The Watchman

In biblical times, watchmen patrolled the walls of the city. Their job was to keep watch (obviously) for invading armies and other dangers that might harm the people.

They were much like shepherds of their day - "keeping watch over their flock by night" (Luke 2:8). They had a very important job.

In the Book of Ezekiel, God laid out the responsibilities of a watchman, and the consequences for not doing the watchman's job. 

If the watchman did not warn the people, their blood was on the watchman's head. But if he warned them, and they ignored his warning, their blood was on their own head.

"When I say to the wicked, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way that he may live, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. “Yet if you have warned the wicked and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered yourself." - Ezekiel 3:18-19

It is difficult seeing all of the evil that exists in the world today. It will be even more difficult for us if we keep silent and say nothing.

That's one of the main reasons I write these stories. I read about something in the Bible, or I hear a good sermon in church, and I share it. Often it is in the form of a warning.

Jesus has promised to return for us (His Church) one day. I believe Him. Why? Because He cannot lie. He said that He will return and take us to be with Him.

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." - John 14:3

The time of His return is imminent. Many theologians feel it could be any day now. I have written before concerning this time we are living in.

Rosh Hashanah, the Festival of Trumpets, is coming up quickly. It is my belief that during this feast Jesus will remove His church from the earth.

I don't know the exact day or hour. Nor do I even know the year. But I do know that Jesus has promised to do this. And the time is coming soon.

Look at the world. It's gone crazy. This is a sign that the end is near. Read Romans 1.

You might say, "People have been saying that for years." That's true. But one day they will be right, and the Church will be gone.

Will you be one of them? Or will you be left here to deal with this ugly mess?

There are three weeks and a few days until Rosh Hashanah. Should He return this year, will you be ready?

The following is a link to an article about Jesus fulfilling the prophecy on the Jewish feast days. Read it and discern for yourself.

How Did Jesus Fulfill the Meanings of the Jewish Feasts?

First Snow

We had our first snow of the season last week. It's always interesting driving after the first snow. It can be pretty dangerous. Like Tuesday morning.

A portion of the main highway through town was closed because of an accident. A truck driver was killed. It was not a good day to be on the roads.

The first snow looks so pretty. We've forgotten how beautiful the snow can look. With the snow however comes hidden dangers. Potholes are covered up, snow can cover the ice too.

Life is filled with hidden dangers. It's our job to navigate them safely. So how do we do that? We have laws like speed limits to help keep us safe. Yet we ignore them. We see snow falling and we forget how slippery it gets. We don't slow down for that either. And then bad things happen.

We lose control of our cars. We can also lose control of our lives. We read God's laws and we still ignore them. When we see someone we love living dangerously, do we stop them and warn them? Or do we just shake our heads?

God tells us in the Bible that we should warn others of impending danger and not just let them parish. Their blood will be on OUR heads.

"But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone's life, that person's life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.' - Ezekiel 33:6

Is there someone in your life who is hurting right now or living in sin? How do you think God wants us to love them today?

Watchman - Robin Mark

The Parable of The Stain

My wife and I love it when our kids come to visit. Why? Because they usually bring our grandkids with them. Ha ha! That's always a good thing, right? Well . . .

This past weekend our granddaughter was here and she indeed did bring our granddaughter with her. We had a great time playing and visiting. But when they left they forgot to take something with them. Some of their car's oil.

At first I thought it was water - melted snow or ice - which we still have a lot of around here. But the snow and ice are gone from the driveway now and the spot is still there. So, I did what any other guy would do. I stuck my finger in it and smelled it.

Unfortunately, my sense of smell is not what it use to be so, I tasted it. [Not really. Just seeing if you're paying attention]. But I did come up with the idea for this story - a good reminder of what we Christians need to do with The Gospel.

When I saw the oil stain I first thought of my daughter driving through a dark, stormy night, with our grandchild in the back seat. Suddenly the engine warning light comes on and the engine stops out in the middle of nowhere. How would I feel then if I had failed to warn my daughter of the potential problem?

So, here we are with our faith. What are we doing with it? Are there people in our lives that don't know Jesus? Are people exhibiting warning signs to that effect in their lives - indicators that they might be in trouble should Jesus return and find them lacking? Scary.

In warning our daughter about a potential oil problem, I have done my part. If she chooses to ignore the problem, the troubles that lie ahead for her on the road are on HER head.

"And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, speak to the sons of your people and say to them, ‘If I bring a sword upon a land, and the people of the land take one man from among them and make him their watchman, 3 and he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows on the trumpet and warns the people, 4 then he who hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, and a sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning; his blood will be on himself. But had he taken warning, he would have delivered his life. 6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet and the people are not warned, and a sword comes and takes a person from them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require from the watchman’s hand.’ - Ezekiel 33:1-6

Who needs to hear the trumpet in YOUR life?

Blackbirds II: The Second Coming

One of things I really enjoy doing is taking a walk in God's creation while reading my Bible. I can't always read . . . but when I do . . . it's usually on asphalt. :)

We have an asphalt walking trail where I work in Neenah. It's called The Friendship Trail. Kind of a generic name, although I have made some friends on the trail and I usually go walking with my best friend on the trail at lunchtime so I guess the name fits.

My friend and I were out walking the other day when we noticed a jogger approaching us. He was just jogging along, minding his own business. Suddenly a bird flew out of a tree and pecked him on the head from behind. The guy never saw it coming. And look at that beak! Ouch!!

I yelled out, "I saw that!" chastising the Red-Winged Blackbird that had just attacked someone on the so called "Friendship Trail."

"What was that? A bird?" the jogger asked.

"Yup. Red-Winged Blackbird. Their eggs have hatched and they are VERY protective of their young."

The following day I was out walking all by myself. Same trail. Same time. I saw another jogger, a woman this time, approaching the "danger zone." Guess what I did. I yelled out a warning.

"Watch out for the birds!! They're angry today!"

"I know! I got attacked yesterday!" was her reply, as she turned her head around - scanning. Danger was literally in the air.

Let me pause right here to have you read some scripture.

"The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman, 3 and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people, 4 then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. 6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand." - Ezekiel 33:1-6

How does that apply to the blackbirds? Well, if I had not warned the lady she could have been attacked. Her blood would have been on MY hands.

And how does that apply to our walk with Jesus? Let me ask you this? Are you the jogger or the watchman? When you see a friend doing something wrong, do you lovingly correct them? Do you ask them a question like, "I saw you hide a bag of something in your purse when that cop came by. What is it? What are you doing?"

Do you have an accountability partner? Is there someone in your life who keeps an eye on you and is not afraid to confront you if that catch you doing something bad?

I have several accountability partners. When they speak, I listen, because I know they love me and care about me and don't want me to make mistakes I will regret later. They don't want me to get hurt when they KNOW I will.

Who are YOU accountable to? When everyone has gone home and you are all alone, what do you do when no one is watching. Hey. SOMEONE is ALWAYS watching. God.

And don't be afraid to speak up. Somebody's life may depend on it. And, based on the verses above, the life you save might be your own.

To Save A Life Movie Trailer

How To Save A Life - The Fray