Pastor Brad’s Notebook

17 Sep

Posted at 08:44h in Uncategorized
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"On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it; and it will bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a majestic cedar. Under it will dwell birds of every sort; in the shadow of its branches they will dwell." Ezekiel 17:23 The prophet ends this chapter, a chapter which issued a warning to a wayward people, with a perplexing promise - and at the end of that a promise a very unusual, and even surprising picture. Ezekiel says that, "...in the shadow of its branches they will dwell." Why are they going to live in the "shadow of its branches"? Why won't they rest on the branches themselves? Wouldn't living amidst those branches, and under their protection, provide a safe and secure place in which to dwell? Sure, perhaps too much safety and security. We must not enjoy the blessings and benefits, the pleasures and pursuits of life, to the point that we forget, or overlook, the memory of the shadow. How many times have we been told to "be thankful for all that you have"? What does that mean? Simply that it is impossible to be thankful for the light without thinking about the shadows. You see, to ponder our privileges, to be thankful for what we have, forces us to consider the possibility of not having them. Sadly, not every prosperous person appreciates his prosperity. Therefore, to appreciate it, he must see the shadow of his poverty.

12 Sep

Posted at 08:47h in Uncategorized
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Recently children all across the country woke up early, got dressed in their new clothes, ate a quick breakfast and headed out the door for the first day of the new school year. There was an evident excitement, and no doubt some apprehension, as they walked into that new class and sat in a new seat on that first day of school. Some were excited to see their friends. Other were excited to have moved up another grade. Probably one or two were excited about being back in the class, after a boring summer off, ready to learn something. Now, I admit, when I was in elementary school, middle school and even high school I wasn't the best student. I normally made the principle's list, but not in the good sort of way. There were classes that I did very well in - reading, art, history, study hall - and there were classes that I didn't do so well in - math, math, math and oh yeah, Spanish. (I remember one six weeks where a note was written on the back of my report card giving my actual grade along with an explanation that if that grade were to have been given there was no way I would pass the class for the year. From what I could tell she REALLY wanted me to pass and move on.) In spite of my poor grades in some classes I somehow managed to graduate with honors. (Guardian angel at work?)

10 Sep

Posted at 00:31h in Devotionals
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"But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31 Isaiah shares here the rather surprising steps in our spiritual progression. He tells us that those who wait on the Lord will fly, and then run, then walk. The order of these steps seems rather strange at first glance. To begin by soaring on eagle's wings, and then to drop into run, only to descend further into a slow, steady walk. This doesn't appear to be upward progress, but rather that of a spiritual descent. This is the true order of the life of Christ in the believer. When Christ first comes into my life, there is a sudden soaring that takes place in my soul. I am as the apostle says, "caught up to meet the Lord in the air." The world and its many appeals seem so distant and dreary, and its population are like grasshoppers as I'm caught up in the flight of my new faith. After a while, I settle down to a swift run, but even then my earthly contact is only momentary like that of a seasoned, conditioned runner. The immediate exhilaration of salvation has subsided, but the steady pace of mature faith has not yet come. My faith is running, but it isn't weary.