I recall asking my parents why he was wearing that strange sign? My parents calmly explained he was just a crazy old man. On one side his sign said, “REPENT! THE END IS NEAR.” The other said something like, “JESUS IS COMING SOON.”

That was a long time ago. As a young Jewish child, I found it to be confusing. I was already an adult before I knew anything about Jesus. Nobody really explained what Jesus had done for me until I read about Him in a book. Oddly enough, I “met Jesus” in early 1973 on my honeymoon. I had eloped and we were living out of my 1964 VW Bug.

Since the moment of this encounter, I have been using every method I can envision to announce God’s love and the return of our Messiah. I was called to be a minister of the Gospel. I am dissatisfied with my effectiveness. Looking around, several things have become painfully obvious:

• The deviant behavior of the 1950’s are now considered to be appropriate social norms.
• Acts that were horrifying and rare in the 1950’s are now commonplace and mere distractions to our calloused modern lives.
• Cultural restrictions against aberrant behavior have been erased under the guise of tolerance.
• Responsible inhibitions have been replaced by insatiable appetites for the unholy.
• Shameful practices are now celebrated instead of hidden in shame because we have lost our sense of shame.

I see too much evidence to ignore the dramatic changes in economics, government, and even geography. I am convinced of only one thing. When I grow up, I want to be that crazy old man.

Does anyone want to join me?

Til next time, have a bloggin’-good day in the Messiah!
Shalom,
Randy Weiss www.crosstalk.org

Seymour wrote:

“dear randy weiss…i’m not quite sure what your point in your essay is…i understand that God is not vengeful as depicted in old testament..but in a world like ours,..which i don’t see much difference from the early hebrews..in this present world led by dictators and false prophets..what is one to think???my quandry is why is the media, leaders, politicians,seemingly, such non believers or new age thinkers…and so many seem to be of the hebrew faith….what are they trying to do to us???even in isreal…how many really practise their faith as the Chosen ones????me. i’m a dissatified catholic(american to boot) and don’t see much input into our modern life…i do believe the bible has been interpreted in a way to subdue man..i believe Jesus will return and His true message will be revealed..the jews turned away from Him..and i think killed him..we grew up in catholisism hearing that the romans killed him…i never bought that crap..islam has taken hold of our world..it has recently over taken christianity..thats a fact..meanwhile..political correct thinking has stymied the world in its actions..and unfortunately, to me..the jewish intelligensia is behind it..whats up with that??? sincerely,
Seymour I. Gnorance”

If you agree with my response, let me know.  If you think I am an idiot, perhaps that is something I need to hear as well.

Hi Seymour,
My point should have been clear. The earth shifted on its axis 4 inches. Japan was moved 8 feet. These tragic, historic shifts were not a result of gas guzzler SUV’s or the defunding of NPR. This human tragedy is a divine judgment on the creation from the Creator. God is in charge. His power transcends all power. He will judge sin. His judgment is being made known in the earth so sinners might choose to repent and turn from their wickedness. How about you?

Have you turned from your sins? Are you a follower of Jesus Christ? Are your sins forgiven through the blood of the lamb? All have sinned–this includes you. Without forgiveness according to the Scriptures, you will be judged and found guilty by God. Judgment brings suffering.

Your understanding of God is flawed. You said, “i understand that God is not vengeful.” You are mistaken. It is clear that you have strong opinions about God and the Bible. But I must ask, “Do you know God? Have you read the Bible?” God’s attitude on vengeance is quite plain. Consider His sentiment expressed in Deuteronomy 32:35, Psalm 94:1, Proverbs 6:34, Isaiah 34:8, Isaiah, 35:4, Isaiah 61:2, Isaiah 63:4, Jeremiah 51:6, and a host of comparable texts. And in case you are deluded into thinking this view was a mischaracterization that vanished in the New Testament, please read Luke 21:22, Hebrews 10:30-31, and evaluate Romans 12:19 “Vengeance is mine, I will repay says the Lord.”

Perhaps the god that you created in your own image or in your vain imagination will not execute judgment or punish with a vengeance. But the God of the Bible makes no excuse for punishing sin and judging with a vengeance. The good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that God has also offered a clear way of escape from all such vengeance to those who believe and follow the Lord.

Regarding your comments about the Jews, suffice it to say that if the “ jewish intelligensia” was really in charge of everything as you suggest, we might have done a better job than those who are really in charge. Think about it Seymour, Israel is surrounded by enemies at every border. Israel remains the only single member nation of the UN to be perpetually forbidden from holding a seat on the venerable UN Security Council. Yet Libya was not only on this same Council, Libya was elected President of the UN Security Council in 2008. Sounds like a pretty stupid intelligensia! In fact, as a Jew, I think I am offended by your ridiculous accusation.

I must also add that it is uninformed and ludicrous for you to suggest, “the jews turned away from Him (Jesus)..and i think killed him.”Seymour, I am a Jew and I believe in Jesus. Ever since the first Jewish disciples, there has always been Jews who believed in Jesus. You mentioned that you were a Catholic. The Catholics believe their popes all trace their authority back to Peter. Did you know the 1st 15 popes were Jewish? Did you know there would be no church were it not for the Jews who believed in Jesus? Did you know that 64 of the 66 books of the Protestant Bible were written by Jews.

Seymour, if you are not among the redeemed, I can understand why your mind is blinded by the world system. If you continue to walk in blindness, you will experience the vengeance of God. There is only one way to avoid that awful result. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).

If you can stomach this stuff, til next time, have a bloggin’–good day in the Messiah!
Shalom,
RandyWeiss
www.crosstalk.org

God opens the earth and consumes people. Why? It would be an error to say God was hungry. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Ps. 50:10). If hunger was a motive, any little forest fire with a missing truckload of B-B-Q sauce could have made a dandy picnic for a hungry god.

It would be an error to say God wanted the people to suffer. It seems like a petty god who would split the earth or make the sun stand still so an army could have more daylight to slaughter their enemies (Joshua 10:12). Bigger motives reveal a bigger God. Perhaps if God wanted to make a point, He would really show off by dropkicking the planet on its axis 4 inches or shifting an entire nation 8 feet closer to the end of time as a natural event. Could God actually do anything so dramatic or did someone try to fool Mother Nature?

You can’t fool Mother Nature. Mother nature fooled us—she does not exist. I’m not sure there are even “natural” events. What is natural about mothers slaughtering babies? What is natural about genocide? What is natural about dictators enslaving the impoverished masses? What is natural about the creation denying the Creator? Yet even insurance companies believe in God. They use Him to get out of paying claims deemed as “acts of God.” But then the world system laughs at God behind His back until a greater tragedy strikes.

God does open up the earth and swallow people. Why? The Torah explains one such incidence with perfect clarity in the story of a man named Korah. He and his constituents rejected God’s leadership and usurped their own authority. An earthquake clarified God’s perspective on such confusion. God had chosen Moses to lead His people. The folks who murmured against God died. People still complain about God. People still want to usurp power. People are still not satisfied with their place in the pecking order. People forget how and why God consumed Korah and his conniving friends in a tragic earthquake. Unbelief is the worst human pollutant and the greatest environmental hazard to the planet. Never forget that God didn’t sneak up on Korah. The earthquake was predicted. A “natural disaster” was the punishment announced to be given to the losers of the contest for power against Moses.

For those unfamiliar with the Torah, the back-story of the earthquake was that a small group of Levites had created a campaign of complaining and demeaning God’s authority structure. To settle the matter, Moses and the murmuring wannabees agreed to a test to see who God had really tapped to lead the nation. The contestants gathered up a bunch of golden fire pans and each player placed a little incense in their gold pan. Then they added a little bit of fire to make an offering to God.

God explained the rules so everyone could be prepared. The headline was simple and no small print was required. “Separate yourselves . . . that I may consume them (the losers) in a moment.” And in a moment, the earth opened up and God consumed them.

Korah, just like many powerful people, wanted more power. They tend to forget that God is in charge. But powerful people want to be the Big Cahuna. Korah and his wannabees came to Moses with their list of demands saying, “Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them; wherefore then lift ye up yourselves among them” (Num. 16:3b). My paraphrase says, “Hey Mo, I’m just as good as you are so make room Bubba!”

The confederation led by Korah numbered 250 “men of renown” (Num. 16:2b). These were famous guys among the Israelites. Korah was a Levite—a servant of the Lord—a minister of the tabernacle. Moses knew what was happening, but instead of justifying his position or reminding Korah of how God had used Moses to lead them out of Egypt, Moses did what a true servant would do. He fell on his face before God. Let me read what God told Korah in English: “Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them? And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also?” (Num. 16:9-10). Some guys are never satisfied. Like Moses reported of Korah.

Korah was a Levite who wanted to be more. Moses asked, “Seek ye the priesthood also?” The Hebrew is really telling. “OOO-Vee-kosh-tem gom cahuna.” Gom cahuna! Cahuna comes from the Hebrew word cohayn. It means priest. God made Korah a Levite, but he wasn’t satisfied. He wanted to be a priest. I guess too many folks want to be the big cahuna. Korah sure did. But you don’t become the big cahuna by wanting to. You see, God anoints the big cahuna; we don’t take it upon ourselves. God wants us to be satisfied with His call on our life. If our call is not God’s call, our life becomes a search for status—an exercise in frustration that is prone to being marked by jealousy and envy.

The biblical account is quite instructive in that when the disaster had ended, God told His chosen priest Eliezer,  to gather up the golden censers that had been used by those Levites whom God had swallowed in the earthquake.  The gold was made into a covering for the holy altar.  Their unholy gifts were converted into a holy memorial to remind the Children of Israel to be satisfied with the will of God and to stop complaining.  God hates murmuring.  It reveals a distrust and dissatisfaction in the hearts of God’s people.

So how are we doing on our journey?  Are we murmuring?  Are we ever satisfied?  My prayer is that we can find peace with God and satisfaction in His plan for our lives. If we pursue God’s will, we will be better able to discern the steps we must take on our individual journey of faith. The path that God leads is the only place of safety in a dangerous world. The destination of this journey is eternal life.

God is sovereign. We don’t need to be the big cahuna. We need to serve the Lord of creation. God alone is worthy of our worship. God knows the end from the beginning.  I’m not implying that God is mad at Japan in particular.  They seem to complain less than Dallas cowboy fans.  I think judgment is coming to our world if we fail to repent.  The earth has shifted. Are we willing to consider the results of continuing in disobedience? Are we willing to serve and obey?

Til next time, have a bloggin’-good day!
Shalom,
Randy Weiss
www.crosstalk.org

In a recent century, the accountant who handled our ministry financial records couldn’t identify any monetary success in our ministry work. It was implied that I was a failure. He didn’t say it quite so bluntly. He merely observed my protocol was “ready, fire, aim!” Yet I am not a failure. I am not a success. I aim; therefore I am.

I reject the famous words of René Descartes, “Cogito ergo sum–I think, therefore I am.” He was content to look within for answers. He trusted himself and the human condition more than was wise. I look up instead of within. Christians are to pursue direction chosen by One with a higher perspective. We are to pursue a more perfect plan from a perfect planner who is worthy of our submission. God establishes our targets; even those seemingly out of our reach. So in response to Descartes, I aim; therefore I am. But who am I?

Who am I? To my blog readers, I am a blog writer. To TV program viewers, I am televangelist. To my employees in my secular businesses, I am an employer. To my family . . . well, that is a moving target.

First, I was just a husband. Then, I was a parent. Now, I am a grandparent. My children grew up. Children move out. Then they move back. Lately, it seems that one moves out and another moves back. Like many Americans, it is easier to envision an empty nest egg than an empty nest. No worries, I love my family and Jesus is Lord!

Still—who am I? Last year I released another music CD “Plantin’ Rocks.” It felt great to return to my ministry roots. I sing my little songs and talk about Jesus. That is my most joyous service.

This coming year, I am releasing a new scholarly text titled, “JUDAISM THROUGH THE EYES OF JESUS: A View of Ancient Jewish Sects From the New Testament Era.” Last night I was listening to the audio-book version for final edits. As I listened, I realized how the author’s perspective was strangely limited. Of course being the author, I can justify such a narrowly focused interest. My academic pursuits do not chase science or attempt to master business. I want to know more about Jesus and the people who first came to know Him. I am a Jew. So were they. What was going on with my people when Jesus walked the streets of Jerusalem?

Who am I? One of my cousins in Israel is an ultra-Orthodox Talmud teacher. Recently, he asked to know my Hebrew name. I told him my name is Avram—named after our great-grandfather. He was incredulous. “Avram or Avraham?” he queried. I repeated, “Avram.” He asked me if I was certain? He was pretty sure I was mistaken. It seemed strange to be accused of not knowing my own name. Then he mentioned that on his last trip to America, he had visited the cemetery and read the name on Great-grandpa’s grave. In Hebrew, it was Avraham. I assured him some mistake had been made. My parents had most assuredly named me Avram. I promised to go back and check my Bar Mitzvah certificate. Believe it or not, my yellowed certificate was printed entirely in English. No solution to the mystery was revealed.

I mentioned our cousin’s call to my sister. She was surprised and said, “I thought your Hebrew name was Avraham too. Are you sure?” My brother-in-law, always the philosopher, then asked, “How does anybody really know who they are?” Then my sister proceeded to send me a picture from her cell phone. Oddly coincidental, she had just visited the cemetery. She had taken a photograph of the same headstone. I was named after a man named Avraham. His English name was Abraham, not Abram. Who am I?

Throughout my entire life, my Hebrew name has been Avram! It was never Avraham. I have always been satisfied to know my parents named me after the younger, unfulfilled Abram. I have enjoyed being called to the Torah as Avram when granted an aliyah before my people in the synagogue. Anyone who has read the Bible knows that much more responsibility was dumped on Abraham. Abram merely waited for a son. Avraham was supposed to be an international blessing and the father of nations (Genesis 17:1-9).

This identity crisis gets worse. As some might know, my parents had prohibited me from communicating with them. A televangelist son was too much for them to bear. In any case, after the passing of our folks, my sister sent my baby book to me. My mind raced to where I had put the memento so I could learn my true Hebrew name. Unbelievable! Not only was my Hebrew name not listed, my Mom had actually written a different English moniker in my baby book. My legal name is Randall A. Weiss. I often kid around and tell folks my parents didn’t like me enough to give me a full middle name. I only merited an initial. Guess what? In my first few days of life, they must have re-evaluated leaving me without a middle name. In my baby book, my Mom called me Randall Allen Weiss. That is not my name. That is not the name on my birth certificate or passport. My parents couldn’t even decide who I was.

Then the light-bulb moment! I contacted my rabbi. I told him of my dilemma. I thought certainly he knew the secret handshake and had complete access to the hidden records where every firstborn Jewish son’s Hebrew name was preserved for posterity. My rabbi provided the proverbial Jewish response with a question. “Who do you want to be?” he asked. I trust my readers will forgive me. But the only thing that came to mind was a scene from Easy Rider. In the film, Luke Askew dialogued with an equally stoned Jack Nicholson, Peter Fonda, and the late Dennis Hopper. The question was asked, “Did you ever want to be anybody else?” He slowly exhaled and said, “Yeah—Porky Pig.”

Well, I do not want to be a cartoon character. But I do want to be the man God has called me to be. Up until my cousin asked the question, I was strangely relieved to be Avram. God often changed the names of characters in the Bible prior to phase shifts in their lives. As I get closer to the retirement side of life, I sort of hoped things would get less confusing and more relaxed. But I am now seeking the Lord to help me understand who I am supposed to be for the rest of my life. Maybe that 20th century accountant was trying to tell me something? The ministry’s finances remain tedious. We are always tackling new outreaches without much regard to our funding. Am I supposed to become a better marksman? I hope not. Financial success in ministry is less important than continued spiritual growth for me and for those to whom I minister.

As the head of an international ministry, I made a decision many years ago to never run this ministry like a business. Thank God, I do not run my business like a charity. The goals are different. Yet in all things we are commanded to be good stewards of everything entrusted into our hands. I am sincerely trying to be a good steward of every resource under my care.

Living for God is a constant adventure and He is with each pioneer who will travel the faith path. “Ready, fire, aim!” is the only plan I know. Therefore, I must ask anyone who cares about me to pray. I am in pursuit of the will of the living God. I want to be directed toward His goals. I am ready to be pointed anew in any direction that will please Him. May God have His way in my life.

How about you? Are you ready? Are you fired toward a target that only God has identified? It is really exhilarating! Have you given everything to God? Have you given anything to Him? Nothing is ever wasted or lost when it is given to the Lord. Give Him your entire life and watch the amazing things He will do in and through you.

Til next time, have a bloggin’-good day in the Messiah!
Shalom,
Avraham ben Moshe Aharon* aka Randy Weiss
www.crosstalk.org

*But that is another story for another blog–we are known by our Father!

I’m in a battle. It feels like the issues at stake transcend my personal concerns and may literally impact the ability of ministers to preach the Gospel over free-to-air television. Governmental leaders have been permitted to quietly ride roughshod over the future of TV broadcasters. There has been no public outcry. Shockingly, even many within the industry have failed to grasp the gravity of their own situation. Keep your ears open. The spectrum war has begun.

The FCC must be stopped from destroying a vibrant industry. We must pray that instead, our government will insist that the FCC deregulate the most technologically restrictive rules against TV broadcasters. Our antiquated horse-drawn broadcast carriage should be empowered to allow America to enjoy the technological digital advances that would stun the world and bless the American public. Remember, the public airwaves are free. They should not be sold to the highest bidder without regard for the content that would be brought to pollute our airwaves or the financial shackles the wireless masters would place on our wireless devices. And most critical, many Christian TV broadcasters would lose their voices as thousands of stations could disappear as result of the so-called “spectrum re-packing.”

Among friends, family, ministry, and professional acquaintances, I have often spoken of myself as a “peanut-vendor.” My self-deprecating words have been intended to make it clear that I recognize there are giants in ministry, giants in broadcasting, giants in wisdom,–people I respect, among whom I do not count myself as a peer. However, I now realize that my words diminish what God has done in my life and the lives of other small ministries. For this error in conversation I repent. From this day forward I intend to not speak words that depreciate the day of small beginnings. “For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice . . . the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.” (Zech. 4:10). I intend to rejoice, to see the victory, and to declare the great things that our Lord is doing in the face of other giants!

As a broadcaster, I want to help achieve the worthwhile goal of our President to bring high speed connectivity to rural America.  Broadcasters know there are better, faster, and cheaper ways to achieve this goal than turning the task over to the government or to the hand-picked corporate friends of the government.  The White House, a symbol of international power, is a giant. The Federal Government is a giant. The FCC is a giant. The head of the FCC—also hand-picked by the White House, is a giant. And each of these giants is poised to crush independent Christian TV broadcasters, along with thousands of local television station operations. Bills are pending in Congress at this very moment that could be the death knell of a vibrant, uniquely American industry. The plan put forth by the FCC and supported by the White House could end an age of free speech to those of us who preach the Gospel through television but cannot afford to, or are unwilling to, crawl into bed with the cable giants or the wireless giants.

But the Word of God has altered my views during the last few days. While re-reading the famous account of the 12 spies sent into the land of Canaan, I received a revelation and a correction from the Lord. The evil report from the ten spies was as follows: “We saw the giants . . . and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight” (Numbers 13:33).
The implication is known by anyone who has read the account. The personal application is known to anyone who has been in synagogue or church long enough to hear a preacher explain why the Children of Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years before entering the land of milk and honey.

I assume that anyone who knows my family understands that I named two of my sons Caleb & Joshua because Caleb came back with a report of faith—“Giants, what giants? We don’t see no stinkin’ giants. Shut up, suit up, suck it up, and let’s go take the land!” (Numbers 13:30 Randy’s paraphrase). And of course, Joshua led the children of Israel into the Promised Land 40 years later.

Here is the deal for today. I was reminded that I have been afraid to stand up, speak up, declare our victory, and then vigorously pursue the freedom and influence that should be ours for the Gospel. I both confess and repent that I have been unwilling to make this fight known or to face it head on. As a result, I have considered myself to be a “peanut-vendor” and little more than a grasshopper in the tall, noxious weeds of society.

Today I say “No more!” The Children of Israel were as small as they believed themselves to be. And their enemies simply agreed with their own pitiful analysis.  We are not grasshoppers.  If millions of Christian citizens, hundreds of thousands of Christian pastors, and thousands of independent broadcasters speak and pray in unity, no force will but heaven will bring us to our knees.

Today, I stand up! Today, I refuse to be silent! Today, I declare my allegiance to the Holy God of Israel and to the call to capture the airwaves to announce His glory. God’s love will be made known in the weeds, in the suburbs, in the slums, by the seaside, and on the mountains where we have built television transmission sites to declare the coming of the Messiah!

To the enemies of God, it will be known that His enemies will be scattered. They are not giants. In God’s sight, they are tiny. They have no power beyond the place they hold as pawns in a more perfect plan than can be imagined by short-sighted mortals.

If the TV broadcast stations above channel 31 are auctioned away in a so-called “spectrum re-packing,” many thousands of small broadcasters may be crushed for the benefit of giants. The diverse voices of many Christian broadcasters will be silenced.
Instead of a government take-over of our airwaves, the FCC should allow broadcasters the same freedom to operate as our competitors. Mobile carriers have had this freedom from the beginning. TV broadcasters should be encouraged, not prohibited from bringing free broadband services, along with free over-the air television to America.

Besides the FCC and our competitors, who would NOT want Americans to have access to such blessed freedoms? Instead, the government spectrum plan will permit giants to further monopolize broadband. Instead of a technological renaissance to amplify the voices of freedom, the spectrum plan will lead to the silencing of the voices of countless independent broadcasters.

The Bible speaks of principalities and powers of the air. But I serve the King who is above every prince. I serve the Creator King of the universe who is above the temporary earthly sheriff of the airwaves. I serve the Lord who will soon return to split the air with the sound of His victory. I cherish the freedom we enjoy in America and I will declare the freedom that comes from God across the public airwaves. I am not a “peanut-vendor.” I am a servant of the living God with a message of hope and a holy call to share God’s love with those who lack hope in a fallen world.

We have no need to take the air. It is already ours. Pray we do not yield the air in fear to those who would pervert it because they do not have the fear of God.

If you fear the Lord, pray for our cause.
Shalom,
Randy Weiss

Having a tough day?  Rejoice.  Having a great day?  Rejoice.  If you woke up breathing on your own—rejoice!

Is life pretty scary?  Quit moaning about it.  Join the human race and make it better by rejoicing.  Will the next complaint on the tip of your tongue really improve your situation?  Cultivate silence or change the subject.  Reflect on the purpose of God in your situation until you can give it up to the Lord and rejoice.

Could things be better at work, at church, in the boardroom or the bedroom?  Could things be better on the golf course or career course? Could things be better at home, at school, at play?  Rejoice! It could be worse.

I believe if you rejoice in your circumstance that one of two things will most likely occur:

• Either your circumstance will improve,
• Or your attitude about your circumstance will improve.

In either case, you will have more reason to rejoice.

If you become a more joyous person (one who rejoices!), you will be better equipped to analyze your challenges clearly.  You will also bring a more positive approach to life.  A mind that has been cleared by rejoicing is an engine for God to solve problems and bring clarity to a confused atmosphere.  You simply must realize that a person with a good attitude is better equipped to accomplish more good things than one driven by anger, bitterness, resentment, or jealousy.  What kind of person are you?

Before you brush me off as a happy cuckoo-for-Jesus-freak (guilty as accused), may I ask you a few more questions?

1.      Does God love you?

2.      Does God know what He is doing with your life?

3.      Does God want to help you achieve the good things He has planned for your life?

4.      Are you pursuing His good will for His best in your life by faith?

If you are piloting your own course without God’s help, you have reason to worry.  But you have no right to complain.  Shame on you.  God is willing to give you wisdom to pursue the fix that will bring a correction to your course and get you back on His.

If you are walking in the blessings of God, you are already in the habit of rejoicing.  Your life already exhibits the joyous results of the blessings of God.  However, if your life is out of sorts and complaints flow from your tongue faster than praise, I must ask two more questions:

1.      Will your complaints accomplish both your goals and God’s goals for your life?

2.      Are they the same?

We do live in a fallen world but we serve a Risen Savior—REJOICE!

Evil is resident in our society and culture.  But Jesus overcame the world—REJOICE!

In these last days true followers must be bold to speak the truth in love.  In so doing, do not forget to REJOICE.

If you are a Christian, there is no condemnation in Christ.  Why would any Christian therefore divvy it out in tiny doses of poisonous, depreciating, joy-stealing words?   Instead, REJOICE!  If you are not a Christian, why are you reading this?  Avoid the certain condemnation that you face, repent, and find the joy of knowing Jesus.

In conclusion, inspect the inspiration for this message from the Apostle Paul.  “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest , whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you (Philippians 4:4-9).

Til next time have a bloggin’-good day in the Messiah!
Shalom,
Randy Weiss
www.crosstalk.org

The name is changed, but the question asked in broken English is as follows:

Randy,
Thanks for your special concerned massege that you have sent to me. I have a question to you that is I always struggle in my life. Many times I fell to exhausted my life when I wandering with my faith in God in the present world`s desaster.

What kinds of method I need to overcome my problem in life that I struggling?
Could you answer me in this regard.
May God bless you.
Trang

I prayed earnestly for Trang and responded below:

Hello Trang,
Life is short and full of blisters. That is my interpretation of Job 14:1. “Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.” Like Job, we are tested. Like Job, we become weary. Like Job, we must learn to trust God at the deepest level of our being. Because with Job, if we know the grace of God, we will declare, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in Him” (Job 13:15a). God is real!

The promise to you Trang, spoken by the Hebrew prophet Isaiah is “they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isa. 40:31).

The promise from the Spirit of Grace is that as you are “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1st Peter 5:7). As often as you pray–He hears!

The context of that promise relates to strong believers, weak believers, leaders, and faithful followers of our Messiah. The Apostle Peter reminded us that when Jesus returns, we will receive a crown of glory that will never fade away. Your temporary struggles will disappear and your eternal blessings await.

We need each other for encouragement in times of weakness, counsel in times of doubt, and warning in times of danger. If you are weak, draw near to the Lord. He is strongest in your weakness. If you are wrestling with doubt, pursue the solitude of prayer, the wisdom that comes from personal Bible study, and the fellowship of the saints to help you rejoice in the goodness of the Lord. As you reflect on His goodness, worship Him. If you are struggling, worship more. This is the sacrifice of praise that will lift you above your struggle.

Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God. The Lord is able to lift your head and renew your heart. If you are under an attack of the enemy, do not think it odd or uncommon. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you” (1st Peter 4:12). Resist your adversary and move ever closer to your Redeemer wherein you will find safety. Your test will not go on forever. Regardless of how it feels, your test will come to an end, your faith will strengthened, and you will inherit eternal victory.

These are probably not the words you hoped to hear, but these are the words I want to share with you precious brother. “The time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator” (1st Peter 4:17-19). In other words, we are being purified. The purification process is not fun, but it is necessary and good. It is for the perfecting of the saints and I believe that you are a saint. Let your words be seasoned with grace as you speak with those who are experiencing their own struggles. Point them to the lover of their soul.

Meditate on the words of Peter:
“When the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away . . . be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (1st Peter 5:4-11).

You are probably familiar with the famous messianic text read by Jesus when he visited the synagogue in His hometown of Nazareth. Jesus turned to Isaiah and declared, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4:18-19). But then instead of finishing the sentence, He just stopped in the middle and abruptly closed the book.

The conclusion of that sentence in Isaiah left unspoken by Jesus proclaimed that a future time of judgment was to come. A day of vengeance is ahead. But God has also promised to comfort those who mourn. God offers faithful believers a chance to make an exchange. If we bring Him our mourning, He will give us comfort. We can bring Him the ashes of a burned-out life and He will give us “beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness” (Isaiah 61:3). Brother Trang, commit yourself to praise the Lord .  As you do, God will be glorified and you will become a tree of righteousness planted of the LORD.

My prayers are with you. Please feel free to write to me anytime.
Shalom,
Randy Weiss

I hope we can all pray for Trang. And I pray we can all meditate on the Scriptures quoted above.  God’s Word is life-changing!

Til next time, have a bloggin’-good day in the Messiah!
Shalom,
Randy Weiss www.crosstalk.org

Our response to pain and doubt is very important.  If we allow our minds and emotions to be fueled by pain, doubt will linger where healing would better serve our soul.  Everyone hurts at some time or another.  Everyone has doubt along the way on their journey.  We just need to make sure we never allow doubt to determine our destination.

To those of us who have seen the life-changing power of God, and have experienced His miraculous keeping-power, there is an answer to universal doubt in times of grief.

The universal solution is obedience. “Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine” (Ex. 19:4-5).  And the people answered, “All that the LORD hath spoken we will do” (Ex. 19:8).

My people were often in trouble due to their own behavior.  But they got one thing right.  They understood the power of God well enough to know that the correct response to His call was, YES LORD!

I do not know what you are experiencing.  I do not know what causes your pain or doubt.  I do know that if you seek the will of God and commit to do what pleases Him, obedience will lead to your joy.  God will be the source of your healing.  And His Spirit will direct you to the glorious outcome that will bless you and bring Him honor.  Develop a YES LORD mentality and your mind will be ready to replace pain and doubt with peace and joy.  This is the will of God for you!

Til next time, have a bloggin’-good day in the Messiah!
Shalom,
Randy Weiss www.crosstalk.org