How about some More Gold and Silver??

carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered (Ezra 7.15)

Through the years I have often envisioned myself in a giant MONOPOLY game. I am terrible at MONOPOLY. Most know that MONOPOLY (I think that it needs to be spelled with all caps) is usually a dreadfully long game. Many times I have avoided embarrassment simply because I didn’t want to spend hours playing. Or rather hours waiting for everyone else to finish.

I am usually the first one eliminated. It is a proven fact. I can’t seem to win.

MONOPOLY is a game of strategy and luck. This mix can be fun when you are a good strategist and when the luck is going your way. But when the die does you bad you’re out in a flash.

I’ve tried to start small with Mediterranean and Baltic Avenues and grow. I’ve tried to start big with Park Place and Broadway and crush every opponent. I’ve tried the old barter system, buy a little of everything. I’ve tried to own all of the Utilities and Railroads but usually to no avail. I’m out first.

What if just before my swift exit a MONOPLY king and his court decided to offer me a bunch of the funny money? I could take all that I needed. That would be sweet. I might actually win a game!

What if that scenario happened in real life? What if just when all looked lost a king and all of his courtiers took up a freewill offering and came to the rescue with a boat load of gold and silver? Wouldn’t that be nice? I can see the heads nodding.

“When did this ever happen” you might ask? I read it just yesterday in Ezra seven. It happened just as the seventy-year captivity was ending. Artaxerxes, the king of the world, commanded that any Jew who wanted to could return to Jerusalem. He then made an astounding proclamation. He said, “Oh by the way, my men and I have taken up a collection of gold and silver that you can take as you like.”

THAT my friend was not normal protocol. There was something going on here. The reason for the king’s benevolence is seen in verse six where the text says that the blessing of God was upon Ezra. Because the blessing of God was upon Ezra the king was making an offer difficult to turn down. “Take all of the gold that you will need. Take the silver too! In fact if there is anything else you might need take that too.”

Ezra did. He lead a group back to Jerusalem. History was made.

Wouldn’t you like a similar situation? I would. I don’t want an early out of the MONOPLOY game of life. I want to at least survive. In fact I want to win. But wait a minute here. Could a scenario like Ezra’s happen to me?

Actually it has already happened! Jesus’ sacrifice at Calvary opened the Heavenly treasury. He offers more than gold and silver. He offers eternal life at His side in the presence of God. He offers an inheritance that will never fade in its glory. Think about it. Where is Artaxerxes’ gold these days? It may be a part of your wedding ring. Jesus offers security with His investment. Do you want it? Take it. No really, take it!

Caught up to Paradise - 2 Corinthians 12

Residing in Michigan for over half my life, I had heard about Paradise. Because Paradise is a small town in the Upper Peninsula, you may have never visited there in your life, but you knew it existed. It was WAY up there next to Tahquamenon Falls and nothing else. Where's Tahquamenon Falls? Next to Paradise and nothing else. It's a long way from home. Why all of the talk about Paradise? Because Paul talks about it in 2 Corinthians 12. There was this guy who had been caught up to Paradise. Not in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, but into the REAL Paradise. While there, he'd heard things that he was unable to repeat. What on earth was this? Who was this guy? Here's what was going on. Paul defended his position of Apostleship in chapter eleven and gave the Corinthians an idea of what Apostleship looked like in chapter twelve. It came with great wonders, like seeing or instead hearing unimaginable things. But, too, that position came with a terrible cost. God gave Paul a &q

What to get God for Christmas

Jesus left perfect surroundings, relationships and glory to be born into squalor. He was homeless before birth. His father was a carpenter in a culture where carpentry was a despised trade. His, mother though young and giving birth to her firstborn, had no attendant nurses, helpers or friends. Rather than a pristine hospital, birth was given in the filthy stench of a stable. Romantic? Hardly. This sacrifice brought a life of hardship. Why? Why this odd story? Obedience. God's gift to humanity was His son. Jesus' gift was obedience to the Father. He paid the greatest price. Not because we are special but because he loves His Father. His gift was the perfect gift. Our Father wants obedience for Christmas and every other day for that matter. In Brazil Christmas is becoming commercialized. A phenomenon familiar for years in the United States tickles a growing economy. There is little time for meditation on God's Gift. There are no chestnuts roasting or Jack Frost nippin

Stop Trusting

Isaiah 2:22 says Isaiah 2:22 Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of? The Prophet is saying that we shouldn't put our trust in humankind because they are so finite. They are not like God, who is infinite. People are fickle. They change their minds. They love you and then hate you in moments. God invites us to trust him completely with everything that we have. He doesn't show himself to us physically or as a spirit. He demands that we have faith. However, he also gives us the faith to trust him. The universe shouts "Creator!" and yet we often ignore the proclamation. This ignorance does not make God's creation any less a physical demonstration of his grandeur. God's boundless being becomes more amazing in his presence within us. How can the infinite God dwell in the mortals he commands us not to trust? Jesus said, "with man it is impossible but with God, all things are possible."

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