Fire: Celestial Punishment or Divine Redemption?

“Assyria will fall by a sword that is not of mine; a sword, not of mortals, will devour them. They will flee before the sword and their young men will be put to forced labor. Their stronghold will fall because of terror; at sight of the battle standard their commanders will panic, declares the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, whose furnace is in Jerusalem.” (Isa 31:8-9)

How can a good and loving God inflict harsh punishment on people? This is one of the hardest questions for New Testament Christians. In the Old Testament, fire has been a tool of judgment on people. The Scripture text above shows that while God cannot tolerate his people going into idolatry, he despises those who harm his people with deception and cruelty. At that time, the superpowers of the world are Egypt, Assyria and later Persia. (As a quick comparison, in our modern world, the three major military powers are the US, Russia and China.) Now, what did Assyria do that makes God so angry? Basically, they became arrogant and proud, having ‘willful pride’ and ‘haughty’ eyes (Isa 10:12). Instead of acknowledging God, they chose to take for granted their power and prosperity. Worse, they abuse their authority through merciless killings and free ravages of the land of Israel, treating powerless Israel like a whore to be shoved around and stepped upon. Whatever God gave Assyria, Assyria boasts not in God but its riches and power. Whatever God gives Israel, Israel took for granted. Before we go on, let me say a few things about reading the Old Testament.

Reading the Old Testament

When we read the Old Testament, it is easy to point a finger at God and accuse him of sadist behaviors. It is a common struggle for many believers that it is much more difficult to read the Old Testament than the New Testament. After-all, the New Testament Jesus is more palatable to our understanding of a Good and Loving God, compared to the Old-Testament view of God as a cruel and punishing Creator. For those of us who think this way, we may have conveniently forgotten that the Old Testament is the ‘Bible’ that Jesus used. At that time, there were no Pauline or Peterine epistles that Jesus can quote from. He had no gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John to refer to. He came to fulfill what was written in the Old Testament (Matt 5:17). In his book, “The Bible Jesus read,” Philip Yancey summarizes the Christian predicament in two simple points:

• The OT does not always make sense;
• It offends our modern ears.
  

Some Christians feel that the solution is to become a ‘Jesus freak.’ They prefer the New Testament to the Old. They prioritize Jesus’s words over anything else mentioned in the Bible. They divide the Bible according to what their own minds understand, instead of what God meant for them to receive in faith. Perhaps this is a problem that besets those of us living in comfortable modern worlds of air-conditioners, rich foods, well-paying jobs, high-tech transport and comfortable houses. Yancey observes that many people living in simple environments in Africa and Afghanistan identifies themselves very closely with the Old Testament picture of land, justice, water rights, tribal matters etc. In contrast to our modern minds of questioning and scholars challenging the authenticity of the Old Testament, the people living in rural lands like Africa finds it a no-brainer to accept the Old Testament, the way that what Jesus accepted: By faith. According to Yancey, the more he reads the Old Testament, the greater his realization that it can be more ‘personal and passionate’ (Yancey, The Bible Jesus Read, 22).

We need to make sure that we learn to read the complete Bible, rather than choice texts. If we read only ‘choice texts’ of the Bible, where is our need for wonder and ponder? When we no longer have any appetite, what good is a rich seafood buffet spread before us? Reading ‘choice texts’ put us in control. Reading the Bible for what it is puts God in control. Before we contest anything, we need to know the content and to understand the context. There is also something else unique and special about the Old Testament. God presents not only both sides of the coin, He gives us truth as it is, uncensored, unadulterated and uncompromising. Let me suggest that we read the Old Testament not only of celestial punishment, but also as a form of divine redemption.

Of Punishment and Divine Redemption

Isa 31 is a classic display of God’s love for his people. It shows how Jerusalem is being prepared for deliverance from their cruel slavery under the hands of the Assyrians. It seems that the Israelites have no inkling of what their God can do. They have forgotten how their forefathers, have been delivered from the land of Egypt via the Great Exodus. They have short memories over how God blessed them previously, when they were the most feared military force under King David. Just as the Israelites were able to witness God’s acts against Pharaoh, they were able to see the haughty Assyrians being punished before their very eyes. The very God who punishes their enemies will be the Same God who will deliver them. The way the prophet describes the punishment is worth noticing. The fire and the furnace of punishment is described as being ‘in Zion’ and ‘in Jerusalem’ respectively. There is a strong connotation of those who harm God’s precious people; they themselves will suffer a heavy retribution. The very victims they abuse have become their traps and pitfalls. With one masterful stroke of God, the innocent sheep-den has become the downfall of mighty Assyria. God accomplishes both celestial punishment of the Assyrians, and the divine redemption of Jerusalem not separately but together.

My friends. It is hard to read the Old Testament with New Testament eyes. It is harder still to accept the ways God chooses to punish the wicked. Let me suggest that it is most difficult to accept God can love ugly and idolatrous people. That is pure grace, very similar to Jesus’s death on the Cross for undeserved persons like you and I. The fire can punish and destroy. It too can save and purify. Respect both. Thus, whenever we ask about God's punishing ways, let us also ask about God's redemptive ways. Ponder over them. Wonder at them and let God reveal his truths to us. Until we learn to see all God's work as one giant display of grace.

One such grace is this: Let our hearts be a furnace that burns away sin, and to keep our flame of love for God and neighbor alive and well.

"We are on safe ground when we encourage any Christian to read and study the great saints and lovers of the Lord, be they Protestant or Roman Catholic, mystic or theologian. If they wrote out of a burning heart of love to Christ, we shall catch fire from the same holy flame." (Hannah Hurnard, Winged Life)

“Christianity has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried.” (G. K. Chesterton)

sabbathwalk

Mark of Grace

The Mark of Grace

But the LORD said to him, "Not so; if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over." Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. (Gen 4:15)

How do we respond after a terrifying act of sin? Do we give an eye-for-an-eye, or do we forgive?

Gandhi once said, that if the entire human race practices an eye for an eye retaliation all the time, we will all become blind. Cain had just killed his brother (Gen 4:8). When questioned by God, he lied and defiantly cast another question back at the Divine Creator (4:9). In quick succession, self-deception, trickery and evasion of responsibility come hot after the heels of the world’s first homicide. Can anybody ever tolerate such despicable behavior by Cain? How is it possible to ever pardon a murderer who refuses to admit responsibility for his own wrongdoing? Not many people can forgive. Most may never forget. In the case of Cain, what did God do? Retaliate? No.

God did something absolutely amazing. He demonstrates grace in the midst of sin. He protects Cain by putting a mark on him, to assure him some safety from physical harm. He did it in two ways, a stick-wayand a carrot-way.

Stick-Way (Implicit)

God protects Cain by warning all others that any harm on Cain will be reciprocated 7 times. It is like a heroic figure in the movies, warning his enemies not to touch his friend, else revenge will be severe. Even in mafia movies, the gang-leader will offer protection in the form of deadly consequences, against anyone who dares to harm his precious family. By placing a warning to all, God is telling the rest of his creation: “Don’t mess with my Cain. I still love him, in spite of what he has done.” Grace, via the stick-way warns others not to touch Cain, lest they too will be punished more ruthlessly. It is a mark of grace upon Cain. The killer has become a protected refugee.

The Carrot-Way (Explicit)

God also extends his security over Cain through providing a mark. We do not really know what this mark is. It could be a scar. It could be a unique feature in Cain’s physical body. It could also be an instinct weaved into the senses of other creation that automatically detects the special status of Cain, and avoids him. Like fishes that flee the moment the Great White Shark appears, Cain is protected as if he has a repellent on his skin that warts away potential threats. Grace is seen as an explicit statement that Cain, even though he has sinned, is still a child of God. Why do I call it a ‘carrot’ way? It is because grace has been extended not only to Cain, but to all other persons who may come into contact with Cain, people who may want to avenge Abel tragic death. The mark of Cain should not be seen merely as a cursed sign that brings down the family line of Cain. Neither should we view it as a main negative symbol to be avoided at all costs. This mark is essentially a mark of grace, extended not only to Cain, but to the world at large.

Discipline in Grace

When it comes to disciplining a child, sometimes we can become too narrowly focused on the sin that we forget that they are loved by God as well. The Fox hit-series, ‘Prison-Break’ shows us another side of justice from the eyes of prisoners. In the drama, one of the worst villains turns out to be prison guards, rather than the incarcerated ones. The guards were pictured as people who abuse their power, engage in bribery, bully the prisoners and revel in humiliating the prisoners. For them, it is basically thinking that the prisoners are having their just desserts. The guards have such a low view of the prisoners that they cared less about their prisoner well-being than their own self-gratification.

Discipline without grace is never true discipline. This is because true discipline must always be redemptive. When disciplining children, do we do it for the sake of inflicting pain or for the sake of correcting the person in love? Redemptive discipline must be laced with grace. We can learn from the way God dealt with Cain. His way of discipline includes a strong element of protection in the midst of punishment (restlessness, toil, etc). The grace of correcting the wrongdoer means using both the stick-way as well as a carrot-way. Not only must we recognize the sin, and deal with it appropriately, we need to use the opportunity to extend a hand of redemption. It means giving the person a second chance at life. Often, the trouble with society is that people when trying to protect their own skin, ends up hurting others in the process. Like King David, his desire to hide his adultery with Bathsheba from her husband, Uriah ends up in the death of Uriah. It also led to the death of the first son, which David conceived with Bathsheba.

Do not allow any one wrong to lead to more acts of wrong-doing. Address that one wrong with a double-edged strategy, using a stick-way as well as a carrot-way. Recognize the sin. Redeem the sinner. In all of these actions, have an eye to protect and cherish that person, no matter how bad they are. Like how God treated Cain, in the aftermath of the world’s first manslaughter, God extended his grace profoundly through a stick-way and a carrot-way. We too, with the help of the Spirit, can do the same. If not, more.

Amish Grace

How can anyone ever forgive a heartless killing? Tough, but the Amish succeeded. After the senseless killing of several children in the Amish town in October 2006, the Amish community captured the attention of the world through their amazing response to the tragedy. The parents of the dead children attended the funeral of the killer, 32-year old Charles Roberts. They supported in every way possible the family of the killer. The Amish community spoke words of forgiveness over and over again. How did they do it? The researchers discovered one significant thing: The Lord’s Prayer was present everywhere they looked.

Many of us known and even memorized the Lord’s Prayer in our hearts. Let the words flow out through our actions. Even when we want to discipline others, remember, forgive one another, as we have been forgiven. You can read more about this amazing community in “Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcend Tragedy,” written by Kraybill, Nolt and Weaver-Zercher, published by Jossey-Bass, 2007.

The mark of Cain is less of a physical warning mark, but more of a symbol of grace.

sabbathwalk

Blessed Assurance

"'Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land - against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and I will rescue you, ' declares the LORD." (Jer 1:18-19)

Jeremiah was given a pretty tough job. He could have lived a quiet life minding his own business. He could have built his own career and enjoy the fruits of his economic endeavors. Yet, the Word of the Lord kept coming. It tells the prophet that before he was formed in the womb, God already knew him (1:5). The Word encouraged him, with childlike faith, to take upon a role much bigger than most adults (1:7). It came to him as visions, of an almond tree and a boiling pot (1:11-13). It called the meek prophet to get ready and to prepare for the day of judgment (1:17). The expectations on Jeremiah are pretty demanding. He was to pronounce judgments according to who God speaks against. There will be resistance. Formidable resistance. Politically, the king and his officials can easily clamp down on his freedom of speech and restrict his place in society. Religiously, the priests can excommunicate him. With Judaism so much a part of the culture, this can cripple one's relationships. After-all, Jeremiah comes from a priestly background and to be cut off from the priestly fellowship is anathema to one's career. Socially, the people can treat him like an outcast, even a heretic. Under such overwhelming odds, isn't it easier to simply keep a low profile and mind one's own business? Jeremiah could have, but he did not make a cowardly retreat. He had been assured thrice.

TRIPLE ASSURANCES

Three things are worth noticing. Firstly, God has already given Jeremiah triple-layered protection. Against the political powers, the religious leaders and the social fellowships, God assured Jeremiah with triple-protection; A FORTIFIED CITY that will stave off the enemy; AN IRON PILLAR that will strengthen its inner resolve toward faith in God; A BRONZE WALL that is impregnable by the elements of nature or discouragement. With three assurances of protection, God has already fitted the servant way before the tasks. Secondly, God is aware of the anxieties and frailties of the human psyche. In other words, God understands the human heart that is prone to worry and anxieties. The verb "I have made you" (Jer 1:18) is like a pre-emptive strike against the elements of worry and doubt. He assures Jeremiah that even though the enemies will fight him, they will NOT overcome him. What a promise! What an assurance! It reminds me of the Fanny Crosby classic: "Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine." Thirdly, God promises that he will be personally present with Jeremiah. For me, this is the single greatest promise and assurance ever possible for Jeremiah. With God by our side, what is there to fear? If God is for us, who can be against us? Should not these three assurances be adequate reasons for the rise of courage?

COURAGE UNLIMITED

Dave Kuzminski tells a story about the courage of a butterfly. A man was walking in the woods when he came across a water puddle. As he made his way on the dry area beside the puddle, he was suddenly 'attacked' by a butterfly. Taken aback, he thought the butterfly had accidentally bumped into him. After a brief retreat, he tried to make his way round the wet spot again. The same butterfly continued to butt at him, preventing him from proceeding any further. He paused again and tried a third time to continue his journey. For a third time, the butterfly refused to let up its 'attack.' Bemused, the man started to wonder if the winged insect was mad when his eyes fell upon another butterfly by the side of the water puddle that appeared injured. As he stood, the butterfly that 'attacked' him started to fly down to the injured mate as if it is comforting her. Feeling more impressed than upset about the butterfly attacks, the man began to admire the butterfly's act of love. He had realized that if not for the attacking butterfly, he would have carelessly trampled upon the helpless butterfly on the ground and killed it. The attacking butterfly despite its size had done everything in its power to save its mate.

We too need to muster courage according to what God has already given us, like the courageous butterfly who took on a target many times its size. It did not have guns. It had only wings. It did not have guaranteed success. It had only love for its mate. The prophet Jeremiah stood against tremendous opposition politically, religiously and socially. It is tempting to throw in the towel and to say that the task is too impossible for us to handle. Jeremiah did not surrender himself to fear. He knew that he has already been equipped. He has the Equipper as his companion.

Likewise, we have the promise of God that the Holy Spirit will be with us. We pray the LORD's prayer often that we be delivered from evil. Let us learn from the faith and obedience of Jeremiah, the courage of the butterfly. We can also learn from Jeremiah, that the greatest assurance is not the triple protection promised by the LORD. Neither is it the equiping process or the promise of victory. It is the assurance from the LORD who said: "for I am with you and will rescue you." (Jer 1:19)

THE LORD IS OUR BLESSED ASSURANCE
Faith is not waiting to be equipped before the taking of any action. Faith is taking an active first step forward without worrying about one's lack. It is walking out proclaiming that the LORD is my Shepherd, and because He is faithful, I shall lack nothing. Jeremiah had the LORD and he went forward. The butterfly had wings and it used it as a means to save its mate. Let us remember that faith means holding the hand of God as we walked the journey into the unknown future.

Perfect submission, all is at rest;
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love.

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long.

(Fanny Crosby)

sabbathwalk

Stress, Distress, Bless

A Special Edition of Sabbath Walk (incorporating a brief remembrance of Brother Eric Tan)

“In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me…” (Jonah 2)

The Presence of Stress and Distress
It is common knowledge that stress is a big and growing part of an adult life. Even kids nowadays have experienced pressures like never before. Some children get ushered quickly into adult demands when they exhibit ‘special’ gifts, like math prodigy or music gifting. It is sad when a child is not allowed to be a child, simply because he or she has qualities treasured by the grown-up world. Mentally, adult life at work can be extremely demanding. Emotionally, trying to balance our responsibilities to family, accountability to work and church can exact a toll to a previously carefree life. Physically, stress can weaken the body, exposing one from simple things like headache to more serious cases like stomach ulcers, even strokes. Those of us in ministry work are also not spared. Ministry to people is tough. Some even said that ministry demands can be higher. One of my seminary professors jokingly said to the class that if we have a choice to avoid ‘full-time’ ministry work, avoid it. Working with people can be more challenging than machines like computers. Stress can lead to anxiety. Worry can lead to distress. Who can we call? Who is our hero?

In my childhood days, I remember reading fairy tales where a beautiful damsel in distress waits for a knight in shining armor to rescue her from the evil witch. The plot is usually attractively laid out, with the damsel describes as beautiful, the knight as handsome and concludes with a ‘happily-ever-after’ ending. The lady has to call, even to cry and then to wait for her rescuer to turn up. Fairy tales makes our hearts feel good because the heroes and the good guys always win. Who can the damsel call? The knight, of course.

Adulthood is different. Tales now become reality where it is more like M Scott Peck’s famous words: “Life is Difficult.” Both employment and unemployment come with some tension, the former with meeting expectations of the company, the latter coping with expectations of society. A insensitive boss? Power hungry colleague? An unreasonable customer? A frustrating job interview? Marriages go through tough times too. Parent-teen relationships can be pretty rocky sometimes. These little tensions in life when amalgamated resembles a ticking time-bomb waiting to implode. Adult tales can be highly complex, often with unpredictable endings, like a lottery win, business failure, customer win, collapse of one’s dreams, or sudden death. Who are we gonna call? Stress-busters?

The Presence of God
Jonah is a prophet who ran away from his call. Instead of preaching repentance to the city of Nineveh, Jonah headed in the opposite direction. Yet, God followed him to Tarshish. God followed him via the great wind (Jon 1:4). God was present even as they cast lots on who to bump overboard. God was present with Jonah in the great fish (Jon 2:1a). In that moment, Jonah cried out to the LORD waiting nearby and was able to say, ‘he answered me’ (Jon 2:1b). Think about it. After all the running away, all it takes is a simple call, a gentle request and the multitude of God’s love and presence comes storming in. Jonah was able to sense not only the answer of the LORD, he hears God in the deepest grave (2:2). He knows that God listens to him even at the bottom of the ocean. He feels the presence of God amid the stormy waves sweeping around him. The beauty of it all is, before Jonah called, God is already there.

Remembering Eric Tan (1961-2009)
This week, we remember brother Eric Tan, who passed away in Malaysia at a tender age of 48. The passage of Scripture accompanying the funeral service was from 2 Tim 4:7, a special credit to a life well-lived:

“I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.”

From the reading of Jonah, we can picture how God has been with him. As Eric was fighting the good fight, the LORD was with him. As he was finishing the race through his respective work responsibilities, the LORD was also with him. As he played his last badminton game in Kuala Lumpur on the 12th July 2009, even as he breathed his last breath, he kept the faith, knowing that the LORD was with him.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, the LORD’s presence is the best comfort we can ever receive. During the times of stress, as the LORD has been with Jonah, he will be with you. In places and situations of great distress, the LORD is there. As you sense the presence of the LORD, take off your shoes, for where the LORD is, the ground that you are standing is holy ground. Bless him.

Join with me to honour God with this song:

“Come bless the LORD. All ye servants of the LORD.
Who stands by night, in the house of the LORD.
Lift up your hands, in the holy place.
And Bless the LORD. And Bless the LORD.”

Thought: What comes to mind during times of distress? Do you feel alone amid the pressures and demands all around you? Who walks with you? Perhaps, during such moments, it is not doing more or working less. It is the recognition of the unseen person, the Good Shepherd who walks with us. Whether we ascend the mountain of doubt, or descend the valley of darkness, or simply feeling stuck in-between, God is present with us.

sabbathwalk

Signs

"Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights." (Isa 7:11)

One of the things I appreciate when driving to my destination is the visibility of signs. It gives me a sense of direction that I am traveling closer to my desired address. It provides a sense of comfort that I am on the right track. It gives me some relief that I am not lost. In the Old Testament, signs can be a reminder of a covenant made (Gen 9); an omen (Jer 44:29); a warning (Exodus 4); or a monument for the next generation (Joshua 4). In the Isaiah passage, the sign is used as an assurance to trust God. At that time, Assyria was a looming threat not only to Judah but to its neighbors. The neighboring nations (including Northern Israel), were trying to pressure Judah to join the alliance against Assyria. The dilemma for King Ahaz is: Trust the alliance? or trust the LORD? If only he had taken heed from his spiritual director, the prophet Isaiah.

We need spiritual directors to help us read signs. Signs provide a sense of direction for our Christian growth. Typical advice that says: "All we need is God," can appear fluffy. Lots of 'correct' words but little sense of what it means for us. In Soulguide, Bruce Demarest points out two aspects of Christian growth. The first is a REDEMPTIVE aspect which I call 'growing inside.' This includes our personal individual walk with God, our spiritual disciplines and our awareness that we are saved by grace. This is something we all aim at. However, if we only focus on the redemptive aspect, we risk becoming self-absorbed. We need a second aspect, which is the MISSION-ORIENTED aspect. I call this 'growing outside.' This includes the expression of faith via service (to all). Likewise, if one only practices the second aspect without regard to the first, one becomes like an empty vessel, pretty on the outside, but hollow on the inside. One without the other is like walking only with one leg. Thus, authentic Christian growth can only come when there is adequate growing both inside as well as outside. Authentic spiritual growth means walking on both legs, obeying the signs for Internal and External growth.

LAMENTING THE LACK OF SPIRITUAL DIRECTION
In Isa 7, Ahaz was requested to ask for a sign. This is a gracious call extended to him. God asked Ahaz to call upon him anytime. Whether one feels deep down in dire straits, or experiencing ecstatic highs, the LORD is ready to show the way. All he needs is to ask. Unfortunately, Ahaz refused to ask the LORD for a sign, much to Isaiah's frustration. He didn't appreciate the presence of such a prominent spiritual director.

Such an attitude continues to run rampage in the modern church. Dallas Willard, laments the lack of desire to seek spiritual direction in the church:

"Spiritual Direction was understood by Jesus, taught by Paul, obeyed by the early church, followed with excesses in the medieval church, narrowed by the Reformers, recaptured by the Puritans, and virtually lost in the modern church." (Dallas Willard, Satisfy Your Soul)

Henri Nouwen adds:

"Many ministers today are excellent preachers, competent counselors, and good program administrators, but few feel comfortable giving spiritual direction to people who are searching for God's presence in their lives." (Henri Nouwen, The Living Reminder)

Christian. Do not despair. A lack of spiritual direction does not mean 'no' direction. There will always be a sign for the one who has a willing heart. God will supply signs and guides for us as we walk our Christian path. We need to discern the moving of the Spirit, who gives us signs to walk our journey of faith. We need spiritual directors to help us read spiritual signs.

THREE SUGGESTIONS FOR SPIRITUAL DIRECTION
Signs are essential for spiritual direction. May I humbly suggest three ways toward reading and obeying the signs.

1) Pray and Read the Word regularly; (Inner growth signs)
2) Practice the Word regularly; (External growth signs)
3) Seek out spiritual director(s) (to help put both inner and outer aspects together).

In 1985, Henri Nouwen was at the end of his illustrious teaching career in a prestigious University at Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was seeking for signs on what is next for him. In seeking inner growth signs, he prayed. He wrote journals, expressing his fears, desires and deepest desires to obeying God's call. He asked for a sign. As he prayed to discern inside his heart, as he continues to be faithful through external acts of service (external growth signs), he found a community to help tie it altogether. It was a scary next step. His next opportunity has "no money to offer, no attractive living quarters, no prestige." Nouwen consulted many (spiritual directors), to read the signs that clearly pointed him toward a commitment to the L'Arche community (handicapped people) in Canada. Like Abraham when he was called, Nouwen had no idea what God had in store for him. All he knew was to obey the signs. Perhaps, there is another consideration as far as signs are concerned. Maybe, a lack of spiritual direction is linked to a lack of willingness to obey the signs......

Thought: Signs are key pointers in spiritual direction. Reading the Signs is one thing. Obeying the signs is another. It is no use learning to read signs, without a corresponding willingness to trust God and obey his calling. Could it be that we fail to see signs, because of our inner UNWILLINGNESS to obey?

"God's commands are designed to guide you to life's very best. You will not obey Him, if you do not believe Him and trust Him. You cannot believe Him if you do not love Him. You cannot love Him unless you know Him." (Henry Blackaby)

sabbathwalk

Nostalgia or Lament?

“How deserted lies the city, once so full of people!..... ” (Lam 1:1a)

Regret – that it could have been better
Relief – that it could have been worse

When Wendy Murray Zoba’s husband committed adultery, her hopes of a near-ideal marriage crumbled. Everything else that made sense for her suddenly lose meaning. Her marriage was over. Her life was shattered. Her search for God became more teary and weary. She needed a miracle to ever recover emotionally and spiritually. What can she do? Did she regret what happened, or was she relieved that it was all over? Sometimes it is simply not possible to do either. One simply needs to go through the painful process. The question is: Where does our lament lead us to? More specifically, WHO does it lead us to?

We live in a world where there are many troubles. It does not take long for a young Christian to realize that the Christian life is often not like a nice bed of roses. There are challenges too. Israel learned it the hard way through its painful exile to Babylon. The biblical book of Lamentations is a detailed cry of pity over the loss of Jerusalem when the Babylonians sacked her around 586 BC. Written poetically and in acrostic manner, Lamentations is a structured form of poetry. Some people may even suspect that it was written for a funeral service. The sadness deepens as the author looks back at how Jerusalem lost its crown (1:1c), betrayed (2), exiled (3), abandoned (4), and utterly disgraced. The twin emotions or regret and relief play strong. Three observations can be made regarding this sense of lament. While Jeremiah laments, he is always looking back to God.

1) Lost Potential
Unlike the recent death of Michael Jackson, where some tries to milk his death buy selling more wares, the author Jeremiah makes no effort to ‘profit’ from the destruction of Jerusalem. The words in Lamentations reflect his grief over the loss of a once-great nation. Some of us who mourn, only have a few short words or phrases. Jeremiah on the other hand, wrote acrostic poetry, amounting to 5 chapters and 172 verses in Lamentations! A nation that was once 'great' among nations, has now become a forced laborer (Lam 1:1). What a loss.

2) Lost Promise
Not only has the nation lost its independence, it became subjected to the rule of its enemies (Lam 1:3). What happened to God’s promise about Israel becoming the nation of nations? Did God forsake Israel and his covenant? Will there ever be hope for mankind through Israel? At one look, it seems that it is the LORD who has 'caused her grief' (Lam 1:5). Verse 1:18 reveals the reason for Jerusalem's demise, their rebellion. Thus, it is Israel's rebellion that caused their own downfall. Israel has rejected not only the promise but the Promiser.

3) Lost Peace of God
The word ‘Jerusalem’ literally means ‘foundation of peace.’ How can a nation that is supposed to bring peace to the world, now becomes ravaged by war and drained of any power to bring peace? It is one thing not to be able to do something. It is yet another not to be able to live up to one’s name.

The sins of Jerusalem caused Israel to lose all three; Potential, Promise and Peace of God. In this state, life can seem meaningless and helpless. Lamentations is a call for us to mourn over the sad history of past Israel. Yet it should not be allowed to become an end in itself. We have a choice. We can remain trapped in the past or we can choose to look forward. The last verse of Lamentations is a guide for our prayers.

“Restore us to yourself, O LORD, that we may return; renew our days of old
Unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure.” (Lam 5:21-22)

What About Our Own Regrets?

Did Wendy Murray Zoba remain in a state of limbo, lamenting her own personal losses? No. She pressed on in her faith. Her personal story debunks the myth that a Christian life ought to be one that is ‘untarnished and sublime.’ Our Christian life is not simply "Prayer of Jabez" nature where God gives us all the nice things in life when we ask for it. Sometimes, it needs to be "Prayer to Jesus," where we need to pray, 'Have mercy on me, O God, for I am a sinner." I believe the 'cry for Jesus' prayer is far more Christ-centered than the 'Prayer of Jabez.' The former seeks God's mercy, while the latter seeks God's prosperity. The former seeks to be released from the pressures of sin, while the latter seeks to indulge in the pleasures of multiple blessings. If we claim to follow Christ, we need to mirror his heart (for God!) and not become infatuated with material riches (for gods).

As Wendy Murray Zoba tries to climb out of the painful seasons of her life, she recognizes that it is not coming to the end of the tunnel that brings her hope. It is actually God walking next to her in the tunnel that brings frequent consolation. A precious lesson she learned was from St Francis of Assisi.

"He was a pilgrim, stripped of life's easy consolations. Life as a pilgrim had but a single purpose: to have eyes to look for the unexpected, to imagine possibilities, and to remain accessible to the voice that speaks." (Wendy Murray Zoba, On Broken Legs, NavPress, 2004 153)

Thought: If you are always asking for nice things, you are prepared only for nice results. Whether nostalgia or lament, if you learn to seek NOT mere things nor only niceness, but instead the Face of God, you would have learned that the Christian journey is not one of joy or sorrow, but of companionship with the One you love.

Question: Where does your personal lament or nostalgia lead you to? Does it end in self-pity or does it lead you back to God?

Quality

“and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.” (1 Cor 3:13b)

Main Point – Each of us need to take time to check the quality of the work we are doing. It is the attitude of the mind and heart that dictates the quality of the work of our hands.

One of our most used, or misused phrases in the Christian Life is Quality Time in the midst of a busy lifestyle. We use it liberally when we try to live a balanced life of work and family. It usually means making the best use of what little time we have. However, is that possible? When a person’s work expectations piles up high and the available time runs down low, everything on the to-do list gets done quickly, often superficially. If I am doing something to someone so that I can achieve a target, my accomplishments may be more short-term and will not last the journey. However, if I am finding the joy of spending ‘quality time,’ everything becomes peripheral to the desire to spend that quality time. The Apostle Paul reminds us that Christ has already laid the primary foundation. The rest of us need to build upon this cornerstone. The day will come when the fire of judgment will test the quality of every person’s work. How do we know if our work meets the required standards of excellence? Let me suggest three layers of work that we face daily.

Layer 1: To-Do List Layer
Layer 2: Purpose-Driven Layer
Layer 3: Enjoyment-Led Layer

LAYERS OF QUALITY
Layer 1: A To-Do List Motive.
Some of us go through life like checking off a grocery list of to-buy items or to-do list of activities. We clock in our reports. We achieve our sales quota. We kiss our kids good-night quickly so that we can go on to the next item on the list. We meet with employees simply because upper management tells us to do so. Like a mechanic who gets a repair slip, he simply goes through the motion and follows exactly the steps written in the manual. When things go wrong, he blames the manual saying that it is not his fault as he has merely been following instructions. As we all know, bad quality work only leads to more complaints and dissatisfaction.

Layer 2: A Purpose-Driven Motive
A better step is to be more purpose-driven in what we do. Many of us work for a purpose, often for pay. We plan our resources accordingly and allocate work according to the priorities needed per task. If we need to meet a client in order to get a sale, we prioritize them. In church, Sunday School superintendents try to set up coffee meetings so that they can persuade people to teach in the Sunday School. Some pastors call up individuals not exactly to know about their life, but to find out if they can fill a certain vacuum in various ministry roles that never seem to be permanently filled. Under heavy expectations, ministry leaders often become more social when they felt a need to involve people to get things done. Some of these tasks are honorable, but let me suggest that while they may work, they do not last. Individuals can feel ‘used.’ Others can feel that it is meaningless to continue to feel like a tool to meet other people’s ends. There is a better way.

Layer 3: An Enjoyment-Led Quality
Indeed, a To-Do motive emanates superficiality from all fronts. A Purpose-Driven Motive seems to dehumanize persons that they are only targets of usefulness regardless of how honorable the goals are. When I peel an onion, the first layer is usually the first one that is trashed. It is rather pleasing to remove the yucky outside to reveal the yummy inside. The process of peeling onions can be a tearful experience. If we persevere, it can be highly rewarding. The quality of one's work is linked tightly to the attitude of enjoyment.

• Quality time with loved ones and kids means to ENJOY listening to their inner desires, happiness and joys, to keep that moment sacrosanct from other cares and concerns;
  
• Quality time with our work means to ENJOY looking for the right resources, not only to do the right thing but to do the right thing in the right way;
  
• Quality time with our God means to ENJOY that holy moment, to render it untouchable by the world.

Keeping that moment sacred is a spiritual practice of ENJOYING the people we love. If we can learn to practice the presence of God in our quiet times, we train ourselves to be present to other people as well.

Brother Lawrence said: “…I do my work in simple faith before God, humbly and lovingly, and I carefully apply myself to avoid doing, saying or thinking anything that might displease him.” (Brother Lawrence, Practice of the Presence of God).

What then is the key to quality living? It is enjoyment of being present. My personal goal is for quality rather than quantity. I encourage you to do the same.

THOUGHT: What is your quality of life? How do you spend your Quality-Time with the people you love? Whatever it is, if it is a worthy person or a worthwhile effort, enjoy the process.

"Quality is not an act; It's a habit." (Aristotle)

Walking

"There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up." (Exodus 3:2)

I drive my car on a pretty regular basis. It could be sending my kids to school, or making a trip to the Supermarket. After all, a car is meant to be used, isn't it? Is it? Driving may save us some time, but it can also deprive us of the opportunity to slow down and observe the neighbourhood around me. I remember the walks I take with my wife in the early years when we do not have a car. Often we will say to each other things like:
- "I didn't know there is a community center here."
- "How convenient. There is a small shop that sells essential grocery items."
- "Hey, there is a church here."
- "I didn't see this small path. Beautiful flowers we missed."

We do miss out on a lot of things in our neighbourhood when we rush out each morning to work in a car, and return the same way late at night. Life on the fast lane can give us less opportunity to appreciate the surroundings. Walking can be a very good form of exercise. It can be done casually without much gear. It does not cost anything save calories. It can also be profoundly spiritual. The pace allows one to take time to notice the trees and plants around them. It perks up one's nose to smell the flowers. I notice cars parked in the same place every day. I see traffic attendant, faithfully doing her job of ensuring that vehicles stop to let kids cross the roads safely. I see notices pasted on lamp-posts and walls, hawking either wares or community activities.

If Moses was driving a car, he probably would have missed the burning bush. If Elijah has been too impatient, he will have become more attracted to the strong winds, earthquakes and the many loud noises and miss out the small still divine whisper. It takes an intentional heart to sift away the conventional sounds, in order to discover various gems embedded in daily life. Barbara Brown Taylor laments the loss of attention caused by a quick-fix modern lifestyle.

"The practice of paying attention really does take time. Most of us move so quickly that our surroundings become no more than the blurred scenery we fly past on our way to somewhere else. We pay attention to the speedometer, the wristwatch, the cell phone, the list of things to do, all of which feed our illusion that life is manageable. Meanwhile, none of them meets the first criterion for reverence, which is to remind us that we are not gods - if only we could find some way to do more faster."
(Barbara Brown Taylor, An Altar in the World, p24).

HOW DO WE PAY MORE ATTENTION?
One way is to walk rather than drive. Walk without having the pressing need for a destination. Make it casual. Take it easy. Let time simply pass by. If you like, take a small MP3 player, with some soothing music. Walk and be ready to stop and chat with neighbors. These small little acts can be hugely therapeutic and can effectively counter any terrible inner insecurity that drives us to constantly catch up with the Joneses.

I remember one night back in 1991, when I was struggling to find some sense of direction whether or not I should marry. I have fallen in love with this girl, and we have been enjoying each other's company. Yet, there was something that does not seem right. Where is the cross that God has asked me to carry? That night, with my heart heavy with questions, I decided to take a walk around the neighborhood, quietly asking God to show me a sign. I walked past many blocks, quite intent to keep walking until I see some sign. I glanced at cars, stared at billboards and gazed at the dark skies. Nothing seems extraordinary in a very conventional night. It took more than an hour of aimless walking until I saw a large building hidden among some big trees. The leaves were thick and the lights were not bright enough to light up the surroundings. Apparently, something behind the trees seem to want to play hide and seek with me. The green tree is apparently a poor pretender that it has nothing to hide. Edging past some obstacles, I peered to check out what the trees are hiding. What I saw was a revelation not just for my eyes but cuts into my heart. A prominent cross stood proud under the moon's searing spotlight. It was like a heavenly stage played before my eyes for my enjoyment. The cross was the sign that spoke to my heart in ways no book can ever express. I would not have seen this cross if I have not taken a walk. I would not have noticed the building if I have simply rushed around from place to place. I married my wife in 1992, with our hearts united in Christ. That moment of heavenly revelation gave birth to many years of joyful celebration of marital blessing. To God be the glory.

Thought: How do we deal with frantic living or high expectations and low tolerance for error? Do we simply keep running to compete? Or have we learned to ground ourselves on solid ground, to learn to say 'no' when we ought to say no.

Take time to walk. While walking, pray our concerns and enjoy God's creation. Walk in the Lord, spiritually and literally. Perhaps, during one of our walks, we may chance upon an opportunity to see the 'burning bush' that burns but is not burned up. Like the parable of the treasured pearl, such an encounter will cause us to give up everything to buy the pearl; that divine moment with God.

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Looking Forward

“I was glad when they say to me: ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’ ” (Ps 122:1)

I remember in my first job, someone asks the question: “So do you look forward to the weekend?” One said that he is looking forward to spending time with his family. Another said that he wanted to finish a personal project. Others simply appreciate the coming of a needed rest from work. Humourously, one engineer said: “Weekend? Oh No. It means: ‘Monday is coming!” Many of us certainly appreciate the weekend because it is a break from a week of work. Yet, for some, a week is simply a temporal respite from the stress and challenges of work. Like my funny colleague, weekends simply mean the coming of the dreaded Monday instead of anticipating optimistically a Saturday.

Do you look forward to weekends? Do you thank God it’s Friday or dread them because of the coming of Moody Monday? What does weekends mean for us? Is Sunday another day of trying to get ahead of others in terms of competitive advantage? Or is it another day to do a different kind of work? The Old Testament reminds the Israelites to take the Sabbath seriously; ‘ Six days you shall labor and do all your work,’ (Exodus 20:9). The longest commandment out of the Ten, appears to be the fifth commandment to keep the Sabbath. Keeping the Sabbath is considered mandatory to the Jewish people. An ancient legend tells us about the encounter of the children of Israel with God.

“My children, if you are willing to accept the Torah (the law) and observe its mitzvoth (precepts), I will grant you a most precious gift.’

Eagerly, the children asked: ‘What is this precious gift?’

God replied; ‘The world that is to come.’

The children: ‘Tell us more about this world that is to come.’

God said: ‘I have already given you the Sabbath. The Sabbath is a taste of the world-to-come.’ “
(adapted from Alfred Kolatch’s “The Jewish Book of Why”, NY: Penguin Compass, 2003, p154)

The Sabbath is a gift of the world that is to come. What an amazing thought. Although this is considered a legend, it does provide another angle to see what the Sabbath means. Sometimes we may see the Sabbath as another time to simply take a break. For the busy executive, it can be a needed rest from stress built up in the office. It can be a temporary pause from a crazy world of high expectations and competition. For many Jews, it means a time to enjoy the gift of looking-forward to that eternal rest in God. Many Christians take Sunday as their form of Sabbath, yet I know of many who see Sabbath as another day of accomplishing and doing work, albeit a different kind of work. David is a busy king heavily engaged with the political and national needs of the nation of Israel. The psalms describe many of his ups and downs of life expressed to God. Ps 122 starts off with an optimistic look toward the entering into the house of the Lord. He said: “I was glad.”

I know of people who do not look forward to church. Some shun church because they feel the church is a place of hypocrites. Others avoid church claiming that it is full of middle class or elite people merely wanting to gather in a rich-people-environment. Some go to church expecting to be pampered with an entertaining sermon or to be cuddled with nice songs during the worship service. Let me suggest that we do not confuse Church Sunday services with keeping the Sabbath rest. The Sabbath is an opportunity to glimpse the future. It begins in the heart. It fills the mind with expectations not of people but of God. It anticipates the reading of the Word of God and the contemplation of the kingdom together with the people of God.

Barbara Brown Taylor, a well-known Episcopal preacher even describes the Sabbath as a day in which we learn to say: “No!”
• Say ‘No’ to a culture of accumulating ‘more’ things by keeping ‘less’ stuff through giving away;
• Say ‘no’ to a world infatuated with ‘more-is-good;’
• Say ‘no’ to work at least one day a week;

Sabbath rest is a time to deny ourselves the pressures of getting ahead or accumulating stuff. Instead it is a time to allow us the pleasures of slowing down and giving up the work mindset we face each week. It is a time to learn to say to one another: “Enough. We have enough.” Like going to a buffet meal, rather than topping up our plate with loads of food, and then struggling to finish it all, we should not pile up our week with loads of work that we cannot joyfully finish. Remember that the Israelites who tried to look for manna on the seventh day found nothing? The sixth day they had double the normal amount of manna. The Swiss theologian Karl Barth said:

“A being is free only when it can determine and limit its activity.”

How true it is. We need to observe a day of rest each week, every week. For in doing so, we not only say no to the pressures of the office at least a day a week. We practice saying yes to the simple pleasures of life. We look forward to a future of a time with our heavenly Father, by reminding ourselves that we are not of this world. True. Sabbath time is a time to practice the enjoyment of God and what he has provided us. It is a time to look forward like David to a house of God. Yes, the house of God may be filled with people we may like or dislike. It can also be a place that we dread because certain persons irritate us. Let us not be troubled. Recognize we are often not angels ourselves. The house of God is not simply a gathering of people. It is a community of God’s people looking forward to meeting God. Eugene Peterson’s title of a book says it very well. We need to come together with an attitude of “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society.” We need to desire more of David’s heartbeat for God by saying:

“I am glad when they said unto me, Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

Personally, one thing I do on Sabbath Day each week is to turn OFF the computer. I encourage you to do the same at least for one 24-hour cycle each week.

What should we do when someone gives us a wrapped present on a Sunday? Like little children, eagerly open it up! Keep the Sabbath and to keep it holy to the LORD.

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Lest We Forget

DT 8:10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. 11 Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. 12 Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, 13 and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. (Deut 8:10-14)

Capacity to Remember; Tendency to Forget
The human mind has an amazing capacity for memory. Ask a pianist who is capable to remembering precisely the key to the right note on the keyboard. Ask anyone who can remember their past. Ask anyone who can pinpoint exact places and faces straight from their memory bank. The human brain easily beats any world-class image processor, sound analyzer and technological gizmos that try to emulate the five major human senses.

Yet, one of the saddest things about human being is the tendency to forget. The gift of memory can be neglected so easily in our daily lives. There are many reasons for absent-mindedness. A BBC report says it is due to ‘early stress.’ It is a popular belief that old age is also another factor. Dr David Myers, a psychologist comments on an experiment, that early adulthood (before one turns 40) represents the peak in terms of the ability to recall and remember. In that same project, there was an amazing 3x improvement in memory recall when the activity is repeated the third time. The conclusion is that, if lack of use can cause memory loss, an increased use will enhance memory recall.

Deut 8 seems to emphasize this. God tells the Israelites that their duty is to regularly praise God for all the good providence showered upon them. In verse 11, there is a positive and a negative verbs, (a DO and a DO-NOT). Israel is to ‘keep watch’ or ‘be careful’ (positive verb); as well as ‘not forget’ (negative rendition of remember). In fact, Hebrew parallelism uses both to emphasize the main point, which is to honor God ESPECIALLY in times of multiple blessings. Lest we forget.

Two Ways to Remember
Let me suggest two ways. The first is the important act of rituals. We need to repeat our family rituals as often as possible. In our families, special events like Birthdays, Anniversaries, and all manner of remembrance should be celebrated. In Church, we should hold fast to traditions of worship, prayer and various recitations of the creeds and doctrines. In the office, we need to continue to center ourselves back on the mission and purposes of doing what we are doing. In fact, leaders in any organization are not primarily called to get things done. Their primary task, I feel is to be able to bring the whole company back to the founding principles of the company. That is why mission and vision statements are core competencies of any organization. The leader is the one who is able to recall straightaway, to anybody at anytime, what the company stands for and why they are doing what they are doing. The leader is expected to repeat this mantra continually to employees at all levels, and to train managers to do the same. Failing which, the cycle of forgetfulness will slowly and surely take charge and eventually destroy the company over time.

The second way to remember is actually a simple principle: De-cluttering. When we have too much responsibilities or things to do, our lives become cluttered and often confused. Not only will we face problems in prioritizing, we confuse the important with the urgent. What things are first in our lives? Who are the people that matter the most to us? What is our chief purpose in our daily work? Suppose you are asked to draw a 2-column table where these three questions are placed on the left side.

Write down all the activities on the right side of the table that support our statements of what’s important, who matters, and what’s our purpose in life. If it is a good list with solid details, good. If you find it difficult to fill in the right column, you are properly too cluttered up for long term good. If you feel cluttered, perhaps an exercise at decluttering your life will be helpful. Get down on your knees and pray. Talk to a friend. Read good books (including the Bible) pertaining to spiritual direction. Remember that de-cluttering means putting first things first, and to continually remind yourself of that. That way, we will remember.

"So little is clear. So much is fuzzy. Bring us to clarity, God. Lift one layer of confusion and clutter so that we may see. . . . . Remind us of all the times we have been lost before - and of all the times you have already found us." (Prayer by Donna Schaper, Sabbath Keeping, p41-42)

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