Numero Nueve!

Times are truly exciting for those of us who are anticipating the appearing of our Great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ! As the song writer exhorts: “Keep your eyes upon the eastern sky, lift up your heads, redemption draweth nigh.”

“Wars and rumors of wars” was the quote introducing an article in a recent NewsWeek magazine. A question comes to this parson–Why is the world so interested in a nation whose geographical domain is almost invisible in view of the land inhabited by its surrounding counterparts? (Like a postage stamp on a football field) The world as a whole denies the God of the Bible, but deep down they wonder if the Bible might be true after all.

Even the Arabs, many years ago, secured the Eastern gate to the temple mount by filling it in with stone; and they have even buried their dead outside that gate. You might ask, “Why?” Jan, our tour guide, told us they blocked the gate so Jesus could not get in, and they placed the cemetery between the gate and the Mount of Olives knowing that He wouldn’t defile Himself by going through the dead. Strange, since they don’t believe that He is the God-man, the King of kings. Strange that they think He might just enter that gate.

Look out, ye enemies of the Lord’s chosen. The King IS coming! You are living on borrowed land promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and one day–it could be as soon as 7 years from now–the King will come; every knee shall bow, confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord. Then, and then only, will there be peace on earth and good will to men. Jesus will rule with a rod of iron and make implements of war into instruments of agriculture. And Israel? They will occupy some 1500 square miles promised them, from the River of Egypt to the Euphrates.

On August 17, 2006, less than a week following the “cease fire,” a massive influx of Jewish immigrants landed in Tel Aviv. This was the largest number in any one given day in Jewish history. Three plane loads from the U. S., Canada, and England. One elderly man was asked if they were celebrating the victory in Lebanon. Without hesitation he replied that they were celebrating victory over Hitler, Egypt, Medo-Persia, Babylon, and all Israel’s enemies. Victory? Not yet, but one day soon!

The world shudders, fears, and wonders while the blood-bought children of God excitedly watch and wait with great anticipation. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

TODAY? PERHAPS!!!

The Excited Parson.

Tea Time

Little did the parson know that back in the old country, Arkansas that is, the “oltimers” have tea times. There must be British blood there. However, this thing has spread like wildfire. The second morning of the parson’s visit, Big Brother said, “Tea time is at 8:37–Here, you’ll need this cap.” One thing became obvious; the tea was to be served in the sun.

Now in the garage, in its own special little place, was a little car that one must assume was a “tea car,” because this was the mode of transportation to this event. No air conditioning! Two perfectly good automobiles not ten feet away, but one must understand that the mode of travel has to harmonize with the purpose for which you travel. You wouldn’t believe it; this little rig ran without gas, thus you didn’t hear “putt, putt, putt,” but “whirrrrrr.”

Weaving in and out of trees on a narrow blacktop street, it became evident that other little tea cars said “putt, putt, putt.” Significant? Of course. Mind you, no speed limits were being broken; and certainly, there were no wheelies–just a smooth ride down to the “driving range,” which one must assume to be the place where beginner drivers practice. Oh, maybe the parson would have the grand opportunity to drive that cool little rig. Big Brother said some of the guys would be going to the “putting greens.” Now everything began to gel in the old head. Those guys driving the tea cars that said, “putt, putt, putt” must practice down the street on the smaller track. Now that makes sense–less gas per lap.

Then came the tea time. The timing was perfect. Like a well oiled machine, at approximately 8:34 a.m. there was a line of eight tea cars on their way to the tea place. Much to the surprise of the old parson, there were no tables and no tea. One thing had been properly deducted however; it was in the sun!

It was at this location that the learning process took a very unexpected twist. After choosing teams, the first guy went up on top of this small mound with a little white ball and what he called a “club.” After placing that little ball on top of a little stick . . . called a “tee” . . . It was then that things began to come together. Wow, were these guys “teed” off! It’s strange; before they mounted that little grass hill, they seemed pretty calm; but when they clubbed those balls . . . I guess they were holding all of their frustration in until “tea” time, which at that point changed to “tee” time. Obviously, a permissible and acceptable time to express that one is “teed” off. (You know this to be the case because every ball but one landed on the “fairway.”)

Then the “tea” cars became “tee” cars, as four “putt, putt, putted” and “whirrrred” ahead of the other guys. Each guy drove off the blacktop and searched till he found his ball. It took one guy longer to locate his. (It was the same guy who had said that he “sliced” the ball. However, no cuts were visible.) His ball went into the “rough.” One would assume it was hiding there because of the intensity of the clubbing. This guy must have exceeded the ethical limit, seeing his ball did not come to a stop off the “fairway.”

Over and over again this process was repeated until all the balls rested on what was called the “green”–that is, all the balls but the fortunate ones that sank softly out of view in the lake. But even then, another ball would be brought in as a substitute. By the way, some of the balls–as a matter of fact, a lot of them–had a soft landing in the sandbox. (Not being rude or crude, but can you even imagine a parent who would build his child a sandbox around all those teed off guys?)

Back on the green. An astounding thing took place when all four of these guys stepped onto “the green.” (You may be wondering where the other four “clubbers” went. They actually were pretty close behind the first four, just “clubbing” away. That accounts for the abbreviated stops by the first team . . . Out . . . Club . . . In . . . Step on the gas (or volts).

The calm, cool spirit on that green was unbelievable. Every guy gently tapped the ball into a little hole called a “cup.” (It must have been a “tee” cup.) Some of the guys were so gentle that it took them several taps to get their ball into the cup. It seems those who were the most gentle made a “bogie” (haven’t figured that one out), and some of them hit a “birdie” (poor thing–but all of them seemed to have made a safe escape). Oh, yes, sometimes one of the guys would make “par.” (Webster: 1. “the established value of the money of one country in terms of the money of another.) That figured since these guys have British blood in them and it would seem that they probably received some sort of remuneration for their gentleness.

Well, you won’t believe it; the next step of this eventful day was begun on another little hill with all of the guys being teed off again. That isn’t all, this procedure continued for another seventeen times–teed off . . . calm . . . teed off . . . calm . . . ! Now the great thing about this scenario was that eventually all eight tee cars made their way to the “club house.” Now, the name seems to imply another negative, but it really was to the contrary. Everyone left their clubs and were the best of friends. One must deduct that these oldtimers were never really teed off at each other at all. My, what 2 ½ hours of being teed off . . . calm . . . teed off . . . calm . . . did to these guys–mature gentlemen. All names are withheld to protect the next of kin, well, except the parson and his brother, and he was the one who started the whole thing when he said, “‘Tea’ time is at 8:37.”

In all seriousness, if you had been riding “shotgun” in one of those eight rigs, you would have observed what this parson did. What a privilege. These brothers in the Lord:
Ø Took their game of golf seriously with real commitment and yet demonstrated the utmost kindness to one another.
Ø Are well equipped to fulfill their task to the very best of their ability (and they know when and how to use each piece of equipment.
Ø Were always pressing toward their goal; they wanted to win!
Ø Were not discouraged with a game not “up to par” but were always determined to do better the next 18.
Ø Came together in the best of spirits and left with the same.
Ø Accepted and loved a “foreigner” from Texas who was totally ignorant of their pursuit.

Wow, what a reminder. We, as servants of the Lord, are in great competition–not with each other, but with our adversary, the devil. We must take seriously the challenge before us and be “stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” (I Cor. 15:58) As the apostle, we must continue to forget “those things which are behind” and reach forth “unto those things which are before,” always but always pressing toward “the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:13-14) We simply cannot get bogged down in defeat. Let us be properly equipped through the blessed Word of God and keep our eyes on our Saviour. Is not the “goal” of our life to bring glory to Him? Should not our focus be on the end of our pilgrimage (life’s race, I Cor. 9:24) when the Saviour will say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”? Oh, the spirit that will be gendered as we allow Christ, Who dwells within us, to be a blessing to those who are about us. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (Phil. 2:15)

TODAY? PERHAPS!

The Parson