An American Missionary

I’m OK, You’re OK apparently only applies when I give up what I believe in order to agree with another person’s beliefs. So, if that’s the case, then I’m not OK, at least according to the responses at most Third Friday events in Safety Harbor, FL. The Northeast Church of Christ in Clearwater, FL, where I preached for four years, would set up a booth to hand out Bibles and offer a Bible quiz board to test people’s knowledge of God’s word. One particular evening stands out in memory because there was a distinct antagonism toward the quiz. 
 
Except for a handful, those who stopped were more interested in correcting me, and our questions, than in hearing what God said. When their answers differed with what they saw God said in the Bible, there was an almost universal yawn. No one said it out loud, but it was written on their faces, “So what!” They clearly believed their answers were correct even when the Bible said something very different. Two even patted me on the shoulder, smiled a ‘you poor deluded soul’ smile, and said, “We believe in the same Lord” and walked away. 
 
At least they didn’t give me the Amos treatment. When he went to Bethel to preach against Israel’s degraded national worship (think walking into the Vatican and denouncing the Catholic Church) the response was quick and to the point – Shut up and go away! Oh, it was said more politely, but the message was the same. First, they twisted his words into a direct threat against King Jeroboam (Amos 7:10-11). In modern terms he was being “too aggressive.” Then they told Amos to go back to Judah and prophesy there; he and his message weren’t welcome in Bethel (Amos 7:12-13). In other words, “This is our safe space and you’re not allowed here.” 
 
Like the folk who stopped by the booth on Third Friday, they believed their method of serving Jehovah was OK, and refused to hear anything different. But Amos refused to back down or make it about himself (Amos 7:14-15). Being OK begins and ends with God and the only way any of us can be OK is by listening to and obeying God’s word. Since the priests of Israel refused Him, God’s message was plain, they were going to suffer and go into exile (Amos 7:16-17). It’s never OK to reject God. 
 
None of us is OK, if we refuse to serve the Lord in simple obedient trust that does what He says. And, on one level, none of us is OK since we’re all sinners, but the good news is this: God is patiently waiting and calling us to come to Him where we can all be OK. Will we go to Him and become Ok? The choice is yours. Let me know if I can help you learn how God makes us OK.

I’m OK, You’re OK apparently only applies when I give up what I believe in order to agree with another person’s beliefs. So, if that’s the case, then I’m not OK, at least according to the responses at most Third Friday events in Safety Harbor, FL. The Northeast Church of Christ in Clearwater, FL, where I preached for four years, would set up a booth to hand out Bibles and offer a Bible quiz board to test people’s knowledge of God’s word. One particular evening stands out in memory because there was a distinct antagonism toward the quiz.

Except for a handful, those who stopped were more interested in correcting me, and our questions, than in hearing what God said. When their answers differed with what they saw God said in the Bible, there was an almost universal yawn. No one said it out loud, but it was written on their faces, “So what!” They clearly believed their answers were correct even when the Bible said something very different. Two even patted me on the shoulder, smiled a ‘you 

Rebellion Is Not OK With God! Amos 7:10-17

What was the straw that broke the camel’s back? I was surprised to learn that the phrase, which goes back to a 17th century religious debate, was originally “the last feather may be said to break a horses back”. It was made in the middle of a debate on the question of causality. The debater’s argument was about outcomes being good or bad based on the totality of actions rather than “the last feather”, which may appear to have caused the collapse or tipped the scales in the right direction. 200 years later it became popularized as “the straw that broke the camel’s back.” Regardless, the meaning is the same; the accumulation of many small things is usually the ultimate cause of a particular outcome. 
 
The issue of causality is an important discussion with respect to the fate of nations and individuals. We’ve been studying the message of the prophet Amos, who was sent to the nation of Israel during the prosperous days of King Jeroboam II. Because of their prosperity they believed in themselves as especially favored of God, despite their idolatrous perversion of Jehovah worship and absolute disregard for the poor and needy. 
 
The first section of Amos, chapters 1 – 6, was didactic in nature. More like modern sermons presenting a message of judgment for sin and making supporting arguments. Chapters 7-9 shift the method of presentation by recording a series of visions of the coming judgment, though briefly interrupted by a confrontation with the religious leaders in Bethel (their religious capital). 
 
The first three visions describe the process of how the straw (or feather) broke the camel’s back with respect to God’s condemnation of Israel for sin and how they were marching inexorably toward destruction. 
 
Vision one was a locust plague being sent by God, but withdrawn after a passionate plea by Amos (Amos 7:1-3). Vision two was a consuming fire sweeping across the land, but, once again, this was withdrawn after Amos begged God for mercy (Amos 7:4-6). 
 
The last vision (Amos 7:7-9) was a plumb line (a string with a weight used to see if a wall is straight). By now the camel’s back was broken and God didn’t give Amos an opportunity to plea for Israel. 
 
“Behold I am about to put a plumb line in the midst of My people Israel. I will spare them no longer. The high places of Isaac will be desolated and the sanctuaries of Israel laid waste. Then I will rise up against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.” Amos 7:8-9 
 
Is God’s plumb line checking us? If every sin is a straw, every disobedience a feather, when will America’s back break as God declares “I will spare them no longer”? What about yours and mine?

What was the straw that broke the camel’s back? I was surprised to learn that the phrase, which goes back to a 17th century religious debate, was originally “the last feather may be said to break a horses back”. It was made in the middle of a debate on the question of causality. The debater’s argument was about outcomes being good or bad based on the totality of actions rather than “the last feather”, which may appear to have caused the collapse or tipped the scales in the right direction. 200 years later it became popularized as “the straw that broke the camel’s back.” Regardless, the meaning is the same; the accumulation of many small things is usually the ultimate cause of a particular outcome.

The issue of causality is an important discussion with respect to the fate of nations and individuals. We’ve been studying the message of the prophet Amos, who was sent to the nation of Israel during the prosperous days of King Jeroboam II. Because of their prosperity they believed in themse

Why The Camel’s Back Broke! Amos 7:1-9

Rockfield, KY, is a small unincorporated community just south of Bowling Green, which has had a functioning Post Office since 1866. At first that didn’t make sense since the town is appropriately named. Why would anyone build a town on a field of rock? Unless, they placed the town on the rock field because it wouldn’t work as a farm. That’s the only explanation that makes sense to me. 
 
Today’s Morning Minutes in the Bible on An American Missionary comes to a section in the OT prophetic book of Amos where God talks about rock fields and things that don’t make sense. Let’s read the text and then make some observations. 
 
“Shall horses run upon the rock? Will one plow there with oxen? That ye have turned justice into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood; ye that rejoice in a thing of nought, that say, ‘Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength?’” Amos 6:12-13 ASV 
 
The questions are rhetorical in nature. In other words, they weren’t genuine questions seeking answers, because the answers were obvious. Rather, they were asked to draw Israel’s attention to a point Amos was about to make. 
 
Obviously horses don’t run on rocks and people don’t plow rock fields with oxen. (That’s why Rockfield, KY, must have been started there because no one could farm it.) 
 
So, what was the point Amos was making? Simple – Israel was acting irrationally. Or, to use the s word my grandson tells me I’m not allowed to say – stupidly. But it’s a great word because it describes Israel’s actions. Merriam-Webster defines stupid as: slow of mind: OBTUSE, given to unintelligent decisions or acts, acting in an unintelligent or careless manner. 
 
Intelligent, careful people don’t run horses across rock fields or wear out their oxen trying to plow them. But Israelites, who were smart enough to know that, weren’t intelligent enough to do justice and righteousness God’s way. They had the necessary information (God’s word), but chose to ignore it. Instead they thought they could do whatever they wanted and rejoiced in their own accomplishments and strength. They considered God’s will and God’s way as irrelevant. In other words, they were stupid. 
 
Does that sound like anyone you might know? Maybe even that person staring at you in the mirror? We wouldn’t run horses or pull plows across a rock field, but would we defy God and refuse to do justice and righteousness according to His will? And that’s not a rhetorical question, by the way. Let’s make the intelligent decision and turn to God in simple obedient trust in everything. It’s the smart thing to do!

Rockfield, KY, is a small unincorporated community just south of Bowling Green, which has had a functioning Post Office since 1866. At first that didn’t make sense since the town is appropriately named. Why would anyone build a town on a field of rock? Unless, they placed the town on the rock field because it wouldn’t work as a farm. That’s the only explanation that makes sense to me.

Today’s Morning Minutes in the Bible on An American Missionary comes to a section in the OT prophetic book of Amos where God talks about rock fields and things that don’t make sense. Let’s read the text and then make some observations.

“Shall horses run upon the rock? Will one plow there with oxen? That ye have turned justice into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood; ye that rejoice in a thing of nought, that say, ‘Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength?’” Amos 6:12-13 ASV

The questions are rhetorical in nature. In other words, they weren’t genuine questions seeking answers, b

Rhetorical Questions Expose Unintelligent Thinking Amos 6:12-13

“Righteous” is one of those words that jars us when heard outside of a religious context. But, since the word refers to being declared right, or “free of guilt”, it is occasionally used in a TV show or movie by someone falsely accused of a crime seeking to be found, and openly declared, innocent, or “righteous.” While it has a religious connection, the word in and of itself is not a religious word. So we shouldn’t be surprised to hear it used in other settings. 
 
However, we should be jarred to our very soul when we hear it used to describe religious actions and beliefs that are contrary to the will of God. And it needs to be even more jarring if we find ourselves using it to describe our own religious activities that are not God approved. We don’t want to wait for an Amos to come declare how God “hates” and “rejects” our religious activities because they (and we) are not righteous (Amos 5:21-27). 
 
Today’s Throwback Thursday edition of Morning Minutes in the Bible on An American Missionary reaches back to October, 1980, in PLAIN TALK Magazine, for some thoughts on how to shift our attitude (and perhaps that of others) to actually seek God’s righteousness instead of our own self-declared righteousness. 
 
Righteousness Of God by Kevan O'Banion 
 
Righteousness not only involves a "right or just standing before God," but also refers to "whatever has been approved by God to be acknowledged and obeyed by man" (Vine). Man is righteous only to the extent that he is striving to conform to the will of God. The scribes and Pharisees, in Rom. 10:3, were neither just nor justified in God's sight because "being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God." It would be profitable to ask ourselves if we are truly "right-wise" (knowledgeable of God's standard of what is right or just). It may be that we seek to measure our righteousness by our own standard, as did the scribes and Pharisees. 
 
For example, many of them conceived of a righteousness attained through external works. The self-righteous Pharisee of Luke 18 exemplifies this false notion. Fasting twice a week and giving tithes of all he got no more justified him than our attending services three times a week and partaking of the Lord's Supper would justify us. If we simply "go through the motions," we forget the very essence of obedience — faith in God. Yet the fact that we are justified by faith does not negate the importance of expressing that faith in acts of obedience. Unless our obedience (external works) is accompanied and produced by true heart submission, it will not be acceptable to God. (1 Sam. 15:22; Amos 5:21-24). 
 
We may also deceive ourselves by assuming righteousness is determined by self-approval or by comparing self with others. The Judaizing teachers "knew of only one standard of measurement and comparison great and exalted enough to apply to themselves, and that was themselves" (Lenski- II Cor. 10:12). We dare not measure ourselves by ourselves, for as Prov. 21:2 states, "Every way of man is right in his own eyes". Equally deceiving is the reasoning that we are righteous because we are "not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers" (Lk. 18:11). Many will be surprised in judgment when they learn that God's righteousness is determined by comparing each man's obedience, or lack of obedience, to God's word (John 12:48). 
 
Finally, we may deem ourselves righteous because we are affiliated with a certain group or party. As the scribes and Pharisees based their righteousness on being a descendant of Abraham — many today feel justified because they are of a certain religious body. Their group's conclusions become the equivalent of truth — and a fatal switch has been made from God's standard to man's standard. We must remember that the church (those righteous in God's eyes) is composed of individuals who have responded to God’s will. We should note that these righteous individuals will be drawn together, but by something deeper than the name on the building or "party" acceptance. 
 
Righteousness involves more than external works, self-approval, or church affiliation — it is attainable only as man submits his will to God's will in all things. 
 
Great thoughts Kevan, and an excellent warning to all of us today as well. Any standard of being right or innocent, free of guilt, that does not start and end with God is, well, not right. We must not rely on false standards of righteousness if we don’t want to hear the echo of Amos when God rejects us as unrighteous on judgment day.

“Righteous” is one of those words that jars us when heard outside of a religious context. But, since the word refers to being declared right, or “free of guilt”, it is occasionally used in a TV show or movie by someone falsely accused of a crime seeking to be found, and openly declared, innocent, or “righteous.” While it has a religious connection, the word in and of itself is not a religious word. So we shouldn’t be surprised to hear it used in other settings.

However, we should be jarred to our very soul when we hear it used to describe religious actions and beliefs that are contrary to the will of God.  And it needs to be even more jarring if we find ourselves using it to describe our own religious activities that are not God approved. We don’t want to wait for an Amos to come declare how God “hates” and “rejects” our religious activities because they (and we) are not righteous (Amos 5:21-27).

Today’s Throwback Thursday edition of Morning Minutes in the Bible on An American Missio

Righteousness Of God Amos 5:21-27

Most Americans are familiar with “Let Justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 1963 “I Have A Dream” speech. While a great place to remember it from, we should realize it was one of Dr. King’s favorite quotes. It would be impossible to count the number of times he made the statement in sermons and speeches beginning as early as 1955, if not earlier, and continuing until his murder in 1968. Considering his effort to end the injustice of legalized segregation here in America it was an appropriate application of the statement, even though it did not originate with Dr. King. 
 
The quote comes from the OT prophet Amos in the middle of a text condemning the nation of Israel for living a lie. Like America, Israel was a prosperous nation. However, Israel’s prosperity was stained by their active mistreatment of the poor and needy. Even those who were not actively engaged in the mistreatment but benefited from it were guilty of indifference and subject to the same condemnation and coming judgment. That’s why Amos was an unrelenting prophet of gloom and doom. He even rebuked those Israelites who called for a day of judgment because it would be “darkness instead of light, even gloom with no brightness in it” (Amos 5:21). 
 
He then rebuked the religiously active Israelites. Like America, they were busily “worshipping” God with their festivals, assemblies and sacrifices, but their religion was hollow. No amount of “worship” could hide the reality of their disdain for God, which is why God said things like, “I hate” and “I reject” and “I do not delight” and “I will not accept” their religious services (Amos 5:21-23). Not only was their faith a mockery of the greatest command, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind”, it was also a mockery of the second greatest command, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:36-40). 
 
As Jesus said when quoting Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18, “On these two commands depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” Amos understood that, which is why he finished his rebuke of their religiosity with “But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5:24). 
 
Unlike Israel, America is not God’s chosen nation. Despite the claims of many, it is not a Christian nation. However, like Israel, this nation will be brought down because of pervasive false religion and injustice. Our only hope for this nation is that there are enough righteously religious people who uphold justice to turn away His wrath. But that requires practicing the two greatest commands. And that’s a do, or do not choice. Which is it for you?

Most Americans are familiar with “Let Justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 1963 “I Have A Dream” speech. While a great place to remember it from, we should realize it was one of Dr. King’s favorite quotes. It would be impossible to count the number of times he made the statement in sermons and speeches beginning as early as 1955, if not earlier, and continuing until his murder in 1968. Considering his effort to end the injustice of legalized segregation here in America it was an appropriate application of the statement, even though it did not originate with Dr. King.

The quote comes from the OT prophet Amos in the middle of a text condemning the nation of Israel for living a lie. Like America, Israel was a prosperous nation. However, Israel’s prosperity was stained by their active mistreatment of the poor and needy. Even those who were not actively engaged in the mistreatment but benefited from it were guilty o

Religious And Just? Amos 5:24

“Christianity is dead in Europe, and America isn’t far behind!” I drew that conclusion after three opportunities to visit the UK, France and Italy, and then Germany and Switzerland. Granted, each trip was connected to a college tour and focused on cultural history so included lots of old church buildings and monuments to the past. So I must admit, my view was somewhat skewed. However, despite being rebuked recently for making such a broad and bold declaration, I stand by it today. What passes for Christianity in Europe has become so ingrained with cultural accumulations that it is basically a decaying structure that fewer and fewer people go to see for anything except its history. The same process is unfolding here in America. FYI – doing my tiny part to slow the decay here is the main reason this is called An American Missionary. That may sound pretentious, but it isn’t. I know my part is tiny, but it’s mine to do, and I will do it to the best of my ability. 
 
But this process isn’t new. It’s as old as mankind, ever since Adam and Eve introduced death (physical and spiritual) by rebelling against God in the garden. It continued with their son Cain who refused to worship God by faith (he did it his way instead of God’s) and will continue until God brings this world to an end. 
 
Morning Minutes in the Bible on An American Missionary has been studying the OT prophet Amos who was declaring God’s judgment on the nation of Israel because their faith was dead. Oh, they were very religious people, (just like America), but their religious activity was not according to God’s will and was heaping up judgment instead of glory. After once again calling on Israel to “Seek Me, that you may live” (Amos 5:1-15) the Lord spoke of the misery and suffering the nation would endure and the foolishness of their call for God’s judgment. It was coming, but would end with them in exile for their sin (Amos 5:16-27). 
 
Everywhere they turned calamity and injury would occur because the “day of the Lord” they were calling for would be darkness and gloom – for them instead of the light and bright day they wanted (Amos 5:16-20). Then God rebuked their religious fervor. “I hate, I reject your festivals, nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; and I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings…I will not even listen to the sound of your harps” (Amos 5:21-23). It wasn’t new. Even their worship in the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land was corrupted (Amos 5:25-26). 
 
God ended with a heart breaking conclusion. 
“Therefore, I will make you go into exile beyond Damascus” (Amos 5:27). 
 
Dare we ask God if this is how He feels about our religious festivals and assemblies today here in America? We should dare, because we probably would be shocked at the answer. But at least we would have time to repent and return to Him and live. Thankfully, true Christianity isn’t dead. Scattered across America and the world God’s people remain faithful to Him. But does that include you and me?

“Christianity is dead in Europe, and America isn’t far behind!” I drew that conclusion after three opportunities to visit the UK, France and Italy, and then Germany and Switzerland. Granted, each trip was connected to a college tour and focused on cultural history so included lots of old church buildings and monuments to the past. So I must admit, my view was somewhat skewed. However, despite being rebuked recently for making such a broad and bold declaration, I stand by it today. What passes for Christianity in Europe has become so ingrained with cultural accumulations that it is basically a decaying structure that fewer and fewer people go to see for anything except its history. The same process is unfolding here in America. FYI – doing my tiny part to slow the decay here is the main reason this is called An American Missionary. That may sound pretentious, but it isn’t. I know my part is tiny, but it’s mine to do, and I will do it to the best of my ability.

But this process isn’t ne

A Dead Condemned Faith! Amos 5:16-27

“A handful won’t hurt!” As a night owl by nature, late night snacks are a powerful temptation. All too often I believe the lie about “a handful.” As if! While throwing away the empty bag is a silent monument to my lack of self-control, the almost empty bag of chips carefully clipped and put back in the cabinet is an openly disgraceful declaration. It is a monument to my failure, along with the bulging belly I lament the next morning. 
 
While eating more than a handful is lamentable, there are much worse indulgings in life that deserve monuments to remind us of the consequences of failures. We’ve been discussing one such indulging in Amos 4 where God declared judgment on the women of Samaria for their failure to care for the poor and needy. In chapter 5 He declared a dirge to lament Israel’s fall. The nation would fall and not rise again. Its people would be reduced to a mere pittance of their former number (Amos 5:1-3). Samaria and Israel stand as a monument to man’s failure to seek God. Today’s Throwback Thursday edition of Morning Minutes in the Bible on An American Missionary looks back at some of those: 
 
Monument To Masses by Jim Everett. From PLAIN TALK Magazine, September 1971. 
 
In the annals of history are recorded the infamous deeds of the masses. A monument should be erected to mark their works. An eternal epitaph should be chiseled to describe their deeds that when men are inclined to garnish the tombstone the words should warn as do the sun-bleached bones beside the poisoned waterhole. 
 
Eight righteous souls loved and served the Lord amongst the multitudes whose “every imagination of the thoughts of their hearts were only evil continually.” A preacher proclaimed God’s righteousness, but to no avail. There! There beneath the mire we see the mass of human flesh. With muddy finger inscribe for all to see fallen man is lower than the beasts of the field. 
 
And a righteous man’s soul was vexed daily as men burned in their lust for men. We see a bargain made with God to spare the cities, but sin is heaped upon sin. With the stench of burning human flesh in our nostrils we gingerly lift a smoldering, charred stick from amongst the ashes and ashamedly write, “There were not even ten righteous souls here.” 
 
A leader temporarily departs and the mob which has murmured and complained against God clamors for gods which shall go before them. Submission to the masses means that a golden calf is born. Swords flash and blood is shed. Later, 23,000 died, and eventually only two of the original ones over the age of twenty enter into the promised land of rest. Their epitaph must be written with blood-stained sword in hand — Rebellion, murmuring, idolatry, fornication, and unbelief. 
 
Religious multitudes who shouted “Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest,” later cried, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Blood seeps from his wounds and an agonizing cry is wrenched from his lips — “’Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’, that is to say, ‘My God, My God why hast thou forsaken me?’” Will they not spare him? But with nail in hand we sadly write — Murderers! 
 
But this righteous one is raised from the dead so that repentance and remission of sins might he preached in his name. Surely the multitudes will believe and obey now. But apostles are beaten and told not to preach in his name. And when a preacher speaks plainly of their uncircumcised in heart and ears condition, they gnash on him with their teeth and beat his defenseless body to death. Mark it well with stone chisel —“As your fathers did, so do ye.” 
 
Man thinks of following the crowd and doing because others do it, but Jesus said. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at: Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Here lie the masses beneath the epitaph of murmuring, immorality, idolatry, hate and murder, which have always characterized public opinion. We must not live as they lived; we dare not die as they died. 
 
We can add the people of Samaria to Jim’s list of monuments to the masses. Disobedience leads inevitably to destruction. Thousands of years later are we trying to live as if a handful of sins won’t hurt? We all leave monuments. What will be the monument to your life? Will it be one of disobedient failure or one of obedient faith?

“A handful won’t hurt!” As a night owl by nature, late night snacks are a powerful temptation. All too often I believe the lie about “a handful.” As if! While throwing away the empty bag is a silent monument to my lack of self-control, the almost empty bag of chips carefully clipped and put back in the cabinet is an openly disgraceful declaration. It is a monument to my failure, along with the bulging belly I lament the next morning.

While eating more than a handful is lamentable, there are much worse indulgings in life that deserve monuments to remind us of the consequences of failures. We’ve been discussing one such indulging in Amos 4 where God declared judgment on the women of Samaria for their failure to care for the poor and needy. In chapter 5 He declared a dirge to lament Israel’s fall. The nation would fall and not rise again. Its people would be reduced to a mere pittance of their former number (Amos 5:1-3). Samaria and Israel stand as a monument to man’s failure to seek God

A Monument To Samaria Amos 5:1-3

The first rule of mule training is getting its attention. That’s why one famous mule trainer was known for whacking a new mule over the head with a two by four by way of introduction. It may seem harsh, or cruel even, but only to those who’ve never been around mules and don’t understand how stubborn and unresponsive they are until they understand the consequence of not paying attention. The farther we get away from an agrarian culture the less we understand mules even though we still say things like “he’s as stubborn as a mule.” 
 
In a similar way, as American culture has changed from agrarian to technological we’ve come to disdain the idea of God having the right to “get our attention.” When people’s success and even survival depends on forces outside their control they learn to turn to the One who controls nature. When everything is handed to us instantly online and in an app we begin to believe we’re in control and turn away from a God we believe unnecessary. 
 
Morning Minutes in the Bible on An American Missionary has been looking at the Old Testament book of Amos as he condemned the wealthy women of Samaria for their active cruelty toward the poor and needy in an effort to get their attention with a warning of coming captivity (Amos 4:1-3). But they were stubborn as mules. In a perverse twist of reality they thought they had God’s attention with their regular worship (Amos 4:4-5). And they did, except it was the wrong kind of attention because their worship was unacceptable. Instead of obedience it was disobedience, because it was in defiance of God’s will. 
 
So God tried to get their attention through calamity after calamity but they would not listen. In five statements Amos reminded them of God’s effort to call them back to Him. Five times he ended the statement with this haunting phrase: 
 
“’Yet you have not returned to Me!’ declares the Lord” (Amos 4:6-11). 
 
Then in verses 12 and 13 we find yet another attempt to get the whole nation’s attention as Amos told them of more judgment to come from “the Lord God of Hosts. Listen to v 12. 
 
“Therefore thus I will do to you O Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel.” 
 
While America has never been a “Christian nation”, despite its philosophical roots and claims, our culture has devolved as it has become more blatantly anti-God. In one sense we’ve merely swapped one form of acceptable (?) sin for another form of acceptable (?) sin. One form of mistreatment of others for another. The main difference is our culture now gives even less lip service to God than it did before. We may have stopped offering unacceptable worship, but that doesn’t make us acceptable to God. Are we any more prepared to meet our God than Israel of old? Does God have your attention?

The first rule of mule training is getting its attention. That’s why one famous mule trainer was known for whacking a new mule over the head with a two by four by way of introduction. It may seem harsh, or cruel even, but only to those who’ve never been around mules and don’t understand how stubborn and unresponsive they are until they understand the consequence of not paying attention. The farther we get away from an agrarian culture the less we understand mules even though we still say things like “he’s as stubborn as a mule.”

In a similar way, as American culture has changed from agrarian to technological we’ve come to disdain the idea of God having the right to “get our attention.” When people’s success and even survival depends on forces outside their control they learn to turn to the One who controls nature. When everything is handed to us instantly online and in an app we begin to believe we’re in control and turn away from a God we believe unnecessary.

Morning Minutes in the 

Does God Have Your Attention? Amos 4:1-13

“You gotta’ set the hook!” Anyone who ever goes fishing learns at the outset that catching a fish requires more than just getting it to swallow the bait. It requires a good yank on the line to get the barb of the hook set in the fish’s mouth so you can reel it in. For sport fishermen it’s often the fun part of the challenge. For the fish it can be a life or death struggle. Once the hook’s properly set the fish is caught and on its way to the frying pan, unless the line breaks or the fisherman is just there for the challenge and lets it go. 
 
Today’s Morning Minutes in the Bible on An American Missionary returns to the Old Testament prophet Amos with a head spinning switch of metaphors. Previously we noted how he called the women of Samaria “fat cows” because of how they treated the poor and needy (Amos 4:1). Apparently their mistreatment of others was so bad that God went way past calling them insulting, derogatory names to warning about the coming judgment for their sins. His warning begins in Amos 4:2. Listen to His words. 
 
“The Lord God has sworn by His holiness, ‘Behold the days are coming upon you when they will take you away with meat hooks, and the last of you with fish hooks’” 
 
Wow, talk about jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire. Well, in this case to carry the analogy, out of their ivory houses into the frying pan. Like animals hung on a hook to be butchered or fish caught on a hook to be carried away, the ungodly uncaring women of Samaria were going to be dragged away into captivity. Dragged away. Literally. In a few years the Assyrians would come, break down the city walls, and drag them and their children out with hooks to disappear into oblivion (Amos 4:3). History tells us (and shows us with drawings) how Assyria would hook captives through the lip or nose, or other tender parts of the body to drag away into short brutal lives as slaves those who weren’t lucky enough to die in the battle. 
 
Since this was written about 20 years before the actual fall of Samaria they had plenty of time to repent and turn to God for divine rescue. The fact that they didn’t is clear from the total destruction of Samaria by the Assyrians in 722 BC. 
 
This should serve as a warning to us as well. Just because Jesus demonstrated the mercy of God by dying on the cross for us doesn’t mean we can live like fat cows without any concern for the poor and needy. We may not be dragged away like fish on hooks, but that doesn’t mean we can escape judgment. We don’t know how long we have so don’t wait until it’s too late. Repent and turn to God now while there is time and opportunity.

“You gotta’ set the hook!” Anyone who ever goes fishing learns at the outset that catching a fish requires more than just getting it to swallow the bait. It requires a good yank on the line to get the barb of the hook set in the fish’s mouth so you can reel it in. For sport fishermen it’s often the fun part of the challenge. For the fish it can be a life or death struggle. Once the hook’s properly set the fish is caught and on its way to the frying pan, unless the line breaks or the fisherman is just there for the challenge and lets it go.

Today’s Morning Minutes in the Bible on An American Missionary returns to the Old Testament prophet Amos with a head spinning switch of metaphors. Previously we noted how he called the women of Samaria “fat cows” because of how they treated the poor and needy (Amos 4:1). Apparently their mistreatment of others was so bad that God went way past calling them insulting, derogatory names to warning about the coming judgment for their sins. His warning b

Hooked Like Helpless Fish! Amos 4:2-3

Security guards at the gate are an indicator of a neighborhood’s or country club’s sense of insecurity or exclusivity. If it’s a sprawling neighborhood with mansions and a golf course it’s a little bit of both. Because of their wealth and possessions the members feel insecure with their own personal security alarm systems and prefer the added layer of security provided by a gate and a guard. It also indicates a tacit or blatant sense of superiority. Non-members aren’t wanted and are seen as intrusions on the exclusivity of a members and guests only society. 
 
But we don’t need to live in a gated and guarded community to be insecure or exclusive. 
 
As noted in yesterday’s introduction to Psalm 24, God has an exclusive community (the church) but it doesn’t have a security guard at the gate keeping people out. Rather it has the Lord standing at the door begging insecure and exclusive people to fire their own personal security guard, their dishonest and deceitful heart, and join Him. Insecurity and exclusivity resides in every human heart and has to be surrendered to God to enter His society. And that is the core of all our Sunday’s Struggles. 
 
After learning only the clean, pure, and honest heart can enter God’s Heavenly home (Psalm 24:3-4) we can give up knowing that ain’t us (Luke 5:8), or arrogantly pretend it is and try to enter, only to find God Himself denying entry if we refused His offer of entrance (Matthew 7:23). Psalm 24 gives hope to those who know their own sinfulness. Verses 5 & 6 declare the good heart will “receive a blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face.” 
 
One of the most despicable lies told today is the doctrine of once saved always saved. It shuts people outside the gate to God’s home because they are convinced they can be His even while living with unclean hands and an impure heart. They think they can lie, cheat, and steal, or sleep around, to their deceitful hearts content because sometime in the distant past they confessed or with their dying breath profess Jesus as Lord. Yet their whole life was spent seeking their own pleasures instead of God’s face. God is locked out of those hearts by the security guard they hired – their own sinful desires and their true master, Satan (John 8:44). The sinner must fire his or her current security guard and seek God’s face to get into His house! Will you?

Security guards at the gate are an indicator of a neighborhood’s or country club’s sense of insecurity or exclusivity. If it’s a sprawling neighborhood with mansions and a golf course it’s a little bit of both. Because of their wealth and possessions the members feel insecure with their own personal security alarm systems and prefer the added layer of security provided by a gate and a guard. It also indicates a tacit or blatant sense of superiority. Non-members aren’t wanted and are seen as intrusions on the exclusivity of a members and guests only society.

But we don’t need to live in a gated and guarded community to be insecure or exclusive. 

As noted in yesterday’s introduction to Psalm 24, God has an exclusive community (the church) but it doesn’t have a security guard at the gate keeping people out. Rather it has the Lord standing at the door begging insecure and exclusive people to fire their own personal security guard, their dishonest and deceitful heart, and join Him. Insecu

Entering God’s Exclusive Community – Psalm 24:5-6

Country clubs and secret societies are known for their exclusivity. Usually, only the “right” kind of people are allowed to join. While some country clubs are elitist and want only the cream of society as members, for most it’s whoever can afford the fees. But even those won’t let anyone join who can’t pay the entry fees. For secret societies, well since I’ve never joined one, the requirements for admission remain hidden from me. 
 
There’s one society that is the most exclusive of all but it’s neither a country club for the elite who are better than everyone else nor a secret society that keeps its rules and reasons for existence hidden. It’s the Heavenly Society described in Psalm 24. This society is exclusive because it only allows the “right” kind of people. However, it’s not an elitist country club since the invitation is extended to everyone, even the dregs of humanity, and the entrance fee is paid by the owner. Nor is it a secret society since the members are supposed to tell everyone everything about it. 
 
Well who is the owner of this exclusive club? 
 
“The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it. For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.” Psalm 24:1-2 
 
Ah, the owner is merely the Creator Himself. The eternal self-existent one who is unique and stands alone outside His creation. Which means we’re already members of his created family. Since humanity dwells on the earth as part of His creation then we already are His. Remember verse one says the earth is His “and all it contains.” That means you and I belong to Him. 
 
However, entrance into His presence requires more than mere membership in the human family. Who are the members of His exclusive Heavenly club? 
 
“Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully.” Psalm 24:3-4 
Uh oh! Honest people look at those requirements and know they don’t belong. Maybe this is just like those super elitist clubs and secret societies where you and I would never be allowed to join! Well, if today’s Saturdays in the Psalms leaves you in despair there’s still hope. To be continued…

Country clubs and secret societies are known for their exclusivity. Usually, only the “right” kind of people are allowed to join. While some country clubs are elitist and want only the cream of society as members, for most it’s whoever can afford the fees. But even those won’t let anyone join who can’t pay the entry fees. For secret societies, well since I’ve never joined one, the requirements for admission remain hidden from me.

There’s one society that is the most exclusive of all but it’s neither a country club for the elite who are better than everyone else nor a secret society that keeps its rules and reasons for existence hidden. It’s the Heavenly Society described in Psalm 24. This society is exclusive because it only allows the “right” kind of people. However, it’s not an elitist country club since the invitation is extended to everyone, even the dregs of humanity, and the entrance fee is paid by the owner. Nor is it a secret society since the members are supposed to tell ever

God’s Exclusive Club Psalm 24:1-4

“What’s the worst that can happen?” is a really good question. It’s a shame we seldom ask it, and almost never actually think it through. Think of how many tragedies would never have happened if people had actually thought about and honestly discussed the “worst that can happen” before saying or doing something. 
 
While it’s a great question for the daily activities of life, it’s an even better question for the religious activities of life. Earthly consequences can be bad, but Heavenly consequences will be eternal. The heart that seeks God on its own terms has not truly considered “the worst that can happen” because it thinks it already knows and has dismissed any bad consequences to their “service” (?) to the Lord. When Amos walked into Bethel (Israel’s center of worship) he encountered people who were serving (?) the Lord – according to their own rules instead of His. God sent Amos to tell them the worst that could happen, and was going to happen to them – internal collapse and external destruction (Amos 3:9-15). 
 
Today’s Throwback Thursday edition of Morning Minutes in the Bible on An American Missionary looks back several decades to how this tragedy unfolds in our religious world today. From PLAIN TALK Magazine, May 1969. 
 
The Greatest Tragedy 
Joe Fitch 
 
Some tragedies surpass others. The death of an only son is a tragedy of tragedies, yet it is not the greatest tragedy. I remember sitting with parents whose son shipwrecked his faith and became an atheist. In tears his mother said, “I could have buried him easier.” I did not doubt it. I could have found more words of comfort at a grave than in such circumstances. 
 
Look at the greater tragedy — the lost soul. There is nothing but a certain fearful looking for of judgement and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. (Heb. 10:27) It means to be banished from Gods presence (2 Thes. 1:7) to a demon’s hell. Man’s most terrible experience describes the anguish. Not one pleasant thing is found there — not even a drop of water for a parched tongue. The degraded and outcasts, the heartless and oppressors, the arrogant and hypocrites are its inhabitants. And there is no escape — no end — no relief. Such thoughts stagger the imagination, but a lost man is NOT the greatest tragedy! 
 
The greatest tragedy is to be lost and content. A man who knows he is lost and is disturbed over his prospects will not stay lost. Jesus died for him. Teach him the truth and such a man will obey. Angels and men will rejoice. It is far different with the lost man who is satisfied. 
 
“There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Prov.16:25) A man feels he is right — is satisfied with his religion — as he contentedly walks to his own destruction. 
 
“For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace. peace: when there is no peace.” (Jer. 8:11) It is healing like giving a diseased man some tranquilizers and telling him he is fine. He needs to know his condition so he can seek help. 
 
Some brethren can’t understand our concern for them, — after all, they are not worried. Come back we cry, but he echoes Judah’s words, “Wherein shall we return?” (Mal. 3: 7) “Preacher, what are you talking about? Return? We haven’t been anywhere”. He is perfectly satisfied to be half-hearted though it nauseates the Lord. (Rev. 3:15—) View the greatest tragedy — lost and content. 
 
Others know the truth, know their life is wicked, know the blessings of faithfulness and the wages of sin. What can you say? He knows your pleas before you say them; he has voiced them himself in times past. He tasted the good things and deliberately embraces the world. It is impossible to renew him to repentance (Heb. 6:1) — the greatest tragedy. 
 
I reason with my religious neighbors; they are insulted. “You think I am lost.” No matter what I think, are you lost? Religious folk can be lost and feel safe (Mt. 7:21—). You may be an admirable person — even a zealous church worker, and yet be lost. Such commendable traits make the tragedy of your being lost the more lamentable. What a shame you should be content to be less than a Christian — that is the greatest tragedy. 
 
Well today, some 40+ years later, the problem has only gotten more tragic. If we won’t listen to Joe how much longer before we hear from Amos?

“What’s the worst that can happen?” is a really good question. It’s a shame we seldom ask it, and almost never actually think it through. Think of how many tragedies would never have happened if people had actually thought about and honestly discussed the “worst that can happen” before saying or doing something.

While it’s a great question for the daily activities of life, it’s an even better question for the religious activities of life. Earthly consequences can be bad, but Heavenly consequences will be eternal. The heart that seeks God on its own terms has not truly considered “the worst that can happen” because it thinks it already knows and has dismissed any bad consequences to their “service” (?) to the Lord. When Amos walked into Bethel (Israel’s center of worship) he encountered people who were serving (?) the Lord – according to their own rules instead of His. God sent Amos to tell them the worst that could happen, and was going to happen to them – internal collapse and extern

The Greatest Tragedy – Amos 3:9-15

Did I lock the door to the car/house? Did I turn off the stove/iron? Where did I leave my glasses/keys/phone? All of us have asked ourselves one of those questions or one like them at some point in our lives. Our memories are subject to failure, our minds get distracted. It’s part of life and nothing worthy of condemnation. But sometimes we forget other important things like birthdays and anniversaries, perhaps not worthy of condemnation, but the more important they are the harder they are to excuse. 
 
But forgetting something like honoring the God who saved us is inexcusable. And that’s exactly what Israel did, which is why God sent Amos to announce His judgment on them. After pointing out how they treated people like paperclips (valueless and disposable – Amos 2:6-8) he turned to history to remind them of what they had forgotten. 
 
God removed the Amorites who held the land before Israel arrived. They were a mighty and well-established people, but God removed them – root and fruit (Amos 2:9). God brought them out of slavery in Egypt, led them through the wilderness, and then brought them into the Promised Land (2:10). He sent them prophets and set apart people to serve him, but the nation silenced the prophets and corrupted the dedicated ones (2:11-12). 
 
Amos came to tell them God has had enough of their forgetfulness. He was weighed down from caring for them (2:13). As a result He was taking away all the things they trusted in instead of Him. Nothing they had previously relied on will help. Speed and strength will fail. The horse and arrow won’t save. The mightiest warriors will drop everything and flee for their lives. Amos 2:14-16. All because they forgot their God. 
 
Today’s Morning Minutes in the Bible on An American Missionary asks the question: What would Amos say to you and me? Not what would he say to those people down the street or around the corner, but to us? Have we forgotten our God and begun to rely on our health, jobs, possessions, bank accounts, getting the right (?) people elected to political office, the government itself, or even our church? Hopefully not, because eventually they will all fail and where will we be then?

Did I lock the door to the car/house? Did I turn off the stove/iron? Where did I leave my glasses/keys/phone? All of us have asked ourselves one of those questions or one like them at some point in our lives. Our memories are subject to failure, our minds get distracted. It’s part of life and nothing worthy of condemnation. But sometimes we forget other important things like birthdays and anniversaries, perhaps not worthy of condemnation, but the more important they are the harder they are to excuse.

But forgetting something like honoring the God who saved us is inexcusable. And that’s exactly what Israel did, which is why God sent Amos to announce His judgment on them. After pointing out how they treated people like paperclips (valueless and disposable – Amos 2:6-8) he turned to history to remind them of what they had forgotten.

God removed the Amorites who held the land before Israel arrived. They were a mighty and well-established people, but God removed them – root and fruit (Amo

Forgetting Our God Amos 2:9-16

Paper clips. Have you ever contemplated the value and importance of paper clips? Think about them. They are such versatile tools in life. They easily fulfil their primary role of holding (clipping) paper together so our important reports don’t get out of order. But they have so many other uses limited only by our imaginations. They make great chains when we’re bored (not enough important reports to write?). They can be used to pick the lock on your desk when you forget where you left the key. They can be used for all kinds of crafts to keep children occupied. Yes, they are incredibly valuable. 
 
Well, not really. They’re just cheap metal clips that can be used for multiple purposes but ultimately have no real individual value. Unlike people. Yet far too often people are mistaken for paper clips. Oh, not that anyone thinks a person is an actual paper clip. Rather, for far too many people other human beings are no more important or valuable than a paper clip. Seven of the eight condemnations in Amos 1:3-2:8 are for treating human beings as if they were like paperclips, things to be used, abused, and thrown away when worn out. 
 
While such contemptuous mistreatment of human beings by ungodly people is condemned by God, it’s not surprising to see. However, when we see it among those who are, or at least once were, God’s people it’s just plain despicable. When Amos walked into Bethel and began preaching and got to their sins he hit them right between the eyes. God was going to punish them: 
 
“Because they sell the righteous for money and the needy for a pair of sandals. These who pant after the very dust of the earth on the head of the helpless also turn aside the way of the humble;” (Amos 2:6-7a). 
 
He went on to add their profane violation of women, the poor, and the victims of their injustice to the list of reasons for God’s judgment (Amos 2:7b-8). Only people who genuinely see others as no more important or valuable than a paper clip can be so callously cruel. 
 
Yet are we really any better? The examples of humanity’s cruelty fill the news, but rather than pick through those, let’s cut to the quick. How are we doing on sharing the gospel with a lost and dying world, including our religious friends who profane God’s holy name in their unholy worship? Do we not say anything because we don’t think they’ll listen, or because we don’t want to offend our friends? If it’s the latter then we’ve forgotten – people aren’t paper clips. By the way, you’re more valuable than a paper clip so if you haven’t been baptized into Jesus for the remission of sins then this may offend you, but you’re worship is in vain and offensive to God.

Paper clips. Have you ever contemplated the value and importance of paper clips? Think about them. They are such versatile tools in life. They easily fulfil their primary role of holding (clipping) paper together so our important reports don’t get out of order. But they have so many other uses limited only by our imaginations. They make great chains when we’re bored (not enough important reports to write?). They can be used to pick the lock on your desk when you forget where you left the key. They can be used for all kinds of crafts to keep children occupied. Yes, they are incredibly valuable.

Well, not really. They’re just cheap metal clips that can be used for multiple purposes but ultimately have no real individual value. Unlike people. Yet far too often people are mistaken for paper clips. Oh, not that anyone thinks a person is an actual paper clip. Rather, for far too many people other human beings are no more important or valuable than a paper clip. Seven of the eight condemnati

People: More Than Paper Clips Amos 2:6-8

Here we go round the mulberry bush, 
The mulberry bush, 
The mulberry bush. 
Here we go round the mulberry bush 
Early in the morning. 
 
This old English nursery rhyme has stood the test of time because it’s an excellent teaching tool for little kids. Wise parents sing it to their children in all kinds of situations to teach them how to do simple tasks, like pick up toys, tie their shoes, button their shirt, etc. “This is the way we pick up our toys, tie our shoes, button our shirt, etc.” And the only limitation is our imagination. 
 
Since God tells us we need to become like little children it’s fitting He used nursery rhyme repetition to teach us simple tasks like listening to and obeying His word. 
 
We’ve begun looking at God’s OT prophet Amos who was sent to Israel during the days of King Jeroboam II. As previously noted, the years between 770 BC and 750 BC were two decades of great prosperity for both Israel and Judah (who had a decent King named Uzziah in Jerusalem). Their enemies were weak and the kings had worked hard to restore the nations physically (2 Kings 14:23-15:7; 2 Chronicles 26). But, while Uzziah sought the Lord (2 Chronicles 26:5), Jeroboam couldn’t care less about Jehovah, despite having Jonah explain their prosperity was from God (2 Kings 14:25-27). 
 
One day in the middle of all that prosperity Amos, an ignorant nobody cowhand from Judah, walked into Israel’s religious center, the city of Bethel, and began speaking. “Here we go round the mulberry bush.” Actually he began his nursery rhyme with “Thus says the Lord, for three transgressions of Damascus and for four I will not revoke its punishment” (Amos 1:3). Then he repeated it seven more times as he circled around Israel, naming all its enemies, Syria, Philistia, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab, and even Judah, before getting to Israel itself (Amos 1:3-2:6). 
 
Each nation was condemned for mistreating God’s people. Round and round He went in condemnation because each nation had gone round and round the oppression and slavery bush. The only exception was Judah whom He condemned for rejecting His law (Amos 2:4). When He got to Israel it was back around the oppression bush and the list of offenses is, well, offensive (Amos 2:6-8). 
 
If America was on that list would it be just as guilty as the other eight nations? Yeah, it would. But what if you and I were added to the list? Would we be condemned for mistreating others or rejecting God’s law? Or both?

Here we go round the mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush.
Here we go round the mulberry bush
Early in the morning.

This old English nursery rhyme has stood the test of time because it’s an excellent teaching tool for little kids. Wise parents sing it to their children in all kinds of situations to teach them how to do simple tasks, like pick up toys, tie their shoes, button their shirt, etc. “This is the way we pick up our toys, tie our shoes, button our shirt, etc.” And the only limitation is our imagination.

Since God tells us we need to become like little children it’s fitting He used nursery rhyme repetition to teach us simple tasks like listening to and obeying His word.

We’ve begun looking at God’s OT prophet Amos who was sent to Israel during the days of King Jeroboam II. As previously noted, the years between 770 BC and 750 BC were two decades of great prosperity for both Israel and Judah (who had a decent King named Uzziah in Jerusalem). Their enemies were w

Going Around The Sinful Bush Amos 1:3-2:6

Don’t you just hate playing hide and seek with that one kid; you know, the one kid who ruins the game for everyone else because he can hide so well it takes forever, and everyone else’s help, to find him? That’s when the game becomes boring and most kids go on to play something else. But when mom, dad, grandma, or grandpa play it’s still fun because they hide in plain sight. They know it’s about having fun with the kids instead of proving their skill at hiding. 
 
Since grown-ups know hide and seek is a child’s game why do so many think they can play it with God? Not that we should be surprised by our ability to fool ourselves into thinking we can hide from Him. After all, the Bible records one man’s efforts to hide from God in the book of Jonah. He was a prophet of God (2 Kings 14:25-27). That meant he was a man who received a measure of the Holy Spirit to speak God’s message, but then tried to play hide and seek with God because he did not like the message God gave him. 
 
Our previous Morning Minutes in the Bible on An American Missionary left Jonah hiding from “the presence of God” in the hold of a ship headed west to Tarshish (Jonah 1:3). We’re not told that he thought God was limited to one place like the pagans of his day, but, even if he did, he should have known better. He clearly understood the power and reach of God’s compassion, and by extension His wrath (Jonah 4:2). Regardless of his intent there was no hiding from “the presence of God” because He “found” Jonah out on the Mediterranean Sea. 
 
“The Lord hurled a great wind on the sea and there was a great storm on the sea so that the ship was about to break up.” Jonah 4:4 
 
Don’t you just love that word “hurled”? While some versions say sent, hurled is a much better translation because it carries the intent of the sentence. God threw this wind at the sea with great force to show Jonah just who was looking for him. It was going to take a serious demonstration of God’s power to get Jonah’s attention. But we’ll save that for later. 
 
Right now let’s think about what God has done to try to get our attention. Forget about the trials and tribulations in life that shake us up. They have their value as a reminder that we live on a cursed earth, but let’s focus on the cross of Christ and the gift of God’s Son instead. These daily videos and other efforts to proclaim the message of God are a minor attempt to get us to quit playing hide and seek with God. He knows where you are. So, to paraphrase the game’s call, “Come out, come out, wherever you are. God sees you there!”

Don’t you just hate playing hide and seek with that one kid; you know, the one kid who ruins the game for everyone else because he can hide so well it takes forever, and everyone else’s help, to find him? That’s when the game becomes boring and most kids go on to play something else. But when mom, dad, grandma, or grandpa play it’s still fun because they hide in plain sight. They know it’s about having fun with the kids instead of proving their skill at hiding.

Since grown-ups know hide and seek is a child’s game why do so many think they can play it with God? Not that we should be surprised by our ability to fool ourselves into thinking we can hide from Him. After all, the Bible records one man’s efforts to hide from God in the book of Jonah. He was a prophet of God (2 Kings 14:25-27). That meant he was a man who received a measure of the Holy Spirit to speak God’s message, but then tried to play hide and seek with God because he did not like the message God gave him.

Our previous M

Jonah Played Hide and Seek With God Jonah 1:3-4

Restore or tear down and start over? Restoration shows on TV are among the few things fit to watch. The hosts who actually know how to restore a house and have the looks and personality for TV are few and fun to watch. Most focus on cosmetic changes, but a few take on projects requiring a massive, almost complete tear down and restart, that seeks to capture the original look though the end product contains little of the original house. 
 
Today’s Throwback Thursday edition of Morning Minutes in the Bible on An American Missionary begins in 2 Kings 14:23 with our introduction to King Jeroboam II of Israel. Despite being no less evil than the first Jeroboam (the rebel who established the breakaway nation 150 years earlier- 1 Kings 12) this king presided over the restoration of Israel during a time of relative peace granted by God (2 Kings 14:24-27). 
 
In a similar sense there is a great need for restoration of God’s people today. But who, how, when, and where are important questions. Do we find an existing church and make cosmetic changes, or do we tear down and start over from the ground up? Or, does true restoration start in the heart – yours and mine? 
 
Reaching back nearly 40 years to PLAIN TALK Magazine, January, 1983. 
 Restoration Concepts by David Smitherman 
 
The plea in religious circles to "restore" is an old one. The "restoration movement" of the Campbell and Stone era was not new. Others, correctly or otherwise, have felt a need to "restore," and concepts of restoration can be found in history as well as among us today. 
 
Joseph Smith sought a "restoration of the gospel." Based upon the false premise that the original gospel had been corrupted, (1 Nephi 13:32), he thought it was restored when he gave the Book of Mormon to men. 
 
Mormons also want to "restore the church" and thus they vainly seek to restore the priesthood, prophets, and apostolic office. 
 
These concepts of restoration are obviously based upon erroneous ideas and lead away from, rather than to, the truth. 
 
And there are also some among "us" today who would "restore." But when appeals are made to Campbell, Stone, the Declaration and Address, the "restoration brotherhood," and our "restoration heritage," one wonders if all some want to restore is the "Restoration Movement." Others talk in a careless way of "restoring the New Testament church" and "the proper name." 
 
But these concepts of restoration, if not carefully clarified, are as dangerous as the others. A restoration movement with Alexander Campbell at the center of it is no better than one with Joseph Smith as the focal point: one makes Campbellites, the other Mormons, and neither produces Christians. Those that seek a restoration of "the church" without an accurate concept of "church" have done us no favor either. And, "restorations" that are merely outward are of no benefit: simply changing the name we wear or the sign on the building does nothing to change the heart. 
 
And yet, true restoration is needed and can be had. It all depends. For one thing, the proper concept of restoration itself needs to be restored. We need to ask ourselves, "What needs to be restored and how do we go about it?" Ezra knew: "Ezra set his heart to seek the law of Jehovah, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances," (7:10). Restoring a proper regard in the hearts of men for God's will is the "what" and teaching is the "how." 
 
Then, restoration must begin with "us." Appeals to others to forsake traditions and creeds and to "do it the first century way" will fall on deaf ears if we are unwilling to do the same thing, (Rom. 2:1, 21). 
 
"Restore New Testament Christianity" — what a noble sentiment! Yet... if we better appreciated what is involved in this, I wonder if it would really be so attractive. 
 
Brethren, it just might mean that some drastic changes would have to take place in our thinking and practices if we did some true restoration. But, after all, isn't that what restoration is all about? 
 
Thank you David for excellent thoughts on restoration. Sadly Jeroboam II only restored Israel’s might and power without eliminating the idolatry and moral corruption that permeated the people’s hearts. As a result it was merely momentary. What about you and me? Are we seeking to restore our hearts to fellowship with God, or just tinkering around with a few cosmetic changes so the world will consider “buying” our religious house? Only one of those has eternal value.

Restore or tear down and start over? Restoration shows on TV are among the few things fit to watch. The hosts who actually know how to restore a house and have the looks and personality for TV are few and fun to watch. Most focus on cosmetic changes, but a few take on projects requiring a massive, almost complete tear down and restart, that seeks to capture the original look though the end product contains little of the original house.

Today’s Throwback Thursday edition of Morning Minutes in the Bible on An American Missionary begins in 2 Kings 14:23 with our introduction to King Jeroboam II of Israel. Despite being no less evil than the first Jeroboam (the rebel who established the breakaway nation 150 years earlier- 1 Kings 12) this king presided over the restoration of Israel during a time of relative peace granted by God (2 Kings 14:24-27).

In a similar sense there is a great need for restoration of God’s people today. But who, how, when, and where are important questions. Do we 

Restoring Israel 2 Kings 14:24-27

“Wish we could turn back time to the good old days 
When our momma sang us to sleep but now we're stressed out” 
 
“Stressed Out” is the first top ten song by the duo Twenty One Pilots. It’s a tribute to, and nostalgic longing for, the “good old days” of stress free childhood before growing up and facing the struggle of balancing competing responsibilities of debt, career and family. Their longing for those days, despite knowing they can’t go back to them, is well captured by the song. As a result it’s catchy and uplifting instead of whiny or preachy. 
 
We all know the emotional tug of nostalgia, as we look back on the “good old days”. It’s all over social media today as our economy and society are being strained and we’re all feeling a bit “stressed out.” But there’s a danger if it only lets us see through the lens of our own myopic view. As the song longs for the days when momma sang them to sleep it fails to realize that's when momma was probably living her “stressed out” days of balancing competing responsibilities. Though if they asked her what nostalgia tugs at her heart it’s likely those “stressed out” days when she sang her babies to sleep. 
 
Reading about the kings of Judah makes me wonder how often the singers of their days sang songs about “the good old days” when David was king, or at least back when they trusted God before choosing to go their own way. Joash had his “good old days” when he rebuilt the temple and served God, but then turned from God and was murdered by his servants (2 Kings 12:20). His son Amaziah returned to the “good old days” when God was honored but thirty years later turned from God and was also murdered (2 Kings 14:19). Both started with great hope and promise but gave in to temptation along the way. 
 
Most of us start life with great hope and promise but fail and fall somewhere along the way. When nostalgia creeps in and we begin longing for those “good old days” remember they weren’t good for everyone, and perhaps weren’t as good for us as we want to believe. And then stop wallowing in our current misery through comparing it to the past and create a new set of “good old days” by turning to Christ. Seek the Lord and submit to Him in complete, willing obedience. Determine that come what may, God doesn’t stress out so we’re not going to stress out either. Oh, that doesn’t mean our problems and this world’s troubles will miraculously disappear. They’ll still be here tomorrow, and, presumably, so will we. But instead of griping and complaining let’s be lights of hope pointing to the One who offers the best days that are yet to come. Long for the “good old days” that are waiting for those who trust Jesus.

“Wish we could turn back time to the good old days
When our momma sang us to sleep but now we're stressed out”

“Stressed Out” is the first top ten song by the duo Twenty One Pilots. It’s a tribute to, and nostalgic longing for, the “good old days” of stress free childhood before growing up and facing the struggle of balancing competing responsibilities of debt, career and family. Their longing for those days, despite knowing they can’t go back to them, is well captured by the song. As a result it’s catchy and uplifting instead of whiny or preachy.

We all know the emotional tug of nostalgia, as we look back on the “good old days”. It’s all over social media today as our economy and society are being strained and we’re all feeling a bit “stressed out.” But there’s a danger if it only lets us see through the lens of our own myopic view. As the song longs for the days when momma sang them to sleep it fails to realize that's when momma was probably living her “stressed out” days of balanc

Were The Good Old Days Good? 2 Kings 12:20; 14:19

Johnny Manziel, aka “Mr. Football” quickly reached the end of his pro-career at Cleveland. After being drafted by them in 2014 in the first round he was dumped after just two seasons. No, not due to an injury or diminished talent due to age. Nor, like another famous Cleveland star, was he leaving to “take his talents” somewhere else for more money. No, this was the end because his occasional flashes of brilliance on the field were overshadowed by his steady stupidity off the field. The rebellious spirit that occasionally slipped out while at Texas A&M was fully unleashed, and despite a few subsequent appearances in minor leagues, his career was over at the end of 2015. 
 
But, which is worse: wasting his talent or wasting his humanity? Far too many were more upset because of his departure from professional football than his continued collapse into abusive drunken behavior. After all, about the only way the NFL will dump anyone is if they go to jail for murder or there’s video of them beating up a woman. If he’s in jail he can’t play, and if he beats up women just make sure there’s no video. Yeah, I’m that cynical about the NFL and our culture. 
 
The Bible doesn’t record much about the reign of Jehu and Jehoahaz in Israel. While fairly lengthy (combined they matched the 40 years of Joash in Judah), and having started with a flash of brilliance in eliminating the evil house of Ahab, and the worship of Baal, they just couldn’t overcome their own rebellious spirits. Both father and son oversaw a diminished kingdom because they refused to get rid of the nation’s home grown idols. They refused to “depart from the sins of Jeroboam (Israel’s first king), which he made Israel sin” (2 Kings 10:31-33, 13:1-3). Like “Mr. Football” they lacked the discipline to root out the sin in their lives and that failure became their defining legacy. 
 
But let’s get real for a moment. Are we who consider ourselves disciples of Christ actually disciples of Christ, Christians that is? Are we men and women dedicated to serving God and willing to cut out the sins in our lives that separate us from Him? What hidden idols have we inherited from our parents or the culture around us that we will not remove? Are we living diminished lives because of a refusal to repent and surrender to God? Even if we seem outwardly successful, if we’re not obedient children of God, then were just wasted souls, diminished and damned for all eternity. But there’s still time for Mr. Football to restore his humanity, and I hope he does. And, there’s still time for you and me to remove the idols and stand before God in all His glory. How about it, can I help you come to Jesus before it’s too late.

Johnny Manziel, aka “Mr. Football” quickly reached the end of his pro-career at Cleveland. After being drafted by them in 2014 in the first round he was dumped after just two seasons. No, not due to an injury or diminished talent due to age. Nor, like another famous Cleveland star, was he leaving to “take his talents” somewhere else for more money. No, this was the end because his occasional flashes of brilliance on the field were overshadowed by his steady stupidity off the field. The rebellious spirit that occasionally slipped out while at Texas A&M was fully unleashed, and despite a few subsequent appearances in minor leagues, his career was over at the end of 2015.

But, which is worse: wasting his talent or wasting his humanity? Far too many were more upset because of his departure from professional football than his continued collapse into abusive drunken behavior. After all, about the only way the NFL will dump anyone is if they go to jail for murder or there’s video of them bea

Jehu & Jehoahaz: Diminished Lives 2 Kings 10:31-33; 13:1-3

Not since Brad dumped Jennifer for Angelina has a marital split been as public as this year’s exposure of the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard break up shown to the world in a news consuming court room drama. Brad and Angelina admitted they “fell in love” while he was still married to Jennifer. And in a back stabbing interview Brad blamed Jennifer in a backhanded kind of way by saying he was a wandering wastrel until Angelina came into his life. As far as Johnny and Amber are concerned the truth is out there now for anyone willing to watch it or read about it. As nasty as those splits were, at least they weren’t as bad as the O.J. Simpson split with Nicole Brown that ended with her murder. 
 
Whether literal or figurative the world is filled with accounts of backstabbing people betraying one another. Previously we noted how the go along king, Joash, took up with the evil politicians of his day very quickly after the death of his mentor, Jehoida. After pushing the priests to restore the temple he switched to ignoring it completely and worshiping idols (2 Chronicles 24:18). 
 
God, as the jilted spouse, sent messengers who were ignored until He sent Jehoida’s son, Zechariah. Joash would have known the son of his mentor, Jehoida, perhaps having grown up with him in the temple. The drama of his rebellion against God was put on display before the nation, and recorded for all of posterity so we can read and learn from it. Unlike Brad & Jennifer, or Johnny and Amber, it didn’t just end with a formal court declaration. From the depth of his rebellion Joash was so incensed at the audacity of Zechariah that he ordered him to be stoned. In public, in the court of the very temple where Zechariah’s father had saved and raised Joash to the throne (2 Chronicle 24:19-22). Well, murder certainly complicates things. Even though he was acquitted by the jury, O.J. Simpson’s life fell apart. In an even worse way the life of Joash collapsed as he lost a battle to a small army, paid a fortune in ransom, and then was murdered by his own servants (2 Chronicles 24:23-26). 
 
Will these events teach us the folly of thinking we can betray God and get away with it? We can’t, yet we keep on trying don’t we! Let’s recognize the power of sin to destroy our lives and determine to remain faithful to God. If we’re going to make the news cycle let it be for our obedience and relentless determination to serve God.

Not since Brad dumped Jennifer for Angelina has a marital split been as public as this year’s exposure of the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard break up shown to the world in a news consuming court room drama. Brad and Angelina admitted they “fell in love” while he was still married to Jennifer. And in a back stabbing interview Brad blamed Jennifer in a backhanded kind of way by saying he was a wandering wastrel until Angelina came into his life. As far as Johnny and Amber are concerned the truth is out there now for anyone willing to watch it or read about it. As nasty as those splits were, at least they weren’t as bad as the O.J. Simpson split with Nicole Brown that ended with her murder. 

Whether literal or figurative the world is filled with accounts of backstabbing people betraying one another. Previously we noted how the go along king, Joash, took up with the evil politicians of his day very quickly after the death of his mentor, Jehoida. After pushing the priests to restore the templ

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