Pastor's Ponderings - February 2012 - Think LOVE!

2012-02-02T13:58:00.002-06:00

Greetings Friends in the Lord! We’ve entered the home stretch towards Spring - not that this winter has been intolerable. Those goofy rodents - the woodchucks (ground-hogs) - including the puppet version Mani-toba Merv at Oak Hammock Marsh - can’t get their furry little brains together on how long winter will re-main with us. Some say 6 more weeks while others say an early spring. Either way you little rats: on Feb 2 think about it - 6 more weeks brings us to the middle of March. We’ll have winter that long anyway! Such things make me chuckle - especially that some people actually take them seriously. It makes me think of what Jesus said to the Pharisees & Saddu-cees when they tried to trick Him about a sign from heaven in Mt 16:2-4: When even-ing comes you say It will be fair weather for the sky is red & in the morning Today it will be stormy for the sky is red & overcast. You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. A wicked & adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. Let’s be sure that we don’t become like the religious leaders in the time of our Lord who couldn’t see what was important. As we approach the time of the end of this present age take Jesus’ advice in Lk 21:28: When these things (signs of the end) begin to take place stand up and lift up your heads because your redemption is drawing near. He’s coming soon - are you ready?

February is Heart & Stroke Month - make sure you’re getting enough exercise, eating right & taking care of yourself. There are people who care about what happens to you & they would like you to be with them for years to come. I think of the scene at Calvary when the soldiers were about to break the legs of those who were hanging on the crosses including Jesus Jn 19:33-34: But when they came to Jesus & found that he was already dead they did not break his legs. Instead 1 of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. Doctors say this is a sign of a rupture in the heart possibly a physical effect of the terrible agony of death by crucifixion. I believe Jesus did die of a broken heart - broken for our sin & His Father turning away from the horror of that heavy load upon His Son that day. But the scripture also says He wasn’t a victim who went struggling to His death against His will. Lk 9:51: As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. He knew what was waiting for Him in Jerusalem - arrest, trial, death with Resurrection to follow! In Gethsemane the night of His arrest Mt 26: 39: he fell with his face to the ground & prayed "My Father if it is possible may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." He was prepared to go to the Cross & bear the sins of all mankind - inclu-ding you & I - a sacrifice once for all! Dear Friend - if you haven’t come to Jesus & asked Him to wash you in the blood, take away all your sins & make you clean so you can enter the presence of His Father - don’t delay. II Cor 6:2: Behold now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation. Upon the Cross as Jesus suffered a death beyond description He knew when His purpose was completed - He had finished what He came to do - He chose the time to die physically for Jn 19:30 records: Jesus said "It is finished." With that he bowed his head & gave up his spirit. No one took His life from Him. He freely gave His life for the ransom of many (that includes you!) Mt 20:28. William R Newell wrote the hymn At Calvary in 1895. Sometimes we revisit these old hymns & their truths. In the 4th verse the hymn writer says: Oh the love that drew salvation’s plan! Oh the grace that brought it down to man! Oh the mighty gulf that God did span At Calvary! The Chorus proclaims: Mercy there was great & grace was free; Pardon there was multiplied to me; There my burdened soul found liberty - At Calvary. Hallelujah! Glory to God!

That brings me to the other important day on our calendar this month - a day that started out as a pagan cele -bration to worship the god of Desire from Roman myth-ology - Cupid or Eros son of the goddess of love Venus. It’s now known as St. Valen-tine’s Day after a priest of early Christian years around 269-273 AD. He was arrest-ed & imprisoned for performing weddings for Christian couples during the persecution of Emper-or Claudius. At that time assisting Christians was a crime in the empire. Claudius liked Valentine until he tried to convert the Emperor to Christianity & was condemned to death - beaten with clubs & stoned. He was still alive after this treat-ment so he was taken outside the city & beheaded. If this story is true Valentine was someone who followed the example of His Lord & died for his faith. This brings me to our expressions of love for 1 another as Christians - not only on Feb 14 the traditional day of Valentine’s death - but through -out the year. No one says it better than Paul in I Cor 13:1-8; 11-13 but let me give Brad‘s Paraphrase: If I can mesmerize people with lofty words of angelic beings but don’t do it in love, I’m only making a harsh noise. If I’m able to prophesy & understand mysteries and know all things, even having faith that can move mountains, if I have no love, I amount to nothing. If I give away my wealth & die a martyr’s death without any love it’s not worth anything. What shows that I love? Patience, kindness, no envy, boasting or pride. There’s no rudeness, self-seeking, quick anger or long memory of wrongs done to me. There’s no glee at evil things but I rejoice when the truth triumphs. Love protects, trusts, hopes & perseveres every time. In fact it never fails. Other things including prophecy, tongues & knowledge will pass away but when perfection comes the imperfect disappears. Once I was a child - I talked like one, thought like one & reasoned like one. Since I grew up I’ve outgrown my childish ways. Yet in this present life we see a poor reflection of what we will know, see & be - like looking in an old mirror. I only know part of the story right now but there’s coming a time when I will have a clear understanding even as God fully understands me. Through all of this 3 things remain: faith, hope, love & love is the greatest of all! That’s how I try to live in relationship with my wife, my children & grandkids as well as with my friends in this life. I know I make mistakes & fail in these relationships. But I won’t quit trying. Happy Birthday on Feb 6 to my wonderful wife of 38 years - the love of my life. The love we share is worth it’s weight in gold. God bless you my dear. I thank Him that He brought you to me those many years ago & that we continue to share life together.

There’s 1 more command of Jesus we should mention in Mt 5:43-45: You have heard that it was said 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' (Lev 19:18) But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you that you may be children of your Father in heaven. That’s hard but if Jesus commands it His Holy Spirit will give us what we need to enable us to do it. Open your spirit to the love of God & His love will go from you to those around you, the lives you touch for Him. May God bless you as you go about do-ing good in His name & for His Kingdom. Jesus loves me this I know - for the Bible tells me so - Yes Jesus loves me! Is your heart right with God today? I trust that it is. I pray that it is and I look forward to seeing you around the throne singing praises to the Lamb who was slain before the found-ation of the world. He is King of kings & Lord of lords. Amen & Hallelujah!

Your Pastor & Friend

Brad & Wendy Dunham

Selkirk Alliance Church

Pastor's Ponderings - February 2012 - Think LOVE!