8-27-2014 Persecution

The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.

Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds! For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.                     Psalm 9:9-12

Lord I’m concerned and I’ve been taught by Your Word to bring my concerns before You.

The issue is persecution: more specifically; degradation and physical harm to another human being or group of human beings by another group who do not believe or abide by the same cultural or spiritual values.

My concern is even more focused though, more personal. Recently it seems that in this country, in my protected little Safe Zone, I may have been turning a blind eye to escalating violence against my fellow believers around the world. I am now tuning in to see that across the globe, Your body is hurting, families and individuals are being martyred.

What am I to do? I’m not a person of influence or power; I don’t have much money to offer; I live so far away from many of the “hot spots” I hear and read about: I’m not trained nor prepared in the ways of protection for others…

…Or am I?

OK, You remind me by scripture and the example of others that there are things I can do. Ephesians 6 says I can use Your Word and prayer as offensive weapons to protect Your saints. Does that really help when my brothers and sisters are being chased and cornered and killed for their faith?

You tell me in Matthew 5 that I’m blessed when others insult me and persecute me and utter all kinds of evil against me falsely because of my relationship with you Jesus. Am I truly an example of persecution? Do I stand up for You boldly, regardless of the circumstances? Do I support and offer defense for others who do?

Then there is of course the persecution of Your people, the Jews. They are not Christians—do I really need to be concerned about their plight?

Of course I do! Your word assures that they are 
Your people forever. Your word says that those who bless Israel are blessed, those who curse Israel…well let’s not go there. So what can I do about the injustices and attacks against the Jews?  Are they the only others besides my sisters and brothers in Messiah whom I am to be concerned for?

What about non-believers who suffer persecution? Surely I don’t need to be concerned with them? And yet Your word again convicts me: Who is my neighbor ? You suggest that I’m to do to others as I would have them do to me. Does that include standing up for those who are victimized yet do not call on You, Jesus as Lord and Master?

It seems to boil down to this confession, Adonai: I want so badly to believe that my “side” is the only side victimized, but I know better. Because of whose I am. Once long ago, a man by the name of Joshua asked You prior to a great battle; “Whose side are You on?”

Your answer? You are on God’s side. I must get right with You and not worry so much about who is not right with me. Does this mean I must be tolerant and submissive to other religious classes? Lord, not at the expense of You! But it is You who teaches me a very…VERY difficult persecution lesson. It reads as follows:

" Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

   For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,

   I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'

   Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?'

   Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'

And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Matthew 25:37-46

Is it only coincidence that You share this lesson scripturally after Your dire premonitions about the coming of the next age? I can’t imagine the placement being an accident. The worst persecution period of any age is nearing. Am I prepared? Whose side am I on?

Here is the sadness of the situation. I whom You love, persecute You daily. I whom You love, persecute others, even if by ignorance. I want to be recognized by my suffering on Your behalf, yet I do not always behave as a son of God, even to the Son of God.

But I’m learning…growing. You love me enough to teach, me correct me and forgive me; not persecute me.

So I pray about the conditions of today for my fellow brothers and sisters suffering; the land and the people of Israel; the slave trading of women and children; those being ethnically cleansed by slaughter.

And there is one more group which then You bring to my attention as a new lesson: Those who wave the banner of false persecution—who want the world (and possibly You, Adonai?) to perceive them as persecuted, not for relief or redemption, but for power, control and positioning. How am I to respond to them?

I’ve got to start with You: With Your word given for understanding; with Your commands to guide my mouth, my hands and my steps in obedience:

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being

experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.              1Peter 5:6-11

And I’ve got to end with You: The One in dominion, the one whose side teaches about persecution by the example of His own persecution—not for positioning or power, but in absolute sacrifice and complete love for others. 

That suggests it doesn’t matter who is being persecuted; what does matter is that we, the persecuted offer support and relief to one another. We the persecuted should be in unity as one persecuted body. In You I now understand and react to the persecution of all—we suffer together and we should stand against those who persecute (even if that means self-correction because we find ourselves being unsuspecting persecutors!). As one body we need to bring the world’s comparative attention to the differences between those being subjected to true suffering and those manipulating circumstances to gain undeserved pity.  

And Lord, with Your help I’m learning to abandon my own selfish attitude—my desire for me persecuting Your desire for me. Is not the first battle to end persecution fought in my own heart? Maybe, just maybe if I can win that victory, and allow You to teach others through me, how quickly Your un-persecuted kingdom might come. 

Amen, come Lord Jesus.

Mark C.

6-1-2014 Ipcha Mistabra

 My son, do not forget my torah, but let your heart keep my commandments,

for length of days and years of life and shalom they will add to you.

Let not loving kindness and truth be loosed away from you; bind them around your neck; write them on the polished tablet of your heart. So you will find grace and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

Trust in YHWH with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
As you are going, in everything you do, know (yadah) him, and he will make straight your paths.

Be not clever in your own eyes; Be in awe of the LORD, and rebel against everything evil. It will be healing and refreshment to everything you are—to your very core.                           Proverbs 3:1-8

Lord, I’ve been spending a lot of time speaking with friends who are well versed in Your scripture and reading outside sources related to a very Jewish concept. It’s an idea that has even surfaced in pop culture and is summed up in the Aramaic term Ipcha  Mistabra, a well-used phrase in the Talmud which translates roughly as “On the contrary, the reality appears otherwise.”

A recent movie highlighted the concept and noted that the Israeli intelligence community, Mossad, has system set up where a group of people are given decision making authority. One of those people, the “contrary man” is given the duty of counter thinking the others. So, if everyone agrees, that one is to disagree. This approach was implemented after the Israelis misread critical information leading up to the 1973 Yom Kippor War. The approach is designed to allow for the alternative—what if we are not seeing things clearly? What if we are missing a critical point?  

I confess that this kind of thinking resonates with the skeptic in me, Master. You seem to have wired me to be that contrary guy in the room; trying to peer at the puzzle from a different angle to see what’s not fitting properly into place or what pieces might be missing all together. Ironically, by this approach, You’ve shown me how to find the misplaced and missing pieces in me.

Lovingly, You have even introduced me to others like me and revealed a very significant, but subtle blind spot in our methods. I’ve come to understand that some questioners do so only for the sake of the question. To make the point finer; they appear to enjoy disproving more than finding proof. I get it—by never coming to a conclusion, no commitment is ever necessary. I used to be that person—it was safe and I was always right because there was no wrong. My grandmother would call it arguing with the angels.

But then I discovered another kind of contrary thinking. It was the original kind, introduced by You and your messengers long before popular skepticism existed. I noticed in the scriptures that your prophets and you, Jesus, asked many questions as well. Your answers were also very upside down from worldly reasoning. “Is my God a skeptic,” I had to ask? As I studied and questioned further, I found something unusual…an answer. You always concluded and committed. You made covenants and gave instruction, giving final form to the unanswered. There was a destination to be had!

Many amazing men and women were persecuted and even killed for this kind of reasoning. No wonder it’s an unpopular approach even today! And because of that risk of rejection by the world, I also was hesitant to take this approach. But now I see that You designed and encouraged me to freely exercise the Ipcha  Mistabra approach. You have revealed that I’m not gifted to be contentious or argumentative. Instead, I’m to be studious and anxious, making sure my path matches Your path planned out for me.

I don’t want to appear difficult to others (although I’m sure it often looks that way). I want to assure that all of us who are anxious seekers, consider as much of the puzzle as can be connected with the ultimate goal of being unified in Your Truth.

What is Your Truth? I’ve never been fearful of that question (or the variations I’ve heard from others). Now I’m also not afraid of closing in on the answer. As a matter of fact Adonai, I hunger for it with all that I am. Thank You for that appetite. Thank You for giving me at least a glimpse of the greater picture, and for guiding me toward completion. There is an answer, but now, to the contrary, I’m more convinced than ever of who, not what is that answer. And I’m more excited to engage with other like-minded people who enjoy the questions and who are anxious for The Answer. Instruct us all in the Ipcha  Mistabra ways of You, YHWH.

Mark C.

4-13-2014 The Why of Remembering

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!”  Matthew_23:37 

My daughter reminded me Lord of confusion surrounding this week. This week? Yes of all weeks, this is the most conflicting. I want to skip it all together, passing go and collecting the benefits without the pain. And so did Jerusalem. They had traditions and rituals—taking Your feast of Passover and turning it into a spectacle—just as we have turned this week into little more than a Spring fashion show and food fest. 

Holy as the week was and is, they forgot…and I am prone to forget that this time is not about us. It is all about You. What You God had done in ancient times; what You were about to do. How could I forget…ignore or overlook how all Your moments connect through the ages? Why am I tempted to minimize past connections to this week and to days yet to come, all in the fullness of time?

But my daughter remembers why. Thank you Shay. She pointed out to me a passage from my book, The Singularity. At one point in the narrative, the main character and his friend narrowly escape death in an underground earthquake while exploring Mammoth Caves in Kentucky. When they emerge into daylight, they see a cliff with a large sign that reads. Golgotha Family Fun Park. The sign and the park are real places, written into the story to emphasize how bizarre a world we live in, where such a morbid part of spiritual history would be turned into an circus concept.

Of course there may be some reading this to whom the term Golgotha may be foreign. Indeed I’ve found people in various Christian Worship services I’ve attended, have scant understanding that it is the descriptive name used in Jerusalem for the hill on which Jesus was crucified.  Golgotha means Skull and the cliff face assumed to be the site of Your crucifixion Lord, indeed resembles a skull face when seen from certain angles.

What does this strange story and description have to do with this week? Absolutely nothing: But the world has gone out of its way, Christians included, to tie importance, even sick entertainment value to the site in order to obscure the real purpose for this week. The real events are an advent unto themselves, a prophecy lived out like no other before or after.

To walk through the significance of Passover, The feast of Unleavened Bread and First Fruits, along with their ties to the Persecution, Death and Resurrection of You, Jesus would take volumes (perhaps its own book?). Lord, please help me help others understand that the real story is not in the “if” or the “how” of the benefit we are offered from Your sacrifice. The real tale is in Your decision to make and carry out such an extraordinary plan. No man, not even Hollywood’s finest would have imagined it without the original inspiration.

I’m not writing this to convince those who don’t believe. Nor am I trying to criticize we followers (including myself) who treat these times so casually and irreverently. Instead, I want to encourage all of us to take one significant moment away from the business of life to simply read a small portion of a book called by some, the New Testament. I know, lots of you have probably skimmed through it or had someone read it to you years ago. Please, if just for one more time or the first time, read or re-read just a few chapters, 26-28 in a sub-book called Matthew. If that catches your interest, also read a few chapters in a book called by some, the Old Testament. In it is a portion of a sub-book titled Exodus. Here read just chapters 11-12. You’ll probably ask, “What is the connection between the two readings.” Read each a second time and the picture will start coming together.

 

Why would I take the time to ask others to do this, Lord? Because You have asked me to do the same and I can ask no less of others I love. It may be a futile effort, but that’s my doubt speaking. My faith says it’s Your will for me to invite others to remember why the story is told The rest is up to You and the rest…everyone else.

Simple as that Lord, a strange real life testimony can turn into an amazing story not meant to entertain, but to change the life of anyone willing to be changed. I don’t even have to explain how the story ends, because it doesn’t. That’s the wonder of it; new life offered to anyone willing to look beyond a broken world’s wretched attempts to explain away the never-ending love of a God longing to redeem His people. The Why of remembering is all wrapped up in one beautiful statement that both begins and completes Your relationship with Your creation…

Mark C.

3-3-2014 Here I Am

Here I am 3-2-2014

The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the guard:

"Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it--the LORD is his name: Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”    Jer 33:1-3

And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed.

And Moses said, "I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned."

When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, "Moses, Moses!"

And he said, "Here I am."          Exodus 3:2-4

And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant hears."  1 Samuel 3:10

Before I enter into communion with you Lord, I want to warn those on the journey with us; this one will be rough, complex and maybe a little longer than the norm. My God, you have all the time there is, but for you others…you may want to take this either in bits and pieces or find a time when like me, you can give it full consideration. To that purpose, readers, the content may best be split into several readings. Please pray for me as always, that to God be the glory in all we discover together.

You, Lord, of course are aware of the group of believers, who I consider to be incredible studiers or Your word, with whom I am honored to share fellowship.  We’re studying the word and concept of prayer and were alerted immediately to the depth of what we are approaching. I’ve even gone back in the archives of my writings and found many attempts—make that entire years —devoted to the understanding of my personal prayer life with You. But prayer is not about years, it’s about our walk with You. So my education continues.

For me the challenge continues to be finding a better way to explain my understanding of prayer using human terms. One of those friends walking through this discovery process with me suggests that I “sketch a picture” as a method of conveying my thoughts. But before I can draw a conclusion, I need to work through my questions and misunderstandings to arrive at a better understanding. So with my keyboard, I paint:

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be

acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Lord, I feel led by You to share some additional history. I have discovered others who had struggles with grasping the depth of prayer. A few notables: Martin Luther had to work through his questions on prayer by creating a study guide of Your Prayer. He begins each section with “What does it mean?” and I can only imagine the hours and prayers, ironically devoted prior to penning his thoughts. John Wessley implies there may be a temptation to make prayer a selfish quest. So he prayed, “…let me render to You what is Yours and let my spirit ever cleave to You alone.”

These men, your faithful stewards, had far greater brains than I and yet their writings suggest a mystery in prayer, something they allude to, but don’t directly address. Mysteries can be scary things. I could become fearful of my own clumsy methods taking me down a false path. But no, Lord, I will not fear prayer, it’s one of, if not the most powerful tool with which You equip me. I understand that the most powerful of tools can also do great harm. So, just as my earthly father taught me a huge respect for electricity; I want to fully seek understanding and learn respect for Your amazing gift of prayer. I pray that You guide me step by step through my learning and my application.

So in typical fashion, my time with You begins with a question, this one I believe to be one of the biggest—

Does prayer as You present it mean the same as what I’ve been taught by mankind?

And that seems to be the best place to continue my exploration—scripture. Who prayed? Did anyone not pray? Prayer in Your First Testament and the Hebrew text seems a bit different from Your Second Testament in the Greek. Are they really divergent or does one compliment the other? Knowing Your  ways, I can’t help but believe it’s the later.

It doesn’t take long Lord to see that the Hebrew words Tefilah for Prayer and Palal for Pray are the favorites used by Your chosen writers. The primitive roots suggest judgment (officially or mentally); by extension to plead on behalf of another judged worthy: -), For both words, humility or supplication—my laying flat on the ground, face down, pleading my own soul out to You—is included in the definition.

Odd, the words “by extension” or “by implication” are used in connecting these words to the idea of prayer or praying. So neither actually defines prayer? And that other word…judgment? My Hebrew study implies it means “self-judgment”. Interesting. Am I doing the judging, or is it You causing me to be aware of my abilities/limitations. If it is You…of course it’s You…then I have, in the past, had the tendency to begin my prayers inappropriately: I have by my nature, come to You requesting before I even know what is Your desire for me in our relationship.

Lord, it sounds like, before I ever even get to the act of prayer, I need to be ready to pray. I confess that I get in a hurry to pray. I expect You to be at my beck and call when I’m in need. I have tended to approach You as if You were taking my order at a drive in window, that I may receive a quick happy meal to send me on my way. Other times I dial into You like a 911 operator, when things get bumpy in my life. I plead now for Your forgiveness Lord—those two approaches don’t seem to be included in Your First Testament scriptural examples.

What’s more, there seems to be more to intersession—praying on behalf of others—than there is intracession. If that’s the case, I should be much more concerned with the needs of others and making sure I understand Your will for them…

…but wait…? “Your Will”? Where in Your First Testament does it say that prayer has to be about Your will? Yes, I know how Jesus teaches us to pray, but where is the scripture to support it?  How did Abraham and the other great ones know that Your will was the key to a righteous prayer life?

That seems to be a good place to bring in two other Hebrew words… Twsah Command/Said and Shama—some spell it Shema meaning to hear and respond. No, neither contain prayer in their definitions, but they do suggest to me the idea that You have something to say about our relationship before I start to add definition in my prayers.

Adonai, I confess, there are still so many things I don’t understand about our relationship—more of that mystery stuff. But nothing was, is or will be a mystery to You.  And that is the peace I find in our time together. You are my source, my refuge and my redeemer in prayer. It’s another wonderful twist, Lord that I find by this very exercise, by reaching to You for my spirit’s feeding, that I grow closer in prayer with You.

Your design for relationship is so beautiful in that way. You know what I need, before I even ask it. But Your joy is when I come seeking Your guidance, just as I am doing now. Lord, I’m so grateful for Your word in this matter. You have, by others examples shown me the blessings of obedience and the curse of rebellion. So please forgive me, but I want to look back in perspective to what others had heard that seemed odd or contrary to Your ways, yet You blessed the actions.

Noah encountered You and built an ark, Hosea heard a word and married a prostitute, Peter had a vision and ate bacon (or some such). These and other examples in Your book present a puzzle. There were no previous scriptural commands these men were following. Arks weren’t in fashion – as I read it, there was little to no rain to worry about at the time. And in fact, the Torah forbade marrying a prostitute – that was punishable by separation from the society. As for dietary restrictions – Your people are famous for their laws on this matter.

Yet these very actions caused those in the “know” to seek You more deeply. Is that how the prayer circle works? Is it like praying for patience and receiving circumstances by which to learn patience? In the same way, when I pray for understanding, should I expect to see events in my life that will challenge me to greater understanding?

Here’s my own personal historical concern, Lord. I have in the past worshiped on a very regular basis with congregations of believers who believed they had the gift of tongues. All fine and good until they suggested that those who did not define this gift as they did; suffered a diminished prayer and worship life. Lord, I would never question another believer’s personal relationship with You—the hearts of these folks appeared genuine and strong…as I know mine to be also. Yet in my personal experience and studies I could not nor cannot find a fully complete scriptural foundation to solidify their position.

These Prayer Language folk that I fellowshipped with, prayed actively with and loved mightily, informed me that they had a word from You. The spiritual implication being that such messages from You trump all.

Wow, what power that gives to the individual; what opportunity to Satan! Such instruction sounds wonderful when presented as Your response to prayers, but…what if such messages are not like those You bequeathed to Noah or to Moses? What if they are the will of my heart couched cleverly in the depths of my soul as a desire I want You to grant. What if I am the one, even innocently and subconsciously praying You to obey me!

Lord, such a possibility warns me, especially by other scriptural examples such as Saul in You First Testament and Elymus in Your Second Testament. Yes, You can and do inspire new ways of examining and fulfilling Your word through individuals. I believe You even still deliver messages of prophecy though prayer. But Lord, prayerfully, I can’t find a place in scripture of any times, nor in respected books that support scripture, that says You will change Your word once spoken. You are and always will be unchanging, it is I who must be held accountable; reconciling my understand with all not part of your word. Testing what I think to be with what has, is and will be according to those greater and wiser than me.

Who would those, greater and wiser be? After all, we’re all in this together. Is one person’s word better or stronger than another?

That question brings me back to the memory of my Prayer Language friends. I wanted desperately to come to a common understanding with them. They were and are after all, still my brothers and sisters in You. But instead of desiring to pursue unity, seeking common understanding, many of them drew another picture for me, a line of demarcation, explaining I could not possibly achieve their level of relationship with You unless I accepted their interpretations. There would be no discussion with them, only instruction from them.  After all, You had spoken to them, had You not? Was that not enough? Is that not what Prayer is all about—putting our words out, waiting for Your word to come back?

Or is there more to prayer than that? Didn’t Noah have Methuselah, didn’t Moses have Aaron. Didn’t You encourage Solomon, the wisest of all men to continue to sharpen his iron with that of other strong and wise believers in order to come to stronger agreement and complete understanding?

You are so rabbinical in Your ways, Lord! But as for me? All this sounds like a lot of work. And in case You haven’t noticed, Lord, I don’t like work. Hence my wanting drive-through solutions to the issues I present at the altar. I’d just as soon have the “quick answer” if You please—so spoiled am I.

Master of all prayer, I apologize if my heart sounds too sarcastic or frustrated about this study – I’m struggling only because I love the prayer relationship You are building for me with You…if I’m honest with myself, when I look back, I can see the strengthening in my spirit each time I come to You with Your will as my quest.

I get frustrated only because of my own laziness. Yet I’m hungry to learn more, studying the languages of Your prophets and apostles (which is a struggle and a joy in and of itself) and discovering I don’t even use the language of my native tongue well enough to share Your Love with others.  Thank You that You understand me better than I understand myself. Thank You that You have understood from the beginning of time how all of mankind would try to make their prayers Your prayers, their words, Your Word. Thank You for the community of strong studying believers I am now associated with who are willing to walk with me, offering their own prayers and observations on my behalf that we may all seek you Jesus as The Word, The Truth; Our Life.

Let me not intervene with requests and desires that have nothing to do with Your desires. Let me be ever aware that, just as Isaiah 45 tells me, You are STILL creating and there are STILL mysteries,—even new (to me) pieces of Your plan to be revealed that may not be easily integrated into my scriptural understanding. 

But as importantly, let me SHEMA! Let me continue to learn more about being still long enough in my own soul, that You can share Your Word and Soul with me. Let me not just hear and know; let me also be and do as You have designed me to be and do. Let me get out of the way with my limits so that Your limitless Love can lead me, even using other people, new sources, and my own submission as Your powerful tools for our prayer life and walk together.

Prayerfully I rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice,

Let my reasonableness be seen by all

Let me not be anxious about anything, but by prayer and supplication, by thanksgiving

Let my requests be reflections of Your will and desire

Let Your peace which surpasses all understanding guard mine and all of Your believers hearts and 

minds through personal relationship and prayer with you, my Messiah, Jesus

Amen

Mark C.

12-18-2013 The New Advent

As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?" And Jesus answered them, "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. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.”                      Matthew 24:3-8

Lord, in years past You’ve inspired me to study the word Advent. Now it seems You are stirring fresh interest in the term.

Advent, from the Latin Adventus, means coming. But actually that’s a loose translation, is it not, Rabbi? The term is expectant, waiting, anticipating an event or arrival that has not yet happened. As if smelling rain in the air long before feeling the drops; or getting an announcement of an upcoming party held by someone with a reputation for holding great celebrations (an event I would surely not miss and one I’d want to prepare for properly). Advent might even be, say, a special someone who somehow knows there is trouble ahead. Maybe this certain person with foreknowledge of pending tragedy takes it upon Himself to intervene, willingly offering a very personal sacrifice in place of others’, to avoid greater suffering.

…Yeah, I know…that last example is a reach…who would actually do such a thing?

To me neither Christmas, nor Resurrection Day, would be complete without their preceding advents. And yet, those advents are best understood after Your birth and after Your victory over death. It’s so easy to look back, exclaiming, “Oh, I see, all those events, the prophesies, the historical heritage of Your people, the cultural nuances; they all pointed like a laser to the greatest story ever told. But if so, why did so many ignore Your walk on Earth? Why did those who should have understood the signs and wonders best, participate in Your crucifixion?

These disturbing questions cause one more to prick my consciousness. Creator of all things, what New Advent events are occurring now? I’ve studied and have understood for some time now that Your objective has always been to redeem this broken world, but now I’m realizing You’re not through with Your advent-urous planning. Could it be that right now, not in some distant hazy future, before our eyes that do not see and our ears that do not hear; You are unveiling a New Advent?

Savior , what would that mean to my way of life and my way of worship? Just because I can’t know the exact time of Your return doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be watching for the heralds of Your  New Advent. Actually, I’m told by Your word to be “alert and sober-minded” about all things spiritual, including Your second coming. What signs and wonders am I ignoring? What invitation messages might You be sending out for Your big event? How can I best prepare the way of You, Lord?

Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven

Some might say it doesn’t matter, that all is fixed and we believers have no risk as You approach, we can just show up to the party and all will be well. But is that so? I read of virgins being lackadaisical and missing the Bridegroom’s return and of a Wedding feast where one man is booted from the party for being inappropriately dressed for the occasion. Do these parables suggest that we may be too casual about Your plan? Are there implications if we are ill-prepared for Your glorious appearance to call the saints to You? Are we doing enough to testify about the greatest sorrow of all; that of missing the party all together? Are we effective communicating the terrible consequences of being permanently excluded from God’s soon-coming Kingdom. Has my personal witness helped or hindered Your Truth from creating fruit in others?

Adonai, I pray during this season that celebrates the First Advent, that You help us learn to be vigilant for a New and greater Advent, when You join with Your people once again to claim Your Kingdom here on Earth. Let us be watchful and understand in advance, how You would have us best prepare the way!

Merry Advent

Mark C.

Christmas 2013

A Simple Defense

The law of the LORD is perfect,

reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; 

the commandment of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.      

Psalm 19:7-11 

Lord, You are allowing two good friends to teach me an incredible lesson from two perspectives this week. Thank You.

My one friend, someone I consider a very capable and diligent studier of Your Word, is searching for evidence that you, Jesus command us to worship You. He can’t find the words that, to him, instruct us to do any more than follow Your example of feeding the poor, caring for the orphans the widows and the sick. My friend’s suggestion is that ours is to be a servant role to the nations—performing acts of provision and mercy—and that by following Your example, Your kingdom is ours to claim.

When he posed this to me, my inner being shook with fear. You’ve heard my prayers on this question:

1.      Could it be a fact that You, Jesus do not scripturally (in Your own “Red Letter Bible” words) require us to recognize you as Lord and Savior?

2.      If not, then what is our purpose and by whose authority do we go forth?

3.      To obtain the Kingdom of heaven, is all we need to do is to perform noble works?

4.      Do command us to submit to You as our King? Am I Biblically capable of defending that position using only Your words from scripture?

5.      How do I walk with my friend down the path of this exploration so that we can both learn and grow as You, our God and Spiritual Counselor, would have us do?

Immediately Adonai, you inspired me to go to Your sword, the Word, to cut through the confusion, identifying scripture addressing Your kingship. That was the easy part—Old and New Testament alike abound with references to worship of the Messiah as the Son of the Most high.

And there is Your personal statement at the end of the Gospel of Matthew where You inform us that, “All authority on heaven and earth have been given to me.” This proclamation is a little tricky. because You don’t come right out and say, “obey me.” I have to recognize Your authority and it’s then up to me to bow down (or not bow down) to my Superior.

My friend seems to be asking You to make things more clear—to say to us, “I declare myself your King. Worship me.” That’s what any of us mere humans would require if we were given all authority. But not You. You want something more from us, and that’s where my other friend’s response to this puzzle is so amazing!

She is a new believer, fresh in her realization of Your love and sacrifice for her. Upon hearing my first friend’s query, this woman of God stated, “Are you kidding? Now that I realize what Jesus has done for me and seeing Him work in my life, how can I not fall down on my knees and worship Him as my God?”

All my studies, all my clever arguments and scriptural references couldn’t match up to the power of this humble statement of faith. You spoke through her to me and to us all, Lord. You didn’t have to order me to do anything. I can’t purchase salvation or a kingdom house by my good intentions. You’ve done the heavy lifting for me—for all of us. So I’m convicted by Your sacrifice, not by Your power. It’s the beginning of a beautiful relationship where I have to choose to worship and serve, not due to fear or obligation, but for desire; not as a requirement, but for hunger to be in relationship with You.

Once I am in a right relationship with You—vassal to Lord— then, not before, comes a very specific command. I’m to go out and “do”. The fruit of my servant relationship with You will be the care of widows and orphans, the clothing of the poor, the visiting of prisoners, the loving of my neighbor and my enemy as I would have them love me. How much simpler can it get?

Some might say, Lord that we can serve this way without worshiping You. That other religions and cultures perform good deeds just as well, or better than we Christ Followers do. Who am I to argue? All I know is what I see—a corrupt world, some of us doing little good and all of us doing a lot of not so good…no, let me call my actions what they are…selfishly based acts. We may look all clean and pretty on the outside, but You know the truth of our hearts:

Not one is righteous in Your sight

I’m told by Your word that my fruit is not a measurement of my nobility, but evidence of my faith – that’s all. I can’t do enough; My life can only be a witness to what has been done for me.

I know my friends to be strong believers, Master. They and I recognize You for who You are, regardless of whether or not You command obedience. I am concerned only that we, Your followers, share the total message You have given us to take to the world: How beautiful is Your love—all You long for is our completed love in You. And seeing that love in action—Your sacrifice for all of us, seeing You work in my life—how can we (how can I) not fall down and worship You as God?”

Mark C.