3-9-2016 Reflection

And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”         Mark 8:31-33

Lord, You have taught me something new about reflections. When waters are calm and things are right with the world, the reflection I catch on a perfect pond is difficult to distinguish from the one casting the light. But when the wind stirs, or a stone is cast into the waters, or more so when a storm roils, the image becomes confused and misshapen. The water is still water, but something has caused turmoil.

I’ve learned an important thing: before asking what the reflection is supposed to look like, find out first what has it become, and why? Is the one casting light on the pond, throwing stones purposefully in hopes of reshaping the image? Is there another source of stirring? Could multiple influences be affecting my perception? Regardless, the reflection is not the issue, it is only a result.

I believe You are telling me by this analogy, that the same is true in the world beyond my small pond. The conflicts of societies, countries, politics, religions; are not always an indication that leaders, causes, candidates or people are the cause of the distortion. No doubt they can be, but I suspect You are always involved. You ruffle the reflection itself, warning of changing weather or of Your desire for me, for all of us, to pay attention. Your effect on the waters either calls me to examine what I am or am not doing to reflect Your purpose properly.

Currently I see this played out in the wrestling of ideas within my country. There is stout competition for new leadership and those who have presented themselves for consideration are being harangued as being radical or counter to the norm. Their rhetoric and behavior appears distorted and difficult to discern. But are they not just a stirred likeness of what casts the image? What makes them seem distorted? What are You telling all of us in these turbulent times?

My Savior and King, I have a desire to look more and more like You as I walk my faith. I want to be light to the world—a reflection of Your Light. But sometimes I receive feedback that says I am a poor representation. It was the same with Your People Israel, it was the same with Your disciples, it is the same today.

Help me Lord, heighten my senses so that I become aware of how You are actively stirring me and wanting to change me, so that I become a better reflection. Protect me from my desire to cast a selfish image on the waters. And when the reflection is again stilled, I pray that there is more of You in me to be seen by the world.

Mark C.

Here We Go Again!

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness;

 come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his;

 we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving

 and his courts with praise;

 give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good and his love endures   

  forever; his faithfulness continues through all       generations.                  
                         Psalm 100

Lord God, we have good reason to shout, worship and sing. Patti and I have waited and prayed, struggling through our own impatience to assure we hear Your directive in Your perfect timing, not ours.

And…You have called us out. Back to the Land, back to Your people! Better yet, You have answered in a way we would not have predicted—through a friend tied to an organization offering a ministry to the indigent of Israel.

There lies the challenge and our hurdle. How is this to happen? The timeframe between now and the duty is short by our earthly standards. Questions abound:

            Who will join us on the journey?

            What must be done to prepare?

            How will we gather all the necessary funds to cover expenses?

And only one answer fulfills:

            “I have called you.”

If it were anyone else telegraphing that message, I would be suspect. I would want to know exactly what and who were involved and I would insist in the money for the trip being completely banked. But it is You who have called and so none of that matters. The evidence of Your involvement is readily evident.

When our friend presented the mission to us, he explained the flexibility and low cost of the effort. When he outlined the ministry itself, we were amazed at how closely it mirrored the scriptural expectations we had; not wanting to return for a tour, but to serve. When the trip and our needs were shared with others for prayer and affirmation, we received immediate encouragement and even a generous monetary gift to get the ball rolling.

There is no doubt, Lord. You have begun a work and will see us complete it. Of course that means we must be obedient as well. There will be testimony and prayer, fasting and study. We will work our jobs to the max and sell whatever we can to garner the funds. We will invite others and ask for any who share our love for Israel to travel with us, reflect on scripture or simply check our progress to hold us accountable: All to Your glory, all to bless the effort.  

Master, what we don’t want is for this to become for our purpose and pleasure. What we do want is to chase Your desire; entering Your gates with thanksgiving and Your courts with praise; giving thanks to You and praising Your name.

In faith my bride and I hold up the banner for any and all to see. Come with us or support us. Not for us, but with us for Him. Read and pray about the information below and respond with questions or participation. We are going and thank you in advance for going with us!

 ּרך Blessings,

Mark & Patti C.

                                          ISRAEL PRAYER AND MINISTRY TRIP

Patti and I have been invited to participate in an incredible mission opportunity and in connection with the Messianic Jewish Alliance of America. This is the oldest not-for-profit organization established specifically for support of Israel and to meet the needs of Israel’s indigents.

In mid-May or thereabouts we will be traveling to the Holy Land to serve the people. We want to invite you to join us, either in person, or in prayer and support. Much has to happen between now and May for our trip to become a reality.

Our spiritual hearts call us to serve according to Isaiah 61:4-5 

They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.  Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks; foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers.

This is a unique opportunity to do ministry in Israel and to see many of the biblical sites without participating in a large tour group. We will stay in an apartment in Jerusalem.

Ministry Options

• Pray at 24 Hour Prayer Centers in Jerusalem

• Work at the Joseph Project Ministry outside of Jerusalem

• Fellowship with Holocaust Survivors

• Volunteer to Assist with Social Outreach Ministry with the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem and Ministry to Israel

• Engage in small group Bible study

Cost: If you’re interested in traveling with us, or sponsoring, the costs are as follows:

$2500.00-$3000.00 total per person including air fare for 12-13 days. Lodging will be in an apartment in Jerusalem.

Not Included: Food (we will be able to cook in the apartment), cost of sites/boat ride, bus from airport to apartment, include insurance and incidentals.

Sites to Visit

• Tour Yad Vashem (the Holocaust Museum and Memorial) in Jerusalem

with a Yad Vashem trained guide

• Old City of Jerusalem including Gethsemane and the Garden Tomb

• Day Trip to the Sea of Galilee to pray and visit sites (includes a Galilee

boat ride on a boat owned by a Messianic Jewish believer)

• Dead Sea/Ein Gedi/Masada

• Other areas of interest determined by the group (possibly Dead Sea Scroll Museum, Shiloh and Jacob’s well)

Sam Clarke, the pastor organizing the trip, lived in Jerusalem and worked directly with the Jewish and Messianic advocacy program and served at Yad Vashem (the Israel Holocaust Museum). His knowledge and connections to the land and the people are immense.

Please let us know of your interest and questions as soon as you can. Meanwhile, you can go to http://www.mjaa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=rd_ourwork_israel_project_page for information about the Joseph Project.

Shalom,

Mark & Patti C.                                                                                                                           615-948-8214                                                                                                     markc91754@comcast.net

11-25-2015 Comfort Food

O LORD, you have searched me and known me!

You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.

You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.

Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.

You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.     Psalm 139:1-6

Lord, there are so many escalating issues in the world and I’m tempted toward two ways of thinking by them.

The world has always been troubled; this is nothing more than a repetition of sad conditions. I will patiently wait for the cycle to reset itself.

Or

           There is no hope so why not just hide from it all, curl up in my cave and watch a 
           good movie?

You have influenced me enough my God, to known that neither response is appropriate.  I am to take a stand, I am to speak out, I am to serve the needy and my family. I am to prepare for ever increasing chaos beyond what we have ever known. All these things You have instructed.

But Lord, where is my hope? Sometimes I’m just tempted to say, “Let it all be finished. Come Lord Jesus and end this mess!”

You on the other hand, have a plan that doesn’t include following my plan. Instead You tell me to be steadfast and courageous. And you give me an interesting gift to help me not freeze in my tracks from frustration and fear: The gift of comfort.

I don’t know what comfort looks like, I can’t touch it. I don’t know if my comfort somehow helps others and I can’t experience their comfort, nor can I give others my comfort. It is Yours to give, Yours to remove; mine to accept or reject…just as with all Your gifts.

There are only a few ways I can receive comfort. Some things that I perceive as comfort items indirectly inspire comfort. Some of those things, special kinds of food for example, are superficial and temporary. Other comfort items inspire me more deeply and have much longer, even eternal, effects on me. One of the greatest of these is, Your Word—food of another sort. With this food to strengthen me, I’m able to see through the turmoil. It is true comfort food that You have laid out on the table You have prepared before me. Just a few bites of the incredible feast You offer includes:

Jeremiah 33:3 Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

Psalm_20:1  May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!

Psalm 23: ALL of it.

Matthew_11:28  Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

John_14:6  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Revelatio 22:7 "And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."

Revelatio 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

…My cup runs over, Lord. I can’t take It all in. Your instruction of love can be so overwhelming that it would be easy to ignore, looking for less convicting ways to go about my life.

Yet I’m equally tempted to rest in my comfortable bed and do nothing but munch on Your comfort food. Why not? Let the rest of the world struggle with its problems. What a life that would be.

And You give me grace when I veer toward either extreme; the true and main course being to share the feast, breaking bread with my immediate community and beyond. There is too much manna for me, You want me to invite others to join in, even if they don’t appear to be hungry; even if they claim it is not the kind of food they are accustomed to.

And there lies the hope. It’s not my hope, it’s not the world’s hope, it is Your hope with which You offer comfort to all of us.

Comforter, I am so very thankful for Your hope and comfort. Help me to appreciate both the times of rest You provide and the time for action that You require of me.

In Your hope, comfort and strength I pray,

Mark C.

Happy Thanksgiving to all

9-7-15 A Theory on Theories

By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.

1 John 3:19-20

Gravity is a force that exists in a relationship of attraction between all things in the universe. Larger objects have more gravity, smaller have less. The closer two objects exist to one another, the greater the gravitational attraction. These are facts supported by evidence; indisputable. There is Law involved with Gravity.

The Laws of Gravity are good ones—some of the best. People support gravity. It’s easy to buy into Master, because gravity holds us accountable. Without gravity, we would float away; nothing to anchor our purpose.  Gravitational laws are sound and provable.

Such as?

On this planet: What goes up must come down…unless the force of escape is greater than the force of attraction.

I’m fine with Gravitational laws. But to You, Creator, I pose a pressing question. Where is gravity? How does it function? I can measure it and obey its constraints, yet I can’t put a piece of gravity under a microscope to watch it work. I can’t peer at gravity through a telescope. Al l I can do is observe its results. So, Lord, I confess to being a little sketchy on Gravitational theory.  

Theories are not laws. Laws require only obedience:

  If I walk off the roof of a building, I will fall like an anvil to the ground.

But regarding Gravitational theory, I have to demonstrate great confidence in something unseen:

  Because of gravity, I do not need to wear my anvil outside today.

It seems as if gravity is much like…well, like You God…

…but not exactly.

You are the force that created relationships of attraction between all things in the universe. You are the greatest attractor of all. The closer any object comes toward You, the greater the Godly attraction. This is a fact supported by evidence; indisputable. There is Law involved with God.

The laws of God are good ones—the best. Strangely people don’t always support Godly laws. It’s an odd paradox, Master, because You hold us accountable. Without You, we would float away; nothing to anchor our purpose.  Godly laws are sound and provable. Such as?

On this planet: We have fallen…unsuccessful in our attempt to escape the force of Your attraction.

I’m fine with Godly laws. But to You, Creator, I pose one more pressing question. Where are You? How do You function? I can measure and obey Your constraints, yet I can’t put a piece of You under a microscope to watch You work. I can’t peer at You through a telescope. Al l I can do is observe Your results. So, Lord, I confess to being a little sketchy on Godly theory. I even call it by another name: Faith.

Faith is not a law. Laws require only obedience:

  If I reject Your love and desire for my wellbeing. I will fall like an anvil into darkness.

But regarding Godly faith, I have to demonstrate great confidence in something unseen:

  Because of You, I do not need to fear the anvil of spiritual death. Today or any day: Not ever.

Why do I offer this weighty subject, Lord? I came across a theory recently posed by a well-known physicist who suggests: The data necessary to define a black-hole is trapped gravitationally inside the black-hole itself. So the hidden data can’t be used to define the black-hole; thus by evidence of the unobtainable information within, the black-hole is by definition…defined. (My paraphrase)

Excuse me Savior, but that one of the stupidest things I have ever heard posed by someone who is supposed to be one of the smartest beings trapped by gravity on this earth. The theory behind that theory is unprovable, unsupportable; appearing to be based on weak theory and seemingly weaker faith.

It reminds me of a time long ago, when I believed something to be a truth—that You did not exist. I set out to prove my theory and discovered that to do so, required me to build upon my unbelief with more and more unbelief: Theory supported only by more theory. There was no evidence I could find that validated my theories. The data I needed to prove my point, I found to be non-existent or totally unprovable, seemingly hidden within the black-hole of my flimsy justification and reasoning.

It took quite a while for me to realize I had never tried to test the strength of my theory by honestly pursuing the opposite position; that You do exist. Then came the real surprise.

When I started seeking You as a reality, I found more and more light shone on the possibility. There was, and is ample evidence of who You are and how You make Yourself known. You even made Yourself tangible in the form of Your son’s earthly presence and sacrifice. I began to see You (No, I have not met You in physical form, but by the increasing gravity of Your Spiritual presence). Your desire for a relationship of attraction to me drew me closer and closer to You. My understanding of Your purpose for me increased.  And so my old theory collapsed and was replaced by a very old law of life, newly and patiently revealed by the greatest Spiritual Physicist of all.

I understand that some people choose to focus, speculate on and question the darkness. It’s so easy to make up one’s own answers; no law is necessary, no results are required. But by that approach, where is the gravity? There is no purpose. Is the church’s faith so weakly founded? Do we chase You through scriptural and present day evidence as passionately as You have pursued us?

Lord, why would I or anyone choose to theorize on that which does not exist, when You offer anyone who chooses to believe in You, such a clear and non-theoretical relationship? I would love to hear any theories on that!

Mark C.

PS: To those who do not believe that the God of Creation exists, I pose one last set of questions:

If there were only one object and not two, would gravity or faith exist? Is such a concept provable? Why speculate on the unknowable? Might the question only be important in pointing to a greater truth; that we live in a universe of relationships, one to another; greater to lesser: Is the evidence disputable and if so, how?

8-8-2015 Yes to You

But let your communication be, Yes, yes; No, no: for whatever is more than these comes of evil.                                    Matthew 5:23 AKJ 

Lord, I seek your wisdom; for this message begins as none other I have written. I pray for Your wisdom and guidance in all that follows:

For those of you joining in the reading of this conversation, I offer a link. Please do not go to the site until after you pray, as I have, over the remaining words of this blog.

http://www.bothhands.org/project/witherow-222

You see, I have two dear friends Lord, You know them well: Tim and Tara. Tim in particular I have known and we have grown together to become absolute brothers in our faith to You. I cannot say I truly know the heart of any other person, but by my walk with these two, You have blessed me and the world they serve.

By Your design, Tim and Tara are not able to have children of their own. There is much background to this story, none of it important at this moment, other than it leading to Your putting on their hearts, a decision to adopt.

Lord here is where the rocky path begins that You have now asked my friends and I to walk together. Adoption is an expensive endeavor. My friends need funding for fulfill Your calling. Tim came to me with what seemed a simple request. “Will you work for a day at a widow’s home and ask others to sponsor you?” My response to the first part was of course, “Yes.” But to the sponsorship request, I surprised him with a, “No.”

 My God and Counselor, It has taken all of my lifetime for You to teach me the complexities of giving my Yes and No to another: How can I explain it simply in one or two pagesit may take the remainder of my life! You have pricked my heart to start a new study on this subject and here it begins (only begins).

To you others who are reading: I can’t request of you to donate to my friends because of something I do. I am not wired to ask for compensation in that way.

I will let my Yes be Yes, serving Tim and Tara and the widow Mary and as importantly the child whom now only God knows by name, because He has put it on my heart to do so.

I can’t tell you others to contribute or donate money to a cause because of me or my puny efforts. I can only tell you that, in a world where abortion is seen as convenient method to kill the innocent, a child needs two loving parents.

Tim & Tara

In that same world, a couple strives and yearns to be Your servants, Master.  Their fruit is the evidence. I am only the witness.

The only other request I can make is what I always ask of my family and my spiritual kin: Pray with me for Tim and Tara, for the widows and the orphans; Serve as God and his scripture compels. Pray for me in my efforts to serve with you and if your hearts are likewise moved as mine, visit the site above to consider this opportunity.

Lord God, bless us all in whatever ministry You call us to. Let all of our works be only to Your glory and purpose and to none other.

Shalom,

Mark C.

7-19-2015 Chaos or Commission?

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.  And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.  And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”                                        Matthew 28:16-20

Lord, I was struck recently with a metaphor as a group of us assisted an elderly lady in moving apartments. When I arrived on site, there was complete chaos in the room: People moving about; boxes and items piled and scattered throughout her domicile; some were leading and others following in many different directions at once.

In the middle of the congested space stood the matron, looking confused, a bit disoriented and at the same time amazed by all the activity passing her by. “I wish there was something I could do,” I heard her one time exclaim.

        I tried to speak some words of comfort to her, but that is when the picture hit me: Are we not all standing in the middle of our personal room; watching the world fly by us; asking, what am I to do?

I think of my country, one blessed in amazing ways. I’m given freedoms and welfare far beyond the understanding of most of the world’s population. Suddenly my way of life is under scrutiny, even attack. I am told I must change. I find myself looking confused, a bit disoriented and at the same time amazed by all the activity passing me by. “I wish there was something I could do,” I hear myself say.

I think of Your church, Jesus. We are so comfortable in our private space that we call, Sanctuary. Suddenly the world is changing quickly around us, but we have been too introspective to notice or care. Now we are commanded by You to move (Matthew 28:19-20) and we have no idea what we are to do in order to obey.

And I wonder if it is not just that I don’t know what to do. I’m as concerned that I may do something which will obstruct Your plan; I might even do something I’m not supposed to and therefore I freeze in fear and doubt. Perhaps Matthew 28:17 is more relevant to me than I care to admit.

 Lord, I want so much to move, but not by my own desire or fears. I realize now that I want to be moved by You. To do that, I need to know how to hear You, how to follow Your called-out directions. I need to study fully and pray over the riches of the commandments and teachings I have already been given in the treasure chest I know as Scripture. Understanding does not come simply from spontaneous desire, nor should action be a blind response of despair.

The presence of Your Spirit is demonstrated not in the chaos now closing in, but in Your commission, encouraging us to break through. The answer to the question, “What am I to do?” is the same as it has always been. You remind me that it is my response to your command that is more important.

Master, I ask for myself, for my homeland and for my spiritual family, that You give us fresh Spiritual inspiration. Help us hear Your Word and continue to teach us how to respond to You, not with a wish, but with  prayerful action; a reborn-church response to Your call of service. And as always, I pray: Father, Your will be done. Jesus, come quickly. Holy Spirit, strengthen us.

What to do? There is no doubt: Believe and obey; and teach others by Your example within me, to do the same.

Shalom,

Mark C.

5-9-2015 MisDirection

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.  But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.       Hebrews 11:13-16                                 

I used to think that we of the human race were all just traveling the same path—moving closer and closer to enlightenment and an improved relationship with You, Lord God. I had it in my mind that there were those of us who somehow came to a quicker realization than others; of Your Supremacy—that You deserve total worship. At that time I believed, or at least hoped that in the long run, we were all spiritually aware and behaviorally destined to seek You out.

Now, for certain, I’m convinced Lord, I was wrong in a big way. I was at a gathering recently where You provided circumstances (it had to be You Lord―it was so obvious) which demonstrated the two distinctive human mindsets I’ve come to realize exist.

At said meeting, one segment in this meeting was determined to identify and understand Your character. Regardless of whether they were accurate in their assessments or truly obedient to Your Truth, they were turned toward You.

The other segment at the table was comprised of those bent on extracting You from their universe equation. To them light and dark were simply elements of an accident that was created by accident. Not only were they not turned toward You, they were content with any or all directions. There was no purpose in their pursuit other than to suit the purpose of their moment by any means, embracing any trendy idea.

So I have come to realize, by the eyes and ears You have given me to use, that it is not simply a matter of strong or weak belief; even of belief or unbelief. It is a choice of direction or misdirection.

Ironic, isn’t it? This very discussion introduces a necessity to prove or disprove faith in the unseen. Amazing, Master. Once upon a time I counted myself in that second—unbelieving—camp. Because I valued my perceived freedom from You so much, I invented a world without You and it became my god. Even in midst of my denial existed the model for my healing.

And I who was compelled to disprove You, could not Even as I wanted to dismiss You, I first had to test the entirety of Your commandments. Once applied completely, followed explicitly, experienced entirely; only then could I seek flaws: To follow that course, of course, I had to first commit my faith in You!

How can one then disprove the already proven?

Even in the time of my lost condition, You had created (not by accident, but for purpose!) a plan for the fullness of time, for me and for all mankind, even for those who still invent fictional alternatives. You, not we, created the rules by which You rule. You sent Your son to love us all.

As it was for Your people Israel, it is for us now; the rules and the Rule Maker have not changed. Now it is my individual misdirection and focus which must change; from none, to One.

Adonai, Ruler of all, help us all to turn and to see. Teach us how to be Your obedient servants. As Your prayer beckons; lead us not into the temptation of false gods―errant misdirected worship―and free us from that which would replace or imply that You are not.

You have been, You are, You will always be my God.

Mark C.