My Head Buried in Sand

head buried in sand We were buried with Messiah; we also rose with Messiah. Should I continue with my head buried in the sand, not paying attention to this mortal world that has me surrounded? I pose this question to myself, really. It is easy for me to ignore all that is going on about me. I read some blogs and I find myself irritated the writers speak about loving the Christian Brethren as well as loving those we don’t like. It’s clearly a way to, I said, to jump on the bandwagon of the current American protest movement and its offshoot of violence and destruction. Some bloggers are more open about their views in support of, or denouncing, this uprising. Others veil there comments in generalities and mere illusions. I’ve not been sure which is worse, actually.

Then I found myself applauding blogs that mention the things that are going on, this outcry for “justice,” but not taking sides. Christians are commanded, I thought, to step above politics and temporal concerns to focus on the message of the Gospel as the solution to the failures of humankind. For those who cry out for “justice” have no clue what they are asking. Can the ungodly, the sinner, desire justice? Justice when delivered means a condemnation of sin. Rather than asking for justice, should we not all recognize our failures, or sins, and turn to our Creator seeking His Mercy and love? The hope for America, the hope for the world, is Jesus. This is the message of the Gospel; this is the hope for humanity.

And what of this generation of protesters that seem to want to tear down that which has been established? They seem to think they have a solution. Symbolically, this tearing down is carried out in things like removing statues, eradicating history, as if this will right the wrongs of the past. It’s been said that forgeting the pats means doing it all over agian.

Those who protest are not the first to open their mouths and fists, however. Born in the end of the 1940s, I grew up in one of the great revolutions—The American Sixties. We wanted to tear down the establishment. We didn’t—at lest most of us—have a clue what we wanted to build on its ashes. Sure, a few visionaries with ideas cropped up here ant there. Some of them went on to join the establishment themselves, making their mark on our culture, and in many cases soiling it with their excrement. Most just joined back in and lived out their lives like those generations who came before.

I expect nothing less of these current protesters. Raised fists fall. Palms once clutched tightly must open. Resignation sets in when understanding comes. There is nothing new under the sun. What has been done in the past is done again over and over. Footprints in the sand are swept away in the tidal movement of time.

“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear G-d and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For G-d will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13,14)

L-RD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

What the World. . . Needs now. . .

. . . Is Love. . .Sweet Love. . .

Mel Wild wrote an exceptional, relevant—in light of our current climate of lawlessness—and just plain brilliant article using a similar refrain.

See his post at: In My Father’s House.

Here’s something I posted in 2013, which I thought about after reading Pastor Wild’s post. I share it again here:

“What the World Needs Now Is Love” is a 1965 popular song with lyrics by Hal David and music composed by Burt Bacharach. First recorded and made popular by Jackie DeShannon, it was released on April 15, 1965, on the Imperial label after a release on sister label Liberty records the previous month was canceled. The song reached number 7 on the US charts in May of that year. (source: Wikipedea)

Twenty-eight years ago today, Jackie DeShannon released the song that cried out a prayer for love.

Lord, we don’t need another mountain
There are mountains and hillsides enough to climb
There are oceans and rivers enough to cross
Enough to last ’til the end of time

What the world needs now is love, sweet love
It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of
What the world needs now is love, sweet love
No, not just for some, oh, but just for every, every, everyone

While true for today as for the sixties, the call for love didn’t begin with Jakie DeShannon’s song. G-d commanded love, way back when:

“. . .you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.” (Lev 19:18)

The Apostle Paul wrote quite a bit about love. Here are some sample quotes:

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.” (Romans 12:9)
“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” (Romans 12:10)
“Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.”
(Romans 13:8)
“For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
(Romans 13:9)
“Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” (Romans 13:10)

Isn’t it love that will counter lawlessness? Isn’t love that will bring peace and happiness? Perhaps. But before we can have love, before we can have peace, before we can have happiness, we must:

“. . .seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
(Matthew 6:33)

Perhaps that’s the problem. We want love, we want peace, we want happiness, but we don’t seek the Lord while He can be found.

Something to think about.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

God Bless. . .

As one blogger pointed out, last year when a person sneezed, “god bless you” was a common response. No longer is a sneeze okay. But the question is: When a person says, “god bless you,” of whom is that person speaking?

“Lord help us!” a person might say. Which lord. How about lord krishna, of India?

Some Bibles help us in this way: LORD used in all caps refers to the Name of the God of Israel.

In Psalm 20, in the first verse, King David identifies G-d, of Whom he speaks as he requests assistance on our behalf, as the God of Jacob. Fairly specific, without using an actural name, however.

In Psalm 91, verse 14, the G-d of Israel says: “I will protect them because they know My Name.”

Do you know the Name of the G-d of Israel?

I pray on behalf of those who know the Name of the Master of the Universe, the God of Jacob:

1May the L-RD answer you in the day of trouble!
May the name of the G-d of Jacob protect you!
2May he send you help from the sanctuary
and give you support from Zion!
3May he remember all your offerings
and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah

4May he grant you your heart’s desire
and fulfill all your plans!
5May we shout for joy over your salvation,
and in the name of our G-d set up our banners!
May the L-RD fulfill all your petitions!

6Now I know that the L-RD saves his anointed;
he will answer him from his holy heaven
with the saving might of his right hand.
7Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
8They collapse and fall,
but we rise and stand upright.

9O L-RD, save the king!
May he answer us when we call.

Psalm 20

The L-RD bless you and protect you!

The L-RD deal kindly and graciously with you!

The L-RD bestow His favor upon you and grant you peace!

(Numbers 6:24-26)

Second Chances

This afternoon I sat on the back deck. I listened to part of Billy Graham’s sermon given in 1981 at a “Campaign” in Calgary. He spoke about Jonah and how G-d gave him a second chance. He also said that sometimes there just isn’t another opportunity. Take it or leave it. He used the example of one of the thieves on a cross beside Jesus. That man choose to accept Jesus. There would never be another opportunity to do so. I was good preaching! Old time preaching.

I thought about my second chance. I am so grateful to G-D for His persistent calling. Growing up in the church, I may have thought I was okay. The year was early 1962. I was in 8th grade, and my first chance came. I was at Brown Military Academy. I had a wonderful “religion” teacher, Mr. Kitchen. One weekend, along with many of my classmates, he took us to a Christian youth retreat. As I’ve reflected on Mr. Kitchen’s faith, I’m sure he was evangelical, maybe Pentecostal evangelical. The camp was great. The preaching was a lot different from the Episcopal church sermons. I was drawn in. On Sunday toward the close of the camp, there was a final sermon.

I remember not one word of what was said during the evangelistic sermon. What I remember, as if it was today–what I can picture in my min–is the alter call. It is so vivid: the preacher saying to close our eyes. I closing my eyes. Then he asked for a show of hands. I remember wanting raise my had, but didn’t. I peaked to see others. Then the preacher called for those with hands raised to come forward. I wanted to go, but didn’t. I peaked to see others go.

In Billy Graham’s sermon, he said some of the words that were probably from a song. They were about looking back and remembering a time when we’d been called and not responded. About how we might long to be able to go back to that time and respond.

How many times, I can’t count, have I said, “if only.” If I’d not walked but run to that alter that very moment, how my life might have change then, and not have waited and wandered aimlessly so may years. But I can’t relive those moments so long ago.

My second chance came, and Spirit of G-D enabled me to embrace it. I can’t go back to the first chance. So I move forward. For past is forgiven, forgotten. Today is nearly over. There’s a new day tomorrow to live, not try to relive the past. It’s a new day to make good choices, make good moves. Or at least better ones. May our Heavenly Father work His way in and through me in those choices, in those moves.

May He work in you, too, His Will and His Way.

Is the Antichrist about to be revealed?

Micheal Brown, writing in the Christian Post, asks the question “Is the Antichrist about to be reavealed?

“. . .events surrounding the coronavirus have demonstrated how quickly the status quo can be overturned, how dramatically the fortunes of nations can shift, and how a call for one-world cooperation can arise,” wrote Brown. “And what if there was a worldwide economic collapse, accompanied by plague and famine? Is it too farfetched to imagine that a powerful, problem solving leader could gain an international following?”

Brown points out that Jesus answered His disciples’ questions about His return, as reported by Matthew (chapter 24):

“See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.”

In the article, Brown explains at least two potential candidates for antichrist in our times: The muslim mahdi and a messiah of the ultra-orthodoxy in Israel. It’s fascinating reading.

But Brown also stresses that “To say it again, I do not believe we are at that point. But I do believe that, in front of our eyes, we’re seeing how quickly the table can be set, even from an entirely secular point of view.”

Brown isn’t pointing to either the Iranian or the Israeli messiah as the antichrist.

I think they are examples of how easily the world can be decieved, especially in a time in which there is so much fear, desire for a remedy, desire for some form of normalicy in our lives and our world.

“But all this talk about the Mahdi being here, ready to be revealed, along with the traditional Jewish Messiah being here, ready to be revealed, underscores the point I have been making. It would not take much for a counterfeit Messianic figure to arise and deceive many,” Brown wrote. “Let us, then, keep our focus on the Second Coming of the true Christ (= Messiah). But let us not forget the warnings about that false Messiah (= antichrist) who will come first,” Brown concludes.

We must, as Yeshua said, “See that no one leads you astray.” We must see that no one leads us astray. No one. We must look into the eyes of our L-RD, that the things of the world grow dim in His light.

Giving G-D Praise

A Cup of Strength — Coffee in a Cup of Strength

“Recognizing and giving praise to God does not depend on geographic location; wherever a person is, he can and must serve his Creator with the resources to which he has access under his current circumstances.” —Daily Tehillim in its commentary on Psalm 98. (emphasis added)

In Psalm 98, the entire world, all nations, are shown giving praise and thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father. This Psalm has its fulfillment in the Messianic Era. We, as Believers in Yeshua Jesus as Messiah, understand this to be after Yeshua Jesus returns to Earth. It is a time in which the final glorification of our bodies will take place.

And yet, even in our mortal bodies, even now on Earth, we can give praise to Father, Yeshua, and Spirit.

It stikes me today, as I read this psalm, that we may not be doing the things we might normally do, going the places we normally go, meeting the people we might normally meet. But I take heart in what the commentary for Psalm 98 says, “wherever a person is, he can and must serve his Creator with the resources to which he has access under his current circumstances.”

Thank You, Yeshua, for the assurance of Your salvation that You provided for those You call Your own. As we hunker down during these days of pandemic, under these current circumstances, draw us close to You, that we may give You glory, honor, and praise. Amein.

The entertainment-driven church

Michael Youssef, pastor of Atlanta’s Church of The Apostles, made some excellent and scathing remarks about “the entertainment-driven church” in an article in the Christian Post.

Today’s church is “making people feel good all the way to Hell,” he said. It’s the “gospel of positivity,” he said, calling the pastors of those churches “wolves in sheep’s clothing.”

“Youssef also cautioned against the idea that tragedies like the coronavirus pandemic currently sweeping the world will spark a “revival,” emphasizing that revival will not happen unless ‘the people of God remove idols from their lives,’ ” the article goes on to say.

Furthermore, Pastor Youssef is quoted as saying that “Already they’re asking for anybody who goes to church to be arrested. If they’re doing this in the middle of our somber situation, wait until it’s over. They will come in after us with cleats,” he warned.

“I want to prepare the body of Christ of believers to be alert and to be aware of the fact that we are in for a very difficult time ahead,” Pastor Youssef said.

I’ve seen more than one article in Atlanta’s newspaper that traced local outbreaks to Christians. In one article, the paper reported that a funeral was responsible for a particular outbreak in rural Georgia, that spread to several other communities. In another, a gathering of musicians was blamed for another outbreak outside a large city, that spread to other small towns. The articles didn’t blame Christians, per se. But it’s not hard for those who are already against Christians to use these reports as examples of the harm Christians do.

Pastors of large churches don’t want to shutter their churches during this pandemic. At least one has sued to be allowed gatherings over 10 persons. I think this is showing its contempt for Emergency Orders by the states governor. These emergency orders are not persecution of Christians, as they pertain to all gatherings, whether conferneces or sports or large weddings.

What’s a Christian response to this pandemic?

Pastor “Youssef urged “faithful believers” to see the COVID-19 pandemic as a “warning” and “loving alarm bell from God, saying, ‘Turn to me before it’s too late.’”

“When a believer begins to get serious about their prayer life and their walk with Christ, we will see change happen,” he said. “I want believers to really get serious about this. I am pleading with believers to please, go back to the Lord now. I think God is looking for an excuse to relent. Before we see judgment, we need to get back to basics.”

Everything Will Be Okay

EveryThingWillBeOkay-Sign Apparently it began in Georgia. Signs placed on lawns and in windows declaring that “Everything Will Be Okay.” And apparently the original “artist” that designed a sign has argued with an arts group that is selling signs. Someone wants credit for spreading hope, perhaps.

In such times as these, we do need hope.

The Atlanta newspaper has lots of articles on nice things that people are doing. “More Stories of Hope,” they declare.

Some singers get together and sing songs about hope, and this gives us hope, I guess.

Can’t you hear the refrain, “All we need is love, sweet love. . .”

And when the peril seems under control? When things start to get better?

“Our behavior has stopped the spread of the virus,” he said. ”God did not stop the spread of the virus. And what we do, how we act, will dictate how that virus spreads.” He being Governor Cuomo of New York, according to the Christian Post article “NY Gov. Cuomo on plateauing of COVID-19 cases: ‘God did not do that’”

Who are we that we are responsible for overcoming this current plague all by ourselves? Once upon a time America was one nation under God? As American’s we at least said “In God We Trust.” Many meant it. There is a remnant of American’s that still do. As a whole, however, America doesn’t need God anymore, it seems.

President Obama summed it up when he announced that we are no longer only a Christian nation. We are a mixed up nation that follows no one god. We are a nation that doesn’t follow G-D, the Creator, the Father of our L-RD Yeshua Jesus. Not nationally, anyway. Not as a people.

What happens to a nation that turns its back upon its God?

Abraham implored G-D to relent from destroying a city if 10 righteous could be found. If a search is conducted in America today, will a sufficient number of righteous in Messiah be found to thwart the nations destruction?

What do you think?

1I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
2My help comes from the L-RD,
who made heaven and earth. [Psalm 121]

As we move on with this SARS-CoV virus, this “corona virus” that causes the COVID-19 disease, will we look to the medical sciences for help and protection? Perhaps our political leadership will be our help, print more money to pass around? How about looking to the World Health Organiztion (WHO)? Will a strong global leader come out of the shadows, the darkness, to offer us more than help with the plague, but world peace, too? Will voices of men be heard, to whom we should run? Will we give our admiration, our acclaim, to humankind?

Time will tell.

May our L-RD enable us to stand, and to stand firm in the days to come.

This is more important than recognizing ‘the Mark of the Beast’

An article in the Christian Post, by Michael Brown, CP Op-Ed Contributor, has a lot to say about Pastors defying recommended and mandated “public gathering” orders as well as what we can focus our attention on these days.

Check out the article “This is more important than recognizing ‘the Mark of the Beast'”

Balance

View From Cassandra's Mast — From Cassandra’s Mast

Cassandra is a twenty-five foot Capy Dory sailboat. She has a full keel and is pretty heavy for her small size. When sailing, I’ve often had some trouble trimming the sails just right so that the boat maintains its course. Some days it seems as though I am constantly making adjustments to the jib or the main or the tiller. It’s a juggling act with the variable speed and direction of the lake’s wind.

A year or so ago I attained a perfect balance. I crawled forward to the mast and leaned around to take this photograph. In twelve or so years sailing Cassandra, it’s only happened a few times. Most of the time the winds are squirrley. Then there’s my sails— over forty years old. The running rigging is about twenty years old, and not in the best shape.

But there’s more to it than that; I’m not all that good of a sailor. It really doesn’t matter how good I am, though, I enjoy being out on the water. Sure, I find sailing easier when conditions are right for me. I like it when the wind is between ten and fifteen miles per hour. I’ve sailed higher winds. It makes me nervious, actually. It’s all about the feeling of control, I think, or lack thereof. It takes wind to sail. No wind means drifting. Going somewhere, but not where one might want to go. Too much wind means reducing the size of the sails to depower the boat. Cassandra has no way to reduce the size of the main sail, unfortunately. One of these days I hope to take care of that problem.

Control. Lack of Control. Drifting along with no wind. Heeling over, being blown off course, in a high wind. It’s all about balance.

Seems to me there are some lesssons that can be learned from sailing. What do you think?