Nothing on Earth

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  • Posted by Danny
  • Tuesday, July 26, 2011
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    • “It’s a beautiful morning… God is good.”

    “We had a great vacation… God is so good.”

    “I just learned I have cancer…. God is good…”


    We use the phrase “God is good” often, and we should for God IS good. But what do we really mean when we say it? Have you ever heard someone share a tragedy, disappointment, or crisis and then follow it up with “God is so good” ??

    One of the great worship leaders of Israel, Asaph, penned several Psalms. Psalm 73 is his “confession and crisis of faith” that laments, “God is good, BUT the wicked prospers, and sin abounds!”

    Asaph lived where many of us live… our nation and world is plagued with sin. In fact, immorality is lifted up and celebrated by our society. Those who live as if they have no fear of God seem to do quite well, thank you very much!

    “For I was envious of the arrogant, as I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” [Psalm 73:3]

    Asaph surveyed the sin and success of the wicked and asked, “Where is God’s goodness in that?”
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    Eleven and Counting

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  • Posted by Danny
  • Tuesday, July 19, 2011
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    • As we conclude our study of Theophany, we’ve studied nine of them in the Old Testament (there’s one in Judges we passed) and one in the New Testament. That makes eleven theophanies, but there’s one more yet to come. First, let’s look at the nine:

    To Hagar, the God who sees.
    To Sarah, the God who delivers.
    To Ishmael, the God who hears.
    To Isaac, the God who provides.
    To Jacob, the God who wrestles.
    To Moses, the God who waits.
    To Israel, the God who abides.
    To Joshua, the God who fights.
    To Gideon, the God who enables.

    The theophany, which had the greatest impact so far in history, is recorded in the New Testament.

    And the Word became flesh and pitched His tent among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

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    Ultimate Theophany

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  • Posted by Jennifer Baldwin
  • Friday, July 15, 2011
    • “The Word became flesh and pitched His tent among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

    Theophany: God in grace revealing Himself to humankind in human form.

    The path of return to Eden was barred by angelic security forces armed with flaming swords. The nightly routine of walking together with their Creator in the cool breezes of the day was gone forever. The rest of the story is a narrative of restoration, as God makes a way for man to walk with Him.

    Those who had once lived by seeing His face long to once again see His face…and live!

    She was unmarried, pregnant and homeless, a fugitive servant on the run. No longer able to endure the affliction of her mistress’ house and lost on the road home, she is arrested by the realization that she had seen…. ”Have I even remained alive here after seeing Him?!?” Genesis 16:13

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    Watching for the Walk Light

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  • Posted by Jennifer Baldwin
  • Tuesday, July 12, 2011
    • To date, in our study of Theophany, “The Angel of the Lord”, we’ve learned of some very specific and seemingly very recognizable signs from the Lord. After all, what could be more recognizable than an Angel with a sword, or a visitor who wrestles with you, or someone who clearly speaks with you? As Pastor Tom has noted in our study of appearances to such Biblical characters as Hagar, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, and now Gideon when God appeared to the Old Testament saints, it was Jesus Himself who interacted with these folks.

    So, has our study made you stop and reflect on how God speaks to you today? Are you sitting on your front porch waiting for Him to stop by? Are you checking your e-mail or tweets to see if there’s a message from Him? Are you watching for a cross walk light to tell you it’s time to move?

    Sunday we went to Judges chapters six through eight, the story of Gideon and how he was called to lead an “army” to defeat the Midianites. He was sitting under a tree, no doubt bothered by the problems his people were having with the people of Midian. What was he to do? For Gideon, the walk light did turn on, (in Judges 6:11-16). Not only did he receive instructions to win the battle, but he double checked the source of the instructions with not one, but two fleeces.
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    Under-Manned, Under-Armed OVER-Whelmed!

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  • Posted by Jennifer Baldwin
  • Friday, July 8, 2011
    • True God-encounters are never boring!

    Insightful! It was a respectful and, honestly, insightful question. During the fireside Q&A at Kidz Kamp, one of our young people (probably a bit emboldened by the cover of the darkness of the night) made a profound inquiry. “Pastor Tom, are you ever bored when you are preaching?” We all laughed. But we also probably need to acknowledge that he simply asked what everyone else was thinking. HE is bored by the boring preaching. So if it is so boring to hear, isn’t it also boring to be doing the preaching? Insightful!

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    Theophany Lesson Number One

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  • Posted by Jennifer Baldwin
  • Tuesday, July 5, 2011
    • Phew. Just imagine what must have gone through Joshua’s mind. He followed Moses out of Egypt and meandering around in the wilderness for 40 years. Phew. There were lots of them to lead, the chosen people, some reports suggest more than two million. Phew. After they arrived at the promised land, they didn’t take your advice and God denied them entry until all of the doubters were gone. Phew. Eventually you’re given charge of this motley crew of complainers. Phew. You make it across the flooded river and create a memorial with a dozen stones from the river bed. Phew. Now you’re stuck between the fortress of a city called Jericho and the flooded Jordan.

    But, you’re the leader so on a sleepless night you sneak up to the walled city... after all, you’ve been here before years ago...and shazam, He shows up, sword in hand, and commandments laid out to help you move ahead.
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    Ultimate Game-Changer

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  • Posted by Jennifer Baldwin
  • Friday, July 1, 2011
    • Behind them was the land of Egypt, the Mount of Divine meeting, the wilderness of thousands of funerals and the overflowing Jordan River. They obviously could not go back. Before them rose the fortified walls of the great city, 90 feet in height and 30 feet in thickness; they could neither hope to climb over nor bore their way through it. The residents within were armed, prepared and dangerous. What Israel desperately needed at that moment was a true “Game-Changer!”

    They celebrated their victory. Wade’s three-pointer ripped the net and the scoreboard displayed a fifteen-point lead. Three major contracts, capped by the signing of the superstar from Cleveland, appeared to be the work of an artist—the product of a negotiating genius. Momentum was on their side; the thrill of victory could scarcely be restrained. Game two of the 2010/2011 finals was apparently in the bag.

    As Joshua quietly slips away for a late night survey of the next great challenge on the pathway to occupying the land of promise, he is startled by the appearance of a heavily armed man. But rather than run, he approaches the man with the drawn sword to pose a key question, “Are you for US or for our adversaries?” The inquiry was appropriate to the situation. The response turned the tide of the momentum; it laid the foundation for historic and legendary conquests. In paraphrase form, the answer Joshua received was simply, “Neither.”
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