Our Thinking Matters
The prospering of God's cause on earth depends upon His people thinking well.-Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart (p. 105)
Those of us who are pastors, and especially teachers, in the Body of Christ must devote a vast amount of time and energy to seeing that God's people think well. Ideas are crucial. False ideas about God and humanity are the primary weapon of the "father of lies".
Unfortunately, the many pressures of ministry often conspire to take away the pastor's time for meditation on the ideas of Scripture.
This is truly amazing - incredible!
This is a story from CNN today about the find of a medieval book of psalms in Ireland.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/07/25/
ireland.psalms.ap/index.html
There is a quote in the story about how miraculous (yes, the expert used that word) this find is. First, that it was preserved in a bog for over a thousand years, and second, that someone spotted it before it was destroyed. The guy was using a bulldozer, OK? How did he see it in time?
The book was open to Psalm 83.
O God, do not keep silent; be not quiet O God, be not still. See how your enemies are astir, how your foes rear their heads. With cunning they conspire against your people; they plot against those you cherish. "Come," they say, "let us destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more." With one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against you...(Psalm 83:1-5). The rest is pretty interesting too.
The AP writer noted that Psalm 83 was about those who plot to destroy Israel.
I'm no prophet, but it seems like a
very timely find. God still speaks today, to those who want to know and are willing to listen. I wonder if someone came to faith in Him as a result of this story.
Look at Psalm 83:16. Why does God defeat the enemies of Israel? So that people will see it, and it will be a big sign to them to seek God. He wants people to see the truth, that He is the real God, and to seek Him.
Does God speak in this way? Here is an interview with a photographer who found a Bible page, open to Genesis 11 (tower of Babel) in the rubble of the World Trade Center. It sounds like a legitimate story.
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0205/30/ltm.09.html
The Land of Israel
Obviously there's a lot going on in Israel right now. This article really struck me today:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/741121.htmlIt's about people are who moving TO Israel now even in the midst of war. It is really an amazing thing. It is very moving when you consider how God is drawing His people back to their land in fulfillment of prophecy such as Ezekiel 36 - 37. Of course, the full restoration, including the Holy Spirit, has not been given yet; the nation is still one of unbelief. But it will happen. Praise God for His faithfulness and doing exactly what He says He will do!
