While reading a bit of God's word this morning, I came across a message given by God to Ezekiel in Chapter eleven. There was a lot of mayhem going on in Judah in that day, especially in the city of Jerusalem and God must have needed someone to talk to that he trusted would listen. Ezekiel was his man. So, God showed Ezekiel about twenty-five men standing around at the gate of the city. Verse 2 of chapter 11 in THE MESSAGE reads as follows: "God said, "Son of man, these are the men who draw up blueprints for sin, who think up new programs for evil in this city..." And verse 4 says, "Oppose them, Son of man. Preach against them."
Well, I am not Ezekiel, or even a kissing cousin to this great prophet, but I do have a propensity to want to speak to others of things about which I feel deeply. In other words, I do have the characteristic of a prophet without the skill, wisdom, or audience. ( I have no idea if anyone ever reads this blog, but I guess that's going to have to be up to God! Is not my job, man.) Still, Verse 4, although spoken to Ezekiel, just may be a call to me to get off my duff and do something.
Our world is full of the kind of leaders that Ezekiel saw at Jerusalem's gate--leaders who seek to gain money and power for themselves, who promise one thing and intend another. Some encourage the innocent to participate in their scams or even be part of their scams, finally bringing total disaster to the innocent and power to themselves. We see it daily in the news, some "blueprint for sin" that is being brought about. We cannot trust those who promised us truth and service for our good, and then are deaf and blind to the needs of those counting on them--the people!
Disception rules. And we become desolate and feel alone. We can't always discern which leader is being honest and which is not. Being human, leaders sometimes get caught up in their own wants, not realizing they are sacrificing the one thing we voters, we the public, expect from them--honesty. If they tell us they are all for us--they better be. Nothing less than "all" is honest.
No man is perfect. And neither is the public--you and me. Our leaders will be imperfect; they will fail us. But, it should not go by unnoticed. If it does go unnoticed, it might be tried on us again! No, that won't do. We wouldn't let our kids get by with being dishonest and we must not let our leaders play the game either. They may be forgiven, but, by gum, they should at least hear from us. Dishonesty plays a terrible game. A great spiral begins, spinning down to distrust, and finally to un-love, which hurts the family, the neighborhood, the city, and the nation.
So send a letter, make a phone call, write an Email, don't waste your anger. Use it! Inform the leader who has disappointed you how y0u feel and why you feel it. Like God said to Ezekiel, "Oppose them, (sons and daughters) of man. Preach against them!"
And, pray like mad! For with the power of the Holy Spirit and the truth we have to tell, we can make a difference in our world. Don't wait until it is too late!!
Fondly, jo
Monday, August 30, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
ARE YOU FOR OR AGAINST?
To be truly honest, I should let you know right off that I'm "for." Just what I'm not against will be clear soon. That is, again to be honest, I try to always be "for." Sometimes, well, sometimes it's questionable whether I really am "for" because I have a lot of human traits yet which only indicates that God isn't finished with me yet.
And that's what, or rather Who, I'm "for." God. And His Son, who is part of God. Or who is God, whichever way you like to say it. I'm open on that point. But the older I get, the less I am open. Now, don't get me wrong--I'm open to a lot of things, but not about God, or God's teachings. Let me say that I would call myself a gentle believer. I won't fight anyone over my opinions, because whose to say that I am right? But, for me, what I've come to trust and where I've come to grow is not so much what I believe about God, but God Himself, both as a father, and as a son, and now, as a spirit.
Having said all this, I came to an important conclusion after reading John 12 the other day. The Message, and I quote Jesus' words, "First, they wouldn't believe, then they couldn't--again, just as Isiah said: "Their eyes are blinded; their hearts are hardened, so that they wouldn't see with their eyes and perceive with their hearts. And turn to me, God, so I could heal them......" " Jesus continued, "That's all I have to say. What the father told me, I tell you."
I felt like Jesus was speaking directly to me because it occurred to me that I am one of "the people" to whom both Isiah, and Jesus, were speaking--those who have stubborn hearts.
That's you and me and our children and grandchildren and all others to follow. We may not still be totally stubborn, having believed Jesus died on the cross for our sins and was raised into Heaven to be with the Father, but we can't entirely say that we are not stubborn. Think a bit. Yesterdays may have shown some stubborness. Uh huh! But Jesus forgave all that. How about today? Or tomorrow? Yep. If you're anything like me, you'll probably have a bit of stubborness here and there. Some of us will have more than others and it usually shows up about the time we realize God wants one thing--and we want another. It is an innate human trait. From the time we were babies, we wanted what we wanted and we wanted it NOW!
So what will it take for us to stop stubborn refusals to listen for God's voice as instruction, watch with open eyes for His needs, His work in the world, His grace, peace, and mercy. Can we admit we may be wrong in our views about whether God exists?Could Jesus really rise from the grave? No? Can God do anything? And what about all the tragedies in the world. Why didn't God stop them if God can do anything?
I don't have any great answers, but I trust God does know what He's doing and that He does have a plan. And who am I to expect to have an answer! Even the angels, even Job didn't have an answer. God is God and God's plans will only be understood in retrospect.
So who is "for" God and the hope that God always brings? We can live in stubborn denial, or we can live in hope. Denial leads to despair. Hope leads to fulfillment, peace, and fellowship with Christ the Lord.
I welcome you to add your two cents to this commentary. And I truly hope, and pray, that there are lots of you out there who are "for" God, and if not---Peace be with you. But you should know, I pray God will bless you to pieces and that you will know it!!
Always His, jo
And that's what, or rather Who, I'm "for." God. And His Son, who is part of God. Or who is God, whichever way you like to say it. I'm open on that point. But the older I get, the less I am open. Now, don't get me wrong--I'm open to a lot of things, but not about God, or God's teachings. Let me say that I would call myself a gentle believer. I won't fight anyone over my opinions, because whose to say that I am right? But, for me, what I've come to trust and where I've come to grow is not so much what I believe about God, but God Himself, both as a father, and as a son, and now, as a spirit.
Having said all this, I came to an important conclusion after reading John 12 the other day. The Message, and I quote Jesus' words, "First, they wouldn't believe, then they couldn't--again, just as Isiah said: "Their eyes are blinded; their hearts are hardened, so that they wouldn't see with their eyes and perceive with their hearts. And turn to me, God, so I could heal them......" " Jesus continued, "That's all I have to say. What the father told me, I tell you."
I felt like Jesus was speaking directly to me because it occurred to me that I am one of "the people" to whom both Isiah, and Jesus, were speaking--those who have stubborn hearts.
That's you and me and our children and grandchildren and all others to follow. We may not still be totally stubborn, having believed Jesus died on the cross for our sins and was raised into Heaven to be with the Father, but we can't entirely say that we are not stubborn. Think a bit. Yesterdays may have shown some stubborness. Uh huh! But Jesus forgave all that. How about today? Or tomorrow? Yep. If you're anything like me, you'll probably have a bit of stubborness here and there. Some of us will have more than others and it usually shows up about the time we realize God wants one thing--and we want another. It is an innate human trait. From the time we were babies, we wanted what we wanted and we wanted it NOW!
So what will it take for us to stop stubborn refusals to listen for God's voice as instruction, watch with open eyes for His needs, His work in the world, His grace, peace, and mercy. Can we admit we may be wrong in our views about whether God exists?Could Jesus really rise from the grave? No? Can God do anything? And what about all the tragedies in the world. Why didn't God stop them if God can do anything?
I don't have any great answers, but I trust God does know what He's doing and that He does have a plan. And who am I to expect to have an answer! Even the angels, even Job didn't have an answer. God is God and God's plans will only be understood in retrospect.
So who is "for" God and the hope that God always brings? We can live in stubborn denial, or we can live in hope. Denial leads to despair. Hope leads to fulfillment, peace, and fellowship with Christ the Lord.
I welcome you to add your two cents to this commentary. And I truly hope, and pray, that there are lots of you out there who are "for" God, and if not---Peace be with you. But you should know, I pray God will bless you to pieces and that you will know it!!
Always His, jo
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
THE PROPHECY OF NAHUM
I think that I have mentioned before that I journal every day except Sunday. That's the way I learn, listen, see, experience at many levels the Word of God. I usually read from THE MESSAGE as the word pictures from today's language seems to stick with me more, and it also makes the words and ways of Jesus easier for me to understand.
Having said that, I want to share with you a few phrases that hit home while I was reading today. It hasn't to do with particular people (this is not about politics!)but it does seem to fit with our times, today's times, the major problem and situation--the war in Afghanistan. So, the following is a quote from THE MESSAGE, Introduction to Nahum.
"The stage of history is large. Larger-than-life figures appear on this stage from time to time, swaggering about, brandishing weapons and money, terrorizing and bullying. These figures are not, as they suppose themselves to be, at the center of the stage--not, in fact, anywhere near the center. But they make a lot of noise and are able to call attention to themselves. They often manage to get a significant number of people watching and even admiring: big nations, huge armies, important people. At any given moment a few superpower nations and their rulers dominate the daily news. Every century a few of these names are left carved on its park benches, marking rather futile, and in retrospect pitiable, attempts at immortality.
"The danger is that the noise of these pretenders to power will distract us from what is going on quietly at the center of the stage in the person and action of God. God's characteristic way of working is in quietness and through prayer. If we are conditioned to respond to noise and size, we will miss God's word and action.... Don't admire or be intimidated by this enemy. They are going to be judged by the very same standards applied to us."
Of course, Nineveh/Assyria was the world's central concern in the time of the prophet Nahum. But, Israel's sins needed to be addressed as well. In Jesus time, it was the Romans, but the Jews missed the mark even more. Not so different today. Nahum gives us all something to think about. "A good skunk smells his own hole first." (quote from Grandpa Eaton circa 1940's)
So, I'm going to do a lot of praying. No one in today's conflict is perfect. Praying for the truth through education on all sides of our current conflict just may get us to someday live together peaceably. What God's will is in this we do not know. I only know that He's the One in charge.
Until next time, jo
Having said that, I want to share with you a few phrases that hit home while I was reading today. It hasn't to do with particular people (this is not about politics!)but it does seem to fit with our times, today's times, the major problem and situation--the war in Afghanistan. So, the following is a quote from THE MESSAGE, Introduction to Nahum.
"The stage of history is large. Larger-than-life figures appear on this stage from time to time, swaggering about, brandishing weapons and money, terrorizing and bullying. These figures are not, as they suppose themselves to be, at the center of the stage--not, in fact, anywhere near the center. But they make a lot of noise and are able to call attention to themselves. They often manage to get a significant number of people watching and even admiring: big nations, huge armies, important people. At any given moment a few superpower nations and their rulers dominate the daily news. Every century a few of these names are left carved on its park benches, marking rather futile, and in retrospect pitiable, attempts at immortality.
"The danger is that the noise of these pretenders to power will distract us from what is going on quietly at the center of the stage in the person and action of God. God's characteristic way of working is in quietness and through prayer. If we are conditioned to respond to noise and size, we will miss God's word and action.... Don't admire or be intimidated by this enemy. They are going to be judged by the very same standards applied to us."
Of course, Nineveh/Assyria was the world's central concern in the time of the prophet Nahum. But, Israel's sins needed to be addressed as well. In Jesus time, it was the Romans, but the Jews missed the mark even more. Not so different today. Nahum gives us all something to think about. "A good skunk smells his own hole first." (quote from Grandpa Eaton circa 1940's)
So, I'm going to do a lot of praying. No one in today's conflict is perfect. Praying for the truth through education on all sides of our current conflict just may get us to someday live together peaceably. What God's will is in this we do not know. I only know that He's the One in charge.
Until next time, jo
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