Mission Faithwalk

                 He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. (Ephesians 1:9-10)                    This is one of those things. There are people who want us all to be one great big, happy family. Some will point to Scripture and say, “See this is how we’re supposed to be!” They either think that we can bring this about ourselves, or that we are obligated to practice so we’re ready. And, in a sense, the latter is true. We are called to love one another. But a problem tends to show up quickly when we call on others to “up their game” at the loving bit.             Too often, those calling for unity want unity on their term...

       The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down . (Proverbs 14:1)      The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding . (Proverbs 9:10)       My thoughts are drifting around to questions of houses, communities, and nations. Today’s verse tells us that a wise woman builds up her house, but a foolish one tears it down. Somehow, I don’t think the foolish woman decides to tear her house down. It’s not even something that tends to happen in a day. It may take place over years.     The first key to wisdom is fearing the Lord. Summarizing what has been said before, this means that wisdom begins with respecting reality and truth. That’s what God is. That doesn’t mean that God will always make sense to us. It also doesn’t mean that everything is going to be easy.      I’...

                 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life . (II Corinthians 3:6)                  One of my goals, or perhaps it’s more of a cause of stress, is the idea of being competent, and when I mention competence, there’s part of my mind that continues, “at anything .” Competence is a type of wealth. How much is enough? The answer is generally, “a little more.” Competence also takes us back to Genesis 3. We’re offered the fruit of the knowledge… and when we bite, we find ourselves aware of our nakedness…our insufficiency…our lack that is somehow greater than the lack we had before we partook.                The word competence developed in the 1590s as meaning "rivalry" (based on  compete ). By the 1630s, it came to mean "suffi...

                 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. (Romans 13:1)                 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.   But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges!   As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:18-20)                  Those who approve of a governing authority (or at least the authority’s philosophy) are always quick to say, “Be subject!” but the moment they no longer agree, they tend to cry, “Revolution!” And there is a sense in which God is no different. According to this passage, God establishes ...

                 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light . (I Peter 2:9)                 I find myself thinking about Moses and Aaron and the high priests. Moses tried to get out of the job God gave him. We’re never told what Aaron thought about being Moses’ puppet and then high priest. Was he excited? Overwhelmed? Resentful? When God (though Peter) tells you that you are chosen, a member of the royal priesthood, what’s your reaction? Mine isn’t exactly positive. I want to ask God if He’s noticed what happens when I get into a leadership position. Or maybe whether He might somehow (in spite of being perfect) have gotten me mixed up with some competent people person who isn’t quite so likely to screw it all up.       ...

                 Rejoice always,  pray continually,  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus . (I Thessalonians 5:16-18)                 November began y esterday, but yesterday is also when I wrote this. I tend to forget to write “a day ahead.” I’ve already begun the gratitude journal that I mentioned a few days ago, and the only thing I’ll say with regard to these journals is the reminder that my goal is 1000 items for which I’m thankful listed by the end of November. If you want to take the challenge, you can change the number of items or the time period as you so choose.                  But whether or not you are taking this challenge with me, today’s passage gives us a better challenge. He says to rejoice always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances. There’s no k...

                 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. (I Peter 5:8-9)   Sorry, no pictures of hunting lions. Instead, it’s a hunting Wood Stork. It raises a wing as it stirs up the mud, and its prey, seeing the shadow generated by its wing flees, the stork hopes, in the direction of its beak. Similarly, a lion will roar, or sometimes show itself to its prey, and when the prey flees, it’s in the direction of one or more lions who are waiting to ambush the fleeing animals. In both cases, the apparent danger is not the real danger. The apparent danger is only the means to distract you from the real danger, and push you in its direction.    ...