Today in church a song was sung about our God who gives and takes away. I understand this verse in the song comes from Job 1:21 where Job says, "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." I have issues with songs that quote this verse as if to say that is who our God is. This is why.
First - Job is the oldest book in the Bible. The Bible is a progressive revelation of God to mankind. We are still to this day moving forward on the shoulders of past generations as God continually reveals more and more of who He is to us. Since Job is the oldest book in the Bible, it means that God is beginning the revelation of Himself in this book. We find Job 1:21 right at the beginning of this first book and it is clearly Job speaking about the way he views God. Just because a person's thoughts are recorded in the Bible doesn't mean we stand on them as truths to live by. Knowing what Job said is part of the story of Job. So in this oldest book in the Bible Job makes a statement about what he thinks about who God is. Job was alive before Abraham and this was his understanding of covenant.
Second - In the story of Abraham, we see God reveal Who He is Himself. He calls Himself Jehovah Jireh (The Lord will Provide). It is the first of His 7 redemptive names (7 names of God showing God's Redemptive relationship to us). Each of these 7 names points to a continuos and increasing self-revelation. Jehovah means "the self existent One who reveals Himself," and Jireh means "Provider." Each of the 7 redemptive names point to the cross and a different blessing that is provided by the Atonement. The 7 names are Jehovah Tsidkenu (God is our Righteousness), Jehovah Shalom (God is our Peace), Jehovah Ra'ah (God is our Guide), Jehovah Rapha (God is our Healer), Jehovah Jireh (God is our Provider), Jehovah Shammah (God is Ever Present), and Jehovah Nissi (God is our Victory). These 7 names express God's nature as revealed by Himself. The represent the redemptive blessings Christ died to provide. Jehovah (God) is seen as meeting every need of man from his lost state to the end. God reveals Himself as the Provider of our every need. So we know that God gives and that part of Job's statement was correct.
Third - You would be very hard pressed to find another verse that shares the same viewpoint as Job in Job 1:21. The entire Bible is the story of Redemption. We see no where God is the one taking away something good. He takes away the sins of the world. He takes away bad things, but never good. The song we sang in church today was about God taking away good things. Here's some scripture
"No good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless (Psalm 84:11)"
"And God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19)"
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door shall be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks the door will be opened. Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to all who ask? (Luke 11:9-12)"
"I have come that they might have Life and have it to the full (John 10:10)."
The devil is seen regularly as the one who "steals, kills, and destroys (John 10:10, 1 Peter 5:8, Luke 8:12)." God is always good (Psalm 100:5, 119:68, Matthew 10:19, John 10:11, 1 Peter 2:3) and He is Love (1 John 4:8, 16).
I don't understand how we as believers can take one verse, spoken by Job in his frustration, discount the entire rest of the Bible, and then say this is who God is. That is not who God is! Stop saying He is. Stop singing He is. Look at the Bible. God promises to meet your every need. How do receive anything from God? Through Faith. When we continually sing that God gives and takes away, we effectively kill our faith for Him to meet our needs. How about we look to the Bible and who God says He is rather than some catchy song.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
What makes me so Special??
In reflection to my time in Haiti, the same question keeps coming to mind. Why am I so special? I knew that pretty much every Haitian I saw would trade places with me in a second. Why do I get to be well fed while others starve? Why do I get to have a life expectancy of over 80 years, while those in Haiti can only expect 49 years? Why do I get to use flush toilets, and they have to use outhouses, or worse yet crap in their hands. Why do I get to experience air conditioning whenever I am hot, while all they have to protect them from the sun is a blue tarp? Why do I get to have fun on the roof when it pours rain, while they have their tent dwellings flooded? Why am I so special? Does it not say in the Word of God that He is no respecter of persons? That means God doesn’t see me as more special as any of the Haitian, American, Brazilian, Cuban, etc. I know I am special, but they are too. Why do I get all these comforts and they get next to none?
I understand that the world would not be able to support the whole world living at the “North American standard.” There are just not enough resources. That means we are hogging them. That means that we are living at such a high commodity level that there is none left for others. It got me thinking, am I willing to become more uncomfortable so that others can be more comfortable? I know that I have gone to Haiti 5 times and have been willing to be without some commodities for a short time, but it is always with the knowledge that I am going back to Canada in a week or two. Am I willing to become inconvenienced permanently so others can be comforted? Or am I too selfish? I understand that aid poured in after the earthquake to help restore Haiti, but that aid has slowed to a trickle. Why is that? Is it because I am willing to give some out of my excess, but I’m not willing to become inconvenienced? Once it actually becomes a sacrifice I stop giving, am I too selfish? I’m not trying to guilt trip anyone; I am just asking the questions that fill my head.
If I actually want to make a difference and live with less so that others can have some, how do I do that? I don’t know. What I am going to do is treat the person in front of me better than myself. I am going to put myself into situations where people need help and I will help them. I know the Holy Spirit lives inside of me and therefore help is available in every situation I come across. I am going to live my life allowing God’s love to flow through me. God said a big part of this was caring for the widows and orphans so I will make sure I am looking out for those who it seems no one else is.
Maybe we all are given different gifts and in order to not be impoverished we need to share with each other. Maybe people who are materially poor are rich in other areas, and those who are materially rich are poor in other areas. Maybe we all need each other. Maybe if we all give what we have been given we will all be rich. And maybe the more we try to keep what we have been given for ourselves, the more impoverished we will be. I have found in my life that it is impossible to out give God. Whenever I give something, I find I receive more back than what I gave. Why am I so special? Why do I get to be one who is materially wealthy? I dunno. But I do know that every time I go to Haiti, which is considered a “poor” country, they give me more than I could ever give them. Haiti is not a poor country. They just don’t have alot of money. I think we should all share the gifts we have been given, so that we can all be blessed.
I understand that the world would not be able to support the whole world living at the “North American standard.” There are just not enough resources. That means we are hogging them. That means that we are living at such a high commodity level that there is none left for others. It got me thinking, am I willing to become more uncomfortable so that others can be more comfortable? I know that I have gone to Haiti 5 times and have been willing to be without some commodities for a short time, but it is always with the knowledge that I am going back to Canada in a week or two. Am I willing to become inconvenienced permanently so others can be comforted? Or am I too selfish? I understand that aid poured in after the earthquake to help restore Haiti, but that aid has slowed to a trickle. Why is that? Is it because I am willing to give some out of my excess, but I’m not willing to become inconvenienced? Once it actually becomes a sacrifice I stop giving, am I too selfish? I’m not trying to guilt trip anyone; I am just asking the questions that fill my head.
If I actually want to make a difference and live with less so that others can have some, how do I do that? I don’t know. What I am going to do is treat the person in front of me better than myself. I am going to put myself into situations where people need help and I will help them. I know the Holy Spirit lives inside of me and therefore help is available in every situation I come across. I am going to live my life allowing God’s love to flow through me. God said a big part of this was caring for the widows and orphans so I will make sure I am looking out for those who it seems no one else is.
Maybe we all are given different gifts and in order to not be impoverished we need to share with each other. Maybe people who are materially poor are rich in other areas, and those who are materially rich are poor in other areas. Maybe we all need each other. Maybe if we all give what we have been given we will all be rich. And maybe the more we try to keep what we have been given for ourselves, the more impoverished we will be. I have found in my life that it is impossible to out give God. Whenever I give something, I find I receive more back than what I gave. Why am I so special? Why do I get to be one who is materially wealthy? I dunno. But I do know that every time I go to Haiti, which is considered a “poor” country, they give me more than I could ever give them. Haiti is not a poor country. They just don’t have alot of money. I think we should all share the gifts we have been given, so that we can all be blessed.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Day 8 and 9
I am quite exhausted from the trip so if the blog is short, sorry. On Day 8 and 9 we did a basketball camp with the guys again. They always really appreciate the teaching and obviously want to learn. This is the 5th year in running and they are getting better and the ministry is becoming stronger. We always share with them our love for Jesus and show it through our actions. After the camp was over we served them a feast back at the Haiti Arise compound. We had a really great time together.
One of the players brought his little girl who was really quite sick. Tamara and Karen nursed her and she was noticably better after 2 hours of being cared for by those girls. It was really special to see.
I thank God everything went well and learned a valuable lesson along the way. The whole time in Haiti I didn't take time alone to read the Word and spend time by myself with God. I learnt that this is the recipe for burnout. I was quite cranky the last two days and I'm glad my team was so gracious with me. Lesson learned. It is just like a man who is cutting trees. If he spends all his time cutting he will start out well, but things will just get harder and harder. Time needs to be spent sharpening the axe. Eventually if the axe is never sharpened you will spend all your time working really hard for barely any profit. More work and more quality work will be done when time is spent in rest sharpening your axe.
One of the players brought his little girl who was really quite sick. Tamara and Karen nursed her and she was noticably better after 2 hours of being cared for by those girls. It was really special to see.
I thank God everything went well and learned a valuable lesson along the way. The whole time in Haiti I didn't take time alone to read the Word and spend time by myself with God. I learnt that this is the recipe for burnout. I was quite cranky the last two days and I'm glad my team was so gracious with me. Lesson learned. It is just like a man who is cutting trees. If he spends all his time cutting he will start out well, but things will just get harder and harder. Time needs to be spent sharpening the axe. Eventually if the axe is never sharpened you will spend all your time working really hard for barely any profit. More work and more quality work will be done when time is spent in rest sharpening your axe.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Day 7
Today was the first day of our 3 day basketball clinic. We were out in the hot sun from about 8am - 11am. It was good to connect again with the basketball guys and build on the relationships we have with them.
After the basketball we came back to the compound and got to work bagging rice. We distributed enough rice for about 500 families to eat for 3-4 days from what I understand. It is a real blessing to the community when we do this. Thank you to everyone who came to my mom's fundraiser. Your donations went to this rice distribution. Thank you.
We went on a walk after all that and had a good time interacting with the community and even seeing the market for awhile. Tamara saw some white people and then started yelling "Blanc, Blanc, Blanc." It was quite funny and we all laughed because that is what the kids always say when they see white people.
We are all doing well and could quite easily stay longer, but will be out of Haiti on Thursday. This feels quite soon as we have built many relationships and will be sad to say good-bye.
After the basketball we came back to the compound and got to work bagging rice. We distributed enough rice for about 500 families to eat for 3-4 days from what I understand. It is a real blessing to the community when we do this. Thank you to everyone who came to my mom's fundraiser. Your donations went to this rice distribution. Thank you.
We went on a walk after all that and had a good time interacting with the community and even seeing the market for awhile. Tamara saw some white people and then started yelling "Blanc, Blanc, Blanc." It was quite funny and we all laughed because that is what the kids always say when they see white people.
We are all doing well and could quite easily stay longer, but will be out of Haiti on Thursday. This feels quite soon as we have built many relationships and will be sad to say good-bye.
Days 5-6
God answered our prayers and everyone who was sick was healed quickly. Thanks for praying.
On Day 5 we had even more kids for VBS (We ended up averaging around 600+). The theme was "Sons and Daughters of the King." We wanted to instill in the children that there are no orphans in God's family. They are in the family of God and have incredible worth.
For the craft we had 450 Burger King crowns donated plus we had stickers for the kids to decorate them. It was pretty cool helping the children with the craft and actually crowning each one (We have seen kids throughout the past few days still wearing their crowns). It was a special experience.
Allen and Amos did a great job on the instuments and we all sang songs with the kids. They all really loved this part of the VBS.
Tamara played the character "Princess Sophia" and taught the kids John 1:12. The kids really liked her character and some have called her Princess Sophia ever since.
Karen taught this day and did a great job. We started with a skit about the disciples stopping the children from coming to Jesus but Jesus rebuking them. I took 5 kids from the audience and when Jesus came past the disciples the kids gave Dave (Who was playing Jesus) a big hug. It was a memorable experience for him.
On Day 6 the theme of VBS was "Love." Josh shared his testimony with the kids this day and did a great job. Allen and Amos played the music again and we all sang with the actions.
Tamara taught on love. She did a great job of keeping the kids attention by getting them to do things like "touch your neighbors arm and tell them they are special." I think some of the kids still thought she was Princess Sophia as well. The lesson went very well.
Chad then came out and taught a memory verse on love with the character Scuba Steve. He came out with big flippers and mask and snorkel. The kids thought it was great.
After the memory verse we had everyone from our team go to a different part of the tent and told the kids we wanted to pray a blessing over their lives. I really enjoying laying my hands on over 50 kids myself and blessing their lives in Jesus' name. It was a very special experience and a highlight for many.
On Day 5 we had even more kids for VBS (We ended up averaging around 600+). The theme was "Sons and Daughters of the King." We wanted to instill in the children that there are no orphans in God's family. They are in the family of God and have incredible worth.
For the craft we had 450 Burger King crowns donated plus we had stickers for the kids to decorate them. It was pretty cool helping the children with the craft and actually crowning each one (We have seen kids throughout the past few days still wearing their crowns). It was a special experience.
Allen and Amos did a great job on the instuments and we all sang songs with the kids. They all really loved this part of the VBS.
Tamara played the character "Princess Sophia" and taught the kids John 1:12. The kids really liked her character and some have called her Princess Sophia ever since.
Karen taught this day and did a great job. We started with a skit about the disciples stopping the children from coming to Jesus but Jesus rebuking them. I took 5 kids from the audience and when Jesus came past the disciples the kids gave Dave (Who was playing Jesus) a big hug. It was a memorable experience for him.
On Day 6 the theme of VBS was "Love." Josh shared his testimony with the kids this day and did a great job. Allen and Amos played the music again and we all sang with the actions.
Tamara taught on love. She did a great job of keeping the kids attention by getting them to do things like "touch your neighbors arm and tell them they are special." I think some of the kids still thought she was Princess Sophia as well. The lesson went very well.
Chad then came out and taught a memory verse on love with the character Scuba Steve. He came out with big flippers and mask and snorkel. The kids thought it was great.
After the memory verse we had everyone from our team go to a different part of the tent and told the kids we wanted to pray a blessing over their lives. I really enjoying laying my hands on over 50 kids myself and blessing their lives in Jesus' name. It was a very special experience and a highlight for many.
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