Justice and Knowing God

This morning I came across an interesting passage . . . Jeremiah is speaking to King Josiah's son. King Josiah was one of the few kings who loved God and led his people in following God and getting rid of false idols. Apparently, his son was not so great and Jeremiah says to him . . . 

"Did not your father eat and drink, and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him. He judged the poor and needy; then it was well. Was not this knowing Me? says the Lord." (Jer. 22:15b,16)

I wonder if we sometimes forget what it really means to know God. Over and over scripture points out that action - loving, serving, sacrificing, etc - that is what defines a true follower of Christ. When I pray, Lord I want to know you more - do I really know what I am asking? It is so much more than knowledge of God - it is living in such a way, that identifies and understands God's heart for people - for His beloved creation. 

A God Who Sees

As I continue my study through Scripture on justice, I found myself this morning in the middle of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar's story. This story is from the very beginning full of the injustice of people's choices - in most cases one injustice leading to another. Sarah is barren (I'm sure she felt this was unjust) . . . her response was to bring justice to her situation in the only way she knew how . . . Hagar is unjustly given to Abraham, used as a forced surrogate . . . her response is to seek justice against Sarah by despising her and gloating over the pregnancy . . .  Sarah responds to Hagar's attitude by unjustly kicking out of the house the woman she herself begged her husband to sleep with in order to conceive a child - sounds like day time TV! Enter the just God of the universe - amazingly the Angel of the Lord comes to Hagar in her unjust situation and speaks directly to her heart - assuring her that He will bring justice to her and her unborn child. Hagar's response is to call God by a name that is one of my favorite names for Him - Beer Lahai Roi - You-are-the-God-Who-Sees!  I would venture to say that most of us long for God to see the injustices in our lives - validate the situations we are in and call them what they are. God did not take Hagar out of the unjust situation - remarkably He tells her to return to the very people that brought on the injustice (I'm not convinced that is a principle to use in these situations - still pondering that one) Yet, God promises Hagar that she will bear a  son, whom she is to name Ishmael - which means "God hears" . . . In the midst of this unjust situation, God's message to Hagar is I am a God who sees and hears . . . a message I want to take to those living in the quagmire of injustice - there is a God who sees and hears - you are not forgotten! 

Real Life Questions

Today was a little rough - my Mom fell AGAIN - which she has done a few times lately. She hasn't gotten hurt seriously in the falls , physically- some bruises and minor pain. However, I do think her spirit has been wounded - discouragement and frustration seem pretty close to the surface. It's a little weird how all of this with her failing health falls into the justice of God issue for me. My heart breaks to see her struggle and my admiration for her soars as I watch her get back up with determination and push on. I almost immediately want to ask God the why questions, which I am so very glad to know He can handle. I actually take great comfort in the scriptures when I read so many of the giants of the faith questioned God - I actually think their questioning spirits reveal a relationship with God that is open, honest, healthy and REAL! As I wade through the scriptures in search of truth and revelation about the justice of God - I have some real life questions right before me where I can bring application. I'm sure you do too - it seems we all have questions and situations in our lives that force us to trust God's justice and His love and His care for us. So, today I hold onto what I don't always see so plainly or clearly - I guess that would be called faith! Hope you are hanging on too ! 

Headlines for the Week

As I was thinking about what to write about I kept thinking of little headlines for this coming week  . . . 

Jeff Whitaker begins his radio show Monday evening on WOND between 6pm - 7pm. Tune in to hear the latest discussions, political updates and local news. I'm proud of you, Jeff -  "Make a Difference!" 

Dianne Lombardo turns 44 on April 1st. Some of you may know that Dianne and I have been friends now for over 30 years - She always passes into the next age group 2 months before me! 

Happy Birthday Dianne ! 

Prioritizing Projects - over the weekend I was receiving e-mails in reference to so many projects I am working on in the next year - I became a little overwhelmed but also feel extremely grateful for so many wonderful projects to be involved in at this point in my life. 

A few of these projects that you will read about in the future are:

UNiquip, a staff training seminar for YWAM - there is one in Hawaii in August and one in Amsterdam in January. 

Hope Campaign - an initiative in New York City to inspire, inform and mobilize people regarding women and children at risk, including poverty, HIV/AIDS, trafficking, and more.

Ambassador Club - a club in the local junior high helping  students to understand children in other parts of the world, their needs and how they can reach out locally and internationally

University of the Nations seminar course - I am working on creating a 2 week seminar course that will take place on location in the Middle East summer 2009.

African Hope Crafts - A micro-business for those impacted with HIV/AIDS in a township close to Cape Town, South Africa. The jewelry that these crafters make is so beautiful and displays the creativity of God. 

Teaching - I have several opportunities to teach both here and overseas in the coming months, so there is lots to prepare.

Justice Study - This week I will continue my study on the justice of God. I am beginning to go through scripture and look at various stories that deal with justice. I'm already in deep as I looked at Cain and Abel this morning and then onto Noah! More on those thoughts later this week. 

So, a few headlines and quick synopsis of all I am thinking about this week and preparing for in the coming months ! 

Confronted With Injustice

The first time I traveled to Bosnia and Herzegovina was in 1998. I was on a prayer trip with a group of students from our Discipleship Training School in what was then Yugoslavia(now Serbia). For our week on prayer we decided to take a field trip to Bosnia and not just teach about prayer in the classroom, but go and pray in this neighboring nation where war had just ceased. I was not prepared for what I encountered on that trip. War to me was something you read about in books, saw in movies- but always an emotionally detached subject. At one point in our journey we were driving along a stretch of road that weaved through one bombed out village after another. On both sides of the road there were houses charred and destroyed with remnants of a former life strewn on the front lawn. Many of the houses had "war graffiti" sprayed on the rubble - a calling card so to speak from those who had "cleansed" the village. I was numb. Trying to process what I saw with my own eyes was a struggle, let alone trying to help the students I was leading make sense of it all. I can say that something changed in me on that trip - an innocence and naivety left me forever. So this is what humankind is capable of? This is what I am capable of if left to my fallen, sinful state? I just realized while writing this that that revelation took place exactly 10 years ago. I think it has taken me 10 years of processing that experience along with a hoard of other face-to-face encounters with injustice to now so deeply and seriously ask God questions about justice and injustice. Don't get me wrong, I've asked those questions before - but it seems at this juncture in my life - I not only am asking, but am at a place where I want to know the truth of God's justice.  

I am reminded of a scene from the movie A Few Good Men, where Tom Cruise's character is questioning Jack Nicholson's character - pushing him to tell the truth . . . Jack Nicholson so brilliantly played the part and lashed out with the now famous lines . . . "You want the truth? You want the truth? You can't handle the truth . . . " He then goes onto explain the harsh realities of the decisions he has to make everyday that others never even know about or contemplate.

Truth is sometimes different than what we expect and almost certainly cuts deeper and reveals things which we never could have imagined. I can't say if I am ready to handle the truth of God's justice, I am sure it is much more complex than what my "cut and dry" / "black and white" little heart is expecting. I can say that I want to know my God deeper, and an aspect of His character is justice. Knowing someone means delving into the scary parts too, even when you're not sure what you will find - so I trust God to allow me to know an aspect of Him that is misunderstood, confusing to many, yet good and true and coherent with all of Who He Is. 

Any thoughts?????? 

Learning Curves!

I am on a huge learning curve right now in the area of justice issues and the justice of God. I think it has been sparked in part by some personal questions I have had this last year concerning right decisions gone wrong. When does God intervene and when doesn’t He - how much is left to our choices and how much does He supernaturally intervene???? I know, these are age old questions and ones that are much more complicated than what can be expressed in mere words. Coinciding with my personal journey has been a growing awareness and hands-on confrontation with issues such as HIV/AIDS, poverty and human trafficking. My “tent” is being expanded, as referenced in Isaiah 54:2. It seems the Lord is expanding areas of influence and service. Because of all of this I am currently entrenched in books, conversations and thoughts on the justice of God and what His justice looks like in a fallen, broken, hurting world. What is my role in responding to the injustices I see, feel and live among? I invite you to join me in conversation as I write about this and share some of the things God is revealing to me about Himself and what I, you, we can do. Stay tuned . . .

Merry Christmas

The Star

It stood out one night among the rest
Beckoning me to journey west
I can’t explain the urgent call
I just knew that what I saw . . .

Was more than just another light
Illumining my darkest night
The light was speaking to my soul
Come meet the truth and be made whole

My journey west was long and grueling
Turn back! Press on! within me dueling
This star that seemed to call me on
At one point in the journey – Gone

Where was that light that shone so clear
Now replaced with doubt and fear
Was the calling really real
It all seemed vague and a bit surreal

No, in my heart I knew the star
Was calling me to travel far
The path to truth has many snares
Be alert and be aware . . .

Although the star that first shone bright
May dim, or flicker or lose it’s light
Keep pressing on through all the tears
That star will once again appear . . . .

For as the wise men long ago
Traveled far yet did not know
Where their journey’s end would be
They searched until the star did see

Appeared again as first it shone
Guiding, leading to the unknown
What they found at journey’s end
Was truth and hope, their greatest friend

How like my own unchartered path
Unknowns and questions I do have
And when I doubt , the truth is near
A different road may appear . .

Than what I expect or think to be
God, where am I going, I cannot see?
Where will this journey find it’s end?

“In truth and hope and my greatest friend”

He tells me to follow that distant call
To remember the words and what I saw
He will not forsake or leave me alone
The star will eventually lead me home

I have been meditating on the wise men and their committment to follow the star. This poem is a result of praying about and thinking on the monumental journey those men took 2,000 years ago. The call to follow the star is still relevant today ! May you have a blessed Christmas and holiday season !