HOW DOES GOD SPEAK TO YOU?

I have a shelf in my home study where I have placed the top books [aside from the Bible] that have influenced me over the years. I have discovered that if an author writes a book that I benefit from, then I may also want to buy other books that they've written. Duh!

In the last church I served before going to China, I read David Platt's book, RADICAL. It transformed my thinking and energized my ministry! I immediately bought his follow-up book, RADICAL TOGETHER. These two books and their teaching catalyzed my ministry and significant growth in the Kingdom! 

A month ago, I bought another book of Platt's: COUNTER CULTURE. After reading over half of it, I became distracted by preparations for Family Camp. Another book was set on top of it, and I forgot I was even reading it. Since camp, I've read a couple of books and finally uncovered COUNTER CULTURE. I've been back to reading it for two days. 

After going to bed at 9:00 P.M. last night, I found myself wide awake at 3:30 AM. 🙄 After laying there a long time, my brain started working so I got up and went to my study. I finished Platt's book and am mesmerized by its impact on me!

All through my life, God has impacted me by the books that I've read. Many times, I've had a sense that He wanted me to read a certain book at a specific junction of my life! 

Many times the books that I read turned into sermon series that challenged me first, and hopefully others through their presentation. 

As I finished Platt's book in these early morning hours, I had a clear sense that I wasn't alone! 

___________________________

Do you have a clear sense of how God speaks to you? Can you discern when He's making His presence known?

It's a fair question. 

How do you know when God is dealing with you on a very personal level.

It's hard to describe, but I'm keenly aware when it's happening. For me, it involves three fairly specific modes.  

First, is that inner Voice that whispers into my mind. Sorry! I know that's intangible. But over the years, I've come to recognize the sound of that voice! It's not profuse. The thought/messages are brief and direct.

Second, these messages are repetitive! Not necessarily in quick succession. Actually sometimes they are somewhat distant from one another. But my mind clearly makes the connection, and I know that God is communicating with me!

Third, my reading confirms what God is trying to say to me! As already noted, when a book or article speaks to me with unmistakable clarity, it is the 'confirming word' for me!

_________________________

Just a couple of days ago, I sat with Debbie to inform her that God was initiating something new in my life. I tried to describe the things that were tipping me off to God's speaking into my life. She listened carefully. I could sense some apprehension and fear as I spoke. Perhaps this is because one of these conversations led us to northeast China for three years!!!!!  😊

She came into my study a few minutes ago and I intimated to her that I had been up half of the night reading and that God had been speaking to me with clarity. She slipped out pretty quickly! She's preparing to lead a women's Bible study this morning and wants to meditate on that before she leaves. I know that we'll talk later today.

I'm fully aware that I am in the early stages of God's call and clarification of His call. I can only report that I'm fully focused and highly excited. What might this adventure include? How will God move to change our lives? Will I be a fruitful branch? What changes in our lives might it necessitate? What will family and others think? Will we have the courage to step up to His call? Will we be willing to make the sacrifices that He may ask of us?

__________________________

How about you?

Do you listen for God's voice?

Are you aware of how He tends to communicate with you?

Since you're reading this blog, you probably talk TO Him a fair amount; but do you designate time to LISTEN TO HIM? 

If He could get your attention, what might He say to you? What might He put His finger on? 

Have you responded to His crystal clear instructions from His Word? 

Have you settled for contentment and complacency? Is there more you could be doing to advance His purposes? 

REMEMBER Matthew 7:13-14 [NASB]:

Enter through the narrow gate;

for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction,

and there are many who enter through it.

For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life,

and there are few who find it.

A SURE AND STRONG ANCHOR

My Bible reading today took me to Hebrews 6. It’s about growing in our faith and not turning back or becoming stagnant in our growth and faith.  Good stuff!

It also has strong words of encouragement, for instance:

God is fair; he will not forget the work you did and the love you showed for him by helping his people.

And he will remember that you are still helping them.

We want each of you to go on with the same hard work all your lives so you will surely get what you hoped for.

We do not want you to become lazy.

Be like those who through faith and patience will receive what God has promised. 

                                        [Hebrews 6:10-12]                                                                                                   [All Bible quotes from the NCV unless otherwise noted]

The chapter goes on to talk about oaths and promises. As I was reading this section this morning, I began to notice words that were familiar to me. The passage that triggered my memory follows:

These two things cannot change: God cannot lie when he makes a promise, and he cannot lie when he makes an oath. These things encourage us who came to God for safety. They give us strength to hold on to the hope we have been given. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and strong. It enters behind the curtain in the Most Holy Place in heaven, where Jesus has gone ahead of us and for us. He has become the high priest forever…[6:18-20]

Did any of this ring familiar with you?

You’d have to be an old guy like me and raised in a hymn-singing environment. 🙂

The following hymn, “We Have An Anchor”, was written by Priscilla J. Owens and published in 1882. She wrote a number of hymns that were targeted toward children; another was “We Have Heard A Joyful Sound”. She was of Scotch/Welsh descent and lived in Baltimore while teaching school for fifty years.

If you remember this old hymn, why not sing it instead of reading it?

To listen, click the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rirjItMxHjk

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
when the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain,
will your anchor drift, or firm remain?

Refrain:
We have an anchor that keeps the soul
steadfast and sure while the billows roll;
fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.

It is safely moored; 'twill the storm withstand,

for 'tis well-secured by the Savior's hand.

Though the tempest rage and the wild winds blow,

not an angry wave shall our boat o'erflow.

[Refrain]

When our eyes behold through the gath'ring night

the city of gold, our harbor bright,

we shall anchor fast by the heav'nly shore,

with the storms all past forevermore. [Refrain]

____________________________________

These words are POWERFUL for those who may be passing through difficult times!

Our God is a Rock that cannot be moved!

If you've anchored to Him - rest in the fact that He's got you covered!

If you aren't sure about your relationship to Him - start talking to Him right now! He has loved you from the beginning and extends His mercy and grace to you even now when things are desperate!  Talk to Him like you would talk to anyone else! He's waiting and He's listening!  

If you desire help, send me a personal message. I'd be happy to talk or pray with you! I maintain an active Facebook page.  ;-)

CAN GOOD COME FROM BAD?

After Pentecost, the New Testament Church grew so fast!

On Pentecost Sunday, Peter’s message to the crowds on the streets of Jerusalem brought 3,000 people into the fledgling church [Acts 2:41]. By 4:4, it is recorded that “There were now about five thousand in the group of believers.”

[All quotes from the New Century Version, unless otherwise noted]

By Acts 5:14, “More and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to the group of believers.” Acts 6:1 reports: “The number of followers was growing.”  Six verses later it reads: “The word of God was continuing to spread. The group of followers in Jerusalem increased, and a great number of the Jewish priests believed and obeyed.”

WOW! PTL!

Apparently, the new church was operating feeding programs for those who were struggling. In this process, some conflict arose:

The Greek-speaking followers had an argument with the other followers.

[Seemingly] The Greek-speaking widows were not getting

their share of the food that was given out every day. [6:1]

The Apostles – clearly being overwhelmed – delegated seven godly men to oversee this ministry so that they could focus on prayer and the teaching of the Word. [6:4]

One of these men was Stephen – who was described as “(a man with great faith and full of the Holy Spirit). [6:5]

Stephen apparently had a special anointing from God, for just a few verses later, we read:

Stephen was richly blessed by God who gave him the power to do great miracles and signs

among the people [6:8].

Maybe we ought to read that again! 

This guy who was chosen to assist in the daily distribution of food is suddenly – almost immediately – empowered by God to do great miracles?

It’s noteworthy to observe that the other six men chosen to help with the daily distribution of food ARE NEVER MENTIONED AGAIN IN THE BIBLE! However, the lengthy six and seventh chapters are ALL ABOUT STEPHEN!

Stephen was heavily opposed by “people from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and Asia. They all came and argued with him” [6:9]. He was essentially arrested and brought before the high priest! A conspiracy of lies was concocted against him. As this injustice unfolded, “All the people in the meeting were watching Stephen closely and saw that his face looked like the face of an angel [6:15].

When questioned by the high priest, Stephen lectured the entire group on the history of Israel! It was a lengthy message! As his message progressed, he eventually accused his listeners by saying:

You stubborn people!

You have not given your hearts to God, nor will you listen to Him!

You are always against what the Holy Spirit is trying to tell you,

just as your ancestors were… [7:51]

 

When the leaders heard this, they became furious.

They were so mad they were grinding their teeth at Stephen.

 

But Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit.

He looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at God’s right side.[7:54-55]

The angry mob was stirred up to such an extent that they hauled Stephen out of the city and began to stone him to death. As they did so, Stephen prayed:

“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” [7:59-60]

Then, he died!

______________________________________

Why would God bless and empower a man so richly, and then abandon him to a brutal and painful, public death?

This man had quickly acquired a ministry that nearly paralleled that of the apostles themselves! He clearly had SO MUCH POTENTIAL! Why not rescue him? Why not use him for godly purposes?

Dare we question GOD?

He is omniscient [knows all], omnipotent [all powerful], and omni-present [everywhere at all times]!

Who are we to question His wisdom?

BESIDES:

In the incidental details of Stephen’s story, we discover something that is quite powerful!

Acts 7:58 tells us that “those who told lies against Stephen left their coats with a young man named Saul.” Acts 8:1 reports that “Saul agreed that the killing of Stephen was good.”

Who is this Saul?

He is a highly motivated, extremely well-educated, aggressive Pharisee who is eager to make a name for himself! He quickly begins to persecute Christians in Jerusalem. His persecution was SO INTENSE that many began to flee Jerusalem! This sounds bad but as these people fled, they carried the gospel in every direction that they went! The result was amazing influence and growth for the Kingdom movement in all of Jerusalem’s surrounding areas!

God was seeing all of this! You must read Acts 9 to capture the power of Saul’s conversion!

Saul was not content to just persecute Christians in Jerusalem! He asked the high priest for permission to go to Damascus and arrest Christians there as well! It was as he drew near to Damascus that God intervened in his life! 😊

God overwhelmed this enemy of the faith and – in doing so – confirmed that this was His choice as Judas’ replacement! This Saul – renamed Paul – was to become the greatest church-planter that the world has ever known!

It’s unstated, but how much did Stephen’s inspiring death impact this young man who held the coats of his killers? How did it affect Saul to hear Stephen – with his dying breath – forgive those who were throwing the stones? This incident has been referred to as THE SEED OF FAITH SOWN IN A FIELD OF HATE!

Kind and Loving God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

Thank You for Stephen - his obedience, his submission, his humility, his influence and his outspokenness! His example inspires us!

And thank You for Saul-Paul! What an outstanding leader and example!

These two lives are uniquely intertwined, even though they probably didn't even know one another! 

You are the Master Weaver!

We must learn to trust You more!

What are You currently weaving in our lives today?

Help us to tune in so that we can fit in with Your plans!

FOR THE KINGDOM'S SAKE.

AMEN!

WHY ARE ALTARS BEING REMOVED FROM OUR CHURCHES?

I was a kid in the 1950’s and a teen in the 1960’s. I grew up attending the New Brighton, PA Free Methodist Church. It was a large church for that time period with an average attendance over 200. They maintained a very large Sunday School attendance by using a vehicle [pun intended] common among churches of that day – repurposed school busses.

Sunday morning was a worship time that focused around the pastor’s message. Sunday evening was considered an evangelistic meeting [it had less than half the attendance of the morning service]. There was more singing in the evening, along with occasional testimonies and special music.

Every Free Methodist Church [as far as I knew] had an altar and used it. People commonly responded to the messages by going forward to pray. Sometimes the pastor would give a special invitation related to his/her message. [At that time there were only a few women pastors, but today there are many!]

When a person responded by coming to the altar, it was not uncommon for others to join them by kneeling beside them – or sometimes even across from them. The pastor would also come and pray with individuals at the altar.

If there was a strong response to the altar – which was common – most people would stay in their seats prayerfully. When the needs presented at the altar were satisfied, it was common for the person to give a testimony about how God had helped them. [This was not mandatory!] Our song leader would usually lead us in singing something appropriate and then the service would end.

At Family Camp every July, the altar was used even more frequently. I have seen the altar filled shoulder-to-shoulder MANY TIMES!  Pastors present would come to pray with members of their church. Mature believers would also assist the many ‘seekers’. The congregation would largely remain seated throughout the prayer time. Testimonies would be given and general rejoicing would take place with occasional outbursts of songs.

I knelt at those altars many times through the maturation process. I initially opened my heart to the Lord at that altar. Tissue boxes were kept near the altar for those who frequently wept out confessions and experienced the forgiveness of God through His Holy Spirit.

While leading churches from 1976 through 2017, I frequently knelt at the altar before the service began. Other committed lay people sometimes did the same. I always served Holy Communion by having the people come forward to receive the elements of the Lord’s Supper. Most knelt for a few moments while they took Communion – and then returned to their seats. Others simply stood to do so, or made their personal altar at their seat. The atmosphere was one of deep gratitude to God and many people reported that the experience was deeply meaningful!

So, that’s why I’m asking the question: Why are altars being removed from our churches?

Debbie and I have been attending an evangelical Presbyterian church for six years now. There is no altar and no opportunity – during worship – to pray with one another in a personal way.

I occasionally have the opportunity to visit other Free Methodist Churches and find that many simply don’t have an altar. Or, if they do, it’s rarely used.

About two months ago, I was struggling with some issues in my life. To be honest, at this point I can’t even remember what they were. However, I remember waking up on a Sunday and wishing that I could pray at an altar. I know that must sound odd to some, but it was deeply ingrained in me that the altar is a place of confession and drawing near to God! I almost went to a neighboring Free Methodist Church that Sunday because of that strong sense of need I was experiencing.

My  initial submission to God took place at the altar when I opened my heart to Him! I made many trips to the altar through my teen years while dealing with the stresses and confusions of adolescence. The campus church – while attending Roberts Wesleyan College - was quite large (attendance of over a thousand at that time). I don’t remember if the altar was used, however, while attending the Asbury Seminary Free Methodist Church in Wilmore, Kentucky – where we lived for three years while attending seminary – the altar was used frequently!

WHAT HAS CHANGED?

I earnestly wonder about this.

Is confidentiality a factor? Is it that we don’t share openly as we might have in decades past? Have we become more private regarding our need of God and the pressures and stresses we may be facing?

Has the church lost passion for God? Do we not seek Him as vigorously as we once did?

Have we become too proud to humble ourselves in public?

Are our services so time-restrained now that we can’t afford to spare time for personal seeking? Large churches have multiple services that are often tightly scheduled and controlled.

____________________________________

These are honest questions. Perhaps because I’m a retired pastor, I think about this a great deal.

If salvations aren’t happening at the altar anymore, where are they happening? Our denomination is in a cataclysmic decline in membership and attendance. Does the missing [or unused] altar have any connection to this fact?

What was going on a couple of months ago when I felt such a need to pray at an altar? Do others experience this need or desire? I miss kneeling at the altar to receive Holy Communion – even though it was a brief posture change. Does anybody else share these thoughts, longings and questions?

If you have thoughts about this, I’d love to hear from you! I’m active on Facebook. My email is halinasia@psmail.net 

 [Responses on this blog page always show up as 'Anonymous' - which, of course, leaves me wondering who it is? Please direct your thoughts in a way that allows for dialogue.  :-)]

CAMP FRIENDS

The Tri-State Free Methodist Family Camp begins today [7/10/25]. If you've followed me for long, you'll know that I've published lots of memories about this ten-day camp. [Just use the 'Search' bar and enter 'Family Camp' to get started.]

It's been a focal point of my life from infancy to the present. There were years we missed. For instance, we lived in Kentucky for three years while I was attending seminary. There were other years that I was appointed in different parts of the Pittsburgh Conference [now 'Harvest Conference'] and needed to support either the Fairchance or Apollo camps.

For thirteen years, I led one of the three East Liverpool, Ohio Free Methodist Churches. In spite of the fact that we lived one mile away from the campground, we still packed everything up up and moved into the camp cabin for ten days every July.

Most people know that the camp always begins on the first Thursday after the Fourth of July! If the 'Fourth' falls on a Thursday, then the camp begins the following Thursday, It used to end on the final Sunday evening with a grand tradition of marching, singing and farewell greetings, but when instrumental leaders passed away and busy schedules encroached on staying late on the last Sunday evening - this tradition simply became part of history.

But every year a group of several hundred people gather for this ten-day camp to enjoy fellowship, participate in vibrant worship, and grow spiritually. We live in rustic cabins for ten days. We eat in the air conditioned dining hall three times a day. We hit the 'Camp Store' after church for cheeseburgers, nachos, milkshakes and other treats! We engage in sporting competitions like volleyball, corn-hole, Euchre Tournaments, golf outings, and this year - Pickle-Ball.

We enjoy learning from missionaries every year and offer our financial support to their work. The women enjoy craft times - also in the cool of the dining hall. There are 'after-glows' for the youth and special classes for the children as well. Some head to Thompson Park in the afternoon to enjoy the refreshing community pool [close enough to walk to]. 

There are always a few curfew-breakers who hole-up in a cabin and play games until late into the night!  Early-risers get their exercise in by walking several times around the camp road! Morning classes are held for campers of all ages! The afternoons are largely left open to find your own entertainment. A lot of women make an excursion to the area's pottery outlets in search of good bargains! 

The focal point of the camp is the evening service at 7:00 PM. Almost everyone attends - in spite of the fact that the tabernacle can be quite warm at that point of the day. The worship team - which is becoming increasingly comprised of younger people - leads us wonderfully in communicating our love for God! A guest evangelist brings a message and there is often a call to prayer as the service ends. Hundreds - if not thousands - have made commitments to follow Christ during these annual ten days! Many of us made our first commitment to the Lord while attending camp.

When it ends, we say 'farewell' to our camp-family-friends. Some will gather for a follow-up 'Harvest Weekend' in late September, but we will not see many until July rolls around again!

Family Camp is a special and sacred time for many of us. We have tons of memories of those who went before us and set examples for us. We cherish these special days when we share life with folks from other churches and cities. 

In my home while growing up, we began looking forward to Family Camp right after the celebration of Christmas. Then, when camp was over we would look forward to Christmas! These two events were pivotal in our lives. Of late, however, the Family Camp experience is being described as THE BEST TEN DAYS OF THE YEAR!

[If you'd like to visit, evening services begin at 7:00 PM from July 10-20 at 1027 Anderson Boulevard, East Liverpool, Ohio. We'd love to see you there!  If you come by day, bring a lawn chair, find a tree and relax. You can also buy your meals there - or hit the store with us after the evening worship!  The adult morning class begins at 10:00 AM in the tabernacle.]

LET'S CREATE A DUST STORM!

It may surprise some to discover that we have no original copies of biblical books. However, we have many copies and fragments of copies that are carefully compared to produce the Bibles that we possess today. The Dead Sea Scrolls were unearthed between 1947 and 1956 in eleven caves in and around the Wadi Qumran. These scrolls – when scrutinized over the next twenty years – would refine and corroborate the preceding scriptural examinations! Their value is inestimable!

We know that all of our New Testament was written before 100 A.D. The Old Testament scriptures had obviously been carefully maintained for well over a thousand years earlier. The original languages would have been Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek!

There was chaos in the first four hundred years A.D. trying to determine which books had authority. The process was not highly structured, but rested in the hands of the early church fathers who eventually confirmed – by the end of the fourth century – the sixty-six books that protestants consider the Holy Bible.

But the history of western Asia and Europe was then enveloped in a period that we know as the Dark Ages. It’s difficult for us to imagine this period of history. I’m reminded of a joke I enjoyed as a teenager.

Why was the period from 500 – 1500 A.D known as the ‘Dark Ages’?

Because there were so many knights!

It was during this period that monasteries were established throughout Europe and the feudal system came into being. Most of us know that this was an incubation period for this new Christianity! Monks busied themselves meticulously copying the early manuscripts of scripture by hand-writing copies of the Bible!

By the fourth century when books were copied by hand, there was a standard rate of pay for scribes. Books were divided into what were called stichoi. A stichos is not a line. It was originally the length of sixteen syllables [based on the average length of a line that Homer wrote].

There is a sixth-century New Testament manuscript called the “Codex Claromontanus” which gives the number of stichoi in each New Testament book.  It reported that in Matthew there are 2,600 stichoi, in Mark 1,600, in Luke 2,900 and in John 2,000. Consequently there were 9,100 stichoi in the four Gospels.

There is also an edict of Diocletian published early in the fourth century that fixes the prices for all sorts of things; and amongst them it fixes the rate for the pay of scribes; and the pay is 25 denarii per hundred stichoi. A denarius was a little over five cents, so the rate was approximately $1.25 per hundred stichoi.

This means that – at that time - one could purchase the four Gospels for about $124. All the letters of Paul would have cost about $68.

When Wycliffe published the Bible in English for the first time at the end of the fourteenth century, it was, of course, before printing was available. The Bible still had to be copied by hand. Later, George Foxe wrote: “Some gave five marks (equal to about $55), some more, some less for a book. Some gave a load of hay for a few chapters of St. James or St. Paul in English.”

“When the Great Bible was published in 1540, Bishop Bonner placed the six copies in convenient places in St. Paul’s Cathedral; and such was the eagerness to read them, and to hear them read aloud, that services were rendered impossible and the traffic disrupted and the crowds so great that Bonner had to threaten to take the Bibles away if the eager disorder did not cease.”

When George Foxe had spoken of the eagerness of the people to read the Wycliffe Bible and of their sacrifices to pay for one, he went on, “To see their travails, their earnest seekings, their burning zeal, their readings, their watchings, their sweet assemblies…may make us now in these days of free profession to blush for shame.” It was 1563 when Foxe wrote that.

There is a lesson in this review for all of us. Something that was originally hailed as life-transforming has become mundane! At various points of history, people craved to hear or read the word of God! They would expend inordinate amounts of money or invest hours of time in order to hear these precious, life-giving words!

Many over the years have prayed for a revival. Perhaps instead, we should pray for a rebible!

Gracious God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

You have clearly given us Your Word!

You initiated people through many ages to write these sacred words.

You protected manuscripts through centuries of chaos and rebellion.

You’ve guided the process through translators and translations.

And today, we hold in our hands THE WORD OF GOD!

There is no limit to its power especially when energized by Your Holy Spirit!

Grow in us a DESIRE FOR YOUR WORD!

Create hunger in us for it.

Speak to us through it!

Guide us and use us to incite passion in others for Your precious messages!

FOR YOUR KINGDOM’S SAKE.

AMEN!

Woodrow Kroll, the late president of Back to the Bible once said: "If Christians blew the dust off their Bibles at the same time, there would be a massive dust storm."  [adapted]

Maybe it's time for a dust storm!

THAT SLIPPING FEELING

It’s all too familiar.

Those who have battled depression will know what I’m talking about.

It’s an inner awareness that all is not well. It’s an imposing reality that you’re in for a rough ride. It feels unavoidable. It creates dread.

There are very direct results:

·         Greater difficulty negotiating social connections [desire to isolate]

·         Feelings of failure

·         Lack of motivation [have to force oneself to work]

·         Loss of hope

·         Brooding

·         Disappointment

·         Guilt

The list could go on, but you get the idea.

This slipping feeling is depression’s early warning system!  The ultimate destination of bottoming out is inevitable – UNLESS YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR COURSE.

Ah, now comes the essential question: How do you change your course?

The answers here will vary depending on the person and their past experience.

Some possible answers are:

o   Call the doctor and ask for a prescription.

o   Contact a counselor and set an appointment.

o   Ask for prayer in your small group [if you are part of one].

o   Increase your physical exercise and outdoor exposure – especially sunlight.

o   Talk with a trusted friend about your feelings.

o   Write down your thoughts and feelings [Journaling is an excellent practice for maintaining mental health!]

o   Read something therapeutic or for pleasure.

o   Call out to God for understanding and help by searching His Word, talking with a pastor [or trusted spiritual guide] or simply talking with God Himself!

I’m sure there are other alternatives that could be pursued, but I hope you get the main message: Your body is sending you a message as a warning! Act immediately or the descent of the slide will quickly accelerate your path to a dark place!

If you’ve been to this dark place before, you definitely don’t want to go there again! None of the doors have doorknobs to facilitate your escape! It’s dark! You’re isolated! You morbidly review your life – especially your failures. The loneliness is excruciating!

Make no mistake about it: This miserable, hopeless, dark and depressed place is a carefully laid trap set for you by your spiritual enemy! 

MEMORIZE John 10:10,

A thief comes to steal and kill and destroy,

but I [Jesus] came to give life – life in all its fullness.

[NCV]

As one who has spent too much time in the ‘slough of despair’, I can testify that you DON’T WANT TO GO THERE!

FIGHT IT! FIGHT HIM – THE ENEMY OF YOUR SOUL! 

Don’t be afraid to speak to your enemy out loud! Jesus did! We should! Tell him to go back to hell where he belongs and where he’ll be for all eternity!

MEMORIZE James 4:7-8,

So give yourselves completely to God.

Stand against the devil, and the devil will run from you.

Come near to God, and God will come near to you.

You sinners [that’s all of us] clean sin out of your lives.

You who are trying to follow God and the world at the same time,

MAKE YOUR THINKING PURE.

[NCV]

 Call out to God! Ask for His direction and help! Ask Him to send ‘someone with skin’ to walk with you and encourage you!

READ SCRIPTURE! If you don’t know where to read, check out the following verses in a contemporary Bible like The Message or The Living Bible:  [Try meditating on one-per-day]

ü  Deuteronomy 31:8

ü  Psalm 34:17

ü  Psalm 40:1-3

ü  Psalm 3:3

ü  John 16:33

ü  Romans 8:38-39

ü  II Corinthians 1:3-4

ü  Isaiah 41:10

ü  Matthew 11:28

ü  I Peter 5:6-7

ü  Psalm 23:4

ü  Colossians 4:7-8

If you’ve got THAT SLIPPING FEELING, feel free to private message me. I’d be happy to pray for you! I’ve been on that slippery slope many times and care about those who share this struggle!

FAVORITE BIBLE STORIES - II KINGS 7

About 800 years before the birth of Christ, the people of God were divided into two countries: Israel [Samaria] to the north, and Judah to the south. These separate kingdoms were at times on friendly relations, but usually were oppositional.

Around this time, Ben-Hadad king of Aram gathered his whole army and surrounded and attacked Samaria. [II Kings 6:24  -  All quotes from the NCV unless otherwise marked.]

This siege was extremely effective and created a very serious shortage of food in Samaria. The situation was desperate! Finally, in dire frustration, the king sent messengers to Elisha the prophet with the intention of killing the prophet. However, upon their arrival, Elisha told them that within twenty-four hours food prices and supply in Samaria – which had become horribly inflated – would completely normalize! 

Then the officer who was close to the king answered Elisha, “Even if the LORD opened windows in the sky, that couldn’t happen.” Elisha responded, “You will see it with your own eyes…” [II Kings 7:2]

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Meanwhile, outside the city gates there were four lepers who were despairing in the realization that they were soon going to die of starvation.  In futility they reasoned that if they stayed where they were, they would surely die. Furthermore, if they went inside the city, there was no food there so they would also die. Then, it finally dawned on them that their best option was to go to the surrounding Aramean army and beg for help. It was likely that they’d die as a result of this action, but they held a hope that perhaps the Arameans would take pity on them and feed them.

Off they went. When they arrived at the Aramean camp, they found it completely deserted!

The Lord had caused the Aramean army to hear the sound of chariots, horses, and a large army. They had said to each other, “The king of Israel has hired the Hittite and Egyptian kings to attack us!” So they got up and ran away in the twilight, leaving their tents, horses, and donkeys. They left the camp standing and ran for their lives. [vs.6-7]

When the men with the skin disease came to the edge of the camp, they went into one of the tents and ate and drank. They carried silver, gold, and clothes out of the camp and hid them. Then they came back and entered another tent. They carried things from this tent and hid them, also. [v.8]

But then something unexpected happened to these four men!

They realized that what they were doing was wrong.

“We’re doing wrong. Today we have good news, but we are silent. If we wait until the sun comes up, we’ll be discovered. Let’s go right now and tell the people in the king’s palace.”

So they went and called to the gatekeepers of the city. They said, “We went to the Aramean camp, but no one is there; we didn’t hear anyone. The horses and donkeys were still tied up, and the tents were still standing.” Then the gatekeepers shouted out and told the people in the palace. [vs.9-11]

After the king of Samaria sent out messengers to insure that this was not a trap, the people flooded through the gates and raided the Aramean camp of all its goods – including livestock!  Within twenty-four hours – just as Elisha had forecast – the prices of goods in Samaria had completely normalized!

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Is your conscience alive and well? Do you still hear the voice of God whispering to you? Does your sense of right and wrong still serve as a guideline in your life?

If we obediently respond to God’s voice, then we will continually be open to hearing from Him!

However, when we begin to ignore His voice, it becomes habitual for us and soon we simply no longer hear His messages of correction! This is a terribly bad place for us to be! We have set our feet on the path to depravity!

Miriam/Webster’s definition of depravity: “the quality or state of being corrupt, evil, or perverted.” We could add the impact of becoming spiritually and morally lost. This is NOT a path that we want to put our feet on!

Like the four lepers, we want to be open to hear God’s voice! We want to train ourselves to be soft in God’s hands so that He can mold and shape us according to His desires!

We can rejoice in this ancient story of deliverance while marveling that God used the least likely four men to bring ‘good news’ to the people of Samaria! 

DON’T YOU DARE THINK THAT GOD CAN’T USE YOU!

He absolutely can – AND WILL, IF YOU LET HIM!

FAVORITE BIBLE STORIES - II Kings 6

My bookmark had me read II Kings 6 this morning. I quickly realized that this chapter included one of my favorite Bible stories and I felt the excitement rising as I read on.

The king of Aram was at war with Israel. [v.1 All quotes from the NCV unless otherwise noted]. 

This king held regular council meetings with his officers during which they made plans to attack Israel.  Each time they made a plan, Elisha, the man of God, sent a message to the king of Israel saying, "Be careful! Don't pass that place, because the Arameans are going down there!" [v.9]

Each time, the king of Israel had his soldiers check out the area where they quickly realized that Elisha was telling the truth.

After this happened repeatedly, the king of Aram was angry about this. He called his officers together and demanded, "Tell me who of us is working for the king of Israel." [v.11]

One of the officers said, "None, my master and king. It's Elisha, the prophet from Israel. He can tell you what you speak in your bedroom." [v.12]

The king demanded that they find out where Elisha was so that he could capture him. His servants came back and reported that Elisha was in Dothan. 

Then the king sent horses, chariots, and many troops to Dothan. They arrived at night and surrounded the city.

Elisha's servant got up early, and when he went out, he saw an army with horses and chariots all around the city. The servant said to Elisha, "Oh, my master, what can we do?"

Elisha said, "Don't be afraid. The army that fights for us is larger than the one against us." Then Elisha prayed, "LORD, open my servant's eyes, and let him see."

The LORD opened the eyes of the young man and he saw that the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. [vs.14-17]

As the army of Aram descended toward Dothan, Elisha prayed that God would make the entire army be blind. 

As the entire Aramean army stumbled into Dothan, Elisha met them and explained that they were in the wrong city. Then, he volunteered to take them to the right place. Elisha then led the army of Aram directly into Samaria and into the presence of the king of Israel. Then he prayed that God would restore the sight of the soldiers of Aram. They immediately realized that they had been entrapped!

The king of Israel asked Elisha if he should kill these soldiers?

Elisha suggested that he feed them and release them to return home. So the king of Israel hosted a feast for the army of Aram and then released them to return home. 

The armies of Aram did not come anymore into the land of Israel. [v.23]

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The LORD says, "My thoughts are not like your thoughts. Your ways are not like my ways. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.  [Isaiah_55:8–9]

Let's remind ourselves that God can do anything He wants to do - any way He wants to do it, when He wants to do it!  God can do anything! [Luke 1:37]

Around the time of 585 B.C., God seemed to favor working through called and designated prophets - such as Elisha! Today - not so much! 

We live in the age of the Holy Spirit! Pentecost - which we just celebrated two weeks ago - changed EVERYTHING!  

Wise followers of Christ will seek to be filled with the Spirit!

They will pursue the direction, wisdom and guidance of the Spirit!

We will also train ourselves to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit!

The Holy Spirit is God! The Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity! The Spirit has perfect unity with the Father and the Son! The Spirit is co-eternal with the Father and the Son! They are in perfect fellowship! If heeded, they will lead us to that same unity and fellowship!  And what could be better for our world than for the Church to be unified under the direction of the Holy Spirit?

BEVERLY HAIRE - HAPPY IN HEAVEN!

So many thoughts flood my mind as I reflect on my sister, Beverly’s life. In the couple of days since she died, I’ve received lots of comforting thoughts from so many friends. My friend, Brenda Young, captured it for me by writing: 

“It is so very hard when there’s a whole set of memories that no one has but you anymore.” 

I can reflect on the death of each of my siblings now, and with each one – Jeannette, Ira and Beverly – I was able to enjoy a period where we reminisced about our parents and the way we were raised.

I don’t know when it happened, but somewhere along the way, I took on the role of ‘keeper of the family stories’. It fits me well. So, in that vein, let me share a few stories about Bev.

BEV AS A TEENAGER

I only have vague memories of Ira still living at home. When we moved to New Brighton [around 1958], he commuted to Beaver Falls to finish his senior year. He was a foreground type of person who made lots of jokes and kept extremely active.

I recall a night when he popped into the house with a friend after having visited a carnival somewhere. He walked in the door with a four-foot-tall, colorful, stuffed clown that he had won by knocking milk jugs off a shelf. He only stayed a moment before heading back out for more fun. But before he left, he gave the clown to Beverly. It was clear that it shocked her! She looked overwhelmed, confused and delighted – all at the same time! I remember feeling SO HAPPY for her that night. I also remember being SO PROUD of this big brother that I hardly knew!

BEV AT IDORA PARK

We were privileged to be able to go to Idora Park [an amusement park] in Youngstown twice a year:

·         Once because it was New Brighton High School Picnic Day, and

·         Again, when our Dad’s shop – Townsend Company – provided all-day ride passes!

I’m not sure which this day was, but we were trying to squeeze as many rides in as possible. Our dad occasionally rode with us, but mom always found a bench and someone to talk with.

This was in the latter days of Idora and it was apparent that it was beginning to decline. But we were intent on having fun!

About four of us got in line for the ‘Wildcat’ roller coaster. To prevent line-jumping, they had constructed two cyclone fences really close together to help keep the line organized [they were probably about three feet apart].

The Wildcat line was always long, but it moved fast. Standing in line gave you plenty of opportunity to talk about the last ride and anticipate the next.

As we stood in line, a few kids moved through the line passing people like they had some kind of priority pass. They passed most people so quickly that they hardly had time to react. As we stood talking and waiting, this group approached us.

Suddenly – I hadn’t seen them coming – Beverly reached out and grabbed the fence across from her right at neck level for the leader of this pack. It was an intimidating moment and I feared a conflict [remember, I’m seven years younger than Bev]. That’s when I heard her say to these guys: “That’s far enough, buster! Nobody cuts in front of me!”

It was a tense moment, but her audacity apparently had just the right amount of pressure to it that they backed up and stayed behind us.

There was no further problem and we had fun on the ride.

But I had seen a side of my sister that day that I had never seen before!  😮 

THE LIFE OF THE PARTY

I always felt proud of Bev. I think she held a hard spot in our family. Jeannette was the first child – and a daughter. She often spoke of how dad spoiled her.  Ira was the first boy – born three years after Jeannette. Bev was born four years later and held the ‘baby’ position until I was born. She also spoke of dad buying her dresses and making her feel special. But school was hard for her and she dealt with some self-esteem issues. However, she had inherited the ‘Walton’ gene for humor and fun! She had a big laugh and made many friends especially at church and Camp Meeting every summer. She loved to have fun and – as mentioned earlier – she loved amusement parks and roller coasters. 

LAUNCHING INTO ADULTHOOD

I’m a little vague on details here, but after graduation, Bev moved to the Rochester, NY area. I think that Ira had a lot to do with helping her to launch her independence. He was married and established. She lived with him briefly while she started working at Chili Plastics. Ira, Bev and I all worked at this plastics factory.

Eventually, she and Nancy [Hughes/Nasso] rented a small apartment and lived together for a good while. They eventually dated a couple of guys named Dick and Dom, and that’s where two love stories began all those years ago!

BEV AND DICK

Our family took to Dick immediately. I thought he was great because of the blue Mustang that he drove. When the family all came together at mom and dad’s house in New Brighton – it was always a fun time!

One of the favorite stories revolves around mom’s famous nut-rolls. During one family get-together, the container of these cherished pastries disappeared for about half-a-day. We looked everywhere, but couldn’t find them! We later realized that Ira had hidden them. After that, it was common for the container of nut-rolls to disappear from time-to-time. 

Mom and dad had camped for years at Red House [near Salamanca, NY]. It was a place of many memories and family fun! I clearly remember the first time that our family was introduced to Scott. We were all camping together. Dick and I drove back to Rochester to bring Scotty down. When he got out of the car, mom opened her arms to him and he ran to her! What a moment! It was love at first sight! She and Dad would be so proud of Scott, Robin and their family today. Dad was always heavily involved in leadership at the Rochester District Camp. Scott has taken up that mantle as a current leader at Tri-State Camp!

FLORIDA FUN!

Somewhere along the line, Dick and Bev started buying into time share vacations. This was to become a huge part of their lives! They lived for April to come when they would head to Florida for three, four, even five weeks of fun and sun!

Their generosity became famous as others joined in on the fun. Dick's sister, Aunt Peggy, was included at times. The Nassos were almost always part of the package. After Jeannette and Lib retired, they often stopped and stayed for a few days as well. One year, Bev and Dick hosted all of the Haires for a week at Orange Park! Ira and Joyce participated too. Debbie and I treasure that memory because Travis and Troy each came and we had such a good time together! 

The goal of these trips was relaxation, golf and fun! We always appreciated them taking Travis and introducing him to the world of Disney – something that we simply didn’t have the resources to do!

BACKYARD VACATIONS

A couple of times, Bev invited us to come up with our pop-up camper and set it up in their backyard. Dick featured regular cookouts, the kids swam whenever they wanted, and Bev and I competed on Nintendo playing a game that we called ‘Chicken-across-the road’! We screamed and laughed as the kids patiently waited for us to finish so they could play again! Bev made great meals for us and took us to the Rochester Zoo!

We had so much fun! Two years in a row, I had to drive back to East Liverpool to do funerals. That’s part of the inconvenience of being a pastor. With low salaries and a growing family, Bev and Dick sure added a lot of joy to our lives by their generous invitations! Our kids definitely loved their Uncle Dick and Aunt Bev.

LIKE HER MOM

When our dad died, we emptied out his house. It was the worst week of my life! When the end of this process arrived, I was given my mom’s and dad’s Bibles. What a treasure! I value them highly! My mom’s is filled with prayer lists of people from church, from camp, family connections and friends from the past and the present. She had taped pockets to the front and back covers to hold all of these lists!  

As the youngest, I often wondered which of our parents we took after the most.

It was clear to me that Jeannette favored the Walton side of the family. She looked like the Waltons and certainly had the mischievous humor of the Waltons. But I always thought that Ira, Bev and I took more after the Haire side. Ira – as he grew older – came to look just like our dad. It was actually remarkable.

With Bev, there was no doubt! She became a spiritual clone of our mother!

I’m a Facebooker! Until recent years, Bev was also a Facebooker. I used to marvel at my sister as I saw her brief comment over and over and over again on Facebook: “I’ll be praying for you!”  And I often told people that when my sister tells you that she’s going to pray for you – SHE WILL!  She believed in prayer! She practiced prayer! After our mom died, Bev was my number one prayer partner! Aside from Debbie, she was the first person I turned to for prayer!

She enjoyed a dynamic, personal, infectious relationship with God and she used it to bless untold thousands of people through her prayers! 

FAMILY REUNIONS

Joyce took the lead to get our Haire family together several times while they were living in Canton, PA. I’m not sure how many times we did it, but I think it might have been three. I know we did it once over Thanksgiving and another time was over July 4^th.

We all invaded their home and stayed for a few days! We took rides, enjoyed hayrides, played lots of games, ate lots of great food and just enjoyed being together! There were some great pictures taken of the four of us sitting around Joyce’s table while talking.

Thank you, Joyce, for making those great memories for us!

PRAYER TIME

There’s a striking memory that all of us have that I’d like to close with. Back in the day when mom and dad were both living [which means before October, 1981], we would all occasionally come home to visit at the same time. Our wedding was one of those times – August 11, 1973. 

I’ve already mentioned the ‘nut-roll’ story. We loved being together and would almost always attend the New Brighton Free Methodist Church together on Sunday morning. This gave our parents a great deal of pride.

All four of us – Jeannette, Ira, Beverly and me – were blessed by being raised in a home where God was highly honored! We were raised in a godly home by parents who loved the Lord and served him faithfully through their church!

After church, we would all crowd around that beautiful, oak, pull-out table…By the way, that table is still in the family! Jon and Tracie, Rylie and Coltin eat at that table every day in Rockledge, Florida!

After that meal, it was time to pack up the cars so that each of us could head home.

BUT, there was a tradition to closing those weekends. My dad would gather us all in the living room where he would ask us all to kneel. He would then lead us in a prayer in which he would pray a blessing over each one of us in order. It was a precious bonding time for our family! It was followed, of course, with lots of hugs and kisses and words of affection as we piled into our cars and left for our individual homes.

I can only imagine the loneliness that mom and dad felt as they watched the last car disappear around the bend. I’m sure he wrapped his arm around his treasured Hazel, gave her a squeeze and said something about all her hard work in making the weekend a reality!  He loved her so much! Our parents modeled a great marriage for each of us kids! We all knew that we were loved!

And friends, it’s into that loving and growing heavenly fellowship, that…

[Looking at Dick]  -  your wife

[Looking at Scott and Heather]  -  your mom

[Looking at the grandkids]  -  your Grandma

[Looking at the friends present]  -  your dear friend, Beverly

It’s into that precious, loving, heavenly fellowship that Beverly has now entered!

But far more important than family is the fact that she has finally come into the presence of Jesus – whom she loved throughout her life and to the day of her death!  Can you imagine that?

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 Let's pray.

Our kind and loving God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, 

We thank You for the way You blessed and watched over Beverly’s life all through these nearly eighty years!

Thank You for all in her that blessed us:

her loud laughter

her frequently repeated stories

her love for fun

her passion for worship

her desire to please her family

her committed prayer life

her love for Dick

her love for Scott and Heather

and her love for her grandchildren

and the joy she was able to take from her great grandchildren!

 

Help us, O Lord, to let go of the memories of the past two or three years

and cling to the memories that have been evoked today in this time we’ve taken to reflect on her life!

 

Help us to be grateful!

Help us to stand strong beside Dick as he moves forward without the one who stood with him in marriage since 1967.

Help us to emulate all in Beverly that was good and admirable!

Help us to use our lives to make a difference!

Help us to love one another and others.

 

If we know You, Lord, and live for You, then help us to let our light shine brightly!

If we’ve fallen away from You – call and pull us back into Your favor!

If we don’t know You yet – help us to find a quiet moment and surrender our lives into Your hands! For only then can we know the deepest of joy and peace!

 

We honor You – kind and gracious God.

                            And we pray in Jesus’ Name.                             

Amen.