Zion

The Bible is amazing! It has been preserved for our reading today for thousands of years. Scholars have studied it. Entire nations have built their foundations on its laws and precepts. And still, new things are being revealed from the scriptures. 

Today, I listened to a song by Aaron Shust. I've listened to his songs for many years and have seen him in concert a few times. Yet somehow this song has eluded me. Until today.

As you can tell by the title, the song is about Israel. It's actually about God's promise to return them to the land he promised them on oath.

"The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.” - Genesis 17:8

What I really love about this song is that every word, every line, is scripture. Somehow, Aaron captured a variety of verses and formed them into a beautiful song, honoring God and His people, Israel.

What if we did that with our own lives? Speaking or writing ONLY using God's Word. That might be tough. Try it sometime. It's harder than you think.

Although, as I wrote those words, I realized that there IS a time when we can easily speak in verses. 

When we pray . . .

"Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name . . ."

See? These verses also come ro mind . . .

"Gracious Lord, you are my Shepherd. I shall not want. You make me lie down in green pastures, you lead me beside still waters, you restore my soul."

"Who am Lord I that you are mindful of me? That you should care about me?"

"Into your hands I commit my spirit, Lord."

"You are the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, beginning and the end."

"Amen."

I guess it's not so hard after all. Now, let's try Hebrew. Lol!

"Adonai elohenu. Adonai echad. Shema Israel."

Zion - Aaron Shust

The Parable Code

In the tribulation period that is to come, the Bible tells us that there will be persecution and trials like we have never seen.

"You will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." - Matthew 24:9-13

With the rise of A.I., and it's ability to scan billions of emails, how will Christians communicate with one another without inviting persecution?? Perhaps a simpler form of communication will be required.

"Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground." - John 8:6

That's good, but people passing by can still read what we write. And the people we would be communicating with will be right there with us. Perhaps some sort of code....

During World War II the United States military used Navajo soldiers to conceal their messages. In 2002, Hollywood made a movie about them called Wind Talkers.

The Navajo language was an ingenious way of secretly communicating because the enemy had no idea what it was.

Check this out. It's a code. Can you figure out what it says? The 'key' is literally right in front of your face.

%[# >@ )[:÷

There is a super-secret code available to use. You've used it already but you didn't even know it. It's the Parable Code. But you have to be a believer in Jesus Christ to decode any messages. And THAT is something that artificial intelligence cannot understand. God's Holy Spirit is our interpreter.

"This is why I speak to them in parables:

“Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand." - Matthew 13:13

Do you have eyes to see and ears to hear?

Deaf and Blind

Do you know what's going on in this picture? You might be able to figure it out based on the title of this story. This 15-year-old girl is "signing" into the hand of a 64-year-old deaf and blind man named Tim. But wait, there's more.

Tim was on a return flight after visiting his sister. The problem was there was no one to communicate with him on the plane.

Frustrated with their inability to communicate with the man, the crew asked if there was anyone onboard who could sign. There was. A 15-year-old girl named Clara.

The interesting thing about Clara was . . . she wasn't supposed to be on the flight. Her travel plans were altered when her previous flight was cancelled. And the rest is an amazing story. Like something only God could come u with.

After watching the video it suddenly occurred to me that I was not only watching a beautiful story of compassion, mercy and grace. I was watching a training video for evangelism. Think about it. What went on here? Clara displayed the perfect way to speak to someone about Jesus.

• God brought them together.
• They took time to get to know each other.
• There's nothing like being able to connect with an individual.
• Clara had empathy towards the deaf and blind man.
• Clara asked him many questions.
• Clara, and many others, had an interest in the man's story.
• She could speak his language.
• Use our skills for the good of others.

When we speak to someone about our faith we can't just ram it down their throats. We have to learn how to speak THEIR language. As Paul said, "Become all things to all people". Learn about their life's struggles. We need to have compassion and empathy for the person we are talking to. They are not the enemy. They are simply blind and deaf.

Ask questions. Show that you care. Use the gifts that God has given you to pour into the lives of those around you. When people see our compassion for others, when they can sense the love we have for them, that is when their eyes begin to open and their ears begin to hear.

There are plenty of spiritually "deaf and blind" people in the world. Many of them profess to be Christians. Jesus heals the deaf and the blind. Only He has that power to do that. Our job is simply to introduce people to Him. Take the time. Spread the love. Share the Good News.

"Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ - Matthew 13:15

Blind Deaf Man On Plane