LOVE DISCIPLINE!

Time with Jesus - 01 August 2013

Hi all,

Sandy Hook Guns

On 12^th December 2012, 20-year-old Adam Lanza entered Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Sandy Hook USA. Police said he began firing shortly after 9:30 a.m., concentrating on two classrooms. Armed with two semi-automatic pistols, he killed 20 children in a rampage that left 27 people dead and one injured. He then took his own life. It was the second-worst campus shooting in U.S. history. (Courtesy Google)

Victims at Sandy Hook Elementary School

We are told that the USA people are the most “liberated” in the world. Certainly they have a fine history. In ±250 years, the nation has gone from fighting an “unwinnable war” against the mighty British army, to being what many regard as the most powerful nation in the world.

Economically, technologically, and militarily, USA is an awesome nation. Most Americans today would state; “this “national miracle” is directly attributable to the faith of their fathers”. There is no doubt that the Pilgrim Fathers and many of the early immigrants had a deep and committed relationship with God. USA began as a God-fearing nation and as a result, the blessings of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, propelled the nation to the place of prominence they still enjoy.

President Obama's Tears
after the shooting

Sadly, what has happened in the USA over the past 50 years, reflects the changing attitude toward God throughout the nation. Slowly but surely, God has been “jockeyed out of position” by atheism, agnosticism and secular humanism. Although there remain many USA citizens who love God, the “tide” of human belief and behaviour has turned away from Him. This is a sure recipe for disaster; to overtake the fortunes of the men and women in USA.

Now please don’t think I’m saying that God is the author of the tragic events that have taken place for many years. It doesn’t work like that. Perhaps the best illustration of what has happened is to think about a rainstorm. 

Keeps you Dry

Those who have umbrellas won’t get wet while the umbrella is open above their heads. However, if the umbrella gets damaged or you decide to close it, the rain will fall on your head. Don’t blame the umbrella. You did it yourself.

Take it Down - You get Wet

In a way, God is similar to the umbrella. While the nation is living for and trusting in Him, He will make sure Satan’s deluge of putrification and wickedness doesn’t get to them. More than that, He blesses and honours those who praise, worship and please Him.

Now allow me to point out that God is not “fair” and He is not “nice”. These are both human concepts and are utterly unscriptural. Scripture makes it very clear that His blessings come on those who love and obey Him. If they stop doing so, the blessings dry up and Satan’s deluge begins to fall on the people. 

It works that way whether you like it or not! Your opinion is irrelevant. He decides one way or the other and the only prayer that would make a difference is one of repentance. That’s because of His love and mercy.

If you don’t believe this is true, read the books of Judges, Kings and Chronicles. What I’ve just described is repeated in these books so often, it becomes boring! The cycle begins with the people being blessed, following and loving God. Then they begin to sin and fall away. 
God responds by bringing disasters; a plague of locusts; a raid by the Philistines, war etc. In the end, they either respond to Him or continue on their own path. Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26 make this abundantly clear.
God has blessed USA for past obedience. But when USA turns away from Him, the probability that God will treat USA the same as He did Israel can never be in doubt. What none of us know is how far down the road of disobedience USA has travelled. What can be said is that their umbrella is leaking. Bad things are happening. His “covering” is not quite what it once was.

Useless Umbrella

What will happen next? I’m not in a position to say. What I can say is that unless there is repentance and a return to God, what we have seen recently will not abate. In all probability it will increase. If so, do not “blame” God. He will continue to be utterly consistent. Can things be turned around? I don’t know. He will decide. 

Three "Angels" visit Abraham

This much I can say. As Abraham said to God while travelling to Sodom; ²⁵ Far be it from you to do such a thing--to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" Gen 18:25 TNIV I’m certain that ultimately, whatever He does, will be seen to be correct.

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus Thursday, 01 August 2013			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes					©
	INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	LOVE DISCIPLINE!
Have you ever thought that pain is a blessing from the Lord? One of the reasons why I ask this, is because of something we saw a week or so ago. We saw a baby who did not experience pain. This child bit off a piece of his own tongue and was not aware that it had happened. I also recall seeing a video of a child who had badly burned her hand; so badly, her hand looked blackened and charred. The young girl was unaware of what had happened. The danger was losing her hand. Fortunately doctors managed to save it. Pain is also an excellent trainer. We hear of people “pushing through the pain barrier” in order to achieve an objective. Olympic athletes have demonstrated this on many occasions. They “push” themselves almost beyond endurance so that they will achieve their very best. They do it for fame, the medal and their country – not necessarily in that order. The twentieth and twenty-first centuries have been times when people think they are cleverer than God. As a result, people who discipline their children by spanking are considered dangerous, unfit parents. Some Mom’s and Dad’s have been prosecuted for disciplining their children, In some instances; children have been taken away from their parents. The courts find it difficult to distinguish between discipline and brutalisation. Children should never be abused. But discipline is essential if a child is to grow up and take his or her place in a balanced, law abiding society. God’s instructions to parents are clear. Three examples from Proverbs are quoted below. 24 Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children, care enough to discipline them. Proverbs 13:24 NLT - 15 Foolishness is firmly attached to a child's heart. Spanking will remove it far from him. Proverbs 22:15 GW - 13 Don't fail to discipline your children. They won't die if you spank them. 14 Physical discipline may well save them from death. Proverbs 23:13-14 NLT The foolishness of taking away discipline from parents and society is very evident in Western culture. Children have no respect for authority. The classrooms are filled with children who are rude and abusive to teachers. The streets have become dangerous for the elderly. Other people’s property is not respected. A well-known example occurred in London a year or so ago. Children, mainly teenagers, went on the rampage, burning and looting businesses. There is little doubt that, the tragic death of students at Columbine High in USA where juvenile gunmen shot their fellow students is a classic example of what can happen when discipline is disregarded. The murder of young people in Norway; and a similar incident in a Colorado movie house, is typical of what happens when discipline is removed from society. My Dad was not exactly a disciplinarian. But when he or Mom spoke, there was no question in my mind whether or not to ignore them. I loved my parents and deeply regret their passing. They loved me enough to discipline me when they considered warranted. Phyllida and I have followed their example. Our children thrived within defined boundaries. God’s instructions are clear. Let’s just do what He says! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			11 We give great honour to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy. James 5:11 NLT	“I think that this will hurt me far more than it hurts you”. That’s what my father told me when he was going to do, Something rather painful and make my bottom sting. But just before he did so, that “platitude” he’d bring. I don’t know where he got it from. I thought it was a lie. Once when I suggested it, a tear was in his eye. He wiped it with a handkerchief; his face began to burn; That’s when I learned a lesson that everyone must learn. Always take your punishment and face it like a man. The stinging wasn’t permanent; My rear end got a “tan”. But actually I’d earned it for doing what I did; Then was very careful to do what I was bid. A generation later, my kids were on the scene. I began to treat them the way my Dad had been. The words were not identical but bottoms just as sore, As anything I’d known about, back in the days of yore. Then I began to realise that what my dad had said. It wasn’t just a “platitude” to rumble round my head. There really was no pleasure, in bringing discipline, Provided that it rectified the trouble they were in. I didn’t want to do it. Why make my children sore? But if I didn’t do it, somehow it hurt me more! It wasn’t “retribution” that I was meeting out. It was to bring correction and make their “backbone” stout. There was another factor. I didn’t mean them harm. And so I had to wait until the pair of us were calm. To do it in a temper would harm the child far more. And I was bringing discipline, not “evening the score”. I also learned a lesson. The mood that I was in, Influenced the way I looked upon my children’s “sin”. I couldn’t be consistent. Sometimes I was severe. I felt like I should “thrash them”! That’s when I shed a tear. I didn’t want to harm them, but discipline was due; And if I lost my temper! – Lord, help me be like You. Compassionate and merciful and discipline in love. Not to dish out punishment, but with a velvet glove. Enough to give a warning and not their spirit break. Sufficient to encourage them; and help them to forsake, That which brought the discipline. Lord, take control of me. A “monster” who beats children, I do not want to be. Lord I need Your faithfulness Your tenderness and care; To be the sort of Christian You can send anywhere. Who will not harm his children, but will correct their way, So when they too are adults, their children will obey. Jim Strickland Written 1st August 2012
			13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; Psalms 103:13 TNIV
			4 He has made his miracles unforgettable. The LORD is merciful and compassionate. 5 He provides food for those who fear him. He always remembers his promise. Psalms 111:4-5 GW
			3 He won't let you stumble, your Guardian God won't fall asleep. 4 Not on your life! Israel's Guardian will never doze or sleep. Psalms 121:3-4 MSG
			11 Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, hovers over its young, spreads its wings to catch them, and carries them on its feathers, 12 so the LORD alone led his people. No foreign god was with him. Deuteronomy 32:11-12 GW
			22 the LORD'S mercy. We were not completely wiped out. His compassion is never limited. 23 It is new every morning. His faithfulness is great. Lamentations 3:22-23 GW
			14 When Jesus came ashore, he saw a large crowd. He felt deep concern for them. He healed their sick people. Matthew 14:14 NIrV
			8 For Jesus doesn't change--yesterday, today, tomorrow, he's always totally himself. Hebrews 13:8 MSG
			29 What is the price of two sparrows--one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. 30 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. 31 So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31 NLT

MATHEMATICS?

Time with Jesus - 31 July 2013

Hi all,

They told me in school that mathematics was as easy as pie. 

The Right sort of Pie
Apple Pie and Ice Cream

Now I’ve always had a weakness for pie, particularly apple pie. Add a few cloves (not garlic) for flavour and serve with ice cream or custard; it’s delicious. Imagine my disappointment when I learned that the spelling was different. 

Not Pie - Pi

Instead of pie, it was spelled Pi which was represented by the Greek letter “π”. For me it was a gastronomic catastrophe! We were also taught that the arithmetic value of π was ±22/7. A little later we were shown that there is no such thing as an accurate value. Suddenly, “mathematical suicide”, looked a distinct possibility!

The Lecturer

I mention this because in 1981, I was lecturing strength of materials to the part time evening students, once per week in Johannesburg Tech. Mathematics and Strength of Materials go together like bread and butter.

Three things happened that year. The first was divorce after 15 years of marriage. The second was, the horror of the divorce experience, redirected my steps back to Jesus Christ! This was after 18 years of wandering in my own self-made wilderness. The third was meeting and subsequently marrying Phyllida. Her name was Phyllida Swallow! 

Mathematics Symbols
Not Pie

Mathematics had given me a basic understanding of probability theory. Now, two swallows don’t make a summer. But one “Swallow” was destined to change the winter of divorce, into the summer sunshine of married life together!

For this to happen for us both, the leading of the Lord was essential. I’ve mentioned Phyllida’s initial leading by the Lord previously. As you will see, my own leading was equally dramatic.

1 Peter 1:22

It began one Saturday evening with my deciding to read the book of First Peter. I had an ulterior motive. On Sunday mornings the pastor invited members of the congregation to share a Scripture that was meaningful for them. The verse that I thought I might share was 1 Peter 1:22. It didn’t “leap off the page and hit me in the eye”. Instead, it gave me a sense of peace and security. I shared the verse with the church on Sunday morning. Phyllida was at the service. In all probability I sat next to her. I usually did. As far as I was concerned, she was my friend and I called her “Philly”. It was her “nickname” as far as I was concerned; one which her friends approved. It was the first time I’d shared a verse from the Scriptures in the church service. Afterwards, several people thanked me for my reading and I felt greatly encouraged.

Phileo and Philly-o
Sound the Same?

That afternoon, I began listening to a cassette tape by Larry Tomczac. He is an American and for some reason he was teaching from 1 Peter 1. He began to speaking about verse 22. As an American, his accent was different from standard South African. He spoke briefly about “Phileo”. He said it was the way Christians were supposed to love and care for each other. Then, he spoke about what sounded like “Philly”” love. I felt I’d been “poleaxed”. The verse reads as follows” ²² Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. 1 Peter 1:22 TNIV.

American Bible Teacher

My conclusion was that the Lord was telling me to love “Philly” deeply from the heart. Our relationship was not to be merely the love between a Christian brother and sister but as husband and wife together. It was scary. The probability of this happening accidentally was just about zero. In any case, she was already my “favourite person”. For me the big problem was how to talk to her about my “revelation”! To talk on the phone was impossible. It had to be “face to face”. So I phoned her and asked if I might visit her after teaching at Tech that evening. She agreed.

The wrong sort of Pie

I got there at ±20h30. We went into her lounge. There I spoke about 1 Peter 1:22. Then I said, “I believe the Lord is leading us together into marriage. Her reaction was astonishing. She rose from her chair at the far side of the room and walked across the room to where I was sitting. Then she sat on the floor at my feet and said, “What’s next!” We married on 12^th December 1981. 

Phyllida & Jim
Our Wedding Day
12 December 1981

That was ±33 years ago. It’s still the best decision we ever made. No longer is she a “Swallow”. Perhaps we are not mathematically perfect. The spelling or pronunciation of “Phileo” and “Philly-O” may be slightly different. But we do go together like apple pie and ice cream.

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Unity Among Believers

We are One in the Spirit
We are One in the Lord!

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – 31 July 2013			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes					©
	INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	MATHEMATICS?
Logic was never exactly my strength. Perhaps it was my sense of the macabre that influenced this. People would say that something was “so”. I would scratch my head and try and assimilate what I was being told. Then, after a quiet chuckle to myself, I would nod my head knowingly and think that if that’s what they wanted me to think, why not? Living under the apartheid regime, I became aware of things we were supposed to do, but didn’t. For me it was a total contradiction that black people were not allowed to live outside their “homelands”. Then the same legislators would hire domestic servants who had to live “on the property” in order to work the required hours. For me this was not only illogical, but hypocritical. What I found was that logic had little to do with reality and everything to do with politics. At School they would give us statements and ask if the conclusion was logical. For example we were asked to look at a quotation and say if it was correct. The statement was: - All Fords are motorcars. That is a motor car. Therefore it’s a Ford. It didn’t take long to spot the flaw in this “logic”. Logic fell apart when it came to Christianity. We were taught, quite correctly, that we were all “children of God”. But when it came to church attendance, there were different buildings for different ethnic groups. So although we all had the same God and were all equal in His eyes, some of us were more equal than others. Strangely enough, even after the collapse of the apartheid government, the old systems didn’t fall quite as quickly. The old system had kept apart the “rich white minority”” from the “poor black majority”. The result was that although in theory anyone could come and go as they wished, the distinction between rich and poor had more to do with race than anything else. Phyllida and I remarked on the fact that sadly, although the country’s motto was “Unity is Strength”, there was very little unity in South Africa. In those days, Phyllida and I were living in Worcester taking care of a small congregation for the Methodist Church. Our superintendent was Rev Joe Mpanza. He was responsible for all the Methodist Churches in our circuit. But the workload for him was impossible. So he more or less left us to our own devices with the small “white” and large “coloured” congregations. Theoretically, in April 1994, all this changed. Legally there was unity. But in practice we remained unchanged. Very quickly, we learned that you cannot legislate unity. You cannot compel people to come together. The best you can do is set the example in your own life and in your relationship with others. But the whole thing was a minefield. Everybody was looking at everyone else trying to spot flaws in character and behaviour. They were easy to spot. Our cultural differences seemed to be gigantic. The hurts of the past were astronomical. I remember talking to an elderly coloured gentleman. He told me with tears in his eyes how he went to work one morning and found he was no longer permitted to use the footbridge over the railway line. It was for “Europeans Only”. There were many similar stories. Somehow we had to work our way through this. To this day we believe that Jesus Christ empowered us to embrace each other. No, it wasn’t easy. But it was very worthwhile. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; Ephesians 4:3-4 TNIV	I know when I was very young, I had to go to school. And in that fine establishment, I learned the golden rule. They said what was important, and that I had to learn. So when my schooldays ended, I could go out and earn, Sufficient in the first place for just supporting me. And then a little later, for all my family. I didn’t really grasp it. I knew we needed cash. But never that without it, my life on earth would crash! That this was fundamental; and no one was excluded. The fact is, that if finances are totally denuded, The outlook for the future was best thought of as bleak. And that the way to put it right, was for a job to seek. They taught me mathematics, that one plus one is two. But that was not sufficient. I also had to do, Many things with figures – I don’t mean female shapes. But adding and subtracting and other mental japes. Like messing on with fractions to find the LCM. But through the intervening years I can’t remember them. I learned about log-tables and trigonometry. About a man called Euclid and his geometry, About the hippopotamus, and sons of all the squaws; Pythagoras discovered it along with other laws. I started with the calculus and differentiation. And that there’s nothing racial, when we speak of integration. I also loved the Scripture and knew about St Paul; Of Adam and King David and of mankind’s dreadful fall. I learned about Christ Jesus and His victory on the cross. And wondered why they said He’d won. To me it looked like loss! Then I got very puzzled for one and one was two. At least that’s what the teacher had said was always true. But then I found a problem, which mathematically, Seemed a contradiction of what was taught to me. I found from God’s perspective that one plus one was one. That’s when it seemed impossible for me to carry on. The point is. God was speaking about our unity. But I’d been taught in college, that mathematically, That unity was number one. That one and one made two. But God had contradicted our mathematics view! That one, plus one, plus one, plus one equates to unity. It’s only in my golden years that this makes sense to me! God wasn’t speaking numbers, but linking human hearts. For it’s in our agreement, that unity first starts. And when we’re all likeminded, we’ll certainly agree, That one plus one, plus Jesus is always unity! Jim Strickland Written 31st July 2012
			18 Through Christ we both come to the Father by the power of one Holy Spirit. 19 So you are no longer strangers and outsiders. You are citizens together with God's people. You are members of God's family. 20 You are a building that is built on the apostles and prophets. They are the foundation. Christ Jesus himself is the most important stone in the building. 21 The whole building is held together by him. It rises to become a holy temple because it belongs to the Lord. 22 And because you belong to him, you too are being built together. You are being made into a house where God lives through his Spirit. Ephesians 2:18-22 NIrV
			A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David. 1 How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! 2 For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron's head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe. 3 Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And there the LORD has pronounced His blessing, even life everlasting. Psalms 133:1-3 NLT
			22 Love each other with a warm love that comes from the heart. After all, you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth. As a result you have a sincere love for each other. 1 Peter 1:22 GW