Category: Human

Gulliver’s Travels

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It has been my observation while reading Ecclesiastics that Solomon struggled to find something new that had not been done. He really struggled with this idea. Permit me to fast forward and talk about things that are new today. Consider the lowly cell phone, our ability to talk to computers, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Were we not introduced to these things in the mid 60’s by the Star Trek Communicator? Gene Roddenberry created the prototype Star Trek show in 1964, you may recall that most historians believe that Gene was influenced by the thought ‘engine’ in Gulliver’s Travels, a 17th century novel. In the mid 60’s Captain Kirk used a flip-phone and talked to his computer all the time, just like we do now. So, do we really have ‘new stuff’ or just clever remakes and embellishments 60 years later? New Stuff? In 1956 the initial ideas for AI were explored at Dartmouth – I took a few classes on AI software development at the University of Nebraska in 1985. Now, 70 years later, Google uses AI for routine searches. Yep, I think Solomon got it right, nothing much is new under the sun.

We read in Ecclesiastes 2: 12-17 — I turned my thoughts to consider wisdom, and also madness and folly. What more can the king’s successor do than what has already been done? I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness. … Then I said to myself, “The fate of the fool will overtake me also. What then do I gain by being wise?” I said to myself, “This too is meaningless.”  For the wise, like the fool, will not be long remembered; the days have already come when both have been forgotten. Like the fool, the wise too must die. So, I hated life, the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, chasing after the wind [NIV].

At the beginning of chapter 2, Solomon builds and creates everything he can imagine, his world is opulent. Yet, when he completes the work, he felt no satisfaction. Just more angst. He learned that ‘doing stuff’ without a goal outside of himself leads to the blahs. When he did things that included God, he felt settled, content. With out God in the formula, any pleasure derived from the action was short lived, the pleasure wore off and he drifted deeper into despair and self-hate.

He wonders if things would have been different without God’s wisdom. Perhaps being a simpleton, oblivious to the endgame, was best. In time, he reasoned that enjoying God’s company was a better plan. God’s wisdom prevailed.

Ecclesiastes 2:22-26 says — What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? All their days the work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless. A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and happiness; but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God [NIV].

Solomon was bright enough and wise enough to know the proper response, but he was a bit stubborn and not able to wrap his mind around the solution initially. He gradually learned that we do better when we learn to accept the simple pleasures of work and taking care of our families as an offering to God. “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence” (Psalms 16:11). “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress — I will never be shaken” (Psalms 62:1-2).

When we find contentment in these things, we start losing the angst and moving towards God’s peace. Solomon knows the truth about work is simple – there is no enjoyment without God’s involvement. If we do our tasks and projects with him at the helm, cognizant of his presence, we can find joy and peace in our life. When you walk with God, the angst will ebb away.

 I choose Jesus.

Find your Deliberate Dance

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It has been my observation when searching for how the Holy Spirit empowers us (as defined in scripture) that we owe everything to the superior strategy and planning of God the Father, including the amazing purchase of our soul by the Son (redemption), and the transformative power and implementation of God’s Plan in us by the Holy Spirit (infilling).

We read in Romans 8:9 — Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. All believers have the Holy Spirit. Continuing, we read in Ephesians 5:18 — Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit. This suggests we are not continually filled, but we are filled for a purpose, a season, then there is rest. Consider the plight of a Gas engine with a nitro injection system. We do not always use the nitro system, just when power is required. We are told to seek the infilling; seek all the fullness we can garner; and, at the same, we are cautioned to avoid quenching the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19) and to avoid grieving the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). This is a deliberate dance.

Let us look at four overlapping ideas that lead to the infilling of the Spirit. First, we are told to meditate on Scripture. There is a life-giving connection between the Spirit of God and his Word. Jesus said — It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are Spirit and life. (John 6:63). Paul says — Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart. (Ephesians 5:18–19). Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16).

Second, we are told to believe what we read in the Word. Paul asked (Galatians 3:5), “Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?” I think it is clear the Holy Spirit is supplied to us and works powerfully in us as we hear the word with faith — as we believe it – as we put it into practice. Stephen and Barnabas were men of faith and full of the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:5, Acts 11:24). I think we are wise to not trivialize the relationship between faith and the infilling of the Spirit. It is by meditation and faith we experience the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. This leads to belief in what we read in scripture.

Third, we to be obedient to scripture. One of the disciples asked Jesus — Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world (John 14:22)? Jesus answered — “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:23). When you keep his word, he draws close – really close.

Fourth is the thirst, the desire to know God. The glue that brings together meditation, belief, and obedience is desire. We are told to thirst for Him. Our dance with God is to be Deliberate. Jesus says — If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink … Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive (John 7:37-39). The Psalms says — Drink from the river of [his] delights” (Psalms 36:8). As a deer pants for flowing streams, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God for the living God. (Psalms 42:1–2). O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. (Psalms 63:1).

Embrace meditation on scripture, believe what you read in scripture, become obedient to the guidelines in scripture, and thirst for God. You do this and the Spirit of glory will rest upon you (1 Peter 4:14). Do not hold back. Implement the plan. Seek his presence. Seek the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Find the ‘deliberate dance’ in your life.

I choose Jesus.

A Basket of Fruit

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It was my observation in Galatians 5:22–23, Paul points us to help, he says — But the fruit of the Spirit is…  What follows that initial statement are nine characteristics of the Holy Spirit’s work in the life of a believer. The nine characteristics are part of a unified package. A believer does not have some and not others, though their relative strength may vary based upon our yielding to the Holy Spirit. What is the package of fruit comprised of?

Love is poured into our hearts (Romans 5:5). The Greek word is agape. This is a responsive love that evokes in us a love for God and a desire to please Him, guard our family, help our neighbor – always putting their needs in front of our needs (Galatians 5:13). Worship, serious surrender, and obedience are the core of pleasing Him. I think that the other eight fruits are focused expressions of agape.

Joy emerges from of God’s mercy and kindness to us. It cements an anchor in our life that keeps us from being swayed by the winds of change and trouble. We rise above drama, hard times, and circumstances that stand in front of us beckoning our attention. Unlike happiness, its ‘wanna be’ equivalent from human logic, joy does not depend on favorable circumstances. Joy just is.

Peace is resting on the one true living God’s lap, not just the absence of combat. Tranquility abounds in our heart, even if we are standing in a Hurricane, pushed to our limits to stand tall. The firm grounding, no matter the situation is rooted in God’s power, mercy, and the absolute iron clad awareness he will keep his word. He is the center post of peace. We are blessed to be sheltered by his peace.

Patience comes when we can see life through God’s eye. His eye sees beyond the ‘here and now’, to the cause and effects of actions (or reactions). Patient people are not easily offended or riled by drama or circumstances. They see God in everything, action, reaction. Kindness is our response to everything. We love the unlovable and treat them with kindness no matter what drama they bring to our life. Kindness is persistent, it resists harshness and unpleasant behavior by seeing God in the moment.

Goodness helps form the outcome from cumulated effort of joy, peace, patience, and kindness. Goodness in our actions is an expression of moral excellence. We do things with no expectation of any return. Faithfulness is all about being a person who can be trusted. We stand on the truth, speak the truth, defend the truth. We are dependable, reliable, and live a quiet life. Gentleness is not the absence of strength, it is not arrogance, it is not bullying, it is measured, controlled actions to achieve desired outcomes; it is considerate and measured in when enthralled in drama.

Self-control speaks to both the mind and the body. It centers observing, assessing, and thinking first and then doing second. It applies to all things we think, speak, and do. It represents exercising control over our passions – no matter what they may be.

Oh my. That is a very tall list of behavioral management tools. Who can do this? How? The answer is – more of God less of us. The more we give the Holy Spirit control, the easier it becomes for God to work his gentle control in our life. To be sure, we need to want the Fruit. But we have the helper, the Spirit of God to bring the fruit to the foreground of our daily thoughts, speech, and actions.

The fruit is a spiritual event, it happens over and over, every day of our life; it grows gently in our heart, maturing over time. The fruit has both a personal impact and a community impact. God brings these tools into the community life so we can find ways to get along, no matter what is happening around us.

I choose Jesus.

Water For The Desert

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It was my observation, in the mid 70’s I have a recollection of being taught the downside of meditation. Yoga instructors were barely permitted in church because of the strong eastern influence in their thinking and articulating, the Davidic discussions on meditation was not part of the common teaching and conversations of the mid 70’s Christian scene. For reasons that are unclear to me, none of us noticed the recurring concept of meditation in scripture. Goodness, how things have changed.

Somewhere along the way in the last few years I noted that word ‘meditation’ in the bible and wondered how did that term sneak into God’s vocabulary. Of course, the concept has been there always, just not talked about because of the extreme struggles of the late 60’s when musicians fully abandoned western thought and embraced the eastern thought processes.

To be clear — we all know that scripture provides a formidable discussion of meditation in the Psalms, it explains how we use meditation to embed the teachings of scripture in our heart and influence our actions. We should know that prayer becomes deeper and more personal when we move from prayer to meditation. This is not to say we abandon prayer. Not at all. Each format has its place. Prayer is the tool of choice to bring requests and supplications into his throne room. Prayer is the tool of choice to communicate with God, to learn of his will for our life. But within the context of walking with God, meditation goes much further by transforming our gait into something that brings us closer to him and his plan. We do not do the transforming, HE does, but transformation does gradually occur. Lest we think that meditation is just another trendy notion, please consider the thoughts of Thomas Brooks, a seventeenth-century church leader.

Thomas Brooks said — Remember that it is not hasty reading but serious meditation on holy and heavenly truths, that makes them prove sweet and profitable to the soul. It is not the mere touching of the flower by the bee that gathers honey, but her abiding for a time on the flower that draws out the sweet. It is not he that reads most but he that meditates most that will prove to be the choicest, sweetest, wisest, and strongest Christian. Selah.

In Psalms, we see David meditated on God’s law, His righteousness, His word, His deeds and works, His precepts, His ways, His testimonies, and God Himself. Review Psalms 19, 39, 48, 77, 104, 119, and 143. Read slowly and breathe in the message. God is speaking. Meditate on his word.

Paul says — Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—MEDITATE on these things (Philippians 4:6-8).

Paul tells Timothy to meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all (paraphrased from I Timothy 4:15) — note again that meditation is expected to produce something in us. Eastern meditation empties us so we can see ourselves as God. This is not what David is doing, Biblical meditation is about infusing our mind with the pure virtuous message of scripture. We become very aware of the one true living ‘God who is there’, Jehovah-Shammah.

I think — meditation is deep focused contemplation by a renewed mind on the amazing wisdom of God. David tells us in Psalms 1 to delight in the Lord’s Law. David “meditates (Hebrew – hâgâh) day and night” (Psalms 1:2). This term means to murmur, ponder, to mull over carefully. The word translated meditate in Psalm 119:15 (Hebrew – śı̂yach) talks of a preoccupied mind, often murmuring audible words. This term can be translated as pray (Psalms 55:17) or talk (Psalms 119:27). Psalms 143:5 includes both words, showing their relationship. David says — I remember the days of old; I meditate (hâgâh) on all Your works; I muse (śı̂yach) on the work of Your hands (Psalms 143:5). You want to know what he is thinking? Meditate on His Word.

Meditation is to our heart as water is to the desert. I live in the desert. Most of the year the desert is a dry and dusty place. Shade from a tall mesquite tree is a gift from God. Then comes the monsoon. Oh my.

The desert leaps to life overnight. The brilliance of the morning sun on the fresh green leaves is glorious to the eyes. The entire land looks different after the rain, it really is different. This is the impact of meditation focused on the Word for our soul. Our soul is refreshed.

Our dry and dusty life is filled with power. God moves in us. God is unleased by his tools and his Word. For meditation to be effective – the wall clock is not our friend. We cannot rush God, he will infuse himself and his word into us as he deems proper, at his pace. We are not in control, He is. But rest assured – he will infuse us with His life. Jehovah-Shammah, the Lord who Is there (see Ezekiel 48:35) will arrive.

Therefore, I focus on the Word, meditate on his precepts and….

I choose Jesus.

Learning From David

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It has been my observation that one of the more difficult passages for soldier’s (including me) to review and learn from is 2 Samuel 11. This is one of the most poignant accounts of human failure in Scripture notwithstanding the betrayal of Jesus by Judas. Yet, at the same time, it also has great value as it offers us redemptive hope about the greatness of God’s extremely gracious forgiving heart. This passage provides a plain, easy to understand warning about the terrible consequences of sin, coupled with the aftermath of forgiven sin. I traveled down a similar path during the divorce process from my first wife. I am not proud of the time, nor do I talk about it very much. It is my past not my present.

When you start reading 2 Samuel, David is moving in concert with Gods will. He is popular, successful, and able to inspire his people. His throne has been established. His enemies have been subdued, he is respected in the kingdom, and plans are in progress. Then trouble starts.

David sees a beautiful woman near his palace in the evening, he calls her to himself. He sleeps with her and she gets pregnant. Her husband (Uriah) is part of David’s Mighty Men. David knew Uriah. David has Uriah murdered to coverup his sin (2 Samuel 11). As a soldier, I can think of no more heinous action – my commander killing a fellow soldier and taking his wife. I would guess that trust in David as a commander drops to zero among his troops. The prophet Nathan confronts David on behalf of God (2 Samuel 12). David repents. God forgives. David is told that Elohim has forgiven the sin, David’s death will not be required, nor will his throne be required (2 Samuel 12:13). But for David there are consequences for his sin. When much is given to a man; much is expected (Luke 12:48). David’s troubles are not over.

Later, David writes — Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them (Psalms 32:1–2). Centuries later, Paul writes of God’s forgiveness for David to demonstrate salvation has always been for the unworthy, we are saved by grace through faith (Romans 4:4–8).

I suspect, it is with humility and tears that God chose to document the tragedy of Uriah, Bathsheba, and David in scripture. This could have slipped into obscurity. But God chose to mark this event in history books. Every time I run across the message in both 2 Samuel 11 and Psalms 51, I am reminded of the extraordinary grace offered to us by the one true living God. It is especially important that we not only see David’s initial reaction; but we need to also take note of the things that happened to David later in life. Review 2 Samuel 12, you will see the death of Davids first born from Bathsheba, you will see civil wars and outside attacks on the Israeli kingdom. You will see the violence and murder committed by his two sons Amnon and Absalom. You will see struggle after struggle as David reels from one mess to another. Yet, Bathsheba is one of a handful of women mentioned in the bloodline for Jesus. Selah!

Words cannot accurately describe the fullness of God’s grace offered to us, especially when we are acutely aware of just how widespread sin is in our life. Death is very near. Yet, we know that God justifies us while we are ungodly (Romans 4:5). Nothing we have ever done is out of range for God’s grace and redemption. God invites us to seek his compassion, his pardon, his shelter (Isaiah 55:6-7).

The deeper truth – there is a wonderful balance to Scripture. While grace draws us close to him, we know that bad things may happen in our life to keep us focused on him (see Hebrew 3:15). I see David’s example as proof that God will always embrace us. God wanted his complete attention. Even during the consequences for our actions – our salvation is not at risk. Elohim’s amazing redemption for us is renewed every morning. His mercy will always overpower the troubles we create. Always…

I choose Jesus.

Moving Back To The City

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It has been my observation that the Hebrew captives in Babylon had reconciled with God, yet they were still captives, content to wait for God’s timing. Then, they heard the message from Isaiah, and they knew they had not waited in vain. As time for their emancipation drew close, they asked questions concerning the things to come. They wondered how much longer they would wait.

Isaiah 45:11-14 says — Concerning things to come; do you question me … or give me orders about the work of my hands? It is I who made the earth and created mankind on it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshaled their starry hosts. I will raise up Cyrus in my righteousness: I will make all his ways straight. He will rebuild my city and set my exiles free, but not for a price or reward, says the Lord Almighty … The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush, and those tall Sabeans— they will come over to you and will be yours; they will trudge behind you, coming over to you in chains. They will bow down before you and plead with you, saying, Surely God is with you, and there is no other; there is no other god. (NIV)

Some of the senior Hebrew men who heard messages from Isaiah and Daniel had spent most of their life in captivity, they could remember the promised land, but it was a distant memory. Their children and grandchildren were born and raised in Babylon. For the children and grandchildren, God’s promised land was only an idea, they had no practical experience.

Now the children hear from this God they have learned about in their homes; they are told of his role in creation. God directs them to submit to the message, the will of their creator, not by way of defiance towards Babylon, but by submission. They are encouraged to avoid complaining and center on faithfulness and focused prayer. God implies in Isaiah 45:9-10 they have nothing of substance to offer him, they are not positioned to impart knowledge to God or give the law to him, they have no authority over God to change the emancipation plan. God requests they yield to the emancipation plan – Cyrus.

I would imagine they were truly perplexed. After two generations of captivity, they had made a new life in Babylon. They were slaves, but part of one of the most powerful cities on the face of the earth. They were safe, free from strife and war. They were not able to choose their life, but they did have a sense of security. Now, their God was saying – change is coming. You are going back to the place your forefathers came from. Scarry? I would guess it was. They start whining. God says to them – be still. I am God. You are not! We are leaving Babylon. That is all there is to say. Get prepared now! We are going.

God encourages them to depend upon him, he is in control. Besides, Cyrus is coming, their security blanket is on the job. It is best to stay close to God where they have protection. Even Cyrus had a sense of his role in this story. Some even say that Daniel meets and greets Cyrus (according to Josephus the historian). Isaiah’s message is not living in a vacuum. Cyrus is aware of the message from God.

The deeper truth– our life is in the hands of God, the God of Israel, the God of Creation, our protector. Our help comes from Jehovah-Jira, who moves to protect his people and restores us to the promised land. We are encouraged to yield to his plan. He exudes authority, he displays the wisdom and power sufficient to govern our life, he demonstrates he can do what is required to bring glory to his plan. The Lord remembers us. He blessed his people Israel in spite of their rebellion, he blessed the house of Aaron, he blessed those who fear (respected) the Lord’s plan—small and great alike (implied in Psalm 115:12-13). We only have one path – submission. We are told – you are going home. Get ready.

I choose Jesus.

Time To Rise Up

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It has been my observation that meditation comes in many formats, the common thread for them is –focus on a single point in scripture, focus on God, and exclude all other thoughts. My personal journey with meditation for the last year or so has been the formation of written thoughts that fit on one page.

When I am gathering my information, I look at many sources, I read many people on the subject. Then I check-in with my favorite commentators — RCH Lenski, John Walvoord, Henry Thiessen, and Mathew Henry. Once I have the basics then I start meditation and scribbling. I ask the basic questions, who, where, what, when, and why. I slip deeper into thought. I get really quiet. I search for the cadence on the subject, building sentences and ideas, finding the path through the data until I get to the essence. I want each sentence in the essay to connect with the previous. During this process I am focused on God’s Word (only a few verses), and I am discovering the things I need to understand and act upon.

Psalm 77, a psalm of Asaph, provides a grand perspective of meditation. It defines the journey of his deep thinking and provides an insightful view of pondering on the things of God. Asaph links his thinking with the creation of a written document – this guy created songs (wrote stuff down) from his meditation. Then used the songs to expand and enhance his subsequent meditation events.

Asaph said – I remembered you (my God), and I groaned; I meditated, and my spirit grew faint. You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak. I was not able to find the words. I thought about the former days, the years of long ago; I remembered my songs in the night. My heart meditated and my spirit asked: Has God forgotten to be merciful? Where is he? Did he take the day off? Has he, in anger, withheld his compassion? Am I now an outsider? Then I thought – I will turn my focus upon the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand with mercy towards me. I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds. These memories will bring me peace (implied in Psalms 77:3-6, Psalms 77:9-12).

Take note of the line of reasoning Asaph builds. He groans from the weight. He is full of trouble, he is struggling to focus, but he keeps at it. His mind is racing, it is too troubled to even sleep. We have all been there. Then he remembers God. He remembers the old days; he recalled his previous songs and the circumstances that caused their creation. He can hear the songs and it brings him some respite. He drifts deeper into his meditation, his head cleared of the noise. He is finding the cadence of thought, his rhythm. He forms an appeal for peace – Asaph gets really focused. Now he is cruising. His heart is calm, he is resting in the hand of God. He remembers the deeds, the good stuff that God has done. He remembers the miracles of long ago. They still are true, they still testify to the glory and power of God, and they are relevant to his current situation. he ponders on the mighty deeds of God.

Now, let us pay attention to the change in Psalm 77. Asaph said — The waters saw you, God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed. The clouds poured down water, the heavens resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth. Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked. our path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen. (Psalm 77:16-19).

Asaph is extremely focused, he thunders out the majesty of God, this is not empty thinking, this is meditation that leads to a call to action. Asaph is a warrior. God is on the move, thunder and lightning abound. Meditation over. The warrior is ready to act. It is time to rise up. God is on the move! Selah!

I choose Jesus.