"The Desert Classroom"

 

“The Desert Classroom”

 

In my eight decades of life God has taught me through some unique “classrooms” (see “The I-80 Classroom”, “The Chicken Coop Classroom”, “The Dugout Classroom” and “The Canine Classroom” for some examples). Along with “The I-80 Classroom” I personally lived through “The Desert Classroom”. Before describing my own experience let’s look at some Bible personalities who found themselves in literal deserts.

We begin with Moses who grew up as a prince in Egypt but never forgot his roots (Hebrews 11:24-25). He fled to the desert in Midian where he tended sheep for 40 years (Exodus 2:11-24). God then called him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt to the Promised Land (Exodus 3:1-10, where he used his desert training to guide his countrymen for 40 more years in the desert because of their disobedience and lack of faith (Numbers 14:26-35). Exodus 12-Deuteronomy 34 summarize what he learned in his desert classroom.

Let’s turn to Saul (Paul). After his conversion on the Damascus Road and ministry in the city (Acts 9:1-25) he went to the Arabian Desert for three years (Galatians 1:15-18). Scripture is largely silent about his activity there and in his hometown of Tarsus but his desert classroom prepared him for his great missionary efforts recorded in Acts 13-28 after a fruitful time with Barnabas in Antioch (Acts 11:25-26).

Jesus’ wilderness experience (Luke 4:1-13) wasn’t a time of learning but of preparation. He had to successfully resist Satan’s attempts to cause Him to sin and thus disqualify Him from being God’s perfect sacrifice for the world’s sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). He then went about His ministry “…in the power of the Spirit….” (Luke 4:14).

My desert classroom was in the late 1980’s and lasted 2 ½ years. (The before and after events stretched the education process to fourteen years.) I learned a lot during this time, much of it kicking and screaming, but with Karen’s support, the prayers and help of friends and family and God’s guidance and provision He showed me things about myself I’d never have seen otherwise. Do I want another desert classroom? Not on your life! But I wouldn’t trade the lessons I learned for anything! And God gave me a promise I’ll never forget: “…I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Are you in a desert classroom? God’s there with you as He was with me (and still is). And His promise rings true: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5, emphasis added).

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Bridging Our Troubles"

 

“Bridging Our Troubles”

 

On April 5, 1987 a bridge on the New York Thruway (aka I-90) near Amsterdam collapsed, carrying ten people to their deaths. The incident resulted when the span’s foundations in the Schoharie Creek were compromised due to heavy rainfall. It took 14 months to complete the redesigning and rebuilding of the structure. We subsequently drove across it many times on our way to visit family in Central New York and always thought of those who lost their lives in the tragedy.

Schoharie Creek flows 93 miles north from the Catskill Mountains to the Mohawk River, Historically it was the site of a couple of skirmishes during the Revolutionary War. In our modern era its resources have been harnessed to provide electrical power locally and a reservoir supplying water to New York City, some 150 miles to the southeast. So it’s had an interesting and productive past but may be best known for its “troubled water” of 36 years ago.

In 1970 American folksingers and songwriters Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel released “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, which was #1 on the pop charts for ten weeks and named Song of the Year. The song is a metaphor of a person’s living through difficult circumstances. Each of us has had (or maybe has now) “troubled water” in our lives. How have we handled these struggles? Scripture identifies some resources God has provided to bring us through victoriously:

*God Himself (“The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs….”—Isaiah 58:11).

*His Word (“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”—Psalm 119:105).

*His Spirit (“…When they bring you to the synagogues…do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say!”—Luke 12:11-12, NKJV).

*Prayer (“You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”—John 14:14).

*His family (“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”—Galatians 6:2).

The “new” Schoharie Creek Bridge has stood the test of time, weather and traffic longer than did the original one. If the “bridges” you’ve used over your “troubled water” haven’t worked out well maybe it’s time for a new one that God’s made available to you. In the words of Zophar, “You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety.” (Job 11:15).

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Cornerstones"

 

“Cornerstones”

 

This past spring my brother received a picture of the 1960 cornerstone ceremony at our newly constructed church building on Long Island from a friend who had served on the Building Committee. The three of us had some fun identifying people in the photo, many of whom are now with the Lord. Various mementos were placed behind the slab—a Bible, hymnal, program of the day’s activities and a copy of the church’s constitution are the ones I remember—which will likely never be seen by those in attendance. 63 years later the gospel is still faithfully preached there to God’s glory.

We see cornerstones on many buildings today, usually with the year of construction prominently etched, but they are ceremonial, not structural. Not so throughout history. In Baker’s Dictionary of Theology, a reference tool I’ve used throughout my ministry, Professor E. Earle Ellis describes it as “…the first laid cornerstone above the foundation and, hence, the stone by which the other stones were measured.” He contrasts the cornerstone with the capstone which “…completes the building and which is placed at the summit of or (probably) above the entrance.” So today’s decorative cornerstones are more like capstones in their significance.

Interestingly Jesus is identified as both the cornerstone and capstone of His church. The terms are sometimes used interchangeably but as Ellis notes they’re not the same. Paul states that the church is “…built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together…” (Ephesians 2:20-21, emphasis added). Compare this truth with the psalmist’s (possibly David’s) words, “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone.” (Psalm 118:22, emphasis added, quoted five times in the New Testament and always referring to Christ). So Jesus is both the One by whom all things in His church are measured (“…No one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”--1 Corinthians 3:11) and its Completer and Head (“…He is the head of the body, the church…so that in everything he might have the supremacy.”—Colossians 1:18). But yet He “…humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8)—for you and me.

So as we see cornerstones on church buildings in the coming days let’s not give praise to the physical structure but to the One who established and sustains His church.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Stop, Look and Listen"

 

“Stop, Look and Listen!”

 

The Long Island town in which I grew up (Massapequa Park) is serviced by the Long Island Railroad, primarily a commuter carrier for those who work in New York City. (My dad and brother utilized it for a combined total of 59 years.) When our family moved there in 1948 the area was rural. There were two vehicle crossings in town, one “protected” by flashing lights without bells or gates and the other only by a sign telling motorists to “Stop, Look and Listen”. It took several train-car crashes and a number of years to have gates installed in both places. The tracks are now elevated so grade crossings are no longer a danger to traffic.

“Stop, Look and Listen” is a good practice for life beyond railroad crossings. We see these commands throughout Scripture. I checked my trusty concordance and found that all three are prominent in John’s Gospel. Here’s a quick summary.

Jesus told the man He healed at the pool to “Stop sinning….” (5:14) and the woman accused of adultery to “…leave your life of sin.” (8:11). In these cases He used a Greek word meaning “no longer do something”, indicating ceasing an ongoing ungodly activity. He also commanded the people to “Stop grumbling….” (6:43) and “Stop judging by mere appearances….” (7:24) and later challenged Thomas, “Stop doubting and believe.” (20:27). Here the sense is “do not do something”, suggesting “Don’t start”. We’d all do well to get rid of sinful practices which have become part of our lives and take care not to begin some which would take us the wrong way.

John the Baptist said to the crowd following him, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (1:29). The original word means to stare or gaze at an object already visible, On the day of His resurrection Jesus asked Mary Magdalene, “Who is it you are looking for?” (20:15). The term used here suggests seeking a person or thing which isn’t present in order to find it. Both relate to our study of God’s Word—we look at (read) it but also explore its meaning as did the Bereans who “…examined the Scriptures every day….” (Acts 17:11).

In His allegory describing Himself as the Good Shepherd (John 10) Jesus four times says His sheep (including you and me) listen to Him. Implied here is the fact that we know His voice through the Word and His Spirit and do His bidding (“My sheep hear my voice…and they follow me.”—10:27). Are we, with Samuel (1 Samuel 3:10) ready to hear and obey?

So the next time you come to a railroad crossing and have to wait for a train to pass use the time to “Stop, Look and Listen” to God’s voice of love and direction.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan