Kathy Tshciegg, founder of CAMO, Positive Account of Encountering CrowdStrike in Atlanta this Past Friday-Saturday

Long weekend long post😉. CAMO Central America Medical Outreach

Journey to Honduras on Friday at 3AM started like any other trip, but sitting at the gate things started to change. CrowdStrike crashed Microsoft Windows systems around the globe Friday. Glitch in the update of the operation system, looping, requiring all individual computer to be manually reset.

The result I experienced was a delayed flight for five hours, landed just 10 minutes too late to catch the flight to Honduras that was delayed 4 hours. On de-boarding the situation became very clear, the line to the Delta help desk was 4 hours long, now for people traveling together they could hold the place in line, but for a older gal like me it was a painful on the feet and bladder.
Travelers would get up to the help desk to be told they also have to wait on people with the QR code. I called our travel agent Linda she could not access the system, so I asked her to secure a room. She did, I was one of the lucky ones. Now the largest airport in the world saw a domino effect. No monitor worked. One tech setting up the ladder to reboot one monitor, I asked him approximately how many CPU and monitor needing to be individually rebooted in the Atlanta airport: he estimated 3000.
Pilots, attendants not available for the flights, planes dead heading it. Now 6 pm on Friday I found a taxi and headed to the hotel. Calling the 800 number I was able to secure a flight out to Honduras early Sunday Morning.,…. so 6:30am at the airport , checked in told flight was on time. At boarding time announced a delay until 10:30 am.

Airport, every gate all chairs taken, floor with sleeping bodies, people camping out, hall ways packs and difficult to navigate.

11:30 flight canceled: the main monitor demonstrated the crisis. Flights canceled to Central America and could be canceled daily.

I decided to get the flight back to CLE After 1 hour on hold on the 1-800 line they were able to get me the last seat. Delayed 4 hours I made it back to Cleveland without my luggage and home by 8 pm Sunday night.

But there is more to the story: the calm and kindness of every Delta staff was amazing, the bathroom attendants were posted at the doors and were cleaning constantly. At an airport restaurant a young women sat across from me and unexpectlly paid for my meal. My taxi cap driver asked me what I did. He, Lekan from Nigeria, upon hearing what I did recalled that on Friday he drove two eye surgeons to the airport. We discovered it was the two traveling to work in the Robles clinic. He tells me he has dreamed of doing something for his native country. He shared the problems common to many underdeveloped countries and the death of his sister. He felt he could never do it as he was not wealthy. We shared our faith, I shared the concept and website of CAMO and miracles along the way encourage him to believe in miracles. We shared contact info. On Sunday Lekan picked me up to take me back to the airport, and shared with me he had been thinking all night and was so encouraged by the model and the miracle of CAMO. It gave him hope that he could do that for his native country.

The airport crowded with individuals, groups and families stranded….. but everyone calm, kind, helpful. When flight crew made it to the gate on flights that had been delayed for many hours the crowd cheered.

No matter what might be going on in the world we are capable of kindness, calm and unity. The situation at the Alanta airport had people from every corner of the world, every belief represented and there was unity!! We have so much to learn from every situation, WHEN WE choose to see the good in those very difficult times and all people!

FYI, Loretta has for 26 years, not consecutive, served CAMO a week each February or March, and now since retirement eight years ago, serves annually for two weeks, certainly being a fruitful and worthy ministry with its base right here in Orrville, Wayne Co OH. Thanks Kathy for sharing. Fortunately, Loretta & I Monday morning, while headed thru Houston to the Republic of Panama experienced no such difficulties, actually even better than our last trip in May. Minutes ago we learned the Croatia airports have been hacked during the last hours, hopefully not being a new norm.

Consider Barabbas Being Set Free. This Actual Encounter and Invitation For Us, Goes Way, Way Beyond We Merely Dodging Bullets for Safety. It’s His Lifestyle of Being Engaged!

II Corinthians 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

I once heard someone say that of all men who ever lived, Barabbas should have the best understanding of vicarious substitution. Somebody died in his place. This murderer and thief walked out a free man, the crowds cheering his release. At the same time, an innocent Jesus was sentenced to die.

But Barabbas isn’t the only one who can say that Jesus died in his place. We all can say that Jesus died on that Cross for us, just as He did for Barabbas. In the words of II Corinthians 5:21, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Jesus simply died that we might live. He was bound, that we who are in bondage to sin might indeed be set free; though too often, we’re not even aware of how bound we actually are.

BOTTOM LINE:

When word of his freedom came, he only had to walk out of that cell to be truly free. Through Christ, our cell door has sprung open. All we have to do is say, “I accept what Christ did for me, and I will now live in the light of that truth.”

David Jeremiah’s Sanctuary: Finding Moments of Refuge in the Presence of God July 17

FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:

Our problem as man, is that we desire hope and transcendence without our surrendering, to God and His inconvenient Truths… yesterday’s post lead sentence…

I’ve had an interesting day. I awoke this morning that four airlines were shut down because of computer problems and a few minutes ago a friend called saying some banks are closed because of similar problems.

Earlier this afternoon, I overheard a longtime Christian trucker friend, Mike who possesses an astute open and savvy political mind who is a modern-day Benjamin Franklin, (Ben’s type are unusually scarce today even though their soapboxes are everywhere) whom loves America waxing lovingly eloquent with a newbie fellow trucker much as the Apostle Paul did on Mars Hill, who my heart really ached for, because this newbies demeanor, I thought, even screamed “help!” I had introduced myself to him earlier in the week but had not uncovered all this, but Mike had evidently done his homework with the lad because I quickly learned from their engaging conversation that he was a rather beaten man, without a spiritual compass or identity, an emotionally broken husband in a contractual marriage whence he was the pawn, or a belittled gopher. Their conversation was focused on his wife’s extreme hatred of Trump, such that she would have shot him in Butler herself had she the opportunity.

I know Mike is more an independent voter type avoiding the hype, for his conversational thrust was that we are we all at fault, especially the church, big business, and corrupt politicians for not merely allowing this polarization in America, but actually outright promoting it. This poor lad was so distraught at his wife’s hatred of Trump that he’d been victimized by it as well. He appeared unable to engage in any meaningful conversation about any of the issues facing our nation. I excused myself as Mike was more knowledgeable of the lad and skilled than I, and for sure, I was out of time.

While driving home, I reflected on the lad’s brokenness, his wife’s extreme hatred of anything Republican, and Mike’s simple assessment of America’s decline having been caused by spiritually dead churches, selfish big business and selfish politicians. Yes, indeed. If it were just that simple. I concluded with thinking that this posts main character, Barabbas, perhaps is our answer. For example, we’re all victims of sin as we struggle for freedom in our self-imposed emotional & psychological  prisons, (that we’ve all been prepared or equipped, as was Barabbas, to simply walk out of or away from) and it is also quite evident, we are not ready to Exchange the Lies of the World, for the Liberating Truth Of  Almighty God and Jesus Christ, as the Jamie Winship book’s title proclaims, and all of Scripture reveals! I’m done. merlin

Our problem as man, is that we desire hope and transcendence without our surrendering, to God and His inconvenient Truths…

Day 35:

Reflect the magnificence of this verse “The Law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.” Psalm 19.7

Understand those who reject God’s truth do not believe in nothing; they believe in anything. Once you surrender objective truth, upon what rational basis can you reject even the most absurd truth-claims?

People long to be believe in the transcendent – something above and beyond us. Perhaps that’s why UFO’s and benevolent aliens fascinate us. We desire hope and transcendence without surrender to God and His truths, some of which we find very, very inconvenient. And some of the same people who believe these outrageous stories reject Christianity because they think them unbelievable. Aren’t we all in for a surprise?

BOTTOM LINE:

“It’s easier to find a score of men wise enough to discover the truth than to find one intrepid enough, being characterized by sufficient resolute fearlessness, fortitude, and endurance, when in the face of opposition, to stand up for it.”   Archibald Alexander Hodge (1823-1886)

AAH was the principal of Princeton Seminary 1878-1886, and the son of Charles Hodge, the latter quite famous for his prolific quotes. See quotes.net or Quotefancy.com, for Charle’s quotes, such as “the grace of God exalts a man without inflating him, and humbles a man without debasing him.” OR “the gospel is so simple that small children can understand it, and it is so profound that studies by the wisest theologians will never exhaust its riches.”

Randy Alcorn Truth: A Bigger View of God’s Word 2017 Day 35

And whoever said books, (or today, internet searches) aren’t relevant or interesting?

Interesting How Today’s Hollow & Deceptive Philosophy … Leads Us To Being Conceited & Understanding Nothing … Such That Among Today’s Religiosity, “Christianity Is Precisely Less Than Moderately Important!”

I should certainly know better by now than to think I can predict what the next post is to be… Especially since God prefers we live in His moments, over ours. Even to the extent that a chirping smoke detector overrules the thoughtfully set alarm from the evening prior.. merlin

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” Colossians 2:8

Christians who believe biblical truths are skeptical about hundreds of other truth-claims.

Secular society – which we often think of as skeptical – is remarkably gullible about falsehoods they ought to reject.

The Bible is unsympathetic to teachings and worldviews that contradicts God’s Words: “If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing.” I Timothy 6: 3-4

Why is false doctrine connected with conceit? A proud person elevates self over God, believing he is smarter than God’s Word and can improve on it.

BOTTOM LINE:

“If false, Christianity is not important.

If true, it is of infinite importance.

What it can not be is moderately important.”   C.S. Lewis

Oh boy! That last line really does hurt; or convict!

Thanks to Randy Alcorn for his Day 34 from his book Truth: A Bigger View of God’s Word

Confession Doesn’t Mean Saying You’re Sorry…

I was a police officer for several years back in the 1980’s. When I arrested somebody, I would bring them in and ask them for a confession. I didn’t ask them for an apology. We teach confession as though it were just saying, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” When a police-officer hands you a pen and paper and says “Write the truth about what happened,” and you write “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” it resolves nothing.

We grew up thinking confession was just telling everyone and God that we we’re sorry about stuff. But “I’m sorry” doesn’t lead to a transformation.

Confession is telling God the truth about what you really believe about him, yourself, and others. It’s the greatest act, a sacrament. God loves honest confession. Confession is the beginning of a genuine transformation. If you don’t tell God your truth, how can he enlighten your reality with his truth?

If I say to God, “I think you let me down every day, and I’m afraid to take a new job because I’m afraid you won’t show up,” he will always work with that. Always.

He will respond to truth. Jesus says, “For if you embrace the truth, it will release true freedom into your lives” (John 8:32 TPT). Truth always sets you free. Hiding the truth always makes you a slave. If you will not tell the truth, you’re in bondage to the lie, the deception, and the rationalization. Don’t apologize for your perceived reality; tell the truth about it. That’s confession. Remorse is not repentance.

Confession, repentance, transformation.

We practice confession and repentance all the time. Every time I feel intimidated by a situation, I say, “God, let me tell you how I feel right now.” God already knows how I feel and what I really believe. I’m not faking him out. I just say, “Lord, I really feel intimidated. I feel fearful right now. I feel powerless with this person. That’s how I feel.” That’s confession. Notice I’m not saying, “Lord, I’m so sorry for feeling afraid; please take the fear away.” God doesn’t want to merely remove your fear; he invites you to allow Him to simply transform it. Trust Him!

Acknowledging the truth about your fear opens the way for repentance and for your truth (fear) to be transformed by God’s truth. Then you have authority over your fear rather than the fear controlling you. That is called freedom.

God’s response to true confession is always grace and mercy. He “might whisper, “Beautiful. Let’s work with that. No one has authority over you. No one ever has or ever will. I brought you into this situation because this is what I want to accomplish with you. This person needs you. They’re hurt. They need you.” Boom! Repent – change the way you think – turn around and go the new way. That’s confession and repentance.

BOTTOM LINE:

When you live in continuous confession and repentance, your life is transformed in every area: professionally, spiritually, emotionally, physically. In every way, you will begin to ascend.

As I guide you in asking God questions, be prepared to write. Write ideas on your phone, on paper, on your hand …write down what comes to mind. You want the false things you’re believing to come into the light. Don’t live your life in secret. The fingerprints of Satan on your life are secrecy and shame. Writing down thoughts and impressions gets them out of your mind and into the light.

It’s even freeing to say these beliefs out loud to others you trust who are in the process with you. This is a great way to get to know one another in a small group and certainly a much better way than using those superficial formulaic introductions.  

Confessing to one another is the greatest way to form true community because it draws people together. They never forget one another because they’ve been with each other in their fear. And they’ve worked through their fear into victory. Confession makes communities function well together. This is true, spiritual relationship reality.

Silencing the Room & Moving On…

As a cop, I learn that when I go into a very tense situation and silence the demonic, the situation calms down. I call this exercise “silencing the room.” It got to be rather funny when I was training rookies. I would tell them, “Watch this.” Then I would pray out loud and the entire room would go silent. The surprised rookie would ask, “Where did you learn that? It’s not in the academy.”

When you’ve picked up this book, you brought all kinds of false ideas with you. You can’t help it; you’re human. Anxiety, fear, guilt, shame – all the garbage came with you, and the enemy is attached to it. The enemy has no authority over you. But if you think he does, in that way he does. That’s sort of his game. He asks you to give him permission to run your life, and you say yes by believing his deceptions: “I’m not good enough,” “Nothing will ever change,” “I’m stuck in this situation,” “God will never use me,” “I’m alone in this mess,” and so on. The enemy is ruling your life, and you become what you believe.

To Aid Your Further Reflections:

So, we’re going to silence the room. With God’s help, we’re going to silence the negative voices that disrupt our lives. Doing so puts the room and everything in it back in its rightful order. As we silence the room, your mind is going to open. As your mind begins to unlock, start writing down the ideas, thoughts, or impressions that come to mind. More to come.

(verbatim from Living Fearless by Jamie Winship, pages 47-51)

NEXT UP:

A necessary prayer of our dedication to Almighty God to Live Fearless; by exchanging the lies of the world for the liberating truth of God.

Several Utmost Instigated Thought-Provoking Bunny Trails…

My Life’s Spiritual Honor and Duty

By Oswald Chambers My Utmost For His Highest  July 15

I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians… —Romans 1:14

Paul was overwhelmed with the sense of his indebtedness to Jesus Christ, and he spent his life to express it. The greatest inspiration in Paul’s life was his view of Jesus Christ as his spiritual creditor. Do I feel that same sense of indebtednesss to Christ regarding every unsaved soul? As a saint, my life’s spiritual honor and duty is to fulfill my debt to Christ in relation to these lost souls. Every tiny bit of my life that has value I owe to the redemption of Jesus Christ. Am I doing anything to enable Him to bring His redemption into evident reality in the lives of others? I will only be able to do this as the Spirit of God works into me this sense of indebtedness.

I am not a superior person among other people— I am a bondservant of the Lord Jesus. Paul said, “…you are not your own…you were bought at a price…” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Paul sold himself to Jesus Christ and he said, in effect, “I am a debtor to everyone on the face of the earth because of the gospel of Jesus; I am free only that I may be an absolute bondservant of His.” That is the characteristic of a Christian’s life once this level of spiritual honor and duty becomes real.

BOTTOM LINE:

Quit praying about yourself and spend your life for the sake of others as the bondservant of Jesus. That is the true meaning of being broken bread and poured-out wine in real life.

FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:

Yesterday morning this word “barbarian” really struck my consciousness anew! Remember from your high school world history classes Middle Age historians’ accounts of the barbarians (middle-ages terrorists, not merely middle-aged men or late maturing boys!) who were then threatening, indeed, as now, are seen by perhaps certain vocal Christian pontificators as challenging and shaking the very moorings and the foundations of our western civilization?

A closer examination of my grandfather’s Thompson Chain Reference Bible refers me to I Cor 14:11 (unknown tongues?) and that to Col 3:11 and that in turn, to chain #341, also including Acts 28:4 “and when the ‘barbarians’ saw the venomous beast (snake) hang on his hand, they said amongst themselves, no doubt this man is a murderer, though he (Paul) hath escaped the sea…”

Perhaps the word barbarian is better interpreted today as our “in the image of God brothers” yet outside the “fold” as indeed was Saul (later, becoming our beloved Apostle Paul) prior to his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, who was “yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord” … And don’t forget in our current cultural passivity, that Saul was prior the encounter, the kingpin in the leadership of the organized church.

I think our task to be salt and light today and beyond, is similar to the way the 20 construction workers from the Libya Coptic Church evidently witnessed back in February of 2015, to the 21st victim, named Matthew Ayariga, of black African descent from Ghana, or perhaps Chad, who stated at some opportune moment in their transport to that beach, “I am a Christian and I am like them,” joining the 20 martyrs that fateful day. Search greekcitytimes.com for more interesting details.

This all reminds me of an account(s) somewhere in Martyrs Mirror, where during public on the town square mass burnings of dozens of Christians, such as our forefathers in Europe, that spectators in the crowds were so compelled by the previous witness of Jesus empowering the daily living of these persecuted and tortured men and women, even teens; that the “called” spectators voluntarily joined those confined in the flames sacrificing their lives, joining their new brothers in Christ, that very day in eternity. Consider, as is declared in Hebrews 11:25 speaking of Moses and all martyrs, “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season…

Restated from Utmost above, Paul sold himself to Jesus Christ and he said in effect, “I am a debtor to everyone on the face of the earth because of the gospel Jesus; I am only free that I may be an absolute bondservant of His.”  

In regard to this word barbarian, I prefer to dwell on interpreting our current fragmented global planet and its God ordained domestic villages from the mysteries and majesty of Almighty God and the admonitions I read in such passages as Col 3:10-17 (actually, one should include the first nine verses as well!

10.) And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

11.) Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision or uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

12.) Put on therefore as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13.) Forebearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14.) And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

15.) And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

16.) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17.) And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

“If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ.”   Martin Luther

Day 26

Jesus said, “Whosoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up my Cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whosoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.”

It is not always pleasant to talk about and share with others the things God’s Word says. When I meditate on it, sometimes Scripture makes me uncomfortable. But my comfort is irrelevant. Being a sold-out follower of Christ, standing up for him, and speaking the truth in love, with grace, is what matters.

“If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ.”   Martin Luther

Thanks again Randy Alcorn for being so spot-on. Truth: For A Bigger View of God’s Word. Harvest House 2017 Day 26

For Further Reflection:

Having listened Eric Metaxas’s “Martin Luther: The Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed the World,” I can’t help but wonder the situation in Matin’s life that precipitated the above quote. I do not recall that quote being mentioned, though the book reveals “A resounding boon to Luther studies arrived in recent years via archaeological discoveries in the city of Mansfield where Luther lived from the age of six months until he went off to school in Magdeburg.

Most remarkable, in an excavation begun in 2003, the small and humble house in Mansfield … he was raised in a well-appointed home. The measure of how well can be taken from another (2008) archaeological discovery on the site of that home … bursting with such a dazzling variety of household waste as to constitute a veritable King Tut’s tomb of the late 15th century quotidian … confirming the idea that this was not the home of a poor or humble people but on the contrary, the home of a very respectable and established leading family of the city.

For example, not less than 7000 animal bones were analyzed, and from these it was determined that 60 % of the Luther family diet was pork … but more revealing yet in this 2008 trove were the objects of kitchen life. A number of Grapen were found. These were the earthen tripod pots put directly into the fire. Some fragments of much rarer metal Grapen pots were discovered too. These were so valuable they are often mentioned in wills from that era.

All very interesting trivia from the books first paragraphs, but I chose to listen the book published by Penguin in 2019, because first, I trust the author’s perspectives, having read his Fish Out of Water, Bonhoeffer, Letter to the American Church; and second, I was seeking any references inferred to the followers of Menno Simons. I found none of consequence while listening to the 20-hour & 38 minute audible version.

Although it is possible, I could have been momentarily distracted while listening on audible (while working), as his quote above infers “every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, or exactly in this case, the very point I am seeking a viable connection ….” All, being irrelevant trivia from a personal bunny trail.

So, Randy, my comfort is irrelevant? That is sorta in the same vein as Dr Henry Cloud stating he has an issue with God’s marketing plan in his preface to “Why I Believe.” See the June 26 blog post. Definitely appears we’ll be traveling toward eternity more often than not, on the cold, windy, mountainous route vs the warm fluffy clouds, harps, and beds of ease… Just remember what really matters and that everything here on earth is so very temporary!

“You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you … Only a real risk tests the reality of a belief.”  C.S. Lewis

All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal. Psalm 119:160

Those who believe Scripture are routinely accused of arrogance. Jesus said God’s Word is truth (John 17:17). It’s not arrogance to believe what the Bible teaches. It’s the opposite. Arrogance is when we believe whatever makes us feel better about ourselves or justifies our actions. We pretend we are qualified to judge truth. Then we end up tailoring truth to fit our preferences.

Indeed, we know in our heads we are temporary, but it seems to me, we live in our hearts believing we have plenty of time to prepare for tomorrow. Our head-based opinions may come and go, for months, years, even decades. But God’s truth is eternal, never-changing: “Surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever” (Isaiah 40:7-8 ESV).

May I suggest we never really know how much we believe anything in our hearts, until its truth or falsehood actually becomes a matter of life and death for us … for only a real risk tests the reality, or validity of our belief.

At the moment, it seems we have a shortage of current practical examples of our beliefs affecting any life and death decisions amongst us, except maybe in the dry dusty annals of the wisdom literature, such as in libraries, or the Bible. And not that the persecuted church hasn’t ample material today; it’s just not in demand and marketable in our church culture, as is say, clean water, which is safe, a necessity, even a right?

Sneaky arrogance? Tailoring truth to preferences? Have we ever been faced with a life or death choice? Not likely, or at least not yet! But I do sadly recall memories as a child and younger man defiantly choosing Sin and its subsequent destruction. And then, as did King David in Psalms 51, sweet forgiveness. Perhaps we need to start over with a simple children’s Bible Story book in the presence of our grandchildren, and read about Moses, Joseph, Daniel in the furnace and the lion’s den , shepherd boy David, etc., through Acts and into I & II Peter, to get a glimpse of His desired reality for us in times of persecution. For how will they know otherwise, unless we tell them?

Thanks to Randy Alcorn’s Truth: A Bigger View of God’s Word. Day 24 Harvest House 2017 for “triggering” the above response…

Those Worriesome Footprints

Isaiah 43:5 “Fear not, for I am with you.”

While stranded on a deserted island, Daniel Defoe’s character, Robinson Crusoe, salvaged a Bible from the shipwreck, read it, and was converted. Imagine such seclusion today! He grew into a devout Christian. His life, though missing human companionship, was peaceful and prayerful.

But one day he found a footprint in the sand and realized he wasn’t alone. Knowing the cannibalism of the local tribes, he grew into a fearful man, looking over shoulder with every step. He no longer slept peacefully. He altered his habits. He visualized himself being captured and devoured. “That former confidence in God … now vanished, as if He that had fed me by miracle hitherto could not preserve, by His power, the provision which He made for me by His goodness.”

BOTTOM LINE:

Crusoe had to go back to his Bible, repent of anxiety, and be strengthened again in his faith. He eventually learned the great lesson of faltering Christians. The things we fear most are likely, in the providence of God, to be most used for our good and His glory. Those footprints, in the end, led to his deliverance.

God has planned out our future from eternity past and guaranteed it with His promises; in fact, to the very second of our future home-going! We can trust Him. Actually, we MUST trust Him. There is none other!

David Jeremiah, Sanctuary: Finding Moments of Refuge in the Presence of God   2002  July 14. Indeed, so well titled!

For Further Reflection:

My initial take while reading the above clip reminds me of our ever-present vulnerability to fear, whether we be so fortunate to reside in a Crusoe type paradise, as we may choose to enjoy here locally, where any of our “fear prisons” are currently only of our own imaginations. Jamie Winship (Living Fearless) is teaching me big time that all human conflict originates from fear (false evidence appearing real), and that fear originates from our false view of God, ourselves, and others. And unless we allow God to supernaturally exchange what’s false for what’s real in our psyche, we may never experience the true freedom of our identity in Christ, because we’re dominated by our false self – our fear, guilt and shame.  

Now, contrast that lifestyle (free from fear) with today’s not so subtle media-driven verbal visual emotional onslaught, and even though a few of us may be of an American Anabaptist cultural subset, we too are being swept downstream with the masses, too often inadvertently “swallowing the demonic fear bait” that is subtly and clandestinely generating our self-preservation & self-protection modes in our physical and emotional prisons, and perhaps all the while, it’s being accomplished with our permission; even under our watch!

My concern for Christ-Followers today and beyond is, how will we continue to grow in our faith, if once we’ve seen the disturbing unexplainable “footprints or saucers,” perhaps even taken the fear-bait, and are potentially deceived in the ensuing chaos, even becoming separated from His empowering remedy? It is imperative for those of us seeking the narrow path to continue in His grace and mercy, thereby repenting from our wayward anxiety, so we can again be renewed and strengthened in our faith …

As I said in the July 9 post, we must keep the Gospel message front & center, pure and simple.  Be on guard continually, for those future “unexplained footprints” may prove quite troublesome for shallow-rooted Christians, though ultimately & conclusively, as stated prior, such can be for our good and His glory. Do be forewarned though, that future narratives are being be purposefully designed to confuse Christ-Followers. Indeed, we are always protectively covered, until such time though, that we may ignorantly choose, or be persuaded to open our protective doors and allow the demonic to enter our heart, mind, and soul; and His (our) temple.

Again, Isaiah 43:5 “Fear not, for I am with you.”

The Grand Finale is coming. I promise. But first I will share my preface to Cloud’s summary of Chapter 12, Psychology and Faith, and how it has impacted me.

Likely my all-time favorite author of the past century is Henry Cloud. Several others come close but Cloud’s numerous titles including:

Integrity, How People Grow, Never Go Back, Changes That Heal, Trust, Necessary Endings, Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality, How to Get a Date Worth Keeping, Safe People, It’s Not My Fault, Secrets of Your Family Tree: healing for adult children of dysfunctional families, The Law of Happiness: How Spiritual Wisdom and Modern Science Can Change Your Life, etc.

Now, if you recall prior posts, Dr. Cloud overcame three rather major events. First was a leg bone malformation and he narrowly escaped its amputation at four years of age. Second, he had to give up the first love of his life, that being golf as a college sophomore because of extreme wrist pain. And thirdly, a three-way struggle later during college life for his spiritual identity, as well as choosing both a career and future wife, during which time he endured a mental breakdown prior to his being spiritually mentored / discipled while living with a young Christian couple for six months. Any one of these incidents may have easily derailed his unique gifting.

Truth be told though, it actually was these adversities that prepared him for his niche ministry today, by connecting the spiritual dots, first in his life, and thereafter, in the lives of his readers equipping their hearts and minds to live satisfying and fulfilling lives as well as encourage and teach similarly in their spheres of influence.

Never have I prior invested as much of my time and yours, in one book. I was literally compelled, and I’m not using “compelled” loosely here, for I knew if I presented this book to you in sufficient clarity, that you would, by adding it to your library, and by devouring and sharing its message, and by joining His ambassadors, that we too, can solve the same problem that compelled Dr. Cloud to write this book, Why I Believe, in the first place. As he stated in the preface (see June 24 post), “So my problem is this: I want my friends to know Him and know that He is real. I want them also to have a relationship with Him and know how incredible that is.”

I’ve done as I was compelled. These posts are bathed in prayer to accomplish His purposes. Personally, I prefer preparing 200-300 word reads. This Grand Finale is nearly 2900 words. I’m planning to post it over the next six-seven days in 500-word clips, with little or no fanfare.

Thinking outside the box..

FYI, I personally, have been buying hard copy books just in case the internet ever burps, fades, before ceasing completely … or the lights flicker … before they vanish. And, if they ever do, when absolutely everything gets quiet, the silence may indeed, be not so golden … and oh, just imagine that pervading darkness!  And, with internet disrupted, all our verbal communication, will be, only face to face …

And any notes & documents, must need be handwritten … and, on paper too, unless a rare etch-a-sketch surfaces. Just my lack of humor.  And there will be few, if any, functional screens found anywhere … unless it be by a sporadic yet fueled generator, or some solar derivative … A controlled fire for light, heat & cooking …  will once again, after all these ages, be a valuable resource, even an asset. Just imagine.

Consider, if the grid goes down, and you possessed and could interject a not so simple e-bike with a solar generator and storage batteries into your life’s equation. Surely not likely ever to restore the internet, but it may enhance your Eat-Move-Sleep cycles as detailed by Tom Rath in his E-M-S book, if, you even had a hard copy. For in a not-too-distant time, I could envision MCC Connections or similar thrift stores doubling, tripling, or even beyond, the prices of their used “wisdom books,” depending on the fiat currency, and that being dependent of course, entirely on whether there is a functioning economy of exchange, a society with the operational integrity to insure and maintain Golden Rule order in specific geo-political pockets of humanity while retooling their survival skills in community while continually seeking His guidance and empowerment to proliferate His Fruits of the Spirit as detailed in Galatians 5:22-23. Rather tall dreaming, don’t you think?

Just imagine such a do-over… Or in today’s vernacular, a Start-Up!

It’s time for our thirty-two minute morning stroll with Riley and Angel. But do reflect today on the above. As Jamie Winship says in the preface of his landmark book “Living Fearless: Exchanging the Lies of the World for the Liberating Truth of God, “it’s a good idea to move past all the garbage the world is offering us and into the fully alive, fully human, fully free Holy Spirit offered to us in our relationship with Christ, who is the (everyone’s) way, the (everyone’s) truth, and the (everyone’s) life. Only in Him, can we (everyone) really find transformational faith in our freaked-out world gone amuck.

Remember Nehemiah? Perhaps, it’s time to pull the kid’s Bible Story book off the shelf and get reacquainted?

Nehemiah received the bad news from home (we get plenty of that),

Nehemiah wept, mourned and fasted for days even (not sure that has started yet, least not publicly, perhaps privately),

His sphere of influence detected his long face or depression, (I’m told sadness is not a good demeanor for the King’s cup-bearer to display publicly) and so the king asked Nehemiah why?),

Nehemiah replied honestly from his heart, “Why shouldn’t I be depressed when the city where all my family is buried, is in ruins… Whence the king then asked Nehemiah, “What do you want me to do?”

Notice Nehemiah 2:4 says Nehemiah “praying under his breath to the God-of-Heaven” said “If it please the king and if the king thinks well of me, send me to Judah to the city where my family is buried, so that I can rebuild it” to which in V 6 we read, “The king, with the queen sitting alongside him, said, “How long will your work take and when would expect to return?” I gave him a time, and the king gave his approval to send me.

(7) Then I said, “If it please the king, provide me with letters to the governors across the Euphrates that authorize my travel through to Judah, and also an order to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, to supply me with timber for the beams of the Temple fortress, the wall of the city, and the house where I’ll be living.” The generous hand of my God was with me in this and the king gave them to me. (Imagine such boldness occurring today!)

Reading from Nehemiah 4:4 upon encountering hate mail, threats, taunting, and ridicule from their jealous neighbors Nehemiah prayed, “Oh listen to us dear God, we’re so despised: Boomerang their ridicule on their heads; have their enemies cart them off as war trophies to a land of no return; (5) don’t forgive their iniquity, don’t wipe away their sin – they’ve insulted the builders!”

So, I encourage you read the book of Nehemiah. Read their words of repentance and contrition before Almighty God in chapter 8, given not before God intervened, or during their works of repair, but even after the repairs were completed. Read chapter 9 detailing the rise and fall of their kingdom’s communities admitting in verse 37-38 “We’re in deep trouble.” Because of all this we are drawing up a binding pledge, a sealed document written by their leadership team confirming their future loyalty signed by our princes, our Levites, and our Priests, continuing on into chapter 10: 29 “everyone old enough to understand, all joined … in a binding oath to follow the Revelation of God given through Moses …. To keep and carry out all the commandments of God our Master…

The parallels throughout the book of Nehemiah to our July 11, 2024 state of our union with God today and humanity are monumental. The major difference now though, is timing, or the lateness of the hour. Not helped by the fact either, we’re still unknowingly being the proverbial frog in the pot of warm water seeking trivial amusements and comforts as more of the planets are heating up and disintegrating all about us as the globalists agendas proliferate in their attempt to survive what God has predicted.

BOTTOM LINE:

First and foremost, do not despair. As I say and hear inferred more frequently than ever prior, “I may not know the future but each day I’m becoming better acquainted with Creator God who does know all future events and their timelines. All!  

Second, I love the way Nehemiah didn’t merely sit back and disconnect from the doom & gloom news from back home; or throw up his hands spewing all over everyone everywhere “woe is me, it’s all over for us Jews.”

Rather, I encourage you to review the steps Nehemiah took as outlined above from the book of Nehemiah. He received the news (didn’t hide or ignore reality), he obeyed by living in the moment, he prayed quick, he gathered support, he methodically planned his mission being continually aware of the enemies tactics, he adjusted and reassiged resources as needed, and being a conduit of God’s wit & wisdom to the leadership team and beyond, he insured first of all, that everyone involved intimately knew the hope of their mission, followed closely by its stark realities and possible dangers. Nehemiah even had an understanding of how when the task was completed, to involve the people in marking it historically for them going forward while they were celebrating “their good for His Glory! Note the amazing leadership standards he exhibited back then, for such times that are upon us now.

 So again, as you begin to think about your daily living in new ways, perhaps not at all of your choosing, or, at least beyond the usual and customary now, that dominates your weekly and monthly task planning, scheduling and implementing. Perhaps begin by renewing  and broadening your Bible study and prayer times. Engage with others as God directs. Count your blessings, in fact write them down, name them one by one. Read repeatedly and listen in your unproductive moments to the two books mentioned above, or scripture, on audible. Share with others what God is revealing to you while on your unique life preparatory journey. And worship freely & abundantly, talk with God every opportunity you have, and then after those bursts of joyful, or even lamenting or mournful praise; just pull off, curl up, and tune in to His Spirit, just relishing in His Presence, hearing Him confirming your identity and value to His mission. And so, when it’s “too soon time” to retire each evening, end your prayers by adding the old classic “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, if I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.” You never know what may transpire while you’re asleep! Which the ever-present (yet anyway) Wikipedia has updated a day ago, the last two lines were exchanged with “in the morn when I awake, please teach me the path of life to take.” Worthy mention indeed.   

FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:

I am reminded of Romans 8:21. “The creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.”

“Let’s not get too settled in, too satisfied with the good things down here on earth. They are only the tinkling sounds of the orchestra warming up. The real song is about to break into a heavenly symphony, and its prelude is only a few minutes away.” Joni Eareckson Tada