Flight Paths

I recently provided the cookies for a family event.  I wanted several kinds because you never know who will like what.  You would think everyone would go nuts over a super-rich Triple Chocolate, but it has only been a few years since I encountered someone who doesn't like chocolate!  Hard to believe, I know. 

For variety's sake, and because I know that my younger grandson adores them, I added Unbelievable Peanut Butter Cookies.  Chocolate and peanut butter at least cover the bases with the younger set, I thought.  But I also thought a few "adult" cookies might be nice as well, so I whipped up a batch of Ultimate Ginger Cookies.  Between the molasses and the chopped crystalized ginger, I was certain they would not appeal to the children at all, so I only made one two-dozen batch.  So much for presumptions.  My older grandson and his good friend fell in love with those things.  These were not small cookies, but they ate three each, then begged for the leftovers!

And that reminded me of the times my blogpost file has gotten thin and, despite a complete lack of inspiration, I made myself sit down and come up with something, however mediocre it seemed to me.  Then, lo and behold, when I posted it, I received more than one comment, many in private messages, saying how that particular message was exactly what they needed that particular day.  And here I thought it was just filler.

We should never be so arrogant as to presume that we know God's mind or exactly how He will use us in this life.  He never explained anything to Job, for example, He just expected Job to trust Him.  Some of the roles we fill (wife, mother, child, neighbor) may have innate purposes specified in God's Word, but our own unique and individual purpose is never identified with the rare exception of a few like John the Baptist.  So what do we do?  How do we even know what to do?

I would never have known my grandson's new favorite cookie if I had not chosen to serve the family by baking them.  I would never have helped those blog readers if I had not made myself write when it was difficult to do so.

I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with...I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live (Eccl 3:10,12).

This is how we fulfill our purpose.  We live with the joy we have based upon the hope Peter mentions (1 Pet 3:15), and we do whatever good we have opportunity to do for as long as we live.  Then we trust God to use our meager efforts to accomplish His grand design.  That's what faith is—trusting God, even if in this life we never know the results.  Our God is so powerful He can use the smallest efforts to accomplish the largest things.

Bake your cookies.  Write your blogposts.  Serve your neighbor.  Take care of those little ones—day after day after sometimes tedious day.  Do whatever God puts in front of you that day to do.  Then let God take care of the rest.
 
See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always (1Thess 5:15-16).
 
Dene Ward
 
You can find the recipes for Unbelievable Peanut Butter Cookies and Ultimate Ginger Cookies on the recipe page.
 

I had a beautiful flower garden last year—brick red gaillardia, their blooms lined with yellow-gold trumpet-shaped petals; pink, magenta, white, and burgundy cosmos fluttering on feathery spring green plumes: hardy, yellow gloriosa daisies shining like beacons among the leaves; yellow, orange, and rust colored marigolds perched on the bushiest plants I had ever seen in that flower; bright purple Mexican petunias who, though they shed their blooms every night, never failed to greet me with another show of dozens every morning; and zinnias sporting every color imaginable--white, yellow, salmon, cherry red, fire engine red, bright orange, purple, pink, lime green, and even variegated colors, growing as tall as five feet before the summer was out.
            Unfortunately, those zinnias began growing something besides blooms. It started at the bottom, with black-rimmed white spots on just a few lower leaves.  It spread from one plant to several in an area until finally it had touched every single plant.  Then it began its inexorable climb until only the top few leaves remained green, and only the newest blossoms, barely opened from the bud, were clean.  It took me awhile to realize what was happening, and by the time I figured it out, it was too late.
            Still, I didn’t want to pull the plants.  They did have a little green left at the top, and where there is life there is hope, right?  Finally after several mornings of looking out on what had once brought joy to my mornings and seeing instead a mass of black leaves and stems, I made a decision.  Why did I have these flowers anyway?   Because they were beautiful, and even I could see all that color from a distance.  Were they beautiful any longer?  No, they were about as ugly as they could be.  And the longer I waited, the further that fungus spread.  The gaillardia were already infected, and a few of the marigolds.
            So the next day I went out and began pulling.  It wasn’t even laborious.  Those plants were so sick that they came right up out of the ground, and do you know what I found underneath?  New seedlings growing from the deadheads I had been cutting all summer.  If I had left those ugly things much longer, the baby plants would have been choked out by the much larger roots and then infected as well.  Now they can breathe and grow, and the sunlight reaches their tiny leaves. I have already gotten out the copper spray, a fungicide that is even considered “organic,” not that I would care since my goal is to save those new flowers no matter what it takes, and they aren’t on the menu anyway.
            Still, it was hard to make that decision.  I have trouble even thinning the rows in the vegetable garden.  It goes against my nature to pull up a plant that is still alive, even if it does mean better production from the ones you leave, and far more food on my shelves to last the winter.
            Sometimes we have to make decisions like that with souls.  Give not that which is holy to the dogs, nor cast your pearls before swine, Matt 7:6.  Who wants to make that judgment call?  And whosover shall not receive you nor hear your words…shake the dust off your feet, 10:14.  It is difficult to give up on someone you have invested a lot of time in, someone you have come to care about.  But sometimes our refusal to do so is costing many more souls out there the chance to hear and accept the word while we waste time on the stubborn and rebellious.
            Sometimes that decision must be made among ourselves too.  A little leaven leavens the whole lump, Paul warned about immorality in 1 Cor 5:7, and then used exactly the same warning about false doctrine in Gal 5:9.  If you know anything about cooking, you know that leaven is alive.  It may not be a fungus, but it creeps in exactly the same way and spreads.  No matter how small a chunk of it you use, that dough will suddenly react, and there is no going back when it does.  Speaking of false teachers in 2 Tim 2:17, Paul says, “Their word eats as does a gangrene.”  When gangrene eats away the flesh, it’s gone.
            Yes, we have to make these tough decisions, but I have seen some people make it with a little too much zest.  God never enjoyed it.  I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, He said, Ezek 33:11.  God would have all men to be saved, Paul says, 1 Tim 2:4, and Peter reminds us that God is not willing that any should perish, 2 Pet 3:9.  He waited a long time before He finally punished His people, and even then it was with anguish:  How shall I give you up…how shall I cast you off…my heart recoils within me, my compassion grows warm and tender, Hos 11:8. 
            God never meant for this decision to be easy, but sometimes it has to be made.  It isn’t compassion not to make it—it’s cowardice.  My medical book says that fungus spreads worst among very young children and those who are already ill.  We must look underneath those infected branches to see the reason for our decision—to save many more before they too are infected with a fatal disease.  The souls who were sacrificed in the arenas by the Roman persecution are depicted as asking God, How long until you will judge and avenge our blood? Rev 6:10.  Desperate souls may be out there asking us, "How long are you going to waste time on the unwilling, when we want it so badly?”
 
"Rejoice with him, O heavens; bow down to him, all gods, for he avenges the blood of his children and takes vengeance on his adversaries. He repays those who hate him and cleanses his people's land." Deuteronomy 32:43
 
Dene Ward

We had a terrible time with gnats this past summer.  Despite our automatic atomizer, a dozen swarmed the lights at night and several buzzed us during dinner.  So I looked up the reproductive process of gnats and found out why.  We live in a veritable breeding ground—standing water (water buckets for the dogs), damp landscaping (mulch in the flower beds and more rain this year than any in the past ten), food (a large vegetable garden, a blueberry patch, and grape vines), and, ahem, animal residue—we live in the country, it’s everywhere.
            So keeping the doors and windows shut should fix the problem, right?  No, they breed in garbage cans too.  When you live in a small rural county, there is no weekly pickup.  You must carry your own garbage and trash to the dump.  To minimize the number of trips we put all the flammable items in a paper bag to burn in the “burn barrel” onsite, and the wet garbage in the kitchen can until it fills enough to empty it into the one outside.  That means our kitchen can is probably emptied less often than yours because there is no paper trash “filler,” and that means plenty of time for any gnats that whiz in a door as we enter or leave to lay eggs and hatch. I have tried spraying it every morning with insecticide, but even that does not seem to help.   
            There is no getting around it.  Garbage breeds vermin of one sort or another all the time.  They simply love filth. Putting it in the garbage can, as long as the can is still inside the house, doesn’t really help a bit.  You have to remove it from the house entirely, and soon enough that the gnats cannot breed.
            If we don’t want spiritual vermin, we have to get rid of the garbage in our hearts.  It doesn’t help to just try to hide it.  Make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof, Paul told the Roman brethren in 13:14.  You can’t just stash it away in case you might want to indulge again.  You have to remove it completely, and soon enough that it doesn’t breed yet more.  The Devil loves the dirt.  His minions wallow in it.  Why do we think it won’t soil us too as long as no one knows?  Would you eat a meal that was swarming with gnats and flies?
            Get rid of the gnats in your soul.  The only way is to empty that garbage can inside yourself and keep it that way.
           
…Touch no unclean thing and I will receive you.  And I will be to you a father and you shall be to me sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.  Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us therefore cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, 2 Cor 6:17-7:1.
 
Dene Ward
 

Growing tomatoes can be easy, but if you must deal with poor soil instead of rich loam, it isn’t.  If you have bacteria-infected soil, it isn’t.  If blights, mildews, and fungi abound, it isn’t.  If the insects rise in swarms every time you bump a plant, it isn’t.  We have all of the above, so growing tomatoes here in our sub-tropical “paradise” is certainly not easy.
            Every year we have a handful of plants that grow to about a foot’s height, then stop.  Their leaves curl and they never set a bloom.  They remain green and don’t die outright, but they don’t grow and they don’t produce fruit.  We call them the “frizzled plants” because of the curled leaves and the stunted growth.  If we are not careful, our spiritual growth can be stunted in the same way.
            Listening and considering new ideas is imperative to spiritual growth, to improving our attitudes and characters.  Keith has actually come across a couple of people who have told him, “Even if you could show me in the Bible where I’m wrong, I wouldn’t change.  I’m comfortable where I am.”  A comfort zone is prime territory for stunted growth.  What do you do but sit there and watch their leaves curl?
            Others have a pride issue.  They can’t possibly be wrong about anything.  Hear the sarcasm in Job’s voice as he deals with his so-called friends: “No doubt you are the [only wise] people, and wisdom will die with you,” 12:2.  When people will not listen to anyone else, they will only grow as far as their own knowledge will reach, and then stop.
            Parents can stifle growth when they view differing opinions as disrespect.  Even parents who don’t mean to do so are used as an excuse not to listen.  “But my daddy said…”  Don’t you think Daddy had enough personal integrity to change his mind if someone showed him he was in error?
            Indifference can stunt your growth.  In fact, it is a wonder some people managed to germinate a seed at all, much less grow enough to look at least a little like a Christian.  Their apathy prevents them from getting any farther.
            Wealth can strangle you so that the seed never receives the nourishment it needs. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. Mark 4:19.
            Immaturity, which Paul repeatedly calls carnality in 1 Corinthians, can stunt your growth.  When you are concerned about the wrong things and your perspective is distorted, when you can’t see beyond the instant gratification of things, status and the opinion of others, you will never comprehend the true necessities of spiritual life.  You certainly won’t grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord.
            We need to look at ourselves and the things that matter most to us.  Examine your spiritual growth in the past year or two.  Can you see a difference, or are you still sitting in exactly the same place with curled leaves and no fruit on your limbs?  Are you stretching those limbs upward, or do they droop to the earth, where the only things that matter to you happen to be?
            What is getting in the way of your growth?  Don’t be a frizzled tomato plant.
 
The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, Psa 92:12-14.
 
Dene Ward

A long time ago I wrote a post about a man named Joseph, focusing on the name the apostles gave him—Barnabas, son of exhortation/encouragement/consolation, however your version puts it.  The challenge for that day was to imagine what nickname they would have given you.  While it was certainly a worthwhile challenge, that narrow a focus did not do the man justice. 
            There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet (Acts 4:34-37).
            Barnabas, for so he was called from this point on, was a generous man.  We do not know the size of the field he sold, but go online and find the price of even a 1 or 2 acre property and you will find it in the four figures easily and probably five.  Five acres might well go for 6 figures, depending upon its location.  Whatever he got, it was commensurate to the cost of living and the daily wage of people living in that day, the only real way to judge.  Would I be willing to give that amount for people I had not known for long?
            Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. But there were some of them…who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. The report…came to the…church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord…for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith…Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch…And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians… [Then] prophets came down from Jerusalem.. And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world...So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul (Acts 11:19-30).
            When the news came to Jerusalem about the conversion of some Gentiles, Peter had to explain himself (Acts 11:1-3ff).  Though many seemed satisfied (v 18), by Acts 15, several years later, things were still unsettled with many.  But not Barnabas.  He cut to the chase, so to speak.  When the Antioch church began preaching to and accepting Gentiles, he hurried to help.  When he "saw God's grace", he was "glad."  To him it seems, the gospel was about saving souls, any souls. 
            Read on and see a description any of us would love to wear.  He was full of faith, a good man, filled with the Spirit, v 24.  He looked for the needs and good of others, found Saul to come help at Antioch, which undoubtedly did both the church and Saul much good.
            And when the famine arose, the brothers in Antioch counted both him and Saul trustworthy enough to carry the collected monies to those in need.
            We next find Barnabas in Acts 13.  Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off (Acts 13:1-3).
            Now we can see Barnabas as a team player.  He and four others, including Saul, had evidently been working together in Antioch for a good while.  We see not an inkling of discord among them, no one claiming to be better or more important than the rest, unlike a certain group of twelve who followed Jesus around.
            But now, when the Holy Spirit hands Barnabas and Saul a special job, they go.  No complaining, no excuses, a la Moses—they just go.  And please be aware:  Barnabas is still the mentor here.  They are called "Barnabas and Saul" until 13:43 when suddenly it changes to "Paul and Barnabas," and it stays that way for the rest of the journey.
            But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.  And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.  And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus (Acts 15:1-3. 12. 36-39).
            And we see yet more about Barnabas here.  Not surprisingly, given his above history, Barnabas is willing to become involved in a controversy.  Can we first make something clear?  These men did not go to Jerusalem to make a decision.  God had already made the decision, and stated it as far back as Gen 12:3 and for hundreds of years afterward.  They gathered to show God's decisions by giving direct statement of scripture (15:13-19), approved example (15:12), and necessary conclusion (15:7-11).  Barnabas's participation in this showed his understanding and approval of their proper interpretation of scripture and willingness to stand for what God wanted regardless who disagreed.
            And then we see in Barnabas a patient mentor (vv 36-39).  Not everyone can see the talent in a raw personality, but Barnabas could.  He did it with Saul in Acts 9 and he did it with Mark and, I am certain, with many other young Christians as he continually earned that nickname we began with.  Generous, encouraging, full of faith and the Holy Spirit, trustworthy, responsible, a teacher, a team player, and patient mentor—a GOOD man.
            Don't let his example go unnoticed.
 
And when [Saul] had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus (Acts 9:26-27).
 
Dene Ward

This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him (Eph 3:11-12).
            This is another verse that caught my attention when we did our study of faith, especially when I looked up the Greek word for boldness--parresia.  The word actually refers to our speech and means things like outspoken, blunt, or frank.  The immediate context, "access" means when we pray to God we needn't fear how we say things.  Be frank with God, talk to Him about things that really bother you, things that you might feel uncomfortable bringing up to a High and Holy God.  You can.  It's okay.  We can do that now that we have a High Priest who understands.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Heb 4:15-16).
            But back up another couple of verses in Ephesians and notice another meaning this might have.  And to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places (Eph 3:9-10).  When we make known the mystery, the same mystery Paul revealed v 8, it sometimes takes a good deal of boldness.  God expects his people to speak the truth "with all boldness" (Acts 28:31), frankly, and even bluntly and in an outspoken manner.  We are not to cower behind mealy-mouthed sentiments that leave people wondering what in the world we are talking about.  In fact, coupled with verse 12, Paul says we can do this because of the faith we have in Christ.  No plain speech equals no faith, or at best, a weak one.
            If you think political correctness has not invaded the church, just try putting this into action.  Someone will immediately direct you to the nearest Dale Carnegie course.  But in fact, smooth speech is soundly condemned in the New Testament.  For they that are such serve not our Lord Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and fair speech they beguile the hearts of the innocent (Rom 16:18).
              While there is certainly a place for carefully choosing our words, when a sinner leaves the room without knowing he has been rebuked, what good has it done him?  What love for his immortal soul has been shown?  In fact, his heart has been beguiled by "smooth and fair speech".  And the speaker has lacked boldness and faith.
           
Having therefore such a hope, we use great plainness of speech (2Cor 3:12).

Dene Ward

The time Silas came to visit, shortly before his third birthday, Chloe scared him to death.  What did she do?  Nothing.  Our sweet-faced red heeler simply existed and Silas wasn’t too keen on being in the same yard with her, not even a five acre yard.
            Then he discovered that Chloe was even more afraid of him.  She would cautiously creep out from under the porch when we all went outside, but always made sure I was between her and that frightening little human.  What had Silas done to her?  Nothing.  He couldn’t get close enough to do anything to her. 
            When he finally understood, he thoroughly enjoyed his time outdoors.  He picked flowers for his mommy.  He loaded the bird feeder.  He looked for big hunks of bark that had fallen off the sycamore, broke them into three pieces—one for granddad, one for grandma, and one for himself—and led a countdown: 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1—whee!—at which point we all threw our hunks of paper-thin bark into the air, over and over and over until there wasn’t a piece of bark bigger than a quarter to be found anywhere.
            Then he walked around to the side of the house and found the two old bathtubs Keith soaks his smoker wood in.  “Oh!” he cried.  “A pool!”
            First, he simply stood there splashing the water.  Then he eyed an old coffee can and some plastic flower pots, and began dipping into the tub and pouring the water back in and, in the process, all over himself. 
            Then he eyed Chloe, the dog that no longer scared him.  You could almost see the wheels turning.  He dipped again into the tub and sat the can on its edge.  “Chlo-eeeee,” he called in a singsong voice.  “I have something fooooooor yooooooooou.”  He picked up the can and headed straight for the dog, sloshing water with every step.
            I knew exactly what he was going to do, and so did Chloe.  She took off running.
            Funny how one simple piece of knowledge was so empowering.  When Silas learned that Chloe was so afraid of him, he was no longer afraid of her.  But it isn’t just the knowing; it’s the believing.
            How many times do we fail because we simply don’t believe what we’ve been promised?
            With every temptation there is a way of escape, 1 Cor 10:13.  We are equipped with armor that will enable us to stand against the Devil, Eph 6:11-20.  We are guarded by the power of God unto a salvation that is ready and waiting, 1 Pet 1:5.  Our faith stands in the power of God, 1 Cor 2:5.  We are supported in our afflictions by the power of God, 2 Cor 6:7.  His power works in us, and we are strengthened by it, the same power that raised Christ from the dead, Eph 3:16,20.
            Do you think Satan isn’t afraid of you?  The devils believe also, and tremble, James says, 2:19.  Since it is Christ’s power that rests on you and not your own, 2 Cor 12:9, what makes you think you aren’t a fearsome entity as well?  The only thing that would hinder it is disbelief in the promises of God.
            Our weapons are mighty, 2 Cor 10:4,5, far more so than a bucket of water in the hands of a toddler, and we should be ready and willing to use them.  Yes, we should face the devil with care, just as we would a rattlesnake, but his fate is already sealed.  All we have to do is believe it.
 
…we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. Colossians 1:9-12

Dene Ward

Today's post is by guest writer Lucas Ward.

Saul had proven himself to be, if not cowardly, then unsure, indecisive, and selfish.  While he did have success defeating many enemies of Israel (1 Sam. 14:47-48) he didn't destroy the Philistine garrison in Gibeah as expected (10:5).  Jonathan did that, which kicked off the war of chapters 13-14.  Saul then didn't have the courage to wait for Samuel.  It was Jonathan's courage and faith, shown in the first verses of chapter 14, that jump-started the victory.  Saul's stupid and selfish command kept Israel from a complete victory, which Jonathan immediately recognized.  Saul is shown to be a selfish man with a carnal viewpoint, and his lack of faith led nearly to cowardice, while Jonathan's strong faith brought deep courage. 
         Is it any wonder that after watching his father dither for at least 25 years Jonathan had a strong reaction upon meeting David?  "And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul." (1 Sam. 18:1)  David had just attacked a man well over nine feet tall, an experienced warrior from whom all else ran.  David had no battle experience and was unarmored.  David's confidence did not come from anything of this world.  It was his faith in God that led him to charging at a giant.  Jonathan saw this and seemed to think, "Finally, someone with whom I can share my faith." 
         Estimates of David's age when he killed Goliath range from 15-20 years old.  He was called a youth by Saul and wasn't expected to fight, most likely making him under 20 as that was the minimum age of those able to go to war according to the Law (Num. 1:3).  Meanwhile, Jonathan was old enough to fight in one of Saul's earliest wars and it had been 25 to 30 years since Saul had been anointed king.  (Saul reined 40 years.  David was 30 when he became king.  So, Saul had been king 10 years when David was born.)  Jonathan was likely 45-50 years old when he met David.  So this friendship was more like a mentor-mentee relationship than bosom buddies or Best Friends Forever! (BFFs).  A hint of this can be seen in how David approached Jonathan for advice when Saul first began to pursue David. (1 Sam. 20:1-3) 
         To all worldly viewpoints this friendship was counter-intuitive.  Jonathan was mentoring the man who was to take his place as Israel's king!  While Jonathan remained loyal to his father, he put his father's wishes behind him and squashed whatever ambitions he felt himself in his love for this youth who acted upon his faith. 
         This is something we should imitate in our friendships and loyalties.  Earthly blood should not define our closest relationships.  Similar earthly interests should not be the basis for our closest friendships.  Our closest relationships and deepest friendships should be with those who share our faith.  Our buddies are those who work with us in the Lord's Kingdom.  Our BFFs are those who join us in attacking Satan, and we should be quick to mentor the younger, a la Jonathan (1 Sam. 23:15-18). 
 
2 Cor. 6:14  "Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers . . ."
1 Pet. 1:22  ". . . love one another from the heart fervently"


Lucas Ward

When I was teaching piano and voice, my students often participated in an evaluation day at the university with judges rating their performances—superior, excellent, very good, good, and fair.  When I was a child I participated in the same event and the words given as ratings were exactly what they said they were.  Even a “very good” was very good. 
            By the time my students participated we were well into the philosophy of promoting self-esteem by never telling a child he was wrong about anything.  The vast majority of the 1000 entrants received a superior, which simply meant he didn’t play or sing more than a few wrong notes.  It had nothing to do with his musicianship or his artistry.  If a judge handed out more excellents than superiors, he was taken aside and enlightened.  As a result only a small handful of “very goods” ever hit the rating sheet, and news of a “good” spread like the plague, with exactly the same reception.  Everyone knew that a “very good” wasn’t, and a “good” was just plain awful.  Judges were actually forbidden to even look at the “fair” rating, much less circle it.
            That may be why “good” means little to us these days.  It is probably why we just read right over it when Luke calls Joseph of Arimathea and Barnabas “good” men.  Luke did not use that term lightly; those were the only two times I found that particular Greek word used of a man. 
            So can we ever hope to become so good that term can be used of us, the same term that Jesus used of God?  Only if, like God, that goodness becomes an intrinsic part of us, a goodness that exists no matter what happens on the outside, no matter what anyone else says or does. 
            Jesus seemed to expect it.  You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. Matthew 12:34-35.  There is the word, agathos.  A good person can only do good things if his heart is good, so if I am not doing them, something in my heart needs to be changed.
            “But that’s just not who I am,” won’t cut it with the Lord.  He expects us to change who we are.  He expects us to turn that evil heart into a good one, one that is good the way God is good, simply by its nature.  But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Luke 6:35.  There it is again, that same word, or a compound of it in this case, a “do-gooder.”  If you want to be a child of God, that’s what you have to be.
            Jesus makes it even plainer a little later.  Becoming “good” is not an option. It is not something we can do on the outside, while harboring a heart of evil or malice towards others.  It is not something we can do by rote without compassion.  It is the thing that will determine our destiny.  Well done, good and faithful servant.  Enter into the joy of your lord, Matt 25:21. 
            “Good” is a very special word in the Bible.  It isn’t passed out profligately so we can keep our self-esteem intact.  It isn’t bandied about simply because of good deeds or loud hallelujahs.  It is a quality so deep that if one ceases to exist in this life, so does that much goodness in the world.  “Only one is Good,” Jesus said, in the absolute sense.  That doesn’t mean he doesn’t expect us to become good as much as is humanly, with a little help from God, possible.
 
And let us not grow weary of well doing, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:9-10
 
Dene Ward
 

I imagine many of us grew up using that phrase in the first prayer we ever uttered at the table.  Maybe that is why we are so prone to say, “God is good,” and indeed He is.  We will shout it to the world.  When?  When we get exactly what we want.  When what we pray for comes to pass.  When life is easy and carefree and comfortable.  And that means we have absolutely no understanding of the goodness of God.  We are, in fact, showing ourselves to be those same immature little children uttering a memorized grace. 
            Jesus said in Mark 10:18.  Why do you call me good?  There is none good except God alone.  That Greek word is agathos.  I am not a Greek scholar and at this age, never will be, but I can tell when one Greek word is used and when another is simply by looking at the letters.  Here is the difference in this one.  God is good whether I get what I want or not.  God is good whether life is easy or not.  God is good even in the midst of storms and trials and disease and pain.  The goodness of God never changes because it is intrinsic to His nature.  That’s what that word means.  Nothing on the outside of Him affects that goodness.  It always is because it is part of who He is.  God is good because He is God.
            We too often mean a different Greek word when we shout, “God is good.”  Kalos means something is good only when it is beautiful, valuable, or useful to the person judging it so.  It is an extrinsic quality, affected by circumstances on the outside of it.  Thus, by  using this Greek word, we mean that a person would cease to be “good” if he became disabled or too ill to work, or if she were no longer beautiful due to age.  If the only time I utter the phrase, “God is good,” is when my prayers are answered in a positive way, then that is exactly what I am saying about God.  If I were a first century Greek, I would be calling him kalos instead of agathos.  He is only good when He is useful to me, just like children who “love” their parents when a wish is fulfilled, but say, “You’re so mean,” when they get a “No.” 
            So how do we feel about God?  Do we understand that He is good simply because He is, or do we feel the right to judge His goodness based on our own desires?  The real test of my understanding of the nature of God comes when, in the wake of disaster, I can say along with Job, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.  Blessed be the name of the Lord” (1:21).
 
Moses said, "Please show me your glory." And he said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name 'The LORD.' And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy…The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation." And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. Ex 33:18,19; 34:6-8.
 
Dene Ward