Rev 20 Fear of Death or Love of God?

Rev 20 NIV
Chapter 20 has brought about a lot of surmising among people regarding who will be raised and when; about what the first and second resurrections and deaths might be. There are whole sects built almost exclusively around all of this surmising. They are built on fear of death rather than the love of God.

It is difficult (impossible) to tell what exactly chapter 20 means in spite of the fact that are the many theories and teachings regarding it. Beware of false teachings and those who would use this and surrounding chapters to incite fear of death rather than the love of God. We will probably not know the specifics or even some of the generalities until the day we all stand at the judgment seat of God. This, though, I am quite sure of: we will all stand before God on that day and everyone will know that He is God. Every knee will bow before the Lord God Almighty who loves us and reconciles us to Himself through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. On the road today so no photos.

Romans 8:18-30 Praying In and With Creation

Romans 8:18-30 NIV


Wolf Point, Keweenaw Peninsula, MI

Years ago, I took a three month sabbatical on Lake Superior. I paddled about 1/3 of the southern shoreline, sleeping in a tent on sometimes some pretty rocky and isolated shorelines. It was very cold and rainy that summer. The ice did not leave the lake until a week or so before I left. There were times when I did not leave the tent much due to the weather. The theme for this sabbatical was "Praying with Creation" from these verses in Romans 8. During the evenings (and when it was storming), I read and studied the life of Bishop Frederic Baraga, an early Roman Catholic missionary to the region. While out on the water, alone, I spent a whole lot of time praying within the context of God's beautiful creation. I prayed the Small Catechism - many times! I prayed for the people who lived in the homes I paddled by. I prayed for the members of my congregations; as well as my family and other friends. I prayed for God's creation; that as stewards of the God's creation, we might begin to do a better job of caring for it. The Spirit groaned within me when I knew not what or how to pray. And, it was indeed in those moments that I was reminded that God is still in charge and He has a plan - a plan that is for the good of all who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.

A very strange dream woke me the other morning. The sky was dark. It was filled with falling satellites. Satellites used to provide us with television, telephones, internet, radar, gps, etc., etc., literally blackened the sky and they were falling; crashing to the earth, endangering everything on the planet, including humankind. It is not only the earth and all that is in and on it that humankind is using up for our own pleasure and convenience; but, even the skies...

I am well aware that many theologians would have us know that the creation in Romans 8 refers to fallen man, ourselves. There are those who refuse to see that the living things around us actually live. However, that said, I cannot read Romans without also being reminded that the whole creation that surrounds us is indeed groaning under the stress we have put it. It grieves me to know that we so unjudiciously use fossil fuels to the detriment of the land, sea, and skies. I wonder how wise it is to be filling our skies with satellites for our convenience? Our waste pollutes the whole creation.

I do not find it so unbelievable that the whole of creation is groaning for our redemption. Why would it not, in light of the fact that until fallen man is redeemed we can not fully comprehend what we have done and continue to do to God's whole creation? We will most probably continue to abuse and destroy it.

May God help us to be better stewards of His whole creation; not just for the sake of the creation around us, but for the sake of humankind.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Mark 6:1-13 Pigs or Jesus?

 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”
 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.”  And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. (Mark 5:6-10 NIV)

It seems to be that in the Gospel of Mark, it is the demons who recognize Jesus. They recognize that he is the Son of God and has power over them. They beg him to allow them to enter into a herd of about 2000 pigs. This herd of about 2000 then rush over a steep bank and drown themselves in a lake.

You would think, the people would be happy that these 2000 demons were no longer in their presence. They were no longer torturing the man that they had come out of. But, no! They are not happy. They want Jesus to go away. The man who was healed of the demons is pretty happy though. He recognizes who this Jesus is and he wants to follow him. Jesus said no. "Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." (Mark 5:19)

The demons recognize the power of God in Jesus and are afraid. The man who was healed recognized his power and honored him, wanting to follow him. But, the people who were afraid because personal property, pigs, were lost wanted nothing to do with him.  

When was the last time we chose unclean personal property over Jesus?

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 100 - Thanks Giving!

A reason to shout for joy.... God is good. We were provided with an abundance of snow - enough to finally bank the house over the last few days.  Snow is good.  It waters the earth and in the frigid temperatures that sometimes happen up here in the U.P., it is an insulator.  So after Worship, yesterday morning, we got out and piled the snow up against the house.  This morning, I am walking on warm floors.  The cold winds off Lake Superior are no longer blowing beneath my home.

So this morning, as I reflect on yesterday, I am thankful for:
     the snow to keep us warm and the utility bill down.
     the exercise I received moving the snow (I don't get too much exercise in the winter - could - but -
         dont')
     for the opportunity to worship.
     for the fact that the annual report was finished and distributed to many for review.
     for all the children who helped serve at worship yesterday.
     for the fellowship at Zion afterward.
     for being able to cook supper for our son and granddaughter and visit with them for awhile
        yesterday.
     for waking up this morning.
     for being able to work serving the LORD this morning.

The list is actually pretty endless, but I think you probably get the idea.

The LORD is God.  Give thanks to Him for all of His gifts.  "For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."  (Psalm 100:5 NIV)

God's Peace - Pr. J