for the kingdom of heaven is at hand

Prepping for a class on Jonah tomorrow, and for the first time, I truly understand the book beyond the story of a man inside of a fish. The heart of the story can be found in your understanding: (1) what the true miracle of the story is, and (2) what point the Lord makes in ending Jonah as he does.

The miracle of the story has nothing to do with a man surviving inside of a larger-than-life animal. There is something truly astonishing about a creature large enough to house a man inside of it. There is something incredulous about a fish that can be where and when the Lord commands it to participate in a story. But the miracle is in a large, prosperous city en masse seeing the sin in their hearts and offering themselves up to the Lord. No matter how you estimate the population of the city, Boston or Toronto, for a city still in darkness to reach for the light is far more impossible than a regurgitating sea monster.

The Lord ends Jonah in ch.4 rather anticlimactically. It doesn't end after the fasting of a repentant city, credits rolling over an orchestral crescendo. It ends with the Lord playing with the temperature controls over a despondent prophet. But if you understand (1) above, you understand how 4 fits with 1-3. Lord never once cared for the comfort of Jonah -- not when he fled, not when he traveled, not when he longed to be tossed, not when he prayed within the slimy confines of his piscine shelter. Lord wasn't thinking of Jonah; Lord was thinking of lost Nineveh. And in 4 when Jonah pouts, the Lord reminds him of what had been at stake all along: souls in darkness needing the Word that doesn't go out in vain.

Last minute almost switched to Amos over Jonah. Lord had other plans. Lord wanted me to see (1) and (2), especially with events on the horizon.

together into one the children of God

As head of my house, I have the responsibility to shepherd my personal flock. To accomplish that goal, I am given the authority to make decisions. These spiritual guidelines, however, are in addition to those inherent in my simply being a father to a young one.

More than the power to set budgets, pick vacation spots, and weigh in on outfit choices, I have the power to break hearts and start tears. I can lift spirits and comfort souls. I can build confidence and I can intimidate otherwise. I can make one cower and I can make one flourish. I can extend a hand or remove a support. I can lead or I can rule.

I'm not making any observations here. I'm merely reminding myself of the choices at hand, and the alternatives to good shepherding.

love the LORD your God with all

Psalm 121
The LORD the Keeper of Israel. A Song of Ascents.
I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From where shall my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to slip;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade on your right hand.
The sun will not smite you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
The LORD will protect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.
The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in
From this time forth and forever.

in the sight of God

Vision is an interesting thing. Obviously not all possess this talent else visionaries wouldn't be such unique occurrences. Should we actively seek the talent in those we choose to lead us forward? Or should leaders lead with the confidence that others can supply that vision?

What's tricky about visioning is separating true forward-thinking from other scene-building. Is it vision or is it fantasy? Is it vision or is it potential-viewing? Is it vision or is it hopeful wish? Is it vision or is it hero worship?

I confess I see forward often. Sometimes those sights are so wonderful, that wishful sigh might mark it as daydream rather than prognostication. My enemy time will reveal them for what they are.

to trip up my feet

"The Only Hurdle to Heaven"
* 7 Venial Sins {Prov6:16-19}
* 10 Commandments
* The Roman Road
- 3:23
- 6:23
- 10:9a
* "We are not called to convict but to convince."
* Trust and depend on Him

seduced them to do evil

When people think of temptation, they picture the temptation of Jesus where a corporeal Satan whispers seductive words face-to-face with the Savior. Or they picture a little angel on one shoulder and a little devil on the other. It is easy to picture temptation as these weighty choices between solidly good and clearly evil.

Sometimes temptation finds itself in the dropping of a nail or the breaking of a bowl. Or in that too loud voice asking a too loud question. Or in that one more thing going wrong. Or in that team winning against your hopes. Or in that longer line or that unhelpful service rep. Or in that one more task to add to that too long list.

Temptation finds that easier path giving you choice -- not between solidly and clearly, but between Christlike and otherwise.

this one also they wounded

Sometimes it's been so long you forget you can hurt in the ways you have hurt before. Memories tied to objects awaken that part of you joy has buried. But the quickness of the memory reminds you that healed wounds still bear scars. And hearts that have cracked even when whole have lines that allow darkness to trace pain.

when you lift up he Son of Man

Yesterday a sister prayed that we would "lift the Lord up where [He] belongs." Love this phrase that reminds us of our place in relation to God. He belongs on that pedestal, higher than everything else in our limited world. One of the negative side effects of Prots is the "Jesus is my best friend" mindset. Not arguing against intimacy; in fact, I highly encourage it. But the categorization of Christ into the same box we place stuffed animals, family pets, and imaginary friends is destructive.

In one of my fave stories (Moses in the cleft), God sends the message that the mere sight of Him will kill a man. His presence is so otherworldly that it cannot be contained by our puny eyes. And yet we should be led to believe that we can simply hang our arm around the neck of best bud Jesus and remain alive?

The immanence and transcendence of God is difficult for us to reconcile. And it is an important concept to grasp that He is both above us (where He belongs) and with us always (your truest friend). But if you aren't sure where to draw that line between worship of the Almighty and treating Him as common, friend, my suggestion is you veer toward the former whenever you aren't sure.

those who had heard the message believed

"No Other Gospel" {Gal1:1-12}
* Intro: Easy to neglect the obvious
- 1Cor1-4: All need to be centered around Gospel
- JB: "The gospel is not only the most important message in all of history; it is the only essential message in all of history."
* What is Gospel?
- Christ born; Christ died for all sins; Christ risen
- By grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone
* Galatians not written to specific church, but to churches in (now) Turkey
- Not effusive in praise
- No commendation
- Message is serious & important
- Written to counteract Judaizers adding circumcision & Mosaic laws to Gospel
* Those who add to Gospel face wrath of God (v9)
* Our response?
- Embrace the Gospel
- Reject false Gospels
- Acknowledge God as your audience, not man (fear Lord not people)
* False Gospels
- Prosperity Gospel (Osteen is the antichrist -- this wasn't in the sermon, but it's important to remind ourselves of this fact every so often)
- Therapeutic gospel
- Accomplishment gospel

and yet I am not alone

Not going to get into the debate about whether remarriage is Biblical, or whether it is not. I do, however, want to wade into a subject not unrelated: loneliness. All face it during their lifetimes, many on a frequent basis. Of the many things that can drive people into shadows, loneliness is perhaps one of the stronger forces.

Loneliness will make a man drink himself into happiness. It will make a woman pursue bad relationships. It will make a child daydream revenge fantasies. It will make a person in darkness drift further towards corners of the mind never worth seeing. Loneliness will make sin seem so tempting.

That doesn't mean finding ways to battle loneliness is the proper path. Just because another chases away loneliness, that doesn't mean you take them to the altar. Perhaps you should consider whether loneliness is somehow your cross to bear. Perhaps the lesson the Lord is trying to teach you is that He is sufficient.