May 1

NUMBERS 8 The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes; then Aaron presented them, like a wave offering before the Lord, and Aaron made atonement for them to cleanse them. I was dirty from the stain of sin. My Lord Jesus washed me with His own blood and cleansed me from all unrighteousness. He has presented me as a wave offering before His Father. I have been made at one with the Father because of His Son! That He can do that with someone like me is amazing. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today! --Pastor john * * PSALM 120 Clint was a lot bigger than me. He was the biggest guy in our 5th grade class. Normally he was of great humor and fun to be around, usually pretty nice. One day during recess, he came to me saying, “John, I have a surprise for you that I want to show you, but you have to close your eyes and follow me.” “How can I close my eyes and follow you at the same time?” I responded. “Oh, just put your hands your head, and I will put my hand on your hands and guide you.” He was bigger than me and kind of insistent, so I complied. We walked out of sight of any teachers. He said, “Keep your eyes closed. Here is the surprise.” The next thing I felt was his fist striking me in the stomach. “Stay away from Genevie!” he commanded as he stomped off. I lay on the ground sucking for air as I wondered what that was all about. Apparently, he thought I had been flirting with her. Well, I enjoyed teasing girls in the fifth grade, but I had never considered it flirting. Some of the others in our class had told him that I was flirting with her. In fifth grade I still didn’t get the boy/girlfriend thing, so I was glad to oblige. I stayed away from Genevie. Later Clint came to me and apologized. He said that some others had told him that I was flirting with Genevie, and now he realized that they were lying. Nevertheless, I continued to stay away from Genevie, and I did not trust Clint again after that. Lying tongues, it’s the stuff soap operas are made of. The fact that the soaps make money off of it is an indicator that it is a common problem in the human race. It is what makes espionage difficult. It often fuels war. Hey, if Clint had just come and talked to me before hitting me, I would have stayed away. He was a lot bigger than me, and I really wasn’t interested in Genevie. But what if I had been interested, and what if I had been closer to his size? There might have been war between us. Lies are what fuel wars between countries. Lies are what elect politicians. During this current election time, how do we sort out lies from the truth? It is a difficult proposition. Lying lips in life often cause distress. Satan is the father of lies, and he tells them smoothly and often enough to keep us in distress. In our distress there is ultimately only one thing we can do. It is to call out to the Lord for deliverance. Only the author of truth can sort out the lies from the truth. That is why we must daily call out to Him. He is the only true beacon that can guide us through the fog of lies. But what if He cannot hear us? The infinite God can hear us, and if we are willing to do His will, He delivers us through the circumstance of the lying tongues. Now that is glory! Let us seek Him! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today! --Pastor john * * ISAIAH 31 He took his shoe off at the UN and pounded on the table and shouted what was translated as, “We will bury you!” It was November of 1960; five months earlier the Soviets had shot down our U-2 spy plane. The USA was on the rise to its peak of military power. The events eventually led to the Cuban missile crisis in 1962. It was a rivalry of both military power and ideology of social-political-economic power. A year earlier Khrushchev had challenged us as follows:

During the “kitchen debate” of 1959, so named because it took place in a model kitchen set up for a trade exhibition in Moscow, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev told U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon, “Let’s compete. Who can produce the most goods for the people, that system is better and it will win.”

15 Both communism and capitalism have trusted in their military power and in their systems. Communism failed in the late 1980’s, but currently seems to be trying to make a comeback under Putin in Eastern Europe. Both systems will eventually fail. It is the doom of anyone who trusts in their military might rather than the Lord. It is the doom of any country which trusts in its systems rather than the Lord. In Isaiah’s day military might was measured in chariots and horses. It eventually failed Assyria which had the most of both. On an individual level the principle applies to us as well. Do I trust in my physical strength? Do depend upon my financial prowess? Am I leaning on my family’s protection? Do I trust in my social connections. Ultimately they will all fail. Only the Lord can bring me safely into my eternal home. Will I trust in His glory, or will I trust in the other things around me? Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today! --Pastor john http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/nikita-sergeyevich-khrushchev * * LUKE 21:20-38 In the news the other day I heard that Iran has threatened that if the U.S. were to try any military intervention because of their nuclear program that they would destroy Israel and the world's economy. Hmmm. . .

But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

Hmmm. . . It could just be another one of those flare ups. But Jesus went on to say:

Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.

Could it be that the His coming with power and great glory is not far off? I don't particularly want to experience the things He says will happen before He comes. But if His coming is near, let them come because the glory of my Jesus is so great that when I see Him, it will be worth it all! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today! --Pastor john