Who are you?

Grandma always said to tie a string around your finger in order to remember. I'm sure you've heard that old phrase. Ever done it? Did it work? Or after tieing it to your finger, later still forgot what it was for, except for the throbbing pain it created?

Remembering is important. In our youth ministry years ago we had a saying that we shared everytime we let the youth go their own way, whether that was after youth group or an event but especially when we were at a youth event. We would say,

Remember who you are and who you represent!

It was a simple reminder that they were not just teens, but Christian teens who were to live under a different set of expectations. They were ambassadors of Christ no matter where they were or what they were doing. We hammered this reminder home every time we were with them because we didn't want them to forget!

The Israelite tribes who lived on the East side of the Jordan River built an altar as a reminder to them and all who came through that land that they belonged to the family of Israel, the people of God. It stood not as something to be used (which would have been against the laws of God.) but as a memorial, a testimony (witness),
a reminder, of who they are and who they represent. They built it so that they might not ever forget that they were God's own possession!

In my house there are crosses displayed in each room of the house. It wasn't intentional. In fact when you are a pastor you can pretty much expect that most gifts received will have a very specific Christian theme just like most teachers receive gifts that carry images of apples! So we display these crosses throughout our home. But the biggest reason we do is that they remind us who we are. I wear a gold cross around my neck and a cross ring on my finger. It's a sign to others, sure, but its more a reminder to me. I am a Christian before anything else, before I'm a husband, a father, a friend, or a pastor.

It's my string that reminds me who I am.

Who are you?

and where's your string?

His ><>
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When the Obedient Pray...the Sun Stands Still!

I've read it on the internet, and seen it a thousand times before. (probably not an exaggeration!) The story goes that "NASA scientists were checking the position of the sun, moon, and planets, 100 years from now and 1,000 years from now in order to plot space craft trajectories. As they ran their computers up and down the centuries, their machines came to a grinding halt because they showed a day missing about the time Joshua lived."

It's an urban legend that has never been corroborated either by NASA or by the engineer supposedly envolved, Harold Hill (same name as the Music Man of the hit broadway musical!). But the authenticity of this modern legend matters little. We don't depend on the scientific community presenting solid evidence of the existence of God, nor do we need computers to tell us that that day existed. What's really interesting about the day this legend points to is not the "what" but the "why" of the event!

Lots of people pray. Christians, non-Christians, faithful and the not-so-faithful, Jews, non-Jews, secularists and even athiests sometimes seek the counsel and answers from somewhere beyond themselves. And sometimes those prayers are answered, sometimes not. It makes many wonder how God chooses to answer these prayers. Which ones catch the attention of God more than others? Is it the prayer that God weighs or the pray-er?

You might notice that it is Joshua speaking to God to "Stop, Sun over Gibeon; Halt Moon over Aijalon Valley." (Joshua 10:12, Msg) And it did! God answered Joshua, just like God answered Moses before. It was his prayer that was answered. And the big question is "why?"

Was it Joshua or was it the prayer? And the answer is...



...yes!


Joshua prayed a prayer that served Israel during a great battle, but at the same time the answer to the prayer would serve a greater purpose of God. It was God who sent them into battle. It was God who told them they would be victors. It was God who was fighting the battle along-side Israel. So when Joshua prays and the outcome serves the greater good, while showing Israel and their enemies the power over all of creation, the prayer is answered.

Joshua was an obedient servant of God, seeking a greater outcome than what would just serve himself. He was seeking God's answer, God's promise. And when his prayers met the needs of the community, the tribe, and fit into God's plan...then they were answered. In other words, Joshua was tuned in to God...

...and his prayers were answered.

Peace ><>
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When God says, "Shout!" just "Shout!"

A mentor of mine says that he doesn't have the gift of speaking in tongues, but if God were to give it to him he'd "sing like tweety bird!" His point is well made and appropriate and very simple, what God has given us to do we should just do with all our energy and passion, no matter how silly or unproductive or unimportant it seems. God calls us simply to be obedient to His call.

Joshua was taking the people into the promised land and they arrived at the gates of Jericho. But instead of marching right into this well-protected city God asked that they march around it instead, quietly for 6 days with not so much as even a whisper. Then on the seventh day they were to march around 7 times and on the 7th time they were to shout as the priests blew the trumpets.

Shouting is an interesting way to do battle! I wonder how many stood on the sidelines and said, "I'm not shouting, that's stupid. What good will that do?" I'm sure they were there. These people are always there, discouraging those trying to be faithful to God's call. These are the faithless ones, the doubters and sometimes the ones with the loudest voices!

But God doesn't want us to always ask, "why?" Instead God just wants us to obey even the seemingly silliest request. Because it is in this simple response God wants to show His purpose, His power, His way. And it won't always make sense to us until it's over.

What happened when Israel shouted at Jericho? The walls fell down and gave them the city. It was their obedience through blown trumpets and raised voices that gave them victory because when God said shout, they shouted.

There are many today who are afraid to do the simplest and silliest of tasks. Whether it's serving humbly in the church or clapping or raising hands in worship, they would rather stand on the sidelines and watch. And that's too bad. They are missing out on one of the greatest experiences of life, simply obeying God.

So when God says, "shout" just "shout!"

...and see what happens!

Peace ><>
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