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]

__________________________________

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!

_______________________________

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]

___________________________________

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?

__________________________________

 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.

A NAIL-MAKER AND A CANDY CLERK

My sister, Beverly, and I didn’t get along real well for the first eleven years of my life. In my earliest years, she was my babysitter! I came along seven years after her and displaced her as the ‘baby-of-the-family’.  We were too far apart in age to play together. We did have to work together from time-to-time. We were expected to do the evening dishes after supper. She always got to wash; I had to dry! I remember when  mom and dad would go shopping at a large department store like Kmart or Hills or Gaylords, my dad would give me a dime to spend. It sort of bothered me when I saw him giving Bev several dollars. But, by the time I hit eleven, she graduated from high school and launched her adult life in Rochester, New York. From that point on, I was raised like an ‘only child’.

Before I left home, she and Dick were married in our New Brighton home on December 2, 1967. I liked Dick – he had a really cool, blue Mustang! 🙂 They settled in the Rochester, NY area where Bev worked at Suburban Cravats tie factory and Dick worked for Tobin Meats. When I later entered the ministry, she kept me supplied with great ties! And when we went to visit, we ate lots of meat! I remember when Dick plopped a porterhouse steak on my plate, I told him that mom would have fed the whole family with that steak! 

When I started attending Roberts Wesleyan College, their house became a frequent stopping place where I could get a good meal! When I got a job working as a night watchman at the college, I used to call Dick at all hours of the night to tell him what I was doing.  He would cuss at me as I walked down the dark, deserted hallways – laughing out loud!

The next stage of engagement was after Debbie and I were married and our family was growing. My pay was ridiculously low. We chose camping as our way to have vacations because in the late 70’s and early 80’s, it was an inexpensive way to go on vacation. While we were living in East Liverpool, Bev invited us to come and camp in their back yard! So we hauled our ‘pop-up camper’ to Rochester and set it up in their back yard [I think we did this two or three years in a row!]. We played video games and swam all day in their backyard pool. We had cookouts almost every day! Bev took us to the Rochester zoo for entertainment! Bev made us great meals and we played together constantly – making some fun memories!

Then, life began to take over! My ministry began to flourish and the kids grew. We became occupied with raising our family and didn’t see one another as much as before. However, one of the good decisions that I made was to visit each of my siblings at least once every year! And I held to this legalistically even though they very rarely came to visit us.

Many of my ministry years kept us within reasonable distance from the New Brighton/Beaver Falls area. So, Jeannette and Lib made their backyard pool available to us too! Sometimes we showed up when no one was there and we just had a ton of fun swimming together as a family!  Jeannette was fifteen years older than me, so we were never close, but I interacted a lot with her sons: Tommy and Bobby [who were slightly younger than me].  We still maintain contact, but get together far too infrequently!

Ira and Joyce had moved to Canton, Pennsylvania by the time we were raising our family. Joyce hosted the whole Haire family several times; that was really great! I know once was over July 4^th and another time was over Thanksgiving. I REALLY appreciated those opportunities for us all to be together! On our annual visit to visit Uncle Ira, he would let the kids ride his quads around the yard. THEY LOVED THAT! When we moved to Spencerville, Maryland, we bought them from him during one of our annual visits. Especially Troy and Tracie rode them endlessly! Our grandkids – Rylie and Coltin – have also enjoyed them immensely when they have come to visit us!

I practiced ‘retreats’ while I was leading churches. One of the places I went to was Mt. Zion Retreat Center, less than an hour from Ira’s home. Any time that I was on retreat, we would grab breakfast together for several hours! I loved that!

But life changes!

Mom died first at the early age of 67, from complications after open heart surgery! It was 1981, just two months after Tracie was born – almost forty-four years ago!  !

Dad lived for another eleven years, dying during Family Camp in July, 1992.

On September 27, 2021, Ira died. I got to spend a wonderful day with him while Debbie and Joyce attended a bridal shower. We talked all afternoon about our parents and the way we were raised. I had always looked up to him and he had always introduced me as his ‘kid-brother’!

On December 1, 2021, Jeannette died, after a long time of gradual decline. Because I had retired and lived in Enon Valley, I was able to visit her regularly. In the earlier years, we had some great times of reminiscing! 

And now, yesterday [June 10, 2025] Beverly has succumbed to the trials of dementia and changed her residence for all eternity! [I’ll write about her soon!]

That’s a brief history of the Haire Family – so far!

Years ago, I wrote a story for our family and titled it “A Nail-Maker and A Candy-Store Clerk”. It told of a young man named Leonard [from New Brighton] who was shopping at G.C Murphy’s in Beaver Falls and saw an attractive young woman – named Hazel Walton - working at the candy counter. From what I understand, he bought a LOT of peanut clusters back in that day! After a period of courting, they were married on August 17, 1934. They started this story!

And I have to tell you that I’m feeling VERY, VERY LONELY THIS MORNING!

A CHINA STORY: A HIGH SCHOOL FRIEND

It was just about this time of year in 2013, that we were seriously deliberating whether or not to return to China for a second year. Our initial commitment was for one year. God used several things that happened to us to guide us to commit to a second year. The following was one of those things. [By the way, we actually stayed for three years! 🙂]

__________________________________________________________________

When I was leaving our hotel one morning, a high school boy approached me with a smile and said: "Hi! Would you like to be my friend?"

His English was good. His charm was over-the-top! I couldn't help but respond: "Sure! I'd be glad to be your friend!"

He smiled a big smile and then asked for my phone number.

I balked at this request and this seemed to surprise him. He asked me why I didn't want to give him my phone number.

I told him that I was reluctant to give my phone number to a stranger.

He responded: "But we're friends!"

I had to move on, so we said a quick 'Good-bye' and I headed off on my way.

However, I immediately found God on my shoulder asking me why I came to China. I responded quickly and chased him down. I told him that I changed my mind and gave him my phone number!

That evening he texted me 😆.

[The text exchange follows:]

王小贱 [This is his name - I knew him as Steve] 9:13:40 PM
wow
I have a question

Hal 9:13:57 PM
Fire away!

王小贱 9:15:40 PM
Why u changed ur mind that day?

王小贱 9:17:35 PM
could u tell me?

Hal 9:17:56 PM
Well, to be honest: I felt that God wanted me to reconsider and accept your offer of friendship.

王小贱 9:18:59 PM
wow。

Hal 9:19:10 PM
Yeah.

王小贱 9:19:15 PM
If I want 2 believe god,what should I do

Hal 9:19:57 PM
Steve, talk to Him!
I do it all the time!

王小贱 9:20:18 PM
Who?God?

Hal 9:20:27 PM
Yep!
I just talk with Him like I talk with you.

Hal 9:21:28 PM
A lot of the time I try to get alone so that I can actually talk with Him out loud!

王小贱 9:21:49 PM
A priest had already let me join it，he asked me 2 read some words

Hal 9:22:25 PM
What kind of priest?

王小贱 9:22:48 PM
But I dont have a cross and i dont know the rules
I went 2 Macao in 2010,and there has a big church,very famous,

Hal 9:23:49 PM
It's not about rules, it's about having a day-to-day relationship with God!

王小贱 9:24:18 PM
The priest asked me 2 read some words.

Hal 9:25:36 PM
I read the Bible every day. It's important to me. But it's a big book and can be very confusing to someone reading it for the first time.

王小贱 9:25:38 PM
He gave me some books about god

Hal 9:26:06 PM
Just start by talking with Him! Keep it simple.
See what happens?

王小贱 9:26:41 PM
Now?
I don't have a cross .

Hal 9:27:44 PM
You don't have to have anything special to talk to Him. He's always near you! Always!

王小贱 9:28:41 PM
I want 2 try it now .Doesnt he sleeping now?
Ok,I try it now

Hal 9:29:50 PM
Nope, He doesn't sleep. He knows you already and loves you more than you can imagine!

王小贱 9:31:40 PM
I had try it
Nothing happened

Hal 9:32:33 PM
Yep. That's the way it seems sometimes. But I trust that He hears me. I'm absolutely sure He does!
Be sure to ask Him to help you with your examination for the military! I believe He will!

王小贱 9:33:27 PM
I believe him ,too

Hal 9:34:06 PM
It's a good start! I'm proud of you, Steve!

王小贱 9:34:50 PM
Thanks
Am worried now.

Hal 9:35:26 PM
I'm going to go to bed now. I get up really early to read my Bible and talk with Him! :-)
Worried about waht?

王小贱 9:36:04 PM
My classmates

Hal 9:36:16 PM
What about them?

王小贱 9:37:37 PM
Some of them really don't care their life,their future

Hal 9:37:54 PM
That makes me sad!

王小贱 9:38:00 PM
Just some small problems,they will fight
We are all Chinese ,we are all humen
Why should we fight ,I really can't understand

Hal 9:38:52 PM
Everybody has hard times. Teen years are especially hard to get through!
Be strong! Make good decisions!
Hang out with the right people.

Hal 9:39:57 PM
You can be a good influence on your friends!

___________________________________________

You can have a dialogue like this with your friends, relatives, neighbors and co-workers at any time! 

Point them to God!

Share openly and honestly with them!

Be available to answer questions and give direction!

IT'S WHY GOD PUT US HERE!

PENTECOST!

Compared to Christmas and Easter, only a very small portion of people will recognize today as a holy day of celebration.  I haven’t seen any flyers for ‘Pentecost Sales’. I haven’t noticed any ‘doves’ or ‘flames of fire’ hanging from the trees of my neighbors. The stores and restaurants haven’t been any more crowded than normal.

Let’s face it, for the majority of people – Christian or not Christian – this is just another Sunday.

Some churches will call attention to this day and the 2^nd chapter of Acts. Others may not.

So, what does this day represent? Why is it important?

It signaled the arrival of the new leader of the Church! The Third Person of the Trinity – the Holy Spirit – arrived with a grand demonstration of His power and presence!

Make no mistake, this is the same God who led Israel through the trials of the Old Testament! This was the same Jesus who arrived in a manger, grew up to become a great Teacher, performed miracles, healed people, preached messages, raised the dead, and laid His life down as the perfect sacrifice for our sin!

Pentecost triggers the full realization of a triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit! It took the New Testament Church four hundred years to sort this all out and understand it. They were kind enough to pass it along to us – and all generations!

God exists in three Persons that are equal, completely unified, have all existed for eternity. Once they came to more fully understand these truths, they passed them on to us in the form of a confession we know as The Apostle’s Creed:

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
      creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

      who was conceived by the Holy Spirit

      and born of the virgin Mary.

      He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

      was crucified, died, and was buried;

      he descended to hell.

      The third day he rose again from the dead.

      He ascended to heaven

      and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.

      From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

      the holy catholic* church,

      the communion of saints,

      the forgiveness of sins,

      the resurrection of the body,

      and the life everlasting. Amen.

*that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places

On this day – in the 1^st century – after days of prayer with around 120 people in an upper room in obedience to the clear instructions of Jesus before He ascended into Heaven, something dynamic happened!!!!!!!!

The Holy Spirit showed up – just as Jesus had promised!

On this occasion, He revealed His presence with flames of fire that settled over the heads of those who had been praying together. They ALL heard the sound of a mighty rushing wind, yet there was no wind! They were immediately filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages “by the power the Holy Spirit was giving them.” [Acts 2:4 All quotes from the NCV unless otherwise noted]

They burst out of the room and hit the crowded streets of Jerusalem where they began proclaiming the Gospel to the crowds gathered to celebrate the harvest festival or Feast of Weeks!

At least one very large gathering took place as a result of Peter standing in a prominent place and preaching. His message was clear and simple: “Change your hearts and lives and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” [Acts 2:38]

“About three thousand people were added to the number of believers that day.” [Acts 2:41]

_________________________________

So, what does this day mean to us as followers of Christ?

SOME SUGGESTIONS:

·         We are still and have always been under the direction of a triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

·         We live in the age of the Spirit! It is the Holy Spirit of God that is directing the affairs of the Church today! We might be wise to be praying to Him and seeking His direction in our lives and in our churches!

·         The Holy Spirit is still filling people today!!! When He comes into a person, there is a rejuvenating of that person that awakens them spiritually and charges them with passion for the spiritually lost!

·         The Book of Acts makes it clear that the sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit - in a person’s life and in the Church - is passion for the lost and growth in the Church! 

_____________________________________________

    Holy Spirit Thou art welcome in this place
Holy Spirit Thou art welcome in this place
Omnipotent Father of Mercy and Grace
Thou art welcome in this place!

HE PREACHED HIMSELF INTO EXILE

I read this morning about a noteworthy pastor who lived from 349 – 407 A.D. He was raised in Antioch which was a leading intellectual center of late antiquity. He was raised by a widowed mother who was a pious Christian woman.

Originally known as John of Antioch, he eventually came to be known as John Chrysostom [meaning “golden mouth”], because of his eloquent and uncompromising preaching. He did not cater his messages to the listeners, but spoke the bold truth as he perceived it based on the Word of God.

A sample:

“It is foolishness and a public madness to fill the cupboards with clothing,

and allow men who are created in God’s image and likeness to stand naked and trembling with the cold so that they can hardly hold themselves upright.”

In the spring of 388, a rebellion erupted in Antioch over the announcement of increased taxes. Statues of the emperor and his family were desecrated. Officials responded by killing some city leaders! In the midst of this crisis, John preached:

“Improve yourselves now truly, not as when during one of the numerous earthquakes or in famine or in drought or in similar visitations you leave off your sinning for three or four days and then begin the old life again.”

As a result of this kind of boldness, he was in great demand as a preacher! In his sermons, he denounced abortion, prostitution, gluttony, the theater, and swearing. About the love of horse racing, he complained,

“My sermons are applauded merely from custom, then everyone runs off to [horse racing] again and gives much more applause to the jockeys, showing indeed unrestrained passion for them! There they put their heads together with great attention, and say with mutual rivalry, ‘This horse did not run well, this one stumbled,’ and one holds to this jockey and another to that. No one thinks any more of my sermons, nor of the holy and awesome mysteries that are accomplished here.”

His sermons tended to run from thirty minutes to two hours and were well attended. He had a large, bald head, deeply set eyes, and sunken cheeks and brought images of Elisha the prophet to people’s minds. Once – when he was discouraged – he wrote:

“My work is like that of a man who is trying to clean a piece of ground into which a muddy stream is constantly flowing.”

In 398, he was kidnapped and carried to Constantinople where he was forcibly consecrated as archbishop of Constantinople. This was orchestrated by a government official who wanted to adorn the capital city with the best orator in Christianity. John accepted it as God’s providence.

Rather than soften his words for his new and prestigious audience – which now included many from the imperial household – John continued themes he preached in Antioch. He railed against abuses of wealth and power. Even his lifestyle itself was a scandal: he lived an ascetic life, used his considerable household budget to care for the poor, and built hospitals.

In a sermon against the theater he said,

“Long after the theater is closed and everyone is gone away, those images [of “shameful women” actresses] still float before your soul, their words, the conduct, their glances, their walk, their positions, their excitation, their unchaste limbs…

are there within you, she kindles the Babylonian furnace in which the peace of your home, the purity of your heart, the happiness of your marriage will be burnt up!”

Eventually his lack of skill and tact made him too many enemies – in the imperial family and among fellow bishops. He was exiled back to the plains of Asia Minor where his health immediately began to suffer. He received visits from loyal followers and wrote many letters from this exile.

Before he died, he wrote:

“When you see the church scattered, suffering the most terrible trials, her most illustrious members persecuted and flogged, her leader carried away into exile, don’t only consider these events, but also the things that have resulted: the rewards, the recompense, the awards for the athlete who wins in the games and the prizes won in the contest.”

Remarkably, 600 sermons and 200 letters survive this great early church father!

[Heavily drawn on material from 131 Christians Everyone Should Know pp.83-85]

MY FAVORITE HYMN

I didn’t know the name Eochaid mac Colla (c. 560 – 640) until today! 

He was a sixth century Irish monk who lived, served and wrote – endearing himself to his people! While visiting a monk friend in a monastery on an island in extreme northwest Ireland he was martyred by pirates who invaded the island monastery. 

    

His nickname, Dallán ("little blind one"), was earned after he lost his sight, reputedly as a result of studying intensively. After writing his best-known work, Amhra Coluim Cille, [a poem about an Irish abbot and missionary evangelist credited with spreading Christianity in what is today Scotland] it is reported that Dallan regained his sight. 

[Credit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dall%C3%A1n_Forgaill]

Why is this name significant to us?

Dallen Forgaille is considered the author of the lyrics for one of the most beloved hymns of the church: “Be Thou My Vision”. The text of the hymn was translated from Old Irish into English by Mary E. Byrne in 1905. Oddly, she chose to to keep the Elizabethan language.  “Be Thou My Vision" is sung to the Irish folk song, “Slane,” which tells the story of Slane Hill where in A.D. 433 St. Patrick lit candles on Easter Eve in defiance of the pagan king Loe-gaire.

The context of the hymn is a prayer proclaiming Christ as our model and ideal. Each stanza begins with an aspect of His provision as: my vision, my wisdom, my true word, my great Father, my inheritance, my treasure, and heart of my heart.

It’s helpful to know the history of this hymn.

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me save that thou art.
Thou my best thought by day and by night;
Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true Word;
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord.
Thou my great Father, I thy dear child;
Thou in me dwelling, with thee reconciled.

Be thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight;
Be thou my dignity, thou my delight.
Thou my soul's shelter, thou my high tow'r;
Raise thou me Heav'nward, O Pow'r of my pow'r.

Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise;
Thou mine inheritance, now and always.
Thou and thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my treasure thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven's joys, O bright Heav'ns Sun!
Heart of my heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

If you’d enjoy a beautiful video with Christyn Getty singing this hymn, click the link:  

EARLY CHURCH FATHERS: Ambrose, Bishop of Milan

I realize that there is not a lot of interest in learning about the early fathers of our faith, but I find their role to have been vital and courageous. As I’ve stated in several recent blog articles, these early leaders had an enormous task of developing a Christology, distilling the Apostle's Doctrine, determining structure for the new church [especially after Emperor Constantine’s conversion in 312 A.D.], and evangelizing the known world of that time!

An especially controversial and widely followed heresy was called Arianism – named after an Alexandrian presbyter, Arius. The Arians couldn’t accept that Christ was co-equal with God. They believed that He was created by God! In spite of the fact that the heavily influential decision of the Council of Nicea [325 A.D.] was to denounce Arianism as a heresy – it continued to be a problem.

Enter Ambrose of Milan. He was born into power by being part of the Roman family of Aurelius. He was a governor in Italy’s northern provinces before he turned thirty. Even as a governor he had ecclesiastical problems to deal with. The Orthodox Christians and Arians were practically at war at the time.

About that time, the bishop of Milan died. Ambrose attended the meeting to elect a replacement, hoping that his presence would preempt violence between the parties. Much to his surprise, both sides shouted their wish for him to be their replacement. Ambrose was happy with his role of governor and did not make himself available to be bishop. The people wrote to Emperor Valentian, asking for his seal on their verdict. Ambrose was put under arrest until he agreed to serve!

He immediately opposed Arianism – authoring several works against them. He was regarded as an excellent preacher. Remarkably, he spoke frequently and powerfully on the virtues of the practice of strict self denial as a measure of personal and especially spiritual discipline.

He became a champion of the Church by arguing with three emperors – and winning each time. When Emperor Theodosius set a trap for a group of rebellious rioters killing 7,000 within three hours, Ambrose was horrified and demanded his public repentance! He forbade the emperor to attend worship until he prostrated himself before the altar.

Theodosius obeyed, making the first time church triumphed over state! He continued to hold the bishop in high regard until he died in the arms of Ambrose! Ambrose eulogized the emperor: “I confess that I loved him, and felt the sorrow of his death in the abyss of my heart.”

Ambrose died two years later on Easter Eve, 397 A.D., having been bishop of Milan for twenty-three years!

However, his influence did not end! He was outshined by a student who had gone to Milan in 384 to hear the bishop’s famous allegorical preaching. By the time this student left four years later, he had been baptized by Ambrose and given a philosophical basis that he would use to transform Christian teaching. This student’s name was Augustine!

[Some information gleaned from Wikipedia and '131 Christians Everyone Should Know' pp.80-82]

MINISTRY STORIES: They’re Going to Make It!

They called for an appointment for marriage counseling. They were not part of the church that I was leading. They’d heard that I counseled from a friend.

He was a tall, lean, very muscular guy – at least 6’3”. He was the kind of guy that I would NOT want to be angry with me. 

She was a short, thick but very attractive young woman.

Finances were not a problem.

Their relationship was very broken. 

Sometimes, when counseling, I will let a couple fight. I learn a lot from watching. It always ends the same: both sitting fuming and defeated – usually facing in opposite directions. A picture of hopelessness!

That’s my cue to ask: “How are you feeling right now?”

In their emotional exhaustion, one or the other will usually answer with one word responses.  Hopeless and exhausted are the two most frequent answers.

________________________________

So many things need to happen for healing to manifest in a relationship like this and it is greatly helped by an impartial, fair and skilled mediator. 

o   It can help for them to remember what originally brought them together.

o   They need to be taught to fight fairly.

o   They may need emergency intervention.

In cases of extreme brokenness I sometimes make myself available for immediate intervention when a breakdown occurs.  I made this offer to this couple.

________________________________

It didn’t take long for them to call. I was free and invited them to come directly to my office.

When they arrived, they sat down with their chairs facing away from each other. They were clearly in a broken-down situation!  I could feel the anger and tension in the room!

I told them that someone would have to break the silence and fill me in on how they had arrived at this lockdown.  Silence and fuming.

If I have to, I will call on the one I deem to be most open to report, but I didn’t have to in this case.

After an uncomfortable period of silence, she got up and turned her chair toward him. This little powerhouse looked him dead-in-the-eye and with fearless passion said something like the following:

“All through our relationship you have NEVER used the ‘F’ word with me. But in the last several months, you’ve used it with me over and over again!”

She spoke these words with her finger in this big guy's face!  She was bold, forthright, angry and hurt!  She was half his size!

I watched him closely! I saw a wave of rage cross his face – but it was short-lived. Something was going on inside his mind – but I couldn’t get a read on it.

After a thirty-second pause, he got up and turned his chair toward hers. Now, it was his turn! He looked her square-in-the-eyes and said:

“You’re right! I’m sorry! [And then with his finger gently pointed toward her, he added in a voice that was shaking with intensity] “And you will NEVER hear that word come from my mouth again!

The rest of the session went quite well and they left holding hands.

I knew in that moment that they were going to be okay! 

_________________________________

Was it really so simple as leaving a word out of his talks with her?

Absolutely not! 

There were many more issues to be resolved and lessons to be learned! We continued to meet for several months – but they never returned after that. 

When a couple gets to a point similar to theirs, THEY NEED HELP! They need skilled, experienced, bold, instructive, impartial help!

If only one person from the relationship comes to me, I will agree to talk with them only once! If I go beyond that, I will always be perceived by the other partner as biased!

After that initial meeting, I will reach out to the missing partner and make a strong appeal to hear their story. Remarkably, the other spouse will often respond and come in to talk!  If this happens, it is a tremendously hopeful thing.

As a counselor, I’ve developed many ‘tools’ to use in couple’s counseling. But not all make it. Some have let the wall become too high. One may have already moved on into a new relationship. Sometimes they wait too long before reaching out for help.

If you’re reading this today and are in this dilemma, reach out for help today!  Don’t delay. Ask your spouse to accompany you. If you don’t connect with the counselor – try another! We have different training, practices, experiences, approaches and personalities. Ask friends and family for referrals. YOUR MARRIAGE IS WORTH IT!