"ites" - Part 1

"...To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt, to the great river, the River Euphrates- the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites." 
                                                                                Gen. 15:18-21
This is the covenant that God made with Abraham on the occasion when Abraham offered sacrifice. A smoking oven, and a burning torch moved between the pieces of the sacrifice to confirm the covenant promise to Abraham. In the above scripture, God names the peoples that will be removed from the land, to be replaced by Abraham's descendants.
I have heard it said that each one of the ten tribes named above, is an opponent to each corresponding commandment of the Ten Commandments. That is interesting, and it does say in Judges 3:1-2, that the LORD will test the untested among Israel with the remaining enemy tribes to see if Israel will prove to be obedient to the commandments of God. However, the purpose of this entry is to study and record the meanings of the tribal names of these peoples, in order to learn from them.
Kenites- The word is associated with those who are smiths, heating, bending and striking iron to mold for their own purpose. Its root is from the name "Cain", meaning possession, ownership, to acquire, to buy. Eve declared upon the birth of Cain, "I have gotten (kanah) a man from the LORD." (Gen. 4:1). It can also mean a spear, or a lance. It can mean a mourning song, or lament, a wail of mourning.
What does Kenite teach me? I don't want to try to bend the Lord's will to my own. The lance, the spear, struck into the vulnerable side of Jesus and into His heart, because man demanded to exert his own will over Him. Jesus would not bend to their will, but only to the will of His Father. I don't want to try to take possession or ownership over something that comes from God, and belongs to God. Perhaps if Eve had said that her son belonged to the LORD, rather than to herself, his fate would have been different. It's a possibility that we mourn and wail to the Lord over the loss of things that are of little importance, and no lasting value. Meanwhile, the prophets mourned and cried for the spiritual condition of their people. That's a big difference. Am I interceding and lamenting for the things on God's heart, or instead to try to bend God's will to my own? Often we mourn and wail because our own will has been thwarted. For my life, I want to know and accept as perfect, God's will for me:
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."        Jer. 29:11
Kenizzite- This word refers to a grandson of Esau named Kenaz, which means "hunter".
Esau was also a hunter of game. He came home weary and hungry one day from his activities out in the field, and sold his inheritance away for a bowl of pottage, or lentils (Gen. 25:33-34). He chose a temporary solution to solve a temporary problem that cost him his whole future, and inheritance. He was accustomed to satisfying his own needs through hunting, and when he became weary and disappointed on an occasion of no success, he fell for the temptation put before him. Listen self: easy solutions can dangle themselves before you in a weak moment, but that solution can cost you everything.
Also, there are those on earth who hunt humans in one way or another, and they have falsely caused us to believe that life belongs to us, and we can do with it what we want. It has caused us to feel that life is cheap and disposable. We have become indifferent and unfeeling over human life. Life comes from God, and belongs to God. Life continues because of God's love and mercy.
Kadmonites- This literally means "easterner". The term easterner refers to something old, ancient, from a former time, former things, past things. It means to be in front, go before, to project one's self, to anticipate, to hasten, to get ahead in time, to disappoint, to make another a debtor.
In scripture, God tells us often that He is doing a new thing. He asks us if we perceive the new thing He is doing (Jer. 31:22, Isa. 43:19). Paul tells us to put the former things behind, and to be that new creation. So a Kadmonite clings to his or her glory days, doing the same thing as before, hoping to keep the glory of the past. However, the glory of God moves, and we are to move with it. A Kadmonite, accustomed to the position of coming first, can sometimes rush ahead also, anticipating God before God has moved. Rushing ahead in that premier position, causes disappointment when the timing proves to be in error. Disappointment in the soul can lead to further downfall through wrong choices. I need to move with the Lord, but wait for Him to move, also. Being first is the position reserved for Him.
Hittites- Hittites were known for their viciousness in warfare and conquering, and their name means fear, terror, to be shattered, broken, abolished, confounded, put to shame, to break down by confusion and fear, to beat down, to discourage, to cause dismay. They were descendants of Heth, a son of Canaan, a son of Ham. Ham, a son of Noah, opened his father to ridicule, and shame. He carried tales of his father's disgrace.
When we feel beaten down to the point of ridicule, and shame, when we begin to make choices from fear and terror, when we feel confused and confounded by that fear of shame and failure, we remember the many times that our Father tells us to fear not, nor be dismayed (Deut. 31:8, Josh. 1:9, 8:1, 10:25, 1 Chron. 28:20, 2 Chon. 20:17, Isa. 41:10-11, etc.). God's love is there to cast out all of that fear. I need to let Him love me.
"Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Behold, all those who were incensed against you, shall be ashamed and disgraced."   Isa. 41:10-11a
Perizzites- This word means "belonging to a village". It also means an open region, un-walled town or country. It means chieftain, warrior, leader, deciding judge. What is God teaching me with the Perizzites? I don't want to rely upon a false sense of security in numbers, and leaders. It's not about what everyone else is thinking and doing. That is not where my safety lies. Though I live amongst others, and have a government that takes on the job of protecting me, my protection comes from the LORD. He walls me about with His word, with His promises. I don't want to leave myself open to attack, being spiritually un-walled. The prophet Ezekiel warns of an enemy that comes to a people at rest, a people who dwell without walls, without bars, nor gates. The enemy comes to take a spoil, a prey (Ez. 38:11). We cannot rest our safety upon the word and promises of men, but only upon the Rock, the High Tower, the Fortress that is our God.

These are the first five of the ten tribes that are to be dispossessed from the land. Please see the entry below for part 2, the conclusion on the tribes.

Our Father proves us, tries us, and strengthens us to possess the land.

"Whom Shall I Fear?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsCPWNwOJiQ

"Break Every Chain"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUPZbNozGZc

"Psalm 18- The LORD is My Rock"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80cDDk70vCs

"Love Has Come"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ8-kFJzDW4

"ites" - Part 2

The ten tribes to be dispossessed from the land in Gen. 15, are continued here from Part 1 (see entry above this one):

Rephaims- This one was a shocker to me. The word "Rephaim" translates as "Whom Jehovah Healed". This means to heal, to repair, casting down, throw down, hero, champion. These people were an extremely ancient tribe of giants.  By their name, I can only assume that these giants were originally meant to be heroes who healed and repaired. Perhaps because of the circumstances of their origin, their purpose became twisted into that of giants who challenged God's people, instead of bringing healing to them.
We are to be champions who are vessels of God's healing and restoration. This is such a noble, and wonderful call. Will I do God's healing work with my life? I hope so.
"And they shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations."   Isa. 61:4
"And you shall be called the "Restorer of the Breach", the "Restorer of Paths to Dwell in."
                                                                                                             Isa. 58:12b
Amorites- This means "a sayer". It means prominence, publicity, mountaineers, those who live on the heights. It means to think, to say, to will, to answer in one's heart, to promise, to intend, to bring to light. This tribe was the greatest and most powerful of the ten tribes. The name also means to boast, to act proudly, to avow, to lift one's self up, to boast of one's self.
Those who were given a prominent position, a position in the heights, proclaimed themselves, rather than the glory of God. They used their power to enforce their own will and words, rather than God's. I recognize how easy it is to cross from the privilege of speaking God's Word, into the snare of speaking my own word, from ascending the heights for God's glory, to ascending for my own glory instead, boasting of myself instead of proclaiming the greatness of God. Lucifer was judged in the following scripture for just this:
"For you have said in your heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit upon the mount of the congregation...I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High."          Isa. 14:13-14
Canaanites- This tribe also descended from Ham, the son of Noah, who disrespected his father's headship, and cast humiliation upon him. These were lowland dwellers, and they are associated with merchants, traders, and traffickers. The name also describes zealots. They were zealous, not for the things of God, but in money and trade. The meaning also includes to subject, humiliate, to be humbled, to be brought low, to surrender, to be depressed.  Nothing seems to bring us as low, as depressed to the point of defeat, as economic and financial trouble. However, to surrender to those feelings means to bow the knee to this tribe of Canaan. It's a powerless feeling when we find ourselves captured in this stronghold of traders. However, as Joseph was bought and sold, he found his way to freedom staying faithful to the will of God in all of his circumstances. This is a huge challenge, especially in these times as powers zealously buy, sell and trade, often at the expense of others. I want to maintain an attitude of thanksgiving in all circumstances, and not spend my life chasing after the things that have their end in a landfill. The world is running to the Canaanites to buy and sell, but God is calling us to cast them out of the land.
"The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all. The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, and saying, "Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! For in one hour such great riches came to nothing!"  Rev. 18:14-17a
Girgashites- This tribe is different from the others because very little can be found to describe them. However, even that says much. Their name means to dwell on clay-like soil. Not much can be grown in clay. The soil is dense, and water runs off instead of penetrating, or percolating through. Seeds planted in clay will not grow to bear fruit. Even by Josephus' time, he said nothing was known of these people. I don't want to be so dense that the Lord cannot water me, and the seed of His Word cannot grow in me. I want my generations to thrive before the Lord, so we do not become a people no longer known in the earth. I want my life to be fruitful, with fruit that lasts. If I am clay at all, let it be clay that can be molded in the Potter's hands.
"And I will also take some of them for priests and Levites says the LORD. For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me, says the LORD, so shall your descendants and your name remain."          Isa. 66:21-22
Jebusites- These were descendants of Jebus, third son of Canaan, son of Ham. Their name means threshing floor. It means trodden down, tread down, reject, trample down. It means to kick out the foot reflexively like an infant, to loath, desecrate as a thing neglected and despised, to be polluted, to tread in a holy place polluting and profaning it, to trample to pieces. This stronghold loathes, rejects and profanes the people and things of God. This is a most serious condition. A person who loves the things of God, would never knowingly want to be a part of this stronghold. However, it is easy to be pulled into the trap of profaning people who belong to God, whom we don't understand, because they are not like us, their doctrine is not like ours, their practices are not like ours. We also can profane ourselves. My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and, if I am a priest of the LORD, than I wear upon my head "Holy Unto The LORD", yet I know that I do not always treat with respect and reverence this body. Am I profaning something holy to the LORD? The answer has to be , "yes". My hope and prayer is that I honor all of those things that the atoning blood of Jesus, and the living Word of God has sanctified and made holy, including my own self.
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (spiritual worship). And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you my prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
                                                                                   Romans 12:1-2

As the spies of Israel were sent forth to report on the promised land, most came back fearful of the fierce tribes they saw inhabiting it. However, two came back to give a different report:
..."Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." 
                                                                                   Num. 13:30



Our Father has called us to take possession of the land.

"Overcome"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqXZD_z3eCc

"Redeemed"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzGAYNKDyIU

Relationship

"And they heard the sound (voice, singing) of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool (ruach: breath, wind) of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.  Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to them, "Where are you?"     Gen. 3:8-9

When I found that I was supposed to write about "Relationship" in this entry, the Lord brought me to this scripture above from Genesis. I was surprised. I wrote the scripture on the opening of this post, and then I walked away for a few days. I was waiting to see how these scriptures would teach me about my relationship with our Father. Things began to unfold for me as I thought about this familiar story of man's fall.
As the LORD God walked in the garden, calling for Adam, it is understood by us that God already knew what had happened. We also discover, as we read through the account of the fall of man, that there is no repentance from Adam and his wife reflected in the scriptures. Not only did Adam refuse to repent, but at one point, Adam even directly blames God for his downfall because it was God who gave Adam his wife:
"Then the man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree and I ate."           Gen. 3:12
Eve, in turn, blames the serpent.
I think, in any case, that there is no transforming repentance, unless it comes out of love. That kind of repentance cannot just come out of a head-knowledge of the Law. The kind of repentance that transforms, teaches, and heals, can only come from a heart that loves our Lord, our God. Along with their lack of repentance, I also do not detect, from this account in scripture, any caring or love from the man and woman towards God. This is very sad.
We can also assume, I think, that there is an attitude of resentment towards God by Adam and the woman even before this point, because the serpent is easily able to convince Eve to disregard God's instructions. He tells her that God just doesn't want them to be like Him, knowing good and evil  (Gen. 3:5). This is where their weakness lies, this is where they have left an opening-in their relationship with their Father. The serpent just takes advantage of this resentment towards God in Adam's and Eve's hearts. Similar resentment of God will have a destructive influence over their son, Cain's, choices, as well.

What is the Lord trying to teach me about my relationship with the Father from this? I looked again at the Father's attitude toward the man and wife.
First of all, when the Father comes to deal with this situation, He brings the Comforter with Him. The Holy Spirit is there in the presence of the cool breath, or wind, of the day. That speaks so much to me about the Father. Not only does He know what they have done, but He wants to comfort them in their fear of Him. He wants to minister and create into the condition of the man and wife. Within the tragedy of the downfall of man, the Father begins to prophesy. The first prophetic promise of the Messiah comes forth, as God issues judgment upon the serpent:
"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel."      Gen. 3:15
Yes, Adam and Eve must leave the garden, but they don't leave without hope. Redemption and atonement has just been introduced into the future of mankind, and that very redemption will come through the one whom all will blame for this transgression-the woman.
How else does He minister to, and comfort them?

"Also for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skin and clothed them." 
                                                                                                 Gen. 3:21
The Father covers the man and woman with a sacrifice, even a shadow and type of the sacrifice that was made by God's Son. Though their own choices uncovered them, God would not leave them vulnerable, and uncovered. Rather than just supplying the man and wife with a covering, He even covers them with His own hands. Father "clothed them". Can we feel what is in the Father's heart towards the man and woman? It goes far beyond Creator and creature. He has a relationship with man. However, in this case, as in so many other cases with man, God's feelings of love and caring are not returned. He is worthy of our worship and praise, but He is also worthy, foremost, of our love.
What is my relationship supposed to be like with God? With Jesus? What are the expectations that They have? If I have a relationship of love with Them, then the Law, the Word, becomes written not upon tables of stone, but it becomes written upon my heart. I am not hiding from Him in shame and fear (Gen. 3:10), but I am turning towards Him for comfort, help, and love, even when others might judge that I don't deserve it. This love is how I "abide" in Him, and how His word abides in me according to Jesus (Jn. 14:21-23). Love is the glue and the generator that causes the abiding. The abiding develops out of love, rather than just obedience. Obedience is important, but the obedience that naturally flows from the love for His Father, is the obedience that humbled Christ, even to death on the cross. Because of this kind of love-obedience, the Father highly exalted Him, and gave Him a name above all other names. The name that Christ received as a result of His love-obedience to the Father, brought all creation into that same obedience (Phil. 2:5-11). There is a fruit that comes from our love for the Father. We are instructed to be of this same mind of Christ. Only love for our Father can produce this same mind. This is the mind from which Christ did all. This is the mind that changed all creation as noted in the above scripture. This is how Jesus described His love for His Father that produces His obedience:
"But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here."     Jn. 14:31
Father's relationship towards me is reflected by this truth:
"And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love, abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love: but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears not has been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us."     1 John 4:16-19
"...And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever, and ever. Amen"         Rev. 1:5-6
The wonderful miracles for us mentioned above, came forth out of His love toward us. We acknowledge His love for us easily, but how much thought and exercise do we give regarding our love towards Him? I don't want to neglect that part of my relationship with Him.
There are many gods in the earth, but only the One true God ever desired a relationship with mankind that He created.
When I think on these things, it makes me want to speak to Him, sing to Him, pray with Him and for Him, cover Him, to look into His face, with love. I will make mistakes, and I may fall down in the days ahead, but I hope I will always remember to turn back to Him in hope, in comfort, and in love.

Our Father desires a relationship with us.

"I Love You, Lord"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw_uBn9zJfc

"As The Deer"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M04P1lW4OA

"Unchained Melody"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrK5u5W8afc

Left-Field

I don't know about you, but I sometimes wonder if I am hearing correctly from the Holy Spirit. The very last thing I would want is to be in error. If I seem to be out of step with others in the Body, I begin to grow concerned about this. I try to research and back up with supporting scripture whatever I may be hearing or thinking about in the Spirit. I certainly don't want to take scripture out of context, or misapply it. I don't want to deceive myself, or others. So when I have felt out of step in this manner, I have said to God, "I feel like I am out in left field." Today I heard Him say, "Well, we need players in left field also!" 
I know very little about baseball. What is unusual about left field? As you can see from the diagram above, the left-fielder (blue circle labeled "LF") is positioned all the way at the top of the diagram. He and the other out-fielders are a good distance away from the bases, and other players. When looking up the position, I found a set of pointers for being a good left-fielder.
First of all, a left-fielder is a defensive position. Being successful requires practice and hard work. You need to be able to throw a ball for a long distance. I remember when I was young, I would throw one of those pink rubber balls extremely long distances. My friend, Sharon, and I would play catch in the elementary school playground, throwing the ball from one end of the long playground to the other. When I would get home from school, my friend, Robert, and I would play a similarly challenging game of catch. He would stand in the backyard of my tall 3-story house, and I would stand in the front yard. We would throw to each other over the top of the house. As the scriptures say, we need to develop strength and endurance in order to send that word or prayer wherever, and to whomever, it needs to go. We need to exercise and build up those throwing muscles to be up to the task at hand.  When we are needed to keep the ball in play, we can't say, "I'm too tired", or "It's too far," or "Let someone else catch it."
Not only are you throwing a long distance as a left-fielder, but you will probably have to catch balls coming towards you from a height and a far distance. This requires a good out-fielding glove with long fingers, and a deep pocket. In other words, a left-fielder needs to be properly equipped. Applied spiritually, we have to have a strong foundation in the word, a hearing ear stretched out to hear, and heart reaching out to receive. We need to have an appreciation for the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers that our Father has given to properly equip us in all spiritual truths (Eph. 4:11). They provide us with the long-fingered spiritual "gloves" we need to catch the ball, or truth, from the distance and height, and with the deepness of our spiritual glove pocket, we can hold onto the word that has been delivered to us without fear of dropping it. A spiritual left-fielder might sometimes feel out-of-step, or alone in what he is hearing from the Lord. These revelations are coming from long distances, and great heights. (WARNING- Do not even think about trying to catch these long, high balls bare-handed (in the flesh). For a left-fielder, it is disaster.)  
Someone who is not an outfielder on a spiritual team might not be equipped to catch or receive these revelations of the highest and farthest kind. These types of revelations are especially associated with Apostolic and Prophetic ministries. Mysteries are revealed, and first-hand, direct revelations from Jesus are received through these ministries. There are many examples of left-fielders in scripture (I Cor. 11:23, 1 Cor. 15:51, 2 Cor. 12:4, Rev. 4:1, Acts 10:11-16, Isa. 6:1-3). An outfielder receiving these types of spiritual things, might have to adapt the speed and height of the ball as he throws it in to a differently equipped teammate. We don't change the truth, but we make accommodations as to how the truth is delivered, otherwise our fellow player receiving our throw might be more likely to drop the ball, than to successfully catch it. I wouldn't throw to the shortstop in the same manner as I would while trying to throw a ball over my three-story house.
Another requirement that makes for a good left-fielder, is the ability to keep your focus and attention on the whole game, the big picture, not just your position. You always need to know where you have to throw a ball, if it comes to you. You have to know where the runners are, and where your nearest fellow defensive player is located. This is usually, but not always the short stop. You have to get the ball to him quickly, and hopefully, without making an error. It is comforting to have read that, generally speaking, errors by the left-fielder are rare. Spiritually, we have to be ready to give an account for our faith at any time, and we might be called upon at any time to deliver the truth accurately, without error. We have to understand that while our part is important, there is a larger, over-all plan of God. (Heb. 10:13, Rev. 11:15, Mt. 6:10, Rom. 11:25-26, 2 Cor. 5:17, Rev. 21:5). Spiritually, we have to understand that we are not alone, that the "team" or Body has many participating parts with whom we interact to get the good outcome (1 Cor. 12:12-14, Eph. 4:16).  We must understand where a challenge (runner) is coming from, be ready for it, and see the best way to counter it, or defend against it.
However, because you are playing out in left field, you are also expected to contribute to the team's effort by having a dependable bat. You need to be able to hit that ball when called upon. Other players may be faster, and involved in play more often, so the left-fielder must  show his value with hits. We are not allowed to sit back, spiritually, and spend our time waiting to catch a ball. We must give to the team actively also. The team is depending, not just on our gloves, but on our ability to help score offensively. So a spiritual left-fielder, especially, has to be diversified in his contribution to the team.
A left-fielder must also "back up" the third baseman. If the ball is overthrown, or misses the mark, we must be prepared to back him up, support him, catch the ball that he misses, or cannot catch. In the Spirit, we are the back-ups for the team member who drops the ball, or misthrows. When a brother drops the spiritual ball, we are there to pick it up without missing a beat.  A brother or sister likes to know we "have their back"  when we are needed (Gal. 6:2, 1 Thess. 5:14).  
A left-fielder should avoid showy feats like diving to catch the ball. You are positioned too far out for that move. Those risky moves can cause errors that can allow the opposing runner to get to the next base. It is better to allow a ball to land in front of you, and field it from the ground, rather than to try diving for it. Those balls, or spiritual truths, are precious, and our first and most important responsibility is to get hold of that ball securely, and pass it on to where it needs to go. The left-fielder is not what is most important in the game, but it is the ball, the life-giving truth, that is most important, and must be kept in play (Ps. 138:2, Mt. 24:35, Col. 1:17).
In the same way, trying to throw that ball to home plate from your left-field position, is also risky. It is better to throw the ball to another position, like the short-stop, or third baseman. You may not get the accolades, but you will have contributed more to a victory. Sometimes we want to make that great play, but better results come from throwing the ball to the correct receiver. If the ball falls to the ground between third base, and home plate because we insisted on throwing it to the wrong teammate, the ball falls out of play, and the opposing runner may cross home plate and score (Mt. 6:10, Mt. 26:42).
Lastly, the list of hints to left-fielders says the most important thing a left-fielder can do is exercise, and practice. Practice catching and throwing from long distances and great heights. Exercise to increase strength in the throwing arm. Do drills that increase speed and reaction times. Study to know the best way to interact with teammates in order to be most effective. What does this mean spiritually? We study the Word, to show ourselves approved. We exercise spiritual truths in everyday life to increase our endurance and strength. Our spiritual understanding should not just be theoretical, but for greatest effectiveness, it has to be experiential. Watching a baseball game from your living room is not the same as actually playing the game. It is only by repeatedly practicing and experiencing, that our spiritual muscles learn and memorize what needs to be done in any given situation. Our teammates depend on our being able to perform effectively as left-fielders (2 Tim. 2:15, 1 Cor. 9:24-27, Phil. 3:14, James 1:22).
Do you feel that you are out in left field sometimes also? Being a left-fielder isn't bad. God has equipped us well, and has entrusted us with those long, high balls from His heavenly throne. We just have to understand the purpose and value of our position, and our part in the "Big Picture".
See you out in left field!
"Play ball!"

Our Father can use some players in left field.

"Press Toward the Mark"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjmhQWcwQ7Q

"I Will Run the Race Set Before Me"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUcrJqGdPSg

"Who's On First?" (Abbott and Costello)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTcRRaXV-fg

Teacher

 

I think it was around 1966-67, and I was in 7th grade. I belonged to the Chorus of my Junior High School. We were about 40-50 students. We met an hour before school started, and our director was Miss Lyles, one of the music teachers in the school. I don't know what her first name was. She may not have had one. We were a little afraid of Miss Lyles, because she could be tough. She expected you to try your best, and she wasn't one to put up with nonsense.
It was just after our return from Christmas vacation, and we were beginning to rehearse for our spring concert a few months away. One of the selections Miss Lyles had chosen was "The Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's Messiah. None of us had ever heard it before, and when we got the music booklets, we were stunned because it was 14 pages long! We started at the beginning, learning each of our parts of the four-part construction of the piece. When we had learned a new section, we would end our rehearsal time by taking the piece from the beginning and singing up through the new part we had just learned.
It took us a couple of months, and in the middle of that time, Miss Lyles was absent for about three weeks, because her sister had gotten sick. Another music teacher had taken her place for our practices in order to keep us making progress through this piece. He was a nice, quiet man, but he was no "Miss Lyles". At the end of those three weeks, one morning during our practice time, Miss Lyles came running down the aisle of the auditorium, her coat flapping, still carrying her suitcase. We were so happy to see her return that we started cheering. She had a big grin on her face, and the other poor music teacher laid his head down on the piano in relief! Miss Lyles was back, and we immediately got down to real business.
On the morning that we finished page 14, the last page, we started from the beginning, and sang all the way through successfully to the end. We were thrilled. We had done it! It sounded great- to our untrained ears, anyway. We continued to rehearse it each morning.
One morning, Miss Lyles was late. When she finally came into the auditorium, we knew something was wrong. Miss Lyles made the announcement, "The Hallelujah Chorus is out. We're not going to be performing it."
We were stunned. After working on it for so long, how could it be out? We asked her if it was because were weren't good enough. Was she displeased with us? "No, no", she said. "It had nothing to do with that." "Then why, Miss Lyles?", we asked.
She told us that because we had worked so hard, we deserved to know the truth. She had been called into the principal's office that morning, and he had asked her what musical selections she had been preparing for the coming spring concert. She told him the selections, including, of course, "The Hallelujah Chorus" for the finale. He told her we couldn't do that selection, because it was too religious. She argued that it was a classic. He said "It's out." She told him that if he could just come to the auditorium, he could hear for himself how hard we had worked, and how well we sang it. He said, "It's out, period." He said he didn't want to hear anymore argument about it. We were shocked-nobody talked to Miss Lyles, of all people, so disrespectfully. She ended practice early, and told us that we would begin learning the new, substitute selections next time. I have to admit, I couldn't like that principal after he did that, although, now being older, I can see it's possible that someone might have made a complaint to him about the selection, and he had no other choice than to do what he did. But at that age, I felt it was his job as principal, to stick up for us, and stand for the right thing.
What are we teaching our children by what we refuse to teach them?
From that point on, I knew that there was something wrong with the world. I didn't know what it was, or why it was, but whatever it was, it could impact my life, even though I was still a kid. I also found out for the first time, through this incident, that some thought there was something wrong with being "too religious".
However now, whenever I hear the Hallelujah Chorus, I sing my part the way that Miss Lyles taught me all those years ago. I still remember it very well.

"And though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, but your eyes shall see your  teachers. Your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left."           Isa. 30:20-21

"I will teach you by the hand of God; What is with the Almighty, I will not conceal." 
                                                                                                 Job 27:11


Our Father provides us with precious teachers.

"Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's Messiah  (Dedicated to Miss Lyles)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUZEtVbJT5c

 

Rome

As we leave this Christmas season, I felt a need to write about the Roman Empire. Some people are not very interested in history, but I am. As the saying goes, "You can't make this stuff up." Since this was the world system at the time of the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus, as well as at the beginning history of the church, the Empire plays an important role in those events. I think it also teaches and warns us about circumstances concerning our present time, and also the events of the future, as we will see.
We start out with Rome as a republic, being governed by a body called the Senate. The United States borrowed this model of government as part our own as our country was founded.
In the time when Rome was still a republic, three very powerful generals conquered foreign territories and brought great wealth, and slaves back to a Rome that consumed everything on which they could get their hands. They were early examples of what we currently see in our own society: conspicuous consumption and invidious consumption. Even we today sometimes forget that the food, clothing, electronics, and other items that we buy and consume daily at bargain prices may come from exploiting other people's and nations'  resources and poorly paid labor.  
Eventually, foreign slaves made up 30% of the population of Rome. The harvests of all Northern Africa fed Rome for 8 months. It took 200,000-400,000 tons of grain to feed the all-consuming Romans for 1 year. The great economy of Rome had become expectant and dependent upon the spoils of these three great generals, called the Triumvirate (headship, or leadership, composed of three persons). Marcus Crassus, Pompey "Magnus" (The Great), and Julius Caesar made up this group of three.
It was Pompey the Great who conquered the area of Syria and Palestine in 63 BC.
Eventually, as happens with ambitious man, these three generals became rivals for power. Crassus had died earlier, and Rome entered into a civil war with Julius Caesar and Pompey in the final power struggle. Pompey did not live through it. He fled to what he thought was a friend, Egypt, where he was killed immediately.
Julius Caesar became the great power of Rome. The Roman Senate decided to give him the title of Emperor, which would virtually end the Republic. Before the title could be conveyed, Caesar was assassinated by a conspiracy of some of the Senators with their assassins. After his death, the Senate conferred divinity upon Julius Caesar. Caesar was survived by his great-nephew by marriage, who was his adopted son and designated heir, Octavius. Since Julius Caesar was made "divine", Octavius could be called, at this point, a "son of a god". Caesar's only birth child, a daughter, who had been married to rival general Pompey, had died young.
A second triumvirate now arises with Octavius (Julius Caesar's heir), Marcus Lepidus, and the great Mark Antony as rulers. This triumverate split up the governing of the empire, and ruled their territories as dictators. Rivalry entered into this triumvirate as well causing Lepidus to be exiled, and Mark Antony to commit suicide after being defeated in battle by Octavius.
Again, the Roman Senate sought to convey the title of Emperor, and succeeded with Octavius. He was given the name Augustus Caesar, Augustus meaning "worthy of veneration and worship". Coins of the empire carried his image, with the inscription "CAESAR DIVI". Emperor worship was practiced in Rome, and the other territories of the empire. Even Pontius Pilate would one day build a temple in the Syrian province to honor and worship Emperor Tiberius in the years that followed. More modern kings of history would take the same name of "Caesar", adapting it into a royal title in their language: Tsar, and Kaiser, and even the English word "king" (cyn in the old language) being examples of this, so powerful became this name, and the legacies of Julius and Augustus Caesar.
Augustus proves to be a very efficient administrator, and Rome prospers as never before. Even the conquered territories see great building projects and expanded trade, although they were ultimately taxed into poverty, and their most precious goods were taken for Rome's consumption. The relative peace, order and affluence (for some) brought by Augustus was heralded with phrases like "PAZ ATQUE QUIETA", and "PAX ROMANA".  Some nations even invite the take-over of the Roman Empire because of the peace, order, and economic advantages of Augustus Caesar's reign. When the Judeans were offered Jesus as their king by Pontius Pilate, the chief priests cried out, "We have no king but Caesar." (Jn. 19:15).
It is a good place to note that, impossible as it may seem, nations and peoples are sometimes willing to give up their own sovereignty, identity, and personal freedoms in exchange for promises of peace, order and economic stability and prosperity. We saw this same circumstance again in the last century when a newly free German republic, because of economic collapse, and the threat of communism from within and without, handed power to a small, extreme minority political party headed by Adolph Hitler. He didn't have to take power because it was handed to him. He was invited into a position of government leadership. Scripture tells us that we will see this same type of occurrence again in the future, when much of the world will hand power to an evil devil of a leader who promises the same kind of "peace" and economic order.
Back to our story. The tales that spread heralding Augustus Caesar's great rule and accomplishments were proclaimed with the Greek term "euangelion", from which we get the term "evangelize", and is translated to mean "good news", or "gospel". These great tales only served to increase Imperial Theology: that the Emperor was a god worthy of worship. At the height of his reign, Augustus headed 25 Roman legions in addition to "Auxiliaries"- armies of foreign troops conscripted from territories ruled by Rome. (As a side note, it is rumored in history that this "divine" emperor was poisoned by his wife, Livia, who thought he had lived long enough, and she was anxious to see his step-son heir, her son Tiberius, come to power. She believed that she would have much more power and influence under her son's reign than she had under her husband's.) These are the ways of the kingdoms of men.
However, something greater than the Caesars and their kingdoms appeared.
In the middle of this man-made divinity of Augustus Caesar, and the Roman kingdom of so-called peace and order, a child is born, and a host of angels comes to bring the real evangelism, good news and glad tidings of peace and good will regarding the birth of a truly divine King of all kings, who is Christ the Lord of all lords (Lk. 2:10-14, 1 Tim. 6:14-15, Rev. 19:16). Human history was changed, and the Kingdom of God was inserted into the earth!
There is much more to tell of the history of the Roman Empire as it intersects with the history of the Kingdom of God, but this seems like a good place to stop for now. Perhaps I can continue the story for the Resurrection season.

"...I will shake heaven and earth. I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms; I will destroy the strength of the Gentile kingdoms. I will overthrow the chariot and those who ride in them; The horses and their riders shall come down, everyone by the sword of his brother."

"Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!"            Hag. 2:22, Rev. 11:15

The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Father, and of His Son!

*note: Map at the top of the page: The area ruled by the Roman Empire

"Unto Us a Child is Born" (Handel's Messiah)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-61gjgy9GiE

"Hallelujah Chorus" (Handel's Messiah)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUZEtVbJT5c

Snowglobes

Just this week, as the Christmas holiday approached, a memory was brought back to me from my childhood. When I was little, my mother would sometimes receive snow globes as gifts. At Christmas, she would put the snow globes out, and I would shake them, and look into them. They did not contain the beautiful, complicated scenes and figures you might see in snow globes today. These snow globes of yesteryear were made of plastic, and the scenes inside were very simple, almost crude in workmanship. I would shake them, watching the snow swirl around inside them, and I would wish that I could live in the scene inside the snow globe. I could picture myself playing next to the snowman inside one globe, or living in the little house inside another globe. The scenes were sweet and wintery, and for a few moments, with my child's imagination, I inhabited those scenes.
I wondered why this old memory would come back to me so suddenly. I think I know why now.
We cannot escape the works of darkness that seem to fill our times and events. Every day, we hear and see news items from our own country, and from around the world, that reflect the very worst of the sinful nature of man. We are bombarded with these images and words. Television and the internet have made it possible to know of these events almost at the instant of their happening, like never before in history. We hear and see the weirdest shenanigans of celebrities, politicians and neighbors. Not much can remain hidden any longer.
I also hear communications lately from friends, loved ones, even fellow believers, filled with sadness, anger, depression, discouragement, anxiousness, and worries.
We even begin to look at the Body of Christ, fellow believers, the same way we look at the events of the world. We see the faults, we feel disappointment, and even betrayal, the "let-downs". Our whole eye has become filled with the fruit of the darkness that we see around us. Our mind and emotions fall victim to this world darkness. We become what we look at, what we fill our eyes with. Scripture tells the story of Jacob changing the color of sheep by what he put in front of their eyes, and in their drinking troughs (Gen. 30:37-43).
Our souls and spirits have become sickened because of the dark reports we have been surrounded by, and we don't even realize it. No, contrary to recent stories, it's not the air freshener, or the candle burning in the room that's making us sick, but it's the evening news. Much of our society has "shadenfreude", being entertained by, or getting perverse enjoyment  from, others' misfortune and tragedy.
However, while we live in the world, our purpose is not the same as the rest of the world. While, granted, the reported events of this world hopefully bring us to prayer, our eyes should not be filled with the darkness of these things, lest we become like them, and begin to suffer from the same repercussions of that darkness from which the world suffers:
"My eyes bring suffering to my soul because of all the daughters of my city."  Lam. 3:51
Jesus said, "The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore, your eye is good (healthy), your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad (evil, unhealthy), your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore, the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!" 
                                                                                                    Mt. 6:22-23
Our vision should be like our words (Rom. 4:17): Seeing things not as they are, but seeing things as they are meant to be, calling and seeing those things that be not, as if they already were, processing those dark things internally, as if they are light. How can this be done?
What we "see" is not dependent upon current events. It is dependent upon us.
You may insist that, unlike when we were children, it is not possible to inhabit a snow globe. You may say that we live as adults in the real world. So we do. However, what is to be our reality in this "real" world? This reality is described as part of our calling:
"For you see your calling, brethren...God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world, to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base (lowly) things of the world and the things which are despised, God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence."  1 Cor. 1:26-29
We are here to bring those dark, proud things that exist to nothing. They shouldn't be becoming part of us, troubling and sickening us.
Jesus taught about the unrelenting darkness of the end of the age. He taught about deception, wars, earthquakes, famine, pestilence, fearful sights on earth and in the heavens, persecution, betrayal, accusation, men's hearts failing from the fear and expectation of what was coming. (Lk. 21:8-26). However, these same events should cause a different expectation in our hearts. Jesus says that these events should be seen by us as the coming of our redemption, causing us to lift up our heads, to look up and see His coming. When we see these things happening, unlike other men, we are to see the kingdom of God drawing near. He says we should see these things as like seeing the budding of the trees, which promises the coming green leaves and fruits (figs) of summer. (Lk. 21:28-31) This should be what we see, and expect. What others are processing as horror and fear, we are processing as coming hope.
Jesus already told us above how to process the surrounding darkness, turning it into light and hope inside of us. The Apostle Paul also told us that we have been delivered from that power of darkness (Col. 1:13). In Phil. 4:4-9, he also said:
"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!...The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue, and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you." 
When the Lord brought to my memory the scenes from the snow globes, and reminded me of how I used to desire to inhabit those scenes as a child, I think He was teaching me, in His unique way, what Jesus and Paul were teaching us above. In our spirits, we have the ability, even the power, to see darkness as light. We are commanded to see darkness as light. It is in us and through us, that the kingdom of darkness loses its power, and is transformed into the kingdom of light. It doesn't matter what everyone else reports and perceives, it matters, as sons of God, what we report and perceive. From the impression I have, I don't think Jesus kept His eyes on the workers of the darkness all around Him. He said that He did the works that He saw His Father doing, so His eyes were on His Father.  Where are our eyes looking?

Our Father reminds us to look into the snow globes.

"Whatever is True"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1M_-8dD_sI


"I Lift My Eyes Up (Psalm 121)"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g4eqKDkDiw