PSALM 23 - THE VOICE BIBLE

 1 

The Eternal is my shepherd, He cares for me always.

He provides me rest in rich, green fields

beside streams of refreshing water.

He soothes my fears;

He makes me whole again,

steering me off worn, hard paths

to roads where truth and righteousness echo His name.

Even in the unending shadows of death’s darkness,

I am not overcome by fear.

Because You are with me in those dark moments,

near with Your protection and guidance,

I am comforted.

You spread out a table before me,

provisions in the midst of attack from my enemies;

You care for all my needs, anointing my head with soothing, fragrant oil, filling my cup again and again with Your grace.

Certainly Your faithful protection and loving provision will pursue me where I go, always, everywhere.

I will always be with the Eternal in Your house forever.

[In The Voice Bible, they alert you to words that are NOT in the original text by putting them in italics!]

GRIEF BURROWS DEEPLY - ONLY TO RESURFACE UNEXPECTED

Our son, Travis died in October, 2015 - that's over eight years ago.  

He had lived in many places due to his naval career, but several of our favorites were in the deep south:  Savannah, GA, King's Bay, GA, and Fernandina Beach, FL.  

We travelled through this region a couple of weeks ago on our way to visit Tracie and Jon and to celebrate Jon's retirement from the Navy.  

After a ten-day stay, we began our two-day journey back to Pennsylvania.  Naturally, our trip up Rte 95 took us through that corridor that included these three former places where Travis had lived.  As we passed each place, I mentioned it and reminisced about his homes and some of the fun places he'd taken us to visit or eat.  Deb remained noticeably silent most of our way home.  

Upon arriving home, I felt offended at the way she was dealing with me.  She was short and even critical of me, and I couldn't understand what I had done to upset her.  Several times, I asked her if I had offended her.  Each time, she told me that I had not.  But still, she seemed angry and quiet.

I'm not used to this, so I began to report to her that she was being mean to me.  She would apologize and tell me that she'd try to sweeten up.  But it didn't happen.  This went on for two or three days.

Finally, late one evening - after we had watched several episodes of our favorite show - I mentioned again that something was off.  She admitted that she was feeling angry but insisted that it had nothing to do with me.  We sat and read for an hour or so.  Then, at my usual bedtime, I announced to her and Gabe that I was going to bed.  

She sat on the edge of her chair and asked me to stay a bit longer.  

Then, she began to talk about her feelings.  She admitted that she was angry.  Then the words stopped.

Her shoulders began to shake - and I immediately knew what was wrong!

I got out of my chair as quickly as I could, knelt in front of her as she caved into my arms sobbing and weeping uncontrollably.  

What was this?

This was a mother's grief!  It's considerably different than a father's grief!  I've written about it before.  To my great surprise, my fourth-most-read-blog was titled "A MOTHER"S GRIEF" 

https://hal-lelujah.blogspot.com/2017/03/a-mothers-grief.html

Her downloading of grief seems to have helped.  She's doing better now.  We'll make it.

I write about this in hopes that reading about our grief might help you to deal with yours!  Most days are manageable.  The number of those days grows with the passing of time.  But the reality of our loss WILL revisit us!  And that's OK.  

THINGS THAT MIGHT HELP:

• Vocalize your sadness with a spouse, a friend, extended family, or a counselor.  Deb has several who have stayed sensitive to her throughout these years and I am deeply grateful for them.
• Journal your feelings.  There's something about the process of writing things down that allows the emotional pressure to slowly release!  Obviously, I do this via my Facebook page and my blogs!
• Get alone and pray!  Pour your heart out to God!  Weep!  Express your feelings - whatever they might be.  If we learn anything from the Psalms, it is that God can take our bluntness and our honesty!  He loves you so, and you will be comforted!
• If the weather is suitable - take a walk!  I do some of my best praying while I'm walking, hiking or backpacking.  I'm severely limited in my ability to walk now and I miss it terribly.  If you can't walk far, then find a bench near a pond, lake or ocean and soak in God's love!  

Final thought: If you'd like to talk with someone about your grief, I would be happy to get together with you.  I think Debbie would also be pleased to talk with you.  You can reach us both at halinasia@psmail.net

THE VOICE BIBLE'S INTRODUCTION TO ROMANS

Letter to the church in Rome

From Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles

Rome was the center of the known world; it was the cradle of civilization, commerce, culture - and home to a military machine under the command of Caesar, the most powerful man in the world.  The most influential city on the planet was on the frontier of the Jesus movement, a place where God was bringing together Jews and non-Jews into one community to follow Jesus' teachings.  A group of believers was gathering, and a church of great importance was forming from ragamuffin believers who had been touched by the power of the gospel.  But they do not appear to have had the leadership of the Lord's emissaries - those who had walked with and had been handpicked by Jesus.  The church would become the seedbed for the spread of the gospel across the known world, so Paul recognized the importance of articulating the whole gospel to the body of believers and preparing them for their missional calling in the world.

This letter from Paul, the emissary of Jesus, breaks all the previous molds.  He is writing to many people he does not know, is instructing a church he did not plant, and is challenging them to embrace their role in bringing the gospel to the people of Italy and Spain, despite the fact that he has not been able to model the work of missions and church planting in Rome as he had in other places.  What would Paul have to say to believers he had never met?  How would he proclaim the gospel in a letter?  In planting other churches, Paul surely told how the risen Jesus appeared to him.  Paul must have preached to them for untold hours (he was known for being quite verbose) about sin, redemption, justification, the cross, adoption, grace, love, life in the Spirit, and the power of the Anointed One to redeem all things.

This letter set the church in Rome on a firm foundation and ultimately became one of the most important pieces of literature ever written.  It has influenced some of the greatest minds and agents of change the world has ever known:  Augustine, Martin Luther, John Wesley, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Desmond Tutu, just to name a few.  It was one of the primary inspirations for the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century.  But most importantly, this letter written to Christians in an ancient city penetrates our hearts and minds today with a beautiful and pervasive view of the power of the gospel!

[The Voice Bible's introduction to the New Testament book of Romans]

HAVE YOU EVER TALKED WITH AN ANGEL?

I told our Foundery staff a story yesterday and have decided to 'go public' with it today!

If you know me, you'll probably know that I have taken many retreats over the years.  These retreats served a dual purpose:  spiritual refreshment and sermon planning.

I have a deep reservoir of memories from these times away which were usually about a week in length.  I found numerous places that accommodated my needs.  I wrote about some of those places in a blog in February: https://hal-lelujah.blogspot.com/2024/02/sitting-by-sea.html

One time, I was at Mt. Zion in Roaring Branch, PA.  They placed me in a small house with a living room/kitchen on the main floor and bedroom and bath on the second.  I was seriously isolated on a country road that only caused a few cars to go by in any given day.  No cell service - except for one spot in the driveway where - if the weather was right - I could get two bars and sustain a two-minute conversation with Deb.  :-)

My schedule changes a lot when I'm on retreat.  I sleep a lot at first.  Then, I fall into a routine that is determined as I go.  I may work half the night, then sleep a while and get up to go for a prayer hike.  

This night, I had worked all afternoon and evening.  In the dark of the night at around 3:00 AM, I had been reading my Bible.  Some of the verses I came to were:

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven."  [Matthew 18:10]

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it."  [Hebrews 13:2]

"Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?"  [Hebrews 1:14]

With my Bible on my lap, my head laid back against the lounger, and in the dim light of my retreat house, I began to wonder about these verses.  The following thoughts came to my mind:

• Did I actually have a guardian angel who accompanied me everywhere I went and in everything I did?
• Had this angel protected me at times that I was not aware of?
• Did he have the power to influence me?
• How many times had he guided me without me even being aware of it?

After pondering these machinations of my mind for a lengthy period of time, I considered the possibility of talking to my angel.  No one else would hear.  No one else would know - until now. 😉  Would he converse with me?  Would something supernatural take place if I ventured down this path?

Then, I just did it.

Reverently and respectfully, I began to thank my guardian angel for always being with me.  I wondered aloud if he had been involved at different times when I had experienced close calls?  I expressed appreciation for his twenty-four-hour watch over my life through all the years I had experienced up to that point!  

These moments were holy to me!  I felt the presence of God and much of my prayer diverted to Him for providing such a watch-guard over my life!  

I sat in the silence and dim light soaking in this precious moment.  

Eventually, I turned out the light, climbed the steps and fell into my bed!  I slept as soundly as I had ever slept - knowing that I was being protected by a strong, alert and capable warrior of God!  

No.  He did not speak to me.  And, no.  I have not made any attempt to speak to him again.  But I talk with his Boss - A LOT EVERY DAY!  

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE?

In his first book, ON THE ANVIL, Max Lucado includes a description of a time when he sat down for an hour of uninterrupted thinking to write down what he believed - "Those bedrock convictions that are worth building a life on, that are worth giving a life for." [p.85]

The following was his list:

"There is a God whose all-consuming concern is whether or not I love Him.

I have a reason to be alive.

Money is not the answer.  Therefore, an abundance of it will not rule me.

I will never die.

My family loves me and I love them.

I will live forever, and heaven is but a wink away.

I control my moods...not vice versa.

I can change my world.

The most important element in the world is another human being."

I think most Americans are living without such a list.  Our busyness and constant activity has distracted us from the contemplative life!  We rarely - if ever - take time to reflect on things that really count and can make a sizeable impact on our lives.

We live in a world where values seem to have been pitched into a cultural blender.  We give assent to things that we don't really agree with; or we give a head-nod to behaviors we really abhor - just to honor the highest American value - TOLERANCE!  

With moral foundations crumbling all around us, we must reconsider our personal values and contributions to our society!  We can make a difference!  Especially if we stand together on the principles of our faith in God!  

SHE WAS SURPRISED THAT I KNEW THE HYMNS

I was leading a church that made a bold decision to make several key changes that would hopefully catalyze the church in growth with a specific age group: those in their twenties and thirties.  

One of these changes leaned toward being controversial.  It meant being deliberate about having people from the twenties and thirties on the platform every Sunday, AND changing our music to more fully represent the music interests of this age group.  

With the full support of the Leadership Team and their promise to defend our decision, we moved forward.  I immediately began recruiting from this age group to read scripture, make announcements and participate in as many ways as we could.  We also made an appeal for people from this group to be part of the worship team.  We made a concerted effort to target this age group's musical interests.

Of course, there was a quick lash back!  Although we had done our homework, explained our reasoning and were intentional about sustaining some of the music we had previously used, the older members of the congregation felt betrayed by our action.

FOOTNOTE:

Over the next two years our church family exploded in this age group!  The nursery crowded with babies and we had to add staff there!  This growth was pleasing to the older members who took pride in so many young families being part of our church!

We had one woman who was particularly upset with me for leading the church into this change.  She had a lovely soprano voice and volunteered from time-to-time to sing a solo during worship.  Several times, she promoted a choir during Easter or Christmas - which she led.  She was recognized throughout the community since she was a music teacher in the school system. 

During this time of change, she approached me critically over these adaptations we were making.  She was not happy about it!

During this same time period, she became seriously ill.  I went to visit with her and her husband in their home.  [When I home visit, I always bring my Bible and a hymnal which I would occasionally use to sing to older members and shut-ins.]  

In spite of her health condition, the subject of the church's music came up.  She openly expressed her dissatisfaction.  

I held up my hymnal, called her by name, and asked which hymn she'd like to sing together.  She made a comment that I probably wouldn't know the hymns that she liked.  I responded by telling her that I knew every hymn in the book!  She scoffed at that suggestion until I handed it to her and asked her to select a few.  Four times in a row, she handed it back to me with the encouragement:  "Sing this one."  Each time, I sang the hymn with her eventually joining in.  

By the end of our worship time, we were both in tears.

She looked at me with an incredulous expression.  "If you love the hymns so much, why are you leading us to sing this new stuff?"

I then explained that these twenty and thirty-somethings did not know and love the hymns the way I did!  If we wanted to reach them, we would have to adapt our music!  

I don't think she was ever happy about our changes, but the opposition stopped.  She continued to sing from time-to-time.  She and her husband continued to support the church,  with him reading scripture for me occasionally.  As mentioned above, they were delighted - along with the rest of us - to see the rallying of so many young adults and families who came to attend our church!  

A CLOSER LOOK AT A YOUNG, WEALTHY SEEKER

Matthew 19 includes the incident of a young, wealthy man who comes to Jesus with a vital question: 

"Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?"  [Matthew 19:16 NASB]   [All references will be from the NASB unless otherwise noted.]

Doing seems to be his way of operating.  

This reminds me of a story told in Acts 8.  

Philip was preaching in Samaria where a man named Simon "was astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great." [v.9].  The people came to think that he was working under the power of God.  But as Philip continued preaching, baptizing and performing great miracles - Simon was amazed.

Eventually, the apostles in Jerusalem heard about Philip's work and sent Peter and John to check it out.  These leaders prayed that the new believers would receive the Holy Spirit as they laid hands on them.  

Simon saw that the people's lives were radically changed, so he offered Peter and John money to give him the authority to do what they were doing.

"But Peter said to him, 'May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!  You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Therefore, repent of this wickedness of yours, and Ask the Master to forgive you for trying to use God to make money. I can see that this is an old habit with you, you reek with money-lust."  [vs.20-23]  [Underlined portion is from The Message]

"But Simon answered and said, 'Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.'" [v.24]

These men are radically different, but both are distracted by the acquisition and protection of wealth!  

Jesus engages the wealthy, young ruler in hopes of eliciting a response that would affect this man's heart.

"Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good;  but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments."  [v.17]

The young man's response was without hesitation:

"Which ones?"  [v.18]

The rabbinic teachings included 613 commandments to be obeyed!  This young man seems to want to know which of these are most important. 

Here is where it begins to become interesting.  Jesus responds by listing several of the commandments from Exodus 20.

• "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER..."  [the 6th commandment in Ex.20]
• "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY..."  [the 7th commandment in Ex. 20]
•  "YOU SHALL NOT STEAL..."  [the 8th commandment in Ex.20]
•  "YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS..."  [the 9th commandment in Ex.20]

•  "HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER..."  [the 5th commandment in Ex.20]
•  "and, YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."  [not one of the Ten Commandments]

CONJECTURE:

Was this a test?

Did Jesus want to see if this young man actually knew the Ten Commandments?

Now - to be fair - this last command actually does occur in the Torah.  It can be found in Leviticus 19:18.

"You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself;  I am the LORD."  

Jesus had also hinted at this teaching earlier in His ministry when He gave what we know as the 'Golden Rule': 

"In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets."  [Matthew 7:12]

In several more chapters, Jesus will emphasize and prioritize this teaching for some inquiring Pharisees [Matthew 22:37-40].

And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

It leaves us wondering why Jesus included this last commandment when it was clearly not one of the original Ten Commandments.  It would seem that Jesus was trying to stir something deep within this man.

However, the young man audaciously responds:

"All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?" [v.20]

A counselor - and certainly, Jesus - would notice that this man's response clearly is presumptuous! He views himself as righteous.  He lacks humility.  He seems to want Jesus to validate his self-thinking.  

But, instead, Jesus challenges him to do the one thing that would be hardest for him to do:   

If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven: and come, follow Me."  [v.21]

Jesus asks him to become like Himself: have no home, no place to lay his head, and to make all the world into his family!

But, alas, it is too great a request!  

But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property." [v.22]

___________________________________________

So many want the benefits of following Jesus without following Him!  He is crystal clear that we must not allow money to be our God!  Wealth is a powerful distraction!  In following verses, Jesus emphasizes this:

"Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven...it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."  [vs.23-24]

Jesus makes a similar distinction regarding one's family!  

"Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, 'If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate [by comparison of his love for Me] his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life, he cannot be my disciple."  [Luke 14:25-26]

Following Jesus has implications! It involves priorities!  It requires focus!  It is not an accessory!  

New believers will not understand this at first.  That's okay.  As they mature, they will gradually-but-fully come to a greater realization of this truth!  The Holy Spirit will be their teacher!  The Word of God will instruct them!  A trusted mentor, coach, discipler, friend, teacher might support and encourage them on this journey!  The fellowship of a healthy church will model these priorities for them!  

O Lord, our God,

Help us not to be a stumbling block to those who are fresh and new in their walk with You!  Instead, enable us to be a trustworthy and dedicated guide.  To show them the footsteps we have found and are observing.  To encourage them and give them hope!  To stick with them and be available to them!  To pursue them if they falter!  To pray for them daily!  To model a vibrant faith relationship with You for them to see and grow from!  Do all this through the power of Your Holy Spirit!   Amen.

JON'S RETIREMENT PRAYER

Kind and Gracious God,

We are gathered here today to acknowledge Your guidance and protection of a man and his family! 

Thank You for birthing Jon into a home where he would receive spiritual direction and a grounding in his faith!  Thank You for keeping him sensitive to these leadings throughout his life. 

As a young man, he decided to enter into a role with the United States Navy that would involve him in an adventurous life of challenges, developing leadership and significant influence.  You have watched over him, blessed him and protected him throughout these years of service. 

Also, as a young man, you brought along a young woman to be his helpmate.  Tracie and Jon have now walked together for nineteen years.  Their marriage has been blessed with two outstanding kids: Rylie and Coltin.  They have brought joy, delight, fun, and challenges to Jon and Tracie.  They are also treasured by two sets of adoring grandparents:  Warren and Cindy Kerstetter and Hal and Debbie Haire. 

This family’s journey has not always been easy.  The Navy’s responsibilities took Jon away for seven month periods numerous times in his early career.  This thrust Tracie into a role of dual parenting during these tours of duty.

One of those times away, the ceiling of their kitchen fell down.  With Jon away, Tracie had to make all of the arrangements for the repairs to be made.  It was stressful, but she is a very competent and capable person. 

She has supplemented Jon’s work all through the years by being a mentor to younger wives and girlfriends.  She has stood with Jon and has supported him every step of the way.

It was a challenge for Rylie and Coltin too!  Having to give up their daddy for these lengthy periods had to have been hard.  One of my favorite pictures is of the two of them standing on the shore of the Thames River – all dressed up to welcome their daddy home – while waving at him as his sub drew near to the Groton Base.  What a day!

They have grown through the many changes thrust upon them, including the move from the cold and northern influences of Groton to the warm and southern influences of Rockledge.  Such significant changes for young teens was a shock!  Yet they have learned to embrace their new home and have established themselves well in their new home!  The stable and consistent environment of a loving and caring mom and dad have seen them through it all!

We were also there a number of years ago when Jon was pinned – again on the Groton Base.  The kids and Tracie were central to this ceremony along with the men and women of Jon’s shop.  It was a special day!

We thank You, Lord, for always bringing him home!  We thank You for the deep devotion You have cultivated in him for his family!  I’ve seen his consistent expression of love for his wife and children over and over again, through kisses, hugs, and playful contact!  He is a great dad and husband, and Tracie is a wonderful mom and wife!

This family has been blessed.  The U.S. Navy has been blessed!  All those who have served under Jon’s command have been blessed.  His family has stood and watched all of this with pride! 

We all rejoice at this joyful occasion and the new opportunities that will follow this ceremony. 

Help Jon, O Lord, with the challenges of this change.  Twenty-two-plus years of wearing the uniform and fulfilling his responsibility is a long time.  The adjustments he will have to make will likely be uncomfortable.  Help him to make this transition with grace and to bring his excellent work ethic and passion to any new opportunities that may arise.

Once again, kind and loving Lord, we thank You for all that You have done to guide, protect, and provide for this family!  Although we honor Jon today for these years of service, we – at the same time – honor his family. 

May Jon’s strength, wisdom, experience and determination carry him into the new adventures before him.  Help him to continue to bless those he may work with.  May his future be secure and may he always be aware that You walk with him.

We entrust him and his family to You today, Sovereign God, and we lift our prayer to You in the name of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Amen. 

PSALM 19 - DAVID'S REFLECTIVE MODE

Psalm 19 is a curious and noteworthy contribution to this body of poetry.  As is so often the case, David is the author of these potent words and thoughts.  

There is a fairly discernable outline to these somewhat disconnected thoughts:

• Verses 1-6 

We have these words seemingly as a result of David's reflective mind especially during his early years of watching his father's flocks.  Night after night and day after day, he spent time alone with his sheep observing the heavens and the movement and marvel of the heavenly bodies.  Needless to say, he was impressed!  Each observation seemed to move him toward greater wonder toward God!  

It makes you wonder how impoverished we are in the 21st century as we live out the majority of our days inside buildings and removed the the wonder of God's creation?

"The celestial realms announce God's glory; the skies testify of His hands' great work. Each day pours out more of their sayings; each night, more to hear and more to learn. Inaudible words are their manner of speech, and silence, their means to convey."  [vs.1-3]

[All quotes from The Voice Bible unless otherwise noted]

•  Verses 7-10

We can only imagine that contemplating God's immensity and design for such a massive and intricate creation moves David to reflect on the order that God has provided humanity and the guidelines He has set for them to heed.

The poet in David leaps to the foreground as he marvels at the clarity of God's laws and guidance! With repetitious yet ever illustrative language, he grows in the reader's heart a desire to know God better and love Him more!

God's words, directions, commandments and decisions "are worth more than gold...They are sweeter to the tongue than honey or the drippings of the honeycomb."  [v.10]

• Verses 11-13

Having meditated on the beauty and immensity of God's creation, and having reflected on the clarity of God's desire for His children to live in accord with His guidelines, David suddenly becomes aware of his own sinfulness.

Out of a desire to be totally acceptable to God, David seems to be concerned about sins that may be hidden deep in his subconscious - sins that he is unaware of.

"Who could possibly know all that he has done wrong?  Forgive my hidden and unknown faults...protect me from my bent toward pride, and keep sin from ruling my life." [vs.12-13]

•  Verse 14

Finally, David ends his poem in a plea that has been memorized by many sympathetic followers of David's God.  

After all that has gone before, one senses the depth of meaning and imploring that characterizes these final words!

"May the words that come out of my mouth and the musings of my heart meet with Your gracious approval, O Eternal, my Rock, O Eternal, my Redeemer."  [v.14]

____________________________________ 

I'm writing this in March while living in western Pennsylvania.  The earliest hints of spring are in the air.  It won't be long and we'll be moving outdoors to enjoy the beauty of our world and its many fascinations!  

I look forward to camping and sitting around the campfire.  I'll observe the skies and reflect on my life.  Deb will go to bed and I'll sit in the quiet and whisper to my Lord.  I can't wait!  How about you?

AN EXPOSE' OF YOUR SINS!

Through my years - since college days - I've been a fairly consistent reader of the Bible.  I'm fairly familiar with its stories and characters.

As I was reading in Psalms today, I realized something that had never occurred to me before.  

So many of the psalms are written by David - former king of Israel and Judah. Because of his very significant role in the history of Israel, we know a great deal about this man's life!  We know of his humble beginnings as a shepherd.  We are aware of his courage while protecting his sheep against ferocious wild animals.  We know about his exploit with the giant, Goliath!  We've followed the stories of his courage, strength, and wisdom as a fearless military leader.  

But, we also know of his failures.

• his moral failure with Bathsheba
• his guilt in scheming to have her husband killed in battle
• his failures with his children
• the chaos that ensued among his children
• his leadership failures toward the end of his life.

It occurred to me this morning: How would I like it if my sins, failures and shortcomings were broadcast for anyone and everyone to read?  

I can tell you very quickly that I would not like it!  

Yet we know of the failures of so many biblical figures!  

Lot:

• comes off as selfish when he takes the rich valleys and forces Abraham to go into the mountains
• [After the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah] he gets drunk and his daughters sleep with him in order to become pregnant!

Moses: 

• killed an Egyptian and was exiled from Egypt
• threw down the 'Ten Commandments' and broke them
• disobeyed God and was prohibited from entering the 'Promised Land'.  

Jonah:

• ran away as a result of the call of God
• Became angry when the people of Ninevah repented and turned to God

Hosea:

• is instructed by God to marry a prostitute who breaks his heart repeatedly by her wanderings.

Peter:

• reprimanded Jesus and got a surprising response: "Get behind me, Satan!"
• denied knowing Jesus!

There are many more examples that could be shared!  

I suppose we should be grateful that all these quirks are included in the Holy Bible.  They show us that God uses imperfect instruments to get His work done!  They remind us that we are human and that "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" [Romans 3:23]. 

Some of us have sinned greatly!  All of us have sinned and live with regrets.  Fortunately for most of us, our sins have not been published for everyone to read! 

God - in His kindness - did not hide the blemishes in His Word!  The Holy Spirit put them all there for the record - on display!  

God can use flawed people!  God does use those who have sinned greatly!  

He transformed the Apostle Paul who “...persecuted the followers of this Way to their death..." [Acts 22:4]. 

And this practice of God's in the Old and New Testaments has not ended!  He STILL converts people from the enemy's camp and uses them for His mighty purposes!  WOO HOO!  Thanks be to God! 

Perhaps your life has been characterized by shameful behavior or sinful, hostile activity.  You are not beyond His reach!  Oh no!  No one is!  He has transformed many of you to shine for His glory!  And He is still the 'Hound of Heaven'!  He's searching high and low, far and wide for those who will surrender to Him and join His life-saving adventure!  

If you've said 'Yes!' to Him - give thanks!

If you've yet to do so - what are you waiting for?  Say 'Yes!' today and then stand back and see what He wants to do through you!  All this, plus eternity too!  A WIN-WIN!  

A REMARKABLY PERSONAL PSALM

Psalm 16 would probably be considered an unremarkable one.  If MANY have memorized Psalm 23, I imagine that very few have made any attempt to memorize Psalm 16.  Yet, as I read it this morning, I experienced God's blessing.  Let me unpack some of it for you.

In verse 1, David acknowledges:

"Protect me, God, for the only safety I know is found in the moments I seek You."

[All quotes from The Voice Bible unless otherwise noted]

I realized that the calmest moments of my day are when I sit in the darkness of my study early in the morning and have a talk with God.  Even then, however, my mind is beginning to churn with thoughts about my day and things on my 'to-do' list.  Repeatedly, I have to return to my conversation with Him apologizing for my wandering mind.  But He's patient with me.  :-)  It's a cuddling time and I highly value it!

In verse 2, David speaks directly to God:

I told You, Eternal One, "You are my Lord, for the only good I know in this world is found in You alone."

I was taught to pray when I was quite young by my mother.  "God is good.  God is great!"  He has never let me down!  In spite of living a blessed life, Debbie and I have faced some pretty serious challenges.  I could start to enumerate them here, but you'd quickly get tired of reading.  Suffice it to say that I used to always open worship with the phrase:

GOD IS GOOD - ALL THE TIME!

 The congregation quickly learned to respond:

AND ALL THE TIME - GOD IS GOOD!  😊

 In verse 3, David expresses gratitude for his fellow believers.

"The beauty of faith-filled people encompasses me.  They are true, and my heart is thrilled beyond measure."

Our Christian family and friends have proven to be faithful to us over the years!  

• They've blessed us with financial help so many times!
• They've comforted us in times of deep sorrow!
• They've shared their resources with us!
• They've inconvenienced themselves so many times to help us!
• They've proven their love for us so many times and in so many ways!

Verse 5 is David's testimony of confidence in God!

"You, Eternal One, are my sustenance and my life-giving cup. In that cup, You hold my future and my eternal riches."

Although I don't know for certain, I suspect that David may be an older man when he writes this.  As I grow older, I find my trust in God growing more and more significant.  I'm more aware now than I've ever been that my days are limited.  Debbie and I have had 'the talk' repeatedly about who will go first, and what life will be like for the one who remains.  

But we mutually agree that God has been so good to us! And we know - with certainty - that according to John 11:36, [Jesus speaking] "...And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die.”  You see, we believe we have built up treasure in Heaven AND the possibility of rewards as well!  

In verse 6, David speaks of his home.

"My home is surrounded in beauty;  You have gifted me with abundance and a rich legacy."

After living most of our lives in parsonages, we now - in retirement - have our own home!  We can put a nail in the wall anywhere we want!  We're currently remodeling our living room!  Our home is nestled into a hillside of pines and other trees.  We look out over two lovely ponds and fields of grazing sheep!  David would love this place!  

Our kids love and serve the Lord!  We have so much to be thankful for!  

In verse 8, David senses God's presence.

"He is ever present with me; at all times He goes before me.  I will not live in fear or abandon my calling because He stands at my right hand."

Although I am not aware of God's presence in my life every minute - or even close to that.  However, I believe His Word and trust in His protective and guiding hand!

In verse 9, David is satisfied.

"This is a good life - my heart is glad, my soul is full of joy, and my body is at rest.  Who could want for more?  

True contentment is a wonderful thing!  All is well!  This experience is never more complete than when you have experienced peace with God and are walking in His ways!

Well, this has gone on long enough.  Oh, just one more!  😂

In verses 10-11, David's peace is based on the fact that he is eternally secure in the promises of his God!

"You will not abandon me to experience death and the grave or leave me to rot alone.  Instead, You direct me on the path that leads to a beautiful life. As I walk with You, the pleasures are never ending, and I know true joy and contentment."

David's walk with God has brought him to a place of assurance that has taken away any fear of death!  His mind seems to be on Heaven as he writes these words.  Although - at this point in his life - David does not have much to go on regarding Heaven, he seems to intuit that he will somehow not be separated from God.

We - on the other hand - have loads of information about Heaven in our Bibles!  Detailing that information is for another time and place.  However, just a hint from I John 3:2,

"Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is."

PASSING THE TORCH

When I read through Genesis, I am always kind of shocked when I read Jacob's story.  

Do you remember him?  

First came Abraham - God's beginning of a new nation!

Abraham had a son named Isaac.

Isaac had two sons:  Esau and Jacob.  It was announced by God that the younger [of these twins] would be the heir of the family blessing.  It's a bitter story that unfolds in chapters 27-28.  

In chapter 28, Isaac sends Jacob on a long journey to the area he had left many years ago:  Haran [far to the northeast in Syria]. Isaac [and Rebekah] do not want Jacob to take a wife from among the Canaanite women - as Esau had.  

So, Jacob sets out on this long journey alone.  The first night out, he has a dream and sees a stairway to Heaven with angels ascending and descending on it!  God spoke to him directly in this dream and renewed the covenant that He had made first with Abraham and then with Isaac!  God renewed His promise of a great nation and the land of Canaan to this third generation: Jacob.

Jacob recognizes this place [Bethel - House of God] as a holy place and sets up a pillar to acknowledge God!  The chapter ends with him making this declaration:   [vs.20-22]

Jacob made a vow.

Jacob: If God is going to be with me, keeping me safe on this journey and giving me bread to eat and clothing to wear so that I return to my father’s house in peace, then the Eternal will be my God. And this stone I have made into a pillar will be the first stone laid in God’s house. And Lord, of everything You give me, I will give one-tenth always back to You!  

[All quotes from The Voice Bible unless otherwise noted]

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I am always astonished at Jacob's seeming ignorance of the God of his father and grandfather. 

Clearly Isaac had flaws.  He may not have cultivated a close relationship with his wife, Rebekah.  They each favored one son over the other:  Rebekah advocated for Jacob, while Isaac loved Esau.  

Isaac illustrates a lack of trust in God on two occasions when he tells Rebekah to say that she is his sister instead of his wife!  

However, other than these incidents, Isaac and Rebekah seem to serve and obey God.  

Yet, it seems apparent that they failed to develop - in either of their sons - an intimate relationship and regard for the Most High God!  

It makes you wonder, did Isaac ever tell his boys about when his dad took him up the mountain to make a sacrifice?  What a faith-building family story!  Esau and Jacob wouldn’t even be alive if God hadn’t intervened!  

Esau marries Canaanite women.  He experiences anger and rage against Jacob and plots to kill him after his parents die.  He hardly illustrates a life dependent on God and recognizing His Lordship!

Jacob comes across as a pagan who is surprised when God opens Heaven and speaks directly to him!  

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True believers who have genuinely experienced the grace of God in their lives, have a significant challenge in raising children that God blesses them with!  

The fact that God has saved you, redeemed you and blessed you, does not automatically imply that your children will appreciate God in the ways that you do!

Godly parents [hopefully children have two of them] must be focused and diligent to cultivate love for God in their kids!  It takes more than just taking them to Sunday School and church every Sunday!  

Parents must model their love for God all day, every day!  They must speak about this relationship with their children and show them the high priority that God - alone - maintains in their life!  

I once heard an evangelist tell about walking through the kitchen in the dark and tripping over his mother's legs as she was silently praying for her family.  He advocated that it is essential that your children 'catch' you praying from time-to-time!  

Let them see your dependence on God!  Tell God-stories of intervention in your lives!  Let them see you praising God and worshiping with others.  Give them pictures of your honesty and integrity!  

Pray for them, of course, but even more important - PRAY WITH THEM!  And don't stop when they become teenagers!  That's when they need your modeling the most!  

Break the mold and have a time for family devotions and prayer!  Find a time that works for everyone.  Put some energy and preparation into it.  Tell them what you're excited about as you read the scriptures.  Together - as a family - pray for people that you all care about!  

You're establishing a legacy!  It takes intention and diligence.

If you don't focus on this, you may be disappointed like Isaac and Rebekah.

Why not sit down with your kids tonight and quiz them?

• Do they know 'The Lord's Prayer'?
• Can they name the four gospels?
• What is their favorite worship song?
• Can they quote John 3:16?
• What can they tell you about Psalm 23?
• What's their favorite Bible story?
• Do they know why we celebrate Easter?
• Ask them what the difference is between the Old and New Testaments.
• Test them with their Bible; how quickly can they find:
• the book of Psalms?
• the book of Revelation?
• Mark's Gospel? 

[Were they able to find these books on their own, or did they have to use the table of contents?]

How did YOU do on this quiz?  

God bless you as you shepherd your child(ren) into a life of rich faith!  

JESUS' LAST WEEK

We're moving through Lent and approaching the most important celebration of the Christian faith!  If ever there was a time for believers to be engaged in His Word - now is the time!  

Are you aware that His last week before being crucified is the focus of the gospel writers?  Here's the breakdown:

• A third of Matthew, from Matthew 21-28
• A third of Mark, from Mark 11-16
• A quarter of Luke, from Luke 19-24
• Nearly half of John, from John 12-20

I just finished reading Matthew 18.  In this chapter alone, Jesus raised the topic of His impending death three times!  

1. After His transfiguration on the mountain, He tells Peter, James and John:  "Don't tell anyone what happened here, not until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead." [v.9 All quotes from The Voice Bible unless otherwise noted]
2. Immediately after this - rather than ask about His comment about His death - the three leading apostles ask a question about Elijah - who they had just seen with Jesus on the mountaintop.  Jesus tells them that John the Baptist was Elijah, "so he was arrested and killed...for the Son of Man, too, will be arrested and killed at the hands of people who do not see Him for who He is."  [v.12]
3. After healing a young boy who had been possessed by a demon, the disciples wondered why they had been unable to heal him.  Jesus addressed their lack of faith and then says: "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.  They will kill Him, and on the third day, He will be resurrected..."  [vs.22-23]

We're mystified that He could speak so clearly to them, but they simply didn't seem to hear Him!  I don't have any good answers to this query.  Was the Holy Spirit blocking them from full understanding, yet later this same Spirit would bring their memories back so that they could share it with others and us?  Or were they so enraptured with Jesus and the thrill of being His closest associates that they just didn't want to hear anything that hinted of His leaving them?  

But, really, are we any different?  In spite of the rich tradition of Lent that has come to us through the development of the ages, do we really focus on our faith as a result?  As mentioned earlier, a third of our gospels focus on Jesus' last week on earth;  are we reading these chapter during this seven week period?  

Indeed, are we doing anything to focus our faith and desire for greater understanding as we approach this high, holy day?  

If you are - and I'm certain some are - then may God bless you with deeper understanding and a growing love and depth of gratitude!  If you're a woman, then receive this Shabbat blessing:  “May God make you like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah.”  

If you don't know these women, their stories are told in the book of Genesis!

If you're a man, then receive this Shabbat blessing:  "May you be like Ephraim and Manasseh."  These were Joseph's sons who became two of the most powerful tribes in Israel.  [See Genesis 48:1-9]

If you have not been making a focus on your faith this Lenten season, it's not too late!  Select one of those passages from above [the bullet points] and start reading.  Find a time and place that will allow you a few minutes of solitude and let Him grow your faith!  

SOME THOUGHTS ON WORSHIP TEAMS

When I was growing up, my church had an amazing worship leader - called a song leader back then.  His name was Morrison Baker.  He was a kind, handsome man who was a clear leader in our church, but in a quiet, humble way.  His family was musical and many of them attended our church.  His youngest daughter, Martha, was usually at the keyboards.  She was a remarkable accompanist and seemed to rarely need music to play.  We always had someone at the piano and organ to assist with the 'song service'.  The worship on Sunday mornings and Sunday evenings was always inspiring as we sang from the hymnal.

Things have changed!  😂

Now we often have a platform of performers who lead us in worship.  Rather than singing old, well-known, familiar hymns, we are being constantly forced to learn new songs and sing them without any music score.  Some of us old-timers long for the familiar 'four-part-harmony' of a day long past!  

We don't have a lot of instruction from the bible about worship music, but we do have some.  A quick flip through the book of Psalms and I found the following:

• Psalm 4 (title) - accompanied by strings
• Psalm 4 (title) - accompanied by flutes
• Psalm 6 (title) - accompanied by the lyre  [a stringed instrument of the harp class]
• Psalm 8 (title) - accompanied by the harp
• Many other similar notes...
• Psalm 150 includes:

Praise Him with the blast of trumpets high into the heavens,
    and praise Him with harps and lyres
    and the rhythm of the tambourines skillfully played by those who love and fear the Eternal.
Praise Him with singing and dancing;
    praise Him with flutes and strings of all kinds!
5 Praise Him with crashing cymbals,
    loud clashing cymbals!
6 No one should be left out;
    Let every man and every beast—
    every creature that has the breath of the Lord—praise the Eternal!   [vs.3-6]        [All quotes from The Voice Bible unless otherwise noted]

It's difficult to be critical of a lot of musical instruments being used in worship in light of these observations.

Yet, as a pastor, there is so much more that enters into the making of an effective worship team [using today's lingo].  

Let me mention just a few:

FIRST AND FOREMOST

Everyone who stands in front of the congregation is perceived by congregants as being a leader!  Consequently, the following are very important:

• Are they good examples for the whole body in the way they live their lives?
• Do they maintain some measure of spiritual discipline in their lives? 

        >  Some Bible reading

        >  At least a modicum of a prayer life

        >  A desire to share their faith in Christ

        >  A testimony of love for Christ

        >  Do they love and honor their fellow parishioners?

        These are things we would expect from all leaders in the church - right?

• Do they have wisdom in how to dress appropriately and present themselves - especially while before the congregation?
• Can they get beyond the performance mode and fully understand that they are leading worship that is focused on GOD and not themselves or their skills?
• Are they able to bend to the will of the pastor/worship team leader with humility and avoid creating conflict?

To the casual reader, this might all seem a bit overboard, however, when a new person walks into a church and sees a platform full of people leading the worship time, they assume that these people are leaders - and therefore, models of appropriate Christian life!  

That observation raises the bar significantly for those who desire to be a part of a worship team!  

Worship teams lead us in our worship of God!  It's about God!  It's not about showcasing skills and abilities of our people!  Believe me - if they are effective in leading us to worship, people will highly value their skills and ability!  

Being part of a worship team is a privilege and an honor!  

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I was the worship team leader at a large and growing church for nearly six years!  It was a challenge to maintain peace in working with this diverse group.  But they loved the Lord and lived for Him daily.  And our worship atmosphere was AMAZING!  The energy was high and the unity of the church reflected the unity of the worship team!  

This dedicated team led every Sunday in three packed out services!  Many Sundays, when we would slip out to attend a class or take a break, one of the dear ladies who sang with me would say repeatedly:  "Pastor Hal, do you believe we get to do this two more times today?"  That's the kind of person you want leading your people in worship!