I Will Rise

I haven't been able to get this song out of my head all day.  It's a song of hope and truth.  The first video is of Chris Tomlin talking about how the song came to be.  Then comes the song in the second video.  Hope it sticks in your brain like it has mine.

Grace and peace,

Dave

Pelicans And Other Wildlife in North-Western Ontario

Patti and I went out for a drive and bit of a walk this afternoon to enjoy the day and God's creation. We had the opportunity to see about three dozen white pelicans that are found in Canada from north-western Ontario to British Columbia. Enjoy! You'll notice a seagull in the foreground of one of the shots that will give you a size comparison. Oh yeah, the last picture is another form of local wildlife.

Grace and peace,

Dave

Ichabod

My brother-in-law died of leukemia last Friday.  He was a generous and fun guy and we will miss him.  He was also a believer in Jesus Christ so we know that the separation is only temporary. We will see him again in Heaven.

I recently started a fiction book by Randy Alcorn called Deadline.  The beginning chapters talk about the death of a friend.  The topic and the timing of my reading it seems to be more than coincidence.  I want to share a somewhat lengthy portion with you that struck me as interesting and pertinent to my recent experience.

"May I ask you something, old man?"  Jake would normally consider "old man" offensive, but he sensed this one would receive it as a compliment.  

"Certainly, my son."  

"One of my best friends died this morning, I was with him."  

"That is a great privilege.  You are very fortunate."  

"I don't feel very fortunate right now."  

"Nonetheless, you are.  Death is life's defining moment.  It is the point where the final touch is put on each person's life's portrait.  The masterpiece is signed and the paint dries, never to be changed again.  It is finished."

Jake stared at the man.  He must be a rabbi or something.  "I guess what I've been thinking about is this strange sensation I had right when he died.  It was as if he...just left the room."  "He did."  

"Well, I mean, I could almost feel it happening.  It seemed like one moment he was there, but then suddenly his body was, well, just a body, nothing more."

The man nodded politely and waited, as if Jake had merely stated the obvious, and must now be leading up to some worthy observation.  When none came, finally the bearded one said, "I understand.  I have been present at many deaths."  

"You've had the same sensation then?  Can you explain it to me?"  

The man paused a moment as if looking for just the right word.  Finally, he seemed to find it.  "Ichabod."

Jake waited, but no explanation followed.  Other than a character in Hawthorne's Headless Horseman, he'd never heard of Ichabod.  "Ichabod?"  

"Yes.  Do you remember Ezekiel?"

Jake nodded, faking it, since he had no idea...

"The shekinah glory of God dwelt in the temple.  Ezekiel watched it depart.  When it was gone, the temple was called 'Ichabod.'  In the holy language it means 'the glory has departed.'  Once the Spirit of God left, the temple was empty, an abandoned shell.  Your friend's body is empty, abandoned.  And so shall it remain until one day it is raised again to serve your friend and his master much better than before.  The body that remains is not your friend.  Ichabod--the glory has departed." (Deadline, Randy Alcorn, pp. 55-56)

I was there the moment Jerry departed his body and went into the presence of the Lord.  As strange as it may sound, I do consider it a privilege.  To see a loved one leave this world and know that he is now more alive than he has ever been is a wonder.  Yes there is sorrow, but there is also hope and joy in the promises of God.

As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God

I stumbled across the article with the above title while doing some web surfing recently.  It was written for the British newpaper TimesOnline just a few months ago.  Written by columnist Matthew Parris, it appears to be an honest look at Christian influence in Africa.  One paragraph to entice you to read the article:

Now a confirmed atheist, I've become convinced of the enormous contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa: sharply distinct from the work of secular NGOs, government projects and international aid efforts. These alone will not do. Education and training alone will not do. In Africa Christianity changes people's hearts. It brings a spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good.

This is not just true for Africa but for every nation and every person.  The sad part is to be able to see Christ making a difference for others but not be convinced He can do the same for you.

Granted, Matthew Parris seems to be a colorful and controversial journalist, (check here for more on his life and career) but that does not make these thoughts any less true.

Grace and peace,

Dave 

Foxe's Book of Martyrs--FREE!!!!

I remember reading Foxe's Book of Martyrs several years ago and being deeply moved by the courage of many believers in Christ throughout the earlier years of Christianity.  Now you can get an audio version of this classic book for free.  That means you don't even have to read it! Someone will read it to you.  

I mentioned Christian Audio in an earlier post.  They offer a free audio download every month.  For the month of May it is Foxe's Book of Martyrs.  Here's what the Christian Audio website says about this book.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, many families owned two books: the Bible and Foxe's Book of Martyrs. This classic book arose during the Protestant Reformation and profoundly influenced many in the English Church. Beginning with Stephen and the earliest church martyrs and continuing through the French Revolution, Foxes details the sufferings of those who would courageously stand for Christ.

 Beginning with the story of Stephen from the book of Acts, considered the first Christian martyr, the drama builds to the passion of the early Church's persecution under the Roman Empire. The hardy and radical faith of those first believers spawned medieval missionary movements that spread the gospel across Europe and into England, Scotland, and Ireland.

You will have to set up an account with Christian Audio but there is no charge for that either.  So all you need is the link and you're on your way.  

Here you go:  Christian Audio free book for May

Grace and peace,

Dave

A Biblical Perspective on Death

I've been receiving a weekly email from Christian History.  The newest issue has an article that caught my attention, being on the same topic that I posted earlier this week--life after death.  This particular article features part of a Puritan funeral sermon from 1651 titled, A Believer's Last Day, His Best Day.  It's a great article.  I'll share a paragraph in hopes it will inspire you to read the rest.

"Death is another Moses: it delivers believers out of bondage, and from making bricks in Egypt. It is a day or year of jubilee to a gracious spirit—the year wherein he goes out free from all those cruel taskmasters which it had long groaned under..."

Here's the link to the rest of the article.

ChristianHistory.net is a publication of Christianity Today.  If you enjoy history this is a great site.  You can browse through different eras of Christian history.  There's even a section called This Week in Christian History.  

Grace and peace,

Dave

Habits

I've stopped putting lettuce on my sub.  I've stopped putting green relish on my hotdogs and hamburgers.  After forty some years of doing so I suddenly realized I don't really care  that much for those toppings and have  been doing it for years merely out of habit; a tradition I copied because everyone else I know did it that way.  Leaving the lettuce off won't make much difference to anyone except maybe my health, but I want to make a spiritual point.

How many other things do we do without really thinking about it simply because it has become habit?  Many "thoughtless" habits are good: brushing your teeth, putting on underwear, using your turn signal while driving.  But other things, especially spiritual things should never become merely habit.  One that comes to mind is giving thanks for meals.  I've spent my whole life doing it, but am I truly thankful or is it just habit?  Do I use the same words over and over again without really thinking about what I'm saying?  Bible reading and prayer can be the same way.  Getting into that habit is great.  Many people have trouble being consistent.  But it can also be not so good when we are just reading words or just saying words without thinking and actually listening and talking to God.

So what are you doing out of mere habit?  I challenge you to think through your life, especially your spiritual life, and make sure your relationship with Jesus is more than thoughtless habit.

Grace and peace,

Dave