Is God Impressed?

Photo by Byron
Temples are still there on the high places.

Is God impressed? I don't think so. No more today than in the time of ancient Israel.

"They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless."

What we consider worthwhile is not very often what God does. Today we have perhaps some new gods - which most people wouldn't think of calling idols. But what is a false god, other than something we trust in for truth and help and self worth? The big ones of our age are science, technology, education, drugs, and medicine - aside from and along with the more ancient gods of money, power and sex.

Did you ever think that just possibly public icons like Marie Cure or Albert Einstein were not so especially worthwhile in God's eyes. Certainly no more, and maybe less, than a child of his who follows after the things close to his own heart. And, we have no need to wonder about that either. He has taken the trouble to communicate and preserve for us his precious Word. If a doctor has found a new way of saving lives, that may be good, but only to the extent that it gives someone an opportunity to seek and serve God in any bonus years they're given. Time that is only a blink in eternity.

Hezekiah was told to prepare himself, that he would die of the illness he had, but after he sought the Lord for healing, with tears, he was given an extra 15 years to live. He then managed to annoy God with his pride and to produce a son, Manasseh, one of the more wicked kings ever to rule Judah.

Jesus tells us, his followers, that we will do great and worthwhile things. That is great in God's eyes.

"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."

Greater than those things (the miracles - verse 11) Jesus did!? Wow! And, that wouldn't be discovering a new asteroid and naming it after yourself either.

Faith of a Child

What jumped out at me this morning in 2 Kings 7 was the heavy consequence of one man's doubt. We weren't there, of course, to hear the vocal nuances, to see the body language and know the heart attitude, all of which probably indicated his contempt along with the doubt he expressed for the Word of God, spoken by the prophet Elisha - before a number of people. And, there should not have been any doubt, but rather rejoicing. Elisha was a recognized Man of God and prophet, respected by the king and people. His message began:

"Hear the Word of the Lord. This is what the Lord says:"

The officer of the king died for his doubt. This got me to thinking of all the various accounts in Scripture where a Word from the Lord is given, questions are asked, doubt is expressed, or faith and belief - and then the various consequences. We know that God is fair and just, that he doesn't show favoritism. What we don't always know in these Bible stories are the heart motives, the inflections of the voices and body language , and who is there at the scene to observe and perhaps be stumbled by the doubt and or contempt for God's Word which is being expressed. There are many college professors and teachers today who are putting themselves in a very dangerous position.

We need more of the unquestioning faith of a child when confronted with Scripture and less of the "inquiring minds" of so-called science, logic and human reason. Faith is the shield that we have to hold up against doubt. Though, I deeply appreciate the work being done by Answers in Genesis and others to show that there are scientists who are not afraid to take a stand with their work and to reveal the misuse of evidence and prevalence of false assumptions in much of what passes for science now, and to bolster our faith with their research.

I love what the angel had to say when faced with the doubt of Zechariah:

"I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God..."

How awesome is that?

Battle Alert is Full Time

As soon as we are victorious in a battle, the next one must be prepared for, because sure as shooting the enemy will recoup and return. In 1 Kings, we read about Ahab's win over the Arameans. Afterward, the prophet who had foretold his victory came to the king and told him to "Strengthen your position and see what must be done, because next spring the king of Aram will attack you again."

When Satan left Jesus in the desert after tempting him, "he left him until an opportune time."
And, as well, Scripture warns us "if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!"

I think this can be especially dangerous to more mature Christians. We think we've got things under control, that we're strong in the Lord, and guards can be let down. Maybe there is a temptation to slack off on reading in the Word (after all, how many times have we read it already?) or praying, unless we really need something. I know when my back went out a month or so ago, it was a lot harder to read lying down. When in pain, prayers can be cut short quite easily. It is possible to give in to discouragement. I could kneel down ok though and decided it was a better position anyway, as per my earlier post.

Letting up on any of the full armor of God leaves us open to Satan's opportune time for attack. And, yes, that massage therapist did a terrific job. I feel like things are improving.

Waiting for my Masseur

Maybe this will help?

Yes, he's booked up and I'm waiting for someone to cancel so he can possibly fix my back. God willing. The chiropractor made it worse. Actually, this was the first time I tried that exercise ball, and possibly should do it more often. Maybe then I wouldn't be in this pickle.

The project today, as the last several, is to ice it for 15 min. every hour. Also, make vichyssoise and do something with excess pineapples. On the bright side, we got our much needed rain and Kealani is helping me while her mom attends an Operation Christmas Child meeting. Kealani is adding lots of entries to her "Random Acts of Kindness" journal, something assigned by her tai kwon do instructor.

Life Labels

Practicing to be a princess?

Reading in I Kings this morning I was struck by how certain people are referred to. There is mention of "Ahijah the prophet of Shiloh"; a "Shemaiah the man of God" is mentioned; and I Kings 13 tells the story of a fellow known only as "a man of God" - even later when King Josiah, as predicted, came across his bones, the man is still referred to as "the man of God who foretold these things." In the whole story that is the only name given him. What are we primarily known as or for?

Jesus (means Jehovah saves) was known as The Messiah (Christ), it became part of his name. John the Baptist was also known as a prophet. The role we play or what we do identifies us. A woman or man of God then, as a life identifier, is not a shabby goal. Some, after their death, will be known as maybe a famous bestselling author, the T.V. news reporter, a mother of four, nuclear scientist, inventor of electricity, Pope, president of a country, actress, realtor or insurance salesman. All very nice, but not what we should want to be primarily remembered as. Not the highest level of success in any field. God doesn't look at success in the same way the world does. What will be my main label or yours?

Scripture, Land of Contrasts

"For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light."
"God is light; in him there is no darkness at all."
"Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."

The Scriptures are full of these dynamic contrasts, light and darkness, good and evil, the righteous and the wicked, the redeemed and the lost, rebellion and obedience, those saved to eternal life and those destroyed forever. Today, many would say all that is just too black and white. Life is full of gray areas. I don't know about that. I'd prefer to trust God at his word.

I do know we are told Solomon was the wisest man ever to live, past, present or future. And, yet it was not enough to keep him from rebellion and disobedience. If only he had heeded his own advice in Proverbs.

"Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil."

Satan also had a high position, great beauty and wisdom. It didn't keep him from pride and rebellion. And the Tempter would seduce us into thinking we know better than God's precious Word. There is much in the Scriptures we don't understand - and possibly never will. Things that seem to contradict. I believe the key is in something Jesus said to his disciples:

"Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

Or, as David, with more understanding than his wise son:

"My heart is not proud, O Lord,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.
But I have stilled and quieted my soul;
like a weaned child with its mother"

To trust and obey, as the old song says.

What's wrong with this picture?

What's missing is substance and sustainability. Also missing in much of Christian education. You might ask what the optimum method might be for teaching Christian core values and passing on the truth of God's Word to students. At one time in America (harking back to our Independence Day) and at present in some countries, it would be taught. Facts, information to be learned, understood and processed, hopefully into lives and action. Instead, we're getting a ton of current theories, speculative "ear-tickling", and melt-in-your-mouth emergent drivel.

On an intriguing blog I happened upon today, Baglady, this quote from her father's story of life as a new immigrant to America, highlighted for me the problem with most "Christian" colleges and Universities.

"Here in America, the professors often put students in small groups so that they can debate amongst themselves and students are encouraged to have different opinions. Additionally, on the written exams students do not necessarily have to agree with a professor’s opinion in essay questions. As long as you have a great idea and great supporting points you could still score quite well."

All very well for many subjects, however I believe Biblical Studies, mathematics, and some of the sciences should be excluded from this method. They have something in common: that understanding and applying is the important thing, not questioning. Though this is almost heresy in some circles. What good does it do to question and disagree that 5x5=25? Not a lot. And the same should be said of God's Word.

Of course, much has been learned in the sciences by questioning and testing the various theories and coming up with new ones, and testing those. I'm not talking theories here. And, I don't mean questioning in the sense that Nicodemus asked Jesus, "How can this be?" He didn't understand and was asking the Teacher to explain, with a heart to learn.

We, some of us, presume to question as Satan did, "Did God really say...?" and then to disagree with what he does say - "You will not surely die...", beginning, as the Tempter did, in Genesis, along with the majority of scientists in our time. Did God really create in six days? No, of course not. However, not being reproducible and involving the supernatural, it should be considered outside the field of science anyway. We can look at the fossils and say, as does Ken Ham, "millions of dead things, laid down in rock layers all over the earth." Yes, the flood explains that. Or, DNA research says we all came from one woman. Yes, Genesis says so, it must be true. DNA research changes, scientific study evolves and changes from year to year. Scripture does not change "a jot or tittle", the least stroke of a pen.

Interestingly, a few verses later, Jesus continues: "For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." And, we know that their "righteousness" included questioning (in a wrong sense) and re-interpreting and layering on their own opinions, endlessly - a large set of oral teachings by the elders - a religious elite. Later, they broke with their own scriptures and allowed them, the Mishnah, to be written down, cementing in place the already sad corruption of Jesus' day. And, they still prefer their own "traditions" to the Word of God.

My point being, the same thing is done today by theologians and professors in our "Christian" seminaries, colleges and Universities, with few exceptions. Genesis is only the beginning of it, and I'm sure Satan is well pleased with them. His method of operation has not changed - question and pick apart Scripture. Students come out passing along misinformation, doubting their faith, or deserting it altogether. Not strengthened properly to do battle in our culture. And, it is a culture war.

Clementine the Yeasty Girl

Clementine

200-year-old French sourdough starter.

This (name changed to protect the original) girl's been around for quite awhile, though she's just joined our household. Another mouth to feed. Only once a week though, if we keep her in the refrigerator.

Of course, when following the recipe for a loaf of sourdough bread I used 2 cups of starter, instead of 1 like the directions called for. Figured if one is good, then 2 will be better? Later, when the final proofing didn't rise as high as I would have hoped, the thought occurred to me that the rising power comes from the yeasts eating available flour. Less flour plus more yeast = less food for everybody. Deep thoughts. And, this Scripture popped into my head to batten things down, just in case I didn't get it: "Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough?" 1 Corinthians 5:6

On the bright side, the bread tasted great, especially while still warm. A moist, chewy texture with crunchy crust, melted butter, oh yeah. Also, it went very nicely at lunch today with a bowl of my (left-over) Cold Kefir Cucumber Soup, posted on the yummy food blog, Nami-Nami.

For me, it's a parable of following God's directions - his recipe for a blessed life. Going off on your own, thinking you have a better idea than your Creator, doesn't produce optimum results. Gotta keep checking that manual.