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I know that the spies only spent one night in this place, but I think that this story deserves more digital ink. We remember that the children of Israel had wandered in the wilderness for 40 years.  40 years is a long time. That walk was a tithe of the 400 years that they had spend as slaves. However, in the conversation that we are privy to in the book of Joshua chapter 2 we discover something amazing. Look at what she said to her two surprise visitors. “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth ...

So, yesterday I proverbially scratched my balding pate in wonder about the quickly traveling "spy news" from the house of prostitution to the palace, and was given a quick response from my lovely wife, of why that news was lightening quick. As I thought further on that story my mind wondered, "Why a brothel? Why didn't they go to a regular hotel or some more 'family-like' place?" Didn't they know that they were on a holy mission? As I showered, and meditated on the question, there came a Holy Spirit whisper. Have you ever had those? I know that you have. You know that they are from the Holy Spirit because they are so revelatory. In a good way of course. "Those spies HAD to go to Rahab's Place!" I almost cried as I thought about the ramifications of that visit some 3,000 years ago. They didn't know it of course, but if those two spies hadn't stayed at that house of ill repute, the universe would have imploded! Rahab and fam...

Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there. Joshua 2:1 Two spies, sent by the new leader Joshua, tool into Jerico for a friendly visit and find themselves at Rahab's Comfort Inn. How cozy. Soon afterward, that very night in fact, word reaches the king that there are two Jewish spies at Rahab's place. What? Who told him? How did they know that they were spies? How did the word travel so fast? I scratched my balding head trying to figure out the puzzling answers. After my reading of this passage in Joshua this morning I quipped the above questions to my lovely wife, who was on the opposite sofa in our living room, reading her Bible. Without batting an eye she says, "Well of course the news reached the king really fast. Don't you think that because the people were scared spitless that they saw these two lugs enter t...

Have you ever envied anyone? Have you ever NOT envied anyone? Envy seems too easy. I see a nose I like. I hear a lovely voice. I note a muscle or two. I see a house or car, and I envy. Envy is a wicked little thing. It grips our heart and makes us gripe. Maybe yours is a righteous envy. You see a prayer life. You note an evangelistic zeal. You view an oratorical presence that makes you quiver with envy. Does righteous envy exist? Paul say simply, in Romans 12:6b, ... according to the grace given to us .... He is talking about gifts and how that they are measured out by the Holy Spirit. There is a different measure for each one of us. It is the second time that he has mentioned a “measure” in this chapter. The first was when he said, ... according as God has given to every man the measure of faith. Both Faith and grace are measured out by the Spirit. Our gifts are a result of a Holy capacity. We know some of the spiritual gifts because they are listed in this chapter. We ...

Be Sober Be sober. Don't be an idiot! Essentially, that is what Paul says in Romans 12:3. “You know the doctrine. You know about God's salvation. You know what He has done and is doing for you. That, however, does not give you the right to be an idiot!" Just yesterday I was a bit of an idiot. How one can be a, “bit of an idiot” is anyone’s guess. However, I was. At choir practice I noticed Herbert outside the church door. It was dark but I noticed that he was talking with an older gentleman. I figured that he was probably sharing his faith with the man so I let the conversation go for a while. Not wanting to butt into the Holy Spirit’s work. After a few minutes I thought, “I need to go and introduce myself.” So, I did. I met a man whose breath would have pickled your olfactory nerve! I mean this guy was: stoned, tipsys, bashed, crocked, to name a few. And Brother did he have a spiritual salad between his ears! It was amazing what this guy knew about Go...

Good friends, how many do you have? You might think that your facebook account is the true gauge. Its not. I have two fb accounts, one for my Brasil friends (134) and one for my U.S. friends (368). There is a bit of an overlap between the continents. However, even though both sides of the big waters show a grand total of 502 friends, I often find it difficult to find someone to help me. Don't get me wrong, I do have a best friend, my wife. She is wonderful. I can share with her and even vent, at times, okay a lot and she doesn’t leave me! She is amazing! She on my side even when my side is weird, lost and seemingly pointless. She is there. God uses good  friends like that. I was reading David’s story this morning in 2 Samuel 5 and it started out with a scary group of “friends” coming to greet him. Notice what it says. 1. Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. Ugh ugh! That last part isn’t in the t...

Age has no boundaries. You can get old no matter where you are. I have officially experienced this concept here in Brazil. I got my OLD card. The OLD card lets me park in those coveted spots at the mall, supermarket, and wherever they exist. At least one of those so often empty spots are now MINE! Hehehehe. The OLD card lets me be in the SHORT line at the bank, post office and etc.. The other day I used that option for the first time. I was embarrassed as I entered the bank. However, when I saw the thirty or so people in the young folks line, I calmly hid behind my kindle and strolled over to the OLD line where there were only three people. Rather than the forty-five minutes it would have taken when I was younger, I spent just five! I guess that the OLD card issuers see the urgency of my getting through lines before I croak. The OLD card also gets me FREE rides on public transportation. I can get on any bus and ride anywhere my little old heart desires within city limits. AND ...