What a horror story! Jaycee Lee Dugard  - kidnapped when she was 11 years old - has finally been reunited with her parents after 18 years! She was kidnapped by Phillip Garrida who sexually abused and had 2 children through her. The children, aged 11 and 15, lived in tents in Garrida's back yard and have never been to school or seen a doctor. Ironically Garrida’s crime was discovered when he tried to enter a university campus to organize... a religious event.

As terrible as this story is, there are some lessons to be learned:

• One neighbour could see the tents in Garrida’s backyard and often heard children. When discussing this with her husband, he encouraged her to mind her own business. Lesson: We are our "brother's keeper" [See Genesis 4:9]. Often people - especially children - need help but don't know how to ask. We need to be a little nosey at times.

• Garrida said that when one of the children turned 5, he realized that what he had done was wrong and he repented. Lesson: God teaches us that repentance is not a mental exercise; we need to stop DOING the wrong and DO right [Matthew 3:8]. If he was truly repentant, he would have handed himself over to the police.

• Garrida said that God spoke to him through a box. Immediately that sounds crazy, but he is not the first; the Mormon founder, Joseph Smith, for example claimed that God used to communicate with him when he buried his face in his hat and looked at stones inside [David Whitmer, An Address to All Believers in Christ, Richmond, Mo.: n.p., 1887, p. 12]. Lesson: We need to be careful about people who claim to have received messages from God. God has given us his written message. He tells us that the Bible can completely equip [2 Timothy 3:16,17]. We really do not need any further revelations.

Beware of people like Garrida, and please if you think a child is in trouble, notify the authorities.

 

Oh America, how you have fallen! Today the news is out: One of your 2009 "Idols" is gay. Oh America, it was you who used to send missionaries out into the nations. You held the light and brought honor to God. Now your Christian missionaries have dwindled due to lack of interest. Some say a lack of money, but is it? Do you not know that you still send out missionaries? Hollywood is your "Gospel." TV shows like "Friends" are used in English classrooms throughout the world. Young people of every nation are learning how to say, "Oh my G_d!" Oh America, a 2008 Gallup poll shows that 77% of Americans are Christian. I thought using God's name in vain was disobedience. This is really confusing to other nations and is making life even tougher for missionaries in those countries.

Oh America, you claim to be a "Christian Nation," but another of your missionaries, "Sex in the City" is destroying age old morality in numerous nations. Even ChristianityToday.com gave the "Sex in the City" movie a 3/4 STAR RATING! You may say, but why are they watching these programs? This is why: When you were obedient, God raised you up as a light and a world power. Other nations want to be like you. Many nations still look to you America. You have such an important position. You can still make such a difference.

But now the latest message from America to the world is that one of the "American Idols" is gay. Oh America how can you even watch such a program? Doesn't just the name "Idol" set off alarm bells? The name alone should evoke images of praying to false gods, and isn't that what is happening? How many young people worldwide want to be like these... idols? America, if you just had enough self-control to change channels, there would be no advertising revenue and "America Idols" would be pulled. Oh America, why are you watching trash? Why are you funding these missionaries of death? How many millions of souls is God going to hold you responsible for?

Oh America, you are falling and you will continue to fall unless you return to God. Pray pray pray for God's forgiveness and guidance. Rid yourselves of false gods and idols. Return to the one true God and Gospel. God, save America.

Read: Is Gay OK?

马太福音8：1-3 耶稣触摸那些不被触摸的人

“耶稣下山时，身后跟着一大群人。一个麻风病人来见耶稣，跪在他面前说：“先生，如果您愿意，您就能治好我的麻风病！”耶稣伸出手摸着他说：“我愿意，痊愈吧！”立刻，麻风病人就痊愈了。“马太福音8：1-3
在没有希望中这个麻风病人坚信耶稣能够治愈他，他要了一个明确的要求，同时收到了耶稣的抚摸，这个抚摸彻底改变了他的生命。
在新约时代，麻风病是最恐怖的疾病之一，身体会出现大量的溃烂和腐朽，手指弯曲长瘤；皮肤会出现无色的斑点病发出臭味。这种麻风病会导致最后失去神经知觉，或者失去手指，脚趾，甚至整个脚和手。得麻风病就等于一点一点的走进了死亡。在当时的社会环境中，由于麻风病是传染疾病，麻风病人是要被隔离，禁锢在麻风病区的。
圣经中的麻风病人可以是一种象征，代表着被遗弃的人群。受环境的影响，这样的人没了追寻，他被熟悉的人群拒绝，被不认识的人躲避，没有希望的未来让他们无法负荷……
你知道抚摸并不能医治，马太在圣经里很消息的声明：耶稣伸出手摸着他说“我愿意，痊愈吧！”立刻，麻风病人就痊愈了。
这一刻，因为耶稣的话语，疾病的传染被禁止。
心灵的孤独因为耶稣的抚摸而得到了安慰。
耶稣他去触摸那些不被世界触摸的。
从另外一个角度，我们的生命中是否也有自己禁锢不愿别人碰触地地方和事情？也许是伤害或被伤害的事情，也许是失败或被人的否定……， 把它藏在心里的最深处，企图忽视或忘记，但即使不向人提及，它始终都存在于心底。
耶稣他深知我们的每一段经历，无论是痛苦的快乐的；他熟知我们的每一个感受，无论说与不说；他愿意去抚慰我们那不愿被人知的伤口；他也能治愈那块想被忘记或覆盖的过去。
耶稣可以触摸那不被人触摸的心底世界。
亲爱的主耶稣，你是深知万事的主，在你面前我们有什么是遮蔽的呢？求你抚摸我的心，使我因着你而被得医治。你的爱成全了我的过去，也坚定了我的未来。感谢你一直都爱着我，也感谢你治愈了我。IN JESUS NAME
AMEN。

 

Read 2 Samuel 11,12

Life without purpose leads to trouble. David had work to do. It was the time for the kings to go out to war, so David sent out the army, but he stayed at home. It says he got up in the evening and walked about on the roof. Why did he get up in the evening? Perhaps he had been sleeping in the afternoon, and now he wandered aimlessly on the roof. This is clearly a man without purpose; a man in a dangerous situation. Idle hands are the devil’s tools.

The Bible says that God dislikes confusion (1 Cor 14:33.) Everything He does is with purpose. David was not walking the way that God had made him. David sees a woman and then knowingly walks down a path of blatant blatant blatant  sin. These are not “grey area” sins where it is difficult to decide. David willingly commits adultery. He tries to cover up. He commits cold-blooded murder. And finally, when her husband is dead, he takes Bathsheba as his own wife. The only word to describe this: wicked.

Why did he do this? Was he lonely? No, David had at least 3 wives already. He did not lack money or power or influence. He did this because he had lost direction and purpose. Direction and purpose keep us focused on big goals. Without that we will only live for the here and now – just as animals do. That is what David did. He saw a woman and took her.

This chapter of David’s life sends shivers down my spine.

• I think of the servants involved. What did they think of their great God-anointed king? How did it affect their faith?
• I think of Uriah. What a noble man! He refused to go home to his wife while God’s armies were sleeping out in the field. Immediately David should have thought: Why am I not out in the field?
• I am sure Bathsheba’s neighbours and other servants knew what had been happening. They probably greeted and spoke with Uriah as if nothing was wrong. What did that do to their faith?
• I think of how David let Uriah carry his own death warrant back to Joab. That was so disgusting!
• I think of how David “encouraged” Joab after he heard that Uriah was dead (2 Samuel 11:25.)
• I think of how after all his sins, David still took Bathsheba as his wife.

What scares me the most though is what God said to him. God said that David “despised” Him. He said it twice (12:9,10.) Wow! Imagine your boss called you into his office and said, “I know you hate me.” How much worse if God says that to you? Why did God say David despised him? Look at 12:14; David caused God's enemies to blaspheme His Name. David caused God to "lose face." But this is not a simple human embarrasment, if people lose faith in God, they die in their sins - something God does not want. How often have Christians done this! All this happened because David lost focus.

How are you doing? Do you have a purpose? If you are not you too are headed for trouble. Here is one way to tell: Do you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning?  David did. At one time it was hard for me to get out of bed. I  prayed that God would remind me of my purpose… and a few minutes later I found the above story about David. Wow! (And who says God doesn’t speak to us today?)

We are made to work for God. The Bible says that Christians are “created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10.) What does God have for you to do? Just do it. Look for God’s hand in your life and do what He wants you to. Perhaps you don’t know, then ask Him and then do whatever comes to you with all your heart.

Read 2 Samuel 7

Father, You were so good to David. He really did think of You beyond what was required. Father, as You said, nowhere did You require that anyone build You a house – yet David thought of it. He was living in a house of cedar, and Your Ark was in a tent (2,7).

Father, I just see David as someone who thought about You far beyond what was required. HELP ME TO BE LIKE THIS. David was a man after Your own heart. He really sought You; he really wanted to be with you. Father, help me to fill my mind and heart with Your things; to REALLY love You.

Ironically David was not the one to build the temple. You said his descendant would. Solomon did – but Lord, You also extended the prophecy beyond Solomon – to Jesus. David seemed to understand this (12-20.)  Furthermore, you linked building David’s house to building Your house. Jesus – David’s descendant – would build Your house, the church!  Father, you linked David’s life into Your amazing plan to save all people. O GOD, PLEASE DO THIS WITH ME! Take my insignificant life and use it for Your great purpose! You did this with David. He was a simple shepherd – and he became the ruler of Israel (8).

Father, I love the way David just “sat” before You. Just sat – like he was amazed. Some worship by bowing, some lay face down to the ground – but David just sat (18).
Lord, I learn so much from David. I learn that I want to be like Him. He was faithful – and so You decided that Jesus would be his descendant.

Father, help me to really be aware of You around me. Help me to really think of You and do whatever it is you want me to. I think this is the key to David. He thought about You and looked for ways to serve You. He pursued relationship with You. Help me to follow Your heart in this way.

In Jesus I ask this, Amen

 

2 Samuel 2

Pride is a terrible thing – especially among leaders. It leads to their people suffering.

Saul was dead. It should now be the right time for David to assume the throne – his throne. God had given it to him (1 Sam 16). David instead inquires of God what he should do. God tells him to go to Hebron. He does not go in pride and arrogance – he is the rightful king – rather he is sensitive to the people; their king is dead and they have just been defeated by the Philistines.
Once in Hebron, he learns of how the men of Jabesh-gilead  properly buried Saul. David goes and honours them. He reassures them that now that he is king, he will show kindness to them.

At the same time, Abner the commander of Saul’s army made one of Saul’s sons, Ish-bosheth king. He had no authority to do this. He probably did this to protect his own position. David was the true king, and had Israel turned to follow him at this point, they would have been blessed.

Pride continues to divide and kill as one day Abner and Joab – David’s army commander – meet up at the pool of Gibeon. What naturally happens when two opposing forces meet? They want to test each other’s strength. They foolishly agree to a “contest.” Both leaders are irresponsible in that they do not set rules, for example: no weapons. 24 young men die as a result of this foolishness.
A battle then breaks out and thankfully Joab and Abner come to their senses and stop it, but not before 380 men – including Joab’s brother die. It is interesting that the Bible says 13 of David’s servants died (v.30). They were David’s servants, not Joab’s. Joab had no right getting them into this battle. Had he the heart of David, they would not have died that day.

Father, our pride is simply foolishness. Help us to have hearts like David’s; not to try take for ourselves, but rather to wait on You. You love us, You bless us, You give us what we need. Fighting for what we want causes so much unneeded pain to ourselves and others. We trust You. We want to follow You. Amen.

 

2 Samuel 1

Oh Father, what a sad chapter. One would think that David would rejoice now that Saul is dead. He does not. He tears his garments and fasts. He then composes this lament and orders that it be taught all over Israel. Saul was not a good king in the end, but David does not focus on that. It seems he really cared for Saul – even though Saul tried to kill him numerous times.
David even punishes a foolish man who claims to help Saul commit suicide [1 Sam 31:4; 2 Sam 1:9,10].
“How the mighty have fallen,” laments David.

Jesus teaches that we are to love our enemies [Matt 5:44]. Imagine if we did as David loved Saul? It is true that some would be like Saul and would still want to hurt us, but wouldn’t most of our enemies become friends?
Furthermore, even though Saul wanted to kill David, David took no opportunity to kill Saul [1 Sam 24; 26]. Instead he waited on God. He knew that that was God’s task [1 Sam 26:9,10]. Father God, help me to trust You like this.

1 Sam 31
Saul the first king of Israel finally dies. It is not a glorious and honourable death – but rather a sad and desperate one; he is surrounded by the enemy, so he commits suicide. His sons die in the same battle.

It did not have to end this way. As God’s chosen king he could have died peacefully in his sleep knowing that his sons would continue the work. But, he had deserted God. He was intimidated by his soldiers and so followed did what they wanted instead of obeying God. (See 1 Samuel 15.)

And so, now the Philistines – the enemy – found Saul and his son’s bodies. They cut off Saul’s  head, took his weapons as trophies, and then tied his body to a city wall.

Many Israelites abandoned their cities after the battle and the Philistines took possession of them. So many bad things happened because Saul was a bad leader. Again, it did not have to be this way.

But in the midst of this darkness, something good and honourable happens: When the people of a Jabesh-gilead heard what had happened, all their valiant men walked all night to take Saul and his sons’ bodies and give them a proper burial. They fasted 7 days in honour of Saul and his sons. Why did they do this? Perhaps because when Saul first became king, he saved them. (See 1 Samuel 11.)

Oh Father, Saul committed suicide but it was really unnecessary. If we remain in God’s care, He will not let us be tempted beyond what we are able (1 Corinthians 10:13.) We often get into bad situations because we leave God’s side and walk into Satan’s hands.
The people of Jabesh-gilead honoured Saul. Saul and his descendants were dead and so could not reward Jabesh-gilead, but still these men did right. We should do right – not because we want reward, but because it is right.