Get Off the Beach!

"There are two kinds of people who are staying on this beach: those who are dead and those who are going to die. Now let’s get out of here!" - Col. George Taylor, 16th Infantry Regiment Commander, US Army; Normandy, France; 6 June 1944

Of the many famous quotes that came from US military men during World War 2, this is one of the more famous, having been used in the classic movie "The Longest Day." It was said at a time when the US Army's amphibious assault was being mercilessly pounded by Nazi machine gun nests, mortar and artillery. It was uttered when the Colonel came ashore and found the surviving members of his unit pinned down on the beach and afraid to make their way through the maelstrom that was Omaha Beach.

Col. Taylor's point was simple -- if you stay on the beach you will die. Nazi mortars and artillery had been zeroed in on the beach weeks, if not months, ahead so that the landing area was a virtual kill zone. Many men never even made it out of the surf before they fell. Many more perished on the beach. But many made it through, clearing the way for the continuing waves of the invasion force.

"Stay here," it could be paraphrased, "and you will die; to press on is your only chance to live." There were no plans for retreat that day. There was literally no where to hide and no where to run other than forward.

With my divorce, job situation(s), money issues, and such, there's been many times where I just want to curl up in my bed and hope it all will just go away. But, of course, it won't. I know that there are many who have, to some degree, felt the same way. I have a coworker and friend who, when his twins were born earlier this year, lost one of them at birth. Another friend and his wife are struggling with having children and not seeing any success. Yet another friend is a divorced dad whose teenage daughter refuses to speak or have anything to do with him. I could, unfortunately, go on and on with varying degrees of personal struggles with people I know.

Sometimes it can just be overwhelming. We don't see an end, and if we do, we don't see how it could be a good ending. It's hard - to say the least.

One thing that history teaches us, however, is that the most bitter and most difficult battles are often the most significant. And these battles, when won, are typically considered key turning points in the overall war. Our lives are no different.

We are in a war - a war for our lives and our souls. Our enemy has weapons that cause the greatest injury and destruction. God never said it would be easy -- in fact, He said it would be difficult. "In this world you will have trouble...." John 16:33b

And it is a war. The devil has only one goal -- our complete and total destruction, however that is measured in the individual. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy...." John 10:10a

But read the full context of the two verses noted above:
"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." John 16:33

"I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." John 10:9-11

We have the victory won. It is guaranteed and there is no doubt. In fact, our Leader gave His life for us so that we could get ourselves off of "the beach." The battle is won. We just have to press on and fight. The fight may continue as we move ahead, or we may find a place of peace. But one thing we know -- if we stay on the beach we will die. Figuratively, spiritually, or maybe even physically.

Paul knew this all too well, and I will close with his words:
"And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead." 1 Corinthians 1:7-9

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14

Press on, and get off the beach. Stay - and die, or get up and move forward, and live. To quote another famous commander from D-Day, General Norman Cota, an Army Ranger, "Follow me!" And when our Commander is the Creator of the Universe who has conquered sin and death, what better Leader to follow!

Nobody said the battle(s) would be easy. Quite the contrary. But we are assured that the war is already won. What peace there is in that knowledge!

Perspective

In June 1942, the United States Navy was on its heels. We had suffered the devastating defeat at Pearl Harbor, and lost the Philippines and Wake Island. Malaya and Singapore had also fallen. The US base on the island of Midway was the western-most US-held island in the Pacific. To conquer Midway would give the Japanese near total control over the Pacific.

At this crucial battle, the United States Navy faced off against a much larger navy and one swollen with the success of preceding battles. The US had 3 aircraft carriers against 6 Japanese carriers; zero battleships to match up with 7 for the Japanese; and 25 support ships against 56.

On June 4, 1942, the US Navy located the Japanese task force. One aspect of the attack called for a coordinated attack by all three US aircraft carriers -- their torpedo bombers would attack low, the dive bombers would attack high, and the fighters would defend.

Unfortunately, as often happens in war, the attack didn't go as planned. The torpedo bombers, the slowest and largest of the aircraft, attacked first - alone. Coming in low, they began their attack runs -- locking in to straight-line attacks on the Japanese ships. The Japanese gunners and fighters wreaked havoc. Of the 43 torpedo bombers that launched that day, each with a crew of two, only six survived. One squadron, Torpedo 8 from the USS Hornet, lost all 15 aircraft -- 29 men. Only one man survived. Not one torpedo struck a Japanese ship. Not one Japanese aircraft was shot down. It seemed, by all accounts, that their sacrifice had been utterly in vain.

If the story ended here, it would have been one of the worst defeats in US naval aviation history -- 37 of 43 aircraft lost. At least 74 men killed. And not one hit made, not one enemy plane downed. But this was not the end. The last of the torpedo plane attacks ended at approximately 10am. The day was far from over.

Because all three torpedo squadrons attacked at basically the same time and with no air cover, all the Japanese fighters tasked with protecting the fleet were drawn down to contend with the slow moving, low flying bombers. The Japanese fleet had broken its defensive formation in successful attempts to dodge the American torpedoes. Believing that the attacks were over, the Japanese commanders ordered all their aircraft to be brought top-side, fueled and armed for a counterattack against the US fleet.

About 30 minutes later, the US dive bombers arrived. Coming in at high altitude they found that there was little Japanese resistance -- fighters had been drawn down to contend with the torpedo planes and gunners were still scanning the horizon for more attackers. Each dive bomber identified their targets, and proceeded to loose their bombs on the Japanese carriers -- each with decks crowded with fully armed and fueled aircraft.

When the battle was all said and done, all four of the larger Japanese fleet carriers and a cruiser were destroyed. Every single Japanese aircraft (248) was ultimately lost. The Japanese lost as many aircrew in one day as their pre-war training program had turned out in a year. The US Navy lost one carrier, one destroyer, and less than 100 aircraft. It was a devastating defeat for the Japanese which has led the Battle of Midway to be called the turning point in the war in the Pacific.

In retrospect, the sacrifice of the US torpedo bombers was credited with clearing the way for the US dive bombers. And the dive bombers, as a result, were able to eliminate all four of the Japanese fleet carriers. Taken alone, the loss of the torpedo planes was a tragic waste. But seen in the bigger picture, it was key in turning the tide of the war in the Pacific.

I write of this because in my life these days, with financial, job and family issues, it sometimes seems as if nothing I'm doing is making a difference. In fact, it can seem as though I'm actually moving backwards. It's a discouraging, difficult and even painful feeling. But one thing I have to keep reminding myself is that "the day isn't over yet." I have to keep reminding myself that what may, at the moment, seem like a major defeat, could actually be paving the way for a major victory of sorts. I don't know. But my Commander, my God, does know. His is a perspective that no man could ever hope to have. And while I'm sure there are decisions I have made, things I have done, and things that my wife and I did as a couple, that were not what He ideally wanted for us -- He can still use those things to produce a greater good if I/we are open to being used by Him for His purposes.

The problem with us humans is that our world revolves around us. We want the credit, the glory and the attention. But the first thing that a new recruit learns in the military is that there is no "you". There is only the team. Each exists for the other for the greater good of the whole. This is the root of heroism -- putting the interests of others before one's self. This is what led the men of Torpedo 8 to do what they did, even as they saw their shipmates crashing into the ocean around them. God calls us to put Him first. His glory, His desires, His will, His plans -- for our good.

In short, my point, to myself and to you, is this -- don't be discouraged by "today." Today is temporary and fleeting and ultimately leads to tomorrow. And tomorrow is only influenced by our yesterdays, not determined by them. Only God determines what our tomorrow will be. We must focus our eyes not upon today, or yesterday, or what we think tomorrow will be, but upon Him and only Him. What seem to be our worst defeats may lead to our greatest triumphs. Our greatest mistakes can lead to our greatest successes. The God who formed a living man from simple dirt is not limited by our mortal perspective. And if we are bold enough to put our faith in Him and in His plans, neither is our future limited or for naught.

Perspective -- whose will you follow? That of mortal and time-constrained man? Or that of Eternal and Almighty God?

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" Jeremiah 29:11

"'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the LORD. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.'" Isaiah 55:8-9

"Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked? When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other." Ecclesiastes 7:13-14

"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8

Job 38 -- The Lord speaks to Job

Choose Your Direction

I've learned something in my adult years and through my marriage, separation and divorce. Referring to the spiritual realm, there's only one who pleasures in divorce and strife. And there's only one that pleasures in a healthy marriage.

From my own experiences and from those of, unfortunately, numerous friends and acquaintances, the direction you will go depends upon one of two attitudes -- selfishness, or selflessness.

Selfishness:	Selflessness:
Wants to change the other person.	Wants to change themselves.
Demands that their own needs be met.	Looks to meet the needs of their spouse.
Is attentive to their own feelings.	Is attentive to their spouse's feelings.
Pursues their own happiness.	Pursues the happiness of their spouse.
Sees only how the other person contributes to their life.	Sees how they can contribute to their spouse's life.
Sees only the deficiencies in the other person and seeks to fix them.	Sees the deficiencies in themselves and seeks to fix them.
Expects the other to encourage and support them.	Is intent on encouraging and supporting their spouse.
Always seeks an apology.	Is not afraid to offer an apology.
Demands to be forgiven.	Willing to forgive.
Wishes their spouse to join with them in their own interests.	Desires to join in their spouse's interests.
Loves when they feel loved.	Loves at all times, unconditionally.
Returns negative emotions, word and behaviors in kind.	Responds to negative emotions with love and understanding.

I'm sure there are many, many more characteristics that could be covered here. And not all of the ones under "selfishness" are necessarily bad, in and of themselves. It's when they are expressed without the reciprocal responses of selflessness. Those behaviors under the selflessness category need to be the dominant characteristics of our relationships.

This list came easy for me because I can easily see how I have been guilty of some. And for others, I show myself guilty by seeing them in my former spouse and easily being able to note them here.

Perhaps the greatest passage in the Bible regarding love is 1 Corinthians 13. How you view this chapter could be viewed in two ways -- (1) a beautiful description of love, and (2) a brutally honest description of what we as fallen men and women are. Please read below the most commonly referred to portions of this chapter (vs. 4-8), with my comments in parentheses:

Love is patient (we are impatient and intolerant)
Love is kind (we are unkind and cruel)
It does not envy (we are jealous and want what we do not have)
It does not boast, it is not proud (we are proud and full of ourselves)
It is not rude (we are insensitive)
It is not self-seeking (we are self-centered)
It is not easily angered (we cannot control our tempers)
It keeps no record of wrongs (we hold grudges and dwell on offenses)
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth (we can enjoy being mean and getting back at someone, lying and gossiping about them)
It always protects (we can cause harm and manipulate for our own ends)
Always trusts (we lie and deceive and are unreliable)
Always hopes (we have limited vision and are easily discouraged)
Always perseveres (we give up when things get difficult and demanding).
Love never fails (we let people down - both ourselves and others).

This level of love, in its fullest, is simply unattainable by human measure. It takes two people totally given over to God and to each other, with no regard for their own self. In doing this, the relationship is made perfect -- each living for the other as they live for God.

How do we know what love is? "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers (1 John 3:16)." Jesus not only died for us, He lived for us. And lives for us still. And His love for us extended to the point of sacrificing His lif for ours. It's not likely that we'll be required to go to that length, but we must be willing to. And it begins with giving up ourselves for the one we love.

There is only one who pleasures in divorce and strife -- the devil. And only one who pleasures in a healthy marriage -- Jesus. Who is being made happy by your actions and behavior? By my actions and behaviors? Remember, love is not measured only by how we treat others, but by how we respond to how they treat us, whether it is good or bad. It's all about presenting an antithetical response to human nature. Just as Christ has done for us, and it can only be done through Him.

A Father

I am a father.

We are not expendable or replaceable.

The father exists for his children. To separate the children from their father deeply saddens the father, but wounds and scars the children.

We are not better than the mother, nor are we lesser than the mother. Neither, however, are we equal to the mother. We are to be teammates with the mother, united in the goal of raising our children. Our roles are unique, but complimentary. Our strengths are different, just as our weaknesses are different.

I am a father.

To reduce, minimize or eliminate my role in order to meet the needs of anyone other than the children is to deny our children that innate need that only the father can meet.

My role is not negotiable, nor was it created by man or any court. It was ordained by God. It is a privilege, but it is also a responsibility. It is not a job, nor is it a right. But it is who and what I am and forever will be.

My physical presence in the day-to-day lives of my children cannot be replaced by phone calls, Emails, web cams, letters, presents or money, though those things are nice.

I am a teacher, a leader, a provider, a protector, a priest, a friend and a playmate.

For those of us who have adopted children, we fathers had an equal say in choosing our child. For those of us with birthed children, we made an equal contribution to the genetic make-up of our child.

We are not better than grandparents, uncles, aunts, or any other relatives, nor are they better than us. But we are something that none of them can ever be to our children -- we are fathers.

We are not perfect nor should it be expected of us. But we should be striving for it every day because we know that every measure of our children's health is affected by how we live our lives and how we raise our children.

We should not be punished because there are fathers who deny and neglect their responsibilities, just as the mother should not be denied for the same reason. I am not those men. I am my children's father -- I always have been and I always will be and I will never hide or run from that responsibility. Rather, I will seek it whole-heartedly all of my days.

I am a father.

I did not choose it, though I desired it. I was chosen, because God ordained it.

My children were born with a father for a reason. Fathers are necessary to create a life, and fathers are necessary to nurture and develop that life.

The role of the father is solely for the benefit of the children. To separate the children from their father will deprive the children of everything that God ordained the father to be in their lives.

I am a father and I love my children more than my own life. I thank God every day for blessing me with the honor of being their father.

I am their father. That cannot be changed.

I am their father. I am their daddy. And they are my children.

TMI?

If you're reading this then you already know a little something about me. If not, here it is: I am divorced, and not of my choice. I love my kids. I am trying to rid myself of sinful and damaging influences that have cost me much, and I'm instead trying to fill myself with the Spirit of God. I am at risk of having my children move 700 miles away from me. My job is difficult and stressful, to say the least. I post it on my Facebook page, I'll discuss it with my closer friends at work, mention it in Sunday School and Bible Study, and I write about it in this blog.

Some might consider it "too much information." There are those who think that personal things should remain personal. I'm not one of those. In fact, I believe just the opposite. Especially for Christians. The details are not always appropriate for sharing, but the general circumstances are. I believe it's not only appropriate but necessary for us to share with one another what's going on in our lives -- particularly the difficulties, trials, and subsequent emotions. There are multiple reasons for this.

1. If we don't know, we can't pray.
There are few things that are more frustrating than hearing of a couple that is divorcing, when no one had any real knowledge that they had significant troubles. Had we been told, we could have been praying. Had we been praying, things may have been different. The situation may not have changed, but the their ability to deal with the situation from a Godly perspective, rather than a human perspective, could.
"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5:16

2. If we don't know, we can't minister.
None of us have been through a situation that is unique. With the knowledge of what people are going through, we can minister to those needs. Those of us who have been through same or similar circumstances can relate. Our experiences our practically worthless if kept to ourselves. What are parts of the Old and New Testament but the revelation of what others went through, experienced and learned? By sharing our experiences, we can make each other stronger, in the same way that a teacher teaches and makes his or her students smarter.

3. If we don't know, we can't see God at work.
Abraham. Isaac. Joseph. Abraham. David. Paul. What do all these men have in common? They all went through great trials. They had their failures. They had their issues. They had their difficulties. And we know all about it. We read stories about them when we're young children, and we study them as adults. We see how God used them and their circumstances to further His plan and bring glory to Him. We see how they fit into the larger picture that is God's plan. Think of what we would have missed without the knowledge of the lives and experiences of these men.

You may think, "I'm no Moses, or Abraham" or whomever. And you're not. Neither am I. We are each our own person just as they each were their own person. We each have our own contributions to make to the Christian walk of others. To the lives of others. And our failures, shortcomings and struggles are a key element of who we are. It's what we learn from and grow from. And others can learn and grow from them as well. To keep our experiences to ourselves -- good or bad ones -- is to deprive others of the opportunity to see how God has worked in our lives despite or through those circumstances.
"But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9

It is my hope in sharing my struggles and experiences with you all that you will see God at work in my life -- for I believe He is. I hope that you will draw encouragement as/when you go through similar experiences and/or emotions. I hope that you will see that my ability to get through these messes comes not from me, but from God. I hope that you will see that my hope is not in me or others, or in luck or chance, but in the sovereign God who created all things and has a perfect plan for my life and yours. And I hope you will have the courage and humility to do the same. Not so that we receive any glory or praise, but that it all fall upon God from whom all good things come.

Thoughts on Gay Marriage

First of all, I have several gay friends, and even some extended family. I don't hate them. I don't judge them. They are no more perfect or imperfect than any of the rest of us. My comments here are about issues, not about people, and I'm interested in hearing your feedback.

Second, I have what may be a unique view on homosexuality, considering I'm a fairly conservative guy. I do not believe that homosexuality is just a choice. I believe that most gays are genetically predisposed to it in much the same way that a person may be genetically predisposed to any number of things, good or bad. I do not believe that most gays deliberately or consciously choose that lifestyle.

Third, I try to keep my own opinion out of it and lean on what I know to be 100% timelessly true and beneficial -- the Word of God. My opinions are just that -- mine. Your opinions, likewise, are just yours. They're the opinions of two fallible people with limited knowledge. The Word of God, however, is the word of the living and perfect God who created all things and knows all things. So obviously, I'll put more faith in it than in my or your opinion. No offense.

I guess the starting point when looking at gay marriage is looking at homosexuality itself.

First of all, it is a sin. This is not a judgment or a condemnation, nor is it my opinion. This is repeatedly in the Bible. It is a sin. But it is no more of a sin than adultery, pornography or other forms of "sexual immorality" or anything else. Homosexual sin is no worse in God's eyes than heterosexual sin. Homosexual immorality is no more immoral or sinful than heterosexual immorality.

"Don't you know that those who do wrong will have no share in the Kingdom of God? Don't fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, who are idol worshipers, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, greedy people, drunkards, abusers and swindlers -- none of these will have a share in the Kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (are there any of us who don't see ourselves in that passage??)

"Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity or greed among you.... You can be sure that no immoral, impure or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God.... Don't be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the terrible anger of God comes upon all those who disobey Him." Ephesians 5:3, 5-6

Second, I mentioned that I believe there may be a genetic predisposition toward homosexuality. And I do believe that. But that doesn't make it right in God's eyes. Science has also proven that a person may be genetically predisposed to alcoholism, but that doesn't justify alcoholism. It just makes it harder to avoid. With homosexuality, it makes it more difficult to resist that sin and creates a greater dependence upon God. Or it should, anyway. Same as any difficulty should. Put it this way - do you really believe God would forbid something for which we cannot help and over which we have no control?

"There was a time when some of you (previous verses) were just like that, but now your sins have been washed away, and you have been set apart for God. You have been made right with God because of what the Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of our God have done for you." 1 Corinthians 6:11

Third, I don't hate homosexuals. As I mentioned, I have gay coworkers, gay friends, gay cousins and have had gay teammates when I played sports. There are people I like, and those I'm not particularly drawn to -- same as anyone else. Your sexual orientation plays no part in that. It is no reason not to love someone as Christ commanded us to love others. We are not to judge. The Bible is clear on that. That's God's job. We are to love. If we are motivated by a Godly love then we may be called to challenge someone on their actions and sins -- whether they be homosexual or heterosexual -- sin is sin, and may be confronted, but only in a spirit of Godly love and conviction.

So I am opposed to homosexual marriage. Marriage is between a man and a woman. It serves the evolutionary purpose, if you will, to procreate and provide a structure in raising children. It is a Biblical illustration of God's relationship to us, His church. It is ordained by God from the beginning of time, for specific natural purposes and specific spiritual purposes.

"As the Scriptures say, 'A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.' This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and church are one." Ephesians 5:31-32

In terms of public policy, however, I do think it's important that accommodations be made for civil unions. We may be a Christian nation, but we are not all Christians, nor is our government a theocracy. It does not follow the letter of the Scriptures (though some may argue it should) -- it follows the letter of the law.

It is important for civil unions to be allowed when it comes to medical issues, child care issues, insurance and benefits, and other many legal matters. They are legally important and, I believe, necessary.

Again, speaking in terms of public policy, having some states that permit gay marriage and some that do not creates major problems. What if a couple married in Iowa moves down to Florida? Will the laws of one state force another state to comply, even if the people of that state have said they have no interest? Would Florida be forced to recognize that marriage just as Iowa does, even though Florida does not recognize it? It would create a myriad of policy problems and legal issues. It has also opened up the door, subsequently, to gay divorce and all the issues that stem from that. It creates significant issues both for governments and for businesses, small and large.

Here is the bottom line for me: God says homosexuality is wrong. I believe Him. Marriage should be a valued institution, to be protected and held high. Regrettably, it is not. The devil is actively targeting marriage and the family. He is using heterosexual sex and homosexual sex to do so. He (the devil) is tearing apart families and seeking to redefine and recreate that which God Himself created to bring glory to Him.

Christians, however, should spend more time focusing on what God says about THEIR OWN lives rather than what God says about others. If we put as much effort and energy into being who and what God wanted us to be, as opposed to trying to be God's little minions of judgment and correction, then the world would be vastly different. Families would be different. Children would be different. Relationships would be different. Laws and governments would be different. "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need." Matthew 6:33

"Since you have heard all about Him and have learned the truth that is in Jesus, throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception. Instead, there must be spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God's likeness -- righteous, holy and true." Ephesians 4:22-24 This is a passage that all of us should heed.

No Way Out

Recently I was thinking about all the obstacles that seem to be stacked up before me – continuing issues with the divorce, job issues, money issues, living arrangement issues, parenting issues, etc. And it really got me down. It almost ruined my whole weekend. It made me feel hemmed in, like there was nowhere I could go and no way out. It's not a good feeling! I sent out an Email to some friends in a Bible study group and a few others to request their prayers for me in this and God put something on my heart that I feel I am responsible to share:

I love the Old Testament. It just seems to be very real people, making very real mistakes, seeing very real works of God, and requiring very real faith. Jesus had not yet come. It was but a promise to them – a prophecy. But not a reality as it is – or should be – to us. I often find myself looking behind the story and trying to get inside the heads of those involved. Not just the main characters, however, but the supporting cast. What were they thinking? How was God working in their hearts and minds? And how was the devil working against God?

I was reminded of the story of the children of Israel, the Israelites, and their escape from captivity in Egypt. God delivered them and had Moses lead them away to what they expected would be freedom. They would get their freedom and their deliverance, but not the way that I’m sure they had expected. Rather, they got their deliverance exactly the way God intended. The story is found in Exodus 13:17 – 14:31.

The story begins with this statement, “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter…. So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.” God intentionally took them the harder way. The longer way. But He had a plan and He knew more than the Israelites would ever know. In the middle of those two statements God explains why He did this – “For God said, ‘If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.’” God knew that the shorter route would lead them into potential war, and that the Israelites, after so many years in captivity, would likely opt for the slavery they knew than the war they had never experienced. In short – God knew them better than they knew themselves, and He knew what He was doing!

As they were marching through the desert, optimistic about their future and hopeful for their destination, they noticed, apparently from a high point in their journey, that the Egyptian army had taken up arms and had begun pursuing them. Their response was not unlike ours when we find unexpected complications in our plans, rather than looking at the big picture of God’s plan. And this is what I like about the Old Testament accounts – you can hear the sarcasm in their complaints. You can hear their self-centeredness rather than God-centeredness. You can hear their victim mentality rather than the mentality of people who serve an Almighty God. “They said to Moses, ‘Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!’”

Moses response was simple – “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” I LOVE that verse! But do you think they did what Moses commanded (note, it was a command – not a request)? We don’t know for sure… but I’d be surprised if the majority followed his direction. Note also how definitive and absolute all of the language was. There was no ambiguity, nothing was vague, nothing was uncertain, and everything was definite. Yet still we doubt.

Imagine their situation: They are cresting a mountain range after struggling their way to the top, from which they look down behind them and see the dust clouds raised from the Egyptian horses, chariots and soldiers. They are immediately afraid. They look down before them and see the expanse of the Red Sea. The portion of the Red Sea they saw was the eastern of the two “fingertips” of the Red Sea, between which rests the Sinai Peninsula. The portion they faced measured approximately ten miles across. TEN MILES! The deepest parts of this portion of the Red Sea can be as much as 5,000 FEET deep! What do you think they thought when they looked down upon this extreme and very legitimate obstacle? And when they looked back and saw the might of the Egyptian army in pursuit? Hope? Peace? Confidence? Optimism? Quite the contrary, I would think, despite Moses’ exhortations and commands.

But what happened? I think we all know. God commanded Moses to extend his arms out over the sea. God parted the seas. Not only did he part the seas, He gave them DRY GROUND upon which to walk – no slipping, no sinking in the mud, no dangers of any kind. Safe, dry ground. For ten miles across, and approximately a quarter to a half-mile wide. And the depth? The area the Israelites are believed to have crossed “just happens” (remember, there was no sonar back in that day!) to have been positioned directly between the greatest depths of the entire Red Sea, one measuring 3000 feet deep, the other 5000 feet deep. And the Israelites passed right between them, at the most reasonable point possible.

On either side of them they faced, the Bible says, “a wall of water.” Wow. How must THAT have made them feel? Do you think there were still those skeptics who said “Yeah, the ground is dry now, and we’re ok now, but look at THAT! That could come down any minute!” Do you think we would say that? I know I would – and probably do in my own circumstances.

And as they crossed, and as they ascended the western bank of the sea and looked back, what did they see? The Egyptian army – still in pursuit and closing ever faster. Do you think there were those who thought they passed through the sea only to die on the other side at the hand of the Egyptians? I'm sure there were. But I think we all know the outcome. The Egyptians followed the Israelites down into the Red Sea passage. They traveled over the same dry ground. They looked up at the same walls of water to their north and south, left and right. God let them begin to cross. Do you think the Israelites complained about this? Surely! God let them experience the same miraculous passage. And did the Israelites complain? Again, it is not recorded, but I’d bet on it that they did!

“The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. During the last watch of the night (at the last minute, perhaps?) the Lord looked down… at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. He made the wheels of their chariots come off so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said ‘Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!’” So, however far through the passage they were, the Egyptians stopped and began to turn around, as best as they could, given the confusion God was creating amongst them.

“Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back into its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the Lord swept them into the sea. The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen – the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of these survived.”

Why?? Why did God allow His people to go through this?? To experience this fear? To literally fear for their lives? To question His providence and plan? To suffer the psychological and emotional anguish of their predicament? Easy. God says it in the Scriptures. At the end of the account the author concludes “And when the Israelites saw the great power the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in Him and in Moses His servant.” And at the beginning of the account as well the Lord tells Moses that “I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” When the Israelites find themselves hemmed in between the army of Pharaoh and the expanse of the Red Sea, God again tells Moses “I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”

And something that isn’t mentioned in the Scriptures but is there nonetheless – had the children of Israel not been put in that position, had they not responded the way they did, had it not been recorded, and had it not been canonized into the Bible, we would know nothing of it. We would not know the amazing power and faithfulness of God. We would not see that to doubt and fear is both normal and human, though it is also both unnecessary and inappropriate. Bottom line – it is all for His glory. Period. And it should be viewed as our privilege to be a part of it. And when we are a allowed to be a part of it, we need to share it with the world around us. It is our responsibility.

I say this to me, and I say this to you – actually, not me, but God says it – no matter your obstacles, no matter who or what is pursuing you, no matter what fears and doubts you may have (slightly paraphrased):

“Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The fears you experience today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Exodus 14:13-14

An incredible link I found, and from which I obtained some of this information is below – I’d highly encourage you to check it out when you have half an hour or so to watch the YouTube. The basics can be viewed in about 5-10 minutes, though.
http://www.arkdiscovery.com/red_sea_crossing.htm

So You Want To Be Like Jesus?

You hear it a lot in Christian circles – “I just want to be like Christ” – in some form or another. And I, too, am one of those with that aspiration. But it occurred to me recently that perhaps we don’t really grasp the full meaning of that statement. In our pursuit of friends, love, relationships, career, family, money, status, success, happiness, respect, appreciation, justice and fairness, youth and so much more – do we really want to be like Christ? Do we really grasp everything that this entails? Who was Jesus, anyway?

Do you want youthfulness and beauty? Attractiveness? “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.” (Isaiah 53:2b)

Do you desire friends and acceptance by your peers? “He was despised and rejected by men….” (Isaiah 53:3a)

Do you fight for justice and fairness for yourself? “He was oppressed and afflicted yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter….” (Isaiah 53:7)

Do you want happiness and peace? To be able to enjoy life to the fullest? “…A man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering….” (Isaiah 53:3b) “Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer….” (Isaiah 53:10a)

Do you want a nice home, in a nice neighborhood? “Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.’” (Matthew 8:20)

Do you want to be respected by those you work with and those you love? “Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.” (Matthew 8:34)

Do you want loyal friends? In Matthew 26:69 – 75 one of Jesus’ closest disciples (friends), Peter, publicly disowned Him at His time of greatest need – when he had been arrested and put on trial for His very life.

Do you want friends who will support you when you need it most? In Matthew 26:36 – 46 Jesus’ disciples could not even stay awake with him as He prayed for His Father to spare His life – the day before He was to die an awful death. In Mark 6:1 – 6 Jesus’ disciples fled when the Roman soldiers and Jewish leaders came to arrest him.

Do you want to be respected by your peers? In Matthew 27:11 – 26, Jesus’ own people, the Jews, turned on Him and called publicly for his crucifixion.

Jesus never married - and this in a time when people married in their teens and began having children almost immediately.

Jesus didn't have a career or a formal job. He could have. We know He was a carpenter. And as the perfect Son of God - I'm sure he was pretty good at what He did and could have done quite well with it as a career!

So – do you really want to be like Jesus? Do you want what the world says is success, or do you want what Jesus lived? In my own life – dealing with a divorce, dealing with financial issues, dealing with a loss of status, and a difficult job – this is not exactly what I had in mind when I first thought to strive to be Christlike. I would, of course, love to have a big house again, live in a nice neighborhood again, have a complete family again, have a well-paying job again, and all the things that the world says define success and who you are. But I am trying to learn to be content with what I have – all of which is more than Jesus had in his relatively few years on earth - years which I have already surpassed.

Materially – I already have more than He ever had – I have two paying jobs. I have a place to live. I have my own transportation, beautiful children, friends, some material things, etc. But He had joy and peace that I have yet to fully experience. And I look forward to achieving that goal.

So – what is it we really want? To be like the Christ the world sees – “a good guy”? Or to be like Christ actually was – a totally selfless and wholly dedicated servant of God? It doesn't mean that you'll have to live the life that Jesus lived and give up the many things we treasure. But it does mean that you must be willing to. Like the story of the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16 - 30), you must be willing.

We each need to make up our own minds. But know what you’re asking for!

Thoughts on Being Pro-Life

I was speaking to a friend the other day about the issue and he, representing the opposing view, had some arguments of his own. They were nothing I hadn't heard before, but they got me thinking about what I believed and why so I thought I'd jot those thoughts down before they got lost in the mire that is my mind!

I believe that life begins at conception
Biology is admittedly not my strong-suit. But this I know -- at the moment of conception that child, fetus, zygote, embryo, or whatever you want to call it -- has it's own unique DNA. It distinguishes it from any other part of the mother's body and establishes it as a separate living thing, being supported by the mother's body.

Here's an interesting angle on this thought -- take a newly formed zygote and somehow place it on Mars and find a way to sustain it, within reach of the Mars lander. Once the lander locates that zygote you will hear it trumpeted by every media that human life has been found on Mars. Guaranteed. And if you can put it up there but can't sustain it you will hear the same thing, but that human life HAS existed on Mars. But put that same zygote inside a woman's uterus and it's just another piece of her body. Go figure.

A woman has every right to her body
"My body, my choice!" is sometimes the battle cry. And I agree. A woman can do whatever she wants to do with her body. Tattoo it, pierce it, tan it, bleach it, tone it, fatten it, cut it, shoot it, or even end it. I don't necessarily advocate all of those, but it's her body and she can do it without being prosecuted by the law. But the child within her is not just another part of her body.

From conception it has its own unique DNA. Only eighteen days after conception, the child has its own heartbeat. After 21 days the heart is pumping its own blood, with its own blood type. Six weeks from conception the child has its own brainwaves. Its own unique fingerprints are formed by 14 weeks. By nine weeks, all the systems are in place for the child to sense and feel pain.

Now, again, I don't know much about biology. But I've never met a woman who had two different sets of DNA, two different hearts, two different circulatory systems, two different sets of brainwaves, multiple fingerprints, and, potentially, two different blood types. It's not even that uncommon any more for a "white" woman to give birth to a "black" child -- or vice versa. Or how about if the child is male? Does that woman now have a, um, well, you know! Call it what you want, but that unborn child is not just another part of the woman's body. It is a unique, separate, living being, supported at that time by the mother's body.

What about rape, incest, or when the life of the mother is in danger?
Each are tragic and terribly difficult decisions. But they are completely separate issues. If you accept that the unborn child is a separate and unique human life then there is no question. We are to make every effort to sustain all life, no matter its origins.

Yes, it's terribly difficult for the woman or girl involved -- I've no doubt and don't begin to minimize it. But if the conception is the result of a crime why do we need another victim? Is that child going to be a rapist because its birth-father was? Do all children of criminals become criminals? Do all children of pastors become pastors? No. If we demonize that unborn child then of course the mother will hate that child and be haunted by it every day. But if we treat it for what it is -- a new, innocent, and precious human life -- then it has the potential to be the good that comes from the bad. To paraphrase the Gospels, we can take what was made for evil and make it be for good.

Also, numerous studies have shown that women are likely to suffer psychologically if and when they have an abortion. Would a woman who has already been vicitmized sexually and physically be any less vulnerable to this psychological trauma? Or would they be more likely?

Rape and incest are horrible. I actually wouldn't oppose seeing the death penalty on the table for those crimes. But don't punish this child who had nothing to do with the circumstances of their conception.

How can you be pro-life and support the death penalty? It's contradictory and hypocritical!
No -- actually it's very consistent. I oppose abortion because I believe in and support the sanctity of human life. It is to be protected at all costs. I support the death penalty because the person who may be subject to this penalty has taken a human life. They have definitively violated forever the sanctity of human life. They have disrespected it. Currently the death penalty is only warranted for murder. The person who is executed is executed because they are guilty of the crime of murder. The child who is aborted is guilty of nothing. They are the antithesis of the murderer. They are the epitome of innocence.

And my previous comment about putting the death penalty on the table for rape? I can't think of any other crime that could possibly be worse than murder. Rape has the potential to essentially take a life, without killing the body. It violates the woman's body. It violates her control over her body. It eliminates her choice over what happens with her body. It alters the course of her life. It damages her psychologically, physcially, emotionally and sexually. I don't advocate it for all rapes -- but I do think it should be an option on the table when sentencing is determined. And I think it is totally consistent with being pro-life.

So you're going to put a girl in jail for having an abortion? That's very loving of you, Christian!
No -- the girl seeking the abortion is the victim just the same as the child. I would seek to punish the medical staff who would be conducting the abortion. I see no real difference between the abortion provider and the assisted suicide physician, such as Jack Kevorkian.

I would never seek to levy any punishment or penalty on the woman involved.

If you're so pro-life why don't you offer to take one of these unwanted babies??
I did, and I have. My daughter is adopted. My wife and I were involved with the foster care program in the state of Florida where we fostered several children and eventually adopted our daughter. My sister has an adopted son. I have many Christian and pro-life friends who have adopted. And my mother, and my entire family to varying degrees, have been involved in ministries and service provision to women who find themselves with unwanted pregnancies.

Personally, I'd like to see more Christians and pro-lifers become involved in foster care and adopting children from within the United States. But no one is perfect, and no group is without it's hypocrites. But don't take me or my family to task on this. We do and have done our best to practice what we believe.

You can honestly look at those pictures of an embryo can call them a human being?
Yes. This argument seeks to judge an unborn child based upon their looks. I thought in the day and age where we had a woman contending for President of the United States and we elected an African-American to the position for the first time would be beyond this. So how about the thousands of children born every year with severe birth defects? Those born with missing, malformed or misplace limbs? Those born with organs outside of their bodies? Those born with mis-shaped and malformed faces? How about those who, well into their adult lives, are horribly disfigured by burns, acids, or other horrible events? Those who lose limbs? Are they any less human because they don't look like you or me?


I could go on an on with such arguments. I don't know that I'll change anyone's minds with these, and that's not my intent. Only God can change someone's mind. These are just my thoughts. Take 'em or leave 'em.