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Chicken Little

Do you remember the story of Chicken Little? He was walking in the barnyard and an acorn hit him on his head. He thought the sky was falling and ran around telling everyone, “The sky is falling! The sky is falling!”  He got everyone into a panic.

It seems everyone from political candidates, to legislators, to preachers, to neighbors are saying the “Sky is falling!”. And I probably have echoed that thought myself. Things seem to be getting bleak. Right is wrong. Wrong is right. Everything is upside down.

But if something fell out of the sky and hit us on the head as it did Chicken Little would we not look up to see where it came from? We’d want to know more about the situation. If for no other reason but curiosity. And it might be good to look to see how I might protect myself and those I love.

While in a devastating (“the famine was server in all the earth”) famine, Jacob and his sons wondered what to do about it – trying to make a plan. Jacob said to his sons, “Why are you staring at one another?…I have heard there is grain in Egypt; go down there and buy some for us…so that we might live and not die.”

These days we seem to stare at one another (or the TV) – looking for a solution.

Well, it might be good to look up! Psalms 121 says, “I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from whence shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”  Isaiah 45:22 says, “Turn to Me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God and there is no other.” The prophet Micah wrote, “But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy (anxiety, fear). Though I fall I will rise; though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me.”
“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
Therefore will we not fear, though the earth should change, And though the mountains be shaken into the heart of the seas Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, Though the mountains tremble with the swelling thereof.” (Psalms 46:1-22)

Yes, look up and see the mighty, sovereign, loving God sitting on His throne. He’s got it all under control.

 

 

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Israel – What Can We Do?

I was reading Psalm 89 this morning. It mentions God’s faithfulness to His covenant with David. This Psalm is a powerful description of how God holds His covenant with King David.

My heart breaks for all that is going on between Israel and Hamas. Israel is fighting for survival – it is not invading just protecting itself from this evil aggression that threatens all of civilization. Our media makes Israel out as the aggressor – it is not.

As Christians we are grafted into the Jewish family – we are deeply connected to the soul & soil of Israel. We need to be in earnest prayer for them. (See my last post.) Israel is at the very heart of God and His people.

My friend, Lydia, has suggested we read the book of Deuteronomy. A marvelous, reassuring book for these days and made me aware of some excellent organizations that are working to aid those suffering in this tragic conflict in Gaza –

a) CMJ – has begun”Operation Respite” at all their guest houses in Israel to offer shelter and relief to families (Arab and Jewish) who are being bombarded by Hamas rockets. Pray for these efforts and funds to support the loss of income at the guest houses.

b) Fellowship of Christians & Jews – This group provides relief of every kind from bomb shelters, food, medical care, humanitarian & spiritual assistance.

c) Christians United for Israel – Is having their annual Conference in Washington, DC, to promote relations between Israel and America as well as between Christians and Jews. A Night to Honor Israel will held tonight, July 21. They will contact our senators, representatives and political leaders.

We can too…call write…your representatives. They need to hear from us. Our voice can be heard. And will be in heaven!

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Refugees

I have written about my oldest daughter and her family – I called them “my refugees” – living with me while their house was being repaired last year (3 weeks) and then again as the house they bought this year was/is being remodeled (8 weeks). I know they weren’t really refugees. They had a safe, dry, clean (that’s a relative term), cool (until the AC gave out of freon) place to stay. They didn’t have beds but we made do with soft pallets on the floor. They had a bathroom and a small yard of grass and beds of mulch to play in with very tolerant, pleasant neighbors. They had their family together.

However, it was a very difficult time for them – so much upheaval and uncertainty. The children were so good but the effects of the commotion and changes began to show. (I am so proud that they didn’t break one thing!) They needed their own beds and own space – as did my daughter and son-in-law. They moved out about 10 days ago. The windows no longer have finger smudges or lip prints, the rugs are clean, sheets and towels laundered, the furniture dusted…it’s quiet and orderly once again.

I am glad they had my place to come to – I hope they will remember these weeks with fun memories! With or without fun memories I am sure they will remember the chaos and dislocation.

As we went though all of that I have to think of the refugee children on our borders. The chaos, upheaval, fear, uncertainty – it must be overwhelming to a child. I wrote about some of this in my other blog at BeliefNet: http://blog.beliefnet.com/safeplacewithruthgraham/

I don’t want to get into the politics of it here…that’s not my purpose. I do appreciate my friend Glenn Beck’s going to the border with food and toys. “We’re going to fill some tractor-trailers with food, with water,” Beck said. “The churches have asked us if we could bring teddy bears and soccer balls, so we’ve loaded up a whole tractor-trailer of nothing but teddy bears and soccer balls. And then I’m going to go serve breakfast and lunch, and I’m going to help unload these trucks, hot meals for 3,000. That’s what we’re doing.” Read Matthew 25:35-40.

In my opinion that’s the right thing to do. Many also need medical screening and attention. This is a humanitarian crisis. However, we must act with discernment and wisdom. The politicians will do what they do…they are a mess. We must do what we can do – see these innocents, the true innocents, protected and helped to be reunited with their families.

If Jesus were on earth where do you think He’d be?

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Should Evangelicals Condemn Homosexuals?

It seems that the issue of homosexuality has been front and center – of politics, healthcare, churches…almost everywhere.

I think it is a smokescreen meant to divide.

Especially in the Church. I saw it happen in my own local church. The issue thrown around which got everyone all riled up was “homosexuality” but that wasn’t the real issue. Since everyone was all stirred up, they couldn’t see the real issue. It was very sad but it is happening all over this country in many and varied ways.

I don’t believe the role of politics is to rewrite history or undermine traditional values. I don’t think government should be in my medical file or overrule my doctor’s educated wisdom of my care. The Churches’ main concern is for the Gospel – in all areas. The Gospel is good news for personal faith and salvation. It brings good news to politics as people are drawn together to solve problems honestly and with equity. It brings good news to health care as it leads the way in mercy.(There was no concern for the poor and infirmed before the Gospel.) But its business is not condemnation. The Gospel is good news for sinners of every stripe and shape.

“Run, John, run, the law commands

But gives me neither feet nor hands.

Far grander news the Gospel brings.

It bid me fly and gives me wings.”

John Erskine or John Bunyan

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