Pastor Ben’s Ponderings

“Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, ‘There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people’s.’”         (Esther 3:8)

When Torrie & I were newlyweds, we had many friends who were young parents. As we listened to them commiserate about potty training and behavioral problems, the conversation often turned to how hard it was to raise godly children in the middle of an ungodly world. I remember self-righteously thinking that they all seemed just a little bit overprotective and old-fashioned because, in my mind, kids needed to be exposed to the “real world.” They couldn’t grow up in some kind of Christian bubble!

But then, I had kids! Believe me, before they were even out of diapers I would have paid big money for a nice, safe Christian bubble to raise them in! As they grew older, I became increasingly aware of the fact that without prayer and perseverance, the world around them had the potential to drown out the still, small voice of the God inside them.

In the story of Esther, God’s people had assimilated themselves so deeply into the pagan culture of Persia that their own faith and identity had almost completely disappeared. It seemed wiser to try to fit in than to draw attention to themselves by practicing an unpopular religion. Even Esther’s Uncle Mordecai insisted that she hide the fact that she was a Jew, perhaps hoping that would increase her chances of being chosen by the king. Maybe she could help the Jewish people without anyone ever finding out she was one of them.

Ironically, it was Mordecai himself who ended up spilling the beans! When the law of the land required him to kneel down and pay honor to Haman, his Jewish soul rose up inside of him and he refused. He may have been a resident of Persia, but on that day, Mordecai publicly claimed his real identity as a follower of the one true God.

We all face situations in our lives when we have to decide if we are going to speak up for what we believe, or just duck our heads and go with the flow. But the truth is, God never intended for His people to seamlessly blend into this world. We honor Him most when we stand up and stand out.

Pastor Ben’s Ponderings

“And David inquired of God…”         (1 Chronicles 14:10)

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, they began searching for him. David retreated into the stronghold until he received word that they had raided the Valley of Rehaim. His natural inclination was to defend the valley; however, David did not rush to battle. His response to this and most other events of his life was simple: He inquired of the Lord. He asked, “Shall I go up against the Philistines?” And the Lord answered, “Go” (1 Chronicles 14:10).

David drove the Philistines out of the valley and removed their idols. When they returned to the valley, David did not assume that God’s response would be the same, but he again reverted to his default response and inquired of the Lord. The Lord’s answer was different this time, “You shall not go up after them . . . When you hear a sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall go out to battle” (vs. 14-15). David obeyed the Lord and was again victorious.

When David inquired of the Lord, God exalted him and all nations feared him. When he failed to do so, he made reckless decisions with horrible consequences that affected not only him but others.

We, too, benefit by inquiring of the Lord for every aspect of our lives. Like He did for David, the Lord has prescribed the best path for our future and our decisions carry consequences not only for us but for others, too. Since the Lord hears our petitions even before we ask them, doesn’t it make sense that we should inquire of Him as well?

Pastor Ben’s Ponderings

From The Desk Of Pastor jBen

“Now therefore, send and gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the 450 prophets of Baal, and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
(1 Kings 18:19)

The day after success can be dangerous. We’ve all heard the stories. The gifted high school quarterback is signed by the college of his dreams, only to be killed in a car wreck while celebrating and driving drunk. The prolific young musician gets the recording contract but then buckles under the pressure of sudden fame. The faithful worker is given the prestigious gold watch and retires, only to discover he is hopelessly bored and feels suddenly old.

In 1 Kings 18, Elijah faces a skeptical audience in a showdown with the 450 prophets of Baal. It’s the biblical pageantry that great theater thrives on: the bad guys cutting themselves, dancing frantically, and calling out to their gods in vain versus the lone Elijah, soaking the sacrifice, filling the trenches with water and calling on the name of the One, true, living God. Miraculously, the God who answers by fire consumes Elijah’s sacrifice completely and the scene climaxes with the skeptics confessing the God of Abraham as their God and Elijah slaughtering all 450 false prophets. Talk about impressive!

Sadly, the next day in 1 Kings 19, Elijah learns that one woman, Jezebel, is threatening his life, so he runs away into the wilderness, crawls under a tree, throws himself a major pity-party and begs God to kill him. He is so exhausted and disillusioned, he actually believes he is the only one left on the planet serving God. Bless his heart.

What is so remarkable is the grace-filled process of restoration the Father lovingly administers to His burned-out prophet. God sends angels to feed Elijah with sustaining supernatural bread and water. He cradles the prophet under the shadow of His wings with rejuvenating rest and restores Elijah’s ability to hear the still small voice of the Lord.

Isn’t it comforting to know whether we are celebrating on the mountain or hiding in caves of depression, we have a Father who loves us and understands all our faults and frailties — both the shame of defeat and the pompous pride of victory?

Is it just my imagination, or does Jezebel still threaten us with her fearful lies? Maybe the next time we slay a dragon or two, let’s go home, say a prayer of thanksgiving to the true Champion, make a sandwich, and take a nap!

Pastor Ben’s Ponderings

From The Desk Of Pastor Ben

“And so it was, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, that he worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel, and said, ‘Arise, for the Lord has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand.’”       (Judges 7:15)

The story of Gideon is one of those stories that is better than fiction. From everything we read in Judges, Gideon was a lot like many of us. He needed to know what was going to happen before it happened. His name means “mighty warrior” but it looks like to me he preferred to play it safe. When God told Gideon He wanted to use him to rescue Israel, Gideon wanted proof. His first sign was given by an angel, but he needed more proof. (More proof than an angel?)
He laid wool outside on the ground at night, and he told God that if He really wanted to use him to help rescue Israel, to make the wool wet with dew in the morning but keep the grass around it dry. Well, he woke up the next morning and the wool was so wet he could wring the water out of it in a bowl, and the grass around it was completely dry. But Gideon still wasn’t satisfied! He asked God to keep the wool dry the next night and make the ground all around it wet. God humored him and did exactly that. I guess since Gideon was going to be leading his army into an enemy camp, he wanted too make sure he was hearing God right. And who can blame him? Leadership can be a scary thing!
When he gathered his army, he sent messengers all over the place and gathered thousands of men to help him win the battle. He wanted to make sure his army was stronger than his enemies! But then, God told him to send everyone home who was afraid and didn’t want to fight. So 22,000 men went home and he was left with 10,000 men. Then, God went on asking Gideon to test his men and be sure they were really fit for battle and, long story short, his mighty army that started off with 32,000 men strong had dwindled down to 300!
When the time came for Gideon and his little ensemble to approach the enemy camp, did they bring weapons? NO! They came in the dark with trumpets, clay pots and torches. Gideon stationed his men throughout the camp, and then when he gave them the cue, they started blowing their trumpets, smashing their clay pots, waving their torches and shouting “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!” The Midianites freaked out! They got so crazy that they turned on each other and started killing each other with their swords! Only God could have come up with that scheme!
I love that God forces us to trust Him. Well, I don’t always love it. It’s uncomfortable. But when we are most dependent on Him, we are reminded that HE is the mighty One. He is the One winning our battles for us. I don’t know about you, but that helps me sleep a whole lot better at night!

Pastor Ben’s Ponderings

From The Desk Of Pastor Ben

“You know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one word of them has failed.”         (Joshua 23:14)

Joshua lived to be 110 years old. I can’t even imagine living 11 decades! And just think, 40 of those years were spent wandering around in the wilderness with a bunch of whining, ungrateful Israelites and eating the same thing (manna) every single day! If only reality TV cameras had been around back then so we could watch all the drama unfold. Joshua was the original survivor!
If I had been Joshua, all those years wandering around in the wilderness would have brought up some serious questions I would have had to ask: “Is this seriously what God had in mind, or did I miss the boat somewhere?” “We’re eating this again?!” “Am I a fool for believing that God is going to keep all these big promises He has made?” Come to think of it, I’ve asked those questions in my own life at one time or another. I guess maybe we all want to be sure God is really, really going to be faithful when we know how weak we are.
Joshua was hand-picked by the God of the universe to succeed Moses. Talk about some big sandals to fill! He was just as human as you and I, yet the entire Book of Joshua is a story about his courage, his faithfulness, and his ability to find God in the middle of what must have felt like utter insanity at times.
At the end of his 110 years, after leading the Israelites into the Promised Land, conquering Canaan, organizing and governing the people, he knew he was getting old and his job was about done. So he gave his farewell address. In the middle of that farewell address, he makes the statement to his people found in Joshua 23:14. NOT ONE SINGLE PROMISE FAILED!!
I’ve never spent 40 years in the wilderness with a bunch of whining weaklings, but I have spent my entire life living with a bunch of imperfect humans. And I have asked plenty of questions about how God can use people like us to carry on the work He started back in the Old Testament with people like Joshua. I love knowing that no matter how many questions we have or how many times we mess up, His promises are never going to change.
We have all been hand-picked by the God of the universe for a unique purpose just like Joshua. If we’re still breathing we are here for a reason. And He has promised us that He will never leave us, that He will complete the work He has started in us and that His love will never end.
When I get to heaven, I can’t wait to meet Joshua and hear his stories about leading those bratty Israelites through the wilderness. But I wonder if he might enjoy hearing our stories, too, about how God still kept His promises in our lives thousands of years after he delivered that farewell address.

Pastor Ben’s Ponderings

From The Desk Of Pastor Ben

Read Joshua 2:1-11

I love the story of Rahab. I guess part of the reason I love it is because I like seeing how God has used messed up people to do amazing things. It gives me hope!

Rahab lived in Jericho and most Bible scholars agree that she was a prostitute. We know she was beautiful and we see in Joshua 2 that she was also a liar. I don’t know any prostitutes personally, but I know a whole bunch of liars, and I doubt if one is a better sinner than the other. But do you know what’s really interesting? Rahab was one of Jesus’ ancestors! Jesus had a prostitute in His family heritage! (You can see her name for yourself in Jesus’ genealogy in Matthew 1:5.) She is also listed in the “hall of faith” in Hebrews 11 among people of outstanding faith. A prostitute! How did she change the direction her life was headed? It’s all in Joshua 2.

Why did she betray her own city to hide those foreign spies whom she had never met before? In Joshua 2:9-13, she tells the spies that her country is melting in fear because they have heard of Joshua’s courage and all his conquests. Rahab knew all these incredible victories were not coincidental. She could see that God was with Joshua and his people, and she knew better than to mess with Him! So she switched sides — just like that!

When Joshua’s army captured Jericho, Rahab and her parents and siblings were all spared. This prostitute, who may not have made a single good decision in her life up to that point, chose obedience that day. And that day was the beginning of a new course for her. Now, her life has become an example of courage and obedience for people like us, generations later!

If we blow it 1000 times and then, just before we mess up 1001, we decide we don’t want to get it wrong this time, God will honor that obedience! We don’t have to live on a sin default. Faith and obedience are momentary choices, not lifetime memberships. If you’ve been disobeying, you can switch sides just like Rahab! Aren’t you glad?

Pastor Ben’s Ponderings

From The Desk Of Pastor Ben

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Behold I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not. And it shall be on the sixth day that they shall prepare what they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.’”     (Exodus 16:4-5) NKJV

Have you ever had a restless night? A night during which worry and fear gripped your mind — not really worried about one certain thing, but just that uneasy feeling that disrupts your thoughts and your rest? One night, I fell asleep fine, but sometime in the night I woke up with worry and concern. I decided to search the Scriptures for the comfort I needed. I began to read Exodus 16. I read about the Israelites, only 30 days into their journey and already complaining they were hungry. They just couldn’t see the big picture — the picture that Moses and Aaron could see — where they had come from and where God was leading them. The Israelites complained to Moses and the Lord heard their cries. The Lord sent bread from heaven (manna) and quail to feed them. Each evening, quail covered the land and as the sun rose each morning, dew descended as manna. God told the Israelites to gather the quail and manna but to only gather according to each one’s needs; they were not to take more or less than what they needed for that day. Anything more than what they needed would spoil.
The Lord commanded the people to gather on the sixth day twice as much, so they could rest on the Sabbath. But only on the sixth night would the manna not spoil. Despite what God said, some of the Israelites were disobedient and took more than what they needed, and it spoiled. What a lesson God was trying to show them!

This resonated with me. I began to see how the provision of the Lord rests upon His children. Can you imagine being in the wilderness, wondering where your next meal would come from, praying there would be enough to go around; enough to feed your family? Can you  imagine witnessing that kind of power, love and provision? I began to see how God had made provision for me along my journey as well.

I can get greedy from time to time. Some days I can’t see the whole picture God has planned for my life. I can’t see past my needs and desires. I began to realize that just as God had tested the Israelites, He also tests me. And I know that when I am tested, my true character will come to the surface. It can really prove what I am made of. Will I be obedient? Will I have the faith it takes to know God’s provision will be sufficient for me? Will I ever learn to be totally dependent on God?

My prayer every day is that I will see God’s provision in my life; That I will trust in His ways: That I will find myself obedient to His will. I pray that He will remove any greed or lack of faith I have in Him. I pray that He will allow me to walk through each trial, no matter how dark and barren it may be, in total confidence that from day to day He has already made provision for me. AMEN.

Pastor Ben’s Ponderings

From The Desk Of Pastor Ben

“I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.”     (Genesis 45:4-5) NKJV

I have often asked myself: Do I have what it takes to truly forgive someone who has hurt me? How have I reacted when someone has trespassed against me or invaded my life somehow, causing me sorrow or trouble? Maybe these are questions that only get answered as we experience pain, hurt, and rejection. I have to believe that forgiveness is a process, a skill we choose to develop and practice for a lifetime.
What a humbling example is the story of Joseph, a young man highly favored from birth, a dreamer, someone who was envied by his brothers for the wisdom God had given him. Scripture describes the disloyalty of his brothers who sold him into Egyptian slavery. Imagine the sorrow, loss, and disappointment that he must have felt. But the hand of God was upon his life, and the favor and power of God was granted to him to govern the Egyptians under Pharaoh. A perfect plan was being birthed through Joseph’s great sorrow. A famine hit the land of Canaan where his family lived. It is not by chance that the brothers who betrayed Joseph found themselves bowing down, seeking mercy, hoping that grace would be given to them. The brothers must have been feeling ashamed, guilty, and not worthy of the grace they were going to receive. But isn’t it just like God to turn a situation around? At the moment Joseph was confronted, face-to-face with his betrayers, he was given compassion, a deep desire for restoration, the power to forgive.
What a lesson we can learn fro this story! Joseph could have allowed his situation to turn into bitterness and anger. But instead, he sought after God’s wisdom and discernment. He was given the insight to know God had a bigger plan.
In life, I have learned that the sweetest joys, the overcoming victories are birthed through the deepest sorrows. I have learned that forgiveness is a choice. When I choose to forgive, I am not necessarily minimizing my hurt nor the severity of the offense. Forgiveness is not just to release the person who hurt me; forgiveness is a gift I give myself! It is an act of love, compassion, and pure mercy. Forgiveness is liberating; it can set me free from the chains that bind my heart. Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” It is challenging to be kind to the person who hurts you. But I have been on both sides of forgiveness. I have needed mercy. I have needed to be forgiven. I have found myself in a place where I longed for compassion. I have also experienced the joy that came when I forgave someone else and was able to show compassion and mercy. If we want to be forgiven, we must forgive others. Mark 11:25 says, “Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.”
My prayer is that I may exercise my faith today, asking God to give me strength to show mercy that I may receive mercy. I pray I will be compassionate so I may be shown compassion. I pray I will be forgiving so that I will, too, be forgiven.

Pastor Ben’s Ponderings

From The Desk Of Pastor Ben

“That you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”     (Hebrews 6:12) NKJV

We hear a lot today about entitlement and we see examples of it everywhere we turn. I’m not sure whether it is the government, cultural influences, parenting trends, or the immediacy of the computer age driving this entitled way of thinking. But I fear we are raising a generation that lives under the illusion that there will always be a safety net — that as citizens of the world we should be able to expect certain benefits, whether or not we have earned them.
There is a fine line between enjoying the unmerited blessings of God’s provision and taking responsibility for our lives. No one believes more than I that our future is dependent on trusting Christ. Living in His blessing is a wonderful gift.

At the same time, we can’t ignore the reality that God’s promises always bear a responsibility on our part. For instance, 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “IF my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, THEN I will hear from heaven…” And 1 John 1:9 says, “IF we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us…”

Each privilege we enjoy as citizens and as the family of God has come at a price. Living in a state of gratitude and a willingness to live responsibly is the only way to leave the world better for those who come after us. An attitude of entitlement is the antithesis of personal responsibility. We combat it with gratitude and a commitment to leaving a legacy that makes our world better than we found it. May God help us!

The All-Sufficiency of God
“Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand. With Your counsel You will guide me, and afterward receive me to glory”                                             (Psalm 73:23-24)

Entering the sanctuary allowed Asaph to recapture a high view of God, and gratefulness and confidence overflowed from his heart. With bolstered enthusiasm he declared that God is with us continually. As Asaph reflected on his dark days, he saw that he was never alone. With the knowledge that God would never leave nor forsake him, Asaph emerged from the sanctuary with renewed courage. This is the same assurance that Christ later gave His disciples when He said, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
Asaph could depend on God’s presence, and he could also rest in the confidence that the Lord would strengthen him — a comforting truth when life feels overwhelming. This is the same confidence the apostle Paul later expressed when he wrote, “Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God” (2 Corinthians 3:5).
Not only did Asaph have the assurance of God’s presence and strength, he could also count on the Spirit of God and the Word of God to lead him all the way home. “With Your counsel You will guide me, and afterward receive me to glory” (Psalm 73:24). Perhaps Asaph’s most wonderful discovery was that God’s presence, strength, and wisdom would never end. He knew that when life had run its course, God would fulfill His promise of a home with Him forever.
Does that sound like a God who has forgotten and abandoned us? Absolutely not! That is a God who will never leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6, 8; Hebrews 13:5).
In the closing verse of Psalm 73, Asaph recounted what he learned from his struggle:

1.)     God Is More Important Than Anything Else In Life.
“Who have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.”
(vs. 25)
God was ultimately all Asaph had and all he needed. He could rest in God’s care and have the confidence that nothing else compared to his Lord.

2.)     God Is All the Strength We Need.
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”                                     (vs. 26)
In those moments when Asaph would be tempted to rely on his own strength, he had discovered that only in God could he find the unending strength he needed. The apostle Paul knew what it was like to be in difficult circumstances. But he also knew that it was God who gave him strength to endure. From prison he wrote: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).

3.)     God Will Be as Fair as He Is Merciful.

“For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You.”     (vs. 27)

Asaph had found himself envying the godless and their prosperity (vs.3). He struggled with the apparent inequities of life (vs. 4-12). He even came to the point of feeling that he had lived for God in vain (vs. 13). But in the end, Asaph acknowledged that those matters must be entrusted to God. As Abraham said, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?” (Genesis 18:25). Yes, and Asaph had learned to trust that the Lord, in His own timing and wisdom, would deal mercifully but justly with all the wrongs of life.

4.)     God Draws Near to Those Who Draw Near to Him.

“But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works (vs. 28).

Asaph’s responsibility was not to pass judgment on the world or try to bring about justice on his own. This does not mean that followers of God should ignore suffering and injustice. The Bible is full of exhortations to put the needs of others ahead of our own. Micah 6:8 tells us to “do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” And James 1:27 reminds us that “pure and undefiled religion . . .is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstaffed by the world.”
Asaph’s ultimate conclusion was that God, in His infinite goodness and wisdom, is in control even when we suffer and don’t know why. Although life in this fallen world is hard, God will always be just. By faith, Asaph arrived at a deep, personal conviction of the confession he alluded to as he began his story: “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart!” (Psalm 73:1)

Overwhelming stresses in life can sometimes lead you to the point of walking away from your faith, especially when it seems as though those who don’t trust God are prospering. But when life doesn’t make sense; when it just doesn’t seem fair, TRUST GOD, by focusing on His goodness rather than your circumstances.