JESUS THE MESSIAH

Can you picture how things will be when the Messiah returns to earth?

At His first visit, people experienced renewal and healing and splendor because THINGS FLOURISH WHEN THE KING IS PRESENT.

The Old Testament prophet Isaiah described the Messianic reign in this way:  "Then the blind eyes will open, deaf ears will hear.  Then the lame will leap like a deer, the mute tongue will shout for joy..." 

Rabbinical teaching about the coming of the Messiah was based on that Isaiah 35 verse.  They taught the Messiah alone could perform such miracles and that is how Israel might recognize Him.  So the nation waited and watched.

Imagine their excitement when 700 years later, Jesus began doing these Messianic miracles.  Some thought  He was the Messiah, but others were not sure.  What miracles did He do?  Jesus healed...

*THE LEPER.   Leprosy was incurable by human efforts, so when Jesus made the leper's skin pure and clean, don't you know the restored man wanted to leap like a deer?  But Jesus said "Tell no one.  Go to the rabbi and show yourself."

In doing so, the rabbi would set into motion the "vetting" process to verify such claims.  Did the religious leaders recognize Jesus as Messiah?  No, they called Him a blasphemer.

*THE DUMB DEMONIAC.  The process of removing a demon involved communicating with the demon to find out its name in order to call it out.  With the dumb demoniac there was no communication, therefore no possibility to exorcise.  But when Jesus cast out this man's demon, do you think his mute tongue shouted for joy?

Unfortunately, the Pharisees declared Jesus did it by the power of Satan.

*THE MAN BORN BLIND.   Healing was not possible for the man born blind because his eyes had never seen.  But when the Creator of the World came along one day, Jesus created sight for him.

Then the Jewish leaders began a systematic 'take down' of the newly-sighted man as they interrogated him, accused him of lying about his blindness, and finally kicked him out of the synagogue.  They declared Jesus wasn't from God.

After each of these three Messianic miracles, the Jewish leaders had tried/failed to kill Jesus.  Then  Jesus raised Lazarus.  Could a more convincing proof of deity been offered than raising from the dead after four days?  But the Pharisees were convinced that it would be better for one man to die than the whole nation, so these false shepherds redoubled their efforts to put Jesus to death.

Ezekiel 34 is a scorching chapter in which God prophecies against false shepherds.  It is interesting to realize that while the Jewish officials thought they were deciding Jesus' fate, actually it was their fate being decided.  They fleshed out the meaning of "false shepherds" who looked out for self rather than the sheep.

The apostle John writes two chapters that draw the contrast between false shepherds and the Good Shepherd.  In John 9, the false shepherds kicked the man born blind out of the synagogue, but in John 10, Jesus is described as the Good Shepherd who...

     *The Good Shepherd calls to His sheep and they know His voice and follow Him to abundant life.
     *The Good Shepherd is not a hireling who leaves the flock at the first danger; no one can steal the sheep from His hand.
     *The Good Shepherd protects His sheep from the "wolves" of sin, death, and God's judgment.
     *The Good Shepherd's sacrificial death makes one flock with one Shepherd.
     *The Good Shepherd receives all the gifts that God the Father gives to Him.  If you are a Christian, you are one of those gifts.
     
It is essential to follow the right leader in life, and only one Shepherd has proven that He is the Messiah by completing four Messianic miracles.  Only one Shepherd has the power to willingly lay down His life to redeem from sin and death and judgment...and then also has the power to pick it up again.  Only one Shepherd receives the gifts that God the Father has given Him since the foundation of the world.

The Good Shepherd's name is Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus, the Messiah) and we look forward to one day being in His presence where all things will flourish as He makes all things new in a place where righteousness dwells.

"These are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name."  John 20:31

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS 2016

Mike and I are trying to remember what we did before THE MOVE to Butterfield Trail Village this year.  It seemed in the blur of 2016 that we were "getting ready to move" or "getting moved" or "getting settled" all year long.

Now we are proud to announce the arrival of both cars into the garage and the elimination of cardboard!  Hooray!

One of my greatest blessings is that Mike is a planner.  Several years ago, he had a ten-year-plan in which he saw us downsizing when he turned 75.  When he first started talking about Butterfield, I wanted none of it.  "You go on and look at it.  I'll take your word for it" I said.  So he went, he liked it, and he put money down to get us on a waiting list.

Three years later, they called and asked if we would be interested in building a unit.  In the interim, I found myself ready.  It's funny how one day you think you need a big place, and the next day you are strangely attracted to "less is more".

Oh, and yes...this coming March, Mike will be 75.

Last week our place was on display at Butterfield's yearly Open House.  We were floored that there were at least 120 people who came through.  Mike said it was a flood of baby boomers doing their due-diligence.  We answered lots of questions and here's what we told them about why we became VILLAGE PEOPLE:

1.  It appealed to us to scale down and have someone else mow your lawn, clean your house, and cook one meal a day.  And there's comfort in knowing there is a place here for assisted living (post-surgery), a dementia wing, and nursing care.  Still, it's weird to not be the captain of your own ship and own your own home, and we're still adjusting to that.

2.  Our gift to the kids this year is getting rid of stuff that they won't have to plow through later...and hopefully the stuff we did keep is better organized.

3.  We've always enjoyed building and when BTV asked if we would like to build a 2k square-foot unit, the juices flowed.  We got to monkey with blueprints, choose colors, finishes, light fixtures, and appliances.

4.  We totally love our wonderful neighbors.  Butterfield offers apartments in the three-story "big house", cottages, and village homes in the back where the "younger people" live in duplexes.  It's like we have stepped back to the first-married days because now we have "roof-mates".

Mike is teaching a Bible study on Mondays where  the spunky piano player is 100.  As we left the study last week, eight of us went on into lunch and shared a big round table.  The BTV dining room makes intentional friendships easier.

If you have a ten-year-plan or are just curious about Butterfield, Mike's a good salesman.  BTV was started by a consortium of five churches who recognized the need to come alongside the aging population and many have benefited from their graceful foresight.  The campus sits on 44 acres just blocks from retail and the Joyce/College Avenue intersection.  There are almost 200 staff and 400 residents, their occupancy rate now is 98%, and there are 120 people are on the waiting list.

We are looking forward to the NEW YEAR so that we can get our life back and think about higher and less self-absorbed things.  But before we close, please permit just two pics of grands:

Who wouldn't want a snow cone from these three lovely entrepreneurs in Little Rock?  (Don't miss that one particularly hygienic saleslady.)

Anyone want to take a four-wheeler ride with these ripsnorting Fayetteville boys?

God has made our lives rich with our kids and with their kids...as well as with our "new best friends" we are making at THE HOME.

The Cruses send our love and best wishes for the Father's richest blessings on you this Merry Christmas!  Keep looking up!

"For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God's trumpet.  The dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.  So we will be with the Lord forever."  1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17


 

WORDS

After Orlando, POTUS took to the mic, taking issue with those who criticize his lack of focus on the problem.  He mocked concerns that he does not name our enemy, saying there is nothing "magic" about the words.

Then he blamed the problem on guns.  We know if a gun ban were the answer, Chicago would be a safe place.

In fact, our problem is a people who abide in Sharia law because Sharia law calls them to lawlessness and murder.  Americans do not abide under the same code of law.  If the President is looking to change laws, let him change Sharia law.

The most recent poll says 51% of American Muslims agree with Sharia law.  And according to Pew Research, 60% of American Muslims under 30 are more loyal to Islam than to America.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO CALL THE ENEMY "RADICAL ISLAM"? 


1.  WORDS HELP US UNDERSTAND.  Ever heard the term "bayat"?  That is an Islamic word which means "allegiance".  When the Orlando shooter took time to call around during that prolonged killing spree, his calls were to make sure everyone knew where HIS allegiance belonged.  The bayat is part of the jihad and it was heard around the Muslim world, enlarging the shooter/his cause...and thereby encouraging other attacks.

We need to know how the enemy thinks...so that we can think ahead of them.  Americans don't think like these barbaric people who jam planes into buildings and burn people alive. We need to see this "holy war" for the pure evil that it is.

2.  WORDS INSPIRE 
"E PLURIBUS UNUM".  I remember how American pride swelled when we heard JFK speak the words "ask what YOU can do for your country".  Those words echoed down time and brought the country together for her good.

But what do we hear?  We hear lots of discouragement ("you didn't build that") and discontent ("America has her problems") and mischaracterization ("their poverty causes them to act as they do") and deflection ("the future must not belong to those who slander the prophet of Muhammed") and apologies ad nauseam.

We need to KNOW that our leadership doesn't think the fight is over the correct bathroom...or with Wayne LaPierre.  We need to KNOW he has a plan for our good against terrorists that is to be fought on the terrorists' battleground.  We need to KNOW he isn't making our protection more complicated.

3.  WORDS FOCUS THE ELECTORATE.   We are confused.  On the one hand, FBI Director Comey tells us "if you see something, say something".

The gun shop owner tried that.  They smelled a rat and called the FBI when the shooter tried to buy body armor and bulk ammo.  LINK  Then the gun store called the FBI back days later, and they still didn't get a response; the shooter fell through a crack.  (To be fair, the FBI didn't have a name to work with because the shooter didn't make a purchase.)

But Americans are unsettled.  We don't understand with all the flags, why they missed the Boston bombers or Maj. Hasan or the San Bernadino husband/wife or now this Orlando shooter.  We feel like if we say something, people will accuse us of being a racist (xenophobic, bigot, etc).  That fear of labeling kept the aforementioned neighbors quiet.  But if we all are on the same page with our focus on the problem, we can cooperate.

4. WORDS COME WITH POWER.  We have been told that these acts of terrorism are "just the way things will be now".  Well, that doesn't inspire courage.  Doesn't a leader lift the flock's eyes to the solution?  We don't want the armed forces and police cut.  We don't want to bind the hands of our protectors with goofy regulations like "disallow monitoring in mosques" and "quit using terms such as "radical" or "jihad" or "radical Islamic terrorism".  Let law enforcement follow the trail.  All the logical efforts to fight  the enemy flow out of a clear objective found in the words RADICAL ISLAMIC TERRORISM and what that means.

Charles Krauthammer explains why semantics are important.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lz8IQnQAiTI

Bill Maher helps us to see our denial about radical Islam.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75Zfgj2k0KM

Let's call this perversion of civilization for what it is and deal with it.  Let's coalesce around a common sense approach to evil just as Americans did in WW2.  These radicals who speak words of hate and murder have promised to come for the West...and now they have come REPEATEDLY.

When would be a good time to get serious?

A THOUSAND YEARS

Hi.  My name's Susan and I'm a Serial Self Slackcutter.

That's right. I'm fond of thinking "Well, I wouldn't have responded that way if I hadn't been so tired."  Or..."When I spend time with that person, I'm more prone to gossip and criticize."

It's easier to think circumstances (or others) are the problem.  That's a LOT easier than seeing things as God sees them.  He says NONE are righteous and ALL have hearts that are desperately wicked.  That's why when we come to Revelation 20 and read about the Millennium Kingdom, we understand how God's pure justice is put on display.

When Christ returns to earth for His thousand-year reign, there will be beauty from ashes as the Creator destroys His creation and remakes the earth.  There we will enjoy utopian conditions in "Garden of Eden" splendor.  Animals will revert to their "pre-fall" nature as the lion lays down with the lamb.  Scripture says Jesus will rule there with a rod of iron.  His rule is not out of harshness, but rather kindness as He enforces the law to insure the world's long-sought peace and harmony and security.

Know what else?  Satan will be bound.  Our nemesis loses his permission slip to roam the earth seeking those he might devour.  The time for his evil influencing is done.  There won't be "the devil made me do it" in the Millennium.

In fact, when that trumpet sounds, a believer's life will no longer have to make time for the daily routines that compete with our devotion to God.  Our sole focus from then on will be the King's business.

Here are the three groups of people who get to go into Christ's Millennial Kingdom:

1.  There are believers raptured at the end of the church age 

 who return with Christ to fight @Armageddon in their glorified bodies.

2.  There are believers (both Jew and Gentile) who died before Pentecost...

plus believers who will die during the Tribulation.  These believers will be 

resurrected and transformed into immortals after Armageddon.

3.  There are believers (both Jew and Gentile) 

who are "natural men" and survivors of both the Tribulation and Armageddon, 

and judged righteous.  This category is different 

from the other two because they still have mortal bodies 

and will grow, mature, marry, procreate, age and die (Isaiah 65:20-25).

Have you heard people say when we get to Paradise we will just sit around strumming harps?  How strange they would say such a thing and assume God has no purpose for us!

In our present age, the Bible calls the church a priesthood of believers.  Our service to God and men will go seamlessly into the new kingdom.  Satisfaction from being His ambassadors will only swell into more satisfaction.

In the new kingdom, we are said to be co-heirs with Christ, and will rule with Him.  How amazing that we are to judge the angels and the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28)!  We will have our hands full as we share Christ, resolve disputes, and mentor new believers.  Remember survivors will be in a ragged recovery mode after all that has happened on the earth, so there will be much opportunity for service.

NOW is the time for preparation.  As we follow Him as faithful stewards of the tasks He assigns, we gain more opportunity and reward in the kingdom to come.

So how does God show His pure justice during the Millennium?

We see that it's not unfavorable circumstances or the devil's influences that make men's neck stiff.  It is our rebellious hearts which call for God's judgment.

Revelation 20 says when Satan is unbound, he gathers up all the rebellious souls who refuse to bend the knee and their number will be as many as sand on the seashore.

Then God brings destruction by calling down fire from heaven on the rebels.  Nothing tainted with sin will be allowed in the new heaven and earth.  Almighty God throws Satan into the Lake of Fire for eternity that he may not deceive God's people anymore.

GOD'S PLAN HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT HE WOULD BE AT HOME WITH HIS PEOPLE IN A WORLD WITHOUT SIN.  So He protects His people, destroys evil, and exalts His Son.

All men deserve the Lake of Fire, but Jesus' provision for sin cancels the wages of sin for those who call on His name.

Today I'm rather consumed with decorating details for a house under construction.  One day those "things" will burn.  Lord, help me live with the end in mind!

THE BRIDEGROOM

So how in the world is a wedding connected to Christ's return for His church?  Well, I'm glad you asked...

In our BSF study, we just finished Revelation 19 and there were such wonderful insights from the lecture and notes, and pictures from our site which are on this blog.

We know from parables and from Jesus' words about Himself that He is the Bridegroom while the Church is the bride.

The Bible was written by Jews for Jews and while it may not resonate with us unless we are familiar with Jewish tradition, the symbolism would have jumped off the page for first century Jews.

For instance, remember when people came to John the Baptist and asked him if he were the Messiah?  John replied he was not the bridegroom, but "the one who has the bride is the bridegroom".  Then John goes on to describe himself as a "friend of the bridegroom" (like the best man).  There are many other references using marriage language.  Remember Jesus' first miracle at the wedding in Cana?  The woman at the well?  The virgins with lamps?  All these correlate.

To get started, let's go back to the ancient Jewish wedding tradition and see that there were three stages to getting married.  There was betrothal, presentation, and consummation.  Each part of the process is below, and then in blue, how that correlates to Jesus' return.

BETROTHAL
All authority rests with the boy's father to choose a bride for his son.  He pays a "bride price/dowry" to her parents, and then the bride may say "yes" or "no".

If she agrees to accept the contract, they drink wine or grape juice from a cup.  That means she has accepted the offer and put the relationship into a legally binding agreement.  If she does not accept the cup, the betrothal is broken and the father must find another spouse for his son.

During the period after the betrothal (which might last a year or two) the groom builds a room onto his father's house to prepare for his bride.  At this point the betrothal may only be broken by a divorce.

In the fulfillment of this prenuptial symbolism, Jesus the Bridegroom left His home (heaven) and came to earth to purchase His bride with His blood.  

When Jesus was preparing His disciples for His departure back to heaven, He said He was going away to His Father's house to prepare a place for us (His bride, the Church).  He said that in His Father's house there were many rooms...and He will return for His bride so that where He is, we might also be.  Our communion wine is the cup that the Church takes in agreement.

PRESENTATION
The bridegroom's father is in charge of the timetable for when the groom will return to get his bride.  Not even the bridegroom knows when that will happen.  It is said that when the bridegroom and his attendants arrive, it is surprising much like a thief in the night.  That is why the bride is to remain ready.  The groom's arrival is announced with a shout, "Behold, the bridegroom comes!"

It has been over 2,000 years since Jesus went back to heaven, but He will return for His bride, the Church.  No one but God the Father knows when that will be, not even God the Son.  

Meanwhile believers are to remain faithful and ready and clothed in righteous deeds that Jesus provides.  The Lord Jesus will return with an angelic escort that is preceded by a shout, "Behold, the Bridegroom comes!"

When the father gave permission to go get the bride, a joyous processional led by the bridegroom and his attendants took the bride and her attendants to a feast and the ceremony.

When the Bridegroom returns for His bride, we will be taken to the Father's house (heaven) and enjoy the marriage supper of the Lamb. 

CONSUMMATION
After all the process, the couple retires to the wedding chamber and remain in hiding for seven days.

After Jesus receives His bride into the bridal chamber in heaven, there He hides her away during the tribulation on the earth.

John Piper said "King Jesus came into the world to take a wife, not a harem.  And not for sex...but to give her pleasures that make sex taste like cardboard.  He paid for her with his life.  And He is now at work by His Spirit and by His Word purifying and beautifying her for Himself and for her joy."

After the seven day period, the groom comes out of the bridal chamber, bringing his bride with him as a witness to everyone, marking the wedding as official.  Jesus will come out of the bridal chamber (heaven) and bring His bride with Him to Planet Earth as a witness to everyone as we begin the Millennial Kingdom.

The apostle John described heaven's rejoicing that he heard in Revelation 19: "Then I heard what sounded like the voice of a vast throng like the roar of many waters and like loud crashes of thunder.  They were shouting 'Hallelujah!  For the Lord our God, the All-Powerful, reigns!  Let us rejoice and exult and give Him glory, because the wedding celebration of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.  She was permitted to be dressed in bright, clean, fine linen (for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints).  Then the angel said to me, 'Write the following: Blessed are those who are invited to the banquet at the wedding celebration of the Lamb!'  He also said to me, 'These are the true words of God!' "

What an amazing love story of how God loves His people!  The Bible began with marriage in a garden with Adam and Eve, and will end with the marriage of Christ and His church. We thank the Lord for His good plan which has been in place since the foundation of the world...that He would bring us to dwell with Him there where there will be no hindrances to love.  Hallelujah!

  

THREAT?

Do we make too much of radical Islamic terrorism?  Is ISIS a threat to America?

The New York Times has an extensive ARTICLE entitled "How ISIS Built the Machinery of Terror Under Europe's Gaze".  They estimate that ISIS and their affiliates have murdered at least 650 people in Europe.

While that ghastly information tries to find a place in your brain, consider something else.  This LINK  lists the ISIS killings across the globe IN JUST THE LAST 30 DAYS.  Take a wild guess.  How many people would you think they could kill in a month?

There were Islamic terror attacks in 147 countries...1165 people were killed...and 3221 were injured.  That includes Sunday's attack in Lahore, Pakistan where the TARGET was innocent women and children in a playground on a warm Easter afternoon.  Really?  Over half the 70 deaths were children.

Who is this that comes to steal people's peace and kill the innocent?

The NYTimes article mentions the taxi driver who drove the Brussels bombers to the airport.  That driver said the bombers refused to let him help load their heavy bags, they sat in tense silence for the ride, and he noticed a strong odor wafting into the taxi from the trunk.

That strong odor that the Brussels taxi drive detected was the smell of death.  The people who want to kill have made it necessary for the people who want to live to think defensively.  If we are at war (and we are) and the enemy says they have infiltrated the immigrants (and they have), then it is folly to  flood our country any further as Europe has.  It cannot be smart to bring people here who hate our country, hate our religion, and hate our ways...and who have no plans to  assimilate.

We must employ smart immigration policy because we cannot afford to become Europe.

The one in charge of protecting us  has dragged his feet all along the way, still not naming the enemy and turning planes around to abort bombing missions.  He flings the door open wide for Muslim immigrants but denies Christians who are fleeing genocide.  His public comments (delivered with his "too cool for school" demeanor) would suggest that alarm about the JV is ridiculous.

My alarm centers on his inability to make an accurate threat assessment...while at the same time dealing with "bad guys", bad-mouthing our country when on foreign soil, and dancing while Brussels burned.

You may have heard that now he has actually said this death cult is NOT AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT.  What the heck does "existential threat" mean if not that they threaten our existence?

Is he suggesting that ISIS doesn't want to eliminate the United States (or as they call us, "the great Satan").  Or would his assessment be that they are not able?  They have been able to terrorize Europe, Asia and Africa.

People intrinsically know that left unchecked, this threat is coming and is here.  We do not choose alarmism when we choose wisely.

Choosing strategic immigration policy is not a compassion-deficit, nor is it permanent.  Rather, it is a wartime choice to pragmatically recognize radical Islamic terrorism as an existential threat.  We must not be mesmerized by political correctness.

Wake up, America!

 

FORGOTTEN

Don't tell anyone, but back in the 80's Mike and I were teaching Sunday School and had taken our second graders off campus for a McDonald's treat.

When we loaded everyone back into the Suburban, somehow we didn't count right.  That's right, even back then it was a real life nightmare.

The missing boy had gone into the bathroom and when he came out, he  realized his class had left him.  He was forgotten.

To a much greater degree, that's how Joseph in the Bible must have felt.  We have been going through the life of Joseph at church this month and last Sunday, we talked about how Joseph was forgotten.

You may think your family is dysfunctional, but imagine being at the bottom of a well and hearing your brothers come to a consensus about how to finish you off.  Imagine the humiliation of getting sold into slavery to a caravan of Esau's pagan descendants.  Or what about Joseph's ascension to the top of Egyptian hierarchy, only to be falsely accused and thrown in the slammer.

Think Joseph didn't feel forgotten by God?

I try to imagine myself in those circumstances.  Could I have Joseph's attitude that displayed an amazing lack of bitterness?  Could I have squelched my inner "Poor Pitiful Pearl" and her whine "That's not fair!"?

As you read Joseph's story, all you see is his confidence that God is on the throne.  I want to be like Joseph, a "type" of Christ.

Last Sunday we also talked about the white spaces in our lives.  Ever felt like you were stuck in the white space?

Joseph was SEVENTEEN when his brothers sold him into slavery and THIRTY when he was raised to power in Egypt.  That leaves a pretty long white space of thirteen years.  Thirteen long, incarcerated years.

Joseph hoped for TWO YEARS after he interpreted the baker and cupbearer's dreams, thinking that would earn his release.

Had God forgotten Joseph?

God the Father was making Joseph more like His Son so that when Joseph's moment came and Joseph faced his brothers and saved his nation, he could say with certainty and forgiveness... "you meant it for evil, but God meant it for good".

WHEN WE RUN OUT OF STEAM IN THE WHITE SPACES AND QUIT, WE WILL NEVER KNOW THE END OF OUR STORY.  Joseph kept on.  David kept on.  Paul and Peter kept on.  We shouldn't quit in the middle of our story.

Know the rest of the story about our forgotten boy at McDonalds?  He was resourceful and started walking...alongside busy Rodney Parham Road!  The good news was someone from our church was driving by and stopped to pick him up.  The bad news was it was Robert Lewis (our pastor), so our sins found us out.  I can't believe his parents still speak to us.

Your story, my story, and the second-grader's story are all important to God.  He made you for Himself and His plans are for your good.  If you are in a white space, He is the Lifter of your head.  Lean into Him because He PROMISES to never leave you or abandon you...and God keeps all of His promises.

P.S.  If you are feeling forgotten and think Sunday's sermon would be encouraging, this will take you to an AUDIO FILE.