Crossing Jordan

I can only imagine what it must have been like for Joshua. Did he have to drag the Israelites kicking and screaming out of their comfort zone?

There they were, in a land where they had pretty much taken out all their enemies. They had a daily supply of bread from Heaven and swarms of quail for meat. They never needed new shoes and anytime they needed water, Moses would just get it from a rock. Wouldn't God would grant the same miracles for Joshua?

What was on the other side? Hard labor? War and more war? Giants! Oh, yes, their fathers had even told them of how the Almighty had, for their lack of faith, cursed them to wandering in the desert until all the "old folks" died off. Sheesh! Thousands of funerals a day!

Yeah, the west side of the Jordan had grape vines so full that it took two men to carry a bunch, but things were pretty good in the east too. So good that two and a half tribes chose to stay where they were, (even though they did promise to participate in the conquest itself.) Sure enough, they all greatly desired to go to the Promised Land, but everyone hates change. This would be a big change!

We all fight change and prefer the status quo. Remember, inertia can keep you moving or keep you put. We say we want to grow in the Lord personally and in our congregation, but we don't want to move from our spot...metaphorically, spiritually or literally. We, especially, in small churches, have a "spot" where we sit and Heaven help anyone you find in your "spot." After, all you've been sitting in the same place for years...metaphorically, spiritually and literally. We don't want to sing any different songs. We sing the same ones Sunday after Sunday. Sure, thousands of lovely, Spirit-filled hymns have been written, but, then, we'd have to go through the trouble of learning them. Besides, our songs are the songs Mom & Dad sang. "That's how Daddy did it." are some of the saddest words that a Christian can say.

Daddy was great, but I ain't Daddy. He lived in his world in his way, but I have to live in mine. Moreover, I have to live in the world of others who don't see things my way. Yes, being different just for the sake of being different is no good either, but always remember what the great philosopher said: "A rut is just a ditch with the ends knocked out."We have our regular Sunday services, even though half of the people we know work nights and/or on Sundays. If they can't be there, too bad, too sad, I suppose. Not to mention, that Wednesday "Prayer" Service. Incidentally, have you noticed during "prayer" service that you meet for an hour, but pray for maybe five minutes.

We suffer through the same liturgy Sunday after Sunday and, sadly, many of us don't even notice the rut that we are in. Yes, my Baptist brothers, it is a liturgy when one service is a duplicate of the previous. How do you think visitors feel? The interest they may have in your otherwise loving congregation will wane when faced with stagnation that the rest of the congregation doesn't even notice. Different is not always better, but doing the same thing week after week, month after month and year after year definitely is deplorable.

It's enough to bore the good Lord Himself. Sometimes, I can almost hear him say, "Come on! Are you going to sing that song again?"The Pharisees didn't like the way the Lord made changes. They too wanted things to stay the same and yet we look down our noses at them and judge them for our very own sins. I'm like you. I want to be comfortable and not be annoyed by being forced to move...metaphorically, spiritually or literally. Still, the Lord is moving and if we want to keep up, we need to go with Him.

"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Phillipians 3:13

Change is a comin'! Come along or get left behind.

Two Chinese Brothers

The story you are about to read is true...

Two brothers lived in San Francisco’s China Town at the turn of the century; they were identical twins. In fact, they were so identical that to look at them, you couldn’t tell one from the other. Although there was virtually no difference in their appearance, there was great difference in their life styles. The only way anyone could tell them apart was by their behavior. While the one brother was hard working and lived virtuously, the other was a drunkard and rabble-rouser. The former worked hard every day, was always reliable and a man of good reputation; the latter would carouse all night and sleep all day.

One night, the good brother awoke from his sleep hearing a commotion in the dark of his room. By the time he could light a lamp, he was alone. Looking about the room, he found a pile of bloody clothing lying on the floor...clothes he recognized as his brother’s.

He felt safe in assuming that his brother was reasonably unharmed since he was able to make such a quick exit. Still, knowing his brother as he did, he quickly deduced that he had probably gotten into a drunken brawl and hurt someone seriously, perhaps even killing someone. That would explain why he had changed the bloody clothes and ran away so quickly. Surely the police were hot on his trail.

The good brother thought fast. What was he to do? Sure, his brother was mean and useless, but he loved him dearly and feared for what would happen when justice caught up with him.

Suddenly, a desperate idea came to his mind. He quickly removed his nightshirt, put on the bloody clothes his brother had left on the floor and sat down on the chair waiting for the arrival of the authorities. When they arrived, they saw the good brother sitting calmly wearing the blood soaked clothes of his murderous brother. Assuming he was the guilty party, and without a dissenting word from him, the police arrested him taking him to jail.

At the end of the trial, the judge pronounced sentence upon him...death. Yet, through the entire ordeal, the good brother never opened his mouth to proclaim his innocence, but continued to quietly allow everyone to believe he was one who was guilty. Soon, the sentence was carried out; he was hanged on the gallows and no one was the wiser.

Some months later, the other brother, who had been in hiding out of state believing himself still wanted by the law, heard the tragic news of mistaken identity and of the subsequent death of his brother. He was horrified and hurriedly returned to San Francisco to search out the presiding judge at his brother’s trial...the trial that should have been his trial. He found the judge and with tear-soaked eyes and a broken heart, admitted his own guilt and told of the bloody clothes and how his brother must have taken his place and that he had known nothing of the trial and most of all, how he was the one who deserved to die...not his brother!

This was a tough one for the judge. The good brother had given no hint of the truth...the truth that he had taken the place of his wicked brother. It was, of course, too late to right the wrong. What should he do with the man now standing before him confessing to a crime that another man had already died for? The judge would have to think long and hard on this one.

After some lengthy deliberation and great mental anguish, the judge returned with his decision. A man had been murdered; the murderer had escaped; he had escaped because another man had taken his place; there was no way to bring the innocent back to life. As the judge saw it, there was only once decision to make... his ruling..."I’m sorry,” he told the grieving brother, “but I cannot make two men pay for the same crime.” Then immediately set him free.

Did Christ do any less for you and I?

Isaiah 53:5 “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

Marriage Tips

These are some marriage tips I cam up with a few years ago. I wish I could say I totally adhere to them, but that would not be true. Yet, they, I think, make a good standard for us, as spouses, to follow.

1. Don't part or go to sleep without saying I love you...and mean it!
2. If you can't agree, agree to disagree.
3. Don't take things too seriously.
4. Things are never as bad as they seem.
5. Give one another the benefit of the doubt.
6. Apologize...and mean it!
7. Never bring up the past!
8. Remember who the enemy is; the enemy is not your spouse.
9. Remember who the boss is; the boss is not you or your spouse.
10. Remember, God really does have the whole world in His hands.