WHENEVER

Next to Moses, Aaron was the most important person in the new nation of Israel. He was appointed as Israel's very first High Priest, their key religious figure who would represent them before God. For this holy, awesome role he was given very special symbolic garments and was told very clearly how to prepare himself, how to ritually cleanse himself for service at the Tabernacle.
If anyone was qualified to enter the presence of God, Aaron was. Yet this is what we read in Leviticus:
"The LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die. For I will appear in the cloud over the atonement cover." 16:2, 3
God wanted Israel to understand - and for Aaron to understand - that He was awesome and holy. Humans  marred by sin (as we all are), must not think they could easily enter His Holy Presence, in whatever way, whenever they wanted. So even though Aaron was most qualified, properly cleansed and properly dressed he must be very, very careful.
I have freely admitted that I read through the book of Leviticus quite quickly each year on my way from Genesis to Revelation. But there are always some places that make me stop, think and rejoice.
So when I read the above verses, and then consider what we followers of Jesus are given, I am filled with gratitude. God has not changed: He is still awesome and holy. Humans have not changed: we are still marred and scarred by our sin and rebellion.
But because of what Christ, our Great High Priest has done, these are God's words to us. 
"Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16
What an amazing contrast with God's word to Aaron. What amazing grace to us is extended through Christ our High Priest. We have privileged access to God. Don't take if for granted that you can talk to God and He listens - whenever!

JUST WONDERING

I read this morning in Leviticus 10, about the tragic death of Aaron's two sons. The priesthood has just been established for Israel. Aaron is the high priest, his two sons Nadab and Abihu his assistants. They "offered unauthorized fire before the Lord contrary to his command."So God sends fire and they are consumed. Why did God execute them?
Moses reported to Aaron what God said, "Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honoured." 10:3 What seems like very severe punishment is apparently a demonstration by God to impress on his people that He is a holy God and worship of Him is not to be taken lightly.
I wondered today whether what happened to Ananias and Sapphira, recorded in Acts 5, is a parallel event. In Leviticus it is the beginning of worship for the people of Israel. For the church in Acts it is at the beginning of Christian offerings to the Lord. In these two events is God making the same point to His people? Does author Luke want us to see this as a NT parallel? God wants this NT community of faith to know He is holy and cannot be deceived. (Or is it more of a parallel with what is recorded in Joshua 7, as some people feel?) Just wondering.
But regarding the holiness of God, and the fact that He is worthy of our worship in spirit and in truth - about that we don't need to wonder. 

SACRIFICES

Hanoi note: Jan and I went for a walk mid-afternoon today, the sixth day of the Lunar New Year. Finally stores are open, at least 70 - 80% of them. For many it was a solid seven days closed, for others it was a five day closing so that whole families could be together. Too bad we in Canada and the USA could not turn the clock back to when all stores were closed for at least one or two days at Christmas and Easter. Is there ever even a 24 hour time period when all but emergency operations were closed down? So although it was a little inconvenient, we applaud this tradition that puts families before commerce and shuts down for a week.
I read through Leviticus 1 to 7 today that describes the variety of major sacrifices and how they were to be offered by Israel. The two recurring phrases I love in those chapters are; 1. "an aroma pleasing to the Lord" (at least 3 times in chapters one and two). (compare Philippians 4:18) Of course the Israelites and we know that God is Spirit. It is not describing the Lord as having a physical nose and smelling the sacrifice. Rather it is an "anthropomorphism" (always liked that word); meaning to help our understanding, God is described in human terms. Literally, God is pleased when Israel offers the proscribed sacrifices.
2. The recurring (7 times at least) phrase in chapters 4 and 5 is, "will be forgiven". If the people of Israel properly offered the sacrifice of a bull, a goat, a lamb, two little birds or, if very poor, some flour, God promises they "will be forgiven."
They didn't know what we know, that God would forgive them when sacrifices were offered, because one day the Great Sacrifice, the Lamb of God would come. His future sacrifice made there sacrifices effective for forgiveness. So tomorrow, Sunday, we gather again to praise God for the Sacrifice that guarantees we have been and will be forgiven.

GLORY, COWS AND PIGS

I read this morning about the cloud covering the tabernacle when all of the work on it was completed. When that happened, the glory of God filled the tabernacle and even Moses could not enter it. Exodus 40:34 - 35
And I wondered - how would I react and respond if the glory of God were to descend where I am? What would happen to the worship gathering, to the building, to the city, to the country if the glory of God were to truly be seen and felt? And I prayed. "Lord please let your glory shine more brightly when we gather; more brightly in a country where Christ is so little known; in other countries where there is little opportunity to learn of the goodness and glory of God."
We visited with a couple last night who've been in this country for more than a decade. We asked about their NGO work. Both men who lead this small NGO are medical doctors. When they left Europe they brought with them medical supplies and equipment.
When they first travelled to a couple of villages, before offering to help, they wisely asked: "How can we help you? What is the best thing we can do for you?" They received a strong response: "cows". And they asked, "cows"? Fortunately, these doctors, with no farm background had received a brochure from another organization outlining how to help alleviate poverty through a "cow bank."Apparently it provided all of the detailed information these novices needed to begin. They decided that if that was what the villages wanted, cows, not medical help, that is what they would provide.
So they began - not with medicine but with cows. They started with just five families,  giving a cow to each family. The family contract requires that the first calf born is given back to the "bank". From there on, all profits from the cow belong to the family. They have seen wonderful results - families living in mud huts now have been able to build solid, good houses for themselves due to the cow bank.
Two years ago they began to do the same thing with pigs. Due to their large litters, pigs produce results and income much faster than cows. So that pig enterprise is expanding rapidly and dozens of families are eating better, staying warmer, etc.
Why are they in the cow and pig business? To alleviate poverty and by doing so, as Christians, they bring glory to God. Ephesian 1:12; I Corinthians 10:31

GOD, MY FRIEND

Too familiar or too distant? Too formal or too disrespectful? Assuming too much or failing to enjoy what should be ours?
There are some who consider the world as their stage and everyone as their equal in importance. They assume instantly that, no matter a person's position of power or authority, that person would want to be  on a first name basis. They assume that of course God is available, friendly and is simply delighted to know them.
But for many of us, not just an older generation, but those who read Scripture seriously; God is One to be feared, reverenced, honoured and worshipped. He is the One whose presence was so holy, awesome and "dangerous" on Mount Sinai that the Israelites were told not to even touch the foot of the mountain while God's Presence was there. Exodus 19:12, 13; 20:18, 19
In light of this, how great an honour was given to Moses:
"The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend." Ex. 33:11 What a unique privilege God gave to Moses! God of the Universe, God of the nation stoops to speak with Moses as though he was God's friend!
I preach this week on the last half of James 2, in which Abraham is mentioned as an example of faith that was demonstrated by his obedient "works". In that passage, James mentions that Abraham "was called God's friend". James 2:23 (See Isaiah 41:8)
"God is my friend." Such a statement can be very flippant and incorrect. Sounds (to many of us) as very presumptuous, perhaps irreverent and too familiar. Yet if we are living in right relationship with God through Jesus Christ; if we are living by faith in Him and obeying what we are told in Scripture; then we do actually become His friends. This is what Jesus made clear to his first followers.
"You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." John 15:14, 15
We know that the "world runs on relationships." There is nothing better, when you want something done in a company, a bureaucracy or elsewhere, then to have "friends in high places." "It is not what you know but who you know." So relax, trust and obey, whatever your situation. If Christ is your friend, you are very well connected. :)
The old hymn was correct: "What a friend we have in Jesus." To be worshipped, given the highest possible respect and honour; to be absolutely obeyed. Yet He is our best, our eternal Friend! Amazing!

OUTSIDE AND INSIDE

We took a 30 minute walk in the neighbourhood yesterday - New Year's Day for those countries like Vietnam that follow the Lunar calendar. As expected the busy streets of Hanoi were as quiet as the streets of a North American city on Christmas Day. We walked down the narrow street (just two car widths wide) in front of our apartment building. We were able to pause and look down the lanes (two motor bikes wide) running off the street. We stopped to examine a couple of buildings. We could never do that on a normal day without being jostled or bumped by a pedestrian or motor bike. It was nice to be outside and able to walk in a straight line (not dodging a parked motorbike, a sidewalk fruit stand, a minor construction site, a muddy pothole, etc.) The streets and sidewalks in this bustling, crowded city were, for at least one day, very peaceful.
I was reminded in my reading today of God's concern for what comes from inside of us. The verse is found in the midst of the detailed description of how the Tabernacle was to be constructed. It is almost startling to read how specific all of the instructions are, not only regarding this center of worship but also regarding the priests clothing, etc. As you probably know, many Christian books, lectures and sermons have been devoted to exploring the spiritual significance of these directions and guidelines given by God.
However my attention was captured by the first words I read this morning.

“Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give." Exodus 25:2

The phrase "everyone whose heart prompts them to give" seems so "unlegalistic". It is so "relational". It is so New Testament. It is so similar to "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion". II Corinthians 9:7

God gave the law (many laws) to help the nation of Israel understand Him and his expectations. But God never wanted simply outward obedience. This was true long before the OT prophets, long before the Incarnation. From the very first with Adam and Eve, God has wanted his human creations to live and love with Him. He wants our hearts to respond to Him.
The example from Exodus 25 and II Corinthians 9, is heart response demonstrated in giving. But of course what God wants from each of us is a heart response that affects every hour and every aspect of our living. Most important to Him is that we respond to his love for us by loving Him with all of our being. This wonderful truth flows throughout the pages of our Bibles and should flow into every corner of our lives.

EAGLES WINGS

I have often quoted Deuteronomy 33:27 to people walking through pain or sorrow. The inspired words provide a wonderful picture of God's protective care. "The eternal God is our refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." These words for me always generate the picture of a loving parent cradling an infant in firm, protective arms. We can rest, God is saying, in his powerful, loving protection.
The Bible uses a variety of pictures to help us grasp God's care for us. Exodus 19:4 provides another protective, but more energized picture in my mind. God through Moses speaks to the nation of Israel, saying "You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself." Combine that with similar words from Isaiah: "like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them on its pinions (the outer part of a bird's wings)."Isaiah 32:11
Carried in a parent's arms the infant knows no fear, faces no challenge (in my mind). Carried on eagle's wings is rather more breathtaking, like for example, being taken out of Egypt, pursued by a large well trained army and being miraculously rescued; Breathtaking for those frightened eaglets nudged out of the nest, frantically beating their wings, hearts pumping madly and then caught and kept from falling by their proud, protective, soaring parent.
Everlasting arms - warm and peaceful; eagles' wings - moving us to new places, new growth through significant challenge. Which picture works for you today may depend on what is right now happening in your life. And so it is that the Bible gives us a wealth of pictures and examples to drive home the point we too often forget - or question: Our Father God cares for, protects and watches over His children. Today, I'll take the picture of eagles' wings - but tomorrow ----?

ONE YEAR AND 300

According to blogger's count, this is my 300th blog, written over the past 367 days. It has been a good discipline for me to write almost every day, and I hope it has provided some helpful interesting reading for you. I sometimes wonder who you are. While the majority of readers are in Canada, others are located in more than 15 countries.
I have tried to give primarily thoughts based on my Bible reading, but like to mix in some thoughts and experiences from our life in Vietnam. I will continue to provide the same kind of mix unless I get a massive number of suggestions to change the mix. Your comments are always welcome.
Quick thoughts from both areas today. For exercise and a break, Jan and I took a 20 minute walk to a local grocery store today. Weather was as warm as we've had for a while (21 degrees, 70 degrees F.) We laughed again about how different walking is here. It is an adventure even when there are sidewalks. We have to stay alert as we dodged items for sale that sprawl out of small shops to cover most of the sidewalk. We dodged motorbikes that did not want to wait for the traffic jam so were driving up the sidwalk at us. We dodged parked motorbikes - sometimes so many that we walked on the street for a while. About 1/3 of the time we had to walk single file, the sidewalk was just too crowded to do otherwise. I could go on. We laughed that walking on sidewalks in North America or Europe have never been this interesting.
I was reading about Moses this morning. Have you ever noticed that while Pharoah refuses to budge until the very end of the plagues, there is a gradual change of belief and attitude among those surrounding Pharaoh? Go back and read Exodus 5 to 10. Watch for these kinds of comments as the story develops.
"The magicians said to Pharaoh, 'This is the finger of God.'"
"The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils that were on them"
"The officials of Pharaoh who feared the word of the Lord hurried to bring their slaves and their livestock inside."
"Pharaoh's officials said to him, "---. Let  the people go --- Do you not yet realize that Egypt is ruined?"
"Moses himself was highly regarded by Pharaoh's officials and by the people."
Sometimes "the people" see and understand things much more clearly than the leaders. May it not be so in your church or mine, in your country or mine.

THE BIG CELEBRATION

I recall reading prior to coming here, an American author describing Tet (Vietnamese celebration of the Lunar New Year) as being like Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years - and maybe July 4th, all rolled into one. It is certainly the huge celebration in Vietnam. This year it arrives on Monday the 23rd.
On many major roads we now see numerous kumquat trees for sale or loan. They look almost artificial with so many small orange fruit balls hanging on thickly leafed branches. They are available in sizes from 2 feet to 6 feet tall. No matter the size, they are delivered to your house or apartment on a motor bike. (Sorry no photo.) As well there are apricot (yellow blossoms) trees in blossom and peach (pink blossoms) trees for sale or loan.
If you cannot afford a tree or perhaps you have no room, there are branches with blossoms for sale (kind of like we Canadians sell Christmas trees that have been cut but will stay green for a few weeks.) The branches come in all sizes from two feet long to five feet with many smaller branches growing off the main branch. There are also a large variety of flowers available at temporary shops stocked only for these two weeks leading up to Tet.
One tradition at Tet is the giving of small gifts of money in (usually) red envelopes. These are given especially to children but also to those who serve you well. We will give a few to the security guards and receptionists in our apartment foyer. Then there are the year end bonuses. We are told that many companies provide the equivalent of one month's salary as the standard bonus.
Starting next Monday, most companies and stores will close for three days, and many will close for a week or even two. Since a huge number of people return to their home town for a few days at Tet, they need the travel time that a week or two of vacation provides.
You can understand that this is an interesting and busy time to walk shop in stores; to walk on sidewalks - the number of sidewalk venders has doubled or tripled; to observe the motorbikes carrying loads of flowers, branches and trees; and to wish people Chuc Mung Nam Moi (but you'd better get the tones right: down on Chuc, up on Mung, flat on Nam and up on Moi.)
Happy New Year!

LISTENERS

Jan and I had lunch today after our Sunday service with two lovely Vietnam expats who have been here for years. The restaurant is in a modern mall. As we walked through the mall following lunch we bumped into a Japanese woman from our fellowship. She told us she had just come from a Bible study (must have been over lunch) with two other women. They had been discussing my morning sermon and she showed me her two pages of notes from this morning's sermon.
I preached today from James, including James 1:19: "Everyone should be quick to listen" and 1:21: "humbly accept the word planted in you." I mentioned how God wants us to listen well to the Word of God, for it is meant not just to inform us but to transform us. So I was delighted to bump into this Japanese Christian just two hours later, who evidenced the fact that she indeed was quick to listen to God's Word and to humbly receive it.
Too often I have not listened well because I already knew (I thought) the answer. Humble listeners are the best learners. They know that they don't know all they could know. So they listen well, they learn and they grow.
I hope we have more people in our fellowship who are listening to the Word like the woman we met in the mall. I hope you are one of those kinds of Christians. I hope I am.

JOSEPH, GOD, GIVING

I read Joseph's words again today, (and marvelled again) words of wisdom and faith as he talks with his brothers. After 22 years (he was 17 when sold into slavery and he is now 39) absence, their reunion is bitter sweet and the brothers fear well deserved retribution from their brother.
Twice Joseph is quoted "God sent ahead of you" and then again says, "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God."(Genesis 45) Of course unbelievers would say that this reunion was just a shocking, amazing coincidence. But Joseph, a man of strong faith, sees the sovereign hand of God directing his life and providing for his extended family.
In a small way we would echo Joseph's words. The church in Canada sent us to Saigon, but unknown to them and to us, God was actually sending us to Hanoi. We had a great conversation over dinner last night with a young couple who have been here now for six years. We were able to listen, to encourage, counsel and pray with them. And again were grateful to God for placing us here.
We've also talked with several young adults who have come to Vietnam to contribute in a small way to what God is doing in this country. Life here is not easy for them. There are many challenges to face. They receive financial support from those at home. Sadly they shared with us that they love Vietnam and would like to continue to serve here, in spite of the challenge. However their support is dropping and they may need to return home.
If you've made a commitment to support those serving around the world, please remember how important your faithfulness is. Serving in a different culture and different language presents enough challenge without having to wonder if there will be enough money to eat well next month.

WHAT CAN YOU SAY?

Actually you can say a lot about the life of Joseph. But what can you say that has not been said, and said eloquently by many others? Nevertheless, the story of Joseph continues to challenge and encourage us at a variety of levels. Here are several that I reviewed today as I read Genesis.

1. God can take the worst things - even almost being killed and then being sold into slavery, and turn them into ultimate good. It was good for Joseph, good for his family and for the nation of Egypt and others.
2. We can rest assured that God is at work even when it does not appear that way. Surely there were many times when Joseph must have felt forsaken by God. Perhaps never more than when the King's cupbearer is released, as Joseph foretold when he interpreted the dream accurately. Don't you think Joseph thought that it would only be days, weeks at the most before the cupbearer would help Joseph since Joseph had helped him? And instead he is forgotten for two long years!
3. What a great example of purity in the face of aggressive sexual temptation Joseph provides. Potiphar's wife aggressively pursued him for days if not for many weeks. Yet he remained faithful to God and adamant in his stand against her blatant seduction attempts.
In this day of "in your face sexuality" - from advertising with sexual overtones, to Victoria Secret and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit editions, to increasingly crude television programs and absolutely explicit sex in movies, to pornography for free or being sold on computers and telephones (by any means available) - it is a huge challenge for men and women to stay pure in mind. In regard to sexual relationships, casual yet intimate sexual connecting is now so common. Among even evangelical young people and young adults, the idea of two virgins coming together in marriage, very common 50 years ago, is tragically rare. Modern day Josephs are difficult to fine.
We all need prayer to aim at, and live out sexual purity. We need to pray especially for those who are growing up in this sex saturated culture and for those Christian singles who remain committed to celibacy until marriage.  

CONNECTIONS

We invited two young couples from our fellowship for dinner last night. One couple are from the state of Arkansas in the USA. The woman in the second couple is from Portland, Oregon but the young man is from the north east tribal area of India. Both couples are teaching English in universities here in Hanoi.
We like to ask questions about people's background and to hear their life stories. The young man, who I will call Keith, shared how he comes from one of the tribes that are highly Christian - perhaps 70% or more. As we talked Keith began to tell the spiritual history of his people. He mentioned the first missionary to there area, a man by the name of Roberts who was led of God to first bring the Good News 100 years ago.
Imagine his surprise when we told Keith that Mr. Roberts son, Dr. Paul Roberts, was a part of our Bayview Church congregation in Toronto. How interesting for two older people from Canada to meet a young Indian in Vietnam whose Christian faith is a heritage from the work of the father of our Toronto friend.
This morning I received an email from a young Filippino couple whose wedding I officiated in Toronto years ago. The photo in the email showed them proudly holding their newborn, while their first born looked on proudly.
This afternoon I rode home from our church office on the back of a motorbike - much faster than travelling in this city, especially in rush hour. The driver was my colleague, a pastor from the Philippines. He and his family just returned from three weeks in the island of Mindenao where terrible flooding took place in the week prior to Christmas. He is tired from being with all of their extended families, plus ministering humanitarian aid (our fellowship sent a large financial gift with him) and spiritual aid to hundreds of people who lost everything in the flood. His mother and sister were among those whose house was swept away.
International connections - one of the great joys we experience as we live and serve here in Vietnam.

TITHING AND CHRISTIANS

I have never believed that tithing is a command for Christians. As a strong believer in grace, love and freedom, I just never understood why many teach tithing as a command for Christians. Nowhere in the NT letters are the early believers being taught or commanded to tithe. Even in the Gospels, the most we could say is that Jesus may imply that tithing should continue.
So I stay away from teaching Christians to tithe. On the other hand, giving a tenth, a tithe to God is something that occurs twice in Genesis, long before the nation of Israel is formed; long before the law and regulations about tithing were given through Moses to Israel. It is most interesting that we don't read anything about tithing; no teaching, no indication of its origin, until it simply appears in Genesis.
The first occasion occurs when King Melchizedek meets Abraham after Abe and his men have won a victory and rescued his nephew Lot. The King is described as "a priest of God Most High". He blesses Abraham in the name of God and Abe gives a tenth of his "spoils of war" to Melchizedek. (14:20)
The second time we see the tithe is after Jacob's dramatic dream at Bethel. (28:22) Jacob is overwhelmed by his encounter with God. He pledges his commitment to God (that appears rather conditional), and that as part of his commitment, he will give a tenth of what he gains to God.
My conclusion? Giving a tenth of our income to God is not a law for Christians nor is it taught in the NT. However these examples in Genesis plus the teaching on tithing in the OT should cause us to ask ourselves: should Christians ever settle for less than giving 10%?
If Abraham and Jacob with no Scriptures and no knowledge of the blessings Christ gave 10% - how could any serious Christian give less? If the people of Israel who had never heard of being by grace through faith in Christ gave at least 10% to God, can any Christian properly give less?
Presently in our fellowship we are teaching about giving from II Corinthians 8 and 9. This I believe provides the most comprehensive NT teaching for Christians today. However we do well to follow the example of Abraham and Jacob and the example of generous giving of the Macedonian Christians mentioned in II Corinthians.

A FATHER'S LOVE

Did ever any man long more or wait longer for a son than Abraham. Puzzled by God's promise to make his "seed" more numerous than all the stars he could see, yet growing old without even one son. Promised that his heirs would occupy the "promised land", yet having no heir. Past the age with his wife when they could possibly expect to get pregnant, and still waiting.
Then comes the specific promise in Genesis 18 and the arrival of baby Isaac a year after. How much did Sarah and Abraham love Isaac? If ever a couple were tempted to totally dote on their new born son, surely it was these two. Abraham must have loved Isaac as much as any father has ever loved his son. How he must have treasured his days as his infant son began to grow.
Then God tells him to take Isaac, his young son to Mount Moriah and kill him as a sacrifice. Abraham does not question or delay. The very next morning he obeyed God and began the terrible, heart wrenching journey to Mount Moriah. God allowed Abraham to go through all of the preparation, even to tying his son on a makeshift altar and holding the killing knife in his hand. Finally, at the last minute, God tells him "No. You don't have to kill your much loved son." Abraham had proved that he indeed loved God more than anything and anyone else.
What faith, what obedience, what a sacrifice Abraham was prepared to make! Has any father ever loved his son more or been asked to make a greater sacrifice?
Only at the manger and at the Cross do we recognize Abraham's "almost sacrifice" as a forerunner of the amazing sacrificial gift of Divine love. Father God so loved that He gave "His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Again this morning as I read Genesis 22, I was deeply moved by Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his greatest love. And I shall forever live in awe of our Father's love in sending Jesus to die that cruel cross death for you - and me.   

Hanoi Happenings

Winter in Hanoi means mostly cloudy skies and cool temperatures. The cold feels more severe because most people don't travel by car and many public buildings are not heated. We discovered recently that pre-schools and elementary schools (including the one beside us) are suspended if the temperature is expected to drop below 10 C. It dipped to 8 last week. The equivalent of snow days in Canada and the USA. Smile you cold weather Canadians!
The most common mode of travel in Hanoi (my estimate) is by motor bike, 2nd by bus, 3rd by car, 4th by taxi and 5th by bicycle. Many roads are clogged with traffic as motor bikes and cars become more common. Recently, in an attempt to alleviate the traffic congestion, the city government has banned  all taxi traffic from several major streets during both morning and evening rush hours.
This means for us that our most direct route downtown is not available and that we walk for 2 blocks to catch a taxi rather than our normal 1/2 a block. It means that getting a taxi going in the right direction has become more complicated.
We know that as wealth increases and more cars are purchased, the infra-stucture is being overwhelmed. Something needs to be done. Selfishly, since we always travel by taxi, we hope this one month trial taxi ban is not the permanent solution. However I suppose the extra exercise is good for us. 

QUESTIONS EXPECTING FAITH

I remember one professor, a theologian, who was a master at asking questions. His style was "Socratic". He drove you toward an answer - or to see the faults in our thinking - by asking questions. Jesus in the Gospels asks many probing, thought provoking questions.
In Genesis 18 there are two questions asked, both of which are often quoted by believers. We quote them because our answer to one is a resounding, faith filled, "NO" and to the other a resounding, faith filled "YES". Do you know them both without peeking at the passage? They are brief and we should memorize them for recall when we need to affirm our faith filled answer.
"Is anything too hard for the Lord?" the angel of the Lord (some feel this may be the pre-incarnate Christ appearing to Abraham.) Sarah was laughing with disbelief at the promise of a natural born child to a husband and wife about to turn 100 and 90 years old respectively. To her doubting laugh comes this challenging question. Of course the angel of God, knowing and seeing far more than humans know or see, had no doubt that God could do what appeared to be "impossible". And we need to keep affirming a positive answer, especially when facing what appear to be overwhelming challenges or trials.
"Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" asks Abraham, as he presumes on God's mercy. He hopes to see God spare Job and family from the coming judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah. He is counting on God's wisdom and holiness. A positive response of faith to Abraham's question has become for many, a confident place in which to place the questions we cannot answer. Especially those questions which have to do with suffering and with judgment after death.
We do not know, nor can we understand all the ways of God or all the difficult questions of life, death and life after death. But with millions of believers we affirm: "Nothing is too hard for the Lord!" and "The Judge of all the earth will do right!"Amen? Amen!

SURPRISED BY GOD

We like to understand and control. This is true even when it comes to belief and theology. Yet God is beyond our understanding and He is the only One fully in control! Therefore it is not surprising that He often surprises us. We only see and know a little of all that God is doing in our world.
For example, take the story of Abraham. We are introduced to him and his relatives at the end of Genesis 11. We begin to follow his life through the next several chapters as he moves into the pagan, ungodly land of Canaan where "the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure." (15:16) It appears that Abraham and his family are the only God fearers in the land. The Genesis story is
Then suddenly out of nowhere appears King Melchizedek who is described as "priest of God Most High" who blesses Abraham and the God of Abraham. (14:18 - 20) Now where did this king of Salem come from? For whom is he a priest? How many other believers in the Most High God are there? How did God reveal Himself to them? None of these questions are answered for us. Melchizedek appears for one brief paragraph; and then disappears and we know nothing more about him.
The inspired writer of Hebrews (12:1 - 17) refers to the mysterious Melchizedek as a forerunner of our Great High Priest who has no beginning and no end.
We would like to "box God within certain parameters" but He cannot be boxed! We see some of what God is doing in our lives and in the lives of others. We know He is at work in people around us - even in some who evidence no interest in God. We know He is at work in countries where the Good News is often opposed. But much of what God is doing remains hidden, even in this age of telephone cameras and twitter. I wonder where God might surprise you - or me - next? Look out!  

MOTIVES MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

I had a Canadian moment this morning! I opened the curtains on our home office this morning at 6:30. I was surprised to see frost on the window - oops, it is cool here during winter months, but not that cool! During the night it went down to 9 degrees (48 F.) and that was condensation on the windows - not frost - this morning.

The Tower of Babel story in Genesis 11 raises many questions in the mind of a thoughtful reader. This is one of those biblical passages where we really could wish God had provided a few more paragraphs of inspired description and commentary. However I was struck today by the goal of the people who were constructing the city and tower: "so that we may make a name for ourselves."
How often, even in Christian service, is our desire "to make a name"? Yes, we do want to advance the cause of Christ. Yes, we do want to serve others. But lurking in the background, and if we were honest sometimes actually front and center, is the goal to "make a name." We want people to notice how good we are; how humble we are; how faithfully we serve; how sacrificial is our service; how excellent is our teaching, preaching, leading, organizing, etc. Pride is such a root sin and can influence us in so many ways. God knows, cares and judges our motives. So we should regularly check our motives. (Perhaps rarely 100% pure since we are not yet fully "formed".)
God expects people to live for His glory, which in turn is for our own good. So in Genesis 11, God stopped the people from "making a name for themselves".
Yet notice the contrast: in the very next chapter, we find God promising to Abraham what, as far as we can tell from the text, Abraham was not pursuing. If Abraham obeys by faith; if he leaves his country and his people; if he follows God's direction; then God promises: "I will make your name great."(12:3) What motivated the people of chapter 11, is promised to Abraham who is not pursuing it.
God calls us to live by faith and obedience. Jesus calls us to follow and obey out of love for Him. I should serve others in order to enhance His reputation! I should live a righteous life in order to help people think more highly of my Saviour's name! This should be my dominant (even my only) motive.
If God in His grace should cause "our name, our reputation, our legacy" to be enhanced - well we can be humbly thankful. But we must beware the desire "to make a name" for ourselves. This proud motive can lead to Christian legalism, Christian hypocrisy,  and even competition within the church.
Let's allow God to be in control of all public relations and advertising. Let Him decide whose name is noticed and whose "name" becomes great. We should always remember that "unknown, unnoticed names" here, may be "great names" in heaven and in eternity.
Maybe today is a good day to do a "check up" on our motives for living and for serving.

Arrogance and Deception

I read and pondered Genesis 3 this morning. As if reading the narrative for the first time, I paused and was overwhelmed with the arrogance of the serpent, the great enemy of God. How dare he question the words of truth of the Creator? How dare he question the motives of the Creator? Yet he did and Eve listened.  And he still dares to oppose and to deceive, and we foolish humans still listen and are enticed.
I was moved as I thought about what was lost in those moments of disobedience. How dare the Evil One step between the innocent, naive humans and their loving Creator? Yet he did and Eve, then Adam disobeyed their kind, generous Maker. He did and he still does, leading us to think that obeying our Father, following our Lord, will somehow cause us to miss out on what is good and best for us.
How furiously he opposes the One who created him. How foolishly our blind world follows his leadership instead of the leadership of the One who died to save us all.
If you pause and spend time meditating on Genesis 3, you may as I did, come close to weeping. What a terrible tragedy at the beginning of human history. How drastically the fall has affected us all and all of our planet. What gigantic wounds scar human history as a direct result of what happened on that terrible day. How sobering to think that the great deceiver, though defeated, is still active and deceiving millions.
I thought hard on that devastating spiritual defeat; but then moved on to rejoice that the Second Adam has won the victory for all of us who believe. Praise God!

AMAZING GIFT

We've been looking for a space heater for our kitchen/living/dining/ room. We have reverse air conditioners in the other three rooms that warm things up nicely. But the large AC unit in the common room does not reverse. We know to Canadians, weather that is dipping to 13 degrees (and lower) sounds awfully warm at this time of year. But in our common room during these 3 - 4 months of winter, the temperature is dipping to 16 or 17 and we'd really like to get a space heater. We can find them - but with very limited language ability it sure is hard to figure out what the various heaters will and won't do. And any heater we read about on the internet cannot be found in stores here.

I began today to read through the Bible as I usually do each year. I marvelled again at the Genesis 2 story of creation. Especially since I've been more than happily married to Jan for 4 plus decades, I give much thanks to the Creator for providing a "helper" for the first man - and for me. What an amazing gift God has provided in making the two sexes so similar and yet so different. What a marvellous experienc is the marriage between one man and one woman, secure in that relationship for life. How tragic that some still try to deny any difference any difference between the sexes (other than biology) instead of rejoicing in our differences.
Jan and I are so grateful for a stress free, fulfilling marital partnership. We love living and working together here in Hanoi as we have in other cities through the years. We grieve that this most gracious gift of marriage becomes such a painful destructive experience to so many. We grieve that many married Christians are not growing in the fruit of the Spirit and are not growing their marriages. We also are saddened that many Christian singles come to the place where they think marriage to almost any marital partner will be better than living alone. Even though surrounded by overwhelming evidence that too many marriages become a nightmare, they hang onto that foolish dream.
Marriage is provided by God as one of his greatest gifts of grace. We celebrate all of you who are working hard at developing first, a more Christlike character, and second, developing a strong, Christ centered marriage. And we thank God for you Christian singles who are serving God faithfully here in Hanoi and around the world.

REMEMBERING AND FORGETTING

2012 provides us all with a kind of new beginning. We have 365 days ahead of us, days we have never lived before. We have not ruined even one evening or wasted even one day in this new year. It is all in front of us.
Actually, for me in this time zone, it is already January 2nd. The first day is gone; but it was good. Starting the New Year on a Sunday was very nice. First, we don't leave our apartment until 9:00 am, so the day starts slowly. Second, beginning the New Year with people who love our Lord and with them to sing His praises and open His Word was appropriate. Third, we shared Communion together, which we do on the first Sunday of every month.
Without planning to do so, at the beginning of the day, I found myself reminiscing for a few moments about years gone by. Even at my age, I don't spend a lot of time looking back. However yesterday, some regrets entered my mind. Not so much about 2011, but looking farther back. Some situations I might have handled differently; some leadership moments I would like to replay; some words that cannot be retrieved. This kind of remembering is humbling. Hopefully it can prevent mistakes from being repeated.
I confessed my failures and sins to the Lord and gratefully thanked Him for His unending mercy and forgiveness. Later, as I received Communion with other believers in our Sunday Service, I remembered the One who experienced no failure and no sin. I remembered His great sacrifice for our sins; for my sins. I remembered, worshipped and rejoiced!
Reminiscing about the failures of the past? I refuse to do that kind of remembering very often, for it is usually not helpful. It can be depressing; it can hinder me from enjoying the now and preparing well for the future. I choose to live like the Apostle Paul who wrote: "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Phil. 3:13, 14
As we move into a New Year, may you live with gratitude that the past has been forgiven; may you fully enjoy the present, it is all you have; and may you prepare for a future that is centered on Jesus Christ.
Speaking of the future and new beginnings: since we live in Asia, we get to start another New Year in just three weeks. The big celebration for most Asians is the start of the Lunar New Year, which this year comes in January. In Vietnam it is referred to as Tet. Our bonus for living in Vietnam: two new beginnings in one month!