April 25th, 2013
So the Lord gave to Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there. And the Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had solemnly promised their ancestors. None of their enemies could stand against them, for the Lord helped them conquer all their enemies. Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true. Joshua 21: 43-45
At the conclusion of another long chapter of allotments - this time, the cities and pastures that were to be designated for the various members of the clans of Levites. This paragraph seems like a conclusion of sorts, and makes us think (hope) this long book of killing and dividing the land might be coming to a close. We'll see. But today I was struck with the last verse: Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.
Well, good for them! But I wondered if the same is true today, true for me, us? Are all the promises of God - good - and does God fulfill all the promises He's made? Does everything He speak come true? I have to say yes - a resounding yes! I believe that God does indeed make good promises to us, His human creatures. I also believe that God is ultimately faithful, and does not leave any promise unfulfilled; everything God speaks ultimately comes true. We don't always see it, we often misinterpret it, and frankly, we just flatly don't know or care enough to really get it. We have so skewed what God has promised to fit with our selfishly defined and predetermined understanding of what God does, and how God is supposed to act, according to our preconceptions, that we fail to see the fulfillment of all God's promises
For example, we have come to believe that God has promised only to bless us, and give us good things and experiences in this life - so when something bad or negative happens to us, we automatically interpret that it's source is other than God, or that God has failed to keep His promise. What we miss is how we've messed up our understanding of God's promise to bless us. Sometimes those blessings come in ways that we can't imagine or accept. Sometimes those blessings aren't realized for years or decades. Sometimes those blessings aren't blessings at all, but warnings or corrections, or discipline. It is not that God's promises aren't all good; it's not that God has failed to fulfill his promise; it's that we have messed up what God's good promises really mean - and instead of doubting our misunderstanding, we take the easier path - we blame God for being less than we expected Him to be, or fault Him for failing to do what we'd predetermined He should do. We devalue who God is, by our own self-absorbed misunderstanding.
Please hear me: this is no attempt to "get God off the hook", for what we perceive to be a lack of concern or care for His creation - it is an honest attempt to remind us that our understanding of ALL THINGS GOD - has been compromised by our sinful humanness. Let's just acknowledge that, and admit we don't get it all, and agree to live and trust that God is Good, therefore His promises are all good. God is powerful, therefore He will fulfill all those promises in His Good time. We have some limitations - and we'll have to just live with them, but God is good, all the time; all the time, God is good! "True that", as the youngsters say today!

April 17th, 2013
The Lord said to Joshua, “Now tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed Moses.  Anyone who kills another person accidentally and unintentionally can run to one of these cities; they will be places of refuge from relatives seeking revenge for the person who was killed. Joshua 20:1-3
The first word of grace since the beginning of Joshua. Yeah!! Following chapters of merciless killing of seemingly innocent people - finally...a word of grace. Following chapters of allotments and divisions of property - finally...a command, that there be designated cities for people who unintentionally or accidentally kill another person. All the accidental killer has to do is run to one of these cities, plead his/her case before the judicial authorities, and if found not guilty; they must then live in that city until the reigning High Priest dies. Seems like a fairly "grace-full" option, in the middle of this book of rampant, almost ritual killing of innocent non-Hebrew people.
As I read this today, I thought ' "Where are the cities of Refugee today?" In the wake of the tragic terrorist attack in Boston this week, (and I know the perpetrator(s) are certainly not innocent of any accidental killing) - where do the unintentional killer (or other wayward sinners) run to for refugee today? Where do I go for refugee?
I suppose the easy and expected answer is "Jesus". Yes, we who are sinners (that'd be all of us) can find refugee no where else but in the grace-full arms of Jesus - but do we also need a physical place to run to? I think so, and I believe the church might be (should be) the modern version of Cities of Refugee. I know that many churches have been just the opposite - even killing their own wounded (abandoning the pregnant youth group teenager, rejecting the divorced mother, turning away the addicts, ignoring the struggling, despising the doubters), but I'm thankful today for the many churches that are getting it right - being honest, healthy cities of refugee. I know many are getting it wrong, but this city, this country, this world are filled with faith-communities that practice grace rather than condemnation, and love rather than law. I'm thankful to be part of such a church. God, please help us (me) to always have open arms to the unintentional (and willful) sinner running in our direction!

April 5th, 2013
These are the allotments Moses had made while he was on the plains of Moab, across the Jordan River, east of Jericho. 33 But Moses gave no allotment of land to the tribe of Levi, for the Lord, the God of Israel, had promised that he himself would be their allotment. Joshua 13: 32-33

The 13th chapter is the first of 7 chapters almost entirely dedicated to the division of land for the tribes of Israel. The conquering is largely over, the settlement of the land is next. Joshua employs numerous means to allocate the parcels of land to each of the tribes, and this allotting continues through the 19th chapter. There are a number of cute stories about Caleb making a special request to be given special favors in determining his portion, about Othniel begging for a water spring along with her tract of land, and of Joshua casting "sacred stones" (dice) to determine who gets the last 7 pieces of property. Besides those snippets of cuteness - there isn't much of spiritual significance, in my opinion.
But this allotment of land leaves out one tribe; Levi. The Levites are the designated tribe to serve God and the people as priests, and they receive no land, because The Lord, the God of Israel, had promised that he himself would be their allotment. On the surface this must have seemed like an insult to the Levites; not only did they not get any parcel of land with which they might make a living, or insure their children an inheritance; they were apparently bound for life to serving the people, and serving God. Their livelihood depended solely on the graciousness of God, and the generosity of the people. At face value, I wonder if they felt like they got the raw end of the deal?
I also wonder if we do too? We have become experts in the field of "wanting" our many "allotments". We have filled our lives with toys, and goodies, unnecessities, and stuff. We have learned to value our selves and others based largely on the amounts of our possessions and money. We have even come to define who we are based on what we do to earn a living to provide us more things. I believe we have tragically traded "God being our allotment", for a bunch of often unfulfilling stuff. I want to return today to living as if God were my only allotment - not relying on my job, my money, my retirement, my toys - even my friends and family - but God alone is my allotment. I'm guessing if I can in even a small way succeed at this task - I'll find myself much more content.

April 3, 2013
You might notice I skipped the 12th chapter; it is filled (as are the next few chapters) of listings of conquered kings, division of lands to the Israelite tribes, and setting of new boundaries in the Promised Land. I'm not saying those items are unimportant - they were probably just a lot more important and spiritually meaningful to the inhabitant recipients, than they appear to be to me. Sorry. I did however find some inspiration from the first verse of chapter 13:
When Joshua was an old man, the Lord said to him, “You are growing old, and much land remains to be conquered. Joshua 13:1
It is possible that the Lent / Easter anti-climax has left me tired, or my ever increasing age appears to be speeding up, or my battle-weary mind/spirit needs refreshing; but this verse was a great reminder for me today. I, like Joshua, 'feel' like an old man most days. I am reminded (by God - and my noncompliant body) that I can no longer do as many things (well) as I used to. Though I often lament that fact, and pine for younger days; in more sane moments I thank God for the exchange of energy for wisdom that occasionally visits me. My experiences may have left me weary - but hopefully they have also made me (at least somewhat) wiser.
But it was that last part of the verse that really jumped out at me today: and much land remains to be conquered. I believe (hope) that is true for me today as it was for Joshua. I see and am compelled forward, not just by the calling that burns within me, but the vision of what lies ahead. I have long ago abandoned the thought of greatness, long ago departed from thinking my success was in any way dependent upon me, and long since given up thinking that I am continually going to get better (at golf, and many other unreasonable illusions). But, I am encouraged that God would remind Joshua of the fact that much land remains to be conquered. I am compelled, even energized, by the fact that much work needs to be done, and in some small way God has enlisted me to help Him do it. There are people in my circle of influence that need Jesus, there are people in this community that need Jesus, there are people in this world that still need Jesus - and though my life is just one - I want to spend it, inviting all people to come to know the love and joy I've found in this long adventure of following the one who gave ( and continues to renew ) new life within me. That hope gives some impetus to get up and get going today. Man, I need that! Thank you God.

March 26th, 2013
So Joshua took control of the entire land, just as the Lord had instructed Moses. He gave it to the people of Israel as their special possession, dividing the land among the tribes. So the land finally had rest from war. Joshua 11:23

Finally, finally, maybe the killing is over. Hopefully now that the Promised Land has been purged, we can get on with some more meaningful and practical applications for our lives in this day.
The entire 11th chapter is taken up with more killing and slaughter, the 12th is taken up with naming and listing all the kings and their conquered countries. Not much spiritual stuff to mine.
I guess I am intrigued with how Joshua did what he did? How did he obey God so faithfully, when what God asked, expected, and commanded...seems so far from what we know about who God is? How can Joshua kill the thousands of God's very own creatures, and seemingly not bat an eye? Did Joshua feel any remorse or sadness - or did the end reward completely justify the bloody means? Did the prospect of rightfully claiming what had been stolen from Israel (the Promised Land) so many years ago, inspire Joshua to just plow through the killing fields unaffected by the suffering he surely inflicted? We'll never know.
All I can take from this today is that sometimes obedience has a cost. Following Jesus is not always hard - not always easy either - and sometimes being obedient has a cost. When standing up for your personal convictions (which hopefully are built on Godly principles), flys in the face of modern convention or even your family or friends - thats hard to do, and might prove costly. When doing the wrong thing seems easier, and nobody is watching - you do the right thing anyway - that is sometimes difficult. When you risk something dear, some possession, some money, some time, some loss of reputation; for something that others deem unworthy - but you do it because you know its right - that can prove a large price to pay. Following Jesus is not always easy, not always hard - but sometimes doing what God desires can prove costly. I hope that today I can do the hard, right, thing. Help me God.