WHEN GOD IS SILENT

He answered her not a word (Matthew 15:23).

He will be silent in his love (Zephaniah 3:17).

It may be a child of God is reading these words who has had some great crushing sorrow, some bitter disappointment, some heart-breaking blow from a totally unexpected quarter. You are longing for your Master's voice bidding you "Be of good cheer," but only silence and a sense of mystery and misery meet you --"He answered her not a word."

God's tender heart must often ache listening to all the sad, complaining cries which arise from our weak, impatient hearts, because we do not see that for our own sakes He answers not at all or otherwise than seems best to our tear-blinded, short-sighted eyes. The silences of Jesus are as eloquent as His speech and may be a sign, not of His disapproval, but of His approval and of a deep purpose of blessing for you.

"Why art thou cast down, O... soul?" Thou shalt yet praise Him, yes, even for His silence. Listen to an old and beautiful story of how one Christian dreamed that she saw three others at prayer. As they knelt the Master drew near to them.

As He approached the first of the three, He bent over her in tenderness and grace, with smiles full of radiant love and spoke to her in accents of purest, sweetest music. Leaving her, He came to the next, but only placed His hand upon her bowed bead, and gave her one look of loving approval. The third woman He passed almost abruptly without stopping for a word or glance.

The woman in her dream said to herself, "How greatly He must love the first one, to the second He gave His approval, but none of the special demonstrations of love He gave the first; and the third must have grieved Him deeply, for He gave her no word at all and not even a passing look.
"I wonder what she has done, and why He made so much difference between them?" As she tried to account for the action of her Lord, He Himself stood by her and said: "O woman! how wrongly hast thou interpreted Me. The first kneeling woman needs all the weight of My tenderness and care to keep her feet in My narrow way. She needs My love, thought and help every moment of the day. Without it she would fail and fall.

"The second has stronger faith and deeper love, and I can trust her to trust Me however things may go and whatever people do. The third, whom I seemed not to notice, and even to neglect, has faith and love of the finest quality, and her I am training by quick and drastic processes for the highest and holiest service.

"She knows Me so intimately, and trusts Me so utterly, that she is independent of words or looks or any outward intimation of My approval. She is not dismayed nor discouraged by any circumstances through which I arrange that she shall pass; she trusts Me when sense and reason and every finer instinct of the natural heart would rebel;--because she knows that I am working in her for eternity, and that what I do, though she knows not the explanation now, she will understand hereafter.
"I am silent in My love because I love beyond the power of words to express, or of human hearts to understand, and also for your sakes that you may learn to love and trust Me in Spirit-taught, spontaneous response to My love, without the spur of anything outward to call it forth."
He "will do marvels" if you will learn the mystery of His silence, and praise Him, for every time He withdraws His gifts that you may better know and love the Giver.
--Selected

~ L B COWMAN ~

DONE FOR US

I pray Thee...

 MY PRAYER

Pic:~GOSh.~

And shall I pray Thee change Thy will my Father,
Until it be according unto mine?
But no, Lord, no, that shall never be, rather
I pray Thee blend my human will with Thine.

I pray Thee hush the hurrying eager longing
I pray Thee soothe the pangs of keen desire.
See in my quiet places wishes thronging,
Forbid them, Lord, purge, though it be with fire.

And work in me to will and do Thy pleasure.
Let all within me, peaceful, reconciled,
Tarry content my Wellbeloved's leisure,
At last, at last, even as a weaned child.

~ Amy Carmichael ~

Alleluia He Has Loved Us - Tom McConnell

TITANIC HERO

This video tells the incredible true story of John Harper

 one of many who were lost in the Titanic sinking in 1912...

PULPIT PROMISE

DEATH OF TOMMY CORBETT

ON THE GOSPEL ROAD

 Heard the sad news yesterday of Tommy Corbett's passing, after a short illness. Back in the day when a few of us used to share the Gospel with Sunday night revellers outside of 'Gaywear' , Tommy was the music man who kept our spirits high with a selection of soul-stirring songs. Often we'd be there until the early hours and then back to Tommy's place for a warming cuppa and a prayer. Tommy was a gentle , strong presence passionate about the Gospel and determined to share it with one and all.Our paths diverged then for many years and the next time I met him he was busking on O'Connel Stree outside the AIB bank. Anytime I'd meet Tommy he'd literally change his tune to some Gospel favourite (usually Johnny Cash) and I'd join in. I don't think my participation added to to the coffers as far as the busking was concerned but for me it was always a joy and a privilege to share a song with my old friend.
~GOSh.~

FOR TOMMY

The last time we met
You were busking by the bank,
And I stopped
Expecting, as usual to join in
For the Johnny Cash medley,
But for once you were painfully silent,
A man distracted .
Later when I heard the diagnosis
I understood your 'quiet' better
And knew that we would never again
Duet the Gospel Road
At least not here.

You didnt hang about
Once the deal was done
And hope had been bleached
From the here and now,
And though the music died
That within could not ,
Being paid for with a price,
The Redemtive tag of One
Bleeding on a cross,
Settling that old account
Once and for all.
 
~ GERARD O'SHEA~

COMING NOT SO SOON

THE BIBLE IS NOT...

 

 Rich Mullins

NOT FOR

 PIOUS CHURCH MICE

“The Bible is not a book for the faint of heart --
 it is a book full of all the greed and glory and violence
 and tenderness and sex and betrayal that benefits mankind.
 It is not the collection of pretty little anecdotes 
mouthed by pious little church mice -- 
it does not so much nibble at our shoe leather
 as it cuts to the heart and splits the marrow from the bone.
 It does not give us answers fitted to our small-minded questions,
 but truth that goes beyond what we even know to ask.”

Rich Mullins

IMMEASURABLY MORE-THE REND COLLECTIVE

DIVINE REMINDER

SIGN OF THE NAZARENE

SOLIDARITY

This symbol has gone from a mark of destruction for Christians living in Mosul in southern Iraq to a badge of solidarity by Christians elsewhere highlighting the persecution and killings by the Islamic State Army.

The sign is in fact the 14 th. Letter of the Arabic alphabet equivalent to our letter N, the first letter of NASARA or Nazarene the term by which Christians are called by Muslims. The IS Army scrawled this letter on dwellings occupied by Christians and then threatened the inhabitants to convert to Islam or be killed! 

 

The term intended as a mark of shame by IS but has been taken up by Believers all around the world who are standing up in solidarity with their persecuted brothers and sisters.

Gerard O'Shea

BONO'S ODE FOR BILLY

'VOICE OF THE PREACHER'

Billy Graham has had many  high-profile friends over the years, and among them is U2 frontman and international rockstar Bono.

Bono is open about his Christian faith, frequently speaking on the importance of God in his life and incorporating spiritually-theme lyrics into his songs. And based on a poem  the soinger wrote to Billy Grahamback in 2002, it seems the American evangelical leader has played a important role in Bono's life

The hand-written poem, which is on display at the Billy Graham Library in North Carolina, refers to "the voice of a preacher/loudly soft on my tears" which was the "lyric voice that gave my life/A Rhyme/a meaning that wasn’t there before."

Bono composed the poem in 2002 after visiting Billy and Ruth Graham at their home in western North Carolina. Several years later he  teamed up with pop singer Pat Boone and other musicians to record "Thank You Billy Graham" as a tribute to the preacher.

I give thanks just for the sanity of Billy Graham," Bono says in the tribute's intro. "That clear, empathetic voice of his, in that southern accent, part poet, part preacher. A singer of the human spirit, I'd say." 

 

 

Sojourners writer Cathleen Falsani   spooke with Bono in 2015 on his friendship with Billy Graham and the surprise phone call the musician received in 2002 from the preacher's office. Graham, as it turned out, wished to give Bono and his teammates a blessing.

“I told [my bandmates], I said, ‘This is a big deal. This is BILLY GRAHAM!’ And they all said, ‘That’s great. But we’re in the middle of a tour.’ So I rented a plane and flew there right away in case he might forget. I was picked up by his son, Franklin, and driven a couple of hours up to their house. I met briefly with himself and his wife, Ruth. I think I’ve mentioned to you before that the blessings of an older man mean a great deal to me. Particularly this man. I gave him a book of Seamus Heaney poetry, and I wrote a poem for him in it."

Transcript of Bono’s poem to the Grahams:

The journey from Father to friend
  is all paternal loves end
  It was sung in my teenage ears
  In the voice of a preacher
  loudly soft on my tears
  I would never forget this
Melody line
  Or its lyric voice that gave my life
  A Rhyme
a meaning that wasn’t there before
  a child born in dung and straw
  wish the Father’s love and desire to explain
how we might get on with each other again…

To the Rev Billy Graham (that preacher) Ruth and all the Graham family From Bono (March 11 2002) With much love and respect.

PROFOUNDLY SIMPLE

 THEOLOGY FOR DUMMIES

During his lecture tour of the United States in the 60s,
 Karl Barth was asked for what he considered was the most
 profound theological idea he had ever come across.
Barth said,
 "Jesus loves me,
 this I know,
 for the Bible told me so."

END TIMES

Billy Graham's daughter,

 Ann Graham Lotz

 on the End Times

FEASTS OF FAITH

SPURGEON'S THEOLOGY

As succinct and powerful a

 theological summary 

as you could hope for !

AT THE GATE OF THE YEAR

 THE HAND OF GOD

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: 
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
 That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night.
 And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.

 Minnie Louise Haskins

AT THE END OF THE DAY

BLESSED OR BURDENED ?

 

THE ONE THING

 CHRISTIANS

 SHOULD NOT SAY

I was on the phone with a good friend the other day. After covering important topics, like disparaging each other's mothers and retelling semi-factual tales from our college days, our conversation turned to the mundane.
"So, how's work going?" he asked.
For those of you who don't know, I make money by teaching leadership skills and helping people learn to get along in corporate America. My wife says it's all a clever disguise so I can get up in front of large groups and tell stories.
I plead the fifth.
I answered my buddy's question with,
"Definitely feeling blessed. Last year was the best year yet for my business. And it looks like this year will be just as busy."
The words rolled off my tongue without a second thought. Like reciting the Pledge of Allegiance or placing my usual lunch order at McDonald's.
But it was a lie.
Now, before you start taking up a collection for the "Feed the Dannemillers" fund, allow me to explain. You may have the impression that our family is subsisting on Ramen noodles and free chips and salsa at the local Mexican restaurant. Not to worry, we are not in dire straits.
Last year was the best year yet for my business.
Things are looking busy in 2014.
But that is not a blessing.

I've noticed a trend among Christians, myself included, and it troubles me. Our rote response to material windfalls is to call ourselves blessed. Like the "amen" at the end of a prayer.
"This new car is such a blessing."
"Finally closed on the house. Feeling blessed."
"Just got back from a mission trip. Realizing how blessed we are here in this country."
On the surface, the phrase seems harmless. Faithful even. Why wouldn't I want to give God the glory for everything I have? Isn't that the right thing to do?
No.

WISH-GRANTING FAIRY
As I reflected on my "feeling blessed" comment, two thoughts came to mind. I realize I'm splitting hairs here, creating an argument over semantics. But bear with me, because I believe it is critically important. It's one of those things we can't see because it's so culturally engrained that it has become normal.
But it has to stop. And here's why.
First, when I say that my material fortune is the result of God's blessing, it reduces The Almighty to some sort of sky-bound, wish-granting fairy who spends his days randomly bestowing cars and cash upon his followers. I can't help but draw parallels to how I handed out M&M's to my own kids when they followed my directions and chose to poop in the toilet rather than in their pants. Sure, God wants us to continually seek His will, and it's for our own good. But positive reinforcement?

PLAIN WRONG
Second, and more importantly, calling myself blessed because of material good fortune is just plain wrong. For starters, it can be offensive to the hundreds of millions of Christians in the world who live on less than $10 per day. You read that right. Hundreds of millions who receive a single-digit dollar "blessing" per day.
During our year in Guatemala, Gabby and I witnessed first-hand the damage done by the theology of prosperity, where faithful people scraping by to feed their families were simply told they must not be faithful enough. If they were, God would pull them out of their nightmare. Just try harder, and God will show favor.
The problem? Nowhere in scripture are we promised worldly ease in return for our pledge of faith. In fact, the most devout saints from the Bible usually died penniless, receiving a one-way ticket to prison or death by torture.
I'll take door number three, please.

WHAT JESUS SAID
If we're looking for the definition of blessing, Jesus spells it out clearly (Matthew 5: 1-12).

1 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him,
2 And He began to teach them, saying:
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

I have a sneaking suspicion verses 12a 12b and 12c were omitted from the text. That's where the disciples responded by saying:
12a Waitest thou for one second, Lord. What about "blessed art thou comfortable," or 12b "blessed art thou which havest good jobs, a modest house in the suburbs, and a yearly vacation to the Florida Gulf Coast?"
12c And Jesus said unto them, "Apologies, my brothers, but those did not maketh the cut."

BURDENED
So there it is. Written in red. Plain as day. Even still, we ignore it all when we hijack the word "blessed" to make it fit neatly into our modern American ideals, creating a cosmic lottery where every sincere prayer buys us another scratch-off ticket. In the process, we stand the risk of alienating those we are hoping to bring to the faith.
And we have to stop playing that game.
The truth is, I have no idea why I was born where I was or why I have the opportunity I have. It's beyond comprehension. But I certainly don't believe God has chosen me above others because of the veracity of my prayers or the depth of my faith. Still, if I take advantage of the opportunities set before me, a comfortable life may come my way. It's not guaranteed. But if it does happen, I don't believe Jesus will call me blessed.
He will call me "burdened."

He will ask,
"What will you do with it?"
"Will you use it for yourself?"
"Will you use it to help?"
"Will you hold it close for comfort?"
"Will you share it?"
So many hard choices. So few easy answers.
So my prayer today is that I understand my true blessing. It's not my house. Or my job. Or my standard of living.
No.
My blessing is this. I know a God who gives hope to the hopeless. I know a God who loves the unlovable. I know a God who comforts the sorrowful. And I know a God who has planted this same power within me. Within all of us.
And for this blessing, may our response always be,
"Use me."
Since I had this conversation, my new response is simply, "I'm grateful." Would love to hear your thoughts.
__________
Scott Dannemiller is a writer, blogger, worship leader and former missionary with the Presbyterian Church. He writes the blog The Accidental Missionary, where this post first appeared.