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WHEN GOD DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE... (THE BOOK OF JOB)

6/15/2011

Job 12:7-10 states, “Ask the beasts and they will teach you; the birds of the sky and they will tell you, or speak to the earth, it will teach you; the fish of the sea, they will inform you. Who among these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In His hand is every living soul and the breath of all mankind" [Tanakh]

        It is easy to read through the story of Job and to be pretty hard on him. We say, “How could he doubt the goodness of God? How could he challenge God?” We must always remember that even though the reader sees what is going on behind the scenes (in discussions between God and Satan - cf. Job 1:6-12 and 2:1-6), there is no indication that Job knows what we know. All he knows is that he has been doing what God wanted him to do and is now facing challenges that just don't make any sense. It is always good to ask ourselves the question: "What would I do if I found myself in Job's situation?" We would be a lot more humble in our judgment.

        One of the biggest challenges that Job faced in all of this is outlined in Job 12:7-10 where he makes it clear that GOD is the one who orchestrated the tragic events that he was going through. We can get technical about how active God is in suffering and evil (James 1:13-14) - but this fact cannot be denied. In Isaiah 45:7, God says of Himself, "I form the light and create the darkness; I make well-being and create calamity. I am the Lord who does all these things". Can you imagine the emotional weight Job was going through in admitting this? He was basically saying that the God he loved and served with his whole heart, was the same God who allowed the Sabeans to steal his oxen and donkeys - the same God who allowed fire to fall from heaven and consume his sheep - the same God who allowed the Chaldeans to steal his camels - the same God who allowed his sons and daughters and most of his servants to be killed. That doesn't make sense??? Why would God do this??? Doesn't he care??? If he had the power to do it, wouldn't he also have the power to prevent it from happening? Many of us may feel the same way today. We say, “I'm doing my best to live right....I'm trying to honor God.....but all I get is suffering and pain. Either God is not powerful enough to help me OR He just doesn't care.”

        It is in these moments of utter confusion that we learn one of the greatest lessons about God. He is ABSOLUTELY committed to his own glory. When God showed up in Job 40-41, he didn't come with an explanation - he didn't come with a defense....God came with a statement: "I AM THE ALMIGHTY AND I HAVE BOTH AUTHORITY AND MORAL RIGHT TO DO AS I CHOOSE FOR MY PURPOSES AND MY GLORY". Like it or not, that's just the way it is. God's glory matters more to Him than our comfort, our ease, even our understanding. This truth may not take the pain away, but it gives us the basis upon which we maneuver through the pain. There is a song that says, "God is too wise to be mistaken; God is too good to be unkind. So when you don't understand...when you don't see his plan...when you can't trace his hand - trust His heart".

This is a heavy truth - What do you think?

Pastor Andrew

slimsheep@sheepgazette.com

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NAKEDNESS: OUR ONLY TRUE POSSESSION

6/9/2011

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"Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD" - Job 1:20-21

"I say to the LORD, You are my Lord - I have no good apart from You" - Psalm 16:2

"You arouse us so that praising you may bring us joy, because you have made us and drawn us to yourself, and our heart is unquiet until it rests in you...Say to my soul: I am your salvation. Say it so that I can hear it. My heart is listening, O Lord; open the ears of my heart and say to my soul: I am your salvation. Let me run towards this voice and seize hold of You" - St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430), Confessions.

The beautiful quotation above by St. Augustine was one that came at the end of many years of confusion and rebellion. Like many of us, Augustine's life was flawed - even though he lived hundreds of years ago, his story has great modern appeal. He was the son of a Christian mother [Monica] and a pagan father [Patricius] in a small African town called Tagaste in Numidia. He grew up in church, but left that behind as he pursued academics and a promiscuous lifestyle. At the age of 17, he took on a lover who bore him a son [Adeodatus] out of wedlock by the time he was 18. They lived together for about 13 years, but never got married. He eventually sought to discard his mistress in hopes of marrying a woman from a wealthy family for greater social status. You can't make this stuff up :)
All through this period (as his writings suggest), Augustine was extremely unhappy and frustrated with his life. He sought to use his knowledge and his relationships as a means to finding the ONE TRUTH that would satisfy his soul - but he could not find it. After many years of heartache......there was a breakthrough! One day at home in the midst of his pain and tears, he heard from a neighboring house a child's voice chanting to him in Latin: "tolle, lege" which means "take up and read". Wiping the tears, he took up his Bible and no sooner had he read the text he opened to, everything changed. He saw his depravity and he saw God's holiness and nothing was the same again. In his own words: "No further would I read, nor needed I; for instantly at the end of this sentence (Romans 13:13), by a light as it were of serenity infused into my heart, all the darkness of doubt vanished away" - St. Augustine, Confessions.

As quoted above, Job realized that when all was said and done all he really owned was his own nakedness. This points us back to the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and all they got for it was the shame of their nakedness and a lifetime of pain. You see, all we really own in this world is what we came into this world with - "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return". Everything we accrue and enjoy in this life (material possessions, family, occupations, friends, etc) are but gracious gifts from a loving God - we cannot hope to be recipients of any good thing aside from Him (cf. James 1:17). God is essentially the beginning and end of ALL WE ARE. If this is not a settled reality in our hearts, whether as a believer or unbeliever, we will forever be searching to find completion, purpose, and satisfaction.
QUESTION: What are you doing OR looking for to fill that void in your life? Remember St. Augustine's words of confession: "...our heart is unquiet until it rests in You..."

"And you are COMPLETE IN HIM who is the head of all principality and power" - Colossians 2:10 [NKJV]

Pastor Andrew Smith

slimsheep@sheepgazette.com

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THE POWER OF UNITY (Genesis 11:5-6)

6/8/2011

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"And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men had built. And the Lord said, Behold they are ONE people, and they have ONE language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And NOTHING that they propose to do will now be impossible for them" - Genesis 11:5-6

"Cooperation is the thorough conviction that nobody can get there unless everybody gets there" - Virginia Burden, The Process of Intuition

"Sticks in a bundle are unbreakable" - Kenyan Proverb

I found this article interesting and very instructive:

"When you see geese heading south for the winter, flying in their familiar “V” formation, you might be interested in knowing why they fly that way. Science has learned that, as each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird immediately behind it. By flying in a “V” formation, the flock together gains over 70% more flying range than if each bird flew on its own. Like the geese, people who share a common direction and a sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier, because they are traveling on the thrust of one another. Whenever one goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone. It will quickly try to get back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the birds in front. If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed the same way we are going. When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing, and another goose takes over the point position. It pays to take turns doing hard jobs! The geese from behind honk constantly, as you’ve no doubt heard whenever a flock passes overhead. They do this to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. An encouraging word goes a long way! Finally, when a goose gets sick or is wounded by gunshots, and falls out of the formation, two geese follow it down to stay with it and protect it. They stay until the goose is either able to fly again, or dies. They then launch out on their own or with another formation to catch up with the group. If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other" (Author Unknown)
The natural world has a way of illustrating deep spiritual principles - this is seen even in the flying pattern of geese. There IS POWER in UNITY.

God had an intent for humanity following the flood which He stated clearly: "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth" (Gen. 9:1, 7). In disobedience to the command and intent of God, the people migrated together to the plain of Shinar and settled there; they then embarked upon a city-building project [the Tower of Babel] which was designed to prevent the population from "being dispersed over the face of the whole earth" (Gen. 11:4b) - this was in open rebellion to the will of God. It is in this context that God's words in Genesis 11:6 (cited above) strike me in a deep and profound way. He says that they are "ONE people", they have "ONE language", and because of this "NOTHING that they propose to do will be impossible for them". WHAT A THOUGHT! Almighty God is conscious and aware of the power of unity both for good and for evil. The sad reality is that those who possess the greatest good - a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ - are content to spend most of our time investing in our individuality. Every day we invest in "MY career"...."MY relationship"....."MY money"....."MY happiness"....."MY ideas"....."MY LIFE!" Many times, we even use the name of Jesus Christ to promote our own selfish agendas - forgetting that we are a part of a spiritual body of faith. While we do this, the kingdom of darkness expands with ever increasing efficiency - squeezing us into its mold.

Jesus prays for us:

“My prayer is not for them (my disciples) alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be ONE, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be ONE as we are ONE — I in them and you in me — so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me" - John 17:20-23

What are you doing today to foster unity with your brothers and sisters in Christ?

Pastor Andrew Smith

slimsheep@sheepgazette.com

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"Is anything too hard for the LORD?" (Ephesians 3:20; Genesis 21)

6/7/2011

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           Ephesians 3:20 says, "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us". One of the amazing accounts of the Bible is the miracle of the birth of Isaac in Genesis 21. The Bible says that Sarah was 90 years old and Abraham was 100 - both were naturally way past the 'cut off' point for children. In spite of this they went at it :) Sarah conceived and gave birth to Isaac: the son that God had promised to them. What a blessing! What a miracle!

            Most people ignore the subsequent chapters: the Bible says that Sarah died at the age of 127 years old (Gen. 23:1) and that Abraham eventually took another wife [Keturah - Gen. 25:1] and had another six children. Whoa!

            This is the same Abraham that was convinced that he couldn't have one child at the ripe old age of 100.......now he has another six children in his mid-100s :) Friends, that's a testimony of the power of God, He is able to do the impossible - YES! But He is also able to abundantly exceed the impossible. The challenge to us today is to ask ourselves the questions, "Do I limit God?" "Do I doubt His ability to exceed my expectations in my relationships, my finances, my dreams, my family, etc...?" The Word of God is very clear about His ability to do anything He wills - "Is anything too hard for the LORD?" What do you think?

Pastor Andrew Smith
slimsheep@sheepgazette.com

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GO TO HIM (Hebrews 13:12-13)

6/6/2011

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"...the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as the sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured" - Hebrews 13:12-13

      Most of the Psalms were born in difficulty. Most of the Epistles were written in prisons. Most of the greatest thoughts of the greatest thinkers of all time had to pass through the fire. Author John Bunyan wrote "Pilgrim's Progress" from jail. Florence Nightingale (famous English nurse), too ill to move from her bed, reorganized the hospitals of England. Semi-paralyzed and under the constant menace of apoplexy, Louis Pasteur (famous French chemist/microbiologist) was tireless in his attack on disease. For the greater part of his life, American historian Francis Parkman suffered so acutely that he could not work for more than five minutes as a time. His eyesight was so wretched that he could scrawl only a few gigantic words on a manuscript, yet he contrived to write twenty magnificent volumes of history.

      "Sometimes it seems that when God is about to make preeminent use of a man, he puts him through the fire" - Tim Hansel, You Gotta Keep Dancin', David C. Cook, 1985, p. 87

Jesus Christ himself exemplifies this truth. In order to accomplish the greatest work of all, he was scourged, abused, forsaken, ridiculed, and ultimately taken outside the city walls and hanged on a cross for public display - EVEN THOUGH HE WAS DOING THE WILL OF HIS FATHER. It is always important to remind ourselves, in the midst of what we are facing, that to identify with Christ will often mean to face pain and apparent disgrace.

Remember these words:
"Now if we are children then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory" - Romans. 8:17

      In Hebrews 13:13 there is a plea given to born-again believers: don't be afraid to GO TO HIM. Go to him outside the camp: a place of separation from the evil world system that glorifies values, attitudes, and priorities that are of no eternal consequence. Go to him outside the camp: a place of rejection and pain, but a place where true life is found. Go to him outside the camp: a place where you may be alone, but you are empowered to accomplish works that matter for eternity. Living for Christ may bring social rejection; it may bring public disgrace; it may bring personal pain - BUT GO TO HIM AND FIND YOUR LIFE BELIEVER.

Pastor Andrew Smith
slimsheep@sheepgazette.com

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"WHAT IS MAN...?" Psalm 8

6/2/2011

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"When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon the stars which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him and the son of man that you care for him?" - Psalm 8:3-4 (ESV)

      "The more you lose yourself in something bigger than yourself, the more energy you will have" - Norman Vincent Peale (Methodist minister and author of"The Power of Positive Thinking"). A few years ago, scientists and astronomers discovered in deep space what they have called "The Dark Attractor" - a huge, unknown mass in space that seems to be pulling our galaxy (the Milky Way) and tens of thousands of other galaxies toward itself at a tremendous speed - approximately 14 million miles per hour (mph). In an editorial of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch entitled, "On the Edge of Heaven", there was this timely observation:

      "Scientists themselves seem star-struck by the massiveness of this discovery (The Dark Attractor) and admit that it will only add to their already substantial difficulties in explaining the universe's mysteries. To the poets and psalmists, the mystery is the same as it always has been: "What is man, that thou art mindful of him"

      Often when we study the universe, or listen to the news...even when we read our Bibles, it is easy to try to view the world through the lenses of our own ability and intellect. Every now and then, God has to (in a sense) bring us down to size. The reality is that, when everything is brought to the table, we are simply dust that has been made significant by GOD. Psalm 8 outlines the privilege of human beings: even though created lower in order than the spiritual, angelic beings, we have been crowned with glory and honor by God (v. 5b) - we have received dominion over God's creation (v. 6a, 7-8) - we have been made the stewards of "all things" (v. 6b) - Great position - great worth - great responsibility. And yet, in the same breath, the awesomeness of the created world leads the psalmist to quake and ask in verse 4, "WHAT IS MAN...?"

      Acknowledging our enormous worth in the created order and YET also acknowledging our relative insignificance in the grand scheme - this is the tense and perfect balance of life. Humanity's right response....true response.....only response to your Maker must be HUMILITY. Think about this question: "When was the last time God got more glory from your life than YOU did?"

"For from Him and through Him and to Him are ALL THINGS. To Him be the glory forever. AMEN" - Romans 11:36

Pastor Andrew Smith
slimsheep@sheepgazette.com

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THE TORN VEIL

6/1/2011

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      "For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity" -Ephesians 2:14-16

       "The veil of the temple was a constant reminder that sin renders humanity unfit for the presence of God" - Elmer TownsIt is easy at times to read the Word of God and to miss out on some significant truths because of familiarity with the text. I've been reading the story of Christ's crucifixion for years and never considered in depth the MIRACLE of the tearing of the veil. In Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38 and Luke 23:45 it is recorded that at the moment Jesus "yielded up his spirit" in death - the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

      The temple veil - the curtain in the temple of God which separated the Holy Place [accessible to ministering priests] and the HOLY OF HOLIES [accessible only once a year to the High Priest making atonement on behalf of the people]. An elaborately woven fabric of 72 twisted plaits of 24 threads, the veil was 60 ft high and 30 feet wide. The size and thickness of the veil make the events occurring at the moment of Jesus' death so much more momentous. Was its rending the result of an earthquake, as some purport? Simply illogical! It marked the beginning of a new era - it marked the opening of a new way of thinking about and relating to God. Here are a few things to consider about this miracle:

1. God resides no longer in buildings made by human hands (cf. Acts 17:24) - the torn veil alludes to a God who cannot be limited in his presence and power. Consider that even as you read this e-mail, God is THERE with you. Does this reality make a difference in how you think about yourself and the people around you today?

2. There is no separation between God and man anymore - whether Jew or Gentile, black or white, male or female....we ALL have access to the presence of God "by a new and living way which he (Jesus) opened for us through the veil, that is to say his flesh" (Hebrews 10:20). The tearing of the veil and the death of Jesus correspond because it is Jesus' sacrifice that has opened the way for man to commune directly with God - no priest, no pastor, no person can commune with God on your behalf...through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, you are now invited to come boldly (cf. Hebrews 4:16).

3. There is no basis for division between the people of God - the torn veil represents the end of separation between Jew and Gentile: people who could not find common ground for fellowship. The entire book of Acts is the record of God tearing down the walls of division and creating "in Himself, one new man from two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity"(Eph. 2:16). Do you find it difficult to forgive or love your brother/sister in Christ? Consider that in Jesus Christ, you no longer have any basis to lack genuine love.

      I encourage us to take to heart the MIRACLE OF THE TORN VEIL and to EXALT JESUS CHRIST for the access He has provided for us into the presence of Almighty God. Amen.

Pastor Andrew Smith
slimsheep@sheepgazette.com

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WHEN GOD DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE... (THE BOOK OF JOB)

NAKEDNESS: OUR ONLY TRUE POSSESSION

THE POWER OF UNITY (Genesis 11:5-6)

"Is anything too hard for the LORD?" (Ephesians 3:20; Genesis 21)

GO TO HIM (Hebrews 13:12-13)

"WHAT IS MAN...?" Psalm 8

THE TORN VEIL

Pastor Andrew Smith

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