Mission Faithwalk

  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.  (II Peter 3:13)           One of the ideas I’ve heard about COVID-19 is that if we would just really lock down, really quarantine for a couple weeks, or months, or years, that when we emerge from our emergency bunkers (AKA homes), pollution will be gone, and everyone will be so delighted and thankful that our society will just naturally become a socialistic utopia. Some of this was fueled by claims about the Venetian canals, and I can understand where the hope comes from, but it came without considering the wildfires out west, or the riots, occupations, arsons, and “peaceful” protests that leave behind garbage that costs millions to clean up. After all, breaking the banks of the hated establishment will help break the backs of the hated establishment.           It’s a familiar longing – this “new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness,” and familiar error

The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. (I Corinthians 2:14)           There’s a lot being said about how this group, or that person cannot possibly understand what life is like if you’re a Black person. They’re tired of trying to explain because no one listens. No one really understands. And they’re right. Unless you are Black, you don’t fully understand what it’s like to live life as a Black.           Of course, if you’re some version of Latin, Asian, White, American, Canadian, British, male, female, neurodiverse, mentally ill, a retail or fast food employee, a CEO, a Muslim, a Hindu, an engineer, a farmer, a truck driver, or a fish, you can’t understand what it’s like to be one. That is a universal truth. No one understands what it’s like to be something one is not. So, while some are screaming in our faces, “Have empa

  For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:30) Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:19) “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’   But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (Matthew 5:43-44) For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.   But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:14-15) A call is going out across America that it is right and good for “oppressed people” to seek revenge against their oppressors – or against the descendants of the oppressors of their ancestors, or those who represent (to the vengeance seekers) the oppressors. It’s not

  “‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly. (Leviticus 19:15) Appeal to Pity: an illogical pattern of reasoning that tries to influence other people through an emotional plea.   Gas Light: manipulate (someone) by psychological means into questioning their own sanity. Privilege: a right or  immunity  granted as a peculiar benefit, advantage, or favor           Last night, and not for the first time, I saw a meme that said, basically, “Don’t talk to me about facts. Listen to me, hug me, and pity me. The facts don’t count. The facts don’t matter. I matter.” Since that sounds narcissistic, the claim is made in a plural sense. All people of a group of your choice gather together to proclaim, “We matter.”           We’ve heard it before. “______ raped me!” It doesn’t matter whether or not there is proof, we are to believe the victim and destroy the man’s reputation and ruin his life because the victim s

    On the first day you are to take branches  from luxuriant trees—from palms, willows and other leafy trees —and rejoice  before the  Lord  your God for seven days. (Leviticus 23:40) Yesterday, someone on social media asked how our birthdays in 2020 have been. For me, COVID-19 hasn’t put much of a damper on holidays. It didn’t need to. I don’t tend to celebrate holidays unless it’s by playing music. Last year, I added putting up signs to my festivities. I’m not saying signs are a bad way to celebrate, but let’s just agree that I’m not exactly tearing leaves from trees, and I’m not dancing like David danced before the Lord when taking the ark of God to Jerusalem. I love to think about the meaning of holidays, but I’m not one to celebrate. To give a good contrast, my next-door neighbor just filled her front yard with Halloween decorations. I know people who have put up hundreds of lights for Christmas, and others who have giant inflatable yard decorations. I may enjoy them and eve

    Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering.   Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.   You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.   So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. (Hebrews 10:35-36)           Remember the bad ole days, after the good ole days. Remember how you were mistreated and withstood the abuse because you knew you had better and lasting possessions. We’re back to the issue of spiritual myopia. We tend to think that how things are now is going to continue forever and ever, amen!   And the writer of Hebrews tells us to think back. My automatic ex

  Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Romans 5:3-4) His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.   Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah. (Acts 5:40-42)             A friend loaned me a book that provides an inside view of what the Huguenots (French Protestants) faced in the late 1600s. If you read Fox’s Book of Martyrs, you’ll discover the horrors faced by other Christians. According to Aid to the Church in Need, 2019 was one of the bloodiest years ever in terms of attacks on Christians. [1] I don’t know the parameters they used, and I do

  However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.   For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.   This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.   The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, bu

  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:6)           Fall is upon us. What does that mean for you? Is it a nice, new season with its own traditions, priorities, and enjoyment? Is it a time of closing down and preparation for winter? It is harvest time? Is it time to gear up for school? To buckle down to studies or work? Are you ready? Do you have your pumpkin spice? Your sweaters? Your hoodies? Have you gotten apple cider yet? What are your goals for between now and Christmas?           Like so much else since last March, this fall is being both familiar and strange for me. Over the past five years, I’ve torn plants out of the garden (which was maybe half the size it is now or left them until spring. I’ve started tear plants out. Today’s victims were some marigolds and some turnips. There are more of both. Too many marigolds, and none of them the dwarf variety. (Note to self.) But the focus is harvesting rather than just tearing out. There are

             David again brought together all the able young men of Israel—thirty thousand.   He and all his men went to Baalah in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the name of the  Lord  Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim on the ark.   They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart   with the ark of God on it, [ c ]  and Ahio was walking in front of it.   David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the  Lord , with castanets, harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals.               When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled.   The  Lord ’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God. Then David was angry because the  Lord ’s wra

    Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.  (Philippians 2:3-4)               If we are not to focus on our attempts to be “good enough,” on the acquisition of status in our own eyes, or on selfish ambition or vain conceits, how are we to spend all the time we’ve freed? Instead, today’s passage says we’re to see to the interests of others. This is where some people raise a fist and say, “Yeah, Social Justice!”             But that’s not what today’s passage says. It says, “each of you.” That means you going out, you seeing to the interests of others, not some government agency. You, not some charity. I’m not suggesting that grouping together and working as a charity or with a charity is wrong. I am suggesting that our attitude and involvement are crucial.             If you make the government responsible for caring for others, how do

  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2:3-4)           Selfish ambition. Vain conceit. These are weapons used against us in our spiritual warfare. But, once again, we need some definitions. Is seeking a better job than the one you have selfish ambition? Is wearing an outfit you like and that you think makes you “sparkle,” even if it doesn’t, vain conceit? These terms are frustrating in their lack of specificity. If you take something that doesn’t belong to you without the permission of the owner, that’s theft. It’s easy to define. If you unlawfully and maliciously take the life of another human being, that’s murder. But is there such a thing as unselfish ambition? Would it be acceptable? I think so, if it’s truly unselfish. Is there conceit that isn’t vain? Would it be acceptable. Since conceit is excessive pride, by defini

  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.   Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (Ephesians 6:12-13)   for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. (Philippians 2:13)   For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the  Lord , “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future . (Jeremiah 29:11) Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “ My  Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet  not  as I  will , but as you  will .” (Matthew 26:39)           Yes, I’m still focusing on spiritual warfare. Today’s focus is on the lies we tell ourselves, the lies we believe about ourselves, t

  I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.   For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.   The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.   We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.   (I Corinthians 10:2-6) There are two big issues in my mind, each standing on its own side and bellowing at the other. One side is insisting that I am self-centered and guilty because I spend so much time thinking about myself, especially with how self-centered, arrogant, stubborn, and guilty I am. (“Oh, you shouldn’t think that way!” “Yes, I know – I’m terrible for doing so. Guilty as charged.”) The other side is sounding battle stations over definitions. I’m still angry abo