A Real Chinwag

            Last week I texted a friend that we needed a good chinwag.  I know that’s an archaic term, but I meant we needed a nice long talk to catch up on what is going on in our lives.  Social distancing and isolation has robbed us of time with our friends, of connecting.

            After I used that term, I thought I had better check.  What if it had a negative connotation I was unaware of?  So here’s the dictionary definition:  an idle chat, gossip.  I didn’t mean gossip.  So I looked at the thesaurus—confab, gabfest, conversation or discussion, long conversation.  Now we’re looking at more what I meant.

            I decided to go back to that word in the first definition—gossip.  Here’s that definition—idle talk or rumor, especially about the personal or private affairs of others.  I think that the connotation of that word is negative. What I wanted to do with my friend was simply catch up with her life and share what was going on in my life.  I don’t think it is wrong to also share what is happening in the lives of my friends and family.  I don’t think that is gossip.  But how easy it is to slip from sharing information into making judgments, turning ugly.

            In the NASB the word gossip is often preceded by the word malicious—malicious gossip. In I Timothy there is a description of gossips and busybodies talking about things not proper to mention. James 4:11 says “Do not speak against one another.”  This suddenly looks as if it could turn into a rant against gossip and the Lord knows we need that in a season of social media dominance, but that’s not what this is meant to be.  Instead, it’s a reminder that we need each other and we need each other’s encouragement. 

            Ephesians 4:29 (NASB) says, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification, according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” The same verse in the International Children’s Bible says, “When you talk, do not say harmful things.  But say what people need—words that will help others become stronger.  Then what you say will help those who listen to you.”

            So let’s have a good old chinwag of words that will help others become stronger. Give grace to those who hear. Anyone?

                                                                        ~~Faith Himes Lamb

Trust and Obey

These last couple of months have been some of the most interesting months of my life and, I venture to guess, yours, too. Not only has there been a pandemic to hit our whole world, and an EF4 tornado to devastate our church, school, and the surrounding neighborhoods--maybe even your own home--but there also seems to have been an unusual amount of death in our congregation and their families! I have asked myself over and over, Is this a dream? Every time I drive on campus to go to the office building--mind you, this is not a functioning office space by any means--I get a pit in my stomach. And, once again, I begin to think, This didn’t really happen, did it? Well, of course it did! I have eyes that can see! I know it did!

Through all of this, the Lord has been teaching and reaffirming to me His truths. My daily Bible reading, Pastor’s messages, and a book that I just finished all seem to be showing me very similar truths. In my daily Bible reading, I have been in the Old Testament from Jeremiah now all the way through the Minor Prophets. Through the Prophets, God is constantly asking for repentance and obedience. What I have learned most recently is that God demands our obedience. When we obey, we must trust God and this leads to faith. For instance: Jonah originally chose not to obey God; therefore, he denied himself the privilege of trusting in God. He knew the people of Nineveh would repent, and Jonah did not want to have faith or believe that regardless of his opinion about Nineveh, God knew best. Jonah wanted to be the judge of the fate of the residents of Nineveh. Of course, eventually after God got his attention, Jonah did go to Nineveh and they did repent. Jonah was not happy about that either. He did not think the wicked people of Nineveh deserved the opportunity of salvation. Not Jonah’s decision! What Jonah did not know is that 150 years later, Nineveh would be destroyed by the Babylonians. Lesson 1: Trust God even when it seems to make no sense.

Yesterday, I finished reading a book entitled The Insanity of God. This book is written by Dr. Nik Ripken who spent 25 years as a missionary in some of the most difficult places in the world--places where persecution was a way of life for most believers. The last 15 years he and his wife traveled, gathering data from interviews with believers in areas of the world where persecution of Christians was the normal. And, while the stories of those believers are incredible, it was Dr. Ripken’s insight that got my attention. He looked at things differently--or maybe the way I believe they should be looked at, but I could never quite put it into words. Things like reasons to risk your life or go to prison should not be that you took unnecessary chances that really didn’t advance the spread of the gospel, but should be that you were doing what was necessary to spread the gospel. Currently, I am not too concerned with going to prison because of my faith, but in this same vein it was pointed out that God does not ignore the consequences of our personal choices. We should not be cavalier and take risks assuming God will protect us. It might work out just fine, but what if it does not? Is that God’s fault? He expects us to make wise choices, which leads back to obeying, trusting, and growing our faith. Lesson 2: Do not expect God to excuse and dismiss consequences of the bad choices we make.

Growing our faith, isn’t that what Pastor Adam has been talking about? In the Sunday morning services, we have been working through Hebrews 11 and recently thinking about Abraham. Abraham was certainly obedient and did what God asked, and as he did, trust grew and his faith became stronger. I think of Abraham taking that journey with Isaac. Did Abraham really believe that God was going to demand Isaac as the sacrifice or was this a test of Abraham’s faith? In some ways I think that the answer was yes and yes. Abraham obeyed and did what was asked and God provided. As he obeyed, he was trusting God for what was best.  Lesson #3 for me is that everything we do in obedience to God will help grow our faith. It might not be easy, in fact, it will probably not be easy, but then the Christian life was never meant to be easy. 

See how all this seems to come together? How three different resources all seem to point in a similar direction? Obedience, trust, and faith . . . the more we listen to and obey God, the more opportunities we have to trust him, and the more we trust, the stronger our faith becomes. This was not some new revelation to me, but it was and has been a comforting reminder of God and His faithfulness. So regardless of our circumstances, God is good, but He does demand our obedience, and when we obey we are rewarded with a peace that comes from trusting Him and  knowing our faith is not in vain. 

Pam Dratnol

A Brush With Jesus

I once read a story about a lady who hiked the Pacific Crest Trail which is 2,653 miles long. Life had laid many losses on her back, and she tucked those hurts into her pack and carried them into the woods. She faced many challenges along the way which made her want to quit, but she didn’t. When she emerged from the woods, she had healed a lot emotionally. From all appearances, this lady did not know the Lord, but being in nature had had a restorative effect on her. It reminded me of the woman in the Bible who had faith that to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment would heal her.  Afterall, God’s fingerprints are all over nature, and anyone spending much time there might feel as though they had brushed against Jesus.

I feel it when I’m there. Being in nature is a worshipful experience for me (of God, not nature), and those who know me, know I cannot get enough of being outdoors. I look around in wonder and marvel at all that God has created, the incredible detail, variety, and beauty. I love the warmth of the sun on my back and a breeze tickling my skin and lifting my hair. I inhale the fresh air slowly and deeply. My heart responds with thankfulness and begins to hum a song of praise. It is a place to notice some of God’s handiwork.

I hate it when I have worked hard at something and no one notices or appreciates the outcome. Don’t you? I wonder if God feels that way when I cry out, “Let me see Your hand at work! Give me a sign You’re still there!” (I guess my faith is sometimes weak.) Recently, God took me to Psalm 65 to show me His work.  Here I found words that describe God’s actions: atone, answer, establish, silence, make, visit, prepare, soften, crown. Then there were other words and phrases that further described His activities: hope, salvation, satisfying, awe-inspiring works, enriching, providing, soaking, overflow, robed, clothed, covered – rich words.

God works quietly, but He is busy! It is our place to notice! He works for the good of humanity and all the earth, but also for us personally.

Verses 1-2, “Praise is rightfully Yours, God, in Zion; vows to You will be fulfilled.  All humanity will come to You, the One who hears prayer.” (HCSB)

We are literally dependent on Him for our every need. He is busy holding the world together, and I want to ask Him for a sign? Seriously? I just need a trip to the woods - and to the Word.

joyce hague

Be Busy in Me, LORD

One of my all-time favorite novels to read and to teach is A TALE OF TWO CITIES by Charles Dickens.

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

WHEW!  In many ways, the last few weeks have that same feeling...total contradictions of feelings and reactions. Because of the virus, some of us have been glad to have time at home to spend with children or to complete overdue projects or to communicate with family or friends on Zoom or FaceTime. Maybe you have done an in-depth Bible study that interested you for a long time.

But...perhaps you were of the group who had the feelings of total “incredulity” that so much of America could come to a stop so quickly. You might feel despair because of lost work, or a lost business, or illness. Some of us are frustrated because of “needless” restrictions that are “one size fits all.”

And then the tornadoes! Loss of so much ...unbelievable! GBC and GBA swept away in minutes. Neighborhoods devastated.  Then unjustifiable death and national unrest on top of it all!

Recently I heard a pastor pray: “BE BUSY IN ME, LORD, during this time.” On Christian radio I heard the word “clarifying.”  These upside down days should clarify where I stand in my faith. Put these last few weeks in perspective with our Almighty Heavenly Father. Psalm 121:2: “My help is from the LORD, maker of heaven and earth.”         

What does the Holy Spirit need to stir in us, to be busy in us? Do we need to remember basic truths? Isaiah 53:6a: “ALL we like sheep have gone astray.” There is no exception. We are ALL SINNERS.

But God does not leave us there...Isaiah 53:6b: “...and the LORD has laid on HIM (JESUS) the iniquity of us ALL.”

Remember Who this Jesus is. Isaiah 53:3: “despised” “rejected” “A Man of Sorrows” “acquainted with grief.” But He not only knew His own grief, (vs. 4) HE BORE ALL OF OUR GRIEF AND OUR SORROWS...even the virus, tornadoes, death! Amazing Savior!  If you do not know Him, this is the perfect time to see Jesus is ready to forgive your sins and save you. You need Him as a solid, unchangeable, truthful foundation for chaotic times.

BE BUSY IN ME, LORD. As we have been “sheltered in,” “locked down,” “staying at home,” this can lead to thinking only of ourselves. We can be content to just “stay in.” Venturing out might be “harmful.” I think we have to be concerned that we might have lost some of our OUTWARD FOCUS. We must remember our family members who still need the Lord; our neighbors who need encouragement. Then further outward...

BE BUSY IN ME, LORD, AND HELP ME TO REMEMBER the persecuted Church. We think it is sad to miss a few weeks with our brothers and sisters at our churches. The persecuted Church (to quote Brother Andrew’s secretary) “does not just go from 9 to 5.”  They are under danger of losing their lives moment by moment. Our chaos in America will subside and the rebuilding of GBC and GBA will begin.  Pray for our brothers and sisters who see no end to their distress.

One more thing...our Eurasia Bible Ministry with BIMI has given out about 2 million Bibles over several years in almost 30 different languages in places like Russia and Eastern Europe and Asia. Pray for those Bibles...possibly just sitting on a shelf in homes that need Jesus.  Pray that people will pick them up and read of God’s love for them.

Dear Lord, please be busy in me. Stir me up to do Your will and to make a difference in this world.

--Maylou Holladay