The Wine of Astonishment

A few years ago I was having some sharp pains in my lower back. I have been blessed that rarely in my life have I suffered back pain, and this time was no different. I knew the pain wasn't in my back, but probably in one of the organs in my body. I went and saw my doctor, who referred me to another doctor, it was thought I might have a kidney stone and so a test was arranged.
As part of that process I was given two tubs of castor oil to drink the night before, in order to purge my system. The doctor may have used the term, "evacuate." All I can say is that when the purging began, everyone wanted to evacuate my house!
The next day I was injected with a dye, and the test came back negative. I never experienced that pain again, I think the purging, purged the cause of it. Which brings us to this text in Psalms 60:3 Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment. (KJV) The lesson is simple, when something inside you is wrong, God may give you castor oil to drink, to get rid of it. Take it from me, you don't want to be drinking any castor oil. Keep the garbage out, and keep your fire burning.

Dig Deep

     Digging Deep is what you have to do when people or circumstances have ripped you open, when all the surface strength you had has been evaporated by life's noon day sun. The most difficult and the most blessed day of your life will be when you reach for your energy reserves and realize that you are tapped out. Difficult because in that moment of time you have to face the awful truth, that you can't handle everything that life can throw at you.
     Blessed, because it will force you to look for other sources of strength. One of the Psalms I have prayed often in my life, is the opening verses of Psalm 61: Ps 61:1 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.
Ps 61:2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock [that] is higher than I.
     Where does life find you today? If you are in over you head, why don't you reach up, to the reaching down hand. From the words of an old song:

Reach out and touch the Lord
As He goes by
You will find He's not too busy
to hear your heart's cry.
He's passing by this moment
Your needs He will supply
Reach out and touch the Lord as He goes by.

Head to higher ground and keep your fire burning.

Invasive Species Warning

Giant Asian Carp

Did you know that we are constantly under attack in the natural world? There are plants, animals, and microbes, that if given the chance would completely overtake and reshape our biosphere. The threat is so real that our government even has a website dedicated to the issue?     http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov

In the Great Lakes for example At least 25 non-native species of fish have entered the Great Lakes since the 1800s, including round goby, sea lamprey, Eurasian ruffe, alewife and others. These fish have had significant impacts on the Great Lakes food web by competing with native fish for food and habitat. Invasive animals have also been responsible for increased degradation of coastal wetlands; further degrading conditions are resulting in loss of plant cover and diversity.

All those animals are trying to do is survive, and the way they do it is by taking over territory. You see it is always about territory. Consider the contradictions in the following photo:

You have the wailing wall, the only remaining intact wall from the temple complex of Jesus day, and overshadowing it is the Dome of the Rock, a Islamic holy sight. Jewish worshippers are often bombarded with rocks from Muslim protestors. The Dome of the Rock began as a small prayer house, and due to the invasive nature of those behind it, today it is the most prominent feature of the temple mount. The spiritual message in all this, is that there are things that are very invasive that can take over our lives if we are not diligent. They start out small and if not checked become the dominant feature of our life, from which the enemy can hurl stones of condemnation at us.

On the flip side, is this wonderful passage of scripture: Lu 13:20, 21 And again He said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? "It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of meal, until it was all leavened." God's kingdom is also an invasive species. Make sure that is the one advancing in your heart and keep the fire burning on your altar.

You Have Not Passed This Way Before

"...You have not passed this way before." (Joshua 3:4)

I believe we are coming into a new season, one that will test the metal from which you have been forged like none we have ever known. In some ways I don't think it is actually a new season, I think the church is going to end the same way it started - the miraculous mixed with horrific persecution. Jesus said, He wished we were either hot or cold, the days ahead will push us in one of those two directions. The question for you is, which way is your tree leaning?

The picture of the sign at left reveals what I believe to be one of the difficulties of the days ahead, and that is, what can we be sure of? In the first century James was killed, and Peter was miraculously released from prison by angelic helpers. Quite a contrast. Some will suffer the worst possible outcomes, and some will experience the greatest of miracles. The only thing that really matters is not your outcome, but your outlook. The fickleness of politicians will come more into focus, there will be those like Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel chapter 2 who is rewarding Daniel for revealing secrets, and declaring there is no God like the God of Daniel. Yet in chapter 3 he is ordering, under penalty of death, everyone to bow down to an image he had made. What can we be sure of? The three Hebrew boys were sure of two things, and one was of greater importance than the other: Dan 3:16 ... O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. The best preparation for the days ahead is to keep the fire on your altar burning. - Blessings

Solicitation

Solicitation is a verb that is defined as urgently asking, and also as to entice or incite to evil. The usual use is for someone trying to sell us something, or we use it to refer to prostitutes. Today I want to use this blog to remind you that satan goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. We put worms on hooks, and meat in bear traps, the goal is the capture and destruction of our prey. We hope that the fish is so caught up in its desire for food it pays no attention to the hook. Likewise we want the bear to be more in touch with his animal desires than his common sense. These are simple illustrations of the nature of temptation.

When it comes to prostitutes, they usually lurk on the seedy side of town, and most often people (men) go there looking for them. Every now and then someone happens to be in the wrong place, at the wrong time, and there defenses are down. They didn't go looking for trouble, but it found them, they never intended to fall, but in a moment of great stupidity they saw what the flesh wanted and ignored the danger.

Solicitation has changed, big time. It is more aggressive and proactive than it has ever been. It has left the seedy side of town, and gotten just about everywhere, even in to the most Godly and spiritual of homes, because of the Internet. You don't have to go looking for it, it is gunning for you. Let me illustrate:



Last year there were over 5 billion direct mailings of offers for credit cards, to say nothing of those on the Internet. The average household has more that 86 such requests a year. (Lots more if you still have a home phone, and haven't gone all cellular.) These solicitations are an invitation to go in debt, and pay the banks interest and hopefully penalties. They are trying to pull you in their net. They are seeking whom they may devour. They are prying every way they can to get in your voice mail, you inbox, and your mailbox. They hope you pay no attention to the hook under the worm.


Even conservative Foxnews.com has provocative, sexually appealing stories on its web site every day. For what purpose? You click on the story and the advertisers on the page have to pay.
In like manner prostitutes and pornographers are prowling all over the Internet, seeking whom they may devour. A mistyped word in the address bar, an innocent search in google images, you can't even read your e-mail without ads "singles in your area" popping up. (Yahoo) (Gmail is much better in this regard) It's all over the place. I think that the aggressiveness of sin is increasing exponentially. In Genesis God told Cain, "sin is knocking at the door..."  We live in an age where it is not simply knocking at the door but is attempting to break the door down. It's not just the Internet, its TV, magazines, outdoor advertising, its everywhere.

So be sober, be vigilant, remembering the devil is out to destroy. He is the hunter you are the prey! He doesn't want to give you a worm, he wants you to swallow the hook, he wants to mount you on his wall as a trophy of his conquest. Essau sold his inheritance for a bowl of soup. Too many have destroyed their marriages for momentary pleasure. This is simply a reminder and warning, that in order to keep fire on your altar, you need to be diligent to avoid strange fire. There is still power in the blood, and mercy triumphs over judgment, but it is still better to avoid filth. Keep your fire burning.