God Speaks French....et al...

It is good for us to be reminded that God's native language is not English. I'm convinced that there are actually people here in the U.S. who think that God celebrates the 4th of July, when the only country God really favors is Israel. And graciously, the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ is open to people of every nation, tribe and tongue! I don't know what language we'll use in the new heavens and new earth, but I'm pretty sure a lot of us will be in for a refreshing dose of diversity on that day!

And they sang a new song, saying,
"Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth."
Revelation 5:9,10

Restless Evil

"No human can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison." James 3:8

It's the spillway through which the heart overflows, like a dammed up lake at flood stage, and there's a crazy man with an itchy trigger finger in charge of the "on" switch! Think of the potential damage millions of cubic feet of water could do if turned loose. But if that water is contained, it destroys nothing. Think of how much more damaging our thoughts become when they are transformed into words that flow off of our tongues.

But why is it so easy to sin with our words? I think it's because we justify ourselves so readily and we refuse to believe that what we have to say would be unacceptable. I've justified reckless words before with that kind of thinking, and then regretted it. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit is teaching me to be slower to speak and quicker to listen and then to say "...only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29

Shelter Me

I just have to share this song. You'll recognize it if you watch "Sons of Guns" on Discovery Channel, but you really need to hear the whole thing. Composed by Buddy and Julie Miller and performed here by Tab Benoit, "Shelter Me" drips with Scripture and oozes Bayou Blues out of every measure.

I just love the grittiness of the way Tab plays it, especially that nasty Tele guitar solo, and by nasty I mean sick, and by sick I mean awesome. Be sure to have a close look at that lovely Telecaster when you watch the video, and let me know what you think of the song.

That's Not An Excuse

Today I want to make an ancillary point from Scripture about something near and dear to my heart. Actually it's good for my heart: exercise.

I've heard people dismiss exercise while citing 1 Timothy 4:8 "...for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."

That's not a directive to ignore your health, it's an encouragement to NOT ignore your spiritual health. So, no doctrinal point is made about physical exercise, but this passage should certainly not be used to dismiss a daily jog.

Like I said, this is no doctrinal directive, but the passage does say that bodily training (exercise) is of some value. Regular physical activity helps control body weight, improves mood, combats and helps prevents all sorts of physical ailments, boosts energy levels, promotes better sleep and can actually be fun! Besides, you can't serve God if you're dead or laid up in bed.

This isn't a hill to die on (although one could possibly die on their way up a hill if they are not in good shape), but I believe that some form of regular exercise is a fantastic addition to this earthly life. Unlike godliness, which has value for both this life AND the next, physical exercise will only benefit you here, but it WILL benefit you.

You may already have a solid regimen like I have, and you know firsthand the benefits it brings to your body and mind. If, however, you are predominantly sedentary, please consider going for a walk this evening after dinner. Use the time to pray or listen to music or a sermon or just to soak up some quiet. You don't need a gym membership (unless that works for you), just get out and shoot hoop for a while or do those situps and pushups before bed or jump on a trampoline or pick up those dumbbells or ride bikes with your kids or borrow your neighbor's P90 DVDs or hoe the garden or hike the Grand Canyon in bare feet - whatever it is, get your heart pumping and your lungs huffing as often as possible. Oh, and please start eating better.....

Keeping An Edge, or, Help I'm Too Insulated!

I told myself I'd always remember. I prayed that the Lord would keep the burden heavy in my heart. However, here I am nearly a month past my experience in Haiti and I'm a bit disgusted with myself that my heart doesn't ache and break the way it did while I was there. Things are wayyyyy too comfy here in my hometown. I have clean water, air-conditioning and the rare mosquito I encounter doesn't carry any deadly disease. I want to keep that keen edge of compassion, even while I'm so safely insulated here in North America.

However (again), my heart is still more broken than it was and my conscience more tender. I took my three steps forward and the one back, but I'm still ahead of where I was and I guess that's the thing that is important. By the grace of God Haiti and her people will remain in my prayers, and I will remain a supporter of Mission of Hope.

Meanwhile, when I need a reminder, I'll just have a look at these eyes.

Taking A Large Enough Margin

I have a friend who recently underwent cancer surgery that required the removal of 3/4 of his esophagus and 1/3 of his stomach. It was critical that the surgeons removed enough of a margin in the tissue to ensure that no cancer was left behind. IOW, if the bad stuff is 2 inches long, remove 3 inches, just to be sure. This sort of practice doesn't work if you're building a house, but when you're dealing with something dangerous, such precautions are a necessity.

It reminds me of the Hebrew laws prescribed in Leviticus 13 and 14 pertaining to cleansing from spreading molds. No chances were taken in those cases. If the mold was in a piece of fabric or the wall of a house, a very meticulous process was started by the priest which included examination, isolation, cleansing and removal. Further examination and isolation were then performed to make sure the mold didn't return. If it did, more drastic measures were taken.

I think the implications are clear for believers in dealing with indwelling sin. When it's discovered, it should be confessed and not hidden. The matter should be taken to our High Priest and through careful examination, isolation and cleansing, the sin can be removed - not just forgiven, but removed. Catch my meaning? The goal is eradication. If, at a later time, the sin should reappear, a larger margin must be taken and more drastic measures introduced in order to mortify sin's presence in our lives. A larger margin might need to be taken; if there are parts of our lives that tend to lead us closer to sin, that aren't necessarily sinful in and of themselves, they might need to go as well.

The Eyes Of Haiti

Here's a visual for you...

The Difference Between Knowledge And Experience

Have you ever seen the Grand Canyon? Let me put that another way: have you ever been to the Grand Canyon?

Last weekend I visited the Grand Canyon in northern Arizona for the first time. I've been a lot of places and seen a lot of fantastic sights, but never have I laid eyes on anything as incomprehensible as the Grand Canyon. Seriously. It was impossible to even begin to take it in.

Before my visit, I could tell you how long and wide the Grand Canyon is. I could tell you about the Colorado River at the bottom and how John Wesley Powell explored it. I could tell you about all the amazing photographs I've seen of the Canyon.

But it wasn't until I looked over the Canyon rim and even hiked below the rim and into the Canyon that I realized the full grandeur, danger, scope, ferocity, beauty and reality of this geographical marvel. Everything I thought I "understood" about the canyon before just sort of shriveled up and was replaced with the real thing. Besides being confronted with the immensity of the Grand Canyon, I was also delighted with detail: every color, the flora, the shapes, the shadows, the thousands upon thousands of awe-inspiring sights.

In just the same way, there are untold numbers of people who know much about God. They've heard stories about Him while growing up, they've read about Him in books (even in His own book), they've formed opinions about Him and many can talk for hours about Him. But all of that is rubbish until they experience God personally. Up until that point, the human heart misjudges God. Man believes that God is smaller than He is, and that He is able to be contained within books of religion and philosophy. Natural man doesn't understand what the fear of the Lord really means, and misses completely the wonder of the multiplied mysteries of His ways. However, when a human soul finally sets foot on the canyon rim of God's reality, their life is forever changed.

Score!

Today is my and my wife's 20th anniversary. Below you'll find a song that speaks more truthfully of marriage than any I've heard thus far. Watch it full screen. Watch it more than once. Listen carefully. :)

Rain In Haiti

"He sends rain on the just and the unjust." Matthew 5:45

God's "common" grace is experienced by all who live. The love of God is seen in every place where people inhabit this planet, even in something as simple as the rain He sovereignly directs through weather patterns to fall and water crops and refresh spirits.

While in Haiti last month I saw much of God's common grace in the form of a truly beautiful country where you can view rugged mountains to your left and the green-blue sea to your right, as well as in the fertile soil and frequent rains that fall on the land. I also witnessed the saving grace of God in a community of thriving believers in whose hearts the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ had dawned.

The man who pastors the church on the property of Mission of Hope has already prayed with NINE (now former) voodoo priests and had bonfires to burn all of their paraphernalia. These men now understand the saving grace of God and His ability to dispel darkness, as well as His ultimate sovereign power.

My prayer for Haiti is that the common graces of God will be acknowledged as coming from Him and that there would also be among the populace a turning, a repentance, and an experience with the saving grace of God.

In The Meantime....

Busy, busy....first Haiti, then Phoenix. I won't be posting anything (probably) for the next 7 or 8 days, but in the meantime, you could check out my photo blog over at HISWHISPERS. If a picture is worth a thousand words, mine are probably coming in at about 37 words, but you still might wanna browse around a bit. :) Once I'm back in the normal swing of things, I'll be posting some awesome stuff about Haiti...

In His Grip,
Blainemonster