Son of Righteousness Shines

There is snow on the ground and snow on the trees; but, the sun still shines, at least for a few hours most days.

Winters in the Upper Peninsula can be cold and dark. Many retirees choose to move to warmer and sunnier locations during the winter. We call them snowbirds as they mimic the flight of many migratory birds: south in the winter; north in the summer.

For those of us who are left here; we rejoice every time the sun comes up and shines it warm light on the frozen wilderness. But, even in the darkest and coldest of days, for those who revere God's name the sun of righteousness shall rises, with healing in its wings. (Malachi 4:2)

May the Son of Righteousness shine his light upon you and in you and through you for all eternity.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Football and Christianity; Participant or Observer?

Live Life! Live as an active member
of the Body of Christ. 
 

There is a great difference between a member of a team and an observer.

There are a multitude of Green Bay Packer fans in the Upper Peninsula. There are also a few Lions fans. Note the word fans. People who get to an occasional game or sit on the couch and watch them are fans. They are not Green Bay Packers. They are observers. They are not players. They do not actually participate in the game. They are not members of the team. Most would never dream of claiming that they are a Green Bay Packer or a Lion. They are fans.

However, there are a multitude of people who claim to be Christian even though they never get off the sidelines. In reality they are mere observers or fans of Jesus and not members of the team, which is the Body of Christ. Members work together as a team.

In Christ, we become one Body. But, it seems that some of the parts of the Body are missing in action. Your local congregation misses you. Jesus calls you to worship and serve the Lord as a member of the community of saints.

Members of the Body work and play as a team, with one purpose. If you would be a follower of Jesus then get off of the couch, take up your cross, and follow him, participating in a life of worship and service to God and service to one another.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Matthew 2 - Magi, Children, Martyrs. and Moves

From the very beginning, attempts were made to do away with Jesus. Today we have the popular Christmas story of the Magi's visit to Jesus. Unfortunately; King Herod, heard that that they were seeking the king of the Jews, who was due to be born, so that they could worship him. Herod became anxious over the possibility of another "king" and plotted to kill the infant Jesus.

He did not succeed. But, in his attempts every boy child, two years old and under, in the region of Bethlehem was slaughtered. These babies became the first martyrs for Jesus.

Fortunately; an angel was sent to warn Joseph that Jesus' life was in danger. So he took Mary and Jesus into exile in Egypt to protect his family. They moved to Nazareth upon hearing that Herod was dead.

I often listen in amazement when I hear people say that they will not leave the area where they are born in. I know people who have never left the Upper Peninsula of Michigan even for a vacation. They simply will not leave what they know. Yet, Jesus, including the trip he made, still in the womb, to Bethlehem, was moved three times in a course of a few years.

Yes, I love Upper Michigan, too. But, there has been more than once in my life that I have been uprooted and called to move. I recall very vividly arguing with God about yet another move. When we are called to go; when God sends us a message to move... it's just a really good idea to do that. He has His reasons; whether, we like them or even know them. He was with Joseph and Mary and Jesus and was guiding them (i.e. sending his angel messengers) through these early years so that Jesus would be around for the purpose that he was sent for. No matter what it is that God calls us to do; no matter how hard it may seem; He has a good purpose for it. Listen and follow...

Take just a minute to thank the LORD that we have no Herods in power, in this country, today! There are, after all, still places and people in various regions of the world that do not seem to have a problem massacring even the children.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Hosea 7 - Hunting Season - Yooper Holy Days

I spent Monday evening at my husband's hunting camp. He is preparing for the Yoopers' (a person who lives in or is from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan) grand holy days - that is deer hunting -firearm season. People come from all over to celebrate those last two weeks of November. I find the whole season quite confounding. Men, women and children miss worship services as they are sitting in their blinds and you cannot even begin to imagine how full our taverns get after the sun sets! Lots of drinking and carousing going on... Just a warning: Drinking or drugging and hunting do not make good companions. Stuff happens - bad stuff happens - when sites are not set on the Kingdom of God.

Right now, it is bow season. Not so many participate in this sport.

"They do not turn to the Most High;    they are like a faulty bow." (Hosea 7:16 NIV)

Like a faulty bow that cannot hit a target, so too are all those who refuse to keep their eyes on the goal of the Kingdom. A warped bow is almost impossible to use and one whose faith is skewed will struggle mightily in their journey through the wilderness. Like a bent arrow, we might be aiming for the target, but the slightest wind will cause us to stray.

May God help us all to keep our eyes the Most High and on the target He has given us, which is His Kingdom, through Jesus Christ, our LORD.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

P.S. Just a note to thank God for all of the hunter's who are from out of our area (seasonal residents)somehow manage to make it to Zion to worship during firearm season even while sometimes local members cannot manage it.

Ecclesiastes 10 - Miscellanous Interesting Verses From Eccl 10

LOL!  You are reading the chapters aren't you? How about verse 2? "The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left." OK... So I won't go there today... But, I thought I'd at least mention it in the blog for the benefit of my friends on the right. It will make them smile. Remember, too, please, it is Solomon's saying, not mine. I'm not exactly sure what he meant by it, other than maybe he was referring to the right and left hand of God.

In case you're not taking my advice and you're not reading the scripture for each day, here are some other interesting and what I would consider pretty common sense ones:

"There is an evil I have seen under the sun, the sort of error that arises from a ruler:" (Eccl 10:5 NIV)  Has any one not witnessed the folly of some of our leaders? So often leaders, rulers, bosses, even servant/leaders in the church think that they are doing the best thing for the people, even while they are so out of touch with the people that they don't have a clue what the the people really need or want. Even pastors sometimes fall into the trap of thinking that they know what is best for a community, when they haven't the slightest clue... It has always amazed me that pastors will come to the U.P. (Upper Peninsula of Michigan) and think they are going to save us Yoopers from our own folly. They have ended up being very busy at changing our lifestyles, rather than accepting the way we live and work and play. They have worried about the fact that so many of us work hard, long hours and don't have all the riches the world has to offer. We have been considered a little backwards and backwoods by some.

I knew one who ended up spending a lot of time worrying about unionizing the logging industry! A lot of time was spent trying to change the way we think and how we live and very little time was spent proclaiming the awesomeness of the Kingdom given (given freely) to all who believe. I asked this one once what the proclamation of Jesus was. He didn't know. It made me wonder about our overseas missions, especially to those countries we consider third world. When missionaries go to other areas of the world, is their primary mission to bring the good news or is to change the people to think and live like we do in the United States? If you're going to be a missionary to the Massai, do you live in a dung hut alongside them sharing the love of God and the good news of His Kingdom or do you show up when it's comfortable trying to change their lifestyles? Are you more worried about westernizing them or proclaiming God's love and forgiveness for all people? It reminds me of how the church worked so hard with the government to Americanize the Native Americans and how many abuses occurred because of this "good will" gesture. (Another reason to think seriously about keeping church and state separate) Remember, just because we think everyone should be as materialistic as we are, doesn't mean everyone wants or needs to live like us. Just because we think we are right in the way we live, does not make it truth for everyone!

Just wondering... what makes a good leader? Is it someone who can serve people where their needs are (where they are) or is it someone who tries to mold everyone to be people just like themselves. If you're going to help someone, meet them where they are. Quit trying to drag them to the place where you want them to be. I quote St. Paul: " To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some." (1 Corinth 9:22)

"If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success." (10:10)
Anyone who has had to chop firewood to keep warm or cook knows the truth of this one. But, I suppose there are many who have not had to do this and don't know.

"If a snake bites before it is charmed, the charmer receives no fee." (10:11)
This is kind of a "no brainer" and makes me smile. If you're trying to charm a snake (whether a reptile or human) be careful, you may get bit or someone else may get hurt even if it is you who has disturbed the snake.

 ^"Through laziness, the rafters sag; because of idle hands, the house leaks." (10:18)
 If your rafters sag, it is no one's fault but your own. Unless, of course some natural disaster comes along and makes it so. I know about sagging rafters...

The house I presently live in has been almost completely remodeled since we purchased it. We originally bought it for a get-away for me. At the time, I was finding no time for vacations. If I was lucky, I would get 1 or 2 days off a month. There was just no time to pack up, go out of town and then come back the next day to unpack. We had tried it a few times, but the packing, unpacking, and travel time took up so much time there was no time to rest. So I started looking for a local camp on a river so I could set it up and get to it on my days off, with relative ease and without having to spend hours of the day off just to be able to rest for a few hours.

I fell in love with the location. It had a river at the mouth of a bay. It is definitely in the woods. It had a well and a sewer. But, here's the kicker. The rafters of the house sagged. They sagged so badly that there were 6"X6" beams holding up the ceilings throughout the rooms. The house was condemned. My husband was not impressed with the place. Not only was the house condemned, but it's located in wooded wetlands, which he refers to as a swamp. But, I knew this was the place for me. We began working on repairing it to be suitable for a camp that summer. That fall I resigned and we ended up moving in to it. Some of my family and friends were a little aghast that I would be living in a shack... (Thinking I should be like them and want what they want) The following summer, my husband spent a lot of time repairing the rafters and building an addition so that we would have a bit more space to live in. It took a lot of work to repair those rafters. But, they are repaired, the roof no longer leaks, and with God's blessing, the house will stand at least as long as I do. 

You're rafters sagging? Your roof leaking? The answer to a sagging rafters and a roof that leaks is to fix them and if you're neighbor no longer is able to fix their own due to age or infirmity fix theirs for them, as well!

One last verse to give you something to think about this morning:
"As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor." (Eccl 10:1)

God's Peace - Pr. J

 

Job 37 - Seasons - Nothing We Can Do About Them

Elihu lifts up the majesty and power of God.  And, it is indeed amazing!  He is in control of all the forces of nature. 

The seasons change.  They have changed every year since the beginning. Yet, we hear complaints about every season.  Every season brings challenges.  The spring is too muddy, the summer too hot, the fall is too windy, and winter is just too cold or there is either too much snow or not enough for the snow-mobilers and skiers.

Every region of the world has its specific weather challenges.  We were in South Carolina this summer.  It was too hot. We spent most of the time in the air conditioning watching television. It has been wet and colder here in the Upper Peninsula - not freezing yet, but colder the last few weeks. We've even had a few snowflakes.  And... I have already begun to hear the complaint, "It is too cold up here."  Actually, it's not.  It's about right for this time of year. 

I remember vacationing up here while we were living in various other regions of the earth.  It always amazed me that the conversations always focused on the weather.  Not enough rain!  Too much rain!  Too hot!  Too cold!  Rarely, did I ever hear the weather is just right.  I'm not sure how it happened, but instead of standing in awe of how beautiful the various seasons that God created are, human beings tend to complain them.  There is always something wrong with the weather.  It's like calling an inanimate object stupid when we're angry.  How can the weather be wrong?  It just is.  That's how God created it to be.  God is in charge of it. 

Personally, I kind of like the fact that there is something in this world that we haven't figured out how to manipulate, and that is the weather and the seasons.  I love storms.  I love to sit and watch the lightning and hear the thunder roar.  It reminds me that God is still in charge.

God's Peace - Pr. J