New Phone

As far as phones go, cordless ones have had an eventful year at our house. We had an old Uniden forever. Until someone left it on the bumper of the car while out front with the kids. Then drove away. Kids in the car. Phone on the bumper. Dearly departed old phone must have been resurrected to phone heaven. We couldn’t find it anywhere retracing our route.

So a neighbor loaned us her unused phone. A new battery gave it new life. But only temporarily. The loaner phone died last week. We’ve yet to bury it.

But we have replaced it with the fancy new unit you see pictured herein: An AT&T CL82201 DECT Cordless Phone in stylish silver & black. No more older than we remember or plain white loaners for us, folks.

Our new phone has more features than we’ll ever use. And we've got two—count them two—handsets. Exciting indeed. Where we previously had only one handset, now we have the base station with answering machine upstairs and the second handset on the charging station downstairs.

We can even call each other via Push to Talk or Intercom. As the kids and I were learning that handy new through play last night, I had one of those “Aha Moments.”

I can pray anytime. I can talk to God even more easily than talking with my kids on this fancy new phone. No equipment required. Just a heart that connects.

God, I am concerned about...

God, will you help me with...

God, my heart is broken by...

God, I am angry because...

Whatever the need. Whatever the question. Whatever the request. Whatever the complaint. Whatever. God is always there. No phone required.

Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end.

They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!

I say: The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him.

Lamentations 3:22-24 HCSB

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The Shortcut

"I'll get those and be back for you within ten minutes," I boldly proclaimed to my beloved bride.

We were in Adventureland of The Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. We'd settled on an open bench beside the iconic Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse for an afternoon snack break. My wife, who rarely asks for anything, had a craving for those warm, caramelized almonds they sell in the funnel shaped bag. With snack carts here and there, I knew I could get some soon. I thought.

I just had to get from A—our benches by the treehouse—to B—wherever that might be. With my near six year old son in tow, I set out. First snack cart in the direction I went was popcorn and soda. I asked them for direction to the nut stand. Yes, I am man enough to ask directions. They said just down the way and pointed the direction I was going. Great!

But it wasn't. Wasn't great. Wasn't the next cart. Or the next cart. Or the next cart way around the corner. About that time, having walked at a five year old's pace through the crowds, I knew my ten minute promise was blown. I looked at my son, determination in my eyes, "We're getting those nuts, Buddy. Let's keep going!" He grabbed my hand without a word and further we traveled.

Nuts! All the way around by the Liberty Belle Riverboat dockhouse we found them. Short wait. Two bags, please. And we were on our way back. 

Arriving with a bit of pride and a bit of regret, someone asked with inflection that we took too long, "Where'd you have to go?" To which I recounted as above. Our friend, Jason, kindhearted and gentle a man as he is, said, "Did you cut through?"

"Cut through? Where?" I queried. "By the Bear Jamboree," he replied with a smile and an arm outstretched in that direction. The Shortcut. The Whodathunkit Shortcut.

When we walked back by later I took a good look. From both sides. You would have had been snooping in those shops or looking hard to know it was there. Or to have been there before.

If I would have known how far we'd be going to get the nuts, Jason would have told me before we left. But Jason, as much as he knows about Disney, is not omniscient. Of snack carts. Or of my direction.

Shortcuts. Most of us would love it if life had shortcuts. Many of us try to breeze by as if everything in life has shortcuts. But life doesn't always come with shortcuts. Sometimes the long way, the hard way, is the only way.

Thanks be to God—no matter the way—that He will lead us. He says, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you as well," in Matthew 6:33. He'll provide what you need. He'll encourage you as you go. He'll show you the way.

Revealing Deliverance

“Number 8 is a stunning offering of surrealist influenced psychic automatism commenting on the malaise of Western modernity.”

Do you understand that sentence? I don’t. And I wrote it. I wrote it combining some internet gleaned tidbits and vocabulary of my own as a spoof to illustrate the point of this post. Now we can observe that Jackson Pollock’s Number 8 is more than “surrealist influenced,” it has become an equally impressive “blog illustrating.” 

Modern art can be, how to put it—intriguing—to most of us. We look at works like the one above and think, “What does it mean?” Artsy types tell us, “If we have to ask what it means, then you wouldn’t understand anyhow.” Translation: “I don’t know either; I just think it’s fun to pretend as if I posses greater acuity than you. Besides, the dude splattered paint around and got paid for it. Cool! ”

Reading through Zechariah you may feel like you are looking at modern art. An angel guiding the prophet through Oracles (visions). And these visions are at best odd and sometimes just pure confusing. But unlike modern art, the prophecies of Zechariah do have real, eternal value. God Himself spoke through Zechariah using symbolism and imagery with great depth of meaning. We can not unpack it all herein, but please do read Zechariah prayerfully and find out for yourself.

No other book of the Old Testament contains so much prophecy in such a short space. Zechariah prophesies of the reign, kingship, priesthood, humanity, deity, lowly origin, rejection for 30 pieces of silver, and piercing by a sword of Jesus. He make pronouncements of Israel and other nations as well. Zechariah, not unlike the painting above, is rich with layers and meaning. 

Zechariah 1:1 tells us he the first six verses are from October/November 520 BC just after work restarted on the Temple (Haggai 1:14-15). Zechariah 1:7 is specific to February 15, 519 BC and includes the Oracles of a hopeful future for God’s people. Let’s look a little more closely at those first six verses—A Call to Repentance. 

“God was rough on your ancestors,” Zechariah begins, “and they deserved it. But you have a chance to come back to God. Sovereign, eternal God promises He will restore you and deliver you.” And not to be stumped like we’re looking at abstract, modern art, we ask, “But how do I come back to you God?”

“Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices,” God replies in 1:4. Listen. Obey. Repent. That is what God asks. Not abstract. Not easy.

God tells us throughout the remainder of the Book of Zechariah just how he will deliver His people, Israel, in 519 BC and His people, all Christ followers of all ages, in His Sovereign plan. 

What do you need God to deliver you from?

Are you fully obeying everything He has already revealed to you?

What can you learn from Zechariah?

This post is the eleventh in our series, Major Stuff from the Minor Prophets. Feel free to comment or share this post using the tools below or subscribe to this site via email above right.

Following Faithfully

Have you ever complained to God?

Sure you have.

Have you ever asked Him why?

You are human.

Have you ever questioned His character or plan?

Most probably.

Habakkuk does. And he gives us an example of how to have a conversation with God that is honest. Straight up. Even confrontational.

God is big enough for any question you have. God is big enough for you to give Him your best shot, your worst day, your biggest challenge, your greatest need, your deepest heartache. Your disgust, your discouragement, your distress. God can handle it.

Go for it. 

If you need to that is.

Go for it. Let God know how you really feel. And maybe in your getting real, letting down the “I’m fine” facade, you’ll be more open to His reply & intervention. 

Read Habakkuk and see how its done. Habakkuk comes to God on behalf of the people of Judah with two big questions. Really complaints recorded in 1:1-4 & 1:12-17. God’s first answer in 1:5-11 that He will punish Judah. Not encouraging to Habakkuk since it would come at the hands of the ruthless Babylonians. God answers the second complaint in 2:2-20 with comfort. His response will come. It will come in God’s time. “Though it linger, wait for it,” states 2:3. Because “the LORD is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.” 

God is saying to Judah 2600 years what Frank Gaebelein says to Christ followers today, “The Lord Jesus Christ is not only necessary; he is enough. If we have him, we have all, potentially and actually.”

Habakkuk 3 is a psalm of praise. From complaints and rightfully so in chapters one & two, to praise of God’s greatness once He honestly offered his complaints to God is where Habakkuk goes in just 56 total verses.  

The Minor Prophet Habakkuk can teach us some major stuff.

Follow faithfully. No matter your circumstances.

Trust God. Even when you fail to understand Him. 

Stand firm. God enables you anywhere. 

The righteous will live by faith.

Have faith. Follow Jesus.

What do you need to be honest with God about?

Where can God strengthen your faith?

This is the eighth post in a series, Major Stuff from the Minor Prophets, complimenting my current sermon series. Please comment, share or subscribe.

Pleasing God

Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. Micah 7:18 NIV

If you believe God is real.

If you believe God is good.

If you believe God is righteous.

If you believe God wants to be know.

If you believe God rewards those who seek Him.

If you believe God desires righteousness in us.

Then you will want to please Him.

Want to.

Want to & do. Two separate things.

I may want to run fast enough—for 26.2 miles—to qualify to run in the iconic Boston Marathon. I may not have either the incredible physical ability or nor the long-term, hardcore training regimen to get there in the years ahead. 

You may want to lose weight—those 20 stubborn pounds—so you’ll be healthier and feel better. You may not have habits of diet and exercise to get there or the self-discipline to execute those habits for as long as 20 pounds takes.

Want to.

I assume that as Christ follower you will want to serve God. Yet I know as a Christ follower I do not always do what I want (Romans 7:15). My selfish desires or my sin nature get in the way of doing what I know is right. Doing what pleases God.

The nations of Israel & Judah, in the midst of the Divided Kingdoms as God’s People, both knew better. Yet both, at this time between 750-722 BC, didn’t even seem to want to please God much less to really, earnestly serve Him. As one commentator said, “Israel was rebellious, Judah was religious, but sin is sin.” No matter its form: Sin is sin. 

Micah, whose name meant “Who is like Yahweh,” was a contemporary of Amos & Hosea. He was quoted by Jeremiah. We can date his ministry since he names the kings whose reigns he served in (1:2). 

As you read the book of Micah you get a sense of its structure. From bad to good. From judgment to hope. From justice to joyfulness.

BAD, Pronouncement of Judgment (1:2-2:11)

Good, Restoration of a Remnant (2:12-13)

BAD, Indictment of Leaders (3:1-12)

Good, Announcement of Future Hope (4:1-5:15)

BAD, Charges of Unrighteousness (6:1-7:7)

Good, Triumph of God’s Kingdom (7:8-20)

How are you doing? In the pleasing God department?

Do you just want to? Or do you not even care?

Do you want to but need more help to just do it? 

Confess your shortcomings to God. He pardons. He forgives. He restores.

Please share this post or share a comment. This is the sixth in a weekly series, Major Stuff from the Minor Prophets.