AND THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE UPON HIS SHOULDERS. How I long for the day when that prophetic pronouncement finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. No presidents, or prime ministers, no Republicans, Democrats, communists or socialists, just our gracious, merciful, benevolent and forgiving Lord. Yes, I do so long for that Day to arrive.
I am sure it is what the Jews longed for in the first century, as they found themselves under the sometimes very repressive thumb of the Roman government. No doubt the preachers of the day were given ample opportunity to expound, with hope, the writings of Isaiah. They too longed for the day when the King of kings would arrive and set the captives free.
And arrive He did.
He was not born to a priestly or influential family, but to a young couple, far from their home. He was not raised within the confines of a palace, but in the backwater places of Palestine. He was not part of the populist movement, or a mover and shaker in the circles of power, but a traveler, a teacher, a person of the people. In fact, rather than seeking to be found, he seemed to hide from the public eye, caring more to meet the needs of the most needy, than to gather a revolutionary army. He was not the kind of king for which the nation was hoping.
Here, two thousand years later, we long for one who would set the captives free. One who would bring the end to all wars. One who would truly carry the government upon His shoulders. And so, while preparing to remember and celebrate His first advent, we long and hope for His second advent. We long for Him to take the government upon His shoulders.
But, as we wait, let us remember our Lord’s words, when speaking of His kingly reign He said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” Let us remember, as we remain here working for the establishment of His kingdom, that He comes not to make our world governments better but to reinvent them completely. No Republicans, Democrats, Peace and Freedom, or Green, but a kingdom where He alone is King of kings and Lord of lords.
Even so, Lord come!

THERE I WAS SITTING IN COFFEE CAT checking my email when all of a sudden I received an Instant Message from Krista in Africa. Technology can be pretty cool at times. There I was checking email, beginning to write this installment of The Shepherd’s Staff, and chatting with my Peace Corps daughter thousands of miles and eight time zones away, pretty amazing stuff. Being able to chat with her brought me joy and made me thankful for the technology I possessed.
When I think about it, all this Instant Messaging stuff is really nothing new. This kind of communication has been available to us since the beginning of time. We have always possessed the “technology” to “chat” with God at any time and at any place. While working or resting, walking or driving, splitting wood or washing windows, we can be in an instant conversation with the creator of the universe. How cool is that?
The Apostle Paul admonishes us to “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) Note the modifiers in this passage: always, continually, all. The activities of joy, prayer, and thankfulness, are to part of our everyday experience, all day long. As we move though our daily lives we are to be constantly “online” with the Lord. Always ready to enter into that ongoing conversation with Him that allows for us to know joy and to be thankful in all circumstances.
It’s time to log-on and get connected.

GIVING THANKS BEFORE WE EAT is a long tradition in my family, as it is in many. We have asked our children to “say grace” at the dinner table from the time they were able to mutter a few words, but it hasn’t always come easily for them.
When they peer down into that plate containing food unfamiliar and unlikable, giving thanks is the farthest thing from their heart and lips. More often the response is, “What is it?”, if not just some blank stare of disbelief that we would ever consider feeding the children that we love such fare. But pray they must. And pray they did, even if it was through gritted teeth.
The thing that they never have really sunk their teeth into is the fact that we would, as loving parents, never give them something to eat that would hurt them. Our desire is always for their well-being. We want them well-nourished so that they will grow to be strong and healthy. If they would take a moment to think about this fact every time they sat down to eat they would always have something of which to be thankful. They might not like what we set before them, but at least they would know it wouldn’t kill them.
Lest I make my children out to be ungrateful little street urchins, I must honestly say they do practice gratefulness on a regular basis, and oft when it is unexpected. And that, which all parents know, is the best kind of thankfulness.
As I type out these words I am given cause to wonder how often I have given thanks to God with gritted teeth? How often have I stared down at which the loving heavenly Father has laid before me and said, “What is that!?” Oh, how that must break His heart, for He, even more than I, always gives just what is right to His children. And for this I must be grateful.
And I am.

“THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE PRISONERS and you, is that they got caught.” Those were the words of one of my correctional officer friends to me while I was in training to be a volunteer chaplain at Pelican Bay State Prison. Not a very comforting thought. The reality is that sin, and its destructive forces, is never far from our door as the news reports of the past couple of weeks have borne out.
I have been asked what I think about the very public disgrace of Ted Haggard. I don’t really have much to say apart from being reminded to get on my knees and pray hard for him, his family, the church, and for me. Yes, me. You see I firmly believe that sin and Satan are just waiting to destroy the life of a shepherd, for when the shepherds are struck down, the sheep will be in disarray, and the church of Jesus Christ will be hurt. Not destroyed, but hurt. Is it harder on the pastor, than on the people in the pew? I don’t know if it’s harder, but the destruction can be greater. And so I pray.
I have been asked about the outcomes of the recent election, often with a tremor in the voice that belies the question, “What are we going to do now?” My answer? Pray for those who are over us to lead us, such is the directive of Scripture. Pray for their families, for the role of leadership is a tough, if not impossible one. Pray for the nation. Pray for yourself, that you will not fall into temptation, but rather you would rise to the LORD’s directive to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)
Let us remember we are all in need of mercy, of forgiveness, of love. For it is by grace that we are saved (Ephesians 2:8-9). So let us pray.

“THE NUT DOESN’T FALL FAR FROM THE TREE,” so the saying goes. Thus, I should not be amazed when my children respond to life as like their father. It is also said that mimicry is one of the highest forms of flattery, thus I should be greatly flattered when my children mimic me. Take for example two recent courses my two older children have taken.
Krista, who is stationed in Burkina Faso with the Peace Corps, has shaved her head. The reason was because she was losing great clumps of hair due to her malaria medication. She informed me last week that now she actually has less hair than me. Thankfully, she has a good-looking head. You can check it out by accessing her blog at http://kristascribbles.blogspot.com and clicking on “photos”.
Then there is Trinity, my oldest, who is seeking to follow in her father’s footsteps in working with youth. She has a God-driven desire to be involved in youth ministry, but not just anywhere, but right here at Felton Bible Church, the very place I started my full-time ministry almost 30 years ago. Yep, she is our candidate for our youth ministries position.
I never could have guessed that I would have a daughter serving the Lord in the very place I did three decades ago. Nor, would I have imagined that I would have a bald-headed daughter serving in Africa, living in a small village with spiders, snakes and scorpions as roommates. Some would say, “Life is funny that way.” But, I would say, “God is good that way.”
Now what about the other two “nuts from my tree?” Oh, they already constantly amaze me at their giftedness, their zest for life, and their heart for God. God is good that way. Should I be amazed? Not really, for even before each of them were born my ongoing prayer was that God would give them a double portion of His Spirit, and I believe He has, and I am blessed!
You know, it’s not a bad thing to pray for our kids on a regular basis. It is a prayer that I believe God is desirous to answer, and what better gift could be given to us as parents than to see our children grow in the grace, knowledge and strength of the Lord.
So let us pray!