Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Love and Blessings,
Carole, Alastair, Heather, Lydia, Natasha and Emma too!

Deborah, a prophetess.

Judges 4:4-14
 Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading a Israel at that time. She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites came to her to have their disputes decided. She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead the way to Mount Tabor.  I will lure Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.’”
 Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”
“Very well,” Deborah said, “I will go with you. But because of the way you are going about this,b the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will hand Sisera over to a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh,  where he summoned Zebulun and Naphtali. Ten thousand men followed him, and Deborah also went with him.
 Now Heber the Kenite had left the other Kenites, the descendants of Hobab, Moses’ brother-in-law,c and pitched his tent by the great tree in Zaanannim near Kedesh.
When they told Sisera that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor, Sisera gathered together his nine hundred iron chariots and all the men with him, from Harosheth Haggoyim to the Kishon River.
 Then Deborah said to Barak, “Go! This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?” So Barak went down Mount Tabor, followed by ten thousand men.
[1]

Here Deborah- also a married woman is leading all of Israel.(men and women…not just the women of Israel) She was a judge, chosen by God. God spoke through her. Men came to her for instruction from the Lord. Men acknowledged her authority over them as from God and did not want to go without her into battle. Her husband is mentioned by name which meant he was known. They seemed to trust her leadership and her relationship with God.

a Traditionally judging
b Or But on the expedition you are undertaking
c Or father-in-law
[1]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 . Zondervan: Grand Rapids

The Prophetess Huldah

2 Chronicles 34:19-33
When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes. He gave these orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah,a Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant: “Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the remnant in Israel and Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that is poured out on us because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written in this book.”
Hilkiah and those the king had sent with himb went to speak to the prophetess Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath,c the son of Hasrah,d keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the Second District.
She said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me,  ‘This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people—all the curses written in the book that has been read in the presence of the king of Judah. Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and provoked me to anger by all that their hands have made,e my anger will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched.’ Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard: Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the Lord. Now I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place and on those who live here.’”
So they took her answer back to the king.
Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. He went up to the temple of the Lord with the men of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord. The king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord—to follow the Lord and keep his commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, and to obey the words of the covenant written in this book.
Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledge themselves to it; the people of Jerusalem did this in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.  Josiah removed all the detestable idols from all the territory belonging to the Israelites, and he had all who were present in Israel serve the Lord their God. As long as he lived, they did not fail to follow the Lord, the God of their fathers.

I am always curious why we never hear much about Huldah in discussions about women’s right to preach, be in leadership positions, or be instructors or teachers of spiritual things to men. Maybe I am I missed that lesson. But here is what I see:
The King (a man) sought after the Lord and they went to Huldah ( a woman/a married woman) She is called a prophetess and not only does she give them instruction from the Lord but they take that instruction back to the King and He submits to her words “from the Lord”.
Not only does this passage of scripture support women speaking forth on the Lord’s behalf but it clearly shows women being used by God, chosen by God, to be His voice in the situation. She is clearly the one who speaks the word of God. She is the one who gives the instruction not just to an ordinary man but instructions for a King.
Is she submissive in doing so? Yes, both to God and to the King.
Do they feel their authority has been questioned or usurped by a woman? Doesn't seem so…He is still the King and she is still in submission even though God used her to instruct him.
Is her husband less of a man because they went to her instead of him? Scripture doesn’t tell us. Scripture does tell us who he is and it sounds like he was known for his own work.

Catherine Booth in her pamphlet “Women in Ministry” says:

"Women who speak in assemblies for worship under the influence of the Holy Spirit, assume thereby no personal authority over others; they simply deliver the messages of the Gospel, which imply obedience, subjection, and responsibility, rather than authority and power" (Booth, p 6).

Huldah is mentioned in the books of 2 Chronicles and 2 Kings.

a Also called Acbor son of Micaiah
b One Hebrew manuscript, Vulgate and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts do not have had sent with him.
c Also called Tikvah
d Also called Harhas
e Or by everything they have done
[1]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 . Zondervan: Grand Rapids

A Mother's pride

Patty and Emma in Sunday School


Commissioners Heather and Natasha :)


Emma! Those eyes!!


Lydia and Mhairi-Hot Army Babes!


Photos by my friend the wonderful Katie Maxwell!
Thanks Katie!!!

God's grace is His favor lavished upon us when we don't deserve it.
He has shown His grace to me.
I am blessed.

Acts 2:17 " In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy....."

Big day

It's a big day today. This morning was the songsters Christmas Cantata. I thought it went very well and Alastair brought a good message. Immanuel : God is with us.
This evening is our Christmas concert at the Montclair Sate University. Yogi Berra will be there. Chip Kelly and my husband helped write the speech Yogi will read. His wife Carmen is on our Advisory Board. Governor Cody will also be there to receive the "Others" award. One of his last appearances as acting Governor of New Jersey. A local school's chorus will also be there. Our advertising for this concert has been in papers, local restaurants and stores and on the Christian radio. We are expecting at the very least 200 people.
Immanuel
God is with us.
Be with us Lord.
Next week is toy shop and the last week for kettles.
Christmas is almost here!
Vacation is almost here!
Immanuel!

Update: The concert went well. VERY well around 400 or so people in attendance. Yogi got choked up on reading his speech about what the Army does in our community.

God was with us! He blessed our efforts and to HIM be all the glory!!

Debra and the Cornerstone

I met with Debra this past week. She is a resident in our Cornerstone shelter. We first met when I went to the shelter two weeks ago to share an Advent devotional. Debra was the only one who really showed interest. She asked questions and encouraged other residents to sit and join in. I enjoyed Debra’s questions and her challenges to my faith. I like it when people question. Debra has a lot of questions. We decided to meet the following week to discuss them.
Debra is an African American who was raised as a “strict” Baptist, daughter of a pastor who has converted to Islam. I would guess that she is in her late 30’s early 40’s.
We met in a corner of the Central Presbyterian church. We are sharing the space with our Presbyterian friends till our new corps building is built.
Debra brought her books and I brought mine. She gave me a book to keep and I gave her book as well. ( Case for Christ by Lee Strobel) We talked and shared and then in the end we decided we both liked the questions the other was asking. We decided to meet again this week. We decided we would give each other homework. Hoping this would keep our points of discussion more focused. It was her idea.
Part of our discussion was on how she doesn’t believe anything Paul has written in the New Testament. Most of this, she has read in the book she gave me, “What did Jesus REALLY say?” by Misha’al ibn Abdullah.
According to this book she has learned that Paul manipulated the gospel of Jesus by going to the Gentiles. How as Saul, he was known for persecuting the believers and when he became Paul it was just another way to destroy the “believers” except this time from within and by watering down the gospel. According to Debra -They believe it is Paul who has confused people into thinking Jesus was God and God’s son. She also tells me our translations of the Bible are filled with so many mistakes…( the same book apparently proves this) and she asked me “how could anyone believe everything written there with so much human error over the years?” When I asked about the translation of The Qur’an she refers again to the book mentioned and it reads that the Qur’an has been protected from mistakes, from human error. (bit too convenient if you ask me!)
The homework assignment I gave her was:
Find out why going to the Gentiles is not considered part of God’s plan. Because in the Torah, God spoke directly to Hagar (Ishmael’s mother) she was a Gentile, an Egyptian by birth. Plus, God told Abraham He would bless all nations through him.
The homework assignment she gave me:
Prove that Jesus is God/the son of God.
I imagine I will have to “prove” this without using any of the Pauline writings.
Our talks have been very respectful and friendly. We are just getting to know each other. I feel like I will learn a lot with Debra.
When she speaks of her childhood growing up in the Baptist church and singing in the choir, she always uses words like “strict”.
I asked her if she found more freedom in Islam than she did in Christianity. She looked at me with a blank stare. “Freedom?” She asked with her nose scrunched up. “No, just rules I could live with.”
She also said she enjoys the discussions. Her parting comment to me on Thursday was “My goal is to get into Heaven.”
I wondered to myself when she said this, after sixteen years as an officer, when was the last time I led someone to Christ? One on one.

If anyone has any ideas on how to answer my homework assignment…please leave a comment!
Please say a prayer for me and for Debra. Only the Holy Spirit can convict someone or reveal the Truth to someone. I am just praying I don’t get in the way of God’s purpose for this encounter.
I am open to the idea that it may not be His plan for me to lead Debra to Christ.
Regardless of how this ends, I know He is teaching me through this….more about His Word, about His Son, about His people and about myself.
He usually gives me a hunger for His word through encountering challenging relationships with His people.

1 Peter 2:4-8 “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him—  you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 
For in Scripture it says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.”a
Now to you who believe, this stone is precious.
But to those who do not believe,
“The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone,b”c
 and,
“A stone that causes men to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall.”d
They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. "

a Isaiah 28:16
b Or cornerstone
c Psalm 118:22
d Isaiah 8:14
[1]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 . Zondervan: Grand Rapids

5 random facts about me. ( Thanks to Drew)

Instructions: Write 5 random facts about yourself, then list the names of 5 people whom you in turn infect.

1. I failed French class twice and cheated the third time so I could finally get out of the class. Now I speak Russian. ( God's joke on me and my French teacher!)

2. I don't like leading congregation songs. Leading songs...makes me insecure.

3. In second grade we had to make up a rhyme on our own, then say the sentence to our teacher to get our coat from the coat room. My teacher sent me back to my seat without my coat, for not rhyming..... 3 times!

4. When I get into a good book....everything and everyone disappears. Children go hungry, laundry gets forgotten. I have to save really good books for when I have no other responsibilities. ( so I don't read much!)

5. I invited a guy to church with me once to shock my family. He was a friend from the art institute that we attended. He was Punk ( it was the 80's) Dog collar...spikes...the whole thing. My motivation...just looking for reaction! I had him sit next to my grandmother. :)

I refuse to tag anyone! :) #6 rebellious by nature.

Blessings of restriction

In Bible study we have been learning about “blessings of restriction.”

The concept goes like this: “Both what we receive and what we don’t receive can constitute blessing for us and those around us. God is all wise. He blesses us as surely by what He does not grant us as what He does.”- B.Moore

Then our study said: “Describe a blessing of restriction in your own life.”
Hmmm….
Qualifications for this thought process:
It could be something I have asked God for but He has, at least at this time, said no.
And….according to this concept…this “no” or the “not yet”, or “not now” ( or "What! are you crazy?!!) is a blessing. (to me and somehow to others)

Apostle Paul says he asked again and again for the “thorn in his flesh” to be removed and as far as we know it never was removed. Yet, Paul says, even though it restricted him and made him “weak”…it was in that weakness that God’s strength could be seen all the more.

Has God blessed you with a blessing of restriction?
Can we say with the Psalmist that, “He has laid the boundaries in pleasant places”?
Maybe, looking back over our lives we can say, YES! Thank you Lord that you said no to that!
What about looking forward?
If he restricts us, says no….will we still trust in the goodness and the kindness of the Lord?
For God is good.
All the time.
Even His restrictions are blessings.

More Sea Monsters

Tossed about
by the waves,
Blown over
by the wind,
Up and down ,
To and fro,
The swirls
of doubt begin.

Storms
That rage,
Rise within
Pounding
Shores of thought
Tempest strong
‘tween
Right and wrong
Making all seem
Wrought!

Ocean deep
Hide beneath
sea monsters
dark and mean
one named pride
One, self will
Slithering sin
Unseen.

He who walks
Upon the seas
Knows what
lies beneath
For nothing is too
Strong or sleek
To conquer and defeat

He slays
Them all!
With one word
Oceans become still.
The winds die down.
The waves are gone.
My worries
He did kill.

He calls me,
One, who walks on water.
How can I not concede?
To believe in Him,
to walk with Him
upon The great glass sea..

Carole Jeanne Bate- 12/5/05


Is. 5:20 “But the wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud.” [1]

 James 1:5-7
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. [2]

Ephesians 4: 14-15
 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. [3]

Revelation 15:1-2
I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. 2 And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. [4]

[1-4]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 . Zondervan: Grand Rapids

Sea Monsters

"No matter what our aim may be, no matter how spiritual, no matter how intent we think we are upon the glory of God and His kingdom, greed and passion enter into our work and turn it into agitation as soon as our intention ceases to be pure. And who can swear that his intentions are pure, even down to the subconscious depths of his will, where ancient selfish motives move comfortably like forgotten sea monsters in waters where they are never seen." - T. Merton

~~ Kill my sea monsters Lord! For you alone know the depths of my soul.

Artificial intelligence

I heard that back before the written word, intelligence was measured by someone’s ability to remember facts and tell a story. These people were considered wise. After the written word, those who knew how to read and write were more impressive. They were considered intelligent. The more you read, the more you studied= the more intelligent.
I think we all know people who have always done well in school. They are the straight “A” students, who never had to work hard for a good grade. They have parents who worry they are not being challenged enough in school, even after taking all honor classes. I knew a girl like this. She was so intelligent and loved to share her knowledge with everyone. Trivial pursuit was like checkers to her and she waited to triple jump anyone who dare to challenge. Yet one day I was driving her home from a Friendly’s restaurant, we were in a 15 passenger van. I asked her to hold the two milkshakes while I drove. As we talked and talked we finally arrived home and I looked at her and asked her “Where are our milkshakes??” She said calmly, “ Oh, I didn’t want to hold them so I put them on the floor of the van.” So, as you may have guessed I look down to see both large cups lying on the floor of the van and sticky chocolate milkshake spread from the front of the van to the back! I could not comprehend how she could be so ……well, stupid. I mean, someone so smart and yet so dumb.
Intelligence can come in many different packages. Book smarts, common sense, social skills, computer knowledge, people skills, life experience and Biblical knowledge, to name only a few. I know someone who no one can match when it comes to Movies. Is this intelligence? Well, when we talk about movies…he makes me feel stupid. Is that how we measure intelligence?? By how stupid one can make us feel?
What has inspired this train of thought??? Feeling stupid/dumb has inspired this train of thought. Blogs, reading other peoples ideas, their thoughts….looking through their list of books they are currently reading. Big words…subjects way over my head. I can’t even spell…
But, in saying all this, although I may at times feel stupid…..I know that there are area’s where I may have some knowledge, some glimmer of intelligence!
I like verses in Scripture like 1 Corinthians 2:27 “ But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”
Or Psalm 19:7 “The Law of the Lord is perfect reviving the soul. The statues of the Lord are trustworthy making wise the simple.”
I may never win a game of trivial pursuit or be able to hold my own in conversations about the many nuances of film. I may never write an intelligent blog or comment free of spelling mistakes…..but I can rest in the hope of wisdom that comes from God. It was good enough for Solomon! (1 Kings 4:29-34) “God gave Solomon wisdom and great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore.”
Beth Moore’s prayer that I have recently adopted: “ Make me smarter than I am Lord! For your purposed and your Glory.” As long as I am asking for reasons more noble than wanting to have a better blog than Drew!

I’ll end with a quote that I found on my Aunt’s Xanga site :

"There are some days I practice positive thinking. The other days I'm not even positive I am thinking". ~Dr. John M. Eades

** Please note that any grammatical mistakes or errors in this blog are meant to support the point of this Blog!

Appointments

The "moves" came out in The Eastern Territory today. We didn't receive marching orders and I was actually surprised that then moves were out already. It isn't even part of my thought pattern. But, having been part of the process my whole life as an officer's kid and now as an officer, I am sensitive to the many changes of those on the "list" are feeling. Everything one must go through as they pack and unpack and settle in their new homes.
God gave me this scripture when we moved to Russia: Hosea 11:11 "They will come trembling like birds for Egypt, like doves from Assyria. I will settle them in their homes delcares the Lord."
He did! He is faithful and when we moved back "home" to the States I had to reclaim that verse again.
The following poem was written as we were moving within the Eastern Europe command. I think anyone who has ever been called by God to move or to follow him to a new destination will be able to relate to these words. That is my prayer.

WHERE YOU LEAD ME

Where are we going?
Oh! Look over there!
The grass is so green,
The valley so fair.
I want to go there, Lord,
Where the sun always shines.
I want to be where there is fruit on the vine.
Where are we going?
Did you not hear?
I said it was pleasant
Right over there.
Where do you lead me?
Did you hear what I said?
Why are we going to a place that I dread…
Why do I trust you?
Why do I go?
Why do you lead me where I don't want to go?
Now look where we're headed..
Don't you know what this means?
There! Where you lead me …
Are you blind to the scene?
The clouds are so dark;
The people unfriendly;
I won't have laughter and
my sorrow will be plenty.
The waves will crush me;
The mountains are high;
The pathway is narrow;
the river is dry .
Why do I trust you?
Why do I go?
Why do you lead me where I don't want to go?
What are you crazy?
Have you lost your aim?
Is this the plan?
Is this a game?
I tell of your love!
And I teach your Word!
I point to your promises,
To Your care of a bird!
But here you are leading
And it is obvious to me,
My needs are forgotten,
My tears are not seen.
I thought it was clear,
I thought we agreed
With the way, I planned,
The life I would lead.
Why do you lead me?
You didn't hear what I said?
Why are we going to a place I dread…
Then the words of my Lord
Answered my heart:
I know what I'm doing!
I have from the start!
I've known you and loved you
from the beginning of time.
I've carefully chosen
this pathway of mine.
Why don't you trust me?
Why do you doubt?
Why do you whine?
Why do you pout?
You say that I lead you?
But it's obvious to me
You have your own aim,
you have your own plea.
I've taken your hand
and I asked you to come,
I've given to you
my only Son.
You want the green pastures?
Then go your own way!
But they won't last forever
when the sun moves away.
I know where the fruit
grows on the vine,
I walk on water
The mountains I climb.
Are you coming with me?
Will you stay behind?
Will you trust ?
Will you risk?
Take this hand of mine?
I know what I'm doing
I know where I go.
I know when to reap,
I know when to sow.
Where shall I go?
What shall I say?
I will go where He leads me,
I will follow His way.
The grass is greener
only when He is there,
The sun is brighter
when He holds my cares.
The waves loose their power;
The mountains lay flat;
The rivers flow freely,
Who would leave all of that?
Not me! I will follow!
My aim and my plan -
I bring it to Him
On this day, take His hand.
His way, for my way,
His plan, for mine,
He will lead me and guide me
My Savior Divine.
3 August, 1999
Carole Jeanne Bate

* The picture was taken in the Caucasus Mountains when we were Regional officers in The Republic of Georgia. It was 2001 so only three girls, Emma wasn’t around yet!

Pride and Prejudice

I went to see Pride and Prejudice this past weekend. I love Jane Austin books. The movie was what some would call a "chick flick". But there is so much in the movie worth thinking about.
The part that I keep going back to in my mind is the scene when Mr. Darcy finally allows himself to be transparent. He lays it all out there and tells Miss. Elizabeth how he really feels about her. His feelings for her go against all that is "right" and acceptable in his world/society at the time..but he says: "You've bewitched me!"
I am not sure what moves me most! His blatant honesty, his vulnerability or the passion in him that is finally awaked and expressed.
Words spoken and written are so powerful.
That particular moment between Mr. Darcy and Miss. Elizabeth (in the book and in the movie) stirs within me the same feelings that I get when looking at a certain artist work or a painting that moves me from within. The same feelings that I get when I see bright autumn leaves against a crisp cool fall sky or when I look in someone's eyes- the window of their soul and connect. The same feelings the right song brings to the soul or the right words to a situation.
I have thought about making the spiritual application to all of this (with the possibility of increasing the value of my blog!) but I would rather leave it for what it is.

Poetry, art, beauty are not very practical but they stir my soul.

Thomas Merton "The cross does not sanctify us by destroying human feeling."

Hearing voices

“Not good enough” is my name

You hear me when you come here
I am always next to you.
I judge the things you say
I mock the things you do.

You try to live above me
You try to shut me out
But deep inside you hear me
I love to see you doubt!

I play on your emotions
I measure and compare
You’re all so weak and easy!
To throw into despair.

Judgment- is my tool.
Perfection- I can twist.
Enthusiasm, I despise.
Transparency, detest

I pride myself on subtleties
You think their judging you..
But before you even know it
The Judge is really you!

Keep looking for approval
Keep trying to improve
Keep striving for acceptance.
There is nothing you can do!

My power and my influence
Has been here through the years
I am like a rock…I am rooted
Confront me…If you dare!
.
You know you can’t!
You know you won’t
You’re powerless and weak!
Not good enough! Not good enough!
These are the words I speak!
~Written by CJBate 9/05

Do you sometimes hear voices??

Evelyn Underhill – from “The Spiritual Life” writes “Only when the conviction-not merely the idea that the demands of The Spirit comes first and is first, rules the whole of it, will those objectionable noises die down….”

Ephesians 6:10-13
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground....." [1]

[1]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 . Zondervan: Grand Rapids

Absorb The Light

Philippians 2:14-15
" Do everything without complaining or arguing,  so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe"
The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 . Zondervan: Grand Rapids

Glow stars are a lot of fun! Sticking them to walls or ceilings and then running to turn the lights out to watch them glow. I love when my kids get excited over the little things.

Philippians 2:15 says we are to "shine like stars in the universe"
Verse 14 tells us how we can shine in the darkness, it tells us how we can be different than those around us. It says," do everything without complaining or arguing." One short verse......one great task. I wonder to myself, is it possible? Possible to do everything without complaining or arguing?
Some days are harder than others, some situations seem to require it and some people seem to inspire it! But, we all know if we were to live vs. 14 in the world around us (even in our homes), it would make us different.....we would stand out...we would shine in the darkness.
I think the glow stars have the answer.
On their own they are nothing. But when held near a true source of light they absorb that light. The longer they are away from a true source of light the dimmer the glow.
I have found that I am also "dimmer" ( spiritually speaking!) when I have not had my time in THE LIGHT. ( John 1:1-9, 8:12)
Spending time with God in prayer and in His word, in His presence....makes me shine. On my own I am nothing.
In the devotional book STREAMS IN THE DESERT by Cowman I read the following about those in scripture who stood their ground for God in difficult situations; " They were able to endure in the presence of their enemies because they dwelt in the presence of their God." In the same devotional book I also read, " the darker the night, the brighter the stars."

No, I am not going to start singing "shine, Jesus shine" !!! But, you can if you want to!

Absorb The Light this Christmas season, be a star that leads someone to the Christ child!
( Matt. 2:1-2)

Thoughts on Battle

After reading Kelly’s comment and switchfoot quote:

“We want more than the wars of our fathers"”I feel like that line from switchfoot sums up so much of what I feel within the Salvation Army. Having watched my officer parents struggle through much of the same bureaucracy we struggle with now, I feel like there's got to be more.”

My mind raced with ideas and my heart resonated with the desire for something more. I packed up my computer and headed off for the Corps office. My daughter’s Casting Crowns cd was in the car. As I started the car the music blasted loudly giving me a fright. No, it wasn’t because my child had used the car before me….she is only 13! I had forgotten how loud I had it turned up the night before as I went visiting a few people who have operations today.
The song ,the words really that spoke over me in my car with Kelly’s words still hanging in my mind, went like this :
“What if the armies of the Lord
Picked up and dusted of their swords
Vowed to set the captives free
And not let satan have one more.”
Now the connection of “more than the wars of our fathers” and “ what if the armies of the Lord, picked up and dusted of their swords” was too much for my brain to handle.
A couple questions came into my mind:
Who are we fighting?
What is the battle?
How can these words: battle, sword, army…not take you to the book of Ephesians 6

My friend Terri Mundel, a Salvationist from Australia told me in ’94 as I complained about someone- “Our battle is not against flesh and blood” In other words our battle isn’t against each other.
But, Ephesians goes on to say “But, it is against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
The rulers and authorities…not being DHQ or THQ. They actually come “under flesh and blood” definition in my opinion.
But “we want more than the wars of our fathers”.
What is the more we want?
More understanding? More freedom? More change?
We may discern the need for change…..
We may discern the powers of the dark world working against us- sometimes through well-intended dragons.
We may discern even the details of what needs to happen or who may be standing against us.
There is a war, there is a battle and there will always be struggle. Maybe not the same struggles as our fathers, maybe greater struggles, harder resistance, bigger battles.
But what do we do we need to do to get to the next level.
Oswald Chambers said “Discernment is God’s call to intercession, never to fault finding.”
On a personal level- ouch
On a cooperate level- I want to scream Uncle!

Two things that we need to win the battle. Both mentioned in that Casting Crowns song both supported by Scripture:
1. Pick up and dust off our swords- know the word of God- sword of the Spirit. Use the word of God- speak the word of God over situations- pray the word of God- live the word of God.
2. Prayer-The chorus of the song from my daughters CD:
“What if his people prayed
and those who bare his name
Would humbly seek his face
And turn from their own way.”

My Father's Army

In fear that someone may actually read this I feel the need to say the following:
1. I am sick and have a lot of time on my hands to do way too much thinking!
2. I am not on any medication. :)
3. This really is just a rambling of thoughts- it is way too long to keep anyone's interest.
4. I am not half as educated as those who are on blogger- so be kind.
5. I am in no way making excuses for my thoughts or God's leading.... He chooses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise. I am pretty confident that was the basis for Him calling me!:)

If you understand the above- please join me in the way my brain works.....

I served in Eastern Europe for nine years. I don't say that to be impressive but more as a fact. It now has become part of who I am. It is woven into every part of my existence.
In May of 2003 we sat in our little two bedroom apartment in Tbilisi, Georgia. My husband spoke on the phone with our home territory's personal secretary and they discussed what our new appointment would be on our return. He hung up the phone and I waited for the answer. I can honestly say it was a blank page for us. There was not one place I could imagine being- not one appointment that I could picture myself in. Then he said something that my ears and my heart could not believe. We were to be the corps officers of Montclair, NJ. For those of you outside of our territory the name of this corps will mean nothing, but the name stirred up in me many unresolved issues I had from growing up in our Army. You see, Montclair Citadel is what you could call one of the last traditional corps. I like to call it the "high church" of the Salvation Army. You know... a full band, order of service, uniforms are important, service expected and standards are high. So, Alastair said "corps officers of Montclair" and from the other side of the world all my insecurities caught up with me. "It's the optimum of everything I hate about Salvation Army" my heart screamed as I felt the sting of old wounds.
You see, I never belonged in the Army, at least not in my mind or in the estimation of most that went to the corps with me. I didn't play and instrument, didn't read music, spoke what I thought. My uniform always seemed to be too tight around the neck. I was sure it was trying to strangle me and kill me slowly every Sunday. My parents being THQ officers or DHQ officers always seemed to attend the "high church", traditional corps. They were the corps with the full range of activities with other kids for fellowship. Many of the other corps kids were products of their parent's dedication. They were blessed with the gift of music. I found that where band geeks were bottom of the totem pole in school popularity....they certainly found their place and power of popularity at our place of worship. I however, not being gifted as such and being somewhat stubborn to conform found myself excluded, gossiped about and eventually shunned. I must admit in the beginning I was wounded and hurt by false allegations but pride got the best of me and I took it upon myself to prove them right. This stubbornness on my part contributed greatly to the finally judgment of being a hopeless cause to those who sat on the platform. So now in my wounded mind I was symbolically going back to the Army that never accepted me. God was taking me back to my father's Army.
Alastair looked at me stunned by my strong reaction and my weeping that seemed to come quickly and without reason. "God is going to heal that" was all he said in a matter of fact kind of way and I clung to those words as a child clings to a security blanket.
2 and half years have passed since we were given that appointment. God has healed much of my preconceived ideas, old judgments and grudges. Our first Sunday as I sat on the platform in front of the Band, God spoke loudly and repeatedly to my heart and mind "I will do a new thing." As we visited our people in their homes and heard their stories God gave us a love and appreciation for them. Their lives were not free from struggles, tragedy or consequence. They knew more than just the tunes to the songs but many of them were often moved by the words in the songbook. We don't raise hands and some are against clapping in Holiness meeting but God for some reason moves amongst us anyway.
Dorothy Gates has arranged a band piece that brought it all together for me and confirmed Alastair's words of healing. The piece is called "Breathe". In the arrangement you hear "breath on me, breath of God" mixed or echoed by "You are the air I breathe." The first time I heard our corps band play this piece I felt as if my two worlds were coming together. There I sat on the platform, the music loud enough to go through my bones, the words strong enough to soften my heart. I wept .....almost sobbing......surprised.....that I was moved by a band selection.
In my personal Bible study today I read these words of Beth Moore, from her Bible Study entitled The Patriarchs. "Our natural tendency is to disconnect ourselves from past seasons we didn't like, desiring to forget them entirely. Interestingly, the Hebrew word translated future in scripture like Jeremiah 29:11 comes from the same root as the word translated behind. The Hebrews felt that the future was not whole without the past. If we are convinced God is sovereign, good and purposeful, why would he even allow or even ordain a season that has no value or contribution to our futures? We certainly don't want to march into our futures carrying baggage from our past, but God forbid we'd walk away from our mistakes empty-handed."

The blogger community is new to me. In the few days that I have found my way around some Army sites I have been challenged, impressed and inspired. There is a whole generation that God has raise up and anointed to push or shove us into the future. Drew Forster who is to blame for my sudden addiction to blogger recently shared an article from Christianity Today. The article was written by Angie Ward, it is entitled "Don't stuff the dog". Drew sums it up best by saying "Basically, it's a piece about not holding onto outdated programs and practices that have become beloved "pets" of the church. She asserts that holding on too long might not only prevent people from moving forward, but might actually break trust and drive new people away. It's a message that needs to be heard in the church. Even better, she quotes Alan Alda. You can't go wrong with Hawkeye."
(http://www.christianitytoday.com/leaders/newsletter/2005/cln51024.html)
This article challenged me. I tried to imagine how our people would read it. Many of them feel like the next generation is mocking the way God has spoken to them through the years. I can see many "stuffed pets" around but I wonder can we take the pet from the child without breaking the heart of the child. Yanking it out of their hands or yelling at them "It's Dead! Get over it!!" doesn't seem to be appropriate. Some of it needs to be valued, not worshipped but respected. Besides, God has given me a love and respect for these people.
Then using Drew's list of blogs that he reads as a starting point for finding my way around the Army blog community I also found Eric Himes vision which he has titled "The Praise Jesus walks on". (Written on November 16, 2005.) (http://asterisklog.com/) His vision is anointed and a word from God for all of us.

In reading Eric's vision, I didn't think that there was a connection to the article that Drew shared. But then the thought came to me.....it's the other extreme. It's a message to the new "praise" movement. When this new movement is taken to the extreme it almost becomes the same issue as that which we are running from. Which as I see it is: the love of the style of worship or the things of God, above God himself. Eric's vision tells us to lay down our praises so Jesus can walk on them, like he did in his triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
I hear God saying to one generation: "No stuffed pets" and to the next generation " lay down your praises"- We all nee to let go of what we are holding onto so that we can see Jesus.
The Patriarchs bible study has taken us through the stories of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. These last weeks have all been about Joseph. I thought there was nothing more I could learn about Joseph and his coat of many colors but I was so wrong. There is not enough space to write all the new things that God has taught me. However this week's lesson pulled me in and seemed to be connected to all of this, at least for me. I read the story of how Joseph finally meets up again with his brothers. A famine in the land brings them together. They are hungry. Joseph recognizes them but they do not know him. The story pulls you into issues of past guilt and revenge. You wonder what keeps Joseph from revealing himself right away after being separated from his family for at least 15 years. He is moved to tears several times and in the end He tells them who he is. What moved me the most this time was how God had blessed him and raised him up to a place of power and influence yet still made him deal with his past. Grace for his brothers was required of Joseph before he was reunited with his Father. I wept as I imagined Jacob seeing all the wealth and provisions coming toward him to take him to Egypt. He was living in the desert during a famine wondering if he would ever see his son Benjamin again. He had grieved the death of Joseph for at least 15 years. God in his perfect timing gave more than Jacob could have possibly hoped for. Not only food and abundance in the desert, not only provision in a famine, not only Benjamin but also Joseph was returned to him and out of this his children, his sons became united- standing together instead of against each other. God gave them all more than what they were hoping for...God exceed the expectaions of Joseph, his brothers and even their father Jacob. God always gives more than we deserve or hope for...He always exceeds our expectaions.
Why do I think this is all connected??? Well- because God heals. He may be raising up into influence new leaders with new visions for the Army of the future but he will make us all face the past. Maybe some are holding too tightly to horns and orders of service, maybe some are unwilling to put their palms of praise down.
Read again the quote I shared earlier " The Hebrews felt that the future was not whole without the past."
How do we find wholeness for our Army?
Mark Twain has been quoted to say "When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years. "
How does where we are in our spiritual walk/ maturity play into how much we think our Father's Army knows?
I beleive that God has more for our Army than even what we hope for......
For my Army and for my Father's Army.

Grace for me

There is a cold, sore throat and ear infection going around our house. I feel like I have been trapped at home for weeks. Four girls, each taking a week to get over this nasty cold equals a very long time out of the office for me. Now .......(sigh) I think I am coming down with it.
All prayer accepted!
Lord, help me have grace for me when I can't do it all.

Grace

Grace seems to be the word of the week. Undeserved favor that is what grace is. Kindness given to someone when they really don't deserve it. A kind word, a kind thought, a kind action. Mercy.
I wrote a poem about how mercy/grace is easier to receive than to give. Some of you are probably tired of my poems by now....but show me a little grace! :) Here is goes....you may need to know your Bible stories to understand it!!

Did Noah shout from the Ark that day,
"I told you so!", then sailed away?
Have you ever felt like Jonah that night,
Who saved the city but lost the fight?
Have you ever thought, "Sons of Thunder, they had it right!
Let's destroy the wicked with God's great might!"
Mercy and grace are great to receive,
God's compassion, His love, they're what we need.
When its for us, its justice rung true,
But those we find deserving are very few!
They say it is better to give than receive
But showing God's kindness can cause one to grieve.
Yet its His great mercy that saved you and me,
Now let us be honest, how deserving are we?
God takes no pleasure in loosing the lost,
He came to save them, He paid the cost.
We would always do well to remember our place,
How much we need Him, His love and His grace!

Treasures in the darkness

Treasures in the darkness
Secrets whispered by my Lord
Tears that draw me closer
Deeper in your word

Hold me in the darkness
Arms around me tight
Close enough to hear your heartbeat
Long enough to win the fight.
February 2, 2005

I sometimes wonder how many people feel this way. That feeling like each day is a fight to win. The secret of their soul that no one knows...the overwhelming feeling like they may not "make it". Be encouraged today ....my testimony is that the morning always comes! He will hold us through the dark times if we come to Him. When we are close enough to hear His heartbeat- Still enough to know He is God- then we will find our strength for each day as it comes. A strength that is not our own, but His.
Pray for those who are serving God in remote places around the world. Pray that God will be real enough to them to banish all their fears and close enough to them to destroy any feelings of loneliness.

God's Character

Going along with the idea of how does God use us with all our humanness and in relfection of another blog I wrote the following:

The character of God does not change or contradict itself even if his people do.
In our radical, open minded thinking may we not loose site of the few absolutes that we are given. To measure ourselves by ourselves is not wise. ( 2 Corinthians 10:12) To discern what God is doing without comparing it to what He has done in His Word is dangerous. The cutting edge feeling of being controversial in its extreme can be egocentric. All throughout the Bible God's people were inconsistent and did things even the most radical among us would frown upon. Yet God continued to use them to reveal himself not only to individuals but to nations and the world. This is my encouragement, my only hope that He can use me.
Man's weakness and lack of character and consistency does not trump the strength or the character of God. 1 Timothy 2:13 "If we are faithless He is faithful for He cannot disown himself."
We want to be effective, we want to be radical, we want to be relevant, we want to be cutting edge. But do we want Jesus as much as we want all these things?
Do we want Him? Do we know His word?
Give us passion Lord. Give us discernment Lord. Give us YOU.

I wrote it in trying to process my own feelings and thoughts -out of context it may not make sense.
Any comments/thoughts or corrections are welcome.

God's People

Noah was a drunk, Abraham was too old, Isaac was a daydreamer, Jacob was a liar, Rahab was a prostitute, Jeremiah and Timothy were too young, David had an affair and was a murderer, Elijah was suicidal, Isaiah preached naked, Jonah ran from God, Naomi was a widow, Job went bankrupt, John the Baptist ate bugs, Peter denied Christ, The Disciples fell asleep while praying, Martha worried about everything, The Samaritan woman was divorced more than once, Zaccheus was too small, Paul was too religious
Whether you let Him, or not, God CAN use you too!


I found this on another site and I really like it! It is so true and it always amazes me that God uses any of us....Especially me. How would you describe yourself?? I know what I would say about me.....But you won't find it on my blog.

More than just skin deep.

Have you ever noticed that negative people like to be around negative people….or those who gossip like to group with others who gossip? They say you can learn a lot about yourself by looking at your friends. Most people surround themselves with people who agree with them. People who not only “feel our pain” but share our misery….we can justify each other. They agree with us and it is like an ointment on a wound, …someone understands!
In our scripture reading today we see a group of people who had something deadly in common
Vs. 11 and 12 (Read) These ten men were together because they shared the same illness. Scripture says that as Jesus went by…..
“They stood at a distance and called out.”
Most commentaries believe that all were Jewish except the one Samaritan. The Bible Exposition commentary says that: “The Jews and Samaritans would not normally live together, but misery loves company and all ten were outcasts”.
Misery does love company-Think about it: The best people to talk to when you’re feeling bad about someone or something are people you know will agree with you! If you’re licking your wounds and feeling sorry for yourself…..finding a group of people who agree or are suffering in the same way will at least bring you camaraderie.
The thing about leprosy is that it has a strange way of spreading quickly…eating away at the body, destroying it. It is very infectious. Negativity and gossip also spread quickly…basically all sin is infectious. And slowly eats away at the body.
Those who we call to comfort us may soon be infected as well.
Because, the 10 Lepers were infectious, they stood at a distance. By law they were required to yell out to people passing by….Unclean, Unclean. So that everyone would be warned and would have plenty of opportunity to avoid them and their sickness.
How different would life be if we each had to wear our sin so that all could see like the Scarlet letter A? or yell- Unclean!, Unclean! Or no forgiveness here! Liar, Liar!...what would each of us have to yell to kept others from being infected by us?
I know many who go through life wanting to change, wanting to live differently but who seem to stand at the cross roads unable to admit the need for help. They stay at a distance suffering in their affliction.
The positive thing about this group of 10 lepers is they asked for help. They wanted to change, they wanted to be whole again and they called out to the Only One who could heal them. Thy asked for pity. (NIV) other versions like the KJV translate the word as Mercy. “Have mercy on us.” Scripture says “when he saw them he said go show yourself to the priest.”
The reason he said this was because it was the law. Anyone wanting to be accepted back into the community needed to show themselves to the priest.. Lev. 13:5-44 outlines what the priests are to do to pronounce a person with Leprosy clean.
It is interesting to note that “As they went they were cleansed”
In other situations when Jesus healed people…he spoke and they were healed, or he reached out and touched the person, or commanded them to get up. All the healings were immediate. Here…. they actually had to obey, to turn and go. This simple act of obedience…of starting off in the right direction was a sign that they believed. And as they went…as they acted on his words….they were cleansed.
Sometimes changes happen in our lives that are immediate. Other changes come only when we set out in faith, with no signs of immediate change,…. It was “as they went” that they were cleansed.
Imagine walking toward the temple …to where the priest would be and noticing as you walked together that your life was being restored. Change had already begun. Vs 15 ( read) We know from the response of Jesus here and also from other accounts that Samaritans were not held in high regard by the Hebrews. The shocking thing in this verse for anyone who would have been there --would not have been the healings……The shocking thing would have been the fact that “the least” among them – the foreigner was the one who came back to say thank you …The Samaritan was the one praising God.- and It says…praising God in a loud voice. I think of how many times he had to yell in a loud voice UNCLEAN! And now he was shouting at the top of his lungs praises to God.
Jesus then draws attention to the obvious….Where were the other 9? Where were the ones who belonged to God’s family? The sons of Abraham? How is it that a Samaritan would return to say thanks…a foreigner and not those who belonged to the family?
All were healed…..only one took it to heart and was filled with gratitude. Something happened to the Samaritan that caused him to take the encounter with Christ to a deeper level. For the Samaritan it was more than just skin deep. He was changed. Not just healed but forgiven. Not just a change in his outward appearance….but a change of attitude, a change of heart.
End of vs. 15 and vs. 16 ( Read)
It is still possible today to have an encounter with Christ, to receive a healing ----a change in our lives and yet…… walk away from the experience as if we deserved it…If our attitude is not one of gratitude- it can seem as if we somehow feel we deserve God’s blessings and His favor. We think good things should happen to us. Life should go well for us and people should like us. When we find favor, we assume we deserve it and when it doesn’t happen we think something is wrong with us. We don’t receive Gods blessings because we deserve them. We receive them because He is good, kind, forgiving and pours out His grace upon us. When blessings come, when forgiveness is ours it is always undeserved!
My ticket…..Police pulled me over…I was speeding…I deserved it. I didn’t get the ticket…..that was Grace….complete undeserved favor. Changed my attitude…I went from angry to humbled and I drive very slowly down broad street now…aware of the grace I received.
Did the lepers deserve to be healed? When they were healed, changed……did the other nine…..think because they were the sons of Abraham, they deserved healing? Did the foreigner think….I really shouldn’t have been healed like the others…I know who I am! I am only a Samaritan? And therefore was more grateful. God gives grace to the humble.
Do we know who we are? Do we remember what we are saved from? What we have to be thankful for? I know…who I am. I know who has healed me, forgiven me. I know I have not deserved or earned anything by my own merits.
I know that without the grace of God I have no right to stand before any of you for the things I have done.
I deserve the full punishment…the full ticket….but when I call on the mercy of God…he hears me and shows compassion. He set us on the right road and we are cleansed. How will we respond to him today? Will we go from this place the same as when we walked in? Or do we desire…change. A change of attitude? A change of heart? A healing of the spirit.
May we allow God to set us in the right direction? May we remember to be thankful and give him all the praise!

Romance

God hears the whispers of our hearts. He loves extravagently, lavishly and we are the center of His attention. He loves and in Him we have all things.....all our hearts could ever hope for or desire.

Romance

Blossoms in springtime
Stars in the night,
Bouquets of flowers
And diamonds so bright.
Songs sung by voices that
Know your heart well,
Reach for me
Touch me
My God loves me still!
Lilacs of “thank yous”
Breath of fresh air
Whispers in darkness
Warm summer air
These are my sonnets
My answers to prayer
These are the things
that lighten my care

May 6th, 2005

another poem

LED INTO BROKENESS

Led into brokenness,
Heartache and pain
Expectations keep falling
nothing's the same

We have our ideas
Our plan and our way.
We hear what we want,
Hardly do what we say

Unsure and upset
We question and cry:
"Oh God what a mess
Leave me here and I'll die"

But brokenness, heartache,
Pain and some tests,
Can change us and mold us
To God's very best.

Will we trust Him and follow,
No matter what comes?
Can we leave it to him,
when all seems undone?

There are crosses and rivers
and valleys of death.
There are oceans of questions,
Temptations and tests.

There are deserts of doubts
And mountains too high;
There are walls that are steep
And canyons too wide.

We have our ideas
Our plan and our way.
We hear what we want,
Hardly do what we say.

But God's intervention,
Inspiration and love,
His forgiveness and grace
Come down from above

His power, His wisdom,
His patience and care
Will cause us to do
What most wouldn't dare!

The crosses, the rivers,
The valleys of death,
The oceans of questions,
Temptations and tests,

With Him they become
The strength of our being
Resurrection, and freedom
New life with a meaning.

The deserts of doubts,
The mountains and walls,
The canyons, the struggles,
He can conquer them all!

Our brokenness, heartache
Pain and our tests,
Can change us and mold us
To God's very best.

Will we trust Him and follow,
no matter what comes?
Can we leave it to him,
when all seems undone?

Safe in the Shadow

Leaving today for the N.J. Family Life retreat....we return on Friday and will be at Star Lake for Warren and Jody's wedding.
God is good and faithful!
I will leave you with this poem that I have been thinking about today.

SAFE IN THE SHADOW

No fig leaf large enough to conceal my shame;
No bush wide enough to hide my pain;
No rock big enough to crawl beneath;
No pit deep enough to hold my grief.

Only one tree can protect me,
Only one tree where salvation is free.
It is at that tree that I want to be,
It's shadow of protection over me.

I want to run, I want to hide
Beneath Your wings, close by Your side.
Straight to the cross of Calvary,
Oh, cast that shadow over me - the shadow of my Savior's tree.

He is enough to hide my shame;
He is enough to take my pain;
He is the rock that I stand on;
He lifts me up - my grief is gone!

I want to run, I want to hide
Beneath Your wings, close by Your side.
Straight to the cross of Calvary,
Oh, cast that shadow over me - the shadow of my Savior's tree.

For Anya

WHERE YOU LEAD ME

Where are we going?
Oh! Look over there!
The grass is so green,
The valley so fair.
I want to go there, Lord,
Where the sun always shines.
I want to be where there is fruit on the vine.
Where are we going?
Did you not hear?
I said it was pleasant
Right over there.
Where do you lead me?
Did you hear what I said?
Why are we going to a place that I dread…
Why do I trust you?
Why do I go?
Why do you lead me where I don't want to go?
Now look where we're headed..
Don't you know what this means?
There! Where you lead me …
Are you blind to the scene?
The clouds are so dark;
The people unfriendly;
I won't have laughter and
my sorrow will be plenty.
The waves will crush me;
The mountains are high;
The pathway is narrow;
the river is dry .
Why do I trust you?
Why do I go?
Why do you lead me where I don't want to go?
What are you crazy?
Have you lost your aim?
Is this the plan?
Is this a game?
I tell of your love!
And I teach your Word!
I point to your promises,
To Your care of a bird!
But here you are leading
And it is obvious to me,
My needs are forgotten,
My tears are not seen.
I thought it was clear,
I thought we agreed
With the way, I planned,
The life I would lead.
Why do you lead me?
You didn't hear what I said?
Why are we going to a place I dread…
Then the words of my Lord
Answered my heart:
I know what I'm doing!
I have from the start!
I've known you and loved you
from the beginning of time.
I've carefully chosen
this pathway of mine.
Why don't you trust me?
Why do you doubt?
Why do you whine?
Why do you pout?
You say that I lead you?
But it's obvious to me
You have your own aim,
you have your own plea.
I've taken your hand
and I asked you to come,
I've given to you
my only Son.
You want the green pastures?
Then go your own way!
But they won't last forever
when the sun moves away.
I know where the fruit
grows on the vine,
I walk on water
The mountains I climb.
Are you coming with me?
Will you stay behind?
Will you trust ?
Will you risk?
Take this hand of mine?
I know what I'm doing
I know where I go.
I know when to reap,
I know when to sow.
Where shall I go?
What shall I say?
I will go where He leads me,
I will follow His way.
The grass is greener
only when He is there,
The sun is brighter
when He holds my cares.
The waves loose their power;
The mountains lay flat;
The rivers flow freely,
Who would leave all of that?
Not me! I will follow!
My aim and my plan -
I bring it to Him
On this day, take His hand.
His way, for my way,
His plan, for mine,
He will lead me and guide me
My Savior Divine.

3 August, 1999

Impressionable appearance

Most of us are understandably upset when we find out that our favorite athlete has taken steroids or our favorite singer has admitted to lip syncing. We feel deceived. How dare they give everyone the impression that they were better than they actually really were!
But, if truth be told the majority of people in the world are all about making an impression….and sometimes just for appearance sake!
Mrs. Arthur Sulzberger, of the newspaper dynasty, was bidding a granddaughter good-night one evening when the child remarked,
“Mommy and Daddy are entertaining some very important people downstairs.”
“You’re right,” agreed Mrs. Sulzberger. “But how did you know?”
“Just listen,” advised her granddaughter.
“Mommy is laughing at all of Daddy’s jokes.”
In our scripture Acts chapter 5 we will look at a couple that found them selves impressed by the good deeds of others which left them wanting to make a “good” impression themselves. Unbeknownst to them, the impression they would make would be a lasting one!
Let us look together at Ananias and Sapphira
I. They were impressed by others- What Barnabas had done. Acts 4:37
Barnabas ….”Sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostle’s feet.”
It is interesting to me that Barnabas is mentioned specifically here. Earlier in the same chapter it says that “everyone shared everything they had” and “from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them and brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostle’s feet.”
It is plain from this portion of scripture that Barnabas was not the only one who sold a field and gave the money to the apostles…so why is his name mentioned? We don’t know but from the reaction and plan of Ananias and Sapphira we can guess that maybe Barnabas was the first to have given all of the money from the sale or that his property had brought in the most money.
At any rate the people were pleased and his name was worthy of mention because of his generosity. Barnabas was someone to look up to.
Weirsbe says in his commentary “No doubt the church was praising God for the generous offering that Barnabas had brought when Satan whispered to the couple, “You can also bask in this kind of glory! You can make others think that you are as spiritual as Barnabas!” Instead of resisting Satan’s approaches, they yielded to him and planned their strategy. “
Now it was their turn and they wanted to give…but what they wanted to give was not really their money but…
II. A “good” impression- Acts 5:1-2
The impression they wanted to give was that they were sacrificial givers- just like Barnabas, when really; they both knew they had kept some for themselves.
The sad part of the story is, no one was forcing them, they were not required to sell the land and give all the money. Had they only gave the portion they had intended to give and were honest about it ….there would not have been a problem.
Why do we as human beings try to make ourselves out to be better than what we actually are? Is it fear of rejection? Someone will see us as we really are and turn us away? Or is it pride? Wanting to be praised or admired for having it all together, when we know we really don’t.
When did it become inappropriate to be real? When did it become unfashionable to be honest? Maybe when others begin to look better than we do, get more praises than we do- maybe we’re just jealous.
I know we all have ideals and goals. To strive for a standard is not wrong…to give the impression that you have reached the standard and sometimes exceed it…that is where the sin lies.
George McDonald said “We must not think that failure to reach our ideals is hypocrisy, because no believer lives up to all that he or she knows or has in the Lord. Hypocrisy is deliberate deception, trying to make people think we are more spiritual than we really are.”
That is what Ananias and Sapphira wanted….they wanted people to think they were more spiritual then they actually were. They wanted to make a good impression…maybe even ….
III. A lasting impression! – Acts 5: 3-10
What was the result of their deception? Death!
We are told in God’s word that “the wages of sin is death” Rom 6:23
We do not realize how true this is.
If God killed “religious deceivers” today, how many people would be left?
They died for a false impression…….no wonder vs. 5 said “ and great fear seized all who heard what had happened” and if it happened today I am sure vs. 11 would make sense to us as well “ Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.”
Maybe the others were seized with fear because they thought….What about me?? Can they see my thoughts? Do they know my motivations?
Well what about us?
Are we more concerned with the appearance of being a good Christian than actually being one?
Did you notice that Ananias’s wife….was judged on her own for what she knew? She supported her husband’s false impression and fell to the same judgment.
Those who know us best are those who live with us. Wives, husbands, our children…..What would they say about our Christianity lived out at home? Have they learned to live up to the “family appearances” while in public? While at church? Have they learned from us that appearances, impressions are more important than transparency and authenticity?
What are our motivations?
Who are we trying to impress? Is it God or man??
I think we realize in this day in age, that we can actually sometimes impress some……but is God impressed with us? He knows our thoughts. He knows our motivations.
Ananias and Sapphira were accused of lying to God.
They wanted to make an impression on others in the church and….well…..they did! They made a lasting impression!
We are wise to remember 1 Samuel 16:7 which tells us: Man looks at the outward appearance……..but the Lord looks at the heart.
Are our hearts, right before God? What does He see of himself in our hearts, in our minds? Is the impression we give to others….a true picture of who we really are on the inside? Are we lip syncing our Christianity? Are we falsely “pumping” our self up to be something that we are not? Appearances alone are not enough.
Let us get it right before God. We are all sinners, we all need his saving grace……..let us be very careful not to lie to the Holy Spirit--- thinking that we are harmlessly making a good impression. As Peter told them “You have not lied to men, but to God.”

Reputation

I am thinking today about reputation or character. Living above reproach. What we think is a good laugh one minute can become laughing "at" instead of "with". There is a fine between the two and I think the line is a line of love for the person. I don't mind laughing with those I love about something I have done or said that may prove to be silly or embarrassing. Yet if someone who I don't know or I think has little regard for me, little love for me, laughs as well, then that is different.
Is that true for you?

Webster dictionary: rep∙u∙ta∙tion \ noun
[Middle English reputacioun, from Latin reputation-, reputatio consideration, from reputare]
(14th century)
1 a : overall quality or character as seen or judged by people in general
b : recognition by other people of some characteristic or ability -has the reputation of being clever.
2 : a place in public esteem or regard : good name

In the MESSAGE by E. Peterson, book of James it says:
A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell."

"Temptation often comes not at our strongest, but our weakest moments. When we are at the limit of our patience, love, etc., we are tempted to be unChristian. Beware, Jesus' temptation began after 40 days of fasting. "- Encyclopedia of 7700 illustrations

These words may seem abstract today. But it is what is on my mind.
How do you protect your reputation or the reputation of others??
Do you think the amount of love you have for a person measures how far you will go to protect their reputation?
Just some thoughts.


Tan, P. L. 1996, c1979. Encyclopedia of 7700 illustrations : [a treasury of illustrations, anecdotes, facts and quotations for pastors, teachers and Christian workers]. Bible Communications: Garland TX
Peterson, E. H. 1995. The message : New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs . NavPress: Colorado Springs, Colo.

Old friends

I went to a funeral today. I didn't really know the officer that was Promoted to Glory, although I was impressed with all they said about her. I was there because one of her grandsons has been a friend of mine since I was around 9 years old. There was a group of us. We were all officer's kids.
This was the group in no particular order:
Kevin Miller, Jimmy Shotzburger, Heather Smullen, Robert Smullen, Lynnette Psaute, Beth Baker, Johnny Payton.
I no longer know where Heather, Robert, Beth or Johnny are. I know Heather and Robert don't go to the Army. I am not sure about Beth or Johnny.
Kevin and Lynnette married but recently divorced. They also don't go to the Army.
Jimmy died not so long ago (suicide) and I still think about him and our little group.
From the age of 9-14 we were inseparable. There were others who came and went but this was the core group. We shared our years of innocence and discovery together.
So, I went to the funeral to support Kevin. I , in some way feel like it is my way of being loyal to him, to those friends, those memories.....who I am....who we were.
I wonder what happened to all of us. All of us officer's kids, all sharing the same childhood experiences......not one that I know of goes to a corps. What is up with that? I could go and make a stronger statement but I don't know where they are at physically or spiritually. Did we "drop the ball" so to speak with officer kids? What are we doing today to ensure that we are not saving the world and loosing our own? Where are they??
How can I call them friends after all this time? After not seeing them, not communicating with them? I don't know.......but I do. Some memories in life are deep. Moments when you knew you were accepted, you knew you belonged.
It was great to see Kevin. He is a great guy. My fear is that he doesn't know that. I have lost contact with all the others.....except for Lynnette and Kevin. Lynnette was my maid of honor in my wedding. She is a great person and a good mother.
I wish we all had kept in touch through the years. I wish I had known Jimmy as an adult. He was a great kid.
Each of us have our own stories, our own heartaches......how much easier would the load be if we carried it with a friend? I am guilty of not keeping in touch as well as I could have.
Do they remember?
I remember them all, as 12 year old kids......silly, smiles, laughing together, worshiping together.
Even seeing Kevin today....all grown up......in his eyes....he is still that 12 year old boy who called me a friend.

May God's grace cover them all.

2 Timothy 2:13 "If we are faithless, God will remain faithful, for He cannot disown himself."

I don't know who reads this. If you read this and can tell me about any of them that I have mentioned....please let me know. I would love to be in touch!

Life is good when your with friends!

Mercy given, Mercy received

Did Noah shout from the Ark that day,
"I told you so!", then sailed away?

Have you ever felt like Jonah that night,
Who saved the city but lost the fight?

Have you ever thought, "Sons of Thunder, they had it right!
Let's destroy the wicked with God's great might!"

Mercy and grace are great to receive,
God's compassion, His love, they're what we need.

When its for us, its justice rung true,
But those we find deserving are very few!

They say it is better to give than receive
But showing God's kindness can cause one to grieve.

Yet its His great mercy that saved you and me,
Now let us be honest, how deserving are we?

God takes no pleasure in loosing the lost,
He came to save them, He paid the cost.

We would always do well to remember our place,
How much we need Him, His love and His grace!

Last sermon preached at Montclair's old building- Bringing down the walls.

We have been remembering today ways in which God has met with us through the years here in this place. In these walls. God has moved here….in lives, in families. It is right for us to pause and reflect on those times.
Many other memories have also been made in this place. If the walls could talk??? What would they say?? What stories would they tell?
As sacred as this place has become….it really isn’t about the building. It is about a body of believers living out their faith though life…..side by side. The Church is not bricks and mortar but the Body of Christ preparing the world for His coming again.
Joshua said to the commander of the army of the Lord: Are you one of us, or one of our adversary’s? ² The Commander of the Army of the Lord replied Neither!² The battle of Jericho was not their battle but it belonged to the Lord.
The mission of the Corps is not ours to live out as we please or on our own strength and thinking. The mission of this Corps must be the Lord’s mission! No matter what the walls look like around us!
In our Scripture today we will see a battle that belonged to the Lord…He promised to bring the walls down, to take them into the Promised Land. He called the next generation of believers to step out in faith.
In this battle they would face more than just the thick walls of Jericho. They would have to first have to face some invisible walls in their own lives before the victory would be theirs.

Sometimes our invisible walls seem thicker than those of Jericho.

I. The first wall is the wall of fear
· Peladophobia: fear of baldness and bald people.
· Chaetophobia: fear of hairy people.
· Levophobia: fear of objects on the left side of the body.
· Dextrophobia: fear of objects on the right side of the body.
· Calyprophobia: fear of obscure meanings.
· Odontophobia: fear of teeth.
· Phobophobia: fear of being afraid.

I think the fear we find in this passage has more to do with………”Fearing of what others will think of us”
Imagine Joshua’s fear 6:13-15, 7:1-5---some game plan! Imagine having to tell the priest…or the people.
What about the people’s fear---7:8-11- stepping out and marching around with no immediate results. Just a lot of trumpet noise!
---- vs. 11 that night?? What were they thinking as they went to bed that night.
Why are we doing what we do anyway?
For who?

II. The second wall is the wall of cynicism…….” Nothing is going to change, nothing will happen, nothing will be different.”
· A cynic is a man who, when he smells flowers, looks around for a coffin. H. L. MenckenUS editor (1880 - 1956)
· Cynicism is not realistic and tough. It's unrealistic and kind of cowardly because it means you don't have to try. Peggy Noonan, in Good Housekeeping US speechwriter for George Bush (1950 - )
· A cynic is not merely one who reads bitter lessons from the past, he is one who is prematurely disappointed in the future. Sidney J. Harris

7:12-14 ---2nd to 6th day…same thing, nothing different…no signs, no changes….monotony.- I wonder if the trumpets were blown with less enthusiasm on the 4 or 6th day then they were on the first.
There is often a creeping cynicism which attacks the vulnerabilities of the people, getting them to succumb to temptation, providing the illusion that God’s word is no longer relevant despite past victories. This perhaps this is the highest wall--- the wall of cynicism, of unbelief, of a weakening faith in the gospel, it’s power, it’s healing and redemptive possibilities.
We see no immediate results, we feel like we are going through the motions. We start to doubt the validity of it all.
7:15-21------it works! God keeps his word. They didn’t bring the walls down….God did.

III. The third wall is the wall of exclusiveness…..” God calls us to reach out to others and accept them fully into our community; our circles……invite them to be part of God’s family. Not just marginally.
7:22-25—Instructions about Rahab and her family.
God calls them to accept those who are most unlike them. To invite them into the family.
The Israelites found a place out side the camp-vs.23
No longer acceptable to be exclusive…Every ministry, every program, every social outreach that we have in our corps should be a path to acceptance into our corps family and ultimately acceptance into the family of God. Finding places for people outside the camp…is not God’s plan.
We do what we do so people will come to know Jesus. The mission of the corps is- ( not should be- BUT IS!) an all-embracing one.
This is how the kingdom of God is to look like and it will only occur when we beak down every last wall of exclusiveness.
Sometimes we act like “they” should be content, happy and thankful they are saved…God calls us to not only to bring them out of the rubble but to bring them into to the fellowship.
God outlines this perfectly in his own family tree.
Matt. 1:5…Mentions Rahab….no longer outside the camp but….God brought her into the family into his blood line.

Conclusion:
This year will be a year of many changes. We will not be surrounded by the familiar. God is calling us to be ready for battle…He is going to do a new thing….walls will come down, visions for the future of the Army in Montclair will become a reality. May we go forward….with no fear of what other’s may think or say. May we go forward….leaving the doubt, the cynicism behind us, May we go forward with the sole purpose of honoring God and bringing others into His Kingdom. Gives us a vision Lord for the future of this corps.

The strongest and highest walls cannot hold out against omnipotence! ²- Mathew Henry