Gutsy people

When I read the writings of the prophet Jeremiah, I get a sense of who I really am.

Nobody likes what he has to say, because he calls them on their sin and implores them to forsake their selfishness. He tells them that they are mixing every other superstition with belief in the real Creator God.

It's other church people who get the most angry! One day the Senior Pastor (okay the High Priest) has him arrested, severely beaten and immobilized in miserable stocks. When Jeremiah gets released, you would think that his tired, hurting, severely traumatized body would be screaming out and that his pain would keep his mouth shut.

It doesn't. On the way out of the jail, he confronts the High Priest AGAIN, before he is even fully released! Fear, pain, and practical thinking doesn't seem to work with this guy!

Gotta be honest- I don't see me being like that. Wish I was. But most days, when even one person is mad at me, I am toast. If there are two people made at me in one day, it's a crisis. And of there are three, who knows what I would do?

When I grow up, I'd like to be somebody who holds true to my convictions at any cost. I'd prefer not to make people mad with the truth, but if it is required, I'd like to be the guy who says the truth no matter how unpopular it makes me. And I would like to see my nation not destroy itself while I am just trying to make everybody happy.

Courageous.

the little foxes

 ¹⁵ Catch for us the foxes,
       the little foxes
       that ruin the vineyards,
       our vineyards that are in bloom.  


                           -Song of Solomon


There are vineyards in bloom at Freedom Valley these days. A bumper crop is looming.


But this week I again became aware of pesky little foxes that destroy the vine with their continual "playing" all around it.


Little foxes like irritants that are carelessly spoken and then take on a life of their own. Complaints, challenges, and poorly seen realities which perhaps an off-duty soldier begins to address and finds herself (or himself) deeper in complaint-ville and grumbling than they thought they should be.


The week started out with me being that guy. I spoke a complaint about last weekend's huge harvest sessions, where what came tumbling out of my mouth was just pure pettiness. I HATE when I'm like that! Hate it, hate it, hate it!!! And I repented before God -and the other guy- for it.


Interesting that it came as an attack right after Johannes' really excellent message on The Happy God and The Laughing Jesus (the Joy of the Lord). Watch in on our website if you have not yet had opportunity. It's the 9:15 message.


I think what happened is, Satan cowered in fear at that message, and decided then and there to undermine it, steal from it, or outright murder it.


But we are choosing Joy, and by choosing it, winning.