The World's Peace and God's True Peace--by Linden Malki

"Peace" at its best is a gift of God.  Unfortunately, there are many people in today's world that believe that peace is for wimps, that it is impossible, it would be boring, that there are too many people out there that are out for whatever they think they are "owed".  In fact, the attitude of entitlement is one of the least peaceful ways to live.  Ironically, often those who think that they deserve everything they think they want,  put out the least effort and expect the most from everyone else. 

Historically, peace is less common than war, ambition, revenge,  greed, the idea that we know better than anybody how the world should be run.  Often what looks like "peace" is enforced by those who have subjected everybody under their control to submission, with people living in unexpressed fear or barely repressed anger.  Those in power usually think that they are answerable to no one, or in some cases, serving a false god. 

The God we serve offers Peace--but not always what we expect. Jesus taught about peace, when He was living in a culture that was under the power of the greatest empire of its day, and a local religious and political establishment  who were  on a tightrope between the power of Rome and their own ambition.  He wanted us to understand that the world's idea of "peace" was not God's plan, because it so often was just a layer of talk over a reality of political power.

Included in His final words to His disciples was " Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."  (John 14:27)  This is our calling: to learn from Him what real Peace is; that we learn from Him how to look at life from His point of view and be willing to put aside whatever does not match His teachings and His values. 

For Love of Money--by Linden Malki

Money has been part of human social and political interaction since about 3000BC, in Mesopotamia.  We find it in the earliest Old Testament stories, as already an accepted part of trade and politics. And it was already being mentioned as a way of developing dominance of one kingdom or society over another--as Joseph used the market for  grain that had been stored against the predicted famine to acquire not only the livestock of Egypt but also money from not only the Egyptians but their neighbors as well.  Coins, as distinctive and specified units of money made from gold, silver and copper, appear in the very early Roman republic, around 650BC. The acquisition and holding "money" has been a preoccupation of most members of human societies  ever since.  The Roman Empire at its beginning in 44BC already a well developed "modern" economy based on standardized coinage. We also notice that there was also a range of poverty and wealth based on family influence and status. We also notice that it was not unknown for high-status families to have disabled or elderly members who were ignored.                     

We know the story--Jesus and his followers were at the Temple in Jerusalem, watching the parade of the most wealthy and snooty making a show out of the "generosity" in their offerings. He also notices a widow, dressed modestly or possibly threadbare, unobtrusively dropping two of the smallest possible coins into the offering box. He quietly mentions to his disciples that her offering, although minimal in the eyes of the world, was actually the most prized in the eyes of God, as it was everything she had and she was willing to offer it to God.  He had also made a public statement that the richest and most apparently pious of the religious had a tradition of claiming that what ought to have been used to take of their older relatives were classed as "dedicated to the Temple", and therefore retained in their custody.   In general, Jesus was scathing in his teaching about the grasping attitudes of the rich about money in contrast to those who were generous.



This reminds us of the story of Elijah, who met a woman during a famine that had only flour and oil for one last meal for her son and herself. Elijah asked her to make him one as well, and told her that God would see that the flour and oil would feed the three of them until the famine was over.  We see similar contrasts between the story of the rich young man, who refused to sell his wealth to follow Jesus, and the "Good Samaritan" who put out his own money to pay the expenses of the Jewish victim of theft and beating on the Jericho road.  Over and over we read of those who destroy themselves by their selfish attitude and greed, and those who generously give to others and even God. We read of Judas,who criticized the use of the expensive oil to anoint Jesus before His crucifixion, being concerned about the cost of the oil (and the possibility that he could skim some of it for himself). We live in a world with a inordinate attitude about money and how to get it, when Jesus' attitude was what it could do for God's people in our generous hands.

The Source of Strength--by Linden Malki

One of the first things we as followers of God need to realize that we, as human beings, created by God, are less strong than God Himself.  This would appear to be obvious, but we don't necessarily live as if we do understand this.  Many people do not believe this; most don't want to believe that they are not as strong as they think they are--as this would mean that they would have to recognize their own shortcomings.  Recognizing our own limitations is the first step to acquire the strength that we need to know that we need.  Dealing with people who think they can do whatever they want is scary.  This is part of the first mistake that our ancestors made: thinking that they could get away with whatever seemed to be a good idea at the time.

One of the first thing we notice about the inevitable problems that arise in life is that they do arise. This usually means ignoring the debris that piles up behind you.  One common answer is to blame someone else--or everybody else.  Another is to go charging ahead convinced that it will all work out in the end. We may find out that the baggage we allow to pile up despite evidence (and advice) is clogging up what we need to take care of.  It often leads us into places we shouldn't go, often with people who are not good influences.  One victim of this situation is often the most important: truth.  If what we are doing is based on false information, it means trouble. It may not seem like it at the time, but sooner or later it will crash down upon us, and often bring down others with us.  We are seeing a political situation not only in our own country, but that is spreading to other countries and causing immense amounts of pain. Over the last century or two we have seen too many radical political disasters, based on ambition, power politics, revenge, greed, as well as stupidity.

The basic cause of this situation, both as individuals and society, is not understanding that God is stronger and smarter than we are.  He allows us to make total fools (or worse) of ourselves if we insist. If we are willing to accept the challenge of opening our hearts, souls, and brains to the power and truth of God, He will give us not only the words but often a demonstration of His power to clean up our messes and put us on the right track. It does mean humility and maybe a "thorn in the flesh" to keep us patient.  He can do amazing things; even occasionally small things as reminders that He is in control.  If we allow Him full rein in our lives, it will not always be easy, but always possible even when it appears to be totally impossible.  He may close doors that we want to go through; but they often open other places and things that we never could have guessed or expected. 

Real Fathers in the Real World--by Linden Malki

                         
"Fathers" are not fashionable in some parts of our culture; partly because our experience of fathers is not always healthy.  Once when I was looking for a Fathers' Day  Bible story, I realized that the number of  healthy fathers with good children described in Scripture is very small. We see more examples of failed fathers than not, and it is probably because human fathers are just that: human beings, with the limitations that implies. What should we expect from our fathers?  I was fortunate to have a good, godly father, not perfect but close enough. We had neighbors who were alcoholic fathers, abusive fathers, absent fathers, and my mom used to encourage the neighbor kids to play in our yard because she didn't trust some of the other parents. The contrast between human fathers and our Heavenly Father is almost enough to wonder why God chose that identity. Human beings were given a lot of freedom; we are capable of great evil, and also of great good. The best of human fathers use the "father" image of God as a pattern for their lives and their responsibility for their families and their communities.

Fathers are supposed to be strong, good examples of the appropriate authority in their communities. This can get out of hand with fathers who don't recognize that they are responsible as well for respect, and gentleness as well as strength, and knowing how to use their strength for helpfulness and appropriate authority rather than ego and inappropriate power. The best fathers realize that they are servants of God and answerable for their attitudes and how they use their authority.  Unfortunately, we live in a culture that includes the increasing belief that fathers are unnecessary and/or dangerous. In some cases, it leads to families without fathers available, and women without respect for men; and to boys and men without a sense of responsbility for anyone, including themselves. This also can lead to a disrespect or rejection of the idea of God, who is seen as either powerless or evil--or nonexistent. There are even political groups with the avowed intention of eliminating the family; although it was tried by early communist societies and was abandoned as unworkable.

The Biblical ideal is for men who recognize their need for a relationship with God that recognizes the primacy of God in human society, and learning from this relationship to have a Biblical relationship with their families and society. It is interesting that the New Testament advice describes this as husbands who love their families, and wives who respect their husbands. I have seen commentaries who point out that husbands who love their families will not mistreat them, and wives who are loved will not be afraid to respect their husbands. Scripturally and historically, families who put God in His proper place in their lives will find that putting God first will normally allow the rest of the relationships to work properly.

God Created One Family--by Linden Malki

Most creatures on this planet live in families. No living creature--including us--can survive without some sort of relationship; without it we will die alone. It is family that builds generations, where relationships enrich our lives and insure the survival of our kind. We see God watching Adam and proclaims that "It is not good for man to be alone", and God created every living thing to live in some sort of relationship with an appropriate companion.

We read of God calling a man named Abram to be the "Father of a nation" that ideally will have God as the ultimate Father, with Abram as the human counterpart in of His plan. What makes it interesting--as well as scary--is that we are all created to be God's children, but we are also each different in some ways, but also are each able, if we pay attention to our Creator, to relate to each other. Basically, whether we like it or not, we are all members of one family, and we can, if we follow the rules, live together and build a society. We have often not done a good job of this. Too often we have paid too much attention to our superficial differences and not enough to our common humanity.

We tend to pay too much attention to ourselves and are not willing to learn from God and other people. (I cannot forget my husband's favorite description of conversation at its best: "If I know this, and you know that--think how much we both know!" That was one of the  reasons we were able to live together and work together for 41 years, despite having grown up half a world apart.)

The NIV Bible uses the word "Father" (describing both God and our human fathers) 1103 times. It is a word that always implies a relationship, and one that is part of a hierarchy. God is the not only an authority figure, but one that implies a two-way relationship. When it is used in reference to a human father, again there is both an implication of authority but also a very close relationship with at least two other people: at some point, in order to be a father, there has to be a mother and a child. The human relationships we see in Scripture go the full scale from loving and caring for his family to being a total failure, which has the bad side of not doing what is required for the family to thrive. Very often a man who fails as a father also fails at anything else he is responsible for, be it a king or a servant. Some of the major disasters in the history of the Israel and Judah are traceable to men who do not live up to God's intention for them, which not only hurts them but also the other people who depend on him. When we can't get along with the others around us, whether they are our families or our neighbors or our enemies, we have failed in the task God created us for--not only during our own lifetime but in our influence on everybody who depends on us. We can create incredible havoc by not understanding our responsibility as creatures intended for good but allowed to mess up when we try to do it ourselves. 

Only God Knows What's Next by Linden Malki

Historically, we have been very fortunate in the past decade or so, to the point that it is hard for many of us to accept the dangers we see all around us. Danger has been a part of human society as long as we have existed, but we have not had so many of them staring us in the face recently. They are not as serious as many of the plagues and wars and invasions and famines that our ancestors have lived with over most of our history, but we have gotten spoiled. We are dealing with a virus that we still don't know as much as we need to know, and a quarantine that has cost jobs, connections with people, and in many cases, mental health. Add to that the police situation in Minneapolis that has triggered demonstrations and major damage to cities that have cost many people their homes and/or businesses.

Jesus had troubles enough with those who did not understand or believe in His teachings, but He did give answers. It almost sounds too easy--if we turn over the stumbling blocks we keep tripping over to Him, they can be removed or transformed. The one that is especially serious at this historical moment is the barriers between people that Paul mentions to the Ephesians, but it is one that can be answered with humility, peace, patience, and love (and all the other graces we are promised--we need them all!)

One of the most difficult situations many people are facing is ultimate reality--whatever comes across our path sooner or later, we will always face generational change--none of us are going to stay here forever. We may fade out peacefully, or unexpectedly; we may have warnings or not, we may be young or old or anything in between. There has been a recent opportunity for our church family and other friends and relatives to share a memorial service for a young man who grew up in the Calvary/Northpoint/Sandals family,who was in an accident recently. It was a privilege for many of us to share Aaron Ensman's life and support his family as they deal with his loss; and to meet or reconnect with other people who also cared for Aaron and his family.

The Mind of Christ--by Linden Malki

Let the mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus--even though He was God, He laid it aside and took the mind of man, humbling Himself.   We are not God, even though we are tempted at times to think we are.  How we think, and what we think, is one of the most important things we do.  What we think controls how we act, how we talk, and how we react to the world around us. When we don't think, we get into trouble. When we put aside thought for the indulgence of "feeling", we usually don't realize that feelings can take us places we may regret. I'm not saying that feelings may not be good, but we need to be aware of what they are and where they lead.

Our thinking can be under our conscious control,  or it can become unconstrained, to where we overestimate our own abilities and blame everything that doesn't work the way we want on everybody else. We are human, and limited by human flaws. If we are not aware of this, or don't want to believe it, we can cause incredible havoc in our wake.  Science at its best is a triumph of the capabilites of human thought, but if it is not constantly examined and checked, we can be led down paths that turn out to be misleading, wrong, or possibly dangerous. It is easy for us to think that if something looks good at the beginning, it will continue to work the way we expect--not noticing that there are unintended consequences that change the expected results. And very often those who think they know everything don't realize how much they don't know--we cannot keep track of everything and everybody, and the more we try the more we get tangled up in other people's assumptions of knowledge. 

Jesus teaches us to examine our hearts, our lives, and our relationships. He is the checkpoint, the One who knows what the results will lead when we can't see them. We need to remember that "Your ways are in full view of the Lord, and He examines all your paths." (Proverbs 5:21, NIV)  Our paths are often not His paths, and our paths usually have more to do with our own assumptions and wants than reality. God is reality, and we can only be truly sure of actual reality when we are in touch with Him.