CALL IT OUT
“The word of the LORD came to [Jeremiah], saying, ’Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.’”
Jeremiah 1:4-5

As a parent of two children, now ages 10 and 7, I find myself often concerned with what happens in their lives. Mix together the fact that they are children of a broken family, children who struggle with the daily happenings of life, children who face bullies, and children who are constantly deciphering the choice to follow God or man, being a young child is almost as difficult as being an adult. I commend my children, and often tell them that they are my heroes for the many things they face daily. My years growing up seem like a breeze compared to what my children are battling. But it was in seeking God on their behalf recently that I was, with a song written by a child playing in the background even, reminded of the life of Jeremiah.
In the early stages of Jeremiah’s life he was called out. While we do not know the exact age, we know from reading his calling that he considered himself a child. The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah and declared, “’Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.’” His response, “’I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.’” This response didn’t seem to sway the LORD’s decision, for He came right back saying, “’Do not say, “I am only a child.” You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.’” The LORD had put a calling on Jeremiah and was capping this calling on him by calling it forth. He indeed was to be a prophet to the nations, was to go where the LORD led, and was to say what the LORD spoke.
In the fall of 2011, the movie Courageous came out. Without giving the plot away to anyone who has not seen it yet, I will say that the movie had much to do with the father coming to a point of calling out the destiny of God in his children. In essence, this example is seen in this passage from Jeremiah. The LORD saw in Jeremiah something that perhaps Jeremiah had not yet seen of himself. Having crafted Jeremiah in the womb with certain characteristics and features and interests and desires, the LORD called them all in order, and as such called the man for a specific task. This same calling that the LORD did for Jeremiah, He does also for us. We may not see it in ourselves, but He sees it and calls it forth.
I am coming to a point where as a parent, much like God sees something in me, I am beginning to see something in my children. I look at my son and I see a tender heart. I look at him and I see one who is kind, yet struggles when there disorder or confusion. While it may be nothing, I believe it is part of his calling. Who knows but that my son may be called to the helpless, hopeless, and despairing, and be able to give them help as they work to get back on the right track. And I look at my daughter and see her so full of life. She is my social butterfly, my little lover, and my caretaker. Perhaps God is preparing her for a calling in the medical field where she will be able to ease the nerves of people while addressing their wounds.
It is hard to say concerning both of my children what the end result will be, but it is not hard to see my mission toward both of them. As their father, my mission is to call their gifts out. This is what the LORD did for Jeremiah, in calling him and assuring him that the gifts he possessed were for His glory. And this is what He has done for me, reassuring me that my love of study, history, and writing are not characteristic of a freak, but of one called. So as parents, or grandparents, this same duty and model rests of us. It is time for us to look upon our children and grandchildren the way He does. It is time for us to begin to call out the gifts that God has placed in our children.

WHO TOUCHED ME?
“’Who touched me?’ Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, ‘Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.’”
Luke 8:45

It was on Jesus’ way to the home of Jarius that He was detained, which then gave time for Jarius to receive the news of his daughter’s death. But as we see in reading forward, Jesus continued on to the home of the man and found the daughter lying limp. When He took her by the hand, saying that she should arise, the girl did so and her spirit was returned. Today, however, I want us to take a moment to look at the person who Jesus stopped for on His way to the ruler’s house. I want us to take a moment and reflect on the life of the woman we simply know as having an issue of blood.
In Luke 8:43 we are introduced to this woman, with her resume reading that she had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. We are never told her name, only her condition. And the condition seemed to be one that stumped many of the physicians of her time, for it is also recorded that no one could heal her. When she learned that Jesus was on His way, going past where she was, she came up behind Him and touched the hem of his garment, instantly finding healing.
Now while this is a miracle, I want to point out a few pieces of vital information pertaining to both the woman and the touch. First, as Jesus had preached that He had not come to do away with the Law, we must understand that the woman and all those in this story were still under the Law. This truth is for us as well. Yes Jesus came to fulfill the Law, but not to do away with it. As such, the Law stated that she was unclean. In Leviticus we are given a complete list of all that makes a person unclean, and the flow of blood from a woman was one such area. It was after a woman completed her bleeding that she would bathe and offer the needed sacrifices for cleansing. By all means, the fact that she touched Jesus as an unclean person should have been void. Yet she did, and healing flowed from Jesus, into her body, and made her whole.
But there is more that we must look at. The record of this event states that she touched the hem, or the edge, of His garment. To understand this we must understand the wardrobe Jesus was wearing. He was wearing a talit. This is common among Jews, and is typically worn when saying prayers and in moments of ministry. The edges of the talit contain a series of knotted tassles which serve to remind the one wearing the garment of the 613 commands listed in the Torah. The difference between the talit Jesus was wearing to the one I wear, however, is this. The Scriptures declare that the Messiah would come with healing in His wings. The corners of the garment, while called the hem or edge, are also called the wings. When her faith collided with the healing in the wings of Jesus’ talit, healing virtue flowed.
So the point I make in all this is hopefully simple to see. We, like the woman with the issue of blood, may be in need of healing. We may be seen by the others as unclean, but we should not let that stop us. Like her, we must be determined and focused, and reach out for the hem of His garment where the healing virtue is. We must press in, working our way through the crowds and risking their opinion, as we extend not only our hand to touch Him, but also our faith in what He has the power to do. Come now, let us find the healing we are looking for. Let us touch Him.

ADONAI’S SLAVE
“For to me the people of Israel are slaves; they are my slaves whom I brought out of the land of Egypt; I am Adonai your God.”
Leviticus 25:55

I know I have been spending quite a bit of time in Leviticus lately, but it is for two reasons. First, I want to understand it better. I want it to be more than just a boring book. I recently read that when Jewish children enter school, the first lessons they are taught come from the book of Leviticus. These are kids who are normally around the age of five or six. Children are taught the details of this book. Here I am at 37 and I am just finally making an effort to understand it. But I find that as I make this effort, God meets me where I am and gives me an understanding. That leads me to the second reason. In 2009, while listening to a pastor speak, I heard him mention that he prayed to be able to read the Bible through Jewish eyes. This was a pastor, not a rabbi. He simply wanted to see the truth of the Word verses the distorted teachings that we so easily take for granted as the truth. When I heard this it too became my prayer. So as I have made a point to go line by line in the Torah, this very thing has happened. I have seen the truth, and my eyes have been opened to many half-truths taught within the church today.
It is with this understanding, then, that I want us to consider one more piece from Leviticus, one concerning the kinsman in Leviticus 25. When I saw this parallel last night I honestly got so excited that I locked my door so I could write down the revelation without the kids bothering me. Here it is. Looking simply to define the term, the word ‘kinsman’ as seen in Leviticus 25:35, is the Hebrew word ACH. Literally translated, the word is defined as ‘brother’. As the land, property, or servant was to be offered within the family, it makes sense to read this as one brother literally offering this item to his brother. However, the word also can be defined as ‘countryman.’ This then also makes sense as the item was to stay within the Israelite race. Probably the most classic example of this played out in scripture is within the story of Ruth. When Ruth came to rest at Boaz’s feet, as instructed by Naomi, Boaz responded that there was a closer next-of-kin that would have the chance before him. When this kinsman passed on the offer, the land then became that of Boaz.
The duty of the kinsman was to redeem a person’s land. Let us not forget that this was an important piece in the role to be played. In each case, he was to redeem his own family member from servitude to a foreigner. This high duty was based on God’s principle that no Israelite should ever be a slave or servant to anyone except Himself. For one of Adonai’s children to be a servant or slave to a non-Israelite was viewed as an abomination and created the reasoning for his redemption.
Can you see it, the connection between a person physically enslaved to a foreigner and a personal spiritually enslaved to sin? A follower of God who sells himself into sin, becoming a slave, is separated from Him. This was first seen in the history of Adam and Eve. It was their sin that separated them from Adonai, creating a wall and placing them into slavery until the wall was broken. Although they and others who followed would eventually find their way back to Adonai, it was not until the Kinsman Redeemer, Jesus, came that the price was paid that gave us back our freedom. We, through Jesus, were redeemed from slavery.
Why should we choose then to return back to the slavery of the world? As children of God, this is an abomination! We are not to be caught up in the sinful way of the world that demotes us from being followers of the Most High to slaves of the accuser. We are to be His servants; His men and women who with purpose and of our own free will obey His command. Perhaps Galatians 5:1 says it better than I can. “What the Messiah has freed us for is freedom! Therefore, stand firm, and don’t let yourselves be tied up again to a yoke of slavery.”

DOCTOR VISIT
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
John 10:10

It has been awhile since I have gone to the Emergency Room at the hospital. My last personal visit was back in 2009. More recently I went when my daughter cut her head on a dresser’s corner last year. The same is pretty much true of going to the doctor. My last visit to my health care provider for myself was back in late 2010. My son, however, visited the doctor last week when he came down with strep throat. I say all this not to share my medical history per se, but to make a point. At no time have my children or I ever gone to get medical assistance and beg the doctor to let us keep our sickness. We have never walked in to the doctor’s and said, “Doc, I got this pain in body, but I am okay to keep it.” No, that is crazy. The point of going to the doctor is to have the pain or sickness looked at, diagnosised and medically treated. So if this is true with a physical doctor, why is it different when it comes to God?
Allow me to explain further. When I walk into the doctor’s office and see a waiting room full of people, my first reaction is, so many germs floating around in here. However, this is the doctor’s office. This is where people who are sick come to get treated. The same in many ways is true of the church. The church is filled with people who love God, yes. But the church is more correctly filled with people who need help. On any given Sunday the church is filled with people who are struggling with an addiction, trauma, sickness, death, single parent struggles, self-esteem, and so much more. They come for help. The help is not in the pastor or staff, yet the help can come through the words God speaks through the pastor and staff. This is parallel to the fact that the healing of the physically sick person does not come from the doctor, but rather through the treatment of medicine and such the doctor prescribes.
How many of us, though, come to church with our sickness but yet are afraid to get treated? What do I mean? I mean simply that if the church, like the doctor’s office, is where we come to get treated, why do we leave with the same sickness? Fear. Fear prevents us from the healing we need. Fear causes us to walk in with our ailments and walk back out with them. Fear is one tool the enemy uses to steal, kill, and destroy us. Healing is available, for Jesus said that He came to give us life - abundantly. Yet we in many ways say, “Doc, I got this ailment but I am okay to live with it.” We refuse to allow our condition to be known, and treatment to be given, because of our fear.
In closing, I think back to this truth in my life. For years I walked into church with my sickness, my addiction, and instead of allowing the doctor to prescribe treatment, I would walk back out carrying my ailment. I think of this in relation to all those that Jesus healed. They wanted freedom and didn’t want to carry their sickness anymore. I think of the blind man in Luke 18:35-43. He wanted healing so bad that he cried out to Jesus when He was passing by. The people around him told him to be quiet. Instead of hushing, though, he cried out all the more. He wasn’t afraid of the on-looker’s rebukes because he wanted healing. This is how we too should be. We should make the church a place where instead of being fearful of sharing our ailments we find the freedom to seek healing. And we too should become so bold as to scream, “I don’t want this sickness anymore!”
Jesus offers healing; He is the Great Physician. Let us stop carrying our sickness into His office only to walk back out with it as well.

MODEH ANI
“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.”
Psalm 143:8

I woke up this morning to the sound of my alarm clock cutting through my dream. In some ways I was relieved. The dream was already depressing and not showing any potential of getting better. I didn’t have any superhero powers, wasn’t inheriting riches, didn’t have a wife, and wasn’t driving a sports car. In fact, in the dream I was living at a campground and driving the 1991 Honda Accord I have now. The highlight of the dream was that I remembered to put my seatbelt on, but perhaps only because a police car was next to me in the parking lot. So again, it was nothing exciting.
When I awoke, rolled out of bed, and started the coffee pot, I began to reflect on the dream and questioned, is my life really that boring? I know that I am not the most spontaneous person, and that my interests are those that tend to make others yawn, but surly I have something to offer. In contemplating this thought I found myself coming to grips with the idea that even if the dream was depressing, and even if my life is boring, I am glad to awake and be given another day of life. It was then that I remembered the Hebrew blessing of Modeh Ani.
The words of this blessing are simple, and according to custom are to be the first words spoken upon opening one’s eyes in the morning. “I thank you, living and eternal King, for returning my soul within me in compassion, great is your faithfulness.” In reading Lamentations 3:22-23, we see this same concept. Lamentations reads that God’s grace is not exhausted and His compassion is not ended. In fact, they are new every morning! The prayer and scripture declare alike, “Great is Your faithfulness!” Likewise, Psalm 143:8 relates to this truth. “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.” God’s unfailing love, His compassion, and His faithfulness have no end but are rather renewed every morning. That in and of itself gives me hope that although my dream may have made me feel stagnant, it is His feeling toward me that is love.
I think in some ways we fail to see it, or maybe it is just me. I know that I fail to praise Him for each new morning, just as I fail to praise Him at the end of each day. It is almost to a point where I expect it rather than cherish it. But why does it take a boring dream, or illness, or another’s death or bad circumstance for me to realize that I should thank God? Why does it take a negative situation for me to begin to seek Him or trust Him? Every morning I am enveloped with His compassion and love, yet fail to thank Him for it. Every morning I awake should be a moment where I praise Him for another day. I am honestly tired of taking God for granted, expecting like an ungrateful child that He do it. He doesn’t have to give me another day. He allows another day because of His love for me. This truth changes everything; this truth makes me want to say…
Modeh ani lifanekha melekh ḥai v'kayam sheheḥezarta bi nishmahti b'ḥemlah, rabah emunatekha.

FORCEFUL MEN
"From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it."
Matthew 11:12

History recalls the events of June 6, 1944, more commonly known as D-Day. For many soldiers who made the attack on Omaha Beach, this was their last stance. Many in the unit were drowned during the approach from ships offshore as they sank in waters. Of the 29 DD tanks filled with men on route toward Omaha, only 2 made it to the beach. An onslaught of German firepower met the remaining allied forces as they made their way on land, seeking shelter behind Hedgehogs and other obstacles where they were protected from gunfire. Under the command of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, the Germans had found defense in their strong points and trenches. Omaha literally became a killing zone. Bodies lay dead floating in the water or scattered across the beach. Remains of Landing Craft littered the front.
By 7:30am a second wave of troops was released and hit the beach, joining the fight. At 8:30am the landings ceased and troops were left on their own to face danger without the possibility of retreat. In small groups the men made the deadly race across the beach to find little relief along the seawall. Navy Destroyers attacked with pounding arms against the German fortifications at close range. Within hours, German fire had decreased and defensive positions were taken from the rear. By nightfall, the remaining soldiers stood their ground around Vierville, Saint-Laurent, and Colleville. Four years of preparation for only hours of combat, and yet, the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, is said to be the beginning of the end of World War II.
As one who loves war history, I enjoy reading these stories of bravery and forceful advance. Recently, however, I read an article speaking on the forceful advance named in Matthew 11:12. The article was written to question our aggressiveness as believers. The author penned that if we are not aggressively righteous then we become passively wicked. He also stated that just because we are "Christian" does not guarantee our place in heaven. This is true as we read in Matthew 25:31-33 where Jesus writes of the separation of goats and sheep. So then the question begs first, are we sheep or goats? And then second, are we aggressive or passive?
In looking at Matthew 11:12, which I long ago coined as my main text for On The Vanguard Ministries, we see the passage can be broken into three sections. First we read a timeline, spanning from the days of John the Baptist until now. Second we read of what has been happening during that time frame, which so happens to be that the kingdom of heaven has been advancing with force. Lastly we are left with what I now see as a challenge more than a statement. "...and forceful men lay hold of it." Note that it is only the forceful who lay hold, not the casual, passive, or hardly trying.
The men who landed at Normandy and attacked on Omaha Beach were not casual. They were not passive or barely trying to make the plan work. They were forceful. Their mission was to forcefully take the Germans out, preventing them from attacking further. We as followers of Christ must also be forceful. The allowance of sin is the allowance of the enemy's attack. The forceful men lay hold of it, they cease the uprising and prevent the future attack. Let this be said of us, then. Let us become the forceful men.

LONE TRAINING
“Then [Samuel] asked Jesse, ‘Are these all the sons you have?’
“Jesse answered, ‘I still have the youngest son. He is out taking care of the sheep.’
“Samuel said, ‘Sends for him. We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.’”
I Samuel 16:11

I will be honest with you and admit that I am an introvert. I am the kind of person who is shy and hesitant to do much of anything that will bring attention to me. The people I work with or my close friends and family may know me different, but it only because I have found in them a security that allows me to break out of my shell. However, while being an introvert can help me in the way of protecting me from rejection, it can also cause me to battle with feelings of loneliness. I find myself having more acquaintances than friends, and spending more nights alone at home than I care to admit.
As I woke up this morning to an empty house, I began to give thought to just this concept. I have no spouse, no girlfriend, and no potential girlfriend. My family is two states away and my children are with their mom this morning. Feelings once again of being lonely knock on the door with urgency, hoping that I will repeat my pattern and embrace them and feed them. But while I very easily could give in to this pattern, something is different today. It was while lying on my bed, not really praying but still sharing my heart with God, that I was encouraged. I was reminded of David in his young shepherd years.
After Saul was rejected as king for his partial obedience, Samuel was told by God to search for the home of Jesse and anoint the next king. When he arrived, Jesse placed before him his sons. Down the row Samuel went, looking over the young men and questioning God. Yet when he came to the last boy, he still had not found a peace as to who he was to anoint. So then, he asked Jesse if he had anymore sons. Jesse responded, “I still have the youngest son. He is out taking care of the sheep.” After calling for him to be brought in, they all waited. From here we know the rest of the story. David entered from the field and God told Samuel this was the one he was to anoint as the next king of Israel.
But let us fast forward one chapter and we read the account of Goliath’s taunting the army of Israel. David, who was coming only with the purpose of delivering supplies to his brothers, saw the giant and questioned why no one was opposing him. As David questioned the men, and was scolded by his angry brother, Eliab, he was brought before King Saul. To the king, David announced, “Don’t let anyone be discouraged. I, your servant, will go and fight this Philistine.” Rebuked by the king for being a boy, David took another stand and said, “I, your servant, have been keeping my father’s sheep. When a lion or bear came and took a sheep from the flock, I would chase it. I would attack it and save the sheep from its mouth.”
Now you may be questioning what my introvert characteristic has to do with David telling the king about his previous victories while watching sheep. That is a good question; and here is the answer. Those moments when I am alone and feeling lonely are the same moments when I find myself gravitating closer to God and being swept into His school of training. In those moments I find myself receiving the war strategies needed to slay the lions and bears that attack my home. Sure, I could mope around the house and have the attitude that no one cares, or I could take from these moments the needed lessons that will aid me in the next battle I will face. Truth be told, God is wanting to give us the strategies for defeating the enemy, but we have to make a point to get alone and listen. Many times I am found in the pasture of life, tending sheep. Still I know, when the giant comes he will be no more a match than the lion and bear God has already helped me to defeat.