Genealogy

The wife of a distant relative of my father on his mother's side of the family decided a decade or so ago to trace this part of her husband's family tree. She was able, with the help of people all over the country, to trace this part of my family back in America to a land grant in the mid 1600's. It is interesting to see how the original patriarchal family branched and the number of known descendants has grown so huge over 350+ years. We have spread far and wide from that original landholding in Virginia.

As I read about the descendants of Noah after the flood, I get that same since of wonder at how families grow and change. Genesis 10 lists four or five generations of Noah. A few of the names we easily recognize today from biblical or political history are Egypt, Canaan, Nimrod, Babel, Ninevah, Amorites, and Havilah. We usually associate those names with places rather than people but the places in ancient times were usually named for the person or family that first settled there.

When Noah and his sons came off the ark after the flood, the first thing Noah did was build an altar and offer sacrifices to God. (Genesis 8:20) But by the names above we know that a few generations and the people were no longer worshiping God. Later as God gave the Law to Moses, God commanded His people to teach their children about Him. "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up." Deuteronomy 6:4-7

We, who are followers of Jesus Christ, have our own genealogy, a spiritual genealogy. Because of that we have an obligation to the next generation to teach them the truth of Scripture. We need to tell them about God and His salvation through Jesus Christ but we also need to tell them the stories of Jesus in our own lives. How He changed us. How He provides for us. How He guides us. Jesus is not just history. Jesus is alive and active in our lives today and that needs to be told so the next generation can carry the gospel to the generations after them and keep building the family tree.

Creation

When some people read - or maybe just hear about because they've never actually read the Bible - the story of creation in Genesis chapters 1 and 2, they begin to question it based on what we've been taught by science over the years.

Was it really six 24 hour days? Why is the order of creation different? Why are things aged at milllions of years rather than thousands? What about the dinosaurs? What about the ice age? What about the skeletons of early man? What about evolution? Those questions and others may make for interesting discussions with people much more scholarly than me but they miss the whole point.

The point is..."In the beginning, God..." Genesis 1:1. The focus is not a scientific treatise on creation but the foundation for history, HIS story, God's story of His work and purposes for this world and for people who are created in His image, not descended from animals but uniquely created to know Him. Genesis 1:26-31

Man has made all sorts of scientific discoveries over the years and has made much of himself and his ability to create. Often we have taken the questions of life and death into our own hands and taken God out of it. We are actually striving at times to be God and fancy ourselves to be pretty smart.

Our biggest mistake is not that we use the resources and the curiosity and the brains God has given us to seek out answers to life's questions but that we have pushed God away as if the resources and curiosity and brains were not given to us by God in the first place. I like the story that's been around for years about the scientist who goes to God to say we don't need You anymore. God challenges the scientist to make a man from dirt. The scientist says no problem and grabs a handful from the ground. Then God stops him and says you have to get your own dirt.

Thank You, Lord God, for the gifts, talents and abilities You have given me. Thank You for creating me in Your image. Help me always to remember that without You I am nothing so that I will give You glory and praise and honor for all You do through me. Amen

Traditions

As I was reading in Galatians this morning, Paul is reminding the people of Galatia that works of the law do not save. Even Peter was admonished by Paul when he behaved one way with the Gentiles but another when the Jews showed up. Wanted to live up to THEIR traditions!

Sometimes when I read those things I have a tendency to think why didn't they get it? Especially the Jews. But then I thought about the 1400 - 1500 years of the law that they had lived under and how hard it would be to give up all that tradition. Even though they had been looking for the Messiah, they didn't want a Messiah that actually changed their view of God or life or their position in society.

How like the church in America today! How many churches bicker over music styles or leadership styles or English translations of the Bible. How hard it is for some churches not to do things "the way we've always done them" even as the numbers in attendance dwindle. How cloaked in "holy huddles" are some churches that new people are not even wanted. How many churches steadfastly refuse to step into the 21st century by using technology to reach the next generation.

There is nothing wrong with traditions; we need to know our roots. And there is no gospel to preach except Jesus Christ, crucified and raised from the dead. But if we hold to our irrelevant traditions at the expense of reaching a dying world with the love and saving grace of Jesus Christ, I do not believe we will hear "Well, done" when we stand before Him one day. Jesus turned the religious world on its head 2000 years ago and I see Him still working that way today.

Martin Luther King Day

I remember hearing Dr. King when I was in high school back in the 60's. He was assassinated in 1968. I have to admit that I do not really remember much of what he said. I do remember that I thought he was a great man and I admired him for the peaceful stand he took when America was reeling with violence everywhere.

I have seen 3 quotes from Dr. King today posted on twitter and I think they are worth remembering:

"It's not whether we will be extremists but what kind of extremist we will be... The world is in dire need of creative extremists."

"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear."

"A man who won't die for something is not fit to live."

Of course there are lots more things he said that changed a generation and all sorts of quotes are available online. These particular quotes made me think of my relationship with Jesus and His church.

I kinda think of NewSpring as creative extremists of church world. And that is a good thing! Just heard today that in the 11 years since NewSpring was started, 12,182 people have walked from death to life by surrendering to Jesus.

Hate...too many Christians concentrate too much on what they are against rather than loving people enough to introduce them to Jesus.

What will I die for? My family - my son, my daughter-in-law, my grandchildren. I would say yes, I would. If they were in harm's way, I would prefer to die if it would spare them. But what about Jesus? Would I be willing to die if necessary to advance the gospel? Would I still speak the name of Jesus if it meant my death? Again, I would say, yes, I would. Death only means seeing Jesus!

Paul said, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes..." Romans 1:16.

Who Is God?

Lately I've been reading Isaiah 42-45 over and over trying to really absorb who God is.

He is Creator. He is Redeemer. He is the Holy One. He is the first and the last. He pours out His Spirit. He renews the earth with water. He wants me to believe and be His witness and His servant. He formed man to bring glory to God. There are no other gods. He knows what will happen before it happens. He goes with me through times of trouble. He is the Lord Almighty. He forms light and creates darkness. He brings prosperity and creates disaster. He does new things. He speaks with integrity. Before Him every knee will bow and every tongue will swear. He is King. He is with me so I do not need to fear. He triumphs over His enemies.

This is just a little of what these chapters contain about God. I am so glad He wants me to know who He is. He took the time to tell Isaiah and the people of Israel almost 3000 years ago this story of who He is knowing that I would also benefit from this telling.

All that He was to Israel in those days, He is to me right now. My God never changes and I can depend on Him to do and be all that He says.

The End Times

Perry is starting a new series on September 27 about the end times. I am so excited to hear what he will say. I have been through a year long study of The Revelation to John and find it most fascinating. Perry is doing a 5 part series and preaching on the entire book of Revelation in one sermon. That ought to be a whirlwind trip. Maybe I find it fascinating because I have been a sci-fi fan for many years and some of the revelations seem to be so strange as to be almost incomprehensible, almost science fiction in nature.

In the Old Testament there are prophecies in Isaiah, Daniel and Joel, maybe others. In the New Testament there is Matthew 24, 1 Thessalonians 2, and of course Revelation. Ever since Jesus ascended into heaven we have been in the end times awaiting His return. And although Jesus clearly says no one knows the time except the Father, people in every generation speculate is it now.

Having just recently read Daniel and Joel has peaked my interest so it's not really a sci-fi connection. It is more my desire not to taste death but to meet Jesus in the air; to be changed in the twinkling of an eye; to be on earth to hear the trumpet and see Him descend from Heaven. Of course watching it from the other side, from Heaven, has it's on special moments...seeing the Lamb come forward to take the scroll; seeing preparation for the battle of Armeggedon; already being in the presence of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

All I can say to that is "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!"

God Gets to Choose

In Jeremiah 27:5-7 God is very adamant that His power created all things and He will "give it to anyone I choose." In this passage God even calls King Nebuchadnezzar His servant.

This king certainly wasn't part of the chosen people of God. He wasn't a Jew or a descendant of Abraham. But God made a choice to use this man for His purposes. His purpose at this time was to punish Israel and Judah for their sins; for continually turning their backs on Him to worship other gods.

It's still true today. God gets to choose whom He will use. His choice will not always be the person we expect or the person we want. But because God is God, He can use those who walk faithfully with Him or those who do not. I guess those who do not walk faithfully with God will believe the things that happen in their lives comes because of their intelligence or hard work or luck.

Whatever one may think, God is in control. Just as He chose Nebuchadnezzar to subdue Israel, his days were numbered and when those days were up, he would become the slave. Through it all, though, God's purposes were being fulfilled.

David's Army

I've been reading in 1 Chronicles and just got through the 9 chapters of genealogy. That's tough to read because the names are so hard to pronounce but if I am going to read the ENTIRE Bible, I'll read all those names and relationships. It is NOT my favorite read.

But then I got to the story of David. I don't think this is a chronological listing of events but more a summary of all that happened. One of the things I found interesting was a listing of the groups of people who were supporting him. 1 Chronicles 12: 22 says there were men coming to David day by day to help him, until there was a great army, like an army of God. In fact the "count" indicates there were over 300,000 warriors whose descriptions ranged from men armed with spear and shield to mighty men of valor to seasoned troops. In addition there were over 8000 Levites and priests. And they were all with David, eating and drinking. That means a huge need for lots of food and for lots of space to sleep at night. We're told their brothers made provision for them. It's still staggering to my feeble mind; I get stressed over dinner for 6 or 8.

The group I found most interesting was the 200 from the tribe of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do. Maybe part of what made David such a great leader was his recognition of the need to have wise counsel around him in addition to the brute strength needed to defeat his enemies in battle.

Of course the people knew that the Lord had chosen David. (1 Chron 11:3, 12:18). But more importantly David knew it and sought God for direction. (1 Chronicles 14:8-16)