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?