Friday, July 30, 2010

45. The Proverbs of Solomon (Proverbs 16:1-18:24).

by Wesley Blackburn

So, I'm not going to lie... when it comes to reading material, Proverbs isn't exactly an easy read. However, there's still a lot of wisdom in there, and after reading through Proverbs 16, 17, and 18, I think I picked up on two major themes:

1. Living an upright life is important. Through the first couple chapters, Solomon really hits home on the importance of living an upright life. To be "upright" simply means to live a life that is upstanding; a life that does what is right and seeks righteousness.

People who live an upright life are desirable in all areas of life. Think about it; you've probably never met a good person who didn't have some sort of draw to them. People who just want to do the right thing have this natural draw. You can trust them. You can get wise advice from them. They make good friends. People who live an upright life are just great to have around.

We've probably all seen the consequences of a life that hasn't been lived in an upright manner. Yes, you may get ahead for a while, but eventually it all comes crashing down because God just has this uncanny knack for allowing the poisonous sin we practice the most to come and hit us hard at the most inopportune time. What's so ironic is that when it happens in my life, I usually come back to the same, tired old refrain: "That's not fair!"

But with people who seek good, it's different. Number one, you don't have to deal with the cruddy consequences of cruddy choices. But I think there's another benefit: you gain moral authority and credibility. Recently, I've been reading a book entitled Visioneering by Andy Stanley, and just this morning I finished a chapter that talked about how when what we say we believe and what we actually practice come into alignment, we gain moral authority. Basically, that means that people start to listen to us, even if we don't necessarily have a position that dictates that they have to listen to us. We gain influence in people's lives not because of the position we have, but because of the way we live. What a great way to earn an opportunity to share Jesus with others!

2. The tongue carries incredible power. And responsibility. Chapter 18, though, served as a humbling reminder for me about the incredible power of my tongue to heal and also to destroy. Proverbs 18:21's promise that "the tongue has the power of life and death" has proven to be true in my life time and time again.

I still have some problems controlling my tongue today, but I was really bad when I was younger (hard to imagine, I'm sure). But what was so terrible is that my tongue would just spout off so many hateful, angry, and judgmental things that it was unbearable. I burned a lot of relational bridges between myself and many of my classmates. I wonder if I would have had better opportunities to share Christ with them, but just couldn't because I'd lost all credibility to speak truth into their lives. Not to mention the fact that I lost opportunities for friendships all because I couldn't control my tongue.

You've probably seen it before in your life as well. That word you said in a heated debate with your spouse. The thing you didn't mean to say to a friend but just let slip. Those words can do damage in relationships that just can't be repaired, or at the very least take a long time to heal. But the opposite is also true. A well-timed, meaningful piece of encouragement for people can speak volumes. It can make even the most broken, hurting heart smile. Truly, the tongue does have the power of life and death. We just need to learn how to make the right choices with it.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Beyond Sunday - You Don't Have What it Takes: You can't control the future

...by Larry Walker

Embracing the uncertain can be so difficult. I imagine you have to be strong in your faith to do it. Just when I think I have strengthened it, something even more uncertain comes along to test how strong it really is. Didn't Greg just hit the nail on the head when he talked about leaving the knowns behind that hold you back? Whether it's a relationship, a job, or habit... there is just something too comfortable about the certain. But, if we are to live a life that is full of Christ-like adventures, isn't it right for us to put it away and grow? Trusting God with our future instead of snuggling in with our old comfortable certainties is something Jesus calls us to do.

I thought later that night about two nineteenth century families from Holland that chose to embrace something uncertain and left everything they knew behind that kept them in that cozy comfortable safe place. They trusted in God's future for them and came over on a boat and decided to farm in the onion fields of Chicago. If these two sets of families would have chosen the safe path, my grandparents would have never met in that tiny one room school in South Holland back in 1925. As I was kissing my daughters goodnight tonight, I thought about how grateful I was for those two families and their faith in letting God control their future. I wonder if they are smiling down from heaven when they look at what that one single "Trust Him": moment has evolved into over the past 150 years. Wouldn't you like to have your great great grandchildren be that grateful for your faith as well?

44. Godly Wisdom (Proverbs 1:1-4:27).

by Wesley Blackburn

As I read through the beginning of Proverbs, I'm really struck by two different things. Number one, I'm really hit with the impact of the statement in 1:7 that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge."

What in the world does that mean? Well, the fear of the Lord isn't exactly to say we're scared to death of God, though you could argue that there is a bit of an element of that in it. The "fear of the Lord" in the Bible simply refers to a healthy reverence and respect for God. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom because when I realize the magnitude of exactly who it is that has called me, I am going to humble myself before God and submit my life to him. I'm going to do what He asks and what His word teaches. Just like with a parent or teacher we respect, we listen. And we obey.

Secondly, I was continually reminded in this passage about the rewards of people obeying God. We've probably seen both sides of this. For instance, we've probably seen lives destroyed (maybe even our own) by people who just don't live the way that God wants. This is why we have broken families. This is why we have relationships that are torn apart. This is why our world is at times dominated by greed and selfishness.

But we've also probably seen the rewards of what happens when we obey God. Good things happen. We discover something more wonderful than we could ever imagine. Maybe that's part of your story. You took the leap of faith, you sought God, you obeyed God... and then you saw Him do something incredible in your life. In a lot of ways, that's part of my story even being here at Suncrest. Maybe that's the story of how you met your spouse, how you got that job, how you found that best friend, or something else. When we obey God, good things have a tendency to happen. That isn't to say that following God is always easy (or always comes with some sort of physical, earthly reward), but just to say that on the whole, people who follow God seem to find their lives full of good things.

That's what wise living is. It starts with us humbling ourselves before an Almighty God and ends with that same God choosing to bless us with some incredible things.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

43. Praise the Lord (Psalm 103:1-22).

by Wesley Blackburn

So, I have got to be honest. As I sit here this morning writing this entry, I opened up my to-do list and saw that it was entitled "Praise the Lord." Just being honest here... not quite yet in the mood to praise the Lord. I'm tired. I'm probably a little cranky. I'm stressed with several big tasks that I would just rather not want to do... ever.

But even reading this passage this morning really helped me to focus on what's important. It helped me to be thankful to the Lord for what He has done in my life. It reminded me that He loves me in an incredibly huge way beyond what I can even begin to imagine. That's a neat reminder.

Earlier this week, I had one day where as I woke up and got ready to face the day, I just really felt God putting on my spirit a reminder that sin has no power over me, that I am forgiven. For whatever reason, this song below was the one that just popped into my head all during that day:



To me, that's the framework that this psalm starts with and seeks to remind us of: we are forgiven and redeemed. And it's really a great framework for our lives. We are forgiven of our iniquity and healed of the disease of sin. We have been redeemed and given God's steadfast (love that adjective) mercy. As Psalm 103:5 states, "[God] satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." I think as believers, we've all felt the incredible renewing power of the Holy Spirit's presence in our lives.

Psalm 103 gives us some awesome reminders about God's incredible blessing and provision in our lives. Even when things aren't going my way, it will definitely serve as a reminder of who God is and what He has done for me, for you, for all of us... if we only let Him.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

42. Have Mercy On Me (Psalm 51:1-19).

by Andy Kaser

I am not much of a guitar player. In fact I haven’t even held one for two years. But one of the first songs I remember playing (where I could actually tell it was a song) was called ‘Create In Me a Clean Heart’ by Steve Green. It became a prayer song of mine. It is composed out of Psalm 51… a pure cry for the mercy of God. How often I forget in the natural and fleshly trajectory of my life that it is God who supplies mercy. I can’t do more to earn it. I can’t try harder or will it to come. It is a pure gift of God that comes by His living, moving, and breathing within my soul.

It’s important to define mercy. Mercy is when we don’t get what we deserve. We deserve wrath, but God withholds it from us. Hear David’s cry to God for mercy. Hear his utter dependence on the mercy of God to pour kindness into his depravity. Certainly David was wrestling with his human condition. Clearly he was seeing his lack of cleanness in the midst of God’s holiness. In his brokenness he cries to the One who offers unconditional mercy.

So what do we do when we are blinded by the holiness of God? Let us join together in meditating on David’s prayer to God, and making it our own.
  1 Have mercy on me, O God,
        according to your unfailing love;
        according to your great compassion
        blot out my transgressions.
  2 Wash away all my iniquity
        and cleanse me from my sin.
  3 For I know my transgressions,
        and my sin is always before me.
  7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
        wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
  8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
        let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
  9 Hide your face from my sins
        and blot out all my iniquity.
  10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
        and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
  11 Do not cast me from your presence
        or take your Holy Spirit from me.
  12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
        and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
  13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
        and sinners will turn back to you.
  14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
        the God who saves me,
        and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
  15 O Lord, open my lips,
        and my mouth will declare your praise.
  16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
        you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
  17 The sacrifices of God are [c] a broken spirit;
        a broken and contrite heart,
        O God, you will not despise.

Father hear my cry. Have mercy on me Oh God. Amen.

Monday, July 26, 2010

41. The Lord Is My Shepherd (Psalm 23:1-6).


by Dave Wright

When I was asked to blog about Psalm 23, my first thought was, this would be easy! Every summer at church camp it was one of the lists of Bible verses we had to memorize. It would be one of the first on the list to cross off back in the day.

That was then…this is now. It is amazing how certain sections of the Bible can pop into your life at the right time. There have been some really strange things that have happened in my life the past couple of months…things that can only be described as “God Things”. When I was asked to write some things about this passage, it struck that the Lord IS my shepherd. Just read the psalm: "I shall not want." My God will not let me go without. God will always provide. 

The most important thing to me after revisiting Psalm 23 is the assurance that God is with me always.  Remember, through scary times, tough times, and good times God is always with you. He will guide and comfort you. Just don’t catch me off guard and ask me to recite it from memory.

Friday, July 23, 2010

39. Elijah and the Prophets of Baal:1 Kings 16:29-19:18

...by Kay Roberts

Pagan worship seems so foreign to me yet it was very common during this time. It really is hard for me to grasp. Yet here is Elijah, the sole survivor of God’s prophets because the king has slaughtered all of them, front and center challenging these pagan priests and powerful King. I see someone who is bold and courageous. Someone I desire to be more like. Someone who loves God more than his own life who is willing to do anything God asks. I know if I was Elijah, I would be shaking to the core, asking myself, “Did God really ask me to do this? Did I hear him right? Is God really going to show up?” Not good ole Elijah! He is steadfast in his challenge. He is focused and confident. I am left thinking, “what if I prayed like Elijah? What could God do through my life?”

That’s our challenge in today’s world. What if…

What if…

I prayed like Elijah?

I was devoted to God like Elijah?

I gave my all, risking everything to serve my God, like Elijah?

What if…

The next step is up to me...is up to us. Are we or am I going to keep a “what if” between me and My Lord? What is your "what if" and how are you, along with the Holy Spirit, going to move forward?

40. The Fall of Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:1-30).

by Wesley Blackburn

Well, kids, it's time to turn out the lights because the party's over.

Jerusalem would now go through it's darkest moment up to this point in its history. The Babylonians have come in and absolutely destroyed the city of Jerusalem and really the entire country of Judea. They killed leaders, servants, just about anyone they could get their hands on, with only a few spared. Truly, Jerusalem was now in utter ruin and things were bad. "National tragedy" barely begins to explain what had just happened here.

And beyond this, the name of God was put to shame as well. It was kind of common for people to see wars on earth as a statement about the power of the gods of their nation. When an empire would grow in strength and power, it was because their gods were the strongest and the greatest. But on the flip side, when an empire would crumble, it was viewed as crumbling because their gods were not strong enough to save or fight off the opposing gods of other nations. Surely, to the entire known world, it seemed like Yahweh, the God of Israel and Judah, was gone. His name was, at the very least, put to shame.

But the fact is that long before, God's name had already been put to shame. In fact, over pretty much the entire existence of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, God's name had been continually put to shame. That was of no fault on God's part. That was the fault of His people. God is a God of grace, compassion, and mercy. He is a God who is full of justice. He is a God who cares about the rights and well being of the poorest and the least. That is God's identity, and that is the identity He wants for His people as well.

Yet, over the course of their history, God's people Israel had continually rejected this. They had oppressed the poor. Their government and nation was full of political and moral corruption. There was absolutely nothing about the nation of Israel that distinguished them as God's chosen and holy people at all. Yes, God's name was put to shame with the fall of Jerusalem for sure, but it was nothing different from what God's own people had been doing for centuries beforehand.

Remember the promise we talked about earlier this week with Solomon's temple? The promise was that if God's people would turn to Him and submit to Him that He would continue to bless them. But if they would turn away, destruction would surely come. This is exactly the case here. Chances are this probably isn't anything new to you, because maybe you've seen it in your own life. You flirted with sin for a long time, and then eventually the bottom fell out. I've seen it happen in my life time and time again when I turn from God's vision for me and for my life.

But even in the midst of this wreckage, there is still hope. God's people would be in exile for a while, but then they would get to come back to their homeland. God would restore them. God would eventually even send a Savior, Christ the Lord, to them. Let that be a lesson to us all; that even in the utter wreckage of our sin and the consequences that it brings, there is still hope. We only need to turn to God and do our best to serve Him wholeheartedly.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Beyond Sunday - You don't have what it takes: You can't handle it all

...by Randy Parish

I thought Bobby was using examples from my life on Sunday. I don’t know whether it was intentional or not, but the treadmill in the video was a good analogy of our lives. We go nowhere fast and it just plain wears us out and we are still where we started. I’ve never been blessed with the “no” gene. If someone asks me to take something on, I usually say yes. Another project, sure, another committee, no problem, another meeting, absolutely, another problem, bring it on. I’ve never figured out the deep seated reason why I do that. I blame it on heredity, because my Dad was like that. I’m just glad I have a wife that steps in and says, sure you can take that on, but what are you going to give up to do that. She’s figured out that the plate is only so big and if something new comes, something old goes. There are always more things that need done. How many times do we hear people say “If only I had more time”, or maybe “There aren’t enough hours in a day”. I don’t want more hours in a day, because I would probably fill them up. I sometimes envy people that lead these seemingly very noble lives involved in many great causes and still have time to spare.

For the last 5 years, I have worked in Indianapolis. It was to the point, my wife and I decided I needed more margin in my life particularly from the driving back and forth. So we prayed about it and put our house up for sale and found a house and a lot where we were going to build and my commute would be short and I could add 4 hours back into my day. (Probably to take on other things but I didn’t say that out loud.) We combined two of the sermon points together on this decision: Some things need to be stopped and Everything needs to be Surrendered. Well, our house didn’t sell and the frustration grew. In December in God’s own sense of humor and timing, I had an opportunity to actually take another position in the company and now work from home. My one way commute went from 2 hours down to 45 seconds and I walk downstairs to my office.

We don’t have what it takes to handle it all. There will always be things that need to be done. There will always be things we can add to our “To Do” list. We need to start adding things to our “to don’t” list.

Psalms 55:22 Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you.

You can’t handle it all.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

38. Solomon's Temple (1 Kings 8:1-9:9).

by Wesley Blackburn

I've been a part of some really cool worship services over the course of my life.

I went to a Christian high school and was worship leader for our chapel worship band my junior and senior year. I remember one particular chapel we had this speaker deliver a message on bringing the presence of God back to a place that had lost it, and probably about one hundred students came forward that morning to give their lives to Christ. That was pretty cool.

Last summer I was a youth leader for my home church's trip to the CIY Move conference (the same trip our Suncrest students actually are right now). On one night, they asked all the leaders to go up to each student in their row during the worship time that night and while the students were worshipping, we had to lay hands on and pray for each of the students there. That was an exceedingly powerful and moving experience for me. But what was even more powerful and moving was afterward, talking to another one of our youth leaders (who is not exactly the most spiritual or easily moved person) and watching her absolutely bawl because of the incredible power in what she had just gotten an opportunity to do for our students. That is a moment I will not forget.

Of course, I think many of us remember what happened at Suncrest on February 7 of this year when we watched 80 people give their lives to Christ in baptism. I was in our worship band that morning and I was actually right next to one of the baptistries. I will never forget bawling like a little girl watching person after person come and get baptized. It was truly remarkable.

But I'm sure that none of those quite compared to what the nation of Israel got to watch on this particular day as they gathered to consecrate the new temple of their God in Jerusalem. This place was huge. Way bigger than something like our church building here. Or anywhere. This temple was a big deal... it was enormous, and was built with only the finest of materials. To be a part of this worship service surely was one of the coolest things that these people would ever experience.

But I hope that you noticed the theme in Solomon's prayer of consecration. Basically, the theme was that God would be with his people when they would turn toward Him. When God's people would keep following Him, He would continue to bless and help them. But surely, when the people turned away from God, their bad choices would only earn them trial and trouble. But when the people would turn back to God, He would bless them.

I think that the same can be said with us and our lives. We've probably all seen that truth. When we follow God, we experience good things in our lives. Yes, things aren't always easy. Sometimes trouble will come, but overall, our lives are great because we have chosen to worship God in the way we live our lives. In the same vein, though, when we turn our backs on God, we see the consequences. Maybe you've seen that in your own life. I know that in moments where I turned my back on God, I've always regretted the consequences. It's just more incentive for each of us to keep following God in whatever we do.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

37. King Solomon (1 Kings 2:1-3:28).

by Wesley Blackburn

Solomon is an interesting figure to me throughout Biblical history. He did a lot of great things to further God's kingdom and take care of God's chosen people, Israel. He was setup for success. He had a father, David, who spent his entire life in pursuit of living the life God wanted him to live. He got to see the traits of a good ruler modeled for him. Yet while Solomon would do some great things, he would also do some not so great things. And I think as you look at the whole of Solomon's life, a lot of it has to do with Solomon doing the things that made sense to him, without necessarily consulting God first or really taking God at His word.

The two chapters we get to read today I think offer a really good insight into that. After receiving some last instructions from David before he passed away, we find Solomon taking the throne. Surely, this had to be an exciting and maybe even overwhelming feeling for him. Solomon, though, was surely David's chosen heir (if you read in 1 Kings 1 you discover this to be the case) and would gain the blessing of God as ruler of God's people. Yet, Solomon made some bad initial choices. Instead of resting in God's protection and direction as the king, Solomon would solidify himself in power by engaging in a bloody fight against all whom he perceived as opposing him. Surely, that couldn't have been God's will for Solomon. Then, as chapter three begins, we discover that Solomon has made a marriage alliance with the King of Egypt, despite God's continued warnings against such actions (see Deuteronomy 7:3-4; 17:16). Surely, Solomon had the tools to be a great ruler, but was fudging on his commitment to God and His commands when push came to shove.

Today's reading ends with one of Solomon's bright spots, though. When offering sacrifices to God and worshipping Him, Solomon is approached by God in a dream. God promises to give Solomon whatever he requests, and solomon asks for understanding and discernment to govern God's people. God is so pleased with this request that he not only gives Solomon what he asked for, but also the good things he didn't ask for: riches, peace, a long life.

As we trace the life of Solomon, we will discover that this understanding and discernment would serve him well over his years. Solomon would be regarded as the wisest man to ever live. But let's not confuse wisdom with action; it's one thing to know and understand right from wrong... it is another thing to practice it. I believe that God surely answers our prayers for wisdom and discernment as we seek His will for our lives. But God can give us all the direction in the world, and if we don't listen, then we are surely in trouble. Solomon would learn this. No doubt each of us has learned that as well.

God always blesses our request for wisdom. Let's actually use that wisdom God blesses us with to make great, God-honoring choices.

Monday, July 19, 2010

36. David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:1-12:25).

by Wesley Blackburn

We've all had some huge "oops" moments over the course of our lives.

You know what I'm talking about. I'm not just talking about the little things or little sins that we've all succumbed to at some point over the course of our lives. I'm not talking about something that can come even close to the category of "mistake." I'm talking about the big, huge, wrong things that all of us have done in our lives where we are only left to look at the mess and wreckage we've created and go, "What have I done?" Chances are if I asked you, you could probably think of the one or two things that you've done over the course of your life that make you cringe, even today, maybe even years removed from the act itself. Perhaps even years later, you're still combing through the wreckage, looking for some kind of peace.

2 Samuel 11 and 12 is King David's "oops" moment. David's made some questionable decisions before in his life for sure, but this is way more than a questionable decision or a mistake. This is an outright failure. Morally, spiritually, relationally, politically... a failure. In today's story, David goes out on his roof, sees a beautiful woman named Bathsheba bathing, asks for her to be brought to him, and then sleeps with her. The plot thickens when Bathsheba becomes pregnant.

Bathsheba has a husband named Uriah who is a commander of the Israelite army, currently out fighting a war right now (really classy to sleep with a military hero's wife, right?). So David calls Bathsheba's husband back to his palace in an attempt to try to get him to go home and sleep with his wife so that people will think the child Bathsheba is pregnant with is his. No luck. So then David throws a feast for the sole intent of getting Uriah drunk, hoping that he will go home and sleep with his wife. Again, no luck. So, in a script that not even Maury Povich or Jerry Springer could write, David sends Uriah back to the battlefield with instructions to Uriah's commanding officer to put him in a spot in their next battle where fighting is most intense and then to back off from Uriah, leaving him all alone and sure to die. David's plan succeeds and no one really knows the difference. He would now take Bathsheba as his wife to console her (a common practice of the day to protect widows).

No one, that is, except for the prophet Nathan. Nathan comes to David and tells him a story of a rich man who had everything and a poor man who just had one little lamb. When the rich man had company come over, he seized this poor man's lamb (his only treasured possession) and killed it to serve to his guests. David was outraged and demanded that this rich man deserved to die.

And then come Nathan's words: "YOU are the man!"

Surely, this was the moment when it all came crashing down for David. He had been found out. His little world of deception had come crashing down. And now, he came face-to-face with the consequences. He tore through the Ten Commandments like no one's business: he coveted, he committed adultery, he murdered. He had dishonored God and even condemned himself, saying in essence that he deserved to die. David was wracked with guilt. Out of this time, David would write Psalm 51, which is one of the most gut-wrenchingly honest writings our world has ever seen.

But out of the wreckage of this horrible series of events, God would still show His merciful character. When first confronted with his sin, despite condemning himself to death, David is told by Nathan that God "has put away your sin; you shall not die" (12:13b). Then, in the final two verses, we see David lie with his wife Bathsheba and conceive another child, Solomon, who would go on to be king of the Israelite Empire after his father David died. But what's incredible to me is one tiny statement: "the Lord loved [Solomon]" (12:24b).

Even in the midst of his darkest hour, God would give David mercy and grace. The story of David and Bathsheba is one of redemption. Yes, David's sin would bring some obvious consequences that David will need to work through for the remainder of his life. But God would offer David forgiveness. He would receive redemption. Even in David's ultimate "oops" moment, God's grace was bigger, greater, and stronger. What an awesome reminder to us in the midst of our "oops" moments as well.

Friday, July 16, 2010

35. King David (1 Samuel 5:1-7:29).

by Joel Franklin

Greatness is something that all humans desire. Whether you are a musician, doctor, lawyer, even if you’re not the ambitious type, provided the opportunity we would take the road to greatness without giving it much thought. King David was someone that men, women, and children desired to be like. In this passage we follow David at point in his life where it seemed as if nothing could stop him. He had the favor of his people and more importantly the favor of our Father. He did everything that was asked of him by God and was rewarded for his obedience. But one of the most amazing things in this passage is David’s humility through it all. He was the most powerful man in the region but all the while kept his spirit of humility.

It wasn’t always a time of victory for David, though. Sure, there were many victories in David's life, but even among the trials, David still could only thank God for everything. One of his men (Uzziah) died during their first attempt to bring the ark into Jerusalem, but what does David do? After keeping it at a family household and seeing God’s hand all over that family, David tries again to bring the ark into the city. This time he was successful. In fact, he was dancing the whole way thinking nothing but of praising God.

I look at this part of David’s life and I wonder, how do I ever for a second let pride slip into my life? Even when it didn’t make sense, the king still followed God’s direction. Why would I ever want to take control (not that I could) from the Master of the Universe? I am encouraged by this passage's demonstration of obedience and humility, even through times of trial. It reminds me of James 1:2-4, where we are told that we should be joyful about our trials, and that those trials will create perseverance or steadfastness because “when it takes its full effect, we will be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Beyond Sunday - You DON’T Have What it Takes: You Can’t Please Everyone

...by Kevin DeBraal

Sometimes I wonder why I keep coming to Suncrest! It seems that every Sunday the message is prepared with me in mind. Just once I would like to sit back and say “No problem, I’ve got this one covered.”

All kidding aside this message does hit home. We live in a culture of expectations. And they come from every conceivable direction - work, home, personal, etc. I think most of us also have grown up trying to meet those expectations. It is very easy to become over-committed, to be overly concerned about being “politically correct” and eventually totally lost in a world of trying to please everyone.

This message like so many others brings me back to basics and causes me to re-evaluate my situation. Greg asked “Who is God in your life?” I thought where is God in my people-pleasing, meeting-expectations life? He’s in there someplace but can I honestly say He is the focal point? Regrettably I can’t.

So what do I do now? Awareness is not enough; there must be a reorganization of priorities and behavior to direct my attention to pleasing God. The concept of the jury box is very helpful because I know that if I select the right jury, those whose expectations are aligned with God’s, my focus will ultimately be pleasing to God.

It’s ironic, as I think about who should be my jury, that some are the people that got less of my attention hoping that they would understand. I guess I was hoping the same from God. This is another wake up call and opportunity to strengthen my relationship with Him. Time to get started …..

p.s. I’ll be back next Sunday!

34. David and Saul (1 Samuel 23:7-24:22).

by Wesley Blackburn

There's just something really appealing about integrity. It's something that we don't see a lot of in today's world; I feel like every week I hear some story about a corporate executive, politician, or (unfortunately) even a pastor who has had some severe lapse in their judgment that reflects poorly upon their own personal integrity.

But there's just something about integrity. People who have integrity have these intrinsic quality and characteristic of being honest, trustworthy, and dependable. People with integrity aren't always perfect, but they strive to live a life before God and man that is just clean with people. They don't have anything to hide or conceal because they're living in one of the central characteristics that God wants to define our lives.

David was a man of integrity. In our story today, King Saul has continued his paranoid chase of David, attempting to kill him so that David cannot become king. Can you imagine the emotions going through David's head? I know in this situation, I'd be so bitter and angry against God and Saul. God told David that he would be king and that he would be blessed... surely God couldn't have meant that David would need to make a habit of running for his life? Anger against Saul is certainly understandable... David has never done anything to hurt Saul, and yet he still continues to try and take David's life.

But in this story, David gets the perfect opportunity to kill Saul. The king is in hot pursuit of David, and happens to need to "relieve himself" (don't sugarcoat it... this means exactly what it sounds like!). The twist? David and his men are in the back of this cave. Surely, they would never see Saul in a more defenseless position than... well, you get the picture. David's men even say, "Look! God has given Saul right into your hands! This trouble and running that you're going through can all end right now!" Surely that had to be exceedingly tempting for David.

But David was a man of integrity. As the saying goes, "two wrongs don't make a right." David understood that just because Saul was acting in the wrong (and making his life a living hell) didn't give him the right to take his life. As far as David saw it, the right to give and take life was and is God's alone. David was right.

I don't know exactly what his thought process was, but could you imagine the consequences of David's decision if he had killed Saul? All of a sudden, assassinating a ruler because you didn't like him could have become commonplace. The monarchy of Israel could have quickly turned into that of something like the Roman Empire, where rulers were being killed left and right by those who sought the power, money, and prestige that would come with ruling the kingdom. Of course, this goes without saying the cost of character and personal integrity that this would be to David; surely he wouldn't be able to stand before God (and men) without an overwhelming sense of guilt. And certainly David couldn't expect those around him to act with integrity, especially considering that when push came to shove David didn't either.

But the character and integrity that David displays here is certainly a high standard to live up to. In whatever I do, I want to be known as a man who has nothing to hide. I want to be a person who doesn't have to live a lie, constantly working to cover up things in my life that I don't want people to know about. Living life in that way is just easier in the long run. And I believe with all my heart that that is a truly blessed way to live.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

33. David and Goliath (1 Samuel 16:1-18:16).

by Wesley Blackburn

Maybe some of you are already pretty familiar with this story. It's certainly a famous one, and for good reason. I know that growing up in church, this was one of the stories that I heard a lot in Sunday School.

That can be a good or a bad thing. It's good in the sense that we are already familiar with this. It's nothing new. We know what to expect. But in a lot of ways, this can be a bad thing, too. We may have a tendency to look at this narrative simply as a "kids' story" and not really examine it or look at it for what we can learn about God through it.

I love stories like this; stories where things were all against someone or a group of people, but then God shows up and saves the day. They are a reminder to me of the great power and might of the God I serve. They remind me that He is in control of all things, even when circumstances of my life seem to dictate the exact opposite.

Never more was that the case than with David and Goliath. There was nothing about David that shouted "great warrior." He was a tiny little runt of a kid whose only previous experience with battle had been killing animals in order to protect his father's sheep. David was so small and unimposing that the armor Saul gave him for protection was too heavy and constricting for him.

But what David lacked in stature, he made up for with heart. All throughout this story, David just has this incredibel heart that makes you want to naturally follow his lead. He genuinely cared for the glory of God; it was unthinkable to him that the army of Israel would allow a pagan Philistine to make fun of God on a daily basis. Instead of seeing all the impossibilities like Saul and the rest of the Israelite army, David saw possibility. He saw that God was on his side. He trusted God enough to know that that power would go before him in his fight with Goliath. And sure enough, it did.

I think that speaks to us and our lives in a cool way. We are going to come up against circumstances that are just absolute giants in our lives. A lot of times for me, those "giants" are my sins, my doubts, my insecurities. Maybe for you it's something you feel that God has given you a vision and a calling for, but you have no idea how to do it because it's so huge and impossible-looking. But whatever your giant is, the story of David and Goliath reminds me that when we are working to advance God's honor, fame, and kingdom in our lives, He will always take us up on His shoulders and make things happen. As Andy Stanley says in his book Visioneering, "What God originates, God also orchestrates."

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

32. King Saul (1 Samuel 8:1-10:27).

by Wesley Blackburn

In a lot of ways, today's passage is really sort of foreboding. King Saul is appointed king over the entire nation of Israel, but Samuel warns that the people having a king will only lead to trouble for them. He and God are clearly not excited about this development.

But nevertheless, God doesn't typically make a habit of acting against our wishes. Here, the people wanted a king. Even though God knew this wouldn't be best, He wasn't going to stop the general consensus of the people. If they wanted a king, then a king they would get.

This happens in our lives, too. Sometimes, I hear people get angry that God wouldn't stop them from making a bad decision, engaging in a wrong behavior, or some other thing. Not to be mean or judgmental, but to blame God in these situations is kind of silly. It's not God's fault when I develop an addiction. It's not God's fault that I'm not working on my marriage or engaging in real relationships with my friends. When we make bad decisions, that's not God's fault, it's ours. For us to expect God to fix our bad decisions and always make everything better is simply ridiculous. We don't expect this in any other arena of life, so why would that be the case with God?

But in reading today, I saw one other thing that I thought was funny, and it was the people's demand that "There shall be a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations..." (8:19-20, ESV). In other words, "We want a king because everyone else has one!" How immature and juvenile does that sound?

But I do the same thing all the time. Being a Christian means that I have to say "no" to some things that look really appealing and "yes" to some things that seem very hard and difficult. Sometimes I complain to God about how much good stuff I'm doing and I'm really just whining that I can't live a life like everyone else. That's not appealing. Or mature.

If I may indulge in a personal example, I remember in college that there was this season in my life where I was really bummed about not really dating anyone even though all my friends were (and, in typical Bible college fashion, some were already married or engaged). That made me depressed, frustrated, and even angry toward God. A frequent prayer in my life at the time sounded something like "When will it be my turn, God?" I wish I could say that that was only a season of my life that lasted maybe a month or two. But in all reality, it was a season of my life that lasted about two years. Probably the biggest thing, though, was that because I was focusing on what I didn't have, I was missing the opportunities to accomplish God's will for my life in the present. That's time I'll never get back, all because I was focused (just like the Israelites) on wanting to be like everyone else around me and live out the life God had chosen for them and not the life God had chosen for me.

Let's not miss the opportunities that God has placed before us in the present simply because we're focused on what everyone else around us has. As Israel would discover, God really knew what he was talking about. We'll see that the dynasty of Israeli kings as a whole would just be terrible. When God says something, let's take Him at His word, trusting Him and being thankful for the opportunities to live out His will for our lives in the present.

Monday, July 12, 2010

31. Samuel Listens to God (1 Samuel 1:1-3:21)

By Mary Elizabeth Robertson


I can't be the only person who has ever doubted whether or not God is even listening to me talking to Him. Can I? I mean, it seems that I should put in my request, He should listen and then promptly answer. He's even free to take my advice and tips on my stunningly well-thought-out, pre-approved answers. I can get really lost within a situation that seems to be without any answer or reply, and I'm ashamed to admit it. But when I stand up out of my soup of questioning and doubt and dissatisfaction to look back at God's track record in my little life, questioning and doubt and dissatisfaction become laughable because it is crystal clear that our God has proven Himself to be a God of response in my life.

Response can have many faces, though. That's the tricky part for me. Who wants to wait? Who wants to be stretched? Who wants all that
work? God does. He sees the big picture. He is the perfect Father who not only wants to give us the desires of our hearts but who also wants what is absolutely best for us --- whether we can see it or not. I KNOW that God is my perfect Father. I am encouraged that His purpose of growing "fruit" out of my humble life is what He's been doing, and doing well, for quite some time now. What patterns of request/listening/response did you see within Hannah's, Samuel's and Eli's lives? I bet it was something that you can relate to. I bet there's a reason for that. 

Friday, July 9, 2010

30. The Story of Ruth (Ruth 1:1-4:22)

by Beka Jackson

So my husband died. My brother in-law died and I am in a foreign country pretty much alone. Who do I turn to? My mother-in-law, of course! The story seems so strange to me even from the very beginning, but the way God redeemed this seemingly unimportant woman and her husband's family is so incredible. As I read this passage, I was brought to tears, which I thought was so weird because I have read/heard this story so many times and have never cried. But now, I read it as a mother, as a daughter-in-law, and as a wife. Apparently, my life circumstances really affect how I read scripture!

There are a few things in this story that didn't really makes sense to me. Ruth is gleaning in Boaz's fields. I honestly had no idea what that meant. Thank goodnes for Google, right? Reapers in the field would inevitably (and sometimes on purpose, like in Ruth) leave behind some of the wheat or barley or whatever it was they were harvesting. The poor could come behind the reapers and glean (pick-up and take for themselves) whatever was missed by the reapers.  Ruth and Naomi didn't have much, so this was how they were providing for themselves.

Boaz went down to the city gate to settle all things with the other kinsman, or redeemer. I have this picture of Boaz sitting by the entrance of the city waiting for the other guy and grabbing him before he enters the city so that the matter of marrying Ruth can happen quickly. But really, the city gate was where legal business would take place. This was the place Boaz had to go in order to make the transfer of ownership, both for the land and (as strange as it sounds) Ruth and Naomi.

But really, the strangest thing in the passage was when Ruth went to Boaz and laid by him while he slept. Apparently, this was all part of Jewish custom and law. So what may seem strange to us was just Ruth doing things the way they did them thousands of years ago. She was giving Boaz an out. If he didn't want to marry her, this was his chance to say so (Deut. 25:5-10). I'm pretty sure if I tried that 14 years ago with Bobby, we would not be married today! But obviously, it worked for Ruth!

And Boaz is such a great guy, right? The first time he meets her, he provides for her immediate needs. He tells her to stay near his men in his fields so she would be safe. Then he tells his workers that it would be alright if they let a little extra harvest fall to the ground, leaving more available for Ruth to glean. When Ruth lays at his feet, he wakes to find her there and is anxious to marry her. First thing in the morning he sets of to take care of the matter, but not beofre he sends her on her way with more barley for her and her mother-in-law. Boaz sounds like the kind of man a girl would want to be her kinsman-redeemer.

So there were a couple of strange things to me in this passage, but I love this passage for several reasons, too! I love the comittment we see in Ruth. She didn't have to go with Naomi.  She had every right to go back to her people and her land, but she stays. It isn't out of duty or law that she stays. The Scripture tells us more than once that they were crying over not only the death of their husbands, but over the idea of being apart from each other. Naomi had become Ruth's family, and Ruth wasn't going to let that change. Ruth 1:16-17 are great: "But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me."

And even though it doesn't say anywhere in the passage that Ruth and Boaz loved each other, you get that sense as you read. It's obvious that Boaz was a really great guy, but it also pretty obvious that he was crazy about her right away. He had heard about her and loved her character. I think its great to read true love stories in the Bible! Yep, I'm a hopeless romantic!  (Facebook even told me my life movie is the Notebook and we all know FB knows what it's talking about!)

And how cool would it be for the people at the city gate to know what happened to the family line later on? After Boaz had bought the land, the people at the gate said this: (3:11-12) "Then the elders and all those at the gate said, "We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. Through the offspring the LORD gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah."

The book of Ruth ends with the lineage of King David, beginning with Perez. This is the family line that Ruth was blessed to marry into! The Great-Grandmother of the King of Israel!  But even greater, in the book of Matthew, that lineage continues on to the birth of Jesus Christ. In Matthew 1:5 she is even mentioned by name as one in Christ's family line! Absolutely amazing! And this is where the tears start streaming down my face!

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Beyond Sunday - God... and the USA?

...by Jeff Sanford

When you hear the word America, what images come to your mind? Do you think of the American flag, the Statue of Liberty, the country’s beautiful landscapes, the American military, or maybe even the opportunities and freedoms that are available here which so many others don’t enjoy?

I don’t know about you, but despite all these wonderful things, I’m not exactly the most patriotic person. I love so many things about this great country, but for me, it’s often hard to look past the terrible images and corruption that I see on the news nearly every night that make me think otherwise. But on Sunday, Greg said something that made me do some thinking. He said to make sure that we are grateful for the things that we are reaping which we did not sow.

Goodness! I can think of lots of things in America which I am reaping and had no part in sowing. Unfortunately, I often take these things for granted. I enjoy the security of living in a land that is protected by men and women who have given and will give up their lives and years with their families for the protection of our country. I enjoy the benefits of living in a country with an educational system that strives to develop the skills, abilities, and intellect of its students. I enjoy the right to vote, to run for office, and to express opinions on the happenings in this country. I enjoy the right to worship Jesus without the fear of persecution or restriction by the government. And these are just a few of the many things I have to be grateful for. And all of these freedoms and opportunities I enjoy are the result of the hard work and sacrifice of many who came before me. So today, I’m choosing to look past all that has discouraged me about this country and to be grateful to all of those who came before me, those who have sown that which I am now reaping.

29. Samson Defeats the Philistines (Judges 13:1-16:31).

by Wesley Blackburn

One of the things that I think indicates how real, authentic, and true that the Bible is is the people we discover that God uses throughout it. Yesterday, we looked at the life of a skeptic, doubter, nearly paranoid man named Gideon. Today, we see God's story in an angry, impulsive, womanizing man named Samson.

There's no question that God used Samson to do something good in his time. The Philistines were lording over the people of Israel, and Samson was used to help win back some freedom for the Israelites against the Philistine Empire. But I only wonder reading this story how much more good Samson could have done if he would have actually dedicated himself to the Lord, serving the Lord, and living in the way God would want him to live.

Just look at his life. From the very first time we meet Samson, he's in Philistine territory and is wooed by one of the beautiful Philistine women (as we continue reading the Old Testament, we'll discover Israelite men marrying women is a sure fire recipe for people falling away from God). When his parents start to express some concerns over this, what is Samson's response? "Get her for me, for she is right in my eyes." In other words, I want this girl. I don't care what you say. What God says. I want her and now. What's ironic is that later, when Samson got angry, he would march away heated, and end up putting into sequence a series of events that would lead to his wife (and father-in-law) being killed.

Later on, the Bible tells us that Samson had sex with a prostitute (Judges 16:1). Again, not a very smart decision on Samson's part. It could have led to his being killed in an ambush. But as if that wasn't enough, Samson decided to get tied up with another woman: the infamous Delilah. It would be Delilah who would discover the secret to Samson's incredible strength (his hair) and then betray him and turn him over to the Philistines. Things would be dire, but at the end of his life, Samson would in one final display of strength kill 3,000 Philistines.

But I have no doubt that God wanted to do so much more with Samson's life. But Samson would have none of it. He kept making bad choice after bad choice, rash decision after rash decision, and he never put himself in situations where God could really do a whole lot of anything with his life. Surely, Samson could have been a mighty leader like Moses, Joshua, Gideon, or any of the other leaders before him and could have been used to gain the Israelites their freedom. But (as his life shows us), Samson just wasn't really willing to align himself with God's will.

I think that's a lesson for all of us. If we aren't willing to align ourselves with God's will, we shouldn't really expect Him to do a whole lot with our lives or to work a things in our favor. Sure, there will be moments... there were in Samson's life just as there were in the lives of other ungodly men and women in the Bible (like King Saul) or even today in the lives of people who really just don't care about God. But if we really want to be used to do great things, that means we must have the humility of a servant, submitting ourselves to the perfect will of God as revealed to us in Scripture. We may not like it, but that's the way God works. After all, why should He put His hand with someone who won't use any of God's blessing to in any way help or bless others?

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

28. Gideon Defeats the Midianites (Judges 6:1-7:25)

by Wesley Blackburn

When I first sat down to arrange entries and such for the entire e100 Challenge, I gave myself all the middle entries for the week since I normally blog on here on Wednesdays anyway. After I'd gotten more of the posts assigned, I took a look at some of the ones that I had gotten for "Wesley Wednesdays," and sure enough, I saw that this post was on here. I was excited, to say the least.

I just love the story of Gideon, and I think it's because he reminds me so much of myself. In this story, Israel's in dire straits. They're being absolutely oppressed by the Midianites. Their country is now a wreck... not at all what they had dreamed when they first possessed it under Joshua. Now, one day as Gideon works threshing some wheat, he is approached by an angel who says that God is with him.

Now the Bible doesn't specify, but I'm led to believe that there had to be something that indicated this man was an angel or some sort of being sent from God, as even Gideon sort of recognizes that in Judges 6:17. But Gideon shows no sign of reverence; he doesn't bow, he doesn't really offer any sort of greeting to this man beyond the typical polite address of the day. What does Gideon do? He questions. He doubts.

And these questions aren't just ones that were really nice, easy questions. No doubt, there was a little venom in them. On being told that God was with him, Gideon's first response was pure skepticism: "If the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, 'Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt'" (Judges 6:13)? As I read that verse, I sensed real anger. Real bitterness. Gideon was mad at God for seemingly abandoning them and letting all of this bad stuff happen to him and his people. But I see myself in those questions too: God, if You're really with me, if You're really true to Your promises, then why does my life seem to be falling so far short of that? When God doesn't act in the ways I think He should or expect Him to, I become just like Gideon... bitter, brokenhearted, and hurt.

After some more dialogue, Gideon still refuses to believe that this man is a messenger from God until  he sets a rock on fire. Probably again, just like me.

But then, the story gets even crazier. In verse 25, we discover that in Gideon's household, there are actually places of worship dedicated to two of the major pagan gods of the day. While Gideon's father still probably believed in the God of his fathers, he had these other gods around just in case. Furthermore, it wasn't uncommon for an entire household to worship the same god or gods, so if you ask me, it's very possible that Gideon himself had engaged in the worship of these gods. God's not exactly a big fan of other gods (see the Ten Commandments), and He especially hates it when people worship them. Yet, this doubting, skeptical, other god worshipping guy named Gideon was the man God chose to accomplish His purposes for the nation of Israel.

Later on, God is now getting ready to send Gideon into battle against Israel's enemies. Before the battle, Gideon wants to make absolutely sure that God is going to follow them into battle. So instead of just taking God at His word (yes, the same God who sent him an angel, set a rock on fire, and somehow stopped Gideon from being killed after tearing down some town places of worship to other gods), Gideon has to do one more test, so he lays a fleece out on the ground and says that if God will make it have dew while the ground around was dry, He'd believe God. God does the exact thing Gideon does, and what does Gideon do? He DOUBTS. He needs God to confirm again, so this time He asks God to do the reverse of this miracle, and finally, Gideon decides to march into battle.

Did I say that I see a lot of myself in this guy? Talk about doubt. Talk about paranoid double-checking. Talk about skepticism. Talk about fear. He's got it all... just like me.

But sure enough, God uses this doubting, skeptical, paranoid, sinful man named Gideon to win a miraculous battle. I don't know why God chose Gideon in particular. Maybe he was just the best guy around at the time (scary thought), or maybe there was some other reason that I'll never know on this side of eternity. But what I do know is that the story of Gideon gives me hope. God uses doubting, disbelieving, struggling, paranoid people just like me to do His will in big ways. What's more, he turns people like this into heroes of the faith, even though if you keep reading the story of Gideon, you discover he actually doesn't do a great job of leading God's people. In fact, in a lot of ways, he led them into more destructive idolatry later on in his life. Yet Gideon's name is listed in the famous "Hall of Faith" chapter in Hebrews 11.

God can use anyone... even Gideon. Even me. Even you.

And God is patient... with Gideon. With me. With you.

It's simply up to us to be faithful in the end and trust for God to take care of the rest. That's the lesson  I learn from Judges 6 and 7.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

27. Deborah Leads Israel (Judges 4:1-5:31)

Today’s reading should come with a disclaimer. WARNING: PG-13 V


The first part of our reading is pretty graphic. I remember reading this passage for the first time and I literally had to pick my jaw up from the floor. A tent peg through his head?! All I could think about was “I can’t believe this in the BIBLE!” I had this image and preconception that the BIBLE only had happy stories of people doing good things and being holy. WRONG!


I absolutely love the story of Deborah and it’s become one of my favorite. Maybe it’s because I am a woman and I can relate to her. Here is a woman who is a wife and mother and JUDGE over Israel. That’s one busy woman!


A couple of thoughts…bear with me!
The first verse always gets me, “…the Israelites once again did evil in the eyes of the LORD.”
Really? Again? Have they not learned their lessons yet? 400 Years of slavery in Egypt wasn’t enough?


This is just one more story of how much God loves us and how He rescues us even when we don’t deserve it. Sounds a WHOLE lot like grace, don’t you think? God to the rescue, one more time. Thank GOODNESS it’s not the last!


Every time there is a victory, the Israelites composed a song of praise to God to give him the glory and to help the next generations to REMEMBER what God did for them on that day. Worship! One of my very favorite things! Songs/music were a vital part of their culture. I believe it’s because God hard-wired us that way. Nothing touches our soul like music. It has the ability to take us back in time and reach the very depths of heart.


And I can’t help but point out the obvious. God used a woman! Deborah was the only woman to judge Israel. Whoa!


So here’s what I’m thinking and walking away with…there are some pretty fascinating stories in the Bible about God’s people and His journey to the cross but the reoccurring theme is God can and will use ANYONE, who is willing, to bring about his plan. *Notice God INTENDED for Barak to be the one, but when he refused to go alone and trust God, he gave someone else the glory…Jael, a woman! Yikes! Talk about humiliation. For this day and age, respect and honor were held in high regard so to have that honor go to a woman was a BIG deal.*


So the BIG question is am I trusting God to be used by Him to bring out His good and perfect will? Do I trust that He has only but the best intended for me? That God can even use someone like me?

Monday, July 5, 2010

26. Israel's Disobedience (Judges 2:6-3:6).

by Beka Jackson 

So a couple things strike me as I read this passage. It's like a preview of the life of Israel. Time and time again, they worship God, their children forget about God, they worship other gods, make God angry, and then another nation takes them captive. When that happens, they suddenly remember God, cry out to Him, and He delivers them. Unfortunately, its a cycle, so it all starts over again. And again, and again, and again, and again...

So I mentioned a couple things really struck me as I read. The first is that "the children of the next generation knew neither the Lord nor what He had done." Really? That seems crazy! I am hundreds of generations removed from that group that walked across the Red Sea on dry ground and I know about it! I know about it because I had parents who made sure I knew about it. This passage just reminded me of the important role I have in the lives of my children teaching them about God and what He has done. How will they know if I don't teach them?
 
And then verse 15 almost sent chills down my back. It says, "Whenever Israel went out to fight, the hand of the LORD was against them to defeat them, just as he had sworn to them. They were in great distress." Can you imagine that hand of the Lord being against you? His incredibly strong, wise hand working against you? Not sure exactly what to do with that, but it was something that definitely caught my attention...

Friday, July 2, 2010

25. The Fall of Jericho (Joshua 5:13-6:27).

by Wesley Blackburn

And now we arrive at the story of Jericho, one of the most interesting stories in the entire Bible.

The story begins with Joshua and the armies of Israel being outside the city of Jericho, laying siege to it. Most cities in ancient times were built with an enormous wall surrounding the entire city. No doubt, Joshua and the army were lying in wait outside of the city, hoping to force the people inside of Jericho to surrender because they had now run out of supplies.

Things seemed to be going as expected, but then something big happened. Joshua was visited by a messenger of God, the very commander of God's armies. From this commander, Joshua is given some specific instructions for conquering the city of Jericho.

There's just one apparent issue: the instructions are downright absurd. For six days, the commander tells Joshua, you are to march around the wall of the city with the Ark of the Covenant. While doing this, armed men should come along, and the priests are supposed to come along blowing some trumpets in front of the ark. The Israelites were to do this not just once, not just twice, but for six days. Can you imagine how weird the Israelites must have felt? No doubt the citizens of Jericho inside the walls had to be poking fun at them.

But then on day seven, the army of Israel was to march around the city seven times. After finishing the seventh time, the priests sounded a trumpet blast and the people were to shout.

We sit here on the other side of history, looking back and seeing the victory that God had delivered to the Israelites on this day. But can you imagine some of the thoughts heading through their heads? What if God doesn't show up? What if we make fools of ourselves? What if this doesn't work? I think that being in circumstances like this is healthy for us as Christ followers, though. We need to be in situations where things will absolutely fall apart if God doesn't show up. These are some of the scariest, most vulnerable times of our lives. Yet, they are the situations where we generally get to see a life-changing display of God's power the most in our lives.

So sure enough, God delivered as the people shouted. The walls came tumbling down, the Israelites charged the city, and they were able to absolutely overtake it. Yet again, God showed his ability to provide for His children; He always makes a way, even when the circumstances seem difficult.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Beyond Sunday - One Prayer: Unstoppable Outreach

...by Dave Wright

Raise your hand if you feel like this from time to time. You pull into the driveway at the end of the day. Out the corner of your eye, you spot it…the neighbor you really don’t want to see starts walking up to say hi…and closing the garage door is not the right thing to do.

But this time, your neighbor has a question. Where do you go so early on Sunday mornings, he asks. Oh no…. the moment of truth…how do you answer?

The band played a song Sunday morning titled “The Solution” asking God to fill our hearts with his compassion…and the prayer that we will be his hands and feet. Doug’s prayer for this church was simple…Suncrest needs to reach out and spread the good news that God gave his son Jesus to die for everyone’s sins. It won’t be easy. It’s hard to get out of the comfort zone we have created for ourselves. The wonderful thing is God will give us the right words to say.

Outreach could mean going around the world…or answering that neighbor’s question. Will you be part of the solution?

24. Crossing the Jordan (Joshua 3:1-4:24).

by Wesley Blackburn

God's already done a crossing the sea miracle with Moses, and now it's Joshua's turn.

The story is pretty simple; the Israelites need to cross the Jordan River, so God gives Joshua instructions to tell the people so that they might cross successfully. Joshua gives said instructions, and the people follow them, and God miraculously stops the waters of the Jordan from flowing and the people cross over on dry land. Surely, that had to be a cool thing.

But there are really three things that stand out to me in this story:

1. Joshua makes a huge statement before he even knows what God is going to do. Take a look in Joshua 3:5. Before even knowing what God was going to do, Joshua stated to the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you." In essence, Joshua says, "Guys, purify yourselves, because tomorrow God's going to show up in a big way and do something incredible." The faith in that statement is amazing. It also makes me wonder if God wants to do something incredible and amazing in my life, if I'll simply purify myself before Him.

2. The priests cross in the midst of the rushing river. Read the story again if you didn't catch this; Joshua says that the priests who carry the Ark of the Lord into the Jordan must first set foot in the Jordan and then its waters would cease. How many of us can empathize with a situation like that one? We feel like we're in a situation where the storms of life are crashing and rushing all around us, and God is simply asking us to trust Him in the midst of whatever's happening. Many times in our lives, we don't experience the comfort of seeing God provide until we actually make the decision to step out in faith and to do what God has asked of us, trusting that He will take care of the rest.

3. God's purpose in doing this miracle. God really had three objectives in doing this miracle. Number one, he wanted the people of Israel to see that He was with Joshua just as He had been with Moses (Joshua 3:7). But what really caught me were the two reasons given at the very end of today's reading: "[God] did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God" (Joshua 4:24). So, God tells us right here that He did this miracle so that we might come to see His power and also to fear, honor, and respect Him. It makes it a lot easier to trust when we have already seen God's power provide for us in the past. But secondly (and make no bones about it), God is serious about us honoring Him. He is #1, and He wants us to remember that in every circumstance of our lives.