Tsavo lions

I just watched one of my favourite movies "The ghost and the darkness". Based on a true story it takes place in the late 1800's when the British empire was competing with other countries to project their power and influence into the dark continent. Along with the spread of the Empire they were ending slavery and spreading Christianity into Africa.

The movie tells the story of a railway bridge that is being constructed over the river Tsavo in East Africa. It's a pretty straightforward project until two male lions began killing the men who worked on the bridge.

The lions behaved in ways so unusual that the workers believed they were evil spirits. These maneless lions would come at night and seemingly at random, grab some poor soul and drag him screaming out of his tent and off into the darkness.

Under normal circumstances male lions don't usually hunt, they fight and eat while the female lions hunt. But these male lions were hunting and not just for food, they seemed to be doing it for sport. The movie offers no explanation for their unlikely behaviour but it's possible that the belief that there was a spiritual explanation might not be entirely ridiculous.

What if they were being used to try and prevent the bridge from being built and the spread of Christianity? We know that there are regional spiritual powers. Daniel 10:13 And they could possess two lions as easily as a herd of swine. I wouldn't put it past them.

The amount of effort and loss that was required to deal with these two lions and build the bridge all makes me wonder... when we run into obstacles how do we know if we're supposed to persevere or go and do something somewhere else.

They went to Phrygia, and then on through the region of Galatia. Their plan was to turn west into Asia province, but the Holy Spirit blocked that route. So they went to Mysia and tried to go north to Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus wouldn't let them go there either. Proceeding on through Mysia, they went down to the seaport Troas. - Acts 16:6-8

And now I'm going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out. - Matthew 16:18

How do I know if I'm up against a door that God has closed or a door that Satan is trying to bar that we're supposed to break down?

Six foot tall and bulletproof

Ancient England

A crowd has gathered to watch two knights joust. Prince John's champion, a Templar knight is faced by a mysterious knight referring to himself only as "desdicado" or disinherited.

When the two champions stood opposed to each other at the two extremities of the lists, the public expectation was strained to the highest pitch. Few augured the possibility that the encounter could terminate well for the Disinherited Knight, yet his courage and gallantry secured the general good wishes of the spectators.

The trumpets had no sooner given the signal , than the champions vanished from their posts with the speed of lightning, and closed in the centre of the lists with the shock of a thunderbolt. The lances burst into shivers up to the very grasp, and it seemed at that moment that both knights had fallen, for the shock had made each horse recoil backwards upon its haunches.

The address of the riders recovered their deeds by use of the bridal and spur; and having glared on each other for an instant with eyes which seemed to flash fire through the bars of their visors, each made a demi-volte, and, retiring to the extremity of the lists, received a fresh lance from the attendants.

The champions a second time sprung from their stations, and closed in the centre of the lists, with the same speed, the same dexterity, the same violence, but not the same equal fortune as before.

In this second encounter, the Templar aimed at the centre of his antagonist's shield, and struck it so fair and forcibly, that his spear went to shivers, and the Disinherited Knight reeled in his saddle. On the other hand, that champion had, in the beginning of his career, directed the point of his lance towards Bois-Guilbert's shield, but, changing his aim almost in the moment of encounter, he addressed it to the helmet, a mark more difficult to hit, but which, if attained, rendered the shock more irresistible. Fair and true he hit the Norman on the visor, where his lance's point kept hold of the bars. Yet even at this disadvantage, the Templar sustained his high reputation; and had not the girths of his saddle burst, he might not have been unhorsed. As it chanced, however, saddle, horse, and man, rolled on the ground under a cloud of dust. - Ivanhoe, Sir Walter Scott

This scene describes the "unbeatable" Templar knight beaten by the outsider. Beaten by confidence, skill and chance.

We have a saying at work, for people who are perceived to be safe in their positions. Strong in influence and safe from termination. Whether by their own virtue or by some extraneous blessing of the reigning power they are said to be "six foot tall and bulletproof".

Conversly, there are also nervous folks at the opposite end of the spectrum checking their mail for pink slips and the infamous "golden handshake".

I've felt like I was in both camps at different times in my career. Last week I went from one to the other. I started the week having it all together; under budget, on target and motivated. Then one of the sites I'm responsible for turned in some fairly poor results and I ended the week with thoughts of being fired running through my head.

Do you ever feel that way with God? Sometimes when you think you've been particularly good you might feel anointed to be His special gift to mankind and then when you mess up you hide in your garden busy covering yourself with fig leaves. What a concept to think that God doesn't love us more or less when we sin or don't. Jesus paid the price for our sin but also gives us confidence to do battle with our foe. If we believe in Him, we're all six foot tall and bulletproof.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; - Psalm 103:11-13

In the arms of Your mercy I find rest

'cause You know just how far the east is from the west

From one scarred hand to the other - Casting Crowns

Beautiful mettle

They rose up to the heavens, they went down to the depths; - Psalm 107:26a

You are at the mercy of a storm on the water. You have nothing solid to hang on to. Your strength is worthless. There is nothing to do but to ride out the storm and hope your anchor holds.

Some people use concrete anchors. Concrete is heavy and cheap. This is called a dead weight anchor and it has two weaknesses; First, concrete loses 43% of it’s weight in seawater so as soon as it’s dropped into the water it has less holding power. The second problem is design. Concrete anchors are just big blocks of weight and if you apply enough force to them, they will slide. So the best plan if you’re going to use concrete anchors is to use lots of them, big and heavy and ugly with rough edges and maybe pieces of steel embedded through them… and hope that it’s enough when the storm hits and hope you never have to pull them out again.

Mechanical anchors are the opposite of dead weight anchors. They are comparatively light and made of steel. The beauty of mechanical anchors is that what they don’t have in bulk they more than make up for in design. First of all steel is much more dense than concrete so a 1000kg steel mechanical anchor in seawater is equal to a 1500kg concrete block but the real value is in it’s design. It has a shovel and this shovel is designed to dig and the harder you pull on it the harder it digs. Like a shovel on a plow or even a kite in the air it grabs mud, sand, gravel even rock and digs in and won’t let go it just goes deeper into the seafloor. Each anchor, depending on it’s design and the bottom composition has a different rating usually 5-20 times it’s weight in holding power. This means the 1000kg anchor is now equal to a 7.5 – 30 metric tonne dead weight anchor.

Our faith needs to be like the mechanical anchor, when the wind and waves come they'll test our mettle and our faith.

Few have had their faith tested more than Daniel's friends...

Daniel 3:15-28

Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?"

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.

So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?"

They replied, "Certainly, O king."

He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."

Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!"

So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.

Money, power and technology, the heavy things we sometimes trust are useless. Whatever happens don't lose faith. God is there, good, bad whatever happens, dig in and trust Him.

Smoke is to fire as sin is to...

I hate smoke.

Sure I like fire. I like it bright and hot but hold the wood smoke please. I like my gas fireplace. Pure, uncorrupted fire without the dirty smoke. Dangerous? How dangerous could flammable gas piped under our feet and into our homes be? What could go wrong? Anyhow it's way more convenient than wood cutting.

Of course in the summer, we turn down the gas, grab up the kids and head to the beach. Which usually leads to roasting hot dogs and s'mores. To do that you need a fire, and where there's a fire there's usually smoke. When they finally invent a gas beach fire I'll probably buy one.

"Hey kids who wants to help dad set up the fire?"

"Son don't wave that burning marshmallow NEAR THE PROPANE TAN..."

I don't want the smell of smoke on my clothes and wherever I sit the wind blows the smoke in my face. Not to mention, breathing the stuff will probably give you cancer.

Even though we're imperfect and full of smoke.
Jesus is full of gentleness and grace.
When He sees a tiny spark of fire in our lives
He doesn't put it out.

A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. - Isaiah 42:3

Deconstructing a life spent chasing the wind

I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards.
I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.
I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees.
I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house.
I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me.

I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces.
I acquired men and women singers, and a harem as well—the delights of the heart of man.
I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me.

In all this my wisdom stayed with me.

I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor.

Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun. - Ecclesiastes 2:4-11

Ecclesiastes is a strange book. Sometimes I have even wondered why it's in the Bible. And then my wife told me it's like Solomon's mid life crisis and then it all seemed to make a little more sense to me. Here's this guy who's basically got everything the world has to offer; success, slaves, possessions, money, women and fame. And then he comes to the realisation that it's all meaningless.

I recently watched Jean-Claude Van Damme's latest movie. "JCVD". Hold on, I know what you're thinking, don't roll your eyes, trust me it's not the usual muscles from Brussels fare.

It's Jean-Claude in real life. Gone is the invincible martial artist. He's aging, broke, very mortal and caught in the middle of a post office heist. It's actually quite odd to see him in this situation. Afraid for his life and unable to disarm the 50-something, overweight robbers.

At one point in the movie he breaks into this introspective soliloquy where he looks back on his life. A Belgian nobody who learned karate, got a break in Hollywood, became a star and had the world by the tail. Money, fame, wives, drugs, etcetera. Now he wonders what the point of it all was? Everything he's done, everything he is, everything he had is nothing. An elusive vapour.

So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. - Ecclesiastes 2:17

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. - Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

Distaff and spindle

Do you tire of hearing Proverbs 31 on Mother's Day?

Thankfully the congregation I attend was not subjected to that microscope today. I always found it strange to hear that impossibly perfect woman described on Mother's Day while all the men just have to "sit around at the gate".

I'm here to take a huge burden off mothers everywhere... I don't believe this passage is meant to put pressure on you, or at least it's not yours to bear alone.

I believe this scripture is about the bride of Christ. So to all you men smiling and nodding your heads, silently hoping all the women are listening, better listen up as well.

Without question, Christ has completed the most difficult part of the equation in our relationship. He is worthy to receive all honour and praise. He contracts His business at the gate and signed the cheques in His blood. Our lot is to attend to the work He has given us. Stretch out our hands and take hold of the distaff and spindle. The whole passage is an important challenge for the church and I'll highlight what I believe is the material point;

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. - Proverbs 31:30

Jesus doesn't want to marry some snake oil saleswoman or a Barbie beauty queen he wants a bride of true character; wise, diligent and strong.

Windstorm

“For He spoke and raised up a stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea.” – Psalm 107:25

“Lord Jesus if there is anything in my life that I am placing before You I pray that you would bring it crumbing down just like You did to the false God Dagon.”

Some years ago I prayed this prayer and went to bed with no idea how quickly God would answer this prayer.

The next morning as I travelled to work in a crew boat to the salmon farm I worked at, I heard Adam, one of my crew members, calling us on radio. After a quick conversation over the radio we learned that, while it was calm where we were, my farm site was in the middle of a storm. One of our work boats was breaking free of her moorings and Adam needed to learn quickly how to start this vessel to keep her from being thrown up on the beach. None of us could understand how it could be rough at the site, while only twenty minutes away where we were it was calm.

Later, when the site came into view, I’ll never forget what I saw. The channel is about five kilometers across but everything was calm except for the area immediately surrounding my farm site. The water and air around the site was white. It was as if a storm like a small hurricane touched down and whipped up the waves into white froth. I’ve seen a lot of storms in my years on the water but I have never seen a storm set itself up like this in such a small area before.

I spent that morning with my crew securing our boats and equipment and afterwards assessing the damage. We saved the work boat thanks mostly to Adam’s quick thinking but the other damage was pretty extensive. A wooden float in behind the farm was broken and ripped in two. A feed shed broke loose when a shackle was stretched open and a metal bracket was torn from it’s side. During the storm it was heaved up onto a six foot diameter steel mooring buoy and the main beams were broken and half of the building collapsed. One inch metal stanchions that the work boat had been tied to were pulled out straight. I’ve never seen a storm concentrate itself like that and I’d never seen a storm in inside waters that destructive, I knew God had answered my prayer.

God had given me this job. He had allowed me to work my way up into management and I thanked Him by pouring my heart into my job. I was putting it ahead of my family and my relationship with God. I’ve never forgotten this lesson and I’m so thankful that He is a jealous God.

There is another lesson that I learned from this storm that I think is just as important. I look back on what was destroyed in that storm and it was all wood hay and stubble. The floats were old wooden floats that were aging and undersized. The house the staff lived in, the steel cages and nets that held our fish and our boats all safely rode out the storm. What God showed me was that as we go through storms, whether they are of the meteorological sort or not He will remove everything that is not profitable. He doesn’t promise that it will be a painless process. In fact it probably will hurt and more than that it may even test the hardness of our faith.