Forever (RV)

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, and his mercy endures for ever.

 - From Psalm 107

Over the course of the past century, Pop Music has traversed a course from relative complexity, with wide-ranging melodic lines and lush harmonies, to endless repeated refrains over simple looped chord patterns. Lyrics have dumbed down, from high aspirational themes and love built around selflessness and self-control, to an obvious emphasis on calling attention to oneself, and the instant gratification of one's own most carnal desires.

Our great-grandparents knew that classical music, composed by the maestros of history, was of a high order, and represented humanity at its most actualized. No one suggested that there were other forms of music of greater difficulty, complexity, or value.

Even the Christian music of today has fallen victim to this impulse: repeated lyrics, over and over again, over three or four chords (the same four, in different arrangements, in 80% of all music today, in all popular genres). A person doesn't have to know real music theory, much, to sell a hit record today.

Today's Psalm inspired one of the best Christian songs of the past generation, that still seemed to follow the old rules of building upon a catchy, soaring melody, and chorus that gets people to their feet (without being coaxed). Of course, it's the song "Forever" by Chris Tomlin, one of the last of the old style Christian songwriters. But even "Forever" utilizes a repeated line, a few times too many.

Forever. Forever. Is there a concept more lofty than that?

No matter what happens today . . . remember that God's plan for us, is forever. Your problems are gone, forever. Your family is reunited, forever. God loves you, forever.

And let it bring to mind a song that sounds great, even if you don't hear the words. The world may be deconstructing. But you only have to go back about fifteen years, to connect to when things were still basically sane.

But then, aren't they always sane, in the House of the Lord?

Punishment - Disdain - Rejection - Promise (RV)

. . . and in the place where it was said to them, "You are not my people," it shall be said to them, "Children of the living God."

 - From Hosea 1

I can remember the first time I read Hosea, with adult eyes. I had reached a point where I understood the meaning of the harsh terms and concepts contained therein. It is a very hard book to read.

How can a loving God do this?

God singles out Hosea. Hosea is going to see what it's like. Ultimately, God connect with us on our level. We end up seeing things through His eyes. In time, we get it. The narrative of the Old Testament had been pretty much concluded. God's dealings with His people have had all the drama of any closely linked group of people. If you have loved anyone deeply, you know what it is like to be hurt; to be betrayed, forsaken, denied.

Hosea experienced loss and personal grief . . . not the way Joseph did, by being sold away into slavery by brothers that always hated him; not the way Samson did, by being used by a woman of questionable reputation. Not even the way Job did, by having everything the he valued obliterated, right before his eyes.

Hosea would have an experience like most ordinary people: the sharing of the intimacy of marriage, and a home with your children. The wife would be unfaithful, and the children would put him through the worse form of rebellion and humility as they grew.

Hosea would be rejected and scored by people that should love him. He would share  unrequited love. He would know any kind of pain known by people in horrible marriages, and by parents whose children cause, for them, a lifetime of trouble.

And it was all orchestrated by God.

You see . . . anybody that has lived can probably relate to that. God says "Do you see what I mean . . . now?"

Israel's rejection of God merited an angry and devastating response. A person going through a bitter divorce understands this. You wish something horrible would happen, that would force your family back together.

God would first punish Israel for rejecting Him . . . by removing their status as a nation. They would no longer have a nationality, a people, a family. And then when they call out for His help, he would turn His back on them. He would ignore them. They would not be worth His notice. And to add insult to injury . . . even after all this, He would close the whole episode by rejecting them utterly.

I know a man that once told his pre-teen daughter, after repeated acts of disrespect on her part: "If you want me not to care at all, I can do that." What followed was years of distance between father and daughter. His angry words created a deeper wedge yet. Children expect, they need, unconditional love. God wouldn't even have that for Israel.

Four hundred "silent years" followed. Israel would be effectively wiped from the pages of history.

Almost.

Because, in the end, God's promises are sure. And He did once promise them a great nation that would last forever. He was only setting the stage for the coming of One that could fulfill the justice of the Old Testament, while establishing a way to fulfill the good promises, of the New.

So Long (RV)

Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.

 - From Luke 11

George Harrison wrote:

My sweet Lord, Oh my Lord! I really want to see You! To Know You! To go with you!

 . . . but it takes so long!

Yes, it does. It can take a lifetime. 

A friend of mine gave up on his search for truth, and to fellowship with God, decades ago. He read some writings that raised great doubts in his mind. The crux of his failing faith, was his understanding that the first generation of Christians had every reason to believe Christ would return in their lifetime. But He didn't.

It has been twenty centuries. He still hasn't come back. That's like, sixty generations. 

It takes so long!

I want to tell my friend that he can doubt for as long, and for as intensely, as he wants. But God has promised to give, to reveal, to open everything to him, if he would ask. My friend should just ask God to address his doubts. And ask again. And ask again. 

It takes so long! 

But it doesn't take too long. 

My life's lesson from God has to do with waiting . . . for a very long time. I'm almost sixty, and for half a century I've had a clear idea of my calling. I knew what it was. I can see it clearly. I can even touch it in my mind. It is like the rewards of my life mission are right there before me, even now. I am enjoying the realization of God's plan for me.

I can see it. I can touch it. But no one else can. But here, in my sixth decade, it is coming together now, for others to see .And soon it will begin to benefit others . . . it is a ministry. It serves others. My life's mission is something for others. And soon they will touch it, too.

I believe in God's promises. His promises include a caveat: You might have to wait. 

He's right. God is accurate. I have had to wait. But He is good on His promises to us. 

"According to their ability . . . " (RV)

 . . .  each would send relief to the believers living in Judea . . . 

 - From Acts 11

Bad things happen to believers, as well as to skeptics. A famine hit the land, and in response, Dr. Luke records an act of the apostles, that sounds rather communist. 

The believers in Antioch took up a collection, each according to their ability, to send aid to others in the worst-hit region (Judea), according to their need. 

But here's where there is a problem. They sent relief to believers in Judea. Uh-oh. What about all the needy? 

Is there nothing here about refugees being supported? Why didn't the Antioch disciples set up a big caravan to bring Judeans, all Judeans, into Antioch? Let them move into a region that was still relatively resourceful. 

But no . . . they sent aid . . . and they sent it to people like themselves.

Is this what infuriated King Herod, to the point that he took James, the Apostle, and had him executed? Were the Christians being singled out, because they were making it through the famine okay, thanks to the aid from Antioch believers? Did Herod play on the resentment of the people, fashion it into righteous indignation, just so that he could establish fear among the people?

It's like the air travel scenario: take care of yourself first. Take care of your family first, then your neighbors, then your extended family and larger community. God knows that charitable people need resources. They need health and strength. 

We must not assume that the believers in Judea didn't support non-believers that needed it. 

But we may conclude that they did take care of themselves first. And that, for whatever reason, unbelievers always have and always will, hate the believers (going all the back to Cain's resentment of Abel), and all it takes is a little famine, to garner support for a purge. 

Communism, rendered effectively, requires that we take care of our own . . . first . . . so that we may serve others. 

Friend (Lake)

 . . . he does no evil to his friend.

 - From Psalm 15

There's an interesting reference to the deeds of good people, in the 15th Psalm. Most of this passage describe the qualities of people found worthy to dwell in God's tabernacle. No guile. They don't cheat, they don't commit fraud. They tell the truth. He doesn't even take back his word . . .

(That last one is something I needed right now, as I have spent all afternoon trying to weazle out of a commitment for tomorrow).

But what's this that I quoted above?

The good person "does no evil to his friend."

Doesn't that sound relevant in the age of Social Media? Don't we all have lots of "friends" on-line, and don't we actually do wrong to a lot of them, maybe most of them?

The bad-mouthing, the gossip, the ganging up . . . the ridicule . . . the blocking!

I even know many cases where someone "unfriended" their own personal friend, on Facebook.

A good man is so good, that he doesn't even do something wrong to his friend!

Last night, I had an experience that was something like this . . . I held an Open House for my business. Open Houses are great opportunities to generate excitement for some new idea, or venture. It is very important that we have a great turnout, and that my friends show up to add to the sense of momentum and electricity.

My friends? My good friends?

Evil is a very loaded and heavy word. But it actually means the absence of good. It takes effort to be a good friend. An event like an Open House may actually involve the expense of catering in food, and paying for staff to be there . . . which mine (ours) did, last night.

There were three categories of friends that I would typify as "good friends," that I thought for sure would be represented there. Added together, there are about forty total people in these three groups. But not a single one of any of them showed up. Good friends show up for things.

I said to one of my co-workers, whom I know to be actively questioning her own faith: "I did something earlier this week . . . that we'll see if gets some turnout from either (the three groups)". 

What I did, was to ask several representative from each group, to pray with me, that the respective group had some representation there, as we really needed their help now.

When they showed up, and I knew some would, I would tell my co-worker that it was prayer that got them there. But I didn't get to brag on the power of prayer to my friends, because no one showed up.

The good news is that we had a large crowd anyway. So here's the thing . . .

You can identify your friends . . . your good friends . . . they show up. They respond. They put in the effort. They don't even do you wrong!

To your friends, be a friend. Be a real friend.

Shall Have (Lake)

. . . and your wife Sarah shall have a son.

 - from Genesis 18

In one of the most memorable moments in Scripture, a visitor to the home of Abraham and Sarah, (a very old couple), announces that he will return a couple seasons hence, and Sarah will have a son.

Sarah overhears it and laughs . . . she is an old woman, beyond childbearing age.

My comments are brief today. We must recall that God does the impossible. Nothing is so important or frustrating that God can't take care of it.

Perhaps there is a troubling problem plaguing you today. Have you tried prayer?

I find that the days that I pray, go well. The days that I don't, do not go well.

If I shared this to many people, they would laugh, as Sarah laughed. There is perhaps nothing more dismissive than a mocking laugh.

But this is how prayer works, at least for me. Coincidence? Ignorant belief in superstitions?

Doesn't matter. I am not longer willing to test out the theory. I'm getting too old. The God that builds a nation from a childless elderly couple, can fix my problems.

If I ask.

Gods (Lake)

. . . in the midst of the gods . . . 

 - From Psalm 82

Psalm 82 reads like a summation of what happened to the heroic "gods" of antiquity.

All myths and legends have a basis in truth, and there obviously were some very powerful, or resourceful figures that inspired the pantheon of Roman, Greek, and Norse deities; and all of the gods found in every culture on Earth.

Polytheism is real. It's just not what you might think it is.

There were some angelic brings, or aliens, or exceptionally gifted humans, from way back before there was a blended and diverse bloodline, or before the earth's environment began to do its damage to human DNA. There was something like a casting out of Heaven, of the rebellions angels, or people. They became mortal . . . or more like us.

Or maybe the intermingling with humans so watered down their traits that today they only appear as occasional talents to mortal humans

I'm doing a lot of speculating. I'm playing devil's advocate. But it's too bad Science and Faith cannot get together to try to understand all of it.

But this is what's meant by making all things balanced, and leveled. God will get us all to be equals. Except that, when we are equal to one another, it will no longer be by dropping all of us to the lowest common denominator. God will elevate all of us to our most wonderful, beautiful, talented, and powerful.

It has been a fantastic narrative, from Eden to the present. And it will continue to be so.

Desolate (Lake)

. . . the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate.

 - From Amos 7

I guess there's no We hat earound it. If a person becomes wealthy enough, or famous, popular, or powerful enough, there will be no end to people wanting to take them down.

And it's true for nations, as well.

One of the best friends of my entire life, Mike Grabowski, once summed it up:

Other countries hate the US because we're Number One. That's why they hate Notre Dame, or the New York Yankees. Chalk it up to innate human nature. We really are not all that happy about the success of others. But imagine  . . . if we were, maybe they'd be more likely to share it with us, and others

Wealthy and powerful people are insecure people. They know what we poor people think of them (not me - - - I like everybody). Just read the news . . . . the 1% is, in some ways, always in grave danger. What came first? The 1%'s apparent tendency to hoard wealth . . . or the resentment and hate of the masses, towards people with money and power.

If you think about it . . . can you blame the rich and powerful for wanting to increase their own wealth and security? They love their families, too. And throughout history, nothing is quite as terrifying as an angry mob. And the best-fortified walled city can be toppled, if the masses want it toppled.

The rich can start sharing more . . . or the masses can stop envying so much. Either way, you will get a good result and sustained healing. Who wants to go first?

It is predictable. The reason nations fall is because we hate wealth, success, and freedom (if possessed by others). We're in a constant game of King of the Hill . . . we all want to be on top . . . but to get there you have to push others out of the way. And if we're neither able nor willing to strive for the top, we might resort to complaining about them that do make it.

God prophesied this. Wealthy nations go down, eventually. I submit to you . . . . it does not take too mystical of a prophetic gift. So far, no nation has figured out how to be the inevitable decline that follows a rise. And there are none in sight, around today, that seem capable of beating it.

Go (Lake)

. . . therefore ask the Lord of the harvest . . . . Go on your way . . . . 

 - From Luke 10

Christ identifies a problem:

There are a lot of lost people . . . hurting people . . . sick people . . . hungry people . . . jobless people . . . homeless people . . . dying people . . . .

But that's only part of the problem. The Real problem is that there aren't enough people willing to do anything about it.

Have you ever wondered what God's plan was, for your life? Is there any chance that God's plan would contradict this plain action plan from the Lord? He just said there are serious problems, and not enough people to solve the problems.

The first part to Jesus' solution is to pray. He gives us His prayer request:

Ask the Lord of the Harvest to send laborers. 

Ask God to send ministers, missionaries, pastors, teachers, healers, encouragers. People that can build God's Kingdom.

If you fervently pray that God send out servant-ministers, can you then, with a straight face, tell a talented teenager to "be realistic" and pursue a career that pays a lot of money? Oh sure . . . most earnest young believers may lack a "call" to the ministry; but they'll focus on earning lots of money that can be donated.

But will they earn the money? And will they follow through on charitable giving?

Jesus says to pray for laborers, not for more income. He wants you, not your money.

And after telling us to pray for laborers, He next says: "Go on your way." And He says to just go, without even spending time to plan out your ministry, or to gather up your things. He will provide. No fundraisers. No decade of savings. No waiting for retirement.

Go!

Therefore, we have the answer to the prayer, in our own hands.

Pray for laborers, and then Go!

Go on your way. Start moving. Go forward. Go backward. But Go.

Their Own (Lake)

All must test their own work.

 - From Galatians 6

Social Media, far from being a wonderful resource for sharing and understanding, has become a platform for exhibitionism and voyeurism. Had there never been an Internet, the phrase "virtue signaling" would never have been invented. It wouldn't need to be.

The Internet is an impersonal, emotionless, robotic entity that has no feelings. It exaggerates the simplest things, can make crazy ideas seem sane, and logic seem foolish. It does not deliver messages person to person, but utilizes a soulless channel which easily corrupts the original intent.

Well is the Devil called the "Lord of the power of the air." People that are not in direct contact are not in contact at all.

I have concluded that any reform or social movement born in this era of the impersonal, and of the ascendancy of the machine, must be held in great suspicion. We think we're so powerful, so right, so with history . . . but only because an artificial resource has so altered reality that nothing can be fully trusted.

We need to get together, in person . . . and it has to be for selfless purposes. We need a deliberate departure from human interaction that expects something in return: a like, a share, a smiley emoticon, a delicious treat, a great experience, a climactic rush of the senses.

We need just to communicate, with the intent to listen, and to learn.

We've got to take care of our own business.

Stop worrying about the latest thing Trump, or Pelosi just did, or said. They're human, just like you.

Do your own thing. Take care of your own things. You've got plenty to do. Stop stirring the pot.

Make it better . . . do something. And say something good.

Watch (Lake)

 . . . his eyes keep watch over the nations.

 - From Psalm 66

How could a loving God . . . ?

I have come back to this point over and over again, in the almost ten-year history of this blog. It is not a very creative question: "How can God just sit back and let evil happen?"

But that's not the point.

How can we permit evil to happen? Or better yet . . . how can you permit evil to happen?

Now, a lot of people believe that the way to get in the way of "evil" is to win elections. Maybe so . . . it doesn't hurt when real evil is what's being fought. But simple political partisanship is not the way to flesh out good from evil.

What are you doing about evil? There is hunger in your town, maybe even on your block. What - you're just going to sit back and do nothing about it?

The Hudson Education Center in Dexter Michigan is one small group of people's humble attempt to do something. They formed a 501(c)3 non-profit, whose purpose is to make sure that people of all ages get to experience the performance and practice of music. Everybody can do music. And out of that comes scholarships, trips to senior centers, service to low-income schools and neighborhoods. People are brought together.

But that's only a start. It takes so long . . . so long . . . to get even the most simple public service idea off the ground and sustainable. But it's something. Don't just stand around and yell out "Somebody do something!!" No!! You do something! Look around! Dig around. Someone needs you.

I believe this is what is meant by God keeping watch. Yes, He is up there, or out there. And He does permit (present tense) bad things to happen. But we are supposed to be part of the solution. God has set into motion an overall strategy that will eradicate evil . . . from selfish thoughts all the way to Death itself.

But for now He watches, and sees everything. And when you get around to do some kind and helpful act, God sees it, and He banks it for your eternal benefit.

God watches. But real watching, like Real Love, is not a sedentary activity. It is quite dynamic and involved.

Is That Fair? (Lake)

The Lord is loving to everyone . . . 

 - From Psalm 145

We approach the 243rd birthday of our nation.

When I was a teenager, all Americans joined in celebrating the bicentennial of the United States. The patriotic fervor was palpable, and we elected Jimmy Carter as President. Democrats as well as Republicans joined in with pride.

The young and old were part of it. All races, all creeds. The country had provided a unified front against the excesses of Vietnam and Watergate, and we were feeling good about ourselves.

But that's not like today.

There is a very obvious, present, and vocal element that is not proud of our country. We are not unified. The divisions among us are so great, we wonder if they can ever be resolved without one side exerting it's will over the other, with the fist, or with the gun. The differences have gone beyond just differing perspectives on the world. They have grown to bitter resentment that the rest of the country doesn't care what one thinks.

Our very opinions . . . the thoughts in our heads . . . are prohibited. Do not say what you're thinking; it could be a criminal offense!

That's not good.

How is it that the Lord can love everyone, in these conditions? When one side is so convinced it's right, and that the other is sinfully wrong, to the point of pure evil, well wouldn't these clear divisions provide an obvious side that God would abhor? How could He possibly not take sides when the evil is so clear?

Well, that's because He is "loving" to everyone. Not the "love" that is implied in the phrase "love is love." There is a greater love yet. Unselfish. Forgiving. Longsuffering. Eternal. Not at all based on a physical need.

This generation doesn't have that understanding of Real Love . . . it should not be making slogans that reference "love" while igniting hate.

God loves everybody, and it doesn't seem fair. But "fair" is another we use too much, without understanding it.

Americans may celebrate their independence, when they can understand their dissenters. Is America a country founded on God's love? Then let Americans love one another.