WOW- What a Question

I mentioned in a prior post that I attend a Bible Study group named BSF. A question in last weeks lesson really stopped me in my tracks.

We’ve been studying a letter Saint Paul wrote to the Romans. In a segment of the letter, Paul is distraught over the systematic rejection by his fellow countrymen of his message of Christ as the Messiah. Specifically Paul wrote:

I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel Romans 9:1-4

A paraphrase of the question I was asked to contemplate was, if Christ was truly not a part of my life, what would be my loss?

I had a good friend who battled cancer for a number of years. We’d go to lunch when she was strong enough. She used to tell me that she was going to fight this disease with everything she had and if it was not enough, she would go to a place of great rest to be with her Lord. She would say to me, “Doug, I just don’t know how someone can get through something like this without God.” She did lose that battle with cancer, but was freed to go away to a time of peace and rest with her Lord, free of chemotherapy, blood platelet transfusions, radiation, pain & fatigue. Her comment was a restatement of the question, what if Christ was not a part of her life.

This BSF question really caused me to think about what it would like to be without Christ in my life. I’ve been so blessed to really not know what that would be like. Christ, in his mercy introduced his salvation and his love to me at a very early age. I had the blessing of a Christian mother, who prayed earnestly for me and taught me of His love and His salvation (Her lunch time stories complete with flannel graph and cutout Biblical characters will have to come at a later time).

My multi-part answer to this question seemed to flood form the tip of my pen once I got past the inconceivable idea of His not being in my life. While writing this answer, I had a sick feeling in my stomach that I must admit really surprised me. Although the words came directly from my heart, I’ve subsequently scanned the Bible and included supporting verses with a desire to further explain my thoughts.

Part one: I would have no hope

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, Ephesians 1:18

Part two: I would not have a future, a promise of eternal life

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I John 5: 11-12

Part three: I would not have an advocate on my behalf in heaven

For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. Hebrews 9:15

These thoughts and feelings gave me insight into how the people around me, who have not built that relationship with Christ and have the hope, future, eternal life and advocacy in heaven must feel day after day year after year. As my late friend asked, how do they do it?

Christ’s offer is open to everyone. Jesus said himself:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

And later, Paul writes:

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

If you have not taken advantage of Christ’s gift, I would greatly encourage you to earnestly investigate and seek out what it means to be a part of his plan for eternal life. For those who have accepted this eternal gift, Paul offers these additional comforts:

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

If you are interested in doing an in-depth study of the Bible, I would strongly recommend Bible Study Fellowship (BSF). Whether you’ve been studying the Bible for decades, or have not cracked the cover open, BSF offers a level playing field for everyone to join in and discuss the words the Holy Spirit has put on their heart. It’s likely there’s a BSF study group in your city or a city near you. Click (here) to see.

The Oils of Nature

Last weekend, my wife and I spent some time at a gallery showing, which had a display of the artwork of one of my wife’s closest friends. It was interesting to see how her art has progressed over the years. We have a pencil sketch she did of my wife and her, during their senior year and we have a watercolor she gave us as a wedding present. Her medium now is oils, or at least for this gallery showing, the works were all in oils. Although based in Seattle, Washington, her paintings are reflective of the most beautiful natural scenes throughout Idaho and Washington. I thought it might be interesting to do a brief scan of how artwork was used through the historical record of the Bible.

The first mention of any type of artistic endeavors was in 6th generation of Cain’s family line(more on Cain). 1 Genesis 4:21 & 22 states, Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute & Tubal-Cain, … forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron.

In 1 Genesis 24:53 Rebekah is given gold and silver jewelry as engagement presents when she agrees to marry Isaac. We see artisans using their skills to glorify God in Exodus 25:10-30. God gives instructions for the artisans to create:

- A chest, known as the Ark, that is overlaid with gold, gold rings installed to carry it by & gold cherubim located on the cover.

- A table of wood overlaid with gold and gold plates, dishes bowls, & pitchers to hold the bread of the Presence.

- A lamp stand of pure gold with flowerlike cups buds and blossoms along with seven gold lamps.


Peter tells us, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10

What possible conclusions might we draw from this brief scan. First, God never gives up on anyone and he can use them to bring about great things. Cain failed giving into his anger, and yet from his family came the beginnings of music and working with metals. Art can be used to represent the tokens of love we have for each other, as it did between Isaac & Rebekah, sometimes representing the emotions we feel. Art can be used to glorify and worship God as it did in the Tent of Meeting (the first Tabernacle). And last but not least we should use our talents, skills, & gifts to serve others with an eye toward demonstrating with those gifts, the grace God has shown and given us.

Fantastic Football Fiesta

It’s been a week now and the Boise Metro-area is still buzzing with the big win; Boise State University (BSU) Broncos win the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. For those of you who were not familiar with BSU Football, or didn’t see the game, BSU won it, 43-42 in an overtime victory. Suddenly, everyone is a BSU Bronco. Businesses offer their congratulations via their road signs, many cars are flying Broncos flags from their doors, and the talk around the office water cooler is still about that last play that gave us the lead. Everywhere you look, people are sporting BSU sweatshirts or tee-shirts. Retailers say they can’t keep Bronco’s paraphernalia on the shelves. Yes everyone loves a winner and people who were never fans before are now ardent followers. I can remember a few years back where BSU wasn’t winning their games and their following was much smaller. There was nary a BSU sweatshirt to be seen. At that time the Broncos didn’t fit that image of being “Winners”.

Early in Christ’s ministry, people flocked to him. In John 6:1-13 Jesus feeds 5000 + people and this miracle proclaims his greatness to them. People considered Christ a winner.

John 6:15 states, “Jesus knowing that they were going to make him king by force, withdrew again to the mountains by himself.”

Certainly if Christ had given in to the temptation of power, and glory, the iron hand of the Romans would have crush the movement.

However the people are persistent. John 6:24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.

The people wanted to put Jesus in the role of there choosing and did not understand what God had planned for him. Jesus tried to explain God’s plan for him in John 6:40 when he stated,

“For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

God’s plan was for Christ to be savior of the world, but this did not meet with the people’s expectations.

John 6:41-42 At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." They said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I came down from heaven'?"
John 6:60-65 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you? What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him."

The people had their own idea of how eternal life was to be gained. While they were willing to make him their king, they were not willing to make him their Messiah (savior).

From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. John 6:66

I have spoken to many friends and family members who have found Christ’s teachings hard and have ignored God’s plan of salvation through Christ. They have derived their own free form ideas of how they will attain eternal life. The most popular seems to be the idea of great scales in the sky that weigh their deeds and if the good ones out way the bad ones, they make it into heaven. A close second is the idea that as long as you’re trying to commune with God, whether he is Allah, Buddha, or another religious deity, you’ll gain eternal life. But scripture tells us that for those who had similar ideas during Christ's time:

To this, Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

If you are a person who has preconceived ideas about who Christ is, I would encourage you to search the scriptures, ignoring your bias and read his words with an open mind.

A Bright 2007

Winter Garden Aglow
Idaho Botanical Garden

We had the opportunity to tour the Idaho Botanical Garden’s Winter Aglow display. 250,000 lights cover the plants, arbors, and walls of the garden. I couldn’t help but think that it must take months to put the lights up and then take them down after the season & I pitied the poor person(s) who has to carry out this work. New Year's Day is the time we typically begin pulling down our Christmas lights, both indoor & out, ornaments, & decorations and box them up for storage. I must admit that this is not one of my most favorite things to do. I’m glad when it‘s complete and we’re back to our normal routine, although I do miss the cheeriness & colors the lights provide.

There is another light that is with me at all times, and I depend on it to guide me through my life. It is written:

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life ." John 8:12

I thank God for providing his Son to be the light of life and Christ’s willingness to make the sacrifice to become that light.

Prince Of Peace

Christmas 2006























Baby's First Chrismas 1982
Baby's First Chrismas 1987

























Our family Christmas tree has become a diary of the special events in our lives. My wife and I started a tradition of buying a dated ornament each year starting with the first year we were married. We have ornaments that celebrate “Our First Christmas together” as well as our major anniversaries. We’ve also tried to pick up ornaments on our major vacations and other highlights of our life together. Two ornaments that commemorate two of the most important events in our lives are “Baby’s First Christmas”. These two ornaments represent God’s greatest blessings to me, my children. My son and my daughter have brought me such great joy to my life, which words can’t describe. My son’s bright smile and sense of humor, along with my daughter’s sparkling eyes and bubbly laugh bring warmth, joy and light into a room with them. When either of them leaves, the room seems a little darker and emptier.

The birth of another child is foretold in Isaiah 9:6,

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

This child is Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate at this time. One can only image the love & joy Mary must have felt for this baby, much as we feel for our own children. There must have been a special sense of excitement and of purpose. Just a few month’s earlier, Mary had been visited by an angel who had told her:

You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."Luke 1:31-33,

This child brought love, light, joy, and the gift of salvation, the most important blessing God’s bestowed on me. This gift of salvation has the added blessing of peace, the peace that comes from knowing that your eternal life is secure with God. The Prince of Peace offers you a special Christmas gift:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

That faith is a faith in Jesus Christ, that he is the risen Son of God and he has the power to give us eternal life. Christ has a Christmas gift for you, and you only need to accept it from him to have the gift of salvation and in turn the blessing of peace.

Merry Christmas to you and to those you love.

Are You My Mission?

From as far back as I can remember, missionaries would come to the churches to which we belonged, and give reports on the work that had been done, in the name of Christ, in other lands. I can remember being a small child, fascinated with the stories of distant people and places, often times hanging on the missionary’s every word. If you're like me, when you hear the word missionary, missions, or missions work, images of selfless workers treading through jungles, fighting thirst and malaria come to mind. I remember a time when I was in High School and a visiting missionary was giving a sermon. The missionary ask, would you be willing to go and tell someone about the saving grace of Jesus, (or at least words to that effect) if so, please stand up. God's Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and ask that same question, and I felt compelled to say yes, in my heart and to stand up signifying that I would do so.

I was a little surprised when after dinner, my mother approached me and said that her friend caught her after church and told her how exciting it was that I have committed to being a missionary. My reply was, "When did I do that?" Sometimes I can be quite literal, when the missionary asked would someone be willing to tell others about Christ, I was thinking, I'm willing to do so, but I had the students in my school and the people I worked with after schools in mind rather than hopping a plane for the missions field. It appeared to at least some of the members of the church, standing up meant I was leaving.

I think that sometimes it is easy for us to say, we don't have a calling to be a missionary and instead throw some money in the collection plate as it goes by to feel a part of the whole missions process. Please don't misunderstand me; I think it is very important to monetarily support missions. But I think there's more to the story than that. Christ says in John 4:35-36:

Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.


I think he is telling us, you don't have to go any where to be a missionary, look around you, the workplace, your family, friends, people you golf with, the PTA, the list goes on, and these people are your and my mission fields. Some are asked of God to leave their homes and their families and travel far away. Two good friends of ours, Sue Carpenter & Carolyn Boyd, of Carpenter's Cross Ministries have made this great sacrifice and God has used them to make a difference in other parts of the world. But for those of us who have not felt that gentle nudge into foreign missions, I would say look around you the fields are ripe. I pray that our Lord would both encourage and empower me in this area.

Blessings of Art

We had the opportunity to attend a gallery showing for an artist named Akiane, a child prodigy. Akiane heard from God at an early age (4). From that point on, Akiane began drawing and later painting the inspirations from her prayers and worship of God. The paintings are so detailed and intricate that it’s hard to believe that it is a child who has painted them. For me, one of the most intriguing components of Akiane’s painting is how she paints the eyes of her subject. They emanate both light and love. At times it was hard to tear myself away from some of he paintings, but I did out of respect for the other art enthusiast who wanted to get a better look

Many of the aspects of Akaine’s calling are similar to Samuel’s calling. In
1 Samuel 3, we read:

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.

8 The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!"
Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

If you’re in the Boise Metro area and want to view her work, the show continues until December 18th or some of her work can be view on her web site. http://www.artakiane.com/ .

Turkey, Westie, & Pie - Oh My

We had a new family member at the Thanksgiving table this year. We bought a little West Highland Terrier. Our little Westie is quite a handful but has already brought us a lot of joy. We had a small group of family members in attendance in addition to our Westie.







Thanksgiving is a reminder that God is the source of the multitude of blessings we enjoy and to him we are thankful. Giving thanks to God is recorded throughout the Bible.

In
Ephesians 1:15-18, Paul writes that he is continually giving thanks for the believers in Christ.

The writer of Colossians tells us, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17.

In my blog entry A Knight’s Tale, I write of Daniel’s commitment to prayer, and that prayer came at a great price. One thing that was not immediately clear to me at that time was that Daniel in fact giving thanks to God during his prayer. Daniel continued to give thanks even after the king made his decree that no one shall offer prayers to any other god other than prayers to himself. If you would like to refresh your memory regarding Daniel’s story, you can find it in Daniel 6.

I am reminded once again that dedication to prayer is fundamental to growing a relationship with God.

Election 2006

George W. Bush called me the other day. Ok really it was a recording of George W. Bush and some type of auto-dialer, which called me and urged me to vote Republican. He wasn’t the only one; there were recorded voices of teachers and local politicians, all encouraging me to see their way. Throw in a ton of TV commercials and I’ll admit that I'm fairly burned out on the whole thing. So did Election 2006 turn out to your liking?

I certainly got an earful post election from friends and family, who were beside themselves about the election results. The funny thing is, they supported different parties and yet for one reason or another, all were unhappy. There’s been a lot of talk over the last couple of years regarding the polarizing affects of the political battles that have taken place in our country.

The Bible offers us guidance in how we should respond to government and its officials. Peter writes:

Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men:
whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent
by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.
1 Peter 2:12-14

And Titus 3:1-3 states:

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities,
to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be
peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.

Titus 3:1-3

As Christians, we do have unity regardless of the political party we support. Colossians 1:15-17 reminds us that above all else, God is in control of all things in this world including governments and rulers. We can unite together and pray for our leaders, our country, and for God’s working our country.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:15-17

Goin' to The Chapel & We're Goin' Ta Get Married

First Methodist Church Boise, Idaho

(Cathedral of the Rockies)

My niece, or really my wife's niece got married last Saturday. She’s a beautiful young girl, both inside and out, and her new husband is one of those genuinely nice guys who cherishes his new bride. I referred to my wife’s niece as my niece because over our 27 year span of marriage, the family lines tend to blend. I remember when the bride was born, and before my eyes, turning from a darling little curly haired girl to a young woman of grace and charm.
There’s something about a wedding that brings joy into one’s heart. Attending weddings always reminds me of my own. That was one if the happiest days of my life. We spend so much time planning for the wedding (ok my wife planned and I showed up wherever I was suppose to show up) not realizing that it’s a brief moment, a few hours, in a journey taken together for a life time. Once the wedding becomes a cherished memory, we’re left with each other and learning how to live and grow together. One of the greatest blessings God can grant a man is a wife that reflects the words of Solomon in his Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

Proverbs 31: 9-31. The Epilogue begins with:

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
In verse 30 he writes, “…but a woman who fears the LORD is to be
praised.”

I can truly say that God has granted me such a wife. I’m thankful for this blessing, and the life we share together.

A Knight's Tale

Conwy Castle located in Conwy, Wales built in 1283 - 1287 by Edward I









Taking photos from the turret of the King's tower can be a little unnerving on a windy day


















The little chapel in the Chapel Tower, where services were held for the castle residents

Conwy Castle, located in Conwy, Wales was one of the castles built by Edward I as an outpost for his efforts to conquer Wales and make it a part of his kingdom. Begun in May 1283 and finished in 1287, the castle had all of the functions necessary to keep the castle running and self-contained. Walls and towers encircle a ward of connected buildings that make up the King and Queen’s chambers, Great and Lesser Halls and a chapel, built after tower chapels became unfashionable.

The outer walls are made up of two sets of walls that form hallways connecting the towers. Each of the towers represented the various occupations necessary for the wellbeing of the small society. The towers were name for their purpose, bakehouse, stockhouse, prison, king, and chapel. In the base of the chapel tower was an exhibit discussing the role the Tower Chapel & prayer played in the lives of the castle inhabitants. The exhibit stated that having a chapel was as important to the people as the kitchen. The residents spent time each day in the chapel in prayer. It was important to the knights to spend time in prayer prior to going into battle.

We too face battles every day, and I for one don’t always prepare myself for those battles. There are many things that can “get in the way” of my daily devotions & dedicated time to pray. Often times it’s a quick prayer between meetings, a few moments before my shower, and even then, the consistency is not always there. But is being very busy a good excuse for not making daily devoted prayer a priority in my life?

The privilege of communing with God in prayer has come at a great cost to some. Daniel 6 tells of Daniel’s desire and discipline to pray to God three times a day. This is known to his enemies and they set out to build a trap for Daniel by convincing the King to write a decree that if anyone prays to a god other than the King, they will be thrown into the lions’ den. Daniel does not let this dissuade him from his daily prayer. His continued devotions to God were found out by his enemies and the King was forced to throw him in the den. God miraculously preserves Daniel, & once again the power of God is displayed to the world.

God has made access to him so easy for us that sometimes I forget the payment for our access to him has come at a great cost. The price was the sacrifice of Christ. May God through his grace and mercy help me to build a devoted time of prayer that honors that sacrifice.

The Power of Powerscourt

Garden view from the terrace at Powerscourt, the lake at Powerscourt & at the edge of the estate - a view of Sugarloaf Mountain

Located outside of Dublin, Ireland is a magnificent estate named Powerscourt. This beautiful Castle was home to the le Poer family for which the castle is named. The estate gardens are the main attraction. The grounds contain manicure lawns, a walled garden, statuary, and sunken Japanese Garden. As we walked along the pathways that wove throughout the gardens, I couldn’t help but be in awe of the beauty that surrounded me. It’s hard not to be impressed with the money and imagination that it took to put a garden or really gardens like these in place. But upon reflection, was it man that made the vibrant colors of the dahlias, & the borders that line the walled garden? No it is God who brings nature to life. At best man can only claim the arrangement in Powercourts gardens as well as our gardens. Often times we try to imitate what God has placed naturally on this earth. To further drive home the point, we came to the edge of the estate, and looked across a misty valley of trees, meadows, & beyond towards the wooded hills on the other side, all placed there by the creator of this universe. Man with all of power and money could not replicate what God had place there.

In one of my recent Bible Study Fellowship lessons (BSF), we were asked to contemplate on a passage written by Paul. The passage reads:

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
Romans 1:20


Paul is encouraging us to look around at the beauty and wonders of this world and understand that they’re a reflection of the power and glory of God who has made them. Are you questioning whether God is real or not? Look around you and know that the wonders of this earth could not happen by chance, but have been put here by a magnificent creator.

Lessons of the Abbey

Last month we were in Edinburgh Scotland and took the opportunity to visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Founded as a monastery 1128, this palace has been home to many kings of Scotland, Mary Queen of Scots and is now the residence of Queen Elizabeth when she’s visiting Edinburgh

Attached to the palace is an abbey that was the site of many coronations of Scottish kings. The abbey is now in ruins, gutted by a fire set by an anti-Catholic mob.

On the abbey wall is a memorial that reads:

Our Savior puts it this way: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Matthew 6:19-21

The Pearl of York

While visiting the city of York, England, we came across a street named The Shambles. This little street is one of the most well preserved medieval streets in Europe. The houses are uneven and unsymmetrical, which I thought gave the street its name. As it turns out the name Shambles is also used as a word for the benches that held the meat that was for sale. The occupants of the Shambles were mainly butchers and the townspeople would come to the area to buy their meat products. In center of this long street is the home of Margaret Clitherow. The home is now a shrine to Margaret’s faith. Margaret, known as the Pearl of York, married a wealthy butcher. Her husband was a chamberlain of the established church.

Three years after her marriage, she converted to the Catholic faith, during a time when practicing that faith was illegal. Margaret attended underground Masses and harbored priests. She often times was imprisoned for these actions. Her final punishment resulted in losing her life. She was laid on the ground with a sharp stone beneath her back. Then a door was placed on top of her and stones were placed on the door until she was crushed to death. Her last words were "Jesu! Jesu! Jesu! Have mercy on me!" !" A small plaque that tells Margaret's story is on the wall of this little house and encourages the reader to meditate on her life and what she gave up for her faith.

History is filled with people, such as Margaret & St. Stephen, stoned for being a believer in Christ, Acts 6:8-7:59 who have become martyrs for their faith. I look at these believers and wonder how I would respond to the choice of denying my faith or losing my life. Many of us will not have to make this decision , but sometimes God asks us to make other choices or sacrifices. What is God asking you and me to do or give up for our faith?

Rebuilding

Nehemiah tells us of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, after they had been destroyed during Nebuchadnezzar’s siege and the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. (2 Kings Chapter 25). In Chapter 4:1-3, Nehemiah describes the opposition they received from the surrounding inhabitants. At first, Local leader Sanballat, ridicules the Jews’ efforts in rebuilding and was very angry. Later, When Sanballat along with Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod realize that the Israelites are beginning to succeed…

“They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it.” Nehemiah 4:8

Often times God gives us a task to do as well. Many people may try to discourage us from undertaking the tasks God has put before us. They can ridicule us, or try to dissuade us from his work with what they describe are their best intentions. Sometimes the things that would keep us from doing God’s work don’t come in the form of people, but may in fact be the barbs of Satan in the form of reminders of past failings, or self doubt.

Nehemiah offers a plan to combat those people and things that would inhibit us from achieving his will. He first coaches us to pray (Nehemiah 4:4), and then begin the work, guarding against those who would seek to sideline us (Nehemiah 4:16-22).

There is a happy ending to Nehemiah’s story:

So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God. – Nehemiah 6:15-16.

What exciting words, “they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God”. May we carry out work to completion, so that those around us may know that the things we have done are done with the help of the God of this universe.

Deja Vu

The title for this posting is entitled Deja Vu but it could have been as easily entitled, “Ripped from the pages of the Bible.” I was listening to a newscaster who was saying that he has been reporting on the wars in the Middle East for thirty years and conflicts in that region are not a new phenomenon. I think he was implying that he was an expert in the field. Another news program stated there had been forty years of conflicts and wars in the Middle East. The Bible records many such wars that were fought for land & the right to exist for the nation of Israel. The book of Joshua details the fight for land that took place in order to carve out a nation for the people of God. This goal to make the land of Canaan, now modern day Israel and portions of Lebanon, a new nation for the Israelites was based on a promise God made first to Abraham, (Genesis 15:16-21) then to Isaac (Genesis 26: 3-4 & 6),and finally Jacob (Genesis 35:9-15), that said the lands in which they were now an alien would at some time become the land of their descendents. That time came to fruition after the exodus of the Israelite nation from Egypt. Joshua 1:2 gives God’s command to make the move and Joshua 1:6 speaks of God’s encouragement for the people and he confirms again the promises he made to their forefathers regarding the land.

But how much is enough? God communicates the borders of the country in this way. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea on the west( Joshua 1:4). He further extends the boundaries in Joshua 13:2-6.

But with these blessings from God comes conditions. In Joshua 1:7-8 God coaches the Israelites to follow all of the laws that he gave to Moses, mediate on the law, and they will be prosperous and successful. If Israel seeks alliances with the nations they deposed, intermarry with them, Joshua 23:12-13 and/or cease to worship God in favor of their gods, he will be angry and the land will no longer be theirs Joshua 23:16

The book of Judges goes on to describe how some of the people of the Israelite nation turned their back on God by worshipping other gods. The boundaries of the nations expanded and contracted throughout the reigns of Saul, David, and Solomon. 2 Kings 17:7-41 & 2 Kings 25:1-2 describes the conquering and wholesale exile of Israel and Judah by the Babylonians. And Nehemiah recounts the struggle of the re-building process of Jerusalem. Throw in a little Roman occupation during the time of Jesus, and subsequent conquering nations after that and you have a recipe for a land in constant war and upheaval.

The Middle East conflicts we hear of today are not unlike the ones that took place thousands of years ago. The Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs web site gives a timeline from 1948, when Israel declared their independence to today, of the actions and conflicts that have taken place to establish the current nation of Israel.

This link gives a map of the changes for that territory from the Kingdoms of Solomon & David to 1967. This link show what is termed, modern day Israel.

The pictures of death and destruction on the nightly news are horrific for both sides and should not be minimized. However there is hope for the believer. Christ says in Matthew 24:6“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.” Some are speculating that the current conflict is a sign of the end. Even on one of the news programs there was a segment on, “Is this Armageddon?”

Are these the signs of the end of the age? It’s not clear, certainly there have been periods of time where the believers were sure the events of their time were signifying the coming of Christ, and then it did not come to pass. But as believers, we know & have this hope whenever Christ returns:

“At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” Matthew 24:30-31

Road Trip !!!!!!

We’ve been out of town the last couple of weeks enjoying what the Pacific Northwest & the Idaho mountains have to offer. My wife, daughter, niece and I started out the week visiting my mom in Astoria enjoying her company, viewing the beautiful architecture that graces the hills on which the town is built and then walking along the Columbia River, watching as the ships sail in to port and then back out to sea. Our walk that day ended with some shopping at the Sunday market.

After spending 2 days in Astoria we drove to Cannon Beach, where we met up with good friends Angela, Graeme, & Carolyn, all from Australia and Sue from Seattle. We had a great time hiking along some of the trials that wound their way through some of the forest Wm. Clark walked through to trade for whale meat and blubber at Ecola Creek. We trekked the beach, searching for those elusive puffins that nest on Haystack Rock (one flew right over us) and exploring
Ft. Clatsop, Lewis & Clarks home during the winter of 1805-1806. We filled in with plenty of eating and shopping when we weren’t exploring.


After the long drive back to Idaho, we spent Saturday doing laundry and re-packing our suitcases. On Sunday we were off to the mountains to volunteer at Royal Family Kids’ Camp (RFKC) as counselors and staff members. This camp provides positive experiences for children at risk. This was the first time at camp for my wife and daughter, while the rest of the Cannon Beach crew were seasoned camp veterans. The campers are foster children & have experience atrocities that thankfully many of us cannot understand and would like to believe do not exist in our society. The care takers of these children did not see the children's value, the value that Jesus saw in each and every child. Jesus was preaching and teaching and his disciples thought they were looking out for his best interests, by trying to dissuade a group of parents from bringing their children to Christ for a blessing. However when Christ learned of this he said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
Matthew 19:13-15


RFKC provides an environment for these children to learn that they are of value. I spoke to one of the foster mothers upon our return to town and she told me, “You don’t know what one week at camp does for these children.” Click here if you would like to learn more about the local RFKC camp, or you can click here to read the about the national RFKC organization.

Farewell My Furry Friend

We had to say goodbye to our little Daphne last week. At 15 years, her health began to fail. She began to have problems in April and her health rapidly went down hill. Daphne was a faithful companion, and always a bright spot in our lives. God first made the connection between the animals & man in the Garden of Eden. Genesis 1:26

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."


God is so gracious to us to enrich our lives with the creatures of his creation. The beauty of the birds, colors of the fish, and the warm companionship of our pets, like our little Daphne, who have graced our lives with their joyful wagging tails, warm brown eyes, and licks of affection.

Not So Lovable

Statue of Mother Teresa located in a small garden behind St. John’s Cathedral and adjacent to the Diocesan Vocation Office, Boise Idaho


















Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1979. During his presentation speech, Professor John Sanness, Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee said:

The hallmark of her work has been respect for the individual and the individual's worth and dignity. The loneliest and the most wretched, the dying destitute, the abandoned lepers, have been received by her and her Sisters with warm compassion devoid of condescension, based on this reverence for Christ in Man.

His speech eloquently related a picture of how Mother Teresa and the sisters of her order put into daily practice the art of loving the unlovable. Jesus too set that example.
Matthew 9:10-17 NIV describes how Jesus ate dinner with tax collectors and “sinners” as the religious leaders called them. In fact Jesus was ridiculed for doing so. Jesus often times mingled with lepers as described in
Matthew 26:6 NIV.

During the Nobel Prize ceremony, Mother Teresa had a lot to say about helping the unborn child, the poor, the ill and many more people who were in great need. One particular passage of her speech stated:

When I pick up a person from the street, hungry, I give him a plate of rice, a piece of bread, I have satisfied. I have removed that hunger. But a person that is shut out, that feels unwanted, unloved, terrified, the person that has been thrown out from society - that poverty is so hurtable and so much, and I find that very difficult.

My paraphrase of her comments would be, those who are physically hungry can be relieved of their pain by simply giving them food. But those who have feelings of being unwanted, unloved, basically those who are on the outside looking in on the group have a pain that is not so easily remedied. These types of people are all around us, maybe in the cubicle next to us at work. It may be a person that so craves your attention that they’re appearing in your path at every opportunity, always asking you to do something with them, to the point that it seen that they are stalking you. They are not really taking the hint that they are just not someone you want to “hang with”. I will admit that I’ve been guilty of not wanting to hang out with someone because I didn't care for their personality or other reasons, numerous times throughout my life. How sad that I may have lost opportunities to share Jesus with someone who might have been searching for him. It may be time for us to check out the person in the next cube, or that next door neighbor with that barking dog, possibly that guy three pews over who talks a little loud during the sermon or sings off key at the top of his lungs.

Possibly you’re that person who feels like he or she is on the outside looking in. For you I would say that while it appears as if no one knows you exist, there is a loving savior who loves you, cares for you, who is interested in you, and wants to be in your life. All you have to do is say that you want him to be in your life & in your heart.

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
Matthew 9:9 NIV

Am I my brother's keeper?

Ah, the good old days

I hear a lot of people talk about how they can hardly stand to be with one of their family members. Often times, it's a brother, sister, or parent that they just can't stand or at the very least, a person with whom they are quite annoyed. Maybe it's that brother-in-law, sister-in-law, son-in-law that is an outlaw in your book. The first family feud was recorded in Genesis 4:1-13. I'm sure you remember the story. Cain and Abel both bring sacrifices as an offering for worshipping God. God accepted Abel’s animal offering but did not accept Cain’s offering of fruit. Cain says, “What gives?” and seems to pout a little bit. God says, “No need to be upset, just bring be an animal sacrifice as I’ve asked you to bring.” (Ok, I’ve paraphrased a bit here). Cain has other plans. His anger and bitterness turn to rage towards his brother. He lures Abel out into the fields and kills him there.

God knowing this goes to Cain, and asks, “Where is your brother Abel?” And Cain replies, “I don't know," … "Am I my brother's keeper?" Of course God doesn’t let him off of the hook, and his life is miserable from that point on. You may be saying, “Hold on Doug, anger, annoyance, avoiding someone doesn’t equal murder.” In Matthew 5:20-22. Christ says,

"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment."

Ouch, I don’t know about you but it hits a little too close to home for me. I will tell you this, my brother and I had a really good relationship. We talked on the phone at least once a week and really got along well. However, I took him for granted. He would suggest getting our families together and go bowling or go out for pie and I didn’t do it. Luckily, a month before his helicopter accident, my son and I went fishing with him and his stepson. I took my brother for granted, always assuming that he would be there, someone to hang out with when we’re old and gray and to share memories of the good old days. That wasn’t to be and I greatly regret it.

If you’re at odds with someone in your family, I would encourage you to reach out to them and put away your differences.