Yom Kippur: The Most Holy Day

Today is Yom Kippur in the Jewish religion, the holy day of all holy days. Yom (day) Kippur (atonement) is the famous Day of Atonement mentioned in Leviticus 16, the one day in which the designated high priest entered the Holy of Holies with the blood of a goat to sprinkle it on the mercy seat on top of the Ark of the Covenant to atone for his sins, the sins of his household, and the sins of the nation. Here's the passage:

“[This] shall be a permanent statute for you: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall humble your souls and not do any work, whether the native, or the alien who sojourns among you; for it is on this day that atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you; you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD. It is to be a sabbath of solemn rest for you, that you may humble your souls; it is a permanent statute. So the priest who is anointed and ordained to serve as priest in his father’s place shall make atonement: he shall thus put on the linen garments, the holy garments, and make atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting and for the altar. He shall also make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. Now you shall have this as a permanent statute, to make atonement for the sons of Israel for all their sins once every year.” (16:29-34)

Until Good Friday, today was the most important day to God, as well. For where there is sin, God demands the shedding of blood. Because the wages of sin is death. Thankfully, Good Friday was the ultimate Yom Kippur, the final Day of Atonement to God. It was the blood of Jesus that was offered up to God for the sin of the people -- ALL people, everywhere, every time. Here's how the author of Hebrews (I call him Heb) describes Yom Kippur in light of the cross:

For the Law (esp. the sacrifices), since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? But in those [sacrifices] there is a reminder of sins year by year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins." (10:1-4)

Yom Kippur was not an end-all for the Jewish people. It had to be repeated year after year for there to be atonement between God and man. Not only did one sacrifice not endure past one year, it wasn't really atonement at all! For animals are not humans and could never be a true substitute. Yet God chose to let this inadequate substitution slide for 1400 years until the ultimate substitute, Jesus, entered this world. A human dying for humans. An act only God Himself could do without sin. Heb continues:

"Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified." (10:11-14)

Today is not only the best day to pray for Jews to accept the permanent sacrifice, Jesus, but also for Christians to praise the Lord for His eternal gift. And this is that gift: That God so loved sinful, rebellious mankind that He gave His one and only Son to die for our sins, so that whoever believes in Him will not die a spiritual death but have everlasting life.

A Marvelous Evening

Wasn't it just wonderful yesterday evening?

The temperature here in North Texas was in the upper 60's, at most, and the air had a crispness to it that only comes with the arrival of fall. Which happened overnight Monday night. Fall is my favorite season.

I love it when autumn trees turn color,
in the disappearing heat of summer;
the smell of fresh pies; when cold fronts surprise
and pumpkins and scarecrows come over

Okay, maybe that last part doesn't make much sense, but I truly do love autumn. Pumpkins, scarecrows and all. Tonight I took a few minutes to go sit outside by my waterfall and pond and enjoy the evening. Sipping a hot mug of tea, I listened to the sound of the water, looked up at the moonlit skies, listened to the wind in the treetops and took a deep breath. It was awesome.

Welcome, fall! Been a long time.

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God and Hollywood

Every day I scan the local and national news in hopes of not only becoming more informed about what's happening in this world but also to keep tabs on the flow of popular culture. Today on CNN.com (yes, I watch CNN), contributor Roland Martin has a good column on whether God and Hollywood can co-exist. He points to filmmaker Tyler Perry as evidence that Christians can not only make good, uplifting movies, but they can get the faithful to the box office, too.

Here's an excerpt:

For years Hollywood has treated people of faith more like lepers, refusing to acknowledge that Christians and others who identify themselves as religious actually go to movies. We’ve always seen the blockbusters filled with elaborate highway car crashes, flicks with a young starlet walking around for nearly two hours in tight fitting clothes, and movie after movie with enough cussin’ to make Redd Foxx and Moms Mabley scream, “Enough!”

Their mantra is always, “Show me the money!” Every movie with Christ at the center won’t be as big as Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” ($370 million U.S.; $611 million worldwide), but Perry’s movies continue to bring in the people and the bucks, and Hollywood had better pay attention.

What the critics hate about Tyler Perry’s films is what I appreciate: A willingness to tell stories about love, redemption, family and God and do so in an entertaining way. He is an unapologetic Christian.

Perry is an outspoken believer from Georgia who mostly makes lighthearted comedies. Five times his films have topped a box office weekend in earnings, despite generally poor media reviews. Even though mainstream Hollywood still is uncomfortable with his public faith, Perry perseveres in getting projects made, both on TV and in theaters. Here's Martin again:

Perry’s insistence on being willing to publicly profess his faith is truly the root of his success. Before hitting the big screen, he was a hit with his traveling plays, often reaching thousands of people in cities across the country and a ton of them were churchgoing folks, especially women.

At one time he had a development deal with ABC but when executives objected to the constant references to God, he walked away, saying he wouldn’t compromise his principles for a TV show. (He now has two hit TV shows on TBS, “House of Payne” and “Meet the Browns.” Both mention God, Jesus and the Bible all the time).

“These stars can make all the references in the world to Kabbalah or Scientology, and that’s just fine,” he told USA Today last year, “But mention Jesus Christ, and they (studios) don’t want to deal with you.”

He has transferred that loyalty to the big screen and Hollywood has taken notice.

I recommend reading all of Roland Martin's article. God bless Tyler Perry. I'm not personally a fan of his film style but I wish him all the best as he fights to get and keep his faith in his art.

Be God's.

Living in the In Between

Ever have one of those days when you feel like you're living in the "in between"? When you feel out of place, aimless, or just not quite right?

The "in between" is anytime in life when you feel like you're not at home yet not at whatever final destination you're heading. You're on a journey and the only grounding you feel is the very fact that you're traveling. It's a time that can go by really fast or really slow. Rarely does it pass normally.

I had one of those days today. I just felt out of place today, whether I was at work, in the car, or at home. Like something was out of sync. Strange.

I'm convinced that every person comes to at least one "in between" time in their life. Some people live their whole lives in the "in between." They're usually called "restless hearts."

For me, my entire adult life has been lived in the in between. I'm now 32, but for the first ten years of my post-college life I lived as a ranger, moving every 17 months and holding many jobs. I did some really cool things during that time but I got used to packing boxes and moving furniture, of setting up new places and meeting new faces.

I did not have a house or job to ground me in my life. No family of my own to hold me one place. My only grounding was my faith in God, my family and my church. Work didn't ground me, nor did society. Money certainly didn't ground me, for I had little wealth.

Now, at 32, I find myself at the proverbial crossroads of life. I'm not a youth anymore, living recklessly and freely because I didn't know any better. Sure, I guess I'm still young to most of you but my bones don't feel the same as they did at 22. And my mind... no comparison. Yet I'm not old and wise yet, either. I'm living in the "in between." And I'm wondering what I need to do to prepare myself for the years ahead. For where I want to be. For what I want to do.

I'm also learning to embrace the "in between" in my spiritual life, as well. As I've grown older I have increasingly realized that this world is not my home and that I don't feel comfortable here. Do you feel comfortable here? It's not a kind place. And by its nature the system of this world stands opposed to my faith in God. This makes me an outsider. A stranger. And I don't want t ever be so comfortable here that I forget that I'm not home yet.

I'm living in the "in between" of everything right now. It's a strange place to be. A strange stage of life. And I'm doing my best to keep my eyes on Jesus with this fallen body and mind to keep me grounded. It's not easy. But, then again, He never said it would be.

Be God's.

When You Can't Go Home Again

One of the joys of my communications job at my church is the occasional interview I videotape and edit for Sunday mornings. Usually, I film the testimonies of individuals or reports from missionaries. Last week I had the wonderful opportunity to film the testimony of a lady in our church. For the sake of privacy, I'll call her "Sharon."

Sharon was born in Iran, at a time when the Shah was still in charge and the United States had an embassy in Tehran. Her parents were middle class citizens, well educated, and going through the motions as public Muslims. But in private they rejected religion, choosing to worship science and intellect. Sharon was subject to strong anti-religious views at home, and when the Islamic Revolution hit in 1979, she was sent overseas by her parents to live with her aunt and uncle in California. The hope was that Sharon, then 14 years old, would find a solid education in science and become something important — maybe a doctor or lawyer.

What Sharon found instead was the Lord Jesus Christ. Through a series of events that she believes God orchestrated, Sharon believed in the existence of God and the Lord Jesus. She says, "God gave me faith. It's a simple as that. God gave me faith, and I believed." I've found that He tends to do that from time to time when our faith is found lacking.

Sharon decided to sneak away from her aunt and uncle and start attending a local church. She had no choice as a teenager living under a secular roof. She told her aunt and uncle she was going to the library but instead used her bus pass to go to church. She hungered and thirsted to know God and be around His other children. She hid her church attendance for months until she could conceal it no longer. It's hard to get away with "library attendance" every Sunday morning! When Sharon decided to enroll in a Christian college, the cat was out of the bag.

Sharon's aunt and uncle were stunned and upset. They grounded her from going to church and a long period of hardship ensued. Sharon's mother in Iran expressed her disappointment over the phone. Sharon's parents had not sent their daughter to America to find religion! Her father said he wouldn't speak to her again if she continued to follow Christ. Her aunt and uncle eventually told her she could no longer live in their house. In most people, this would have torn a heart in two and I don't doubt that Sharon was hurting inside. But she said she was at peace.

Her reason? Her Savior! She had, as Saint Peter put it, "passed from darkness into light." (1 Peter 2:9). Sharon clung to the words of Jesus during this time, especially a passage from the Sermon on the Mount. Her life verse became: "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matt 6:33)" She knew that if she continued to pursue God, no matter what the consequence, He would take care of her.

The next month or two of her life demonstrated that a life of faith, dependent on God's provision, is not foolishness. She went to live with another aunt in town for three weeks, then moved into a college dorm early. She received money from various sources, a job in the school library, cast-off clothing from fellow students, and all of her needs met. How awesome!

God does not drop the ball, folks. He will provide for you. It gives Him pleasure as a Father.

Sharon went on to meet her future husband at the college and marry him just weeks before her visa ran out and she would've had to return to Iran. Returning was not an option for Sharon.

She couldn't go home again. Islamic law forbids the conversion of a Muslim to any other religion. Though not Muslim by belief, her family was outwardly Muslim. The penalty for forsaking Islam could have cost Sharon her life. And since she wasn't going to renounce Christ....

They have a daughter now and are happy living in North Texas. As for her Iranian family, they are now on speaking terms, though her parents still think religion is foolishness best fit for the uneducated. They have to meet in a third country to visit, though, since Sharon can't step foot in Iran and Iranians have a hard time stepping foot in the U.S.

Sharon's story reminded me that the cost of following Jesus sometimes means leaving family, friends, and country. But followers are not left isolated and alone. No, those who follow Christ inherit a new family, new friends, and a new country — a kingdom that is everlasting and a king who never falters.

Sharon's right. Seek first God's kingdom and His righteousness. No matter the cost.

Be God's!

A Powerful Picture

This is one of my new favorites, taken at San Luis Mission in Oceanside, CA. It is a statue of Jesus in the cemetery with one person's difficult surrender affixed to it. Take a look.

I nearly cried when I saw this fallen soldier's dog tags in the hand of the Savior. A loved one gave him or her up to Jesus. Probably with many tears. I'm tearing up right now as I post this entry. "War is hell," someone once declared. "Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest," Jesus declared. War may be hell, but in the Savior there is rest.

Be God's.

Eight Years Past

Eight years ago today, our world changed. Our countries changed. Our states changed. Our neighborhoods changed.

Nothing has changed in the attitudes of hate that existed eight years ago. They are still present today. They existed eighty years ago, and eight hundred. And eight thousand. If there were eight thousand. Sin hasn't changed, though most people think it has gotten worse. Sin is sin.

Eight years past... people in America came face to face with attitudes of hate that had been breeding half a world away for years. September 11, 2001 was eye-opening for most of us. I know it was for me. Our heads have been on a swivel ever since. We trust even less than we did before, casting suspicion on neighbors and strangers alike. Any remaining innocence has been lost.

It has been said that every generation has a defining tragedy that changes the world that generation faces. My great-grandparents were impacted by the Great War (WWI) and the Stock Market crash of 1929. My grandparents saw their world change at Pearl Harbor. My parents saw their world affected by the assassination of John F. Kennedy. And my generation has September 11. I shiver to think of what the next generation will have to face.

Here are some of the things I have observed about life after 9/11.

• That the Revolutionary slogan "Don't Tread on Me" has regained popularity after governmental reactions to 9/11 involved the taking away of many rights and privacies in the name of security. I guess that if you want security, you'd better be willing to part with freedom.
  
• That I now know a LOT more about Islam than I did before! I remember being enlightened about the religion after my pastor in Gainesville preached an informational message on Islam the Sunday after 9/11. I was very clueless beforehand.
  
• That we are too willing to compromise when it comes to the dignity of human life. It's funny to me how many Christians are quick to defend torture while I see non-believers actively seeking to preserve the dignity of life. Quite a reversal of the abortion issue, eh? God created human life. We should support it, whether in a womb or in a turban.
  
• That I'm now intimidated about traveling overseas. It used to be that the welcome mat was rolled out for Americans traveling overseas. This is still true in some countries but very few compared to 20 years ago. It's not a safe time to be abroad. Pray for your missionaries.
• That war is hell, no matter what the century or the cause. Several young friends of mine left to fight over the past eight years. That made the Iraq and Afghan wars personal for me. I'm so glad they returned safe. Many did not. Maybe the madness will end soon. Maybe not. I support the troops in either case.
  
• That the Gospel remains unchanged. God loves terrorists and wants them to come to faith in Jesus — not as a prophet — but as the Son of God. And His call for us to peach the Gospel still remains, even to terrorists. And He calls us to love our enemies. And bless those who curse us. No matter how much it pains us to do so. It's always more satisfying to respond with anger. But blessed are the meek...

The events of September 11th changed our world. For many it changed their faith. Mine was more energized after the events of 9/11. And I think I've seen the church in this world more clearly since that day. I saw pastors comfort the worried, and believers come to the sanctuaries just to pray. I saw fund raising by church groups to bless families of 9/11 victims, and support groups form for those emotionally traumatized.

I started seminary two weeks before 9/11 and entered full-time ministry a little more than three years after. I've moved three times since. It's been a long eight years. So long that I struggle to remember life before 9/11. It seems like another world. I guess it was.

Be God's.

-- Brother John

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Wired for Sounds

As I sat down at my desk to write something this evening I had intended to ramble on about some theological or philosophical matter that had drawn my attention lately. But instead I find myself mesmerized by something outside my home office window. It's making a ruckus and yet it's soothing. It's calming and yet irritating. It is... sound. Yep. Sound! My window is open and I'm listening to the sounds filtering through my window screen.

Currently, it's raining. I can't see the rain through the darkness but I know it's there because of the evidence I hear. I can feel the breeze pick up through the window, as if some gale is winding up to blow. It's that wind that accompanies rain. You know, the draft that is cool and musty, humid and dusty? And then there are is the loud pitter-patter of raindrops, falling on the leaves at 150 beats per minute. Like a thousand metronomes winding down in play, it clicks with an irregularity that only nature could provide. A loud irregularity. Then there is the sound of my fountain and waterfall-fed pond. A few months ago I added a pond, water fountain and aqueduct system to my yard. It has two waterfalls, essentially, each of which splatters at a different octave. The water system is on right now and providing a depth to the rainfall.

The rain is dying down now, making the waterfalls more prominent. My ears find them soothing, lulling my spirit into a spirit of rest. And rest I think I shall.

Isn't sound a wonderful thing? Especially when you least expect to hear something grand?

Be God's.

A Dangerous Faith

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

From CNN today comes another reminder that Christianity is not "safe." Many people are coming to faith in Christ around the world, including a number of Muslims. In Islam, it is more than a trivial thing for a Muslim to convert to any other religious faith. It is a high dishonor. And in some Islamic-law countries, it is punishable by death. Conversions of Muslims to Christianity has cost many people their lives in places like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Blessed are the persecuted, our Lord said. Why, when persecution sometimes brings death? Because they will inherit an eternal reward in heaven. They have become a part of the Church, the Christ-followers, who will enter the gates of heaven and enjoy eternal bliss in the presence of their Savior. There is pain on earth but the hope of heaven soothes the wounds.

Here's the first part of the story.

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(CNN) -- A Muslim teenager from Ohio says her father threatened to kill her because she converted to Christianity.

Rifqa Bary claims her father wants her dead after she converted to Christianity.

Rifqa Bary, 17, ran away from her family in Columbus, Ohio, in July and took refuge in the central Florida home of the Rev. Blake Lorenz with the Global Revolution Church in Orlando.

The teen heard of the pastor and his church through a prayer group on Facebook. The girl's parents reported her missing to Columbus police, who found her two weeks later in Florida through cell phone records.

The teenager, in a sworn affidavit, claims her father, Mohamed Bary, 47, was pressured by the mosque the family attends in Ohio to "deal with the situation." In the court filing, Rifqa Bary stated her father said, "If you have this Jesus in your heart, you are dead to me!" The teenager claims her father added, "I will kill you!"

Mohamed Bary told CNN a lot of false information has been given and "we wouldn't do her harm." He knew his daughter was involved with Christian organizations.

"I have no problem with her practicing any faith," he said, but Bary admitted he would have preferred his daughter to practice the Muslim faith first.

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May the Lord our God protect this young lady. And may the Body of Christ surround her with love, security, and grace.

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