The Italian Memorandum

“…I in them and you in me…”

(John 17:23)

It would be easy enough to think that we were somebody special if we were selected for the Olympics, some professional sport, or pageant. But, what if (just what if), we were not socially selected first, or genetically engineered for some magnificent success? In his book, The Sensation of Being Somebody, Dr. Maurice Wagner explains three essential components to a healthy self-image:

1. A sense of belongingness which is aware of being wanted, accepted, enjoyed and loved.
2. A personal sense of worth and value.
3. A sense of personal competence.

With all due respect to Dr. Wagner’s work, anyone versed in Jesus’ Sermon On the Mount will not fail to see that these three components are very much expressed there. For example, the Beatitudes, themselves, commence with the English translation of makarios as, “Blessed” (with a view toward personal wellbeing). Such blessedness reinforces the idea that God embraces: “the poor in spirit,” “those who mourn,” and “the peacemakers” (Mat. 5:2-12). In a word, these find belonging with God. As for a sense of worth and value, Jesus speaks of the birds of the air and says, “Are you not of more value than they?” (Matt. 26,27). And, Jesus, in expecting “fruits” from his disciples, most certainly infers personal competence to produce these fruits (Matt. 7:16-20).
How we view ourselves, then, will determine how we come across to others, to ourselves, and to our God. Not to belong is to experience isolation and rejection; not to have personal worth is to devalue the work of God in Creation and Redemption; and, not to have personal competence is live in doubt and fear. No wonder that God expresses his will for all men: “That you might know that I am the LORD.”

–Robert Housby

(Newsbreak: Wednesday August 18, 2004)

“This is he of whom it is written,
Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
Who will prepare your way before you”

(Luke 7:27, ESV)

The Toronto Star (Wednesday August 18, 2004) recently reported, “Archaeologists said Monday they have found a cave where they believe John the Baptist anointed many of his disciples—a huge cistern with 28 steps leading to an underground pool of water. During a tour of the cave, archaeologists presented wall carvings they said tell the story of the fiery New Testament preacher…British archaeologist Shimon Gibson, who supervised the dig… said the cave was carved in the Iron Age, somewhere between 800 and 500 B.C., by the Israelites, who apparently used it as an immersion pool. It apparently was adopted by John the Baptist, who wanted a place where he could bring people to undergo their rituals. Gibson further posited, “…a foot washing stone… also constituted strong circumstantial evidence that John used the cave ” (Karen Laub, Associated Press).

Essentially, then, this discovering speculates that (1) John the Baptist used this cave, and (2) He used the cave for religious ritual purposes. The evidence seems to center around: a. the cave’s proximity to John’s home (Ain Karim) b. carvings which seemingly depict the life of John, and c. that the cistern easily coincides with John’s baptismal ministry. However, Matthew and Mark report that John
baptized, “…in the river Jordan” (Matthew 3:6;Mark 1:5); secondly, near Bethany beyond the Jordan (John 1:28); and, thirdly, “… in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there” (John 3:23). If a cave was a part of his ministry we are not told. We are told in Scripture, however, that John “was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light” (John 1:8).

As the world media delights in this latest discovery of a cave near Jerusalem, we, as Christians, remember an empty tomb.

–Robert M. Housby

(Jeremiah 49:36; Ezekiel 37:9; Daniel 7:2; 8:8; 11:4;
Zechariah 2:6; 6:4,5; Mark 13:27; Revelation 7:1)

“Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these my lord? And the angel answered and
said unto me, These are the four winds of heaven, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.”

(Zechariah 6:4,5)

Sometimes the people of God need a reminder that their work really matters. The apostle Paul said, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). The Bible communicates that God, himself, is very interested in what happens on earth. One such figure of speech expressing God’s interest and participation in what happens on earth is, “the four winds of heaven”. This is a universal expression of cosmological vastness.

“Wind” is from the biblical word, ruach. The wind is a creation of God (Amos 4:13). The Spirit of God uses physical breath and wind to fulfill his great purposes for mankind (Genesis 1:2; 2:7; Ezekiel 37:5,6, 14).
1. The north wind (ruach tsawphon) – is associated with cold conditions (Job 37:9)
2. The south wind (ruach darom) – is often destructive, sultry and withering (James 1:11; Job 37:9)
3. The east wind (ruach qadim) – is portrayed as strong, gusty and scorching (Jeremiah 18:17; Hosea 13:15).
4. The west wind (ruach yam) – associated with storm and rain (1 Ki. 18:44,45).

The churches of Christ are involved in a universal mission (Eph. 3:10,11). This universal sense may be seen in Acts 2:2,5,6,17. Although difficult to conceive (John 3:9), Jesus is reassuring about this kingdom (John 3:8). May the four
winds of heaven, which loom large in Scripture and in Space, find their place in us as well. The church must see herself as involved in the awesome and universal power of God

–Robert M. Housby