and me today is that we work at "allowing" our Lord Jesus to be a comfort/healing to, "a broken spirit who can bear it?"  They are everywhere.  You know my testimony.  I know of, "a broken spirit...."  But, thank our Lord Jesus, I also have a Listening, Caring, Loving, Indwelling Shepherd.

Father, in Jesus' Name, don't ever let me look right through someone.  Amen.
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The October/November 2017 Berlin/Wittenberge Mission is getting closer.  All prayers greatly appreciated.  Now don't "look right through me."

  

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

"That You May Not Sin"

"Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the Lord's offering for the work...." (Exodus 35:21a)

These were the same people who just a little while ago were demanding a golden calf.

Have you ever noticed how prone we are to "calf-worship" only to repent and become of those, "....whose heart was stirred, and...spirit was willing, to bring, "the Lord's offering..."?  There are too many times in our lives where this has been the case.  Could we call this a form of spiritual schizophrenia?

I am so thankful for the life "process" of sin-repentance-forgiveness.  What I do not like is sin-repentance-sin-repentance-sin-repentance, well, you get the picture.  We see this life scenario playing out all through the Bible, Old and New Testaments.  This is not, however, what our Lord Jesus Christ has for us, not for which He shed His Most Precious Blood on His Cross. 

I started to sing a song which came to me back on Easter Day, 1973, while driving back from an "Easter Sunrise Service."  One line said, "Yes, our Lord has won the victory over sin and the grave, He's alive, He's alive, He's alive."  Notice that Jesus' Victory is "over sin and the grave."  Now that may have been "my" song, but it is true Biblical Theology.  Our victory in Jesus is not just a going-to-Heaven victory.  It is the reality that we can have victory over sin here, now.  John Wesley would not ordain a man into ministry if he could not state in the affirmative that we can be "perfected in love" in this life.

As I read today's text, it came to me again: I do not want to be like the farmer in my Grandpa's illustration who prayed, "Lord, forgive me for the bail of hay I stole from farmer Jones last night.  And, while you are at it, forgive me for the bail I'm going to steal tonight."  That, my friend, is not "victorious living."  We have more than the Hebrews of our text.  We have the Blood of Jesus, continually "applied" on the altar of our lives.  1 John 2:1 is in the Canon.  It is a "now" passage, and forever passage, "My little children, these things I write to you, so that you many not sin....Jesus Christ...is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world."

Father, in Jesus' Name, This is my deep desire, that I, "may not sin." Amen.
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Germany and Israel:   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