Being like Joshua and Caleb

Recently I have been studying Numbers 13 and 14. These two chapters deal with the spies that were sent out in advance of the people of Israel to scout out the land God had promised. When the spies returned to the people to report on the land they reported that indeed the land was good but they would not be able to overtake those who currently laid claim to the land. However, 2 of the men Joshua and Caleb insisted that God was with them and the land could be theirs. Most sermons that I have heard preached on this text focus on "being faithful to God" or "calming God's promises." However this time while reading these passages something else seemed to overpower the previous mentioned themes of the chapters.

In verses 6-9 Joshua and Caleb continue to encourage the people and tell them that God was with them and that the land would be theirs. In verse 10 we learn that the people wanted to stone Joshua and Caleb because they were so insistence that God would deliver the land to the people.

While reading this text I could not help but think-- when was the last time I stood up for God and his promises to the point that people wanted to hurt me? When was the last time I have seen or heard of anyone standing up for God in this way? Lately it seems like the "Church" is too busy being politically correct to take a stand for God. We are becoming so meek that we are not claiming the promises that God has given us as his people. We sit quietly and do not speak the truth when it should be spoken. God did not call us to be a timid people. Many Christians will not speak up or take a stand on any of the hot topics such as abortion, homosexuality and adultery. We clam up and don't say anything for fear of offending others. How about we not worry about offending and worry about souls going to hell.

For some of us when we do speak, we let someone say one or two words and then we back down and won't continue to speak the truth that is found in God's word. Can you imagine being Caleb and Joshua they had courage to stand and proclaim the promises and word of God among people who wanted to stone them for speaking the truth. Here in America what is the worst thing that will happen to you if you stand up and proclaim God? I am sure you won't get stoned.

My prayer today is that I will become more like Caleb and Joshua and that I will be bold in my faith, speech and testimony.

Pray for Revolution Church

Yesterday I posted something on Facebook that was not positive about a relationship being damaged because the other person is uncaring and rude and does not think about my feelings only their selfishness. The very first person to call me out was my Youth Leader. She wanted to make sure that I was not just venting on Facebook and that I had done as the Bible had instructed. While I had done as instructed in the Bible it was great to know that my youth leader of the past still cared about me and only wants the best for me. Here I am a grown up with grown up problems and the people in my life that still help me are the leaders from my youth. I went to a small church, we had all of 12 or 13 youth group members. Today most of us are still friends, we communicate and share our lives and our youth leaders are still here to help guide us through what life throws at us even after all these years. Thank you Tom and Karen for being there then and still being here now, thank you for answering that call so long ago.

After direct messaging with Karen for a while before church and getting my head back on straight I went to church. On the way to church I was mourning over the fact that my son does not have the support of a Youth Leader. Everyone who knows me knows, my church has been through a lot this past year and we are starting to get back on track which is great.

The topic of the sermon was "Relational Roots" the text was from Acts chapter 2. We all need not only Sunday morning church but we need to build relationships with others in the church and have time with each other more often then once a week.

I am posting this asking that my friends, family and all who read this to pray for my church as we take the next steps in helping our members establish roots. Yesterday, cards were passed out asking for people to sign up if they were interested in helping in anyway with small groups. Pray that the right people, the people that God wants will step up and serve in some way with our small groups.

I am not sure what the youth will look like in the coming months- will they have small groups, or a large group or some of both. Pray for our church staff as they continue to work out these issues along with other issues in the church. Pray that Godly good people will hear and respond to the call to step up and help in the lives of the youth of Revolution Church.