Already?!?

Its rather startling how soon the summer has come to an end. School has started and the traffic along 270 has regained its nightmarish quality. To be honest, it didn't really feel like a normal summer, perhaps because I didn't have a vacation or perhaps because it didn't get as beastly hot and humid as it usually does. Whatever the reason, it was much to quick. It reminds me of the verses in Psalm 90 that describe man's life and our sense of time in comparison to God's greatness and holiness. Its not a very pretty picture. For example, verses 4 through 6:

"For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.
You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning:
In the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers."

Or even more delightful, verse 10:

"The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away."

In light of these verses, it is refreshing to read verses 12 through 17.

"So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
Return, O Lord! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil.
Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children.
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!"

Moses' prayer here is that in light our temporariness and imperfection we would go to God offering our limited days to his glory (which is the way of wisdom), seek his mercy on our lives, bask in his everlasting and steadfast love for daily renewal, and depend on him to fill our lives with gladness even in light of the evil around us. It is only this way that our lives have meaning and by God's grace, we can be a part of his glorious everlasting plan.

Psalm 19 Today

Have you recently stopped and looked around at the nature around you? Have you thought about the beauty and intricate designs of flowers, trees, or snowflakes? Have you looked at the stark clean beauty of the stars at night, or the clear blue skies on a sunny day? Have you noticed the signs of life reappearing as spring approached? Have you enjoyed the warmth of the sun as it traverses its endless path? The robins are fighting over their territory and pulling juicy worms from the ground. The grass grows and the trees provide a pleasant shade. Perhaps you have considered the storm and the raw power which is displayed

All of these questions and observations point to a creative intelligence. There is a God out there who has reveled in the making of these different and varied plants and animals. All of this created beauty in its many different forms is pointing back to this God. They are declaring his glory in such away that all languages, cultures, and peoples can understand. Day after day they are screaming his praise and proclaiming his work.

This God is our God

Have you meditated on the precepts and commands given by out God? Have you realized that these commands, these statues, are for our best? They revive the soul and give joy to the heart. They provide light for our daily path. Our God wants the best for us and has given us these guidelines to bring us freedom, joy, and great reward.

Brothers and Sisters

Adoption by God, needless to say, is a wonderful thing. Adoption means that we are are given the status as sons of God as as such we receive then inheritance of God. Relationally it means that we now have a many more brothers and sisters that humanly possible. It is this last point which I want dwell on and expand upon the side effects and offer an exhortation.

I got my inspiration for this from a sermon by Rev. Tim Keller on the parable of the Prodigal Son. However, I would like to use another reference for the basis of the following words. It comes from Acts 2:42 - 47."And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved."

By adoption, we have gained brothers and sisters. That has an effect on our view of our community. No longer are we an "organization" but we are a "community" or a "family." That has three effects which should radically change the way that we live our lives. But most of all, it should change the way that outsiders, or non-Christians, view us. I think, in an honest moment, our communal lives are not much different then the way the world lives. But that should not be the case. As you can see from Acts, the community life was so radical and different that numbers were being affected and brought in daily. As a help, I offer these three points from Rev. Keller's sermon to help us move toward this transforming community.

First, Keller says that as brothers and sisters we have an undifferentiated unconditional commitment to each other. It is undifferentiated in that we have no choice in who our siblings are which is much like a human family. Likewise in our Christian family, we have no choice who our brother or sister is and in light of that, we should not be choosing who we want to fellowship with. There should be no networking for the purpose of self gain. Our relationships should be unconditional much like our relationship with our earthly siblings. We stick with them through thick and thin. We share a bond that transcends the bonds of friendship and flaws.

Second, as brothers and sisters we need to be transparent with each other. We need to be willing to be honest about our flaws, be honest about our sufferings, and to be held accountable. We need to be willing to call each other to task gently regarding our transgressions and to support each other in the process of sanctification.

Third, and this may be the hardest, we have a claim on each others resources. Financial resources should be made available in times of trouble and in times of gain. We should be able to bring our riches to a common fund for the common good. I am not making a case for socialism but rather, I am suggesting that we as a family ought to be able to take care of the poor, the widows, the down trodden among us without relying on a secular institution. And we should share without the intention of trying to reclaim that which we shared. Loans should be gifts. Possessions should not be seen as our own but as the Lord's and available to the person that needs it more than us. I have an example of this in my own life of a person who is has provided housing and resources to me and my family without asking for a dime and it has had a profound impact on my life. Who do you know that has done this for you? Who has acted as your brother or sister? Have you done that for someone else? In a very real way we can shock the world by returning to this lifestyle and living as a family.

In conclusion, as family, we need to grant others around us a life changing impact. Permanent changes are more likely to happen within a social context full of persons who support us and to whom we are accountable. But this context needs to be marked by a sacrificial love. A sacrificial love that gives up on our own privacy and lets our possessions be common possessions. A sacrificial love that makes incredible claims upon each other and makes the world pause and take note. A sacrificial love that is based upon the example of the Lamb, the Son of God, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

The battle is not ours, it is the Lord's

I always appreciate learning about prayers in the Bible. This past Sunday I listened to a good sermon about Jehoshapat's prayer as the nation faced a rather large army coming against them. The sermon was delivered by Pastor David Steel at Grace Vally Fellowship. Here are my notes.

The sermon is based on 2 Chronicles 20: 1 - 30. The key verse is found in verses 15 - 17 which say "And he said, 'Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's. Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.' "

When looking at the prayer of Jehoshapat we see that he requested God's help (vs. 1 - 13). In his prayer he recalled God's power, reviewed what God had done for his people, reminded God of his promises, and finally he declared a dependence upon his plan.

As a result of the prayer, God spoke through Jahaziel who was a Levite. (vs. 14 - 19) God declared that the battle was not theirs, but it was his to fight and win. They were to rely upon his strength, stand firm, and look for the deliverance that he will win.

It should be noted that the people began to praise God before and after the battle (which God won in rather spectacular fashion). They praised God for the splendor of his holiness. They rejoiced in his goodness as seen by his provisions. They praised him for the peace that came as a result of the fear of the Lord which came upon the nations after the battle.

As a reflection, I was glad to be reminded of this passage and what it means for me. First off, the prayer and the shape that it takes is a good guide for my prayers in the time of fear. When I call upon God and his power to protect me, I acknowledge my inadequacy and dependence upon him. This acknowledgement is compounded when I look back in time and history and see how God has protected me in the past. It is reiterated when I recall God's promises for my future. If I am to believe and hope in these promises, I must have a relationship of dependence and trust with the one who has given them. Specifically, I must confess a necessary dependence upon him and his will and plan.

Secondly, God's response to this prayer brings comfort. The battle is not mine. It is never mine. I am to stand firm in my faith. I must rely upon his strength. I must take a posture of steadfastness. This is consistent to what is written in Ephesians 6:10 -11. " Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil."

And finally, perhaps the part that stood out the most to me was the praising of God. They began to praise before he even won the battle. The sheer amount of faith that takes is both humbling and provoking. When we praise God we are reminded of our relationship to and with him and when we praise him prior to his deliverance, we are declaring our dependence and trust in him.

"Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever."

At the Movies

The summer is here and its time to kick back and relax. Hopefully you have all been enjoying the beautiful weather, and have lots of fun planned. YARF will be presenting the movie Kung Fu Panda, staring Jack Black. Why not make that part of your summertime fun? Join us, invite your friends and prepare for a good time. Be sure to bring some of your favorite candy to share. Come for the Kung Fu, stay for the laughs!

DETAILS:

Date: Friday, July 31st @ 7 PM
Location: Valley Presbyterian Church
What: Kung Fu Panda

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