Death for Life?

Dear children,

keep yourself from idols.

1 John 5:21 [NIV]

  

You shall not worship the Lord your God

in that way, for every abominable thing

 that the Lord hates they have done for their gods,

 for they even burn their sons and their daughters

 in the fire to their gods.

 Deuteronomy 12:31

CNN is reporting this morning that a group of eight people, including a teenager just 15 years old, has been arrested in the northern Mexican state of Sonora, accused of killing two 10-year-old boys and a woman over the last three years as human sacrifices for Santa Muerte.  The victims were killed and their blood was offered on an altar to the saint.  The majority of the accused come from one family, and they were petitioning the saint for protection.

Santa Muerte is the saint of death, historically venerated in Mexico by the lower classes, the criminal element, and drug traffickers. The name literally means Holy Death or Saint Death.  According to my internet research, worship of this saint used to be clandestine, with idols set up in private homes, but in recent years, worship has become more public. The number of believers in Santa Merte has grown over the past ten years or so to approximately two million followers, and has crossed over the border into Mexican-American communities in the United States.

Death is neither a saint nor a sinner - it is an event of human life that each of us face at one time or another.  The news articles do not say what exactly these people wanted to be shielded from, but it could be assumed that they were wanting protection from something or someone that might cause them bodily harm and/or take their own lives.  What a horrific irony that they should take another human's life to protect their own.  Further, the cruelty of a god who demands human blood as a sacrificial offering is beyond comprehension.

Virtually the entire book of 1 John is devoted to the message of loving each other.  John hammers this thought home verse after verse, chapter after chapter.  When I love my neighbor "as myself," I cannot wish them harm or place my interests above and beyond theirs.  Their life is just as important as mine - a concept that is disappearing from a world preaching, "Every dog for himself."

The Freedom to Ask

Copyright 2012: singeronthesand

...how bold and free we then become in His presence,

freely asking accord to His will, sure that He's listening.

And if we're confident He's listening, we know that

what we've asked for is as good as ours.

1 John 5:14-15 [The Message]

Tonight is the drawing for the Mega Millions Lottery jackpot - the biggest in U.S. history.  At this writing, the jackpot has reach $640 million - over half a billion dollars!  A recent internet headline story stated:

  Lottery ticket lines swelled as the record Mega Millions jackpot grew to $640 million, thanks greatly to players who opened their wallets despite long odds of success. Officials estimated ticket-buyers will have spent more than $1.46 billion on the jackpot by the time Friday night's numbers are drawn.

~CBS News US Online

Obviously the more tickets you buy, the better your odds of winning.  But $1.46 billion spent on a game of chance?   Those odds are tremendously stacked against the players:  you are 8,000 times more likely to be murdered than win this jackpot, 50 times more likely to be struck by lightning, and and 20,000 times more likely to die in a car crash. 

There are those, however, who are counting on a "higher power" to help them win this mega-load of cash.  Ticket buyers speak of believing in that higher power, giving back to God if He helps them win the lottery, splitting it equally with the Man upstairs (a good deal both ways!), and just plain "...God knows that I really need that money."  In this lousy economy, there are many of us who could use a few extra bucks.  But a half a billion dollars?  

Some people believe that a text like the one above from the Apostle John is a carte blanche promise that God will give you what you ask for, if you have enough faith, of course.  A careful reading of John's words, however, shows that there is within this promise a condition:  if you ask according to His will.  That, in my book, makes all the difference in the world.  What is God's will for your life?  Is being a multimillionaire part of His plan for you?  Do you have the ability to use such largesse wisely?  Does He want you to experience the massive headaches and heartaches that receiving that kind of money generates?  Only He and you can answer those questions. 

There is no room in love for fear.

Well-formed love banishes fear.

1 John 4:18 [The Message]

I have no idea how the above photo was taken.  There could only have been a few seconds to get the shot.  There's always the possibility that it is a Photoshopped composite, but I'd like to think that someone actually got these ducklings to hug this kitten.  Talk about loving your enemy!  The ducklings should have an innate fear of anything with teeth and claws.  If this were a full-grown cat, the photo session would not be happening!! 

When ever I go to the Richmond Metro Zoo, my thoughts always turn to the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve walked without deep ditches, high fences and plexiglass boundaries - able to reach out, to touch and be touched by all of the animals in the garden.  I picture in my mind Adam walking with a huge lion padding along side, or Eve in a meadow with her head resting on the fat, furry tummy of a grizzly bear.  Birds would alight on their shoulders - rabbits and squirrels would leap into their laps.  Then sin entered the picture, with mistrust and fear slithering close behind.  Soon the human race would be completely alienated from many of their animal companions.

One day, the specter of fear will be forever banished from this planet.  In an earth made new, all creatures will live together in peace, harmony and love.  I will have the chance to stroke the face of a magnificent lion or a mother tigress with her cub, frolic in the sunlight with fawns and foxes, run races with cheetahs and gazelles, and spend hours talking with birds of every description. I look forward to that day with eager anticipation.

Pay close attention now:

I'm creating new heavens and a new earth.

All the earlier troubles, chaos and pain are

things of the past, to be forgotten.

Look ahead with joy.

Anticipate what I'm creating...

Wolf and lamb will graze the same meadow,

lion and ox eat straw from the same trough...

Neither animal nor human will hurt or kill

anywhere on my holy mountain, says God.

Isaiah 65: 17-18a, 25

 

Do I Have to Love a Dog?

My dear, dear friends: if God loved us like this,

we certainly ought to love each other... if we love

one another, God dwells deeply within us, and His love

becomes complete in us - perfect love!

1 John 4:11-12

I downloaded this picture above from the Internet - typing in a random search for pit bull photos.  When this one popped up, I couldn't believe my eyes.  This photo is a dead ringer for the dog that lives next door to me.   When I was looking to purchase my house, no one mentioned the fact that there was a pit bull living next door, much less an aggressive male pit bull named Caesar.  The dog stays indoors most of the time, but when it needs to relieve itself, the 20-something female owner just lets the dog out the front door by itself [never mind the county leash laws], and waits until the dog [eventually] returns and scratches to get in.  If you happen to be outside at the same time as Caesar, you had better have Harry Potter's invisibility cloak, or you will be faced with a charging pit bull.

To say that I am not fond of the dog is putting it mildly.  He has pinned me against my front door, pinned me in my car, jumps the fence and uses my backyard as a toilet, and I have called Animal Control time and time again, which has not endeared me to his owner.  Last week when her live-in boyfriend was slapping her around in the early morning, she called the cops.  When the police arrived at the home, Caesar bolted out the door and charged an officer getting out of his squad car, who promptly shot the dog in the side.   The bullet bounced off a rib and exited, leaving an angry officer and a pit bull that needed $800 worth of surgery to close the gash, which didn't improve Caesar's attitude at all.

If ever there was a family that needs Christian compassion and the Savior's love, it is this one.  The female adult in the house works for the airlines, is constantly away from home, and is completely blind to her daughter's foibles.  Daughter and boyfriend are both involved in drugs and alcohol.  Preschool age granddaughter is basically raised by the man who rents an apartment above the garage and has been a long-time friend of the mother's.  He and I have become friends and I try to show God's love to him.  The others in the house?  Sadly, the dog is a blockade I cannot/will not pass.  I smile, wave, speak, and try to remember to pray for them, but I keep my distance. 

Believe It or Not

My dear friends, don't believe everything you hear.

Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you.

1 John 4:1 [The Message]

Last night I was on Youtube trolling for any videos of the current crop of aspiring singers on Britain's Got Talent.  This is the show that "discovered" Susan Boyle after everyone including the judges laughed behind their hands as she walked onto the stage.  You would think that all of the judges, including Simon Cowell, would have learned that you can't judge a book by its cover.  Apparently not.

During the latest auditions, a young man - greatly overweight, long hair, unkempt look - and a striking young woman walked on stage as a duo.  As they approached the center, Simon leans over to the judge next to him and says, "Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse."  He then proceeded to question the two in a rather resigned manner with his trademark sarcasm.  After giving the go-ahead, the music started, the two teenagers opened their mouths to sing, and the place erupted into applauding bedlam.

The boy - Jonathan - is a 17-year-old opera singer with a voice that will astound you and bring tears to your eyes.  The girl - Charlotte - is a 16-year-old pop singer.  Together, they sang The Prayer.  The judges were stunned, the audience was riotous, and when Jonathan hit the final high Bb, the whole place went wild.  The girl was a very good singer; the boy was beyond belief.

Simon immediately honed in on the difference in their abilities, telling Charlotte that he was afraid she would hurt Jonathan's chances in the competition.  A second time, he said that if he listened to his head, it was saying that Jonathan should "...dump her."  Jonathan looked pained, she was stricken, but then Jonathan said, "We came here as a duo and we will remain as a duo."  The audience thundered their agreement.

I thought about the young girl, standing there listening to Simon's comments - knowing how much that had to hurt.  Just at the point when I thought she might show tears, one of the women judges spoke up and said, "Charlotte, I thought your voice complimented Jonathan's in a very positive way, so don't get discouraged over these other comments.  I wanted to stand up and applaud.  There are so many people in this world who would love to advise us, tell us how to live our lives, criticize our "puny" efforts.  John says, "think carefully about what people say to you."  Not all advice is good, even when kindly given.

Worried?

God is greater than our worried hearts and 

knows more about us than we do ourselves.

1 John 3:20 [The Message]

I walked to work today.  It is only a little over a half-mile, so it is certainly an attainable stroll.  It was amazing to me, however, what a hard time I had talking myself into leaving my car behind.  My mind went back and forth between "yes" and "no" most of the early morning.  Finally, I grabbed my stuff and began the walk.  To be truthful, I must admit that I had not walked far before one of my neighbors stopped and picked me up and drove me the rest of the way.  So I didn't exactly walk to work today, but tomorrow is another chance to do so.

You are probably wondering what my motivation is.  Exercise?  No, not really.  I already exercised this morning prior to leaving the house.  Another half mile (x2) is great, but that is not the motivating factor.  After reading the headlines over the weekend about rising gasoline prices, I am concerned [note the careful avoidance of the word "worried"] regarding the payment of $4.00+ per gallon for fuel.  We have not reached that benchmark in this area just yet (yesterday it was $3.83 for regular), but much of the country has and it is certainly coming to Chesterfield County.   Summertime is the season to go and do - the beach, the water park, the swimming pool, the outdoor markets, the fairs and parades, the sports events - and this year it will cost us a pretty penny to do so.  To those who are unemployed in this bleak economy, higher gas prices will only add to their overwhelming burdens and, yes, to their worries.

Note that John does not say, "Oh, for Pete's sake, don't worry!"  No, he says, "God is greater than our worried hearts."  The Apostle acknowledges that we are going to worry - even when we try not to.  He draws our attention, however, to the One who is so much greater than our concerns, who knows our troubles better than we do, who offers strength and wisdom for the journey, and who will walk hand in hand with us through every day of our lives.

Under His Wings

Under His wings I am safely abiding;

  Though the night deepens and tempests are wild,

Still I can trust Him, I know He will keep me;

  He has redeemed me, and I am His child. 

    Under His wings, under His wings,

      Who from His love can sever?

    Under His wings my soul shall abide,

        Safely abide forever. 

Under His wings--what a refuge in sorrow!

  How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!

Often when earth has no balm for my healing,

  There I find comfort, and there I am blessed. 

Under His wings--oh, what precious enjoyment!

  There will I hide till life's trials are o'er;

Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me;

  Resting in Jesus I'm safe evermore. 

A Time to Stay and a Time to Leave

Copyright 2012: singeronthesand

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue,

but with actions and in truth.

1 John 3:18 

A couple left the church a few weeks ago, and tomorrow will join another church in an adjacent town.  Normally I would think nothing of this, because people often change churches for numerous reasons, and as long as they are attending somewhere, it shouldn't matter exactly where.  This particular case was close to home for me, however, because of the purported reason why the couple left.

The story involves a particular gentleman in the church who would not speak to this couple, particularly the husband.  Whether the source of discord was a previous argument, disagreement, or just genuine dislike, a prominent member of the church made the decision that this man was invisible to him.  "Just ignore that!" you say?  Easier said than done - particularly with a steady diet of this over a long period of time.  After awhile, it is much easier to leave than to endure.

I was the wife of a beloved pastor who was caught in adultery and fired by his denomination.  Many in the congregation were huge fans of my husband, and in their minds, such an unbelievable transgression on his part must have been caused by something/someone else: i.e., his wife and children specifically.  The church broke into different factions - with some speaking to the girls and I and many others not - with all of them whispering behind their hands.  Walking through the church entrance was like entering a walk-in freezer.  It took just a matter of weeks to drive us away.   I finally joined another congregation; my children have not darkened the door of their church since. 

Whispered gossip is difficult enough to endure; public shunning is another matter entirely.  Love is not a form of speech, it is an attitude and an action.  God does not call us to pick a few familiar friends to love; He calls us to love everyone - friend and enemy alike.

Lend a Hand

Copyright 2012:  singeronthesand

If you see some brother or sister in need 

and have the means to do something about 

it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, 

what happens to God's love?  It disappears. 

And you made it disappear.

1 John 3:17 [The Message]

If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

~Dalai Lama 

1. Smile and be friendly.
2. Call a charity or church to volunteer
3. Donate something you don't use.
4. Make a monetary donation.
5. Redirect gifts to you to someone else.
6. Stop to help.
7. Teach a skill that you know.
8. Comfort someone in grief.
9. Help someone take action.
10. Buy food for a homeless person
11. Lend an ear
12. Help someone get active
13. Nurture someone who is depressed
14. Do a chore for someone
15. Give a massage
16. Send a nice email of appreciation
17. Donate food
18. Show appreciation publicly
19. Be patient
20. Tutor or mentor a child 
21. Be patient
22. Send a care package to a college student, soldier or missionary
23. Offer to babysit
24. Speak up for the underprivileged
25. Just be there. 

  

A Living Witness

So, my dear children, don't let anyone divert you from

the truth.  It's the person who acts right who is right...

1 John 3:7 [The Message]

The other day, I walked into my office from another part of the church, only to discover a small plastic baggie sitting in the middle of my desk, filled with grapes and strawberries.  It had not been a particularly cheerful day, and I was not exactly feeling chipper, but the sight of that little gift put a huge smile on my face.  There was no need to wonder who had dropped off the fruit - I knew immediately who had visited my small corner of the world.  The giver is well known to all of us who work at Beulah, because we have all been recipients of these little treasures that appear out of nowhere.  There is never any fanfare or hoopla - no taking of credit for the giving - just a heart full of love that loves to share and care.

Sometimes the gift on my desk is a box of gluten-free cookies or a bag of GF pretzels.  Most of my friends have difficulty even understanding everything that I can and cannot eat with that condition.  Not June.  She has listened and remembered, and is willing to pay the high price tag attached to those specialty foods in order to brighten my day.  She spreads her kindness and love all across the church landscape - behind the scenes, if possible.  She testifies to her faith and love for Christ in a thousand ways without saying a word.

St. Francis of Assisi is credited with saying:

Preach the Gospel at all times,

and if necessary, use words.

It is not what we say, but who we are that trumpets our belief system to a watching world.  My father always said, "Actions speak louder than words," and the truth of that axiom is born out every day in every corner of our planet.  St. Francis is also credited with this prayer that details how we live a life of witness to the world:

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is darkness, light.

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek 

to be consoled, as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Talking the Talk

What marvelous love the Father has extended to us!   Just look at it—we're called children of God!  That's who we really are.   But that's also why the world doesn't recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who He is or what He's up to. 

1 John 3:1

There is an old saying that there are two things you don't talk about in polite conversation (unless you want to start an argument):  politics and religion.  I'm not much for talking about politics, but I do talk about the church.  After all, I attend one, and then I work for another.  So religion is a very significant part of my life.  However, it is true, in my experience, that no one wants to talk about my religion, their religion, or anyone else's religion, for that matter.  So obviously I need to take a different approach.

What if I just talk about my friend, Jesus?  That would be simple enough - He and I are good friends, and I talk to Him all the time, so why not just approach a conversation with someone else from the basis of talking about my Friend.  I have found that this is actually more difficult than trying to talk about "religion."  No one wants to hear my "personal testimony" of faith - including many of my friends who are themselves Christians.   It is as if talking about your personal experience with God is taboo.  Really taboo.  If I am talking with a close friend who is also a Christian, I can usually get away with saying, "Hey, guess what God did for me yesterday?" without getting the deer-in-the-headlights look or an impatient glare.

So how exactly do you "witness" about your relationship with the Lord?  If talking is not the way to go without offending the listener, then what does "work?"  

The World vs. The Father

Copyright 2012: singeronthesand

Don't love the world's ways.  Don't love the world's goods.

Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father.

Practically everything that goes on in the world - 

wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself,

wanting to appear important - has nothing to do with the Father.

1 John 2:15-16 [The Message]

A friend contacted me last night, and during the conversation there was a pause, and then a request:  "Please pray for my granddaughter."  When I inquired as to how I could pray for this beautiful teenager, there was deep silence, and it took me a moment to realize that my friend was crying.  As the words finally began to tumble forth, a picture was drawn of a girl in the throes of self-hatred who had carried that loathing to a level where she was harming herself.  Believing herself to be fat and ugly, she saw no reason why she should take care of herself - indeed, why she should not harm herself.  My friend was devastated, and I felt her pain deep in my heart.

The world has forever told young people that there is a certain way you must look, a certain way you must act, a certain amount of money and privilege that you must have, a certain amount of expensive gizmos that you must own.  The message handed out by the media and society is quite clear:  If you don't have these things or look the required way, you are NOTHING!  It is little wonder that many young people live lives of quiet despair that eventually erupt in actions that either harm themselves or those around them.

We adults are not immune to this syndrome either - constantly clawing and fighting to get, to own, to be.  John advises us to take a good, long look at our fascination with what the world thinks is a good life.  The Father offers us another way - a life of unconditional love, unconditional acceptance - knowing that we are loved and cherished just the way we are.

Walking in Darkness

Spring Snow.  Copyright 2012: singeronthesand

Anyone who claims to live in God's light and hates a 

brother or sister is still in the dark.  It's the person who

loves brother and sister who dwells in God's light and

doesn't block the light from others.  

But whoever hates is...blinded by the darkness.

1 John 2:9-11

The sermon yesterday at the church where I work detailed a new social phenomena of young teens and tweens putting personal videos on Youtube asking, "Am I Pretty or Ugly?"  One such video, posted by a girl who claimed to be 13 at the time, has her stating, "A lot of people call me ugly, and I think I'm ugly.  I think I'm ugly and fat."  Viewed by over 4 million people since the video was posted in 2010, over 100,000 people have left comments - most of which are mean, hateful, and derogatory - calling her an "attention slut" and suggesting that she would be better off dead.  One responder stated:  "You need a hug - around the neck - with a rope!"

You can be sure and certain that at least half [if not a great deal more] of the responses to the video are written by adults.  Who in the world would say such a thing to a young girl - bullied at school, self-esteem in tatters, who turns to the Internet for reassurance of self-worth?  Sadly, it is so easy to hide behind a screen name and spit out things you would never dream of saying face-to-face.  I'm sure there were many who thought the video pitiful and their responses hilarious.

I would never do such a thing, I reassure myself.  But in truth, I am not beyond making a catty remark (in private, to a friend, of course!) about a person/situation that I view as pitiful or ridiculous, thoughtlessly dismissing them as not worth my compassion.  But isn't that the point?  We are all faulty, scarred human beings, looking for love - longing for acceptance.  We all need the milk of human kindness that can only come from a heart flooded with the light of Life.  It is time for all of us to step out of the darkness--even if we are just in the shade--and live in the light of God's love so that we may reflect that light onto everyone around us.

 

Walking the Talk

Copyright 2012: singeronthesand

If someone claims, "I know Him well," but doesn't

keep His commandments, he's obviously a liar.  His life

doesn't match his words.  Anyone who claims to be intimate

with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived.

1 John 2:4,6 [The Message]

Trust is a funny thing:  difficult to establish, very easy to lose.  Some jobs or positions in society seem to come with an inherent level of trust:  teachers, firemen, policemen, doctors, and ministers/priests.  Unfortunately, that trust is often misplaced, even when deal with persons in authority who should be trustworthy.  Every few weeks, or so it seems, we hear of a teacher or a minister who has broken trust [considered by most of us as a sacred trust], often with a child.  Public officials get caught with their hand in the till or their integrity destroyed in a compromising position.  More and more I hear the muttered rhetorical question: "Who can you trust these days?"

John takes to task the community of believers whose lives do not match their words.  When we put on the name of  Christ, God asks us not to take that name in vain by living a life in direct opposition to everything that Jesus stood for.  We can not, in the words of my father, "Have our cake and eat it too."  We either are Christians who try to walk in Christ's footsteps, or we are imposters.  A tough stance, you say?  Perhaps, but I believe it is a truthful one.

Jesus lived a life of devotion to His Father and loving attention to the people who constantly surrounded Him.  He had harsh words at times for the imposters, but even then, He called to them to come into fellowship with Him and His Father God.  He healed the sick, opened the eyes of the blind, caused the lame to walk, healed the disciples' relatives, raised the dead, nurtured and guided the men surrounding Him toward becoming the leaders of an infant church.  He loved, and loved, and loved again.  Now that He is gone from the earth, we who call ourselves Christians are to take up His mantle of service toward the world around us, loving and loving and loving again!

Pure Light

Copyright 2012: singeronthesand

This, in essence, is the message we heard from Christ

and are passing on to you:  God is light, pure light;

there's not a trace of darkness in Him.

1 John 1:5

This has been the most amazing winter/early spring of the twelve years that I have lived in Virginia.  We had virtually no winter at all - just a few weeks of cold weather that warranted a fire in the woodstove, but mostly we had early spring weather in winter.  Now that we are in early spring, we are experiencing summer weather - a concept that is difficult to wrap one's head around, but easy to enjoy.  Yesterday the temperature was 87 degrees - in March!  Today is supposed to be around 78 degrees.  It is absolutely glorious!

Best of all, however, is the abundance of light - glorious sunshine - that has flooded my corner of Virginia for weeks now.  Yes, we have had rain, but for the most part, is has been incredibly sunny.  There is nothing like light to lift the spirits and brighten one's perspective.  It was, after all, the first (and perhaps best) thing to appear when God spoke the world into existence.  "Let there be light!" echoed across timeless layers of utter darkness and changed the universe forever.

God is light.  There can be no darkness in His presence.  His light and love shine into our lives.  We, in turn, can allow Him to shine out through us to the world around us, reflecting God's light and love to our families, our friends, our enemies, and our neighbors.

We Saw It Happen!

Copyright 2012: singeronthesand

From the first day, we were there, taking

it all in--we heard it with our own ears, saw it

with our own eyes, verified it with our own hands.

The Word of Life appeared right before our eyes; 

we saw it happen!  And now we're telling you in 

most sober prose that what we witnessed was, 

incredibly, this: The infinite Life of God

Himself took shape before us.

1 John 1:1-2 

A young friend of mine was bubbling over with excitement yesterday.  She had been at a local club when Chris Brown [R&B singer, songwriter, dancer, actor, celebrity] arrived at the establishment.  She and a friend were invited into the VIP section with the Brown entourage, and she was able to see the singer up close.  Although he did little except sit in a booth and chat with his people, she was still able to "see him with my own eyes" and that made for a very exciting evening.

John opens up his first letter to the church, not by introducing himself or giving words of personal greeting to friends and church members, but by launching into a passionate affirmation of the most important period of his life: when he was an eyewitness to the life, ministry, death and resurrection of the Son of God.  He was there from the very beginning of Christ's ministry - knowing, seeing, hearing, touching the Messiah.  In his Gospel, John introduced Jesus as the Word.  In this first letter to the churches, he again proclaims Jesus as the Word of Life - the infinite Life of God.  One can feel the excitement in his words as he describes for his readers the incredible experience of living with God on earth - Emmanuel.

It was difficult for me to get all worked up over my friend's experience seeing Chris Brown.  After all, I was not there, I did not see.  John knew that he was facing the same situation with his readers.  He knew that most if not all of them were not witnesses to Christ's life.  But he was!  So he pours out his heart in the opening sentences of this letter - willing the people to "see" through his eyes, to "hear" through his words, to experience the living God for themselves.

Getting It Straight

Copyright 2012:  singeronthesand

The two most difficult things to get straight

in life are love and God.

~Eugene H. Peterson, The Message

Introduction to 1, 2, & 3 John

A woman [whom we will call "Sandy"] was perusing Facebook the other day when the "People You May Know" feature recommended a potential contact.  Turns out the two women had one big thing in common: their husband!  Sandy clicked on the recommended contact's page (we'll call her Linda), and discovered a picture of Linda standing next to a wedding cake with Sandy's estranged husband at their wedding reception. Sandy called her mother-in-law, and within hours, her husband showed up to try and explain the mess. The double husband begged Sandy not to say or do anything about the situation, but she felt less than accommodating and turned him in to authorities. He is now facing bigamy charges and another irate wife!

I chuckled when I read Eugene Peterson's opening statement to his Introduction to the books of 1,2,3 John. As a two-time failure in the love/marriage department, I certainly can attest to the truth that for me, romantic love is a difficult thing to get straight!  My girls will occasionally hint that Mom should get back out there on the dating scene, but I always remind them that two unfaithful spouses is more than enough for one lifetime!  Getting things right with God has not been an easy road for me, either, but I certainly haven't given up on Him because I know He will never turn away from me.

Peterson believes that these three books written by the Apostle John give wonderful advice on dealing with both God and love in general.  I am looking forward to what he has to say, and hope you will join me.

Here Today...

Copyright 2012: singeronthesand

Since everything here today might well be gone

tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to 

live a holy life?

2 Peter 3:11

All of the recent funerals from the congregation of the church where I work have left me in a rather melancholy spirit.  The old saying of, "Here today, gone tomorrow" has never seemed more real.  One of the Old Testament writers likens the life of man to the grass in the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven.  The brevity of human existence is a theme that reappears frequently in scripture.

There are so many things in this world that I would like to see, hear, touch, experience, do. I determined that this year I would experience as many new things as my time and budget would allow.  I've seen a brand new opera, watched the Chinese National Acrobats from Beijing, attended two master classes at Carnegie Hall, signed up for a photography class during cherry blossom season in Washington, D.C., and purchased tickets for an exhibit of the Dead Sea Scrolls in New York City.  Everything has been wonderful so far, and I know that these activities have enabled me to continue to stretch and grow.

The Apostle Peter's concern, however, has little to do with what you have physically done, but how you have lived your life. The King James' word for "holy life" is godliness - Godlikeness - walking in the footsteps of Jesus, fashioning my life after His.  His life was lived loving God and helping others - caring for them instead of living for myself.  For today, and all the tomorrows to come, I choose to follow Jesus.

[I apologize for the lateness of the transmission these last few days.

I am still chasing that hour I lost last weekend!]

Creation Calls

Copyright 2012:  singeronthesand

They conveniently forget that long ago, all the

galaxies and this very planet were brought into

existence out of watery chaos by God's word.

2 Peter 3:5 

As Peter remonstrated regarding those in the church who listened only to themselves, he pointed to a truth that they had "conveniently forgotten" - that they were not gods unto themselves, but creatures brought forth from the Creator's hand.  We humans are consistent about forgetting/denying where we ultimately came from.  Peter declared it without hesitation:  Everything - all galaxies and this earth with its teeming host of man and animals - all were brought into existence by the word of God, for "...He spake and it was done; He commanded and it stood fast."

The Bible is consistent from cover to cover regarding the creatorship of all life by God Himself.  There are many who stand on the "side" of modern science and draw a line in the sand against intelligent design.  I believe that the God of creation can stand the scrutiny of modern science, and that carbon dating and tree rings do not preclude the God who spoke life into existence.  Natural selection is not a science but a theory, and it takes as much faith to believe that you came from a primordial slime pool as it does to believe that God spoke all things into existence.

I stand with Peter in the belief that the entire creation speaks to the One who fashioned it all.  Knowing that I am a created creature keeps me from forming myself into my own little godship.  I have neither the power nor the authority to control others.  God does not need my help to improve His workmanship.

 

Goodbye...

Copyright 2012:  singeronthesand

God is especially incensed against these "teacher" who

live by lust, addicted to a filthy existence.  They despise

interference from true authority, preferring to indulge in 

self-rule.  Insolent egotists, they don't hesitate to speak evil

against the most splendid of creatures.  Even angels, their

superiors in every way, wouldn't think of throwing their weight

around like that, trying to slander others before God.

2 Peter 2:10-11 

At first blush, one wonders who in the world was part of the congregation that Peter attended.  True to his nature, he minced no words in describing those who talk the talk without walking the walk.  He nailed those who play a good game as long as it is their own, who think only of themselves, and are willing to throw everyone else under the bus.  I've worked for a lot of churches, and there is always someone in every congregation who believes themselves to be a law unto themselves.  The havoc such a person can wreak in a congregation is enormous.

Today, we buried one of my choir members - a wonderful woman who finally succumbed to a disease that was a by-product of the chemotherapy given for Multiple Myeloma.  Margie was a tiny little lady who loved the Lord passionately, and in turn, ferociously loved her family, her friends, and God's people.  Kind, quiet, loving - Margie would have given you the shirt off her back, literally and figuratively.  She absolutely oozed love and caring.  I never heard her say a bad thing about anyone, never heard her complain, never saw her display either ego or unkindness.  She was the type of friend "...a friend would want to have."  She walked the walk without having to broadcast the talk - following in the footsteps of her Savior.

We love you and will miss you, Margie.

 

Thoughts for the Day

Copyright 2012: singeronthesand

A sterling reputation

is better than striking it rich;

A gracious spirit is better

than money in the bank.

Generous hands are blessed hands

because they give bread to the poor.

Exploit the poor or glad-hand the rich -

whichever, you will be the poorer for it.

~Proverbs 22 

The Message 

Not Just an Opinion

Copyright 2012:  singeronthesand

The main thing to keep in mind here is that no

prophecy of Scripture is a matter of private opinion.

And why?  Because it's not something concocted in the

human heart.  Prophecy resulted when the Holy Spirit

prompted men and women to speak God's Word.

2 Peter 1:20-21

I was very sad when a bright young college student told me that a preeminent professional singer and vocal coach had stated that a very well-known, highly respected professional vocalist was "just a crooner."  The subject in question, an older gentleman who has been singing for decades, is considered by many critics as the best of his genre, and whose performance/interpretation of endless classical repertoire is beyond question. If he had ever been "just a crooner," he would have been just another singer.  I would have no quarrel with the coach if he had said to the student, "Yes, this man is an amazing singer, but I would not want you to copy his vocal technique; it is not right for your voice."   Do not denigrate or dismiss the gift of another artist - not even with a careless comment.

In the same way, I am sad when I read articles by modern biblical scholars, ripping into the lives and the words of the authors of Scripture, tearing apart who they were and what they had to say, poo-pooing this and nay-saying that.  Peter must have heard similar discussions all the way back in his day, causing him to want to set the record straight.  Although he was speaking specifically of the Old Testament writings, his point can be applied to the entire biblical record.

Believing that the Bible is the inspired Word of God is a matter of faith.  Peter testified in his second letter to the Christian community that the scrolls they held in their hands were not just the prattling and opinions of human beings.  The words did not flow from human hearts, but from the heart of God through the power of the Holy Spirit into the heart, mind and speech of the author.  How did the process work?  I haven't a clue, and I don't think anyone else does either!  Some mysteries of faith are just exactly that - mysteries.  The exact details of how God inspired the authors to set down what they wrote have not been shared with us; that does not, however, make the process faulty or phony.  Peter wanted the people to know that the prose and prophecy of the scriptures were God-inspired, God-directed.  It was important for him to reassure the people that he was not just flapping his jaws - shooting from the hip or making it up as he went along.  More than anyone else of his time and place, Peter knew the Source of his wisdom and words - an experience he shared with all of the other men whom God called to give a message to His people..     

The Sneak Peek

Copyright 2012: singeronthesand

We weren't, you know, just wishing on a star

when we laid the facts out before you regarding the 

powerful return of our Master, Jesus Christ.  We were

there for the preview!  We saw it with our own eyes!

Jesus resplendent with light from God the Father

as the voice of Majestic Glory spoke:

"This is My Son, marked by My love, focus of all My delight."

2 Peter 1:16-17

Last November, my middle daughter and I attended a Trans Siberian Orchestra concert at the coliseum downtown.  What a show!  Gorgeous music, unbelievably energetic musicians, lasers, lights, smoke, mirrors, fire-breathing dragons - it was fantastic. Adults, seniors and little kids were on the edge of their seats.   Now, I realize that the words I have just used to describe our experience do absolutely NOTHING to help you understand what it was like.  There are so many experiences in life that just do not translate down into words. When the visuals are so strong, you simply have to see it to believe it.  

Peter had this same problem when he tried to describe to the early Christians the "powerful return" of Jesus to this earth.  He was afraid that his listeners would not be able to catch the glorious wonder of the event from the words he employed to describe it.  The vision was bright and powerful in his own mind, however, because they had been given a taste of that glory when Peter, James and John were on the mountaintop with Jesus and two old friends came to call.  During the event often call "The Transfiguration" [trans·fig·u·ra·tion: a complete change of form or appearance],  Moses and Elijah came down from heaven and the appearance of Jesus was transformed into a figure radiating the power and glory of God.  As long as Peter lived, he would never forget the force of that image or the acknowledgement of Christ as the Son of God who promised to return to the earth again.  Peter's life mission was to tell and retell the story, time and time again, until his listeners caught a glimpse of the vision and joined him in spreading the news to others.

 

At The End of It All: Love

Copyright 2012:  singeronthesand

Make every effort to add to your faith goodness;

and to goodness, knowledge;  and to knowledge, self-control;

and to self control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;

and to godliness, brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness,

LOVE

for if you possess these qualities in increasing measure,

they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive

in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:5-8  

That love completes Peter's growth chart in grace should not be a surprise to anyone.  Love was the creator of everything we have and are.  When mankind turned their backs on that love and embraced a life of sin, Love came down to this earth and died in their place.  When all seemed lost, Love conquered death and arose from the grave.  One of these days, Love will return to this earth.  There is no great power on earth than Love.

Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.

Love doesn't strut.

Doesn't have a swelled head, 

Doesn't force it self on others,

Isn't always "me first."

Doesn't fly off the handle,

Doesn't keep score of the sins of others.

Doesn't revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth.

Puts up with anything,

Trusts God always.

Always looks for the best.

Never looks back,

But keeps going to the end.

Love never dies. 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 [The Message]