Friday, September 11, 2015

A different look

Over the years I've heard a lot of sermons on Gideon.  He's been one of my heroes in the Bible and I feel he kinda gets the short end of the stick at times.  When I hear sermons preached about him all I hear is how he doubted and tested God.  If we're honest as humans we're not that different from him.  Look at the time frame that Gideon lived in.  Judges 2:10 "After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel."  Sounds a lot like today.  Then we fast forward to Judges 6:1 to the time when Gideon lived.  "The Israelites did evil in the Lord's sight.  So the Lord handed them over to the Midianites for seven years."  Let that sink in.  Israel has rejected God and brought this seven year tyranny on themselves.  In verse 7 of chapter 6 they finally cry out to God.  Suddenly it occurs to the nation that God can help them if they turn to him.  First God sends a prophet then an Angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon.  vs 12  "The Angel of the Lord appeared to him and said `Mighty hero, The Lord is with you.'"  Now if I was threshing wheat I would like Gideon be caught off guard.  Think about this from the perspective of Gideon for a moment.  He's getting wheat ready for harvest trying to protect it from the Midianites stealing it.  When someone appears and calls you mighty hero you are a farmer.  You might also ask questions.  see my brain goes to movies i like and i can mentally see Casey Jones on the first Ninja Turtle movie asking "Excuse me are you talking to me?  Then this Angel of the Lord tells Gideon God is going to use him to rescue Israel in verses 13-15.  Then look at verses 17-18 because this is the first test Gideon asks of God.  "Gideon replied `If you are truly going to help me, show me a sign to prove it is really the Lord speaking to me.  Don't go away until I come back and bring my offering to you.'  He answered `I will stay here until you return.'"  In 6:33-40 Gideon asks God for a sign with the fleece.  Also before Gideon attacks the enemy he's given a chance by God to hear a dream translated to assure him that God is going to provide the victory.  In Hebrews 11:32 we find Gideon again mentioned and this time it's among the Hall of Faith heroes.  Here's a thought I think we miss about Gideon's story.  We get hung up on the doubting but maybe we have missed the fact that God willingly and patiently dealt with Gideon to prove he can be trusted.  As someone who has had trust issues of my own I am thankful God does that for us.  The Bible is often referred to as the greatest love story ever because it's a story of God reaching down to humankind and he has done so and continues to do so.  He meets us in our need for him.  



The above song Honesty changed the way I viewed prayer.  King David prayed some brutally honest prayers that to this day people become surprised they are in the Bible but God needs us to be honest with him in order to change us.  


the song He never changes was brought to mind by my friend John Sitarski when I was getting this all ready he reminded me of Hebrews 13:8


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Friday, September 4, 2015

hope

The Batcave Blog has always been about hope for those who read it.

3All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.5And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.
6So be truly glad.b There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. 7These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
8You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 9The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.
10This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. 11They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward.
12They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.
Let this passage encourage you.  






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Friday, August 28, 2015

Be Humble

We live i a world and generation that is so "Me" centered.  Because I am a wrestling fan I can pick on the larger than life personalities there.  Bret "The Hitman" Hart's catch phrase was "I'm the best there is the best there was the best there ever will be."  Another thing we can look at is reality TV.  We have people who are famous just for being famous.  God calls his people to be different.  Micah 6:8  "Now, O People, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."  Before we get to the next verses I want to give you a contrast from the comic book world.  Wolverine has a phrase he says "I'm the best there is at what I do and what I do isn't always pretty."  Then you come to Spider-Man.  Spider-Man is the most down to earth humble hero ever.  "With great power there must also come great responsibility."  One is claiming to be the best the other is shouldering responsibility that may not even be his and helping others.  My friend Jonathan Malm has this book he wrote called Created For More and the first chapter is called Be Humble.  I want to share this from the book.  "Humility is not thinking less of yourself.  It's thinking of yourself less.  It's having an accurate picture of yourself and realizing it ultimately doesn't matter.  Only what glorifies God matters.  Humility is taking God seriously without taking ourselves too seriously."  In 1 Peter 5:6-7 we find this "So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.  Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you."  In the Old Testament God referred to himself as "I Am".  My friend Kathy Dickinson had this saying she told me.  "I am not but I know I Am."  See when my life ends all I've done doesn't matter what matters is did I glorify God..  Through all the Bible studies I've done I've always want the same thing and that's for me to be the most insignificant part and God and his word to be the most important.  

Here's a challenge for you.  "Whatever your outlet, create something intentionally horrible.  And have fun doing it!  Then share it with friends and family.  Let them enjoy the atrocity."  Let the exercise show you not to take things so serious.  




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Friday, August 14, 2015

Project Hope 2.0

About 2 years ago I did something called Project Hope because I felt there was a need for it.  Instead of my usual blog I did a post of nothing but music videos to encourage and bring hope.  Lately Marion and I have been incredibly stressed out because of our jobs.  One day she asked me to find a song to help her see there will be hope.  For those of you in the same boat this is for you.  Some of you weren't around for the first Project Hope and some were.  You may see new and old songs but most importantly I hope God uses it to lift your spirits.  As I was getting this ready I was on Facebook and I happen to be friends with Christian Singer Shelia Walsh and she shared this personal story that I know we all need.  About 10:18 pm on Tuesday she posted this

 "A tiny bird just hit our bedroom window. I held it as it took it's last breath and remembered this message from Jesus to you and to me, “What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”
Matthew 10:29-31 NLT
If God saw that precious little bird fall, He sees you, He loves you, He misses nothing. You are never alone"

i would like to add this as well 
John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."


















































 
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