A Pilgrim's Journal

Adam's Choice

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 18:49:52 -0500

This is a fictionalized account of the story of Adam and Eve, written back in May 2010, as I imagine it might have happened based on various hints I've seen in the Bible and my own life experience. It is not scripture. This story is not complete without the footnotes at the end. If your copy does not contain the footnotes, visit foursquare.net/cdfrey/blog, under "fiction" for the full version. A PDF version can be found here.

How would it have started? I would think that opening your eyes for the very first time and staring into the face of God would be the best way to wake up ever. It wouldn't matter where you were, for the Creator had just breathed life into you.

Talk about new beginnings. Adam was likely fully formed when he was made, because shortly after coming into existence, there was a garden to take care of and to enjoy. Yet how much knowledge does one have when first formed? There was enough knowledge to communicate with God, and to listen to Him. He got to learn his grammar straight from the first Father.

Adam's first job was as a gardener. And it was an inherited position. He probably got to follow around beside his Father, watching Him plant the trees and create beauty right in full view. Every question Adam had about the trees and the garden would have been answered. I'm sure that his Father didn't just tell him how to manage the garden, but He showed him, too. If there was digging to be done, God would have done it first. If there was a tree that needed watering, God would have shown Adam how.

The laughter and happiness would echo through the newly growing trees as Father and son worked together, and enjoyed the fruits of their labour.

Some trees would have edible fruit. Some not. But wow! The way the trees were arranged, and the way the sun would shine through the leaves, was just perfect. And as the sun started to set, and the heat subsided, Father and son would chat and eat some of the fruit they worked for that day. And Adam would learn. Ask questions. Like a little kid in a grown body: fascinated by everything his Father would show him and teach him and give him.

Eventually Adam was capable of running the garden on his own. At least mostly. There was always some new challenge, or some new plant to discover. And even if God was not walking visibly right beside him, Adam knew all he had to do was call out, and He'd be there. Adam tried to be faithful with the garden. He loved to see the pleasure in his Father's eyes at a job well done. Sometimes he would save his questions for the evening, when his Father would come to walk in the garden in the cool of the day.

As time went by, Adam got pretty good at gardening, if he did say so himself. He got into a routine. He had memorized the flavours of most of the trees in the garden. Some had knock-out bursts of flavour, and some were subtle hints of sweetness that would linger in your memory all day as you worked. But there was one tree that was special. Each time he ate some fruit off that tree, it would be like a boost of energy, as if he had been reborn. Each bite would send life and vitality coursing through his veins. His Father called it the Tree of Life.

There was another tree in the garden, though. It was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. This one scared him a bit. His Father warned him -- no, He told him in the strongest language possible -- that if he ate any fruit off that tree, he would surely die. As much as life would course through his veins when he ate of the Tree of Life, Adam didn't want to feel what death would be like.

Whenever Adam would need to tend to that tree, he would use special precautions. If a cluster of ripe fruit would fall from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and land on the ground underneath, Adam would diligently store it in a basket close by, so that there would be no danger of accidentally mixing up the fruits and eating some by mistake. He was always very careful when handling it, and would breathe a sigh of relief when that part of his job was done.

But other than that, life was wonderful. All his work was quite easy, his body was strong for every task he had to do. If ever he fell and scratched himself, his Father would mend it right away, either directly or with a plant specially made for healing. Adam knew all the healing plants by now, and hardly ever had to bother his Father for such things anymore. There were always new questions to ask, anyway. Why waste time on things he already knew?

One day his Father arrived even earlier than usual. There was excitement in the air. By now Adam was a gardening expert, and knew almost everything he needed to know about maintaining it. If he was honest with himself (and Adam was always honest with himself, and his Father), he was starting to wonder what he might do next. How would he occupy his time? Was gardening all there was? It was great fun, but something seemed lacking.

As usual, just before Adam had a chance to get bored, his Father arrived with a brand new project. Animals! His job was to examine each one, name it, and determine whether it was suitable as a companion. Standing on the top of a hill with his Father, he could see thousands of unique animals on the plain. As far as the eye could see. There would be no chance of getting bored with a project like this!

Of course, his Father helped him get started. Like He always did. He would guide Adam through the interview process, talk to each animal, discuss its likes and dislikes, ask it about its habits and instincts and nature, and so on. His Father also taught him what to look for in a companion. What should he look for, really? This was all new to Adam, and the idea of a companion was pretty exciting. With each animal processed, new knowledge of mating and characteristics and personality and form and function was gained.

Some days got a little long, but a quick trip to the Tree of Life would solve that. There were always new surprises. Like when he had to name the Skunk. You had to have a sense of humour in this job.

But there were days that were awe inspiring too. Like his lengthy conversation with the Donkey. The Donkey seemed like such a humble animal, but there was a confidence in him that God would use him for great things in the future. It was almost as if the Donkey knew something he wasn't letting on... something that might have been revealed to him that nobody else saw. And it filled the Donkey with joy and patience for his role in the world.

Such confidence was inspiring to Adam. But he felt that he didn't fully understand it yet. And that feeling motivated him to keep on with his task.

But there was another reason that motivated him. Each night as he lay on the grass under the stars, he would remember what his Father told him. That the purpose of this project was to find a companion for him. Someone suitable for him, that would match him, and help him. And the more that he learned from his experience with the animals, and the more he saw their joy with their companions, the more he longed for a companion of his own, and realized how good his Father was to him, for knowing what he needed before he even realized it was a possibility.

The project rolled on for what must have been, oh, maybe 10 moons or more. He was getting to the end, though! He could see the end of the line of animals as they queued in the plains for him, chatting amongst themselves and eating the fruit of the garden.

One day, his Father arrived early again, to tell him that this project had to be completed that day. Adam was a bit surprised, but with diligence and effort, he knew the remaining queue could be finished. And with that his Father went back to His business, and Adam pressed on, now with a deadline to meet.

The closer he got to the end of the line, the more concerned he got. He knew that his Father was taking care of everything, but after all these thousands of animals, he had not found one that was suitable for a mate. Had he been too harsh? Had he followed the rules too closely? Had he overlooked something? There was still hope. There were only ten more to go.

But once the last animal was interviewed and named, Adam knew that he had not found his mate. It was hard not to be a little disappointed. He thought back to all the work he had done, and he was sure that he had followed his Father's guidance perfectly. And yet, here he was without a mate. Without a companion. Without that joy that he saw in all the other animals.

When his Father came around in the cool of the day, Adam blurted out all his concerns. He confessed that he did not find the mate that he was supposed to be looking for, and he asked his Father: had he failed somehow? Where did he go wrong?

But his Father just smiled and calmed him down, and told him to relax, to trust Him, and to sleep, for it had been a long day. And Adam obeyed, greatly reassured that he had not let his Father down.

When he opened his eyes this time, though, things were a whole lot different. This time, there were two faces looking at him!

What he saw was the most beautiful animal he had ever seen. How could he have missed this one?? He stared in shock, looking in a happy daze between the two happy faces.

Then his Father explained it all to him. There was no companion found, because there was no companion yet. His Father had made a companion for him, specifically for him, out of the very bone of his own body, to match him perfectly, and meet all the requirements for a mate that Adam had learned about during the project.

This was Woman. She was Eve.

The days after that were exquisite. If he thought he was in paradise before, it was nothing compared to now. He could talk to Eve about anything, and she was as happy and thrilled to be there as he was. They would spend hours staring at each other. Adam would tell her of his adventures with his Father, and of the hundreds of funny stories that happened during the animal naming project.

And everyday Adam would learn something new about Eve that delighted him to the core. At the cool of the day, he would go running to his Father to tell him of the wonderful new things he had discovered about Eve. Thanksgiving and joy and worship would flow out of Adam like a fresh spring, new every moment. He couldn't imagine how he could be any happier.

And Eve was the same. She would listen in awe at the stories Adam would share, and she would learn eagerly from Adam's experiences. And she would tell God everything she learned, always close to Adam, always there to help him, always ready to help him learn something new.

For the first year or so, the garden seemed to take care of itself. Which was a good thing, because Adam was too busy learning about his new wife, and teaching her all that his Father had taught him. He told her of the healing plants, and the methods for keeping the garden in order. And she would ask questions that he never thought of, and would find insight in old lessons that he never saw before.

When it came to the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, Adam was especially careful. He strenuously told Eve that this was the gateway to death, and the loss of all the goodness they were enjoying. He told her to stay away from that tree, and not even touch the fruit. Just let him deal with it. He would protect her and he didn't want anything bad to happen to her. She readily agreed, and smiled up at him trustingly.

The times spent alone with Eve were the best. Whenever she was around, the garden seemed to light up to ten times its normal brightness. He knew he was never alone with his Father always close by, but somehow the intimacy with Eve made his Father appear even more generous and good to him. He saw the relationship that he had between himself and his Father, and saw that same kind of relationship between himself and Eve, only this time he was the one giving! It filled him with awe and courage and a solemn state of mind, to never do anything to disrupt these relationships he had on both sides. He determined to treat Eve as well as God treated him.

As the years went by, every inch of Eve captivated him. Her hair was beautiful in every light. Her smile would send shivers of delight through his soul. Her voice was like laughter and music and a carress all in one. And whether he looked at her from across the garden or from within his arms, every curve and dimple in her body proclaimed to all that she was the jewel in this garden, and that she was all his.

But it wasn't just her body that melded their souls together. It was her mind, her heart, her own soul. It was her thoughts, and her compassion, and her true honest love for him. It was their joyful worship of God together, when they sang His praises each morning by the Tree of Life. It was the look in her eyes as they sat on the grass, listening to his Father teach them. Adam would sometimes glance over to make sure she was ok, to make sure she understood, and was always reassured by her clear joy at the Father's words.

And it was the playful times that also wove them together. The jokes and the laughter and the teasing. Playing tag and running from tree to tree until they were panting and laughing so hard they had to collapse in the clover until they caught their breath.

It was all this that made her one with him.

That's why the choice was so hard.

He wasn't sure how it happened, but one day, after gathering some grapes for winemaking, he looked up, and saw Eve standing by the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil with the Serpent. A chill ran down his spine.

She was holding the fruit.

And then he saw her take a bite.

Panic ripped through him. His Father told him that they would surely die if they ate that fruit. He waited for a second. Two seconds. Ten seconds. She didn't fall over. She didn't disappear.

Then she turned around, and his heart broke.

He saw her running toward him, with that same joy and eagerness. That urgency to share everything with him. But it was a shadow of what was there before. She didn't realize it, but she had been tricked.

His beautiful Eve. Tricked into eating the forbidden fruit. He could see the effect on her already. He could feel the distance between them. He could feel the bonds between their souls tearing. And he could see the urgency in her eyes, and the growing panic in her face as she saw the tears brimming in his eyes.

She told him everything that the Serpent had said to her. How the Serpent had pushed her against the tree to prove that she would not die just from touching it. Adam groaned in his soul. He had wanted to protect her, and now that extra precaution had been used against his beloved.

She told him that the Serpent told her that the fruit was supposed to make them wise, like God Himself. She told him she was already seeing new things, and held the fruit out to him, hopefully. Almost desperately.

What should he do? Should he obey his Father, who had never lied to him? Or should he join his wife, who had never wanted anything but the best for him? She didn't understand that she had been deceived. But he saw it. He saw it as clear as day. Anger burned in him. How dare the Serpent meddle between him and his wife! How dare he trick such an innocent being into sin and death!

Adam's heart bled. How could he forsake his only companion? How could he leave her to die, alone? How could he sever the bonds of love that had formed so strongly over the years? His Father had never forsaken him. How could he forsake his wife?

Adam didn't know how to fix this. His Father had not told him how. There had never been any hint that there was a way to fix it. But now, faced with the loss of his wife, and the increasing pain in her eyes, and the desperation in her look, he stumbled, and forgot who his Father was.

Hadn't his Father always supplied his every need? Hadn't his Father known his needs before he did himself? Hadn't his Father been gentle and merciful and kind in every way imaginable? Hadn't his Father created everything around him? Surely his Father could fix this.

But he forgot it in his moment of crisis. And with full knowledge that he was crossing from life to death, Adam took the fruit, and ate it.

Footnotes:

1. Apology

Pilgrim's Progress

But like John Bunyan pointed out, Jesus used parables to teach as well. And sometimes a personalized fiction can help drive home the truth, like when the prophet Nathan confronted David after his adultery with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12). May you read this story with caution, like a flawed parable that requires care, yet may inspire new questions to study.

This story is not scripture, but let it point you toward scripture.

I had the idea for this story a while back, when going through some personal struggles of my own. I started to sympathize with the choice that Adam had to make, which was greater, more difficult, and had greater consequences than any I have had to make. I do not envy Adam, but may God have mercy on him. Jesus says that offenses must come, but woe to the man through whom they come. (Matthew 18:7) I suspect Adam's sin might count as an offense. Thank God for Jesus as the second Adam! (Romans 5)

And finally, there has been at least one other critically acclaimed re-telling of the story of Adam and Eve by Jonathan Goldstein. It is my hope that this story shows that there are plenty of hints already in the Bible for how the story of Adam and Eve may have unfolded. There is no need to cast Adam as a simpleton.

2. Order of creation - It was unclear to me in Genesis 2 whether the garden was created first, and then Adam, or whether Adam was created first and then the garden. It is clear that Adam was to tend to the garden, and therefore would have needed some instruction on how to do it.

I don't know if the garden was planted and Adam got to watch everything grow over time, or whether it was created before his very eyes in a flash, or perhaps prepared before Adam even got there. Considering how strict God was with the Israelites who had witnessed his awesome terror on Mount Sinai when He gave the 10 Commandments (Deut 5:23-33; Numbers 15:32), I don't know how much power God showed Adam. Perhaps the less power God showed, the more merciful God could be later on.

3. God digging in the garden - I did not think this was too much of a stretch. Jesus is our example, and He washed the diciples feet (John 13). God does not expect more of us than He does of Himself. He shows us how to live, by giving the Law, and then rescues us from death by fulfilling it for us.

4. The stretched time frame - Some may be surprised that I stretched the "6th day" of creation into months and even years. This is because, when reading Genesis chapter 1, I notice that the sun was created on the 4th day, after the first day when light was created, and even after the 3rd day when plants were created. Also, each of the 6 days have an evening and a morning, and the first 3 days have this without the sun. Then the 7th day has no specific evening or morning. So I can't be dogmatic that the 6 days of creation were 24 hour days, and I suspect that they were not. I know God can create everything in six 24 hour days, but He doesn't have to.

5. God eating the fruit of the garden - This is just a guess, but Jesus ate food. If God can be walking in the garden in the cool of the day (Genesis 3:8), presumably literally, then surely He could eat too. But the Bible does not say one way or the other.

6. Like a little kid in a grown body - Jesus says that the kingdom of heaven belongs to those like little children. (Matt. 19:13-15) How do children approach their parents? They ask questions constantly, they assume parents will have the answers, they assume their parents will take care of them and meet their every need, and they love and accept with innocence. God obviously expects us to behave the same way with Him.

7. Saving his questions for the cool of the day - The way Genesis explains it, it sounds like God was not always in the garden at every moment, watching over Adam and Eve, in person, like a hawk. God knew what was happening, of course, but Adam and Eve seem to have "time alone." So it makes sense that questions would be saved for when God would arrive.

8. Eating of the Tree of Life - I think this is a safe assumption. They could eat of every tree in the garden, but one. If they spent more than 24 hours in the garden, then surely the Tree of Life was one of the meals. After eating the forbidden fruit, only then was the Tree of Life guarded and blocked. The Tree of Life shows up again in Revelation 22:2, where even the leaves are for the healing of the nations, and new fruit appears every month. It seems to me to be a tree to eat of regularly.

9. All his work was quite easy - Jesus says that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. (Matthew 11:30) And it was only after Adam's sin that the ground was cursed and "painful toil" was introduced. (Genesis 3:17)

10. Healing plants - The Tree of Life in Revelation 22:2 already talks about healing, but we also know of plants today that help heal. I believe that God wants us to gain knowledge and grow and be able to help ourselves, not to be continually helpless. There is a theme of growth throughout the entire Bible. This does not mean that we are supposed to do everything in our own strength though. The Sabbath law shows us that to "keep it holy" we need to avoid doing our own work. What is left? God's work. Somehow there is a balance of us doing good in Him, not in ourselves.

11. Adam being honest with himself and God - Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. (John 14:6). The devil's native language is lying. (John 8:44) Truth is of God, and to live in God, in His Way, means to live in Truth.

Imagine what it will be like in heaven when you never have to worry about someone lying to you. Everything you ever hear will be the truth. What a different world that would be.

12. Animal interview process - This was just made up. I see how God works in our lives, and see how often seemingly unrelated things turn out to be preparation for something bigger later on. This idea is the only basis for this part of the story. The Bible doesn't tell us much except that Adam named them, and that God brought the animals to Adam. Maybe God was creating them at the same time as Adam was naming them. The "forming" and the "naming" are in the same verse: Genesis 2:19. But perhaps this was like Noah, and the animals had to be gathered by some effort... it was Noah's job!

Short summary: don't take this part of the story too seriously

13. Talking animals - This is based on the talking serpent in Genesis 3, and the talking donkey in the story of Balaam in Numbers 22. Also, there is a change in man's eating habits after the flood. Before the flood, mankind was vegetarian. After the flood, "everything that lives and moves" (Genesis 9:3) was given by God to man for food. And the animals now feared and dreaded man. (Genesis 9)

This suggests some kind of change in the animals at the flood, and also suggests that animals were much more friendly and trusting before the flood. Which explains how Noah could get them all into the ark.

Also, in Genesis 11, the story of the tower of Babel is told, and how God confused the languages of men. If God confused the language of men, is it beyond possibility to think He could confuse the communication between man and animal?

With two examples of talking animals in the Bible, and this change in the status of animals, and some of the scientific studies I've heard about regarding animal communication today, I would not be surprised if animals could talk originally. But I must stress that this is only conjecture, based on the above information.

14. Learning about relationships from watching animals - This is based on the verses in Romans (1:20) how mankind is without excuse because of nature's testimony about God. If nature is supposed to point us toward God, then it does not seem far-fetched to find other truths in nature as well.

But always compare the "truths" you think you find in nature with the Bible, to make sure you are not deceiving yourself. No sense trying to learn lessons the hard way when there's a book right in front of us.

15. The Donkey's confidence - This was a fanciful extra based on the story of Balaam (Numbers 22), the story of Samson (Judges 15), and Jesus's triumphal entry to Jerusalem (Matthew 21:5). Also, the tradition is that a donkey was with Mary and Joseph in their travels, but I can't find a verse that says that.

Also, there is no verse that says the donkey had any knowledge of what was to come. It was just a way to point out that even humble animals have a plan from God.

16. The sudden deadline - It did seem uncharacteristic of God to impose a sudden deadline on Adam to finish the work of naming the animals, but the Bible does say that God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep. (Genesis 2:21) What better way than through hard work? But this is again a guess, and part of the fiction.

But God does set deadlines sometimes, even though He is patient. He tells us that "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion." (Hebrews 3:15). Also, there was some pretty definite direction from God, through dreams, to Joseph, when he was supposed to move to Egypt and back. (Matthew 2) And when Israel missed God's deadline of entering the promised land, through unbelief, they had to wander for 40 years.

17. God being Adam's Father - This is from Luke 3:38 where Adam is referred to as the "son of God" at the end of the geneology.

18. Description of the "lovebirds" Adam and Eve - This is based on the New Testament guidance of family order in various places, where the husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church, and the wife is to submit to her husband. And how in 1 Corinthians 11:9 it says that man was not created for woman, but woman for man, and how because of that, the woman needs a sign of authority on her head.

So I tried to frame the story in such a way that it showed how Adam needed to teach Eve, since she came after. And how Eve would be submissive to Adam, especially in the presense of God, but that there would be nothing coming between her and God either. Adam was not her priest. He was only her head. And Adam cared for her in love. And how Eve, as the ideal wife, was a helpmeet for Adam, even helping him learn things that were beyond him before she arrived. I believe being a helpmeet is more than just physical labour, it is everything about the intimate relationship. The honesty, the comfort, the companionship. It is the wife unlocking the potential of the man, and vice versa.

19. Adam telling his Father all about Eve - Perhaps similar to how the disciples reported to Jesus everything they had done on their mission in Mark 6:30. I think God definitely wants us to tell Him everything on our hearts, just like little children.

20. Garden taking care of itself for the first year - This is based on the Old Testament law that said that a newlywed husband did not have to go to battle for a whole year. (Deut 24:5)

21. "every inch of Eve captivated him" - This is from Proverbs 5:19 where the Bible tells man to be captivated by his wife's love, not by any other woman.

22. Eve being the jewel in the garden - In Genesis 6:4, there is a puzzling passage about the "sons of God" having children by the "daughters of men" and that the "daughters of men" were beautiful (6:2). It is unclear whether "sons of God" refers to spirits or to godly men who were drawn away from God by beautiful women. But the idea that women were beautiful is an obvious fact today, and it does not seem to be a stretch that Eve was the jewel of the Garden of Eden. She was certainly Adam's jewel.

23. Adam telling Eve not to touch the fruit - This is based on Eve's own words in Genesis 3:3 where she both adds the "not touch" command and lessens the "surely die" part. I don't know if this was changed by Eve herself, or whether Adam told her that. If I were in Adam's shoes, I could easily see myself trying to put a hedge around Eve to protect her. But this is not stated in the Bible explicitly.

24. The serpent pushing Eve against the tree - This comes from Jewish tradition, speculating that, since Eve changed God's command in her quoting it, it gave the serpent an opportunity to twist the words, or push her against the tree to prove she wouldn't die.

This is not mentioned in the Bible though.

25. Was Adam beside Eve or not? - Genesis 3:6 says that Adam was with Eve. I don't know if that means right beside her, or in close proximity. Also, the Bible does not mention any pleading or arguing between Eve and Adam, so my story certainly adds there. From the Biblical account, Adam did not need any convincing to eat the fruit!

26. Adam eating in full knowledge, while Eve was only deceived - Eve's part of being deceived is confirmed in the New Testament in 1 Timothy 2:14. It was definitely sin, just as Adam's eating was definitely sin too. But there was an element of deception for Eve, that Adam can't seem to claim. And there is an element of relationship for Adam, that Eve can't seem to claim either. Eve was not married to the serpent.

27. Winemaking - There is no evidence they knew how to make wine at that point. But squeezing some of the fruit would be logical to try...

28. When did Eve know she had been deceived? - She uses it as an excuse pretty quick. So it must have been soon. Perhaps I'm retaining her innocence in the story a bit too long, when I wrote that she didn't know she had been tricked. It was still sin, she knew the command, even though her memory of it was flawed. Yet she broke the command anyway.

29. Surely his Father could fix this... - And God did fix this through the second Adam: Jesus Christ. I sometimes wonder how God would have saved Eve if Adam had refused to sin. Perhaps Adam would have had to die for her instead. But as 1 Corinthians 1:28-30 says, no one may boast before God. All men and women are guilty of sin. Only God can save us. Only God can make us holy to enter into his Sabbath rest.

All scripture quotes taken from the NIV.

Gifts Without Repentance

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 22:52:30 -0500

He took it, glanced at it briefly, then looked back at the gentleman with a confused look on his face. "What's this for?" he asked.

"It's for you! Use it!" said the gentleman, eyes twinkling with glee.

"What for?" the man asked again, even more perplexed.

"Because I want to give it, and because I'm sure you'll have some use for it!" exclaimed the gentleman again.

The man started shaking his head, "No, this is too much. I don't even know you. Who are you? Why would you give me $100 out of the blue? It doesn't feel right."

The gentleman merely beamed his smile back in return.

The man finally moved, handing the $100 bill back to the gentleman, shaking it a bit for emphasis, "Really, I can't take this. You'll have to take it back."

"It's too late!" said the gentleman, holding up both hands in the air. "I won't take it back. If you give it to me, I'll drop it on the ground."

"Well, surely you want something in return, and I can't afford that."

"Nothing! I don't want anything in return," said the gentleman, still smiling like he was fit to burst with joy.

"What if I spend it on booze?" the man asked.

"It's yours."

"What if I give it to the mob?"

"It's yours."

"What if I throw it away?"

"It's yours."

The man was stymied. Did this gentleman seriously not want it back? Was this truly a gift with no strings attached? So he asked, "How do I thank you?"

At this, the gentleman's smile seemed to brighten even more, and said, "Use it to your own best benefit."

The man furrowed his brow. "You mean I can just blow this on lottery tickets or something?"

"Of course, if you think that is to your best benefit."

The man shook his head, but slowly accepted that there were no strings, and that the $100 was his. "Well, thank you very much," he said quietly.

"You're welcome!" the gentleman said, and continued on his merry way.

The man stood there and pondered a while, going through a long list of possibilities in his head, considering where he might spend this windfall. In the end, he decided there was no better place to spend it but to buy school supplies and a coat for his son.

This is of course a fictitious story, but what would you do if you encountered a gentleman like that?

What if you insisted, and tried to put the $100 bill back into the pocket of his suit coat, but he just plucked it out, dropped it on the pavement, and kept on walking?

Do you realize that you are meeting this gentleman every day?

When I realized this just now, it was an amazing insight to me. God is giving me gifts like this every day, and there is no way I can give them back. He gives me air, light, health, skill, knowledge, wisdom, love, friends, family, even money. And there is no way I can return any of these gifts back to Him as if I didn't receive it.

I can waste it. Throw them on the ground and walk away. But they will remain wasted. God doesn't take them back.

	For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance.
	   Romans 11:29

What does this mean? It means that God has given me much, and the only way I can truly thank Him, and the only way I could even symbolically try to give anything back to Him is to use His gifts according to His will.

And what is His will?

	This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare
	unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
   
	   1 John 1:5
   
   
	17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother
	have need, and shutteth up his bowels [of compassion] from him,
	how dwelleth the love of God in him?
  
	18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue;
	but in deed and in truth.
  
	   1 John 3

Let us be gentlemen.

The Beginning At The End

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 04:00:52 -0400

	The days of our years [are] threescore years and ten;
	and if by reason of strength [they be] fourscore years,
	yet [is] their strength labor and sorrow;
	for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
	   Psalm 90:10

Generally, 70 years, but if unusually strong, 80 years.

Interestingly, when Moses was 40 years old, he tried to lead the Israelites in his own strength.

	23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart
	to visit his brethren the children of Israel.
   
	24 And seeing one [of them] suffer wrong, he defended [him], and
	avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:
   
	25 for he supposed his brethren would have understood how that
	God by his hand would deliver them; but they understood not.
   
	   Acts 7

This didn't please Pharaoh, and he tried to kill Moses. Moses fled to Midian, and lived out the next 40 years there.

That makes 80 years that Moses lived, by reason of strength. By all earthly measures, his life was over.

But God is just getting started when our life ends.

At 80, Moses met God at the burning bush, and spent the next 40 years leading the children of Israel out of Egypt, in God's strength.

Can you imagine what a bloody revolution it would have been, had Moses gained popular support for rebellion? But instead, the Israelites walked right out of Egypt, carrying riches, not having to lift a finger in battle.

Man's way? Protracted bloody rebellion. God's way? Rest, obedience, and victory.

Jesus also calls us to the same thing. He calls us to pick up our cross daily and follow Him. He tells us that the man who finds his life will lose it, but the man who loses his life for Jesus's sake will find it.

God starts where my life ends.

Who Had Faith For Lazarus?

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:07:25 -0400

story of the raising of Lazarus

When I read the New Testament, I see example after example of faith before healing. Usually it is the sick who have the faith. They confess that Jesus is able to perform the miracle, or the very act of picking up their mat shows that they believe enough to even start the process.

And then there are reports of places that Jesus would visit where He could do no great works. All he could do was lay His hands on a few sick people and heal them. And the reason was because they didn't believe Him.

So when it comes to the story of Lazarus, who had the faith for this work?

It wasn't the Jews, for they didn't understand why Jesus wept.

It probably wasn't the disciples, because they aren't even mentioned once they arrive to the site of mourning.

I'm guessing it wasn't even Mary, because she was weeping at the feet of Jesus.

I doubt it was Lazarus, since he was dead.

But it could have been Martha.

She even hints very strongly that even now, after Lazarus was dead, God would give to Jesus anything He asked for. She doesn't quite come out and ask for him back, but she sure hints! And strongly!

And she confesses Jesus as the Christ, as Lord, and as the Son of God.

Martha tends to get a bad rap in the Bible, working hard and complaining about Mary not helping her. But when it comes to Lazarus, maybe she was the only one with tiny faith enough to bring him back.

Jesus of course carries her along, even as her faith falters a bit in verse 39. But she believed enough to state the seemingly impossible.

Praise the Lord! It's as if God is looking for any reasonable excuse to do us good, even a sideways hint that Jesus should raise the dead.

Follow Me; and Let the Dead Bury Their Dead

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 02:28:53 -0400

	21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first
	   to go and bury my father.
 
	22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead
	   bury their dead.
 
	   Matthew 8

I confess that when I have read these verses in the past, I have thought that they are hard sayings. Yes, in my head I could understand. Jesus is worth more than social niceties. He is worth more than my own pet desires. He is worth more than my own family.

But my heart would be thinking, "Wow, that seems harsh. Doesn't Jesus, Who loves so much, care about those that lose loved ones?"

But maybe there is more to this than meets the eye. Maybe this verse reveals something about my base assumptions about life. And even about Jesus.

Here's another verse that I may have misunderstood:

	35 Jesus wept.
	   John 11

This is in the middle of the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. When you read the whole chapter, you'll notice that Jesus is alone in not worrying in the slightest about Lazarus's health. For He knows what is to come. Those around Him are hoping for Lazarus's recovery (the disciples), or are wishing that Jesus had arrived sooner to heal him (Martha and Mary), or are weeping with and trying to comfort those that have lost a loved one (the Jews).

Jesus arrives on the scene, and starts asking some interesting questions:

	21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here,
	   my brother had not died.
 
	22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God,
	   God will give [it] thee.
 
	23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
 
	24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in
	   the resurrection at the last day.
 
	25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life:
	   he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
 
	26 and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never
	   die. Believest thou this?
 
	27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the
	   Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
 
	   John 11

Then Mary arrives, and basically says the same thing, wishing that Jesus had arrived sooner.

	32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell
	   down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here,
	   my brother had not died.
 
	33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping
	   which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
 
	34 and said, Where have ye laid him? They say unto him, Lord,
	   come and see.
 
	35 Jesus wept.
 
	36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
 
	37 And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the
	   eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not
	   have died?
 
	   John 11

I have for a long time assumed the same thing that the Jews assumed. Wow! Look! Jesus is crying! He must have really loved Lazarus! Too bad He didn't get here earlier.

But I think Jesus wept for a different reason.

Here is the Resurrection and the Life, standing in the midst of a funeral, and everybody is weeping as if Lazarus was gone for good.

Logically, what is this saying? It implies that everyone else there (except perhaps Martha and the disciples) believed that while Jesus was great enough to heal the sick, and heal everyone He touched, that when it came to death itself, death was more powerful than Jesus.

Their weeping either testified to their belief that the Creator of the world was limited to its laws and to death itself, or that they didn't really believe that Jesus was the Creator of the world.

They were weeping because of the pain of Death, while Life stood right beside them.

I think that's why Jesus was weeping.

Is Matthew 8:22 making more sense yet?

I must be dim, because even after seeing John 11:35 more clearly, I still didn't get Matthew 8:22.

Then recently I was watching TV and happened to hear a snippet of a sermon by Joseph Prince, and he pointed out that nobody ever died around Jesus.

People were healed. Multiple people were even raised from the dead. But nobody ever died.

Even the men who were crucified with Him only died after Jesus did.

Now it started to make more sense. Indeed, it was the only logical thing to say. Why spend any more time following Death when Life is right in front of you? When Life calls you to follow Him, there's no time for anything else. Isn't it rather dumb to postpone Life in order attend to death? Why mourn over the dead when Life has work for you to do?

And Paul says the same thing:

	13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren,
	   concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as
	   others which have no hope.
 
	14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even
	   so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
 
	15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that
	   we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall
	   not prevent them which are asleep.
 
	16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a
	   shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:
	   and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
 
	17 then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up
	   together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:
	   and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
 
	18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
 
	   1 Thess. 4

Here's Luke's version:

	59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord,
	   suffer me first to go and bury my father.
 
	60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go
	   thou and preach the kingdom of God.
 
	   Luke 9

So what are we supposed to do? Paul tells us that we are not supposed to sorrow like those who have no hope, because we are supposed to be the ones who believe! And with this belief we are to comfort one another when our loved ones die. For this is real hope and glorious hope.

And from what Jesus says, I believe that we are not to waste our time mourning the dead when we are alive, when we have the promise of life in Him, and when we have this message of hope which the dead need to hear.

Believing that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life should energize us right now. We don't have to wait for the last day, like Martha thought.

The kingdom of God is a kingdom of life. Believe and enter!

Love For The Lost and Backslidden

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 01:23:30 -0400

This is an extra-biblical story about the Apostle John, as told by Clement of Alexandria (c. 150 to 215 A.D.) in his article "Who is the Rich Man That Shall Be Saved?."

This is the last section of the piece, and I find it so powerful that I'm moved to tears almost every time I read it.

Having come to one of the cities not far off (the name of which some give ), and having put the brethren to rest in other matters, at last, looking to the bishop appointed, and seeing a youth, powerful in body, comely in appearance, and ardent, said, "This (youth) I commit to you in all earnestness, in the presence of the Church, and with Christ as witness." And on his accepting and promising all, he gave the same injunction and testimony. And he set out for Ephesus. And the presbyter taking home the youth committed to him, reared, kept, cherished, and finally baptized him. After this he relaxed his stricter care and guardianship, under the idea that the seal of the Lord he had set on him was a complete protection to him. But on his obtaining premature freedom, some youths of his age, idle, dissolute, and adepts in evil courses, corrupt him. First they entice him by many costly entertainments; then afterwards by night issuing forth for highway robbery, they take him along with them. Then they dared to execute together something greater. And he by degrees got accustomed; and from greatness of nature, when he had gone aside from the right path, and like a hard-mouthed and powerful horse, had taken the bit between his teeth, rushed with all the more force down into the depths. And having entirely despaired of salvation in God, he no longer meditated what was insignificant, but having perpetrated some great exploit, now that he was once lost, he made up his mind to a like fate with the rest. Taking them and forming a band of robbers, he was the prompt captain of the bandits, the fiercest, the bloodiest, the cruelest.

Time passed, and some necessity having emerged, they send again for John. He, when he had settled the other matters on account of which he came, said, "Come now, O bishop, restore to us the deposit which I and the Saviour committed to you in the face of the Church over which you preside, as witness." The other was at first confounded, thinking that it was a false charge about money which he did not get; and he could neither believe the allegation regarding what he had not, nor disbelieve John. But when he said "I demand the young man, and the soul of the brother," the old man, groaning deeply, and bursting into tears, said, "He is dead."

"How and what kind of death?"

"He is dead," he said, "to God. For he turned wicked and abandoned, and at last a robber; and now he has taken possession of the mountain in front of the church, along with a band like him."

Rending, therefore, his clothes, and striking his head with great lamentation, the apostle said, "It was a fine guard of a brother's soul I left! But let a horse be brought me, and let some one be my guide on the way." He rode away, just as he was, straight from the church.

On coming to the place, he is arrested by the robbers' outpost; neither fleeing nor entreating, but crying, "It was for this I came. Lead me to your captain;" who meanwhile was waiting, all armed as he was. But when he recognized John as he advanced, he turned, ashamed, to flight. The other followed with all his might, forgetting his age, crying, "Why, my son, do you flee from me, your father, unarmed, old? Son, pity me. Fear not; you have still hope of life. I will give account to Christ for you. If need be, I will willingly endure your death, as the Lord did death for us. For you I will surrender my life. Stand, believe; Christ has sent me."

And he, when he heard, first stood, looking down; then threw down his arms, then trembled and wept bitterly. And on the old man approaching, he embraced him, speaking for himself with lamentations as he could, and baptized a second time with tears, concealing only his right hand. The other pledging, and assuring him on oath that he would find forgiveness for himself from the Saviour, beseeching and falling on his knees, and kissing his right hand itself, as now purified by repentance, led him back to the church. Then by supplicating with copious prayers, and striving along with him in continual fastings, and subduing his mind by various utterances of words, did not depart, as they say, till he restored him to the Church, presenting in him a great example of true repentance and a great token of regeneration, a trophy of the resurrection for which we hope; when at the end of the world, the angels, radiant with joy, hymning and opening the heavens, shall receive into the celestial abodes those who truly repent; and before all, the Saviour Himself goes to meet them, welcoming them; holding forth the shadowless, ceaseless light; conducting them, to the Father's bosom, to eternal life, to the kingdom of heaven.

Let one believe these things, and the disciples of God, and God, who is surety, the Prophecies, the Gospels, the Apostolic words; living in accordance with them, and lending his ears, and practising the deeds, he shall at his decease see the end and demonstration of the truths taught. For he who in this world welcomes the angel of penitence will not repent at the time that he leaves the body, nor be ashamed when he sees the Saviour approaching in His glory and with His army. He fears not the fire.

But if one chooses to continue and to sin perpetually in pleasures, and values indulgence here above eternal life, and turns away from the Saviour, who gives forgiveness; let him no more blame either God, or riches, or his having fallen, but his own soul, which voluntarily perishes. But to him who directs his eye to salvation and desires it, and asks with boldness and vehemence for its bestowal, the good Father who is in heaven will give the true purification and the changeless life. To whom, by His Son Jesus Christ, the Lord of the living and dead, and by the Holy Spirit, be glory, honour, power, eternal majesty, both now and ever, from generation to generation, and from eternity to eternity. Amen.

That sounds like the love of God in action to me: chasing down a robber, unarmed, to bring him to repentance. And the timing of God. God knew that the youth's heart was ready, and sent the right messenger at the right time with the right words and the right heart.

Link: Stanley Hauerwas On Abortion

Thu, 6 Oct 2011 03:39:19 -0400

I was impressed with what I read, and so I searched a bit more. Tonight I came across this speech given in 1990 on the topic of abortion and the church.

This is probably the most eye opening article I've read on this topic. It gets out of the usual ruts of rights and arguments and laws, and goes further to the heart of the matter. I can't claim to quite agree on all the fine points, but the large bulk of it does seem like truth to me, and plainly told. I found it challenging.

It's a long one, so you'll want to have spare time and maybe a coffee handy.

Link: Embracing Raw Community

Sat, 1 Oct 2011 04:41:14 -0400

Embracing Raw Community

bbTracker and Local Content warning on the BlackBerry

Sat, 3 Sep 2011 15:49:50 -0400

bbTracker

Open Street Map

Anyway, when you install this application as a COD file, it is not signed like many others, and when it tries to access the filesystem on the device, the BlackBerry OS shows the following prompt message:

The application bbTracker has attempted to open local content. But it does not contain a signature. It might not be from a trusted source. Would you like to allow this? Yes/No

This gets very annoying, as you can imagine. And this particular prompt does not have a "do not ask me again" checkbox, so it appears every time.

I'm using a BlackBerry 9000 device, running v5.0.0.348 (Platform 5.2.0.23) firmware.

Since bbTracker is not signed, you will need to adjust the filesystem permissions manually. Go into Options | Applications | Edit Permissions. Unsigned applications have three main groups: RIM, MIDP groups, and MIDP JSRs.

When the cursor is along the top, select MIDP groups:

Expand the Data Space, using the main menu:

I set all these options to ALLOWED:

I'm not sure what the ONESHOT, SESSION, and BLANKET options are, but allowing these permissions removes the above prompt for me.

Transcription: Love One Another

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 18:01:20 -0400

I was invited some years ago now to speak at a conference of pastors in the city of Boston in the United States. It was organized by the New England Association of Evangelicals. New England, of course, is the six states in the north eastern part of the United States. And they came together for this conference and there were several speakers, and one of them was a man called Juan Carlos Ortiz. He was a pastor of a church in Buenos Aires in Argentina. And he... gave us a message... one day that challenged me thoroughly.

He told us that he had gone to Buenos Aires to pastor a church of 300 people, and it had begun to grow very quickly, and it soon became 1000 people, and he said, he became known as the pastor of the fastest growing church in Buenos Aires. And he was delighted with the reputation that gave him, he said.

He said one Sunday morning he had planned to preach a message on love. During the week, he prepared his message, and he came to the church that morning, very confident of what he wanted to say. And he sat on the platform during the time of worship and music, and during that time he felt a very strong impulse that he should not preach his message. But he had nothing else to say.

When the time came for his sermon, the worship leader said, "And now brother Juan Carlos will bring us his message," and he said, "I came to the platform, I opened my Bible, and I said, 'Brothers and sisters, my text this morning is, "Love one another."'" Then he stopped, closed his Bible, and he went back to his seat.

And there was silence.

And with the silence, there was confusion. The worship leader leaned across and said, "Are we supposed to sing another song?" But he sat their quietly, and after about two minutes, which is a long time when you don't know what is happening, he told us that he got up, came back to the pulpit and he said, "Brothers and sisters, my text this morning is 'Love one another.'" And he went back to his seat.

He said his wife was sitting in the balcony and she thought, "He's flipped! I knew it would come one day." After a couple of minutes of silence again, he got up a third time, came to the pulpit, said, "Brothers and sisters, my text this morning is 'Love one another!'"

And I think it was after the third time, and he went back to his seat, that somebody sitting somewhere in the congregation turned to the person next to them and said, "Excuse me. I don't know you. Is there any way I can love you?"

Somebody else turned to somebody else somewhere else in the congregation and said, "Excuse me. Is there something I could do for you?"

And within a few minutes, the whole church was alive with people talking to each other. He said, "We had 28 people in the church that morning who were unemployed. Every single one went home with a job." And he began to give other statistics, and I was writing fast, and I haven't got the figures exactly, but he said there were single mothers with children in the congregation that morning who were struggling alone, and every one of them went home with a family committed to help them and share with them, [and] help take some of the burden with them.

He listed other things. He said, "That Sunday morning changed our church." He said, "If I had preached my message on love, people would have come to me, shaken my hand and said, 'Brother, Pastor Ortiz, that was a good message. I really enjoyed that. Especially liked the differences you explained between the different kinds of love.'" They would have said all that, but he said, 28 people would have gone home unemployed, and to be utterly honest, he said, most of the church couldn't have cared less.

But something happened that day. He said, "The next Sunday, I got up for the message, and I said, 'Brothers and sisters, my text this morning is the same as last week: "Love one another!"'" Went and sat down, and people said, "Well, who can I help this week?"

He said, "I didn't have any liberty to preach for three months. I just said, 'Here's my text, "Love one another." Go to it.'" He said, 300 people left the church. They said, "We don't employ you to stand up and say, 'Love one another.' We want you to teach us the Word!" But he said, for those who stayed, who really didn't want just to know the Word, they wanted to obey the Word, and they were discovering that it was obeyable, (If there is such a word as that) their lives, their relationships, began to change.

He said, "After three months, I got up and I said, 'Brothers and sisters, the Lord has given me a new text this morning.'" And they broke out in applause. He said, "My text this morning is, 'Love your neighbour as yourself.'" And he stopped, and their was a silence. He went back to his seat again.

Somebody got up here and began to go to the door. Somebody else got up, began to go to the door. Somebody else went to the other door. And before long, in 10 minutes, the whole church was empty, the parking lot was empty, there was a line of people at the bus stop. And they went home, went next door, knocked on the door, and said, "Excuse me, I'm a Christian. Is there anything I can do for you?" He said, it was the worst time to do it, because it was just before Christmas. He said, "My wife and I, and I have two daughters, had presents that we'd bought for each other, to give them at Christmas. And we discovered need in our street that we had no idea about, and we took our unopened Christmas presents and we gave them away to other people."

He said, "If that first Sunday, and the three months after that, changed our church, this changed our community, because, I tell you what began to happen," he said. "We had tried to reach our community in all kinds of ways. We had all kinds of methods. We adopted all kinds of programs. And some of them worked okay, many of them didn't work at all." But he said, what began to happen was the telephone began to ring at the church, and people would say, "Is that the church that helps people? My son is on drugs. My daughter is pregnant and unmarried. My wife has been diagnosed with cancer this week. Could you come and help?"

And he said, instead of saying, "How in the world are we going to reach our community?" the community began to come to us and say, "Would you help us?"

Now let me say this. I'm not going to do that, because that was a divine moment in that particular time. But I do want to ask you the question. Did you come here this morning expecting to bless somebody? To minister to somebody? Did you come here this morning, and when this service is over in a few minutes, are you going to look for people to talk to? Are you going to be bold enough, if they tell you something's wrong, to say, "Can I help you?" Because they might say yes. Were you going to talk to the person next to you, who you don't know? Or just get up and go? Have you thought you might invite some stranger home for lunch? Or out to a restaurant with you for lunch?

I'm only asking you the question. Because when a church begins to live, not just in 1 Corinthians chapter 12, but in 1 Corinthians chapter 13, the life and character of God begins to flow into the community. Because God is love.

And I want to ask you this morning, is this the kind of church we want to be, or do we want to be a safe, easy, be-as-comfortable-as-you-want-to-be, kind of church? [With the attitude of] "But please don't expect me to take these things seriously."

How is the Christ Life in you? For as we have seen, Christ is the Head of the body, His Spirit is its life. And the life of Jesus, endwelling us by the Holy Spirit, is totally committed to loving, through you and through me.

If this isn't the kind of Christian we want to be, if this isn't the kind of church we want to be, and recognize we need to be, and recognize we are instructed to be, and recognize we have the resources to be, we're better shutting up shop. Because if you have the tongues of men and of angels, if you engage in all kinds of activities that other people applaud from a distance, but you do not have love, and you're not kind, and patient, and long-suffering, and trusting, and all the other qualities that are there, then you're just a noise, and all the neighbours ever think of us is, "We're glad when the service is over on Sunday, because then they can park their cars outside their houses." There is no sense, "Here are people that actually care."

And I'm preaching to myself. And I've preached to myself all week, and not just that, but I have brought my own heart once again to the cross of Jesus Christ where all this is made possible.

But it's not lots of individuals Paul is talking about, he's talking about the church in this chapter. This is how the church, made up of individuals, is going to function if we're going to please God.