Romans 13:1-3

¹Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.²Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. ³For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.

God has commanded us to submit to governing authority, because God has established it to start with. YES, even the governing authority we are under now. The key thing to remember is as CS Lewis reminded Christians:

"human beings live forever while the state is only temporal and thus is reserved to comparative insignificance. To spend your time altering the state when you could be offering people eternal salvation is a bad bargain. To abandon the message that gives life to the eternal soul in favor of temporal change prostitutes the purpose of a believer's life. That would be like a heart surgeon abandoning his life-saving practice to become a make-up artist. The church needs to use all its power and resources to bring men and women to Jesus Christ. That's what God has called us to do.”

I urge you share the gospel with your friends and co workers. I challenge you to share your story of what God has done in you through Jesus Christ. This is how we will change the America and the world..

Carl

Why did Jesus fold the napkin?

I got this from a friend at work today.  It is definiately worth passing on..

 

The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes.

 

The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed separate from the grave clothes.

 

Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.

 

She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, 'They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they have put him!'

 

Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see.. The other disciple outran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in.

 

Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side.

 

Was that important? Absolutely!

 

Is it really significant? Yes!

 

In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition.

 

When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it.

 

The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished.

 

Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table.

 

The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, 'I'm done'.

 

But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because..........

 

The folded napkin meant, 'I'm coming back!'

 

He is Coming Back!

Take Refuge!

In my study of the Old Testament, I started noticing God's instructions to Moses that once the Israleites reached the promised land, that they were to setup a number of "cities of refuge".  When they finally entered with Joshua, God detailed His plan for these cities.

Joshua 20:1-9

¹ Then the LORD said to Joshua: ² "Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, ³ so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood.

 ⁴ "When he flees to one of these cities, he is to stand in the entrance of the city gate and state his case before the elders of that city. Then they are to admit him into their city and give him a place to live with them. ⁵ If the avenger of blood pursues him, they must not surrender the one accused, because he killed his neighbor unintentionally and without malice aforethought. ⁶ He is to stay in that city until he has stood trial before the assembly and until the death of the high priest who is serving at that time. Then he may go back to his own home in the town from which he fled."

 ⁷ So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. ⁸ On the east side of the Jordan of Jericho they designated Bezer in the desert on the plateau in the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead in the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan in the tribe of Manasseh. ⁹ Any of the Israelites or any alien living among them who killed someone accidentally could flee to these designated cities and not be killed by the avenger of blood prior to standing trial before the assembly.

I was able to pull a map of ancient Israel off the internet and I have highlighted these 6 cities.  First, note that the cities are easily accessible to anyone living in Israel and was open to not only Israelites, but to any "alien living among them".  Second, notice the number of cities, 6.  Remember 6, is the number of man.  Third, in looking at the Hebrew meaning of the names of these cities, it starts to draw a picture of Jesus:

Kedesh - Sanctuary

Golan - Passage/Revolation

Ramoth - Exalted or high place

Bezer - Strong

Hebron - Society/friendship/fellowship

Shechem - Strong Shoulders

The Bible is full of references of God being our "Refuge"

2 Samuel 22:3 The God of my strength, in whom I will trust;My shield and the horn of my salvation, My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence.

Psalms 46:1God is our refuge and strength,A very present help in trouble.

There are a LOT more, I'll let you find them.

The picture God started painting for us in these cities and their purpose point directly to Jesus in that:

1.  The refuge was easily accessible, very quickly to anyone, not just the Israelites.

2.  The refuge was a security to those who entered and those who entered would NOT be given up to those who pursued them (the "avenger of blood")

3.  God, from the beginning, had a very detailed and clearly understood plan for refuge to all.

4.  The number of cities I mentioned earlier was 6, the number of man.  God became man thru Jesus Christ and open the refuge to anyone, anytime, anywhere!

I praise God for really convicting me to spend more and more time in the Bible, He especially has pointed me to the Old Testament.  I really did NOT want to read the Old Testament, because I just did not want to go thru the begats and begots and then the laws and commandments (it is HARD reading).  But thru spending time there, a whole lot of things about Jesus are becoming so much clearer.  I knew there was prophecies in the OT about Jesus, but I am really seeing that the WHOLE Bible is really about Jesus and the plan of salvation for all of us.  I really now am starting to understand a lot of things in the New Testament from knowing what the Old Testament says.  

ALSO .. God has laid a co worker on my heart for some time now, he is muslim. I really did not know where to even start with him, but the other day (the day after I finally made it thru Deutoronomy by the way, which is the last book of the "Torah" in the Jewish faith)  God presented the opportunity to begin witnessing to this muslim friend.  Guess what I found out that I never knew?  THE MUSLIMS BELIEVE IN THE TORAH!!  This gives me at least a starting point of common knowledge.  I would not have had this common ground without God pushing me to read and understand (the best I can anyway) the Torah.  God is so good and leads us in ways that just amazes me.  Praise God!  This may be a hard and long process in witness, so please pray that God continues to present opportunites to talk and that I present the gospel the way God intends.

Carl

Why?

Living in Hunstville, Alabama, I deal daily with engineers.  now if you never have dealt a lot with these types, you should know that engineers need to understand why to every question presented them,  it is just their nature.  Well one engineer guy in particular that I have shared the gospel with got motivated enough to read the entire Bible in about 3 weeks (wow!) and told me afterwards, that about 1/2 of the story must simply be missing.  I tried to explain that are certain parts of the Bible that we simply have to take on faith and will never fully understand until we are in heaven. We have now had this discussion several times and today he told me something that happened to him a while back that makes me think of the wonders of God.  He said that after reviewing some equation he was asked to execute to, that he tried to get the PhD in charge to explain where the equation came from and why it applied.  After starting about three times trying to explain it to him, the PhD finally said "I don't think you have the math ability to understand, so just have faith that it is correct and will work", it did.  

Is that what God has to remind us sometimes, that we just are not wired to understand some things?  I think so.  In fact there a lot of things that I don't understand and I never will, like why a child dies, or why an obvious evil person lives and why certain people are rich and some really Godly people I know struggle to surive financially.  I don't understand how the world was created by God, I don't understand how the waters covered the entire earth during the flood, but I believe both things are true.  There is not enough room on the internet for me to explain the rest of the things I don't understand!

Don't lose faith simply because you don't understand, simply accept that you are not made to understand it all, but God does and God has a plan that is for the good, PRAISE GOD!

Mark 4:35-41

³⁵That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." ³⁶Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. ³⁷A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. ³⁸Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

 ³⁹He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

 ⁴⁰He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

 ⁴¹They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"

According to a recent report titled "More Americans say they have no religion":

"In 2008, Christians comprised 76 percent of U.S. adults, compared to about 77 percent in 2001 and about 86 percent in 1990. Researchers said the dwindling ranks of mainline Protestants, including Methodists, Lutherans and Episcopalians, largely explains the shift. Over the last seven years, mainline Protestants dropped from just over 17 percent to 12.9 percent of the population."

I urge you now more than ever to pray for this country.  People are hurting and are scared, there has never been a better time to witness to people and we as Christians need to be bold and be prepared to stand up.  We may even be called upon to give our lives for Christ.  Are you ready?  

Carl 

Who wrote the book of John?

In my study, I started comparing the 4 gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John because I wanted to see how each captured the instructions Jesus gave the disciples when he sent them out giving the the authority over demons.  I found it interesting that He sent them out with no money, no bags, only one coat and sandals:

 ⁸These were his instructions: "Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. ⁹Wear sandals but not an extra tunic. ¹⁰Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. ¹¹And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them."

When I got to John, I started looking at when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.  Amazing story, right?  So, why is it NOT in the other gospels?  So in John 11-

 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. ² It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. ³ Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”

"He Whom You love".. interesting use of words I thought, so I looked further.. the only other times I can find reference to "The one whom He loved" was at the last supper- John 13 -

²³ Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.

²⁴ Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke. 
²⁵ Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?” 

And on the cross - John 19-

²⁵ Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶ When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” ²⁷ Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

So, who was this disciple "that Jesus Loved"?  I have always been told it was John. But would it make sense that it was actually Lazarus?  I am not claiming some great revelation here, just a thought.  

Couple of thoughts, John was not considered very educated, could he write such an eloquent book?  Sure he could with the holy Spirit guiding him, but I do not remember any other act of the Holy Spirit making someone literate.  Other thought, the mention of the disciple at the cross "the disciple whom He loved", I believe from what I have read, this was the only follower or disciple at the actual cross while Jesus was being crucified.  Who better than Lazarus to be there and not be afraid of being linked to Jesus and be killed along with Him?  He had already been dead once and knew what it was like and knew that Jesus was in fact God and could protect him or even bring him back to life again if need.  The book of John mostly covers Jesus's ministries in and around Judea.. that is were Lazarus lived (and died and lived again).  

Does it matter?  Not really I guess, but I do find it interesting to ponder.  I mean, think about it, if this book was actually written by Lazarus, it means it could be a much better insight to life after death since Lazarus actually, for a better term, lived it. 

I know a lot of times when I think of the "disciples" I think of just the twelve we know of, but certainly, the term "disciple" at least in the book of John, was anyone who followed Jesus as eluded to in John chapter 6 - 

 ⁵³Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. ⁵⁴Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. ⁵⁵For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. ⁵⁶Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. ⁵⁷Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. ⁵⁸This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever." ⁵⁹He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. ⁶⁰On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" 

So, I welcome your thoughts.... and God Bless you for listening to mine as I attempt to be a better disciple. 

Carl

Making it thru the valley..

 ⁴Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

I heard a pastor on the radio the other day talking about psalms 23 and had a lot of insight on this wonderful psalm that maybe a lot of us maybe never really got (at least I blew right thru it many times) because we know it so well and may be one of the only verses we memorized.  But think about it, it really says everything so beautifully.

One of the things he said that really had an impact on me was related to this verse (4).  First, the "valley" .. did you know that to have a valley, you must first have two mountains.  The psalm before (22) is really a mountain .. it is a picture of calvary, the psalm after (24) in verse 3 says " ³Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?", again a mountain.   So, in this valley mentioned in psalms 23 is smack dab right in the middle of two mountains.  The other thing about this verse is notice it says "the SHADOW of death".  Why a shadow?  This is the best part.. death has no power, just like a shadow may be scary, but it is powerless for those of us that are in Christ.  

Thank you Lord for walking with me thru the valleys, even the valley of the shadow of death.  Help me to be like David and fear no evil for You are with me at all times.   

Just Kill me now!

Numbers 11:10-15

¹⁰ Then Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, everyone at the door of his tent; and the anger of the LORD was greatly aroused; Moses also was displeased. ¹¹ So Moses said to the LORD, “Why have You afflicted Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the burden of all these people on me? ¹² Did I conceive all these people? Did I beget them, that You should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a guardian carries a nursing child,’ to the land which You swore to their fathers? ¹³ Where am I to get meat to give to all these people? For they weep all over me, saying, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’ ¹⁴ I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me. ¹⁵ If You treat me like this, please kill me here and now—if I have found favor in Your sight—and do not let me see my wretchedness!”

How many times have we all felt completely overwhelmed by those around us?  I know I have.  I can just see Moses at this time, he must have felt that he had taken all he could (sound familiar?).  The Israelites were again complaining about being brought out of Egypt.  Imagine, God just brought them out of a life of slavery and was leading them into the promissed land of "flowing milk and honey".  God had provided them with all they could eat of this new thing they called manna (meaning literally "what is it?"). They started now getting a little sick of manna and really though they wanted some meat.  It is hard sometimes for me to imagine that they complained, but thinking about it, don't we all still complain?  Don't we all sometimes get a little tired?  Don't we all sometimes feel as if our old life was in someways at least comfortable?

I love what God told Moses, "²³ And the LORD said to Moses, “Has the LORD’s arm been shortened? Now you shall see whether what I say will happen to you or not."  

Do you think God's arm has been shortened?  God is faithful to us if we trust Him.  We just have to trust Him. 

Lord, let me always remember what you have brought me out of.  Help me to remember your faithfullness to me.  Help me to also remember Your special purpose for me and that it will not always be easy, but that you are still leading me into the promissed land.  Amen 

The curtain is opened!

Matthew 27:50-51:

50And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
51At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.

Ever wondered about the curtain that was "torn in two from top to bottom"? The curtain was the veil that God has instructed Moses to have made to cover the entrance of the tabernacle. Only the high priest was allowed in the tabernacle and anyone else would die upon entry.

When Jeses cried out "It is finished", the curtain ripped allowing everyone to get their first glimpse into the Holy of Holies. The very act of Jesus' death was the completion of the work required for the redemption of man. The veil was now open for all men to enter, Jews and Gentiles alike. Praise God!