The Italian Memorandum

[We use the name which this Carmelite kitchen monk went by-“Brother Lawrence,” in the sense of Acts 2:37, where “brethren” is used in a generic sense]

In the area of Christian devotional literature, the classic work by “Brother Lawrence,” Practicing the Presence of God, is certainly worth your time to read.  Surely Lawrence was ahead of many when it comes to a personal spiritual life.   Notice some sample quotes below, from Lawrence:

“The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer, and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen…I possess God as if I were on my knees.”

“You need not cry very loud, he is nearer to us than we think”

“We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed”

“There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual walk with God.  Those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it; yet I do not advise you to do it from that motive”

These quotes serve to make us aware of why we do what we do in the name of Christ (Psalm 116).

-Robert M. Housby

“And sinners shall be converted to you”

(Psalm 51:13, NKJV)

Strong’s Greek Dictionary gives the meaning of “conversion” as moral evolution (32).  See Acts 15:3.    Other essential information about “conversion” include:

1.       The Hebrew term shoob means to turn back.  Psalm 19:7 shows the  process of conversion being brought about by God’s law (torah) upon the  human soul.  The Hebrew shoob also has a godly motivation behind it,  propelling it into action (see Psalm 51:13 in context).

2.       The verb form epistrepho (see Luke 2:39) involves 5 groups:

a.      Mk. 4:12 (Isaiah 6:9,10) – outsiders

b.      Lk. 22:32 – former disciples

c.       Acts 3:19 – non-Christians

d.       Acts 28:27 – those in need of spiritual healing

e.       James 5:19,20 – errant Christians

In conclusion, conversion is a turning or returning to God.  The wrong turn is possible, according to Acts 7:39.  But, the primary opportunity is from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to the power of God (Acts 26:18; 1 Thess. 1:9). Moral revolution well expresses Christian conversion.

-Robert M. Housby

Do you have a Christian worldview about the Moon? Look up into the night sky with the following data in mind (Ps. 19:1-2; 2 Cor. 10:5,NASB).

1. Gen. 1:14-16 (the principal luminary of the night has interdependence with the sun)

2. Ps. 72:5 (both the sun and the moon are expressions of permanence)

3. Ps. 8:3 (the moon is the work of the Lord; set it in place by him)

4. Mk. 13:24 (portrayed as eclipsed at the coming of the Son of Man)

5. Matt. 4:24 (the moon is associated with mental affliction, literally “moon-struck” (from selena, the moon = lunatics, NASB Zondervan Interlinear.  Other translations interpret as epileptic, etc.)

6. Ps. 121:5 (the moon was once thought to influence the mind-loony thinking).

7. Job 31:26-28 (the moon is associated with idolatry-worship; Nanna, Sumerian/named Sin by the Assyrians)

8. The moon’s appearance is that of highlands (craters); maria (lava); mnt. ranges (debris); and, valleys (1000’s of km).  The moon is geologically dead.  Its average distance from Earth is 3.8 x 10.   It is the only satellite of the Earth.  Its diameter is 3,476 km./ .25 that of Earth’s.    All lunar rocks are formed by cooling lava (igneous).  Its gravity is 1/6 that of Earth’s.  Its period of rotation is 27 1/3 days; period of revolution is 29 ½ days.

9. Four Major Theories of Lunar Origin – (1)  Condensation (same material and time of formation as Earth)  (2)  Fission (the moon was once part of the Earth and split away)  (3)  Capture (a separate stellar object captured by Earth’s gravity, and (4)  Large impact theory (a Mars sized object hit Earth; splashed off and formed the moon).

-Robert M. Housby

“Tell of his salvation from day to day”

(1 Chron. 16:23; see also Ps. 96:1-13)

If the name of the Savior is precious to you, If his care has been constant and tender and true, If the light of his presence has brightened your way, O will you not tell of your gladness today?  O will you not tell it today?  Will you not tell it today?  If the light of his presence has brightened your way, O will you not tell it today? (Jesse Brown Pounds, Will You Not Tell It Today?)

Evangelical churches and individuals are fond of focusing on one particular tenet of the Christian system, to the exclusion and detriment of the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27; Ps. 119:160; see example in James 1:24).  Notice, however, that the Bible clearly portrays salvation as being ascribed to multiple logical causes; and, not to any singular emphasis of man’s selection.

1. Grace, the moving cause (Eph. 2:5)

2. The life of Christ, the efficient cause (Rom. 5:9,10)

3. The gospel, the procuring cause (1 Cor. 15:1-2)

4. The death, burial, and resurrection  of Jesus, the disposing cause (1 Cor. 15:13-4)

5. Faith, the formal cause (Acts 16:31)

6. Baptism, the immediate cause (1 Pet. 3:21; Tit. 3:5)

7. Endurance, the concurring cause (Rev. 2:10; 13:10; 14:12)

The New Testament plan of salvation is much too important to relegate to human speculation.  Tell it today!

-Robert M. Housby

“You shall tell your son on that day, ‘It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt'”

(Exodus 13:8)

The commandment (mitzvah) to make sure to tell your people’s narrative (Haggadah, recital) to their children is expressed in Exodus 13:8.  The specific expression in Hebrew is vehigadeta labincha, translated “…tell your son…” Reflecting on this command, one can readily assess its importance in communication and transmission of the facts to the formation of faith for each generation. This telling, as commanded by the LORD, is prompted by repeatable questions, which each generation is encouraged to make (see Exodus 12:26,27).  What do you mean is the right attitude toward divine religion.  It is cognitive, factual, and understandable.  The obligation of  arents to transmit the gospel message, today, is a priority with a powerful design.  Of course, the Christian’s Red Sea-Exodus experience is from the  bondage of sin, not Egypt (Rom. 6:15-23).

The New Testament, too, carries on this same communication-transmission of facts, which leads to faith formation.  Several New Testament passages which convey vehigadeta  labincha (the telling) include, Ephesians 6:4 and 2 Tim. 3:14,15.   “O will you not tell it today?  Will you not tell it today?  If the light of his presence has brightened your way, O will you not tell it today? (Jesse Brown Pounds, 1887).  Let the pillar stand.  When we sing it-we tell it; when we pray it-we tell it;  when we read it-we tell it; and, when we preach it we tell it. Will you not tell it today?

-Robert M. Housby

“Behold now is the favorable time; behold now is the day of salvation”

(2 Cor. 6:2)

The gospel was meant to be accepted (2 Cor. 11:4).  The gospel must be accepted because it was meant to be accepted; meant by the Lord to be received by men (Acts 11:1; 1 Thess. 2:13).  The appeal of the gospel always has urgency and expectancy within its message (2 Cor. 6:2).

1. Accepting the gospel is an individual affair.  Notice the emphasis upon “each one” in 2 Corinthians 5:10, and throughout the New Testament.  Individual responsibility is clearly meant.

2.Accepting the gospel entails ownership. Ownership also infers responsibility-a right of possession.  2 Peter 1:1,3,4,8,12, etc.  indicate ownership by verbs such as-“have obtained,” “granted to us,” and “you have.”

3. Accepting the gospel means accepting the consequences of following Christ (1 Pet. 4:12-19).

My son has a personal web site which displays the Sphinx of Egypt; the Eiffel Tower of Paris; and the Tower of Pisa.  All of these are places which he has visited in person.  They are not mere hopes nor dreams; but for him they are realities, facts, moments of his life.  Is the gospel such a reality for you?   Have you owned it yet?

Robert M. Housby

“Happy are those whose strength is in you”

(Psalm 84:5, NRSV)

The concept of “strength” is not only vital in the natural sense; it is vital in the spiritual sense to God’s people. The English Bible often translates “God” from the Hebrew word, “Elohim”. This word carries the idea of strength. It is also a plural (with the “im” ending). This use of the term Elohim is known as a “plural of majesty”, or “honorific plural”. It certainly is not strange why the Psalmist endorses God as the source of strength and blessing of his people (Psalm 84:5).

Psalm 84 expresses four key concepts about such strength:

1. Such strength shows itself in joyful confidence (84: 1-4).

2. Such strength is meant for life’s spiritual journey (84: 5-7).

3. Such strength is connected to prayer (84: 8-9).

4. Such strength is based on trust in God (84: 10-12).

Have you located the source of your strength today (Ephesians 3: 14-21)?

– Robert M. Housby

Katarina Kratovac reports in the Associated Press (Southeast Missourian, Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008)-Archaeologists have discovered a previously unknown pyramid under the sands of Saqqara, [Egypt]…The 4300-year-old monument most likely belonged to the queen mother of the founder of Egypt’s 6^th Dynasty, and was built several hundred years after the famed Great Pyramids of Giza, antiquities chief, Zahi Hawass said while announcing the find. The discovery is part of the sprawling necropolis and burial site of the rulers of ancient Memphis, the capital of Egypt’s Old Kingdom, about 12 miles south of Giza…the structure had been buried under 65 feet of sand. There was so much sand dumped here that no one had any idea there was something buried underneath, Hawaas said….To find a new pyramid is always exciting,..And this one is magical. It belonged to a queen (likely Queen Sesheshet). Calculations suggest that the pyramid was originally some 45 feet tall. The article concludes, “This find is important because it adds to the understanding of the 6^th Dynasty, which reigned from 2,322 B.C. to 2,151 B.C. It was the last dynasty of the Old Kingdom…considered the first peak of phararonic civilization.”

The interest of the pyramids to Bible students, although not mentioned in the Scriptures, per se, seems to us to be nestled in several scriptures. These references include: Genesis 12:10; 47:7-11,21; Exodus 1:11; and Matthew 2:13-15. Memphis was in the south-east corner of the land of Goshen. We are not told who, among the Lord’s people, actually viewed the pyramids; but, the possibilities are present.

-Robert M. Housby

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good…

Give thanks to the God of heaven”

(Psalm 136:1,26)

A former teacher in our congregation, Jane Volkerding, was recently reminiscing about an old Thanksgiving poem that she would often share with the children in her class.  This lovely and simple poem reads as follows-

Why is there a Thanksgiving Day

in chilly gray November?

So-we can pause and give our thanks

for good things we remember.

As we further reflect upon good things which we remember, we are including the last public prayer that we remember Carl W. Long (recently departed) praying:  “Lord, we’ve been better for being here.  Bless us Lord, as only you can, and help us to live better lives.  And thank you for Jesus’ cross.  We love you Lord.  Now, bring us back again.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.”

-Robert M. Housby

“Woe to those who are at ease in Zion…Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall, who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David invent for themselves instruments of music, who drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!”

(Amos 6:1,4-6)

We often assume that the faithful are the Lord’s people, while the faithless are not God’s people. However, throughout the pages of sacred history, we are reminded that even the Lord’s people are at times found not practicing the faith. The story of Amos 6 is such a sad chronicle in the history of the Lord’s people. Notice the characteristics that led to their downfall:

1. 6:1 They felt secure.

2. 6:1b They belonged to a first class nation.

3. 6:3 Personal disaster was a distant notion.

4. 6:4 They were very relaxed.

5. 6:4b They were eating well.

6. 6:5 They were creative and entertainment based.

7. 6:6 Their beverage of choice was abundant.

8. 6:8b Their economy allowed for the best.

Who would have thought that from this luxurious pinnacle they would have fallen (6:7-8)? Yet, they did fall. Think about your own faith. Are you practicing, or, are you at ease in Zion?

-Robert M. Housby