An unexpected blessing! It has been nearly a year since we traveled to the United Kingdom. It abounds with historical buildings and sites everywhere. To walk down the streets in London Central was fantastic, but the greatest blessing was traveling on a day trip to Cambridge. My "hero" is an 18th Century preacher by the name of Charles Simeon. He was a fellow at Trinity College and appointed rector of Holy Trinity Church across from the University.

The fascinating fact about Simeon was the people did not want him. They locked him out of the church, cut his salary, and did everything they could to make his life miserable. But Simeon continued to love them and would not give up preaching the Word to them. After 40 years they accepted him as their pastor!

So my treat of the entire trip was to do a walk about of Holy Trinity church. I must admit that tears welled up in my eyes as we walked through the sanctuary, then to see his preaching Bible, umbrella, and tea pot (every day he met with his students to mentor them in the ways of the ministry--having tea and biscuits with them!).

He would not give up. He held on to the Lord and completed the task.

Today Holy Trinity Church continues to serve Christ in the world of Cambridge University--lifting high His Name!

One of the interesting things regarding the parable of the Prodigal Son, or more accurately "the Loving Father", is the fact that the son was part of the family before he left home. So, is the direction of parable toward the believer who goes astray and gives hope to the wayfarer? Or is it as usually taught, the sinner who never was part of the family?

The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness where He was confronted by the devil. Some render this merely a psychological exercise for Jesus, but the plain reading the text does not support that position. Jesus was tempted by the devil not by Himself. Jesus never had a problem of accepting the reality of satan.

Upon the heals of the wilderness encounter, Jesus is led by the Spirit to begin His ministry in Galilee where in enters the synagogue at Nazareth. There He reads Isaiah 62:1,2 and applies it to himself as the fulfillment of the prophecy.

¹⁸‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, ¹⁹to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour’ (Luke 4).

Jesus knew his purpose and mission in life. In this inauguration of his ministry he clearly states why his Father sent him into the world. The rest of his earthly ministry would be the fulfillment of the divine design of him. All of this culminating in the cross.

If Jesus conformed to the plans that God had for him, how much more I need to open myself up to his divine plan and sacrifice my plans for his.

When I was a child my parents often visited my Grandparents in a small town about 20 miles from our home. There was a standing rule established by my grandparents: If you visit us on Sundays come before church and attend with us, come during church and wait for us to return from church, or wait until church is over. I remember as child attending church with my parents and grandparents in their small, village church...it was the "law"!

This single act of my grandparents has stayed with me throughout the years. Their faith was the most important possession in their lives and they made it clear to everyone else that it was so! Their attitude permeated through my parents generation and, to me. Attendance at church, though not legalistically dictated, is essential for me. As the writer of Hebrews posed it: ²⁴²⁵

Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:23-25 nrs).

Maybe you can answer some of my questions about the Bible. I have been to so many different churches as I travel around that I get confused. For example, is it wrong to pray to God. I thought when I learned there was a God and started going to the Seventh Day Adventist Church there in my hometown, that we prayed to God, but now people say to pray to Jesus?

As I look at this question, a number of thoughts run through my mind on the matter of praying. The first is motivation. God does not look on our outward appearance/performance as much as our inner motivation. If we are merely going through the words because they are written and/or expected, then we are in the wrong ballpark. Jesus had issues with the people who were "religious" and merely performing. He chided the people who prayed in public to show off their "spirituality". In similar manner he castigated the pharisees who made a show of their religiosity. God looks on the heart of the person and not the outward appearance.

Secondly, Jesus gives us a model prayer. When the disciples had questions about praying ("Teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1), "When you pray, say: 'Father (or Our Father)....'") I think the thing that Jesus is driving home to us is that prayer is relational. It is between a Father/child. We are able to access God as we would be able to access a loving father. [I know that some people have not experienced good family relationships, but in our hearts we know what a father should be like.]

God desires to have a relationship with us. He desires that we know him (not about Him), that we come before Him in prayer--just talking it over with Him, and that we listen to what He has to say to us through His Word, the Bible.

“...in Jesus’ name”. To me, this is a recognition that as a beliver our salvation is in and through Jesus. He is the one who secured our salvation, he is the one who sustains us; he is the one who is our hope. 1 Timothy 2:5 tells us that there is ONE MEDIATOR between God and mankind and that is Jesus.

More importantly is the instruction of Jesus. It is shortly before his crucifixion and he is giving to his disciples his “last will and testament” (John 13-17). John emphasizes a number of times that Jesus told his disciples to pray in his name:

I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me* for anything, I will do it (John 14:13, 14).

You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name (John 15:16).

On that day you will ask nothing of me.* Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.* Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete (John 16:23, 24). ‘I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but will tell you plainly of the Father. On that day you will ask in my name. I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. (John 16:25, 26).

The Day Is Near

¹¹ And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. ¹² The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. ¹³ Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. ¹⁴ Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature (tniv)

"...make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires (rsv).

Sometimes the most obvious is what we least expect! We would rather have some deep psychological analysis that lets us off the hook, but life need not be that complex--just simple steps in our walk with the Lord. If you do not want to sin, don't feed it!

Matthew 5^{43 -47}"You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. –Jesus

I truly believe that God can work miracles. Maybe, even the miracle of changing our hearts to see and do his will. Jesus lived in an oppressive environment ruled by the Romans, yet He never once called for the overthrow of the government/ruler. From His birth Herod dogged Him, through out his ministry the powers-at-be were after Him, and upon His death the religious segment and the governing ruler sanctioned his death. Yet, he did not cry out for elimination—but that they come to the Truth!

As believers should we be crying out to God for our tax breaks and our comforts? or should we be praying for a change of heart , insight, and commitment of our leaders? Most of our prayers are not for God but are for us! We tend to skip over “Thy kingdom come” that Jesus told us to pray when he taught the disciples (and us!).

I guess the question that I ask myself is "Does God want me to pray that the one we oppose be eliminated (that is, lose the election) or that his heart be comforted to heart of Jesus? Since both candidates profess to be Christians, then it is incumbent that we pray for whoever wins!

The other morning on Fox and Friends, the hosts interviewed a pastor who was encouraging his congregation to burn their credit cards and live debt free. They were questioning whether or not a church should be involved in the financial life of the people. This really brought home the fact of how modern society segments life--economics, politics, social; religious. People just don't get it--Christ demands all of life. He is not a tacked on extra. He is the core; the center of life and everything else originates from him. Why is Christ interested in one's credit cards? Because He is life and all things comes from Him--even credit cards!

t5. Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and do not rely upon your understanding.

6. Know Him in all your ways,

and He will direct your paths.

7. Do not be wise in your own sight;

fear the Lord and turn away from evil

8. it shall be healing for your navel and marrow for your bones.

9. Honor the Lord from your substance

and from the first of all your grain,

10. and your barns shall be filled with plenty,

and your vats will overflow with new wine (Proverbs 3, Tanakh).

This is one of those passages that everyone claims--at least in times of trial! I know a number of years ago, when the rug had been pulled out from underneath me, I turned to this passage for comfort! It was the sustaining power that led me through the situatuion.

What troubles me with this passage--well not the passage, but my attitude toward it--is the comprehensiveness of the text!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart/and do not rely upon your understanding./Know Him in all your ways,/and He will direct your paths (vvs. 5,6).

To what extreme does on take this text? And do I apply to everything in my life? Upon what (or whom) do I rely? On God, on myself, on my financial advisor? On Whom?

What is the promise here? What are the conditions? Who is in charge?--that's the ultimate question (to be continued!)

Deception does not work. Abraham thought he was smart...just trick the Pharaoh into believing that Sharah is his sister, not his wife. Looked pretty good for the old man--cattle, donkeys, menservants and maidservants! Not too bad for a lie.

But God has other designs. The truth comes out and people are hurt in the process. The Pharaoh, whom one might consider an innocent party, is devastated!

Psalm 106
Israel constantly turned from God in pursuit of other things. When the "going got tough" Israel deserted God. Yet God in all of this did not desert them. He was patient with them, forgave them, and saved them.

Psalm 106 is a chronicle of their unfaithfulness and God's faithfulness. Through out their history they tune out, turn off, reject, and disobey Him. They forget all his benefits.

Yet, He loves them, remembers His covenant with them, and that they are His.

Israel's history is my history. I too turn from Himand His ways. I too reject Him. But Hewill not let me go. Based not on my merits, but the death of Jesus Christ is my hope and salvation!

Holy Week: the week that changed the world. I mean . . . every says that, but the real question is "Did it change me?" Did Christ come to change the world or did he come to change me? Of my concern is not with Christ. It is with my response. Am I willing to let him take charge or do I merely want to play the religious game? Is Christ my life or merely a part of my life?

Ezekiel is full of images that convey God's truth. Chapter 33 the image of the Watchman is used to remind the religious leader/minister of his responsibility to proclaim the truth of the God's Word. It reminded of the resent hurricanes in the Southeast United States. It was the primary function of the hurricane center to reveal to the people the unfolding conditions, the severity of the hurricane, and the needed actions/response of the people. It was not incumbent on the hurricane center to move the people from the danger! How that parallels the ministry of God's Word in today's world! If we fail to convey the message, then we are responsible. Our part is to be faithful to the proclamation of His Word.

Chapter 34 changes the image to the sheep and the flocks.

Reading through the prophets can be a very revealing experience. It seems the second half of Isaiah deals with the idolitry of the Isaelites. The most grievious afront to God is not the moral lack, but placing other things ('gods') before him. Time and again He chastizes the people for their postitution, i.e. their turning from him to other gods. It would seem that all other sins eminate from this. If God is not in charge, how then can we live a moral,righteous life? If Christocentric, we fail.

Then comes Ezekeil. Reading through chapters 26-32, God deals with the nations surrounding his chosen. Here the emphasis is upon pride. Tyre, Sidon, Egypt all think of themselves as the ultimate. Look at their culture and power. But God reminds them (and us) that it is He who has done all thing and we cannot claim the glory. Thus he takes them down.

We are always one step away from being destroyed because we think we are great. As the Word reminds us, "Pride comes before the fall!" (Proverbs 16:18)

Have we lost the gospel? Yesterday I opened the paper to the "spiritual values" section and discovered a feature on evanglicalism today. It's premise: evanglicalism ought to be shaping society, but the truth is society is shaping evangelicalism. Have we lost the gospel? Are we preaching another gospel than Christ crucified? Are today's evangelicals today's liberals of begone years? One wonders!