Top 5 Blog Posts of 2012 - #3

This book review was published in April of 2012 and has consistently been high on the hit list. It is especially relevant in light of the difficulties south of the border. This book is definitely worth the read.

Book Review: "The Harbinger"

If the author is right, this is a truly frightening book with profound implications. Jonathan Cahn, a Pastor and Messianic Jew, has written, in narrative form, a book that connects the recent crises in America (9/11; Wall Street) with Biblical prophecy.

I must admit that I tend to be somewhat of a skeptic when it comes to this type of thing. I have seen and heard more than my share of kooks and wing-nuts in my time. However, I do believe that Jonathan has seen something here that is real - the convergence of the details is far too precise to be accidental. Look up the details for yourself.

Here it is in a nutshell. "The Harbinger" is a prophetic book, written to reveal that the United States is under the judgment of God because it has turned away from its dependence upon Him, and has given itself to idolatry, carnality, selfishness and pride. It is a call to repentance for America, and it's pretty convincing.

The book is written as a novel, though with actual events, and keys around an ancient prophecy found in Isaiah 9:10 -

"The bricks have fallen,

But we will rebuild with hewn stone; 

The sycamores have been cut down, 

But we will plant cedars in their place." 

These verses refer to the response of the nation of Israel after an attack by the Assyrians. The attack was allowed by God as a warning for the nation to return to Him. Instead, their answer was that they would build again, stronger than before. They would not turn back to God but would, instead, defy their enemies in their own strength.

"The Harbinger" speaks of a number of remarkable similarities between the two, but also, a converging of the two events, applying ancient meaning to recent happenings. The word "harbinger" means warning or sign, and there are actually a number of signs that are given.

Using his understanding of Jewish culture and Biblical tradition Cahn makes a convincing case.

• America's leaders actually quoted Isaiah 9:10 in speeches related to 9/11, not realizing that they were speaking judgment on their own nation. They did this on three separate occasions, including the day after 9/11 by the Senate majority leader. "By the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established." (Deuteronomy 19:15)
• Some bricks that fell from the Twin Towers took down a sycamore tree on grounds adjacent to Ground Zero.
• The roots of the tree became a memorial and a symbol of defiance.
• A cedar tree was planted in its place.
• A hewn stone was symbolically placed at the site of Ground Zero, accompanied by a ceremony.
• Biblically, judgment tends to take place where the original covenant (agreement) took place.
• When the United States began, New York City was its capital.
• On April 30, 1789, George Washington became President and the first official government was established at Federal Hall (at Wall Street). On that day, Washington declared: "The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself hath ordained."
• After his inauguration, Washington lead a procession of his government to a little stone church just blocks away to pray a blessing on the nation. The entire nation had received a pronouncement to attend church and pray for the country at the same time.
• The church where they prayed was at the site of 9/11 - the only small building in close proximity that was left standing after the collapse of the towers. The sycamore tree was in the church yard. The church is now a museum of sorts.
• At the time of the inauguration the church grounds extended through the site of the twin towers.
• When the towers fell, the impact was felt for miles; the foundation of the old Federal Hall was cracked by the force. 
• The Founding Fathers recognized that the United States would only be blessed and protected by God if the nation obeyed His commands.
• God is a God of order and uses specific days to convey a message.
• On a specific day (the 29th day of the Hebrew month Elul) every seven years the Jewish nation was commanded to release all debt, It was called "The Lord's release" or "Shemitah."
• The greatest single stock market crash in Wall Street history, up to that time, took place on the 29th day of Elul - September 17, 2001.
• Seven years later to the day, in the Jewish calendar (the 29th of Elul again), on September 29th, 2008 that record was beaten as the stock market plunged again. It fell 7 percent in one day. It dropped 777 points, precisely 7 years from the previous event by the Jewish calendar on the day of "Shemitah." 

"So then the two greatest Wall Street stock market crashes not only happened on the same day on the biblical calendar, and on the one day of the biblical year ordained to wipe away credit and debt, but each one fell seven years apart on the exact once in seven years occurrence of that one Hebrew day. It's beyond amazing..."     

Judgment is intended for warning. God's desire is always for people to turn back to Him, witness the case of Nineveh, the great city of the Assyrians, that repented after Jonah preached to them. This is God's desire for all of us.

In 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 God spoke to Solomon on the occasion of the dedication of the temple and told him what the nation was to do should they fall under judgement. It's something we would all do well to heed: "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

By the way, the fact that the book refers to judgment in no way implies that Al Qaeda was right. They are morally culpable for their actions, just as the Assyrians were who attacked ancient Israel. They simply played a part in this drama.

There is obviously much that I left out, for the sake of space, but I encourage you to read the book for yourself and make your own decision. I include here a link to a site that converts our calendar to the Jewish calendar. At the very least, this novel provides an opportunity for sober reflection.

Related Articles:
Book Review: "Why Jesus?"
Some Books Worth Reading
The Manhattan Declaration
"Truth" - by Ravi Zacharias

 

Balance

Balance - it's just a word, but it has a lot of meaning.

If you're not balanced physically, a lot of bad stuff can happen. You have a hard time walking; even standing. A lack of balance makes it challenging to work, to play, to do almost anything. In fact, it can be quite dangerous. Imagine trying to cross a busy street when you're having trouble with your balance.

I think that there are even greater problems when there's a lack of balance in other areas of your life. There are some who seem to be determined to take huge risks with their finances, for example, on a regular basis. There's nothing wrong with a calculated risk - but recklessness most often leads to ruin. Learning balance enables you to maintain a certain level of stability while remaining open to opportunity when it presents itself.

Another area where the lack of balance can have serious repercussions is in the spiritual realm. I have seen many in spiritual leadership who have jumped on the bandwagon of every trend that came along, to the detriment of themselves and also those who follow.

This is, I believe, part of the purpose for the inclusion of Ephesians 4:11-16 in Scripture: 

"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."

The world is full of ideas, many of them conflicting. There's a growing trend to hold two contradictory opinions and assume that both of them can be true. That is logically inconsistent - not to mention that it breaks the law of non-contradiction. I've met many who have nowhere to stand philosophically because they have no basis for what they believe. They've simply collected random ideas that they've heard about and mixed them together, pulling out which ever one seems appropriate at the time.

In contrast to this trend towards "whatever," Jesus still speaks clearly. In Matthew 7:24-29, Jesus wraps up His famous "Sermon on the Mount" with the startling claim that whoever heard what He said and failed to put it into practice would ultimately find ruin; yet those who obeyed His teachings would stand the test of time. These verses speak of foundation, of finding balance.

Throughout Scripture we find references to God's way, His path, His truth. Here is where we find stability. Archimedes once said, “Give me a place to stand and I will move the world." Looking back through history, we find countless men and women who have changed the world by standing on the firm place that is the Word of God. 


How balanced is your faith? Are you standing on the shaky ground of opinion or the rock solid that is God's revealed Word?


Related Articles:
Book Review: "Has Christianity Failed You?"
Christianity & Science
What Is a Christ-follower?
What's Wrong With the Church?
Where Is God When You Need Him?

Book Review: "The Harbinger"

If the author is right, this is a truly frightening book with profound implications. Jonathan Cahn, a Pastor and Messianic Jew, has written, in narrative form, a book that connects the recent crises in America (9/11; Wall Street) with Biblical prophecy.

I must admit that I tend to be somewhat of a skeptic when it comes to this type of thing. I have seen and heard more than my share of kooks and wing-nuts in my time. However, I do believe that Jonathan has seen something here that is real - the convergence of the details is far too precise to be accidental. Look up the details for yourself.

Here it is in a nutshell. "The Harbinger" is a prophetic book, written to reveal that the United States is under the judgment of God because it has turned away from its dependence upon Him, and has given itself to idolatry, carnality, selfishness and pride. It is a call to repentance for America, and it's pretty convincing.

The book is written as a novel, though with actual events, and keys around an ancient prophecy found in Isaiah 9:10 -

"The bricks have fallen,

But we will rebuild with hewn stone; 

The sycamores have been cut down, 

But we will plant cedars in their place." 

These verses refer to the response of the nation of Israel after an attack by the Assyrians. The attack was allowed by God as a warning for the nation to return to Him. Instead, their answer was that they would build again, stronger than before. They would not turn back to God but would, instead, defy their enemies in their own strength.

"The Harbinger" speaks of a number of remarkable similarities between the two, but also, a converging of the two events, applying ancient meaning to recent happenings. The word "harbinger" means warning or sign, and there are actually a number of signs that are given.

Using his understanding of Jewish culture and Biblical tradition Cahn makes a convincing case.

• America's leaders actually quoted Isaiah 9:10 in speeches related to 9/11, not realizing that they were speaking judgment on their own nation. They did this on three separate occasions, including the day after 9/11 by the Senate majority leader. "By the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established." (Deuteronomy 19:15)
• Some bricks that fell from the Twin Towers took down a sycamore tree on grounds adjacent to Ground Zero.
• The roots of the tree became a memorial and a symbol of defiance.
• A cedar tree was planted in its place.
• A hewn stone was symbolically placed at the site of Ground Zero, accompanied by a ceremony.
• Biblically, judgment tends to take place where the original covenant (agreement) took place.
• When the United States began, New York City was its capital.
• On April 30, 1789, George Washington became President and the first official government was established at Federal Hall (at Wall Street). On that day, Washington declared: "The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself hath ordained."
• After his inauguration, Washington lead a procession of his government to a little stone church just blocks away to pray a blessing on the nation. The entire nation had received a pronouncement to attend church and pray for the country at the same time.
• The church where they prayed was at the site of 9/11 - the only small building in close proximity that was left standing after the collapse of the towers. The sycamore tree was in the church yard. The church is now a museum of sorts.
• At the time of the inauguration the church grounds extended through the site of the twin towers.
• When the towers fell, the impact was felt for miles; the foundation of the old Federal Hall was cracked by the force. 
• The Founding Fathers recognized that the United States would only be blessed and protected by God if the nation obeyed His commands.
• God is a God of order and uses specific days to convey a message.
• On a specific day (the 29th day of the Hebrew month Elul) every seven years the Jewish nation was commanded to release all debt, It was called "The Lord's release" or "Shemitah."
• The greatest single stock market crash in Wall Street history, up to that time, took place on the 29th day of Elul - September 17, 2001.
• Seven years later to the day, in the Jewish calendar (the 29th of Elul again), on September 29th, 2008 that record was beaten as the stock market plunged again. It fell 7 percent in one day. It dropped 777 points, precisely 7 years from the previous event by the Jewish calendar on the day of "Shemitah." 

"So then the two greatest Wall Street stock market crashes not only happened on the same day on the biblical calendar, and on the one day of the biblical year ordained to wipe away credit and debt, but each one fell seven years apart on the exact once in seven years occurrence of that one Hebrew day. It's beyond amazing..."     

Judgment is intended for warning. God's desire is always for people to turn back to Him, witness the case of Nineveh, the great city of the Assyrians, that repented after Jonah preached to them. This is God's desire for all of us.

In 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 God spoke to Solomon on the occasion of the dedication of the temple and told him what the nation was to do should they fall under judgement. It's something we would all do well to heed: "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

By the way, the fact that the book refers to judgment in no way implies that Al Qaeda was right. They are morally culpable for their actions, just as the Assyrians were who attacked ancient Israel. They simply played a part in this drama.

There is obviously much that I left out, for the sake of space, but I encourage you to read the book for yourself and make your own decision. I include here a link to a site that converts our calendar to the Jewish calendar. At the very least, this novel provides an opportunity for sober reflection.

Related Articles:
Book Review: "Why Jesus?"
Some Books Worth Reading
The Manhattan Declaration
"Truth" - by Ravi Zacharias

Saudi Arabia Calls For Destruction of Churches

Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia

Muslim leaders have once again given themselves a black eye as the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia has called for "the destruction of all churches on the Arabian Peninsula." The Grand Mufti is the highest official of religious law in a Sunni country, and as such his pronouncements carry considerable weight. There are no churches allowed in Saudi Arabia currently, so the statement seems to be aimed at Kuwait and other countries in the peninsula.

This is particularly disconcerting as there is already heavy persecution of Christians taking place in other Middle-Eastern nations, Egypt, Iran, Iraq and Syria being just a few examples. The "Arab Spring" which brought so much hope just a few months ago has instead resulted in social upheaval and blatant attacks on the Christian community.

The questions on the minds of many commentators and journalists is this: where are the voices of moderate Islam rising to condemn this persecution? All we hear is silence. In country after country where Islam is dominant, all other religions face prejudice at best and extreme persecution at worst.

I remember when the Islamic apologists came out after 9/11 to tell us all that Islam is a religion of peace, whose name actually means peace. What they didn't share is that the word "islam" actually means "submission" or "surrender." The "peace" Islam refers to is when everyone bows in submission to Muslim rule. It's difficult to deny this when simply observing the Islamic countries of the world.

One example is Iran, currently holding Youcef Nadarkhani on death row for the crime of converting to Christianity, and his is merely one of the "visible" cases. Another is Iraq, where the Christian population, with a history in the area of 2,000 years, has been decimated by persecution, with reports saying as many as half have had to leave since 2003. Suicide attacks and death squads plague those who remain. In Pakistan, the only Christian member of parliament, Shahbaz Bhatti, was assassinated last year. Many Christians remain in prison on false charges due to the "blasphemy law" which has been used by Muslims to persecute their Christian neighbors. Courts have hesitated to defend the innocent for fear of mob violence.

These are just a few examples, there are literally thousands more. In Nigeria, a jihad has been declared to irradicate all Christians from the north of the country. Many have already died. There are numerous examples from Somalia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Indonesia and elsewhere. For more information go here.

So, what are we to do about this? There are a few things.

• Think.

The next time someone tells you that all religions are the same, tell them to give their head a shake. There are fundamental differences between the major religions that need to be recognized. Jesus said to love our enemies, Muhammed taught that Allah wanted them to kill all "infidels" (non-believers). Huge difference. We need to, once again, be free to enter into public debate on truth issues without the shackles of political correctness.

• Become informed. 

There's a lot of great material out there to help you to be brought up to speed on what is happening around the world. Here's a link to a great place to start. 

• Pray.

It's amazing that, when asked, many of those imprisoned are not looking for sympathy, they're wanting prayer that the spread of the Gospel of peace would continue. Here's a link to help you get connected. In some of the places of the world where persecution is most extreme, Christianity is growing. Pray for new converts from Islam to Christianity, many of whom risk their lives. Two recent converts from Islam were stabbed in Norway by hooded assailants yelling "Infidels."

• Spread the word.

You may not be a writer, but you can copy and paste a link, or hit share on Facebook. 

If you are a Christian, understand that Jesus said "in this world you will have trouble." People are not our enemy, no matter what they believe. Throughout history, some of the strongest opponents to Christianity have become some of our greatest evangelists. Witness the Apostle Paul for one. Pray for Christians around the world not to respond to violence with violence, for in so doing they turn their backs on their own Saviour. Here is what Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:43-44)

Related Articles:
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Shahbaz Bhatti - Christian Martyr

“Dear Harold Camping…”

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for a few weeks, no doubt you’re all
aware that the rapture was supposed to take place last Saturday, May 21st at
6 PM, rolling through the different time zones. This was according to Harold
Camping, the 89 year old President of Family Radio. He and his followers spent months and millions of dollars advertising the coming apocalypse on billboards, radio, flyers and signs on vehicles around the world. Well, today is May 29th and we’re still here.

He’s not the first to make such bold pronouncements. In fact, it’s not the first time that he has done so: he predicted previously that the world would end in 1994. I remember that someone predicted the world would end in 1976. A man by the name of Edgar Whisenant predicted the end of the world in 1988. Many predicted that it would end at the turn of the 21st century.

So, what are we to make of Mr. Camping and people like him? From what I can tell, those who know him would say that he’s a nice man. In fact, someone who interviewed him in 1994 said that about him. It also appears that he sincerely believed what he said. I can’t get inside his head, but I don’t see any malicious intent.

But regardless of his intent, the predictions that he made had major consequences. A California woman named Lyn Benedetto was one of millions who heard Camping’s message, and became concerned that her daughters would suffer terribly in the coming apocalypse. She allegedly tried to kill them with box cutters. She then tried to kill herself, though police arrested Benedetto and all three survived.

Others were not so lucky. An elderly man in Taiwan reportedly killed himself on May 5ahead of the Rapture by jumping out of a building. He had heard that doomsday was imminent, and had taken recent earthquakes and tsunamis as early warning signs. Reportedly, a 14 year old girl in Russia was so frightened by the prediction that she committed suicide.

Others reactions were maybe not so dramatic, but many people were impacted by Mr. Camping. Some of his followers were spending all their money in the days leading up to May 21. I had quite a few people, Christian and non asking me for my opinion about his predictions. So what I wanted to do with this piece is to see what we can learn from this fiasco. What are the lessons that we can take away from the events, or lack of events, over the past couple of weeks.

When you hear something serious, consider the source.
Who is Harold Camping anyway? Mr. Camping was raised in a Christian Reformed Church and has a Civil Engineering Degree. He started his own construction company after World War 2 and has been quite successful. In 1958 he and some friends purchased a radio station in California and began Family Radio. Since that time he has become the President, General Manager and chief teacher on an expanding network of stations. There is no indication in any of the station’s published material that Mr. Camping has any formal theological training.

At some point the station determined that “God has shifted the final task of world evangelism to individual Christians who are outside of a local congregation. In obedience to these Biblical teachings, Family Radio, which is completely outside of any church institution, and which is supported and administered by individual believers, does teach that today, as we are heading for the end of this world’s existence, we should not be a part of a local church.”

Why was Harold Camping wrong?
• He was wrong because he refused to be accountable.
At various times over the years I’ve had people I’ve never met come into my office and tell me that they have a message from God that I must share with my congregation. The first question that I ask them is “who is your pastor?” Almost without fail they will tell me that they don’t attend any particular church because all churches are wrong and will not listen to the message that God has given them. In other words, they are accountable to no-one but God. That is a dangerous place to be. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 11:14 that “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.”

There is such a thing as the gift of prophecy which is spoken of in Scripture. God will give insight to individuals about events or people that they would not know naturally. I remember an encounter I had about 12 years ago after I’d been in my current pastorate for about a year. I didn’t want to leave my previous church and was very disappointed that things didn’t go differently. As we were pulling out of the driveway of the parsonage to move to my current church, I turned to my wife and said: “Well, the dream just died.” Even though I loved my new church and we were having success over that first year, I had this nagging feeling that I didn’t accomplish what I set out to do in my previous church; that I had failed. I was discouraged.

About that time, I was attending a meeting of pastors in in a nearby town, listening to a guest speaker by the name of Paul Schoch, an elderly preacher with a good reputation. As he was speaking, I had a quirky thought that I wrote down, unrelated to his topic. I thought it might make a good message title some day. It said simply, “Get in the jet stream of the Holy Spirit.” After his talk he asked if he could pray for us. Then he came and stood right in front of me. He began to speak, “You said, ‘the dream has died,’ but God says to you, ‘I am doing a new thing. Get in the jet stream of the Holy Spirit.’” I was dumbfounded. I felt that God was speaking directly to me, and it felt right. That experience helped to confirm that God had been leading me the whole time. While I didn’t understand why things had happened the way they had, He was still in control. I really needed to hear that.

In 1 Corinthians 12:27, 28 the Bible tells us that God gave us gifts to help us; pastors, teachers, gifts of discernment, healing, teaching, all kinds of things. But it says that He placed them within the church. Each is to use their gift to help build up the whole church, which is called “The Body of Christ.” Part of the problem with Mr. Camping is that he removed himself from all of those parts of the body that could have served to keep him from making those errors.

If I had made the kind of claims that Mr. Camping did, I, first of all, would have some of my congregation challenge me at the door to defend my position from Scripture, and that’s a good thing. Secondly, one of my associate pastors would have challenged me. Thirdly, the church board would have taken me to task, and, if that didn’t work, my denominational leaders would have stepped in to force me to defend my
position Biblically or acknowledge my error. This is a good reason to belong to a good church.

• He was wrong because he didn’t properly interpret Scripture.
When the Apostle Paul was writing to a young pastor, named Timothy, who he had mentored, he said this: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) There’s a right way and a wrong way to interpret Scripture.

Camping and his followers went to great lengths to say that the Bible “guaranteed” that the end of the world would come on May 21st. How did he arrive at his conclusions? He takes a number of Scriptures; rips them out of their context and makes them say what he wants them to say. (Daniel 8:14; 2 Peter 3:8; and Revelation 9:5 for example) He also ignores other Scriptures that make it very clear that what he’s saying cannot be true.

In Matthew 24:36 Jesus says this: “But about that day or hour no one knows,
not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” In verse 44
He said, “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” It doesn’t sound like it’s an event that can be announced on billboards, does it?

When we’re studying the Bible we have to understand that God is not trying to confuse us. There are a lot of people who have spent a large part of their lives looking for the hidden messages in the Bible. Their time would be better spent living up to the clear principles and teachings laid out in Scripture.

One of the principles of Biblical interpretation is that God does not contradict Himself. So if we find verses in one part of the Bible which seem to contradict others in another part of the Bible, we need to question our interpretation and be sure we’re looking at it in the right context. This is particularly important in the area of Biblical prophecy. As Paul said in Romans 3:4, “Let God be true, and every human being a liar.” What he’s saying is this: if you can rely on anything, it is the Word of God. People make mistakes, sometimes people may lie. But God is true.

There are parts of the Bible which speak of things which are still to come. For example, there are hundreds of prophecies in the Old Testament about Jesus, written hundreds of years before He was born. Jesus fulfilled all of them that referred to Him through His ascension. Yet, Jesus’ own disciples didn’t understand them until after His death; until after they had been fulfilled. Luke 24:13-35 gives an account of a post-resurrection appearance of Jesus as He explained to two disciples about the Old Testament prophecies concerning Him.

The writers of the Bible were sometimes relating visions which God had given them, which they themselves didn’t understand. They were writing them as they experienced them. For anyone to say, as Harold Camping did, that the Bible "guarantees" that a
prophetic event will occur in a particular way in certainty, is basically to claim that they are speaking inerrantly for God. They understand better than everyone else does. The problem is that Harold Camping is human, he is not God. Harold Camping has also been wrong many times before. So…

• Harold Camping was wrong because he presumed he was infallible.
When people make bold claims they invite scrutiny; they put themselves under the microscope. What also happens, though, is that people like Camping, who has said that he will not be under any church authority, give non-believers a great excuse to dismiss Christianity as a whole. For that, Mr. Camping will have to carry some heavy responsibility.

I remember when Y2K was rolling around, and books were being written and a number of people, inside the church and out, were predicting the end of civilization as we know it. There was one woman in this area who was saying that God had told her that major events would occur on that date, and she had a number of people who believed her. I heard one of them say that “If it didn’t happen, then God isn’t God.” That’s the kind of crazy statement that paints people into corners and makes God look bad.

God never said that. Someone thought that God said that. There is a big difference. If you honestly feel like God is trying to say something through you, than at least be humble enough to say, “I have a sense that this is what God is saying.” That leaves room for you to be mistaken – and you may be. It’s too bad Harold Camping didn’t do that. It could have saved he and his followers from a world of hurt.

General Principles Learned
Don’t try to make the Bible say more than it does.
I have many volumes of books on my shelves called commentaries. They are written by different people about the same subject. On some issues, like prophecies about the end of the world for example, there are different views on the same verses. That’s okay. They recognize that, as 1 Corinthians 13 tells us, “Now we see through a glass darkly…”

Major on the majors.
I’m often asked to preach series' on the end times. I hesitate to do that because much of it is speculative; and often it leads to more questions than answers. There is value to it, but it must be handled correctly. But there are some things that we know for sure.

Jesus promised that He would return – and He doesn’t lie. (John 14:3)

No-one but God knows the day or the hour that Jesus will return.(Matthew 24:36, 44)

Jesus said that we ought to live our lives in such a way that, no matter when He comes, we’ll be ready. (Luke 12)

When Jesus comes for His people, it will be a good day – if you’re ready.
“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who
sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

Bottom line. Study your Bible.

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If God Is Good, How Could This Happen?

Akiane

I've had so many hits on my post about Akiane Kramarik that I thought I'd revisit the subject. I've been watching with interest some of the interviews posted with her and looking at some of her art again. It's a very interesting story, and part of the intrigue is the mystery surrounding her and her family's beliefs.

Akiane Kramarik is an incredibly talented young artist whose paintings can now sell for millions of dollars. She has been featured on Oprah, CNN, Good Morning America and many others. Part of the intense interest around Akiane is due to the spiritual nature of her art and her claims to have received her inspiration from visions and dreams, beginning at an early age. As a 3-4 year-old girl, she would try to explain to her mother what she was seeing. Finally she began to draw what she had experienced.

Her mother, seeing her obvious talent, began to provide her with the tools she needed to develop. By the age of 8, her work had begun to win her recognition. For samples of her work, listed by age, go here. What is really remarkable is that Akiane's parents were atheists, she was also home-schooled and her family didn't own a television. Yet Akiane continuously provided a stream of spiritually themed art. This plus her continued insistence on her encounters with God eventually lead the whole family to convert to Christianity, according to her mother.

This spiritual journey seems to have changed between this interview in 2006 and 2010. In a wide-ranging video interview in 2010 Akiane spoke of her family's spiritual journey, referring to her own beliefs as non-denominational, and stating that she has always believed in God, and still does. She has painted Jesus, angels and heaven. Much of her art is about people, and is often blended with her poems. She would probably not refer to herself as a Christian but as "spiritual." She writes of other dimensions which she has visited in her visions and dreams, and often puts these visions onto canvas; she says that she has been given glimpses of the future and of the past.

As a pastor, I'm often asked for my opinion about Akiane and people like her. Is she for real? Does God really show her visions of heaven and other dimensions? Has she seen Jesus? Is this what He really looked like? These last questions come from the mention of Akiane's painting in the book, "Heaven Is For Real." This is a book about a young boy who had a near death experience and began to share things with his parents which they hadn't shared with him. He also claimed to have visited heaven and seen Jesus. The painting of Jesus that he claimed was authentic was the one that Akiane had painted at age 8.

Setting that aside, here are some thoughts. Firstly, the modern church has had a hard time knowing what to do with the arts. Generally speaking, the church has tried to put people into molds and keep them there. If artists don't fit the mold, they're often treated very harshly. This seems to have happened with Akiane, as she has received very sharp criticism of her work, even when she was a little child. She refers to some who have told her that her artwork is "demonic" because it has dark shadows in it, and she should burn it. On almost every website you'll find sharp criticism from very outspoken "Christians." Seeing this, I'm not sure how I would react as a new Christian if people told me my creations were demonic. This may help explain her continued spiritual searching. She seems to be saying what Mahatma Gandhi said: "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

Secondly, I do believe that Akiane is gifted with natural talent, and the Bible teaches us that every good and perfect gift comes from God. What we do with that gift or talent is our responsibility. It seems that Akiane is a sincere young lady, trying to make the world a better place. I also believe that children seem to have a much keener sensitivity to God, and much of her earlier work reflects that innocence.

Finally, and here is the part that I hope is not misunderstood, anyone who makes truth claims will be called upon to defend those claims. As Akiane gets older, her belief system will, no doubt, be refined. It is one thing to say that you were inspired to paint a certain work of art; it's another entirely to say that God has revealed some new truth to you for the benefit of the world. When you make a truth claim you will inevitably bump up against others and that will cause friction.

The question is, does Akiane's art reflect God-revealed truth or is it the product of a fertile imagination. My guess is that it is a little bit of both. As a Christian, my frame of reference is Scripture. The same Jesus that Akiane painted as an 8 year old stated clearly, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) This is clearly a truth claim. It's also a large part of the reason that other religions have such a hard time with Christianity, it doesn't lend itself to compromise.

I, for one, will be watching Akiane's career with interest. She is a very gifted artist - who is doing very well for herself - and, no doubt, has a bright future. I do fear that her very narrow frame of reference (home-schooling, self-styled spirituality, and small management team) will keep her from having her beliefs tested. I believe in the spiritual principle that "iron sharpens iron," and that our experiences and beliefs need to be tested. I won't be rushing to judgment, however, it seems that there are enough people doing that.

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Are You Listening?

Is there a God up there or not? If you go by the way that I live my life, you'd probably wonder. It's amazing how many times I find myself living as though God doesn't exist, or at least as though He's disinterested in me and the events in my life. Yet I know that is the farthest from the truth.

There have been times in my life when I've sensed the presence of God in such a real and tangible way that I was sure I'd open my eyes and see Him there. But there have been other times when I've prayed, even wept in desperation, looking for a glimpse of Him, but felt nothing. Then I'm reminded... it's called faith for a reason.

Hebrews 11:1 says "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." The rest of the chapter gives us a glimpse into the lives of people who lived out this faith walk. People like Abraham, Jacob and Joseph, who walked in relationship with a God that they could not physically see. The whole thing is totally nonsensical to a lot of people.

But I do think that is precisely the point. God wants us to choose Him; not be so overwhelmed by the evidence that we have no other choice. If you desire to see God, you'll see Him everywhere; if not, you won't. You either marvel at the beauty of God`s creation and the intricate systems that have been established in order to sustain human life on this planet, or you marvel instead at the way that impersonal time and chance have resulted in the statistically improbable beauty of this planet within this solar system, within this galaxy within the universe. What are the odds?

That's why it declares in Hebrews 11:6 that "...without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." And this is the part where I sometimes fail. I do believe in God; I have built my life upon that faith. However, there have been times when I have failed to live that way.

I'm sure I'm like many others who tend to be too independent. I like to solve my own problems wherever possible and, often, I turn to God as my final alternative. Yet this flies in the face of the way that God intended for us to live. He desires relationship with us, not merely religious service out of some kind of guilt motivation.

Throughout Scripture we see God calling us to this kind of lifestyle, particularly as God revealed Himself through Jesus. He modelled that kind of relationship for us. It didn't matter what He was doing; how busy He was, He always found the time to get alone with God the Father. It was the relationship which was key in His accomplishing His purpose.

So, how do we follow this model? How do we live our lives in such a way as to demonstrate that the God we serve is alive and working?

First of all, it must be intentional. Like any relationship, in order to grow in it, we must work at it. King David, who was called "a man after God's own heart" said in Psalm 5:3 "In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." I have found it makes a huge difference if I take time in the morning to reaffirm my commitment to God. Too many people rely on their past experience and neglect the relationship.

It's not only the morning, though. I've learned, in whatever situation I find myself, to ask the question, where is God in this? Since Scripture clearly teaches us that God is intimately involved in the details of our lives, it makes sense to look for His handiwork. What has been most helpful for me is to look at each challenge through the lens of John 10:10.

In this verse, Jesus says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." What we see clearly represented in this verse is the spiritual reality taking place around us. The first truth we need to understand is that we have an enemy, and he's trying to destroy us. The second reality is that we have a God who loves us, who calls Himself the Good Shepherd, and who has come to give us life. 1 John 3:8 tells us that "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work."

I ask three questions based upon these realities. The first question is: What is the enemy trying to accomplish in this situation? The second is: What is God trying to do in this situation? The third is the question that reveals where the rubber meets the road. In light of those two realities, what ought I to do in this situation? Living life in these terms brings us into alignment with what is taught in the Proverbs. Proverbs 3:5-6 teaches "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

So, is there a God, or not. Absolutely there is, and He wants to be known by us. He speaks to us through His Word and by His Spirit. In order to hear Him, therefore, we must take the time to read the Bible and to spend the time in prayer, not just talking, but listening as well. Try it this week, you might be surprised at what you hear.

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Straight Talk For Tough Times

That great comic-strip philosopher, Pogo, said it best when he said "We've seen the enemy, and he is us." In the battle for the hearts and the minds of people, perhaps the most effective weapon of the enemies of the truth is the well-intentioned (sometimes) influence of some of those who claim to speak for the church. I'm speaking of the rise of liberalism in the church.

There have been differences of opinion in the church since the earliest days - read the letters to the Corinthians for example - but, almost without exception, there has been a common appeal to Scripture as the arbitrator of those disagreements. There are still differences between Christian denominations over baptism, the role of women, interpretation of prophecy, etc..., but the major tenets of Scripture have been accepted by all Christian groups who didn't want to find themselves on a list of cults.

Those beliefs have been summarized in different ways over the centuries, but the Apostolic Creed is certainly representative: "I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen."

This creed, and other such confessions, could be agreed upon because there was first a fundamental commitment to the Bible as the inspired Word of God. These creedal statements are clear teachings which have been passed down from the teachings of Jesus and His disciples to the church and which are clearly evident in Scripture. There have been those within the church over the course of history who have challenged some of these teachings, particularly in the early days of the church, whose positions were clearly and soundly rebutted by the early church fathers. God has called the church to be the "pillar and ground of the truth," the place where God's truth is to be declared. Sadly, in many churches, liberalism and compromise have replaced the sound teaching of Scripture.

Modern liberalism has arisen partly as a response of some within the church to the pervasiveness of naturalism and the perceived need for the church to be more relevant to those raised in a scientific age. So, they've created a gospel with a small "g;" they've espoused a Jesus who was a good teacher, but performed no miracles, and who certainly wasn't virgin-born. Some have gone so far as to claim that Jesus was an amalgam of myths assembled from many different cultures and times that had little similarity to the Jesus of history.

Challenges like these are not new. What is new is that these challenges are coming from those who purport to be Christian ministers and who preach from Christian pulpits. Many within their own congregations sre shocked to find that their pastor doesn't believe in Easter; in fact denies the resurrection. People always have a right to their opinion, but how hypocritical is it to be receiving a salary from a Christian church while, at the same time, denying the fundamental beliefs upon which that church was established?

This, I believe, is a far greater threat than anything outside of the church, and this challenge should be met head on. We don't decide what Jesus said because a bunch of liberal scholars in "The Jesus Seminar" voted with colored beads; we have God's Word handed down to us from generation to generation. There are literally tens of thousands of manuscripts, of a better quality and quantity by far than for any other ancient manuscript. When you begin your deliberations believing that there's no such thing as miracles, you find what you're looking for. In fact, these remind me of those Paul warned of in 2 Timothy 3:5 - "having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people."

Thankfully, it seems that, by and large, their message is being rejected. Eileen Lindner reports in her Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches that: "the more liberal a church is the faster that denomination is declining." What concerns me is the confusion that is sown by those who don't take the time to look deeper and see that these arguments are not based on evidence but on presumption.

So, what is the answer? We need to know what we believe and why. I recommend courses like "The Truth Project" for every Christian. If that's too deep for you, start with "Alpha." If you're up for a challenge, read some of Ravi Zacharias' work. But apply yourself to know the truth. Be able to defend yourself. The truth matters.

Does God Want You To Have A Cadillac?

I'll get the confessions out of the way right off the top. One of my pet-peeves is the so-called prosperity Gospel which is being promoted from many North American pulpits. I find it morally repugnant that some preachers tell people living in one of the wealthiest societies in the history of the world that getting even richer is something that they should expect if, indeed, they are followers of God.

I've read the Bible through a number of times; I myself am a pastor and a preacher. I am at a loss to find how a balanced view of the Scriptures can lead to the conclusion that some in this movement have reached. The Bible does teach that our lives will be blessed. It does teach that if we are faithful to God He will provide all of our needs. It also says that "People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction." (1 Timothy 6:9).

So, what does the Bible teach about money?

1. There's nothing wrong with money - in and of itself. We know this because Jesus used money and commented on it. He told his disciples to look at a coin and tell him whose inscription was on it. Then he said in Matthew 22:21: "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." Many have wrongly quoted Jesus as saying that "Money is the root of all evil." It was actually the Apostle Paul, and what he said, in 1 Timothy 6:10, is this: "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."
2. Money can be used for good or evil. Again, Jesus gives us examples of both of these. He praises the widow who gave an offering of 2 mites, each of them worth 1/5 of a penny (Mark 12:42). In Mark 12 he draws a comparison between her small gift and the seemingly more generous gifts of the wealthy. In his eyes, her gift was better because she gave all she had and the wealthy merely gave spending money. Hers was a heart gift.
3. The management of our money is a reflection of God's place in our lives. In 2 Corinthians 8:5 Paul commends the church in Macedonia who gave "out of their deep poverty." He praises them because they "gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will." Note firstly that they were not wealthy themselves; secondly, they were giving to help the church in Jerusalem, which was also experiencing hardship.
4. Becoming a Christian does not guarantee wealth nor a free pass on the problems of life. No less an authority than Jesus Christ Himself said "In this world you will have trouble..." He also told us in Matthew 16:24 that: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." The Apostle Paul, likely the greatest missionary in the history of the church, had so many challenges to overcome that he said in 1 Corinthians 15:19 that: "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men." It is the resurrection of the dead that provides hope for Christians - not the promise of wealth on earth.
5. Wealth does not necessarily reflect God's blessing. A cursory glance at any list of the world's wealthiest people should give enough evidence of this. If this were true why is it that in a society which is the richest in the history of the world antidepressants are a multi-billion dollar industry?
6. Each of us is responsible to God for our use of the resources placed at our disposal. This goes for the poor as well as the wealthy. In Matthew 25:14-30 Jesus gives His Parable of the Talents. Note that he expected the same faithfulness from the one who was given one talent as he did from the one who was given five.
7. Sometimes God does reward us with material blessings. Scripture clearly teaches us that all of the good things that we enjoy are gifts from God, including things like raises and bonuses. Luke 6:38 says "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." In context, this clearly speaks to more than material wealth, as Jesus had just been speaking of the law of reaping and sowing.

Conclusion: As a general principle, the Bible does teach that if we walk in obedience to God and His Word our lives will be blessed. That blessing can, and often does, include material things. However, the Bible also teaches that the gifts we are given are meant to be used to advance God's purposes in the world. Wealth for its own sake is condemned as selfishness and sin in Scripture (See Luke 12).

As a pastor I've always had the belief that God's Word is universally true. His principles do not change whether you live in Hollywood or in a village in Africa. If it is true that prosperity always signifies God's approval, then the lack of prosperity would signify His disapproval. If that is the case then most of the New Testament Christians (most of the Christians in history!) have lived under God's disapproval. I much prefer to stand with men like the Apostle Paul, who said in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18: "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

This Sunday is quote day.

“Defend the Bible? I would just as soon defend a lion. Just turn the Bible loose. It will defend itself.” - Charles Spurgeon

"There are more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than in any profane history." - Sir Isaac Newton

"Another century and there will not be a Bible on earth!" - Voltaire (1694-1778)

"To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it." - G.K. Chesterton

"A great many of those who 'debunk' traditional...values have in the background values of their own which they believe to be immune from the debunking process." - C. S. Lewis