Concrete Faith

Christmas time is approaching and my mind has turned to gift giving. When I was a kid I expected Christmas presents. I knew from an early age that my dad and mom were the only Santa in our home. Mom would tell me to make a list of things I might like for Christmas and she would see what she could get. I wasn't shy about making that list either. When mom said to make a list, I made a list. I eagerly awaited Christmas morning to find out what I had gotten. One thing I never did as a child was consider how my parents were going to pay for the things they bought me. I just considered it there job because I was their child. It was only later that I realized some of the sacrifices they made to show me that they loved me.

 Now that we are grown, it is easy to forget that someone else once bought the gifts. We rightfully take our place in the adult world and try to be productive members of society. Lists of anticipated Christmas gifts turn into long lists of work and family responsibilities and bills to be paid. We do not expect anyone to ask us for a list of what we want. With such responsibilities on our shoulders it is easy to forget that we do have a Heavenly Father who cares for our needs. The Bible says that our Heavenly Father is better than earthly parents. If earthly parents know how to give good gifts to their children, how much more does our Heavenly Father give good gifts to his children? (Matthew 7:11).

 As I contemplated this topic  I had the following thought: my faith in God is not abstract. It is not just a good idea but a reality. My Heavenly Father loves me and wants to take care of me. Just as my parents would tell me to make a list, I can give God my lists of responsibilities. When the demands of life get overwhelming, I can give them to God and ask him to help. He will have ideas that I would never have thought of. He will come up with answers that I couldn't have foreseen. He cares about me and knows how to take care of my needs.

I believe he even cares about my wants. I recently told a relative this: if it concerns me, it concerns my God. I can pray about anything and God will not be offended. I believe He is happy that I trust him enough to give him my lists. My wife and I recently made such a list. We were talking about buying a house and the things we would  like to have in it. She suggested that we make a list and then give it to God so we did. In his timing, I expect God to give us the house we have asked for. We did not make an extravagant list but a practical one that will meet our needs and I believe God to honor it. It may seem silly to some, but I believe God will honor it. I have seen him honor such requests before. My faith in God is absolutely dependent upon his love for me and not my goodness. I am confident that I can go to him as a child to his father. I will not be shy in my request because I am a king's kid.

Sincerely,

Sullivan Jones

Meaning of Judgment

The favorite mantra of many today is "don't judge me." There are those who insist that a Christian has no right to judge and that any judgment of another is unchristlike. I was discussing this with one of my classmates and he brought out a good point. There is more than one meaning to the word judge. To judge can mean both "to pass sentence on" and "to discriminate or discern between."
If one is using the first meaning then it is certainly true that no human can decide the ultimate fate of another. Our understanding of the facts is limited. Ultimate heaven and hell judgment will be left up to God. Each of us will one day stand before the Creator and give account for the things he or she did while on earth. According to scripture, some will enter into eternal rest and some into eternal judgment on that day. As a Christian, I believe the criteria of who will enter into eternal rest (and who will not) is set out in the word of God. Those who have been born again, and lived a faithful Christian life, are promised the joys of heaven. The unregenerate do not have that promise. Only God will be able to decide on that day who is allowed into heaven and who will go to hell. Our understanding of the facts of each case it too limited to make such a judgment. God is not unfair, however, and the decision will be made based on the path to salvation he has laid out for us in his word.
The second meaning of judgment is to discriminate or discern. One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit is discernment (I Corinthians 12:8-10). Any manager knows that he or she will one day have to make a judgment call. One does not do this based on his own opinion but according to company policy. Every company has a manual somewhere that tells what is and is not allowed on the job. No one questions a manager's right to decide who is right in a dispute, even if they do not agree with her decision. A managers job often requires that he make a judgement. We make judgments on a regular basis while driving. Do I have time to merge or should I let that car pass? Should I beat this yellow light (not a good idea) or sit through a red light? These are judgment calls and a skilled driver will take them seriously. The same is true in one's relationship with God. Everyday I am called on to make a judgment. Is this music good for my spiritual life? How should I respond truthfully without being critical or sharing gossip? Is this preaching according to scripture or is this man stating his own opinions? All of these are judgments that a Christian can and must make to ensure her life is in line with the word of God.There is nothing wrong with making the statement that someone's lifestyle is contrary to the Word of God. Although these comments are not politically correct, they are necessary to practice Biblical and spiritual discernment. So is a Christian supposed to judge? The answer is absolutely YES! While I can not and would not wish to decide someone's eternal fate, I must constantly practice discernment while on this earth.

Sincerely,
Spanish Pastor Jones

The Song of Humpback Whales

Psalm 148: 7 - Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths.

The King James Bible says in Psalm 148:7 that the dragons praise God. Dragons? Aren’t those mythical creatures that breathe out fire and smoke? Is the Bible really saying that dragons existed at one time? While our God is certainly capable of creating such a creature, this is not the intended meaning. The NIV translates the Hebrew word into English as sea creatures. So the sea creatures praise God? That makes more sense, but is it verifiable? Do the creatures of the sea really praise God or is this just the whimsical writings on an ancient poet? Let’s consider the evidence.

Today we know that Humpback Whales do indeed sing beautiful, intricate songs that can last up to 30 minutes. Katy Payne, a marine biologist and musician, has spent years recording the sounds of Humpback Whales. Being a trained musician, Katy first used computer programs to chart the melodies and rhythms she was hearing in the recorded sounds of the whales. Over time she realized that it is only the males that sing, and that their songs are not random. The male whales will at times all sing the same note together. At other times the rhythm, pitch, and variation of a song will change while one male leads the singing. Katy has memorized some of the music and recorded her own voice singing the notes along with the whales. It is truly remarkable to hear.

I first stumbled across this information about the whales’ singing from a passing reference in a magazine article. I am currently taking a class on Biblical Apologetics, the branch of Christian Theology that attempts to show the historical and scientific reliability of the Bible, so I was intrigued. As I studied the information about Humpback Whales and their singing I was reminded again of the majesty of our God. The lyrics of an old song come to mind as I ponder this:

Walk with me in a forest where the wild beasts trod, and then tell me again there is no God.

Certainly there must be a God who created the earth and everything in it (Acts 17:24). God could have created a bland world with drab, gray colors and no music. But our God loves beauty so much that he gave the Humpback Whales one of the most beautiful songs on earth. Aren’t you glad to be serving a God like that!

Awed in Worship,

Sullivan Jones

References

http://www.npr.org/2015/08/06/427851306/it-took-a-musicians-ear-to-decode-the-complex-song-in-whale-calls