Set nothing before ME that is not MINE!

This last week we had our monthly council meeting at our Anglican Church; we call it a Vestry meeting – the committee of people that forms the council is known as the Vestry in the Anglican Church.

We had some important business to attend to; we were discussing and finalising a letter which is to be issued the congregation on a matter which affects the future of our Church. Naturally there was discussion and different ideas concerning the letter and we worked through those different ideas. We worked late to do it. As one of our members was rewording the letter in the office our Pastor started us in prayer, which developed into a time of silent prayer.

I was lifting each person in turn up to the Lord, thinking about how each person is unique and has a slightly different viewpoint and by discussion we can come to a consensus, and so achieve unity that way.

That was Wednesday and I returned home late. The next night (Thursday) I woke up at 3:00 am and was turning the meeting over in my mind and returned to the theme of my previous prayer and lifting it again to the Lord. Then I got a thought that I should get up out of bed and kneel in prayer before God, and I thought “no not now Lord” and it seemed that a voice said “Yes you must”.

I was wide awake now so I got up to kneel in prayer; continuing my prayers for our Church.

Then I heard inside a voice inside speaking to me; clearly and with emphasis:

“Set nothing before ME that is not MINE!” 

I was surprised because this did not seem to be my thoughts, but rather I thought it must be God talking to me.

I prayed: 

“How can that be Lord; because when we come before you on Sunday we bring our sins with us and we declare them first silently and then corporately though The Confession”. 

God doesn’t create sin so how could this be from God; our sins are not Godly yet we set them before him day-by-day and particularly during our Sunday worship.

What is it that we cannot set before the Lord?

Then I heard very quickly, and once again with emphasis:

“Your sins are MINE because I bore them!” 

And then again – clearly and with emphasis:

“Set nothing before ME that is not MINE!” 

And I thought yes, Jesus bore our sins on the cross [1]. But what then is it that we cannot set before God if even our sins we can bring before Him.

What is it that we cannot set before the Lord?

Then my mind turned to passages in the Old Testament. First God gave the Israelites a bronze serpent though Moses; the people were healed from snake bites [2].

Then some generations after receiving the bronze serpent to protect them and heal them, the Israelites were worshipping the bronze serpent. The king at that time, Hezekiah, was commanded by God to break the bronze serpent. God’s people were showing too much regard for that bronze serpent because it came from God; they were in effect worshipping it, and that is idolatry and breaks the first commandment [3]. 

I knew that idolatry is one thing that we cannot set before God. It seemed that the answer t my questions was in the scriptures.

I had the clear understanding that this was not a word for me only but applied to all His Church, and in particular the little branch of His Church that I attend for worship weekly.

I felt that I had to write it down, but I heard a clear:

"No not now but later!"

One word of caution. When someone tells you that God told them this or that, treat it like the Bereans in Acts 17:11 [5], and search the Word of God to see if it contravenes scripture. If it does contravene scripture, then it is clearly not a word given by God.

If it is in harmony with scripture then there is no harm in paying attention to it, provided you don’t consider the person more highly because of it. God will speak to all sorts of people: remember Jesus appeared to Paul who was persecuting Christians even to death. He called himself the worst of sinners [6].

Was it God speaking to me? Or was it just my imagination that conjured up this message? I am sure it was God but I ask you neither to believe it, nor to disbelieve it, but rather to consider this word with circumspection like the Bereans.

Bible references:

[1] 1 Peter 2:24 

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

[2] Numbers 21:6-9

So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.

[3] 2 Kings 18:4

He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan).

[4] Exodus 20:

"You shall have no other gods before me.

"You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.

[5] Acts 17:11 

Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

[6] 1 Timothy 1:16

But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.

All texts are taken from the New International Version (NIV) Bible

Gurth Whitaker
Calgary, Alberta

The Bible's Approach to Relationship's and the Body

A great comment by a friend and Christian brother reinforced the great gulf between what the Bible teaches and those beliefs that insist that a women must be hidden, and if she is not then she is a legitimate target for rape. Here's this wonderful comment from a reader on this post: Ayaan Hirsi Ali's book "Nomad" & the burka

In reading your comments Gurth I am reminded that in Ephesians Chapter 5, verse 21 there is a very different model given by the Apostle Paul on how men are to treat their wives. They are called to love their wives as they love their own bodies. Even more importantly, they are called to love their wives as Jesus loves the church. This is something that speaks to the very essence of the incarnational nature of Christianity. The God of the Christian Scriptures loves matter. Although infected by the Fall, all of matter is being redeemed in and through Jesus Christ. The way we treat our bodies, and the way we treat our wife's body is a sign of the redemptive and restorative work of Christ.

There the body is to be treated with respect. I Peter 3 speaks about modest dress but nowhere in the New Testament is there the dictate that women are to hide their bodies.

There is always a respect for the beauty of the body and the call to treat it as the Temple of the Holy Spirit.

Biblical Christianity instructs us to relate to our bodies in this way and for men to love their wives as Jesus loves the Church because Jesus loves us totally; our mind, soul, body and spirit. 

I do not know enough about the burka issue to comment on it directly. What I will says is that Ephesians 5 gives a very different way to relate to women from the one governing the burka practise.

Read Paul's Letter to the Ephesians, Chapter 5 at Bible Gateway

Gurth Whitaker
Calgary, AB

Mary's Place of Quiet

Our Daily Bread offered a fitting reflection for Christmas Eve today, and gave me a new insight into that special birth as Mary brought Jesus into this harsh world in Bethlehem; it was two millenia ago but it is so fresh to me and countless others today.

Gurth Whitaker
Calgary, AB

God’s Special Place

 [Mary] brought forth her firstborn Son, . . .  and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. —Luke 2:7

As a young girl in the late 1920s, Grace Ditmanson Adams often traveled with her missionary parents through inland China. Later, she wrote about those trips and the crowded places where they stayed overnight—village inns full of people coughing, sneezing, and smoking, while babies cried and children complained. Her family put their bedrolls on board-covered trestles in a large room with everyone else.

One snowy night, they arrived at an inn to find it packed full. The innkeeper expressed his regret, then paused and said, “Follow me.” He led them to a side room used to store straw and farm equipment. There they slept in a quiet place of their own.
 
After that, whenever Grace read that Mary “brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7), she saw the event differently. While some described the innkeeper as an example of uncaring, sinful mankind who rejected the Savior, Grace said, “I truly believe that Almighty God used the innkeeper as the arranger for a healthier place than the crowded inn—a place of privacy.”

Through eyes of faith, we see God’s provision for Mary. Look for the ways He provides for you.  — David C. McCasland


Wait on the Lord from day to day,
Strength He provides in His own way;
There’s no need for worry, no need to fear,
He is our God who is always near. —Fortna

Those who let God provide will be satisfied.

Our Daily Bread God’s Special Place

Israel's Netanyahu's Christmas and Civil New Year Greetings

I am grateful that there is one country in the Middle East where Jews, Christians and Muslims can "act in accordance with their beliefs and according to the dictates of their consciences." So I publish Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Christmas greetings in its entirety below.

Christian's are at best second class citizen's, and frequently face persecution across all Middle East countries except Israel. The examples are numerous and freely available for those who care to look to the truth, here are two that were posted at Lux et Veritas; these happen to be about Egypt but the situation is the same or worse in other Muslim countries (sometimes Sunni against Shia and Shia against Sunni).

Anti-Semitism in Egypt;

and the plight of Coptic Christians: Egypt's Coptic Christians call for general strike on September 11 to protest persecution

Gurth Whitaker
Calgary AB

Prime Minister Netanyahu's 

Christmas and Civil New Year Greetings

"Today Christmas Eve, I would like to wish Israel's Christian citizens a Merry Christmas.

Since its founding, the State of Israel has granted freedom of worship to its citizens – Jews, Christians and Muslims act in accordance with their beliefs and according to the dictates of their consciences. We must preserve the delicate fabric that has been created among the people of the various faiths and continue to develop the religious tolerance that exists between us all.

Ahead of the civil New Year, I would like to wish Christians in Israel, the Middle East and throughout the entire world – a good and prosperous year. May it be that in the coming year that we will take another step toward coexistence in Israel and that together we will advance the economy, education and tourism in our country.

Since its inception, my Government has worked to advance the peace process with our Palestinian neighbors. In the coming year as well, we will continue to advance efforts to achieve a lasting peace in our region."

PM Netanyahu's greetings are from the Prime Minister's Office of Israel.

A Meditation for All

This week I am posting my meditation before Sunday; after all has been said and done, Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest for the Christian, unless of course you are the pastor. I do not forget all the doctors, nurses, firemen, police, and countless other folks who are obliged to work on a Sunday. The main point is that you actually take a day of rest on one day of the week.

Reading my devotional "Day by Day," I came to this morning's entry by the author, Chuck Swindoll, titled "Commence Prayer."

The message should reach believers and non-believers alike; it seems appropriate for all but the most hardened atheists.

I have to say that the belief of atheists, that there is no God, seems very strange to me; a difficult "belief", and requires a denial of the evidence. How can anyone imagine that this amazing world all happened by a matter of chance would seem to require the suspension of one's critical faculties. I think it is clearly a belief, because the existence of God cannot be proved or disproved, but weighing the evidence it seems very hard to deny that God is real. 

But I digress; my aim in reproducing this is for a message that it would reach all faiths, including agnostics, and perhaps even some atheists, and so I include the whole piece for your consideration.

Gurth Whitaker ><>

+++++++++

COMMENCE PRAYER

~ Malachi 3  ~

It was in 1968, I was on an airplane headed for New York - a routine and normally very boring flight. But this time it proved to be otherwise, As the plane was on its descent pattern, the pilot realized that the landing gear was not engaging. Passengers were told to place their heads between their knees and grab their ankles just before impact.

Then, with the landing only minutes away, the pilot suddenly announced over the intercom:

"We are beginning our final descent. At this moment, in accordance with International Aviation Codes established at Geneva, it is my obligation to inform you that if you believe in God you should commence prayer."

Scouts honour. . , that’s exactly what he said!

I'm happy to report that the belly landing occurred without a hitch. No one was injured and, aside from some rather extensive damage to the plane, the airline hardly remembered the incident.

Amazing. The only thing that brought out into the open a deep down "secret rule" was crisis, Pushed to the brink, back to the wall, right up to the wire, all escape routes closed ...  only then does our society crack open a hint of recognition that God may be there and - "if you believe ... you should commence prayer."

There's nothing like crisis to expose the otherwise hidden truth of the soul. Any soul. We may mask it, ignore it, pass it off with cool sophistication and intellectual denial, but take away the cushion of comfort, remove the shield of safety, interject the threat of death without the presence of people to take the panic out of the moment, and it's fairly certain most in the ranks of humanity "commence prayer."

Remember Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s admission? 

"It was only when I lay there on rotting prison straw that I sensed within myself the first stirrings of good. . . . So bless you, prison,for having been in my life."

Those words provide a perfect illustration of the psalmist’s instruction:

"Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. . . . It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees" (Ps. 119:67, 71 NIV)

After crisis comes, God steps in to comfort and teach.

There's nothing like crisis to expose the hidden truth of the soul

Charles Swindoll

Day by Day

Calgary Men's Cursillo Weekend

I arrived home last night from the Calgary Men's Cursillo Weekend renewed and elated from the proceedings.

It was held at Entheos, about 20 minutes west of Calgary, a quiet and tranquil spot with beautiful grounds.

The Cursillo weekend started on Thursday evening, and on Sunday evening everyone left for home, and they were more than pleased with the weekend - I would say delighted from what I saw.

The Cursillo movement is world-wide, and the branch that I attended is part of the Anglican Cursillo movement, under the Diocese of Calgary, however there were several participants from other denominations who attended.

The Cursillo weekend is open to other denominations, in fact they are always very welcome. It should be said, that all believers in Jesus Christ are brothers and sisters and part of one church, the different branches have different ideas of worship and some different interpretations, but all are brothers and sisters and all members of one true church.

I heard testimonies from some of the men from other denominations, and in every case they said it was a very positive experience; I heard one man say that he was very glad to discover a different form of worship from his own faith tradition, and he was surprised in a positive way.

I attended a weekend during the fall of 2007 as a participant, and a couple of months ago I was invited to attend again as a volunteer in some role to help make the weekend a success for the participants, just as others had done for me two years ago.

After some thought, I responded to that invitation with a glad heart, however I had some questions as to how it would work for me. Now I know, and I am very glad that I answered that invitation - it has been a great experience for me.

What can I say about Cursillo to convey something of what this weekend meant to the participants and to this who are working to make it a success?

The first thing I can say is that it is founded on Christian love, which is at the heart of the Christian Gospel (good news).

Love is at the core of the weekend; Christ's love for the world is continued by His Church in community. Christ was at the centre of a community with His disciples and followers, Christ was the centre of the community of believers in the early church, and He is the centre of the Church today. (Unfortunately I must qualify that statement; He is the centre of the true church, sadly there are many churches who claim to be Christian but they teach something else; they adopt the title "christian" but sadly they are not.)

Here's a snippit from the Calgary Cursillo website (here) on the purpose of the weekend:

The weekend is an opportunity to meet other individuals who are seeking to strengthen their faith.

It provides an opportunity through shared prayer, worship, singing, study, fellowship, discussion, and love to experience the reality of the gift of God’s grace.

What does Cursillo do for those who attend?

It helps to renew and deepen Christian commitment. Cursillo is one of many renewal movements.

Many people have said Cursillo provides an important learning experience which causes many to feel like newly made Christians with a purpose and with support.

This is from the Cursillo Website of the National Episcopal Church in the US (Episcopal in the US is part of the world-wide Anglican Communion) read more here.

A mule deer buck stands guard. Entheos, Alberta, 2009

Cursillo is world-wide there will probably be an organisation available to you wherever you live, so if you would like to know more about Cursillo you can contact the local organisation. If you have a problem to find it please fell free to email me at gurth.whitaker@gmail.com, and I will make sure you get the information and alert the organisation wherever it is.



Gurth Whitaker
Calgary AB

New Resource Added

I have added a great resource for the Christian readers of Lux et Veritas; it is the well-loved daily devotional written by Oswald Chambers: "My Utmost for His Highest." Read Chambers bio here.

It is published by RBC (Radio Bible Class), that long-lived and outstanding organisation which publishes and mails millions of Our Daily Bread (ODB) to readers all over the world.

 "My Utmost for His Highest." is available as a topical link from the Our Daily Bread page. RBC have done an amazing job to produce cross-links on the topic of the day.

For example today's ODB is about faith in God and resting in Him, by building a deeper relationship with God. At the right side of the page RBC have provided several links for further study on this theme (that's what I mean by "topical" references). There are 2 ODB links, 2 for My Utmost, and 2 for what RBC call the "discovery series". 

This is a great resource because if the devotional for the day resonates with the reader, and it is something that they want to go deeper into, then RBC has provided links . 

I find that Our Daily Bead is generally lighter than Spurgeon and Chambers, who both usually require a little more time and reflection.

Here's a list of the resources available:

Bible Gateway
Blue Letter Bible
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Charles Haddon Spurgeon:
♥ This Evening's Meditation
♥ This Morning's Meditation
My Utmost for His Highest
Our Daily bread
the Barnabus Fund
Desiring God
Faith Freedom International

Lord's Day Meditation

Spurgeon's writings are imbued with scripture, he writes as one who is taught by the Holy Spirit.

Last evening's (Saturday) devotion speaks to the very heart of the Gospel, and to the true desires of a Christian.

These words speak of my conversion from unbeliever some 12 years ago:

How gently did he gather me to himself, to his truth, to his blood, to his love, to his church! With what effectual grace did he compel me to come to himself!

Since my first conversion, how frequently has he restored me from my wanderings, and once again folded me within the circle of his everlasting arm!

... and I believe they speak to every true follower, and I hope they shed some light to those who are genuinely trying to know more about Jesus and His true Church.

A true believer's prayer:

Great Shepherd, add to thy mercies this one other, a heart to love thee more truly as I ought.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Evening Devotional for October 17, from Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

"He shall gather the lambs with his arm." - Isaiah 40:11

Our good Shepherd has in his flock a variety of experiences, some are strong in the Lord, and others are weak in faith, but he is impartial in his care for all his sheep, and the weakest lamb is as dear to him as the most advanced of the flock. Lambs are wont to lag behind, prone to wander, and apt to grow weary, but from all the danger of these infirmities the Shepherd protects them with his arm of power. He finds new-born souls, like young lambs, ready to perish-he nourishes them till life becomes vigorous; he finds weak minds ready to faint and die-he consoles them and renews their strength. All the little ones he gathers, for it is not the will of our heavenly Father that one of them should perish. What a quick eye he must have to see them all! What a tender heart to care for them all! What a far- reaching and potent arm, to gather them all! In his lifetime on earth he was a great gatherer of the weaker sort, and now that he dwells in heaven, his loving heart yearns towards the meek and contrite, the timid and feeble, the fearful and fainting here below. How gently did he gather me to himself, to his truth, to his blood, to his love, to his church! With what effectual grace did he compel me to come to himself! Since my first conversion, how frequently has he restored me from my wanderings, and once again folded me within the circle of his everlasting arm! The best of all is, that he does it all himself personally, not delegating the task of love, but condescending himself to rescue and preserve his most unworthy servant. How shall I love him enough or serve him worthily? I would fain make his name great unto the ends of the earth, but what can my feebleness do for him? Great Shepherd, add to thy mercies this one other, a heart to love thee more truly as I ought.

In everything give thanks.

"In everything give thanks"

This verse comes form Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians chapter 5, verse 18.

How can we give thanks in everything? Is the Bible presenting an unrealistic ideal for us to adhere to?

On this Thanksgiving day we have much to give thanks for living in Canada, especially as we look around the world, and the amount of cruelty and persecution there is, and particularly persecution of Christians (largely unreported in the western media). But there's always suffering wherever you live, so how can people who are suffering hardship and loss give thanks?

Speaking The Truth

"Our Daily Bread" has a notable meditation today:

In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch is a respected small-town lawyer in the segregated South during the 1930s. When he takes on a case that pits an innocent black man against two dishonest white people, Atticus knows he will face terrible prejudice from the jury. But his conscience compels him to speak the truth boldly in the face of opposition.

The Old Testament prophets were often sent to preach the truth to a stubborn people. “[God] sent prophets to them, to bring them back to the Lord; and they testified against them, but they would not listen” (2 Chron. 24:19). Their message often resulted in persecution and sometimes even death (Heb. 11:32-38).

Read the whole thing, or listen to the narrated version at Our Daily Bread here.

You will also find many excellent resources at the Our Daily Bread site.

Have a blessed day.

What is a Cursillo Commissioning?

Last Saturday (13th) I was at the Cursillo Commissioning, when I told my son, he asked "what's a Cursillo?"

"I know," he joked: "you bought a boat called 'Cursillo', and you are having the launching & naming party."

Embracing the Dance of Eden

I am just starting a new book called "Embracing the Dance of Eden". Just published in June this year and written by Charles Alexander who preaches at St. Augustine's Anglican Church Ogden, where my wife and I worship.