A Megaphone

“Pain is God’s megaphone to a deaf world.” (C.S. Lewis)

Ever ask, "God, do you exist?" “God, where are you?” “Can I believe in a loving Heavenly Father that would permit terrible tragedies to happen?”  These are all important questions that deserve answers (that you alone must seek out).

It is the Almighty’s desire for us to experience His strength, love, justice, holiness and compassion. God knows what will happen tomorrow, next week, next year, the next decade. So it would be to our advantage to make a sincere effort to discover Him. Consider the points below:

1.  Accidents (and chaos) are a part of our fallen world: Misfortunes have plagued human kind ever since the race was driven from the Garden of Eden. No one is exempt (including the godly). I doubt few would question that the apostle Paul was one of the most dedicated Christian workers in history. His life was full of challenges (until it concluded at the blade of a Roman executioner).

 

The Apostle Paul did not see tragedy as evidence against the existence of a compassionate Heavenly Father. He didn’t delight in hardships. Paul was overjoyed in his own flaws because it was then that gave God displayed His strength.

 

Jesus told us to expect difficulties in life. Life in a fallen world might shock us at times, but it shouldn’t surprise us. Tragedies are agonizing and often senseless, but your Heavenly Father is always there for you to lean on.

“Pain is the soil where the deepest kind of faith in God grows.” (Sarah Sumner)

2.  God is always in control, (even when it  appears He isn’t): God remains in ultimate control. Nothing happens that does not first pass through his loving hands. The Almighty does as He pleases with the people of this world.

 

We may not fully understand this when we face tragedies, but our lack of understanding does not diminish the above truth. Before we were born, God knew exactly how long we would live and how we would die, which remains true whether our days are many or few.

God always has a purpose in what He allows (even if we don’t know it): From our perspective, tragedies look meaningless, senseless, and chaotic. God knows how to take tragedies and bring good out of them.

 

The Heavenly Father specializes in taking evil and bringing good out of it. We must continue to believe that He has a purpose in everything that happens even if we are unable to see it.

Tragedy can serve as a wake-up call: A secular society may be stopped short when a tragedy of national proportions takes place (when redemptive truth comes out). There is something about Calvary that people who reject Christ (both intellectually and verbally) are gripped by the story.

 

Perhaps, the Heavenly Father allows tragedy to grab people out of there apathy. What a shame it takes horrendous wake-up calls to open our sleepy eyes.

 

“It is only for a little while that you will have to traverse this howling desert.” (John MacDuff, 1859)

3.  It is possible to embrace hope even in the midst of tragedy: I cannot imagine what it would be like to endure a tragedy without the hope that God offers. Without Jesus Christ, there is an eternal, black, cold, and unrelenting void. Hope is available to all of us in the midst of tragedy.

There is hope for eternal life and being reunited with those we love. God has promised to walk with us through any disaster that might overtake us.

“It is not death or dying that is tragic, but rather to have existed without fully participating in life (that is the deepest personal tragedy).” (Edward Abbey)

4.  This world is not our final home: We were created for eternity, and tragedy can never change that. This is only a prelude to what the Almighty has in mind for us. Because we look only at the present, we consider someone’s death as untimely.

 

Our perspective is limited to our current world. The Heavenly Father looks at infinity. If we are to handle calamity, we must be taught to view all challenges through the lens of a timeless Heaven.

5.  God and our free will: God has created humanity with the ability to choose or reject Him. He could force us to love Him. What kind of relationship would that be? It would be forced obedience. If God would prevent the murder, there is no longer freedom to choose.

People choose to ignore God, disobey Him, go their own way, and to sometimes commit horrible acts against others. The Heavenly Father is not at the mercy of people, but we are at His mercy. He is unlimited in power and wisdom.

Though problems seem insurmountable to us, we have a capable God. The Almighty is able to maintain the freedom of sinful humans (yet still bring about His will). [i]

“It has been said, 'time heals all wounds.' I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind protecting its sanity covers them with scar tissue, and the pain lessens. But it is never gone.” (Rose Kennedy)

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[i] Sources used:

·       “Where Is God When Bad Things Happen?” by Luis Palau

·       “Where is God in the Midst of Tragedy?” by Marilyn Adamson  

·       “Where Is God in Tragedy?” by Sarah Sumner

The book of Job in the Bible covers the topic of why God allows suffering in the world.





 

 

Never Forgets

“History remembers only the celebrated, genealogy remembers them all.” (Laurence Overmire)

Have you ever wondered about the ancestral deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) that makes up the unique person you are? Here are some useful hints in helping discover the person you really are:

1.  Begin your family tree: The memories of relatives hold the key to starting your family history research. Ask specific individuals, and gather details surrounding their lives. Things like family scrapbooks, memorabilia boxes, vital records, and Bibles often yield important clues for family history research.

Contact family members to ask if they have records that may assist in your genealogy quest. Don't ask just about facts and dates (get the stories of their growing up and of the ancestors they remember). Try to phrase questions with why, how, and what.

“Family faces are magic mirrors. Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present and future.” (Gail Buckley)

2.  Start your online family tree: Keeping your research organized is important as you continue to find new details related to your family. Use your initial research for your first searches and then analyze your results to achieve a personal success strategy. 

The US Federal census is a solid starting place for examining your family tree. Start with the 1940 US census to trace parents and grandparents, record their names, ages, birthplaces, immigration details, occupations, and residences as your build out your family tree.

“In all of us there is a hunger (marrow-deep) to know our heritage; to know who we are, and where we came from.” (Alex Haley)

3.  Create a family story: When building your family tree, identify a potential story about family that you are interested to begin exploring.   Join a network of family historians both experienced (and new) on social networking resources to make new connections, and gain insight on how to expand your family. Select one or two families that interest you, rather than trying to focus on your entire family tree at once.

Learn how to make connections by following family members on their journey to America through the US census, passenger lists, and naturalization papers. Some family members might have old genealogical information from other relatives who have also worked on the family history that can help jumpstart your search.

“Every man is a quotation from all his ancestors.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

4.  Find a Family History Society: Connect with other family historians through a local genealogical society. Attending local classes about family tree research is an important step to finding answers for beginners and advanced genealogists alike. Visit the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) Society Hall to find a family history society in your area. 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has more than 4,000 Family Search Centers where anyone can access the world's largest collection of genealogical information. More than 2 million rolls of microfilmed records from all over the world are available. Look for clues to more answers to the puzzles of your past.

“Read the genealogy of Jesus, and you have to see how the four women in that genealogy God used their sins for His glory.” [i](Rick Warren)

5.  Search in a variety of places for information: Record what you know so you can decide what you don't know yet. Try to answer the mystery first (then work backward in time). The Internet is a terrific place to find leads and share information, but don't expect to find your whole family tree online.

You may find websites your family created by distant relatives researching the same family tree. You may want to travel to places like ancestral courthouses, churches, and cemeteries. This is a rewarding way to walk in the footsteps of your ancestors and bring your heritage to life. Below are some free websites to aid in discovering your family tree:

“Words have a genealogy and it's easier to trace the evolution of a single word than the evolution of a language.” (Daniel Dennett)

ü African Heritage Project: Records on former slaves, freed persons and their descendants

ü Billion Graves: Headstone records

ü Castle Garden: Pre Ellis Island immigration records

ü Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System: Civil War records from the National Park Service

ü Dead Fred: Genealogy photo archive

ü FreeBMD: Registration of births, marriages, and deaths for England and Wales

ü GenDisasters: For researching disasters and other events your ancestors might have been involved in

ü GENUKI: Reference library of genealogical resources for the United Kingdom and Ireland

ü German Genealogy Server: German ancestry research

ü Hispanic Genealogy: Wonderful list of resources for researching Hispanic ancestry

ü Italian Genealogical Group: Italian American genealogy resources and databases

ü JewishGen: Jewish ancestry research

ü Library and Archives Canada: Official archives of Canada

ü LitvakSIG: Lithuanian-Jewish genealogy databases

ü NativeWeb Genealogy: A list of Native American genealogy databases

ü Patriot and Grave Index: Revolutionary war graves registry and patriot index from the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution

ü Preserve the Pensions: War of 1812 pension records access

ü Seventh-day Adventist Obituary Database: Hundreds of thousands of obituary entries

ü Släktdata: Genealogy records for Sweden (in Swedish)

ü WieWasWie: For researching ancestors from the Netherlands (in Dutch)[ii]

“People who lose children have their hearts warped into weird shapes. Some try to deny it has happened. Some pretend it hasn't. Losing friends or parents is not the same. To lose a child is beyond comprehension. It defies biology.

It contradicts the natural order of history and genealogy. It derails common sense. It violates time. It creates a huge, black, bottomless hole that swallows all hope.” (Michael Robotham)

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[i]These four women are Tamar (Genesis 38), Rahab (Joshua 2:9-11, 6:1-27), Ruth the book of Ruth), and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11).

 

[ii] Sources used:

·       “4 Unlikely Grandmothers in Jesus’ Family Tree” by Tayler Beede 

 

·       “10 Steps to Start Your Family Tree” (www.familytreemagazine.com)

 

·       “10 Tips to Start Your Family History Journey” (www.findmypast.com)

·       “50 Free Genealogy Sites to Search Today” (familyhistorydaily.com)

·        “What is DNA?” (ghr.nlm.nih.gov)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keep Away

This Bible will keep you away from sin, or sin will keep you away from the Bible.” (Rev Jim Smith)

Hardship can destroy us, or deepen our faith. Suffering is unavoidable and unexpected at times. The outcome to adversity hinges on the character of our response to it.

Rebellion against God has a consequence of some sort (even if it's guilt). How can you respond to suffering that's the result of your own willful choices? Here are some helpful steps in dealing with the consequences of your sin:

One leak will sink a ship and one sin will destroy a sinner.” (John Bunyan)

1.  Assume responsibility: Own up to your mistakes. Admit to yourself the adverse circumstances you're facing are of your own doing. If you're a child of God who desires for Him to be glorified through your life, adversity will not put you down for the count. T person who views eternity from God’s perspective will emerge victorious through any trial.

“If you think that you can sin, and then by cries avert the consequences of sin, you insult God's character.” (Frederick William Robertson)

2.  Confess and repent of sin: Tell God you've sinned (not just that you made a mistake or had an accident). Repentance requires that you make a decision to turn away from sin. To repent is to make every arrangement necessary to avoid repeating the same failing.

“A clear conscience is absolutely essential for distinguishing between the voice of God and the voice of the enemy. Unconfessed sin is a prime reason why many do not know God's will.” (Winkie Pratney)

3.  Do not complain: If you suffer because of your own actions, you have no right to complain. Don’t spend your energy trying to get people’s sympathy. Focus on getting right with God.

“The chains of sin are to light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken.” (Tom Drout)

4.  Ask God to help you discover the weakness through which sin crept into your life: Have you adopted ideas into your world view that are contrary to Scripture? Is someone in your life a constant source of temptation? Questions like these can help you identify how sin entered your life and found a resting place.

True repentance is followed by genuine gratitude. God disciplines those He loves, and no one finds the process pleasant. When you understand suffering from God’s viewpoint, you can appreciate that He plans to use trials to accomplish good.

“I’m against sin. I’ll kick it as long as I’ve got a foot, and I’ll fight it as long as I’ve got a fist. I’ll butt it as long as I’ve got a head. I’ll bite it as long as I’ve got a tooth. And when I’m old and fistless and footless and toothless, I’ll gum it till I go home to Glory and it goes home to perdition.” (Billy Sunday)

Recognize God wants to use adversity in your life: Regardless of the source. Adversity is a powerful tool in the Lord’s hands when you cooperate with how Him in using it. Tell Him, Trust Him to use this time of hardship to deepen your faith and strengthen your commitment to Him. [i]

“Sin always finds its root in our own selfish desires and self-gratification.” (Joe Campbell)

A southern gospel song (performed by the Cathedrals) that summarizes what’s been discussed above is named, “Sin Will Take You Farther. “ What is your opinion about the lyrics below?

Verse One

As a child I foolishly turned God away
Not knowing the heartache a sinner must face
But God in His goodness has let me return
To share with His children this lesson I've learned

Chorus

Sin will take you farther than you wanna go
Slowly but wholly taking control
Sin will leave you longer than you wanna stay
Sin will cost you far more than you wanna pay

Verse Two

So with pleasure and promises sin took control
Leaving me dying with nothing to show
Gone were my loved ones and my dearest friends
Only a Savior could love me again

Chorus 2X

Tag

Sin will cost you far more wanna pay

“Temptation can be tormenting…Remember; the torment of temptation to sin is nothing to compare with the torment of the consequences of sin. Remorse and regret cannot compensate for sin…Though sins can be forgiven immediately (the consequences can last a lifetime).” (Edwin Louis Cole)

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[i] Adapted from “The Consequences of Sin” (www.intouch.org)

 

 

The Unrisen

“Matzah …is a cracker-like unleavened flatbread made of plain flour and water that has not been allowed to rise. There are five grains that may not be used during Passover in any form except matzah: Wheat, Barley, Spelt, Rye, and Oats.” [i]

Baking your own matzah bread can be a rewarding way of preparing for Passover. It is very labor intensive, but something you might want to try. This project needs to be undertaken by a group with access to a large work area in a synagogue kitchen. The work area (including the oven) must be thoroughly made kosher in the midst of this holiday baking process. [ii]

The Israelites of Bible times didn’t have any of our luxuries in doing the above job. The first Feast of Unleavened Bread is recorded in Exodus 12:14-15, 17(JUB):

“And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it as a feast unto the Lord throughout your ages… Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses, for whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day. That soul shall be cut off from Israel…for in this same day have I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt; therefore, shall ye observe this day for your ages by an ordinance forever.”

“Your purpose is to become a spiritual leaven to permeate the whole world”
 (Sunday Adelaja)

Jesus fulfills the Feast of the Unleavened Bread by…

1.  His burial as the sinless Bread of Life:[iii]

“Though mistreated, He was submissive. He did not open his mouth. Like a lamb led to be slaughtered. Like a sheep silent before its shearers, He did not open his mouth.”  (Isaiah 53:7, CJB)

“Basically, I don't ever move too far past the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, because it's of first importance. And I make sure it's of first importance with anyone I'm talking to. It all comes down to that, really, when you get right down to it. So it's not complex. Jesus removed our sins and guarantees we can be raised from the dead.” (Phil Robertson)

2.  His burial in a rich man’s tomb as the sinless Bread of Life:

“After all this, Joseph of Arimathea, a disciple who kept his faith a secret for fear of the Jewish officials, made a request to Pilate for the body of Jesus. Pilate granted his request, and Joseph retrieved the body.” (John 19:38, VOICE)

“Following Jesus Christ has always been dangerous, but it was especially so for Joseph of Arimathea. He was a prominent member of the Sanhedrin, the court which condemned Jesus to death. Joseph risked his reputation and his life by standing up for Jesus, but his faith far outweighed his fear.”[iv]

3.  By God not allowing His body to see death as the sinless Bread of Life:

“For You will not leave me among the dead. You will not allow Your beloved One to rot in the grave.” (Psalm 16:10, TLB)

“The evidence for Jesus' resurrection is so strong that nobody would question it except for two things. First, it is a very unusual event…Second, if you believe it happened, you have to change the way you live.” (Wolfhart Pannenberg)

If you wonder how this post relates to you, the lesson is this. In gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice, purge sin from your life on a constant basis:

You know what they say, “Just a little yeast causes all the dough to rise,” so even the slightest detour from the truth will take you to a destination you do not desire. (Galatians 5:9, VOICE)

“Sinful and forbidden pleasures are like poisoned bread; they may satisfy appetite for the moment, but there is death in them at the end.” (Tryon Edwards)[v]

Matzah Bread

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[i] Taken from “Passover Matzoh” (http://www.girlschaser.com/matzoh.html)

 

[ii] Adapted from  “Matzah Baking, an 18-Minute Project” by Richard Siegel

 

[iii] “Jesus said to them, “I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to me will not be hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35, WEB)

 

[iv] “Joseph of Arimathea” by Jack Zavada

 

[v] Inspired by the sermon “Fantastic Feasts: The Bread of Life” (Installment two) Sunday, May 21, 2017 Pastor Dave Jansen CenterPoint Gahanna Church Gahanna, OH.

The Poison

"Resentment is the poison you swallow hoping the other person will die." (Carrie Fisher)

There is value in forgiveness. You can pardon yourself, others, and  when you’re unsure who to release from your anger. Forgiveness is not about who is at fault.  It is about letting go permanently of the resentment within you.

Allowing mercy in your life is recognizing that there’s no point in letting a wrong dominate the rest of your life.  Forgiveness cleans your emotional attitude, and enables you to move forward with your life. 

Matthew 6:14-15 (MEV) says this of the Almighty in connection to forgiveness: “For if you forgive men for their sins; your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men for their sins, neither will your Father forgive your sins.” Here are some ways to make forgiveness a reality in your life:

“It is very easy to forgive others their mistakes; it takes more grit and gumption to forgive them for having witnessed your own.” (Jessamyn West)

1.  Be the Watcher of Your Thoughts and Emotions: You are ultimately the sole creator of your own feelings.  When negative thoughts arise based on past experiences or future worries. Realize that these are simply issues your mind (not you) is working through.  Pause, be present, and pay close attention.  Think about these thoughts and emotions consciously. 

    Separate yourself from your mind’s thinking. By not judging your thoughts or blaming them on anyone else, and merely watching them, there will be a big shift within you – your sense of self worth. Knowing that your thoughts are fleeting feelings that are independent of you will help ease your tension, and allow you to forgive and let go.

“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” (Lewis B. Smedes)

2.  Focus on Gratitude: Happiness must always be an inside joy. If you allow your self-image to be at the mercy of unpredictable events and unreliable people, your happiness will be forever on a chaotic roller coaster ride. It is good practice to purposefully end your day by counting your blessings with a list of the five aspects of your life that you appreciate. Whenever anger over a mean person’s actions enter your mind, tell yourself: "We are all individuals who occasionally go astray." Pray for this person to come back to a happier place.

“A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers.” (Ruth Graham)

3.  Get Revenge (Positively): The best kind of revenge is living a successful, happy life. If you train yourself to consistently be more loving in thoughts and actions, your energy will attract more positive people and positive results. To stay focused on highly positive thoughts, repeat this meditation ritual throughout the day: "Love, forgiveness, letting go, and peace. Working on a better you is more fulfilling than hanging on to contempt of others. 

    If you train yourself to consistently be more loving in thoughts and actions, your positive energy will attract more positive results into your current reality. Let go, and grow past your pain.  The energy you would spend trying to get real revenge can be better spent creating an amazing future for yourself. The bottom line is that the best revenge is happiness, because nothing drives your adversaries more insane than seeing a fresh smile on your face. 

“The past has no power over the present moment.” (Eckhart Tolle)

4.  Look for the Lesson: it's certainly optimistic to reframe all your life's bad events as tests of your character. If you feel particularly tested right now, ask yourself if you're being prepared for something like more patience, compassion, resilience, forgiveness, or open-mindedness.  Whatever strengths must be developed further; go out and do it. Develop a student (not a victim) mentality. Vow not only to disentangle yourself from emotionally harmful situations, but also to consciously avoid similar situations in the future.

“When you forgive, you in no way change the past, but you sure do change the future.” (Bernard Meltzer)

5.  Love: Hurting someone else will never ease your own inner angst.

Revenge (whether it’s focused on yourself or others) brings zero value into your life. The way beyond the pain from the past is not with vengeance, but with true love in ample supply. Loving is never easy (especially when times are tough) yet it is easily the most powerful and positively enduring action possible. If you’re feeling pain, don’t take action that creates even more pain.  There is always love to give.  Fill your heart with it and act in everyone’s best interest (especially your own).

“He who cannot forgive breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass.” (George Herbert)

6.  Maintain Perspective: If you're going through a challenging time, remind yourself that this specific event is a part of your life (not your whole life). Consciously keep this perspective, and don't allow the event overwhelm you. Mistakes are the growing pains of wisdom that need to be accepted (not forgiven). If everyone is trying to do their best (at not being perfect), what is there to be pardoned? 

“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” (Mahatma Gandhi)

7.  Stay Centered: Recognize that when you respond with hate to hate, anger to anger, bitterness to bitterness, you are ironically becoming part of the problem. Choose to resist becoming like them, and instead put in the conscious effort to remain a loving, happy person. When you resent someone, you are not only hurting yourself. You're also giving this person control of your emotions. Think it over. Do you really want to do that?

“Anger makes you smaller, while forgiveness forces you to grow beyond what you were.” (Cherie Carter-Scott)

8.  Stop Trying for A While: This perception of constantly trying makes living seem like an endless struggle. Instead of believing that you are not there yet, be grateful that you are right where you are meant to be at this moment. Let go of the judgments, forgive the past, and let this moment be as incredible as it is.  [i]

"You can't solve a problem by staying in the same energy in which it was created." (Albert Einstein)

“You hold in your hand an invitation: to remember the transforming power of forgiveness and loving kindness. To remember that no matter where you are, and what you face (within your heart peace is possible).” (Jack Kornfield)

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[i] Sources used:

·       “5 Unique Ways to Forgive and Let Go” by Marc Chernoff

·       “8 Ways to Forgive and Forget” by Karen Salmansohn

 

This topic was suggested by my wife, Bobbi Kinker.