I pulled out an old message and preached it to myself this morning. I am in between churches and waiting on the Lord, and I really needed this word today. I pray it will be encouraging to you, too.
______________________________________________________________

                        View from the Cave (1 Samuel 22:1-5)

One of the things we learn from Scripture, as well as from life experience, is that God’s timetable is usually different from ours. We want things to happen, and we want them to happen now. But God is often more interested in what we are doing and learning in the meantime.

There is a pattern we see repeated in Scripture where God gives someone a promise, a vision or a task, but he then delays in fulfilling it, at least according to our timetable. For example, God promised Abraham and Sarah a son, but then they waited years for Isaac to be born. When Moses tried to stand up for his people in Egypt, he ended up tending sheep in the wilderness for 40 years. God gave Joseph prophetic dreams about ruling even over the members of his own family. But then Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, and he spent years in prison before the dream was eventually fulfilled.

Something similar happened to David. God had promised David great things. He had David anointed as the future king over Israel (1 Samuel 16:13), and everything seemed to be unfolding according to plan. David was brought into King Saul’s service. (16:21) He defeated Goliath, the great Philistine warrior. (17) He forged a friendship with Saul’s son Jonathan. (18:1-4) Saul gave David a high rank in the army. (18:5) We are told the Lord was with him in everything he did (18:14), and that all the people of Israel and Judah loved him. (18:16). David had even married the king’s daughter, Michal. (18:27) Everything was falling into place for him to become the next king of Israel.

But then suddenly everything ground to a halt. Saul grew jealous of David’s successes and determined to kill him, and David found himself running for his life. He was a fugitive – hiding from Saul and his soldiers, sneaking food and weapons from the priests at Nob (21:1-9), even having to act like a madman in the land of Gath in order to save his life. (21:10-15) And that brings us to our text this morning in 1 Samuel 22. All of God’s promises had been put on hold, and David was now hiding out in the cave at Adullam.

So what do you do when life doesn’t turn out the way you thought it would, the way God seemed to be leading? What do you do when you suddenly find yourself in the cave instead of the palace? How do you deal with God’s delays in life? (Click here to continue reading.)
 

Dallas Willard, commenting on the request, “Give us today our daily bread,” from the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13):

The emphasis is on provision today of what we need for today … So we do not ask him to provide today what we will need for tomorrow. To have it in hand today does not guarantee that we will have it tomorrow when we need it. Today I have God, and he has the provisions. Tomorrow it will be the same. So I simply ask today for what I need for today or ask now for what I need now.

This is how children do it, of course. A mother who discovers that her child is saving up oatmeal, pieces of toast, or strips of bacon for fear of not having food tomorrow has cause to be alarmed. The world being what it is, we can all too easily imagine situations in which the child’s action would be reasonable. But in any normal situation parents will be astonished and pained that the child does not trust them to provide for it day by day …

Now, to make it clear about the teaching and the prayer, it is quite all right, as earlier noted, to have things now that we intend to use tomorrow and to work or even pray in a sensible way for them. What hinders or shuts down kingdom living is not the having of such provisions, but rather the trusting in them for future security. We have no real security for the future in them, but only in the God who is present with us each day. (Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy, p. 261, Kindle location 4991)

I am in between jobs right now, and so I found this a very encouraging word. Today I have God, and that is enough.

      (Note: For ebook and audiobook conversions, see Fowler Digital Services.)

Privacy

Check out The Bible Memory Version for the Kindle here.

Yesterday when I posted the Kindle’s most popular highlights for the Bible, someone suggested I do the same for The Koran. There were two Kindle versions of The Koran that had a sufficient number of highlights for Amazon to list them: the Ali and the Haleem translations. In both versions the most highlighted sections all came from Chapter 2: The Cow. The only other chapter with a significant amount of highlighting was Chapter 5: The Dinner Table. So, here are the most popular passages in the Koran as highlighted by Kindle users around the world:

[2.62] “Surely those who believe, and those who are Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabians, whoever believes in Allah and the Last day and does good, they shall have their reward from their Lord, and there is no fear for them, nor shall they grieve.” (41 highlights: 31 Ali + 10 Haleem)

[2.190-191] “And fight in the way of Allah with those who fight with you, and do not exceed the limits, surely Allah does not love those who exceed the limits. And kill them wherever you find them, and drive them out from whence they drove you out, and persecution is severer than slaughter, and do not fight with them at the Sacred Mosque until they fight with you in it, but if they do fight you, then slay them; such is the recompense of the unbelievers.” (22 highlights: 13 Ali + 9 Haleem)

[2.113] “And the Jews say: The Christians do not follow anything (good) and the Christians say: The Jews do not follow anything (good) while they recite the (same) Book. Even thus say those who have no knowledge, like to what they say; so Allah shall judge between them on the day of resurrection in what they differ.” (20 highlights: 12 Ali + 8 Haleem)

[2.87] “And most certainly We gave Moses the Book and We sent apostles after him one after another; and We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear arguments and strengthened him with the holy spirit, What! whenever then an apostle came to you with that which your souls did not desire, you were insolent so you called some liars and some you slew.” (16 highlights: 11 Ali + 5 Haleem)

[2.24-25] “Be on your guard against the fire of which men and stones are the fuel; it is prepared for the unbelievers.” (13 highlights: all from Ali)

[2.136] “Say: We believe in Allah and (in) that which had been revealed to us, and (in) that which was revealed to Abraham and Isma’il and Isaac and Jacob and and the tribes, and (in) that which was given to Moses and Jesus, and (in) that which was given to the prophets from their Lord, we do not make any distinction between any of them, and to Him do we submit.” (12 highlights: all from Ali)

[2.193] “And fight with them until there is no persecution, and religion should be only for Allah, but if they desist, then there should be no hostility except against the oppressors.” (12 highlights: all from Ali)

[2.256] “Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.” (12 highlights: all from Ali)

In yesterday’s most popular Bible passages there was a clear theme of trusting God and not worrying. The main theme I could find here has to do with the relationship of Muslims with Christians and Jews.

Related posts:
    • Amazon Kindle’s Most Popular Bible Highlights
    • Top 10 Kindle Features
    • My Kindle Got Run Over by a Car

(Note: For ebook and audiobook conversions, see Fowler Digital Services.)

      (Note: For ebook and audiobook conversions, see Fowler Digital Services.)

Privacy

Check out The Bible Memory Version for the Kindle here.

The Amazon Kindle e-reader device allows you to highlight specific passages for viewing later. Amazon just rolled out a software upgrade (version 2.5) which expands this feature in a whole new way. Not only can you view your own highlights for a particular book, but now you can view the combined highlights of all other Kindle users as well. (Kindle users not wanting to share highlights can deactivate this feature.)

Using this feature I was able to find the most popular Bible highlights on the Kindle. Amazon lists six Bible translations in their top 100 most highlighted books: NIV (ranked #2), NASB (#19), TNIV (#32), NLT (#33), ESV (#35) and KJV (#76). I took the top highlights for each translation and put them together in the chart below. So, here are the most popular passages in the Bible as highlighted by Kindle users around the world:

                      Amazon Kindle’s Most Popular Bible Highlights
      (Hover your mouse over the Bible reference to view the passage.)

I found it interesting how many of these highlights focus on trusting God and not worrying. What stands out to you? (Click here for the most popular Kindle highlights for the Koran.)

Related posts:
    • The Bible Memory Version for the Kindle
    • New Amazon Kindle Goes Wi-Fi!
    • Top 10 Kindle Features
    • My Kindle Got Run Over by a Car

Note: For ebook and audiobook conversions, see Fowler Digital Services.

Pastor Paul Thompson was one of the ten Baptist volunteers arrested in Haiti on kidnapping charges this past January. Laura Silsby, the last volunteer still in prison, was released yesterday after more than 100 days in jail. Now that all ten volunteers have been released, Pastor Thompson finally feels free to share his side of the story. From the Baptist Press:

Paul Thompson reads the media accounts describing the journey of him and nine other jailed Baptist volunteers in Haiti who are all now free, and scratches his head. He was there. What he reads is not what he experienced … “It’s radically different,” Thompson said. For instance:

– The 10 Americans did not, as has been alleged in some accounts, go through the streets of Port-au-Prince passing out flyers and going door-to-door looking for children, Thompson said. Instead, the 33 children they were trying to take across the border in a medium-sized bus came from two orphanages, and orphanage workers told them that none of the children had parents.

– The group was told multiple times before they got to the border that their documentation and paperwork — the source of the controversy — was sufficient, Thompson said. A Haitian child services official said as much, as did a Haitian policeman and an orphanage director who has extensive experience transferring orphans from Haiti to the Dominican Republic.

– The 10 Baptists were arrested in Port-au-Prince, and not at the border. They thought they would go free until UNICEF — a United Nations agency — got involved and pressed charges, Thompson says.

– They were arrested on Jan. 30, and not Jan. 29 as has been reported repeatedly.

Visit the Baptist Press website for the full story with many fascinating details.

Download some great music from Jars of Clay for a dollar and help flood victims in Tennessee. In other words, everyone wins! Here are the details from the Jars of Clay website:

Dear Friends,

On May 1st and 2nd of 2010, our hometown of Nashville and its surrounding areas suffered a devastating flood. The impact of this extremely rare event was felt by us and countless others in our community, resulting in loss of life and billions of dollars in damage to property and infrastructure.

In an effort to help those who have lost everything, we have put together an EP with five different versions of our song, “Flood.” This 5-song EP is available for download for only $1 at jarsofclay.com. 100% of the proceeds from your purchase will go directly to charities aiding in flood relief efforts in the Nashville community, administered by MusiCares Nashville Flood Relief.

Our goal is to raise $100,000 and we need your help!

– Jars of Clay

The 5-song EP includes: 1) Savage Flavor Remix, 2) New Rain, 3) iTunes Originals Version, 4) Sara Groves Version, and 5) Original Album Version. I have always liked this song, and these are some nice versions. The iTunes Originals Version and the Sara Groves Version are especially good. And it is also good to know you are helping people in need at the same time. Way to go Jars of Clay on a great benefit!

I have been encouraged to share with you my ordination vows. I was ordained by Plantation Community Church on October 9, 1994. Plantation Community is a non-denominational church, and so in lieu of denominational vows, I wrote my own vows drawing from various Scriptures relating to pastoral ministry. I take these promises as seriously as my marriage vows, which means, very seriously! Here are the promises I made before God and his people that day.
______________________________________________________________

ORDINATION VOWS

Before God and by his grace I covenant the following:

• I covenant to keep watch over my own life, seeking to live in a manner pleasing to God and worthy of his calling. (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:1)
• I covenant to watch over and pray for the flock of God entrusted to my care as one who must give an account. (Acts 20:28; Hebrews 13:17)
• I covenant to love, guide, and care for God’s people — not by constraint, but from a willing spirit; not motivated by personal gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to me, but rather being an example to the flock. (1 Peter 5:2-3)
• I covenant to set an example for other believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. (1 Timothy 4:12)
• I covenant to love my family, to raise my children in the training and instruction of the Lord, to manage my own household well, and to maintain a good reputation in the community. (Ephesians 5:25, 6:2; 1 Timothy 3:4,7)
• I covenant to study the Scriptures that I may teach what is in accord with sound doctrine and handle God’s Word correctly to the best of my ability. (2 Timothy 2:15; Titus 2:1)
• I covenant in my teaching to show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech befitting the Word of God. (Titus 2:7)
• I covenant to preach God’s Word, to be prepared in season and out of season, to correct, rebuke and encourage — with patience and careful instruction. (2 Timothy 4:2)
• I covenant to proclaim the whole counsel of God from the Scriptures without fear or hesitation. (Acts 20:27)
• I covenant to discharge faithfully all the duties of my ministry in a manner that is honorable to both God and man. (2 Timothy 4:5)

These things I covenant before God, asking his grace that I may fulfill them and his forgiveness where I may fail or fall short.

“Now may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)

______________________________________________________________

Related post: Tim Challies was ordained as an elder/pastor at Grace Fellowship Church yesterday. See his post Ordination for the excellent set of promises Tim made at his ordination. Congratulations, Tim!

Here is a striking quote from Charles Spurgeon that conveys both his strong burden for evangelism and his great heart for the lost. May God give us grace to grow in these areas.

Oh, my brothers and sisters in Christ, if sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies; and if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay, and not madly to destroy themselves. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for.

– C. H. Spurgeon: “The Wailing of Risca” (Sermon No. 349; Delivered on Sabbath Morning, December 9th, 1860, at Exeter Hall, Strand)

Check out Charles Spurgeon’s Election for the Kindle/iPad/Nook here.

Time for a Saturday cartoon.

Coyote Catches Roadrunner (Video length: 1:41)

So, did you know the coyote ever caught the road runner?

HT: Althouse

… then you probably won’t care much for heaven!

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (Revelation 5:11-12)