BREAKING THE CURSE
“Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”
Psalm 91:3-4

William Henry Harrison served as the ninth President of the United States. His term however, only lasted thirty-two days. Coming into office at age 68, Harrison was the second oldest President to serve. On the day of his inauguration, Harrison delivered a two hour speech in the rain without a hat or coat. Some attribute his death from pneumonia to this boyish action, but as medical studies have advanced there has not been shown a link for the bad weather and pneumonia. Harrison’s doctors tried cures such as opium, leeches, and the like, yet within the nine days from the onset to his death, no cure seemed to work. As the President grew delirious, and other ailments arose including jaundice and septicemia, Harrison’s body found itself unable to fight back. It is possible that this sudden death was due to what started out as a simple cold, but is there another reason? Let us look deeper into the life and history of William Henry Harrison.
As a history minor in college, interesting stories of the past always grabbed my attention. Naturally then, when I heard about the Curse of Tecumseh, my ears were opened. While Harrison and Shawnee leader, Tecumseh, engaged against each other at the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811 over the rights of the Indian land, the battle favored Harrison’s troops. As Tecumseh admitted his defeat at the hands of Harrison, it is said that he spewed out an ancient Indian curse of death over the Great White Fathers, or Presidents. As the exact story of history is unsure, another story suggests that it was the half brother of Tecumseh, the medicine man known as “The Prophet”, Tenskwatawa, who placed the hex in revenge for his leader and brother. While the hex of the medicine man is recorded with more accurate words, stating every President chosen every 20 years will die, we do not know the truth. But, we can see the truth if we look at the history of Presidents who followed.
Starting from the election of Harrison in 1840, who was the first President to die in office, we jump to 1860. As President Abraham Lincoln was serving his second term, elected to do so in 1860, history records his assassination caused by John Wilkes Booth. In the 1880 election, James A. Garfield came into power. In 1881, Garfield was also shot while waiting in a Washington railroad station. His death would come two months later due to the wounds from the incident. The election in 1900 brought William McKinley into office. He too was shot and within a week passed away as a result of the wounds suffered. Warren G. Harding, elected in 1920, suffered a stroke while in office in 1923. As Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected in 1940 for his third term, he found himself next in line for the curse. It was not until 1945, as he served his fourth term, that he suffered a massive cerebral hemorrhage. Most notably was the passing of John F. Kennedy, who was elected in 1960, and was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald.
Whether the curse was called out by Tecumseh or Tenshwatawa, the curse was real. “But wait,” you say, “what happened in 1980?” Elected in 1980, Ronald Reagan took the title of President. The would-be assassin John Hinckley missed Reagan’s heart by one inch in his attempt. The curse was finally broken. Was there a time line within the curse that said it was good only for 140 years? Perhaps. I chose to believe, though, that when true men and women honor God, God protects them. Within the lives of Ronald Reagan who was elected in 1980, and George W. Bush who was elected in 2000, God was not lessened. It is recorded that these two Presidents often consulted with Christian religious leaders such as Billy and Franklin Graham before making weighty decisions. As a result, God honored them and the curse was lifted.
I urge you to consider two things today. One, curses are real. The words we say to others can affect them and as such, it is to our benefit and that of others to button our lip at times. But the second is this. Psalm 91:1 starts out with, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” God will protect us from the fowler’s snare and cover us in His wings when we dwell in Him. In this dwelling His covering exists. I encourage you to dwell in Him.

DEDICATED
"Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away."
Genesis 5:24

The Bible tells us little concerning the life of Enoch, but what it does tell us is a lesson we can all learn from. Quite simply, Enoch walked with God and God took him away. But what does that mean? And more importantly, what can we gain personally from mimicking the lifestyle of Enoch?
The name Enoch is translated in the Hebrew as CHANOWK, which means dedicated. Enoch's father, Jared, named his son in faith as one who would be dedicated to a person or being. From the simple statues that follow, we read that Enoch dedicated himself to God. As verse 24 shares, Enoch walked with God. Walked, when translated in Hebrew, is the word HALAK. While the meaning can literally mean 'to walk', it also means to 'live a specific manner of life'. Enoch lived a specific manner of life that pleased God.
Lastly, I want to look at the word 'took'. Again, when looking at the Hebrew, the word 'took' is translated LAQACH. The true meaning of 'took' then is 'to get, seize, acquire, or marry'. When I read that, I immediately thought about how marriage works physically here on earth. When I married in 1998, my then wife took on my name and moved in to my apartment. She became part of me and shared all my things. Here, we can see that because Enoch was dedicated to God and lived a specific manner of life that so grabbed God's attention, God married Enoch and took him away to live with Him in His heavenly home.
Enoch's lifestyle should be one that we adapt as our own. Revelation 3:16 tells us that God will vomit from His mouth anyone who is lukewarm. The preference is to be hot for God. Enoch was hot for God. Passion for God burned inside Enoch as a pleasing aroma that caught God's attention just like the perfume worn by a woman that catches mine.
This is what I desire. I want to burn as a pleasing aroma for God that it is written of me that I was dedicated to God and lived a manner of life specific to God's pleasing that wooed Him, and as such, was taken in marriage by God. But I cannot be pleasing if I hold to sin. This is why it is written in Hebrews 12:1 to throw off the sin that entangles us. Sin makes us smell like manure. I have never once seen on the shelf of a department store the fragrance, Manure. There is a reason...because it stinks! With that said then, why do we walk around with it on, living a double life of saying we are Christ followers yet living in the outhouse?
Perhaps this thought is a little more blunt than I normally am, but I have realized more so in the last few days that I cannot continue to live around the toilet and still expect to smell like roses. It is time that we decide whether we will be hot or cold. And if we chose hot, then burn with passion and in obedience for God. Be dedicated and live a specific manner of life, for God is looking for His spotless bride. I warn you, however, lest you forget, that indecision is also a decision. Chose your dedication wisely.

WHAT DO I KNOW?
"Then Joseph said to his brothers, 'Come close to me.' When they had done so, he said, 'I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.'"
Genesis 45:4-5

Have you ever wondered what purpose you serve? I have, and I still do at times. I remember when I went to Slovakia on a missions trip back in 1994. I thought I was going for the purpose of witnessing to others in hopes of being used to bring a few people to Christ. As we were traveling on the city's train with our interpreter, he asked us to look over at a billboard. Written in Slovak was an invitation to all that a team from the U.S. was going to teach a pantomime school. I couldn't believe it because just that fall term I had joined a pantomime ministry at the university. Suddenly I knew more clearly why God had placed me on this team.
I am sure that for Joesph it was quite different, though, in that his answer didn't take just a matter of months to be revealed. Joseph was despised by his brothers and thrown into a pit. As the brothers were considering their next move, a traveling slave trade came by and Joseph was soon added to the mix. Landing in Egypt, Joseph began working for Potiphar. God was with Joseph even though times did not get any easier. Potiphar's wife came on to Joseph and when he did not return the advances, she lied about him and stated that it was him who made the advances on her. This lie landed Joseph in prison.
This is the point where I, had I been in Joesph's shoes, would have really begun to question God. Yet even in prison, Joesph trusted God and did not waver in his faith. For this reason, God gave him favor with the prison warden (Gen 39:21). Prisoners began to trust Joesph and on two accounts shared their dreams with him. It was through the interpretation of the dreams that God once again promoted Joesph. As he shared with the Pharaoh concerning the upcoming abundance and famine, the Pharaoh promoted Joesph to second in command.
All these steps had to take place to bring Joesph to the point of power that he was in as his brothers stood before him asking for help. Not knowing it was Joesph, they came humbly seeking food. Joesph had within his hands now the power to crush them or help them. This is worth thinking about because if Joesph had sought revenge, Israel as a nation could have been destroyed. Yet Joesph did help, and in time revealed himself as their long lost brother. He forgave his brothers for their actions and helped them restore all that the famine had stolen from them.
Joesph's example is great. He never stopped trusting in God, never held anger and revenge in his heart, and never gave in to sin when tempted. What the enemy meant for evil, God used for promotion. What Joesph may not have understood years before, God made fully clear in time. And just as in my situation, the reason for which I thought I was going to Europe was not the full reason according to God.
But the key is trust. I do not doubt that if Joesph had not trusted God and considered taking matters into his own hands, that history may be different than we know. Still, Joesph trusted God and as such God promoted. For us the lesson should be the same. We may be in a mess now or be unsure as to why we are in the place we are in, but as we trust in God and allow Him to work, we too will see that what is meant for our destruction will bring about our promotion.

LET'S GET DRUNK
"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit."
Ephesians 5:18

Personally, I am not one who drinks anymore. I have had my moments both in college and after, but since being convicted by the Holy Spirit about my behavior after drinking, I have decided to stop. I remember hearing that people who are drunk get either silly or angry. Unfortunately I was one who would get angry. That being said, I have never physically hurt my children when drunk, but I have seen how my drinking caused fear in them as they were unsure when I would fly off the handle.
I heard a pastor speak this week about being drunk from the passage in Ephesians 5. He took the time to relate the similarities between a physically drunk person verses the spiritually drunk person. While I have no intention of taking his message and calling it mine, I do want to share what God spoke to me as I listened to him speak.
First, as I was growing up I had been told that the term 'be filled' in Ephesians 5:18 was a mis-translation. It was told to me that the verse in the Greek should read, 'be being filled continually'. I took it as truth. But today, I decided to look it up myself. The Greek word here is PLEROO, which means to make full, to cause to abound or supply liberally, to make complete in every particular. This same word is used in Acts 2:2 where we read that suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a mighty wind filling the house where the disciples were awaiting the Holy Spirit. This makes a great deal of sense. Just as the Holy Spirit completely filled the Upper Room where the disciples were, so we are told to allow ourselves to be filled completely by the Holy Spirit. This cannot be a one time thing, because as we pour out, we need to be refilled.
As I sat under the message being preached, God began to challenge me personally as to the level of my fullness. I began to wonder if I am full or empty. I pour out here in these daily thoughts, but am I allowing myself to be refilled? Am I taking another drink of the Holy Spirit? To the best of my knowledge, I think I drink in waves. Maybe better said, I think I am a spiritual social drinker. If we are told to be constantly drunk in the Holy Spirit, then I can honestly say I am not. I drink from the Spirit when things are going bad, but not always when things are going well or average. I am not drinking to celebrate what God is doing, but more often than not I am drinking to pick myself up from where I am.
If we think about it, all our spiritual ancestors were drunks. Obviously the disciples were as they received their first drink at Pentecost, and Paul was as he is the one in Ephesians telling us to get drunk. Jesus was drunk following His baptism (Matt 3:16). With these examples, isn't is wise that we ourselves get drunk? I'm not sure about you, but I am tired of letting the junk of life get me down. As a result, I am going to drink of the Spirit. But I am also wanting to rejoice in the wonders and blessings that God performs for me, so I will drink of the Spirit in celebration. As I stay drunk in the Spirit, not only am I living out the Word, but I am walking in a continual freedom in life. With that said, let's get drunk and meet ON THE VANGUARD!

BOUGHT BACK
"So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and about a homer and a lethek
of barley. Then I told her, 'You are to live with me many days; you must not
be a prostitute of be intimate with any man, and I will live with you.'"
Hosea 3:2-3

There's a story told of a boy who crafted his own toy boat. He took great
concern with all the details involved. At first he worked to find the right type
of wood to use. Then he carefully widdled out the boat's basic design. After
hours of sanding, scraping, chiseling, and fine detail, his boat was ready for
the water.
So excited was he as he placed the boat in the water for the first time. As the
first waves crashed on the bow of his toy boat, his smile grew from ear to ear.
He was so proud of his creation. With a string tied to the rear of the boat, he
lay on his belly on the edge of the dock and watched as the water would take
his boat out and then bring it back in. The waves played this routine over
and over. But as the repetition continued, the boy fell tired and eventually
gave in to sleep.
He woke with a startle as he now heard other voices by the lake side. His
memory then came back to the joy he had been having as he watched his
boat on the ebb and flow of the lake. But then he realized that the string was
no longer in his hand. Panic stricken, he rose quickly and began a search.
The boat was not under the dock, nor along the banks. He even looked out
at the horizon, but the boat was in sight. His panic soon turned to sadness.
With tears flowing down his cheeks, he returned home.
Days passed by and still the pain of loss was felt by him. But as he walked
by the pawn shop, he couldn't help but do a double-take. There, on the shelf
in the window, was his boat. He opened the door with eagerness, setting off
the bells in hysteria. With determination he half walked, half ran to the
counter and exclaimed, "That boat...in the window...its mine!"
Not sure of the full story, the shop owner replied, "We just got that boat in
yesterday. You're welcome to take a look at it."
"No sir, you don't understand. That's my boat."
"I do understand son, and if you would like that boat, you will have to buy
it."
"Buy it?," questioned the boy. Buy something that he himself made?
The owner answered back, "Yes son, you can have it for $8. The work put
into it is so grand that even selling it for $8 is a deal."
As the boy reached into his pockets and began counting his money, the
owner walked over to the window shelf and grabbed the treasure. He laid it
gently on the counter. The boy also laid all his money on the counter, only
to be a dollar and some change short. Seeing the look of hope on the boy's
face, the shop owner agreed to the new price.
Holding the boat tight in his arms, the boy turned to leave the store. As he
opened the door he stared down at his creation and said, "You are my boat
twice. Once because I made you, and second because I bought you back."
In many ways this little story reminds me of Hosea. God had asked to marry a prostitute, and in obedience he did. But as her behavior was so engraved in who she was, she found herself reverting back to harlotry. When God spoke to Hosea again concerning his wife, Gomer, God told Hosea to buy her back. Again Hosea obeyed.
But isn't that the way God works? You see, whether we are the boat, or we are the harlot, the facts are the same. First, God loves us and crafted us as the apple of His eye. However, as we are prone to sin, we like the boat and the harlot drift away from our maker and lover. The awesomeness is that God sent His Son as a payment for us. He gave all He had to buy us back.
The boat was created, lost, and bought back. Gomer was loved, lost in sin, but bought back. We have been fashioned in God's image, have been lost in sin, and have been bought back. It is safe to say then, that the words of the boy are the words that are spoken over us. "You are my child twice. Once because I made you, and second because I bought you back."

HEROES
"But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved."
Hebrews 10:39

As a child I watched my share of the super hero cartoons. My Saturdays were filled with Superman, Spiderman, Batman and Robin, and even the Wonder Twins. What I saw on TV I would work to re-enact outside later that day. I even remember one time where I had my own version of a Batman super belt. When I got the string hooked just right on the swing set I expected to be yanked up like my hero. Instead, I found myself landing on the ground with a thump. Now days I have the joy of watching my own kids mimic their heroes.
I've come a long way from my superhero days with a blanket tied around my neck as a cape. But I have also come to realize what a true hero is. For that I turn to Hebrews 11. Within these verses is found the shortened list of the real heroes, the Heroes of Faith. Let's take a look.
Hebrews 11:5 tells us of one of the lesser known heroes, Enoch. His super power...pleasing God. Because Enoch pleased God in all he did, he never knew death. Or how about Noah, whose super power was the ability to build a boat the size of an aircraft carrier with wood and pitch (11:7). How can we forget Joseph, who is recorded in Hebrews 11:22 as having enough faith in God's promise to request that his bones be carried to the Promised Land. Joshua had the super power of marching and blowing a trumpet, causing walls to fall (11:30). Rahab had the power of creating an invisible shelter for the spies to hide in (11:31). And let us not forget the strength of Samson (11:32). Yet still other heroes had the powers of kingship, judging, facing lions, being thrown in fire, and escaping a swift sword.
Unlike the X-Men, theses heroes were not mutants, but rather were empowered with a faith in God alone. By the super power of FAITH, these heroes risked their very lives for God. But before this whole list of heroes and powers was written, the author of Hebrews wrote the following.
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
Their faith in God gave them the ability to look death in it's eyes and not retreat. They did not shrink back when the lions roared, or giants came, or fire grew hotter. They did not shrink back when stuffed into logs to be sawed in half, or when stones flew, or when chains bound them. These men and women were true heroes, and these are of those whose ranks I long to match now that I am older. It should be no secret, that as I stand on the Vanguard of the life I live, I want by power to be FAITH. And it should not be a surprise when I stand face to face with the enemy and do not shrink back. For as Revelation 12:11 states, they overcame the enemy by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony. This written testimony of a faith in God in Hebrews 11 is the exact same source of power that I welcome as I make my stand.
What is your super power? Who are your heroes? When confronted face to face with the enemy, will you shrink back or take a stand as those who have gone before you? The power is offered to all; these choice is yours to make.
I challenge you to grab your cape and embrace the power of faith in God alone, and join me ON THE VANGUARD!

LATE NIGHT LISTENING
"The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' Then Samuel said, 'Speak, for your servant is listening.'"
I Samuel 3:10

As a parent of two young children, I find myself to be a light sleeper. I cannot remember if it was always that way, but it seems to be more so now days. I stir when I hear them coughing or crying. I wake to each fret caused by a bad dream. And I slightly open an eye when I see the bathroom light on at 2am. Funny as it is, I find myself this way with God also. I am in a season where, like Samuel, God wakes me during the night to share thoughts with me. It may be an urge to pray about someone or something, or to listen to a song playing on the radio. There's even been a time just last week when I woke and turned on the TV and God ministered to me through an old re-run.
When God stirred Samuel, it might not have been to hurry and turn on the TV, but it was for a reason. At first, though, Samuel wasn't even sure who was calling him. After being dedicated to the LORD's service through an oath made by his mother, Hannah, Samuel lived with the Eli the priest. When the LORD called to him, Samuel mistook the voice for Eli. He rushed in to Eli's quarters but was turned away as Eli responded, "I didn't call for you." A second time this happened and a second time Samuel was advised he was not called for. When it happened the third time, Eli finally understood who had been calling the boy. Eli told Samuel that when it happens again, respond to the voice with the words, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
As if right on cue, the LORD called a fourth time. "Samuel! Samuel!" This time Samuel did not run to Eli's bed, but rather answered the voice, "Speak, for your servant is listening." Now with the boy's attention, the LORD continued speaking in relation to the toll that would be taken on Eli's household. When the message was completed, Samuel fell back asleep.
It is my opinion that God longs to speak with us and share His heart with us. The problem that we run into, or at least I do, is that listening is a learned skill that not all have conquered. God's voice wrestles with my agenda. I try to make time to be still and listen to Him, but in honesty I find myself hitting snooze or falling asleep with my head in the Bible if I do get up. I want to make those moments available to God to hear His heart. I am reminded of the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane and wonder if I too would have been one who slept instead of praying.
When my children call out at night, I answer back, "Are you alright? I'm coming!" I may trip over a toy or two in the dark hallway, but I come to them. When God called out to Samuel, he answered, "Speak, for your servant is listening." God came and shared His heart. I am learning now, I see, a lesson from both my children and Samuel. I am learning that God calls late at night. It may be that late at night is when we are quiet enough to listen. As I do not want to miss God's words, I welcome those late night chats. We all should welcome them. Sure, sleep is needed, but is not being with God more important? I urge you to be a good listener. Whether late night, early morning, mid-day, or on an evening stroll, let us quiet ourselves long enough so that we also can hear God's heart. Let us also say to God, "Speak, for your servant is listening." Be aware and open to the late chats, and join me ON THE VANGUARD!