As we read through the 5 books of Moses we can’t escape the haunting questions about why Almighty God, the Eternal One, or whatever Name you like best to describe Him, would have entire populations of men, women, and children killed, to erase that people group from the Earth.

It doesn’t seem to square with the concept of a loving and merciful and forgiving God. We want to believe that everyone is redeemable, everyone can be saved, and find a way for that to happen. This is what WE want, the kind of a deity WE want.

We also believe in a ‘just’ God; One who does the right thing. But what is ‘right’? And who gets to say so? Let me tell you, this is the subject of great theological debate in every Seminary in the land. Certainly a ‘just’ God requires ‘justice.’ So what is the ‘justice’ for someone who firmly and repeatedly rejects the very One Who is offering to save them?

The Old Testament is story after story of how God dealt with people. He didn’t hide what He wanted from them. He explained Himself over and over. He told them what He was going to ask of them, then He told them what He wanted, and then He told them what He had previously told them! The entire concept of God’s “Blessing” is based upon His righteousness, yes, but also upon our obedience. In the Old Testament, failure to obey could be deadly.

I know this short piece won’t answer all the questions. It cannot. You are too good at trying to phrase a question to God that you think, as in a debate with the Almighty somehow, He has to answer your way. Me too. So let’s at least give Him thanks for the NEW TESTAMENT, and the available salvation to any through Jesus Christ. After all, it’s Easter-time, and we should focus on what He has done for us. Talk about mercy, grace, forgiveness, AND justice!

Does this New Covenant in Jesus Christ speak to you? Does it answer ANY questions about what God Almighty wants? If you’re having trouble reconciling the God of the Old Testament with Jesus Christ, God of the new Testament, can you at least make a decision about Him? Is Jesus Christ God? Is the Bible account of His life accurate, or myth? Is your faith in Him, or in man’s interpretations? How can you know? Is there a Spirit at work in YOUR life to help you? Is the Lord absent from your life, or have you shut Him out in spite of His repeated attempts to help you? Are we so selfish in our attempts to get what WE want that we completely forget that He wants to Bless us, if we would simply follow Him?

This New Covenant asks us to follow Jesus Christ. And it too is deadly. But this time it’s our old nature that dies; that old self caring only about self. Let that thing die, and put on the new nature Jesus has for you. It is complete; it is full; it is exciting; it is amazingly wonder-filled; it is “Christ IN you, the hope of Glory,” now living a new life through you. Yes, you.

In Leviticus there are instructions for many things – ways to approach God Almighty – Laws. It can get kind of technical, seem lengthy, even a bit boring, if we’re not paying attention.

According to Strong’s Concordance, “the Hebrew word for ‘a memorial offering’ is that which calls to memory. It was the name of that part of the meat-offering which was burned with frankincense upon the altar; the sweet savor of which, ascending to heaven, was regarded as commending to God the ‘remembrance’ of the worshipper.’

So, does anything jump out at you about this?

God set up a system by which the people did things, sacrifices if you will, for the purpose of maintaining memory! Who’s memory? Was it so that the people would remember God, or that God would remember His covenant?

I’ll let you theologians work on that, but it surely included that the people would remember God. People tend to forget things; like healing, deliverance, and salvation. You know, the minor stuff.

Not only do we forget that God delivered His people out of Egypt, fed them, clothed them, led them, defeated their enemies before them, gave them children, taught them His Word, water, and a few other things I’m sure, but we also seem to forget that He asks OF US a thing or two.

Or maybe it was so that the people could keep reminding God of His covenant promises. After all, He might be getting forgetful in His old age.

Or, maybe it was a precursor. A foreshadow. A type of something to come. Perhaps God was ‘training’ His people, in preparation for Jesus Christ. Perhaps God was setting the stage for a Communion. Perhaps God wants His people, in the New Covenant, us, to obey the words of Jesus to “remember Me”.

By remembering Jesus Christ we accomplish both possibilities I think. We certainly get our minds back on the right track of faith in Christ’s work on the cross FOR US. That’s good. And we also remind God, every time we celebrate Communion, of what He has done for us, that wonderful New Covenant in His blood. This, I think, is always worthy of our study, for we are always the beneficiary.

I’ve been reading again the exceptional story of the Exodus of God’s people out of Egypt. Let’s face it, we don’t like being in captivity or bondage. We want out. We want freedom.

This happened thousands of years before America demanded freedom from the British, and yet we Americans have a passionate desire to KEEP our freedoms! What people on Earth would resist freedom? None! (The only freedom we would ever resist is the freedom of the other guy, so that WE could live better by having him be our slave.)
God shows up, tells Moses what to do, and helps the people out of bondage. Drinks all around, right? No; murmuring and complaining all around! What’s WITH these people?

As the story goes on it gets worse. Instead of being a people full of FAITH, convinced by the mighty Hand of God upon Egypt, they keep resisting Moses, and God Who is directing him. Moses goes to meet with God up on the mountain, and the people violate the previously given ‘commandments,’ by again ‘forgetting what God said’ and off to do their own thing. In this case an idol. (Doing our own thing doesn’t seem to be working.)

What happened to faith?

Why did the people so quickly abandon their faith?

I can quickly move into praising God as I read this story of such a stubborn, stiff-necked people of the Old Covenant, rejoicing that I now live in the time of the New Covenant. I can easily worship God when I consider what He has done for me in, with, by, and through Jesus Christ. He has paid the price, and I am set free. Glory Hallelujah! I must say, however, it humbles me to think that I am not so much different from those folks in the days of the Exodus.

What happened to faith?

And how do we get it back?

By doing what we’re doing now?

Or, do we need to make the leap?

Trust God. Believe. Rejoice. And let His Holy Spirit change things…

Introducing “Camino 3:52”

A “camino” is a walk, a path, and is meant to be an opportunity for spiritual discovery and growth. Walking gives one the time and solitude to be alone with God. Doug Terpening has shared how his walks, around his neighborhood, give him time to process life, and talk to God, so his testimony confirms what Carol and I discovered in Spain.

But not everyone can go to Spain, right? However, everyone CAN begin a Camino, and we will do so, together, for 2015!

This coming year we will all join in a “Camino of the Bible”- a walk through the Word of God!

Rev 12:11- we overcome by the Blood of the Lamb, AND the word of our testimony! But so many ask, “What is my testimony?” or say “I don’t have one,” etc.

Camino 3:52 may solve the problem!

Psalm 143:8-10 gives us 3 prayers to ask God, which will give us, on a daily basis, a testimony!

Each week we will read the Scriptures provided in the Reading Plan, found in the bulletin every week, and posted on our website.

Every DAY we will be looking at the text to answer our 3-pronged prayer. As God shows us in His Word how He answers these prayers, our personal testimony is revealed. Write it down on the pad provided.
Listen to Heb 8:8-12. Did you notice that it says we won’t have to teach each other? What? How can that be? What will happen to all the preachers in all the churches?

So, here is where it gets interesting. Every Sunday you will be able to share your testimony, fulfilling Revelation’s promise of overcoming Victory!

You won’t forget it, because you will have it written down, and in your Bible.

You’ll be able to tell others how God “showed” you how to walk, “rescued” you from an enemy, or “taught” you His will. Wow!

Not sermons, but testimonies of God’s intervention and power in your life!

I had a profound experience going on a long walk. Now I’m having profound experiences walking. What is happening? What is the Lord saying? I’ll try to explain.

This isn’t about exercising, weight loss, or being physically fit- although it all seems to happen as a byproduct. It isn’t about oxygenating, although that happens. It isn’t about being out in nature or observing the countryside, which of course happens every time. Our tendency is to try to make the walk mean something, and the effort of walking mean something more, when, in fact, the walk and the walking are mere vehicles one rides in for this wonderful discovery and adventure.

The walk of profound experience was the Camino de Santiago, a 500-mile foot-path across Spain, known as a Christian Pilgrimage, accomplished by millions over the last 1100 years or so. In 2013, my year, about 225,000 pilgrims made their way to the cathedral in Santiago de Compestela for the Pilgrim’s Mass at noon, to celebrate physical accomplishment and spiritual discovery. Multi-generational, multi-faith, multi-experiential, and certainly multi-testimonial it was for all.

The end, however, seems to have been the beginning. What started as a pure and simple “unction,” (that which I try to explain but can’t do very well), was an actual “obedience” to the voice of the Lord to simply obey and do a thing. To “feel” God speaking, to “hear” Him whispering in your inner person, to “know” that you just have to go do this thing, amazing and exciting as it was, but not scary or intimidating, may boggle the mind even as it frees the soul! One does what one has to do.

So, it’s done, right? What was never even ON the ‘bucket list’ is now checked off, and life can return to normal. Ha. The end of the Camino, you see, unleashes the beginning of more wonder, more discovery, and more awe of God.

I’m almost 70 years old, so I’ve done a lot of walking. Walking has always been a way to get somewhere and is so common to all of us that talking about it seems a bit ridiculous. Except that now walking is no longer the act of getting somewhere, but rather the vehicle one rides in along a journey, a Camino, a path. That is, if one “gets it.”

Walking, you see, requires more than effort, calorie burn, oxygen exchange, etc. Walking requires perspective. Perspective opens the doors of wonder. Or not.

Walking to get from here to there is accomplishment all its own. No big revelation, and no real discovery; no wonder; no awe. It may be beneficial in many ways, but probably not very spiritual or transformative. But that’s what we seek, as people, is to get beyond the practical and TO the spiritual, because we know in our knower’s that something greater is happening, something more than we comprehend is all about us.

The new kind of walking I’m enjoying has nothing to do with getting someplace, but rather to BE someplace. The world gets shut out as I walk. My mind gets the chance to think and to “try thoughts” about all sorts of things. Walking this way allows the inner man, the soul, if you will, a vehicle to ride to a spiritual encounter. And God shows up! The Lord begins to speak. He leads the thoughts by discarding the trite ones and developing the deep ones. Jesus becomes real, as He uses His humankind understanding to reach even me! This IS transformative! This IS awesome!