A Pilgrim's Journal

Another sermon I came across recently was one that talks about the prayer of Augustine:

"Grant what You command, and command what You will."

I find that prayer quite inspiring and liberating. You can read more here.

Usually there is some hero in the show, perhaps working for some secret arm of the American government, who has the backing of special ops and equipment. The generals and commanders get together and discuss the operation, the lay of the land, who has been captured, the political consequences if this gets into the news, etc. Secrecy is paramount, not just for the peace at home, but for the safety of the kidnapped victims as well.

So they suit up the hero and fly over the terrorist country with a stealth aircraft in the dead of night. The hero is covered in the latest gear: maps, night vision, weapons, supplies, radio. A rendezvous point and time is decided for pickup. All is set. The green light is given.

If this is an ultra-hero movie, then the hero hits a snag on deployment. Maybe his gear gets caught on the plane, and his only choice is to cut himself free from the gear and parachute into enemy territory with nothing but a knife and his wits.

Undeterred, he sets off in the direction of the hostages. Of course, he is somewhat off course due to the mid-air action, and now is behind schedule, without supplies, with little hope of success. We dig in. Can the hero overcome?

Of course, he dispatches the guards with ease, and sneaks into the camp otherwise undetected. He finds the hostages and crafts a plan to get them out of the camp in one piece.

When he reaches them, he looks disheveled, maybe a bit angry, and the poor hostages shrink back, worried that he is one of the terrorists.

What does he say? Usually something along the lines of: "I'm an American, and I've come to save you!"

There are a number of reactions that the hostages could take. They might not believe he's really an American. "Maybe it's a trick!"

Or they might believe he's there to save them, but maybe they like the terrorists, and don't really want to leave. The terrorists haven't hurt them that bad, and if they get the lingo down, there's opportunity for advancement!

Or they might believe he's there to save them, but are afraid that he's not enough to do the job. How can one man save all these hostages? Would the American government send a guy in without some equipment? What are the odds of success? The terrorists might catch us and kill us all!

Or they might believe he's there to save them, and expect him to take revenge right now, and somehow nuke the terrorist camp, and pay them back immediately for the hurt that the hostages have been through.

But in reality, the situation is none of the above. In reality, the hero is truly capable of getting the hostages out, but they will have to believe, and will have to work at it. They will have to follow the hero's instructions, and follow his timing, in order to be saved and return to their homeland.

So when Jesus tells his disciples to preach:

	Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God
	is near you.'
	   Luke 10:9 (NIV)

Which reality should we believe?

First, we have to believe that Jesus is really from the kingdom of God. He is not here to trick us. He is not here to condemn us. He came to save us.

	For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
	but to save the world through him.
	   John 3:17 (NIV)

Second, we need to realize that this world is a terrorist camp. None of this will last.

	... as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That
	day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire,
	and the elements will melt in the heat.
	   2 Peter 3:12 (NIV)
 
	Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
	   Matthew 24:35 (NIV)

If we clutch to the things of this world, we are clinging to what is not ours, and we are clinging to things that will pass away. We can take nothing of this world with us when we die, no matter how much we accumulate in this life.

Third, we need to realize that the kingdom of God is not like this world. The rules are upside down. The things we value highly today are actually worthless in heaven.

	What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight.
	   Luke 16:15b (NIV)

So if the rules of this world, which we are used to, are not what will save us, then why couldn't Someone from another world, much greater than this one, be able to save us all?

	For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through
	that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant
	provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in
	life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
	   Romans 5:17 (NIV)

Fourth, we also need to realize that Jesus did not come to setup a kingdom the first time. If He had, none of us would have been ready.

He came to show us that the kingdom of God is coming, and indeed, the first probes of infiltration are already here, in order to save those that do not belong to this present kingdom.

Does God's first infiltration come in war? Or in peace? In peace. Jesus tells all who follow Him to love, to give, to forgive, to absorb pain instead of inflict it, to use the things of this world to build riches in the next.

	While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a
	parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought
	that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.
	   Luke 19:11 (NIV)

Jesus goes on to tell the parable of the ten minas, which you can read here. Near the end of the parable, Jesus teaches:

	"He replied, 'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be
	given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will
	be taken away. ...'
	   Luke 19:26 (NIV)

I've often pondered what that could mean, but I believe I understand a bit of what it says today. Everyone who has something in heaven (in real riches, in heavenly riches, that cannot be destroyed) will have more given to him. But he who has nothing stored in heaven, even the things he has on earth (which he should have used to build riches in heaven) will be taken away from him.

And that only makes sense. For any hostage that stayed behind to build his house in the terrorist camp would suffer loss when the hero's army returns to defeat the enemy camp and make sure that no kidnappings ever happen again.

My response was, the fact that such a law is necessary shows how far men in general have fallen. And we're blind to it. It is easy to think we're riding high, when we're actually in the gutter.

One reaction to such laws, that is natural for men to have, is that sex is something that is kinda promised at the wedding. So both parties should have a right to expect it. In fact, even the Bible tells husbands and wives to not deprive each other, except for short "sex fasts" for the purpose of spiritual growth. But even those periods are to be short. Sex within marriage is to be the norm, whenever either partner needs it.

But it is easy to forget that such a command is for the top of the mountain. It is not the hammer you use when things are not going well. It is the result of doing things right in the first place.

The husband, as the head, has a duty and responsibility here. If his wife does not want to have sex with him, he'd better find out why, and find out yesterday! And then fix the root problem, which is probably in himself, or some external friction.

I think this is a part of a general principle. There are places where women are not God's first choice for leadership. It's not that they can't do a good job. It's not that their ideas are bad. But it is not their role. A wife is not called to be a husband. A woman is not called to be the head of a church.

So when women start taking the lead, working to repair what should be obvious as broken to all men, it is a sign that something is seriously wrong. I think it is a sign that there is something wrong with the men. Women's response may not always be ideal, but it's better than what the men are doing, often by a long shot.

When women must join together and rise up and work hard just to pass a law to protect them from their own husbands, something is seriously wrong.

What kind of leader does not listen to his subordinates? What kind of manager ignores the advice of his workers? What kind of employer cares not for the details of what makes his business tick?

What kind of husband not only ignores his wife's speech, but physically abuses her to get his own way?

There should be no such thing as marital rape. The idea should not even cross a husband's mind. The repulsion of a wife from her husband should not be an issue. A husband and wife should be in a state of eager union.

But it does exist, and the responsibility falls squarely on men's shoulders. Who will God judge for the wretched state of women in Africa? Will He not judge their own husbands? He will judge them for their emotional violence, as well as the physical. He will judge them for what they have done to their wives, as well as all the good that they could have done, but didn't.

And He will judge us the same way.

I do not recommend that approach.

Guess what? Jesus also pulled an all-nighter.

	And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a
	mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
	   Luke 6:12

I wonder if He was tired the next day. There are places in the gospels that tell of how the disciples were tired and fell asleep, so perhaps this was a habit for Jesus. Maybe the only free time He had for prayer was at night when everyone else was asleep.

But I am not convinced that He was necessarily tired the next day. Oh, it might have been that way, and I'm sure Jesus was tired at various points, but somehow, I think Jesus was refreshed while talking to God. Recharged. So recharged that there was an abundance of power in Him as a result.

	45 And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter
	and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude
	throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
 
	46 And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive
	that virtue is gone out of me. 
	   Luke 8

There's another spot in the Bible where hanging out with God ends up with physical side effects that are truly amazing. Did you know that Moses went without food and water for 120 days? That's how I understand these verses:

	When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone,
	even the tables of the covenant which the LORD made with you,
	then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither
	did eat bread nor drink water:
	   Deuteronomy 9:9

That was the first round. The first tablets during the first 40 days and nights. Then Moses came down the mountain, saw the Israelites in the midst of idolatry, and smashed the tablets.

What did Moses do then? He fasted another 40 days and nights, pleading with God for mercy for the sinning Israelites, interceding on their behalf.

	And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days
	and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water,
	because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in
	the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
	   Deuteronomy 9:18

So Israel was saved from utter destruction. But new tablets were needed. So up the mountain Moses goes again:

	And I stayed in the mount, according to the first time, forty
	days and forty nights; and the LORD hearkened unto me at that
	time also, and the LORD would not destroy thee.
	   Deuteronomy 10:10
 
	And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights;
	he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon
	the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.
	   Exodus 34:28

So I would not be surprised if Jesus found more strength in praying to God all night than He would have gotten with a comfortable full night's sleep. In fact, as evidenced by the miracles that happen after all that prayer, Jesus certainly did find strength.

	But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by
	bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth
	of God.
	   Matthew 4:4

The Conservative formula is obvious, predictable, and unfortunately, somewhat effective at making people run around in circles chasing their tail, while the Conservatives are busy doing something else in another corner.

Today, there is an excellent example of Conservative tactics in action in the Maclean's politics blog. This is not the first time that quotes have been twisted to suit the Conservative agenda, but it is very nicely documented here.

It is unfortunate that so much friction and heat is generated to get a bill passed, when the right way to do it would be to have an honest and reasonable debate. But if words are twisted and shame is thrown back and forth like a weapon, what has our government come to?

Sometimes all alone, sometimes in a crowd
The direction always solo
Sometimes with a smile, sometimes with a frown
His spirit never too low

With his cup running o'er or his soul running dry
The pitcher never failing
With his eyes in the dark or the light of the Son
Determines his clear sailing

If his hands get strong or his feet fall short
The work it keeps on coming
With a look at himself and a glance at the other
The mountains need more climbing

With the end in a day, or a month, or a year
The race he keeps on running
With footsteps quick or pace stopped short
The contest is remaining

Some days loom large
Some days are small
Some days he stands
Some days he falls

Some speed him on
Some make him late
Some fill his heart
Some just deflate

Some probe with truth
Some robe with lies
Some know they do
Some moralize

Sometimes he's weak
Sometimes he's strong
Sometimes he's right
Sometimes he's wrong

But the hope...

And the faith...

For the love...

In the love...

Keep

him

going