Sparrow's Nest Athens

Breakfast Club Devotion #27 – Rebuild, Repair, Raise Up!

2011-11-09T20:49:00.000-05:00

Immediately following the great Messianic prophecy in Isaiah 61, we find one of those beautiful and poetic passages which at once conveys hope in God’s plans while comforting those who have suffered loss and also calling us to action.

Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins, they will raise up the former devastations, and they will repair the ruined cities. (61:4)

Throughout our study of Isaiah 40-66 I have used a “word study” method to explore significant themes of the book. This passage motivated me to develop a study on the theme of the related words: build, raise, repair, restore, and revive. This concordance based word study method is my favorite way to explore a biblical writer’s treatment of specific themes. The passages below indicate almost every use of these five words in chapters 40-66.

In this list, my favorite is 57:14-15 - “Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstacle out of the way of My people. For thus says the high and exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy, I dwell on a high and holy place, an also with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.” This is reminiscent of Isaiah 40:3 and the message of John the Baptist – “Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness,”

Here the prophet exhorts us to make a path and remove the obstacles that hinder people from knowing God and experiencing his plans for us; he inspires hope based on God’s desire that we be revived, reminding us that God’s agenda is one of restoring, repairing, and rebuilding.

42:22 But this is a people plundered and despoiled; all of them are trapped in caves, or are hidden away in prisons; they have become a prey with none to deliver them, and a spoil, with none to say, “Give them back”! (Hebrew – “restore”)

44:26, 28 It is I who says of Jerusalem, “She shall be inhabited!” And the cities of Judah, “they shall be built.” And I will raise up her ruins again. … It is I who says of Cyrus, “He is My shepherd! And he will perform all My desire.” And he declares of Jerusalem, “She will be built.”

45:13 “I have aroused him (Cyrus) in righteousness, and I will make all his ways smooth; he will build My city, and will let My exiles go free, without any payment or reward,” says the Lord of hosts.

49:6 It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations so that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.

54:11 O afflicted one, storm tossed and not comforted, behold, I will set (build) your stones in antimony, and your foundations I will lay in sapphires.

57:18 I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and to his mourners.

58:12 And those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will raise up the age-old foundations; and you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets in which to dwell.

61:4 Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins, they will raise up the former devastations, and they will repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations.

62:10 Go through, go through the gates; clear the way for the people; build up, build up the highway; remove the stones, lift up a standard over the peoples.

65:21-22 And they shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall also plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit, they shall not plant, and another eat; for as the lifetime of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, and My chosen ones shall wear out the work of their hands.

Hero of the Faith – Watchman Nee and the “Little Flock” Church

2011-11-03T20:37:00.001-04:00

One of my favorite authors is Watchman Nee, a hero of the Christian faith who spent the last 20 years of his life in prison in China. Nee’s last written words were found at his side at his death…“Christ is the Son of God who died for the redemption of sinners and resurrected after three days. This is the greatest truth in the universe. I die because of my belief in Christ.”

Watchman Nee (Ni Shu-tsu or Ni To-sheng, 1903 – 1972) was a Chinese Christian pastor and author who is said to have started approximately 400 local churches throughout China before his arrest by the Communist authorities in 1952. As a Christian pastor who refused to adopt the official Communist version of the church, he remained in prison for 20 years until his death. His writings have inspired many Christians around the world. The following excerpt from Against the Tide: The Story of Watchman Nee by Angus I. Kinnear (p. 152-153), describes circumstances in his primary ministry home, the “Little Flock” meeting at Assembly Hall on Hardoon Road, Shanghai, around 1940.

Bible teaching was seriously constricted by the inadequate premises. Many wooden pillars of the three-property space (later extended to five properties) compelled various adaptations of the ground floor area for tight packed meetings. The hall had no heating and the floor squeaked atrociously when walked on. On Sunday morning crowds gather quietly at 9:30 to hear the preaching of the Word. On backless benches all must sit as close as possible to make the maximum use of the space, for outside the building on three sides more people sit at the windows and the big double doors or listen to the loudspeakers, and there is even an overflow upstairs. As well as the poor the educated and rich are here: doctors mingle with labourers, lawyers and teachers with rickshaw men and cooks. … Children run about, dogs wander in, hawkers enter the lane, cars honk in the road outside, and the P.A. system is erratic. But each Sunday the word of the Cross is faithfully preached. Sin and salvation, the new life in Christ and the eternal purpose of God, service and spiritual warfare – all are expounded and nothing is held back. They are given the strongest food and the straightest challenge.

Watchman held their attention with his gentle manner, his simple but thorough reasoning and his apt analogies. No one ever saw him use any notes for he remembered and could reproduce anything he read. To illustrate a thing visually he would drat a swift imaginary sketch in the air (which a young worker might reproduce on poster paper afterwards) and if to illumine some point he told a personal anecdote it was nearly always a story against himself. His keen sense of humor sent frequent ripples of laughter round the hall and ‘you never got sleepy in his meetings.’ But from start to finish he never strayed from his subject. ‘What matters’ he used to say, ‘is the effectiveness of the word proclaimed,’ and unfailingly at the end he had left a clear and deep impression on the minds and hearts of his hearers.

Breakfast Club Devotion #26 - Bible Time Machine

2011-10-28T01:16:00.000-04:00

Have you ever considered if you had the opportunity to go back in time and witness any single event in history, what event would you choose? Of the many times and places in history that I would like to be a “fly on the wall,” the one I would choose is Jesus first public ministry in his childhood home of Nazareth. As Jesus the young rabbi stood up to read in the synagogue, the book of Isaiah was handed to him. “And he opened the book and found the place where it was written : ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are downtrodden, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.’” (Luke 4:18-19)Jesus quoted from Isaiah 61:1-2a. Then he closed the book and sat down, and everyone in the synagogue looked at him. He further explained, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” In other words, for those in attendance, Jesus had just read the prophet’s words about the future messiah, and announced to the people that he was the fulfillment of those words.While his announcement was remarkable, equally remarkable was the content. Jesus essentially stated that a primary focus of his ministry is to bring good news to the poor, the captives, the blind, and downtrodden, and to proclaim a time of God’s favor, a phrase that many interpreters take to be a reference to the Levitical Year of Jubilee. Clearly these statements have multiple layers of literal and spiritual meaning, for multiple stages of historical fulfillment. But at the very least we can conclude that Jesus is concerned about the groups mentioned, and the literal and figurative, spiritual, emotional, social, or other forms of poverty, blindness, captivity and down-trodden-ness.Many times it is not clear to us what God would have us do with our time on this earth. But this passage - similar to Matthew 5:3-11 or Matthew 25:35-36 or Matthew 28:19-20 or John 15:12-13 or others - is a case in which the directive is clear and unavoidable – take God’s good news to those who are downtrodden.

BC Devotion #25 Your Light Has Come

2011-10-20T23:01:00.004-04:00

In ministry to the downtrodden, there is a tendency to notice biblical passages which speak of a glorious future, a time of relief from present troubles, hope for a better day. Isaiah 60 conveys such a hope .. “Arise shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” Later in the chapter we find a collection of phrases that portray a contrast between a painful past and a joyous future. “Whereas you have been forsaken and hated … I will make you an everlasting pride, a joy from generation to generation. Instead of bronze, I will bring gold, instead of iron I will bring silver… Your sun will set no more, neither will your moon wane; for you will have the Lord for an everlasting light, and the days of your mourning will be finished.”

In the middle of this chapter is a hidden gem, like many other treasures I have found in this study of Isaiah. “I will make peace your administrators, and righteousness your overseers. Violence will not be heard again in your land, nor devastation or destruction within your borders; but you will call your walls salvation, and your gates praise.” From my perspective, living out a vocation under God’s calling as a jail administrator, these words are particularly inspiring, as I walk among gates and walls working to foster peace and righteousness in a subculture often characterized by violence and devastation.

I have found that a message of hope and promise is comforting, inspiring, and motivating. The Lord desires to speak into the life of every person, and the words of Isaiah give people hope that their time will come. The chapter closes … “I, the Lord will hasten it in its time.”

BC Devotion #24 - Have You Discovered Isaiah 58?

2011-09-29T22:20:00.002-04:00

Isaiah 58 is one of the most inspiring chapters in the Bible, but for much of my life I don’t recall being aware of it at all. Around 1996, Janet and I were pursuing special needs adoption. We had done everything to be eligible, and were considering several special needs children. Seeking God for direction, Janet “discovered” Isaiah 58 in her personal devotional time, and the passage helped us gain confidence to aggressively pursue the adoption of a particular little boy. In the end, God did not open that door for us; another family that was probably better suited to his needs became his family. But soon thereafter, Janet and I became immersed in children’s ministry at Timothy Baptist Church, and it seemed like we had dozens of new children. Over the years, we have encountered a steady stream of special ministry opportunities with special people that we met at Timothy, then later at the Bread of Life Church, ChristWalk Ministries and Jubilee House for men, and more recently at The Sparrow’s Nest Mission Church. (Over the years and through these adventures, our "home base" has been Watkinsville FBC.) If you are not familiar with this special chapter, take some time to consider its message. “…and the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a well watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail …”

BC Devotion #23 There Was No One to Intercede

2011-09-21T23:09:00.000-04:00

My favorite Old Testament word occurs five times in Isaiah 59, but the report is not good. “They do not know the way of peace, and there is no justice in their tracks (8) ... Justice is far from us (9) … We hope for justice, but there is none (11) … Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; For truth has stumbled in the street, and uprightness cannot enter. (14)” Individual and corporate sin, dishonesty, schemes of mischief and iniquity, turning away from God, oppression and revolt, lead to confusion, violence, and destruction. “We grope along the wall like blind men … we growl like bears and moan sadly like doves.” Connected to this sentiment is a theme which is expressed several times in Isaiah - God’s disappointment in a lack of human leadership ... “Now the Lord saw, and it was displeasing in His sight that there was no justice. And he saw that there was no man, and was astonished that there was no one to intercede.” Isaiah 59:15-16 Is it the case that men and women never step up to the challenge? Scripture and history indicates that there are many examples to the contrary. We could even say that one of the main purposes of life on earth is to give us the opportunity to answer God’s call in the face of ungodly and unjust circumstances. For many that will become a leadership opportunity. The lack of human leadership often noted by the prophet stands in contrast to cases in which a man or woman is used by God for divine purposes. Consider how God used Cyrus .. “Whom I have taken by the right hand, to subdue nations before him, to loose the loins of kings; to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut.” Further, God indicates “I have aroused him in righteousness, and I will make all his ways smooth; He will build My city and will let My exiles go free.” (Isaiah 45:1,2,13) If we are available like Cyrus, Perhaps God will take us by the hand and use us as an agent of deliverance. If, however, there is no man or woman to be that leader in the circumstance of oppression, God promises “I will answer them myself.” (see 41:17). God’s consistent response to human failure is to intervene himself. Here in chapter 59, the prophet expresses ..“Then his own arm brought salvation to Him. And he but on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head.” May we exhibit in our own life and ministry God’s zeal for justice, righteousness, and truth.

BC Devotion #22

2011-07-20T22:56:00.002-04:00

Selected chapter openings Isaiah 40 - 66

Comfort My people Speak kindly to Jerusalem / Coastlands, listen to Me in silence and let the peoples gain new strength / Come down and sit in the dust / Listen to Me, O islands, and pay attention / Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness / Look from the rock from which you were hewn, and to the pit from which you were dug / Awake, awake, clothe yourself in strength, O Zion; clothe yourself in your beautiful garments / Shout for joy, O barren one ..break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud / Ho! Every one who thirsts come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat / Preserve justice and do righteousness / Cry loudly, do not hold back; raise your voice like a trumpet / Arise, Shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!

Breakfast Club Devotion #20 - The Law of the Lord

2011-06-20T09:11:00.002-04:00

“Pay attention to Me, My people .. for a law will go forth from Me, and I will set My justice for a light of the peoples.” (Isaiah 51:4) The Hebrew word for “law” is “Torah,” which we usually take to mean the laws of God beginning with the law of Moses in the first five books of the Bible. Though the law of Moses had been given hundreds of years earlier, the Lord indicates through the prophet that “a law will go forth from me.” This “law” is a part of God’s promises to the people, along with “justice” that will be a light for the people, “righteousness” that draws near, “salvation” which will also go forth.

51:5 “My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth. And My arms will judge the peoples; The coastlands will wait for Me, And for My arm they will wait expectantly.”

While the law of God includes God’s commands, precepts, and statutes, the prophet’s words indicate that the law of God represents something bigger than the system of rules that became the highly refined system of 613 specific commands that was a central part of religious devotion by the time of Jesus.

As referenced in BC #19, the arm of God represents the activity of God in the world. Likewise, the law of God represents the ways of God in our life and in our community that create God’s justice, righteousness, and salvation. Ultimately, this way of life, this light of the people, is Jesus Christ, our example, our teacher, and our savior.

Isaiah 42:2 “He will faithfully bring forth justice, He will not be disheartened or crushed until He has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law.” Jesus showed us that the law of God is not fundamentally a set of rules that we fear to break, or that we aspire to as a means to piety. Rather, the law of God is a way of life in which we place our hope; the kingdom influence in our communities for which, in faith, we work and wait expectantly; a way of life that embodies God’s justice and righteousness in all of its fullness. This law is in the heart of God’s people. (51:7)

Of the law, Jesus said ..
“However you want people to treat you, so treat them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (7:12)

“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment.’ The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” (22:37-40)

“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.” (Matthew 5:17)

BC Devotion #21 - Hebrew Poetry

2011-03-30T22:44:00.002-04:00

Isaiah 52:7
How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him
who brings good news,
who announces peace
and brings good news of happiness,
who announces salvation,
and says to Zion, Your God reigns.

Basar shema shalom - Who brings good news, Who announces peace,
Basar shema tob yeshua - Who brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation.

This verse uses some of the most important Hebrew words in a poetic verse that certainly sounds more beautiful in Hebrew than we can hear in English.

“Shema” is one of the most important Hebrew words. Found in Deuteronomy 6:4, this single word "Hear!" became a signifier of the message of the entire passage beginning, “Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Jesus cited this passage as the greatest commandment. (See Mt. 22:35-40, Mk. 12:28-32)

In Isaiah 52:7, the same root word is used to mean “to announce.” The good news that is announced is first “peace” (shalom) and then “salvation" (yeshua). "Yeshua" was both the name of Joshua and the Hebrew name of Jesus. So, this brief poem, which is part of a much larger poem, expresses the awesome thought that the beautiful messenger of God brings the message of God’s peace/shalom and God’s salvation/Yeshua.

Breakfast Club Devotion #19 - The Arm of the Lord

2011-03-13T14:01:00.000-04:00

Isaiah 53:1 Who has believed our message, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

There is a song by Rich Mullins which contains only line, and that line comes from a single verse of the Bible, Isaiah 52:10. It is on the 1993 album “A Liturgy, a Legacy, & a Ragamuffin Band.” “The Lord has bared his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, that all the ends of the earth may see the Lord’s salvation.” The image of the arm of the Lord is a powerful concept which expresses God’s activity in the world. The first two references in our passage of study indicate a contrast of different aspects of God’s presence in consecutive verses: (40:10) “See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him and his recompense accompanies him. Like a shepherd He will tend his flock. In His arm He will gather the lambs, and carry them in His bosom (close to his heart); He will gently lead the nursing ewes.” (40:11)

The arm of the Lord carries the lamb next to his heart; the arm of the Lord judges the peoples and rules the nations; the coastlands wait expectantly for the arm of the Lord.

It is a beautiful and powerful image. Note that 51:5 combines many of the concepts we have studied …”My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth, and My arms will judge the peoples; the coastlands will wait for Me, and for My arm they will wait expectantly.”

I am pondering why the prophet used this image to open Isaiah 53, what some have called “The Mount Everest of Old Testament Prophecy.” As the prophet begins the awesome passage in which we learn that the future Messiah will be “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief … pierced through for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities,” he opens with the question “ Who has believed our message, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

I pray that we can live in light of the truth that to us the arm of the Lord has been revealed.

BC Devotion #18 - Freedom to Captives

2011-03-01T23:28:00.002-05:00

In Isaiah 40-66, at least fifteen different Hebrew words are used to express the concepts related to the captives, the prisoners, and the oppressed, in at least twenty-three different Scripture references, including prophetic references to Jesus himself. Apparently, the captive is on God’s heart. In the historical context, these passages deal with the return of the displaced exiles of Israel back to their homes and communities. But here as elsewhere, Scripture speaks to universal human experiences. Nowhere is this more evident than in Jesus appropriation of Isaiah 61:1 … “He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, freedom to prisoners” in his first public preaching in Luke 4:18. The first reference to prisoners and captives in our passage of study (Isaiah 42:6-7) immediately follows the passage that Matthew cited in reference to the ministry of Jesus (Matthew 12). “I will appoint you as a covenant to the people, and as a light to the nations, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon, and those who dwell in darkness from the prison.” Note the combination of images of light/darkness and freedom/captivity.

In ministry to the downtrodden, it is powerful share the prophets’ expression of God’s concern for those who are going through hard places in life. The prophet speaks to people who have been taken from their communities, their homes, and their way of life, people who have lost everything. The prophet rehearses God’s concern and offers hope “I know the plans that I have for you, plans for welfare and not calamity to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11, also expressed to the exiles).

Equally important is God’s expressed interest in stirring leaders to act on his concern. Through the prophet, God at once expresses his concern for the captive and his agenda of deliverance. “This is a people plundered and despoiled … hidden away in prison; they have become prey with none to deliver them, and a spoil with none to bring them back” (42:22), or similarly of Cyrus the deliverer, “I have aroused him in righteousness ... he will build my city and will let my exiles go free” (45:13). In Isaiah 58, the prophet speaks of the ministry of deliverance as a form of worship, “Is this not the fast (i.e. worship) which I choose ... to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free?” (v. 6)

Nor does God neglect to encourage the oppressed to fight for their own deliverance … “Shake yourself from the dust, rise up, O Jerusalem; loose yourself from the chains around your neck” (52:2).

Among these references, the one which I consider to be most powerful at once touches the deepest despair of imprisonment while expressing an unwavering hope in God’s faithfulness, while touching also on God’s concern for the most basic human needs ... “The exile will soon be set free, and will not die in the dungeon, nor will his bread be lacking (51:14).

Take a moment to consider that awesome promise. My prayer is that we can embrace even a glimmer of God’s heart for the captive, and somehow represent in our ministry his agenda of deliverance.

Rich Mullins on Waiting, Justice, and Faith

2011-02-05T21:37:00.002-05:00

Possibly my all time favorite Christian CD / album is RICH MULLINS, "The World as Best as I Remember It, Volume Two," recorded in 1992. I recommend it to anyone. If you have not discovered Rich Mullins, he stands at the top when it comes to spiritually powerful and poetic Christian lyrics. Unfortunately, he died in 1997 in a car accident.

Lyrics to the two songs below connect strongly with our studies in Isaiah, the first on WAITING and the second on FAITH with a strong statement on JUSTICE. The lyrics express truth in poetic form, and the message is much more powerful if you can listen to the songs as performed by Rich. It would be well worth the price of download.

WAITING (with reference to Isaiah 40:31)

Stand on the corner, I watch my breath freeze in the air
See how it lifts and then vanishes
But I know You're still there
Well, I've got nowhere else to go
'Cause the only life that I know comes from You

And I can't walk away
Though the truth is that it can be so hard to wait
When a million voices whisper, and they tell me I should leave
Into the shadows that the moon casts
On these alleys and these streets
But I know that chasing shadows won't get me anywhere
'Cause I've been there

So I stand on the promise, 'cause I know that the promise is sure
That it comes from beyond us and tells us again
That there's a whole 'nother world
Well, the one I'm in keeps spinning 'round
But I want to stay right here 'cause I found You

And I can't walk away
Though the truth is that it can be so hard to wait
When a million voices whisper, and they tell me I should leave
Into the shadows that the moon casts
On these alleys and these streets
But I know that chasing shadows won't get me anywhere
'Cause I've been there

So I'm waiting for You Jesus
'Cause I know that those who wait
They will mount with wings like eagles
They will run and not grow faint
They will walk and not grow weary
Their strength will be renewed
Coming from You

So I wait
I'm waiting for You
Waiting for You
So come back soon
I'm waiting for You

THE JUST SHALL LIVE

I know the just shall live
I know the just shall live
I know the just shall live
By faith

'Cause You won't let Your Holy One
No, You won't let Your Holy One
You won't let Your Holy One
See corruption in the grave

Because He put His trust in You
Because He put His trust in You
Because He put His trust in You
Many shall be saved

And I know that You will raise them up
I know that You will raise them up
I know that You will raise them up
On the last day

For the Lord looks down on the sons of men
To hear the cries of the innocent
And the guilty will not stand
For the day of reckoning soon will come
And the whole world will see justice done
By the Lord's almighty hand

So I'm telling you the just shall live
I know the just shall live
I know the just shall live
By faith

And You will raise them up
I know that You will raise them up
That You will raise them up
On the last day

And the prayers stand where the fighters fell
And time testifies with the tale that it tells
That the meek shall inherit the earth
And the Church advances on the gates of hell
And she clings to a light that will not be quelled
By the kingdoms of this world

I'm telling you the just shall live
I know the just shall live
I know the just shall live
By faith

And You will raise them up
I know that You will raise them up
You will raise them up
On the last day

BC # 17 - Expecting God .. and Blue Skies - Isaiah 51:4-6

2011-02-03T23:09:00.002-05:00

Expecting God – Isaiah 51

“Lord, the sky’s still blue, for my hope is in You, You’re my joy, You’re the dream that’s still alive … Like the wind at my back and the sun on my face; You are life You are grace You are blue skies.” The lyrics to this Point of Grace song connect with the theme of hope and expectancy in Isaiah, especially the familiar 40:28-31 .. “He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power … Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.”

Hope and expectancy is frequently connected with the “coastlands” or “islands” in these texts. One interpretation is that the islands refers to the Gentiles, and this is how the verse was carried over into the New Testament in Matthew 12:18-21 – “And in His name, the Gentiles will hope.” (See Isaiah 42:4 - “He will not be disheartened or crushed, until he has established justice in the earth, and the coastlands wait expectantly for His law.”)

In a general sense, the use of “coastlands” or “islands” our texts refers to those who wait for the law and the justice of God to come to their rescue. This turns a common human use of law and justice on its head, for often people use these concepts to beat down others. But here the prophet uses the imagery of God’s arm as means of rescue to those whose hope is in His deliverance.

What ties together the justice, righteousness, and the law of God by the arm of God, and the expectancy of the people? The justice and righteousness of God is worked out in human relationships. God will “judge the peoples” based in part on their relationships with others. And the expectancy of those who hope in God is that the arm of God will be the salvation of God’s own, the comfort and joy, gladness and thanksgiving of God’s people, and the destruction of evil and the evildoer.

Consider these reflections on human relations by Abraham J. Heschel:

“Righteousness is not just a value; it is God’s part of human life, God’s stake in human history. Perhaps it is because the suffering of man is a blot upon God’s conscience; because it is in relations between man and man that God is at stake. … the infamy of a wicked act is infinitely greater than we are able to imagine… People act as they please, doing what is vile, abusing the weak, not realizing that they are fighting God, affronting the divine, or that the oppression of man is a humiliation of God. “He who oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, He who is kind to the needy honors Him. Proverbs 14:31, 17:5”

The greater masterpiece (of God’s work) is still in the process of being created … history. For accomplishing His grand design, God needs the help of man. Man is and has the instrument of God … Life is clay, and righteousness the mold in which God wants history to be shaped. But humans deform the shape. … The world is full of iniquity, injustice, and idolatry … but God needs mercy, righteousness; His needs cannot be satisfied in temples … but in history. It is within the realm of history that man is charged with God’s mission.

Justice is a transcendent demand … It is not only a relationship between man and man, it is an act involving God … Justice is His line, righteousness His plummet. It is not one of His ways, but in all His ways.”
Abraham J. Heschel, The Prophets, p. 198

51:4-5 Pay attention to Me, O my people; and give ear to Me, O My nation; For a law will go forth from Me, And I will set My justice for a light of the peoples; My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth. And My arms will judge the peoples; The coastlands will wait for Me, And for My arm they will wait expectantly. Lift your eyes to the sky …”

The blue skies …

Breakfast Club Devotion #16 - To Be Like Cyrus

2011-01-21T20:53:00.002-05:00

To Be Like Cyrus (Isaiah 45)
"Thus says the Lord to Cyrus His anointed, Whom I have taken by the right hand ..."

We have learned from Isaiah’s message of hope and comfort, his assurance that God draws near to those in the dry places and rough terrain, and that God is ever creating, doing new things in our lives. The story of Cyrus reminds us that God often uses human leaders to accomplish his purposes, to be that source of help.

The historical context is one of exile for the people. They had been conquered and driven from their homes, communities, and place of worship. They were exiles in a foreign land, oppressed and powerless. To the specific context of these terrible circumstances, the prophet Jeremiah expressed one of the most well known words of encouragement in the Bible .. “I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”

The specific plans that God had for the people at that time were to bring them back to their home. Cyrus, a human leader with vast political power, was the human instrument that God used to make this happen. Cyrus was not a Hebrew / Israelite worshipper of Yahweh, as far as we know, but God appointed him to have mercy on these people and make it possible for them to return to their homes. (Ref: Ezra 1:1-4, Jeremiah 29:10-14)

Isaiah 45 points out specific qualities that Cyrus had or attributes that God endowed him with in order to bring this about. He was anointed by God, and God “took him by the hand.” He was appointed to shatter doors and cut through iron bars, and make rough places smooth, to gain freedom for the exiles and build God’s city. He was called by God, given a title of honor, aroused in righteousness, and given strength. God promised to make his way smooth, yet Cyrus was not motivated by payment or reward, but by a righteous concern.

Whether we are in need of help, or in a position to help others, God wants to be involved in the process. Take note of the progression of this theme. The prophet states .. “let the rough ground become a plain, the rugged terrain a broad valley.” (40:4) Then God promises that he himself will be the source of help .. “I will make darkness into light .. rugged places into plains. These are the things I will do, I will not leave them undone.” (42:16) Then the role of the leader used by God .. “I will go before you (Cyrus) and make the rough places smooth.” (45:2)

For these people, it was a path to return home. For us, the needs may be different, but within the purposes of God, we also can have hope.

Background & Scripture
Cyrus, a Persian King who ruled over most of the Middle East at that time – Assyria, Babylonia, Persia, Palestine, and later his son also ruled Egypt.

Jeremiah 29:10-14 “For thus says the Lord, ‘When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.’”

Ezra 1:1-4 “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, ‘Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He hs appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all His people, may his God be with him! Let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem. And every survivor, at whatever place he may live, let the men of that place support him with silver and gold, with goods and cattle, together with a freewill offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.’”

Breakfast Club Devotion #15 - Purpose

2011-01-18T20:56:00.002-05:00

Purposes of the Breakfast Club
(This is not a formal mission statement, but an informal reflection on some of our purposes and goals.)

1. To share the love of God through Christ, by walking in the helping ministry of Christ.
• The one who says he abides in Christ ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” 1 John 2:6
• When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then he will sit on His glorious throne.. He will say to those on His right, “Come you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited me in…” Matthew 25:31-35
• When it was evening, the disciples came to Jesus saying, “The place is desolate, and the time is already past; so send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat” And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”And he said, “Bring them here to me.”..And looking up to heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes, and they all ate and were satisfied. Matthew 14:14-20
2. To teach and demonstrate the character and the ways of Christ.
• Blessed are the gentle; blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness; blessed are the merciful; blessed are the pure in heart; blessed are the peacemakers. Matthew 5:5-9
• A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:34-35
• The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

3. To foster and cultivate a fellowship of believers and a community of concern for the homeless.
• And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own; but all things were common property to them. And with great power the apostles were giving witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. Acts 4:32-33
• For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly; if prophecy.. if service, in teaching, exhortation (encouraging), giving, leading, showing mercy. .. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence .. serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality .. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another, do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly .. Be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, but leave room for the wrath of God. If your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink. .. Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:3-21

4. To help and encourage people to overcome homelessness and other life controlling circumstances and behaviors.
• For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13
• The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. Isaiah 61:1-3
• If you give yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your gloom will become like midday. And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones. And you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail. And those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; You will raise up the age-old foundations; and you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets in which to dwell. Isaiah 58:10-12

2010 Ministry Report

2010-12-23T00:31:00.000-05:00

“A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall be come straight, and rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God’s salvation.’”
Luke 3:4-6 / Isaiah 40:3-5

Dear Friend:
We have been blessed with a wonderful year at the Sparrow’s Nest, and God has inspired us with the theme, “Making the rough places smooth.” In our teaching we have focused on themes from the book of Isaiah and have been challenged by exhortations such as ... “Learn to do good. Seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow .. Divide your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, cover him… Give yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in the darkness … and the Lord will continually guide you. (1:17, 58:10-11)
The specific ways that we have been able to “make rough places smooth” during 2010 include serving over 3,400 hot meals and over 2,000 bags of groceries to needy adults and children, over 900 uses of our free showers and laundry services, over 1,200 families served through the clothing ministry, and over 1,200 hot breakfast meals to the homeless on Saturday morning through our new Breakfast Club ministry. In addition, weekly tutoring for at risk middle and high school children along with our inner city youth ministry are thriving with a devoted staff that is continually introducing innovative ministry strategies.
This year, our team developed a new approach to ministry at Christmas by planning a special event focused on the children, youth, and young adults that participate in our ministry on a regular basis. About 150 children and youth along with their families shared a meal with team members and volunteers, followed by a youth focused concert and special speakers that spoke directly into the life circumstances of inner city youth and families. We then shared Christmas gift bags that had been specially prepared through conversations with parents of the participating youth. Everyone agreed that the event was a huge success.
Please continue in prayer for these ministries and be aware of the following specific goals for 2011:
1. As an ideal setting for ministry to those in need, we hope to connect with more churches and church groups as a place for consistent mission involvement – a place to “plug in” as well as to “sow in.”
2. We currently operate under the umbrella of Missionary Church International. This year we hope to establish independent non profit ministry status.
3. In order to more effectively serve approximately 120 meals each week, we would like to install kitchen equipment and obtain an approved food service plan.
As we offer hope and share God’s love and mercy, our prayer is to strengthen our ministries and to grow in effectiveness in our efforts to bring about transformation in individual lives and families.
Will you please help this Christmas season and give generously to support the ministry of the Sparrow’s Nest’s to needy children, youth, and adults in our community? Prayerfully consider a year end gift, monthly support, and the possibility of regular volunteer involvement. We would love to share this ministry with you!

Breakfast Club Devotion # 14 - Justice

2010-11-30T21:31:00.002-05:00

I have always been inspired during the Christmas season by the promises of Isaiah 9:6-7: “A child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and uphold it with justice and righteousness, From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will accomplish this.” Similarly, Psalm 89:14 indicates “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Thy throne; Lovingkindness and truth go before Thee.”

These are lofty and inspiring concepts, yet abstract and difficult to understand. What is this “righteousness and justice?” The word “justice” (Hebrew “mishpat”) is used approximately 20 times in our passage of study (Isaiah 40 through 66) including the first of the “servant songs” referenced in BC #11. The word “righteousness” (Hebrew “tsadak” or “tsadaqah”) is used almost 40 times, such as 45:19, “I, the Lord, speak righteousness, declaring things that are upright” or 51:1, “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, who seek the Lord.”

According to Abraham Heschel (The Prophets, p. 200), justice has a meaning derived from the judgment or decision given by a judge, and is a mode of action, whereas righteousness is a quality, sometimes a quality of a person. The two Hebrew words are used almost interchangeably, especially in the King James version of the Bible. So, the concepts involve both quality and action, of the just and the righteous.

I have found it most helpful to keep in mind that the model “judge” is Jesus, and the model judgment is not a verdict, sentence, or punishment, but the redemptive acts that Jesus engages in and advocates. Similarly, the government spoken of in the passage above is not a human institution but an invisible kingdom which has the mission of establishing justice and righteousness after the pattern of the just and righteous king.

Simple Helpng

2010-11-01T21:17:00.002-04:00

Saturday morning at church / breakfast, I talked with Frank – the kind of conversation that the Breakfast Club is designed for – to learn about people and their needs. Frank is homeless and an unemployed construction worker; he hangs sheetrock. Since he is not an alcohol or drug user, he is not a good candidate for a recovery based half-way house, although this is a possibility. He does have a truck, but the truck needs a fuel pump and the insurance has lapsed. A problem like this can quickly lead to the loss of the vehicle for a homeless person with a temporary loss of income. If parked in an unauthorized area, the vehicle will soon be towed, and in a short period of time the fees for towing and storage can exceed the ability of the person to pay or the value of the vehicle.

The combined cost of the renewal of registration and insurance, along with repair of the truck (broken fuel pump) will cost $200 to $500, funds not available to Frank until he can reestablish employment and make one or two good paychecks, disregarding other costs. But, this “snowball” scenario of problems can be interrupted if the truck can be relocated to an authorized parking location, which will allow Frank more time to get back on his feet.

I called my friend Steve to get a recommendation on a good tow company. The tow company was willing to meet Frank at the location of the parked truck and accept my check for $75 to tow the truck to the agreed upon location in a neighboring town. By talking with Frank and being creative, we were able to solve the immediate problem with a temporary solution that will help him avoid a very costly scenario and possibly the loss of his truck.

This type of simple, practical helping is a big part of our ministry strategy. In Proverbs 14:31 we find .. “whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” It is encouraging to realize that even when problems are complex, simple acts of helping can make a big difference in someone’s life. Frank was extremely grateful. It is our hope that we can continue to minister to him, perhaps addressing other issues and needs that may be contributing factors, and help him overcome the condition of homelessness.

BC Devotion #12 – New Things

2010-10-27T22:42:00.001-04:00

It is amazing to realize, while exploring the words of Isaiah written two and a half millennia ago, that as followers of Jesus in the present day we can be instructed and inspired by these same words. When he talks about “new things,” would they not be very old by now? Or is the theme of newness meant to characterize an ongoing part of our walk with God?

“Those who hope in the Lord will gain new strength.” (40:31) “Let the peoples gain new strength.” (41:1) “Now I declare new things; before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.” (42:9) “Sing to the Lord a new song.” (42:10) “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth.” (43:19)

From the context of chapter 42 (also Matthew 12), the commentary about the “new things” that God will do through his Servant includes ... “He will bring forth justice to the nations … He will not be disheartened or crushed, until he has established justice in the earth.” (42:1,4)

What does this look like? The prophet provides details. (1) He will not cry out or raise his voice nor make his voice heard in the street. (2) A bruised reed he will not break. (3) A dimly burning wick he will not extinguish. (4) He will be a covenant to the people, a light to the nations. (5) He will open blind eyes. (6) He will bring out prisoners from the dungeon, those who dwell in darkness from the prison. (42:2-7)

We touched on this previously – these words are difficult to understand. What is a bruised reed? What is a smoldering wick? I understand them to be broken, damaged, or failing instruments that would in most circumstances be thrown out. The reed was a common household implement, like a stalk or a rigid weed. When it is damaged, throw it out. The wick was part of a lamp. When it approaches the end of its usefulness, snuff it out. Get a “new” one.

But the prophet points out that what men discard, God values, restores, and renews. And he does so humbly, quietly, and persistently. In a single thought, the prophet portrays the concern of the Servant of the Lord for the broken individual as well as for the nations – assuring us that “he will not be disheartened or crushed until he has established justice in the earth.”

BC Devotion # 11 - Servant of the Lord

2010-10-19T23:14:00.002-04:00

"Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations." (Isaiah 42:1 / Matthew 12:18) Is there a more awesome verse in the Bible than this? There is more, and it's not easy to understand. ..

"He will not cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on the earth. In his law the islands will put their hope / In his name the nations will hope." (Isaiah 42:2-4 / Matthew 12:19-21)

We will continue to explore these ideas, especially "justice." I encourage you to meditate on the meaning of this passage in light of the ministry of Jesus. What is "a bruised reed?"

BC Devotion #10 - Ministry and Meeting Needs

2010-10-13T20:12:00.000-04:00

In our context of ministry, the task of creating a pathway out of the rough places and the rugged terrain must connect with the circumstances that people face in impoverished communities and the ministries that have proven to be effective in helping people overcome these challenges.

While we must remain grounded in the fundamental emphasis on the message of the gospel - God’s good news of salvation from sin by grace through faith, Scripture also validates our concern for the specific practical circumstances that people face. Jesus emphasized his concern for the poor, the downtrodden, the blind and the captives, those who are hungry, thirsty, sick or naked, lonely or in prison. The prophets expresses God’s concern for the weak and the sick, the injured, the lost, the scattered and the oppressed.

The writings of those who focus on impoverished urban neighborhoods note conditions including poor health care and higher infant mortality, lack of prenatal health, inaccessibility of quality child care, hunger, poor educational resources, high drop-out rate, violence, drug and alcohol abuse, crime, gang culture, high rates of incarceration, lack of jobs or of higher wage jobs, poor housing, negligent landlords, racism, racial and ethnic segregation, broken families and children without parents.

Ministries that churches and Christian organizations have utilized include: Family health center or medical clinic, prenatal care ministry, daycare center, children’s ministry, tutoring and after school programs, recreational programs, youth services cooperative, youth leadership development, study center, Bible school, food distribution, clothing distribution, addiction recovery ministry, homeless shelter, homeless meals, showers and laundry, hospitality house for volunteers, nonprofit housing cooperative, housing rehabilitation, mortgage company for the poor, legal cooperative, job placement program, community owned cooperative or business, and ministries of racial or ethnic reconciliation.

I provide these lists as food for thought, as fuel for creative thinking about ministry. What are the needs in our community? What ministries are available, and what ministries are lacking? And what kind of ministry do you have a passion for?

Sources:
Isaiah 40-41, Ezekiel 34, Luke 4, Matthew 25
David Hilfiker, Urban Injustice, pp. XII, XV, 19
Charles Marsh, Beloved Community, pp. 179, 191, 199
John M. Perkins, Beyond Charity: The Call to Christian Community Development, pp. 35-53

Breakfast Club Devotion #9 – Isaiah 41 – “God Creates Ministry”

2010-10-05T22:25:00.000-04:00

I closed the last meditation with reference to the end of Isaiah 40, as a hint to remind us of that most awesome and well known passage in Isaiah, that “Those who wait on / hope in the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” Though it is easily overlooked, this passage maintains a theme from Isaiah 40 - that of God (and the people of God) preparing a way or a pathway in the midst of difficult circumstances. Here, encouragement extends to the weary, the tired, to one who lacks might, even to vigorous young men who stumble badly.

In Isaiah 41 we find a beautiful poetic passage which once again reaches out to those in desperate circumstances … “The afflicted and needy are seeking water, but there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst.” And the awesome response from God, “I the Lord, will answer them myself.” Wow! But what does this mean for the thirsty ones, and for those of us who desire to be in the movement of God in this world? It means that God creates ministry to meet the needs of people, and we his people want to be a part of that creative work.

The poetic imagery of this passage (41:17-20) continues the themes of Isaiah 40, including references to the bare heights, the valleys, the wilderness, the dry land and the desert. The life giving work of God is represented in these places by rivers, springs, pools and fountains, and a variety of trees including the cedar, the olive, the box tree and the cypress, even the pine!

The work of God in dry places is a testament to his character, love and goodness, “That they may see and recognize, and consider and gain insight ... that the hand of the Lord has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it.” In the context of people and relationships, I take this to mean that God is creating ministry, and I want to be a part of this creative work.

Soon I will share with you from my readings in the area of community ministry, information about the negative forces at work in impoverished communities, and the many different types of ministries that people engage in to bring love and life to these communities. My prayer is that we will recognize the hand of God in new ministry strategies that he will reveal in our lives.

Breakfast Club Devotion #8 - Isaiah 40

2010-09-29T23:19:00.000-04:00

“God is acquainted with rough places.”

The second half of Isaiah is known as “the book of hope” and the first words are “Comfort, comfort my people …” What do you say to one who is suffering, grieving, frustrated, or downcast? Comfort can be offered in the awareness that “God is acquainted with rough places.” In Isaiah 40 we see references to the desert, the wilderness, the valley, rough places, and rugged terrain. The prophet’s exhortation to “prepare a way for the Lord” indicates the Lord’s awareness of and presence in the rough places of life, and his nearness to those in the wilderness. The New Testament writers connect this prophecy to John the Baptist, whose agenda was to help people become prepared to encounter Jesus.

Both Isaiah and John speak of sin, repentance, and forgiveness, because the encounter with God involves a turning of the heart away from sin and toward God and the love and forgiveness he offers, an invitation into God’s plans for our life. Isaiah and John also speak of preparing a pathway for God, which is also a pathway to God. The people of God have a message to share, but often work has to be done in order to help others be prepared to hear that message. People have rough places in their life, such as material circumstances (poverty) or emotional barriers (abuse) or even medical conditions that are so overwhelming that spiritual messages cannot break through.

Injustice in any form can hinder people from coming to God. Perhaps that is why, as examples of repentance, John said that the wealthy person should share, the government official should be honest, the soldier should not abuse his authority. (Luke 3) The good news can be obscured by our evil ways and unjust systems. As I see it, part of smoothing the rough ground involves confronting evil wherever we find it, most of all within ourselves, but also in the structures and environments in which we live.

Remember the first words .. “comfort, comfort.” May God help us to create those pathways, that all may discover .. “he gives strength to the weary.”

Back from "Summer Break"

2010-09-21T22:05:00.002-04:00

While my last blog post was in June, ministry activity has continued at full speed at the Sparrow's Nest. This forum has been used to share from devotions / Bible discussions that are held at our weekly "Breakfast Club" for the homeless. Our weekly time of food, fellowship, faith discussions and targeted ministry is for me "church." I'm asking God to use this time in our lives to teach us more about each other, about Him, and about how to move toward a better future for our homeless friends and others who are touched by the Sparrow's Nest.

It is in my spirit to use the writings of Isaiah as a guide for our devotions in coming weeks, starting in chapter 40. There was a hint of this in "B.C. Devotion #3" as we looked at John the Baptist, the "Wild Man Prophet."

From that posting ...
"It is said that the purpose of John’s message was to help prepare a pathway for God. People of God have a message to share, but work has to be done in order to help others be prepared to hear that message. People have rough places in their life, be it material circumstances or emotional barriers or even medical conditions that are so overwhelming that spiritual messages cannot break through."

Soon we will dig a little deeper into Isaiah's words and the New Testament passages which reference Isaiah, while also digging into theological concepts such as "wilderness," "servant," and my favorite, "justice." I ask you to consider reading along with us as we take a closer look at these words of the prophet.

Breakfast Club Devotion #7 - The Big Bad Wolf

2010-06-10T00:29:00.001-04:00

The Big Bad Wolf.
The wolf is often used in stories to portray a dangerous threat. Little Red Riding Hood said “What big teeth you have,” and was soon eaten by the wolf. Jesus said that some shepherds see the wolf coming, and they abandon the sheep, because they care not for the sheep. But Jesus gathers the sheep into the sheep fold, and protects them. I’ve heard it said that the shepherd would lay down and sleep in the opening of the sheep fold, thus literally becoming the gate for the sheep.

In our Breakfast Club conversation, I emphasized the importance of being in a protective fold, a strong community of faith so that we can be protected from the dangers of this world, including liars, thieves and robbers, those who have no interest in our well being, those who make no effort to protect the sheep from harm and help rescue them from the real big bad wolf, our enemy the devil.

“The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy, but I have come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd, and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:10-11

Breakfast Club Devotion #6

2010-05-24T22:47:00.001-04:00

Matthew 5:5 – “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.” Gentleness is a defining characteristic of Jesus’ interactions with people, and a quality that we should seek in our relationships. The concept is similar to humility.

I would say that gentleness applies more to our way of interacting with or responding to others, whereas humility has to do with the self, the attitude toward and posture of the self in the interaction with others. Jesus lowered himself (humility) to take on flesh and be among us, and even further by his sacrificial death on the cross. In his gentleness, he was able to relate to and respond to the other in even the most broken circumstance. The importance of gentleness in human interaction is directly proportional to the vulnerability, brokenness, or even lowliness of the counterpart.

In three cases of the New Testament uses of the word gentle, it is combined with the Greek word for humble, or humility. The literal meaning is to lower, to make low, to humble oneself, or, humility. One of these cases is Matthew 11:28-29 – “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls.” Jesus gentle approach is evident in his response to the woman caught in sin that was brought to him by the teachers and religious leaders. Sensing her humiliated and vulnerable position, he related to her in love and gentleness. (John 8)

Note Matthew 12:18-20. Behold, My Servant whom I have chosen; my beloved in whom My soul is well-pleased; I will put my spirit upon Him, and He shall proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel, nor cry out; nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory.” (from Isaiah) Think about it … what is a battered reed? What is a smoldering wick? Jesus will not abuse, cast aside, or discard the vulnerable ones. He exhibits humility and gentleness in relating to the other.

Scripture teaches that gentleness should characterize our response to others. “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh work stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1) Also, Ephesians 4:1-2 – “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love…” and Galatians 6:1 – “Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted.”

Other New Testament occurrences of the Greek word used for gentle in Matthew 5:5 include the following:

Matthew 21:5 – Say to the daughters of Zion, behold your King is coming to you, gentle, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.
1 Peter 3:4 – Let (your adornment) be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.
1 Peter 3:15 – Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.
1 Corinthians 4:21 – What do you desire? That I should come to you with a rod or with love and a spirit of gentleness?
2 Corinthians 10:1 – Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ – I who am meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when you are absent!
Titus 3:2 – Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be uncontentious, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.
Galatians 5:22-23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Colossians 3:12 – And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience…
2 Timothy 2:24-26 – And the Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
James 1:21 – Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted which is able to save your souls.
James 3:13 – Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.

Πράϋς or here, όί πραεις, or as a quality, πραϋτης
Gentle, humble, considerate, meek, unassuming, or, as a quality, gentleness, humility, courtesy, considerateness, meekness.

Sparrow's Nest Annual Banquet

2010-05-04T22:26:00.000-04:00

We had a great evening April 30 as about 125 people gathered to celebrate the Sparrow’s Nest Ministry. Alex and the band shared in worship, Jeremiah shared poetry, Steve and his gang served barbeque and almost 40 weekly volunteers were recognized and applauded for their dedicated service. Five team members shared why they love ministry at the SN. A common theme was Matthew 25 where Jesus spoke to his followers .. “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, thirsty and you gave me drink, naked and you clothed me, a stranger and you invited me in, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to me.”

Our guest Speaker Archie Crenshaw and our Board Chair Wayne Brubaker both shared from the book A Hole in the Gospel, which seems to have a great impact on those who read it. Archie offered great encouragement to our team members by sharing about the pleasure God takes in His children when they share his love with others. We shared ministry statistics indicating that ..
On a monthly basis
-over 100 people use the showers or laundry
-over 130 families are provided with clothing and
-over 450 hot meals are served.
Praise God!

Breakfast Club Devotion #5

2010-04-20T22:09:00.001-04:00

Looking at his disciples, he said “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” Jesus has a way of saying things that make us think. What does this mean? God wants us to be poor? More spiritual if we are poor? God loves the poor more? There are 9 occasions on which Jesus used this word, and many other NT teachings. It is clear that it was important to Jesus to bring good news to the poor, and that he wanted his followers to get involved as well.

Brief references to the 9 occasions that Jesus uses this word are as follows:

1. The Spirit of the Lord anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. Luke 4:18
2. Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of heaven. (Luke 6:20; Matthew 5:3 reads “blessed are the poor in spirit..”)
3. The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. Matt 11:5, Lk 7:22
4. Go and sell all you possess, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven.
5. For the poor you have with you always; but you do not always have me. Mt 19:21, Mk 10:21, Lk 12:33
6. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins,... and He said to them, Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury. Mk 12:42, Lk 21:2
7. But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind ... Lk 14:13
8. Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor and crippled and blind and lame. (A man gave a great banquet and invited guests, and the initial group of invitees gave excuses about not attending the banquet.) Lk 14:21
9. Now it came about that the poor man (Lazarus) died and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom .... Luke 16:20

It is significant that Jesus first public appearance in the synagogue, recorded in Luke 4:18, begins with the reference to Isaiah 61:1 prophecy or proclamation that the Servant of the Lord is anointed to preach good news to the poor.

Secondly, as Matthew and Luke present a large systematic collection of Jesus teaching to the multitude, they both report Jesus as leading off with this statement “blessed are you who are poor.”

What does the New Testament teach about the rich and the poor? There is a great deal of Scripture that addresses the topic of money, wealth, and poverty, and books have been written on the subject. But as a first look, consider the following as affirmations.

1. A primary purpose of Jesus’ mission is to bring good news to the poor. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.” Luke 4:18

2. Money competes for our attention and can distract us from God. No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Luke 16:15

3. God will entrust his servants with material provision to see if we can manage it properly and use it for the glory of God. Parable of the talents (not just money). To the faithful servants, Jesus said, Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.” Matthew 25:21, also Luke 19.

4. It is easy for us to begin to trust money when we have it, to feel self sufficient, or to feel that we deserve to have whatever material blessings that we have. Luke 12:18, A man became very successful. He became very confident in his riches ... “I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I’ll say to myself, You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink, and be merry. But God said to him, You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” About this, Jesus said ...Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Luke 12:15

5. Whatever we have, we must hold it very loosely, willing to give it all away if God asks. When the rich young man approached Jesus, Jesus asked him to give it all away. Mark 10:17 What must I do to inherit eternal life? First he asked him about his obedience to the law, and the man indicated his faithfulness to these things. But Jesus knew that he was held in bondage to his wealth. One thing you lack. Go, sell everything you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. The man was unable to give up his possessions.

6. It is difficult for a wealthy person to seek God. Jesus did teach us that it is very difficult for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. Story of the rich young man who could not follow Jesus, when asked to give up his wealth.“How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:23

7. There is a sense in which those with earthly wealth are enjoying life now, whereas the poor will enjoy heaven. This was the point of the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.
Luke 16:20-22 And a certain poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores. Now it came about that the poor man died and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom ....(v. 25) Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.”

8. This should not in any way lead us to think that poverty, in and of itself, brings us into God’s kingdom. Jesus clearly explained how to gain eternal life through the new birth, by faith in Jesus. (John 3)

9. The one who has less in earthly things should be more inclined to reach out and trust God. The question is, do we look to God for salvation or do we look to the world to covet its goods?

10. God loves everyone, but the Scripture indicates that God has a special compassion for the poor. James 2:5 “Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?

I hope that these collected thoughts have shed some light on the difficult statements of Jesus .. “Blessed are the poor in spirit / . Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of heaven.”

Ministry Update and Needs

2010-04-14T21:50:00.001-04:00

We would like to keep you up to date with ministry and needs at the Sparrow’s Nest.
You can find frequent ministry updates at our Facebook Page “Sparrows Nest Athens."

-FUNDRAISING BARBEQUE DINNER APRIL 30th, 2010 6-8 PM.
Please put this on your calendar and contact us if you are interested in coming.

-In our homeless ministries we recently added the BREAKFAST CLUB ministry for the homeless community on Saturday mornings. Each week some 35 to 40 people are able to get fed and our volunteer staff has been able to assist and mentor them in other ways as well. Also, our new monthly JUMPSTART program has been able to assist many adults with holistic guidance towards spiritual, emotional and financial growth and stability. In our weekday ministries, we continue to provide showers, laundry, clothes and food to over a 100 people a week.

-In our youth program, we recently had a block party and 19 high schoolers showed up to play basketball and video games. 8 of these students were not active participants in our youth program, so it turned out to be a great outreach. Also, several of our kids are in the process of applying for college. Our volunteers and staff have been assisting them with looking at colleges and taking the SAT. Finally, we will be taking our middle school and high school students to a church conference in Atlanta this summer. They will get to experience a great program with other youth groups from all over the country.

-We have been blessed with many new and consistent volunteers that have allowed our operations to continue to grow and also run smoothly.

The Sparrow’s Nest also has many needs:
-We are continuing to pursue the renovation of our kitchen to allow us to prepare our three weekly meals on site, as opposed to bringing everything in. If you have any contacts for commercial kitchen appliances or wish to donate to this please contact us.

-Our youth program relies on our 3 vehicles to pick all of our kids and bring them to the Sparrow’s Nest. One of our vehicles is a 1984 Dodge van that is very near its final drive. It has torn out carpet, no A/C, no radio, is leaking oil, it rides rough and the engine breaks down a lot. We REALLY need a new vehicle.

-Each year we raise funds for our summer youth trip. The cost is significantly lower this year, around $150 a student. None of our students can afford this, so please pray about providing a scholarship to help these kids experience this great opportunity to grow in the Lord.

The three needs above are the most pressing but we have other needs:
-We would like another vehicle, a pick-up truck or utility van, to pick up donations and for our staff to use to run errands. Currently we are using our buses which is a significant waste of gas.
-We would like a desktop computer to run media (powerpoint, videos, etc.) in our sanctuary. It needs to have a fast processor, multiple-display capability and a DVD player.

As always, we appreciate your love and support, and ask you to keep us in your prayers. If you would like to make a donation, please send checks to:
Sparrow’s Nest Mission Church
P.O. Box 1972
Athens, GA 30603

Alex Smith
Youth Pastor/Volunteer Coordinator
Sparrow's Nest Mission Church
770 630 2694
www.sparrowsnestmission.org

Breakfast Club Devotion #4 – Why did Jesus get off the boat there?

2010-04-01T23:45:00.001-04:00

Ministry requires a personal encounter, and somehow Jesus got off the boat right next to the cemetery where he encountered a man in a most desperate situation. Having once lived in the town, his mental state had driven him to a solitary life of self mutilation, homelessness, and violence. No one would go near him. They had tried unsuccessfully to bind him. He was naked. Somehow Jesus found him, or he found Jesus, or both. He called out to Jesus. Jesus drove away the demons; the man was healed, “sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind.”

I believe it was not by accident that Jesus’ travels led right to this man. He was not unlike people in our city today, lonely and tormented, self destructive. Yet in his encounter with Jesus, he was restored to health. He wanted to stay with Jesus, but Jesus told him simply, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.”

Matthew 8, Mark 5, Luke 8

Jump Start / Breakfast Club News

2010-04-01T23:34:00.005-04:00

The third monthly "Jump Start" workshop will be held Saturday, April 10, at 10:00 a.m. If you want to get involved as a volunteer or participant, or help provide food, contact Director Tommy York.

Our Breakfast Club continues to be a great time of ministry, and we are encouraged that new friends call about getting involved almost every week! Our plan is to discontinue the breakfast for the summer when the winter shelters close mid April, but we are praying about continuing for a while longer, depending on the interest level.

Stop by the Sparrow's Nest and check out the new art work created by our youth ministry and team leaders. It looks great!

Breakfast Club Devotion #3: Wild Man Prophet?

2010-03-24T22:01:00.000-04:00

One of the most unusual characters in the Bible was the preacher in the desert with animal skin clothes and a diet of bugs and honey. Did people flock to him because he was unusual, or because of his message? He called people to turn to God, then explained what this would look like – share your clothes and food with him who has none, be honest in your business dealings, and don’t abuse your authority over others.

It is said that the purpose of John’s message was to help prepare a pathway for God. People of God have a message to share, but work has to be done in order to help others be prepared to hear that message. People have rough places in their life, be it material circumstances or emotional barriers or even medical conditions that are so overwhelming that spiritual messages cannot break through. But can we really say that the message itself is different from the process of making the rough ways smooth?

Let’s pray that our ministry takes us into the desert, and once there, God can help us learn how to make a path.
Matthew 3, Luke 3

Breakfast Club Devotion: Elijah's Depression

2010-03-09T21:50:00.001-05:00

We are getting into a groove with our Breakfast Club ministry to the homeless on Saturday morning. Thanks to Pam, Angie, Lee, Rodney and Janet for serving and loving those who came last week. The relationship component is coming together. The ministry team gathers at 7:00, Breakfast at 7:30, Bible Study at 8:15, ministry time continues after that.

Breakfast Club Devotion #2
Did you know the prophet Elijah dealt with depression? Having just gone through a dramatic spiritual experience confronting the false prophets of Baal, Elijah came under a threat from the Queen and feared for his life. His fear and flight took him into the desert, and he prayed that he might die. Later he went without food and hid in a cave and expressed the thought that he was the only one zealous for God.

Feelings of extreme discouragement may seem unreasonable, but when someone is under a cloud it is very real. Did this happen to Elijah at other times? Perhaps, and we know that many other biblical characters went through times of great difficulty – it is a part of life. It is important for us be aware of the reality of depression and to reach out to others in love and not trivialize their feelings or offer simplistic spiritual answers.

In the cave Elijah encountered God in a still small voice. Eventually he was able to regain his strength and resume his ministry. Let’s pray that God can use us to be a still small voice to the hurting.

1 Kings 19

Youth Disciple Now Retreat

2010-02-22T20:12:00.001-05:00

This weekend, some of the middle and high school students at the Sparrow’s Nest participated in a Disciple Now youth retreat. Our students had the opportunity to worship, play, and serve with their peers from other Athens area churches. The theme of the weekend was “Redefining Normal,” and large group teachings and small group discussions focused on growing our understanding of how to live out Christianity in our everyday lives. On Saturday afternoon, our students partnered with youth from Tuckston United Methodist Church to clear brush and trash from a cemetery behind Alps Road Elementary. This retreat was an opportunity for our youth to grow in their relationships with God and with us as leaders. Please pray that the LORD would continue to reveal Himself to the students!

Hayley Cox

Jump Start Workshop

2010-02-21T22:28:00.001-05:00

I am very excited about the “Jump Start” workshop held Saturday February 20 at the Sparrow’s Nest. Shirley Criscillis of the Genesis Center encouraged participants who are dealing with homelessness, unemployment, or other difficult life circumstances. The workshop explored themes of God’s purposes for us, who we are by personality, abilities and experiences, and different ways we can get stuck in a difficult place. Practical job seeking skills were also presented. The next workshop will be March 13.

Each Saturday morning we provide breakfast to the homeless at 7:30 a.m. Team member Pam Allen has been faithful in helping with this ministry. We were excited to have other friends Dale, Angie, Rodney and Lee join us this week with food preparation or with greeting or serving. We are getting to know the participants better and are learning more about their specific needs.
_________________________

Breakfast Club

2010-02-10T22:24:00.001-05:00

Our first "Breakfast Club" homeless ministry went very well last Saturday. We served about 35 men and women. Each week we will need 2 "greeters" to help minister to the people. The greeters will welcome people and help us complete "Get to Know Me" information sheets for guests to help us more effectively minister to them. Pray about helping us out on one or more Saturdays and I know you will be blessed!

We also seek helpers who want to provide meals for this event or one of our Thursday meal events. We now serve 12 to 15 hot meals per month. For you to get involved with our ministry of providing food would be a trememdous blessing to Jesus, to our frnends, and to you!

"I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat." Matthew 25:35

Breakfast Club

2010-02-03T20:34:00.002-05:00

We are excited about a new project that is getting started – the BREAKFAST CLUB. Recognizing that Saturday morning is an area need for the homeless, we offer coffee, breakfast, and a time of serving, relating, and sharing from the Bible beginning at 7:30 am every Saturday.

Two winter shelters in Athens are operated by local Christian ministrires - "The Bigger Vision" and "Walk on Water." Dedicated volunteers who give of their time to supervise shelter operations seven days a week. Approximately fifty men and women use these shelters on any given winter night.

Since shelters close at 7:00 am, the clients go out into the city during the day. Social service agencies and businesses are open during the week, and churches are open on Sunday, but on Saturday, early in the morning, most facilities are closed. We invite interested persons to join us for the "Breakfast Club," an opportunity to serve and spend time with those who have this particular need.

Coffee - 7:30; Breakfast - 8:00; Time of sharing - 8:30

2010-01-30T22:23:00.000-05:00

The Sparrow's Nest is a gathering place for people in need and for people who want to share God's love by helping others. We are motivated by Jesus and desire to follow him as he expressed his mission in the book of Luke:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has appointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the downtrodden will be freed from their oppressors, and that the time of the Lord's favor has come. Luke 4:18

Sparrow’s Nest weekday ministries include food, clothing, showers, laundry and other types of assistance for those in need. Our evening ministries include tutoring and special activities for children, youth and young adults. Our weekend activities include a Saturday breakfast for the homeless and a monthly workshop designed to help people deal with challenging issues and reach for new goals in life.

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2008-12-27T20:59:00.000-05:00

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