A Still Small Voice

Gifts of God!! - Part 2

2011-12-06T09:06:00.000-08:00

The joy of receiving a gift, unwrapping it and seeing something that was far more than you could have imagined, is one of those highlights of the holiday season. I can recall a Christmas when I was in my early teens when it seemed that “Christmas” was all over. We had unwrapped all of our gifts and while I felt a little short-changed, I was still happy. Then, out of the blue, I was informed that there may be something else under the couch. I found a box there and lo and behold a brand new Winchester 12 gauge pump shotgun. Needless to say it was an awesome Christmas!!

God often does far more for us than we could imagine and so it is with our second gift - the gift of forgiveness. As we saw yesterday, repentance is an incredible gift - one that should never be undervalued even if it comes wrapped in sorrow and tears. The same verse that describes repentance as a gift from God, also mentions another fact.

“Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” (Acts 5:31)

Moving forward from the brasen altar in the Tabernacle, there was found a laver which had an important function in man’s approach to God. It was a place of cleansing. Filled with water, all who entered the house of God were required to pass by here and be washed and cleansed.

Repentance, the first command of John the Baptist, Jesus Himself, the disciples sent by the Lord before His death and Peter on the Day of Pentecost, has a natural follow-up. It is called forgiveness. By this wonderful gift, God removes from our record the penalty and memory of repented sins.

“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” (Psalm 51:7)

Man can experience no greater joy than knowing that his sins have been forgiven and blotted out by the one he offended - God Almighty. Without this gift, man’s sinful condition remains constant before his Creator. With it, man can approach God with a conscience void of all fear and condemnation.

Unlike some of the other gifts from God, this one is one we have to choose to receive.

“To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” (Acts 10:43)

Forgiveness, and remission of sins, are gifts that have to be received by faith by the one to whom it has been given. It is not enough for someone to be granted forgiveness, they must receive the gift. Too many Christians are hobbled in their walk with the Lord, not because God not granted them forgiveness, but because they have refused to receive it.

Take a great step forward in your faith, and receive what God has offered to you! If God has forgiven you, then receive that forgiveness in Jesus name!!

Gifts of God!! - Part 1

2011-12-05T09:03:00.000-08:00

The wrapping can sometimes be deceiving. One can even be discouraged by the size of the package that it is placed into your hands. It is only when you unwrap the gift that you can actually know if you will be filled with gratefulness at the sight of what you desperately wanted or whether you will silently sigh as the “same old same old” stares blankly back at you.

God, our heavenly Father, sometimes gives us gifts that are cleverly packaged to disguise their value to the uniformed. It is only as you move past the exterior that you begin to appreciate that the gift is far more than you could have ever asked for. Even when God manifested Himself in the flesh, He came as a common man, having “no form nor comeliness” and when we saw Him, there was “no beauty that we should desire him.” (Isaiah 53:2).

In the Old Testament, God gave to Israel, and ultimately the whole world, a cleverly wrapped package called “The Tabernacle”. When one moved past the wrapping, God had placed inside of the Tabernacle seven wonderful gifts to humanity. These gifts, and even their packaging, teach us incredible messages about God, His manifestation in the flesh through Jesus Christ, and even the full plan of salvation. Yet above everything else, these gifts guide God’s people into His presence, the greatest present of all.

In these days leading up to the festive season, we shall look at seven gifts contained in this auspicious temporary structure and discover that, as with all gifts, they are a reflection of the heart of the Giver. Time will not permit us to examine neither all of the gifts contained inside this subtle packaging nor all of the details that each contains. Yet, as with all gifts, we can appreciate the grandeur without knowing all of the inner workings. One can marvel at the complexities of a fine watch, and yet fail to understand how the wheels and gears make it all happen.

Upon entering the Tabernacle, and passing through the gates, one will encounter the first “gift” - an altar made of brass. This altar was where the Israelite and the “stranger” could offer their sacrifices unto the Lord. It was a place of death and sacrifice, all because of man’s sin. The shortcomings of humanity and the curse of Adam first meet the holiness of God at this sacred site.

While it may seem that it was man offering a gift to God at this place of bloodshed, it was in reality a place where man received a gift from God - the gift of repentance. For it was here that God gave to man a place where he could freely confess his sins and show his contrition to his Creator.

The Scripture tells us:

Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. (Acts 5:31)

In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; (2 Timothy 2:25)

We see that repentance is something that God “gives” to us - a gift!! While we may not appreciate the personalized packaging that it often comes in - tears of sorrow and the cries of regret - it is one of God’s greatest gifts to mankind.
How can it be said that something that requires confession of past wrongs is a positive experience? Once again, the gift is often a reflection of the heart of the giver. In this case, we are reminded:

“... the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Romans 2:4)

It truly is a good God, who graciously gives to his people this gift called repentance. Today, I thank the Lord for such a gift!!

Vers La France!!

2011-07-09T07:09:00.000-07:00

I am sitting in the Fredericton, NB airport, on my way to Mélun, which is located south of Paris.

Many things go through my mind! With my family, I lived in France for almost a year. In fact we are approaching the anniversary of our trip there to begin language study. The Tour de France is under way at the present time. That means the nation is filled with 'velo-mania'! I will not be close to any of the racing, otherwise the fever could hit me as well!! Additionally, Bastille Day, the great national day of La France is this week (juillet 14)! No better place to be than Paris on this day....

Yet my trip is to impart the precious Word of God into the lives of men and women who are endeavoring to fulfill the call of God in their lives by studying in a Bible College!! Around the world, I have been blessed to multiply my ministry in the Bible College setting. Fewer things in life have such a potent return on investment!!

So I pray!!!

I pray for a safe trip. I pray for wisdom. I pray that my French is not as rusty as it feels like! Join me in prayer, that the next 7 days will be powerfully directed by the power of the Spirit!!

Ancient Landmarks

2011-04-11T06:21:00.001-07:00

Proverbs 22:28 reminds us “Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set.” In a day when so many of the ancient landmarks are being moved, this is a relevant admonition to all of us. Landmarks that were put in place by doctrinally sound, praying men and women of God, are now under scrutiny and derision by the masses. Even the most basic tenants of faith such as prayer and fasting, Bible reading and apostolic worship are not being pushed aside for a much simpler “walk of faith”.

Biblical principles of separation and holiness are maligned as being outdated and archaic. Landmarks are being moved, without any consideration as to why they were placed there and the Biblical knowledge and fear of God that moved holy men and women to place them there. How quickly and readily some are moving to depart from the “faith that was once delivered to the saints”!

In an amazing story, written by Jay Alabaster for the Associated Press, about the recent tsunamis that have devastated much of the northeast coast of Japan, those that chose to build their homes along the coast did so against the ancient warnings of their ancestors. Hundreds of large stone markers dot this area which contained a variety of warnings, the most central being “Do not build below this point, because of the dangers from tsunamis.

The actual story can be found at this link and it contains some amazing details about the wisdom of the residents of this area of Japan over the past 600 years - wisdom that was ignored.

Quoting from the article, one of these stones stated "Remember the calamity of the great tsunamis. Do not build any homes below this point." The problem was not that the people did not know about the warnings, they simply chose to ignore them. In another fascinating quote, a scholar who is deeply acquainted with the stones stated the following: "People had this crucial knowledge, but they were busy with their lives and jobs, and many forgot."

The residents of one community, Aneyoshi, were saved because they heeded the ancient warnings. One school aged child said this about the lessons that were inscribed in stone, “Everybody here knows about the markers. We studied them in school... When the tsunami came, my mom got me from school and then the whole village climbed to higher ground."

Others chose to ignore the warnings and as a result, tens of thousands died. Who knows how many would have been saved from death had they simply heeded the ancient warnings. Instead they put their faith in modernity and the wisdom of modern times. Sea walls, electronic surveillance and warning systems, and the speed of bullet trains and automobiles were deemed to be a worthy and trustworthy defense against the power of the sea. How foolhardy these people were.

Tragically, there is always a generation that arises that “knows better” than their forefathers. Yet that new generation did not experience what their fathers and grandfathers experienced and therefore did not understand the motivation for the landmark. Quoting again from the article, "It takes about three generations for people to forget. Those that experience the disaster themselves pass it to their children and their grandchildren, but then the memory fades"!!

As Christians, we need to be mindful of removing or worse, ignoring, the ancient landmarks that are in place to warn of of the dangers of worldly living. These are ancient landmarks that define the safety and security that can be found in living a Biblically sound life. May God help us to be vigilant and mindful of these ancient landmarks!

Jesus is coming soon, and our world will be struck with a powerful tsunami of carnality, worldliness and compromise. Sin and the spirit of anti-christ are already roaring across the world with unprecedented force. The wise man continues to build his house upon the rock, positioned well behind the boundaries marked by the ancient landmarks placed in the church by the Apostolic men of the New Testament that founded this church - as well as those that walked before us in godliness and in the fear of the Lord.

These ancient landmarks continue to stand - though ignored by many. We would do well to heed their warnings and counsel.

In the Enemy's Sights

2011-03-30T14:50:00.000-07:00

Marine Sniper Carlos Hathcock is a legend. Growing up in rural Arkansas in his grandmother's care, he played war in the woods and the Nazis that he was hunting for were the game found in the woods. Even as a young boy, Carlos made every shot count. His dream was to join the Marine Corps and at 17 years of age that dream became a reality.
During the Vietnam War, Carlos became a Marine Sniper, and entered into the lore of Marine Corps legend. He did so in such a way that a Marine Corps rifle and firing range are named in his honour. It really is quite an achievement for a young boy from rural Arkansas!!

There are many amazing tales from his time in the war, including the longest confirmed kill by a sniper and a record number of kills. Additionally one could speak of his heroism, a heroism that ended hi sniper career, when he rescued seven wounded men from a burning vehicle and suffered grave injuries in the process.

None can compare to the time that Carlos the sniper became the target of an enemy sniper. With a bounty on his head, Carlos Hathcock had much to fear. Yet he continued his work unabated, in spite of the risks. Yet on this occasion he was literally the target of an enemy sniper. Carlos and his spotter knew that they were both the hunter and the hunted in the deep jungles of South East Asia. They equally knew their prey and their predator was nearby.

Silence and stealth was imperative, with the consequence of failure being death. In the rugged terrain, the two parties drew close to one another. Carlos felt his adversary was near, but where?

Seeing the glint of sunlight off of what could only be a man made object, Carlos risked everything and fired at this object. Knowing that if they had failed to hit their enemy, their position was compromised, Carlos and his spotter carefully maneuvered to where they had seen this object and where Carlos' bullet had been fired.

Coming to the location they could not belief what they saw. Not only had Carlos hit the enemy sniper, but his bullet actually passsed through the man's rifle-scope from font to back, entering his head through his shooting eye.

Quite literally, these two adversaries had each other in their sights, and it was only a question of who will fire first!!

Dear brother and sister - know this, that your enemy has you in his sights. Yet we are armed with a weapon far greater than his own. Yet it may be a question as to who moves first. Do not wait for the enemy to strike. Rather, go on the offensive!!

Pray!!
Fast!!
Immerse your life in the Word!!
Worship!!
Witness!!

Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

God has confidence in you!

2011-02-11T07:58:00.001-08:00

One of society's greatest ills is the lack of self-confidence. So much is lost when we do not believe in ourself. This scourge is compounded when there is no one else to express that confidence in us. Where can one go, when they are lacking that sense of self-confidence? I am thankful that there is a God in heaven that has confidence in me!!

No matter what you are facing, or what trouble you are going through, there is a heavenly Father standing on the sidelines cheering us on. Each step I take, God declares, "you can do it!!". Each struggle I traverse, He declares, "you're going to make it!".

There are reasons I have this sense, not truly of self-confidence, but of God confidence. An interesting tale emerges in the Scriptures in Matthew 21:33 "Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country." While this may not seem to be an inspiring story to you, it should be.

It takes years of pruning, grafting and care to develop a vineyard into one that successfully is producing a product that can be consumed. Yet at the very time that the "master of the house" planted the vineyard he also built the winepress. What faith and confidence in those that were going to be tending his investment! The master foresaw the workers success and prepared for it long before their success was realized. He simply knew that they were going to succeed at their given task.

The trials of Job add to this understanding of God's confidence in His children. Consider that it was God that suggested Job to Satan, and not vice versa. Often we think that Satan chose Job for these trials, and yet the Word of God records the words of Jehovah, "have you considered My servant Job?". It is amazing that God was so certain of Job's resilience that he joyfully sent these tribulations into this man's life.

God was certain that Job was going to make it!

Whatever you are facing today, know this, God is certain that you are going to make it!

When no one else believes in you, know this one thing ~ God believes in you!!

The Fall of a Great Man

2011-02-08T05:04:00.000-08:00

When I read the story of Saul, I am struck with the incredible contrast between Saul in his youth, and early days as Israel’s leader, and his later actions and behaviour. It becomes a classic tale of “if anything CAN go wrong, it WILL”!

Saul’s changes serve as a reminder of our own humanity. Regardless of how good and upright we are today, we need to be vigilant that we do not become a person whose back has been turned on God.

Our introduction to Saul is found in 1 Samuel 9:1 ... a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.

Saul almost seemed to be genetically modified, so much taller was he than all of the other men of his community. Yet more than his physical characteristics, Saul manifested other qualities that any man or woman would desire to have in their life. Yet, over the years, these positive characteristics were lost, only to be replaced by an opposing trait. My prayer for my own life and each one who endeavours to serve the Lord is that we would never permit the good qualities we posses to ever be replaced by the very thing we are struggling to overcome.

HUMBLE:

1Sa 10:21-22 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found. Therefore they enquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.

When his time came to be presented before the nation, Saul was found hiding. Both he and Samuel knew of his calling, and his anointing. This action was not a surprise. Yet, he had no eagerness to get out in front of the people.

Humility is a great characteristic in greatness. Some of the greatest CEO’s in the largest corporations are not noted for their strong-handedness but rather their down to earth nature. While maintaining discipline, they are seen among their employees as “one of them” and someone who is just like us.

Saul began this way, and yet great was the downfall of this man. Before long he is eyeing those around him in suspicion. Ultimately anyone who casts a shadow on his fame and stature is viewed as a threat. Even the potential in his own family is seen as a menace that must be removed.

INDIFFERENT TO OPPOSITION

1 Samuel 10:27 But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.

Saul began so well. When those wicked men opposed his rule, Saul turned a deaf ear to these voices.

However, in the downfall of this great man, we see a tragic transformation. No longer does Saul remain silent at cries of his critics. Soon even those closest to him fall victim of raging jealousies. No one will stand against me! No one dare oppose me! I am in charge here! I will fight tooth and nail to hold on to what’s mine, even if God HIMSELF has taken it away from me.

NOT INTIMIDATED BY HIS CRITICS

1 Samuel 11:12-13 And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death. And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.

Here we see a man not intimidated by his critics. One not influenced by the naysayer. Soon all of this is about to change.

In the not to distant future we read of a man ready to seek, kill and destroy any hint of opposition to his rule.

When the woman sang of David’s exploits being greater than his own, he sought for and took advantage of every plot and ploy to destroy him.

When his own son appeared to be against him he threw the same javelin at him that he had used against David.

QUICK TO ENGAGE IN THE BATTLE

Nahash the Ammonite comes with his army against Israel threatening to gouge out the right eye of everyone in return for peace. During the 7 day decision period messengers are sent with this word to the entire nation.

1 Sam 11:6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.

Saul, upon hearing this, slaughters his team of oxen and sends word that any man who does not rise up and follow him will be treated in the same way. With the nation rallied around him in fervent zeal, they defeat the enemy.

And yet. after becoming king, this giant of a man was too cowardly to engage the fight with another giant of a man, Goliath. Many days passed as this giant repeatedly challenged Israel to produce a man willing to fight. Saul, once a courageous man and one quick to respond to the needs of his nation cowers in fear until another, a young man named David, came along.

SURROUNDED BY GODLY MEN

1 Samuel 10:26 And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.

Those that gathered around Saul were men sensitive to God, mindful of His holiness. By the end of Saul’s life, he was surrounded by men more than willing to attack the anointed of God:

1 Samuel 22:18-19 And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod. And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.

Even the ministry is no longer sacred to Saul. Anyone and everyone who hints of opposition is suspect. Anyone who even aids those on the “other side” are considered anathema.

SENSITIVE TO THE HOLY GHOST
1 Samuel 10:10 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.

Oh, that we would all be prophets, with the Spirit of the Lord mightily upon us, enabling us to speak forth the Word of God in boldness.
When did the page turn? When did the heart grow cold?
When did he stop praying?
When did he stop fasting?
When did he stop seeking the counsel of the man of God in his life?
When did he stop seeking the melodies of worship?

I do not know…

But there was a moment when the prayers ceased…
There was a moment when the sweet fellowship stopped…
There was a moment when the songs of praise were exchanged for another melody…

I do not know when that moment was, but I do know the result: Saul ends up consulting witches and dead spirits for advice!

BUILT AN ALTAR

1 Samuel 14:35 And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD.

As Saul grew in stature, in fame and away from the fear of God we see the change.

Rather than seeking the counsel of God, he presumes to know the mind of the Lord at Gilgal when he presumptuously offers sacrifice to God. A task that only a priest was entitled to do.

His lack of reverence for all things holy is also seen in his slaying of Ahimelech the priest, all of his household and even Nob, the city of the priests.

The ultimate contrast is found in 1 Samuel 15:22. In the beginning of his life, Saul built an altar to honour the Lord. Now, already well down the slippery slope to his personal demise we see another monument being built.

1 Samuel 15:12 And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.

And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning. And it was told Samuel, Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself and turned and passed on and went down to Gilgal. (ESV)

Saul established a monument to commemorate his victory. Rather than building an altar to glorify God, he built a monument to glorify Himself, and His achievements.

But Samuel was informed that Saul had set up a triumphal arch, or some monument of his victory, at Carmel, a city in the mountains of Judah, seeking his own honour more than the honour of God, for he set up this place (or hand, as the word is) for himself (he had more need to have been repenting of his sin and making his peace with God than boasting of his victory), (from Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1991 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.)

FAITHFULNESS TO FAMILY

Before there was greatness in the life of Saul, Before there was anointing, Before there was a crown and throne, there was a humble young man, out on an errand for his father.

In fact Saul’s story does not begin with Saul at all. It begins:

1 Samuel 9:1 Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.

Saul’s story commences with a tale of a great man, the leader of a great family, who was raising a great son, an obedient son, a hard working son.

Family took precedence in the beginning. Saul wanted to do nothing more than to please God through pleasing his father.

Yet in the end, we see a depraved man prepared to sacrifice even his own family for the sake of guarding his fame and position:

Taking the credit for the exploits of his son Jonathon.
Threatening to kill his son Jonathan over a taste of honey.
Offering one daughter as a prize in a giant-slaying contest.
Using another daughter as bait to get David onto the battlefield to get killed by the Philistines.
Attempting to murder his own son Jonathon.

Here is a man ready to sacrifice his family and home to maintain his image.
Here is a man ready to sacrifice his family and home to maintain his prestige.
Here is a man ready to sacrifice his family and home to maintain his position and status.

CONCLUSION

In the life of Saul we find only a tragic tale of what “could have been”.

While it is true that no man is perfect, we can note several things from the course of Saul’s life:

Many try to justify their actions, but let us note the following 3 points:

1. IT IS EVIDENT THAT A PROFESSEDLY GOOD OR CREDITABLE INTENTION WILL NOT JUSTIFY A BAD ACT.
2. NOR CAN GOD BE HONOURED IN ONE WAY AT THE COST OF DISHONOURING HIM IN ANOTHER
3. SO, ALSO, ARE WE TO LEARN THAT OFFERINGS TO GOD ARE ABOMINATION IF THEY DO NOT EXPRESS OBEDIENT LOVE.

(from The Biblical Illustrator Copyright © 2002, 2003 Ages Software, Inc. and Biblesoft, Inc.)

Let us learn from the fall of this great man.

Dealing With Dirt!

2011-02-02T14:54:00.000-08:00

Numbers 5 contains and amazing portion of the Old Testament law. In it, a man who had grown suspicious of his wife's behaviour could bring her to the house of God to determine if she had been faithful to him or not. How far removed we are from such a day - for which we all should be thankful. Today we have more civilized means to deal with the questions of marital fidelity & infidelity and we have counsellors who can talks us through our problems.

Nevertheless, God's law contained these unique instructions for determining whether or not the bride in question had been faithful to her spouse or not. Brought before the priest, she would be asked to drink a unique cup of "home brewed holy water." She would also swear her innocence knowing that if she was guilty of infidelity, the holy water would cause her to fall into sickness and render her infertile for the rest of her life.

One of the ingredients in this concoction the woman was required to consume was dirt from the floor of the Tabernacle. (And the priest shall take holy water in an earthenware vessel and take some of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle and put it into the water. Verse 17) She was required to consume dirt from the house of God! If her heart was pure, she would have no adverse reaction to this beverage. If, however, she had an unfaithful heart and an impure life, she would react violently to this water of bitterness.

There is a powerful parallel to each of us today. Let's be honest. There is dirt in the house of God. If you think that you are exempt, you are sadly mistaken. If you think that your church is "dirt free" you have not opened your eyes very wide in the last few visits.

The reality is, none of us live in a perfect world, and none of us are a part of a perfect church. Not only is there dirt in God's house, but every now and then we all have to taste it. The test is always how we react when we are put to that test.

Will the exposure to the mess and dirt of God's house produce bitterness in you? How many have walked away from the church, from the truths of the Gospel, because of how they reacted to the a mess that took place in their church. While I offer no excuse for the sins that so often create the dirt, I am a realist to acknowledge that the dirt is there and always will be.

One of the blessings contained in this story is that should the bride pass the test and refuse to become bitter after being exposed to the dirt of God's house, she would walk away and have children. (But if the woman has not defiled herself and is clean, then she shall be free and shall conceive children. Verse 28.)

God does put His church through the fires of purification. He often puts her to the test to determine the purity of her heart and motives. Let us not allow the roots of bitterness, that consumed many on the journey from Egypt to the land of Promise, to form in us.

On the pathway to revival, we will be asked to consume the waters containing dirt from God's house. Don't allow your heart to develop bitterness when exposed to these situations. If you can maintain your faith and your virtue, God will surely pour out His Spirit upon you!!

O - The Irony!!

2011-01-29T07:18:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I come across a news story that causes an eyebrow to be raised and a flood of mixed emotions to sweep over my heart. So it was when I encountered this amazing tale out of Russia. it is both a tale of tragedy and a homily of humour. I have highlighted the parts of this news article that proclaim the irony of this drama:

A "Black Widow" suicide bomber planned a terrorist attack in central Moscow on New Year's Eve but was killed when an unexpected text message set off her bomb too early, according to Russian security sources.

The unnamed woman, who is thought to be part of the same group that struck Moscow's Domodedovo airport on Monday, intended to detonate a suicide belt near Red Square on New Year's Eve in an attack that could have killed hundreds.

Security sources believe a message from her mobile phone operator wishing her a happy new year received just hours before the planned attack triggered her suicide belt, killing her at a safe house.

Islamist terrorists in Russia often use mobile phones as detonators. The bomber's handler, who is usually watching their charge, sends the bomber a text message in order to set off his or her explosive belt at the moment when it is thought they can inflict maximum casualties.

The dead woman has not been identified, but her husband is apparently serving time in jail for being a member of a radical Islamist terror group.

Security sources believe the New Year's Eve bomber and the airport bombers may have been members of a suicide squad trained in Pakistan's al-Qaida strongholds which was sent to target the Russian capital's transport system.

Nobody has been arrested in connection with Monday's bombing, which left 35 people dead. Police are trying to identify the severed head of a male suicide bomber recovered from the scene.

© Copyright (c) The Daily Telegraph
http://www.leaderpost.com/news/Text+message+blows+suicide+bomber+accident/4172966/story.html#ixzz1CRE0rZHK

Can you imagine!! All of the plans of this warrior destroyed not only by the technology that was being used to power their murderous plot but by the very company providing the technology. A simply New Year's wish becomes the harbinger of death and destruction.

I both laughed and felt sympathy. The laughter comes from the realization that this woman is now a fresh candidate for a Darwin Award. The sympathy stemmed from the realization that this woman was driven to plot the death of innocents and in turn lost her life in her pursuit of this plan.

Life is filled with situations of irony and as Christians we are not exempt. things will happen in our life that do not make sense. God has an incredible sense of humour and sometimes we feel that we are the victims of His "practical jokes"! The reality is that God is no joker and all that He does has Divine purpose that ultimately is for our good. Many times our plans "blow up" early in the planning phase. We can be filled with frustration or we can understand that God's intervention was a communication for our good.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not to your own understanding!!

Diversity: A Cause of Celebration

2010-10-04T05:18:00.000-07:00

I live in a small town in Eastern Canada. Coming here almost six years ago was quite a change from the life that my family and I had been living for the past 17 1/2 years. Over those years as missionaries with the United Pentecostal Church, we had lived in a variety of locations on several continents. In addition to living in such compelling parts of the world, I was often privileged to travel even further beyond the areas of my residency.

My first venture into missions took me to a place called “Abak” (pronounced a-BAWK) in south=eastern Nigeria. Though it was considered to be a rural area, it still had a population in its environ of close to million people b some sources. Next I moved to a city called Enugu, also in easter Nigeria, which had well over a million people in its’ core and many more in the surrounding communities.

Our journeys took us to France, where we lived in Albertville for almost a year studying the French language. This amazing town, located in the Haute-Savoie, hosted the Winter Olympics in 1992. Within a short driving distance were cities like Geneva, Lyons, Paris, Chambery and more. It was an amazing time.

We then moved to Ouagadougou (wa-ga-DOO-goo) in Burkina Faso, again a city of about one million people, located on the upper edge of the Sahel, the region the separates the Sahara Desert from the rain forests of West Africa. Life in that city was constant hustle and bustle, as is the case throughout this region of the world.

Back to Woodstock.... I now live in a town that has about as many people as the last neighbourhood I lived in. The entire province of New Brunswick contains less people than any of the cities that I have lived in. We are talking some serious downsizing here!!

Yet as I gaze across the streets of this quaint river-side community, I discover that like most growing towns in North America, the world that I thought I left behind, has moved next door. The faces you will now see in Wal-Mart or in our grocery stores, or checking the mail downtown, reflect a diversity that must be celebrated: especially by myself and the church that I pastor.

We have a burden to reach the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Last weekend that burden was expressed in almost $65,000 being pledged through Faith Promise for the coming year. Our church website regularly is visited by people from every continent on the earth. We support missionaries that are committed to reaching their nations with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We have watched as visitors, representing these different communities have come into our services and felt the mighty presence of God. Last night we had a family join us that had emigrated from a European nation a number of years ago. Not only did I observe that one family member had to translate some of the service for another, I watched as these first time visitors reached out to an responded to the powerful moving of the Holy Ghost.

You do not have to pack your bags to reach the world. The world has come to our doorsteps!!

In a few weeks our church will celebrate an “All Nations Sunday”. It is a time of rejoicing and celebrating the beautiful reality that God is calling men of every tribe, every nation, every tongue, every color and every culture to partake of a universal promise: salvation!!

Let My People Go!!

2010-09-10T07:53:00.000-07:00

Could you remember a few names for me??

Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani
Yosef’s wife, Fatemah Passandideh
Pastor Behrouz Sadegh Khandjani
Behrouz’s wife Fatemeh Tork Kejory
Pastor Behnam Irani
Omid Kalibarnejad
Afshin Yafadaran
Mehdi Sedin
Nahid Karobian
Alireza Sedian
Mehdi Karbalay
Hamed Pishkar

No, these are not your ordinary run of the mill Joe down the street names. Yet I want you to have them firmly planted into your memory.

These are some of my Christian brothers and sisters. You see I have Christian brothers and sisters all over the world, in every far flung corner of this ever-shrinking globe.

In spite of that fact, I draw your attention to these.

You see these men and women are presently imprisoned in Iran and several of them (the Pastors) are scheduled to be executed.
The rest have been handed life sentences. Their crime? Well, I am glad you asked. They are guilty of being Christians.

Several years ago, these pastors were converted by a Montreal based pastor who began using a web-cam and the internet to reach out to his fellow Iranians within the country. During the last three years, these pastors have evangelized within Iran, resulting in somewhere between two and three thousand people being baptized in Jesus name. A large number of former members of the Iranian Orthodox Church have been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. As a result of their efforts, they have been arrested and beaten on different occasions. Finally, they went through the court system and are now facing these serious punishments for doing nothing more than believing and preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the press, these people are referred to as the “Only-Jesus” people for their firm adherence to baptism in Jesus name!

What can I do? I ask myself this question and I know the answer. First, I can pray. Prayer can change the hearts and minds of men and reverse situations that seem to be heading for disaster and make them alright. Second you could write to the Iranian Embassy in Canada and request that these people be released from prison. Copy their names and request that these people be granted pardon for the “crime” of believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. Here is the address: 245 Metcalfe St. Ottawa, ON K2P 2K2. Or you could send an email to consulate@salamiran.org.

You may also find it informative to watch this short clip about these believers: http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-487128

Let’s pray and let’s act on behalf of these God-loving and God-fearing men and women. While they are prepared to lay down their life for the Gospel sake, let’s pray and believe God for a miracle of their release and an even greater miracle of Revival in Iran!

The Koran and Mr. Jones

2010-09-09T06:45:00.000-07:00

I have pondered the unfolding situation of "Pastor" Terry Jones and his plans to burn copies of the Koran on the anniversary of the attacks on the United States nine years ago. By undertaking this action, Mr. Jones believes he will be advancing the cause of Christianity and revealing the heart of Islam as a violent and intolerant religion.

Around the world there is both an outcry and criticism of this plan. I am not sure if Mr. Jones was seeking publicity or if this is the product of his sincere belief that what he is doing is right, but this leader of an small group of people has garnered the attention of heads of state, religious leaders near and far and sparked protests in locations as distant from Gainesville, FL as one could dare imagine.

While I am certainly no supporter of Islamic ideology, and do feel that as a part of the Great Commission the Church is to evangelize the Muslims in our world, I do feel that this move is, and excuse my English, "retarded".

While military leaders point out the possible harm to our troops stationed in Muslim areas of the world, I think of the great harm that such a move would have upon both missionaries and believers around the world who are already paying a high cost for their stand for the Gospel. To further place them at risk shows the inability of this man to "discern the Lord's body".

Furthermore, why should we as Christians stoop to the lows presently occupied by those who oppose us. I do not have to crawl into a pig pen to tell that the pig pen stinks. I can do so, out of love, from a morally superior position. While the flags of our nation are burned and abused, and attacks against Christians around the world occur on a daily basis, there is no precedence for us to retaliate with similar behaviour.

Mr. Jones, you will ultimately do what you want, and you will ignore the pleas of politicians, common sense, the Scriptures and other religious leaders. Ultimately you will do what you want, and what you think your god has told you to do.

For the rest of us, with a passion for world evangelism, we will move forward in spite of the great harm to this cause inflicted by a very selfish and self centred man. We will unapologetically proclaim the Gospel to a lost and dying world, while showing them equally that the heart of our faith is not birthed in hatred but in love.

Lastly, thank-you Mr. Jones for allowing all of us the opportunity to search our own hearts to discover whether or not we would walk a path of anger and hatred with you or we would walk a road less travelled, while finding a few more travellers today that we expected!

World Cup Fever

2010-06-28T06:39:00.000-07:00

No, I don't have it, but I do pay attention to the games and the unavoidable controversies that accompany this world wide phenom. My first real encounter with the world cup occurred in an airport in France as my family was departing that beautiful nation after living there for nine months while immersed in language study.

This happened to be in June 1998, when France was hosting the World Cup. France went on to win this World Cup, by the way. My how the times have changed!! We had purchased our souvenirs before departing: the cups emblazoned with the French logo, posters of the French team, even a Swiss army knife for our son with the French team's rooster logo!

None of that compared to our stroll through the Lyon airport as we saw the masses of people who had literally come from around the world to be a part of this, the largest sporting event in the world. Scots wearing their kilts stood out, but one could see people from a plethora of countries, all sporting either their national dress or paraphernalia that identified them with the team they we there to support. It was like the entire world had gathered in one place, each choosing not to melt into the pot but rather to show off their national pride.

Somehow, I think that this is a scene that will be repeated one day when we gather together, as a single church and body, in then presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. Am I saying that our national, cultural and ethnic divisions will be paraded publicly to divide and separateness? No, just the opposite, as we celebrate the fact that we are of one nation, one marked by being called "holy" by the Apostle Peter. Our unity in Christ supersedes any distinctions that may exist due to heritage or geography.

What a day that will be!

Dear Ms. Thomas...

2010-06-07T07:35:00.000-07:00

Today, I allow another to speak in my stead. Like many, I was shocked at the words of Helen Thomas who instructed the Jews to depart from Israel and to go back to Poland and Germany. Yoram Dori has written a letter to Ms. Thomas in response to her comments. This letter was published in the Jerusalem Post and I wanted to share it with you. If you would like to see this article on the JP website, here is the link (http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Op-EdContributors/Article.aspx?id=177668).

Dear Ms. Thomas, I read on numerous Web sites the remarks attributed to you (and I did not see any denial) that we, the Jews must “get the hell out of Palestine” and “go home” to Germany or Poland. I am convinced that you are aware of the events which took place during the years 1939-1945 but, to be certain, I think it appropriate to tell you a little about my parents and their families.

My mother was sent to Palestine from Germany in 1933 with the rise of the Nazis to power by her farseeing parents. The British blockade, which prevented Jews fleeing the Nazi horrors from entering, made it difficult for her and only the pretext of coming on a tourist visit enabled her to enter and remain alive. Her older sister, Sarah, her husband and three children aged 12, 10 and seven did not succeed in finding a way of coming to Palestine and were sent by the Nazis to Poland and from there, their journey to the Auschwitz gas chambers, was short. I understand that it is there that you wish to send me.

My father, who lived in Austria, also showed resourcefulness and immediately on the German invasion and sailed to Palestine. On the way – again the British blockade – he was forced to throw his passport into the sea so that, heaven forbid, they would not send him back to Austria, another country you wished I was moving to. His older brother and his wife, who did not go with him, were murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators.

My parents, who, as mentioned, with lifesaving initiative, fled from Europe before they were murdered, arrived in a desolated and barren country, worked in orchards, barely supported themselves and, by the way, were happy with their lot. In 1947 upon hearing of the UN resolution on the partitioning of the country, they danced in the streets, even though most of the area of Israel was torn from its sovereignty. For brands who survived the fire, it was enough.

The Palestinians and Arab countries, who gained most of the area, refused to accept the UN resolution and began a war to annihilate us. Only three years had passed since the liberation of Auschwitz and again we – the Jews – faced the danger of annihilation. To our joy, 600,000 Jews were victorious over millions of armed Arabs. It appears that justice has power and strength of its own.

IN THE 62 years of our existence, we have had seven wars, thousands of terror attacks, buses which have exploded in streets, firing into schools, mortars fired on kindergartens. Yet you wish to exile us back to the inferno, as if nothing happened 65 years ago in Europe, as if our hands have not been stretched out for peace since the establishment of the state?

We were victorious in the wars imposed upon us by Egypt and we signed a peace agreement with it after yielding all the territory and all the oil. We signed a peace agreement with Jordan. We yielded all the territory and much water. We withdrew from Lebanon to the international border and, in return, we received Hizbullah katyushas on our citizens. We left Gaza and in return, we received massive firing on our citizens in the South. Are you aware, Ms. Thomas, that many children from Sderot and the area around Gaza wet their beds until a late age out of fear of the Hamas missiles? And it is us that you wish to exile? Why? Because you think that we are weak or because it annoys you that we are not defeated?

As someone, who throughout his adult life has been a member of the Israeli “peace camp,” notwithstanding you and your strange and angering views, my friends and I (and I hope also my government) will continue to turn over every stone and scour every corner to attain peace. Peace, which will enable us to the smallest extent to live and our neighbors, the Palestinians, to establish a country and to flourish and prosper. To achieve this, we are prepared to make great concessions, to give back all the territories gained as a result of wars which our neighbors forced on us. There is only one thing we want in return – life. A quiet life, a life without terror, a life without missiles, a life like the one you have in Washington and which I, in Israel, also deserve.

The writer is an adviser to President Shimon Peres.

Sorry Darwin, you're proved wrong again!

2010-05-30T04:38:00.001-07:00

I read with interest the following news article:

The chimp Y chromosome has now been fully sequenced, and the results are astounding. A study in Nature reveals that the chimp Y chromosome is radically different than the human Y chromosome. The chimp’s Y chromosome has only two-thirds the number of distinct genes/gene families, and 47% of the protein coding regions compared to its human counterpart. Furthermore, more than 30% of the entire chimp Y chromosome has no counterpart in humans. Even those segments that do have counterparts in the human Y chromosome are often located in different regions of the chromosome.

One the lead researchers, David Page, told Nature News that “it looks like there’s been a dramatic renovation or reinvention of the Y chromosome in the chimpanzee and human lineages.”Of course, this reinvention has to be explained in terms of common descent, so they speculate that the chimp Y chromosome experienced a loss of DNA, while humans experienced a gain. The surprise of the scientists involved, however, demonstrates that this find is counter-intuitive to Darwinian expectations.

(http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v463/n7280/full/nature08700.html)

According to the Darwinists, we should have 99% in common with "our closest relative" on the evolutionary tree. What a surprise, to some, that we really don't have that much in common after all.

I think I will stick with the basics... Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth...

Back to the Basics

2010-05-03T11:33:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, I took my son Jeff and headed off to a nearby city for a drumming clinic. This evening event was to be held at a store which has since changed its name from Musicstop to Long & McQuade. I have played drums since my Bible College days, which was in the 80’s. My son’s interest in drumming was both genetic, as a result of me and my musical wife, and environmental. The environmental part is due to the fact that he was raised for the first 12 years of his life in Africa. When the only instrument that you hear, the majority of your church going days, is a drum of one kind or another it is bound to affect you. In case you’re wondering, my son’s drumming ability, and all other musical abilities, have far surpassed my own.

The drummer we were going to hear and learn from was named Charlie Cooley. I had never heard of him, and I doubt my son had either. Nonetheless is was a great “father-son” evening where a shared interest could be enjoyed. As well there were a ton of give-aways including SABIAN cymbals (one of the sponsors of the event). Our hopes were to walk away with some freebie. This dream was dashed as we came away pretty empty-handed.

As we arrived and got ready for the clinic, the first thing was the insertion of earplugs. At first I figured that this was for the wimps that were in the room. However as Mr. Cooley began to play, I was overwhelmed with thanksgiving that there was a sponge barrier protecting my eardrums from his incredible and incredibly loud playing.

As we got to the teaching part, Mr. Cooley began to talk about his practice routine. He travels everywhere with his drum pad and a metronome. He is continuously working on his rhythm and timing. I was struck by how many hours he put in on “the basics” on a daily basis.

How I am reminded of the importance of “the basics” in our day. Sadly, far too many feel that the basics are only for the beginners. Some “mature” past the basics and fail to realize that there are some schools in the Kingdom of God from which you never graduate.

We need to spend time on the principle of prayer every day. We need to be dedicated to the principle of fasting on a regular basis. Our lives need to be honed by the principle of the Word on a daily basis. How sad when we think that we are too professional to worry about such fundamentals.

The key to successful drumming is not in mastering intricate rolls and runs, but rather keeping rhythm and having consistent timing. All of the fluff, bells and whistles don’t mean a thing if you are off beat.

To have a successful church does not hinge upon how wonderful our programs are, how fancy our multi-media systems are or how well we appeal to this modern age. While all of those things may be a part of the overall package, it all comes down to basics. Ask yourself these question: Are we a praying church? Are we a fasting church? Are we a Word-focused church? Are we a holiness church? Do we still baptize in Jesus name? Do we still see people filled with the Holy Ghost, speaking in other tongues?

You can have all the extras that you want, but if you don’t have the basics, you really don’t have a thing!

Thanks, Canada...

2010-04-27T05:30:00.000-07:00

In a small book of quotes and sermons that I have collected over the years, are written two quotes of interest. One is from Charles Darwin, the other is from Adolph Hitler. Before I tell you who said what, I’ll let you read the quotes!

“Looking to the world at no very distant date, what endless numbers of lower races will have to be eliminated by the higher civilized races throughout the world.”

“In nature there is no pity for lesser creatures when they are destroyed so that the fittest may survive”.

OK - who said what?? Is it the obvious choice or not??

The reality is that Darwin said the first quote, and Hitler said the second. Surprised? You should not be. Darwin’s teachings on evolution dramatically impacted the world in the early part of the 20th century. Across the “civilized” world, men and women of influence espoused the obvious conclusion of true Darwinian philosophy, which is that only the fit have the right to survive. I have heard that Hitler’s “Mein Kampf” in the original German reads startlingly like a work of Charles Darwin (or is that vice versa). In either case, we should all be shocked to learn that sales of Mein Kampf are on the increase.

This train of thought (Darwinism and the credo of a superior race) led to the idea of Eugenics - that we should “help” the evolutionary process. In Germany, this led to the propagation of the “Aryan” master race, and the elimination of the inferior races as espoused by the National Socialist Party (Nazis). Surely we have not forgot.

In North America, the ideology of eugenics led to “Planned Parenthood”, where the goal of eliminating the unwanted and inferior continues unabated to this day.

When we merchandise life and place value, or lack thereof, upon individuals based on finance, convenience or the other myriad of reasons given to justify eliminating the lives of unborn babies, we have truly descended to the lowest point any society can reach.

It is with pride that I read today that Canada has determined not to allow their foreign development money to support the murder of unborn babies in the developing world. It is a refreshing thought that our government has “chosen” (for some the debate is all about choice, right?) this course of action. According to some, this decision is counter-productive and “reopens the debate on abortion”. I did not know that the debate was declared over.

I did not hear who won.

I do know who has lost!

There is no Reset

2010-04-22T06:18:00.001-07:00

April 20 marks the 11th anniversary of he Columbine massacre. On this day, the normal sounds of a busy high school day were shattered by two disgruntled students who with bullets and bombs snuffed out the lives of both staff and students in this sleepy Colorado town. A question haunts me on this day and t should haunt all of us: Have we learned anything?

The culture of violence is one that we seemingly do not want to shake off. Some of this stems from the very nature of the human psyche. Children all over the world will entertain themselves with games that simulate war and violence. I can well remember playing “war” with my childhood friends (John, Mike, Dana, Darren, Shawn... we all have a list) which included strategy, surprise and ultimately “killing” the enemy. We would often have arguments as to whether or not we “got” someone or not. If you’re looking for someone with an untarnished record, I am not your man.

In spite of that, we seemingly knew our limits. Today’s children also engage in games of conflict, but when I watch young boys at play, I am more apt to see physical engagements that reflect the latest Mixed Martial Arts stars or World Wrestling Entertainment figures. When many boys and young men are not “acting out” these fights (sometimes with very real consequences) they are imitating the daredevil exploits that they observed on a video. When they do return to their homes, their spare time is filled with playing very violent video games that have become all too realistic in their graphic portrayal of the gory side of life. This addiction to violence is further compounded by the ability to publish, in video form, the latest conquest, real or virtual, to the entire world via YouTube and other online video services.

My attitude toward such seemingly benign activities was dramatically altered a number of years ago after reading a book by Lt. Col. David Grossman (Ret.) called “On Killing”. The premise of this tome was that humans are averse to taking another person’s life, especially when they are in close proximity to that other person. In order to make an army an effective killing machine, the humans that make up that army are, in all essence, brainwashed to ignore their innate repulsion of taking another human life and kill anyway.

Lt. Col. Grossman’s argument is that the very methods that are used to train soldiers to kill efficiently and contrary to any internal voice that opposes such violence, are marketed to our youth on a mass scale by the video game and entertainment industry. We are raising (in fact, we have raised) a generation of people, who like the Columbine killers, are saturated daily with thoughts of violence and death.

The irreversible consequences of this trend fill our newscasts every evening and our newspapers on a daily basis. Children are found to be killers and the perpetrators of the most violent and truly unimaginable acts. It seems as if people do not comprehend the irreversible nature of their actions. Perhaps they feel that life can be lived out just like the video games that they are so fond of playing.

The lesson that never seems to be taught, and the one that no one seems willing to teach is that life, unlike those video games, does not have a reset or a restart button.

2010-04-20T06:01:00.000-07:00

One of the things that seemed to really get under Jesus' skin was the hypocrite. He cast their lot with the worst of the worst in the world of his day. Surprisingly, in Jesus' day, the word hypocrite came from the art world and specifically that of the theater. The Hypocrite was the actor who changed masks or roles in order to play to the crowd. While it may not mirror our definition of a hypocrite in our day, it does portray what a hypocrite does. They are like chameleons that change their appearance and behavior to suit their surroundings.

Two recent news articles that I read highlighted the absurdity of the hypocrite.

One, from New Hampshire, told of the State's Liquor Commissioner being arrested for a DWI offense (driving while under the influence of alcohol). As a result of this offense, Richard Simard loses a $90,000 (and change) annual salary and even worse, he loses his integrity. It is stunning to think that the very man in charge of the regulation of the sale and distribution of alcohol would violate the laws governing its' very use.

In Pennsylvania, a woman was the victim of a sexual assault inside the Bensalem Rescue Squad's headquarters. The perpetrator of the crime was Michael Marren, who headed a Pennsylvania police department's sex crimes unit. Amazing! The very man commissioned by the people's government to insure protection to victim's of sexual assault, was the one who committed this heinous crime!

In the church, we will always have hypocrites as well. As far back as Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 (verse 1-10) through to the sex scandals in churches in the 21st century, it seems that we are destined to have such in our midst. In our efforts to deal with such in the church, Jesus even gave us a warning. By comparing the true saints to the "actors" he warned about dealing with the tares that grew in the midst of the wheat. It is possible that in trying to eliminate the tares, or weeds, we could also destroy the wheat.

With that in mind, I have a simple request today.

Let the Hypocrites Arise!

And quietly leave the building...

Breaking the Silence

2010-04-19T04:36:00.000-07:00

For 50 years, astronomers have been sweeping the skies with radio telescopes in the hope of stumbling across a message from an alien civilization.

In 1960, Cornell University astronomer Frank Drake performed the first modern SETI experiment, named "Project Ozma", after the Queen of Oz in L. Frank Baum's fantasy books. Drake used a 26-meter-diameter radio telescope at Green Bank, West Virginia, to examine the stars Tau Ceti and Epsilon Eridani near the 1.420 gigahertz marker frequency. A 400 kilohertz band was scanned around the marker frequency, using a single-channel receiver with a bandwidth of 100 hertz. The information was stored on tape for off-line analysis. He found nothing of great interest.

As of June 28, 2009 the SETI@home project has over 180,000 active participants volunteering a total of over 290,000 computers. These computers give SETI@home an average computational power of 617 teraFLOPS,[10] making it more powerful than Tianhe-I, the fifth most powerful computer in the world.

The processing power of this effort enables them to analyze a billion radio frequencies at the same time.

One commentator said that the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence is like looking for “A needle in a haystack search with no guarantee that there is even a needle in the haystack.”

A movie produced a number of years ago called “Contact” follows the possibility of receiving such a signal.

Recently I listened as an Arizona State University physicist and astro-biologist questioned the process of listening for these signals from extra-terrestrial civilizations. This scientist, Paul Davies, recently authored a book called “The Eerie Silence”.

In this book he examines the whys and wherefores concerning the absence of positive results over the last 50 years of trying. Paul Davies states that we have not heard with our instruments because they (the ET's) would not even be using frequencies that we would use.

He further states that if there are such civilizations, they likely do not even know that we are here. Paul Davies even declares that we are looking in the wrong places and using the wrong methods. He affirms that we should be looking for other signs of “intelligent life”, while at the same time suggesting that it is possible that we are indeed all alone in this universe. He further suggests that we should even look within the human body for messages from these superior civilizations.

From a biblical point of view, there is much folly in this and similar efforts. The reality is that messages have been sent to the earth for many years; the problem is that most people choose to ignore the message or are simply looking in the wrong places or with the wrong equipment.

Hebrews 1:1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,

2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

(ESV)

As verse one affirms, God has spoken in many ways, and at many times.

The "Eerie Silence" was broken from before there ever was anything visible or invisible beyond God Himself. In fact all that is visible and invisible is the result of God breaking the Celestial Silence with a spoken word! God said, “Let there be”... and there was, ... and it was GOOD!

God spake in many other ways.

Face to face with Adam.
Through an angel to Abraham and Lot
In a cloud with Moses.
Through a still small voice to Elijah.
Through the Urim & Thimmin to the priests.
By dreams and visions to others.

Yet in all the many ways that God did speak, no one received a complete revelation. Rather God spoke in snippets.

To Noah the quarter of the world to which Messiah should belong was revealed; to Abraham, the nation; to Jacob, the tribe; to David and Isaiah, the family; to Micah, the town of nativity; to Daniel, the exact time; to Malachi, the coming of His forerunner, and His second advent; through Jonah, His burial and resurrection; through Isaiah and Hosea, His resurrection. Each only knew in part... (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown)

The Silence was broken, by the cry of a baby, and continues to be broken by the sword of the Spirit, proceeding out of the mouth of the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Jesus, the full and complete revelation of the mighty God, is the only message that God is communicating to the world today.

Colossians 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Jesus is the full and complete revelation of the mighty God. He is the sole message that God is sending to the world today. You can hear nothing of God outside of Him!

How do I hear this voice, this message, this man?

You can use all of the high-tech equipment that you choose, yet God responds and speaks to the cry of a hungry heart. Unless man will humble himself, he will never hear the "still, small voice" of Almighty God. There is something about the hungry heart that touches God and breaks the Silence that hovers over lost humanity.

Revelation of John 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches

The Curse of the Cargo Cult

2010-04-16T04:33:00.000-07:00

During the Second World War, a phenomenon came to light that shines a light on the way that people perceive the link between certain behaviors and the results that they produce.

As the islands of the Pacific became the focus of one part of this world-wide conflict, American and allied troops advanced their way from one location to another. Through the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Micronesia and New Guinea and other areas, these armies would land on these islands, establish bases of operation and often give aid to the people in the surrounding areas. What were once primitive areas were transformed into fully functioning bases with airstrips, warehouses, control towers, ports and living quarters.

On a regular basis, ships would roll into port and off-load supplies. More often, however, cargo planes would fly in and deliver the much needed food, ammunition and other materials needed for a successful war to be fought. With each arrival of fresh supplies, the indigenous people would receive a portion that was used to appease them and keep their favor. After the end of the war, many of these bases closed up and the infrastructure was removed. This left these native populations with a sudden loss of goods that they had grown dependent on. In response, they began to imitate and emulate what they had seen the troops do, believing that in so doing, the planes and ships would return. Thus the “Cargo Cult” was born!

Australian anthropologist Peter Lawrence saw this unique behavior in 1949 in the Madang district of New Guinea. Persistent rumors abounded that a cargo ship was about to arrive in the harbor with huge consignments of goods for him, and the local people asked him to help them supervise the clearing of an airstrip. When he asked what the airstrip was for, he was told that cargo planes were about to arrive bringing tinned meat, rice, tools, tobacco and a machine for making electric light. And when he asked who was sending this cargo, they replied 'God in Heaven'.

What had happened was that the people became convinced that if they imitated the behavior of the troops, they would obtain the same results. The people busied themselves with clearing strips of land, to reproduce the airstrips and building “control towers” out of bamboo and grass. Some even built “communication headsets” from coconut shells and other materials. Fires were lit to become the lights to guide the planes in and “airplanes” were built of straw to “attract” the real planes to land. Even more amazing is that the people began to stage “drills” and “marches” with sticks for rifles and the insignias of the real troops painted on their bodies. Some even repeated the custom of afternoon tea, as practiced by the British, in an effort to better attract the loads of cargo that they believed were on the way.

What a sad situation, yet one that is repeated in the religious world today, where people imitate the actions of the authentic, believing that in the repetition of action they can get the same result and are participating in the same phenomenon. A prime example of this was observed in the services of the now disgraced charismatic preacher Todd Bentley. This Canadian born evangelist was famous for a number of practices; that of covering his body with tattoos and piercings, and hitting people with exuberant “BAM”s as they supposedly fell under the power of the Spirit of God. As these people fell to the ground, there was a team standing nearby to drape a cloth over the legs of those who have “fallen in the Spirit”. The roots of this action go back to the real experience of Apostolic women who, when being slain in the Spirit, were covered by a suit coat or by another cloth, to maintain a sense of modesty. These modern imitators of the Apostolic church are following in the footsteps of the Cargo Cult - believing that by following our practices, they will get the same results.

Another example of this is the charismatic preacher Jentezen Franklin. This speaker regularly takes messages from our wonderful United Pentecostal ministers, and passes them off as his own. He uses the same titles, tells the same jokes and tries his best to be just like an apostolic preacher - yet without the same results. Some examples of his plagiarized messages include Wayne Huntley’s message “The Miracle of More or Less” and Mike Williams’ message “Don’t Tear the Garments”: both preached in recent years at Because of the Times, a large meeting of Oneness Pentecostal Ministers in Alexandria, Louisiana.

These people, following in the footsteps of the Cargo Cult, are aptly described by Paul:

2 Timothy 3:1-5

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Paul spoke of a people that would act like the church, imitate the ‘godliness’ of the church, but would not be in communication with the real power of the church.

As the church of the living God, we can be trapped into allowing these “Cargo Cults” to influence us in a negative way. Several decades ago, the “Latter Rain” influenced many in the Apostolic movement to the point that the legitimate use of the gifts of the Spirit was brought to a halt in many assemblies. Thus the imitators of the real thing caused the real thing to cease to function. One can hardly imagine the United States army ceasing to do their various functions because there are some cheap imitators in various locations making a mockery of what they had observed being done by the real thing!

We cannot allow what others are doing to cause us to draw back from being the church God has called us to be. It seems that everyone is trying to copy true Apostolic worship, our style of music and our enthusiastic preaching. As we do have the greatest singers, preachers and most exciting worship, we simply note that imitation is the best form of flattery and continue to be the church!!

Our greatest challenge remains in maintaining our authenticity. I believe we can achieve this in three ways: through prayer, through holiness and through remaining in covenant through the name of Jesus!

Concerning prayer, I am reminded often of a prophecy that is said to have been pronounced during the Azusa Street revival in 1906. It stated, “In the last days three things will happen in the Great Pentecostal Movement. There will be an over-emphasis on power, rather than on righteousness; there will be an over-emphasis on praise to a God to whom they no longer pray; there will be an over-emphasis on the gifts of the Spirit, rather than on the Lordship of Christ.” In order to maintain our true identity, we must be a people of prayer, of spirit-led worship and intense communion with the living God.

In regards to holiness, we need to be reminded over and over again that the core meaning of the word “church” (ecclessia in the Greek) is “called out ones”. Paul wrote in II Corinthians 6:17 "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." The marks of separation upon our men and women can never descend to being interpreted as an obstacle to revival. I Peter 2:9: tells us "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:"

Lastly, we are the people of the name of Jesus. It is that name, through faith and baptism, that marks us as a unique people in the world today. Paul, in writing to the Colossians, made the connection between the Old Testament practice of circumcision and the New Testament rite of baptism, in Colossians 2:11-12 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. It was during the ceremony of circumcision that every son received his official name. I’m so glad that I have received the family name of God - the name of Jesus.

In a world of cheap imitators, let’s be the real thing. Let’s not allow the shoddy charlatans of the religious world to cause us to shrink back from our Apostolic heritage, doctrine and practices. We are the church so let’s just keep on being the church!!

It's all about people!

2010-04-15T04:58:00.000-07:00

Today is another busy day - in fact some things that I normally do on a Thursday have had to be rearranged. I will not be teaching at a nearby Bible College; much to the chagrine of the students. I have the feeling that there will be a generous round of high-fives going around as the news of my absence reaches them.

Another meeting, one that I am supposed to be attending, will be forfeited. I don't enjoy the prospects of bailing on my fellow committee members but sometimes you have to do what you have to do.

What could be so important, TODAY, of all days that I would take such drastic actions.

Let's see - April 15, 2010. If I was an American, it would mean a mad scramble to get my income taxes prepared and submitted before the midnight deadline. But, I am Canadian, which means I have another two full weeks of procrastination before the mad scramble to get my taxes submitted before a midnight deadline.

April 15, 2010 is the first day of fishing season here in New Brunswick. Now that would be a reason to cancel meetings and classes. Spring has come very early to our neck of the woods!! Migratory birds that normally appear in May are already here. The snow is all but gone. The grass is already green. The water levels are significantly down from flood stage. I suspect that the fish would be biting were I to toss a fly into the waters of the Meduxnekeag river today!!

April 15, 2010 is my 21st wedding anniversary. Yes, 21 years ago, I stood at the front of Apostolic Faith UPC in Dothan, Alabama and took Melissa Lyna Paramore to be my bride. Still going strong after 21 great years. What better reason to press the pause button and escape from the regular hubbub of the everyday grind.

The real reason that today is a busy day, and that regular activities have been put on hold is that a dear saint of the Lord will be celebrated in a home-going service today. Luther Christensen, whose son Martin attends the church I am privileged to pastor, will be laid to rest today in Perth Andover, NB.

Just a few days ago he breathed his last breath of this earthly life and began feasting on the glories of heaven. We were there. My wife and I and Martin and his wife stood around the bedside of this dying man and sang "In the Sweet By and By":

I feel the touch of hands so kind and tender.
They're leading me in the paths that I must trod.
I'll have no fear for Jesus walks beside me
For I'm sheltered in the arms of God.

So let the storm clouds rage high,
The dark clouds rise,
They don't bother me;
For I'm sheltered in the arms of God.
He walks with me,
And naught of earth shall harm me,
For I'm sheltered in the arms of God.

We finished singing and then prayed. Before we left the hospital Luther went from hearing my pitiful voice along with the others to hearing an angelic choir singing "Holy, Holy, Holy". He went from hearing my feeble voice praying to hearing the Master say, "Well done"!!

So as the drive to and fro, the funeral, the committal and the reception chew away at three or four or five hours of my day, I guess I will miss my classes. I will miss a meeting. I will certainly miss fishing. I will not celebrate my anniversary as some would feel appropriate. I will not be doing my taxes either. I will however be rejoicing with family and friends as an old soldier goes home.

Some would say that I have my priorities mixed up. When I accepted this call, so many years ago, I knew that in the end it's all about the people!!