Clowns, Mimes, and Fools.

I don’t like clowns.

There is an actual term for the “fear of clowns,” it’s called “coulrophobia.”

I’m not afraid of clowns, per se, but I still don’t like them.

I came by my dislike of clowns at an early age.

I don’t remember a particularly traumatic incident with a rogue clown at the circus, but I remember not liking them even when I was very young.

Second to my dislike of clowns is my dislike of mimes.

If you are a clown then please understand that I have nothing personally against you, I just distrust anyone who wears shoes as big as yours with a red nose and rainbow-colored suspenders.

Mimes, please understand that it isn’t personal, I just fundamentally distrust anyone who dresses like a clown and acts like a clown but has nothing to say for themselves.

One of the things I don’t like about clowns or mimes is that they both act like fools, one says and does foolish things intentionally, the other acts like a fool silently.  To their credit, it’s just an act, and the more we see them as fools, the better they are at clowning or miming, as the case may be.

Enough about my quirks.

The Bible says,

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.  God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.  They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.  Have those who work evil no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon God? (Psalm 53:1-4 ESV)

God’s dislike of foolishness must be much greater than my dislike of clownery.  Clowns act like buffoons on purpose; fools come by their foolishness naturally.  In other words, the fool isn’t acting.

At the very core of a fool’s foolishness is his or her refusal to acknowledge the biblical source of wisdom.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7 ESV)

That’s the definition, biblically, of a fool.

Let’s be clear, fools, biblically speaking, can be intelligent people.  They can be consummate professionals, scholars, and leaders.  They can be both famous and successful.  They can have charm and charisma.  Yet for all that they have going for them, the downfall of the fool is that they say in their hearts, “there is no God.”

What’s more troubling is that Psalm 53 suggests very strongly that we have all been, at some time in our lives, the fool.

We have all fallen away and we have all become corrupt. 

Paul uses this very passage to convict the world of sin.

as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;  no one understands; no one seeks for God.  All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:10-12 ESV)

That is certainly true of me.  As an atheist, I looked relatively normal, did relatively well in university studies, was reasonably adept at my job, and enjoyed a moderate intellectual capacity.

But I was still a fool.

The way a clown stops clowning around is, first, to take off the clown suit.

The way a mime stops being a mime is to take off the clown suit and say something (preferable, something worth saying).

The way a fool stops being a fool is to take off the fool suit and clothe themselves with Christ.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (Romans 13:14 ESV)

Once we have asked God to save us from our foolishness, we can stop acting the fool, and we can speak words that bring glory to God.

It doesn’t make any sense for a clown to take off the clown costume and keep clowning around.  It doesn’t make any sense for a former mime to refuse to speak.

And it doesn’t make any sense for a Christian to act like a fool.  Once we have put off our foolishness and clothed ourselves with Christ, then we can act and speak as those who know there is a God and use our voices to give Christ the glory due to Him.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock, and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14 ESV)

Keep safe, be well, and stay encouraged.

Brian

Be still.

I love a good cup of coffee.

Honestly, when we started Grace Café, one of the draws for me was the ability to combine four of the things I love the most in life; The Lord, my family, my church, and coffee.

I started drinking coffee when I was a freshman in college.  I would spend long hours drinking coffee and writing papers that I should have started about a week earlier.  I used to get the coffee jitters (not so much anymore).

In my amateur coffee drinking days, coffee could keep me up and night and make me antsy.

Now, Ironically, a good cup of coffee in the evening is comforting.

My reaction to coffee has changed.

In some ways, the same is true of my relationship with God.

Before I trusted in Christ, the whole idea of God made me squirm.  I remember reading the Book of Revelation, and it terrified me, I didn’t sleep for 3 days.

David illustrates how different people have very different reactions to the presence and power of God.

To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,  though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah  There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.  God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. (Psalm 46:1-5 ESV)

For Israel, God was a Comforter.  While the world around God’s chosen was in turmoil, David says that the presence of God was a present help in troubled times.

For the nations who trusted in false idols, the presence of God wasn’t so comforting.

The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.  The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah  Come, behold the works of the LORD, how he has brought desolations on the earth.  He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah (Psalm 46:6-11 ESV)

The nations rage.  They cause and experience violence.  They are at war with God.

You don’t have to be a military tactician to know Who wins.

Interestingly, when God says, “Be still and know that I am God,” most commentators don’t think that God is speaking to believers.

Rather, the idea is that God is bringing the ruckus, raging, warring nations to stillness. 

There will come a day when God will put all the petty squabbles to rest.

The contrast is stark.

Those who know the voice of the Lord are comforted by His presence.

For those who don’t, the voice of God comes thundering through the chaos they have made, and, finally, they are caused to be still.

Keep safe, be well, and stay encouraged.

Brian

Nothing Lasts Forever.

“Nothing lasts forever.”

That was the reason that I was given for why my favorite skateboard was broken.

I can remember watching as schoolmates all came to school, one after another with the latest and greatest skateboard.  I can remember expressing my desire to my mother for the skateboard.  Nash was the best, or at that is what I had been told, from the local experts, none of which were over 12 years old.

I saved up and eventually was able to buy a brand new Nash skateboard.

I walked to school, proudly displaying my new prize.

The “skaters” had asked and received permission to build a quarter-pipe on the school grounds, and I approached the group using it.  I was relieved when I heard the words, “nice board, man.”

I was in. The skateboard was the ticket to a whole new social life.

Just so ya know, this isn’t a picture of me. Just some clarification for the two of you who may have thought I could do this.

I wasn’t particularly good, and so it got banged up quite a bit (and so did I).

Then it got misused, dropped, and left outside in the rain.

One afternoon, after a couple of years of hard use and neglect, it was run over by the family Subaru.

I issued a half-hearted complaint. 

My mom shrugged and said, “nothing lasts forever.”

While I didn’t like the answer at the time, it was kinder than what could have been said, namely, “it’s your own fault for leaving the skateboard in the driveway.”

Nevertheless, the words made an impact. 

“Nothing lasts forever.”

It seemed like she was right.  The friendships I had formed while on the skateboard had faded.

My interests expanded, leaving less time for “boarding.”

It’s kind of sad if you think about it.

If it is true, then there isn’t anything that we can rely upon to have any eternal value.

The good news is that it isn’t true.

Psalm 45 informs us to the contrary.

Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;  you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions; (Psalm 45:6-7 ESV)

To my mother’s credit, there aren’t very many things that are as permanent as we want them to be. 

Material things rot and rust, friendships can fade, and our own flesh can fail.

But the good news is that Christ’s throne will last forever.

This is good news for us because Christ’s rule and reign is the basis for the guarantee of our hope of eternal life.

Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,  so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:20-21 ESV)

While sin reigns, death reigns, but Christ’s reign is the reign of grace, and as long as grace reigns, there is eternal life in Christ Jesus.

There is something that lasts forever, it’s the throne of our Lord and King, Jesus Christ, and that makes all the difference.

Keep well, be safe, and stay encouraged.

Brian

Really thirsty.

Can you remember a time that you were really thirsty?

My family used to go on arrow head hunting trips.

In the western states, there are a lot of Native American archeological sites where you can go and look for arrowheads.  If you are patient and look, you are almost guaranteed to find something.  Perhaps not a full-fledged arrowhead, but in some places, you are almost guaranteed to find at least a chip (a rock used to shape the arrowhead).

The trick is twofold.

One, know what to look for.

Two, patience.  You have to be willing to spend all day looking.

Not a problem, if you remember your canteen.

If you forget, you get…

… really thirsty. 

On a hot day, without water, you get really thirsty.

However, sometimes you don’t notice just how thirsty you are until the end of the day when you finally take a drink and are reminded how much you need water.

David uses the metaphor of thirst in Psalm 42.

To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah. As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? (Psalm 42:1-2 ESV)

http://getdrawings.com/

The picture is of a deer, parched from running and searching for water.  Finally, finding a stream of clean, pure water, the deer satiates its thirst.

Do we feel the same for the times of refreshing we receive from spending time with God?

Sometimes we don’t realize just how thirsty we can become until we finally drink and are reminded just how much we need that nourishment.

This weekend, if you haven’t already done so, dust off the Bible and spend a little time drinking from the clean, pure water of God’s word.

Don’t get down on yourself with guilt if you have “forgotten your canteen.” 

Thirsty people don’t stare at a glass of water and think, “I feel bad that I haven’t had water lately, I just can’t…”

Just enjoy the refreshment.

Keep safe, be well, and stay encouraged.

Brian

Life is short.

Life is short.

We have all been confronted with this reality in one way or another during this pandemic.

The time we have to spend in this life is precious to us, and it should be, every moment counts.

But there is also some value in remembering what David wrote about in Psalm 39.

To the choirmaster: to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. I said, "I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence."  I was mute and silent; I held my peace to no avail, and my distress grew worse.  My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:  "O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!  Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah (Psalm 39:1-5 ESV)

David describes his life here on this earth as fleeting, like a few handbreadths.

For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the term, a handbreadth is the width of a hand, about 3-4 inches.

Indeed, compared to the everlasting eternity of God’s existence, our natural lives are but a mere breath.

James puts it this way.

Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"--  yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.  Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." (James 4:13-15 ESV)

What can we learn from this truth?

First, David recognized that his anger against the wicked was silly given the brevity of his life. 

Second, we can acknowledge that we have less control over our own mortality than we want to admit.

Third, we can be thankful that, in Christ, the life we will have in the presence of the Lord is secure and not subject to the same fragility that our natural life has become because of the futility of sin.

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13 ESV)

Keep safe, be well, and stay encouraged.

Brian

Fret (k)nots.

A young man went to his scout leader who was diligently tying a knot to hold together two wooden sticks to fashion a makeshift support for a tent.  The young man asked the scout leader, “what knot are you tying?”

The scout leader said, “it’s a fret-knot.”

The young scout paid careful attention, went away, grabbed a bit of rope, and went to work trying to duplicate the scout leader’s rope tying technique.

Hours later, the young scout returned, sullen and defeated.

The scout leader noticed and said, “what has you down?”

The young scout replied, “I can’t figure out how to tie a fret-knot.”

The scout leader said, “don’t worry about it.”

Psalm 37 teaches us how to tie a fret (k)not.

  Of David. Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!  For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.  Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.  Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:1-4 ESV)

Step one, don’t worry about the prosperity of evildoers. 

I’m sure we have all done what David cautions us not to do; we have all looked at the relative prosperity of those who have compromised their integrity and forsaken God’s way.  David reminds us not to worry about those things; the evildoer will soon fade away like withering grass.

Step two, be patient.

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.  He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.  Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! (Psalm 37:5-7 ESV)

Instead of worrying about how well others are doing, David counsels us to commit our way to the Lord and be still before God.  Patience is step two. 

Step two takes a long time.

Step three, chill out.

Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.  For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.  In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.  But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace. (Psalm 37:8-11 ESV)

Step three is learning to control our tempers.  To forsake wrath and realize that the meek are the ones who will inherit the land long after the wicked have perished.

The book of Ephesians gives the same advice.

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV)

Anger will tie us in knots (I’m sorry, I couldn’t help it), but the Bible says that we are called to reflect the kind of love, mercy, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness that we have received from the Lord in Christ.

Tonight, before we sleep, let’s all practice tying fret (k)nots.

Keep safe, be well, and stay encouraged.

Brian

Ouch!

One of the television programs that Nikki and I like to watch together is the Survivor. 

If you aren't familiar, Survivor is a show where they drop a bunch of people off on a tropical Island.  One by one, they vote one another off until the last two or three plead their case to the others for why they should win a million dollars.  One way you can avoid getting "voted off" is to win immunity.  To accomplish this, you have to win one of the many ridiculous challenges that the show has devised.

One of my favorite "immunity challenges" is the blindfold obstacle course.  It is exactly what you think it is; people running through an obstacle course blindfolded and bumping into anything and everything that might leave a mark as well as one another.

Classic Survivor.

Sometimes you can feel it in your legs when they run right into one of those poles.

Ouch!

Of course, we are all shouting at the screen telling them to go right or to go left, climb or duck, but for some reason, they don't appear to be able to hear us.

Of course, the obstacle course wouldn't be nearly as challenging if they could see.  They wouldn't run into obstacles or one another. It would be much better if they could just take off the blindfold.

Spiritually speaking, we watch people do the same thing.

They go through life like they are wearing a spiritual blindfold, running into everything and one another, and then getting angry at God because of the bumps and bruises.

David reflects on this very truth in Psalm 36.

To the choirmaster. Of David, the servant of the LORD. Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes.  For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.  The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good.  He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil. (Psalm 36:1-4 ESV)

One of the pernicious things that sin does is this; it blinds us to sin.  Those who are steeped in sin rarely have the ability just how sinful their hearts have become. They just keep getting further and further into the obstacle course, bogged down without any way to see their way out of the situation.

David reflects on the ultimate end of such people.

There the evildoers lie fallen; they are thrust down, unable to rise. (Psalm 36:12 ESV)

There is only one solution, take off the blindfold.

Jesus told His disciples how.

For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.'  But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. (Matthew 13:15-16 ESV)

In the midst of a people whose hearts had grown dull, whose ears could barely hear, and whose eyes had closed, those who followed Jesus were given eyes to see.

We all face the same obstacles in life, those who follow Christ do so with their eyes open to how God is leading us, strengthening us, and protecting us as we navigate them.

Keep safe, be well, and stay encouraged.

Brian

"...as the waters cover the sea..."

Today is the National Day of Prayer, so the daily encouragement is going to be a bit different today. 

The NDP taskforce has selected Habakkuk 2:14 as the scripture for consideration.

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. (Habakkuk 2:14 ESV)

This verse refers to a future time, a time in which the entire world, the whole of the earth, will be filled with the glory of the Lord.

The image that is given is a very powerful one; “as the waters cover the sea.”  Of course, there is no place that can be accurately described as “sea” that is not “water,” and that’s the point.  There will come a time in which the whole of the earth will be redeemed from the corruption that Adam and Eve plunged it into when they disobeyed God in the garden.

Romans 8 talks about the anticipation the world has for this event.

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.  For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.  And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.  For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? (Romans 8:20-24 ESV)

I’ve spoken of this before in the not too distant past, but it bears repeating. 

Romans 8 talks of the creation itself, anticipating the redemption from the bondage that it was subject to when the ground was cursed because of Adam’s disobedience.  Not only the creation, but we who have the firstfruits of the Spirit have this groaning.  This “groaning” that Paul talks about is the longing for a new age that will be inaugurated when Christ returns.  This new age will be categorized by a magnification of all that is good and holy, and elimination of all that is evil and causes pain.

But we aren’t there yet.  For all, we know the arrival of that day is sooner than we think it might be.  The scripture repeatedly says that the Day of the Lord will come and catch a number of people unprepared.  On the other hand, that day may be farther in the future that any of us want it to be.  Peter reminds us of God’s patience toward His creation, giving the disobedient another day to come to repentance before there are no more days left.

For those of us, who long for the day to come, but also hope to see a lot more come to know Christ before it does, we are left with prayer as a powerful means of being strengthened and encouraged as well as strengthening and encouraging one another.

Many of you have attended a prayer event already.  Perhaps you joined on a zoom call or “social-distanced” at the park.  If so, thank you for your prayers. 

If not, if the day has come and almost gone, then there is still time.

Call your family together for a few minutes, fire up your mobile device and Skype or Facetime someone, or pick up the phone and call someone and just spend a few minutes in prayer together.

Let’s face it; the world was crazy before all this happened.  The world just got crazier with Covid-19.  It may never get any less crazy until our Lord returns. 

So let’s fill our spare moments loving one another, reading our bibles, and praying.

If Covid-19 gets non-Christians seeking and Christians praying, it might have all been worth it.

Keep safe, be well, and stay encouraged.

Brian

FYI In the coming days, you will begin to hear more from me about reopening the church.  I am putting together a plan that incorporates the advice and direction of our state and also takes our unique congregation into consideration.  We will be reaching out to those of you who regularly attend with some survey questions so that we can gauge your preparedness to return.  Also, I am going to be putting together a task force to oversee some of the logistical details as we begin to put the broader plan into action.

My Dad is Stronger than Your Dad.

“My Dad is Stronger than Your Dad…”

If you were a boy, or have brothers, or have raised a boy, then you likely remember this argument.

Two boys playing together degenerated to an argument about whose dad was stronger.

The ironic truth is that most dads aren’t the least bit interested in the snack time squabble.

Still, there are times when it is a great comfort to know that we have a strong father to protect us.

David describes such a situation in Psalm 35:

Of David. Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me!  Take hold of shield and buckler and rise for my help!  Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers! Say to my soul, “I am your salvation!” Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life! Let them be turned back and disappointed who devise evil against me!  Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away!  Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them!  For without cause they hid their net for me; without cause they dug a pit for my life.  Let destruction come upon him when he does not know it! And let the net that he hid ensnare him; let him fall into it-- to his destruction!  Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD, exulting in his salvation.

(Psalm 35:1-9 ESV)

David repeatedly faced earthly enemies who sought to do him harm, put him to shame, and end his life.

We face different enemies.

Paul describes them in the book of Ephesians.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12 ESV)

Our enemies, our real enemies, aren't flesh and blood.  They are the powers of darkness who seek to do more damage to our souls than any earthly enemy could ever inflict.

Therefore we are counseled to put on the full armor of God.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.  Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.  In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;  and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,  praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,  and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, (Ephesians 6:13-19 ESV)

Sound advice to be sure.  Given the spiritual battle we find ourselves in, we ought to be as prepared for battle as we can.

But we don’t go into battle alone.  Our Father, the Warrior God, Who David describes in Psalm 35, goes into battle with us.  His shield protects us from the enemy, His javelin and spear pierce the soldiers in the army of darkness. 

When we are speaking of the dark forces that we battle in the spiritual realm, our Dad really is stronger than their dad.

Keep safe, be well, and stay encouraged.

Brian

Here, taste this, does this taste bad to you?

I will never understand this particular human behavior.

If you are married, there has been a time when your spouse has done this to you.

Maybe its milk. He or she thinks it may have gone bad.

So he, or she, hands it to you and says, “taste this, does this taste bad to you?”

Here is some free pastoral device.

If you think something tastes terrible, don’t share.

On the other hand, sharing something delicious is one of those marriage building activities that, I think, does not get enough credit.

For example, Nikki made some Cardamom bread not long ago; that was incredible. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. As soon as she pulled it out of the oven, she put a pat of butter on a piece and took a bite. She called me from the kitchen and said, “here, taste this, isn’t this good?”

Marriage strengthened.

The interesting thing about human behavior is that we do one or the other, all the time, in many different ways. This tendency we have to share our experiences with others isn’t limited to the reactions of our tastebuds to awful things like milk that is souring or incredibly tasty things like freshly baked cardamom bread.

We do it with our life experiences, our reflections, our thoughts, and our feelings.

In the Psalms, David does a fair bit of both, sharing his fears, concerns, and moments of despair. He also shares moments of delight, times of mountain top worship, sunny day experiences, and victories in the Lord.

In Psalm 34, David has one of those positive moments that he shares with us.

I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

(Psalm 34:1-8 ESV)

“Taste and see that the Lord is good.”

David is sharing his own experience with the Lord.

David knows that life isn’t all roses and rainbows, a casual reading through the Psalms reveals that David had his fair share of bad days. Some of them he brought on himself, others came through trials and persecutions. Through it all, God was good.

God is still good.

Back to cardamom bread, during a worldwide pandemic where we are all in various stages of confusion, anxiety, boredom, frustration, etc.… there was a moment where we tasted the goodness of warm, home-made bread that was surprisingly delicious. It was so good, Nikki wanted to share it. She could have tried to describe it from the kitchen, but really, the best way to let me know how good it tasted was to share.

God is the same way. In the midst of it all, God is good; if you don’t believe me, just try Him. See if trusting him doesn’t give you a different perspective on life. See if trusting in Christ doesn’t relieve you of guilt you have been carrying, anxieties that have been weighing you down, and give you the peace of mind that comes with knowing the path and pleasantness of the destination.

Take refuge in Him.

Put your trust in Him.

You don’t have to take my word for it, “taste and see that the Lord is good.”

Keep safe, be well, and stay encouraged.

Brian

BTW, I’ll be hosting a virtual prayer gathering for the National Day of Prayer. If, given the current circumstances, gathering virtually is more advisable for you, then you are invited.

Details:

7:00 PM via Zoom (go to the Baptist Fellowship home page for a link to more information on how to log in).

Caught red handed.

Children can be funny.

If you have children, there is likely a time that your kids got into something they shouldn't have.

I'm sure I did, my brothers and sisters certainly did, my son did as well.

There was a time when he was only a toddler, that he got into a bag of Reese's peanut butter cups.

The evidence was all over his face and his hands.

And yet, he still denied it all.

"Ah, that's kids for ya," right?

Except we do the same, as adults, to God.

David did. If you remember your Bible stories, you know that David is famous for two historical events. The first one was a celebration of his defeat over Goliath when the rest of the army of Israel cowered in fear over this behemoth of a man. Not only did he defeat the man, he did so without wearing armor; instead, he trusted that the God who had delivered him, as a shepherd, from the lion and the bear would also deliver him from this blaspheming brute.

God did, and David became a national hero.

However, the Bible doesn't shy away from showing the flaws in its heroes.

One a spring day, when kings go away to war, David saw the wife of another man bathing on the rooftop (which isn't unusual as water catch basis were usually on rooftops) and called Bathsheba to his chambers. David misused his power, transgressed God's law, and then tried to move on like nothing ever happened.

When word came to David that Bathsheba was pregnant with his child, he devised a plan. He called Bathsheba's husband back from the battle to spend some time with Bathsheba. But Uriah would not cooperate. He slept at the gate to the city. So David put the cover-up into phase two, he sent Uriah back into the most dangerous part of the battle, and he was killed.

This is definitely not hero behavior.

David marries Bathsheba and plans to go on with life.

But God knew.

The Lord sent Nathan to David to tell him this tale.

And the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, "There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him." (2 Samuel 12:1-4 ESV)

David's reaction is the height of irony.

Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity." (2 Samuel 12:5-6 ESV)

Then Nathan shows David his dirty hands and face.

Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. And I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. (2 Samuel 12:7-9 ESV)

"You are the man!"

How many times have we heard God say that to us?

If you haven't, let me be the first to tell you that the whole world has done evil in God's sight, and you aren't the exception.

Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. (Romans 2:1 ESV)

We are the men and the women who have done evil in the sight of the Lord.

David's reaction in Psalm 31 should be a salve to all of our souls.

A Maskil of David. Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah (Psalm 32:1-5 ESV)

Amen.

The world isn't made up of righteous judges and guilty sinners; the world is made up of sinners who have received the Lord's forgiveness and sinners who still don't see their own dirty hands and face.

If you are among the forgiven, then take a deep breath of gratitude.

If you haven't reached out to Christ for forgiveness, will you?

Keep safe, be well, and stay encouraged.

Brian

Trust me...

Have you ever been totally suckered?

You trusted someone, maybe a salesperson, and in the end, you completely regretted trusting them because you ended up getting stuck with a defective product, or a policy you don’t need, or stuck in a contract you don’t want.

When Nikki and I were first married, we ended up buying a timeshare in Hawaii.

We saw the brochure at the mall.

We went to the presentation where they showed us videos of people at the resorts smiling, laughing, and enjoying one another’s company; all in one of the most beautiful places on earth.

While we were signing the paperwork, the salesperson said, “you are going to love this; trust me.”

This fish bought it, hook, line, and sinker.

The next morning, it occurred to me that I might want to google where our new vacation spot was going to be.

I had to look a few times because a few things concerned me.

First, it looked like they hadn’t even begun building the resort.

Second, the property appeared to be located uncomfortably close to one of the world’s most active volcanos.

I think volcanos are pretty cool (ok, bad choice of words) but molten rock is not my idea of a balcony view.

We learned a valuable lesson, be very careful who you trust.

Psalm 31, is, at its core, an expression of trust.

For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me; you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God. (Psalm 31:3-5 ESV)

David is describing the many times in which God delivered David from harm during his life. He gives us a vivid picture of being trapped in a net, and God rescuing him from it.

The Lord had shown Himself to be faithful to David time and time again, therefore, David says, “Into your hands, I commit my spirit.”

David places his eternal well being into the hands of the God who has demonstrated His faithfulness.

Interestingly, this phrase occurs again, but in a very different context.

When Christ died on the cross, He said the same thing.

Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last. (Luke 23:46 ESV)

In both cases, there is an expression of trust.

In David’s case, God had repeatedly saved David’s life. So David is praising God for preserving his life here on earth.

In Jesus’s situation, He is breathing His last, Jesus is entrusting His spirit into the eternal care of His Father.

Both can help us to be deeply encouraged.

Both examples illustrate two sides of the same coin.

On the one hand, God has been faithful, time and time again, to deliver us from harm. God has delivered many of us from harm more times than we can remember, and perhaps more times than we know.

On the other hand, God knows the number of our days. He knows the day He has appointed to bring us out of this world and call us to Himself.

In both instances, He can be trusted. In other words, we can trust God with our lives, and we can trust Him for the end of our lives.

We can rest our heads on our pillows tonight knowing that, whatever may come, we can commit our spirits into His hands.

Keep safe, be well, and stay encouraged.

Brian

I'm so angry I could spit nails!

I remember the first time I heard that phrase.

My grandfather and I were out for a morning of golf (a game I no longer play for reasons obvious to anyone who has ever played golf with me.)

My grandfather was about to hit his ball when another golf ball comes flying through the air and hits him square on his right leg.

Someone had gotten impatient and had teed off before we were far enough away.

My grandfather used every forbidden word I knew, and then, I’m pretty sure he made some up on the spot.

When we got into the cart, he said, “I’m so angry I could spit nails!”

Spit nails?

The image conjured is ridiculous.

Where would one get the nails to spit, did grandpa walk around with nails in his pocket?

What on earth could be gained by sticking them in his mouth and then spitting them back out?

I’ve since come to understand the origin of the phrase.

Its an idiom from carpentry. Carpenters have been known to hold nails in their mouths so they can use both hands in their work. This practice is probably a terrible idea from the standpoint of risk assessment, but anyone who has ever worked with a hammer has probably done it.

To yell at someone, you would have to spit out the nails. Whatever had angered you would have to be so impactful that you would rather lose the nails than keep your cool.

Our anger is often unjustified. When it is justified, it is sometimes handled poorly.

That’s why James says the following:

for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. (James 1:20 ESV)

However, God’s anger is always justified, and He never handles it poorly.

Consequently, David says the following in Psalm 30.

Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. (Psalm 30:4-5 ESV)

Sometimes the very premise that God might be angry can cause objections.

I was witnessing to someone when they said, “I could never believe in an angry God."

I responded, “I could never believe in a God Who never angered.”

Given all that happens here on earth, all the pain and sorrow caused by the actions of unjust people, I couldn’t imagine God looking at that and be stoically unmoved.

On the other hand, God’s anger is a problem for anyone who has violated His law or rebelled against His will. Since that’s everyone, except Jesus, we have a problem.

God gets justly angry at anyone for anything that is unrighteous.

That’s why God’s grace is so amazing.

God’s anger is but for a moment, and I happen to think that the ultimate fulfillment of this verse refers to a specific, historical moment.

The moment that Jesus died, God’s just wrath was thoroughly exhausted.

On the cross, Christ took the fullness of God’s wrath against you and I upon Himself, leaving no wrath left for us to experience.

That’s Paul’s message.

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. (Romans 5:9 ESV)

Here’s some excellent news.

God isn’t angry at you.

He has every right to be.

It would be unjust for God to see all that you and I have done and not be angry at us for our sinful rebellion against Him.

But Christ took the wrath of God for us so that there is none left.

The moment of God’s wrath is gone; all that is left is the favor of a lifetime.

Keep safe, be well, and stay encouraged.

Brian

Whose voice is that?

Have you ever heard a voice and know that you recognize it but can’t quite put the voice to the face?

Every now and again, we will sit down to watch an animated movie and hear a voice and know that we recognize it but we can’t quite remember who the voice belongs to.

Or, if you are a fan of the TV show, The Masked Singer, you know the whole premise is to get you to guess whose voice is behind the mask.

Those situations can drive us a little crazy as we struggle to connect the voice to a name.

It is a minor frustration when it is a celebrity, it is tragic when the voice we can’t quite place is the voice of God.

David tells us how we recognize God’s voice in Psalm 29.

A Psalm of David. Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness. The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire. The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare, and in his temple all cry, "Glory!" (Psalm 29:1-9 ESV)

The world around us isn’t able to discern the voice of God.

The voice of God created the heavens and the earth and is sovereign over the waters but the world refuses to believe it.

The voice of God is full of power and majesty but the world refuses to hear it.

The voice of God will one day bring judgment, like the breaking of cedars and the flashing forth of fire. Only then will the voice of God be heard by those who refuse to hear it.

But for us, we hear the voice of God.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27 ESV)

The voice of God which breaks the cedars, thunders from heaven, and flashes forth like fire is the voice that calls us, his people, like a shepherd calling the sheep.

Keep safe, be well, and stay encouraged.

Brian

Blinded by the light.

Have you ever been in total darkness?

Even at night, there is still ambient light that helps to dimly illuminate our world. The moon and stars are two sources of ambient light even at the darkest point of the night. Then there are streetlights, porch lights, and other light sources that add a little light during the evening hours.

We don’t often realize just how much light there is until we experience total, pitch-black darkness.

On a family vacation through Wyoming, Montana, and South Dakota during my teens, our family took a tour through a series of subterranean caves. At the lowest point in the cave, the guides turned off the lights and let us all experience near-total darkness. It was the kind of darkness where you could hold your hand right up to your face and not see it. If you didn’t have the physical sensation, you woudn’’t be able to tell if your eyes were open or closed. Were it not for the assurance that the lights would be coming back on, it would have been quite a frightening experience.

When we all climbed out of the cave, having become accustomed to a low light environment, we were all squinting for a while as our eyes grew accustomed to the illumination provided by the summer sun.

Photo from PXhere.com

We were, in a sense, blinded by the light.

By the way, if you now have the chorus to that song stuck in your head,…

…you’re welcome.

Of course, once we had grown accustomed to the light, we were no longer blinded by it. However, we had a much greater appreciation for the sun than we had before we had the South Dakota cave experience.

The disciples of Jesus had a much more pronounced experience described in Matthew 17.

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. (Matthew 17:1-2 ESV)

This event is known as the “transfiguration.” Peter, James, and John saw the glory of the Son of God unmasked. And they were blinded. John would have a similar experience in Revelation when he saw the Alpha and the Omega in his vision.

The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. (Revelation 1:14-18 ESV)

John said that when he saw Him, he fell at His feet as though dead.

The intensity of that light was a far greater example of just how startling light can be.

And yet it is the very strength of the light of our Lord that David speaks of in Psalm 27.

Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1 ESV)

The light and salvation that David speaks of expels fear. It is the very power of the light of our Lord that gives us confidence in even in the darkest of days.

I imagine the first time we see the risen Christ; we too will be startled by the light as if we have emerged from a cave to see the brightest of lights we have ever seen. I imagine we will have much the same reaction as did Peter, James, and John. And yet it is that very light which even now gives us the confidence to say, with David, “whom shall I fear…of whom shall I be afraid?

Keep safe, be well, and stay encouraged.

Brian

Aren't you special?

We all know a braggadocious person.

These are the people who never pass up an opportunity to let the whole world just how much they have accomplished.

Interestingly, the same people seem blind to their own shortcomings. So what do we do when we come across something in the Psalms that, honestly, reminds us of those braggadocious persons?

Of David. Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind. For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness. I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites. I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked. (Psalm 26:1-5 ESV)

Well….

Mr. David…

…aren't we confident in our own righteousness?

Aren’t you special?

Picture from Quotesgram.com

Is David just being arrogant?

There are three ways that scholars have interpreted Psalm 26. The first is to place this Psalm earlier in David's life before David came face to face with his own weaknesses and made choices that proved him to be just as capable of making a mess of his life as the rest of us. In this view, God inspired David to write Psalm 26 in order to later allow him to learn humility the hard way.

The second view is to see this as a hymn that was sung after atonement had been made for the people, their sins had been forgiven so they were able to proclaim their innocence.

The third is to claim that this is a messianic Psalm. In other words, though David wrote it, the words fit best coming from the perfect Messiah who was to come. Christ, absolutely fits the description of someone who trusted the Lord without wavering. In this view, we hold up Christ as the example we should aspire to follow.

I think a combination of all three makes sense. What is clearly apparent from the Psalm itself is that forgiveness is in view.

I wash my hands in innocence and go around your altar, O LORD, proclaiming thanksgiving aloud, and telling all your wondrous deeds. O LORD, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells. Do not sweep my soul away with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men, in whose hands are evil devices, and whose right hands are full of bribes. (Psalm 26:6-10 ESV)

The idea of washing one’s hands is a picture of the removal of guilt. That language comes up again in the book of James in the New Testament.

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:8 ESV)

It isn’t that David is proclaiming that he is innocent and self-righteous, therefore he comes before God, it is the reverse. David comes before God, therefore God’s mercy and forgiveness cleanse him of guilt and he is therefore pronounced innocent. As a response to God’s mercy, David fled from his sinfulness and committed himself to walk in integrity.

But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me. My foot stands on level ground; in the great assembly I will bless the LORD. (Psalm 26:11-12 ESV)

David’s only hope to walk in integrity is through redemption, his only hope of standing on level ground is through God’s grace.

The same is true of you and I. Our ability to walk in integrity is inseparably tied to our willingness to admit our daily need for God’s redemption and grace which can only come through Christ who walked in perfect obedience to the Father.

Then we get to brag as well. Not in our own accomplishments, but in Christ’s accomplishments, and we commit ourselves to walk daily in integrity from a heart of thankfulness for the grace and mercy we have received.

Have a great week.

Keep safe, be well, and stay encouraged.

Brian.

Good and lost.

Have you ever been good and lost?

Where I grew up, that meant you were really, really lost.

Some people are born with an innate sense of direction; others of us are not so blessed. When I officiated my sister’s wedding in Wyoming at an out of the way ranch, I got lost on the way back, at night, on a dirt road, in a rental car. I’m not talking about a well-graded dirt road; I’m talking about two tire tracks with grass growing in the middle.

Picture from Flickr.com

Two things made me nervous.

First, getting lost in Wyoming can mean running out of fuel, which means walking, for miles….

Second, getting lost in Wyoming may mean unintentionally trespassing on someone’s ranch land. Wyomingites are generally friendly people until you are on their land uninvited.

Interesting statistics, there are more firearms sold in Wyoming than there are tubes of toothpaste.

Ok, that may be an exaggeration, but a simple google search will reveal which state wins for guns per capita; sorry Lone Star State, it ain’t Texas. When we are completely lost, what we need is something or someone to show us the way. David expressed in time in Psalm 25, where that is exactly what he needed, spiritually.

“Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.  Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.  Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.  Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!  Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.  He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.  All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.  For your name's sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great.  Who is the man who fears the LORD? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.  His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land.  The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.”

 (Psalm 25:4-14 ESV)

While some of us may be born with a keener sense of direction, physically, the Bible is clear that we are all born with the propensity to get ourselves good and lost spiritually. David realized that his only hope to find his way was to call out to God. So he asked God to do three things.

First, David asked God to show David the way. David needed to be shown the path that God would have him take. We also need to be shown God’s way. Intuition is not a good navigator when it comes to spiritual matters. We need to rely on the Spirit of God to reveal to us His way.

Second, David asked the Lord to lead him in the path. It is one thing to show someone how to get somewhere; it is another thing to say, “I’ll take you there.” David knew that it wasn’t enough to know the way; he needed the Lord as his traveling Companion.  

Third, he asked God to remember mercy. Sin is what gets us lost. Mercy is God’s promise not to remember our sins but instead remember His mercy. The book of Hebrews talks about this New Covenant that we have with God.

"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,"  then he adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more."  Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.”

(Hebrews 10:16-18 ESV)

Physically we may be in familiar surroundings, but things sure feel like uncharted territory lately.

In these times, it is comforting to know that we can call upon God and ask Him to show us the way, lead us in the way and remember His mercy.

Have a great weekend!

Keep safe, be well, and stay encouraged.

Brian

Its Not About Me...

Do you ever get the impression that people are talking about you behind your back?

Someone once said, “Just because you are being paranoid, doesn’t mean that people aren’t really talking about you…”

Ok, back to reality.

In reality, we don’t likely occupy the mental space of others as much as we think we do.

For some, that observation is a relief; for others, it’s a minor blow to our egos.

One of the challenges of biblical interpretation is knowing when something applies to us and when it doesn’t.  In other words, we need to know when the Bible is talking about us, and when it isn’t.

Picture from Quotesgram.com

The technical term for biblical interpretation is called “exegesis,” and it means to “lead out.”  The idea is that we take what is genuinely in the text and pull it out and then apply it responsibly to our lives.  Sometimes the principles, lessons, commands, and descriptions are easily applied to us.

Sometimes they aren’t.

Sometimes the Bible isn’t talking about us, at least not directly and a proper exegesis requires is to realize that the Bible is written for us, and it is written to us, but it isn’t really written about us.

Psalm 21 is one of those instances where we are reminded of this fact.

“O LORD, in your strength the king rejoices, and in your salvation how greatly he exults!  You have given him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips.     

Selah 

For you meet him with rich blessings; you set a crown of fine gold upon his head.  He asked life of you; you gave it to him, length of days forever and ever.  His glory is great through your salvation; splendor and majesty you bestow on him.  For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence.  For the king trusts in the LORD, and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.”

(Psalm 21:1-7 ESV)

I don’t know about you but there are some things I have asked for that I haven’t gotten, there are desires of my heart that are unfulfilled and there is no golden crown atop my bald head.

Something tells me this Psalm isn’t about me.

It was about David (and I’m not David), but more importantly, it is messianic and looks forward to its ultimate fulfillment in the Person of Christ.

Jesus is the One to whom God has promised to fulfill His heart’s desires.  Jesus is the One from whom God promises not to withhold any request, Jesus is the One who deserves to wear the golden crown, and it is Jesus’ who is most blessed forever.  Jesus is the King who fully trusted in the LORD.

The good news is that Jesus is gracious enough to share what He earned with those, like me, who don’t deserve it.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.  The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.”

(Revelation 3:20-21 ESV)

The paradox of many of the scriptures is that I find myself the most blessed when I realize that they aren’t ultimately about me, they are about Jesus.

Keep safe, be well, and stay encouraged.

Brian

Our Words...

Here is some quarantine humor you might appreciate.

Quarantine journal entry:

“Today, I walked outside to get the paper and saw the neighbor lady talking to her cat.  She was talking to her cat as if it understood what she was saying.  She was even asking the cat questions like, “what you do think about that, snuggles…?”  I think quarantine is really getting to her.  The dog and I are really worried about her…”

We use words all the time.

We use words when we don’t know that we are using words.

I’ll bet a good percentage of the people who are reading this talk to themselves and don’t know it. 

I’ve caught myself talking to my fish.

Fish.

At least a cat looks like it’s listening….

There is a technical term for this, it’s called anthropomorphizing.

No, I didn’t make that word up.

We see it sometimes in scripture.

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.  Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.  There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.  Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them, he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.  Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.” (Psalm 19:1-6 ESV)

We know that the sky isn’t literally talking, but it is a powerful figure of speech that reminds us that all of creation points to the power and glory of the One Who created with His words. From the testimony of creation, a desire arises in us to know the God Who created all things. So we look to His word.

“The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;  the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;  the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.  More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.  Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” (Psalm 19:7-11 ESV)

God’s law (Torah in Hebrew) is perfect.  This isn’t just 10 commandments, David is talking about all that God has revealed to His people during the time of David’s writing.  It is the revelation of God’s precepts that educate us, instruct us, as well as command us.  They open our eyes to Who God is and how we can know Him.

Creation uses its voice to point us to God, God uses His voice to open our eyes. How should we use our voices?

“Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.  Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.  Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:12-14 ESV)

We are the ones who have trouble using our words.  

David realized this, and so his morning prayer was to ask God’s help in shaping his words so that they give glory to God.  Let's face it.  Quarantine or not, we could all use some practice using our words to bring glory to God. The good news is that God, our Redeemer is not only the Redeemer of our souls, but He is also the Redeemer of our words, and He teaches us to use our words to bless others. 

We bless Him when we use our words to pray, and to praise, we bless others when we use our words to encourage and build one another up. 

“Let the words of our mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in your sight, O LORD…”

Keep safe, be well, and stay encouraged.

Brian

That's Awesome

When was the last time you were genuinely awestruck?   Gen X’ers, that’s the generation I happen to be a part of, grew up using the word “awesome” to describe everything.

I get that every generation has its own lingo.  If you are a boomer, things were “groovy,” if you were part of the WWII generation, you referred to people as “daddy-o.”  No generation has been exempt from trying to place their own stamp on language. 

There is a problem with “awesome,” though; if everything is “awesome,” then nothing is truly “awesome.”

Back to the question, when was the last time something shook you to your bones?

I can remember a time in my late teens when our family decided to be adventurous and go rafting down the North Platte River in Wyoming.  Mind you, this isn’t exactly white water rafting, it’s more like the lazy river at your favorite water park.  But we got caught in a storm, and just about the time we got the raft up on the river bank and were secure, we saw a blinding flash of lightning and then heard a piercing, deafening crack fractions of a second later. 

We must have been no more than 100 ft from the lightning strike.

That…. was awesome.

But it pales in comparison to how David describes God in Psalm 18.

“Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked, because he was angry.  Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him.  He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet.  He rode on a cherub and flew; he came swiftly on the wings of the wind.  He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him, thick clouds dark with water.  Out of the brightness before him hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds.  The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice, hailstones and coals of fire.  And he sent out his arrows and scattered them; he flashed forth lightnings and routed them.  Then the channels of the sea were seen, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.”

(Psalm 18:7-15 ESV)

As awesome as that single lightning strike was, what David describes is exponentially more awesome.

Here’s the good news.

The God that has the power to create and destroy the world in a word is the same God who rescues and shelters those who trust in Him.

“This God-- his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.  For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?--  the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless.  He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights.”

 (Psalm 18:30-33 ESV)

Our Awesome God is the One Who strengthens us in the storm.

Keep safe, be well, and stay encouraged.

Brian