A Boomer in the Pew

Please pass the Walkie-Talkie! - Andrew Murray's "Waiting on God" (Day 5)

This post is part of my 31 day journey through Andrew Murray's devotional treatise, "Waiting on God".  You can find my reasons for this journey at this link.

Psalm 25:4-5 - Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths. 5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation;  for you I wait all the day long.

For Instruction

Andrew Murray likens waiting on God, to the army about to go into battle.

Imagine being on the battle field.  There is your enemy.  Large, fierce, strong, and perhaps even overwhelming.

The two forces are standing face to face.  There is fear, deep fear.  Nothing is happening, simply standing there, potentially starring at death.

"What are we waiting for, let get this over with!", your buddy exclaims.

"We don't do anything, until we get our orders, on the radio, from command", you assure back to him.

There it is again!  Waiting.  I hate waiting, remember?

The silly part of this whole lesson, for me, is that many times, not only am I impatient, but I don't even have the walkie-talkie in my hand? 

I'll figure this out myself.  I will be the infantryman who goes down into infamy for taking charge, and leading our company to victory.  I can do it, let's not wait to see what the general has to say.

Besides, who is he anyway? 

Here you have a picture of my battle:

• I have not completely placed my faith in God.  Otherwise, I would possess a confidence in battle.  My Father is God, what have I to fear?  I still operate as though my relationship with God is a democracy, not a sovereignty.
• When I call out to God, in my walkie-talkie, I get frustrated with His seemingly lack of response.  "God, I'm under fire here, do you hear me?"
• Sometimes, I throw the walkie-talkie on the ground, and attempt to do things my way.  I take upon myself, burdens that God desires to hold.

Oh my soul, will you ever learn to wait upon God?

From Murray:

"The Father in heaven is so interested in His child, and so longs to have his life at every step in His will and His love, that He is willing to keep his guidance entirely in His own hand.  He knows so well that we are unable to do what is really holy and heavenly, except as He works it in us, that He means His very demands to become promises of what He will do, in watching over and leading us all the day.  Not only in special difficulties and time of perplexity, but in the common course of everyday life, we may count upon Him to teach us His way, and show us his path."

So David Porter, intellectual assent in one thing, stepping out and daily leaving your cares, in your Creators hands, is something entirely different.

Oh my soul, do you trust him?  Then leave your cares with him.
Oh my soul, do you really trust him?  Then leave your cares with him.
Oh my soul, are you tired of carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders?  Then leave your cares with him.

My soul, wait only upon God!

Am I the only goofball, on the planet, who struggles with this?

Stoned for Blaspheming God

Leviticus 24:10-16 - Now an Israelite woman's son, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the people of Israel. And the Israelite woman's son and a man of Israel fought in the camp, 11 and the Israelite woman's son blasphemed the Name, and cursed. Then they brought him to Moses. His mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan. 12 And they put him in custody, till the will of the Lord should be clear to them.

13 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 14 “Bring out of the camp the one who cursed, and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him. 15 And speak to the people of Israel, saying, Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. 16 Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.

This story was found in my daily, year-long journey through my ESV Study Bible.  To the post-modern mind, this sounds unfathomable.  Stoned to death for using God's name in a profane manner?  What kind of God is this?

Well, I suppose at first the natural mind might never comprehend.  Please understand, when I say this, that I am not suggesting that we stone people for blaspheming God.

I think the first thing that we must attempt, with all our might, and with prolonged meditation, is to put ourselves back in Moses time, when this was written.  Remarkably, holy God was physically dwelling with his people, the Israelites.  They were in the presence of complete, and perfect holiness.  They were in the presence of He who made them.  They witnessed unspeakable displays of God's reality.

Make no mistake about it, God made himself known to his people.  Furthermore, we should not allow ourselves to contemplate God here, as many would dream of him today.  God made himself known, and there was likely, at certain times, soiled linens.  Certainly these displays of God created fear.  Yet, at the same time, this all-powerful God, displayed his love through constant provision for them as they traveled through the wilderness.

We must also remember that this story comes to us under the provisions of the Old Covenant.  God is building his long case, for us to completely understand, that we need a Savior.

Under all these circumstances, image the unmitigated gall it must take to even consider such an utterance.  When you have physically seen God's presence, such a pronouncement would certainly be a willful act of apostasy, deserving of death.  Remember this is holy God, not the namby-pamby God that the post-modern world would dream up.

So, what are we to learn from this?  Well, certainly thankfulness that we are not stoned for such offense.  With great shame, I must profess that there have been numerous times, in my life, where I have committed such an offense.

But I come away with two thoughts:

• this passage is a morsel, of all that is contained in the Bible, to help me understand who my Father King is.  He is holy, and will not be in the presence of unholiness.  His name is holy, and He will not allow it to be blasphemed.
• this passage helps me to be thankful.  Thankful, because I deserve to be stoned.  I have taken the precious name of holy God in vain.  I have allowed myself to be careless, as were Aaron's sons, yet, I was not nuked from heaven above.  My offense was placed on my Elder Brother, who died in my stead, and when God sees me, he sees me cloaked in the righteousness of Christ.

All nonsense to the natural mind, but complete wonder to His own.

Do you get it?  Do you see it?   

Andrew Murray's "Waiting on God" (Day 4)

This post is part of my 31 day journey through Andrew Murray's devotional treatise, "Waiting on God".  You can find my reasons for this journey at this link.

Psalm 145:14-15 - The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season .

For Supplies - Day #4

In the previous lesson we were reminded that God provides for all of nature.  Furthermore, nature becomes our preacher, as we behold God's provision thereof.

Today, Andrew Murray instructs:

"What the universe and the animal creation does unconsciously (waiting upon God), God's people are to do intelligently and voluntarily.  Man is to be the interpreter of Nature.  He is to prove that there is nothing more noble or more blessed in the exercise of our free will than to use it in waiting upon God."

I suppose the most readily visible place, in my life, that this waiting does not occur is in my prayer life.  Regretfully, there is much talking on my part, and frankly, no listening.

From Murray:

"If the question be asked, whether this be anything different from what we do when we pray, the answer is, that there may be much praying with but very little waiting on God.  In praying we are often occupied with ourselves, with our own needs, and our own efforts in the presentation of them.  In waiting upon god, the first thought is of the God upon whom we wait.  We enter his presence, and feel we need just to be quiet, so that He, as God, can overshadow us with Himself.  God longs to reveal Himself, to fill us with Himself.  Waiting upon God gives Him time in His own way, and divine power to come to us."

As the Psalm says above, "The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.  God provides for the nature he has created, how much more will he provide for those he has redeemed?

"I will say of every want, and every failure, and every lack of needful grace:  I have waited too little upon God, or He would have given me in due season all I needed."

My Soul, be still, wait only upon God!

God and the Economy (video) - Jamie Rasmussen @ Scottsdale Bible Church

Jamie Rasmussen,  senior pastor at Scottsdale Bible Church, just presented a wonderful teaching on God and the Economy. 

With all the turmoil happening in the world's economy, one might wonder what God is up to.

Here are the two key points/questions covered in his message:

1.)  A fallen world is going to produce fallen events/cycles.  It's no use blaming God.

2.)How is God responding to our current economic mess?  What is He up to?

I highly recommend that you spend some time watching these two videos.  I think it will be a great comfort, along with a great challenge.

Here is session #1, and here is session #2. 

If you, or someone you know,  are currently struggling with the effects of this economy, this would be a great series to refer them to, and/or watch.

Why not give that some thought, and forward this post right now.  You just might help someone in great need.

A view of Tabgha the Mount of the Beatitudes

Tabgha - the Mount of Beatitudes, flickr, by Steven Conger.

I love flickr because of my ability to be transported nearly anywhere in the world.

My wife and I are, right now, having our devotions, with Dr. Albert Mohler, working through his exposition of the Book of Matthew.

We are currently in The Sermon on the Mount, and specifically, the Beatitudes. 

The photograph above is the traditional sight where my Christ delivered this most precious teaching to us, his elect.

Can you feel the breeze on your face? 

Dr. Wayne Grudem - Harnessing the Power of God's Truth to Transform Nations

If you have been a reader of this blog, for any period of time, you will know that I am greatly pleased to be enjoying the same Christian fellowship as Dr. Wayne Grudem.

Wayne, as he prefers to be called outside of academia, has just completed a four year journey through his best selling seminary textbook, Systematic Theology. 

Graciously, as a wonderful gift to the church, across the world, this whole series is available on audio recordings here, complete with notes!

My wife and I have been missing Wayne's class, as we have been serving as Class Leaders, for Scottsdale Bible Church's Class 100, during the 9:45 hour.

Thankfully, our Class 100 has gotten so big, we had to move the time to 11:15, so that we could move to a larger classroom.

To our joy, this has now allowed us to be back in Wayne's Sunday School Class.

Having completed his Systematic Theology, Wayne has embarked on 4 week series, sharing with us a project that he is working on with Dr. Barry Asmus, entitled "Harnessing the Power of God's Truth to Transform Nations".

During the next four weeks, Wayne will be sharing with us 50 factors, within nations, that lead to sustained economic growth, or continual poverty.

This is quite a departure from his Systematic Theology, but fascinating nonetheless.  Here are a few very interesting tidbits from today's class:

• Until 1500 A.D. there existed, in the world, almost zero economic growth.
• Martin Luther's reformation changed all this!  Frankly, I would have never put that one together.  But you must listen to his reasoning's.
• From 1500-1750, economic growth started, and by the end of 1750 rich nations had 5 times more wealth than poor nations.
• Today, rich nations enjoy a per capita income ratio that is 400:1!  Why?

Wayne believes that many of these answers may be found in God's word.  Today, he contrasted rich nations, with poor nations, in the following ways:

• their belief in God, or not
• their moral accountability before God, or not.
• their society's honoring truthfulness, and honoring one's word, or not.
• their belief in good/evil, or belief that everyone is basically good.
• their belief in significant individual responsibility, or minimal individual responsibility.

It was fascinating to contemplate how Christianity, and its handed down values, has changed the world.  I look forward to the following three weeks.

Here is the link to Wayne's audio message from today.  I highly recommend you give it a listen.  You will also find Dr. Grudem's 8 page reference material linked there as well.

Andrew Murray's "Waiting on God" (Day 3)

This post is part of my 31 day journey through Andrew Murray's devotional treatise, "Waiting on God".  You can find my reasons for this journey at this link.

Psalm 104:27-28 - "These all look to you,
to give them their food in due season.
28 When you give it to them, they gather it up;
when you open your hand, they are filled with good things."

The True Place of the Creature - Day #3

Remember this photograph of President Barack Obama, bowing before a Saudi King? 

This photograph created all sorts of hubbub for many reasons.  But the primary reason is that this is seen as an act of submission.  A subject to his King.  American's cringe at such things.  To see our President bowing, well, suffice it to say, it was all the talk for quite a while.

Andrew Murray today points us to the animals, and reminds us of the Bible's teaching that they all wait upon, look to, or, taken to its deepest measure, bow before their King, God, and are completely dependent on him.

Murray further instructs that the animals, in their dependence, become our preachers, reminding us of the relationship which was founded in creation, and is now taken up in grace.

From Murray:

"Before we fully understand all that is implied in our waiting upon God, and before we ever have been able to cultivate the habit, let the truth enter our souls:  waiting on God, unceasing and entire dependence upon Him, is, in heaven and earth, the one and only true religion, the one unalterable and all-comprehensive expression for the true relationship to the ever-blessed One in whom we live."

Can I be 100% honest with you?  Part of me, my flesh I suppose, doesn't like this whole idea of bowing, being a subject of, or being entirely dependent on anyone.  My flesh doesn't like the idea of a sovereign King. 

"If there is to be a king, let it be me", says my flesh.

Perhaps this is why I have spent a good part of the last three years on God's thrashing floor.

My soul, wait only upon God!

How about you?  Are you in unceasing, and entire dependence on Him?  Do you ever feel the rebel stirring in your soul?

Hiking the Tortuga Trail in Cave Creek, Arizona

Today is a spectacularly beautiful day, here in Scottsdale, Arizona.  A great day for a hike!

This morning, we left around 11:00 to jaunt around the Tortuga Trail, at the Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area, which is about 8 miles from our home.

The total hike is just over four miles, with somewhere around 300 feet in total elevation gain.  We traipsed around it in 2 hours, and 13 minutes.

The cool thing with this trail is that you begin in a riparian area, as you cross Cave Creek, and enjoy spectacular view from the mesa, where the terrain is grasses, cactus, and lava.

We are tickled to death to have all this beauty in our back yard, and have spent many an hour hiking in the mountains, taking advantage of it.

Here is a little 4 shot slide show, with a few more photographs of Tortuga, from my archives.

My Christian Blogs - All the best Christian blogs in one place

Meet Tony Kummer.  I was just introduced to him yesterday, by my friend Barry Wallace.

Tony is just launching an ambitious project called My Christian Blogs.  My Christian Blogs is a Christian blog aggregator, similar in fashion to Alltop.

Tony was kind enough to put me on the front page, with a number of heavy hitters in the Christian blog world. 

His site is definitely worthy of a link, an RSS Feed subscription, and perhaps you should submit your site to Tony as well.

Thanks Tony for including me, and for launching this wonderful tool.

My Dad can beat up your dad!

My Dad can beat up your dad! 

Did you ever say that as a kid?  What is it in us, that would desire such a match?

I was reading in my ESV Study Bible this morning, and I happened across this in Psalm 114:

When Israel went out from Egypt,
the house of Jacob from a people of strange language,
 2 Judah became his sanctuary,
Israel his dominion.

 3 The sea looked and fled;
  Jordan turned back.
 4 The mountains skipped like rams,
the hills like lambs.

 5 What ails you, O sea, that you flee?
O Jordan, that you turn back?
 6 O mountains, that you skip like rams?
O hills, like lambs?

 7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob,
 8 who turns the rock into a pool of water,
the flint into a spring of water.

Whoa!  I guess my Dad can beat up your dad.  I hope my Dad, is your Dad too!