Conversation: Square

Revelation 21:

¹⁴And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

¹⁵And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.

¹⁶And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.

Psalm 87:

¹His foundation is in the holy mountains.

²The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.

³Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.

It Means Vapour

Psalm 39:4LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.5Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah. There is that word "vanity". The marginal reference here suggests that it means "vapour". In Ecclesiastes in various places the original word translated "futility". My English dictionary tells me that behind the word futility was the concept of something "leaky".Not a very good summation for the efforts of humankind. We see so many struggle to get their mark in the concrete; to strive fearfully for some impact in their waning moon; to ensure that their name will remain on the lips of others.

Elsewhere in Isaiah 40, I see a similar message:

6The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:

7The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.

8The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

Every day on my way to work I pass a sports park which memorializes a young business man who died in an unfortunate motorcycle accident. His family were considered some of the wealthiest in our community. They had perhaps the largest of landholdings in rental properties in our region. Their record of philanthropic givings was immense.

But sadly within a span of about four years, son, mother and father all died; the mother of health complications which I do not remember; the father in a car accident on the way to church. Exit a well-respected family. Do I hear much about them now?

So how must this warning affect our remaining years? The little verse comes to mind:

Only one life,

'Twill soon be past.

Only what's done

For Christ will last.

What do we "do" for Christ? Speak and think equitably. Avoid the ill report. Alleviate suffering, shame and loneliness. Affirm others in day to day ways. Speak well of the name and fame of our Saviour. Explore the mysteries beyond the veil through prayer, scripture and honest dialogue with faithful friends. Stay away from dark paths and dark pass-times. Forgive always. Suggest to acquaintances the peace, purpose and hope of a Christ-like life and death.

These priorities have their place in a glorious heritage, a glorious community. They do not evaporate. They do not leak.

Standfast Makes It Across

(Taken from Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan)Then there came forth a summons for Mr. Standfast. This Mr. Standfast was he whom the rest of the pilgrims found upon his knees in the Enchanted Ground. And the post brought it him open in his hands: the contents thereof were, that he must prepare for a change of life, for his Master was not willing that he should be so far from him any longer. At this Mr. Standfast was put into a muse. Nay, said the messenger, you need not doubt of the truth of my message; for here is a token of the truth thereof, “Thy wheel is broken at the cistern.” Eccles. 12:6. Then he called to him Mr. Great-Heart, who was their guide, and said unto him, Sir, although it was not my hap to be much in your good company during the days of my pilgrimage, yet, since the time I knew you, you have been profitable to me. When I came from home, I left behind me a wife and five small children; let me entreat you, at your return, (for I know that you go and return to your Master’s house, in hopes that you may yet be a conductor to more of the holy pilgrims,) that you send to my family, and let them be acquainted with all that hath and shall happen unto me. Tell them moreover of my happy arrival at this place, and of the present and late blessed condition I am in. Tell them also of Christian and Christiana his wife, and how she and her children came after her husband. Tell them also of what a happy end she made, and whither she is gone. I have little or nothing to send to my family, unless it be prayers and tears for them; of which it will suffice that you acquaint them, if peradventure they may prevail. When Mr. Standfast had thus set things in order, and the time being come for him to haste him away, he also went down to the river. Now there was a great calm at that time in the river; wherefore Mr. Standfast, when he was about half-way in, stood a while, and talked with his companions that had waited upon him thither. And he said, This river has been a terror to many; yea, the thoughts of it also have often frightened me; but now methinks I stand easy; my foot is fixed upon that on which the feet of the priests that bare the ark of the covenant stood while Israel went over Jordan. Josh. 3:17. The waters indeed are to the palate bitter, and to the stomach cold; yet the thoughts of what I am going to, and of the convoy that waits for me on the other side, do lie as a glowing coal at my heart. I see myself now at the end of my journey; my toilsome days are ended. I am going to see that head which was crowned with thorns, and that face which was spit upon for me. I have formerly lived by hearsay and faith; but now I go where I shall live by sight, and shall be with him in whose company I delight myself. I have loved to hear my Lord spoken of; and wherever I have seen the print of his shoe in the earth, there I have coveted to set my foot too. His name has been to me as a civet-box; yea, sweeter than all perfumes. His voice to me has been most sweet, and his countenance I have more desired than they that have most desired the light of the sun. His words I did use to gather for my food, and for antidotes against my faintings. He hath held me, and hath kept me from mine iniquities; yea, my steps hath he strengthened in his way.

Now, while he was thus in discourse, his countenance changed; his strong man bowed under him: and after he had said, Take me, for I come unto thee, he ceased to be seen of them.

(Photo by Blaine Franger)

I Can Only Imagine with Mercyme

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_OB7d-B1Vw

River

It’s a river we search for

Yes a stream lined with trees

For the healing of nations

In the Spirit’s fresh breeze.

And the saints there are gathered

All the broken made whole

And the glorious creatures

And apostles twelve-fold.

Not a suffering remembered

Not a sigh damps the glow

Of the Lamb’s throne eternal

Only dreamed of below.

And His servants are busy

Want it no other way

Casting crowns all before Him

Who alone lights the Day.

And this Day springs eternal

Bitter nights all forgot

Revelation a-plenty

For what Mercy has wrought.

http://issuu.com/dewane/docs/hankering_for_that_city_a40c67c561fdb9

Heritage of Hope

Where has our grandmother gone?She rests, so calm and still.I thank her for my faith’s first blush.I know I always will.Where gone those eyes of crystal,So quick to smile or sing?O’er-shadowed only lately-Now closed to everything?

Where gone that voice of comfort,

Heard softly ‘neath life’s roar?

Last lilting sick-bed psalms of hope,

Now hushed for evermore?

How marvelous was her resolve

In spite of body pain.

How strange her benediction:

“Grieve not. To die is gain.”

How can I bear the sad loss of

That life, that voice, those eyes?

But for the Saviour’s promise:

“Today in Paradise.”

As I gaze long at her dear face

Before the eulogy,

I know by Spirit’s urging, yet

Again her face I’ll see.

Gram often praised a pleasant land,

Aglow with God’s own love;

Astir with tasks for joyful saints,

Her rich reward above.

As Jesus broke the bonds of death,

She trusted for the same,

And now, I’m sure he honours her

For holding to his name.

The casket, shut, abruptly.

No tearful face, I must

Do honour to that precious shell,

Returning now to dust?

Right now I know her spirit flies

On brilliant wings of praise,

Which lift her laughingly aloft,

To see her Saviour’s face.

But to the churchyard sod we go,

And to the berth serene,

Wherein to lay her fragile form;

Will it no more be seen?

Fresh comfort comes from scripture now

With words which she oft’ said:

Some golden day as prophesied,

The graves shall yield their dead!

To meet the calling Jesus, whole;

Renewed in body form.

Transfigured with the living saints,

On that great Rapture morn’.

And so the faith sustains me,

For things yet to be seen.

As I await the joy of First

Corinthians Fifteen!

End of the World Preacher

Jehovah Hides

For me a visit to the brief prophecy of Zephaniah has always been a visit to horror, holiness and hope.

The prophet’s very name means “Jehovah hides” and it is clear that in the midst of wicked idolatry he is urging the remnant of observant ones to seek righteousness and seek meekness that they might be hidden in the day of the Lord’s wrath.

The prophet is perhaps a distant relative of King Hezekiah. He knows the history of the wicked reigns and practices of Manasseh and Amon. He is a contemporary of King Josiah and it is likely that his warnings to the Southern Kingdom prepared hearts for Josiah’s time of revival.

His people have watched the Northern Kingdom fall miserably to the violence of Assyria. His prophecy assures a wretched end to their capital city.

Chapter 2:

¹³ And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness.

¹⁴ And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds; for he shall uncover the cedar work.

¹⁵ This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.

What a warning to brazen godlessness in our time!

But for those who “mourn for the solemn assembly” a much brighter prospect.

Chapter 3:

¹⁷ The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

¹⁸ I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.

¹⁹ Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.

That the Bird May Fly Out

Today, a sick day home from the factory, I found the following in a random opening of the Letters of Samuel Rutherford (to William Glendinning from Aberdeen, 1637).And for myself: I think if a poor, weak, dying sheep seek for an old dyke and the lee-side of an hill in a storm, I have cause to long for a covert from this storm, in heaven. I know none will take my room over my head there. But certainly sleepy bodies will be at rest and a well-made bed, and an old crazed bark at a shore, amd a wearied traveller at home, and a breathless horse at the rink's end. I see nothing in this life but sin and the sour fruits of sin. And , oh, what a burden is sin! And what a slavery and miserable bondage is it , to be at the nod, and yeas and nays, of such a lord-master as a body of sin! Truly, when I think of it, it is a wonder that Christ maketh not fire and ashes of such a dry branch as I am. I would often lie down under Christ's feet and bid him trample upon me, when I consider my guiltiness. But seeing he hath sworn that sin shall not loose his unchangeable covenant, I keep house-room among the rest of the ill-learned bairns, and must cumber the Lord of the house with the rest, till my Lord take the fetters off legs and arms, and destroy this body of sin, and make a hole or breach in this cage of earth, that the bird may fly out and the imprisoned soul be at liberty. In the meantime, the least intimation of Christ's love is sweet, and the hope of marriage with the Bridegroom holdeth me in some joyful on-waiting, that, when Christ's summer -birds shall sing upon the branches of the Tree of Life, I shall be tuned by God himself to help them to sing the home-coming of our Well-beloved and his bride to their house together. When I think of this, I think winters and summers , and years and days, and time, do me a pleasure that they shorten this untwisted and weak thread of my life, and that they put sin and miseries by-hand, and that they shall carry me to my Bridegroom in a clap.

So, What's in Store?

By coincidence, a number of our entries lately have referred to the return of Jesus in triumph and judgment. The conquering King, whom the Hebrew people expected two thousand years ago, will finally take his rightful place on this planet. All nations will offer tribute.Isaiah chapter 33 has never appeared to me before so clearly as a foreshadowing of Zion (Jerusalem) under King Jesus. Read the entire chapter and see the inevitable fate of the faithless, the thieving and the oppressor. Game over!The portion which follows speaks of the inheritance of the redeemed. It will certainly be a new earth:

15-16The answer's simple:

Live right,

speak the truth,

despise exploitation,

refuse bribes,

reject violence,

avoid evil amusements.

This is how you raise your standard of living!

A safe and stable way to live.

A nourishing, satisfying way to live.

17-19Oh, you'll see the king—a beautiful sight!

And you'll take in the wide vistas of land.

In your mind you'll go over the old terrors:

"What happened to that Assyrian inspector who condemned and confiscated?

And the one who gouged us of taxes?

And that cheating moneychanger?"

Gone! Out of sight forever! Their insolence

nothing now but a fading stain on the carpet!

No more putting up with a language you can't understand,

no more sounds of gibberish in your ears.

20-22Just take a look at Zion, will you?

Centering our worship in festival feasts!

Feast your eyes on Jerusalem,

a quiet and permanent place to live.

No more pulling up stakes and moving on,

no more patched-together lean-tos.

Instead, God! God majestic, God himself the place

in a country of broad rivers and streams,

But rivers blocked to invading ships,

off-limits to predatory pirates.

For God makes all the decisions here. God is our king.

God runs this place and he'll keep us safe.

23Ha! Your sails are in shreds,

your mast wobbling,

your hold leaking.

The plunder is free for the taking, free for all—

for weak and strong, insiders and outsiders.

24No one in Zion will say, "I'm sick."

Best of all, they'll all live guilt-free.

(Taken from "The Message")

End Times in Proper Balance

https://soundcloud.com/user811359694/over-the-top-with-end-times

The Power of Your Name with Lincoln Brewster

http://youtube.com/watch?v=I3adFUYibqk

Lazarus

Is there news of his arrival? Have they seen him on the way? How we need his hand of healing, How we need his strength to pray!

Yet this waiting, wretched waiting,

While our brother slips away.

Was the message given promptly?

Was he begged to make all speed?

Was he told our fears for Lazarus?

Was he made to see our need?

Oh be coming, please be coming,

Jesus, hasten! Intercede!

Down the road at last, his figure,

But alas, then much too late.

“Had you been a little sooner,

Lord, you might have changed his fate.

But our brother, precious brother

Has already passed death’s gate.”

Then he asked that we might take him

To the place where Lazarus slept;

And we passed through friends and family,

All who tearful vigil kept;

And we heard the Master groaning.

And we watched as Jesus wept.

At the tomb door, still our champion,

Praying through our wicked doubt,

He addressed the bitter fact of death

With victory and a shout;

There the Master, still the Master,

Crying, “Lazarus, come out!”

And the place of death was shaken

By the challenge which he hurled.

And the soul of him once taken

Was recovered to our world.

Thank you Jesus for our brother!

And the graveclothes were unfurled.

How I pale now at the memory

Of my thoughts and words of fear,

And of pitiful self-pity

Which would deem Christ insincere.

He was caring, deeply caring,

Ever strong and ever near.

He had purpose in delaying

Which was far beyond our view;

And when everything seemed lost he proved

Both trustworthy and true

To a mighty love that neither

Grave nor death could e’er subdue.

Are You Looking?

Painting:"The Rapture" by Ron DiCianniConsider in scripture 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18 and Hebrews 9: 24-28But lest we become too cloud-minded, consider also 1 Corinthians 15:⁵¹Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵²In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. ⁵⁵O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? ⁵⁶The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

⁵⁷But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁵⁸Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Surprising Welcome

He was one of the first people Cliff Barker met upon his arrival. Pleasant looking young man. Probably about twenty-three with open smile and generous handshake."Mr. Barker, it's great to see you. I heard something about your coming and thought I would come down to check. Oh, pardon me; you probably don't recognize me. Last time we talked I was only nine. But I have remembered you all these years. My name is Peter Worthington."'The Worthingtons,' Cliff thought to himself, 'Hadn't they been the ones who suffered a marriage break-up and moved away from the old neighbourhood at Cedar Street? And the stalwart boy, that summer...Peter.'

"You're absolutely right, Sir, I am that one you talked to in the school yard. I told you about my fears and my parents' arguing. You spoke to me about Jesus and his particular sympathy for children with problems. You made Him seem so real to me and you excused yourself to come back with a captivating small book on the Gospel. I didn't say much, but I took it home and read it and re-read and studied the pictures. A rich private prayer life was budding, and all because you cared.

Well, my hopes and prayers didn't stop the divorce. I ended up with Mom. I kept on praying for that and a bunch of other things. Five years later they agreed to take another try. God came through. That's when I became really convinced that I was meant for ministry."

"Pete, I can hardly believe what you're telling me. We had so little time to share, and then you were gone. Just that afternoon in the schoolyard and perhaps three other talks in the evening over that summer. I never felt the liberty to talk to your parents. I almost yielded to the temptation not to talk to someone else's kid about religion...And now to think, that you became a minister!"

"No Sir, I didn't get that far. The bus accident happened after second year. And I came here. But believe me, there has been great opportunity for service and ministry ever since. Excuse me now, I have another appointment. We'll talk another time. Funny, isn't it, up here, even thinking about the concept of time..."

Cliff had always expected that Heaven would be full of surprises just like this.

See our new ebook

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It's All So Confusing

The whole Bible prophecy thing. People in the Church appear to have argued over this for years. Particularly in the last hundred years.

At one point we read of worsening conditions on the planet as prophesied by Jesus. Then Paul encourages with a supernatural escape plan for the Church "into the clouds", evermore to be with the Lord. Then John the Revelator talks of a corporate return of the Church Triumphant to planet earth to set up a literal kingdom under Jesus. The Old Testament prophets were repeatedly describing inevitable blissful conditions for a renewed Israel following horrendous Divine Judgment of wickedness aligned against God's people. And finally some sort of new existence without time, night or sorrow is described in the New Jerusalem.

Through it all one cannot help but notice the obvious spiritual contrast between two cities, two spiritual destinations for mankind. It is either Zion or Babylon. It is either Isaiah 54 or Revelation 17. Contented peace and sense of belonging; or unrest and torment.

Godlessness pipes up, 'What sort of a loving God would provide the latter scenario?' A God who is sovereign and who will remove all threat of wickedness from ever again assaulting His family. Take Him or leave Him on these terms! The door is still open. You have been warned repeatedly in scripture, and by the undeniably worsening conditions of man-made community all around. Even the environment screams for a rescue which will not be forthcoming from us.

Some say that the Church has the responsibility to bring more and more light and love into the picture, and to realize the Kingdom of God now. Yes that is a noble target, and it does give rise to marching orders of redemptive purpose. But it will take more work on the part of Jesus at some undefined point in history to fully clean up his Bride, the Church. (Ezekiel 16; Ephesians 5: 25-27). The Kingdom of God has come, is coming and will come in greater measure.

So what is the point of addressing the whole "End Times" picture? Is it simply an exercise in futility? Does it dis-engage us from present day service? Is it really part of the fundamental Gospel? Is the Gospel really "foursquare"? (Jesus saves; Jesus heals; Jesus baptizes in the Holy Ghost; Jesus is coming again)

A worthy search, study and focus of prayer and dialogue with trusted, believing friends.

"Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22: 20b)

Isaiah Sixty-Five

None will hurt nor destroy

In all my holy mountain

Having peace, praise

Purpose and plenty

Names of the godless

Forgotten by curse

Fire and destruction their wages.

But my people

The remnant who earnestly

Sought me with tears

They shall sing

They shall dance

They shall quickly harvest

They shall feast

They delight in vineyards

In bouncing children

Never to be disinherited

Brimming and thankful hearts

I, their Lord, in the midst.

New Heaven.

New Earth.

Pathway of Palms

This Sunday (April 1, 2012) we remember Jesus' entry into Jerusalem upon a donkey, with the young and unsophisticated giving Him praise and laying down palm branches before His procession.The whole event had been prophesied in the 9th chapter of Zechariah. Messiah arrives "meek and lowly and having salvation". The City of God's special interest encounters her King. In fact the donkey entrance was a bold assertion by the Galilean that He was a king.The priests and councilmen urge the prophet to silence his unruly band. He states that if they were to hold their peace, the very rocks would cry out. The event was momentous for all of creation.I remember a certain prophecy teacher affirming that in the Book of Daniel a precise period of time was laid out before the arrival of Messiah in the Holy City. This day, Palm Sunday was the very day foretold, and Jesus knew it. Earlier had He not frequently stated, "My time is not yet come."Events would now progress irrevocably toward His Passion. But in this little interlude and its images- the children, singing, trees and rocks, we catch a glimpse of the Psalmist's joyful picture of judgment contained in the 96th Psalm:

¹⁰Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.

¹¹Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.

¹²Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice

¹³Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.

Hear from The Treasury of David, compiled by Charles Spurgeon:

Verse 13. To judge. Vatablus remarks that to judge is the word used instead of to reign, judicare pro regere, because judges in the early days of the Holy Land exercised the power both of kings and magistrates. The Lord comes to be to all nations a wiser judge than Samuel, a greater champion than Samson, a mightier deliverer than Gideon. C. H. S.

Verse 13. He cometh to judge the earth. That is, to put earth in order, to be its Gideon and Samson, to be its ruler, to fulfil all that the Book of Judges delineates of a judge's office. It is, as Hengstenberg says, "a gracious judging, "not a time of mere adjudication of causes or pronouncing sentences—it is a day of jubilee. It is the happiest day our world has ever seen. Who would not long for it? Who is there that does not pray for it? It is the day of the Judge's glory, as well as of our world's freedom—the day when "the judgement of this world" (Joh 12:31 16:11), which his cross began and made sure, is completed by the total suppression of Satan's reign, and the removal of the curse. All this is anticipated here; and so we entitle this Psalm, The glory due to him who cometh to judge the earth. Andrew A. Bonar.

(Picture by Tissot)

Grounded Eagle

The farmer found it at the headland of his corn acreage next to the woodlot. Apparently it had injured its wing and it looked rather comical hopping around in an effort to stay clear. But in moments when it rested he could not help but admire its streamlined shape, glimmering plumage and penetrating gaze - a golden eagle.With a make-shift cage he was able to contain it and bring it to the barnyard where it was staked in a semi-shaded area not far from the ducks and chickens. With all the barn cats around, it was not hard to come up with harassed or partially eaten rodents which proved acceptable to the guest.

The rudimentary dressing and splint appeared to be doing the job and the bird was improving daily. The farmer noticed that the eagle was beating a path to and fro his stake. He would often notice the bird looking skyward as if waiting for something or someone. With the exception of a couple of brief scuffles, the domestic fowl stayed clear of him. They watched and studied how he behaved under his constraints.

After some consultation with his wife, the farmer knew that it was about time to release his stately guest to the wilds. He did have some concern about the transition, so it was agreed that there would be a visit from the Lands and Forests man.

The farmer asked the Ranger about the bird's habits and particularly about the constant pacing and looking up to the skies. This was the Ranger's answer:

"Sir, this is an extraordinary bird of the high skies. He has little business walking afoot with hens. He usually mates for life, and it is likely that on several occasions during the visit his partner passed overhead. At a certain point the free bird would asess whether it was possible to release the other, or whether to kill him. Either way the restrictions upon the beautiful golden visitor would soon be ended."

The farmer pondered these comments as the other drove off with the eagle..."high flyer...meant for the skies...suffering limitations...persevering...by taking up or by death...freed ...restored to his Mate".

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

This was a story which I heard from Bert Clendenning, a compelling Texas preacher and friend of R.W. Schambach. I thought the imagery was excellent in light of the glorious hope of Christians to be caught up someday with their Lord. But the idea of constantly looking to the skies and having little to do with the other occupants of the farm, now gives me concern.

Of course we have been called to be different, and to many we will seem peculiar. We are citizens of heaven, but we must find ways to be of "some earthly good", to rub shoulders with neighbours, if possible to befriend them, and perhaps to see their hope turn skyward.

On My Case

I remember a night in early summer when I was called as a solicitor to meet with a number of men at a Board meeting for a Christian retreat property near Wallaceburg.The facility had a large main lodge and dining hall, numerous cabins, playing fields, expansive grounds and boat docks for small craft looking out toward Mitchell's Bay (some of the best bass fishing in all of Canada).They were considering a change in day-to-day leadership of the camp and some of the outgoing participants had gotten legal counsel, so my friends thought that they should follow suit.

The issues at the meeting were pretty straight-forward and business was concluded early. Discussion soon turned to men's topics and got 'round to Christian faith. I was involved in the Anglican Church. Most of these men were Baptists.

I remember the Treasurer, an acountant by profession, and seemingly proficient in business, bringing it to the topic of the Second Coming of Christ. This surprised me, a successful businessman with a beautiful young family apparently eager to leave a promising known present set of circumstances for something unknown and mystical. Or did he know about it?

In my church the Bible books of Ezekiel, Daniel, First and Second Thessalonians and Revelation were considered to be mostly symbolic. I had never once heard a homily on the return of Jesus to this planet. These men went on to use terms like "saved" and "born-again". I was dumbfounded.

Then the accountant turned to me and used words something like the following:

"Doug, I love my family and want only the best for them. If God bestows blessings in this life, and he certainly does, then I have been richly favoured in home, privileges and loved ones. But it is still a fallen world reeling in pain, violence and disappointment stemming from Adam's rebellion in the Garden of Eden way back at creation. The ultimate community which God promises has no strife, sickness, death, loneliness or fear. The Heavenly City will be full of purpose, love and praise. I would go tonight if He called. I pray that my family would be included."

This dear friend had taken a risk. He had spoken the seemingly ridiculous to his lawyer acquaintance. But his earnest face and words, and the picture which he painted accompanied me all the drive home down Highway 40 under a beautiful starlit summer country sky.

This is one of the many influences then turning my attention toward Jesus. The Holy Spirit has been crudely described as "the hound-dog of Heaven" giving people a convicting sense of their sin and need. He was working on me. I cannot give reasons. I can only give thanks.

My friend had heeded the words of Peter in his First Epistle, chapter three:

15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Eugene Peterson in "The Message" puts it as follows:

Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy.

Wheel A Rollin'

Three blocks from our house the church sign read: "What is the Secret of Being Content?"Don't ask me why but the first thing that popped into my head was an image of a gyroscope. You remember the little child's metal spinning top? It had a symmetrical disk mounted half-way up a spinning rod which was attached by pivots to a metal ring. The ring had affixed to it a head post and foot post.Pull a wind-up string and the unit would spin and maintain a straight-up position. My Dad explained that there was a balance of centripetal and centrifugal forces causing the toy to stand. You could put it on a table, on a tight string, on a drinking glass rim. But when the speed of spinning diminished the unit would start to wobble and eventually fall over.The prophet Ezekiel described a phenomenon which came to him in a vision. Within four wheels there were strange living creatures each having four faces one on each of four sides. Each of these wheels appeared to be in another wheel, much like the gyroscope:

Ezekiel 1:

19 When the living creatures moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the living creatures rose from the ground, the wheels also rose. 20 Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. 21 When the creatures moved, they also moved; when the creatures stood still, they also stood still; and when the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels rose along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

The four faces of each creature were lion, ox, man and eagle. These have been accepted as symbols of the four Gospels: Jesus the King (lion); Jesus the Servant (ox); Jesus the Son of Man (man); Jesus the Son of God (eagle).

Then my thoughts went to Paul's admonition repeated in the letter to the Philippians: "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice." This same Paul, imprisoned for his testimony of Christ, gave an astounding affirmation in chapter four:

11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

So keep on spinning in the mystery of real life, in the Gospel which is the glory of God and which will never topple. That the Creator of all marvels of the universe, absolutely holy, has made a way to have perpetual fellowship with minuscule men and women because of the valiant service and sacrifice of Jesus, His beloved Son, the king-servant, man-God.

And the sound one hears in the spinning goes something like this: "God is able. God loves me. He gave His Son for me. The blood of Calvary washes away all sin. Jesus understands my journey. He undertakes for my blessing. We will be together. I will not be desolate or cast down. Hallelujah!"

https://issuu.com/dewane/docs/and_now__son_of_man