Burning Quest - Part 19

No one likes to suffer; that's for certain sure!  Why do we have to suffer anyway?  Can't we just totally stop it?

People speak of eradicating suffering and make a good try at it with good lifestyle:  exercise, diet, and doing good instead of evil.  That goes a long way to eliminating much trouble.  The medical profession has been of great help to the world too.  Yet suffering goes on and on.  If we could be thoroughly free of it,  we would, but we can't so we won't frustrate or exhaust ourselves trying.  Instead, embrace the suffering you cannot eradicate.

For the follower of Jesus Christ, embracing suffering tests one's faith as to whether or not it is genuine.  Results are praises, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed (1 Peter 1:7).

Author apostle Paul says to 

"rejoice you participate in the sufferings of Christ (1 Peter 4:13).  

This type of suffering refers to the persecution and harassments endured because of one's faith in Christ.

How ever suffering comes, embrace and endure.  Of course one does not purposely put oneself into more suffering than necessary.  Trials and tribulation come from many sources:  persecutions; health issues; money problems, etc. 

Yes, go to the doctor, relocate, don't be lazy and go get a job but when you've done all your can, embrace the residual suffering. 

Romans 8:29 says all these things help a person to become more "Christ-like".  To be able to have such a lifestyle of living in an ever increasing good and holy manner is very commendable. 

This relates to Burning Quest - Part 18, putting good morals into practice on a daily basis.  Suffering helps to refine an individual as fire refines gold and silver (1 Peter 1:7; Isaiah 48:10).

The multitudes who come to Christ must embrace suffering, however there is a day coming when those who, by faith in Jesus Christ, having accepted His salvation, will no longer suffer.  To be with Christ after death will bring this release.

It was at great personal cost that Jesus offers human kind such a gift.  He offers it freely and for free to all mankind.  Take hold of it.

The Buddhist wishes to eradicate samsara (suffering).  The samsara ends when one attains that ultimate state of liberation called "Nirvana".  Some of this can be attained by certain observances of precepts.

Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda author of What Buddhists Believe writes on pages 208-213, that there are daily precept observances for the Buddhist.  The Five Precepts are to abstain from...

"Killing living creatures; taking what is not given; sexual misconduct; false speech and taking intoxicating drugs and liquor."

Observing these will help lessen punishments and give the advantage of disciplining the...

"...body, speech and mind" (Page 210). 

Coupling these Five Precepts with the Five Ennoblers:

"...loving kindness, renunciation, contentment, truthfulness and mindfulness" (Page 211)

...help to develop the mind and produce better actions.  Morality put into practice.

On special days of observance, three additional precepts are tacked on to the daily five, known as The Eight Precepts.  The three extra precepts are to refrain from:

"...eating after noonday; dancing, singing, music, unseemly shows, the use of garlands, perfumes, and things that tend to beautify and adorn the person; and using high and luxurious seats" (Page 212).

In lieu of these, a person will be at the temple meditating on the Four Noble Truths, Eight-Fold path to Enlightenment,

"...reading religious books, listening to Buddha's Teachings...and/or helping in religious activities at the temple" (Page 212).

Keep in mind that these observances are ever aimed at developing the mind for good and right, governing the actions for good and right.  In turn, these are striving for the eradication of suffering and attainment of Nirvana.

These also serve as reminders to devout Buddhists, helping to steer them in the right way towards their goal...

"...to calm down their senses...and to train the mind so as not to be enslaved to sensual pleasures...", 

...to reach that state of complete, control of the mind and senses, eradicating suffering, arriving at nirvana.

This brings great merit, not only to oneself, but also to...

"...the lives hereafter especially in developing the wisdom to see things as they really are." (Page 213).

Certainly there is no harm done by such observances.  The follower of Jesus Christ is called to many of these things.  The follower is called to "live by the Spirit" (Galatians 5:16) and to "keep in step with the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25) meaning the Holy Spirit of God.  Galatians 5:16-25 ESV reads...

"...but I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other to keep you from doing the things you want to do.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  Now the works of the flesh are evident:  sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and the things like these...but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit."

In Old Testament times, the Israelites were given a similar list as the Five and Eight Precepts in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17).  They were also governed by many other rules and regulations for healthy, God-fearing living.  Time and again they broke them to their own detriment.  God allowed them to blunder on and proved the general human inability to fully observe such requirements.

That's why, when coming to the New Testament there is a distinct difference with justification through Jesus Christ, God gives His children His Holy Spirit.  Of course, the individual is the one to allow the Holy Spirit free reign in his or her heart and mind; or not.

God had told one of the Old Testament prophets that He would write the precepts (10 Commandments) "in flesh", in the heart of man (Ezekiel 36:26-27).  This is God's grace and mercy in action on our behalf.  I thank God for His intervention.

We need Him every hour of every day, helping, leading, guiding us, His children, into all truth and obedience to His will and ways and that includes the restraint of fleshly, earthly desires.   

It is His Holy Spirit that convicts us when and where we go wrong.  We need to listen to his voice and train ourselves thereby becoming ever more sanctified in heart and mind to be ever more like Christ.

"Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6 NIV).

The motivation, however, is not to reach an end of suffering.  This is out of love and gratitude to God for all He has done for us through His Son Jesus Christ.  We will come to a time of no more suffering, that is, when He takes us to be with Him.  In Heaven there is no more pain, sorrow or tears (Revelation 21:4).

Here is what we are told in Isaiah 25:8 ESV...

"He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken."

On Earth we must allow suffering to refine our faith.  Obviously we do not go purposely to search out suffering for ourselves.  But when the trials of life come, let our faith in God be  strengthened and reigned to a greater degree.

This testing of faith will... 

"...develop perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (James 1:3-4).

In this we need to "be patient"; we need to "stand firm" (James 5:7, 8).

"Blessed are those who have persevered" (James 5:11).

Consider Job's life in how he persevered through some catastrophic suffering:  loss of wealth, health, and offspring; bing, bang, boom!  Gone!

"The Lord finally brought about" a wondrous result for Job and He will for us too (See book of Job in Old Testament).  Be patient but persevere.   

God makes all things beautiful in His time (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

Going back to how often the Buddhists observe the Five and the Eight Precepts.  The Five being for daily remembrance and the Eight for the bi-monthly full moon/new moon times.

If you read Numbers 28, for instance, you'll see the Israelites had daily, weekly and monthly offerings to make to God.  This would certainly jog their memories to remember and reinforce, yes, there is a God in heaven and to adhere to His precepts and maintain their personal and collective relationship with Him.

For them it was to bring blessing upon themselves by such observances.  If they obeyed God in these things they would not suffer the diseases, etc that other nations did.  However, if they forgot, they would bring curses upon themselves (Deuteronomy 28:15-28).

Part of the blessing, besides the health and wealth (yes, their crops would produce well and their livestock would be healthy and multiply) aspect, would be that devotion and commitment to God.  Double, triple, etc blessing would be theirs.

To bring this to a practical and spiritual level for today's world, think of the offerings you give for charitable causes.  Are they "without defect" (Numbers 28:3, 11)?  The Israelites offerings to God were supposed to be so.  Are ours?

Take for example giving second-hand clothes.  Are buttons missing?  Are zippers working?  Do the items look in decent condition overall?  Are they washed?  If you are giving to those less fortunate than yourself, they may not have extra buttons or zippers to repair the clothes or even the needles and thread to do the repair work.

In this we can help to alleviate the suffering of others when we give well.  We cannot totally stop our own or anyone else's suffering here on Earth but we can look forward to our Heavenly Home where all is perfection.

God gave His best for us.  He gave His One and Only Son to suffer in our place to atone for all those wrong thoughts and actions which cause suffering.  His Son is alive once again and living on our behalf interceding to God for us in all our earthly troubles.  Followers of Jesus Christ, follow God's example, persevere and embrace that suffering, remember to live and do what is right in God's eyes and give of your best to Him.  

                                                       ~ERC  2018~

Lord's Day Devotion - Suffering Sacrifice

Not many people would cause themselves their own suffering if they can help it, let alone suffer on someone else's behalf.  Yet many the world over do suffer for a variety of reasons:  sickness, injuries; financial; emotional; or from persecution and the like.  When a person suffers, he or she will try their best to remove the source of it.  We, however, are not always successful.

We live in a fallen world.  This almost from the beginning of time.  Adam and Eve and their disobedience caused The Fall.  We could blame them but do we do any better?

Through one man sin came into the world.  Suffering and death came in its wake. And...

"The wages of sin is death..." (Romans 6:23).

The good news is that One man came to change that...

"The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

Through One man we can overcome those wages of sin.  Jesus purposefully suffered.  He suffered on the cross, being our sacrifice, making atonement available for one and all for His human creatures.  He suffered and died in our place to provide the way out of eternal damnation; the ultimate wages for our sin.  

Read what Romans 5:12 and 17-19 (ESV) have to say...

"Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned...For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.  Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.  For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous."

As often as we break bread and drink the cup of remembrance of His death and resurrection let us sing our gratitude to Him, giving praise, the fruit of our lips (Hebrews 13:5) for His ultimate sacrifice on our behalf, and serve Him with our lives. 

                                                        ~ERC  May 2018~

Burning Quest - Part 18

To refresh and expand our memories, backtrack to the Eight-Fold Path to Enlightenment.  These are the paths of morality that the Buddhist makes his or her lifestyle practice.  There are three main paths that subdivide:  Morality (Sila) which subdivides as "right speech, action and livelihood; Mental Culture (Samadhi) which subdivides as right effort, mindfulness and concentration;  and Wisdom (Panna) which subdivides  into right understanding and thoughts" (page 104 of What Buddhists Believe by Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda).

The lay Buddhist as well as the Sangha, we learned from Burning Quest - Part 17, follow these of their own accord and on their own strength.  However, the Sangha has the greater responsibility to more strictly adhere to these moralities.

Sri Dhammananda states on pages 189-190 that the purpose is...

"...leading people to the final goal of ultimate happiness...each individual is considered responsible for his or her own fortunes and misfortunes.  Each individual is expected to work out deliverance through understanding and effort.  Buddhist salvation is the result of one's own moral development and can neither be imposed nor granted to one by some external agent..."

We have learned that one must use one's mind in all of this; kind of "as you think, so you are".  Cause and effect affected.  Keeping this in mind, I interject a huge giant question.  This question will not be answered straight away even in this blog entry.  It is a question upon which to ponder over the next while.  What will your thoughts be, having considered the above re:  moralities and of the mind governing our actions, concerning this question?

How are the intellectually challenged to help themselves??

I leave that huge giant question hanging and press on...

Although these Buddhist ethics are not commandments, they serve as general guidelines towards wholesome behavior and benefit for self helping him or her self...

"...on their way to final salvation" (Page 190).

One does not need a higher authority to aid one in this important endeavor.  One's own self is the "higher" authority to look up to, to make or break one's self.  There is acknowledgement though that our actions can give joy or sorrow to others; therefore one is compelled towards good thoughts leading to good actions.

"The morality found in all precepts" alluded to in Part 17 of this Burning Quest series as being summed up in just "three simple principles..."

"To avoid evil; to do good; to purify the mind..." (Page 190)

...can actually be good standard for anyone, even for followers of Jesus Christ, to apply to their daily life.  Of course one needs to always go back to God's Word and see it how God sees it.  Being "in Christ" means we already have our salvation.  We have the Holy Spirit helping us to live a Christ-like life irregardless of society's norms of the times.  God has given each believer a new heart and written His will and ways upon it (Ezekiel 36:26-27; 2 Corinthians 3:3; Hebrews 8:1).

Ezekiel 36:26-27 ESV states...

"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules."

Have a look at 2 Corinthians 3:3 ESV...

"And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts."

When we have a deepening relationship with God through Jesus, out of love and gratitude for HIS salvation and righteousness given (NOT EARNED of our own accord) we will persevere in these three areas of 'morality'.

Wanting to be good, righteous and moral are excellent goals; to live in the right way is very commendable.  That was Gautama Buddha's message to point people to the right way.  So saying, one could perhaps say that Siddhartha Gautama Buddha was some sort of Indian forerunner of Jesus Christ in loose parallel fashion as John the Baptizer was for his time.

Gautama Buddha lived about 500 years prior to Jesus's coming as a baby to Earth.  John the Baptizer was born just a short while before Jesus.  Gautama Buddha's message was to "avoid evil; do good and purify your minds" towards righteousness for gaining one's own salvation.  John the Baptizer's message was to repent and be baptized to prepare for Jesus's coming (John 1) but did not earn salvation.

Both men preached the need to "get right".  John the Baptizer's message was to "get right in God's eyes.  Gautama Buddha's injunction was to "get right" in your own eyes.  The idea of the need for repentance and salvation was ascertained.

When Jesus Christ came, He took our suffering, our shame, our humiliation, our disgrace, our sin, all that was wrong and unwholesome and made that atonement for our souls, minds, and hearts to be made 100% perfect and assured of salvation.  This to be had in our present time.  There is no need of rebirth after rebirth to hopefully attain Nirvana as in Buddhist belief.

God's Word explains this in Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV...

"For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast..."

We can rest assured of righteousness and salvation through Jesus Christ.  By faith we can believe that God is and He loves us, cares about us human beings and who, through His Son Jesus Christ, earned that coveted salvation for us.  Believe God's wonderful love and take His offer of salvation; His gift, to you, personally.

Jesus took our suffering upon Himself.  When we come to Him in repentance for all our wrongdoing we will receive forgiveness of sins; His righteousness; everlasting life and a ceasing of suffering (in Heaven to come).

He offers renewal of mind to be able, with the Holy Spirit's help, to live the moral life according to God's high standards which are good and perfect as mapped out in God's Word the Bible.  These have stood the test of time even from before the advent of Gautama Buddha and John the Baptizer's repentance messages.

Incorporate repentance and right living into daily practice, making God's standard of morality our lifestyle.  We have His Holy Spirit's help.  And when there is talk of repentance we know that with God, He grants forgiveness when we admit and confess to our wrongs to Him.

Talking about repentance and forgiveness, Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda says on Page 207...

"Praying for forgiveness is meaningless, if after the prayer is made, a person repeats the evil action again and again..."

This is so true and shows up the obvious that true repentance was not on the menu.  Yes, a person can still falter, it takes time to inculcate a new habit, but the general direction of a person will be proven in due time especially when one is resolved to do what is right in God's eyes.

Sri Dhammananda goes on to state that a person needs to do good deeds towards the affected person and to others.  In so doing... 

"...the effect of a bad deed will be overcome with a shower of good deeds" (Page 207).

Repentance, resolution, and good deeds are crucially important.  However, are we not forgetting something?  What about the root from whence the evil/bad deeds spring?   There seems to be a constant battle in these noble attempts.

The apostle Paul deals with this.  A person who has come to Christ by accepting God's free gift of salvation which Christ attained for mankind by His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave, has that forgiveness of sins and will be released from the torture and suffering punishment of an eternity spent in Hell upon death in the world.

We cannot say "Oh this is too easy."  No.  God's grace does not come cheap.  His Son had to die in our place and pay for our sins (bad/evil deeds).  Jesus took our suffering and made atonement for us.  Live then ever grateful to God.  Show that appreciation by living a "holy" life and doing good deeds.  

In coming to Christ, we must repent of those sins.  Repent and resolve to live for Christ in holiness.

It will help for us to...

"Take every thought captive to obey Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV). 

Paul asks...

"...should we continue to sin?"  (Romans 6:1-2)

"NO!"  he says.

Thank God followers of Jesus Christ have His Word and His Holy Spirit indwelling us to lead and guide us to do what is right in God's eyes.

Don't live life doing what is right in our own eyes.  Maybe we will do well but the standard needs to be God's.

Faith says, "Yes, God is."

Faith says, "Yes, God created mankind".

Faith says, "I sin but God is good and sinless."

Faith says, "I need Jesus Christ to save me, I cannot save myself."

Faith says, "Thank-You Jesus for rebirth (being 'born again' into God's family) through You while I am alive here on earth in the human body God originally gave me at conception in my mother's womb.  This body with no other mental continuum from any previous human or animal's life."

There is definitely no shame in asking for help, especially God's help!  Don't go it alone.  

Siddhartha Gautama, the Indian Buddha, was certainly a deeply thinking person.  Much of his teachings are very good for mankind to follow to  lead a noble, virtuous life upon earth.  

He came up with "10 Meritorious and 10 Evil Actions" (Pages 202-207).  These each have their consequences:  good, bad, respectively; the repercussion upon self and those that ripple effect towards other.  Doing good to/for others, helps 'others' and may even "rub off" on the others encouraging them to do what's right and good too.  Then there's the evil actions such as...

 "...stealing, lying, slander, illicit sexual behavior", harsh speech," all have their negative consequences.  Killing anyone or any creature will come back at the perpetrator with "short life span, ill health, constant grief and fear (Page 205), "untrustworthiness", "unfulfillment of ones wishes" (Page 206); and "lack of wisdom" (Page 207), etc.

These can all affect the person in their current life but also the next creature or person at "rebirth"; the consequences of any action will make or break his, her or its life.

This scenario is seen in God's Word...not in rebirth but for our future generations of offspring.  Whatever our actions, whether good or bad, the domino effect will be there, not just for ourselves but for others.  This should cause a person to think twice.

Exodus 34:6-7 (ESV) puts it plainly...

"The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation."

There are many among the Christian faith that refer to the phenomena as a "generation curse".  The Institute of Basic Life Principles (IBLP) concurs with this.  (Please click on the link for further insight.)

However, as a Christian who will obey God and His Word, this 'curse' can be broken.  Look at what Henry W. Wright says in his book Be In Health, A More Excellent Way in regards to breast cancer, for instance.  Pages 235-236 (of Be In Health)...

Wright says that although...

"there are many other causes for breast cancer," the "sins of conflict and bitterness between the female and either her mother and/or her sisters or mother-in-law"...

...are known causes thereof.  The same goes for "breast cysts".  He goes on to say that...

"bitterness was commonly found in relation to breast cancer and fibrocystic breast disease".

The bitterness was found to be between female and female blood relatives such as "mother, sister, aunt or grandmother".  He also stated similar between sisters in Christ in the church.   These due to unresolved matters.   There were exceptions but "the observation is holding true in over 80% of all cancer cases"...that he dealt with, I presume.

On Page 236 of his book, Wright claims...

"In fact, breast tumors just disappear when that woman forgives another female."

He goes on to remark that being able to forgive and realize that one could be healed by so doing, or even preventing breast cancer, that he has...

"...the faith to believe families now have the ability to prevent cancer in their generation, not just be healed."

That is amazing, heady stuff!

Just a quick note here.  Do take note that this Henry W. Wright also believes in seeing doctors and getting proper diagnosis.  He says so multiple times throughout his book.

The point is, that starting with our own selves, when we seek God and honor Him with correct Christian living according to His standards that we read of in the Bible, coupled with following the Holy Spirit's leading, we can halt the consequences of wrong/evil behavior in our own lifetime.  The buck stops here!  That sort of thing.

In Genesis 3 we see what Adam and Eve's actions brought upon, not only themselves, but upon the whole of creation!

"Cursed is the ground because of you..."  (Genesis 3:7).

And then we see the sad and terrible story of Cain in his evil actions against Abel his brother.

God further cursed the ground (Genesis 4:11-22) as well as Cain himself.  God in His mercy did put a protection around Cain when He put a mark on Cain and said in Genesis 4:15...

 "...if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over."

Wrong actions of Adam and Eve begat evil actions in son Cain.

Move on many years later to King David. He was in tune with God most of the time.  However for his sin of illicit sex with Bathsheba and murdering of her husband, four of his sons died as consequence:  Bathsheba and David's first child, an infant (1 Samuel 12:14); Amnon (2 Samuel 13:14); Absalom (2 Samuel 13:28-29); Adonijah (1 Kings 1:5; 2:25).

God wasn't finished yet with the harsh but just punishment which comes in that apparent form of generational curse:  2 Samuel 12:10-12 NIV informs David that...

"...the sword would never depart from your house...and evil would rise up against you out of your own house..."

Yet God is always a merciful God.  Repentance and forgiveness touches His heart.  God also gave what we could call, a generational blessing of promise to David.

David did repent and he followed after God with his whole humbled and contrite heart.  He honored God and in return God honored him and told him he would have an heir on his throne forever; generation after generation (2 Samuel 7:1-17).  His line went down for about 18 generations from David to Solomon, etc all the way to Jesus (Matthew 1:6-16).

Of course many of those kings between David and Jesus did not do right in the eyes of God and got served their own respective punishments.  Yet God made a promise to David and kept it through thick and thin all the way along to Jesus's birth into this world.

"A shoot will come up from the stump of Jessie; from his roots, a Branch will bear fruit...In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to Him, and His place of rest will be glorious."  (Isaiah 11:1, 10 NIV).

Gautama Buddha's thinking fell along these Old Testament lines of thinking.  When we do good, good will come.  When we do bad, we receive due justice.  Results often passed down and affected the next generations.  However, Gautama Buddha's idea skewed at a different tangent from this as he believed in rebirth of one's mental continuum into another being (whether beast or human being) upon their conception and that creature will "inherit" the consequences.   It is the same 'mental continuum' bearing the consequences, perhaps tweaked and altered in intensity of those actions of the former or current 'owner' of said mental continuum depending on the number of good deeds to make restitution for the evil ones committed. 

In the New Testament we read Galatians 6:7 NIV...

"Do not be deceived:  God cannot be mocked.  A man reaps what he sows."  

God's mercy and offer of salvation through Jesus's death and resurrection which provides all atonement, for our own sins, has been paid in full, by Jesus.  The buck does stop here!  Each individual must appropriate this goodness of God for themselves for their own cache of sins.  No amount of good deeds can earn that atonement.  Human endeavor to save oneself is useless.

As we put good morality into practice, any good we do, can and does, help others, and can and does help encourage others to make right choices too.  But they have nothing to do with attaining salvation or a ceasing of suffering.  

According to more of what Henry W. Wright writes in Be In Health, the passing on of sickness and disease from one generation to the next is scientifically proven in that hormones or cells do change to a tendency or pre-disposition to a certain disease:  whether cancer or heart related diseases or others.  Thus the importance of seeking God's forgiveness and putting a stop to the passing on of such diseases.  Wright believes the body can revert those hormones/cells back to healthy ways through seeking God's forgiveness.

Many diseases have spiritual roots but God can bring health to our bones and body (Proverbs 3:7-8 NIV) when we tend to our spiritual health.

"Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.  This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones."

Reach out to God for justification (salvation) through faith in Jesus, and progressive sanctification.  He justifies us through Jesus and man's mandate is progressive sanctification; to be "holy as God is holy" (1 Peter 1:16).

Remember, this is NOT to earn our way to the ceasing of what Buddhists term "rebirth" attaining Nirvana and thus ending all personal suffering.  This could never be.

Living by putting good morals into practice goes a long way for each and every human being despite what walk of life one lives on or what belief a person embraces.

Being able to repent of wrong doing and keep on a right path is a wholesome universal ethic.

On top of that, being able to forgive another their trespasses against you and accept forgiveness from others for the wrongs you have done to others is another wonderful aspect of putting good morality into practice as a lifestyle.

Just don't forget that doing so with one's own strength will wear one down and not truly benefit yourself towards ceasing of suffering.  Do all things through Christ Jesus who gives you strength (Philippians 4:13).  The Holy Spirit also enabling the follower of Jesus Christ.

"In Him we can live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:24-28, esp vs 28).

This is living in a good and right way in God's eyes. 

                                                    ~ERC  May 2018~

Lord's Day Devotion - Firstborn Dedication, The Priest, The Offering, The Lamb

There's a hymn one of our friends loves to sing almost every time he has the privilege of leading the church music on Lord's Day services.  It starts "Give of your best to the Master..."

That reminds me of what God did for us His human creatures but let's go back in time to the prototypes first.

The worst plague of all for Pharoah and his Egyptian peoples was the death of all firstborn sons on the dreaded "passover" night.  Pharaoh hadn't wanted to see Moses again so Moses bowed out of his presence.

God told Moses about the imminent last plague.  An angel of death was going to sweep through the kingdom.  God told Moses to tell all the Israelites to take a lamb without blemish or spot (Exodus 12:5); a perfect lamb, slaughter it and put its blood on the two side posts and the upper doorpost of the houses (Exodus 12:7).  Then one and all of the family were to go inside the house and shut the door (Exodus 12).  

When the angel of death came down the street and saw the blood properly applied, the angel would "pass over" to the next home.  Any home that did not have the blood applied, the angel would enter and the firstborn son would be slain (Exodus 12:12-13).

Subsequently, God told Moses that each firstborn son of any family had to be dedicated to Him for His service (Exodus 22:28-29).  Later on, God then consecrated Aaron and sons for the priesthood and the rest of the Levites to assist in the service of the Tabernacle and later in the temple (Exodus 8:17-18).  Firstborn sons of all the other tribal families had to be "redeemed" by offering, 5 shekels  (Numbers 3:44-48; 18:16; Leviticus 17:1-9; Exodus 34:19-20).

However, any family could still dedicate their firstborn to God.  This we see in Samuel's case.  Samuel's mother Hannah brought him to Eli the High Priest to be of service in the Temple (1 Samuel 1:21-28).  

Hannah did this out of love and deep gratitude to God for the gift of her firstborn son Samuel whom God granted to her out of her many years of barrenness and longing for a child.  In fact, she had devoted Samuel to God even before he was conceived.  She kept her promise to God.  Although Samuel did not become a priest, he was mightily used by God in his prophet capacity.  

Jump over to the New Testament to God's big picture that He had been leading up to all those years.  The baby Jesus was presented at the Temple by His parents on the eighth day of His life on earth according to what was ...

"...written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord; and to offer sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord:  "a pair of doves or two young pigeons" (Luke 2:21-24).

Jesus's earthly parents were obedient to God's Laws.

This brings us to God who dedicated His firstborn Son, Jesus Christ, to be in His service.  Jesus became our Priest who mediated for us between His Father, God, and us, His human creatures.  He is God's Priest Who is also our Offering.  He became the Lamb of God who died in our place like all those little innocent spotless lambs in place of the firstborn sons of Israel in Egypt.  He is the...

"...Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29 NIV).

It is..

"...the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son that cleanseth us from all sin" (1 John 1:7 KJV).

As we remember Jesus Christ's death and resurrection for us in the breaking of bread and drinking of the cup of wine on Lord's Day (1 Corinthians 11:23-26), or any other time for that matter, let us be very grateful to God who gave us His firstborn Son that He could redeem us back to Himself.

We are now in His service as "royal priesthood" and " a people belonging to God" (1 Peter 2:9 NIV).  May we each engage in a lifetime royal priesthood of service to God.  God gave His best for us; in return, let us remember to give Him our best.  Praise Him!

                                                     ~ERC  April 2018~

Burning Quest - Part 17

Monks, nuns, priests, ministers, and pastors have the unique position and responsibility of spiritually guiding everyone else.  Interesting 'breed'.

I think of the classic movie, The Sound of Music, where Maria attempts to become a nun.  It turned out she wasn't really suited to the convent life.  Then there was The Sister Act where Deloris brought refreshing life to the resident sisters yet the movie bordered on making a mockery of the whole order of nuns; at least in my humble opinion.

Down through the ages there have been the Gregorian monks who gave the world the Roman Calendar way back in 1582 which is still in use to this day.  Moving on to the Benedictine monks who must, besides remaining celibate, live an aesthetic life abiding strictly by the rules of their respective abbots.  Most everyone knows Mother Teresa who began the order of catholic sisters known as Missionaries of Charity dedicated to serving the "poorest of the poor".

Protestants have their ministers and pastors who help to lead and guide their individual congregations, hopefully, in correct Biblical directions.  Generally they do not live together in seclusion from the world but marry, have a family of their own and reach out primarily for the spiritual growth but also are helps to the parishioners under their care, in their times of joys and sorrows.

The children of Israel, more commonly known as "Jews" today, had/have a priesthood since God told Moses to ordain the tribe of Levi to do so.  There will be more on that later. 

This brings us to the Buddhist monks and nuns community called the Sangha.  In Burning Quest - Part 16, there was reference to the Triple Gem.  The Triple Gem constitutes:  Buddha, Dharma and the Sangha.

Here is a quotation from the internet in relation to Zen Buddhism's definition of the Triple Gem, also known as The Three Refuges, Three Treasures or The Three Jewels (see link for reference).

"As it is said in Zen, "I take refuge in the Buddha, wishing for all sentient beings to understand the great way profoundly and make the greatest resolve.  I take refuge in the Dharma, wishing for all sentient beings to delve deeply into Satori (enlightenment), causing their wisdom to be as broad as the sea.  I take refuge in the Sangha, wishing all sentient beings to lead the congregation in harmony, entirely without obstruction."  (emphasis mine)

The Sangha is the Buddhist order of monks and nuns, who, like every other Buddhist, follow the set of moral laws and ethics, following the three simple principles as delineated in Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda's book What Buddhists Believe, page 190...

"To avoid evil; to do good, to purify the mind..."

Excellent principles for one and all yet, the "Vinaya Pitaka" (basket of Discipline), a book of all those laws and principles with which to govern themselves is to be more strictly adhered to by the Sangha.  The extra rules if violated do not affect the karma of the individual so much but could bring bad repute to the order of monks and nuns if not legalistically adhered to (Pages 192-193).

Yes, even those among the followers of Jesus Christ who wish to be in positions of leadership, such as elders, deacons, teachers, etc, have to behave circumspectly in character and conduct (1 Timothy 3).  They are setting the example for their own, and, outsiders are observing.  The bad reputation could fall upon themselves, their families, all of the believers in Jesus but worst of all, upon God Himself.

Yes, those in governing positions will be judged more strictly (James 3:1).  Yet each and every child of God has the responsibility to live in such a way that will glorify God.  This good praiseworthy character and conduct develops from the growing relationship one has with God Himself.  Out of love and devotion to Him, praise and glory for Him will be reflected from the lives of His children.  

This is not to burden anyone with extra rules.  Extra rules burden people.  In the book of Galatians in the Bible, the writer, Paul, tells them to stop adding on rules and not to listen to those want-to-be leaders who are binding them up with 'slavery'.  Paul says in Galatians 5:1 (ESV)... 

"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery."

Jesus Himself confronted the religious leaders of His day, saying that they...

"...bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne upon men's shoulders..."  (Matthew 23:4-5 NIV).

Our freedom is in the relationship with Christ.  A mind and heart in tandem with God to live the Christ-like way of life, to please God; not to please man nor ones own self.

Beware always of legalism!  Sensible rules, yet in-the-spirit-of-the-law principles are good.  Human beings tend towards control, control, control, of others.  Supremacy.  Be the boss.  So beware, no matter which religious or other affiliation one follows!

It is interesting to note that lay Buddhists are expected to finance and look after the needs of the Buddhist monks and nuns food, shelter and clothing, etc.

Similarly in Old Testament Bible times God instructed Moses to tell the people of Israel that among the tithes and offerings to God was a portion to be given to Aaron and sons; the priestly clan of Levi and the whole tribe of Levi,  who attended to the Tabernacle and its transportation around the wilderness (Numbers 18:12, 21, 26; Deuteronomy 18:1; 26:12; 2 Chronicles 31:4; and Hebrews 7:5).

This priestly group carried on sporadically throughout their history, despite times of failure of the other tribes to give their tithes, until New Testament times.  Meaning they carried out temple duties but no longer needed to transport the Tabernacle and furnishings, obviously, once they were in the Promised Land and the temple had been built.  The tithes and offerings were still supposed to be brought in and distributed to those who still did duty.

There were times when the Israelites did not fulfill their duty in presenting their tithes and offerings.  That forced the Levites to have to grow their own food and spend time to eek out a living instead of concentrating fully upon God's work.  

Again, Jesus told His disciples that when they were sent out to the towns and villages to preach and heal, they were supposed to stay in the home of the hospitable person.  We read from Luke 10:7 (NIV)...

"Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages.  Do not move around from house to house."

This practice was carried into Christianity, further defined by the apostle Paul.  Those who served God full time and well were worthy of "double honor" (1 Timothy 5:17).  One of my favorite verses that puts an amused smile on my face just thinking of the imagery is 1 Timothy 5:18 (ESV)...

"You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain" and "The laborer deserves his wages".

The designation for tithing amount to give in Old Testament times was a "tenth" of their livestock, grain, and others (Deuteronomy 14:23).  In the New Testament Paul states "give in accordance to your income" (1 Corinthians 16:2); "Give with a cheerful heart" (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).

When should the people give?  Weekly, so there is no big panicked scramble for funds when a pressing need arises (1 Corinthians 16:2).

The giving was not restricted to the preachers but also to widows who were truly widows (1 Timothy 5);  the poor; those in dire straights.  A guiding motto can be gleaned from Galatians 6:10 (ESV)...

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up so then let us do good to every one, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."

It is particularly nice to be on the receiving end of such giving especially to families of preachers who live on non-fixed incomes living "on faith".  It has been appreciated time and again.

Yes, there are those supposed "men of God" who exploited this benevolent giving and went about preaching "for gain" (Philippians 1:15-18)  Human nature is often a sorry tale.  May God grant wisdom in our giving to give aright with a generous heart devoid of greed.  May the givers and receivers give gratitude to God our Provider (Jehovah Jireh).

"The laborer deserves his hire."  (Luke 10:7 ESV)

Let's talk a bit more about the Sangha, how the members can opt in or out of the Sangha and/or be excommunicated.  

Earlier it was mentioned that the Sangha members followed "extra" rules in order to distinguish themselves from the lay Buddhist.  The desired result is to characterize the member with a certain 'pure' way of life to gain respect from the lay person; as well as, of course, to earn merit towards Nirvana (Pages 200-202).

Anyone, whether monk or nun, must follow these to avoid negative consequences.

"If he violates any one [of the 4 Higher moralities] a monk is regarded as a "defeated" person in the Sangha community" (Page 201).

This person may wish to stay despite disciplinary action; the option is left up to the individual for the most part.

According to Ajahn Brahm on why he was excommunicated it is noted that it was not just one senior monk who sent him away but a body of them.

God's Word addresses this in Matthew 18:15-20 which tells us that if we have anything against any brother to go to him privately to reconcile the matter.   If that doesn't work to take one or two others with you and try again.  If that still does not work then bring the matter before the whole congregation to try resolve the matter.  It is important to use grace and mercy in so doing.  

Galatians 6:1 (NIV) is very good wisdom...

"Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently.  But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted."

Generally speaking, Sri Dhammananda says on Page 201, a person...

"...becomes a bhikka (monk) of his own accord in order to lead a holy life for as long as he likes..."

For example, I've heard that in Thailand, the sons in most Buddhist families will become a monk, at least for short periods of time (for as little as a week to 3 months).  It is said to be 

"...an act of filial piety that is extremely common for many Thai Buddhist families."

This is akin to a sacred rite of passage or even of pride or national service for a large percentage of Thai to subjugate themselves to the Order of the Sangha.

Depending on the particular country, the way of 'keeping a monk' differs.  It's already been stated that the lay people are supposed to support the Sangha.  However, in Thailand they are sent out to 'beg' for their keep.  Even in Malaysia, upon occasion, I've seen the Buddhist monk seeking alms from folks eating in cafes.  There is even an article entitled Zen and the Art of Begging.

Any Buddhist can become a monk or a nun if they so desire.  They are then able to concentrate more fully upon their Four Noble Laws and Eight-Fold Path to Enlightenment working their way to Nirvana.  They also guide lay people in this Middle Way.  Nowadays they also spread the Dharma, teaching in schools and universities, teaching mindfulness and stress reduction, are involved as web-masters and in live-broadcasting, and spiritual counseling to name a few functions of the Sangha.

Back in ancient times, one had to be born into the priestly Levitical tribe of Israel, as seen in the Old Testament.  However, before God decreed and ordained Aaron and sons to the priesthood and the rest of the Levites to assist them, He'd told Moses that each firstborn son of any family of any tribe of Israel had to be dedicated to God for priestly service (Exodus 13:2).  It appears that even after God consecrated the Levites for his express worship and full time service, that the other tribes could still dedicate their firstborn sons.  We see this in the prophet Samuel's case where his mother Hannah brought him to Eli the High Priest to be of service in the Temple (1 Samuel 1:21-28).

Hannah did this out of love and deep gratitude to God for the gift of her firstborn son Samuel whom God had granted to her out of her many years of barrenness.  In fact, she had devoted Samuel to God even before he was conceived.  She kept her promise to God.  Although Samuel did not become a priest, he was still used mightily by God in his prophet capacity.  

Talking about priests in the New Testament book of 1 Peter, chapter 2 and verse 9 (NIV), those who belong to Jesus Christ are called "chosen people",  "a royal priesthood," "a holy nation" and "a people belonging to God".  For what purpose?  To gain our own salvation?  NO!  Jesus already did that for us through His death and resurrection.  Followers of Jesus Christ automatically enter this priesthood of their own choice when they accept Jesus Christ as Savior and gain a lifetime royal priesthood of service to God.

The rest of that verse continues...

"...that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light."

Let us, "praise God from whom all blessings flow" as one hymn puts it.  We offer the... 

"...sacrifice of praise being the fruit of our lips that confess His name."  (Hebrews 13:15 NIV)

This priesthood of God's children also gives Him praise by living that exemplary life, not to gain merit for ourselves, but to give glory to God.  We spread His message of love and gift of salvation through Jesus Christ telling others that this offer is for one and all.  By so living and doing we show our gratitude and appreciation for granting us salvation from the consequences of our sins, evil desires and unsatisfactory, unwholesome deeds that the human nature is so prone towards.  We can praise our Heavenly Father for the gift of His Son Jesus and the indwelling Holy Spirit who helps us to live a sanctified life.  May God truly get the glory and honor from His royal priesthood of believers.

                                                    ~ERC  April 2018~

Treasure Trove of Dad Memories

"Good-bye, Dad!  Good-bye!"  I whisper, as if he could hear me.  He slipped away from us one January afternoon in 2018.  He was off to be with Jesus, the place he longed for almost forever; his motto having been, "Perhaps today!"

Perhaps today, God would call him and all followers of Jesus Christ to meet up there in the air and go to glory together.  Well, he got to go ahead of us and now he is joyful evermore.

After Dad left I was trying to recall some of the good memories; memories I could store in a memory chest to pluck out and reminisce over from time to time.  I surprised myself by discovering quite a few.

One of the earliest memories was from when I must have still been a preschooler and we lived in New Jersey, USA.  Dad still had secular work then.  Each morning as Dad would back out of the driveway and motor down the road and around the corner out of sight, Mom would go to the window with the view of that 'last sight'; stand there and wave "good-bye".  Naturally, those of us kiddos not yet in school gathered with her and became the daily wave-brigade. 

That faithful daily wave has been imprinted upon my mind to this day.  A last wave and friendly grinning face for the breadwinner of the family to take with him around the corner and hold on to throughout the work day.

I have tried to perpetuated that for my husband since we were married some twenty-nine years ago.  Even son number one gets that treatment now.   "Hie ho, hie ho, it's off to work they go."

Since before I was born, my parents would go up to Canada during summer vacation, hauling along their however many number of children they had at the time.  They'd go to the province of Nova Scotia which seemed to be the other side of the world from New Jersey.

The "vacation" was spent assisting in a children's evangelistic ministry known as The Gospel Tent.  Marvelous times were spent there and it was where Dad was the most happiest.

Gospel Tent Sambro

Eventually Dad and Mom moved us lock, stock and barrel up to Sambro, Nova Scotia to continue this work year round; not a in a tent, mind you.  Brrr!  That would have been rather chilly in the winter months!

Going to the Gospel Tent each summer for two months flat out entailed morning, noon and night:  morning for Children's Bible Hour; afternoon for teenage talks, and the evenings for adult gospel meetings.

Rolling Tent Top for Storage

We got to ride on the Gospel Bus; 'help' set up and take down the tent; take attendance, listen to the other children's memory verses; pick blueberries, enough for pies if we didn't eat too many of the berries, from nearby forests, and go swimming in brooks, swimming holes and the freezing cold (even in summer) Atlantic Ocean.

Oh and we got to meet so many people and make friends with a glorious number of them.

After every breakfast and evening meal the 'workers' would have a Bible reading.  Dad's children were well "baptized by immersion" in God's Word.

This was all a wonderful novelty during childhood years and I'm choosing to see the positive side and the fun, I must admit, we all had.  (The teen years were not so accepting of all this but like I said, I'm trying to hold on to the positive notes.  This especially since my Dad did thrive on this work for his Heavenly Father.)

The move to the wee village of Sambro presented new challenges of living that a more 'townified' Tom had to learn.  One such had to do with our well water.  In summer it could dry up and in winter the water could freeze up.

The summer solution was, of course, to ration and to conserve.  Brushing our teeth, "Be sure to shut off the tap while you brush".  "Only flush the toilet after a few uses unless it is "big business"  Oh and, yes, Mom would use the rinse water from clothes washing to water the garden--if they had one.  (Gospel Tent work didn't allow for much gardening.)  Talk about reuse and recycle!  Ha!

The winter solution Dad learned from a gruff yet kind and helpful local fellow who showed Dad how to hook up a light to lower into the well and heat the interior enough to keep the water from freezing.

No doubt there were lots more adjustments of which children were unaware:  the switch from secular work to full-time ministry and the financial bit with six children to feed; the 'culture shock' of being so far from family and friends to a village that wasn't always so accommodating; the 'down-sizing' of his vocabulary, having to use simpler words among other new learning curves. 

The ice-skating rink Dad made each winter was a hit for us and neighbor children.  It wasn't big but it was thrilling enough.  There was a spring around the back of the house that trickled and meandered around the side of the property and out to the ditch in front.  Dad would dam up the side area and viola! Our mini skating rink!  What jolly fun he gave us all!

There were times when Mom wasn't well or she had to nurse someone in the village or take one or the other of us into town which was about a half hour to forty minute drive away, to the doctor or emergency room whilst Dad held the fort at home.

He'd have to do the cooking.  He'd often commandeer my sister's help at such times but I remember one time when he made "refrigerator clean-out soup".  Now that was an admixture to report!  Cut off the rotten parts of veggies and throw the rest into the soup pot.  I recall being rather indignant about the so-called 'good' part of the tomatoes.  Mom sure heard about it when she got home.

Funny thing is, I have done similar in my homemaking career.  "Waste not, want not" was an adage heard on more than one occasion throughout childhood.

Once upon a time my two older sisters were involved in a biology experiment in high school.  The students injected some sort of hormones into the chicks.  When experimentation was complete and school holidays came along, what was to be done with the dear wee things?

"Dad, can we bring a chick or two home?"

Dad hems and haws but says, "Yes."

Well, what do you know, getting out of the school bus came a grinning sister bearing a box of, not one or two, but about a dozen cheeping chicks!  Uh-oh.

"Into the basement go those chicks." commanded dismayed Mom.  Dad kind of kept out of the way, likely chuckling to himself.

All but two chicks survived and grew into weird roosters.  Blame it on the hormone injections.   It was rather fatal to name them, but they were christened, "Peppy and Darby".  One had clubbed feet and the other crowed as if he had perpetual laryngitis.  They became free-range roosters....outside!

They were pretty good alarm clocks too.  If we overslept it was a blessing on a weekday but if on a weekend, a nuisance.  They'd go round the front of the house to the big heavy glass front door and peck on it and crow till they got a response and their breakfast.  "Go scratch for your own breakfast, you roosters!"

Eventually Peppy and Darby were no longer cute and had become real mean and nasty.  One of my brothers became the champion who dared to go out and feed them.  He did not go out unarmed.  He'd gear up with long sleeved shirts and/or coats, long pants and gumboots with offerings of cooked liver or some other such rooster treats.

Doomsday for the nasties was inevitable but who would do the job?  Dear Dad.  He got out his slaughtering instruments to be as quick and painless and as easy as possible for his sake as well as for the roosters.  

And wouldn't ya know it, my brothers called in the neighbor boys to provide audience.  This was not what Dad was in favor of but, what to do...?

There was a first time for everything and finally the headless roosters were flopping about the back yard fascinating the neighbor lads as well as Dad's own sons.  One of those neighbor boys remarked, "Mr. Roach, I didn't think you could do that!"

Mr. Roach droll-fully replied, "Neither did I!"

Those fowls got de-feathered somehow or another and packed away in the freezer for a long time.  The poor things.

Having so many children and an uncertain monthly income...living "on faith" often entailed hand-me-down clothes.  There was the time my older sister's dress got handed down to me and that unbeknownst to Dad.

One day, having donned that dress and feeling somewhat mischievous, I decided to play with the light switch.  On...Off...On...Off...On...Off...On...

Dad's voice from the living room came on, "Susan, stop playing with the light switch!"

Pause.  Hesitate.  On...Off...On...Off, I continued.

Then that voice again, more insistent, "Susan, I said, stop playing with the light switch!"

Pause.  Hesitate.  On...Off...On...Off...On...

The sound of Dad getting up off his living room chair and striding towards the culprit began to panic my heart, yet there was a trump card as Dad rounded the doorway to the hallway and saw, me, not Susan.  I hastily and cheekily declared, "I'm not Susan!"

Dad thought that was funny, I could tell, but he tried not to laugh his initial annoyance and parental displeasure away.  Very fortunately for me, Dad's mercy and sense of humor kicked in and I got off scott free.

About Grade 4 or 5, I, as yet, did not know my timetables.  The teacher had the nerve to tell my parents.  Oh, was I ever mad at her!!  Then I was angry with Dad for making me sit down nightly and write out a 'table' a night til I knew them and could recite them perfectly.  

I still remember how calm, yet resolved Dad was in getting me to do all that.  He didn't cajole or scold or sweet talk.  He just pragmatically got out the paper and pencil and arranged them on the table giving me the timetable-du-jour, asking me to sit, looking at me with compassion, yet, "You do need to do this" in his eyes despite the anger in mine.  That got that done.

On Sunday afternoons, there was Sunday School in our house for the village children and on Friday nights, it was for teen talks, also in our living room.  After Sunday lunch and Friday supper, we'd help Dad set-up the chairs for the in-coming influx of children.  Dad would go out and round them up and they'd all troop in and arrange themselves on the chairs.

I can remember Dad's big thermometer he made as an attendance chart.  It was more of a collective attendance, and the number of children became the number of degrees in which the temperature increment rose.  After a certain degree was reached, they got prizes or a big feed of food.  Dad's kids got the benefit thereof too.

Dad's 'Tom Talks' were often illustrated with drawings and charts.  I vividly recall the plagues in Egypt.  Those made me shudder and squirm thinking of frogs everywhere; even hopping into your food on the table or into your bed when trying to sleep.  You get the picture.  Eeek!  I think Dad must have really enjoyed preparing all that and giving the many talks.  

Dad's favorite Bible story was of Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9).  King David's mercy and keeping of a promise to his best friend Jonathan impressed him.  Dad often taught/preached on this story but alas I can't remember the lessons.  I can think of my own but I don't want to put words in Dad's mouth.  I just recall he liked this story and his liking became my liking.

An offshoot of the Gospel Tent work was the Chapter-A-Day (CAD) papers.  These were a daily devotional with monthly questions attached that were sent out to whomever wished to receive it throughout the year between one summer and the next until the Gospel Tent time rolled round once again.

Dad eventually sent out more than one hundred CAD's monthly to various ones around Nova Scotia, other parts of Canada, the USA and to various others who had heard about CAD.  Some even got mailed as far away as Ghana and Nigeria in Africa.  Don't ask me how they heard of CAD but send them Dad did.

Now this was a major process and Dad enlisted his onsite right-hand assistants, his children.  We got to write mailing addresses, stamp on return addresses, and stick on the stamps for all those numerous envelopes.  We also got to fold those CAD papers and stuff them into said envelopes.  We were never allowed to read peoples' answers to the questions or Dad's comments in red to them.  Those Dad kept in good confidence, paper after paper, year after year for years and years.

Faithfulness.  Keeping a secret (so to speak); good character to emulate.

Sambro, Nova Scotia

Sambro was, and still is, a small fishing village.  In the earlier days one could buy fish, real fresh, from the local fish market.  Dad would occasionally go over to buy some for our supper.

On one such occasion, while Dad was inside the market getting his particular 'catch-of-the-day', someone was busy outside putting a fish under one of the seats inside our car.  Quite the fishy prank.  It wasn't noticed right away but after a couple of days the smell became ranker and ranker.  Following his nose, Dad discovered the 'gift'.  He removed the fish and aired the car.  I don't know as he did anything else about it; just something to endure for the Lord's sake.  Besides, it was kind of funny.

We heard later the chap who did the deed was boasting and chuckling about it.  The boss got wind of it, didn't like the smell, and fired the guy from his fish market job.

Dad was in the kitchen again.  Uh-oh!  He thought it a fine 'souvenir' of his Newfoundland (NFLD) forays to prepare a dish of fish and brewis for our palates.

You see Dad would go preach for two weeks or so at a time in NFLD and had very interesting experiences there; fish and brewis dinners was one of them.  He wished to share the joy.  None of us were too keen but we were taught to eat what was set before us asking no questions nor raising too many complaints; after all, we had given thanks to God for our food.  I think that was the first and last time Dad was allowed to make such gourmet vittles for us.  Thanks, Mom!

The post breakfast and supper Bible reading times were a staple happening at our house.  Dad saw to that.  Old Testament fare at one meal and New Testament at the other.  We could not escape; rain or shine, visitors or none.  We did not always appreciate that but looking back, I see we got quite the 'seminary-like' training in God's Word; reading and memorizing and becoming well-versed children.

Speaking of Bible verses, one of Dad's friends, Mr. Bilisoly, painted huge signs with verses on them.  Dad then hammered them into the ground in our front yard in the area that was close to the road.  Everyone who had to go to and fro town to village had to pass by that way getting a double whammy going and coming.

Now, of all things, there came across the street from us, a nightclub that did a thriving business especially on Saturday nights.  I guess some of the patrons of that place didn't appreciate the verses.  Often come morning we'd see that the sign of verses had been toppled over.  Out Dad trotted and stood it back up.

Sometimes when we went away travelling,  the sign would get knocked down in our absence.  But there was a friend-in-need that would kind of look out for us; unbeknownst to us at first.  Eventually he told Dad that when we were away, the sign had gotten knocked down and he had put it back up for us.

The ones who had knocked down the sign must have found it kind of spooky.  They knew we were not around, yet that sign had popped back up into place.  Phenomenal!

Another time when there must have been good weather, some young chaps drove by our house and seeing Dad out and about the yard, shouted out the open car window, the verse, 1 John 1:7...

"The blood of Jesus, God's son cleans us from all sin"

laughing as they drove slowly by.  Dad smiles.  These guys have memorized a Bible verse.  Dad smiles some more and prays the Holy Spirit convicts their souls unto salvation.

Dad liked to do different projects, learning what he could and then drawing conclusions and connections and lessons to things spiritual.  One of those projects was bee-keeping.  He read up on different types of bees and their care and what equipment was good for tending them and then he sent away for his chosen bee species and paraphernalia.   That was tamer than roosters, believe me!

The bees lasted a year or two and we got a smidgen of honey and many 'bee' lessons.  I remember them bee-ing very interesting; alas!  I must not have listened well as I can't recall a single one of them.  I do regret that now.

Dad was generous.  He let me have many postage stamps back when I wrote many snail mail letters.  He liked to write letters too so understood.  Of course once I started working I could pay for the stamps and did; taking the stamps from his "stamp stocks" and leaving the amount in the stamp box.  That was easy but he was the one to go to the post office and wait in line to purchase stamps.  Never really thanked him for that.  The things children, even grown ones, take for granted....

Then there was the time we went spelunking in the woods behind our house one fine fall or maybe it was a sunny spring.  Not sure which but it was still chilly in the air and damp afoot.  Off we went with Dad, us kids and a missionary to Bolivia who was visiting, a Mr. Thonney.  

We marched about the woods and must have been going in circles until it wasn't fun anymore and Dad kinda had to admit, "Uh-oh, we're lost".  I remember being dead on my frozen feet with thoughts of bears and wildcats finding us in the night and of all those village stories of those who had also been lost and not found.  We wanted to stop and rest but wise Mr. Thonney wouldn't give us much more than five minute reposes and up we must get and move on.  

It was he who eventually got us out about a mile up the road from our house; so we weren't all that terribly lost.  Never thought a paved road looked so good before.  Dad never took us bushwhacking ever again which was kinda disappointing but I understand.

Dad must have had nerves of steel.  He taught most, if not all, of his six offspring how to drive; at least as far as I know.  Ha.  No wonder he had that receding hairline!  I really don't remember much about it except the advice to make the driving as smooth as possible and not to jerk the car and give any passengers whiplash.  Have pride in your driving knowing it was well-executed:  the starts, the stops, the driving and the parking with precision.

The big city, "in town", was Halifax, Nova Scotia.  It was a port city where huge container ships from around the world would moor, unload and, I suppose, reload.  Dad would go down to those vessels and try to connect with the seamen giving them gospel tracts in their respective languages.  

Dad loved to memorize at least one verse in different languages, usually John 3:16.  This he would quote to the men.  He especially liked it if a Russian crew came in and he'd point towards heaven and say, "Bog" (God).   They'd shout back from the deck, "Nyet, Bog!"  (No God!) and then Dad would quote John 3:16 to them in Russian.  That would make Dad's day.  I hope and pray that all those who's lives he touched, even in seemingly infinitesimal ways, will show the fruit of those labors for the Lord in Heaven.

Sometimes Dad would be invited aboard those ships.  Now Dad disliked coffee very much.  But he'd often be hospitably served an admixture of heavy on sugar & then some milk and coffee.  Oh the things we sometimes endure for Christ.  Dad would regale us with his adventures at our dinner table.

Once or twice our whole family was invited for a meal aboard.  That was pretty exciting for us kids; at least, I thought so.  Mom was so nervous though that one of us might fall overboard.

There were times when Dad brought some of those sailors home for meals.  That was fun, especially when they were used to chopsticks and had to fumble instead, with a fork.  I remember being highly amused.  Yes, it likely wasn't very kind or polite of me but this was all very thrilling for a young-ish child.

The one time Dad brought a couple of Korean seamen home and he happened to produce a set of chopsticks for each of the men.  Wouldn't you know it, Mom had made a fruit salad and had put some miniature marshmallows in the toss.  Those little babies became mighty slippery in the fruit juice.  Do you think those chopsticks could pluck a marshmallow out of the fruit dish?!  And here we are not to be rude and laugh.  But I just couldn't help it.  In the end the man gave up, put his chopsticks down, grabbed a fork exclaiming in broken English, "Fork is better!"  So it all ended merrily as they thought it amusing too.

Those two men were Oh and Li.  They would often come with us to meeting/church.  Their ship was in port for repairs for quite a length of time so they had some freedom to come and go.  There was one gospel song we used to sing that had a line, "Only a sinner, saved by grace" but I remember my siblings and I got a kick out of changing the "only" to "Oh and Li".  Told you we were naughty; sometimes!

Dad having grown up in Hawaii, was used to a multi-cultural mix of peoples so I guess he must have felt at home among all the wealth of cultures coming into the docks.  It sure introduced his children to a great cross-section of peoples and added to our geography knowledge of the world when Dad would point out where Korea, Russia, the Solomon Islands or some other foreign lands were located.  It's a wonder more of his children didn't marry outside of our own people group!

Throughout our growing up years Dad often weaved the verse from  2 Corinthians 6:14  

"Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers"

into his bits of wisdom.  

He coupled that with the saying,

"If you never date an unbeliever, you'll never marry an unbeliever."

Of course, I never liked hearing that wisdom and advice.  Surprisingly I listened to it.  Many's the time I had the battle between my mind and my heart especially when the non-Christian guys were so nice and I really liked them.  It was torture in the mind but the Lord did bless the sacrifice and obedience to His Word and the wisdom passed down from Dad.

I grew up, got married to a believer and moved to the other side of the world having married a gentleman not of my own people group.  Dad and Mom came to visit.  Dad had a job to do and that was to varnish our new dining room table.  He varnished that table with about three coats of varnish.  That stood the test of time's wear and tear and now, only after almost 28 years, is that varnish beginning to chip off.  When a job is worth doing, it's worth doing well.  Dad got at it, got it done and done well.  I appreciate that but again I believe I took that for granted.

Eventually, Dad was struck with Alzheimer's Disease.  He lost much of his memory and his inhibitions and was not all that easy to handle.  My sister and Mom took the huge brunt of all that and his consequential behavior.  I only arrived into the middle of this fray at the tail end; the last four months of Dad's life on Earth.

And now the tears come.  It was shocking.  It had been almost six years since seeing Dad last.  Dad didn't know who I was, although his nickname for me sort of rang a bell.  He was suspicious of me, who was this person who acted like she was someone 'close' to him?!

One day he did seem to know that the nickname was a nickname and asked, "Is that your real name?"  That was amazing.  Many weeks into those last four months he did call me "Eunice".  Wow, but the fog did descend again.

There were times when my sister and I would visit Dad in his assisted living residence and we'd sing some of the songs and hymns we grew up singing and that had been dear to Dad's heart.  Some rang bells with his memory and he'd sing along remembering some words and even, surprisingly for him who couldn't usually carry a tune in a bucket, remembered the tunes and he'd garble along with us.

One of the last songs he was able to sing along with us and which we eventually sang at Dad's funeral, was, Oh Haste Away My Brethren Dear with the chorus, that goes like this:

"Oh, that will be joyful, joyful, joyful, Oh, that will be joyful to meet to part not more.  To meet to part no more on Canaan's happy shore, and then sing hallelujah with the saints that have gone before."

That was pretty special for us.  It was rather significant for Dad in that he was always waiting to go to be with the Lord.

While Dad was still a bit more mobile with his walker, he'd collect Bibles from around and about the facility he lived in, bring them to his room and stack them on the table beside his chair.  It was rather funny to us.  He said he was getting ready for a meeting and needed to get the Bibles in.  That made sense.  

When we were down to Dad's last days when he could no longer get out of bed and he was coughing and coughing non-stop and was so very, very tired, I was holding his hand one day and just sitting there.  At one point I let go of his hand.  But somewhere in the depths of the exhaustion and mental fog, he wanted connection and his hand went searching for mine.  I felt a surge of pleasure in that.  That he wanted connection and I was privileged that day to be there in that brief nugget of time.  

I thank the Lord for those last days of time with Dad.  

Dad got his sweet release.  The elder from my sister's assembly/church read us Psalm 116:16-18, esp vs 16 (ESV) after Dad was gone. 

 "O Lord, I am your servant...You have loosed my bonds."

This so encapsulates Dad's experience.  He was so trapped by Alzheimer's Disease in such fog and confusion of mind and enfeebling of body it was anguish to observe him.  But oh the joyful release to be loosed from the bonds of his earthly corruptible body!  

Freedom.  

What must it be to dwell above with Christ!  So happy for him now.

"Good-bye, Dad...til we meet again in joyful lucidity with incorruptible bodies and minds!"

I look forward to meeting Dad again in that "Canaan-land" to come.

Perhaps today!

                                                         The End, No!
                                                  The New Beginning...

                                                    ~ERC  April 2018~