OH BEAUTIFUL, FOR PATRIOT'S DREAM

In the middle of the night last night, the thunder waked me and I began to think of the cannons of the American Revolution.  The cannons came to mind because Mike and I have just finished watching an HBO rental, John Adams starring Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney.  It was a wonderful love story that depicted John and Abigail Adams, a loving couple who combined their gifting for 54 years.  The series of seven sessions was rich in portraying not only Adams, but the other framers of our Constitution, Jefferson, Washington and a delightful Franklin played by Tom Wilkinson.  It was wonderful to see the passion that those men had as they were given a vision for our country.  Most people know that they soberly signed their names on the Declaration of Independence because it was to be a death sentence if the war had not been won.

When I started dating Mike (and making my mind up about him) back in the late 60's, he had blue eyes and black hair and a yellow Delmont Oldsmobile.  And on the front of that car was a license plate that embarrassed me.  It said "America the Beautiful, Love it or Leave It".  It wasn't that I disagreed philosophically with the statement, but it seemed to me that there was something show-off about being an uber-patriot.  Boy, that plate would put a bullseye on the old Delmont now, wouldn't it?

What makes a patriot?  As we watched John Adams, that thought was on my mind a lot.  I loved how honestly these framers were shown in all their human frailty.  Adams was completely convinced of his beliefs to the point of being socially abrasive.  Washington's humility defined him.  Benjamin Franklin was saucy as he deftly "worked" his image with the French.  It was neat that although Jefferson and Adams were patriots with differing political party expressions of their love of country...they clashed politically and hurt one another deeply...but came back together in reconciliation toward the end of their lives because of their deep admiration for one another.  You may remember that when our nation celebrated the 50th anniversary of her birth on July 4th, 1826, the last surviving signers, Jefferson and Adams, passed away within hours of one another.

I wish everyone could see such living history about the beginnings of our country.  Do people have a full appreciation for what has been given us if they do not know about it?  I learned a lot about how those early patriots shed blood for what has been handed to you and I.  And now we have come full circle.  Forrest Gump would say our liberty is biting us in the buttocks. America began as a sparkling jewel that shined throughout the world brighter than anything man could dream before or since...but now has been pulled and pushed and gouged by men's ambition for power and position and greed until freedom has morphed into a disfiguration of our blessing.

Mike and I are big movie people.  Last week we stood in line to buy tickets to the new Russell Crowe flick.  I struck up a conversation with two ladies in line in front of us and asked what they were going to see.  "Obsessed", they replied.  That was a new one to me!  Now I find that it is a black Fatal Attraction-type movie starring Beyonce.  That made me wonder if the ladies would ever go to see John Adams and where their view of patriotism had been formed.  Had they dismissed the founding fathers because they were from another culture?  Doesn't appreciation develop after understanding?  Our country is increasingly divided on parallel tracks today into two Americas.  Was that the original intent?  Think with me of the last verse of "America the Beautiful"...

Oh, beautiful, for patriot dream that sees beyond the years

Thine alabaster cities gleam, undimmed by human tears!

America!  America!  God mend thine every flaw

Confirm thy soul in self control, thy liberty in law.

Yes, Lord, and start with ME!

"I will refine them and test them."  Jeremiah 9:6

EASTER GLORY

If you were in Little Rock on Easter Sunday, you know that it showered most of the day. Well, the Lord graciously showered our family with blessings because we had a full house for Easter 09!  How great to have three little new lives under five years old.  Somehow in the flurry, we didn't get a picture of everyone together.  But after they all left, Mimi slipped down into a tub of hot water and a sprig of bright green Easter grass floated to the surface.  That brought a satisfied smile across her face.

Even though rain caused an indoor Easter egg hunt, no one seemed to mind.  Monday was still raining and so a trip to the favorite Wonder Place seemed just the thing.

Hooray for the sun on Tuesday!  The Saferites had gone home and Papa took the Cruses out to the country to fish and shoot and catch tadpoles and ride four wheelers.  Probably all those things were firsts for the little New York City girls.  You can see the delight in their faces. Hanna (3) was very adventurous and wanted to try everything for herself; Caroline (2) was not so sure.  As Hanna walked along the path to the lake carrying her fishing pole, her comment was priceless:  "Hey, this is just like Andy Griffith!"

There's a movie at the end to close our Easter show 'n tell (please scroll down and click on last picture).

 

A NAPKIN BY ANY OTHER NAME

Are you familiar with the Hebrew word "tallit" (pronounced "ta leet")? The tallit is a garment that God designed; the man on the left is wearing a tallit on his head.  Also translated "covering" or "scarf" or "napkin"...Jewish men were told by God through Moses (Numbers 15:37) to wear this prayer shawl forever.  This directive was given as Israel was brought out of Egypt and the Lord was trying to get Egypt out of them.  The rectangular "napkin" stretches out like a tent across the head or shoulders.  Just as the Lord was specific about every detail of His tabernacle, the tallit was made to specifications (color/number of tassels in the fringe/etc.).  Those symbols represented aspects of God's law and His name.  Everytime a Jewish man put on his tallit, he kissed the corners and that reminded him to love and obey God.

The man pictured may raise his tallit to cover his head when he is praying.  That would be in keeping with what Jesus said to his disciples (Matthew 6:6) about going into their closet to pray.  Although they perhaps were gathered in a large group, when they raised their tallit (as nowdays you might observe at the Wailing Wall), they were each in a private prayer chamber.

In the story of Balaam (the hired gun prophet who was brought in to curse Israel), Balaam looks down and says "how beautiful are thy tabernacles".  Since there was only one tabernacle, what did Balaam mean?  Perhaps as he looked down and saw 10,000 Israelites in their "portable tents/tabernacles" on the plain of Moab, it was beautiful to him.  God had made it supernaturally impossible to curse them.  And this portable tabernacle remains a tradition for every Jewish man today.

Can we assume that Jesus wore a tallit?  Yes.  In John 8:46 Jesus had been challenged about the way He taught God's words.  He asked them "which one of you convicts Me of sin?"  In other words, has Jesus demonstrated faithlessness in keeping the law?  None responded because Jesus was "kosher" in His adherence to the traditional Jewish faith.  He kept all the laws and that would have included wearing a tallit.

There are several instances where Scripture mentions a tallit.  It was a dramatic contact point in Jesus' healing ministry.  The woman who touched the hem of Jesus' garmet (Mark 5:25) actually touched the fringe of His tallit.  The little girl that Jesus raised from the dead was covered by His tallit and then when He said "Tabitha, arise", in Hebrew that actually was "little girl (covered by the tallit) arise".  The little girl sat up by virtue of what passed from Jesus through the tallit to her.  The prayer shawl was such a personal item, Jewish men were also buried with their tallit.  In John 11:44 Lazareth was said to be wrapped in his napkin when Jesus called him out of the tomb.

Jesus would have been buried in His tallit (napkin), also.  John 20:7 says "but the burial napkin which had been around Jesus' head was not lying with the other linen cloths, but was still 'rolled up, wrapped round and around' in a place by itself".  Jesus was leaving a message that he knew would click with the Jewish disciples.  He knew their first thought would be that the Romans had stolen the Lord's body.  But the folded napkin contradicted that because dead men do not fold their tallits.  They knew he had been dead three days and therefore was not in a hurry if he had stopped to fold his tallit.  By leaving his prayer shawl folded, he was saying to them that he would return.

Of course He DID return.  And one day, He will return again for His church.  That day He will not come to New York City, but to Jerusalem riding a white horse...with His tallit across His shoulders.  Jesus had Jewish parents, was raised as a Jew, lived and worshipped and died as a Jew, and one day Scripture says Jesus will return as a Jew with a name on his thigh (Revelation 19:16).  People have long wondered how a name could be written on his thigh.  Surely if it were something like a tattoo, it would be covered up by his tunic.  But remember that as He sits astride the white horse, the tallit would be draped across His thigh.  And the tassels of the tallit spell out the name JEHOVAH. 

"I let myself be seen by Abraham, Issac, and Jacob as God, the ruler of all (El Shaddai); but they had no knowledge of my name Yahweh (Jehovah)."  Exodus 6:3 

CAN YOU HEAR THE FAT LADY?

I was in a Bible study once with a girl we'll call Linda.  Linda had a mild interest in the study and most of her theology was opinion. When it came time to look up a proof text in Revelation, she protested "no one really understands that book...and the ones who try, get all out of balance and go off the deep end".  Gee.  How would you evaluate my friend's statement?  She was sorta right.  There ARE some folks who get Scripture outta whack and concentrate on the future to the exclusion of the present.  They may appear to others as wild-eyed food stockpilers who talk a LOT about the Anti-Christ.  Most people just give them a wide berth on life's highway.

But on the other hand, the Lord did include Revelation in His book.  So does it make sense to ignore it entirely?

This is about the fourth time Mike and I have been through a study of John's revelation.  My church has taught through it twice in the last ten years and we also did it last year at Community Bible Study.  Every time I study the revelation, I learn something and get a better handle on the big picture.  But every time I also find things that remain a puzzle. Bottom line for me is that I don't want to get to the end and screw up and hear "I warned you about that in the last book. Didn't you read it?"

God is so kind.  He took my whipping so I could be with Him eternally.  He gave me a heads-up as to how best to walk gingerly through this minefield of life that the enemy occupies.  He has cheered my heart by telling me how the eternal struggle will play out.  And it is over and beyond that He would leave gingerbread crumbs of proof that lead back to Himself.

Say what?  What crumbs?  Well, I'm glad you asked.  On the Lord's first journey to Planet Earth, the Book lists statements out the wazzoo about the Messiah...so that when He arrived, the people who knew the Book would recognize Him.  Those specific miracles were things that ONLY the Messiah would be able to do.  Unfortunately, many did not recognize Him although He fulfilled every prediction about His first coming.  Those crumbs should have been pretty obvious to a listening heart.

Then, there are tons of other statements about the way the Second Coming will happen.  Since they haven't all happened yet, we can't claim them as gingerbread proof.  But if the first time was fulfilled, you can bet the second time will be fulfilled as well.  Our times are lining up and many things are becoming possible in our day.  Stuff that used to sound far-fetched now sounds reasonable.  Consider these three things:

1.  Scripture says that when He comes, every eye will see Him.  That used to sound impossible.  But when the second plane hit the Twin Towers, many eyes were watching.  Never before has technology made those Bible words plausible.

2.  Scripture talks about the nations organizing a one-world government toward the end.  Hey, that's TOTALLY not far-fetched.  Can you say "euro"?

3.  Gog, Persia, Ethiopia, and Put are said to form an alliance to come against Israel in the end.  Who's that, you ask?  Russia, Iran, Libya and Turkey.  Well HELLO!  Yeah, I can see that.  Our Bible is coming alive like never before!

So here's my parting shot.  For the first thirty years of my life, I was in church regularly...but was taught NONE of this. My question, then, is "why"?  Would it sound critical of me to bemoan the fact that I was not very well prepared?  We stand accountable to the Lord for our individual walk (how we respond to His truth).  I'm not in Iraq and won't be beaten with a rod for studying the Bible.  It's here for me.

But the offer does have a shelf-life expiration date.

"Are your ears awake?  Listen.  Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches."  Revelation 3:22 The Message

WANTED: CONTEXT

It is disturbing to me that only eight years ago our country was attacked, but in the interim...our ADD minds have moved on and there doesn't seem to be an awareness of danger.  Redefining the words "War on Terror" to read "Overseas Contingency Operation"?  I rest my case.  

It's hard to dwell on anything in our day when a ton of info comes by our eyes in rapid fire.  But there might be some history to offer that would prove that our patient enemy lives in quite the opposite mindset.  And if we EVER needed our high school World History book, the time is now. American needs context to stay alert.

Know the definition of the word "Muslim"?  Surrender.  So a Muslim is one who has surrendered to  God as they see him.  Then their life job is to bring the world into surrender...either by the sword or by submission of the infidel's will.  

How did their belief system play out in history?   Twice we can see how their mandate for conquest took them to the edge of world dominion.

1.  Mohammed died in 632, and by 637 Muslims had claimed Jerusalem, Egypt, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Persia.  They swept across North Africa and wiped out Christianity there; by 711 they conquered most of Spain.  

Then they came across Europe and were south of Paris when BAM (as Emeril used to say) they ran into a general named Charles "The Hammer" Martel who stopped the Islamic invasion of Europe at the Battle of Tours (Poitiers) in 732.  Think of that.  In only 100 years since Mohammed's death, his posse had almost defeated Europe and wiped out Christianity.  Why don't our school kids get out for Martel Day?  As you look at the picture of the battle above, be sure to take note of the symbolic mother/child amidst the battle.  The Seed of the woman is Jesus.

2.  Can we fast forward to 1683?  For 300 years, the Ottoman Empire had been fighting against the kingdoms in Europe. This time, the Islamic fighters came at Europe through the East.  There was a two-month siege when they clashed with a Polish general at the Battle of Vienna.  Some of the leftovers from that sweep are what we see today in Bosnia/Serbia (where not-so-long-ago we came to the aid of Muslims).  Our history books credit the battle of Vienna with having freed Europe from the Turks and secured Christianity as the main religion of Europe.

SO WHAT?
Maybe this history sounds old and cold to you.  You may not have heard of the Battle of Vienna.  If I ever had that in my head, it long since had fallen out.  But you know who DOES know of that battle?  Those who follow Mohammed.  How do I know that they are aware of that battle and that it sticks in their craw?  You'll know when I tell you that it was fought on September 11/12th, 1683.  Now that 9/11 blood feud has longevity.

Think about our times and the hotspots around the world.  Could the Middle East be characterized as one of the most unstable flashpoints?  We have come to believe that it is the norm for Muslims and Jews to clash.  But wait...maybe something bigger is at play than just the sons of Abraham at each other's throats.  

Clearly Arabs hate Jews.  Their stated purpose is to destroy the Jews and take their land.  But does anyone really think that if the tables were turned, Jews would be trying to destroy Arabs and snatch their land?  The only land Israel wants is what the Lord gave them...and to live in peace within the borders set by international law. 

Jews have long been the world's whipping boy.  But recalling earlier world conflicts, consider the aggressor.  Ask yourself...what Jew made Islam try to conquer Europe?  Israel is not the aggressor here.  They just are holding onto their homeland with all their might.  

Perhaps fomenting conflict and picking on Jews will draw the nations.  As Forrest Gump would say..."peaceful is as peaceful does". 

"But when all is said and done, God's temple on the mountain, firmly fixed, will dominate all mountains, towering above surrounding hills.  People will stream to it and many nations set out for it, saying "Come, let's climb God's mountain.  Let's go to the temple of Jacob's God. He will teach us how to live.  We'll know how to live God's way."  True teaching will issue from Zion, God's revelation from Jerusalem. He'll establish justice in the rabble of nations and settle disputes in faraway places.  They'll trade in their swords for shovels, their spears for rakes and hoes. Nations will quit fighting each other, quit learning how to kill one another."  Micah 4:1-3 The Message

BIG DADDY WEAVE

Maybe you've heard of Big Daddy.  One of the songs he has out now that is repeating in my ear is "What Life Would be Like".  I guess this tune is playing because Mike and I are getting ready to soon see what life will be like in Northwest Arkansas.  God sold our house!  And the words to the song go like this:

"He made the lame walk and the dumb talk,

And He opened blinded eyes to see

That the sun rises on His time

Yet He knows our deepest desperate need" 

Over and over the loop in my head repeats "the sun rises on His time".

Folks know we identified a desire to live in F'ville...found/bought a great lot...came home and put the house on the market in April, 2008.  Now it is April, 2009 and an offer is signed.  In the meantime there has been frustration, a whole lotta listening/questioning of our understanding of God's plan, tears, and a lot of hard work for many open houses...before this couple came WITHOUT EVEN A SIGN OUT FRONT.  That's what Mike mumbled as he took the sign down last fall.  "Lord, if you want this house sold, you're going to have to bring a buyer."  

So how did the new buyers know of our house?  The buyer's brother backs up to this house and they came knocking on our door.  The next week they came again, bringing both their Moms and an Alabama Aunt.  Ben and Lesley were the ones we had prayed for!  They love our place and they are a precious couple.

OK, so maybe that adds yet another question to my list.  When I see His face, and get to ask the big WHY questions...maybe I'll ask "So what was up with the timing on that house sale, Lord?"  Or maybe it won't make a whit of difference then.  Perhaps I needed my new knee before the move. We have thought how hard it would have been to have had my knee give out during the process. Perhaps there are other things...things that we will not know short of the promised land.  He sure is the only One with perspective from beginning to end.

The thing that kept us pedaling was believing whatever the reason, He had to have a good one. So we tried to rest and wait.  I rested more fitfully than Mike, but now we are breaking out the moving boxes!  Thanks for rejoicing with us.  And we will have a spare BR for anyone who wants to come to the great Northwest.  Yall come!

"He has made everything right in its time; but he has made their hearts without knowledge, so that man is unable to see the works of God from the first to the last."  Ecclesiastes 3:11 BBE

BREATHLESS

Sometimes just when I need a boost, a grandchild will call to say "Hi, Mimi!".  There's nothing like hearing your name coming out of the mouth of babes.  But this morning, it was Beth calling with a new Nate quip that buoyed my spirit.

It seems Nate has for so long wanted to be able to blow up a balloon...but it was just beyond him. Until this morning.  He found an old stretched out balloon under a piece of furniture and was delighted to find he could blow it up (a bit).

Beth was mindful of their morning exodus and wisely said "That's GREAT, Nate. Let's go blow it up in the car!"  And off they went to school.

As they pulled out of their driveway, from the back seat she hears..."Oh, man, the spit in my air went EVERYWHERE!"

 

And then, Beth hears him mutter under his breath..."God, PLEASE give me just a little more air."  And then to her..."Mama, I prayed cause I'm really out of any breath.  Do you think He'll give me more?"

Uh, that's an affirmative, Nate.

"The God Who produced and formed the world and all things in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in handmade shrines, neither is He served by human hands, as though He lacked anything, for it is He Himself Who gives life and breath and all things to all people."  Acts 17:24,25