Lent: Speaking Out

As the days of Lent continue, I wanted to share a way that Derek has been challenged in his spiritual maturity. You guys know that Derek is a reader. His form of entertainment, study, reflection...all of it is by the act of reading. Recently, some excitement in our church over a new book caused Derek some pause. The book is the Harbinger: The Ancient Mystery that holds the Secret of America's Future, by Jonathan Cahn. For the first time in our marriage, Derek was actually annoying while reading a book. Every few paragraphs he would interrupt my reading to exclaim the absurdity of some of the books claims. I'm not going to sit here and say I've read the book and after Derek's reaction to it, I'm definitely not putting it on my list of books to read, but I will say that I'm so thankful for his faith - founded in the Word of God. Christ is his cornerstone. Not some new age theology or misinterpretation of prophecy. He let's the Word stand over him, not he stand over the Word. For this, I am so thankful.He is speaking OUT! Here is the review that Derek wrote on Amazon about the book:

This review is from: The Harbinger: The ancient mystery that holds the secret of America's future (Paperback)

While this book has some decent reflections on OT prophesy and events and God's purposes behind both, it builds it's central message on a flawed, though apparently common, understanding of America. The author makes a comparison between the nation of Israel and the USA that has no basis biblically. The author says that there have been only two nations in the history of the world that have been established with a covenant between the nation and God. He then uses this reasoning to link an OT prophesy given to Israel with current day America. While the linking of the prophesies with current events is impressive, and surely we can learn something from these prophesies that applies to us today, there are some huge errors and dangerous implications if we make such a link between Israel and America.

First of all, Israel did not "choose" God. God chose Israel. So, any attempt to say that Israel and America are similar in that they both set out as nations that "chose" God falls flat. There is no evidence that God has a similar "choosing" of America. Sure, God has purposes for America in his overarching plan of redemption for the world, but America is not a "chosen" nation, whom God works with in elevated and special ways, different from other nations.

Secondly, such a comparison between pre-Christ Israel and current day America fails to rightly understand God's means of engaging and reaching the world. God chose Israel as his people, that he might reveal himself to them and reach the whole world through them. God chose to enter human history through a specific people at a specific time. He didn't only come for the Israelites but He came through them. Today, post-Christ, God's primary means of reaching and engaging the world is not through any nation or state. It's through his church, the universal, all nation encompassing body of believers. America is not his chosen means to spread his salvation and love to the world. The church is.

Such misunderstanding seems to be quite widespread in America and leads me to believe that it has at its root an idolatry of a certain perception of America. "America is a Christian nation and until we get back to these roots there is no hope for our country." False. Hope does not come from our government, from our country being based on Christian ideals, or from having a godly president (though none of these are bad things). Hope comes from God and as the church spreads His gospel to the world. Don't put your hope in our country or government aligning to certain ideals or us getting back to being a more "christian" nation. This is idolatry. Seek the good of our country for sure, but don't make our country the greatest good. God is our greatest good and are only hope.

America is not the current day Israel, God's chosen people. America is not the hope of the world. God is. The church is his means of spreading that hope.

Lent: In the Middle

Just thought someone might identify with this cartoon.

Hi friends and family. We are still in the midst of Lent, which will culminate April 8th, Easter Sunday. This season has been so full of revelation, marriage renovation and life innovation! As we've stated in a previous post, we have gained a deeper understanding of what we want in our lives. We've also started a nightly/early AM devotional together by Derek's favorite author, D.A. Carson. We've picked up some of the good habits we practiced while in Korea and have began exercising more regularly together.

Derek recently went to a conference in Albuquerque, NM, a six hour drive with his friend Matt. They went and heard D.A. Carson speak at a Gospel Coalition conference. They had a great time and learned a lot. However, Derek called to tell me that there was a bookstore selling all of his favorite books on theology for 30% off. Derek came home with lots of new toys and even a new book "for me" (wink, wink). Doing this devotional together, whether it's 6am and we are up walking the dogs or its 10pm right before we crash for the evening, has really drawn our hearts together in Christ. It's transformational to read the word of God with your husband and to see him grow in his spiritual headship of your marriage. I'm so thankful for this and pray this same transformation over your marriages.

In other news I've been incredibly hard to pin down and answer/return phone calls. My only excuse is pure exhaustion. The culprit is many: sleep deprivation, two very energetic dogs, a church that has an event every day and the job. All of which are incredible blessings. I'm making an effort to be better in touch with anyone who wants it. So, if you are that person, let me know. I'll be there. (Just show me grace).

In other news, it has been raining in the desert. We've had three nights of good rain and thunderstorms here in Midland. Checking our car for hail damage has been a new item on our morning checklist. We should be in the triple digits by the end of next month...

Lent: Joy

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and pace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Roman 15:13

Lent is a season of deep repentance, yes. But, it should also be a time when we are keenly aware of the joy that we have in Christ. As son's and daughter's of Christ..." we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character,  hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by they Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."  Romand 5:2-5

Derek keeps a list of verses on JOY taped to his computer monitor on his desk at work. As he looks at his computer, he can't miss the sheet full of reasons to celebrate JOY. Today, we pray that each of you would know the JOY God has for you and your life.

Psalm 5:11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your  name may rejoice in you.

Psalm 100:1-2 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.

 Jeremiah 15:16 When your words came, II ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God Almighty.

 John 15:9-11 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace...

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: REJOICE! 

1 Thessalonians 5:16 Be joyful always. 

James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

1 Peter 1:8-9 Through you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 

Lent: Reflection

As we go deeper into the season of Lent, God has "wowed" us with his presence, his faithfulness and his deep desire to abide in us. I've already posted that Lent is a time of reflecting on the cross of Christ, the life and ministry of Christ and a time of deep repentance of sin. Let me confess that my eyes have not been solely on Christ in the past few weeks. All too often my eyes have turned inward and focused on my needs, my wants, my desires. But, I'm going to say that in all this I am thankful! God has used this time for good in our lives. I'm telling you, he brought a possible job offer into our lives for a purpose. And we think that purpose was to 1. test our faithfulness, 2. reveal his faithfulness, 3. reveal our deeper desires, what's truly in the heart, 4. grow us in wisdom and wise council, 5. have us completely dependent on him and his peace, 6. to reveal areas in our lives where we are "in control" and not HE, where we want to dictate our will and not HIS. He did all of this and more!

What an amazing journey we went on in such a short time. How freeing to know deep down what we are really longing for! Now, to grow in our faith that he is faithful and he will provide! As a member of the body of Christ, the bride, we know that we face nothing alone. What encouraging news! As a daughter and son in Christ, we know that we are being sanctified daily and dying to the flesh only to be renewed in the image of HIM!

Psalm 68:3 says, "But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful!"