Why do we care about the rest of the world when we have problems at home?

It is time to address this argument.  I’ve heard it SO much I have to respond.  My thinking is this. Christ says that we are the light of the world.  If the true church shines its light across the globe, does not the light that shines farthest shine brightest near? I would argue that if an American or other Westerner that calls him/herself a Christian and reaches across the globe to alleviate suffering, but doesn’t act on a known need next door, withholding compassion, when it is in his or her power to do good, then that person, no matter how much they do oversees, is not a light, as Jesus defines his followers.  In other words I doubt their claim to be a Christ follower.  So the argument that Christians do this, assumes that the light can shine far while not shining near, an impossibility.  I am not suggesting Christians need to do equal amounts of ministry in their “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth” but that IF they walk by an opportunity to do good like the lawyer or the priest in the story of the good samaritan, they are not a true follower of Christ. If God calls you to minister to the homeless in the US wonderful!! Do it with joy and know you are where you are supposed to be!  Let your light shine bright! And consider shining further as he enables and directs.  Putting boundaries on how far your light shines would be putting it under a bushel, no?

Hark! The angel, Harold sings!

My favorite Christmas carol is officially now “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing” by Charles Wesley.  The words (and music) were so powerful, almost overwhelming me this morning as I listened, really listened, in a way it is sometimes hard to do with a song that is so familiar.  It was so powerfully moving me that I said to myself, shake it off Patty, it is a song, not SCRIPTURE!  But as I meditated on the words it seemed like God must have inspired Mr. Wesley, carefully choosing each one, as surely he knew how enduring it would be.  Try to read this without singing it.  Makes it less ‘familiar.’

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King,
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with th’ angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King!”

Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
late in time behold him come,
offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail th’ incarnate Deity,
pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King!”

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King!”

As I listened this morning I felt like all of heaven was saying ‘JOIN US!’  By the way, me second favorite hymn is “O Come Let Us Adore Him” for that very reason.  It invites others.  The more you witness God’s glory the more you want others to come adore, join the angelic hosts, proclaim him King!  My heart this morning was broken over those that have not heard.  Jesus prayed for our joy to be full and I think mine won’t be full until all have had an opportunity to see/know his glory!  Could that be what Jesus meant?  For my joy seems to always be mixed with a sorrow.

Thinking on these things…the exile.

I am finishing up the book of Jeremiah and reading the parallel verses in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles.  It occurred to me that the removal of Jews to Babylon was a land redistribution of sorts. Only the poor were left in the land.  A generation would pass before the return of Ezra and Nehemiah and anyone who could claim land rights.  This makes me think that some major property shifts took place.  Undoubtedly some laid claim to grandpas’ or dad’s land.  God spoke through Jeremiah to Zeddekah to set slaves free as required on the 7th year.  It was done and then retracted.  Indeed the 70 years we a sabbath or jubilee of sorts that was long overdue. BTW that oft used verse “I know the plans I have for you, to prosper you…” was for a people, his people, God was leading into captivity!!  He told them to bless the city…BABYLON!! Wow!  Ever hear a sermon on that?

I am also impressed how God sent all of the ‘learned’ ones to be ‘servants’ (teachers?) of Nebudchadnezzer and his sons.

This story surely is not only about Israel and maybe not even primarily about them.

That which I feared has come upon me

Two things happened that I’ve feared.  (Not my greatest fears, mind you.)  I told a friend recently that I’ve had a recurring dream about loosing teeth.  She, an X-ray tech or the closest thing to a bone expert that I know, said these dreams are very common.  Phew!  I thought I was being vain!  Yesterday my front tooth broke off AND with the arrival of my statement I discovered my card was stolen and I was over $2000 in debt!

Funny thing is that I can’t really get too upset about these minor things.  (a benefit of being a news junkie)  I’m not in the Horn of Africa right now, I don’t own any stocks or investments and my kids are not rioting or looting in the UK! I am not fighting to overthrow a dictator or languishing in a shipping container!

Some people think that what they fear will come upon them.  That God makes this happen to grow us.  I don’t think scripture supports this.  I think he is much more gentle with us that most of us give him credit for.  This is a strange thought coming from one steeped in the prophetic books right now.  I suppose the greatest and most common fear we all have is God’s judgement.  I agree with the late Mike Yaconelli who wrote a unique Statement of Faith (scroll all the way down to read it.) I talking about the Father’s love he says “…He’s also about justice with a capital J, but we’ll take our chances that, in the end, justice will feel like love.”  “Severe Mercy” is not an oxymoron.

I can actually feel God loving me through the embarrassment of a goofy looking smile and in his “I told you so” (I thought my credit card was just misplaced)

Oh, how he loves us! Does he use the things we fear?  Most definitely YES!  Does he make these things come upon us?  Probably not. Maybe sometimes.  But he IS always a  gentle father!

What do YOU fear?  Hand it over to your Father.  He’ll be gentle with you.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.

 

Weird…

Last Tuesday I posted a scripture  from the book of Jeremiah on FB.  I did not know that the very day I posted it was the day Jews mourn the destruction of the temple.  So on Tisha B’Av I posted God’s word to the Jews through Jeremiah the prophet.

Do not trust in these deceptive words: ‘This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.’ -Jer 7:4

Now lest you think these words are about mourning the loss of the temple go and read the context.  God was SENDING a nation to destroy the temple.  He was saying to the Jews-don’t trust in the temple! Your time is up!

And today the 30 Day video was an excellent BBC video about the Dome of the Rock and the Temple Mount.  THEN someone forwarded to me an article from PMW that claims that Palestinians deny the Jewish temple ever existed. (I don’t think it is quite fair for PMW to make this claim of all Palestinians. Just as our leaders don’t speak for all of us, so the PA does not speak for all Palestinians.)

The temple is gone but the mount is still the focus of many pious people.  Even some Christians devote their lives to rebuilding it to bring the messiah back.

I did not set out to study the temple.  It just was part of my chronological reading that I noticed.  But it seems to be coming at me from all directions.  So I am thinking on these things.

Before you jump on the temple rebuilding bandwagon I hope you watch this.

“Broken Hallelujah” and “A New Hallelujah”

Last week my cousin shared with me the name of an artist that brings her very close to a ‘religious’ experience.  This artist, Amidon, of Vermont, she says, does the ‘Broken Hallelujah’ song the BEST.  I’ve loved that song ever since I saw the movie Shrek.  (She’d never seen Shrek and I told her not to as it may ruin the song for her.)  I greatly respect this cousin so I looked for the Amidon version but could not find it. But I did download the Jeff Buckley version and found the lyrics. I didn’t know it was about King David!! The last verse is disappointing but so TRUE for many people. While surfing at Amazon I also found “A New Hallelujah” by Michael W. Smith.  What a refreshing song to follow the beautiful psalm-like song, Broken Hallelujah!  These two songs, listened to together, are so much like David’s psalms.  Very honest, despairing and yet hopeful!  My ‘broken hallelujah’ has been made new. Is your hallelujah broken? Watch the African Children’s Choir with MWS!  I hope you will join them in singing “A New Hallelujah!”

Which stories would you choose?

I am working on a list of stories that tell the biblical narrative as a unified message.  While this project is for children ages 6-13 it should be very useful for all ages.  Other than the careful choosing of which stories will be age appropriate, the teachings will not be different than for teens or adults. The chosen stories should…

• express God’s heart for all nations
• demonstrate God’s power as he uses it to glorify his name among all peoples
• fit into a grand narrative
• age appropriate for 6-13 yrs
• result in a good grasp of the history of Israel AND the surrounding nations

I am open to your suggestions.

What exactly IS the “Great Commission?”

It seems very embarrassing to be asking this question when I have spent two decades of my life as a mobilizer.  Have I changed or has the mandate changed or been rediscovered lately?  I am a little troubled (I recognize that to be made uncomfortable can be very good for me) by some of the ideas I’ve seen lately.   I am reading a book that I will write a review on soon but I am asking this question with all sincerity.  Right now here is what I feel pretty sure of..

• God has invited us, the church, his bride, to be part of his redemptive plan for the world
• This redemption can be seen in its completion in Revelation 7:9
• We are to do this by making disciples of all ethne
• We are to do this by proclamation and demonstration
• Jesus said he would return after the gospel is preached to all ethne
• His kingdom is here and also not yet
• God is not done with Israel and they will have a special place in unfolding future events (not necessarily the state of Israel)

What I am not so sure of are these ideas…

• God’s redemptive plan is to use us to transform societies, countries and nations
• things will get better if we have a ‘Christian’ form of government
• His kingdom will be ushered in by something we do (even ‘preaching the gospel to all ethne may only be a prerequisite and not a ‘trigger’ per se)
• If churches just get this ‘missional’ thing everthing would get better. (Note I said missional not missions)

I’d love your thoughts.  Do you believe we should be working hard at changing cultures, societies and nations or does this happen as a result of the gospel going forth into these places? Is God waiting for us to get it right?  Am I missing the mandate if I think God didn’t lay out a ‘template’ out for us?  Am I simply a pessimist?