Who Does Stop the Rain

Genesis 8:1-3

But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and all the domestic animals that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided; the fountains of the deep and the windows of the heavens were closed, the rain from the heavens was restrained, and the waters gradually receded from the earth.

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Long as I remember the rain been coming down,

Clouds of mystery pourin' confusion on the ground,

Good men through the ages tryin' to find the sun,

And I wonder, still I wonder, who'll stop the rain.

"Who'll Stop the Rain" written by John Fogerty, originally recorded by Creedence Clearwater Revival.

It's easy, way to easy to find someone who is in desperate straights and say that God provides. First of all, it's true. God does provide. God remembers. In this reading from Genesis, God remembered Noah and every living creature in the Ark. And when it was time for the trial to subside, God made a wind blow over the earth, the heavens closed, and the water receded over the face of the earth.

It's like that 60's hippie poem "Footsteps." It's true, when there is only one set of prints in the sand it's not because we're alone it's because the Lord is carrying us across the desert.

Still, it's lousy care. When someone walks up to you and asks "Who'll stop the rain?" we are not supposed to just say "Jesus" and get on with our lives.

Something that gets lost in our translations is that the Hebrew word of wind is the same as the word Spirit. This word is often used in the Old Testament to point to the Spirit of God. God sends the Spirit to do the holiest of work, even if it is just drying the waters from what will again be dry land.

The same Spirit blows on us. We are sent, we are called, we are ordained to do God's work. Sometimes we are called to build the ark, sometimes we are called to dry the tears. Sometimes we are called to try to find the sun, we are also called to try to find the Son.

We can't do God's work ourselves, that is up to God. Still, we have to be attuned to the work God sends us to do. We can't stop the rain, but we can help clean up after the flood.

The Basics

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John 13:34-35

I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

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Maybe it's time we got back
to the basics of love

"Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)" by Chips Moman and Bobby Emmons recorded by Waylon Jennings

Yesterday I laid a scathing indictment at the foot of the rich and powerful. I ended by saying it is time to get back to the basics. Basics of what? If your mind wasn't already going to Waylon Jennings then I'm glad you asked.

Maybe it's time we got back to the basics of love.

The song reminds us of what we have lost succeeding in a world where success and power are addictions to be revered instead of tools to be used. This kind of life causes feuds, surely in the life of the song's couple and just as much between families, businesses, schools, churches, cities, states, nations, peoples, and in the worst case between peoples of God.

It's easy to forget. It's easy to get swept up in the moment until all those moments get strung together and become a life style.

So it's time for a new commandment, love one another just as Jesus has loved us first. Just as Jesus has since before the beginning of the beginning. We make it harder than that, but does it have to be?

I do love the next question though, what will my neighbors think? Hopefully, by the grace and peace of God Almighty, by our love for one another, they will know that we are the disciples of the Lord God.

How Far?

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Luke 8:43-48

Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years; and though she had spent all she had on physicians, no one could cure her. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his clothes, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped. Then Jesus asked, “Who touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and press in on you.” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; for I noticed that power had gone out from me.” When the woman saw that she could not remain hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before him, she declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

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Vamonos!

Save me from this prison
Lord help me get away
Cause only you can save me now from this misery
I've been lost in my own place
And I'm getting weary
How far is heaven
And I know that I need to change my ways of living
How far is heaven
Lord can you tell me

Heaven by Henry, JoJo, and Ringo Garza--Los Lonely Boys (2004)

When a younger man, Henry Garza and his girlfriend lost a baby. This song was Henry's way of dealing with the grief. This is a grief few can imagine, a grief no one wants to imagine. The depths of despair are beyond imagination, still, there are millions who know this grief intimately.

The universal cry of despair, "Only you can save me now from this misery."

The woman who had been bleeding for twelve years was dead to her community. She was unclean, she had no place in society, polite or impolite. But she knew, she knew that if she could only touch the fringe of his cloak she could be healed. She knew this was risky, not only for her but for him. If he touched someone who was unclean, he would become unclean too. She was desperate, she was willing to cry out "Only you can save me now from this misery."

She touched him. She was cleansed. She was saved. Her salvation came by his grace and through her faith. It is this wonderful circle of life that brought heaven and earth together with the force of lightning. In this moment, the answer to the question "How far is heaven?" is "Right here, heaven is on earth."

In Christ, heaven and earth collided. In Christ, heaven and earth continue to collide. How far? Right here. It came for her. It is here for us too.

Does Family Get on Your Nerves?

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Genesis 13:5-11

Now Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, so that the land could not support both of them living together; for their possessions were so great that they could not live together, and there was strife between the herders of Abram’s livestock and the herders of Lot’s livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites lived in the land. Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herders and my herders; for we are kindred. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.” Lot looked about him, and saw that the plain of the Jordan was well watered everywhere like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar; this was before the LORD had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. So Lot chose for himself all the plain of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward; thus they separated from each other.

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You can go your own way.

"Go Your Own Way" written by Lindsey Buckingham recorded by Fleetwood Mac from "Rumours"

If the video for this version of the song means one thing, it means that separation is painful and time can heal all wounds. Lindsey Buckingham, lead guitar and in this song lead vocalist of Fleetwood Mac wrote this song about breaking up with his long-time girl friend Stevie Nicks, the background singer on this song. Lindsey and Stevie had been together long before they joined Fleetwood Mac, but things happen.

The original video for this song, you can see it from this link, it's pretty easy to see that Stevie isn't pleased with singing back up on a break up song about her. The first ten seconds of that link will show what I mean. The version above was about 20 years later, during that time, it seems they were able to come an accord.

Lot and Abram traveled together. The Nephew left his father's house when the Uncle left for the Land God Promised. They left with all their possessions, everything that belonged to them. They weren't planning on going back. But all of their stuff got in the way. The Abram's and Lot's herdsmen were not of one accord. They had to fight for their time on the field and at the well. It must have been a scene as the men fought for scarce resources. Everyone was getting on everyone else's nerves! Something had to be done!

Abram decided the only way was for them to split. Abram made the offer, "Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herders and my herders; for we are kindred. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me."

You take what's yours--your livestock, your men, your family, your stuff and make a choice. You go one way and I'll go the other. This is how they made the peace. Since scripture says nothing about them ever meeting again, it seems peaceably. For their progeny that is not so. The children of Abram became the Israelites, the children of Lot became the Moabites and the Ammonites. Not so good.

Families split. Families reunite. Sometimes there is drama and sometimes it works out. In this case, it worked well early and not so well later. How we react when family gets on our nerves says a lot about how we live our lives because let's face it, family gets on your nerves.

Sin separated us from God our father. Jesus Christ his only son is the one who reconciled us while we were still sinful. Now there's a model to follow.

Spill the Wine

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John 15:1-4

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.

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Spill the wine,
Take that pearl.

"Spill the Wine" written by Eric Burdon and recorded by Eric Burdon and War from the album "Eric Burdon Declares War"

If there is one thing that is clear in John's writing about the vine and the branches it is that what is worthless is cut away. We often involuntarily twinge a bit at the prospect of pruning, but what gets lost is that what is worthless, what is dead, won't feel the pain of being cut away. Literally it is what is "cut-away." Then, it's off to the fire with the rest of the dead wood to provide heat and light. Then again, that's not the kind of timber that will burn long so it's not worth much for that purpose either.

The trick is that for the branches to be fed, the branches have to abide in the vine and the vine in the root. That is how the nourishment of the soil, water, and sun come together to become something so very delightful.

Another word that can be used for abide is "rest." I love the image in resting. In resting there is no resisting. In resting there is revitalization. Resting is being revived. As we rest we accept what comes, even when what comes includes heat and drought. Resting, not fighting to get what is not of use, is what we are called to do. As for the branches that don't, they won't bear fruit and they will be pruned.

When we fight we don't get what we need. When we resist we prevent what we need from coming to us. When we deny what we need, we won't accept it. But as we abide, as we rest in the vine, the fruit that follows is glorious, it is stupendous.

Back in the days of the Lord, there was still a grading system of wines. Sure, there wasn't the vintage system that vintners have today, but still you knew the difference between the good wine, the table wine, and the rot-gut stuff only the winos would drink. We are called to be of the finest vintage and that only happens when we abide.

Chill the wine, take that pearl!

The Quiet Hours

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Psalm 46:10

“Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth.”

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I'd like you to know
At four in the morning
Things are coming to mind
All I've seen all I've done
And those I hope to find

I'd like to remind you at four in the morning
My world is very still
The air is fresh under diamond skies
Makes me glad to be alive

"Blue Collar" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive written by C.F. Turner from BTO's self-titled first album.

This song with a great jazz riff was recorded by some heaviest gear-head guitar heroes ever to come out of the Great White North and kick guitar hero... well, you know what got kicked.

It's the reflections of a man working the graveyard shift. These are the folks who take care of the world so that we can sleep safe and sound. These are the folks who work the line building new cars or processing fresh food or keeping the light on at the motel. These are the folks who make the world clean for the people who mess it up all day long. These are the people who work under the light of every star in the galaxy mixed with electric candlelight.

For many, BTO sings of a man who has time to reflect on the world. He has time to see the world around him, and see it in ways that few others will. The world is very still.

There is something about working those still quiet hours. There is time to be still and know that the Lord is God.

Be still, and hear the words of the Holy Spirit. God has a plan for each and all of us. God is in control. God is exalted among the nations, God is exalted in the earth.

There is a time to be busy and take care of business, but there is also a time to be still. There is a time to reflect on all that is and all that was and all that ever will be. There is a time to be still and listen for the Word of God. Maybe your time is at four in the morning, maybe not. But the fresh air of life in Christ should make us all glad to be alive. If not, maybe it would be worth trying four in the morning under the diamond skies.