TRUSTING GOD

I read the familiar but amazing story of Joseph again this morning. It never fails to interest me. I marvel at what Joseph enjoyed and endured. In short form here is my quick overview.
God blessed him: with his father's doting care; with prophetic dreams; with success in Potiphar's estate management; with success running the jail; the fascinating ability to interpret dreams; sudden promotion to the number 2 power position in all of Egypt at age 30; vindication and sweet, short lived revenge on his brothers; and finally the opportunity to provide for his aged father and the entire extended family, as well as all of Egypt during the severe famine. A story of marvellous success and blessing.
But God also allowed him to endure: hatred and rejection by 10 of his eleven brothers; almost being killed by them; sold by his brothers into slavery; false accusation and imprisonment; sudden hope dashed by a two year wait for the cup bearer to remember Joseph; all of this endured over a total of 13 long years in a foreign country with no hope of ever seeing his family again. Long years when he must have wondered what God was doing.
Take your pick of these descriptions of Joseph: spoiled favorite son, flaunting the best wardrobe, who is apparently happy to let his brothers know about his dreams that elevate him above the whole family OR devastated young sibling who suffers under the hatred, anger and rejection of his brothers OR highly successful, gifted young man who keeps rising to the top, first under Potiphar, then under the jailor and finally under Pharaoh.
Or perhaps we all prefer the wonderful forgiving, God trusting man who assures his brothers that in spite of what they did out of hatred, he sees the sovereign hand of God using evil for good. Repeatedly he affirms, "God sent me here."
May you echo those words, whatever your blessings or difficulties, wherever you are today.

NOISE AND QUIET

I was reminded of how noisy Hanoi the other day. It was almost 7:00 am. I was reading my Bible and Jan was struggling with a cold so was still in bed. I'd heard the normal call to classes from the nearby high school (a few drum beats and a loud sentence or two) at 6:45. Being a Monday they then held their general assembly in the school courtyard that serves as their gym and auditorium (and sometimes parking lot).
The sound system was even louder than normal and the program featured music as well as a very expressive speaker. I was extra sensitive to the noise since Jan was asleep and I was about to begin praying. I just had to smile. Even though we are 300 meters away and 19 stories above the school, I could hear every word.
I think I've mentioned before that Hanoi drivers are notorious for using their horns to say, variously: "look out I am coming; move, you are in my way; I see you and hope you see me; I am frustrated that traffic is so slow; the light is turning in 5 seconds, why aren't you moving already; Hello; etc."
Horns are overused but some of them are amazingly loud - especially on buses and trucks. Both outdoors (such as in the nearby school courtyard) and indoors at meetings, church services, wherever, sound systems are normally set at about twice the required volume.
Add to that the fact that Vietnamese generally (of course all comments are generalizations) speak at a volume much louder than many ethnic groups. When people are having a normal conversation in our apartment hallway, we often remind each other: "they are not angry or arguing, they are just talking."
All of that to say, the average Vietnamese is usually surrounded by noise much more than is the average city dweller in Edmonton, Toronto, New York or Sydney.
However this morning I awoke earlier than usual. So I was reading my Bible at 5:30 am and suddenly realized it was actually quiet. With windows closed and drapes drawn; before rush hour and before school started, it was quiet! There were minutes when I could not hear even one faint horn honking. Amazing!
Now I am not sure that today "I heard from God" any better than on Monday when reading with accompanying school music and pep talk. But it certainly was easier to concentrate. If you have a very quiet spot where you can meet with God, be thankful.
Anyway, thinking of this caused me again to remember the Psalmist words:

He says, “Be still, (stop striving) and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

However you do it, I hope you will take time to slow down, be quiet, be still, stop striving and remember today that the Lord is God and we are called to exalt Him.
  

GIVING 10 TIMES 10

Pastors are often asked about tithing. What is it? Should I do it? Should it calculated on my gross income or net income? Should I tithe while I am in debt? Should I tithe if I receive a gift?
Actually, I am more interested today in the question (which I admit is not of great significance): where did the idea of tithing originate? You know that Melchizedek, King of Salem appears out of nowhere in Genesis 14; is described as a priest of God most high, and blessed Abram. The writer of Hebrews presents Melchizedek as a forerunner, a type of Christ our High Priest forever. Abram acknowledges Melchizedek and gives him a tenth of everything he has just won in battle. Nothing is said as to why Abram gives him a tenth; where he got that idea or why 10% not 5% or 20% is given.
Then a few pages later, Genesis describes Jacob's vivid heavenly dream and the Lord's promise to Him. Jacob marvels at the presence of the Lord and exclaims "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, this is the gate of heaven." Genesis 28:17
He promises that if God indeed blesses and protects him, then he, Jacob will give a tenth back to God. How he will do that; to whom or to what he will give the tenth is not described. It is just mentioned.
Of course we know that tithing is actually prescribed to the people of Israel. It was part of the many guidelines, laws and regulations God gave through Moses 500 years after Jacob made his promise to tithe.
Now I don't believe tithing is a law for Christians because the NT clearly teaches we are children of grace not of law. I (along with many Bible scholars and preachers) never teach that a Christian must tithe. That is OT teaching.
On the other hand, since we find the above examples appearing long before the Law was given, we do well to pay attention. Like many others I encourage Christians to take 10% as a guideline for giving. We are wise to see giving 10% as a minimum standard beyond which serious Christians often rise.
However much more basic than tithing is the need for each of us to give ourselves to God. The NT challenge (just preached it yesterday) is to settle for giving nothing less than 10 times 10; giving 100% of ourselves to God. If and when you've offered the sacrifice of your whole self to God, then giving 10% and more of your income is not a big issue. Generosity flows from those who have come to appreciate the great mercies of God.
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship." Romans 12;1

TWO GREAT QUOTES

They are both found in Genesis 18. One is a quote of what the Lord said to Abraham. His is a question that expects a strong response of "No." The other is what Abraham later said to the Lord. His is a question that also expects a strong response of "No." Can you guess what they are? I suspect you know them. Both of them express, through a question, something of God's greatness.
Some of us have quoted them many times because they are so relevant in a variety of discussions. They are life relevant for all of us. I find it interesting that they appear in two conversations included in just one chapter.
OK, did you identify them?
Here they are:
The Lord said to Abraham, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" Abraham needed to believe and answer "no, you can indeed give us a child at age 90 and age 100". Even that amazing miracle was not too hard for the Lord.
A little while later, Abraham said to the Lord, "Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?". This was certainly a rhetorical question. Abraham was certain that God was merciful which is why he was pleading for God to lower his quota from 50 all the way down to just 10 righteous people.
We who have read Scripture and seen God move in our lives and the lives of others are certain that both these questions deserve a "NO" answer. We believe God is omnipotent and God is just and loving.
How ancient the context of these questions. How life changing is the world view that is founded on this understanding of who God is.

WHAT? AT YOUR AGE?

Once upon a time it seemed that people made a choice of careers in their early twenties, or even teens, and that was it. They were locked into their job/career until they retired, died or the company closed down. If they were the exceptional few, they were sent by God and the church to serve as international workers - career international workers.
Times have changed. Radical career changes and numerous career changes are more the norm than the unusual among many people. There is not much job security out there and on the other hand, not many companies can count on keeping their employees, especially the best from moving on.
Yet it seems to me too many Christians still remain stuck in that former paradigm. Because they did not venture out of their country before age 40, (except for a winter or summer vacation) they feel God would never expect them to move across a border or across an ocean to serve Him. Yet there are more opportunities to serve God in a variety of countries than ever before. It is easier today to leave family and friends yet stay in close touch through social media than it has ever been.
So I remind you - God does call people in mid-life and later, to make radical changes. He gives us a clear example in Abraham. You probably know that:
"The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you." Genesis 12:1

But have you noticed in the same paragraph that we read, "Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran."(12:4) That does not sound like a mid-life career change. It sounds like a retirement move at age 75. Of course we also need to be aware that Scripture records Abraham as fathering children long past the age of 100 and living to age 175. (25:1 - 8) 

So maybe taking that ancient longevity into account, Abraham's move at age 75 might be the equivalent of making a major move today in your 40's. Actually I happen to have friends here in Hanoi who made similar radical career and location changes in their 40's because they were convinced the Lord had directed them, clearly leading them to "go from your country, your people and your father's household". They have followed God's direction not seeking wealth or comfort, nor running from difficulties. They have made that move - from Korea or from the USA - because they believed this was God's direction for them.
I don't like to see Christians miss God's best because "they are not the moving kind" or because "we missed the opportunity when in our 20's," or because "we could never leave our children or grandchildren." Great opportunities are open and God is calling many Christians to make major moves in their 40's, 50's, 60's and yes, like Abraham, for a few even in their 70's.
I hope you remain open to the reality that God may want you to do some "leaving", no matter your age or life situation.

IN THE BEGINNING

We talked with our grandchildren this morning over Skype and teased them as to what year they were in. Simone answered correctly that it was 2012. But we assured her it was really 2013; the New Year had already arrived. Of course we were talking from a time zone 12 hours ahead of hers.
New! I read the early chapters of Genesis this morning and paused to wonder what it was like to have everything new. To be in an unbroken relationship with God. To be unhindered by, even unaware of what sin and shame feel like. To be perfectly innocent.
New! To be in a perfect marriage. (OK ours is almost perfect after 44 years but not quite.) To be absolutely "in synch" with nature. To be perfectly "in synch" with yourself (Do you have debates with yourself as often as I do?).
In the beginning God made everything in nature good. He described it that way. Yet we live with "the curse". We live with hurricanes and typhoons, earthquakes and drought, snowstorms and heat waves.
The New Year provides a new beginning for all of us - a New Year on which to write our actions and words. Yet of course we each carry into the year the package of our past - we don't start with a clean slate.
But one day there will be a new beginning for every believer; a beginning that is totally new. We will be newly fashioned with resurrection bodies and we will be part of a new heaven and new earth.
Meanwhile in this New Year, our goal is to become more like Christ, even as we live as "new creations" with our own "sin scars" and with relationships and a world scarred by sin. May this be a wonderful year of spiritual growth for all of us.

HIS WAY, HIS TRUTH

A friend emailed me and mentioned that Psalm 86 was one of his favourite psalms. As I read it today (it is already Dec. 31 in this time zone) I thought: "What a great passage on which to begin 2013! " I love the way the psalmist affirms the greatness of God. When our minds are filled with thoughts of the greatness and goodness of God, they cannot be filled with doubts and worries.
"You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you." vs. 5
"Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord: no deeds can compare with yours." vs. 8
"But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness." vs. 15
In the middle of the psalm comes a request and commitment that should be ours, wherever we are and whatever we hope to do in 2013.

Teach me your way,Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness;give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. vs. 11, 12

Yes! I want to know His way and walk in His truth. In a world of so many attractive things and seductive voices that can pull me away and splinter my focus, I want an undivided heart. I want to listen closely to His Word and His Spirit and then respond in absolute obedience. I want to rely on His faithfulness in a world of rapid change.
If this is our desire and commitment, then 2013 will be a great year for each of us.
HAPPY NEW YEAR.