You are Not Able

   I recently decided to try and write a book.  The working title of it is "Before He Was King".  It has to do with the period when David was anointed, yet not king.  I am just beginning work on this and will keep you posted on progress.  Keeping that in mind, I will probably be posting a lot of comments about David for a while.  This post is about a phrase that caught my eye when restudying the encounter David had with Goliath.

Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth while he has been a warrior from his youth."  1 Samuel 17:33

   Saul had a lot of characters flaws about him, but at the point in this story he is king of Israel.  The first living breathing mortal to be king of God's people.  Goliath had been coming and taunting the people of God daily.  And as I look over the story, Saul never makes a move to defend his people himself.  The role that David is trying to take on is one of defender, which is a role that Saul should have taken.  But, Saul is too much of a coward to do so.  Not only is he a coward, but he tries to stop David who has the faith to take on Goliath. 

   Unfortunately, the church is full of people like Saul.  No longer living by faith they not only don't want to step out on faith, but they try to stop the people who are.  They say, "Wait a minute, let's form a committee to look at that."  They make assumptions, excuses and boldly declare what cannot be done.  At the same time, thank God there are also Davids.  David was a man who had seen God in action and had an enlarged faith. 

   When Saul begins to protest that Goliath is too big and David is just a youth, it makes me think of Jeremiah.   Jeremiah hide behind the fact that he was a youth in Jeremiah 1:6.  He tried to make excuses about what he could not do.  But, instead God tells him that He himself has appointed Jeremiah to go.  To his credit, that is the last of the excuses for a while from Jeremiah.

   Instead of reflecting on what Saul said he cannot do for even a minute, David tells Saul what God has done.  David reflects on how God protected him from a lion and bears.  Having just recently been to the zoo and seen the huge polar bear at the zoo I can confidently say that while he looks cute, I think that polar bear could kill me without even trying.  David was a man of faith and that is the kind of heart that God was responding to.  He was concerned about God's name being blasphemied by Goliath, something else that God was also concerned about. 

   When people like Saul come our way we need to energize ourselves to be people of faith and not to meditate on what others say we cannot do.  We need to be busy then, doing what we know God has told us to do and give the glory to God when it is accomplished.

David's Wanderings

"And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented, gathered to him; and he became captain over them. . . ." 1 Samuel 22:2

     In the verse above, David is in his time of wandering in the wilderness.  Those who were discontent, whether it be with the spiritual status of the day or the rule of Saul was gathering to David.  They recognized that there was something more about David.  They saw the hand of God on his life, though he was basically homeless and running for his life at the time.

    The time of wilderness is a time of waiting.  A time that on the surface of things can appear as though it is wasted.  In this case, the people had asked for and received a king.  His name was Saul and he was one of the most sick and demented of all the kings Israel had.  I personally think he had schizophrenia or something similiar to it.  But, the people wanted a king, so God gave them what they wanted.  But, the time wasn't wasted.  For the man God desired to give the throne was being molded and shaped for the day he would take that throne.

   In Romans 5:3-5 it says, "And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

     Paul, a man who experienced many adversities in furthering the kingdom of God, suffering blows from rods and shipwrecks and stoned at least once.  He says these adversities that we go through, though you may not notice now can be used by God to bring about in you character and hope.  God means to bring about roses in the desert, water out of rocks, fountains out of tears.  God will bring something good out of your misery.

    I write this having had a hard day today and a hard week.  Some of the people I have been helping lately have had it hard and not all because of what they did, but sometimes because of other people's sins.  Sometimes families get broken up, sometimes people chose a dark path to walk down.   But, through it all there are also opportunities to learn and to move forward.

    Sometimes times of waiting and sitting in the desert as David did here are also times to reevaluate what is important.  I really think that is sometimes why God delays in prayer.  Because he is giving us time to think through what we really want and to consider why we are really asking.  It is a time of pruning and purifying, or refining and redefining.  Burn away what is not worth anything, so what ends up lasting is purified as though gold.

Are you in a wilderness today? 
What is God trying to show you? 
What is He trying to build in you today?

The Professional Worrier

I have a confession to make; I think I have mastered the art of worry. I seem to have no problems at all worrying about all sorts of things. It comes as naturally to me as breathing and eating. Yet, for all of my mastery of this skill, it doesn’t seem to be doing me much good. In fact, I can remember a time in my Christian walk, when it was so debilitating that I literally couldn’t eat much of anything and was on three different stomach medications.

The Bible has several suggestions on what to do about worry. In Philippians 4:6 it says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” This is followed by the promise that if I give up my anxiety and fears to God that “the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7. Having worked in the mental health field over the last several years, I can tell you I am not alone in my mastery of worry, fortunately there is a cure. There is also a God who wants to take our worries and fears and replace it with His peace.

Years ago, when we moved into a pastorate in rural east Texas we were surprised to learn that the parsonage that we moved into had flooded before. We actually moved in while a tropical storm was in the area. Houston had received over 33 inches of rain within a period of about a week. It really troubled me that the congregation didn’t reveal until everything was moved in that the house had flooded before. I spend a lot of time worried about what would happen.

Several years past and we were packing up to move to a new location halfway across the country. A storm came through again and dumped over 12 inches of rain in a 12 hour period of time. I’ve never in my life seen it rain that hard. I told my wife that I thought it was going to flood and started stacking boxes on the tables and putting things up high. My wife simply said, “Well, I guess we’re going to get our load lightened before the moving van gets here.” While I was fearful, she was the picture of calm.

Unfortunately, nowhere in the Bible does it promise us either a life free from storms or trials. In fact, a careful study of scripture show us that all of the saints had they’re struggles and problems. The good news is that we have a peace that can replace the fears that “goes beyond comprehension”. That means it is greater than our fears, it defies logic, it goes beyond the facts.” That is because we have a God who is “near us” and went through many of the struggles that we have and has promised not to abandon us.

So, I’ve put in my resignation as a professional worrier. I have decided I don’t need to be a part of that union anymore. Instead, I have joined a different team. And when I still feel the urge to worry or get upset about the things around me that don’t go right. I remember that God is with me and that He wants me to give him my burdens and trials. He wants all of us to do this because God cares for His children. Matthew 7:9-12

Reminders

"This is My body which is given for you; do this in rememberance of Me." Luke 22:19b

     Have you ever noticed how many times God uses different events, rituals or traditions to remind us of what he has done or who he is?  Here in this passage in Luke, it is a reference to the Lord's Supper.  The Lord never says how often we should observe the Lord's Supper, but what he does say is that "as often as" the church observes this that it is to be a reminder of who Jesus is and what He has done.  It is to be a reminder of his sacrifice and the fact that he shed his blood.

    I think the Lord does this because he realizes that we so often get busy, even busy doing good things, that we need constant reminding.  We need help remembering who we are in Christ and the good news that the gospel does present.  We need reminding, so that we are not just known as christians for what we are against, but why it is called "good news" in the first place.  We have a tendency to get off center, focused on other things, even sometimes completely forgetting who we are in Christ.  I know that I am like that more often than I care to admit.

    Many of the festivals and events of the Old Testament were used also as reminder.  Sometimes memorials were set up in special places where God had delivered his people.  These reminders are important, particularly in difficult times when it doesn't appear that God is answering our prayers to remind ourselves to hold fast and to have faith.  One incident that I can think of is in Joshua 4:6  Joshua says, "Let this be a sign among you; so that when your children ask later, What do these stones mean to you?" Then you shall say to them "Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, when we crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off." So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.""

   So, God was using this opportunity not just to remind the immediate generation, but also those in the future.  He wanted them to know that God is a God who delivers, who is able to answer, who redeems, who cares.  So many times when we look at the harshness of life, it might be tempting to think that God does not care.  When we see a child who has been abused or the evil in the world or hear about a terrible injustice.   But, God gives us reminders.  Most of all, He gives us the cross, a reminder to us all that God loves and cares for each one of us.

What reminders do you have in your life?  What reminds you that God loves you?  When you look back, what reminds you that God answers prayers?

Lessons Learned

   I have been reflecting lately on what God has been telling me and try to get back into going to church lately.  We found a non-denominational church near our home that has a contemporary service.  I have taken the kids so far three times.  I enjoy the more contemporary service, though some of the songs I don't know.  I also like it that the church seems organized to do outreach and is reaching out to the community.  That has always been important to me.  Some other thoughts that have been going on in my head lately. . .

1. Life doesn't work out like you expect.  I never thought going through college that I would work in mental health.  I always thought I would work in a church and for a time did.  But, now I would not do that if it was offered to me.  I have what I consider a fulfilling ministry working as a case manager, helping people in practical ways.  My faith encourages me to work hard for people and to see it as more than a job or paycheck.  I'm glad that I am able to use my psychology degree, since I worked very hard to get it. 

   I think about Joseph in the bibie, how so many unexpected challenges met him.  His brothers hated him and other people treated him with contempt, yet God was with him through it.  The Bible doesn't promise an easy life or prosperity when it comes to money.  The Bible does say that when adversity comes our way that God has the ability to use it to make us stronger and to build things in us like perseverance, character, integrity and hope.  Jospeh, one of my heros of the Bible, was able to see God at work years after his trials when his brothers came to him.  He saw his brothers for who they were, but also saw that God was trying to bring about a deliverance.

2. Pain is a great teacher.  Years ago, my son stuck a popcorn seed in his ear for some reason.  We took him to the emergency room, but the doctor there couldn't get it out, so we had to wait till the next morning to take him to an ENT to get it out.  I remember it took 5 of us holding him down to get it out.  One thing that Dr.Jordan mentioned after it was out that it was in some ways good that it hurt a little because "he won't do that again."  And he never has done that particular stunt again.

    I've noticed that a lot of things get put on hold for the people I serve also, until that day and hour when it becomes a crisis.  Then, things move along quite quickly.  I've seen families put housing on hold and other issues regarding finances and jobs and housing until the eviction notice comes and then they want to work on doing something about it.  I get frustrated with those who wait that long, but sometimes I put things off or want to ignore things also, hoping they will go away on their own.  Unfortunately, a lot of things never do go away on they're own.

Uprising in Egypt

Jesus said, "Therefore, be on the alert; for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.. . .For this reason you be ready too for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will."  Matthew 24:42,44

    Like a lot of you, I have been watching events unfold in Egypt.  Having never really heard much about Egypt in the news in the past, I was interested in learning why the protesters were protesting and wondering what the results would be of this conflict.  Also, I wondered with all the turmoil if these events would in any way lead to events that would prepare for Jesus's return. 

   You may think that it is silly that I would think that these events might lead to Jesus' return.  But, scripture seems clear that we are to have an attitude of expectancy.  While there has been much upheaval in the middle east, it is clear that this region is the area where Jesus will one day return again.  What the sequence of those events are a little unclear to me, but we are to live as people who are ready for his return.  Do we really do that though?

   The other thing that is mentioned in news reports about Egypt is that of oil prices.  It mentions the possibility of the Suez Canal being closed or oil flow disrupted and that causing oil prices to spike.  I think it shows just how vulnerable our world economy is and how much we take it for granted.  This is important because it reflects what it says in Revelations 6:5-6 when it says that an angel came forth carrying scales and prices of food were disrupted.  Yet, it says, "A quart of wheat for a denarius and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and the wine."  The oil and the wine are figurative words symbolic of the wealthy.  It means most will be poor, but there will be a upper class as well.

  The other thing that I wonder about is how will these events effect the middle east as a whole.  There is some unrest already in places like Yemen and Jordan.  Is this the beginning of something even bigger?