Musing - "God is in Control", or is He?

Hebraic Musing - "God is in Control", or is He?

All too often we hear people say with a shrug of the shoulders "God is in Control".  Johanna Hocker described their attitude this way – “If God is in control, I am free to do whatever, because what God wants to happen will happen.  I'm off the hook, so to speak. I can be as irresponsible as I chose, because I have no voice in the matter.”  But is that what Scripture says? 

In the creation account God said “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” Genesis 1:26 NIV   And to reinforce that responsibility, He gave mankind an assignment – “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.  Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Genesis 1:28   Some versions say “have dominion”. 

It sounds to me like God gave us control and put us in charge.  What else does Scripture say about our span of control, responsibilities and choices?

In Genesis 4 God holds Cain responsible for the death of Abel.  Man is his own “brother’s keeper”.

Joshua’s oft quoted challenge to the Israelites puts their future squarely on their own shoulders.  “…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the beyond the river, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15   The choice is theirs, not God’s.

We are the ones to make choices.  “Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?  He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.” Ps. 25:12   Note – God said He would instruct them, but the man has to choose.

God knew people would call on Him for answers, but He made it clear – the choice is theirs.  “Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me.  Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord.  Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.”  Proverbs 1:28-31  They will eat the consequential fruit of their choice(s).

The LORD wants to bless His people.  This is clear when He tells us what He wants us to do. “Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed.  Blessed is the man who does this— the man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps his hands from doing any evil.” Isaiah 56:1-2    The LORD clearly wants us to do right and make the right choices.

J. Martin Kohe, a psychologist, authored a book I read in the 60’s – “YOUR GREATEST POWER” which concludes that our greatest power is our power to choose; from a psychologist’s viewpoint! A must read!

SUMMARY – We are responsible for our own life and our choices each day.  We will reap what we sow.

 Points to ponder

What is Your Greatest Power?

There is something God won’t do since it would be counter to His character…
He will not take away our freedom of choice.

God wins the war.  We choose our own fate, and the consequence(s) to others around us.

Let’s rethink Flip Wilson’s famous line – “The Devil made me do it.”

“Choose for yourselves whom you will serve, but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                  April 24, 2018

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Note – Inspired by Johanna Hocker’s blog "God is in Control", I don't think so - March 27, 2018

Musing - Don’t Follow the Herd!

Hebraic Musing - Don’t Follow the Herd!

A quick research of “herds and herding” reveals many descriptions and even more reasons.  In summary, animals (& mammals) look for friends who share needs together; and they become bound to the group for protection and direction.

Rabbi Eckstein posted – “Several years ago, Christian blogger Veronica Partridge caused quite a stir. She wrote a controversial post that had been shared more than 100,000 times ….  What was the contentious topic …?  She wrote a piece about why she chose to give up wearing tight-fitting pants.  Partridge described how the conviction weighed heavily on her heart for a long time before she made her decision. After a conversation with some friends and corroboration from her husband that such tight-fitting pants were a stumbling block for most men, Partridge decided to forgo such clothing. She believed that dressing more discreetly was a way to honor her husband and God.”

Whether we agree with her conviction is not the issue.  She took a stand for what she believed God wanted; but because of her stand she was hit with considerable negative public feedback.  Her position was viewed as opposed to widely accepted values of today’s society.  If we are truly God-centered people, will we base our behaviors on what God deems acceptable and not upon the whims of fluctuating societal norms?

Early in the book of Leviticus we hear God tell us “If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, you are to offer a male without defect.” Leviticus 1:3 NIV   I’ve learned that every word in the Bible is there for a reason, so why does the sin offering come from a “herd” animal?

Jewish sages note that these animals are known for their herd instincts.  They follow the crowd because everyone else is doing so.  Do we need to learn to sacrifice our tendency to follow others, the flock, the herd, etc.?  Should we listen to and follow God instead?  Can we learn to overcome our instinctive desire to conform?  Can we stand up and speak the truth even if we are standing alone.

I can’t help but recall “When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.” Luke 8:33    BTW - The herd did not fare too well!

Now if any one of those pigs had decided to not run with the herd but decided to go in the opposite direction, that pig would be thought of as crazy.  When we take a stand for what we know to be right, we might look crazy to the world around us who have simply chosen to follow the crowd. 

Who is in the “hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11?  Abraham, Moses, “Judges”, etc. and what do they all have in common?  They were deemed great and are recognized because they were brave enough to stand alone.

 Points to ponder

How can we learn to overcome a mind-less desire to conform?

Are we more concerned with how we look in the eyes of people,
or in the eyes of God?

When we stand apart for what is right, are really alone?

What will people think?   Or maybe they will think!

♫   Stand up, stand up for Jesus, Ye soldiers of the cross… ♫ 

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      April 17, 2018

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Note – Inspired by Rabbi Eckstein’s “Don’t Follow the Herd” – IFCJ  March 13, 2018

Musing – How to Sell a Large Intangible, like the Gospel?

Hebraic Musing – How to Sell a Large Intangible, like the Gospel?

What is an “intangible”?  By definition – adjective: unable to be touched or grasped; not having physical presence.  When preaching the Gospel to unbelievers (those who do not understand) are we trying to sell an intangible?  The wonderful product we call “The Gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ” has to be classified as an intangible – one of the more challenging products to sell.

I see a striking similarity here to the technique we used when selling high dollar consulting projects.  Our approach followed a pattern from Spin Selling by Neil Rackham 1988.  “SPIN” was the acronym for Situation, Problem, Implication, Need.  The stepwise approach can be summarized by posing and processing four questions in series –  (S) What is the Situation?; (P) What is the Problem or what’s wrong?; (I) What are the Implications or costs of that problem?; (N) What do we Need to do to fix it; what’s the reward for fixing it?

Interesting – If the sales process went according to plan, by the time we got to Need, we did not have to ask a classic “closing question”; because the client would ask us “How soon can you start?”  

Does this approach apply to preaching the Gospel and the need for salvation?  How could we unfurl these questions into a Salvation message?   Italicized answers are mine, but you can and should use answers appropriate to your audience.

(S) What is the Situation?   All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  We have a sin nature.  What happened in the Garden of Eden?

(P) What is the Problem?  Or what’s wrong?   God is perfectly righteous and cannot tolerate sin.  We have offended God by our actions.  Have you ever sinned?   We do have eternal life, but where?  Is that good news or bad news? 

(I) What are the Implications or costs of that problem?   Sinners are not allowed in heaven to live with a perfectly righteous God.  The cost or implication is we are doomed to eternal damnation (Unless we accept “Christ Crucified” for our sins).  Why did God allow His son, Jesus, to be crucified?

(N) What do we Need (Reward) or how can we fix this problem?  Acknowledge Jesus as your Savior and make Him Lord of our life.    What are the payoffs or rewards if we resolve the problem?  ♫The joy of the Lord is my strength… He gives me living water And I thirst no more…♫

After completing the SPIN cycle with the unbeliever, we might find them answering the “Need” question themselves!  Remember what the Jailer said after listening to Paul and Silas overnight in jail?  “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”   And Paul closed the sale easily but saying “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved —you and your household.” Acts 16:30-31 NIV

 Points to ponder

What words would you use to help an unbeliever go through the SPIN cycle?

Was the SPIN process intended by Jesus when He told us to
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”  Mark 16:15

♫   I NEED Thee, oh, I NEED Thee;   Every hour I NEED Thee;…  ♫ 

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                            April 10, 2018

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Musing – My Testimony

Hebraic Musing – My Testimony    JIC you haven’t heard it.   

Some 70+ years ago I grew up in Cicero, Illinois, as the oldest of eight children.  We were poor but didn’t know it.  After college, my career started as a CPA.  My wife and I raised six children which has now multiplied to a family of 35 and still growing.  BUT, during the first 37 years of my life I had a limited understanding of God and never tried to figure out God’s purpose for my life despite these three questions and answers I had never forgotten from my first grade catechism class:

Q. – Who made me?                          A. – God made me.
Q. – Who is God?                              A. – God is the Supreme Being who created all things.
Q. – Why did God make me?           A. – God created me to worship and praise Him forever.

During those years my selfish ways, my anger, my habits, my unclean thoughts plagued me; and in desperation I agreed to go on a Marriage Encounter weekend designed to enrich our marriage, which desperately needed enrichment.  After that I became a curious seeker of the God I had known as a child. 

I enjoyed the fellowship in our monthly meetings with couples like Bill and Mary, who I especially admired and respected.  They had something I wanted!  And they frequently referred to their “Cursillo” weekend experience.  I so desperately wanted to experience that event that I bypassed the invitation process and had Bill sponsor me even though they were to be on vacation that week-end.

Friends of Bill & Mary gave me an 80 mile ride on a Thursday evening for my three day retreat.  As I got out of the car I asked, “Aren’t you coming in?”  They answered, “No, we were just giving you a ride” and they drove off.  That act of sacrificial love was just the beginning of a week-end of loving experiences.

On the second day Father Tony Tascheta spoke and his presentation and style had me spell-bound.  I kept thinking he missed his calling; he should have been a VP of Sales!  When we started discussing his topic I was in a daze, so the table leader suggested we go to the “Palanca” Chapel.  “Palanca” is Spanish for lever – the power of prayer.  As we walked into the Chapel, I saw Father Tony Tascheta on his knees praying and thanking Jesus for all the words Jesus had given to him for “the men out there.”   Here was the man whose skill I so admired, down on his knees thanking Jesus for those skills! 

My knees gave out and I found myself on my knees, crying crocodile tears and saying almost out loud “Jesus Christ, you are real.  I need to learn more about you.”  At that moment I knew I would never be the same.  The peace in my inner being was unimaginable; my world was now in technicolor.  I no longer had the feelings of desperation resulting from knowing I was a sinner and, most of all, that I had been trying to hide my sins from God, my Creator.

At the closing ceremony of the week-end we entered a big hall and there I saw Bill and Mary; they cut their vacation short just to be there for me.  I fell apart!  As part of the closing ceremony we were asked to tell what the week-end meant to each of us.  Eventually I went to the podium, froze, fell apart and finally blurted out “I talked to Jesus!”  That’s all I could say; it wasn’t much of a speech but it meant volumes.  I was never so choked up in my life.

Very late Sunday night after Bill and Mary gave me a ride home, I immediately woke my wife and said, “Peggy, guess what happened to me this week-end?”   She said, “What?”   I told her, “I talked to Jesus.”  
She said, “Do you mean you are born again?”   To that I answered “I don’t know what you call it.  All I know is that I talked to Jesus.  And I want you and all our kids to experience what I experienced.”  
She replied, “Too late Joe; we already have.  We’ve all been praying for you.”  …She could have added “…for the last 10 years!”

Points to ponder

That was in August 1977 when I was 39 years old. 
So I know how blind a man, a husband and a sinner can be. 
So blind that I didn’t even understand why Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3
“Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

Who is praying for you to know Jesus as your Lord?
Don’t underestimate the power of prayer.

Would your testimony encourage someone to seek Jesus as their Lord?
Please share your testimony with me, please!

♫   I love to tell the story Of unseen things above; Of Jesus and his glory, Of Jesus and his love…  ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                           April 3, 2018

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Where are you in your Spiritual walk?   Do you want the peace of knowing your sins are forgiven, your past is forgotten and your future will be a walk with Jesus for the rest of your life here on earth and forever in heaven?  You can use the power of prayer to talk to your Creator and His Son, Jesus Christ.   How to pray?

1. Admit to Him truthfully, “I am a sinner and I need your forgiveness.”
(That is why Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood as a sacrifice for your sins.)

2. Tell Him “Jesus, I want to make you the Lord of my life.  
(That means giving your life to Him, making Him your Lord, Master, King of your life.)

3. Go tell other Christians about your decision so they can celebrate with you.  
(They will help you understand your decision so you can truly “Know Him.”)