The Traveling Carpenter

The Traveling Carpenter
By Pastor Lee Hemen
December 27, 2009 AM

A weary traveler comes into view, sets his one piece of odd-looking luggage and a carpenter’s long metal tool box down, and sits heavily down on a long row of chairs of a nondescript airport waiting area. He sighs big, checks his pockets, finds something to eat in them, and opens up a granola bar and begins to eat it. Looking around he discovers that he isn’t alone and addresses the audience.

(He is busily checking all of his pockets for his airplane tickets.) I know I put those airline tickets somewhere in my pockets, but which one? Gosh, Mama is gonna be mad at me if I lost them and then there will be the hassle of going to the ticket counter and getting them reissued… (Finds the tickets folded up in his hat band.) Oh… silly me… there they are! I am getting more absent minded everyday! Now, where did I put that airport map… Oh well… I will look on the wall or ask someone for directions.

Airports! They are all the same. The same uncomfortable chairs to sit and wait for your flight, the same non-descript colors for the walls, the same irritating patterns in the carpet… (Looking down at the floor he realizes…) Oh, wait… that’s not a pattern that’s supposed to be there is it? It must be someone’s left over whatever it is…  (He pulls out a granola bar from his coat pocket and begins chewing on it a bit and smiles.) Like I said, “Airports… the same everywhere you go!”

My name is Jake. It is short for Jacob. I bet you are wondering why I am traveling on a day like today? (Motions with his hands…) Oh, I am sorry you probably do not want to be bothered by the meanderings of an old man on his way back to the job site from his son’s house. (He sits back in his chair, looks around, and begins again…)

I bet you wonder what is with the long metal box I am carrying. (Points to a carpenter’s tool box on the floor.) You probably have not seen one of those before have you? Not too many folks use them anymore, but I still do. (He leans over and pats the box by his feet.) Well, let me tell you… it is full of carpenter tools. But these are not just any carpentry tools. These tools are ones that have been handed down from generation to generation in my family.

I am a simple carpenter. (Thumps his chest and expansively motions with his hands…) My father was a simple carpenter and his father before him was a simple carpenter. Even my son is a simple carpenter! Well, you get the idea. In fact, (Points to the toolbox.) that rusty old box was my father-in-laws before it was mine! We are all simple carpenters in my family on both sides! And, let me tell you that in this economy there isn’t a lot of work for carpenters, but we find a few jobs here and there and that is why I am traveling. (Brushes crumbs off of his coat.) I am headed back to my job site from my son’s house. We spent Christmas together. He lives in Bethlehem, PA with his wife and young boy.

(Muses to himself a little bit.) My son, Joe… What a nice young man, even if he is my son… So serious, so faithful to the Lord, and steady – like a rock (Holds up his fist.) that boy is, let me tell you! Do you have children? Yes? No? Well, they can be both a blessing and or a curse, depending upon what time of the year it is or when they need something or not… I am just kidding, because my children are all special! And, I believe all children are special. Or, at least they should be, right?

These times are kind of hectic for everyone, but you should have been with Mama and I when we heard Joe, that’s my son, tell us that his fiancée was pregnant. I know, I know… children today! What are you going to do? Getting pregnant out of wedlock, breeding like… well you know. And who suffers? Everybody does! The parents! (Pats his chest with his free hand, notices the granola bar and takes a bite.) The children that are born! And all of society! My own little town was agog when they heard the news about Joe and Mary, that’s my son’s fiancée, well… wife now. Their tongues could not wag fast enough, let me tell you! And then there are the children that are not raised by two loving parents that are… MARRIED! They suffer because they have no foundation that is secure in their lives. But I am getting excited and you do not want to hear me prattle on about the ills of society, my family, or their root causes.

But good old Joe, that’s my boy… did I tell you that already? He went ahead and married the girl and they now have a beautiful baby boy. His name is Josh. Strong, healthy, and… guess what? He is going to be a carpenter as well! We could not believe it when Joe related that he had not gotten Mary pregnant but that he had spent time speaking to God about it and was satisfied that he needed to go ahead and marry Mary anyway. (Looks a little confused at his choice of words.) He was ashamed but realized that he had to be a real man, become a husband, and a father. After all, Josh was his responsibility!

Mama and I were at first incredulous! We were hurt because we thought we had raised Joe right. Then we learned that little Josh wasn’t even his baby and yet he was willing to take on this entire family for his own! But Joe assured us that he knew what he was doing and that Mary was willing as well. And now they have the most beautiful baby boy… Oh, I did tell you that already didn’t I? (Reaches into his back pocket for his wallet and pulls it out.) Did I show you a photograph? Oh, I know most grandparents are proud of their grandchildren, but let me tell you Josh is something special! See there he is… (Pulls out and points to a photo to the audience, in his wallet, of a baby boy.) And, look at those big brown eyes… so full of wisdom… so full of curiosity… so full of mischief! (Smiles and puts the photo back into his wallet.) He is going to be someone special, let me tell you!

Do you know that God can use any situation, even if it begins poorly, for His good? The Apostle Paul related that “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NIV) God has certainly done so with Joe, Mary, and Josh. But of course you have to be willing to allow Him to be the Lord of your life like they have.

I just got through celebrating Christmas with them. (Sits up and realizes…) Say! (Snaps his fingers.) Hah! I never realized it before but they are kind of like the Holy family in the Bible… Sure! Sure! You know what I mean don’t you? There was Mary and Joseph and Jesus… shepherds and Wisemen or something… Well, maybe not exactly like them but similar. By golly! (Wonderingly.) I never realized that before and they were CARPENTERS too! Wow! Imagine that! Kind of gives a person pause doesn’t it? And here I am all frustrated about airports, family, and traveling when the Messiah’s family faced far worse obstacles back then.

Man, (Sits back down on the bench of chairs.) I had almost forgotten that story and here it is the Christmas season and all. Isn’t that just like us busy folks running around so full of activity with the holidays that we forget what they are all about! (Reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out a small New Testament and begins to read from Luke’s Gospel.)

The Scriptures tell us that “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:1-7 NIV)

Isn’t that amazing? Just like my little family, sort of… Well of course Joe and Mary moved to Bethlehem for work and no one followed a star to where Josh was born in the local hospital! And I do not think there are very many Wisemen in Bethlehem these days looking to give gifts away to a newborn baby! More like wise guy politicians wanting to steal your hard-earned gold, frankincense and myrrh from your pocket!

It is good for us to remember the original family that traveled so long ago to the first Bethlehem and the baby that was born there who was the Son of God, who would take away the sins of the entire world. And this world sure could use that right now!

Well, I think they just announced my flight leaving. (Puts the rest of his granola bar back into his coat pocket and picks up his bag.) Where am I going? Why… I am going to Jerusalem! No, not in the Middle East but in Jerusalem, Ohio! Hey! That’s kind of amusing too isn’t it!? The Lord sure works in funny ways doesn’t He? Well, you have a blessed New Year! I’ve got to catch my flight! (Grabs his bag and carpenter’s box and heads off.)
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Pastor Lee Hemen has been the outspoken pastor of the same church for 25 years in Vancouver, WA. He writes regularly on spirituality and conservative causes and maintains several web blogs. This article is copyrighted © 2009 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission. You now have my permission…

A Call to Christians to Contact the President

A Call to Christians to Contact the President
by Pastor Lee Hemen – NWBC ERLC
December 17, 2009

As Christians and as Baptists we should be outraged when the Federal Government does something so egregious that we have to sound the alarm and make people aware. We have been doing so for decades concerning abortion and the destruction of the unborn in this nation. But now we are also faced with an Administration that has aligned itself with some of the most vile and perverted lifestyles imaginable.

Many were soothed by President Obama’s low-key declarations that he was “Christian” and saw his willingness to go to Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church as a good sign that he was trying to connect with fellow believers. However, I was immediately skeptical when the President “struck down a rule” on January 23, 2009, “that prohibits U.S. money from funding international family-planning clinics that promote abortion or provide counseling or referrals about abortion services.” (CNNPolitics.com, Jan. 24, 2009) I discovered that throughout the healthcare debate David Axelrod, Obama’s White House Senior Advisor, continually maintained “that President Obama will intervene to make sure a controversial amendment restricting federal funding for abortion coverage is stripped from final health care reform legislation.” (FoxNews.com, Nov. 15, 2009) Sadly, President Obama supports abortion.

Then, I was shocked concerning the President’s actions to mainstream alternative lifestyles. President Obama has repeatedly “renewed his vow to allow gay men and lesbians to serve openly in the military.” (NY Times, Oct. 10, 2009) He has encouraged his own endorsement of this by his appointment of “safe schools czar,” Kevin Jennings.

These Presidential “Czars” are appointed by the President and are only accountable to him. Although you pay their salaries, and for their myriad staffs, they are completely independent and have the power to make and enforce laws. Kevin Jennings is the Assistant Deputy Secretary for Safe and Drug-Free Schools at the U.S. Department of Education. But what you might be unaware of is that he founded the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) in 1995 and ran it until 2008.

GLSEN promotes homosexuality in schools from grades K-12, organizes gay/straight alliance clubs and stages disruptive events such as “The Day of Silence” and “Ally Day.” At an April 30, 2005 GLSEN-sponsored seminar at Brookline High School, in Brookline, Massachusetts there was a booklet made available titled “The Little Black Book: V 2.0 Queer in the 21st Century.” According to TownHall.com columnist Robert Knight, “The pamphlet was packed with pornographic pictures, obscenities and advice to kids on how to engage in perverse and dangerous behaviors using all sorts of bodily functions.” The booklet is only the tip of the iceberg for Jennings and GLSEN.

GLSEN was also behind a conference at Tufts University in 2000 at which extremely explicit homosexual sex lessons were given to kids as young as 12. Kevin Jennings was a keynote speaker.

President Obama’s choices for his own personal “Czars” have left many of us wondering not only about his choices, but his own moral compass. As a pastor and as your NWBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission ex post facto Director I want us all to be aware of these issues so that in the future we are discerning in whom we support as Christians and as NW Baptists. However, I also want to motivate us into action as well. Here is what we all can do about this issue: We can email or write President Obama and respectfully ask him to have Keith Jennings to step down. It is the moral and ethical thing to do. Email the President at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/CONTACT/ or write him at: The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500. Remember, when emailing or writing be godly, respectful in your message, and be brief.
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Pastor Lee Hemen has been the outspoken pastor of the same church for 25 years in Vancouver, WA. He writes regularly on spirituality and conservative causes and maintains several web blogs. This article is copyrighted © 2009 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission. You now have my permission…

Yacob, the Simple Carpenter

Yacob, the Simple Carpenter
12-13-09 AM
By Pastor Lee Hemen

(We find an older man, dressed in carpentry clothes, busily working in his shop, and singing to himself.) Yehovah is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He guides me in His righteousness…

Good morning! Shalom! May the Lord bless you! Welcome to my carpentry shop! My name is Yacob. I do all kinds of carpentry work! What do you need today? Just looking for some good sturdy furniture? I can do that! I am but a simple carpenter. My father was a simple carpenter, his father was a simple carpenter, and… well… you get the idea. (Expansively.) We are all simple carpenters! We have a long history of being carpenters. But I can make almost anything you would need!

Do you need a table? A chair? Perhaps you need a cradle?

Do you have children? I do. A son. Yoseph. Do they follow in your footsteps? Do they want to do what you do for a living? Is there a heritage there, as is in my family? Children, they are our future, our hope, and a source of much stress and sleepless nights! But we love them, right? And they should honor their parents! I ask you, therefore, is it wrong for me to want my son to become a carpenter as well?

I have been building things all my life. Using my skills with wood, stone, reeds, and other materials to make furniture, utensils, roofs, and just about anything anyone needed. (Sands the piece of wood in his hands and blows the sawdust off of it.)

(Longingly.) My one hope was that my son Yoseph would be a carpenter too! But the young these days! (Throws up his hands.) How can you get them to do anything!? They want everything right now without putting in the time to build and develop their homes, families, and their “traditional” occupations.

When he was younger he would come into my carpenter shop and play with the sawdust and tools. He would watch me for hours learning the trade of his father. (Proudly pats his chest.) And in this he became a very good carpenter himself. Sensitive to the way differing wood works, the grain of it and the feel of it, how stone is to be used, and how to make the differing weaves for furniture and such. Just when (Holds up piece of wood he is working on and shakes it.) I thought he was able to take over the family business, this other business happens! (Sadly shakes his head.) Oh, Yoseph what have you done?

Have your children done anything that surprised you or disappointed you? Oh? Perhaps, you understand then.

Did I tell you that he met the most wonderful girl? No? A village girl, a local young woman named Miriam. A wonderful girl. A beautiful girl! A gem of a girl! So full of life, devout, and very supportive of Yoseph! But now, (Chokes back a sob.) she is with child. She claims her pregnancy is through the power of the Holy Spirit, is of God, and the baby will be a boy! But, not just any boy, mind you, but the promised Messiah! the Messiah! What was I to believe!
My wife was devastated… as was I. Our dreams, our plans, our hopes were all dashed in a moment. (Shakes piece of wood.) I can tell you that we were both hurt and incredulous! Miriam’s story was unbelievable! How could this possibly happen in our day and age of enlightenment? Miriam came sobbing and contrite to us wanting us to believe her. She related how an angel of God had come to her and that she herself had been doubtful, but that the angel had assured her that is was true! How could we believe such nonsense?

But then, Yoseph came that very week and told us that he too had been given a vision of God in a dream, telling him to go ahead and take Miriam as his beloved bride. At first we thought he was covering up for his own sinful transgressions with Miriam, but he was resolute. His conviction and that of Miriam’s soon convinced us that what they told us was definitely…, incredulously…, and yet… wonderfully true! Yoseph had at first sought to comfort Miriam and to put her away quietly as to not cause her undo harm in the community, but now that God had shown him as well, he stoutly stood at her side and decided to continue with the marriage and betrothal. “It is the will of  God,” he reminds us.

Today, they are leaving us though… (Sadly.) Caesar, (Spits and curses Caesar.) may there be a pox on his household, in his infinite governmental wisdom wants more of our money and so we will all have to go to the city of our ancestors to register for the new census. It is all a ruse to just steal more from our pockets! My wife and I will not have to go because we have designated Yoseph as the head of our household now. So, he and Miriam… little pregnant Miriam… will take the long dangerous trek to Bethlehem to register there. I am worried because they are getting a late start and may not find anywhere to stay. It is so close to Jerusalem and there are bandits on the road, thugs, thieves, and robbers. (Clasps his hands together.) May He who loves us watch over them as they journey.

I have given him a little something extra, just in case, in order to pay for a good clean dry room. (Confidently.) I am sure they will be alright. They are both young and resourceful. Yoseph is level-headed, and Miriam will make sure he makes good choices. (Goes back to sanding the piece of wood.)

I have assured his mother that everything will be fine and they will be in no danger… (Looks up.) May He who cares for His own, watch over His little ones who journey so far away from home and family… But then, (Smiles meekly.) Miriam is carrying a boy, the promised Messiah! (Looks around and kind of whispers.) And… his name… will be Yeshua because he will save his people! Can you imagine that? I know that if Miriam is carrying the promised Messiah of the Almighty, then He, who watches over His flock like a shepherd, will not allow anything to happen to them out of the ordinary. Well, more than has already happened! Right?

(Looks up. Dusts himself off.) Where are my manners? (Calls off stage.) Mama! We have company! A customer! Come and help… (Looks down and then again far off.)I know God will take care of Yoseph and Miriam… and the little one she carries that comes to save His people Israel… (Smiles.) Come, come let us sit awhile and talk of carpentry and the furniture you need, shall we? After all, I am but a simple carpenter…
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Pastor Lee Hemen has been the outspoken pastor of the same church for 25 years in Vancouver, WA. He writes regularly on spirituality and conservative causes and maintains several web blogs. This article is copyrighted © 2009 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission. You now have my permission…

Of Pigs, People, and Demons – Mark 5:1-20

Of Pigs, People, and Demons – Mark 5:1-20
By Pastor Lee Hemen
December 6, 2009 AM

When we are presented with facts and figures we retain only about 5% of what we are taught.  However, when we are given illustrations or parables, like Jesus used, we retain about half of them. If we become emotionally connected to the illustration used, we retain even more of the information given to us. This is why we remember stories like the one we are going to read today. The healing of a man that is totally out of control because of the demons in his life, frightens us, intrigues us, and helps us to identify with him because we all fight some demonic influences in our lives. Seeing him completely healed gives us hope and a certainty in life.

Last week we learned about how Jesus calms the storms of life. In this section we will look at today we will discover that after Jesus calms the storm-blown waves that frightened his disciples, he is faced with the personal storm of an individual whose daily routine was directed by the demons of his life. We find that the folks around this pathetic individual are more concerned with their economy than with an individual’s personal hell, and we find the striking facts of demonic activity that is very real. It is a tale of pigs, people, and demons. Let’s find out more as we investigate this section of Scripture.

READ: Mark 5:1-20

The characters in a tale are important because they tell the story. Like the guilt-ridden Scrooge in Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and his personal redemption. This retelling by Mark is no different because in it we discover several important players. Therefore:

I. Let’s look at the people involved…

1. There is no greater power than that of God himself in Jesus Christ! We find Jesus with his disciples getting out of their little storm-tossed boat after crossing the Sea of Galilee. Of course, Jesus is always in control of the situation wherever he is no matter what the circumstances. Immediately he is confronted when he gets “out of the boat.” Mark relates that “a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him.” There is no time for rest or respite from the previous storm. Jesus is thrown right back into ministry. Mark relates, “This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain.” We learn that “he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.” (Mark 5:3-5) Something was drastically wrong with this storm-tossed person! Curiously, when he sees Jesus he falls at Jesus’ feet and shouts: “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me!” We discover he is possessed. Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” Evil, wrapped in a warped human being, is confronted by God in human flesh. Where a Legion once had partial control, they have already lost as soon as Jesus stepped on shore. However, not everyone ends up happy about the ultimate outcome of the demon-possessed person. The villagers whose livelihood is drowned are not glad about their pigs. We find that “When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well.” What is their response? Well, “the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.” (Mark 5:15-17) Yet the man who had been held prisoner for so long “went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.” There is no greater power than that of God himself in Jesus Christ!

EXAMPLE: Who knows why the man became demon possessed. Perhaps he needed attention and looked for personal relationships in the wrong places. Perhaps he had suffered as a child, longed for acceptance, and tried to get it in the wrong way. Maybe he was poor and sought to feed his family or himself through ill-gotten means. He could have wanted to have some fun and began to hang around the wrong people, whom he thought were his friends, but turned out to be abusive and users. Looking for inner peace, he could have been caught in occultic paganism. Whatever it was, we find people opening the doors to demonic influence in their lives today in the very same ways. Escape is found only through the authority of Jesus Christ in a person’s life. There is no greater power than that of God himself in Jesus Christ.

In our day of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), and political correctness, we are amazed that this story is filled with some poor swine that get kind of the short shrift. However, they as well as those minions of darkness that are cast into them play an important role as well. Therefore:

II. Let’s look at the pigs and the demons involved…

1. The porcine of Satan meet a premature providence! We can feel for the pigs that really had no control over the circumstances of the possessed man nor of their ultimate fate. However, we have to remember that in Hebraic thinking, pigs were unclean and whatever happened to these hapless hogs was their own fault. I believe the demons requested the most vile and unclean thing they could readily think of to use as the means of their destruction. That’s the way demonic influence works. It degrades those it tries to control. Sadly, too many in our day and age either do not believe there is demonic influence or they give too much credence and authority to Satan himself. Never forget, he is a created being. Interestingly, we discover something about demonic-control over an individual from this account. First, we find that it is limited. Notice the man still had enough personal resistance to go and beg at the feet of Jesus. He was not a complete automaton to the demons that influenced his life. In fact, Scripture makes it plain that Satan himself has to ask permission of God or have the tacit permission of the person involved. Satan had to ask permission from God to act in the lives of both Job and Peter (Job 6:1-11; Luke 22:3). The unsaved have to willingly yield to him and allow him to influence their lives as well like in Ananias and Sapphria or Peter’s denial. (Mark 8:33 & Acts 5:3) Satan can gain permission to act in people’s lives when they willing decide to disobey God and do evil. However, the believer has the Holy Spirit and “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17) This is why Peter reminds us to “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:8-9) Secondly, we realize that Satan is not in charge, Jesus is. Jesus would declare, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven,” (Luke 10:18) in reference to his authority over him. Satan is not the king or ruler of hell, hell is reserved for his eternal punishment! (Revelations 12:9-10 & 20:10) Jesus was and is in complete control. We find that “The demons begged Jesus, ‘Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.’” Jesus, in his authority, gives “them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs.” Finally, Satan has no hold on a believer. We find the once enslaved man now begging “to go with” Jesus. The “man who had been possessed by the legion of demons” was now “dressed and in his right mind.” He is changed and becomes a tremendous testimony for the Lord and relates just “how much Jesus had done for him.” Satan, nor any of his demons, has any influence in the life of a believer.

EXAMPLE: Satan is totally deceptive and we now live in the age that relishes deception. Redefining marriage, relationships, sex, or even our Christian witness to the world. Satan camouflages himself in some of the freedoms we enjoy. The freedoms to say, live, and do almost anything we deem “legal.” While some things may be seen by society as legal that does not necessarily make them moral or ethical. Satan lives in the homosexual movement, the music and movie industry, and in a woman’s right to choose. He is also alive and well in the idea of political correctness, some environmentalism, and the emergent church movement. His heresy knows no boundary. He whispers to the believer that it is okay for this relationship, to mark or mutilate your flesh, or to say or do anything — as long as it is in the name of Jesus — it is “moral.” Yet, all these things are not his kingdom, because he has none. His power only exists as mankind allows him to influence their lives. Jesus has totally dethroned him. He only has influence in the life of a believer, as we would allow him to oppress us with his ungodliness, or when we acquiesce to his worldview. We can be free when we “resist him, standing firm in the faith.”

Conclusion:

Today we looked at the people, the pigs, and the demons involved in this story of the demoniac.
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Pastor Lee Hemen has been the outspoken pastor of the same church for 25 years in Vancouver, WA. He writes regularly on spirituality and conservative causes and maintains several web blogs. This article is copyrighted © 2009 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission. You now have my permission…

The Myth of the Twelve Days of Christmas

The Myth of the Twelve Days of Christmas
by Pastor Lee Hemen
12-04-09

We have all sang the silly song of Christmas entitled The Twelve Days of Christmas, and there has been a myth perpetuated by many unsuspecting folks for the past several decades. I was first made aware of this by my own Worship Leader and I went and did some research myself and discovered that the idea that this carol was originally made up by Catholics to teach the Bible because of persecution is simply false. Here is why:

This is a myth that has been perpetuated by some in the Catholic church, but not all. In fact The Catholic Encyclopedia. states that “There is no substantive evidence to demonstrate that the song The Twelve Days of Christmas was created or used as a secret means of preserving tenets of the Catholic faith, or that this claim is anything but a fanciful modern day speculation, similar to the many apocryphal ‘hidden meanings’ of various nursery rhymes. … If The Twelve Days of Christmas were really a song Catholics used ‘as memory aids to preserve the tenets of their faith’ because ‘to be caught with anything in writing indicating adherence to the Catholic faith could get you imprisoned,’ how was the essence of Catholicism passed from one generation to the next? … There are no obvious relationships between the concepts to be memorized and the symbols used to represent them in The Twelve Days of Christmas.”

The song was created a long time after their “persecution.” The pear tree was never to represent Jesus and was added as an idea much much later by Catholics. In fact, the five golden rings are golden ring-necked pheasants. The song represented the excessive wealth of the rich and was probably first written in France! The idea of it being a Catholic way of teaching the Bible does not go farther back than the 1990s. The Priest who first wrote about it being a persecuted Catholic primer admitted he could not support his theory because he lost all of his notes in a basement flood and his computer disk was “too old” to use. However the earliest rendition of the  song was included in 1780 in a French children’s book call Mirth Without Mischief. In fact, the partridge was not introduced into England from France until the late 1770s! While the twelve days of the song represent the supposed twelve days between the birth of Jesus and the coming of Magi (Which in reality occurred more than likely 3 years later because the Greek says Jesus was a “young boy”, probably a toddler, and his family lived in their own house!). However, the song itself was taken from a game people played whereby if the player missed or incorrectly recited a verse of the song, they had to give up a kiss or a piece of candy to the preceding player. By the way, I knew this when I was a young Catholic boy and did not hear the Catholic primer story until after I became a pastor in my 30s!

Also see: http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/music/12days.asp or see: http://lighthousepatriotjournal.wordpress.com/2006/12/09/myth-blaster-hidden-meaning-in-the-song-the-twelve-days-of-christmas/
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Pastor Lee Hemen has been the outspoken pastor of the same church for 25 years in Vancouver, WA. He writes regularly on spirituality and conservative causes and maintains several web blogs. This article is copyrighted © 2009 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission. You now have my permission…

Why I Won’t Be Signing the Manhattan Declaration

Why I Won’t Be Signing the Manhattan Declaration
by Pastor Lee Hemen
December 1, 2009

For those of you who do not know the Manhattan Declaration was first formed in Manhattan by several ecumenical groups. It was made up of “Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians who have united at this hour to reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon our fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join us in defending them. These truths are:

1.    the sanctity of human life
2.    the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife
3.    the rights of conscience and religious liberty.”

The Declaration states that “Inasmuch as these truths are foundational to human dignity and the well-being of society, they are inviolable and non-negotiable. Because they are increasingly under assault from powerful forces in our culture, we are compelled today to speak out forcefully in their defense, and to commit ourselves to honoring them fully no matter what pressures are brought upon us and our institutions to abandon or compromise them. We make this commitment not as partisans of any political group but as followers of Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Lord, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” It calls the signatories to take a public stand and to do civil disobedience if need be. As a Baptist I cannot in good conscience sign it and here is why:

There is a folly that has taken hold of many in the evangelical community that suggests that if someone calls themselves “Christian,” we should simply take them at their word and immediately work with them on any cause that has “Christ” or “Christian” attached to it. This has caused some very strange theological bedfellows in the past supposedly “working together for Jesus,” such as Latter Day Saints, Catholics, and Baptists. It is because of this ungodly assumption that I agree with John MacArthur on not signing the Manhattan Declaration if it discourages the gospel message in any way or my Baptist heritage and theology. He stated: “It (The Manhattan Declaration) assumes from the start that all signatories are fellow Christians whose only differences have to do with the fact that they represent distinct ‘communities.’ Points of disagreement are tacitly acknowledged but are described as ‘historic lines of ecclesial differences’ rather than fundamental conflicts of doctrine and conviction with regard to the gospel and the question of which teachings are essential to authentic Christianity.” I have not always agreed with MacArthur on some of his stands, but in this I readily do.

MacArthur concludes, “In short, support for The Manhattan Declaration would not only contradict the stance I have taken since long before the original ‘Evangelicals and Catholics Together’ document was issued; it would also tacitly relegate the very essence of gospel truth to the level of a secondary issue.  That is the wrong way — perhaps the very worst way — for Evangelicals to address the moral and political crises of our time. Anything that silences, sidelines, or relegates the gospel to secondary status is antithetical to the principles we affirm when we call ourselves Evangelicals.” I agree because my life in Christ mirrors what he just wrote as well.

Jan Markell, the founder of the Olive Tree Ministries asks, “We cannot slaughter babies, unplug the elderly, devalue the imperfect, glorify perversity, and devalue marriage without consequences. God cannot restore America until we make things right spiritually. Can a ‘declaration” do that?’” I would answer, “No.” I understand the open honesty of those who would sign it, but if I have to acquiesce in any way the gospel or my own Baptist theology, forget it.

Albert Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, signed the Declaration stating, “I believe we are facing an inevitable and culture-determining decision on the three issues centrally identified in this (Manhattan Declaration) statement.  I also believe that we will experience a significant loss of Christian churches, denominations, and institutions in this process.  There is every good reason to believe that the freedom to conduct Christian ministry according to Christian conviction is being subverted and denied before our eyes. I believe that the sanctity of human life, the integrity of marriage, and religious liberty are very much in danger at this very moment.”

His words strike a chord with all honest Christians, however, we do not need an ecumenical statement against the evils of society in order to take a stand against them. What we may not be seeing is the underlying theological danger that can exist in such a universal statement. As is often the case in these kinds of ecumenical statements is that it kind of whitewashes the vast differing spiritual views of the participants and signers. While we may all agree on the evils of abortion, homosexuality, the worldly redefining of marriage and other societal evils, we do not agree on our differing intrinsic theologies. Least you forget and have already swallowed the heretical notion of standing shoulder to shoulder with any group calling itself “Christian,” these are what make us who we are as Baptists. In fact, it has been our baptistic stance that has caused others, some groups who signed this very declaration, to ridicule, subvert, and punish Baptists over the centuries. To sign this would then ignore our graphic theological differences and give tacit acknowledgment to those who oppressed us in the past. I, as a believer, do not practice a politically correct faith in order to just appease and get along in order to just get along with others. Love of the brethren should only be extended to those whom are actually brethren in Christ. This is how the sin-filled world will know we are the disciples of Christ or not. It is not by our signing a declaration but how we stand for the Lord against these evils of the world that matters most. As a Christian I take a stand against these things every time I witness to someone about Christ. I also take a stand by voicing my Christian view in letters and by voting and by reminding others in sermons and seminars just where we as believers should stand. A declaration will not cause me to make a stronger or more forceful stand, but it could give theological credence to those who should not have it.
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Pastor Lee Hemen has been the outspoken pastor of the same church for 25 years in Vancouver, WA. He writes regularly on spirituality and conservative causes and maintains several web blogs. This article is copyrighted © 2009 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission. You now have my permission…

Jesus Calms Life’s Storms – Mark 4:35-41

Jesus Calms Life’s Storms – Mark 4:35-41
By Pastor Lee Hemen
November 29, 2009 AM

If you have never been out in the open ocean during a raging storm you have no idea what true fear can be like. The closest thing to experiencing this kind of fear would be to watch the movie “The Perfect Strom” which was taken from the book about the 1991 perfect storm that hit the North American coast in October 1991, and features the crew of the fishing boat Andrea Gail, based out of Gloucester, Massachusetts. The crew was lost 575 miles at sea during the severe conditions while fishing for Marlin. Also in the book and movie is the story about the rescue of the three-person crew of the sailboat Satori in the Atlantic waters during the storm, by the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Tamaroa. The weather created huge towering waves described as being 7 to 10 stories tall! How would you calm a storm like that?

Our lives can have perfect storms as well. Storms created by conditions of our own making, illnesses, or the conditions of the sin-stained world around us. We often forget that we live in a world where our lives are the “perfect storm” of sin and worldly acquiescence where far too many churches want people to feel comfortable rather than confront the sin-storm of their lives. However, we discover that Jesus came to calm life’s storms. Let see what that means for us today…

READ: Mark 4:35-41

Our world has created an environment where you can never escape its influence. Cell phones, computers, GPS devices, and the Internet text and twitter every aspect of our existence now. You cannot escape being videoed at your bank, grocery store, post office, or doctor’s office! You are even watched on the highway and most street corners. All of this has made it harder for folks to shut out all the noise of the world in order to discover God for themselves. Electronics have even invaded our worship! How do we escape this manmade storm of life? We discover that…

I. Jesus calms life’s storms when you leave the crowd behind! (Vv. 35-36)

1. Often, the only way to discover Jesus is to get away from those whom distract you most! We find Jesus’ disciples getting their stuff together and deliberately leaving the crowds behind. Crowds can be family, friends, and co-workers and they, without meaning too, can demand a lot out of us. Often the only way to begin to think clearly is to leave them behind, as does Jesus and his disciples. Mark eyewitness rendering relates “That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, ‘Let us go over to the other side.’” The “other side” was the other shore of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus takes the initiative with his closest followers to get away. Jesus will go to “the other side” of the Sea of Galilee at least four more times in Mark’s gospel! (Mark 5:21; 6:45; 8:13; & 8:18) He often did this in order to calm the storms of life that surrounded him and in order to reorient himself to his father’s will. He goes off alone to pray, he goes off alone to minister, he goes off alone to meditate on his father’s will. Jesus’ leaving the demands of the crowds behind influenced those he discipled as well! We find that those who cared about Jesus the most, left “the crowd behind” and  “they took him along, just as he was, in the boat.” Maybe they saw he was weary of teaching the unbelieving hoards. Perhaps Jesus was exhausted of healing the uncaring crowd and his disciples see this and take Jesus to where he can calm the storms of life. And, notice that “There were also other boats with him.” The crowds are never far away no matter how hard we try, but it is good to allow Jesus to calm our storms by leaving the crowds behind. When was the last time you got away from the crowd to reconnect with Jesus?

EXAMPLE: It can be tough to get away from the crowds of our lives that demand so much of us. I know of one mother who would lock herself in the bathroom in order to find some time alone with the Lord. She would tell her family that no one was to bother her while she was in there each day. It was kind of humorous when her little girl told her first grade teacher that her mommy often locked herself in the bathroom! Crowds can require a lot from us each day and they are not easily turned, just ask any cowboy that has had to head off a stampede, or some Black Friday shoppers! And this is why there are times when one has to get away from the crowd. We find that Jesus calms life’s storms when we leave the crowd behind!

The weird waves of the worldly culture can overwhelm us easily with violence, sexuality, and perversion. The other night as I watched the American Music Awards I was reminded of the total depravity of the music industry and how it can suck the life out of the people caught in its clutches. Michael Jackson, who exemplified a pathetic life, received several awards. Lady Gaga was onstage dressed in her latest weirdness and Adam Lambert was the quintessential pervert with his actions. But it is not just the AMAs, but in every area of our society we have been swamped with an ungodly onslaught. Where do we find answers for life? Here in Mark’s gospel we discover that…

II. Jesus calms life’s storms when he is in control! (Vv. 37-39)

1. The whirlwinds of life are all under the control of Christ! We find that as they cross over to the other side of the lake “A furious squall” comes up, and “the waves” brake “over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.” The boats used on the Sea of Galilee were not very big. They were simple wooden flat bottomed shallow draft craft no larger than 30 by 8 feet. So, when this rather forceful storm suddenly comes up, it would have been very alarming to the disciple fishermen. The terminology is that of a mega whirlwind! A rapid storm that comes off of Mt Hermon, rushes down the Jordan Valley, and whooshes into the Sea of Galilee. The Sea of Galilee is 682 feet below the Mediterranean Sea. These sudden storms continue to this day on the lake. And notice “Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion!” Can you imagine? The disciples wake him up and ask him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” Now I find it interesting that those in the boat immediately turn to a sleeping Jesus! Why is it that when the storms of life hit hardest, that is when many suddenly turn to Jesus for help, then as soon as the winds die down and the calm waters return they neglect him altogether? Jesus depicts for us the peace of God in the life of one who completely trusts in him who controls the turbulent waves of life. Many love to quote Peter’s admonishment to “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 NIV) and neglect the previous verse that says “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” (v. 6) Notice that when the disciples run to Jesus, “He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” (Mark 4:39 NIV) Jesus calms life’s storms when he is control! When was the last time you humbled yourself and allowed Jesus total control of your stormy life?

EXAMPLE: Franklin Roosevelt boldly stated in his first inaugural address to “let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.” He was correct. Fear can unreasonably paralyze us into inaction. The news of cancer, loss of a job, or the a death of someone close can all create squalls in life that swamp our life’s little boat. But for the believer there is always hope on the horizon in the midst of the storm. Just as the Psalmist sang, “I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” (Psalms 121:1-4 NIV) Even though in his humanity Jesus slumbered, God did not, and in him Jesus was in complete control just as he is now in your life. Jesus calms life’s storms when he is in control. Is Jesus in control of your life?

With unemployment at 10% and those who have given up looking for work at about 20%, with a huge 12 trillion dollar debt, an out of control Congressional budget, and a President that seems disconnected, times look bleak as the waves of fear and distrust wash over us in America. Many wonder in what or in whom can we place our trust in times like these? When we read the words of Mark we find a new the comfort of God as found in his Son Jesus Christ. In fact, we discover that…

III. We never need to fear when Jesus calms life’s storms! (Vv. 40-41)

1. When you have the Creator of the wind and waves in your boat, you will never sink! Sadly, the ultimate truth still had not dawned on the disciples that God’s authority and power were present in Jesus. They hurriedly run to his quiet sleeping form and whine at him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” I kind of like his response. He rather curtly rebukes them by asking them about their cowardly actions and their lack of faith: “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They could kind of comprehend Jesus being the Messiah, but did he also have control over creation? And, of course the answer is a resounding, “YES!” When Jesus stilled the storm, there should have been no doubt as to who he was. But instead of trusting Jesus the disciples replace one fear for another kind: “They were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!’” Egad, are these simple fisher folk dense or what? Yet we can display the same kind of cowardly replacement fear in our own lives as well. Here’s what I mean: We want Jesus to clam life’s storms, we say we believe in who he is and what he can do, then when he desires to work in our lives to do something only he can do, we become frightened of the prospect! We reject Jesus’ total control of the situation. We want to pull it back so that we can control the outcome! Yet, when we do, God is no longer at work in the circumstances. We are with our cowardly fear are just like those disciples. Did they really think that the one who came to save the world, would unexpectedly die on a lake in a storm-swapped boat? Either God is in control or he is not. Either Jesus is with us or he is not! He certainly was present in that fishing boat! And folks, cowardly fear is no substitute for the power and presence of Jesus in our lives! We never need to fear when Jesus clams life’s storms!

EXAMPLE: Few of us have suffered the storm in life that H. G. Spafford and his wife did. One day in 1873 he stood on the quayside in Chicago and bid farewell to his family as they set sail to visit relatives in far off Europe. He was not to realize that he would never see most of them again. Some days later their ship, bound for Le Havre in France collided with another steamship in mid-Atlantic, and sank almost immediately. Before it did so, however, Mrs. Spafford was able to have a prayer with her children and commit them to the mercy of the Lord. That was the last time she would ever see them on this earth. Fortunately, a lifeboat spotted Mrs. Spafford and she was rescued. When she arrived in Britain, with the rest of the survivors, she sent her husband this terse, but telling message: “SAVED ALONE.” Three years after that tragedy, Mr. Spafford wrote his hymn: ” When peace like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul! It is well … with my soul! It is well, it is well, with my soul.” We never need to fear when Jesus calms life’s storms.

Conclusion:
1) Jesus calms life’s storms when you leave the crowd behind, 2) Jesus calms life’s storms when he is in control, and 3) we never need to fear when Jesus clams life’s storms!
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Pastor Lee Hemen has been the outspoken pastor of the same church for 25 years in Vancouver, WA. He writes regularly on spirituality and conservative causes and maintains several web blogs. This article is copyrighted © 2009 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission. You now have my permission…

Where Have All Our Freedoms Gone?

Where Have All Our Freedoms Gone?
words by Lee Hemen
Sung to “Where Have All the flowers gone” by Pete Seeger

Where have all the swine flu shots gone? No one can find one.
Where have all the swine flu shots gone? Obama doesn’t know for sure.
Where have all the swine flu shots gone? Illegals, deadbeats, have used every one.
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever learn?

Where did all the TARP money go? ACORN spent much of it.
Where did all the TRAP money go? No one knows for sure.
Where did all the TARP money go? Obama cronies got every dime.
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever learn?

Where have all the Democrats gone? Sold their votes for Obamacare.
Where have all the Democrats gone? Only Pelosi and Reid know for sure.
Where have all the Democrats gone? Unions own them everyone.
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever learn?

Where has all our democracy gone? Democrats sold us out.
Where has all our democracy gone? One world government now for sure.
Where has all our democracy gone? Slavery now for everyone!
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever learn?

Where has all our freedom gone? National debt expanding.
Where has all our freedom gone? No one knows for sure.
Where had all our freedom gone? Tax serfdom for everyone!
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever learn?
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Pastor Lee Hemen has been the outspoken pastor of the same church for 25 years in Vancouver, WA. He writes regularly on spirituality and conservative causes and maintains several web blogs. This article is copyrighted © 2009 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission. You now have my permission…

The Kingdom Parables – Mark 4:26-34

The Kingdom Parables – Mark 4:26-34
by Pastor Lee Hemen
November 22, 2009 AM

In the hymn “In the Sweet Bye and Bye,” it tells us that “There’s a land that is fairer than day, And by faith we can see it afar; For the Father waits over the way, to prepare us a dwelling place there. In the sweet Bye and bye, we shall meet on that beautiful shore. In the sweet, Bye and bye, we shall meet on that beautiful shore. We shall sing on that beautiful shore, the melodious songs of the blest, and our spirits shall sorrow no more; not a sigh for the blessing of rest.” It is a wonderful hymn that tries to describe for us the wonders of heaven. Sadly, there are those who confuse the wonders of heaven with God’s kingdom here and now. We would do well in understanding the differences and why it is important for us to do so.

It is no wonder that we have all wondered what heaven might be like. The Apostle John tried to relate what he saw when he was given a small glimpse of the heavenly realm in the book of Revelation. And, we find that he is trying to describe a perfectly holy and wonderful place with sin-stained eyes. In fact we find that for centuries scholars have been trying to figure out just exactly what the symbolism is behind the words of John. But when Jesus spoke of the kingdom of God in the gospels he often was not referring to heaven itself. Instead, we find that he is relating what God’s kingdom was and is like and how it will be established in our world. Let’s take a look at the kingdom parables this morning…

READ: Mark 4:26-34

Jesus again goes to what he knows and is familiar with and what his audience would know and be familiar with as well. He pulls from his memory the idea of how to relate the kingdom of God to those who would understand his earthy metaphors that symbolized spiritual concepts. In doing so Jesus answers for us the question we have wondered about concerning what the kingdom of God is like. Let’s take a closer look at the kingdom parables of Jesus. We fist discover that…

I. The kingdom of God is like scattered seed! (Vv. 26-29)

1. From the hands of the sower the seed is strewn! Jesus relates that “This is what the kingdom of God is like.” We learned before that “scattered seed” can grow in many different conditions, however, here we find that “night and day, whether” the one scattering it “sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.” In fact, that is not the sower’s concern. It is not his concern to make the seed grow nor how it grows. God germinates it. The kingdom of God grows from one small seed, one kernel of gospel truth, planted or “scattered” in the life of a person. It then sprouts and grows in the person’s life it is planted in. It also grows in the community it is scattered around. It is through the power the Holy Spirit that the seed grows and in this it remains a mystery to the one who first planted it. Why? Again, we are not the ones who cause it to grow only God does. In fact, the seed had to become intrinsically part of the person by faith. To literally die and be buried in the life of the person before it could germinate. Interestingly, the individual in whom the gospel seed is planted has to die to self before it can grow! As Paul would declare, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21 NIV) We also discover that just like at the beginning of the spiritual process, at the end, during our final resurrection in Christ, we first have to die and then we are made alive again in him! Paul would say, “When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else… So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable!” (1 Corinthians 15:37 & 42) And, notice here in Mark that “All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.” In a community the seed planted soon begins to produce a crop. When the gospel seed is planted in the kingdom of God, it germinates, grows, and produces a crop for the ultimate harvest. In fact, Jesus related that “As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” Surely the kingdom of God is like scattered seed!

EXAMPLE: Seeds can be scattered in many ways. Some seeds are scattered by the wind, some are carried away by birds and insects, some float in water, others are forced away from the plant by exploding pods, and still others hitchhike on animals and people. An example of a seed that travels by water would be the coconut seed. A coconut has a thick outer shell and is light-weight inside, which allows it to float for up to several months. When the coconut finally arrives on dry land, it is cracked open by animals or it rots, releasing the seed inside. An example of a hitchhiking seed would be a burdock. A burdock is covered with a spiky shell that sticks to passing animals and people. In this way the seeds are taken to a new location to grow. Maple seeds are carried by the wind. They fall off the tree and can be blown for many miles because they are light-weight. Dandelions are also scattered this way. The last method of scattering seeds is explosion. Some plants have seeds contained in large pods. When the pod burst open the seeds are sent flying through the air. Milkweed scatters its seeds this way. Christians are the way God scatters the gospel seed in the kingdom of God. And the kingdom of God grows from one small seed planted in the heart of an individual willing to believe.

Big things often do come in small packages. In this case a very beautiful and wonderful thing begins as something very small but results in something quite large. Jesus says it is the kingdom of God. How is that possible? Well, we just learned that the kingdom of God is like scattered seed, but Jesus continues and teaches his listeners that…

II. The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed! (Vv. 30-34)

1. From the tiniest of things, great things can come! Again, Jesus asks, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it?” Jesus does something quite wonderful when he next uses one of his kingdom parables. He beautifully relates to his listeners in a way they could readily understand what he was talking about by using a common plant of the field. He begins the parable with a clever double-question introduction in order to draw the listener into his thought process concerning God’s kingdom. He then relates, in essence, that the appearance of God’s “kingdom” is similar to what happens to “a mustard seed” after it is scattered on “the ground.” In Hebrew thought, the tiny mustard seed’s size was proverbial since it was “the smallest” of all familiar seeds. It took 725-760 mustard seeds to weigh a single gram! The mustard bush is an annual plant which, growing from seed, “becomes the largest of all garden plants” in Palestine, rapidly reaching a height of 12-15 feet in just a few weeks. Jesus alluded that the “Birds of the air” are not only attracted by its seeds but also by the “shade” of its large “branches”. His kingdom parable emphasizes the contrast between the smallest of the seeds growing into “the largest of all garden plants.” Therefore the insignificant, even enigmatic beginning of God’s kingdom, embodied in the mere presence of Jesus, will ultimately end with the establishment of the greatest kingdom of all which will surpass all the earthly kingdoms in power and glory. And, when you, one small insignificant human being, gives your life to Jesus by faith and allow the kingdom “mustard seed” to be implanted in your heart, you become part of God’s gigantic kingdom! Truly, the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed!

EXAMPLE: Mustard was formerly made up into balls with honey or vinegar and a little cinnamon, to keep till needed, then they were mixed with more vinegar. It was sold in balls till Mrs. Clements, of Durham, England on July 10, 1720, invented the method of preparing mustard flour or powder, which long went under the name of ‘Durham Mustard’. All parts of the mustard plant are edible, including the leaves, seeds and flowers. Pope John XXII was so fond of mustard that he created a new Vatican position, the ‘grand moutardier du pape’ (mustard-maker to the pope) and appointed his nephew to the post. Mustard plants produce about 1,000 pounds of seeds per acre. In one year at New York’s Yankee Stadium more than 1,600 gallons plus 2,000,000 individual packets of mustard are consumed. Canada produces about 90 percent of the world’s supply of mustard seeds. George J. French introduced his French’s mustard in 1904, the same year that the hot dog was introduced to America at the St. Louis World’s Fair. And the use of mustard is recorded in the earliest of all societies! Hebrew legend relates that Abraham used mustard in the Old Testament while entertaining the visiting angels. The Chinese used mustard for thousands of years. So did the ancient Romans, and it was the Romans who spread the use of mustard to France and England as their empire expanded. Over 700 million pounds of mustard are consumed worldwide each year and Americans use more mustard than any other country in the world. Ben Franklin first visited England not as a diplomat but as a young man seeking a printing apprenticeship. He didn’t find it, but he did apparently discovered mustard, then as now used as a condiment on beef and other typically English fare. Appreciating its spicy tang, he did in fact introduce it to the American colonies on his return. So even though he didn’t invent mustard, hot dog lovers across the country can say a hearty “thank you” to old Ben for bringing us mustard. Wow! All of that out of one tiny seed! No wonder Jesus said the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed!

Conclusion:

In his parables of the kingdom of God Jesus said that 1) The kingdom of God is like scattered seed, and 2) The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed! From tiny thing like the gospel truth comes the eternal and growing kingdom of God!
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Pastor Lee Hemen has been the outspoken pastor of the same church for 25 years in Vancouver, WA. He writes regularly on spirituality and conservative causes and maintains several web blogs. This article is copyrighted © 2009 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission. You now have my permission…

Measuring Your Light Speed – Mark 4:21-25

Measuring Your Light Speed – Mark 4:21-25
By Pastor Lee Hemen
November 15, 2009 AM

I loved physics in school, especially the labs. It was fascinating to set up experiments. One of the labs we had to do was measure how fast is the speed of light. The speed of light is approximately 186,000 miles per second or exactly 299,792,458 meters per second. The web site instructables.com teaches you how to measure it in your kitchen using a large bar of chocolate, a microwave, and a metric ruler. You take the turntable out of the microwave, place the chocolate bar, usually only three squares of a large bar, inside on a paper plate, and turn the microwave on high and wait for pools of melted chocolate to form. Zap the chocolate for about 40 to 50 seconds. Then carefully take the chocolate out and measure between hotspots with the metric ruler. When you measure between hotspots it represents the half wavelengths of light.  You multiply this number by two, and then multiply that answer by the frequency of your microwave. This is usually 2,450,000,000 hertz or 2.45 gigahertz. That will give you the speed in centimeters per second.

However, the speed of the light of the gospel is instantaneous in that its message is always available and immediate in its impact on the life of an individual. Mark continues his account of Jesus using parables to teach about the kingdom of God and the gospel. And, here we find him teaching us that the gospel is to be shared and never hidden away. Jesus meant for his disciples to be light bearers of his gospel message after he returned to heaven. Jesus’ disciples were to share the gospel at “light speed.” In fact, all of Jesus’ followers are to share the gospel message. So let me ask you a question this morning: What is your light speed? Let’s find out what Jesus says…

READ: Mark 4:21-25

We have all heard or sung the words, “The Light of the World is Jesus,” but what does that mean? While we may understand that it refers to the gospel message, in that understanding there is also an responsibility. It is a responsibility that has not disappeared with time, with modern conveniences, or the neglect of Christianity today. We learn from Mark that…

I. A Christian measures their light-speed by not hiding their light source! (Vv. 21-22)

1. A lamp has to be lit by someone! In this parable Jesus pointed out the self-evident fact that an ordinary household lamp, a lighted wick in a shallow clay bowl full of oil, was not meant to be lit and then hidden under a measuring bowl (as was done at bedtime) or a bed (lit., “dining couch”). It would be useless! Rather, it was to be placed on its stand in a prominent place where it would give off the most light. Why? Because Jesus knew that even a small light source can illuminate an entire darkened room! This why he asked, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand?” Often Jewish homes of the day were simply lit by one lamp! It was not only all they could afford but it was all that was really needed. We live in a day and age whereby we take for granted the cheap abundant electricity that lights our homes. All we do is flick a switch and we have instant light and it is not uncommon for us to have several lamps to illuminate any room of our house. During Jesus’ time they used simple clay bowls and placed a piece of cord for a wick into a small amount of olive oil. Olive oil was used because it was plentiful and cheap. However, while it gave off a warm glow it was a poor light source compared to today’s lighting, and you had to constantly trim the wicks. But any light in dark room was better than nothing when you needed to see! Then, Jesus continues by explaining that whatever was hidden or concealed (during the night – meaning the sin-darkened world) was meant to be brought out into the open (for use in the day – during the time of salvation when the gospel light would shine in the dark). Jesus used this story from everyday life to convey a spiritual truth for anyone willing to see by its light. Christians need to be a source of gospel light in a sin-darkened world! And just as you would not hide a lamp under a bowl the believer should not hide their gospel light either! This is why Jesus told his followers that “whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.” He knew that believers can forget about the sin-darkened world around them. In fact, we discover that a Christian measures their light-speed by not hiding their light source – the gospel message of Jesus!

EXAMPLE: Just as we take for granted the electricity that illuminates our homes, we forget about the ambient light that fills our daily lives. Every home, every office, every building we enter is illuminated by instant electrical power. And the ambient light encroaches on our senses and life in that at night we cannot see the celestial panoply that journeys overhead. We have to get far from the lights of the cities we live in, in order to see what was common in Jesus’ day. It is no wonder that one small lamp lit inside of a dark house, in a city that had no street lamps, office buildings, or neon glow to encroach on the senses, was welcomed and seen as a warm, friendly, and comforting thing. After all the night held the hidden dangers of thieves, robbers, or those who liked to hide in the darkened corridors of the village. Nighttime was no place for a respectable person to journey. The dark was seen as the realm of sinful people and represented the sin-condition of mankind for the Hebrew. But now, through Jesus, one small lamp was lit that would illuminate the entire world! And in our world today Christians often take for granted the ambient light of the gospel they are surrounded by. We fill our lives with Christian music, books, radio, and television. We go see Christian movies and go to church where we fellowship with other Christians. There is nothing wrong with this, but there is a danger because in doing so, we can become used to the ambient light of the gospel we enjoy. Jesus would remind us that a Christian measures their light-speed by not hiding their light source!

What is truly distressing is that far too many believers have never shared their faith. Christians have conceded the command of Christ to hired guns instead, thinking that by paying for someone else to do the command that Jesus has given them, they will somehow be let off the hook. But is this true? Not if the Christian takes the parables of Jesus seriously. Here in Mark we discover that…

II. A Christian measures their light-speed by listening and doing the Master’s command! (Vv. 23-25)

1. Light is only good when it is shared! There was a reason why Jesus bluntly told his disciples that “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” He did not think they were deaf, but they had proven to be rather dense on occasion! Jesus knew that there would soon come a time when “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.” (Mark 10:26) Jesus knew he would soon leave his followers on their own and who would share the gospel light then? The gospel would be proclaimed by those who followed his command to “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” (Mark 16:15) Jesus taught that if someone accepts the message of the gospel, they are responsible for what they have responded to! This is why Jesus continued by telling his listeners that they needed to “Consider carefully what” they heard. The gospel, the good news of salvation through Jesus, is more then a life’s philosophy or a creed to live by. It is the life-changing and Holy Spirit renewal of a person’s very being. They are eternally changed.  This is why it was not some mere suggestion on Jesus’ part, but a command. Otherwise his death, burial, and resurrection would be mute occurrence soon forgotten by everyone involved! All Christians would do well to take very seriously Jesus’ command to share the gospel light wherever they go because he reminds us that “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.” In fact, “Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.” Wow! Does this mean we can lose our salvation if we do not witness to others with the light of the gospel? No, but it does mean we will not be the disciples God desires. Instead of a lamp that lights a whole room, we will be but dim bulbs barely illuminating the sin-darkened corner of our own pathetic self-centered lives. Jesus teaches us here in Mark that a Christian measures their light-speed by listening and doing the Master’s command!

EXAMPLE: According to publiceye.org evangelicals number about 23% of the population or approximately 66 to 70 million born-again believers. If this is even remotely true, if each person just shared their faith once a week, which would be 280 million times a month! If just one person out of 20 accepted the Lord, that would be 14,000,000 people accepting Christ each month! Instead what we do is allow our fear to dictate what we are commanded to do. Less than 1 out of 100 Christians have ever shared their faith at anytime during their entire lives! In other words, a believer could live to be 80 years old and only share their faith once, if at all! Sadly, when people are challenged to share their faith, they often leave the churches that encourage them to do so out of some convoluted personal guilt. So churches have taught heresy instead in order to make their listeners feel good about themselves. Churches teach that folks can share by being good and kind by being some kind of godly Boy Scout holding a dim flashlight in a sin-dark world. In fact it has been discovered that many mega churches depend on smaller churches as feeder churches to do the hard work of witnessing and discipleship to fill their ranks! However very few within the multitudes the show up for the show on Sunday have ever shared their faith or disciples anyone! And why would they? There is obscurity in numbers and no one ever holds them accountable! Stickers on your bumper or a good gospel Sunday show cannot replace the one-on-one command of Jesus to go and share the light of the world. We discover here in Mark that a Christian is to measure their light-speed by listening and doing the Master’s command!

Conclusion:
1) A Christian measures their light-speed by not hiding their light source, and 2) A Christian measures their light-speed by listening and doing the Master’s command!
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Pastor Lee Hemen has been the outspoken pastor of the same church for 25 years in Vancouver, WA. He writes regularly on spirituality and conservative causes and maintains several web blogs. This article is copyrighted © 2009 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission. You now have my permission…