My Hope is in God

My Daily SOAP from today, from Psalm 121

Scripture

Psalm 121:1 A song of ascents, for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

“I look up to the mountains – does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!”

Observation

I imagine a pilgrim on his or her way to Jerusalem for a festival or sacrifice reciting this Psalm. Israel is a hilly country and Jerusalem is built on a mountain. You literally have to “go up” or ascend to get there. And a pilgrim could be thinking or hoping that Jerusalem, the safety of the mountains, or the leadership or government on the hill of Jerusalem would protect them from their enemies.

The Psalm itself calls out to the false or potentially misplaced hope and reminds the pilgrim: “My help comes from the Lord!”

God may (and does) use human institutions, governments, churches, and people to assist, but the help is ultimately from God and through his sovereignty.

These  pilgrims faced many dangers on their journey: the elements of nature, bandits, injury on rough terrain. The Psalm reminds us that God is watching over us, he doesn’t slumber sleep, he’s a protective shade over us and he’ll watch over us in the comings and goings in life, and in the dangers and risks and trials we face.

Application

The question is always “Will I trust God?”, “Will I put my hope in Him?” Or is my hope falsely in circumstances, men or government?

Prayer

Today God I tell you that my hope is in you, and and you alone!

Inspired Mentors

Over the years, the greatest gift to my life, other than the people God has put into my life (especially my wife and family, as well as my church, The Rock) has been books.  It’s been books that have brought the greatest contribution to my life.  They have inspired me, they’ve sharpened me, they’ve corrected me, they’ve taught me.  They’ve encouraged me and I wouldn’t be the man today I am without many of them.

Some day I hope to begin to write about some of the books that have been the most influential in my life and why. 

But whenever I look at my bookshelf and consider the wealth of knowledge they contain, I’m reminded that there’s been one book above all that I am seeking to pursue and understand and know. 

According to Google, there are 130 million books in the world.  So in all of those books, which one should I read and more importantly, which one should I trust and allow to shape my life?

As I was reading through the life of Joseph today in the Book of Genesis in the Bible, I was freshly reminded of how only the Bible speaks to every person uniquely, to every life circumstance and situation a person many find themselves in.  It can encourage, inspire, correct, shape, enlighten, and guide each person through each circumstance in life.

Joseph was treated unjustly, he was betrayed by his own family, he was sold into slavery, he was convicted for a crime he didn’t commit and sent to prison for 10+ years.  

People who have written the Bible have written it from every possible range of human emotion - from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows.  Jeremiah, saw his entire country obliterated, destroyed and carried into exile, and forced to watch unspeakable horror and anguish.  And yet there’s also the great hope for a perfect, eternal kingdom one day to come and swallow up all the evil, sin and injustice we see all around us.    We read about the reality of the Kingdom that will come, certain of it because of Jesus conquering sin and death through the cross and resurrection.  

It’s also full of flawed humans (just like me!) who make mistakes, learn from them (or not) and doesn’t sugar coat the reality of the world we live in - ideas have consequences, choices have consequences, and I would do well to heed the lesson from the lives of the men and women in the Bible, so I do not have to suffer the consequences that they faced.

The Bible inspires me as a father, husband, pastor, friend, and person.  It helps me to understand and sympathize with others with whom I am friends with and am ministering to.  It matures me and is the most inspirational piece of work every written.  

They provide the inspired mentors that God would have me influenced by in my life.

Children Can Praise God

Psalm 148:7a, 11-13

Praise the Lord from the earth…kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and maidens together, old men and children!

Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven.

How incredible it is that in the same breath, God charges both kings and children to praise God. God values their praises just as much as any king or judge or ruler. It is just as important for any child to praise God as it is for any person in authority. God listens to children just the same and he sees them as just as capable to praise God as their parent or any other adult.

Adults can tend to dismiss, overlook, or underestimate their little hearts but they have their own soul and through Christ can have their own personal relationship with God!

What a wonderful God we serve - so understanding, so tender, so compassionate, and so loving of each and every person. Praise God for his word which gives us insight and instruction and guides us in truth.

A desire to know God

The greatest desire to cultivate in life is a desire to know God:

Psalm 84:10

A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else!

Psalm 63:1-5

O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy.

1 Samuel 16:7b

People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

Acts 13:22

I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart.

Psalm 27:8

My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”

Psalm 119:20

I am always overwhelmed with a desire for your regulations

Jeremiah 30:21 (NIV)

For who is he who will devote himself to be close to me?

Isaiah 26:8 (NIV)

Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.

1 Chronicles 28:9

And Solomon, my son, learn to know (get to know) the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind.

Deuteronomy 6:5

And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.

Who's really on trial?

John 19:10

Pilate: "Don't you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?"
Jesus: "You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above."

Despite his trial, flogging, and crucifixion, it was Jesus and not Pilate or the Jewish religious leaders who was in control.  The high priest was filled with anger and jealousy.  Pilate was insecure and wavered on what to do because he didn't think Jesus should die but he also wanted to appease the people.  But Jesus stayed composed because he knew his mission, and knew his Father had a plan for the persecution he was facing.

Jesus was on trial before Pilate, but he knew a secret:  Pilate and the Jewish leaders were on trial before God.

Inventor of the Dollar Store

The gentlemen who invented the concept of the dollar store just passed away.  His genius led to the ubiquitous dollar stores we now see, as well as the dollar spot at Target.  Interestingly enough, he died a billionaire.  It reminds me of this quote from Thomas Edison:

"Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration."

Really, is there anything that creative or spectacular about the idea of a dollar store?  And yet, no one had come up with the idea before Dave Gold.  I am certain that the reason for its success is not any sort of genius, however, but through much perspiration


Proverbs 21:5 says it this way:

"Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts leads to poverty."

The Wise Listen

Exodus 37:1 Next Bezalel made the Ark of acacia wood

Bezalel not only made the Ark, but all the other utensils, curtains, furnishings, and coverings that were used to make the Tabernacle.  He was especially gifted by God to craft all these things (Ex 36:1) as well as to teach his skill to others (Ex 35:34).  In fact ten chapters of Exodus (25% of the book!) is devoted to the plans for the Tabernacle and the craftsmanship that Bezalel and others faithfully carried out.

The common quality of wise people is that they listen to others.  Why did God take the pains to ask Moses to write down ten chapters devoted to the plans and construction of the Tabernacle?  After all, so much of these ten chapters merely repeats itself.  Because it underscores that fact that Bezalel listened carefully to God and faithfully carried out his commands.  He stands in stark contrast to the rest of the Israelites (see story of Golden Calf, Ex. 32).  Though it took him approximately one year (Ex. 40:1), much of it probably mundane, Bezalel completed the task God gave him.

What tasks does God have in mind for me to complete?  Am I carrying them out with diligence, faithfulness, devotion, and joy?  Am I setting an example for others with my attitude, focus, perspective, and diligence?  Am I allowing others to learn and participate in my work, like Bezalel did? (Ex. 36:2, 35:34, 35:21)

The common quality of wise people is that they listen.  Am I listening to God and obeying?

String Theory

Isaiah 55:12

The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands.

In science class you learned that atoms are the building blocks of all matter and their nuclei are made up of protons and neutrons.  What you may or may not have learned is that protons and neutrons are made up of even smaller particles called quarks.  Recent scientific research by physicists have led to a theory that quarks (and other related elementary particles) are in fact tiny, vibrating loops of string.

Brian Greene in "The Elegant Universe" writes:

The universe - being composed of an enormous number of these vibrating strings - is akin to a cosmic symphony

With each scientific discovery more and more passages like the one above prove to be beyond just poetical, but in fact scientifically accurate.  The mountains literally are singing!  The trees are clapping! (Albeit on a subatomic level)

Epiphany of Early Disciples

John 14:16-17

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate (Counselor, Comforter, Encourager), who will never leave you.  He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth... 

You know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you... 

I am leaving you with a gift of peace of mind and heart.

Imagine the range of emotions the disciples must have felt around the first Easter.  Confusion and fear when Jesus talked of his death and betrayal.  Grief and sadness following his trial and crucifixion.  Then tremendous joy and surprise when they discovered he'd been resurrected.

And then of course Christ ascended and the disciples waited in the upper room for days praying for something they didn't quite understand - this counselor, the Holy Spirit that Christ spoke of.

And then finally on the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit descended on each one of them and I imagine that it suddenly would have all made sense - "Oh...THIS is what Jesus meant!  He intended to leave this world so that he could come and live inside EACH ONE OF US!"

What a joy, a privilege to have God himself living inside of each one of us everyday to guide us and lead us in all truth.

Jesus in the OT

Something I've always heard, but am only beginning to appreciate is how Jesus Christ and his life, death, and resurrection are all over the Old Testament. This is what I read today:

Judges 20:29 They went out on the third day and assembled at the same place as before...Then the men of Benjamin saw that they were beaten.

The background is that the tribe of Benjamin rebelled against the rest of Israel and Israel came to punish them. The first day was a day of great death and defeat for Israel. So was the second day. But on the third day came victory and justice. Sound familiar!?

Christ died and stayed dead for 2 days. It seemed like defeat. But on the third day he rose, and that's when victory was accomplished.

Tornado

Okay, I hope this graphic shows up alright. This is a graphic detailing the pathway of the tornado that went through Iowa City last week. If you look closely where the tornado veers due east and then back northeast, you will see a red dot.

That is where my brother and sister-in-law's house is located. The tornado was heading directly towards their house and then ACROSS THE STREET decide to head due east, thus avoiding their house.

Thankfully they weren't home at the time, and thankfully their house was spared. I really like what Dana wrote "God spared us. He didn't have to but He did. I am so thankful." (Her graphic might show up better). It reminded me of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo who told Nebuccadnezer "Our God will save us, but even if he doesn't, we still won't bow down to you!" It's a faith that's not dependant on circumstances to be thankful to God.

We visited them last weekend to celebrate Easter and Josh's 30th birthday and took a tour through tornado alley. Wow. It looked very similar to destruction we saw in Louisiana (albeit on a micro-scale in terms of area of land affected). Seeing twigs and boards imbeded into pre-stressed concrete walls made me convinced that the stories of tornadoes pushing hay through tree trunks are actually true.

UPDATE: Click on the graphic to see a more clear picture

answered prayer

Since I began campus ministry, I've known many of the Hmong students at the U of M. Their office is just a few doors down from the Rock Students office. Frankly, I love them! They have the largest, proudest, most active, and supportive student group I've seen. Since that time I've prayed for them, and that God might reach the Hmong community with the Gospel.

This afternoon, I had a student stop by the Rock Students office on the way to the HMSA (Hmong Minnesota Student Association) office and tell me proudly "I started going to church and I'm getting baptized this week!" How exciting to hear!

I didn't have a huge influence in this student's life in terms of sharing the Gospel with her or anything like that. But I was praying for her people, and I was a witness for Christ.

And God began answering that prayer of mine.

Quickert Rd.

Most people don't know this about my dad, but he grew up on Quickert Rd, which is up on the mountains above Saratoga, CA. At the time, Mr. and Mrs. Marvin and Geneva Quickert were the only ones living on this private road.

Thanks to google images, I've also learned that you too can live on Quickert Rd at the tune of almost $4 million in a 6 bedroom, 5000+ square foot mansion. In addition, the Stanford cycling has used Quickert Rd and the surrounding area for training. They offered this picture and review:

"Brutal, oppressive, brutal, painful, savage, arduous, killer, murderous, blood-and-guts, formidable, backbreaking, grinding, fatiguing, unsparing, harsh, merciless, intense, exhausting, austere and even slavish!"

Heaven from a kid's perspective

http://www.startribune.com/462/story/335148.html

Surprise

Last week Maren told me she had a surprise for me on Sunday. So on Sunday she blindfolded me and where did we go? The World Short Track Speed Skating 2006 Championships of course, at our very own Mariucci Arena.

One of my dreams that will never happen is to go watch the Olympics. Maren figured this was about as close as we'd get.

The South Koreans pretty much dominated. Typically they'd be towards the end of the pack for most of the race and then just dominate the last two laps and beat everybody. They also had a loud and proud cheering section which you can see to the left of the "M." Complete with drums, flags, and signs. Maren and I found it surreal that we were actually at the 2006 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships. Partly 'cause why would they choose Mariucci Arena? Partly 'cause as you can tell hardly no one was there to watch. That was fine with us, though, because we got great seats!

So apparently when there's a big nick in the ice, snow and water won't quite do. They have to bring in more specialized equipment - like a fire extinguisher. What's funny is college-age skating minions usually do all the work on the upkeep of the ice, replacing lane lines, etc. I swear they end up skating more at the end of the day then the competitors! The only time the judges get involved is to inspect the minions' work...and to use the fire extinguisher. I think they secretly enjoy using it.

Cleaning up a mess

We leave on Saturday to clean up this mess. There will be over 200 people staying and working through just the church that we'll be at. Pray for our attitude! Put 200 sinners under the same roof and I can guarantee selfishness will real its ugly head. Put 200 saints under the same roof serving God, and it will be a fantastic 5 days.

thought of the day

There are many second chances in life,
But no second chances at life.

(un?)interesting facts about me

Four Jobs I’ve Had in My Life:
*Hamstuffer and Knock-out personnel (I basically worked with raw meat at Oscar Mayer)
*Biology Lab T.A.
*Plastech line tech (I worked 3 weekends for them one summer to earn extra cash)
*Biology lab tech

Four Movies I Could Watch Over and Over:
*The Life of Birds
*Glory
*U-571
*Band of Brothers

Four Places I Have Lived:
*DeForest, WI
*San Salvador airport (well, for 27 hours anyhow)
*Placentia, CA (NOT placenta) - it's near Anaheim and Disneyland
*various apartments around the U of M

Four TV Shows I Love To Watch:
*Seinfeld
*Simpson's - oddly I've never really watched many episodes, but I've loved everyone
*Winter or Summer Olympics - I'll watch any and every sport they show from skiing to rowing to figure skating
*World Series

Four Places I Have Been On Vacation:
*Disneyland (I've been at least 10 times - it helps that we used to live 1 mile away)
*Badlands and Yellowstone and Nampa, ID (car trip to a family reunion)
*Quepos and La Fortuna, Costa Rica (volcanos and rainforests and beaches)
*Fort Myers Beach, FL (for our 1 year anniversary)

Four Websites I Visit Daily:
*blogs (unless I take a fast due to too much distraction from work
*yahoo (I get calvin and hobbes delivered to my e-mail each day!)
*startribune.com
*wells fargo (a couple time a week)

Four Favorite Foods:
*chocolate chip cookies (I'm a snob, my favorite is the ones I make)
*ice cream, especially homemade! (same as Maren)
*really good bread (crusty exterior, chewy interior; same as Maren)
*Nestle Chocolate Quik

Four Places I Would Like to Visit:
*Niagra Falls (same as Maren)
*Africa safari
*Cooperstown, NY (baseball Hall of Fame)
*Great Wall of China

Four People I Am "Tagging":
I don't feel like tagging anyone.