I was impressed this morning with the faith of Caleb. No, not my friend from St. Cloud (sorry Caleb), but the Biblical Caleb. Hebrews 6:12 tells us that through faith and patience we inherit the promises. Most of Caleb's life that we see in the Scriptures is an exercise of faith and patience.
Many of you know probably know the story. In case you don't, here's a quick summary: Shortly after passing through the Red Sea and being delivered from Egypt, Israel was in the wilderness. God tells Moses to select 12 men, each a leader from one of the tribes of Israel, and send them into the land of Canaan (the promised land) to spy it out and bring back a report of the land and its people. Caleb was one of those men. After 40 days of exploring, the 12 returned to the camp of Israel to give their report. They all agreed that the land was good, but most feared the people of the land, though God had already delivered them from the mightiest kingdom (Egypt) and had promised to subdue the Canaanite nations before them as well. Only Caleb and Joshua believed God's promise to subdue those nations and give Israel the land. The others feared the Canaanite people and rebelled against Moses and Aaron (and ultimately God). To make a long story short, God destroyed those that brought back the bad report and rebelled, and vowed that that generation of Israel, who joined the others in their disbelief, would die in the wilderness and not enter the promised land. 40 years, He said, they would wander in the wilderness - one year for every day they were in the land spying it out - until that generation all died off. Only Joshua and Caleb would enter the land because, as the Lord said, "My servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly..."
All that is background to bring us to Joshua 14 - 45 years later. Joshua is now leading the Israelites, and they are, indeed, beginning to take the promised land. Caleb approaches Joshua and says to him,
"Now then, just as the Lord promised, He has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time He said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So, here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as He said."
Imagine wandering around in the wilderness, getting older year by year for forty years, forty-five years, awaiting the fulfillmet of the promise. Our natural inclination (contrary to faith) in situations like this is to doubt - even when we've received the word of the Lord! You think to yourself, "I know God said He would kill off this generation and then I would inherit the land, but maybe that word wasn't even really God; maybe it was just Moses' word but not the word of God " or, "I was the one who came back with a good report - I'm not the one who doubted God, so why do I have to wait?" or, "Sure, forty years from now, but what good is receiving the promise going to do me then - I'll be 85! Too old to really benefit from it anyways." or "(insert your own doubt/fear/anxiety/complaint/excuse here_____)."
Though we're not told exactly what Caleb went through during those forty years, we can assume that, like the other heroes of faith, he "considered Him (God) faithful who had made the promise." Our faith is more than a passive wish; it is a confident trust and expectation that illicits a response from people of faith back to God. Those who believe God's promise prepare themselves to receive what God has promised. Again, that's why Hebrews 6:12, the verse about inheriting the promises through faith and patience begins by saying "We do not want you to become lazy, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. Lazy, wishful thinking is not faith. We see the fruit of Caleb's faith in v. 11 "I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out into battle now as I was then." Caleb did not become lazy while waiting for the promise of God. No, he remained wholehearted and full of faith towards the promise of God and prepared himself physically to take the land he expected to receive. As James wrote of Abraham, the same is true of Caleb "You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did."
The wise farmer who is believing for rain and a harvest to follow prepares their field and plants their seed; the farmer who believes for rain and a harvest but does not prepare their field or sow their seed is a fool. This same principle is seen in Proverbs 28:19 "Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty."
So may we also receive what God has promised us through faith and patience.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
"How many loaves do you have?"
A great crowd of people (several thousand) had been following Jesus for three days, learning about the kingdom of God, witnessing Jesus perform miracles, healing, and casting out demons. After three days, they, Jesus, and the disciples found themselves in a desolate place and out of food. Jesus had compassion on the crowd and told the disciples He did not want to send them away hungry.
And His disciples answered Him, "How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?" And He asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" They said, "Seven." - Mark 8:4-5
If you are familiar with this account, you know what followed. The people sat down, Jesus blessed the bread, broke it, and the disciples set it before all the people and all were fed, both bread and fish, and they took up leftovers and gathered them in seven baskets full.
The simple message I believe the Holy Spirit was getting across to me yesterday as I read this account is this: often we feel just like those disciples. The seven loaves and the few fish we have seem so small, so weak, and so insignificant. They are all we have, but it seems futile to even try and do anything with them when we see the great need before us. But then Jesus asks us, "How many loaves do you have?"
Now, God is certainly not limited in how He works. He can create something out of nothing. He created the universe out of nothing. But, here we see an example of the Lord taking something ordinary and natural - the disciples bread and fish - and doing something supernatural - feeding thousands with it. Often we tend to think we need to have something supernatural to give, or have supernatural power to perform the works of God. The problem is that the supernatural does not come from us, does not originate from us - it comes from God. He is willing to perform the supernatural through us, working in partnership with us, but the means He uses may be natural, like the bread. He takes the natural and exercises His power over it - the supernatural. We do our part, the natural, submitting it to Jesus, and He does what we cannot do - the supernatural.
And His disciples answered Him, "How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?" And He asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" They said, "Seven." - Mark 8:4-5
If you are familiar with this account, you know what followed. The people sat down, Jesus blessed the bread, broke it, and the disciples set it before all the people and all were fed, both bread and fish, and they took up leftovers and gathered them in seven baskets full.
The simple message I believe the Holy Spirit was getting across to me yesterday as I read this account is this: often we feel just like those disciples. The seven loaves and the few fish we have seem so small, so weak, and so insignificant. They are all we have, but it seems futile to even try and do anything with them when we see the great need before us. But then Jesus asks us, "How many loaves do you have?"
Now, God is certainly not limited in how He works. He can create something out of nothing. He created the universe out of nothing. But, here we see an example of the Lord taking something ordinary and natural - the disciples bread and fish - and doing something supernatural - feeding thousands with it. Often we tend to think we need to have something supernatural to give, or have supernatural power to perform the works of God. The problem is that the supernatural does not come from us, does not originate from us - it comes from God. He is willing to perform the supernatural through us, working in partnership with us, but the means He uses may be natural, like the bread. He takes the natural and exercises His power over it - the supernatural. We do our part, the natural, submitting it to Jesus, and He does what we cannot do - the supernatural.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Sign the petition for the release of 2 Iranian women jailed for their faith
Maryam Rustampoor and Marzieh Amirizadeh have been jailed in Iran since March 5th of 2009. Their crime? Being Christian in a Muslim nation. Throughout their imprisonment, they have suffered ill health, solitary confinement, and hours of interrogation while blind-folded. On August 9th, they appeared before a court and were questioned about their faith and were urged to recant their faith in Jesus Christ verbally and in written form. After affirming their faith in Christ before the court, they were sent back to prison and told by the deputy prosecutor to think about their options and come back to him when they are ready to comply. They replied that they "have already done their thinking."
A petition you can sign petitioning for the release of these two women can be found here: http://www.wnd.com/petition_iran
This is a clear violation of human rights and religious liberty. Incidents such as these (and worse) are happening more and more frequently in Iran and all over the world. If we remain silent on issues such as these, it won't be but a few decades and we'll see this same imposition of dhimmitude right here in America; we can already see it happening in Europe.
Please pray for these young women, and please sign the petition. For more information on their story, visit http://www.adnamis.org/story.cfm?story_id=203
Sunday, July 19, 2009
The 'Fall of Capitalism and the Rise of Islam'?
The Khilafah Conference 2009 - America was held today in Oak Lawn, IL, outside of Chicago. A press release about the event on Friday from the group sponsoring the conference, Hizb-ut Tahrir America, stated "the conference will address the era of global change. It will present Islam as a platform for an ideological alternative to replace a failing system that has failed the whole of humanity. From the midst of Africa to the cities of America, people are suffering from the failing policies that have left hundreds of millions of people in hunger and poverty. The conference will emphasize the importance of the Caliphate State (Khilafah) that will introduce a new world order based on equality, justice, and the well being of humanity..."
"What is a Caliphate anyways?" you say? I'm glad you asked. The caliphate refers to a traditional form of government based on Islam. The term also refers to a state that implements such a government. For such a government to exist, there must be a unified nation of Muslim believers, and they would be led by a single head of state referred to as the Caliph. The Caliph is said to derive his authority from the prophet Muhammad himself. The last Caliphate, the Ottoman empire, was ended in 1924 when Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, president of the Republic of Turkey, constitutionally abolished it. There has been desire among some in the Muslim world ever since that time, however, to re-establish the Caliphate. The voices calling for its re-establishment have gotten louder in louder, both in the Muslim world, and now we see it also in the heartland of the good 'ol USA.
You can read more here
and watch the conference promo video
Will the Caliphate be re-established? Will Islam unite and rise to global superpower status? Is capitalism finished? Is America's status as a superpower finished? Will there be an Islamic Anti-Christ? Only time will tell, but this is certainly a time to be spiritually alert, awake, sober, and watchful.
Author Joel Richardson (a pen name) certainly makes a compelling case for the Islamic Anti-Christ in his book with that same title, "The Islamic Anti-Christ"; this book was first released with the title "Anti-Christ: Islam's Awaited Messiah", but it is now being re-released with a new title and some additional, updated information. He specifically contends that the Islamic Anti-Christ will be the Caliph of a revived Caliphate in Turkey, the place of the last Caliphate which ended in 1924, mentioned earlier. My purpose in writing this blog is not to plug Mr. Richardson's book; however, I have found it to be well written, informative, and extremely relevant to the times we live in. Here is a link to that book.
For those students of the Bible and eschatology (the study of the end-times), much of this may be old news to you; for others, you have already dismissed this all as absurd, even as you likely dismiss faith in Jesus Christ as absurd. But for those "in the valley of decision" so to speak, I pray that you would investigate these matters, and may God convince you of the truth and reality of what He has said concerning both the generation of His return, and of all that He has said - and may that truth transform you. In Jesus' name. Amen!
"What is a Caliphate anyways?" you say? I'm glad you asked. The caliphate refers to a traditional form of government based on Islam. The term also refers to a state that implements such a government. For such a government to exist, there must be a unified nation of Muslim believers, and they would be led by a single head of state referred to as the Caliph. The Caliph is said to derive his authority from the prophet Muhammad himself. The last Caliphate, the Ottoman empire, was ended in 1924 when Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, president of the Republic of Turkey, constitutionally abolished it. There has been desire among some in the Muslim world ever since that time, however, to re-establish the Caliphate. The voices calling for its re-establishment have gotten louder in louder, both in the Muslim world, and now we see it also in the heartland of the good 'ol USA.
You can read more here
and watch the conference promo video
Will the Caliphate be re-established? Will Islam unite and rise to global superpower status? Is capitalism finished? Is America's status as a superpower finished? Will there be an Islamic Anti-Christ? Only time will tell, but this is certainly a time to be spiritually alert, awake, sober, and watchful.
Author Joel Richardson (a pen name) certainly makes a compelling case for the Islamic Anti-Christ in his book with that same title, "The Islamic Anti-Christ"; this book was first released with the title "Anti-Christ: Islam's Awaited Messiah", but it is now being re-released with a new title and some additional, updated information. He specifically contends that the Islamic Anti-Christ will be the Caliph of a revived Caliphate in Turkey, the place of the last Caliphate which ended in 1924, mentioned earlier. My purpose in writing this blog is not to plug Mr. Richardson's book; however, I have found it to be well written, informative, and extremely relevant to the times we live in. Here is a link to that book.
For those students of the Bible and eschatology (the study of the end-times), much of this may be old news to you; for others, you have already dismissed this all as absurd, even as you likely dismiss faith in Jesus Christ as absurd. But for those "in the valley of decision" so to speak, I pray that you would investigate these matters, and may God convince you of the truth and reality of what He has said concerning both the generation of His return, and of all that He has said - and may that truth transform you. In Jesus' name. Amen!
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Blow the Trumpet in Zion 2009
"Blow the trumpet in Zion, sound the alarm on My holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming. It is close at hand." -Joel 2:1
The annual Blow the Trumpet in Zion conference at Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, IL will be Friday March 27 - Sunday March 29.
Here is the conferences website. You can still register for the entire assembly or individual sessions. http://zionregister.rolccdekalb.com
The speakers this year are John Mulinde and Mark Daniel of World Trumpet Mission. The ministry and call of World Trumpet Mission is:
First, is to blow the trumpet, warn the people of the nations to wake from whatever slumber we have allowed ourselves, to alert believers to the signs of the times in which we are living, and to prepare for the day of the Lord. To call people to repentance and purity, to return to the Lord and the foundation of the Word. To arouse the body of Christ to complete the mission that the Lord Jesus Christ left it to do.
Secondly, individuals, people groups and nations to come into the fulfillment of their divine redemptive calling and purpose.
Here is their homepage: http://www.worldtrumpet.com
I encourage you to check out their website, watch some of the videos, and/or read some of their resources. I have been really encouraged, refreshed, and stirred by doing this and am in great anticipation for this years conference.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
An NFL Class Act Retires
One of the classiest men in football announced his retirement yesterday at a press conference. Tony Dungy, 53, the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts for the past 7 years, is calling it quits. After taking his teams to the playoffs in 10 consecutive season, Dungy's Colts lost in the first round two weekends ago.
I took interest in this story yesterday afternoon as I was listening to sports radio guys predict that Dungy would return A) because he didn't want to end his career with a disappointing playoff loss, and B) because he has a legendary quarterback with many good years left and Super Bowl opportunities in Peyton Manning. I think what they probably did not factor into the equation is that Tony Dungy's priorities are God, family, and football - in that order. Whereas other men might have stuck around longer for records, trophies, and riches, Tony Dungy realizes that true riches are stored up in heaven.
Dungy plans to spend more time with his family and do some volunteer work. He has been involved with prison ministries for years, and says he has a heart to reach out to young men in his community. "Where my heart is, is really with our young men right now," Dungy said. "We have so many guys that didn't grow up like me, didn't have their dad there and that's something I'm very, very interested in."
Congratulations to Tony Dungy on your retirement and blessings as you move forward!
Some of the comments and information for this post was taken off espn.com's website. You can read their full story here.
I took interest in this story yesterday afternoon as I was listening to sports radio guys predict that Dungy would return A) because he didn't want to end his career with a disappointing playoff loss, and B) because he has a legendary quarterback with many good years left and Super Bowl opportunities in Peyton Manning. I think what they probably did not factor into the equation is that Tony Dungy's priorities are God, family, and football - in that order. Whereas other men might have stuck around longer for records, trophies, and riches, Tony Dungy realizes that true riches are stored up in heaven.
Dungy plans to spend more time with his family and do some volunteer work. He has been involved with prison ministries for years, and says he has a heart to reach out to young men in his community. "Where my heart is, is really with our young men right now," Dungy said. "We have so many guys that didn't grow up like me, didn't have their dad there and that's something I'm very, very interested in."
Congratulations to Tony Dungy on your retirement and blessings as you move forward!
Some of the comments and information for this post was taken off espn.com's website. You can read their full story here.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
I challenge you to read the entire Bible in 2009 - It's doable!
If you are reading this and have never read the Bible, or have not read most of it, I challenge you an encourage you this year to read the whole thing. It seems like a daunting task, but it's really not that tough. In about three and a half chapters a day, you can have read through the entire Bible by Jan. 1 2010. Keep in mind, Bible chapters are only about 1-3 pages long, so we're talking anywhere from 15 minutes to 45 minutes a day (45 min is even a bit of a stretch, but I myself am a slow reader). There are many good reading plans out there to help you, or you can make up your own plan. Here's a link to help you get started:
http://www.backtothebible.org/index.php/Bible-Reading-Guides.html
I set my mind to read the Bible through in the fall semester of 2003, and it absolutely changed my life; I encountered the Living God! And you can too, for "all who seek, find."
A few more reasons you should take up the challenge to read the Bible in 2009:
The Bible is the best selling book of all time, and the most printed book of all time.
"The word of God is living and active..."
"Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
If you don't have a Bible, there are many available online, at libraries, at churches, or just ask and I'll send you one.
I am passionate about both believers and non-believers reading the word of God - Taste and see! You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free!
Blessings to you in 2009 my friend.
http://www.backtothebible.org/index.php/Bible-Reading-Guides.html
I set my mind to read the Bible through in the fall semester of 2003, and it absolutely changed my life; I encountered the Living God! And you can too, for "all who seek, find."
A few more reasons you should take up the challenge to read the Bible in 2009:
The Bible is the best selling book of all time, and the most printed book of all time.
"The word of God is living and active..."
"Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
If you don't have a Bible, there are many available online, at libraries, at churches, or just ask and I'll send you one.
I am passionate about both believers and non-believers reading the word of God - Taste and see! You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free!
Blessings to you in 2009 my friend.
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