Evil Reports

Go up at once, Mr. President, and possess your promises. You are well able to overcome the evil reporters who hope you fail.

The 13th Chapter of Numbers records the instructions God gave Moses regarding the process the children of Israel were to use in order to receive their promises. Moses sent twelve spies on a reconnaissance mission within the land God had promised to restore to Israel. All twelve spies saw the same setting: a land flowing with milk and honey, with impressive fruit, with walled cities, and with strong people, men of great stature, giants. The spies agreed that the men of Canaan made the men of Israel look like grasshoppers. Even though all twelve spies made the same observations in the land, ten of them interpreted the intelligence differently from the other two and gave an "evil report." The ten spies believed their own report and convinced a great number of people that Israel must not fight to reclaim their land.

On the contrary, Caleb and Joshua, having seen the same sights as the ten, gave an alternate report. They believed that the giants in the land were no match for the God who had already performed so many miraculous acts of deliverance on their behalf. Caleb, focusing on the promises of God advised in verse 30, "Let us go up at once and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it." Those who had given the evil report had incited the wrath of the people against Moses, Caleb, and Joshua. Those who had believed the "evil report" wanted to kill those who had believed God.

At my house growing up, when we passed along doubtful information among ourselves, we would verify outside sources. We would caution the listener about the story's reliability with the disclaimer, "Consider the source." Those who pass along "evil reports" usually have a secret motive. Evil reports are designed to divide, anger, deceive, incite, discourage, embarrass, intimidate, and humiliate the reporter's adversary or target. Evil reports can make followers lose confidence in their leaders. This tactic is most affective during turbulent times; times when everyone, including the leader, struggles with doubts of better days ahead.

It is when the evidence from our eyes foreshadows darkness and doom that the children of God and the leaders of God must depend most upon our faith, for our faith in God is the only evidence we need (Hebrews 11:1) for victory. Like Caleb and Joshua, I choose to believe God's report (Romans 10:16). When those times come in my life, no matter how evil the reports may be, I will "go up at once and possess" each of my promises. I count every evil report against me and against God's promises to me, (however painful their impact) joy.

The Tongue

A current commercial opens with a husband and wife preparing for a backyard gathering. The wife has set the table with colorfully coordinated place settings. She appears to be pleased when she notices that her husband is about to wash the deck. The husband, full of pride, corrects her and announces that he is going to, "power wash," the deck. He then pulls goggles over his eyes and flips the switch on the machine. A powerful force of water shot through the hose the husband was holding.

The force was so powerful, the husband is unable to control the hose. The beautifully set table is destroyed. The look on the wife's face indicates she will need the extra strength pain killer that is being advertised to manage the on-coming headache.

The tongue is a small member of the body, but it is powerful. James 3:5 says, "Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!" God will not empower a tongue that cannot be controlled. An out of control tongue destroys lives and souls. The tongue of a prophet must be controlled by a disciplined heart, a guarded heart. King Solomon warns us in Proverbs 4: 23, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." I am learning to guard my heart and my tongue. Being "on guard" counts. Joy!

Are You Ready?

During my meditation time with God one morning, He asked me, "Are you ready?" I laughed as I answered that I was. It reminded me of the first such conversation I had with Carlos, one of my students.
Many of my students have a terrible habit of not focusing on what is said to them until the third or fourth time it is repeated. To get them to prepare to focus on what I am going to say a second time, I first ask them, "Are you ready?" Carlos was the first to catch on to what I was doing, and he let me know by demonstrating the technique on me.
Carlos had asked me a question. When I responded with a, "Mmmm," he asked me, "Are you ready?" We shared a big laugh and an even bigger understanding in our teacher-student relationship.
This particular morning, God was speaking to me about the many, abundant blessings coming my way. When I stopped to think about the specifics of what He was saying to me, I wanted Him to review it, so I could capture every word. Before He spoke of those things again, God asked me, "Are you ready?" I am learning that if I am to be blessed, being swift to hear--- counts (James 1:17 - 20). Joy!

Eighteen Days

When my brother, Bruce discovered that he had Stage Four cancer, he began preparing himself for accepting the outcome. He knew that nothing was impossible for the omnipotent God he served. He had a peace that passed human understanding for either choice God was to make about healing him. Bruce placed his hand in God's hand and together they started walking towards November 3, 2010. He was not concerned about where they were headed, why it was necessary, nor was he concerned about when they would arrive. Bruce was so happy to be in the Creator's presence. He walked where God led him. Bruce followed Him all the way.
When I learned that Bruce had Stage Four cancer, I googled it on the Internet. I was heartbroken to find out that the life expectancy for the type of cancer he had was 5 years, at best. I prayed and asked God to allow Bruce to be at least counted among those with maximum survival. Even though it left me a little bitter, I accepted the meager five year sentence and mentally began plans for making them the best five years of our lives. After all, Bruce and I were experts in knowing how to make memories.
Bruce and I never had a chance to implement any of the activities on the 5 year plan. Eighteen days later, he died. If I am ever faced with another life expectancy countdown of 5 years, I will know how to properly thank God for the additional 1808 days. As for Bruce's eighteen-day countdown, I thank God for the memories we were able to make before he began his walk with God to the place where it became obvious that he was "going all the way." Turns out, five years would have only delayed the end of the most wonderful walk in the world. Joy!

Knowing

For years I wore a fragrance from the Este Lauder line called "Knowing." I appreciated the strength of the fragrance and its aroma, but I had an even deeper appreciation for the name it had been given, "Knowing." As humans, we find great comfort in simply knowing some things. For some like me, even if the contents of the knowledge are negative, we would still rather "know." Science teaches us that the extent to which knowledge can be observed and measured will determine its value.

God asks us to "walk by faith and not by sight." Abraham was abundantly blessed because he saw the invisible as though it were visible. Revelation 2:7 admonishes those of us with ears to, "...let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches...." David wrote in Psalm 34:8, "O taste and see that the Lord is good." Jesus told Thomas concerning His resurrection, "...blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed," (John 20:29). God is not subject to the observational protocol of science.

When it comes to God, our faith is all the evidence required. Accoding to Hebrews 11:1, faith, itself, is evidence-evidence of things not seen. The mercy of God does not leave us vulnerable and weakly clinging to the evidence of "faith." God gives power to our faith for the cynical observer. The Bible is full of examples of God's demonstrations of the power contained in faith: at the Red Sea (Exodus 14), at Mount Carmel (I Kings 18), and at an empty tomb (Matthew 28).

God knows that there are some things in our faith journey, we just need to know. For example, we don't just need to know by faith that we are loved by those we love. Our humaness demands a demonstration for evidence. Observable demonstrations of love and appreciation are crucial as one passes from this life, via death, and onward to eternal life. Mark 14 records the importance of the timing of this display of love. The woman broke the box and poured its contents (as if it were her love) on the feet of Jesus (verse 3).

This photo is from the Haliburtons' 2006 Celebration. Our family and friends gathered that evening to honor Bruce for completing his doctorate, as well as to celebrate Rita and Nita's 50th birthday, and to celebrate Rita and Wesley's 25th wedding Anniversary. Bruce had a lifetime of demonstrations of love towards him, but none like his final days in this life. We each flew to D.C., unaware that we were saying our goodbyes: first, Francene followed by Cheryl, Rita, Daddy, Judy, Nita, and Mama. We each broke our box of love and shared it against his impending burial.

I received a Sympathy card from Rita today, "On the loss of Your Brother." Her closing statement in her handwritten note reads, "How we will miss him, but besides the consolation of knowing he is in Heaven is the truth that he was loved and knew it." There is comfort in knowing. Joy!

The First of Firsts

In I Corinthians 15:19, Paul writes, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."

Today is Thanksgiving. I am thankful most of all for the love of God. It was His love for me that caused Him to send Jesus to redeem me from the penalty of death. It was also His love for me that allowed a demonstration of His resurrection power, so my faith could carry me past my sorrows caused by the deaths of loved ones and past the fears caused by thoughts of my own pending death. I am thankful that we have hope that reaches beyond the grave.

It is fitting that the first holiday since Bruce's death be "Thanksgiving." My family has a year of firsts to face: first Christmas, first New Year's, first Valentine's for Brenda, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, 4th of July, Wedding Anniversary, and family birthdays and celebrations. "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."

Because Jesus lives, I can face tomorrow and all of the firsts between now and Thanksgiving 2011 with "joy."

Unpack Your Tool Kit

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:..." 2 Timothy 4:7

Paul testified in his last days by evaluating his work, his God-given purpose. He wanted to leave behind instructions that would keep the Church moving forward no matter what transpired once it was no longer possible for him to minister in his body. He knew that even the circumstances surrounding his "cause of death," would be enough to derail some if they did not have guidance from him about what to expect next or what next should be done. He comforted them by making sure they understood that his work was finished and that he had finished strong. He said,..."I have kept the faith." He let them know that they too, must fight a good fight, and that to finish strong, they must finish with "the faith." We shall all finish, but our finish will not count if we do not "keep the faith," no matter the circumstances of our finish. If the player crosses the goal line without the football or the relay-runner crosses the finish line without the baton, he does not get "the prize." Paul wanted us to know that we must finish with "the faith."

Finished means complete; nothing is left out. For Paul, all that was his responsibility to say, he had said. All that was his to do, he had done. All that was his to write, he had written. Paul declared his God-given purpose finished, like Jesus declared His work complete in John 19:30 with the words, "It is finished." We have a tool kit, full of the promises of God in order for us to fulfill our divine purpose. Whatever we need to survive in this life is in our tool kit. God has provided all that we need to finish our course. The men and women of God in the ministry are responsible for teaching us to use the tools left in the tool box.

My nephew, Troy has spent his entire life observing and obeying his father. He knew that his father could teach him to be "a good and godly man." Troy knew that he could count on the instructions from his father to contain the best his father had to offer. He knew that his father would withhold no "good thing," from him. Troy lived his life, confident that his father would always give the best advice and guidance that he had come to trust and count on. His father, Bruce, had guided him through his toddler years, teenaged years, and early manhood years. Troy had no fear of the challenges his middle-aged years would bring because he was convinced that his wise father would be there to navigate his course through those unchartered waters as well.

The enemy would like Troy to believe that now that his father is present with the Lord, his father will no longer be the guide Troy has trusted since he had a memory. This is not so. Bruce finished his course. Part of finishing his course included his responsibility as a father to Troy and to Tiffany. He packed a tool kit for Tiffany. He packed a tool kit for Troy. Bruce said all that was his to say. He wrote all that was his to write. He did all that was his to do. Then he placed the tools in their tool kits.

With joy and confidence, I encourage everyone who has ever received godly guidance from someone who has finished his/her course and has gone to be present with the Lord...I encourage you to go now and unpack your tool kit. There you will find all that you need. For if it is godly counsel you yet desire, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Bruce, and Francene awaits you. Unpack your tool kit. Joy!