Thanksgiving to whom?
Last Tuesday, my boss's boss said to us workers: "I thank you for all that you do." Thus, for him, thanksgiving was a day to thank his workers. When you type in "thanksgiving" and "Indian," the first Google search returns http://www.caffeinedestiny.com/tigiving.html. On this website we read: " At the end of their first year, the Puritans held a "harvest feast" celebrating the fruits of their farming efforts. The feast honored Squanto and their friends, the Wampanoag Indians. The feast was followed by three days of "thanksgiving" celebrating their good fortune."
This is some great revisionist history. What really happened is described to us in a letter from Edward Winslow: "Our corn [i.e. wheat] did prove well, and God be praised, we had a good increase of Indian corn, and our barley indifferent good, but our peas not worth the gathering, for we feared they were too late sown. They came up very well, and blossomed, but the sun parched them in the blossom. Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty."
Note the following differences:
1.) Winslow states emphatically "Praise be to God" not "Praise be to Squanto." In fact, Squanto is not even mentioned by name.
2.) Winslow and his countrymen were Pilgrims, not Puritans.
3.) Winslow never mentions "good fortune." He specifically mentions the "goodness of God."
So the question to you dear reader, is to whom do you give thanks? Yourself for being such a good guy? to your boss for providing work or to your workers? Or to God, from Whom all blessings flow?
This is some great revisionist history. What really happened is described to us in a letter from Edward Winslow: "Our corn [i.e. wheat] did prove well, and God be praised, we had a good increase of Indian corn, and our barley indifferent good, but our peas not worth the gathering, for we feared they were too late sown. They came up very well, and blossomed, but the sun parched them in the blossom. Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty."
Note the following differences:
1.) Winslow states emphatically "Praise be to God" not "Praise be to Squanto." In fact, Squanto is not even mentioned by name.
2.) Winslow and his countrymen were Pilgrims, not Puritans.
3.) Winslow never mentions "good fortune." He specifically mentions the "goodness of God."
So the question to you dear reader, is to whom do you give thanks? Yourself for being such a good guy? to your boss for providing work or to your workers? Or to God, from Whom all blessings flow?
Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation
Please take time to read what Abraham Lincoln has written. It is an excellent read, and thought provoking. He writes "They [prosperity despite the War] are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy." Do we believe that our nation has sinned?
The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever -watchful providence of Almighty God.
In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict, while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably
engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the
nation and to restore if, as soon as may be consistent with the divine purpose, to the full
enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity, and union.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this 3d day of October A.D. 1863, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
NOTE: Abraham Lincoln issued Thanksgiving Proclamations in the spring of 1862 and the spring of 1863; both proclamations gave thanks for victories in battle. Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation in the autumn of 1863 - the second Thanksgiving Proclamation in that year - gave thanks for the general blessings of the year. This second 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation, the first in the unbroken string of annual Thanksgiving proclamations, is regarded as the true beginning of the national Thanksgiving holiday. (Pilgrim Hall Museum)
The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever -watchful providence of Almighty God.
In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict, while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably
engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the
nation and to restore if, as soon as may be consistent with the divine purpose, to the full
enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity, and union.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this 3d day of October A.D. 1863, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
NOTE: Abraham Lincoln issued Thanksgiving Proclamations in the spring of 1862 and the spring of 1863; both proclamations gave thanks for victories in battle. Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation in the autumn of 1863 - the second Thanksgiving Proclamation in that year - gave thanks for the general blessings of the year. This second 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation, the first in the unbroken string of annual Thanksgiving proclamations, is regarded as the true beginning of the national Thanksgiving holiday. (Pilgrim Hall Museum)
Veterans Day
Today we celebrate Veterans Day or Armistice Day. On the 11 November 18 the war to end all wars concluded. Over eight million soldiers died (http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWdeaths.htm). But the war to end all wars did not end the wars. Wars continued year after year. Another World War, and still more deaths. Then there was the Korean War, the Vietnam war, Desert Storm I and II, etc. Just yesterday the country of Sudan bombed a refugee camp in the newly formed country of South Sudan. The Taliban mortars US forces and continues to plant improvised explosive devices.
Two take-aways -
1. The wars and rumors of war confirm that Jesus is coming. In Matthew 24: 4-8 we read: "Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains."
2. The war to end all wars will not happen with earthly forces. In Revelation 19:11-20 we read: I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. . . Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur."
Thus, the LORD Jesus Christ will in the last day defeat Satan and conquer him. Only when Satan is defeated and cast into the lake of burning sulfur will true and everlasting peace reign. President Woodrow Wilson was naive when he thought he could bring peace on earth. Only Jesus Christ can do that.
Two take-aways -
1. The wars and rumors of war confirm that Jesus is coming. In Matthew 24: 4-8 we read: "Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains."
2. The war to end all wars will not happen with earthly forces. In Revelation 19:11-20 we read: I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. . . Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur."
Thus, the LORD Jesus Christ will in the last day defeat Satan and conquer him. Only when Satan is defeated and cast into the lake of burning sulfur will true and everlasting peace reign. President Woodrow Wilson was naive when he thought he could bring peace on earth. Only Jesus Christ can do that.
Steve Jobs and Anti-Authoritarianism
As most of you know, Steve Jobs was an anti-authoritarian. He was widely praised by the press for questioning the pastor at 13 when he saw starving children on the cover of Life magazine. Because the pastor could not give a satisfactory answer, the brilliant child rejected what he had been taught, Christianity. He did not follow the norm, and dropped out of college after only one semester. He rejected the convention of meals, and became a vegetarian. (He also rejected the norm of bathing and he stank so bad that he was forced to work at nights, but that is another story.) He rejected the norms of society and fathered a daughter out of wedlock. This anti-authoritarian was one to go head-to-head against Microsoft,
But was Steve Jobs really that anti-authoritarian? Not really if one looks at how he ran his own company. He wanted those who worked for him to give him 100% of their life. For example, he was known to call up even his suppliers in the middle of the night (3 A.M.) and asked them detailed questions about their product.
So before we lift Steve Jobs up as the ultimate anti-authoritarian, we must recognize that once he was in power, he was very controlling. That is the same with the devil. The devil tempts us to rebel against God. But like Adam and Eve, we realize that the freedom from God means just that we have traded a kind Master for an evil tyrant. We will always have a master. You must choose if it is God or the devil whom you want to serve.
[Thanks to Rob Bradford for getting me to think on this one.]
But was Steve Jobs really that anti-authoritarian? Not really if one looks at how he ran his own company. He wanted those who worked for him to give him 100% of their life. For example, he was known to call up even his suppliers in the middle of the night (3 A.M.) and asked them detailed questions about their product.
So before we lift Steve Jobs up as the ultimate anti-authoritarian, we must recognize that once he was in power, he was very controlling. That is the same with the devil. The devil tempts us to rebel against God. But like Adam and Eve, we realize that the freedom from God means just that we have traded a kind Master for an evil tyrant. We will always have a master. You must choose if it is God or the devil whom you want to serve.
[Thanks to Rob Bradford for getting me to think on this one.]
Prayer to God
Have you ever thought what a privilege it is to pray to God? I talk to my boss (who is 180 miles away) about once a month I talk to his boss about once every three months. I have met my boss's boss's boss once and he would not know me from Adam. I have met my boss's boss's boss's boss once about four years ago. I think she knows my name, but that is all.
What a privilege it is to be able to pray directly to God - my boss - Who loves me and listens to me, not just about work conditions, but about everything - food on the table, to helping my wife through math exams to healing. Not only that, but He sent His Son to take away my sin so I can worship Him forever in heaven. My boss's boss's boss's boss can't do that.
What a great God we have.
What a privilege it is to be able to pray directly to God - my boss - Who loves me and listens to me, not just about work conditions, but about everything - food on the table, to helping my wife through math exams to healing. Not only that, but He sent His Son to take away my sin so I can worship Him forever in heaven. My boss's boss's boss's boss can't do that.
What a great God we have.
Baseball and Certainity
Man does exceptionally poorly in predicting the future. As Yogi Berra said "It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future." For example, at the beginning of the year, it was predicted that the Red Sox would be the American League East champions. They were supposed to win a 102 games and it was widely assumed by many that they would win the World Series. They had all the best pitching, etc., but they ended up in third place in the American League. The Yankees had the best record in the American League, but they did not beat the Tigers, although they consistently beat the Tigers during the regular season. And now the Philadelphia Phillies, with the best record in baseball, do not advance. They were beaten by a wild card team.
Man does poorly predicting the future. But God not only knows but also controls the future. For example, He predicted that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem more than six hundred years before He was born. And He predicted that Cyrus would rise up and send the Jews home from the Babylonian captivity. Cyrus is an interesting name because Cyrus means shepherd. Isaiah has a beautiful play on words: "Cyrus, He is my shepherd." Isaiah wrote about 150 years before Cyrus came to the throne. Further, Cyrus is a Persian name, and at the time Isaiah made his prediction, Persia was a small country of insignificance.
In conclusion, man is awful at making predictions. God makes predictions and they always come true because He is God.
Man does poorly predicting the future. But God not only knows but also controls the future. For example, He predicted that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem more than six hundred years before He was born. And He predicted that Cyrus would rise up and send the Jews home from the Babylonian captivity. Cyrus is an interesting name because Cyrus means shepherd. Isaiah has a beautiful play on words: "Cyrus, He is my shepherd." Isaiah wrote about 150 years before Cyrus came to the throne. Further, Cyrus is a Persian name, and at the time Isaiah made his prediction, Persia was a small country of insignificance.
In conclusion, man is awful at making predictions. God makes predictions and they always come true because He is God.
Steve Jobs and Heaven
Steve Jobs, founder of Apple computer, is dead. He was a genius in making life better for me. Just last year, I bought myself an iPod, and it has greatly improved the quality of life while traveling. Listening to my music while flying is so much better than listening to the airline's one hour of music over and over and over. Now I can listen to a much greater variety of music - Gregorian chants are not often (ever?) offered on the airlines. Nor is Victory at Sea.
Steve Jobs and I were both born in the same month of the same year - but he was far more innovative than I was, and he earned more money in one year than I will ever earn in a lifetime. But the real question is what of the afterlife?
In Acts 4:11-12 we read "Jesus is 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.' Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
So the question that God will ask Steve Jobs is "Do you believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior?" Hint: that question is based on what occurs on earth, not when you are before the Judge. So no matter how great a man Steve Jobs was, no matter what his brilliance was in making superb products, no matter how much money he earned or gave away, no matter how he loved his wife and three children, the real question comes down to "Do you believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior?" for salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name given to mankind by which we must be saved. That is the question. This is an open book exam. How well will you do?
Steve Jobs and I were both born in the same month of the same year - but he was far more innovative than I was, and he earned more money in one year than I will ever earn in a lifetime. But the real question is what of the afterlife?
In Acts 4:11-12 we read "Jesus is 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.' Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
So the question that God will ask Steve Jobs is "Do you believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior?" Hint: that question is based on what occurs on earth, not when you are before the Judge. So no matter how great a man Steve Jobs was, no matter what his brilliance was in making superb products, no matter how much money he earned or gave away, no matter how he loved his wife and three children, the real question comes down to "Do you believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior?" for salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name given to mankind by which we must be saved. That is the question. This is an open book exam. How well will you do?
Marriage and God's Timing
Today is a special day in our household. My youngest son celebrated his 14th birthday today. It is also 35 years ago that I met my wife. Little did I know that when I met her, that I would marry her. I had attended a Christian college, with over 2,000 blond Dutch girls there. In His wisdom, the Lord closed the door. So I completed my navy training and was commissioned on 24 September 1976. Then the next night, I went to a fund raising dinner hosted by the New York International Bible Society (now the International Bible Society). And it was there that I met my red-headed wife 35 years ago. God knows better than I do who was best for me. Humanly speaking, I went to college with 2,000 Christian girls, yet I could not find my wife. I joined the navy, and the very day after I was commissioned, I met my future wife. In his infinite wisdom, God provided me a wife, when I needed a wife. Kathy has been a blessing to me.
Coram Deo - Before the Face of God
Coram Deo is a Latin phrase that means "before the face of God." R.C. Sproul uses this phrase in his publications at Ligonier Ministries, and the below is taken from his website: http://www.ligonier.org/blog/what-does-coram-deo-mean/
He writes "To live coram Deo is to live one’s entire life in the presence of God, under the authority of God, to the glory of God. To live in the presence of God is to understand that whatever we are doing and wherever we are doing it, we are acting under the gaze of God. God is omnipresent. There is no place so remote that we can escape His penetrating gaze. . .
The Christian who compartmentalizes his or her life into two sections of the religious and the nonreligious has failed to grasp the big idea. The big idea is that all of life is religious or none of life is religious. To divide life between the religious and the nonreligious is itself a sacrilege.
This means that if a person fulfills his or her vocation as a steelmaker, attorney, or homemaker coram Deo, then that person is acting every bit as religiously as a soul-winning evangelist who fulfills his vocation. It means that David was as religious when he obeyed God’s call to be a shepherd as he was when he was anointed with the special grace of kingship. It means that Jesus was every bit as religious when He worked in His father’s carpenter shop as He was in the Garden of Gethsemane."
As I wrote last time on labor, all labor is good labor. All must be done to the glory of God as He is indeed sovereign over all of our life. We must obey God in all aspects of life. We must "act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with [y]our God" (Micah 6:8).
He writes "To live coram Deo is to live one’s entire life in the presence of God, under the authority of God, to the glory of God. To live in the presence of God is to understand that whatever we are doing and wherever we are doing it, we are acting under the gaze of God. God is omnipresent. There is no place so remote that we can escape His penetrating gaze. . .
The Christian who compartmentalizes his or her life into two sections of the religious and the nonreligious has failed to grasp the big idea. The big idea is that all of life is religious or none of life is religious. To divide life between the religious and the nonreligious is itself a sacrilege.
This means that if a person fulfills his or her vocation as a steelmaker, attorney, or homemaker coram Deo, then that person is acting every bit as religiously as a soul-winning evangelist who fulfills his vocation. It means that David was as religious when he obeyed God’s call to be a shepherd as he was when he was anointed with the special grace of kingship. It means that Jesus was every bit as religious when He worked in His father’s carpenter shop as He was in the Garden of Gethsemane."
As I wrote last time on labor, all labor is good labor. All must be done to the glory of God as He is indeed sovereign over all of our life. We must obey God in all aspects of life. We must "act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with [y]our God" (Micah 6:8).
Our Calling
Today is Labor Day - a day to celebrate work. (Please also read my Aug 08 post on Labor Day). John Calvin is rightly heralded as the man that changed the thinking of the world in relationship to work. And because of this new attitude, the Western world began to lead all other continents. John Calvin wrote in The Institutes of Christian Religion: "The Lord bids each one of us in all life's actions to look to His calling." In other words, each one of us has a calling. In English we use the word "vocation." According to Webster: from Latin vocation-, vocatio summons, from vocare to call, from vox voice. According to Webster a vocation is a “summons.” Two examples from Webster are “This isn't just a job for me; it's a vocation” and “He never felt a real sense of vocation.” A job is something you do. A vocation is a calling by God to a certain work.
Traditionally, vocation was restricted to God’s calling to the ministry. Webster says: “especially : a divine call to the religious life.” But Calvin contended that all of us have a vocation, a calling to a specific task. Vocations was no longer just a calling to go into religious work. In other words, being a pastor or a priest is not a higher calling than being a trash collector or a janitor. He goes on to say: “It is enough if we know that the Lord’s calling is in everything the beginning and foundation of well-doing. . . . From this will arise also a singular consolation: that no task will be so sordid and base, provided you obey your calling in it, that it will not shine and be reckoned very precious in God’s sight.”
Simply put: follow God’s calling and you will be happy in your vocation and no vocation is more important than other vocations.
Traditionally, vocation was restricted to God’s calling to the ministry. Webster says: “especially : a divine call to the religious life.” But Calvin contended that all of us have a vocation, a calling to a specific task. Vocations was no longer just a calling to go into religious work. In other words, being a pastor or a priest is not a higher calling than being a trash collector or a janitor. He goes on to say: “It is enough if we know that the Lord’s calling is in everything the beginning and foundation of well-doing. . . . From this will arise also a singular consolation: that no task will be so sordid and base, provided you obey your calling in it, that it will not shine and be reckoned very precious in God’s sight.”
Simply put: follow God’s calling and you will be happy in your vocation and no vocation is more important than other vocations.
Hurrican Irene as an Act of God
According to the BuisnessDictionary.com, an act of God is "inevitable, unpredictable, and unreasonably severe event caused by natural forces without any human interference, and over which an insured party has no control, such as an earthquake, flood, hurricane, lightning, snowstorm." According to Webster, an act of God is "an extraordinary interruption by a natural cause (as a flood or earthquake) of the usual course of events that experience, prescience, or care cannot reasonably foresee or prevent."
Hurricane Irene (Irene means peaceful) was certainly an act of God. Notice the term "cannot reasonably forsee." The forecasters were all wet on this one. One of their earlier predictions was that she was going to smack southern Florida. Then they said Irene was to take out Charleston S.C., just like Hurricane Hugo as a Category 3 or possibly even a Category 4 storm. Then it was going to come ashore at the North-South Carolina border, and then she veered further north to strike Hatteras . It was predicted to be a Category 4 storm, but by the time Irene hit landfall, it was only a Category 1 storm. Lots of rain, some winds, but here in Norfolk, there was very little major damage. Man does a miserable job predicting hurricane tracks. As Casey Stengal said, "Never make predictions, especially about the future.”
Also, notice the definition the phrases "over which the injured party has no control." Man certainly is powerless over the hurricane. The winds and the waves come ashore where they were directed by God. Man, who could not predict the storm, certainly has no control over the storm. Man has no idea on how to harness the storm's immense power. Man has no idea on how to prevent the storm or how to channel the storm away from land. Man is so small, and God is so great.
In Psalm 135 we read:
1.Praise the LORD.
Praise the name of the LORD;
praise him, you servants of the LORD,
2 you who minister in the house of the LORD,
in the courts of the house of our God.
3 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;
sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant.
4 For the LORD has chosen Jacob to be his own,
Israel to be his treasured possession.
5 I know that the LORD is great,
that our Lord is greater than all gods.
6 The LORD does whatever pleases him,
in the heavens and on the earth,
in the seas and all their depths.
7 He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth;
he sends lightning with the rain
and brings out the wind from his storehouses.
Praise the Lord for saving us from major damage.
Hurricane Irene (Irene means peaceful) was certainly an act of God. Notice the term "cannot reasonably forsee." The forecasters were all wet on this one. One of their earlier predictions was that she was going to smack southern Florida. Then they said Irene was to take out Charleston S.C., just like Hurricane Hugo as a Category 3 or possibly even a Category 4 storm. Then it was going to come ashore at the North-South Carolina border, and then she veered further north to strike Hatteras . It was predicted to be a Category 4 storm, but by the time Irene hit landfall, it was only a Category 1 storm. Lots of rain, some winds, but here in Norfolk, there was very little major damage. Man does a miserable job predicting hurricane tracks. As Casey Stengal said, "Never make predictions, especially about the future.”
Also, notice the definition the phrases "over which the injured party has no control." Man certainly is powerless over the hurricane. The winds and the waves come ashore where they were directed by God. Man, who could not predict the storm, certainly has no control over the storm. Man has no idea on how to harness the storm's immense power. Man has no idea on how to prevent the storm or how to channel the storm away from land. Man is so small, and God is so great.
In Psalm 135 we read:
1.Praise the LORD.
Praise the name of the LORD;
praise him, you servants of the LORD,
2 you who minister in the house of the LORD,
in the courts of the house of our God.
3 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;
sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant.
4 For the LORD has chosen Jacob to be his own,
Israel to be his treasured possession.
5 I know that the LORD is great,
that our Lord is greater than all gods.
6 The LORD does whatever pleases him,
in the heavens and on the earth,
in the seas and all their depths.
7 He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth;
he sends lightning with the rain
and brings out the wind from his storehouses.
Praise the Lord for saving us from major damage.
Earthquake
We just experienced an earthquake - lasted about a minute - the whole room was trembling. Nothing fell, so we are okay.
The earthquake, however, shows the puniness of man. Because of God's control, man can predict the sunrise, and sunset, the moon rise and the moon set, high tides and low tides. Humans rely on these with certainty. However, there are other things, like earthquakes, that man can not predict, let alone dream of controlling. There was nothing you or we could do, except to wait it out.
The earthquake should remind us of Who God is, and who we are.
The earthquake, however, shows the puniness of man. Because of God's control, man can predict the sunrise, and sunset, the moon rise and the moon set, high tides and low tides. Humans rely on these with certainty. However, there are other things, like earthquakes, that man can not predict, let alone dream of controlling. There was nothing you or we could do, except to wait it out.
The earthquake should remind us of Who God is, and who we are.
Is that all there is?
Two weeks ago I was able to visit the King Tut exhibit in Brussels, Belgium. This is a recreation of his tomb and consisted over 1,500 replicas. What was fascinating was to see how much the Egyptians thought of the afterlife. The Pharaohs had boats, grain, servants, etc. to help them through the afterlife. They thought much of the afterlife as can be seen from all their mummies and the pyramids.
In today's evolutionary thought process, not much thought is given to the afterlife. We come from a blob, live here on this earth for 70, or perhaps 80 years, and then die. So the question that is raised, "Is that all there is?" Is that all life consists of - to eat at McDonalds, go to work, retire, and then die in the hospital of cancer?
The Egyptians, while not getting all the afterlife right, at least understood that there was an afterlife. For many Americans, evolution says the end of this life is the end of life. We have no other purpose. Thus, my question "Is that all there is?" Indeed not! Because we were created, we have a purpose on this earth. And after that, there is an afterlife - heaven or hell. There is so much more than just dying of cancer.
In today's evolutionary thought process, not much thought is given to the afterlife. We come from a blob, live here on this earth for 70, or perhaps 80 years, and then die. So the question that is raised, "Is that all there is?" Is that all life consists of - to eat at McDonalds, go to work, retire, and then die in the hospital of cancer?
The Egyptians, while not getting all the afterlife right, at least understood that there was an afterlife. For many Americans, evolution says the end of this life is the end of life. We have no other purpose. Thus, my question "Is that all there is?" Indeed not! Because we were created, we have a purpose on this earth. And after that, there is an afterlife - heaven or hell. There is so much more than just dying of cancer.
Citizen Kane, Love, and Wealth
When I was in Belgium last week I went to see the movie Citizen Kane, a not so veiled film on the publisher William Randolph Hearst. The story is quite simple. Charlie Kane was a boy sent off by his mother to be raised by a banker. He becomes exceptionally rich, and is on his way to becoming the governor of New York. He is caught with another woman, so he divorces his wife (who was the niece of the president). Then he marries the singer, and eventually she walks out on him as he is too self-centered. This 1941 film with Orson Welles is a true classic.
There are two quotes that made me ponder. The first was by his friend Mr. Leland: "That's all he ever wanted out of life, it was love. That's Charlie's story, how he lost it. You see, he just didn't have any to give. Oh, he loved Charlie Kane of course, very dearly!" And the second, is "Mr. Kane was a man who got everything he wanted, and then lost it." In the closing scenes you see a vast courtyard full of statues - all his possessions, but as he has died, they are now being sold off. It reminded me very much of Jesus Christ's words: "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" Charlie died alone, and although he had gained the whole world, he had forfeited his soul.
There are two quotes that made me ponder. The first was by his friend Mr. Leland: "That's all he ever wanted out of life, it was love. That's Charlie's story, how he lost it. You see, he just didn't have any to give. Oh, he loved Charlie Kane of course, very dearly!" And the second, is "Mr. Kane was a man who got everything he wanted, and then lost it." In the closing scenes you see a vast courtyard full of statues - all his possessions, but as he has died, they are now being sold off. It reminded me very much of Jesus Christ's words: "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" Charlie died alone, and although he had gained the whole world, he had forfeited his soul.
Was our revolt justified?
When do you have a right to revolt?
According to Romans 13: 1-7: "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor."
Thus, we are to respect the government. And we are not to fear authorities if we do right. But the Declaration of Independence states: "He [King George III] has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation."
One of the cities that was burned, was Norfolk (where we live), on 01 Jan 1776. But interestingly, after the British started burning the town, the Patriots burned more buildings than the British and then commenced looting the town. Most historians today agree that the Patriots did far more damage than the British.
Did the British really bring death, desolation, and tyranny with such cruelty scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages? The answer is no. The barbarous ages were much more cruel than what the British did. See the cruelty during the 30 Years War (1618-1648) when 1/3 of the population in some of the warring states were killed and pillage and rape were very common. The British actions pale to the terrors of the Assyrians (800-700 BC) - so cruel that many cities gave up without a fight, preferring slavery to torture. Torture included being flayed alive or being hoisted on a stake that was driven into you. Let us not forget the Aztecs who conducted the Flower Wars, for the sole purpose of getting prisoners for human sacrifice. Let us remember the ravages in Europe caused by Attila the Hun. And cruelty and ravaging list would not be complete without the Moslem Timur the Lame, who massacred 100,000 people in Delhi, and piled the skulls in a heap in 1398.
Thus, while we rejoice that the USA was formed in 1776, I will say that it is probably not a revolution that would pass the standards set by Romans 13. The British were not destroying the US, and as such, we should have obeyed the King, as the Bible instructs us.
According to Romans 13: 1-7: "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor."
Thus, we are to respect the government. And we are not to fear authorities if we do right. But the Declaration of Independence states: "He [King George III] has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation."
One of the cities that was burned, was Norfolk (where we live), on 01 Jan 1776. But interestingly, after the British started burning the town, the Patriots burned more buildings than the British and then commenced looting the town. Most historians today agree that the Patriots did far more damage than the British.
Did the British really bring death, desolation, and tyranny with such cruelty scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages? The answer is no. The barbarous ages were much more cruel than what the British did. See the cruelty during the 30 Years War (1618-1648) when 1/3 of the population in some of the warring states were killed and pillage and rape were very common. The British actions pale to the terrors of the Assyrians (800-700 BC) - so cruel that many cities gave up without a fight, preferring slavery to torture. Torture included being flayed alive or being hoisted on a stake that was driven into you. Let us not forget the Aztecs who conducted the Flower Wars, for the sole purpose of getting prisoners for human sacrifice. Let us remember the ravages in Europe caused by Attila the Hun. And cruelty and ravaging list would not be complete without the Moslem Timur the Lame, who massacred 100,000 people in Delhi, and piled the skulls in a heap in 1398.
Thus, while we rejoice that the USA was formed in 1776, I will say that it is probably not a revolution that would pass the standards set by Romans 13. The British were not destroying the US, and as such, we should have obeyed the King, as the Bible instructs us.
Rain and Sprinklers
The other day we were concerned with the lack of rain, and we thought about having to put out our sprinkler system. The problem with sprinklers is that since we don't have an installed one, we have to keep moving the sprinkler around the yard. Some areas don't get watered - the narrow strip of grass between the sidewalk and the street, Or if it does get watered, a lot of the water ends up on the sidewalk where it does no good to the plants. Other areas the hose does not reach. Still other areas are watered too much. And all this watering of the lawn increases our water bill.
Then God sent a good hard rain. All the areas got covered - the strip of land between the driveway and the neighbors, the strip of land between the sidewalk and the street, and the back corners. God is good.
Then God sent a good hard rain. All the areas got covered - the strip of land between the driveway and the neighbors, the strip of land between the sidewalk and the street, and the back corners. God is good.
Father's Day - the unherald day
Today is Father's Day, and it too is an unheralded day. For example, $14 billion is spent on Mother's Day, After Christmas, it is the largest gift giving holiday in America. Almost two billion dollars is spent on flowers (25% of all flowers are given on this day), and 141 million cards are sent. Contrast this to Father's Day where 70% of Americans won't buy their fathers a gift. And far fewer cards will be sent to fathers. Of note, over 3/4s of the respondents said it was difficult to very difficult being a father. (See http://www.aventuramagazine.com/pagedetails.php?idpage=466).
The challenge with being a father is to lead the family - above all being present. Absentee fathers are a plague in today's society. On Thursday I was talking with a co-worker who works as a Big Sister. The family with whom she works is a single mom with two daughters. The father is in Texas, where he has fathered another four children. What type of father is he when he is missing from his family?
So fathers, rejoice in being a father. Lead by example. Love God. Love your wife. Love your children. And be present. Be at home for them. Turn off the TV and listen to what they have to say. Play a game with them. Talk to them.
The challenge with being a father is to lead the family - above all being present. Absentee fathers are a plague in today's society. On Thursday I was talking with a co-worker who works as a Big Sister. The family with whom she works is a single mom with two daughters. The father is in Texas, where he has fathered another four children. What type of father is he when he is missing from his family?
So fathers, rejoice in being a father. Lead by example. Love God. Love your wife. Love your children. And be present. Be at home for them. Turn off the TV and listen to what they have to say. Play a game with them. Talk to them.
Daylilies and God's Love
I have been enjoying the beauty of the daylilies. Years ago when we first moved to Wayne, NJ in 1968, my father and I dug up three daylilies from the woods near our house and planted them by the side of the driveway. Now there will be hundreds of blooms in one day. When I was home several years ago, I dug up some of the daylilies in Wayne and planted them in bad soil in Norfolk. Yet they thrived and blossomed, and now I am getting 15-20 daylilies at the height of the season.
I love their beauty. They are so exquisite, so finely created. And what is more amazing is that they last for only one day. The next day I pull off the old bloom, and another blossoms in its place.
Jesus Christ said: "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?" Matthew 6:28-30
So rejoice that the God who made the day-lilies, also loves and cares for you!
I love their beauty. They are so exquisite, so finely created. And what is more amazing is that they last for only one day. The next day I pull off the old bloom, and another blossoms in its place.
Jesus Christ said: "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?" Matthew 6:28-30
So rejoice that the God who made the day-lilies, also loves and cares for you!
Ascension Day - the Forgotten Christian Holy Day
This past Thursday our church celebrated Ascension Day, which is 40 days after the Resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday, and ten days before Pentecost Sunday. Ascension Day is celebrated by the Roman Catholics and by the Reformed churches, but very few other Christians celebrate Christ's triumphal return to heaven. While Google will tell us that today (05 June) is Richard Scarry's 92nd birthday, there was nothing on Ascension Day, despite being such an important day. But that is okay. Because at least it is not a commercialized holiday. Only Christians celebrate it.
Our pastor preached a very interesting sermon. Ascension Day celebrates Christ's reign now. Daniel 7:13-14 proclaims this: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a Son of Man [i.e., Jesus Christ], coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days [i.e., God the Father] and was led into His presence. [Glenn's note: I always misinterpreted Ascension Day's clouds of heaven as clouds that Christ went into. But they are really clouds that Christ approaches the Father.] He [i.e., Jesus Christ] was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed." Then, at the Second Coming of Christ, at the end of the world, Christ will hand the kingdom over to the Father. This is based on I Corinthians 15:24 - "Then the end will come, when He hands the over the kingdom to the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power."
Our benefit is that because Christ is king now, we share in His blessings. Thus, we read in John 16:15 "All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you." So we celebrate Christ who reigns now!!
Our pastor preached a very interesting sermon. Ascension Day celebrates Christ's reign now. Daniel 7:13-14 proclaims this: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a Son of Man [i.e., Jesus Christ], coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days [i.e., God the Father] and was led into His presence. [Glenn's note: I always misinterpreted Ascension Day's clouds of heaven as clouds that Christ went into. But they are really clouds that Christ approaches the Father.] He [i.e., Jesus Christ] was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed." Then, at the Second Coming of Christ, at the end of the world, Christ will hand the kingdom over to the Father. This is based on I Corinthians 15:24 - "Then the end will come, when He hands the over the kingdom to the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power."
Our benefit is that because Christ is king now, we share in His blessings. Thus, we read in John 16:15 "All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you." So we celebrate Christ who reigns now!!
Deo volente, Storms, and Airlines
Growing up I often heard older people ending their sentences with God willing, or Deo volente. In writing, I would often see Deo volente (or DV). These days it is not used so frequently. The expression "Lord willing" comes from James 4;13-15 where we read: "Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
I was taught this lesson (again) in my last trip. My son Thomas and I were going to my nephew's wedding in Iowa and we were scheduled to fly out of Norfolk at 5:28 PM to arrive in Atlanta at 7:18 and then to catch the 9:01 flight to arrive in Des Moines at 10:08 PM. I thought that by 10:45 I would be in bed at the airport hotel. But because of storms that went through the Midwest and the South, our 5:28 flight did not leave until 7:30 and we did not land until 9:30, and our 9:08 flight did not go airborne until midnight. So we arrived at the hotel at 2 AM, vice at 10:45 PM. On our return flight we were scheduled to leave Detroit at 5;57 to arrive in Norfolk at 7:45. We did not arrive until 9:00 PM.
So once again the Lord showed us Who is in charge. So when you travel, or plan your next event, be sure to say "Lord willing" or "If the Lord wills" or Deo Volente, as you can plan, but God is in control, and you may just not arrive on time.
I was taught this lesson (again) in my last trip. My son Thomas and I were going to my nephew's wedding in Iowa and we were scheduled to fly out of Norfolk at 5:28 PM to arrive in Atlanta at 7:18 and then to catch the 9:01 flight to arrive in Des Moines at 10:08 PM. I thought that by 10:45 I would be in bed at the airport hotel. But because of storms that went through the Midwest and the South, our 5:28 flight did not leave until 7:30 and we did not land until 9:30, and our 9:08 flight did not go airborne until midnight. So we arrived at the hotel at 2 AM, vice at 10:45 PM. On our return flight we were scheduled to leave Detroit at 5;57 to arrive in Norfolk at 7:45. We did not arrive until 9:00 PM.
So once again the Lord showed us Who is in charge. So when you travel, or plan your next event, be sure to say "Lord willing" or "If the Lord wills" or Deo Volente, as you can plan, but God is in control, and you may just not arrive on time.