The River

Ezekiel 47:12 (English Standard Version)
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

12And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing."

Rivers have always been important in our world. Most major cities are built along rivers or bodies of water to enable transportation and to provide drinking water. The river that Ezekiel mentions in the above prophecy is similar but yet very different. This river flows from the Temple of God and its waters are very special. This river will flow into the Dead Sea and the sea will have life including many different kinds of fish. Today, the Dead Sea has no exit. The water enters and becomes "dead". Evaporation and absorption are the only exits for the water and so it has become unsuitable for life.

But this new river will be different. Look at verse twelve and its description of life along the river bank. The tree leaves do not wither and they bear fresh fruit every month because of the water flowing from God.

So what, you may ask. What does this have to do with me? Everything, my friend. When we "plant" ourselves along God's riverbank, our roots absorb His goodness and we can become more Christ-like. Our faith grows and our lives bear fruit constantly, not just occasionally. Spend time with God in prayer, reading, study, song, and fellowship and your faith will grow. Don't let your faith become stagnant. Instead be like the trees along the river flowing from the sanctuary.

To His Glory

Mark

Courage and Faith

Ruth 1:16-18 (English Standard Version)
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

16But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 17Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you." 18And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.

Ruth, the great grandmother of King David, takes a great chance above. You are familiar with the story. Naomi, Ruth's mother in law, losses her husband and two sons while living with the Moabites. She goes to return to Israel and Ruth, who has every right to stay with her own people, decides that her place is with Naomi. What a huge risk she takes, leaving her own nation and customs to go to a land where she will know no one and will have little protection.

We all take risks especially when we are younger. I remember being a pre-teen and gathering together with 20 or so friends to spend the day shooting BB guns at each other in a dangerous version of capture the flag. Please don't show this to your pre-teen sons as it was only by God's protective hand that no one was seriously hurt. We all still have our eyes although there are some permanent scars.

Am I still a risk taker? I confess that I am. As you have read this week, I have traveled to unusual places around the world. But I take even greater chances here at home. I share my faith with those around me. Come on. Admit it. Many of us would rather be shot by a BB gun than have to share your faith with a non believer. We must have the courage to share the Gospel with those around us. We must have Faith that He will use these occurrences to bring glory to His name.

My prayer for you is that you would sit with that coworker or friend sometime today and share more deeply than just the weather. Have the Courage and Faith of Ruth.

To His Glory

Mark

Fall Spectacular

Psalm 8 (English Standard Version)
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

Psalm 8
How Majestic Is Your Name
To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith.[a] A Psalm of David.

1O LORD, our Lord,how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.
2Out of the mouth of babes and infants, you have established strength because of your foes,to still the enemy and the avenger.
3When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4what is man that you are mindful of him,and the son of man that you care for him?
5Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings[b]and crowned him with glory and honor.
6You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;you have put all things under his feet,
7all sheep and oxen,and also the beasts of the field,
8the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,whatever passes along the paths of the seas. 9O LORD, our Lord,how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Footnotes:
Psalm 8:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
Psalm 8:5 Or than God; Septuagint than the angels

It was one of those days yesterday. Now this is kind of dangerous, making the following statement in an email read by leaders within my company, but yesterday I should have paid Taco Bell for the privilege of working.

I was able to spend some time in the car driving through some of the best country that God has created. The mountains of Pennsylvania and New York are just spectacular this time of year. I feel sorry for those of you in Miami or LA as you miss the fall leaf season. Of course, I envy you in February while shoveling 12 inches of snow off of the car. And after spending some time in His Creation, I got to spend some time with great teams serving our guests in a spectacular fashion. What a day!

The mountains were decked out in brilliant oranges, yellow, reds and browns punctuated by the brilliant greens of the pines. At times I drove through wide valleys of outrageous hues and at other times I followed the colors along awe inspiring mountain ridges. But look beyond the autumnal fireworks display and think about the physical and chemical processes occurring. As the trees begin to shut down for the winter, the leaves fall to the ground to return vital nutrients to the soil. Only an all powerful God would design such things. Oh Lord our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

To His Glory

Mark

Sir Francis Drake

Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves, when our dreams have come true because we have dreamed too little, when we arrive safely because we have sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we possess, we have lost our thirst for the waters of life; having fallen in love with life, we have ceased to dream of eternity; and in our efforts to build a new earth, we have allowed our vision of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, to venture on wider seas where storms will show your mastery; where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars. We ask you to push back the horizons of our hopes; and to push into the future in strength, courage, hope, and love.

Sir Frances Drake Quoted in OC Missionary Prayer Letter of Jeanie Curryer, September, 1997

My wife, daughter and I traveled to an Asian country recently to work with a mission agency. We had a great time and I was thinking about what a great thing we had done (oh yes, ugly pride rears it's ever present head). On the morning of our departure for home, we arrived at the airport to be told that our tickets had been cancelled. Cancelled? How could that be? There was a language disconnect that complicated the whole matter as the airline representative's English as marginal and my mastery of the native tongue is non existent. The plane takes off without us on board. Not a big deal, right? You can catch the next flight in an hour or two.
Not so fast, my friend. In this country, the time between flights is measured in days not hours. We were to arrive home on a Saturday to host a visitor from Malawi, Africa on Sunday, and a picnic for several other Malawians on Labor day. Well, that became the least of our concerns. In His provision, there was another flight in the late afternoon of the next day and we got confirmed seats on that plane, we hoped. Eventually, we made it home two days later. And as to compensation for the missed flight, well, not really. We think that our seats were given to someone else with cash. This type of preferential treatment is somewhat common in this country.

The Drake quote above was in the sermon at church this week. As I looked through the lines, I could see specific incidents in my life that were answers to Drake's prayer. Mind you, these are not necessarily answers to prayer that I liked, but I am trusting that God knows what I need more than I do. I would always chose the easy out, no discomfort or conflict route. I also know that I continue to need "attitude" adjustments.

My prayer would be that you take a close look at Drake's words and allow God to work these things in your life. Venture away from the shores of your comfort zone and bask in the joy of His navigation!

To His Glory

Mark

Short Term Mission Work

Matthew 28:16-20 (English Standard Version)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

16Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Footnotes:
Matthew 28:19 Or into

So let me ask you a rather pointed question. Does this scripture apply to you? Or does it only apply to those called to serve in mission fields around the world? The command is very clear. Go into all of the world and make disciples of all nations in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

I clearly see this as a call to all followers of Christ. The key point is “all of the world”. The world is in China, India, Russia, Malaysia, Bolivia, and right next door. Too often, we tend to think of mission fields being in remote places of the world. And certainly, some are called to minister in these places. But there is much to be done right in your own neighborhood or town. We just need to be obedient and go regardless of the distance.

Now don’t use your age or physical status as a defining factor. I have served locally and overseas with folks in their 70’s. And as to the disabilities piece, God will work that out if it is His plan for you to serve. I have sleep apnea and need electricity to run a machine that helps me to breathe properly when I sleep. Yet I have been to remote villages in Africa and Asia where the Lord has either provided electricity or a reasonably comfortable night’s sleep.

But what about your own neighborhood? Right now, there are non believing neighbors who watch you go through the trials of life and not come unglued. How can that be, they wonder. How do they manage to survive this ordeal? And someday God will have them ask you that very question, providing you with the opportunity to share the truth of the Gospel.

Be open and listening for those little messages that God sends your way calling you to His service. I can assure you that you will be blessed far more than those that you serve.

To His Glory

Mark