"Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body."  Hebrews 13:3

http://www.worldmag.com/articles/17288

"The man who said 'no' to Hitler" - http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703296604576005193516575586.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Inspiring short article.

What did Jesus get really excited about?   What made him really happy?   Consider these two parallel passages:

Matt 11
25At that time Jesus said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants.
26"Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.
 27"All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.
28"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
29"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.
30"For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Luke 10
17The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name."
18And He said to them, "I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.
19"Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.
20"Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven."
21At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, "I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.
 22"All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."
23Turning to the disciples, He said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see,
24for I say to you, that many prophets and kings wished to see the things which you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them."

 

Isn't this interesting!   ... that Jesus exulted in the 'upside-down-ness' of God's revelation of Himself to humans...  that God revealed Himself to the poor and outcast of the world, the sinners who knew how unworthy they were...  rather than revealing Himself to the fine, noble, upstanding people who were proud of their own goodness and worthiness.

Here's a quote from an article about the sludge dam break disaster in Hungary last week:

The prime minister said he would inform parliament about the findings of an investigation on Monday and reiterated his view that the disaster was likely the result of human error.
"We all are astonished because we are not aware of any information that could reduce (the likelihood of) human responsibility. My point is that behind this tragedy, there must have been some human errors and mistakes," he said.
"Regarding the consequences ... for those responsible, I can say that they will be proportionate to the extent of the damage, in every respect," he told a news conference in Budapest.

Why do hurt people always bring up "consequences" for "those responsible"?   Why is there an inherent thirst for justice whenever people are wronged?

This is related to the question of God's justice for us humans.   People sometimes ask about God, "Why can't He just forgive/overlook our sins?  Why does He demand punishment?  Why does He send people to hell?"

As C.S.Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity, when it's our own sins, we want lenience... but when someone has wronged us, we want retribution.   This displays our crookedness and hypocrisy.

 

Here is a letter from a friend of mine who helped in Haiti, and a response by me.   How would you respond?  What are your thoughts on this topic?

 

________ wrote:
> Bonswa once again,
>
> It's hard to believe that our trip is coming to a close. In all honesty, I'm really unsettled about coming home; I'm fairly certain that most of us would never be able to sustain this pace or make Haitian reality our permanent reality, but I've felt sick for the past two days and have a sense of overwhelming guilt about not being able to perform at my peak in the last hours. It's gotten harder to take pictures of Haitians and even tell stories of horrible patient scenarios as I'm reminded that I can quickly jump a plane and go home to my comfy life and they have no way out. I'm not sure if my thoughts completely make sense, but the only comfort I'm finding through prayer is the reminder that Christ was fully God, but he was also fully human. The enormity of his healing work regularly tested his human nature and I'm sure he fell into physically illness and exhaustion. He can relate to the stress felt whenever and wherever we encounter overwhelming need, in America or in foreign lands. He repeatedly holds us accountable, disciplines us, and perhaps lays guilt in our hearts so that we may be tested. I have faith that His aim is not to destroy me through this experience. I'm sure that He will actually do the opposite and even though I'm sitting with this horrible feeling of worthlessness, I pray that He allows it to pervade all facets of my life and allows me to realize just how weak I really am (II Cor 12:9-10). Please pray for safety as we journey home and that we may all have to peace of mind to settle any internal struggles. Your prayers have been with us and I can't wait to give and receive your hugs. I thank God for the girls that I have been able to share this experience with and thank you for all of your encouraging letters and emails. They have meant the world to me in time when I needed them.
>
> Love,
> ____________

 

 

Hey ________,

Yes....  thanks for the update...  praying for you all...

Regarding the poor and abused, I have wondered similar questions and felt guilt too.  I lived for six months in Africa when I was a child and traveled briefly in Thailand in college, and lately I've learned more about the persecuted church and the slaves trafficked around the world and have been trying to help in what little ways I can.  For what it's worth, this passage comes to mind:  Mark 14:6-7

But Jesus said, "Let her alone; why do you bother her? She has done a good deed to Me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me.
At first it almost seems callous, when Jesus says "you always have the poor with you...".  Somehow Jesus was able to fully comprehend the suffering of the poor, and even the fact that there will always be poor, suffering people in this world until the end comes, yet he stayed sane and trusted in God through the knowing.   Perhaps His implication is "Don't despair...  put Me first in your life, and then secondly keep helping other needy people all your life long whenever the opportunity arises, knowing that there will never be an end to the poverty and need until the new earth comes."    ?

I'm not trying to give an easy answer to the questions you're wrestling with because of Haiti.  I know it's not just about poverty in Haiti, but about the earthquake suffering, and the violence and abuse there, etc.  Surely they need the gospel more than any other type of aid there, especially long term.  But as I've been pondering these things myself over the past few years, I'm coming to the conclusion that for me it's a matter of doing my little daily part to help the poor (out of love because of the love with which God has loved me first)... like the man walking along the beach tossing stranded starfish back into the ocean before they dried out and died, and the passerby who told him "you can't save them all", and his answer "I know, but I can save THIS one (toss), and THIS one (toss), and THIS one..."

Other related passages that come to mind - Isaiah 58,  Proverbs 19:17,  Luke 13:1-6,  Psalm 37...  and there are obviously many more.  Also if you have time and interest, I recently posted some thoughts on my blog about Psalm 37 - http://tim223.xanga.com/726147754/psalm-37/   I'll be interested to hear more of your thoughts on these things and some passages that you find helpful, as things become clearer some time after the Haiti trip.

With esteem, Tim

This is an interesting article about some political events in France.   One particular group of people are exercising what the article labeled "unofficial rights"...  blocking streets, establishing their own private security forces, intimidating other citizens, setting up their own laws, etc.  The regular police are forbidden to intervene, and the media does not cover the story.  Why?  Because they are afraid of the resulting violence if this group is confronted directly.

The concept of "unofficial rights" is seen all over the world and throughout history.  The drug lords in Mexico exercise them.  The white people in the Deep South of the USA 100 years ago exercised them.  Those who feel 'secure' in their oppression of others always tend to exercise these 'rights'.

But we Christians need not fear, and we need not even feel anger toward those who push us around.  We have a Supreme, Omnipotent, God... who is watching out for us, and after this temporary season of persecution has passed and we find ourselves with God forever in eternal joy, He will take full vengeance and make everything right.  Because of this, we can "love our enemies" as Jesus instructed (and modeled).

I think that God is setting up a worldwide "stage" (some Christians are already performing on it, and have been for centuries) for us His children to demonstrate His worth by continuing to trust in Him through major persecution.   May He grant you and me the grace to "endure to the end".

    ¹Do not fret because of evildoers,
Be not envious toward wrongdoers.
²For they will wither quickly like the grass
And fade like the green herb.
³Trust in the LORD and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
⁴Delight yourself in the LORD;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
(Psalm 37:1-4)

Three separate items in tonight's blog post:
1. "What is natural?"
2. Modern usage of the word "Church"
3. Son Jong Nam - inspiring modern-day Christian hero of the faith

 

1. On the question "What is 'natural'?" - cool quote from http://creationsafaris.com/crev201007.htm#20100727a -

"Materialists can’t have it both ways.  They cannot argue that only particles and natural laws exist, then turn around and blame humans for global warming, pollution, war, acid rain, extinction, or anything else.  Nature is what nature does.  If humans are a part of nature, whatever they do is only natural....

The only perspective that permits natural/unnatural distinctions is the Judeo-Christian world view.  Sin is unnatural, because God is holy.  Death and disasters are unnatural, because God created a perfect world that was cursed because of sin.  Human beings stand between the natural and the supernatural by having the image of God implanted in their nonphysical souls.  These foundations allow for politics, economics, criminal law, and all the institutions that engage us, including science."

 

 

2. A thought on the modern usage of the word "church", compared to the ancient usage, and a comparison:

"church" (modern english term) = "christian community center" (what Bible-era folks might call it if they observed it)

"small group" (modern term) = "church" (Bible-era usage)

"What church are you attending?" (modern) = "What Christian Community Center do you regularly attend and drop your kids off at?" (Bible-era)

"I feel called to be a pastor." (modern) = "I feel called to be the director of a Christian Community Center." (Bible-era)

etc

 

 

3. Son Jong Nam  -  modern hero and role model... recent North Korean Christian martyr

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gdZrqqz2CUFMIoE9WoGEBDkKU6QAD9GOARA00

Why would a 50-year old man return secretly with Bibles into North Korea, from which he had escaped a couple years earlier, knowing full well that if he was caught, he would be jailed and tortured to death?

As far as I can tell: (1) Because Son Jong Nam believed that the Bible's account about Jesus Christ was true (that Jesus Christ really did come, die, and rise again as the Bible relates); (2) Son Jong Nam believed that Jesus Christ was His Lord and so he took seriously the command to make disciples of all nations, and (3) Son Jong Nam loved his own countrymen, and was willing to sacrifice his life (if necessary) to bring them the gospel.

Son Jong Nam died in some secret dungeon, penniless and unknown to the vast majority of the world.  It would seem that he wasted his life and his efforts to help his North Korean countrymen.

But his life and death were not in vain.  God saw everything.  And when the King returns, Son Jong Nam's reward will be incalculably awesome.

For His eyes are upon the ways of a man,
And He sees all his steps.
Job 34:21

And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven." Luke 6:20-23a

And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on." Mark 12:41-44

Behold, the Lord GOD will come with might,
With His arm ruling for Him.
Behold, His reward is with Him
And His recompense before Him.
Isaiah 40:10

"Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done."
Revelation 22:12

 

 

Regarding the "crash" (collapse of peace and economic prosperity in the USA and beyond) which some people (including myself) see on the horizon...

underlying cause:
- millions of individual unsaved Americans, a collective nation turning gradually further from God (we were never God's chosen people, and we were only a "Christian nation" in the sense of being composed of a high percentage of people espousing Christianity or judeo-christian morality (e.g. one might just as well say that we used to be a "Caucasian nation" or some other such originally shared characteristic), and not in the sense of possessing a divine national charter)

proximal causes:
  ==>> abortion (twenty thousand precious unborn humans murdered per week in America)
-> recognition of homosexual 'marriages'
-> abandoning Israel
cultural factors leading to the decline
- divorce, homosexuality and the breakdown of the family
- removing the Bible from the public square (especially schools) and requiring secularistic science teaching
- affluence --> laziness (engineering school enrollment, etc)
- feminism (more girls now going to college than boys, divorce epidemic, etc, cf. Mohler articles such as http://www.albertmohler.com/2009/10/23/feminism-unfulfilled-why-are-so-many-women-unhappy/
http://www.albertmohler.com/2010/02/09/newsnote-where-are-the-young-men/
http://www.albertmohler.com/2010/02/05/newsnote-masculinity-in-a-can-fight-club-at-church-and-the-crisis-of-manhood/
http://www.albertmohler.com/2009/10/28/the-divorce-divide-a-national-embarrassment/)
- media evil: Hollywood movies, tv shows, pornography, etc

factors in the predicted coming economic collapse of the USA and subsequent one-world government
Global:
- sovereign debt (of many nations, e.g. Greece, Spain, Ireland, Britain, and the USA...)
- oil dependency - for transportation, food growing and transporting, manufacturing, energy, etc
- nuclear Iran (dilemma: if pre-emptive attack of Iran, risk losing 'world goodwill', if wait/sanctions, risk nuclear war and/or an EMP-bomb attack against Israel, Europe, USA, etc) http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-time-to-act-against-iran-is-fast-approaching/?singlepage=true
USA:
  - national sovereign debt - $14 trillion and growing - now equal to 100% of the 2010 GDP
- continued expansion of government entitlement programs like welfare, unemployment, disability, medicare, etc
- social security collapsing due to borrowing - e.g. paying out more than it takes in, starting 2010 http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article/539411/201007061804/Are-Overdue-Reports-Concealing-ObamaCare-Impact-On-Medicare-.aspx
- the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan - approximately $1 billion spent so far
- the subprime mortgage crisis due to Clinton-era FreddieMac/FannieMae intervention - http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerkimball/2008/09/29/who-caused-the-biggest-financial-crisis-since-the-great-depression/
- 12 million illegal immigrants taking up millions of dollars in local services
- high personal credit card debt, $8000 average per household
- the Obama $700 billion 'stimulus' bill of 2009
- the national healthcare bill of 2010, taking effect gradually over the next 5 years
- Bush tax cuts expiring in 2011

Predictions
  - something will trigger a global economic meltdown
- runaway money-printing / inflation will occur in USA and the dollar will lose most or all of its value (cf. Argentina, Zimbabwe)
- some level of national turmoil will occur, especially acutely in the cities with riots when gas and food run out
- Christians will experience major persecution

At some point, the world will transition to a one-world Islamic government and everyone who accepts the new world leader will receive an implanted RFID microchip allowing them to buy and sell.  However, the timing of the transition is not known... the USA meltdown might occur many years before the world transition, or within a few weeks or months.   God might grant many more years to the earth before bringing the final end of the age.

Recommendations
- http://tim223.xanga.com/722854326/preparing-for-the-coming-distress/ (Rejoice in Jesus Christ all day long!    and prepare in a few prudent earthly ways)
- Pray for revival in the USA...
- More ideas: www.transitionus.org  ,  www.postpeakliving.com

 

 

 

As the World Cup approaches, let us pray that God would bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ (the good news that He is the Savior of the world: eternal life, forgiveness of sins, and the resultant life-transformation to all who believe in Him) into South Africa..... to the athletes, the tourists, the natives, etc...  and from there, back to the home towns afterward....

The following blurb is from a prayer guide on www.exoduscry.com:

The 2010 FIFA World Cup is the first World Cup to be held on the continent
of Africa. This is a historic opportunity for the world to witness
and experience the beauty, culture, and industry of the Republic of South
Africa. But there is a dark side to this event – the demand for sex that
will come from the thousands of fans flooding into the country. To meet
this demand, organized crime groups are trafficking in as many as 40,000
women and children to be exploited in the sex industry during this 31-day
global event.
This prayer guide is a strategic tool to unify the body of Christ in intercession
during these 31-days of heightened trafficking activity. Each day we
are looking at a name or characteristic of God and declaring it over this
issue, the perpetrators, and the victims. Though the groaning of the prisoners
has too often failed to reach the ears of men, their cries have been heard
in the courts of heaven. Let’s partner together with the heart of God over
this issue. Use this resource in your private times of prayer, in small group
prayer, or in your church. Thank you for engaging with us in intercession
during this hour of crisis.

Two wrenching pieces of news today:

1. A man tries to help a woman being attacked in New York City; he ends up being fatally stabbed himself, slowly bleeding to death while several people walk by on the sidewalk over the next hour and a half.

2. "No matter how used you are to your chicken, it will not stop you slaughtering it." - a 'rationale' given for the continued regular killings of civilians (by their neighbors) in Jos, Nigeria and neighboring towns.

Below: some comments and practical applications.

(1) Dehumanization is always a component of genocide.  Notice above how the violent man compared the humans he was killing to chickens.  Violence always starts in the mind (Matthew 5:21-22).  Hitler's evolutionary rhetoric claimed that the Jews and others he hated were "less evolved" and so "less human" and thus able to be killed without qualm.
The Bible gives the antidote in Genesis 1 (among other places) - humans are created in the image of God, unlike all other animals.  Therefore killing another human is wrong (except capital punishment/military/police/government, Romans 13:4)
Genesis 9:6 makes the connection -
"Whoever sheds man's blood,
By man his blood shall be shed,
For in the image of God
He made man."
Some Christians claim that the literal historicity of Genesis 1 is not important.  Whether humans evolved from other animals or were literally directly created by God is irrelevant, they claim.  But it seems clear that this issue is extremely relevant.  It is only because Genesis 1 is literally & historically accurate that we are justified in believing that human life is intrinsically valuable.
(2) Where is the justice?  How could a good God let an innocent New Yorker get killed trying to help someone else?  How could a good God let innocent farmers and herdsmen in Nigeria get killed every day?  How could a good God allow a righteous man like Naboth be killed simply so someone else could take his vinyard?  How could a good God allow righteous people to be "killed all day long;...considered as sheep to be slaughtered"? (Ps 44:22)

The answer is that God is watching, and in due time, He will enact full justice.  God says: "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay" (Deut. 32:35, Romans 12:19, Hebrews 10:30).

I have struggled to understand Psalm 37, because it often seems to fail to apply, in daily news here on earth.  But if we expand our perspective a bit to include life after this short time on earth, it becomes perfectly clear.  I think Psalm 37 applies "in general" to some degree (in a "proverbs"-type sense) on earth, but it applies fully and completely and perfectly to the complete view of life which takes into account our life after we die.  In other words, as you read the various promises regarding the righteous and the wicked in this and other psalms, ask yourself the question "Does this text say WHEN this will occur? On this side of death, or unspecified?"  Most of the time it is unspecified.

If you have a moment, read through Psalm 37 and ponder it.

¹  Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of those who do wrong;

² for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.

³ Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

⁴ Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

⁵ Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:

⁶ He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

⁷ Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.

⁸ Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.

⁹ For evil men will be cut off,
but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

¹⁰ A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.

¹¹ But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy great peace.

¹² The wicked plot against the righteous
and gnash their teeth at them;

¹³ but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.

¹⁴ The wicked draw the sword
and bend the bow
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose ways are upright.

¹⁵ But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.

¹⁶ Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth of many wicked;

¹⁷ for the power of the wicked will be broken,
but the LORD upholds the righteous.

¹⁸ The days of the blameless are known to the LORD,
and their inheritance will endure forever.

¹⁹ In times of disaster they will not wither;
in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

²⁰ But the wicked will perish:
The LORD's enemies will be like the beauty of the fields,
they will vanish—vanish like smoke.

²¹ The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous give generously;

²² those the LORD blesses will inherit the land,
but those he curses will be cut off.

²³ If the LORD delights in a man's way,
he makes his steps firm;

²⁴ though he stumble, he will not fall,
for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

²⁵ I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.

²⁶ They are always generous and lend freely;
their children will be blessed.

²⁷ Turn from evil and do good;
then you will dwell in the land forever.

²⁸ For the LORD loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.
They will be protected forever,
but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;

²⁹ the righteous will inherit the land
and dwell in it forever.

³⁰ The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom,
and his tongue speaks what is just.

³¹ The law of his God is in his heart;
his feet do not slip.

³² The wicked lie in wait for the righteous,
seeking their very lives;

³³ but the LORD will not leave them in their power
or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

³⁴ Wait for the LORD
and keep his way.
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

³⁵ I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
flourishing like a green tree in its native soil,

³⁶ but he soon passed away and was no more;
though I looked for him, he could not be found.

³⁷ Consider the blameless, observe the upright;
there is a future for the man of peace.

³⁸ But all sinners will be destroyed;
the future of the wicked will be cut off.

³⁹ The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD;
he is their stronghold in time of trouble.

⁴⁰ The LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.
(3) How should we respond to injustice?

• Pray for peace in Nigeria... and not just peace as the absence of violence, but 'gospel peace'... peace that comes when large numbers of unbelievers hear of what Christ has done for them, are convicted of their sins and their need for Christ to save them, and are radically transformed, causing forgiveness, peace, love, shalom to flow in their towns.
  "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:1-4
• Continue to help those we see in trouble around us as we walk down the street, as did Mr. Tale-Yax in New York City last weekend and as did the "good Samaritan" in Jesus' story.  Is it risky?  Absolutely.  Might we get beat-up or even die?  Sure.  But in view of what we (as born-again Christians / adopted children of God) have to look forward to after death (1 Corinthians 15, Philippians 2-3, Revelation 21, Psalm 37, etc), "to die is gain."   Please keep challenging me to do this, and not be hypocritical in this area.
• Someone is going to have to go into the "no-go" regions of violence in the world, to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who need to hear it.  It's easy to say "Oh, I hope those people in such-and-such a land are able to solve their differences and that some brave soul shares the gospel with them and they repent and turn to Jesus and begin walking in love and forgiveness instead of violence and revenge."

But who will go?  "How will they hear without a preacher?" (Rom 11)  Who will love them enough to risk personal pain to bring them the gospel?