Misc

11 October 2009

Promises of a Messiah – Deuteronomy 18:15-19

This is part 2 of a 12 week series. The first entry was Promises of a Messiah â€“ Genesis 3:15

For our next prophecy, we’re going to fast forward to the times of Moses. The Israelites were free from slavery in Egypt, and had arrived at Mount Sinai (also known as Horeb). God warned them to be ready, because in three days He was going to show Himself on the mountain.

The people washed their clothes. Boundaries were set up around the mountain – to be sure no one would touch it. And on the third day, the people assembled.

Fire! Smoke! Thick cloud! Earthquake! Moses spoke to God, and He answered with THUNDER. Lightning flashed!

This is the scene in which God gave what we now call the 10 Commandments.

The people were terrified. They were shaking with fear. They begged Moses not to let God speak to them directly – they were afraid that if God spoke to them, they would DIE.

Moses told them not to be afraid – God had come to test them, and to put His fear in them, to keep them from sin (see Exodus 19:9-20:21).

Fast forward again to the end of Moses’ life. He’s talking again about the commands of God – specifically about the leadership that God has given them. Kings, priests, and prophets. The king must obey the law (in fact, one of his early acts should be to write it out by hand for himself). The priests would be provided for by the people and would serve the Lord among them. Prophets would speak as the Lord directed – and never make something up or speak in the name of false gods.

These people would guide Israel. The people were never to look to things like witchcraft or spiritism for guidance.

But in the middle of all these instructions is something different. Moses recalls the people’s terror by the mountain. God had heard the people’s request, and had an answer.

"The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers–it is to him you shall listen–just as you desired of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’

And the LORD said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him. (DeuÂ 18:15-19)

It’s a strange statement. It fits the context, but strange because there’s so little explanation. It stands out like something everyone would want to hear more about, and yet Moses quickly moves on. Certainly he’s talking about the many other prophets God would send, and yet there seems here to be someone special he’s talking about.

Apparently this hope had stayed alive on into Jesus’ day. When Jesus fed the crowds with only 5 loaves and 2 fish, the people said,"This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!" (JohnÂ 6:14) Even the Samaritan woman showed knowledge of a prophet who would come and speak for God – "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things." (JohnÂ 4:25)

John’s Gospel carries this theme of the Prophet who would speak for the Father. People would have to listen, or see God’s wrath (John 3:31-38). Jesus Himself frequently said He spoke for the Father (John 7:16-19; John 8:25-27; John 12:44-50).

God Himself echoed the prophecy on the mountain of transfiguration, again in the presence of Moses, and again in a cloud – "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." (MatÂ 17:5) As at Mt Sinai, the disciples were terrified when they heard the voice of God and fell on their faces. Jesus, like Moses, told them not to be afraid (Mat 17:7).

When Peter spoke to the crowd on the day of Pentecost, he explained that Jesus Himself was the Prophet. One like Moses, who came from among the people (He was human, and in fact from Israel), who all would be required to listen to (Acts 3:18-24).

Jesus was the unique Word of God, and so different from the other prophets. As the author of Hebrews wrote,"Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son…" (HebÂ 1:1-2)

Finally, emphasizing the comparison between Jesus and Moses:

Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses–as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.)

Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. (HebÂ 3:1-6)

So God has made it clear – He’s sent the One we must listen to . . . will we?

4 October 2009

Promises of a Messiah – Genesis 3:15

Jim Misc 1

The Christmas displays are already out here in Mexico City, and so I thought it would be appropriate to start a Christmas theme here at Finding direction. 🙂

There are 12 Sundays before Christmas, and since I’m doing some study this year on the prophecies of the Messiah, I thought maybe I’d share some thoughts on a different prophecy each Sunday for the next 12 Sundays. So without further ado, let’s start right at the very beginning, with one of the most famous prophecies of all…

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. (Gen 3:15)

This is sometimes known as the protoevangelium or first Gospel. It was written down by Moses over 1400 years before the birth of Jesus, but the words actually date back to the dawn of human civilization.

You know the story – the serpent in the Garden of Eden tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. Eve ate, gave some to Adam, and he ate, and then God showed up and pronounced judgement. This was a part what God said – in the midst of curses, a hint of hope.

Only a hint at this point, of course. Now I think Adam and Eve would recognize that God had already shown them mercy, but what did these words mean? At first glance, the obvious relationship of humankind with snakes.

It seems from verse 14 that the snake was changed when it was cursed – changed to become the creepy crawly that it is now, licking up dust. Doomed to bite at people’s heals, and be crushed by their feet.

But perhaps Adam and Eve and their first descendants may have recognized more from these words. It does seem God taught them and their descendants more about the hope of redemption, since we soon see their children offering sacrifices. Some have wondered if the specific reference to the woman in this statement is a hint of the virgin birth. Is there more hidden here?

Still, the main focus of the passage is not a great triumph, but an ongoing enmity – continual hostility throughout history, between both humans and snakes and also humans and satanic forces.

Jesus finally destroyed Satan’s power, and the power of death, at the cross. But it is in the future that Satan will be finally and forever dealt with (Rev 20:1-10).

We know that as time went on, future writers did see this as a reference to more than just snakes and people. Satan is clearly said to be the serpent in Revelation 20:2, for example. And why did Jesus come, asks John? To destroy the works of the devil (1Joh 3:8). The writer of Hebrews explains that Jesus came as a man to destroy the devil himself, the one who has the power of death (Heb 2:14-15).

Paul alluded to these words in Genesis in the book of Romans: The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (Rom 16:20) Paul may have been referring to the removal of false teachers in the Roman church. But of course there’s a wider context.

All through Romans Paul talks of believers being in Christ. It fits Genesis 3:15 well to suggest that God would still crush the devil under the feet of the True Church, the body of Christ. The triumph is not the Church’s, but Christ’s. But we are a part of it, being in Him. Defeated at the cross (Col 2:13-15), Satan and his forces will finally be crushed by God.

But to Adam and Eve, and all early humans who hoped for some kind of salvation from God, none of this was clear. Instead, there stretched out ahead an unknown time of wearisome harassment from nature and from unseen evil powers. And a hint – just a hint – that a human being would come who would finally crush the head of the serpent once and for all.

29 September 2009

Important website note

Jim Misc 1

I’ve found that there has been some unauthorized activity on this website, and as a result you may have seen some things on the site that should not have been here, and were not put here by us.

We’re doing our best to deal with the situation, but if you do see anything out of the ordinary, please do report it to us right away so that we can take care of it.

Thanks!

25 September 2009

Publishing a Newsletter on the Road

Jim Misc 0

This wasn’t the first time we published a newsletter on the road. Last time we were in Ontario we did it too, but that time we were a lot more settled, and actually brought along our printer and did the whole production ourselves.

This time, things were a little more fun.

We started by printing what we could before leaving Mexico – green response cards, updated Ministry Vision brochures, and envelopes. Those we printed in the spring and took with us.

With the help of our friend Davíd Gomez, we had our picture taken in front of our house here in Ixtapaluca in May. The picture was sent to Dallas, where Alfie Pfeifer at the CAM International Communications Department processed it and had it made into prayer cards (at SAMS Club, I think). Thanks, Alfie! These cards we picked up on our way through in Dallas.

So far so good.

This time we had no printer with us, so I decided to go to an unnamed but major office supply store. This was tricky, because we weren’t really in one place long enough to get this done.

So, one day we travelling through Waterloo, Ontario. So I dropped off the newsletter to be printed (made one fix on the fly – typo) and also ordered some envelopes (the ones enclosed in our letter).

Those little envelopes enclosed are a size we can’t get in Mexico. But I had a template, exactly the way I wanted it. The unnamed office supply store actually had to outsource the envelopes, so it would take 2 days to complete.

That day we were at the home of some friends in Lasalle, Ontario. I had a small quantity of envelopes that were supposed to have the CAM USA address on them. Since the office store only did large quantities, I only ordered the envelopes with the Canadian address. Our good friends let me print out the CAM USA envelopes at their house! Thanks, Gary and Kim!

Then I got a call… in the carwash (had to get them to hold until I got through the car dryer).

It was the unnamed office supply store. They had lost my newsletter file. Could I email them another one?

Well, no – I had no internet access… at least, not in the carwash. But I would have something by the evening, so I managed to send the file in time.

But how was I to pick everything up? Fortunately, we were visiting friends on Friday in St. Jacob, just north of Waterloo. I stopped by then to pick up the goods.

But alas.

The unnamed office supply store and the outsource place didn’t print the envelopes right. Instead of using my template, they went for something totally different – and something totally useless to me!

Refund – and I bought some blank envelopes. That’s why most of you ended up with blank response envelopes. Sorry about that. I know you’re capable of writing the address on yourself – just trying to be professional.

This was the night before our holidays. I found a postal outlet, bought stamps, and we stayed up late putting it all together. Shari’s Aunt Elaine was a big help – thanks Aunt Elaine! 🙂

We got them all done, and as we drove to camp the next day we swung by a post office and put them all in the mail box (except a few that needed changes of address that we had missed, and so on).

Normally I consider writing and sending a newsletter about a day’s work. This one, obviously, was special! But it was actually kind of fun too. And it’s fun to see all your names, and think of you, and sometimes we pray for you while we get your letter ready!

And now you know how you got that one! 😉

And next time, I’m going to Office Depot.

23 September 2009

How I was Sick in Ontario

Jim Misc 0

I had a very unusual experience in Ontario this summer. At least, unusual for me. Let me tell you, I have much more empathy for people who deal with this all the time.

It started when I got some kind of a bug at the end of July (Hannah and Nathanael got something around the same time). It knocked me out pretty good for a couple of days, but came at a pretty good time. We were house sitting, on our own, and were pretty much able to continue on with ministry as usual.

After a week, by the Sunday morning when I came to speak in Sudbury, I had turned a corner and was getting my energy back. But strangely enough I got congested.

Now, that wasn’t even too bad. I could still breath through my nose. I’ve been worse. But after a few days I completely lost my sense of taste and smell.

That’s right, completely. I’ve mostly lost my sense of taste and smell before, but never 100%. For almost exactly 2 weeks I had NO sense of taste or smell.

For a while I kept eating things I "liked" – but then realized, what’s the point? When a dill pickle and a chocolate cream pie taste exactly the same, why eat the pie?

I stopped eating desserts (they were only the disappointment). It was a real shame, because on our holidays we ate in the Fair Havens dining hall. Twice a day we had a fabulous selection of desserts… desserts that tasted to me like nothing.

It’s really amazing how much we rely on smell and taste. To me, the whole world seemed two-dimensional. The grass, trees… everything seemed not quite real.

And did you ever think about personal hygiene? How do you know if you have bad breath? Or bad … something else? And … is that t-shirt clean, or did I just forget to put it in the laundry?

We went to people’s houses, and they wanted to know how the food was … well, it looks great!

I thought a lot about how pleasure fits in our lives. I don’t think it’s easily separated from the rest of life, as some stoics may believe (sorry, Spock). For one thing, we often can tell from taste what fruits are the healthiest. (Can you imagine not being able to tell if your food was bad? Could be dangerous!)

Pleasure is not an add-on that God gave us that now only causes problems. It’s an important part of our lives – but that’s a whole other post.

Anyway, that being said, I did eat a lot less sugar and fat for a couple of weeks. It was interesting choosing food entirely based on what I thought would be healthy. I even ate some foods that normally I hate – just for fun. 😉

It was a week after this started I was diagnosed with sinusitis (I actually briefly got a sinus headache, which is fairly rare), got some treatment, and a week later I got my sense of taste and smell back.

But throughout this time, I felt fine – just a little congested (and missing two of my senses).

But after another week or so, it became clear I wasn’t improving any more. And … I was getting sicker. By the time we were travelling to Mexico, I had yet another bug, and it was clear that the sinusitis had not cleared up (but I could still taste and smell!).

So a kind doctor friend of ours helped with getting me the treatment I needed in the USA, and now – well, I’m just about better!

So actually, thankfully, most of the summer I was not feeling too bad (I was feeling pretty good, actually) (except for those two bugs a month and a half apart, which didn’t last long (don’t worry, it wasn’t H1N1)). And thankfully, we only sang once during the summer, and it was probably the only Sunday my lungs were up to it! But altogether I guess I was sick for over a month and a half, with sinusitis and two viruses.

But losing two senses (admittedly, nothing like losing hearing and sight or something!) was quite an experience. I’ve never had sinus problems, or lost taste and smell – those of you who deal with that regularly or all that time – my hat’s off to you!

22 September 2009

Canada’s Heroes: Terry Fox

Jim Misc 1

The second Canadian hero we talked about as a family over the summer was Terry Fox. Terry is famous all across Canada, and in fact all around the world, and you’ll soon see why.

Terry was born in Winnipeg in 1958, and grew up in Vancouver. He was very athletic, playing sports like soccer, rugby, and basketball. He was a very determined athlete (as you’ll soon see, if you don’t already know the story!).

In 1977 Terry was diagnosed with a form of cancer known as osteosarcoma in his right knee. At the time, there was only one treatment – amputation of the leg several inches above the knee. He was 18 years old.

But Terry was determined to press on. He learned to use an artificial leg, and was walking three weeks after surgery. He joined a basketball team the same year in the Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association, where he met Rick Hansen. (a CBC article mentions that Rick was impressed by Terry’s energy, not knowing that Terry was undergoing chemotherapy at the time!)

But Terry began to come up with a plan that would make history. He kept it a secret at first. He began intensive training. He wrote to companies, asking for sponsorship. His letter concluded,"I’m not saying that this will initiate any kind of definitive answer or cure to cancer, but I believe in miracles. I have to."

Recommended reading:
Terry Fox: A Story of Hope

Then, on the 12th of April 1980, he dipped his artificial leg in the Atlantic ocean, and began to run west. His plan? To run all across Canada to raise money for cancer research.

Terry ran roughly 37.5km or 23.3mi per day through Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Ontario, getting up to 48km (30mi) in a day. It was 73 days before he even took a day off. In Toronto, he was met by Darryl Sittler, the former Toronto Maple Leaf hockey captain. Presenting Terry with his 1980 all-star NHL sweater, Stittler said, "I’ve been around athletes a long time and I’ve never seen any with his courage and stamina."

By August 12th, he had raised $11.4 million. He reached his half-way point just before Sudbury, Ontario. But just before coming to Thunder Bay, he felt as though he had caught a cold. He got worse, and had to stop.

The cancer had returned.

On the 28th of June, 1981, Terry Fox passed away with his family at his side. By this time he had reached his goal to raise $24.17 million for cancer research. But that was only the beginning.

The following September, the first Terry Fox Run was held in Canada, with more than 300,000 participants, raising an additional $3.5 million for cancer research.

The idea caught on. Today, the Terry Fox Run is held every year in 60 countries around the world, including Canada, the USA, Cuba, the UK, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Australia, Kenya, China, Vietnam, and Thailand. $360 million dollars have been raised.

We were able to see more than one memorial to Terry Fox as we drove through some of the areas where he ran. We even saw a little wishing well that his parents had put in at a place he stayed at in northern Ontario. It gave us a chance to give a little to cancer research right there, and think about so many of our friends who are struggling with cancer right now.

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