Joshua 12

This was more of a chapter of recounting the kings (31) that were defeated so that the land could be Israel's. Time seems to stand still when reading the Bible but it really was a long time (snuck a peek at 12). Throughout all of these battles, God was victorious not only in His battles against the enemies of Israel but in the hearts of Israelites. He would never give them the victory if they were not in one mind and in one heart with God. Seems like good times....

I could get use to getting up late and not having to go to work but for now, that is not my calling. Still enjoying my place down here in FL, my wife and my life.

Joshua 11

From a historical standpoint, this is truly significant - the last obstacle between Joshua/Israel and peace. God had promised them this land and the ONLY way that this had to be accomplished was to destroy every person so that God's people would remain pure. God stiffened the hearts of the Northern kings so that they banded together to fight against the Lord and his people. v.18 states that Joshua waged war against these kings for a long time. Victory while obtainable was not cheap, nor was it easy. It rarely is and in this case the result was a fulfilled promise and an inheritance to Israel divided according to what Moses had been directed by God.

Irene and I are grateful for God's providence as we trekked down to FL this past weekend. His mercies are new every morning, great is His faithfulness. His timing and direction to get the car fixed was truly divine and for that we are thankful.

Yesterday, we witnessed a new beginning in a church that started in a movie theater in town. When we first came to Celebration, this church was introduced to us by our friend Andy Chrisman. We have been attending when we come down here and have become friends with Pastor Joe Saragusa and his wife Carol. We have seen this church seek different places as they sought a permanent home. They left the movie theater and went accross the road to the Ramada and from there to the Omni and now to the Reunion complex during the course of their lifetime. While the location moved, the leadership was pretty much intact. Joe was the lead pastor and guided them through some difficult times and misguided personnel yet he remained faithful and like Moses was not a part of their next phase.

They have now been morphed into a larger entity and they are now a satelite campus of The Crossing - Tampa. Joe has now been a part of the Tampa group and will assume an entirely different role. The Celebration campus has a new pastor but the two campuses will all received the same "Sunday morning" message (actually Sat night) via video for all of their services from the Tampa pastor. Conceptually there is consistency but for me as I view it on a long term basis - very shallow and almost like a television service. While from a finance and resource basis this had pumped in the necessary assets for the Celebration group to survive, is the heart and essence of the people pumping stronger? Only time will tell. Next week, we for now are planning to go there and worship.

Joshua 10: 29-43

God is giving Joshua and the Israelites all the land and the kingdoms of the Southern cities. When God is with you like He was in this instance, it seems too easy and almost story-book since this was all done in one campaign. I guess there was no dissention, second-guessing and above all deviation from God's purpose by the Israelites. The same-page mentality gave them all that God had stated without incident. Verse42 really states it all.

In this season of Thanksgiving, I am truly blessed and pray that I too can be like-minded to the Spirit of God.

Now off to Florida and relaxation with my bride!

Joshua 10:16-28

What is recorded here is complete and utter anihilation of the opponents of the Lord and His people. How I wish that "leaders" would fight rather than hide behind others to do their dirty work and let them take the brunt of the fighting and even death. So many wasted lives due to poor leadership and pride. God will not be mocked. My prayers are for those who are serving this country whether here or abroad and will not be home with their families during this Thanksgiving season.

I want to especially lift up the Rodgers family and their baby, Hannah Joy. Her surgery went extremely well and she is recovering. This 2 month old has been loved over and cared for by the Ultimate Physician. I pray that they may be able to enjoy this Thanksgiving season a little better.

Joshua 10: 1-15 The sun stands still

Miracles upon miracles... the story behind the title was two fold. First, the 5 kings of the Amorites joined forces to combat the "threat" and the second was the response of Joshua to protect and honor the treaty that he had made with the Gibeonites. I can see both sides and what was done. I perhaps wondered why the kings didn't collectively or individually take the route of the Gibeonites and at least live. They saw the history that was laid before them and how no living person survived. They saw how few men died on the other side to secure their victory. While they don't know the reason the few died, they must have realized something greater than the Israelites were propelling them to victory. And the the hail storm which destroyed more men than the sword - that must have been a sight to behold.

The miracle of the hail storm was soon to be topped by the longest day ever recorded in that part of the world. Our God is truly a God of miracles.

I, at this time want to offer my prayers to the Tse family and especially for their beloved one who is facing severe recovery time from her car injury. May this bring them closer and nearer to You - the Ultimate Healer.

Joshua 9 - the Gibeonite deception or "bad breath is better than no breath at all"

The reputation and the intent of the Israelites continued to grow stronger by the day. If God is for us, who can be against us? I guess that is what drove the Gibeonites to deceive the leaders of Israel. They say the necessity is the mother of invention and the ruse they devised was second to none. The only catch was if the leaders were smart enough to ask the Lord if they were legit. To use an other cliche, you can't judge a book by its cover and the same with bread. They had nothing to lose and everything to gain so they pull out all of the stops, and bought their lives with their deception.

To say that all you will be is laborers for the rest of your lives is better than being totally eliminated. I guess it's a foreshadowing of Psalm 27. It is a small  price to pay it the grand scheme of things.

Also glad to see that my follower's sister is recovering from her car injury. I will pray for her this morning...

Joshua 8: 30-35

What a sight that must have been! A phase of the commands that was given to Moses was made reality. The destruction of Ai and its king was history and over. Possession of the Promised land was a reality. I could imagine the altar of uncut stones and Joshua carving the 10 Commandments on a stone in front of the entire nation.

I think the way Ch 8 ends is very fitting - the reading of the blessings and the curses that would come if true obediance is adhered to. I know that how we and especially myself need to be reminded that "we reap what we sow".

I want to acknowledge the rough season that Joe and Erika Rodgers are going through with the recent addition of Hannah in their lives. The child has never seen the outside of a hospital yet she fights and fights and fights. My prayers are with them all...

Joshua 8:1-29

Here God has laid out for Joshua a different plan to take the city and its possessions. This was a more conventional way of fighting but one that masterful. The city that was to be protected was left abandoned and destroyed. The men of Ai left their fortress to be vulnerable and destroyed. God gave the Israelites the plunder of the city as a reward for their obedience.

The lesson? If God is for you, who can be against you? Safety is not in your surroundings but in the One that protects and leads.

Joshua 7: 13-26 Consecration

I think the main point of the story comes from trust. Trust that God will provide everything that we need to be within the center of His will. Trust that He will protect us each day until He is ready to call us. Trust is easier said than done. I think that for me that I need to supplement what God gives me what I need because my wants are greater. The things that God wants me to have, He will allow for me to have. Many times I cross the bounds of wants versus needs and that is due to coveting and pride. I have witnessed those who can't even get their needs met and rarely even have a hope for a want to be met.

If God ever dealt with me according to my desires perhaps I would be penniless and destitute. The other point is holiness and obediance. Still a choice between needs versus wants.

As I enter the seasons of Thanksgiving and New Life, I want to be that vessel for others. Lord remind me of that each day.

Joshua 6

Actually this was read on 11/11 but never got the chance to post. I still enjoy hearing and reading how our God is able to do things that defy convention to prove his omnipotence. Logically this plan of a attack makes no sense and seems even bizarre when we look at our military and the ways that wars were fought. It really does say that if God is for us, who can be against us.

This past weekend we had our 7th annual Missions weekend with our initiators - Brad and Tina Reynolds from Toulouse, France. They really showed us how they trust in faith not just for God's provision for them and their ministry but in actually how lives can and will be changed when the Gospel is preached.

Faux pases? Yes this past week and this weekend I've made a few and hopefully I have learned and will correct the errors of my ways....

Joshua 5: 13-15

I never understood how the chapters of the Bible are laid out and this was no exception. This was a true departure from the rest of 5 and was really a big point in the life of Joshua. Here he met the Lord's anointed and the commander of the Lord's army. To be a soldier the way Joshua was and now to be in the presence of this person was amazing. No ego, just humility.

Maybe when we know it all or think we do, God will show us a better way. The main thing is to be holy. Moses had to be, Isaiah had to as well. 1 Peter implores us to be holy because He is holy.

In this day of remembering our Veterans, no words can come close to their sacrifice just be silent and humble in gratitude.

Joshua 5: The Pain

The chapter begins with the kings of the Amorites and the Canaanites feeling defeated. How can you stop a people that are chosen by an incredible God.?
The next part is all I can call - PAIN! especially if you are a guy. I was very surprised to read that the act of circumcision was not carried out when the male child was born so that a whole nation had to do it before they proceeded. Not that they had sterile or machined honed knives - they had used knives made of flint! OUCH!. I wonder how long the healing process was.... Interesting about the name of Gilgal - "rolled". Didn't Jesus roll the stone away to show that He lived?
Also, the manna stopped and they ate off the land - awesome!
So many things going on today and tomorrow. Hope I can do it all.

Joshua 4

Wow! What a thrill to see God work in His own way and time. To stop the waters so the whole nation could cross through the Jordan River and then see the waters crest again after they set the memorial had to be a sight to behold. God rewards faithfulness! v. 14 is such a key verse. To be affirmed by God and man - what a special relationship. 4Him sang a song about being a man that people would talk about - one that could hear the voice of God and be faithful to act and live according to it.

It's been a while since I had to "carry a stone on my shoulders".  To be reminded through the weight and physical enormity of the obstacle of the what I was called to do is truly a blessing rather than a curse. God wants us to build bridges between Himself and other people, one stone at a time. I pray that I can do that...

Joshua 3 - Continued

Actually, I had lost my cable/internet/phone service when I was away last week. I just got my service restored early this evening. I reread Ch 3 this morning since it was such a pivotal chapter in the lives of the Israelites. To see a miracle and be silent about it just amazes me. Maybe because I take life very seriously. I hate waiting on lines, wasting unrecouped time (airports, theme park lines, etc) since those moment will never be recovered again. When I was 25, it was one thing but at my age, time is precious.

I am finally starting to regain my mojo in this time zone. Got in a little more at the gym especially since I didn't have the computer or the tv to distract me. Working more with weights which I have neglected for the most part since I've gotten older. I hate "heavy metal" but more and more people are convincing me that it is as essential to my conditioning. Who knows? Needless to say, I am easing on down the road with this one.

Joshua 3

It seems amazing that in all that we see, hear and do - we are  not confident in God's leading. We need something tangible and mind-boggling to rest our faith upon. In the last chapter, Rahab was betting on a sure thing when she placed her faith, life and her family on the lives of two strangers but she was aware of the greater good. Joshua was confirmed in front of Israel by the Lord when the waters of the Jordan ceased from flowing so they could cross. Nothing is more visual than that since all of them didn't see the parting of the Red Sea.

What do I need to confirm my faith? Do I need to see the miraculous to believe? I read a blog daily about a co-worker's young daughter who hasn't seen the outside of a hospital since she was born a few weeks ago. God has performed a miracle in sustaining her life as a testimony to all who read that blog. I am reminded today of a friend that I went to college that is undergoing tests to see what the next steps are in curing his heart condition. I pray that in this instance, I can share the love of a Saviour that will heal is wounded heart.

What type of faith do I have? Hopefully, I have the faith that can sustain me day to day so that I can seek Him daily. My prayer is that my family in their own way seeks Him daily as well. Unfortunately, I can't do that for them nor they for me. Faith is an individual relationship with God. I can pray for someone but ultimately it's the relationship between God and the person that can heal and save.

We are coming home today after a week long trip to LA and FL. I can stay in FL forever... However, there is still things to be done and bills to pay. I really look forward to seeing my son tonight to share and pray with him.

Joshua 1 & 2

Ok, actually this was started a few days ago. When I was at a church in the Reseda area, CA - the pastor was using this passage as a springboard for the whole church planting thing. Clearly his church situation was much different than ours, ( 2 services and they were requested by the CM&A to step in to bail out this church) but still the concept of faith is similar.

Still not convinced that this is the route we should go... but God calls us to be "strong and courageous". Stepping in the shoes of a giant is tough and few even get the chance to do so. I look at similar situations of a church in SI and the Crystal Cathedral in the LA area. The CC is on the verge of bankrupcy while the SI church has had some issues of their own but is still vibrant. Nevertheless, are we ready?