T-56: Forced Influences

As Christians, we are called to be set apart for service to the King. Our service though does not involve our being cloistered in a walled compound where we would be free from worldly influences. To the contrary, our calling is to walk in the world but to lead a life the is not of the world. In that, we are called to be countercultural rebels who persistently resist the sensual indulgences of the world.

In our text today, Daniel 1:5, we see a process of indoctrination being foisted upon a group of obedient Jewish children. Let’s consider the text… Daniel 1:5 (NIV)
5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.
[1]

Being selected to serve in the courts of the king was no small matter. In fact, it would be considered an honor to be selected for such duty and a testimony to the physical, mental and spiritual qualities of those so appointed. A slave such as these might consider this a great and wonderful alternative when compared to the other capacities in which slaves served their masters in Babylon. But as much of an honor as such an appointment would be, it was equally a difficult trial.

On first reading, you might be inclined to think that the king is acting in an altruistic manner; by sharing his own food, he is making certain that those who eat of it are kept in the best health. While that may be one component of that situation, there is another more insidious purpose. The setting apart for service to the king, the place at the king’s table, the portions of the king’s food, the cup of the king’s wine, the three years of teaching and training; these are all elements of a process of indoctrination, the purpose of which was to change godly Jewish boys into idolatrous Babylonians. To be sure, the food would taste delicious and the wine would be the best available. Learning a new language and the history of a people, these would be easy for these boys for indeed, they were gifted and blessed by the God to whom they were devoted. But the purpose of the process is to strip them of the very things that set them apart, their very Jewishness and to render them as Babylonians.

You see, the problem with the food and the wine was not so much the food itself. Certainly there would be food on the table which any self-respecting Jew would eschew. The Jews had a very strict diet not as to what they could eat but the rules of preparation were equally restrictive. To eat of the unclean food or food that had not been prepared according to the laws as handed down by their forefathers would render them immediately and ceremoniously unclean. A logical man would argue that these boys then should eat only of those things that were in keeping with God’s commandments and that in so doing, they would not defile themselves.

But… even if the food were prepared according to strict guidelines and even if the food were of suitable quality, it would have been rendered unfit for consumption by any god-fearing Jew. Not because of the food itself for the real problem is that the food and the wine had been offered as sacrifices to idols. For only the food fit for the Babylonian gods would be fit for the Babylonian king. So the food, having been offered in sacrifice to false gods would be unfit for consumption.

There are many that would argue that these boys had no choice in the matter; that they had been handed over to the Babylonians by God and that God himself and placed the Babylonian king upon the throne. As such, the boys should accede to his authority, setting aside their standards and receive what he has offered. Others might posit that the boys had no individual choice and they should compromise as necessary to ensure their own survival.

By this point, the similarities between what these Jewish boys faced and what the early church faced and indeed what we face today should be glaringly obvious. These boys were set apart for service not to an earthly king but to God. They found themselves in an alien culture surrounded on every side by sin and perversity. Within that culture they were separated for special honor. But with that honor came a price; a requirement for compromise.

We live in such a culture today. We, as Christians, have been set apart for serve to God. Our culture bombards us from every side with temptations for sensual indulgences and worldly thinking. We may find ourselves on the ‘fast track’ to worldly success, financial prosperity or perhaps political office. And all the time is the constant drumbeat of compromise. That same process of indoctrination that the Jewish boys faced glares at us today. Satan, who was present in Babylon is present today and he continues to spout the same lies and deceptions: “you have no choice”, “it is under God’s authority”, “it’s only a little lie”, “nobody will ever know”, “nobody will blame you”, “you’re better than the rest”, “you deserve it”, “all this could be yours if you would just… bow down and worship me” and the list goes on and on.

Though we are free from the dietary restrictions of early Judaism, we are not free from God’s directive that ‘we be holy.’ We must be discerning with respect to the worldly banquet before us and we must be vigilant against the seemingly innocuous attacks from the world that reveal the underlying process of indoctrination that has been mounted against us.


Regards,
Carl
[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

T-60: Qualified to serve

Being born into a rich and powerful family of nobles certainly has its privileges. In our text today, young men are being selected from among the ranks of the royalty and nobility that they may serve the conquering king. Let’s examine this passage to discover in what manner they were qualified to serve…

Daniel 1:3-4 (NIV)
3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— 4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.b [1]

We’ve already given treatment to V3 so today the focus is on V4 and in that we see exactly what qualities the king of Babylonia desired in his personal attendants. The king specified ‘young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve…’ Though all citizens, servants and slaves of Babylonia served the king, such young men were to be brought forward, set apart and prepared for special service.

In that process, I observe that according to their lineage such young men have been identified as potential candidates for special service. Their lineage has pre-qualified them but lineage alone is not enough. To serve the earthly king of Babylonia, they must also possess certain characteristics of body (without physical defect; handsome) and mind (aptitude for learning, well informed, quick to understand) and of character (qualified to serve). Those that meet these qualifications are set apart from all the rest and are to receive instruction in the ways of the ruling kingdom.

I note that Ashpenaz was tasked not only with the selection process but also with the teaching process. Thus, he had ample opportunity to choose those boys that he thought would be most receptive to his tutelage. In this we can assume that he would choose carefully so as to be successful in the eyes of the king.

Nevertheless, the king of Babylonia had certain qualities that he desired in his servants and to those with the qualities, special consideration was to be given.

I speak now of us; our bondage, our qualifications and our servitude to the King.

Each of us has known and may yet recall our days of bondage to a life of sin. While in that life we were without hope, without future, without purpose and utterly lost. As such, we were like the ancestors of the young men found in our text today. Those ancestors were freed from their captivity by amazing acts of God that proved his existence and exhibited his power in the eyes of believer and non-believer alike. We were freed from our captivity by an amazing act of God that proved his existence, exhibited his power and revealed the magnitude of his love for believers and non-believers alike.

Those newly freed people then went forth into the wilderness, destined for the Promised Land and repeatedly put themselves back into bondage to sin. Some reading this message today have done exactly the same thing by accepting their freedom and then purposefully putting the shackles back on so that they may live a life of sin. For the people of Israel, their sinfulness resulted in their being turned over as slaves to the Babylonians. For the modern-day Christian, there are equivalents to the Babylonians that are waiting to ensnare and enslave.

In both groups (the ancient Israelites and the modern Christians) there are remnants of people who having slipped the bonds of sin have entered into a life of service to the King; not as slaves but as bond-servants. And in that decision is found the quality to serve God. The king of Babylonia was looking for young men, good looking and smart. The God of heaven is looking for humble people who are willing and who are committed.

Like the young men in Babylon, those who meet the qualification are to be set apart and prepared for service and then ultimately they are to serve the king.

My questions to you today are;
· Have you put back on the shackles of sin or have you become a bond-servant to Christ?
· Are you humble before God and willing to serve? Are you committed to service in the face of adversity and opposition?
· Are you set apart from the rest of the world; saving yourself for His purposes or are you immersed in the world, giving yourself to all manner of idols?
· Are you being prepared for service or has your term already begun?

By our faith and adoption into the family of God our lineage has been secured. By our lineage we are pre-qualified to serve the King. By God’s will and our willingness we are set apart for service to the King. By the Holy Spirit we are taught the language and literature of Christianity as ongoing preparation for our service. We need only to humbly submit ourselves to Him in service and in love.

שָׁלֹם

Carl

b Or Chaldeans

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

T-62: What have I in common?

In this countdown to Camp Tsungani, we have examined the virtue of encouragement as modeled by Caleb. We have examined the virtue of faithfulness as modeled by Nehemiah. We turn now to the virtue of self-control and like Caleb and Nehemiah before, God has recorded the story of Daniel for our benefit. I hope and pray that as you accompany me in this study, you see aspects of yourself in these godly people. Their stories and adventures have been preserved and presented to us that we may learn from them, that we may see that they are fundamentally no different than we and that through faithful obedience to God, the fruits we observe in them may come to maturity in us.

Our text for this portion of my study is found in Daniel 1:3-20. I think it appropriate that we read the entire passage before we begin dividing God’s word of truth.

Now that we have an appropriate contextual setting for this study, let’s look intently at… Daniel 1:3-4 (NIV)
3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— 4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.b [1]

As many times as I have read this passage, there is something in V3 that I have never noticed before. The Babylonian king commanded that Israelites from the royal family and the nobility be brought in. I had always thought of Daniel and his compatriots as just ordinary Israelites. But according to this account, our protagonists have a pedigree and a lineage! My initial reaction to this comes from my flesh; I have no pedigree and my lineage is common so what could I possibly have in common with Daniel?!? But at the same time, welling up from deep within comes a few observations to refute this.

First, our course of study began with Caleb, a former slave of Egypt; a man freed from his captivity and bondage by the power of the Almighty God. We were then presented with Nehemiah, a servant and a slave to a beneficent king. Now, we turn our attention to Daniel, apparently descended from royalty or nobility. In this comparison, I see the full range of humanity represented; from slave to noble. All three served God and all three are presented as examples for our emulation.

Secondly is the observation that God is sovereign over all people, whether slave, free-man or prince and king. Certainly, you and I fall under this all-encompassing umbrella! To that extent, in the eyes of God, we are all alike. No matter our position in life, our caste, our class, our education, we are all brothers and sisters in the family of God.

And the last observation has to do with our own lineage. Like Caleb, we have all been slaves to sin and like Caleb we have all been freed from our bondage by the mercy and grace of The Lord God. Like Nehemiah, we are all cupbearers in the service of a beneficent king. The cup we bear is the communion cup sharing the blood of Christ with all who draw near and The King is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords; our God. Finally, having been adopted into the lineage of Christ through his sacrifice, we are all children of The King; thus like Daniel, we have a pedigree and a lineage.

I’m going to leave V4 for tomorrow so that I may dwell upon the richness of V3 today. I trust that you understand and I charge you today to consider your own lineage in Christ. Ponder the mercy with which you were released from your bondage. Consider the benefits you enjoy in your service to The King and dwell upon the grace with which you were adopted into the family of Christ Jesus.

Regards,
Carl

b Or Chaldeans

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

T-63 - Faithful Service

When I last wrote on Nehemiah, before Easter, Nehemiah had led the remnant in Jerusalem to begin rebuilding the city wall. As with any task of this size, the efforts of the workers did not go unnoticed. Consider…

Nehemiah 2:19-20 (NIV)
19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. “What is this you are doing?” they asked. “Are you rebelling against the king?”
20 I answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.”
[1]

Yes, the work did not go unnoticed. And in fact, anytime we undertake a task directed by The Spirit, we too shall confront such as Sanballat, Tobiah and Gesham. Indeed, the work of believers will often be ridiculed and questioned by nonbelievers. This in fact is not their ‘fault’ for they are simply responding to the direction of he whom they follow; the prince of lies, of deceit and of deception. Scripture teaches us that anytime we come to serve the Lord, we must be prepared for temptation.

Sometimes this temptation appears in the form of something ‘good’ which prevents our efforts on something ‘great.’ Sometimes, it presents as a question of our intention or of our own abilities from external sources. It may appear as a question of our own worthiness rising up from inside. No matter it’s characteristics, the source of such questions is Satan and the purpose of such temptations is to render us ineffective.

In the instance presented in the text today, observers questioned the allegiance of Nehemiah and that of his fellow workers. They of course were questioning Nehemiah’s allegiance to the earthly king without regard to his allegiance to the King of Kings! But Nehemiah seized the opportunity to render a lesson to these non-believers.

Rather than defend the efforts of the worker based on the authority granted him by King Artaxerxes, Nehemiah answers with the assurance of a man of faith; “The God of heaven will give us success.” The success of the workers is not grounded in the authority of the king of the provisions of the men serving the earthly king but rather in the power wielded by God alone. And in this, in fact, the king Artaxerxes and all his men and resources are simply being used by God to accomplish God’s will in the rebuilding of a city. Nehemiah goes on to comment that “We his servants will start rebuilding…”

I think this fragment is important. Nehemiah did not say that they ‘would rebuild’ but that they would ‘start rebuilding.’ Nehemiah answered as a man dependent upon God and fully aware that his appointment was to ‘begin’ the project and not necessarily to finish the project. By this, we can clearly see that Nehemiah is devoted to God and not to the project of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. This speaks volumes as to the character and posture of Nehemiah and provides and example from which we may draw many important lessons.

The further response of Nehemiah, “but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it”, sets the record straight for those who are not part of God’s family. True enough that these three naysayers were nothing more than ‘carpetbaggers’ who profited from the destruction of Jerusalem but more importantly is the underlying concept that the non-believer has no right to the kingdom of God and indeed, shall not come into its possession.

From this then, I conclude that people of faith, those that have been grafted onto the family tree of Abraham, must diligently discharge their responsibilities with respect to the calling of God upon their life; that any who have a claim to the kingdom of God must be about rebuilding the walls of the new Jerusalem according to His purposes; that a man of faith depends upon God but takes decisive action as required and that a believer must be willing to speak the truth in the face of adversity.

As I conclude my study of this text in Nehemiah, I am convinced that God wants people who serve him faithfully. God wants his children to serve faithfully in the face of obstacles and opposition, despite hardship and temptation and in the face of danger or adversity. God calls us, each by name, to be fully His. He equips his children with everything necessary to accomplish the task He has appointed. He enables his servants with everything needed to be successful in their pursuit of His glory and His kingdom. We then, as Nehemiah, must simply start for God will finish.

שָׁלֹם

Carl
[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

T-68 - The Power of Testimony

Having exhorted his fellow Israelites to rebuild the walls and gates of Jerusalem, Nehemiah then resorts to personal testimony. We see this in today’s text…

Nehemiah 2:18 (NIV)
18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me. They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.
[1]

Nehemiah had already appealed to their reason and now he makes an appeal to their hearts. Yet, the way it is presented, it is almost as though it were an afterthought. “I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me.” Truthfully, that is as it should be.

Like Nehemiah, each of us has a story of how God has moved in our lives; leading, chastening, protecting, blocking, keeping, healing, blessing, saving. Though each and every personal account is different, they each are mere reflections of our God. If our ‘God story’ or ‘personal account’ or ‘testimony’ was the most important thing to us, then we shall have elevated ourselves to the throne. But if our focus is sharp, our testimony is not so much about us as it is about God. In this instance, God working in the life of Nehemiah takes a ‘backseat’ to the task he had set before Nehemiah. Thus, it is fitting and proper that the testimony of Nehemiah received so little attention and came second to the exhortation to accomplish the task at hand.

Nevertheless, there is power in the personal testimony and it was no different for Nehemiah. We know this to be true because the response of those who heard the testimony of Nehemiah was to reply “Let us start rebuilding.” The logical reason to rebuild the walls, personal safety, was not sufficient to motivate the people to undertake the task. Yet when they heard of how God was working in the life of Nehemiah, how the hand of God was moving among them, they were motivated to action. From this, we should draw the lesson that our personal testimonies have been given us that we might share them in order to encourage and motivate others.

And from that, you must know that it is important to be prepared to give your testimony at any time. Though you may not be called by God to rebuild the walls of a great city you will likely be called to rebuild a relationship between a non-believer and God. Although rebuilding Jerusalem was important, it pales by comparison to the importance of bringing the lost back into the fold. The trials you’ve endured, the pain, the hurt; the joys you’ve celebrated at the work of God in your life, they are yours to share just as Nehemiah shared. Like his testimony, your testimony is imbued with the very power of God to invoke a response in the heart of those who here it. I say this only to encourage you to have your testimony ready so that in the fullness of time as ordained by God, you may deliver it according to His purposes.

“So they began this good work.” Motivated by the dedication of Nehemiah, compelled by personal testimony and armed with the knowledge that God had his hand working among them, they began the rebuilding of Jerusalem.

What are you working on today?

שָׁלֹם

Carl

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

T-70 - Encourage Others

Nehemiah, being yielded to God and having secured the support of the king, has travelled to Jerusalem. By the cover of night, Nehemiah has surveyed the walls and gates. It is only now that he reveals his intentions to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Have a look at… Nehemiah 2:17 (NIV)
17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” [1]

I see in this passage parallels between the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the conquering of the Promised Land. You may recall that the spies observed the Promised Land and in the preceding passages of Nehemiah, we see that Nehemiah rode out, secretly, and observed the state of the walls and gate of Jerusalem. I can’t help but think that there is a lesson in this; perhaps about paying attention or careful observation before action.

Further, the tribal leaders of Israel were charged with analyzing the state of the land of Canaan. Nehemiah too analyzed what he had seen. I think it significant that Nehemiah did not ride to Jerusalem, get off his horse and immediately begin mixing mortar and setting stones. The phase of observation allowed him to assess the scope of the situation. The analysis of the observations allowed Nehemiah to determine what would be required to accomplish the task. Perhaps it was something along the lines of “okay, the west wall is completely crumbled; that’s 18’ tall by 50 yards in length, I’m going to need X number of stones and Y buckets of mortar.” Of course, this is just speculation and extrapolation on my part. But one thing is apparent to me. Nehemiah was not assessing the damage and analyzing his observations in order to determine IF the job could be done. He operated under the assumption that it WOULD be done. Therein is a significant difference between Nehemiah and ten of the tribal leaders of Israel who spied on the land of Canaan. Though Nehemiah was faced with a monumental job, he was completely undeterred.

Having observed and analyzed, Nehemiah then makes his report to the fellow countrymen. He begins his report by building up the people who are listening, giving them credit for understanding the trouble at hand; “You see the trouble we are in:…” In this manner, Nehemiah has made the cause a common cause. He did not say ‘you see the trouble YOU are in’ nor did he admonish the inhabitants for not having already begun reparations of the wall. He said ‘you see the trouble WE are in.’ If we are walking in fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ, we will have this same approach for the troubles that face us/them. Their problems, their sorrows, their opportunities become ours as we struggle together for the greater good of God’s kingdom.

Nehemiah observed that ‘Jerusalem lies in ruins’ which is based on his observation and would be readily apparent. He then offers that ‘its gates have been burned with fire.’ Now, my initial understanding had me picturing big wooden gates that had been reduced to charcoal. But I believe that was not the case. I think that the real problem is that the gates had been built with a stone, perhaps limestone, that when exposed to fire loses its structural integrity. If the stonework of the gate had been compromised, repairing the gates would not be a simple matter of attaching new wooden doors. It would require a careful reconstruction of the supporting structure. Thus, this was no small or inconsequential task.

Lastly, I note that Nehemiah, like Caleb and Joshua, spoke words of encouragement to his listeners. He exhorted them “Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” I believe the word ‘disgrace’ here carries more of a meaning of vulnerability and dependence than one of pride. Nevertheless, Nehemiah was not deterred by that state of the walls. He lived his life predicated on the presence of God in his life. He worked with the assumption that God was in control. He approached the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem with faithful determination because he knew that God was with him.

As children of God, we too can operate in this world with ‘other-worldly’ confidence, just as Nehemiah. If we draw upon his example and internalize the lessons of yieldedness, prayer, humility and faith then we too can reconstruct all that has been reduced to rubble by our enemies. Our observation and analysis should be performed with the confidence of knowing that we operate in the center of God’s will and that by Him and through Him, all things are possible.

The camp connection… “come, let us set our teepees in the land that God has prepared for us and we will no longer be in disgrace.” God is Tsungani.

Warm Regards,
Carl 'Chief Running Water' Schultz
Read My Blog!

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

T-73 - Be Yielded, Prayerful and Sacrificial

Last night I had the opportunity to deliver a message against worry based on Matthew 6:25-34. As usual, that message was as much for me as it was for anyone else. It occurs to me that as I study Nehemiah during my daily devotionals I am reading the life of a man who knew the weight of a righteous burden but did not worry. That is a characteristic that I sorely need to develop in my own life so I have been searching for the ‘secret’ to a worry-free life. In today’s text, I believe I have been given a glimpse into Nehemiah’s secret.

Consider with me this passage…Nehemiah 2:4-5 (NIV)
4 The king said to me, “What is it you want?”
Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 5 and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it.”
[1]

Did you notice? Or did you like me run right past it and focus on the content of Nehemiah’s statement to the king. Go back and read it again. Note that the king asked a question of Nehemiah. Note also that before Nehemiah gave his answer, he paused. And in that single still moment he breathed a prayer to God. Could that be part of the secret which I seek to uncover? I believe it is and in this small sentence fragment, I see two important indicators that I share with you now.

The first indicator is that Nehemiah is a man fully yielded to God. I say this based as much on what he didn’t say as on what he did say. What he didn’t say is “I thought for a moment” or “I considered what to say” or “I steeled myself to answer.” Nehemiah gave no consideration to himself at all. He did not look to reason or knowledge or tradition. He did not lean on his own understanding nor expectations. He didn’t choose his words carefully or gather any materials to support his position. He didn’t do any of the things that you and I might be inclined to do when faced with a similar situation. Instead he rested and relied on his faith in a god of providence and of grace. This could only be proof positive that Nehemiah was a man of God and a man fully yielded to God in humble submission. If there is one lesson that I need, this has to be it; how to be a man that is fully yielded to God and who lives by faith in all matters.

The second matter is that in a time of great stress and imminent danger, Nehemiah resorted to prayer. He did not run to superior logic or the power of reason; he reached out and plucked the power of prayer. He did not resort to oratorical device or superlative language; he resorted to prayer. He did not physically prostrate himself, bow his head, close his eyes or in any other way practice any sort of ritual; he simply prayed to the God of heaven. I envision his prayer as a dart; flying swiftly up to heaven where it landed at the feet of God. And just as swiftly, I see God dispatching an answer to Nehemiah. Very simply, it is the manifest power of prayer.

Now as simple as that seems I must acknowledge that Nehemiah did not offer only that ‘breath prayer’ to God. I believe the effectiveness of his ‘breath prayer’ was predicated upon a rich prayer life which had already paved the way for open communication between God and Nehemiah. I offer this observation because in Nehemiah 1:4-5 we have a record that Nehemiah, upon learning the state of his brethren in Jerusalem had mourned and fasted and prayed for some days. And after his period of mourning, fasting and prayer, he prayed a prayer of finality and turned the matter over to God. In that prayer, Nehemiah laid the groundwork for his ‘breath prayer.’ So while God hears all prayers, I believe the ‘prayer in an instant’ is most effective when accompanied by a full and fervent prayer life. Further, I believe this is borne out in scripture and specifically in the example of Jesus Christ.

Now if yieldedness is the posture, prayer must be the practice. Therein must be the secret of a worry-free life.

I could stop right here and feel like I had eaten a banquet. But in this passage there is one more thing that I just have to squeeze out of the text. It is the nature of the request made by Nehemiah to King Artaxerxes. It is the fruit of the prayer and a testament to Nehemiah’s yieldedness. He said “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it.”

In that request is a noble sentiment but more importantly is the revelation that Nehemiah was asking to make a sacrifice of his own life. You must remember that Nehemiah was rich and powerful. He lived a comfortable life in the service of the king, had access to powerful people and got invited to all the good parties. In the same way that Nehemiah had the ear of God by way of prayer, he also had the ear of the king by way of the cup. I believe that at the time, it was an enviable position. But Nehemiah asked to give all that away so that he could travel to a distant city and undertake what could only be described as a gargantuan task. He asked to be allowed to rebuild Jerusalem. Now in case you don’t have an immediate appreciation for the size of that job, I want you to consider New Orleans. Years have passed since it was wrecked by a hurricane and its’ walls were breached by a flood. And even though we live in the richest country in the world, that city remains in tatters. Now consider if it were you seeking to rebuild that city. If an entire nation cannot rebuild New Orleans, how in the world could one man, Nehemiah, go about rebuilding the city of Jerusalem? How in the world, indeed. He couldn’t. But his strength and motivation were not in the world, they were from out of this world. He wasn’t Nehemiah going to rebuild Jerusalem, it was Nehemiah AND God. Suddenly, that task is not quite so large, is it? Evenso, Nehemiah was pouring out his own life that his fathers and his God might be honored and glorified.

I don’t know about you but my day just got put into perspective.

Warm Regards,
Carl 'Chief Running Water' Schultz
Read My Blog!
[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

T-75

Nehemiah, cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, finds himself in a prickly situation. The grief he feels over his brethren in Jerusalem shows on his face in the presence of the king. The king notices his long face and questions Nehemiah as to the cause of his sadness. Nehemiah realizes that his job is in danger even his very life is at stake. It’s decision time for Nehemiah. Will he answer the king truthfully or will he be crushed under the pressure and give a glib reply?

Our text today reveals the outcome as follows;
Nehemiah 2:3 (NIV)
3 but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”
[1]

Nehemiah answers frankly and honestly and in his response, I see transparency and truthfulness buttressed by courage.

As to transparency, Nehemiah chose to reveal his emotional burden without any pretense. He did not posture or pretend there was nothing on his heart but rather spoke directly to the matter. God had laid a burden on his heart for the city of Jerusalem; a burden heavy enough to show in his countenance. Many men would have dodged the question that required revelation of an emotional burden but not Nehemiah. In his response we see that he has chosen to trust God (working in Artaxerxes) with the emotional baggage Nehemiah was carrying.

As to truthfulness, Nehemiah chose to answer the king frankly and directly. He could have provided an answer that satisfied the king without being honest but truthfulness and honesty, that is what the God of Nehemiah demanded and that is what Nehemiah gave. Even at the risk of his own life, Nehemiah spoke bravely and confidently, safe in the knowledge that his God would protect and provide for him.

As to courage, though his life was at stake, Nehemiah did not bow down to the pressure of pleasing the king. His allegiance was to the higher power of God and he did what he should even though he was afraid. Such courage reveals the strength of his convictions and the confidence in His God. In this, we see a similarity between Nehemiah and Caleb. Both men were in dangerous circumstances with their lives on the line. Both men had faith in God enough to give them the courage they needed to do the right thing. By their actions, both men brought glory to God and became vessels for His noble purposes.

In the face of this example, how would you respond? We each shoulder our own burdens each and every day. In the course of our day, we invariably hear the question “How are you today?” And in that moment, in the presence of the KING, we have a choice to make as to how we will reply. Do you reveal your heart, expose your tender and vulnerable underside or do you harden your heart? Do you honor God through an honest and forthright answer or do you bow to the king of lies? Do you halve your burden by sharing it with another so that they may be enable to accomplish God’s will? Or do you oppose God’s will by the disingenuous answer of “I’m fine”?

These are the questions we must confront as we consider the actions of Nehemiah.

Regards,
Carl
[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

T-76

Having investigated and grasped the courage of Caleb in the way in which he encouraged his countrymen, we turn now to Nehemiah as a model of godly virtues. I’ll be working from Nehemiah 2:2-6 and 17-20 in preparation for Camp Tsungani.

It is important to keep this passage in context that we may fully understand its meaning. To that extent, there are three facts concerning Nehemiah that we must remember from chapter 1. First, Nehemiah is the son of Hacaliah and he grieves for his countrymen living in the broken down city of Jerusalem. Secondly, Nehemiah is God’s man as evidenced by his prayer in Nehemiah 1:5-11. Thirdly, our man Nehemiah was cupbearer to the king.

A couple of words about his job as ‘cupbearer’ are in order here. Bringing the king his wine doesn’t sound like much of a job and indeed, it was a position filled by servants and slaves. But it was a very important position in that the ‘cupbearer’ came continually into the presence of the king. As such, the cupbearer was a highly visible person and this placed them at risk. They had to ‘act right’ and ‘look right’ lest they be relieved of their head.

On to the text for today…

Nehemiah 2:1-2 (NIV)
2 In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before; 2 so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.”
I was very much afraid,
[1]
Nehemiah was in mourning over his fellow countrymen and their dire situation in Jerusalem; he felt compassion. He had been mourning and fasting for several days when he was called to duty and you may notice how trivially he ‘took the wine and gave it to the king.’ The next sentence though reveals Nehemiah’s concern for the situation in which he found himself “I had not been sad in his presence before;…” so this was no trivial matter. Showing sadness in front of the king was a capital offense. And here is where the ‘high visibility’ of the cupbearer comes into play. The king Artaxerxes noticed the difference and asked for an explanation.

“Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill?” I believe this question reveals something of Artaxerxes. First, the king noticed the difference. Though Nehemiah was a servant and a slave, a mere cupbearer, the king paid attention to his countenance. Had the king never noticed Nehemiah or paid attention to his face and his demeanor, the king would never have been aware of the difference. In this, we can see the hand of God at work for it is in this moment that the future of the nation of Israel is impacted.

Secondly, the king obviously paid attention to the physical state of his servants. I note that the king did not ask if Nehemiah was ill or sick. Instead he stated “when you are not ill.” Thus, the implication is that the king knew that Nehemiah was not physically ill and from that we can derive that the king was concerned with those who serve him. Do we see in Artaxerxes that capacity for concerned leadership that sets a king apart from his peers?

Thirdly, Artaxerxes demonstrates his awareness of the ‘feelings’ of his servants when he continues “This can be nothing but sadness of heart.” Such keen insight and wisdom into the nature of man. A lesser king would not have noticed, or had he noticed would not have cared. A lesser king may have DEMANDED and explanation or simply passed judgment and dismissed the servant or even sentenced him to death. Again, in this I see God at work.

Nevertheless, Nehemiah was sad, the king noticed and asked for an explanation. Nehemiah then records “I was very much afraid,…” By now, you should have an understanding of why Nehemiah would be fearful; his life was on the line.

We know that at this moment, Nehemiah had a choice to make; the same choice that we make every time someone asks us a similar question. He can bow down to his fear and reply “I’m fine” or “it’s nothing” and go on pretending that he has no burden. Or he can respond in truth and give an honest answer even though to do so places him in peril. Surely, you can relate to that situation! How many times have you been burdened and God sends someone along to share your burden by asking “how are you today?” And how many times have you responded out of fear or out of pride “I’m fine”? How many times has someone asked you “what’s wrong” and you’ve responded “it’s nothing”?

We all have this need to share the burdens of our heart but many times we refuse. It may be because we don’t want people to know that we’re “sensitive” or “broken” or incapable of handling every thing that comes our way. It may be out of fear because we have some façade that needs to be defended so that we don’t get too close to people. As you consider how Nehemiah might respond, give consideration also to how you respond. We’ll pick back up at this point tomorrow.

May the Lord our God smile upon this day.

Regards,
Carl
[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

T-78

Just a quick note to give us something to talk about when we see each other. :)

God's timing still mesmerizes me. Discussed testimony with some friends several weeks ago, heard another's testimony a couple of weeks ago and was reminded of the power of testimony... today had an opportunity to give my 8 minute testimony to my church. What a great opportunity to reach out!

Anyway, just wanted to share in an informal manner. I'll try to do something more formal later.

Shalom,
Carl

Okay, here is the testimony I gave...

When I read Randall’s outline of the rebellious person’s life, I thought someone was playing a cruel joke on me. You see, I have a rebellious spirit and that outline fit me like a glove.

· As a child, I was devoted to God. I was raised in a Southern Baptist church and on Sunday mornings, evenings, Wednesday nights and any other time the doors were open, you could find me there. I was devoted. Sunday school, training union, children’s choir, bell choir, vacation bible school, summer camp and Royal Ambassadors, that was me. I raised money for Lottie Moon and carried my fair share of pot-luck dishes. My heroes were smugglers! The guys who smuggled Bibles into China! I loved the Lord and I followed him the best I could.
· I can’t say anything about my parent’s faith then. We attended church but never discussed matters of faith at home. They were heavily involved in the Masonic Lodge, Masonry, Shriners and Eastern Star. My sister was a Rainbow girl and I was a De Molay. In the course of time, my family became a statistic and I became a rebel. Naturally, I blamed myself for my parents’ divorce and even more than that, I blamed God. Why would he do this to me? I became cynical and hard-hearted.
· Eventually, I wanted no part of hypocritical church people, no part of religion, no part of God and I quit going to church, I renounced Christ and relegated him to ‘nice guy’ status. My Bible, worn from childhood sword drills, was parked on a shelf where it collected dust and was forgotten along with all my other books of fairy-tales and folklore. I turned my back on God, crying out “I will not serve you” and willingly embraced the ways of the world. I became an idolater and worshipped at the altar of sex, drugs and rock-and-roll. I promoted myself and my pursuit of worldly success, personal happiness and financial freedom to god-hood. On every high hill and under every spreading tree, I laid down and sold myself.
· For twenty years, I worked to make it in the world according to my way. Along the way I came to know the echoing sound of an iron door slamming shut. And I knew tears, great rivers of tears. Jobs came and went, my businesses failed and my debt multiplied. In my trail I left a wake of broken promises, busted relationships, disappointment and despair. Everyone that tried to love me ultimately received my wrath.
· My life was a train-wreck with few survivors. I was beset by guilt and I endured remorse. I was sorry for the things I got caught in. I thought that if I only worked harder, cut more corners, was more cunning or shrewd, my life would be better; my dreams realized. So I endeavored not to get caught anymore and I dreamed ever bigger dreams. I built my houses on the sand and one by one, the castles I built crumbled; my life was one catastrophe after another. The consequences of my sin were my constant companions. My own divorce was imminent. Even so, faith and repentance were for weaklings, losers and the gullible but definitely not for me.
· Of course, none of this was my own fault. It was always and in all ways the result of someone else’s treachery, ineptitude or deceit. It was my wife’s fault or my friends fault or an attorney’s fault but never, ever my fault.
· Again and again I would call out to ‘the Creator’ or ‘the judge’ for justice. In pain and tears I would cry out to God for mercy; expecting no answer. I got exactly what I expected.
· Whenever disaster would strike I would cry out to the God of my childhood and in his silence or in his rejection, I would curse him, even denying his very existence. I searched for the answers to my questions in Hedonism, Buddhism, Deism, New Age Mysticism, Atheism and capitalism.
· That is not to say that God was not present in my life. Despite my denials he paired me to a beautiful and godly woman who was so patient and persistent. He blessed us with beautiful children, less patient and very insistent. And God the Father, he whom I denied, watched the horizon and waited, patiently; while I hungered for the slop fed to pigs.
· Yes, those were the good old days, may they rest in peace. As the children grew I realized that I was in way over my head. We decided that our children needed to learn some morals and where better to learn them than at church. That’s where we had learned them and it had not hurt us too much. So we enrolled our children in mother’s day out and started dropping them at Sunday School. It was a really great baby-sitting service, great location, priced right and it allowed us to sleep in on Sunday mornings. Yes, I came to Central out of purely selfish reasons to take advantage of the church. And my life continued to deteriorate.
· There came a day or more specifically a night, January 8, 2000 when I reached the end of my rope. The knot I had tied in it came unraveled and there was nothing left. I was emotionally, spiritually and financially bankrupt. I was guilty and I stood accused. I thought of one final use for that rope to which I had held so tightly. And in that moment, the Almighty God whom I had cursed, denied and despised compelled me to look one more place. I felt compelled to go to church with my daughter that day and to try a Sunday school class for adults. After a long argument with a very nice Aunt Bea behind the counter, I found one called Homeheaders’ in the brochure. So on January 9, 2000 I walked to a small room in the very back corner of a big round church; the last door on the left. As I opened that door to step in, my immediate instinct was to RUN! This was no place for me and I needed to ESCAPE! So I turned, put my hand on the latch and started to walk away. But in that moment, in my hard-heartedness, in my fear, in my desperation, God reached out to me, inviting me, insisting that I was in the right place; that I should sit… down. Bewildered, scared and broken, I sat down. Minutes later, in that room, seated around a folding table with a bunch of old men, my eyes were opened and there was God. It was my ‘road to Damascus’ and I was blinded by the light. In fear and awe, I came back to that class, again and again and again. In that classroom, in the Bible there was a banquet before me and I was so hungry! In the months that followed, I received the salvation and the Lordship of Christ. I died and was reborn, a new creation. I’m not.. who… I was.
· Eight years and two months later, to the day, I stand in front of this church, my church, to declare that God is real! The Lord is God! And He is very good.
· Maybe, you’re a rebel like me. Maybe, you’re wondering why you’re even here today. Maybe, you want to run away because you’re fighting the urge to give it all to God. I want you to know, right here, right now that God loves you and he wants you, just as you are. Come to Him. That’s my testimony.

T-79

So, in the face of the mob, Joshua and Caleb made their stand. Pierced by anguish and crushed with grief, they have torn their clothes but that is not where they stopped. Let’s have a look at what comes next…

Numbers 14:6-9 (NIV)
6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. 8 If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”
[1]

Though grief-stricken, they were not paralyzed but rather galvanized to action! Picking up in V7, “and said to the entire Israelite assembly…” Our courageous optimists again speak out and say “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good.” Contrary to the nay-sayers Joshua and Caleb want everyone to know that the land is not just good, it is exceedingly good. In this, I draw upon the parallel of the Promised Land and our own salvation to remind us that our salvation is not just good, it is exceedingly good. It is not something that happens and we simply resume our former lives (still in progress) but rather it is a watershed moment in our personal history. On the line of eternity, a dot has been drawn that delineates our time in the desert and our life in the Promised Land of God’s Kingdom.

Joshua and Caleb continue with “If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us.” What a huge caveat! “If the Lord is pleased with us” indeed! I can imagine what went through the minds of assembly, remembering their continual transgressions they likely despaired! We know from the full counsel of Holy Scripture that we have been reconciled to God by the atoning blood of Christ Jesus. It pleased God to accomplish this and to reconcile us to himself. In so doing, he has indeed led us into that land and freely given it to us.

Realizing the potential of the congregation, Joshua and Caleb continue with V9 “Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.” Four small sentences but such huge stores of wisdom!

Joshua and Caleb speak not only to the rebelliousness spirit of the Israelites but also to our own rebellious spirits as well. What sage advice that we not rebel against the Lord. And yet, like God’s chosen people of that time, the chosen people of this time rebel! How many have walked down the aisle and received the gift of salvation yet refused to pick up the mantel of Christ’s Lordship in their lives? I was one such rebel speak of this as one who has been convicted and corrected in this respect. Do not rebel against the Lord, indeed!

Joshua and Caleb offer words of encouragement. Recognizing the fear that grips the hearts of their countrymen, they beseech them to ‘not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up.’ The confidence of their words belies the confidence of their hearts. Hearts which were sold out to God, dependent upon him and safe in the knowledge that God would deliver their enemies into their hands.

Joshua and Caleb speak of the vulnerability of the inhabitants of the land of Canaan. They realized that God had allowed these people to occupy the land he had reserved for the Israelites and that he had now withdrawn his protection from them. “Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us.” Joshua and Caleb knew that the fortified walls of the city would be no obstacle to God nor could they prevent death from within. How true this is for us today! We build walls around us in a vain effort to protect ourselves and for a time, God allows it. But there comes a day when the walls are breached and our hearts are laid bare before the Lord. We can however, defend those walls to the death, rejecting God, rejecting His gift of salvation and in that we perish, eternally.

Lastly, our two heroes remind the congregation “Do not be afraid of them.” On the surface, this seems to be nothing more than a literary device to reinforce what has been said. But I think that what is implied speaks much louder than what is said. Chiefly that our fear should not be set against our earthly opponents and adversaries. For compared to the living God, they are as dust before the wind. Rather our fear should be fear of the Sovereign God. Hmmm, let’s see…. fear a group of people enough to be disobedient to God or fear God himself? It seems like a no-brainer to me. “The Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them!”

שָׁלֹם

Carl

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

T-81

The people of Israel upon hearing the reports of the ten spies were overcome with fear, remorse and faithlessness. So much so that they wept through the night and yet another revolt against Moses and Aaron arose. The people who had been freed from the yoke of slavery considered, talked about and set about to return to Egypt and to the slavery they would surely face. In this concept is much for us to consider; how the redeemed will return to their sin as though a slave chained to it.

That however is text for another day and I only mention it to set the contextual stage for the text of today. Consider…

Numbers 14:6 (NIV)
6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes [1]

I immediately notice three points in this text.

First, I take note of the statement of genealogy. The fathers of both Joshua and Caleb are explicitly mentioned. I believe this may be so that not only may we distinguish one Joshua from another but also to bestow honor on their respective houses. Consider that 12 leaders were selected, representing the 12 tribes of Israel. All the spies witnessed the same events and situations. Only two ‘kept the faith.’ And they ‘kept their faith’ in the face of the multitudes and masses. This is significant. Their parents should be proud. J

Secondly, I take note of the boldness of their response. Joshua and Caleb demonstrated remarkably commendable boldness in opposing all their colleagues and indeed the entire congregation of Israel. In their opposition, they put themselves at great risk. This after all is the age of stoning! That they took such an obvious and recognizable action reveals the strength of their conviction. There is much we can learn from their example. We are to stand firm and not be dislodged from our convictions.

Third, I take note of the grief revealed in their actions. Our two exemplary leaders could have and had every right to rebuke their colleagues and to reproach the nation of Israel for their faithlessness. They had a forum and a podium from which to ‘launch’ their rebuke. But instead, they demonstrated great self-control, wisdom and meekness. Their hearts were anguished at the attitudes of their countrymen. Their very soul was penetrated with grief and they demonstrated their grief in the custom of the times; they tore their clothes. Looking ahead, let us acknowledge that the clothes they were wearing would be worn for the next forty years. Thus, the remembrance of their grief would accompany them for the next four decades. Nevertheless, they tore their clothes out of grief over the voluntary death, even suicide, that the nation of Israel was in the midst of. Can our grief be any less for our countrymen? Are we so safe in our own salvation as to be numb to the legions of the lost that surround us?

What I take away from this text is an instruction to follow in their example. To represent the family of God well; to be bold in my right actions; to be true to my convictions; to grieve and weep over sinners instead of being angry with them; to feel and show compassion for the lost and to instruct others by my words AND my actions.

As Christians, we live in a degenerate world surrounded on every side by sin and perversion. We must each as individuals take a stand to defend our convictions and to be witnesses for God. Like the examples before us, we must never be dissuaded or deterred from testifying against sin no matter the strength, power or numbers of those in opposition. Even if we stand alone, we must stand.

Regards,
Carl

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

T-82

Yesterday in my study of Numbers 13:30, we had the opportunity to see how a positive attitude affected the way in which a set of circumstances is perceived. We saw that a man who operates on faith can be courageous, faithful, encouraging and optimistic; even when confronted with what appears to be overwhelming adversity.

Today, we continue in the study of Numbers 13:17-33 by covering the last three verses. Our text… Numbers 13:30-33 (NIV)
30 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”
31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” 32 And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. 33 We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”
[1]

I have intentionally included v30 again in order to maintain proper contextualization of our concluding verses.

On the heels of Caleb, who spoke optimistically with courage rooted in faith in order to encourage the people of Israel, came ten of the other spies. You may recall that there were in fact twelve spies however, I believe that in this passage Caleb is speaking on behalf of his ‘team’ which included Joshua and himself. Thus in fact we have two ‘encouraging spies’ and ten ‘others’ and it is the words and actions of the ‘others’ that we now examine.

In fact, I see six characteristics of the response of the ‘other’ spies.

First is a pervasive sense of negativism. In as much as Caleb had a positive attitude, the other spies had a negative attitude. Their response to Caleb’s exhortation includes words like “can’t… stronger than we… land devours… great size… we’re as grasshoppers.” These men were clearly intimidated by the people inhabiting the land of Canaan and out of fear for their own safety, saw only obstacles. Though they had seen the fruit of the land and had admitted that the land indeed ‘flows with milk and honey’ these facts were overshadowed by their pervasive sense of negativity. I contend that this poor attitude is a remnant of the fall and a manifestation of the curse.

Second is the manifestation of faithlessness. In as much as Caleb’s positive attitude was rooted in his absolute faith in God, the negative attitude of the nay-sayers is rooted in their lack of faith. It is hard to imagine a people so hard-headed as to witness the release from Egypt and the escapes from death by the power of God and yet to think he would abandon them at the finish line! Yet, that is exactly what their actions indicate. And thousands of years later, we as believers fall into the same trap! How can any informed and faithful Christian have or perpetrate a negative attitude as these men did? The only time we feel intimidated is when we rely on our own power and forget the power of our God!

Third is the commission of sinful behavior (lying). The analysis of the spies that the ‘people are stronger than we are’ was truthful. Though colored by negativity it was nonetheless true. But then they resorted to a fabrication by reporting that ‘the land we explored devours those living in it.’ Scripture tells us nothing of the sort. There is no account of the spies seeing anything that would indicate the land was in any way problematic. To the contrary, they had previously reported that the ‘land flows with milk and honey.’ Where then came this assertion? It was the ‘human’ response to their fear of the people of the land. When they contemplated the thought of attacking these people, fear gripped their hearts. Satan, the prince of lies then preyed upon their faithless spirit and fanned the flames of fear in their heart. The words they then spoke were lies from the pit. From there, it was lie upon lie as they reacted out of fear.

Fourth is the use of manipulation. The spies manipulated the people by ‘spreading among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored.’ They knew that if they stirred up fear among the congregation (intentional representation) they could sway the people to a course of action that was aligned with their own sense of self-preservation. Rather than presenting the facts and allowing the leadership of the people to lead, rather than allowing the people, their own people, to be encouraged by a faithful leader, they resorted to manipulation and in so doing, incited a riot.

Fifth is the employment of hyperbole. In the commission of their sin and to insure the success of their manipulation, they resorted to ‘enflamed rhetoric’ and ‘hyperbole.’ “All the people are of great size… we seemed as grasshopper…” This is a common tool employed by the desperate in order to buttress their position. And again, the believers of today are as likely to resort to hyperbole and rhetoric to advance their own causes as to not. Hyperbole, properly used, has it’s place. But in the hands of someone suffering from a faithless and negative attitude, from the mouth of one who is scared enough to resort to lying and the tactic of manipulation, hyperbole becomes a potent and devastating weapon. And it was as a weapon that these ‘tribal leaders’ used hyperbole.

Sixth is the over-riding sense of presumptuousness. That last verse (V33) reveals a presumptuous spirit among the nay-saying leaders. “We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes” is not presumptuous, pessimistic yes but not presumptuous. But when they conclude with “and we looked the same to them” the leaders have crossed a line to presume the thoughts of another. Their own bad attitude allowed them to presume the thoughts of another as being known to them. We confront this type of behavior in our own lives. Consider whether you’ve said or heard anything along these lines; “he’ll never change… they won’t approve… she doesn’t care… there’s no way…” All of these and more reveal a presumptuous spirit that removes God from the equation. It causes a person to behave in a predictable manner which often results in the creation of a ‘self-fulfilling prophecy.’ Think of the wife who says of her husband “he’ll never change…” She then alters her behavior in such a way as to isolate and punish her husband who in response entrenches himself even deeper into whatever behavior she decries. If we presume to know the thoughts of another, our behavior will support that position and make it more likely to become true. So it was with the spies, they believed they were ‘as grasshoppers’ so they acted ‘like grasshoppers.’

The people of Israel are God’s Chosen People. He freed them from bondage and led them safely to the edge of the Promised Land. Had they believed in Him and acted in faith, history would be completely different and the world we live in today would be remarkably different. Yet by the pessimistic perspective of the ‘tribal leaders’ they fell into a trap and were snared. I say to you then to learn from this account that a positive attitude rooted in faith is a powerful and potent tool in the world today. Be courageous and do not fear for God is with you. Encourage one another and do not presume to know the heart or mind of another. Be honest in your words and actions and do not manipulate to your own ends. Act as God’s beloved for that is what you are.

Regards,
Carl

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

T-83

The countdown to Camp Tsungani continues as does my study of Numbers 13:17-33. Today, we get to the heart of the matter. Consider…

"Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”" (Numbers 13:30, NIV)
[1]

In Caleb’s actions as recorded in this passage, I see four important points that I want to explore.

First, there is courage – being brave enough to do what you should do even when you’re afraid. Can you imagine the pressure that Caleb must have felt after hearing the reports of his fellow tribal leaders? The majority of them were intimidated by the size of the people and the strength of the fortified cities. Their report was cautious at best and downright negative at its worst. In any group, there is a natural pressure to ‘get in step’ with the rest of the group and it’s a common form of peer pressure. Surely Caleb felt this pressure but even in the face of that, he had the courage to step up and speak his mind. ‘Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses’, that’s an act of courage. Caleb sets an example for us to follow and scripture is teaching us to have courage.

Secondly, there is faith – being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. I can imagine having seen the huge fortified cities and the population of giants that all the ‘spies’ would be scared. After all, they had seen these things with their own eyes and they knew that they could not overcome these obstacles alone. Their problem was that they had lost their faith, believing only in what they could see and touch. However, Caleb’s courage was not founded on some kind of misguided zeal but was grounded in his faith in the all-powerful God. ‘We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” Caleb knew that the same God that had delivered them from Egypt, parted the Red Sea and destroyed the Pharoah’s armies could also help them to claim this land, the Promised Land. Caleb’s faith compelled him to action and those actions revealed the strength of his faith.

Thirdly, there is encouragement – the act of giving hope or promise. Central to this concept is that of action. Caleb stepped forward and silenced the people, challenging his fellow tribal leaders, with courage. Caleb spoke with conviction of their ability to take possession of the land out of faith in God. To the many who were there that were willing and eager to be led, he offered hope of victory and the realization of God’s promise to his people. Caleb did not argue with the naysayers which could have easily descended into bickering but rather he offered the confidence of the faithful and in this is found encouragement. The act of encouragement emboldens the weak and multiplies courage in the face of despair. Caleb’s encouraging spirit lives out the scriptural mandate that we ‘encourage one another’ to accomplish good works in God’s name.

Attitude – a mental position with regard to a fact or state. Caleb had a ‘can-do’ attitude, he was a ‘glass half full’ kind of guy. But he was no Pollyanna or bubble-headed optimist rather his attitude was based on his dependence upon God. We all face this opportunity each and every day. We know when we awake that the day will hold obstacles and opportunities. It is our choice how we will meet the challenges and trouble of the day. Some will go forth down-trodden, defeated before the battle is even joined. Others will spring forth eager to face whatever awaits. I like to think that I’m a Caleb kind of guy, that I spring forth and look for the opportunities to be an overcomer. What about you? When you face the giants in your life are you hypnotized by your fear, frozen in place and unable to move? Or are you confident in the providential nature of God and embrace your situations as opportunities?

The fact of the matter is that your attitude, positive or negative, can make a big difference in how you view a situation. Henry Ford, the industrialist, once said “whether you think you can or think you can’t, either way you’re right.” God said, through the Scripture that we are to be encouragers of one another. Let’s commit anew today to be Caleb’s in our world; courageous, faithful, encouraging and optimistic. In this we honor God.

Regards,
Carl

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

T-84

The word of God is powerful. He said ‘let there be…’ and there was. By His word the heavens and the earth, the land and the sea, the plants and the animals were all created. By his word, Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden and it was by his word that the land of Canaan became the Promised Land.

Yet for man, God’s word is often not adequate. It seems stupid that this is the case nevertheless, it is the truth. As fallible humans we are far more apt to accept the words of another human than we are the words of God. So it was that God had Moses send the ‘spies’ into the land of Canaan that they may give report to the nation of Israel and testify to the promise of God. And report they did…

" They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.”" (Numbers 13:26-29, NIV)
[1]

At the end of the season of ‘spying’ the leaders of the tribes of Israel returned to where the nation of Israel was camped. In my mind, I can see them coming over the horizon like a scene out of ‘Band of Brothers’ except for that big cluster of grapes on a pole between two of them. I can imagine the news of their return spreading across the camp and the murmuring and excitement it must have caused. I can envision people laying down their work, setting aside half-finished projects and slowly coming together in great expectation.

Scripture tells us that ‘they reported.’ Whether they had an appointed spokesman is not clear but someone stepped forward and said ‘it is all true.’ They testified to the truth of what God had said ‘it does flow with milk and honey!’ They presented as proof positive, a cluster of grapes. And having analyzed all the land and the inhabitants as well, they continued with their report.

They reported that the inhabitants were powerful and some were of immense size, giants in their eyes (descendants of Anak). They observed that the cities are fortified and very large. And then they identified where in the land the various peoples lived; some in the desert, see in the hill country and still others along the coastline and riverbanks. And in this way, they obediently fulfilled their charge.

But even in this, we can the beginnings of a problem, doubt has entered their mind. Setting aside the memory of how God had set them free from Egypt, forgetting his provision and guidance through the desert, ignoring the fact of His promises, fear and faithlessness are raising their ugly head.

I recognize these distractions and obstacles because they are familiar to me. Though I’ve read the book, studied the manual and have an intimate relationship with the author, my Creator, nevertheless in my humanity I am weak. Like those spies, I can look squarely at the fulfillment of God’s promise and still see only those things which I cannot overcome. I allow the problems of everyday life to become giants in my sight, able to swallow me, to crush and defeat me. That’s the nature of my flesh and the manifestation of the curse in my life. And when I am not squarely in God’s will, I fall in defeat.

However, I am not bound by the weakness of my flesh for I have been redeemed! Those things which I cannot overcome, God created! God alone can overcome them and I am neither expected or required to claim that victory. I need only step aside and let God be glorified and then I share in His victory.

I must admit that when word came that Camp Tsungani was being turned out of the land of Camp Cordova, my heart grieved. I have so many good memories of our time there that for a few moments, I was stunned and overwhelmed. That was flesh. But immediately, the ministrations of The Spirit within me began, my mind transformed, I started contemplating in what way God would overcome this roadblock. My faith strengthened, I earnestly strove to stay centered in his will. And not just me! But literally dozens of people resorted to prayer and responding to the leading of the Spirit, they searched for a new campground.

When we first visited the campground, I didn’t really know what to expect. I knew there would be earth and some cabins, a pool and a dining hall. It was likely to have trees and grass. J We went and we spied out the land and discovered that like the land of Canaan, this campground flows with milk and honey. Oh sure enough we saw ‘giants’ there, obstacles that needed overcoming and we had to throw our preconceptions and assumptions and yield more fully to God’s will. But we went, we saw, we analyzed and we brought back fruit. Though the entire nation didn’t assemble for our report, we each gave our report via e-mail (modern-day spies). The net of the reports is that… God is good!

I’m looking forward to continuing this study tomorrow as much as I’m looking forward to camp.


שָׁלֹם
(Shalom)

Carl

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

T-86

We know from the Bible (and from a popular folk song) that there is a season to everything. Okay, so the song just took the biblical truths from Ecclesiastes and got it onto the radio! The Bible is the authority after all! God has assigned seasons to everything and it’s one of those fundamental concepts of creation.

So it was for the men of Israel as they explored the land of Canaan. They were there for a season. We see this in… Numbers 13:25 (NIV)
25 At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land.
[1]
I must admit that I don’t fully understand the significance of ‘forty days’ and that’s probably fodder for an eight-week Bible study! Nonetheless, I do know that ‘forty days’ appears twenty times in Scripture beginning with the flood in Genesis and ending with the earthly manifestation of the risen Christ in Acts. Although I do not grasp the deeper meaning, I do recognize it as a season. Moses spent forty days on Mount Sinai during which he received The Law and the spies spent forty days in Canaan examining and contemplating God’s promise to their nation and people. About this, I observe that at the end of this season, the ‘spies’ returned to their people to give their report or testimony.

As it so happens, we are now in the season of Lent. A forty day period, leading into Easter, marked by fasting and sacrifice that helps observers participate in and connect to the forty days that Christ spent in the wilderness fasting and facing temptation. At the end of his own season of temptation, Christ returned to his people, in the power of the Spirit, and began a new season of teaching. For those observing Lent, at the end of their season of fasting and sacrifice, they will break their fast and begin the Easter season of rejoicing and praise.

Everything in our lives turns with the creation-rhythm of seasons. You may find yourself in a season of famine right now or perhaps you are in a season of feasting. All around you are people going through their own seasons and all people have this in common. Understanding the fact of seasons helps to sustain us through the lean season and keeps us humble in the fat season. This is recorded in Scripture for this very purpose; that we may be faithful.

The ‘spies’ were faithful to their charge to go into the land of Canaan to observe, analyze, seize and explore. When their season was over, a new season began. But that’s for us to consider tomorrow.

Today, consider the season you are in. Identify the lessons and opportunities and treasure them up in your heart. Look around you for those who may be entering the same season and share with them that they may endure their season with faith and obedience. Consider that you have seen the Promised Land of eternity in Christ Jesus and be prepared to give your report. We’re spies for Christ… pssst… pass it on.

In His Grip,
Carl

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

T-87

Like the cluster of grapes in the Valley of Eschol, God’s word is big and ripe. Sometimes, it takes more than a single treatment to get everything you can out of it. The current passage of study is such so today, I have to backtrack a little bit and squeeze a little more out of the last four verses I touched upon yesterday.

Specifically, consider… Numbers 13:21-25 (NIV)
21 So they went up and explored the land from the Desert of Zin as far as Rehob, toward Leboa Hamath. 22 They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, lived. (Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) 23 When they reached the Valley of Eshcol,b they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs. 24 That place was called the Valley of Eshcol because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut off there. 25 At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land.
[1]

I tend to think of the Bible as a love letter from God to me. But throughout that letter, there are themes and currents. One such theme is that of obedience and in this text, obedience figures prominently. Keeping this passage in context, we can see that Moses was obedient to God by sending the leaders into the land of Canaan and instructing them to observe, analyze and to be opportunistic. In turn, the appointed leaders (who are specifically named) are obedient to Moses and ultimately to God. “So they went…” There is no account of reasoning, convincing, rationalizing, cajoling, whining or grumbling. God said… so Moses sent… so they went. It is stated so plainly and so simply as to represent a natural reaction to leadership and instruction. Oh that I were able to respond in such a manner at all times! And I would except… for me.

While their obedience to their commissioning is specifically addressed, their actions are not detailed for us. We get to see the path they took “through the Negev… to Hebron.. the valley of Eschol” but we aren’t presented with a color commentary of their journey. I believe that’s because the details of their actions are not what is important but rather their obedience gets center stage.

But in the Valley of Eschol, we do get a glimpse into their actions; “they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them…” Here we get a single and clear statement as to the fruitfulness of the Promised Land. This is recorded because of how amazing and unusual the cluster of grapes. Consider that you can hold a single cluster of grapes in one hand. A particularly large cluster may require the use of both hands to exact control. But in the Promised Land, a single cluster of grapes required the full strength of two grown men and the multiplication of effort yielded by the use of a pole. Can you imagine staggering under the weight of a single cluster of grapes? Can you imagine the wide eyes and gaping mouths of these men as they considered these grapes. That’s the joy in the fruit of obedience.

God has prepared a blessing for each of his children which is freely given in response to their obedience. Often, we see only a glimpse or a glimmer of the full blessing because we are too weak or too stubborn to respond in utter obedience. But there are times when we yield ourselves fully to the indwelling Holy Spirit and by His strength we are fully and totally obedient. In those moments, our eyes bug out wide-open and our jaws drop when we behold the full measure of God’s grace.

I remember now, making the final turn into the new campground in Linden, TN. Wide-open fields to my left, a beautiful forest to my right. Behind me was the road and the memory of past camps. Ahead, in the valley nestled between the mountain and the river lay a beautiful sight; the new and improved Camp Tsungani. My eyes wide open, my mouth agape I breathed in the blessing of God and was awestruck. What had we done to deserve such a place? We only followed in utter obedience.

It took two men to bring back a cluster of grapes to their people. It took nine or ten of us to bring back the splendor of the new Camp Tsungani to our people.

I can never say it enough… God is good.

Regards,
Carl

a Or toward the entrance to

b Eshcol means cluster; also in verse 24.

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

T-88

And so, Moses obediently followed the instructions of The Lord… My passage today…

Numbers 13:17-25 (NIV)
17 When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he said, “Go up through the Negev and on into the hill country. 18 See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. 19 What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? 20 How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees on it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.” (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)
21 So they went up and explored the land from the Desert of Zin as far as Rehob, toward Leboa Hamath. 22 They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, lived. (Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) 23 When they reached the Valley of Eshcol,b they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs. 24 That place was called the Valley of Eshcol because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut off there. 25 At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land.
[1]

Within this text, there are five matters to mention.

The matter of directions... Moses gave specific instructions as to the route the tribal leaders were to take into the land of Canaan. He did not just turn them out into the general direction of Canaan but rather gave them strategic guidance as to assure their success. In this instance, Moses is functioning as a caring leader. He has received insight and wisdom of The Lord and he is offering the benefit of his blessing to those under his watch. This is an important representation of the concept of authority. God places leaders into their positions for just such a purpose. Whether that leader is a boss in the workplace, a politician in office or a pastor in church. In my church, we have a Senior Pastor who leads and guides other pastors who in turn lead and guide coordinators or directors who in turn lead and guide assistants and class leaders who in turn lead and guide teachers. Although the structure may seem complicated, it is simply a chain that links leaders to the followers next to them and so on. Our leaders are tasked by God to lead faithfully and lovingly; to give guidance, direction and instruction so as to insure the success of their followers.

The matter of instruction (observation)… Moses did not turn the leaders out on their own but rather gave them very specific instructions as to the purpose of their mission. It wasn’t as simple as ‘go see what this land is about.’ Instead, they were to examine and observe the land, the people, the towns, the soil, the plants and the produce. While these were all of strategic importance from a military perspective it is more than that. They were instructed to observe all that God had created and to gain an understanding of the wealth of God’s blessing through the gift of this land.

The matter of analyzing... While the mission began with observation, it required analysis. They were to analyze what they saw in order to determine the strength of the people, the quality of the land, the resistance of the cities and the quality of the soil. It is one thing to look at a field and to admire it’s beauty (is it good or bad) and another entirely to determine if the soil is fertile or poor. This required a commitment beyond the observation of the visual and a look beneath the surface. In the same way that God judges the heart of man, these men were to judge the soil of the land.

The matter of opportunity… These men were to do more than observe and analyze. They were to ‘do their best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.’ Thus, they were to be opportunistic. We too are to be opportunistic, seizing the moments given us to live, to love and to lead other into the promised land of God’s family.

The matter of season… The opportunity these men were to seize was seasonal. God had caused them to be arriving in this wonderful land to coincide with the first harvest of ripe grapes. Hear this clearly… the Israelites were at the edge of the field that was ripe with the promise of God. This was the first opportunity they had to seize it. Not just the grapes but the entire land. They were in the season of the fulfillment of God’s promise exactly as they were in the season of the harvest of the first ripe grapes. The timing was neither coincidental nor happenstance but rather an example of God’s faithfulness, providence and grace.

With respect to Camp Tsungani…
· Directions… we were to travel east on I-4O, taking a specific exit, a specific turn and by following the directions, we arrived safely at our destination. In the big picture, when we follow God’s directions, we arrive safely.
· Instructions… we were tasked to examine the facilities, the lay of the land, count the beds and buildings. We were on a mission and knew the information we were to collect.
· Analyze… we were to determine how best the land can be put to use… where could expeditions be placed? Where could praise and worship take place? Where could training and instruction take place?
· Opportunity… identify the obstacles that must be overcome as well as completely new blessings… everything from how to reconfigure the size of a cabin to where we could build fires. What to do with all that new indoor space.
· Season… we were there at just the right time… weather… availability. Bring back the fruit of the land in the form of our excitement and sharing. God’s hand was upon us, holding back clouds and rain, giving us an amazing opportunity to see, touch, feel and seize the gift given us. After our appointed time there, we returned to our people energized and invigorated. Since that time, I have spent hours talking with people about how great the camp is and how in God’s time we have been moved on to a new land of opportunity.
· Lastly… the valley from which the men collected the grapes was named the Valley of Eschol (cluster). The land we explored has been named Camp Tsungani which means ‘camp that excels all others.’ Indeed.


שָׁלֹם

Carl

a Or toward the entrance to

b Eshcol means cluster; also in verse 24.

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

T-89

As the Lord has revealed, so shall it be. As the Lord has spoken, so too shall it be.

Yesterday, I explored the concept of how God speaks to us today in ways that are different from how he spoke to Moses. And although different, he continues to speak. As I typed out my missive yesterday, my heart was lifted and my ears were pricked so that I was more attentive to hearing God than usual. That’s kind of sad in a way; that I’m not always attentive to hearing God. Note to self…. Pay attention!

Continuing from where I left off yesterday, there is the matter of what God said to Moses. Consider… Numbers 13:1-2 (NIV)
13 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders.”
[1]
Within verse 2 I see four important points. There are the matters of commissioning, faithfulness, giving and selection.

As to the matter of commissioning… we serve a God of action. Therefore it should come as no surprise that we are commanded to ‘send’ or ‘go.’ Though there are appropriate seasons of study and contemplation, ultimately God compels us to action. The command from God was purposeful and explicit. Moses is to ‘send some men to explore the land of Canaan.’ When God speaks, there is action and purpose.

As to the matter of faithfulness… the entire episode as revealed to us in Numbers is part of the ultimate fulfillment of a divine promise. God had promised to deliver the Israelites from their captors and did. God had promised to send them to a better place and here the Israelites are in the middle of the fulfillment of that promise. Don’t jump ahead! In this, we are reminded once again of the faithfulness of whom we serve. God is faithful.

As to the matter of giving… God said “which I am giving to the Israelites.” From this, we can discern that it is present tense and implies that it is already in progress “am giving.” The people did not see nor understand that the giving was already in progress! How like the grumbling Israelites we can be! The gift was already theirs before it was in their hands yet they were blind. Further, the sending of the men to explore the land was part of the giving. It was a matter of God saying ‘hey, look what is yours! Check it out!’ How often do we realize that our exploration or contemplation of God’s revelation is part of what He is giving or revealing? God gives not only the gift but also the anticipation of the gift, the wrapping of the gift, the gift itself and the remembrance of the gift. God is giving, yesterday, today, tomorrow and eternally.

As to the matter of selection… God’s instructions were “From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders.” God did not simply say “send some men…” and had Moses not paid attention to the full counsel of God, he may have sent someone unqualified for the task! God did not want the underlings to explore the land, he explicitly asked for the leaders to do the work. What manifold lessons there are in this concept! A leader doesn’t dispatch, a leader leads by example. God in his infinite wisdom prepares and appoints leaders for his purpose. When faced with ‘stepping out in faith’ who better to take the first step than the leader? God wanted the most faithful, most capable and most qualified men to lead their people by example and to obey his commands. God selects, equips and enables leaders whom he then calls to his service.

With respect to Camp Tsungani, God turned us out of our comfortable place. God had already prepared a place and a time for us. God spoke and the leaders listened. God said to send our leaders to explore the land (the camp) and we did. How fitting that our camp organizational units are tribes and that those who explored the camp (the Chiefs) are the tribal leaders. God called us into action, faithfully provided for our needs, gave us a solution (a wonderful solution) to our ‘camplessness’ and has already selected, equipped and compelled the leadership.

Inasmuch as the Israelites looked forward to occupying the Promised Land, I am looking forward to camp. Yet even now God has revealed to me that the ‘giving of camp unto me’ began a long time ago. So not only am I looking forward to the actual week of camp, I am looking forward to the additional aspects of camp which he will give me now, today and tomorrow. I recall the gifts already given, the joy of discovery, the fellowship of the Chiefs, Holy Communion in the new place, the beauty of the camp, the superior facilities, the decisions of how to allocate the resources and all the myriad answers to prayer. We serve an AWESOME God and my heart soars!


שָׁלֹם

Carl

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.