Cultural Differences

Posted on March 16, 2013 by richrockwood

Part of a daily devotional series at Words of Hope (https://woh.org/word/devotionals/2013/03/16) looking at how people in the Bible handled tough situations:

Read Matthew 8:5-13

What made this man think that a Jewish rabbi—reported to have miraculous powers—would help him? He was an officer in the foreign army that was occupying the rabbi’s homeland.

But concern for a sufferer made the centurion ignore racial, cultural, and political differences and approach Jesus for help. “‘Lord,’ he said, ‘my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering'” (v. 6 NIV).

When Jesus agreed to go, the Roman then added, “I don’t want to put you to all that trouble. Just give the order and my servant will be fine” (Matt. 8:8 The Message). A stunned Jesus commented: “I’ve yet to come across this kind of simple trust in Israel” (Matt. 8:10 The Message).

The officer’s faith started with compassion and was strong enough to help him defy racial and cultural barriers and face possible rejection. His faith in Jesus’ ability to heal from a distance came right out of his experience of soldiering—of giving orders and expecting them to be carried out.

While vacationing in Charleston, South Carolina, my late wife and I had no idea where we would worship on Sunday. Our guide on the city tour, who was black, told us we would be welcomed at his church. We believed him, we went, and we were. The worship of Christ that day blessed each one there, without exception.

Posted in Acceptance, Adaptability, Appearance, Christ, Culture, Diversity, Ethnicity, Faith, Focus, Foolishness, God, Grace, Healing, Health, Humanity, Identity, Perspective, Politics, Principles, Priorities, Race, relationships, Religion, Spirituality, Unity | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Disaster on the Horizon

Posted on March 15, 2013 by richrockwood

Part of a daily devotional series at Words of Hope (https://woh.org/word/devotionals/2013/03/15) looking at how people in the Bible handled tough situations:

Read Habakkuk 3:16-19

Being blind-sided means getting hit by something bad you didn’t see coming. But what if you had advance warning about a tragedy. How would you feel?

The prophet Habakkuk could see a national calamity coming. It was around 600 B.C., and the Judean kingdom was in decline. It had gone from relative prosperity under Josiah to desperation as the Babylonians closed in on the capital. Witnessing its decline, Habakkuk complained to God first about injustices in the land and then the tool (Babylon) God was using to bring judgment. His faith was stretched to the limit. But he finally found peace of mind as he surrendered to God. He just released his country’s future and his own well-being to God’s care as the enemy closed in.

Bertha Munro, former dean of Eastern Nazarene College, once said, “There is no panic in trust.” This wisdom came to her through experiencing the ordeal of a train wreck that left her crippled.

Giving ourselves over completely to God only seems to make sense when we shift our focus away from impending disaster to God’s nature and his actions in the past. The Bible always encourages us to trust God no matter what. “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you” (Isa. 26:3 NIV).

Posted in Acceptance, Adversity, Balance, Choices, Contentment, Country, Evil, Faithfulness, Fear, Feelings, Focus, God, Grace, Letting Go, Life, Perseverance, Perspective, Priorities, Providence, Trust, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Homeland in Ruins

Posted on March 14, 2013 by richrockwood

Part of a daily devotional series at Words of Hope (https://woh.org/word/devotionals/2013/03/14) looking at how people in the Bible handled tough situations:

Read Nehemiah 2:1-20

The closest I have come to a natural disaster was in Mississippi, six months after Hurricane Katrina. I went there with a group of volunteers from upstate New York to help rebuild homes. I sat in the living room of a man who had seen the surf come in and then was stranded in his house without food or water for days. He started to cry as he told us what it was like. All we could do was listen.

Nehemiah was a Jew serving as cupbearer to the king of Persia. His face was showing his feelings after he heard his brother’s report of the total destruction back home. The king asked why Nehemiah was sad, and he answered truthfully. The king then gave Nehemiah royal letters guaranteeing him safe passage home to organize the rebuilding of Jerusalem.

Prior to receiving permission Nehemiah had fasted, prayed, and humbled himself before the Lord. Sometimes the job that stands before us seems so large we cannot imagine where to begin. Nehemiah shows us that the first order of business is to pray and humble ourselves before God. After we pray, we work—which requires time, money, and many strong and willing hands.

Posted in Acceptance, Accomplishment, Adaptability, Adversity, Appearance, Charity, Country, Courage, Creativity, Faithfulness, Focus, Grief, Healing, Job, Morale, Perseverance, Prayer, Priorities, Repentance, Service, Tasks, Volunteerism, Work | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Spiritual Pandemic

Posted on March 13, 2013 by richrockwood

Part of a daily devotional series at Words of Hope (https://woh.org/word/devotionals/2013/03/13) looking at how people in the Bible handled tough situations:

Read 2 Kings 23:1-25

In the 21st century the world has learned a new term: pandemic. A virus that came to be known as Avian flu was detected, and immediately the World Health Organization began sounding the alert. Those of us who weren’t familiar with the term soon learned what it meant. A pandemic is an epidemic that affects an entire country or the entire world.

King Josiah found himself in a spiritual pandemic. In his eighteenth year of rule, the Book of the Law was discovered. Using it, he diagnosed the spiritual pollution of his country.

When he heard the words of the book, Josiah expressed his outrage by first tearing his robes, then by seeking the Lord with all his heart. He had the Law read in public, and the people renewed their commitment to God’s covenant. Then, filled with righteous anger, he went on a rampage to root out all the spiritual and moral pollution. He removed the idols from the temple. He did away with pagan priests, religious prostitutes, and child sacrifices.

This story shows how spiritual darkness can become pervasive even among God’s people. If that happens, we need not lose hope. We can take action. What form this takes may vary according to our situation. One thing that does not vary is the usefulness of prayer and Scripture to combat spiritual darkness.

Posted in Adaptability, Adversity, Belief, Country, Courage, Darkness, Evil, Faithfulness, Fear, Life, Materialism, Morale, Morals, Patriotism, Peace, Prayer, Priorities, Spirituality, Values | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Monster

Posted on March 12, 2013 by richrockwood

Part of a daily devotional series at Words of Hope (https://woh.org/word/devotionals/2013/03/12) looking at how people in the Bible handled tough situations:

Read 1 Samuel 17:17-52

In the 2001 movie “Monsters, Inc.,” the top monster Sully isn’t all that scary when you get to know him. But the monster young David faced really was. Goliath stood nine feet tall. His bronze helmet and armor weighed one hundred and twenty- five pounds. He had a mammoth spear, a bronze sword strapped to his back, and a shield so big it required another man to carry it. He strolled out in front of Israel’s army every day to insult them and their God. Everyone was scared.

Then David came into camp with food for his brothers. While there he heard and saw the monster. What would you have done? This giant Philistine was not going away on his own.

Sometimes monsters come into our lives and shake the foundations of our faith. How do you face the threatening giant—the sin, the disease, the adverse circumstance? David did it by remembering God’s protection in the past. Those memories assured him he would be victorious against this threat too. Then David picked up his weapons and advanced in the Lord’s name. St. Paul, using a military metaphor in Ephesians 6, urges us to put on the armor of God, including the breastplate of righteousness and the sword of the Spirit (God’s Word). A sword like that will kill many a monster.

Posted in Adversity, Bible, Courage, Faith, Fear, God, Guidance, Life, Morale, Perseverance, Quiet Time, Safety, Scripture, Values, Word of God, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Swarm of Enemies

Posted on March 11, 2013 by richrockwood

Part of a daily devotional series at Words of Hope (https://woh.org/word/devotionals/2013/03/11) looking at how people in the Bible handled tough situations:

Read:  Judges 7:1-25

Key Verse:  “The Midianites . . . had settled in the valley, thick as locusts.” (v. 12 NIV)

Have you ever played the numbers game? How many do they have versus how many do we have? How many will vote for me and how many will vote for my opponent? Numbers seem to be an indication of strength.

The Israelite judge Gideon had massed 32,000 able-bodied troops against the Midianites—raiders from the south and east who regularly plundered Israel’s produce. But the number of men he had was only a fraction of the enemy’s strength. The situation seemed hopeless. As someone once said, “It’s hard to remember your original purpose was to drain the swamp when you’re up to your neck in alligators.”

Sometimes we too try to get a numerical edge—in people, or programs, or dollars—to overwhelm our opponents. Gideon, however, went the other way. At God’s direction, and with God’s reassuring signs to encourage him, Gideon pared down his small army to only 300 men. And in a brilliant display of God’s power, the enemy was thrown into such confusion they destroyed themselves.

I have seen something similar in a small group when someone was facing what seemed like a hopeless situation. When the praying was over, everyone felt stronger and confident of victory. Numbers do not necessarily mean strength. The Lord is our strength.

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A Crippling Loss of Confidence

Posted on March 10, 2013 by richrockwood

A series of my articles published  in the the Words of Hope devotional looks at how people in the Bible faced and overcame some of life’s greatest difficulties.  Today’s article deals with feelings we all have from time to time:  that we’re not up to the task God has given us.  Here’s the link:  https://woh.org/word/devotionals/2013/03/10

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A Dust Covered Promise

Posted on March 9, 2013 by richrockwood

A series of my articles published  in the the Words of Hope devotional starts today at this link: https://woh.org/word/devotionals/2013/03/09 .  It looks at how people in the Bible faced and overcame some of life’s greatest difficulties.  The first article is entitled “A Dust Covered Promise.”

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Connecting with Old Friends

Posted on March 8, 2013 by richrockwood

Connections

A blessing breeze blew through my life the day I connected with someone I had known many years ago.  We were in school together and had shared common interests.  He was older, wiser I felt, and an accomplished organist.  I saw his name in an article with an email address so I wrote to him.  He promptly wrote back and we made plans to get together.  He lived 30 miles away and was in a retirement community.  If I would drive, he would pay for my lunch.  That sounded good to me.

While reminiscing he mentioned someone else whom I had known.  The two of them see each other regularly; I wondered if I could join.  He said he didn’t see why not, and so I contacted the other friend and soon we were getting together monthly, the two guys named Mike and me.

Maybe it’s because I’m getting older, but I have sensed a deep desire to make connections with my past.  Those old friends affirm the memories and reheat the warmth we once enjoyed when life was busier.  Now, when we get together, we can just enjoy each others’ company and there’s no afternoon appointment pinching on our time.  It’s pure quality time.

Friends are definitely worth making and keeping as the years roll on.  They have a way of saying “yes, your life does matter.”

Posted in Accomplishment, Aging, Appreciation, Choices, Faithfulness, Friends, Memory, Old Age, Perseverance, Perspective, relationships, Retirement, Self-Worth, The Past, Values | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Drawing Jazz and Faith

Posted on March 6, 2013 by richrockwood

MusicNotes

Many years ago my late wife and I visited Justin’s in Albany which features world class jazz musicians.  It soon became a favorite place of ours with cool jazz and hot Cajun food.  It consists of two rooms, one where people mainly drink and socialize, the other where people eat dinner and listen to a few musicians packed into a small corner near the front.  Live music always trumps recordings and this jazz is played in the traditional format of theme, individual improvisations, and finale.   It was predictable and new every time.

One time I noticed a young woman had positioned herself up close to the musicians and was sketching them.  I was surprised by what I saw on her pad.  Instead of drawings of musicians, she was showing musical notes swirling around them.  The musicians were not drawn in correct body proportions, but reminded me of something Picasso might draw.   There on the paper were her impressions of these people playing jazz.  She must have been very good because the pictures made me realize something.

What she was doing was quite similar to what a person of faith does, in fact was a visual demonstration of it.  She looked at those musicians and saw patterns and relationships that she was then able to visually portray in an appealing picture.  Similarly, a person of faith looks at the things s/he sees all around him/her and finds relationships and patterns there.  These relationship and patterns then are taken by that individual and formed into a foundation of faith.  S/he becomes convinced and begins to tell others that all of life is not just random happenings.  There is someone or rather Someone who is at work making music for those who can “see” it.

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