“God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?” – Hebrews 2:4

Miracle – An effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause.

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Weeks ago, I Joined in on the newly-formed Wednesday Evening Prayer Zoom Call hosted by our Church’s Prayer Team. I entered the meeting with great anticipation. It was only the second meeting for this ministry to substitute for the Prayer Ministry I highlighted in a previous post (On Any Given Sunday) usually available Sunday mornings when the church building is open.

The previous day I was leaning over working on a home project when my back went out. A painful bolt of electricity shot through my body. I was left hunched over and in agony. Stretching, cold compresses and Ibuprofen was not providing much relief. So, knowing this team of dedicated, faith-filled pray-ers, I was not only hoping for, but expecting a miracle.

I got on the call in a standing position because getting up and down was too painful. We entered in and I shared my request. Jim, Gaylord, Chioma and Angel prayed for my healing. When they were done, Jim asked me to check it out. I stretched and bent over and reported that my pain felt better. Yes!  But, they pressed in and continued to pray wonderful prayers for complete healing. They stopped and I tested my back, now bending completely over and getting up and down from a chair with almost zero pain. Praise God!

I went from steady pain and very limited mobility in my lower back to complete mobility and just a slight twinge of pain. What a relief! After our call I went out and did a little jig for my wife, Eleni to show off. We prayed and thanked God!

And now . . . . for the rest of the story!

I got up the next morning and much of the pain was back. I had booked an appointment with a Chiropractor that, after the previous night’s prayers, I intended to cancel but in the morning decided to keep. Hunched over in pain I went in to see the chiropractor and came out in worse pain.

However, the doctor did identify that the problem was a combination of decrease in the cushion between 2 lower vertebrae, a build up of cartilage on the bone that restricts movement and strained swollen muscle around the vertebrae. He recommended the standard ibuprofen, ice packs and stretching.

I did ask him how I could have experienced many hours the previous night where my mobility was restored and the pain was virtually gone? He shrugged his shoulders – “Something must have caused the swelling to recede and then lying in a bad position overnight caused it to inflame. Perhaps the ibuprofen finally had kicked in for a time?”

Well, I’m pretty certain it was not the ibuprofen. It had not proven very effective prior to my reprieve. I experienced God’s healing touch responding to His people’s prayers of faith. But why hadn’t it continued? An image of a deflated balloon ‘popped’ into my mind. Yes, that’s how I was feeling; a bit deflated.

The Deflated Balloon

The image of the deflated balloon stirred up a memory of my first encounter with a dramatic healing experience. My friend Mark was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor and was going in for surgery. Just before the surgery our church mens group gathered around him for prayer. We obviously prayed for his healing and as we prayed an image of a balloon came into my mind. The balloon had a small hole in it and was slowly withering to something like a shriveled fig.

Isaiah 34:4 – the prophet is declaring judgement against God’s enemies – “All the stars in the sky will be dissolved and the heavens rolled up like a scroll; all the starry host will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree.”

This was the first time I can recall that a clear image came into my mind as I was praying – an image that seemed connected to our prayers. Yet, the image didn’t quite match up with how we were all praying for God to just make the tumor disappear.

When we concluded, I shared this with Mark. He squinted and shrugged, “Well, Ok.” He later shared that he did not take it as something positive but thought it meant something about the air going out of his life. He was not particularly encouraged by it.

Mark went into surgery. When the surgeon opened him up they were certain to find a solid mass that would be a challenge to cleanly remove. Their hope was to scrape it all out leaving only good tissue. The most reassuring comment to his family at the end of the surgery would be to say, “We believe we got it all.”

But, when the surgeon went in they were shocked to find a cavity with a wrinkled blob of tissue inside. The best way they could describe the tumor was as a ‘deflated balloon’! It was as though it had been filled with fluid but had popped and drained out leaving this shrivled mass disconnected from any other tissue. It was then easily removed. After testing the surrounding tissue they declared Mark clean and free of cancer. Wow! We praised God for his miraculous healing.

As with most miracles I’ve encountered, this was not the end of the story

God healed Mark but years later the cancer came back with a vengeance. Once again, we all prayed for a miracle but in 2007 my friend went to be with the Lord.

I had to ask, Why heal then and not now? Was the initial healing even a real miracle?

Certainly, not of the same magnitude, but why heal my back just for an evening? Was it just a short period of ‘mind over matter’? Was it the case that I wanted to believe I was healed, so the pain went away but it was all in my mind?

No, I have concluded that the Prayer Team had prayed and God chose to cause the swelling to recede. I was healed. For whatever reason God chose not to answer the part of the prayer that it would be a permanent healing. Why?

Where in the World is Lazarus?

I’ve wondered about this in the past. When God chooses to heal it is about signs and wonders to make the reality of who He is known – to draw people into the reality of a loving relationship with a living God. But how long should we expect it would last?

For those that Jesus restored, say hearing – did they not lose their faculties as old age set in? I’ve had both shoulders miraculously healed – I still can’t throw a baseball anything like I could when I was younger. The Miracle Mets won a World Series against all odds in 1969 but they haven’t demonstrated the miraculous very often since. (Sorry JT)

Then there was Lazarus. He was not only raised from the dead but raised from the grave! But, still he died. He’s certainly not walking around somewhere today. (Maybe he is? Hanging out with Elvis somewhere?)

So, why bother healing if it is not permanent?

After the pain came back I posed this question to my friend, Pastor G and he responded with this wisdom:

“We know that all healing in this life is just a foretaste, a sip of the permanent healing that awaits us in Heaven where we will inhabit eternal bodies made by God Himself that will be immune to pain and weakness.”

In this corrupt and fallen world where man has turned his back on God’s incorruptible ways there is no permanence. Even those of us who have eternal life in Christ are all appointed once to die (Hebrews 9:27).

Any of God’s goodness in this realm is only a taste of what is to come. Yet, even as we step  further out in faith and see Him do what only He can do, and then testify to His good works, the tastier this ‘abundant’ life gets. (John 10:10)

So, what about my back? I got a taste of God’s supernatural goodness and then through another 10 days or so of discipline, (ibuprofen, ice packs and stretching) my back fully recovered. Once again, I have even more reason to testify to God’s goodness and declare . . . Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” – Lamentations 2:22

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Black Rock Church, Fairfield Ct is opening up for 3 straight nights of live worship limited to 140 participants beginning Wednesday August 5th.

TO ATTEND, PEOPLE MUST REGISTER AT: http://brc.church/outdoorworship.
IT will be held in the church parking lot with appropriate social distancing and requiring a mask.

Also, Black Rock Church will begin opening up Wednesday Nights of ‘Praying Boldly’ Meetings for a limited number of participants starting August 12th

Come join us at these events to Worship our God for who He is and to experience Him for what only He can do!

“Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.’ But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, ‘Send her away, for she cries out after us.’ But He answered and said, ‘I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’” —Matthew 15:21-24

 

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In these days of tearing down statues of leaders who represented some of the worst in us (and likely some of the best in us too) are being destroyed because these people were flawed by some form of racism. Now, the notion of tearing down statues of Jesus Christ is beginning to gain traction. The issue seems to be that Jesus is often erroneously depicted as a white man.

But, what about Jesus’ character? Was he flawed with any prejudices or bigotry?

I love Jesus and I love his character for so many reasons. I love him for what I know to be his kind and gentle nature. I particularly love him for his willingness as God to come down to be amongst us as a man without judging us for our failures, but intent on saving and restoring us.

Jesus reached out in love to young, old, male, female, rich, poor, religious, irreligious, black, white, Jew and Gentile. I believe that there was not a prejudiced bone in his body. Yet, there is an episode in the Gospels that initially caused me some concern. Was Jesus behaving with prejudice and bigotry toward another human?

Was Jesus a Racist and a Bigot?

In Matthew 15:21-28, we find Jesus departing with the disciples from Jerusalem and heading northwest toward the coastal region of Phoenicia and the cities of Tyre and Sidon. They are nearing the end of their journey when a Phoenician (Gentile) woman rushes toward them screaming for help. “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” But Jesus just stays silent.

What? Jesus looks to be ignoring her and letting his disciples fend off this irritating woman. Even though they ignore her, she keeps crying out to the growing annoyance of the disciples. They finally come to Jesus urging him to tell her to go away and stop bothering them.

What does Jesus do? He agrees and declares, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” He’s basically saying, “Yeah, you guys are right. Leave us alone woman! We didn’t come for you. I only came for the house of Israel.”

I’m stunned by Jesus’s prejudicial lack of compassion. But wait, the woman now prostrates herself in front of Jesus to stop him and pleads further for his help. Certainly, this is where Jesus will respond to her worship of him?

But, no! Now Jesus only appears to be at the end of his patience and answers her saying in essence, “Look, it’s not good to give to the dogs what should be for my children.”

My eyes bulge! Wow! He is not only rejecting her as a Gentile, but it sure sounds to me like he is degrading her, calling her a dirty, filthy stray mongrel dog, consistent with the common prejudice of Jews towards Gentiles.

But Jesus is supposed to be better than that!

But, this irritating woman won’t stop, and she responds, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Okay, True. But so what? To me, this is not much of a compelling argument.

At this point I imagine Jesus and the disciples’ kind of waving their hands at the woman saying, “Yeah, right. Go away. There are no crumbs here for you, you dirty dog” as they go to complete their journey.

But, Jesus seems actually impressed with her last statement. Based on the woman’s weak argument he does a complete 180 and answers her by saying, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And at that very hour, her daughter was healed.

I should be excited or at least relieved but, even in light of Jesus honoring her faith with a miracle, Jesus has engaged in 4 forms of bigotry by:

1. Being Complicit – While others are engaging in bigotry, he is complicit by staying silent.
2. Lacking Empathy – He ignores her needs because she is deemed “unworthy”
3. Overt Bias – Jesus blatantly declares his people’s superiority over others as inferiors.
4. Being Degrading – Dehumanizing another human being by referring to them as animals.

Wow! Who is this guy, and what have you done with my sweet Jesus?

Continue reading →

Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103: 1-5

At my home church – Black Rock Church in Fairfield Connecticut, we have a dedicated Prayer Ministry Team along with a dedicated Prayer Room. Every Sunday in our church and, in particular, in that room (when the church building is not closed due to a pandemic) we see God showing up with amazing power. God’s power to enter in to do physical, emotional and spiritual healing and life restoration has grown to be a regular occurrence.

A significant part of the prayer dynamic is to give God the credit (give testimony) to the power of His work and share it publicly.

Below, Prayer Team leaders Jim and Chioma share several examples of what is becoming a typical Sunday Morning experience in the Prayer Room at Black Rock Church:

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Story 1

One Sunday morning a woman entered the prayer room looking particularly downcast. We engaged with her and as we talked we learned that she had just been driving by the church consumed with desperation and hopelessness. Depressed and feeling completely abandoned she knew she needed help. An impulse caused her turn into the church parking lot, walk through the entry doors and go straight into the Prayer Room.

In the Prayer Room, we met and she explained that her adult son was in real trouble and she was facing serious financial struggles. She also acknowledged that she had never even been in a church before and had never heard the Gospel.  So, we shared God’s ‘Good News’ that was intended for her and asked if she’d like to pray to receive God’s gift. She responded, “What do I have to lose?” and prayed to accept Jesus as her Lord and Savior.

We continued to pray about the specific issues for her and her son and could see the burdens being lifted off her. She began to smile and even to laugh saying what she was experiencing was, “Too good to be true!” as she wiped away her tears – now tears of joy. She exclaimed, “I feel so much better!”

We then gave her a Bible and suggested that she begin to read the Bible every day starting with the Gospel of John. She turned the Bible over in her hands, soaking in what the Holy Spirit was pouring into her.

Now, this woman has been regularly attending Black Rock Church. She also has been a regular member of an ongoing Bible study as well as attending adult classes offered at the church. She even attended the latest women’s conference and is dynamically growing in her faith. We praise God for another example of His power to heal and to save!

Story 2

A woman who was going through a very difficult divorce that was tearing her family apart started regularly coming to the Prayer Room seeking God’s comfort and peace. For over a year she came in for prayer almost every Sunday. Gradually, she was becoming stronger in her growing faith.

One Sunday this fall, she came in with her adult daughter. Her daughter was depressed and in a lot of emotional pain.  We explained the ‘Good News’ of the Gospel to the daughter, and she prayed to accept Jesus as her Lord and Savior. As we continued to pray for God’s healing touch, both mother and daughter broke into tears – weeping for the relief and freedom the Lord was showering upon them.

Now, mother and daughter’s relationship has been restored and renewed. Sundays, the two have been seen regularly in the café sharing coffee and enjoying being at church together. We praise God for one more example of His restoration power!

Story 3

One particular Sunday a young man in his early thirties tentatively walked into the Prayer Room. We engaged and he shared that he was filled with anxiety over his job. He was having trouble sleeping and a number of health issues were beginning to crop up. We learned that, though he had been raised Catholic, he had begun attending Black Rock for the last few months.

We probed, “Do you know what being ‘Born Again’ means?” He shook his head. “I’m not really sure.” So, we joyfully explained the ‘Good News’ of the Gospel to him and he chose to pray and make Jesus his Lord and Savior.

Since that day, this young man has been growing in his faith in Jesus. The Lord has poured his spirit of peace upon him – a new peace he did not have before. Now, through Jesus’s presence in him, he testifies to the joy and strength he has to overcome the challenges of this life. We praise God for another example of His overcoming power!

Story 4

On another Sunday morning, a young woman came into the Prayer Room overwhelmed with the burdens of life. Her depression showed on her face and her entire countenance. She said she was a new believer but exclaimed, “My life is crushing me.”

We prayed for her and for the details she shared. She cried deeply – a good cry releasing her burdens. She left encouraged and ready to begin delving into God’s word to hear His voice.

The following week she returned to the Prayer Room and the first thing we noticed was that her face was radiant. Her countenance now reflecting a life filled with new peace and joy. It was a remarkable transformation.

One Prayer Team member said her face was reflecting the light of God something like what Moses must had looked like coming down from the mountain. She shared how she was now filled with peace and that God had done a remarkable thing in her life that week.

Then, about 3 month later she came into the Prayer Room with her boyfriend. They were having problems in their relationship and wanted prayer. Her boyfriend was new to church and acknowledged that he had never heard the Gospel before. Once again, after explaining the ‘Good News’ of Jesus, he prayed to accept Jesus as his Lord as Savior. We were all in tears as the couple forgave each other, with both sharing new life in Christ that morning. We praise God for one more example of His transforming power!

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The above are examples of what God has been doing Sunday’s at Black Rock Church. However, God’s power to heal and restore does not stop even by a pandemic. Though the church building has been closed, the Prayer Team is available to pray by Zoom on Wednesday evenings at 7pm.

Dial in, even for just a few minutes to receive a real dose of spiritual refreshment or something even greater!

Wednesday, 7-8:00pm – Prayer for your personal needs during this challenging time.

Join Zoom Meeting (use this link each week): https://technoserve.zoom.us/j/92539036173
Meeting ID: 925 3903 6173, One tap mobile: +1 929 436 2866, 92539036173#

I Don’t Understand? Illuminate Me!

But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. – Ephesians 5:13

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God – James 1:19-20

 

Recent events that have cascaded from the death of George Floyd – the demonstrations, the rioting, the political turmoil and the social demands for change often seem to be more about spreading the pain. The people who have felt the pain, who have experienced pain, desire for others to know and even share in their pain.

Yet, I struggle to hear from the demonstrators and rioters’ clearly define what is at the core of their pain. Certainly, there is police brutality, but I initially was not clear on what constitutes systemic racism.

I was reminded of my children when their emotions would boil over in very real frustration and anger. We parents ask, “What’s wrong? We want to help.” But the child throws their hands up and runs off screaming, “You just don’t understand!”

You’re right, I don’t understand. Help me understand. Illuminate me.

The problem is that pain and emotions have taken over. It is often not until after some time when the emotion has subsided that the real communication and understanding can begin. Yet, even though I don’t like the confusing cry of pain it has gotten my attention.

I don’t like what is going on. But, all the demonstrations and rioting and destruction reflects deep-seeded frustration with the way the world operates. Even the greatest economic and political and social system that has produced the greatest freedom and prosperity for the greatest number of people the world has ever known is bound to be corrupted by the sin of man.

With man at the helm, sinful selfishness will rise up to expose greed, power-lust, deception, injustice and bigotry. It is becoming painfully obvious and inviting many to rise up and revolt against the unfairness of it all. Before you think I’m going off on a political rant, let me clarify that all of what I described is the sinfulness of man which will inevitably drive us into despair and ugliness and ruin.

It is all so simple!

As Christ-Followers we have the perfect example to follow in the person and the character of Jesus Christ.

Though he was tempted in every way as we are tempted, but by the Father’s leading and through the power of the Holy Spirit he lived a perfect life having never sinned. Having never demonstrated prejudice or bigotry or degrading another human – not Hebrews, not Samaritans, not Gentiles, not Romans, not Greeks, not male or female, not rich or poor, not black, brown or white (we aren’t even certain of his skin color). I would argue that he did not even exhibit any of these sinful behaviors toward the religious authorities that tortured and killed him.

Right now, I can hear people crying out, “That’s a cop-out! There are many Christians who are guilty of staying silent concerning the ongoing elements of racism in our culture!” And I have to honestly respond – True!

I said it was simple, I didn’t say it was easy.

Many of us are selective about what we imitate when we follow Jesus. Why? Either we wantonly resist following what we know to be true or we are ignorant of the truth. We have blind spots that we are completely oblivious to.

Or, it is possible that we have become numb to the evils in this world to the point we accept them as normal? Pastor William McDowell of Deeper Fellowship Church, a Black man even acknowledged how numb he was when others first sent him the video of George Floyd’s death. He initially shook his head in disgust but thought, “These things happen so much. Whatever.” and just moved on in his daily routine. He later realized that he had become separated from his emotions to cope with the regular episodes of evil that attack our senses. He had to be shaken out of his numbness to let the personal pain from this horrific event to surface.

So, what do we do?

I believe that this is one of the main purposes of the church – the body of Christ. Without judgement, we are challenged to call out the sin amongst us and to lovingly encourage one another to grow into the fullness of Christ. As a part of that we are to help each other identify the blind spots and blemishes that God wants to actually meet the desires of our own hearts to clean up and be further molded into the image of Christ.

It is difficult. I, for one, have never considered myself a racist. I try to show Christ-like respect and love for all people. I happened to have been born in certain circumstances, like everyone, not of my choosing. I’d classify my life experience growing up as ‘privileged middle-class’ that has colored and defined how I see the world around me. Therefore, I have blind spots relative to those who have a completely different life experience.

Yet, we are challenged in 1 Corinthians 12:26 – And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

What we are going through right now could be considered an opportunity for spiritual cleansing – purification. A time for many of us to grow into a more accurate image of Christ. And together experience that oneness as the true Body of Christ. What do we need to do that?

It Begins With Illumination!

Those who know and have lived this kind of suffering to illuminate what many of us would not or could not see. We are seeing more and more excellent dialogues happening where those in our communities who have suffered under bigotry and racism are speaking up to open our eyes and shine a light on what many of us have been blind to.

James 5:16 – Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

As our sin is exposed by the light, the answer is not to get mired in guilt and self-degradation as some would have us do, but to do as Paul writes in Philippians 3:12-14 – Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

To acknowledge our sin, to accept God’s grace, to push who we’ve been behind us and press forward to display all the goodness, righteousness and truth of God through our life. And then, individually and collectively be even more empowered to address the ills of this world.

In my previous post, I talked about the new covenant standard for prophesy is not for a select few but something Paul hoped all Christ-followers would engage in. He writes in 1 Corinthians 14:3 – But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

Hearing God’s voice and then being God’s mouthpiece for one another that can breathe life into our dry bones. The onus is somewhat on all of us to establish relationships within the community where we can honestly express and talk/pray through our feelings. If we are not willing to do that we are not being fair to ourselves and to the community – not giving the community a chance to “love one another.”

James 5:16 – Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Paul writes in Ephesians 4 that we should “bear” with one another in love. That doesn’t just mean that we are “putting up with” or simply accommodating one another, or even appreciating one another, but even with our imperfections we lift each other up to an exalted place and celebrate each other’s uniqueness in Christ.

Now, at this time as Christ-followers we must stand to bear up our brothers and sisters of color and agree, “Black Lives Matter!”

Yet, if anything in this life is to truly matter we must first be dedicated to declaring . . .

“Christ’s Life In Us Matter’s Most!”

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Please watch and give a listen to this beautiful and timely song written and performed by Zabbai with Jhislani entitled Illuminate. Crying out to hear from God to illuminate the way.

Find the YouTube link to the video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIa12qMhHqc

“Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.” – Ezekiel 37:5

What does a white boy from wealthy Fairfield County, Connecticut know about racial injustice?

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Personally, I have done extensive research on the subject of American slavery and have written three novels on the subject. So, I know something of it intellectually but in the Biblical sense of  “knowing” I know very little.

In my church I am thrilled to see a vision of heaven unfolding – a growing congregation experiencing a dynamic mix of generations, economic classes, cultures and races. We love one another and the differences fade away as the image of Christ in us surfaces. We don’t always get it right but with the Godly grace we have been given, we strive to extend that grace to one another.

Many of us within our congregation have been praying for years that the Lord would move us from a fairly racially and culturally homogeneous community with a smattering of minority members (my wife jokes that she was one of the few minorities – she’s Greek) to what we are becoming. God has wonderfully answered our prayers. Yet, one of the great challenges is not fully comprehending or appreciating the wounded-ness that many arrive with. We strive to understand but many of us can’t fully ‘know’.

Watching the video of the heartlessly, cruel death of George Floyd, I cried out, “Why doesn’t someone jump in to stop this?” I realized they were literally the same words I cried out a few weeks earlier watching the torture of the perfectly innocent Jesus in scenes from The Passion of the Christ. Man’s horrible inhumanity to man (and often on the basis of race, culture and religion) is so regrettably nothing new. It only underscores how desperately we need a Savior – a loving God to save us from ourselves.

Demonstrations of people who ‘know‘ something of being mistreated in ways I ‘know’ little of cry out, “I can’t breathe!” They are not just echoing the words of a dying man, they are crying out to say that they know of injustice. They’ve experienced the suffocating knee of the evil one pressing down on their necks.

The real enemy works to pit us one against the other and we are all too often so quick to fall in line. Before these demonstrations were hijacked by anarchists doing the ‘Ruler of this World’s’ bidding, many demonstrators were genuinely crying out from their heart. Crying out for what? Their hearts desire is that the blatant evil be exposed, justice prevails and change results.

I don’t doubt their efforts can lead to some change. No one should doubt that on the whole, over the years in the US things have changed for the better. But the condition of the heart can not be legislated clean. It requires surgery by a Savior.

The ‘Prince of Peace’ actually said this in Matthew 10:34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.”

Is Jesus advocating violence? No. Jesus is saying that he did not come to carelessly scatter peace about through inspiring platitudes. This kind of peace has no sustaining power to take hold and truly change the corruption in our hearts. So, what did Jesus bring? He brought a sword (machaira). Jesus is saying that he came to cut deep to the bone or to the very heart of the matter so people can truly be healed from their deepest wounds.

What has transpired since the horrible event has left me and so many others shocked, appalled, angered and confused – and from so many various perspectives. Yet, the core, selfish evil in man’s hearts can only be changed by the power of God entering into the individual’s life to perform the required surgery of the heart.

I was recently reading in Ezekiel and so much of what is occurring today spoke to me. The Prophet says in 11:19 – And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,

And when I watched the news and heard the multitude cry out, “I can’t breathe” it brought me right back to Ezekiel 37:1-10 (NRSVA)

The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all round them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, ‘Mortal, can these bones live?’ I answered, ‘O Lord God, you know.’ Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.’

So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.’ I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.

Prophesying is merely hearing God’s voice and then being God’s mouthpiece. The Goodness, Righteousness and Truth of God’s word is what can breathe life into the bones of people dried up by the evil of this world.

So, how do we as Christ-Followers respond to these events rocking our world? By listening for God’s voice guiding and directing each one of us. Many will be guided one way and many will be guided another way. We listen and obey, not judging others for how God is directing them. All, ultimately being led to be His tool to breathe life into dry bones.

Ultimately, we can not ignore the truth as Christ-Follower’s that we are called to be people who extend God’s healing and comfort to each other and to those near and far. We don’t have to have experienced what others have experienced and fully know their pain to enter in to provide healing and comfort. Jesus consistently, healed individuals of their physical and emotional wounds that led to ultimate spiritual healing and restoration from death to life.

I recommend, as with Ezekiel, that each one of us listen for God’s voice and then obey. And, with great anticipation we let God breathe life into the dead bones so that the vast multitude will cry out in relief,

“Finally, I can breathe!”

And when Jesus had been baptized, just as He came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to Him and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is My Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” . . . Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the Devil – Matthew 3:16,17;4:1

In these days of the Coronavirus I’ve found plenty of opportunity to electronically connect with family and friends and the Body of Christ.  There have been Zoom prayer meetings 4-5 times or more each week. Prayer is flourishing. They are an awesome use of tapping into God’s amazing creation through technology. Yet, I must admit I find it only an adequate substitute for gathering together and it does come with some risk.

The Zoom Bomb

One of the regular prayer meetings I have been participating in has been Dr. Chauncey  Crandall’s Nights of Hope and Healing on Sunday Evenings.

This last Sunday was an exciting opportunity for Dr. Crandall to share his testimony of how God has led him to where he is in his spiritual journey. This would lead into Dr. Crandall interviewing Jeff Markin who by Dr. Crandall’s prayer God miraculously raised back from the dead. It drew a great crowd excited to hear about God’s amazing handiwork.

The event opened up with worship and prayer but as Dr. Crandall began to share – it happened. What I had heard and been warned about happened. The event was Zoom-bombed.

Zoombombing, Zoom-bombing or Zoom raiding is the unwanted intrusion into a video conference call by an individual, causing disruption.

In this case the intruder started posting disgusting, lewd and illicit pictures as well as scrawling crazy political and offensive comments. As the ministry team scrambled with how to address the intrusion a sinister voice cackled, “Yeh, what are you going to do about it?”

I must say for myself and likely all on the call it was upsetting and initially the enemy’s goal to disrupt was being realized.

Very quickly, though, the mind of Christ took over. Dr. Chauncey and several others began rebuking the evil spirit and casting it away. We all entered into a prayerful state for God’s victory and for the disturbed life of the intruder. We all turned our video imaging off and Dr. Crandall pressed on followed by Jeff’s testimony without further disruption.

What were we on the Zoom Meeting for?

Yes, it was disturbing and it did accomplish setting the purpose for the meeting back a few minutes but what the Zoom-bomber didn’t understand is that he was playing right into God’s hand.

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Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. – James 4:5-10

With the institution of Coronavirus social distancing I’ve entered into the realm of internet live-stream gatherings. While I anticipated that with this physical distancing would come diminished spiritual engagement among the Body of Christ, that’s not been the case.

There have been Sunday services, Zoom Prayer meetings for Youth ministry, Coronavirus intervention, Healing services, Instagram prayer sessions, prayer efforts focussed on revival, drive-through prayer events as well as on-site prayer times outside of area hospitals. Prayer is not being stifled but is rising up.

Why?

I’ve recently been meditating on James 4:5 where James basically challenges believers with, “Do you trust scripture as God’s word?” “Is it true or do you think it is all in vain – meaning that it will be without success or a result?” “Do you really believe that the Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously?”

Clearly, Coronavirus is not of God. It is a result of a corrupt, fallen world and a tool of the enemy to “steal, kill and destroy”. But, our God is using it to cause that Spirit within us to rise up yearning jealously.

The Greek word for Yearns is Epipotheo – to long for, to pursue with love, to even lust for. The Spirit within us lusts with jealousy/envy for what? For our heart, mind and soul. For our attention and trust in His goodness, righteousness and truth. That our hearts desire would be for God and would look beyond the temporal things of this world and desire the things of God.

Coronavirus is not the all-powerful being – THE loving God is.

The yearning jealously is like the bubbling magma building up pressure beneath the volcano. It is causing an eruption of desires crying out to God for Him to show up to be real and powerful and relational.

How is this Possible?

Last night one of the Cable News Talking Heads did a segment on the models used for predicting number of deaths from Coronavirus. The positive news was the the IHME modeling revised their prediction of Coronavirus deaths in the US down from their original estimate of 240,000 to 61,000. A huge drop! Praise God!

Some people may presume that the drop was due to effective social distancing. But, the reality is that social distancing was already built into the original modeling of 240,000 deaths. The scientific community is at a loss as to why the trending has dropped so significantly.

It could be just bad modeling or is it something else? Has the Spirit of our engaging God used this scourge of Coronavirus to cause His Spirit to yearn earnestly within His people? And . . . He is responding?

One of my favorite scriptures is also found in James chapter 4 with verse 8 – “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” It is a relational dynamic you see between God and His people throughout scripture. God is constantly, through creation and by His Spirit, beckoning us with open arms. His Spirit is yearning Jealously within us for Him to be our sole desire. As we then sincerely draw near to God, He responds by moving in with power!

On this Good Friday – the day we honor Jesus, our Savior for showing up to be the ultimate sacrifice for our crimes, let’s keep on drawing near. Our loving God is responding as the Spirit of God erupts, causing us to draw near and God is reciprocating to show up again and again with all of who He is.

The world may not see it or understand it but we know who deserves the credit . . .

Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Psalm 105:1

 

 

And while He was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as He was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over His head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her. – MARK 14:3-11

This Passage was our Church’s Holy Week Devotional for Wednesday.

It took me back to messages I posted in February about keeping a Sabbath Life.

The Old ‘Martha Vs Mary’ Syndrome

A number of years back, our church , in regular support of one of our inner-city ministry partners, went out to their surrounding neighborhood to do yard work. As part of this outreach a group formed the “Prayer Team”. We went around the neighborhood, knocking on doors, introducing the neighbors to the local ministry and asking if there was anything we could pray for them about. I was surprised by how many welcomed the prayer – for serious issues including illness, finances, addiction, family dysfunction, etc. We prayed with several who embraced the Gospel and committed to follow Christ.

However, there was an interesting dynamic within the overall serving team. There were a few of those doing yard work who poked fun at the ‘Prayers’ indicating, “Why don’t you guys pick up a rake and do some real work?” Some of it was being playful but not all.

The truth was/is that I am an introvert and hate knocking on doors and talking to strangers. It could have been much easier for me to pick up a rake and start serving in that way. Am I saying that one way of serving/engaging with God was more valuable than the other – raking vs praying? No. It is a matter of how we are being led to engage with God through service and whatever that is, it is being done unto the Lord.

While serving and giving to the poor is sacrificially hard and challenging, dare I say for some, it can be the easier road to take. ‘Doing’ rather than ‘Being’ can come easier and more culturally acceptable to some people. Often the ‘Do-ers’ look down with disdain at the ‘Be-ers’ as slothful slugs. Our culture applauds the ‘Do-ers’.

It’s fascinating to me the way this passage is translated in the ESV. Jesus is indicating that serving the poor (while scripture clearly identifies it as a high priority) is almost dismissive as something that is always around that can be done anytime. Certainly, there is no lack of opportunity. But sometimes we think of it as the highest priority. The truth is that in the world we now live in, we can never do enough to eradicate all that leaves so many in a poor condition. It and they will always be with us.

Jesus is teaching that this time of intimate caring and relational tenderness with God should be a priority. Yet, even as the woman lavishly interacted with Jesus, what was she doing? She was serving. Even in the serving we look to that as the opportunity for intimate relationship with our God. Jesus declares in Matthew 25:40, “. . . inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”

Still, in my humble opinion, that is not the best of intimacy with God. Serving those who the King loves is not quite the same as sitting down and being in the King’s presence, lavishing our praise upon Him and enjoying all He has to lavish upon us. Allowing God to restore and replenish us. Is that selfish of us? No, actually we are in relationship with a jealous God who desires our full attention.

Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? But He gives more grace. . . James 4:4-6

Those in ministry can experience the burden of the endless onslaught of the needy. They can easily get caught up in exhaustion from striving to meet every need. Jesus says, “Do a beautiful thing with me!” He then will guide, direct and empower us to do a beautiful thing with the ‘Poor’ around us.

In these current days of ‘Coronavirus stay-at-home social distancing’, during our highest, Holy Week, what better time for many of us to take the time for intimate, one-on-one engagement with our engaging God?

And, if the voices are saying to us, that we aren’t ‘doing’ enough when we choose to ‘be’ in dedicated time with God, let Jesus stand up to defend us basically saying, “Back off!” . . .

“Leave them alone. Why do you trouble them? They are doing a beautiful thing to me!”

The “Crown” Virus

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

Certainly, James could not have been referring to the Coronavirus when speaking of trials we face? What Joy should we consider in the midst of it’s insidious pain, death and destruction?

Actually, God has his own ‘Coronas’ in mind for those who persevere to be mature and complete as imitators of Jesus.

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Corona: Loosely defined as “Crown”

• In Astronomy, it’s the rarefied gaseous envelope of the sun and other stars.
• In Physics, it’s the glow around a conductor at high potential.

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While this temporal ‘Crown Virus’ seeks to kill and destroy, the Bible refers to the everlasting Coronas promised Christ-Followers from God when enduring trials and as a reward for faithfulness – Crowns of Righteousness, Life and Glory.

1. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. – 2 Timothy 4:8
2. Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. – James 1:12
   • I will give you life as your victor’s crown. Revelation 2:10 
3. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. – 1 Peter 5:4

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The 3rd Healing Encounter Night

The Sunday before last I attended the 3rd Healing Encounter Night with Dr. Chauncey Crandall. In the midst of the President’s call for a National Day of Prayer on Sunday, March 15th, there was a growing call to limit meetings of large groups. Many Churches including my own home church were led to close our doors and to meet via the amazing technology we now have.

Not all churches made the same choice for that Sunday. Some felt God’s leading and met as a congregation in their place of worship. Before Sunday, I wondered if Dr. Crandall and his team would decide to cancel and forgo meeting together under the growing threat of Coronavirus. Here you have Dr. Crandall, a highly-regarded man of Science as well as a man of great Faith. Would he be led by the overwhelming consensus of the medical community and the many other voices or by God’s leading, if different?

For Dr. Crandall, there was no question. Just before Paul writes of the crown of righteousness in 2 Timothy 4:8, he directs in verse 5, “But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” After all, this would be a night of God’s healing and a time to honor the call for a National Day of Prayer. Only by God’s leading did the event go on as scheduled.

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My apologies for the premature release of yesterday’s post: Dipping My Toes Into A Powerful Surf. Somehow an earlier version that did not include my conversation with Joe got posted. Below is the revised portion at the end of the post with Joe’s testimony of the evening . . .

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. . . While I was kind of hoping to experience the Holy Spirit knocking me down and turning me inside out, I’m guessing God knew I didn’t need that. What He provided for me was a fullness of joy that was more than enough. And one more thing I know . . . I’ll take another dose of that!

Follow-up on my friend Joe

I just recently spoke with Joe. He was excited and the memory of the Night of Hope and Healing has stayed clear in his mind. Joe exclaimed that it was the most powerful encounter with the Holy Spirit he had ever experienced. He went to the event with no intention to be ministered to, but only to assist in the setup for the evening. But, when Dr. Crandall began to minister in prayer, Joe found himself in the middle of the swirling tide.

In the midst of his crumbling personal life and the fading reality of Alzheimers, Joe was overcome by God’s presence – reassuring Joe of how much God values him and loves him, and will be there to care for him. What I had hoped for, for myself, is what God did for Joe. He was left feeling turned inside out – spiritually and emotionally healed from the inside out.

I also spoke with Joe’s close friend who had invited him down to the event. Since then she has had almost daily phone calls with him, and said that while he is still dealing with his dementia, she attests that ever since that evening his speech pattern has changed – no more stammering and stuttering. He’s more clear-headed and his speech is smoother. She surmized that it was God’s healing touch from that evening.

God’s healing is not always what we expect. But, God heard the cry of Joe’s heart and God poured His love into Joe’s life and for good measure – He touched Joe’s tongue.

“At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.” Mark 7:35