Dear Friends, 

We live in a part of the country that is not normally subject to cyclones or tornadoes, or even extremely severe windstorms.  However, there are occasions…as we recently experienced, with winds up to 134 kms. (83 miles) per hour.  Funnel clouds were seen in the darkened Western sky but, fortunately, none of them actually ‘touched down.’  Our neighboring City of Edmonton suffered some of the worst of the storm.  Hundreds of trees were uprooted, windows shattered, tombstones overturned, lightning and thunder with large hail, and it resulted in “one of the biggest power outages ever.”  The storm was officially termed a “gust front” which can “sometimes cause even more damage than a tornado because it can “cast a wider net.” 

The following poem by Edwin Markham (1852-1940) has long been a favorite of mine: 

At the heart of the cyclone tearing the sky
And flinging the clouds and the towers by,
Is a place of central calm;
So here in the roar of mortal things,
I have a place where my spirit sings
In the hollow of God’s palm.

I’ve wondered about the “heart of the cyclone” or “the eye of the storm,” so I did some research to discover what it means.  This is, very briefly, what I found:  

A Cyclone is a low-pressure area in the atmosphere in which winds spiral inward.  It may cover an area half the size of the United States.  A special intense kind of cyclone up to 2 miles across is called a Tornado – the most violent of all storms.  The winds whirl around the center of the storm in the shape of a funnel at speeds of up to 640 kms (400 miles) per hour!  Tornadoes destroy almost everything in their path.   

A tropical Cyclone is a severe large, whirling storm that forms near the equator over warm ocean waters.  It is called a Hurricane if it forms in the West Indies or the eastern Pacific Ocean, or a Typhoon if it forms in the Western Pacific.  Winds swirl around the center, or eye – a calm area in the centre of the storm – at speeds of 121 kms (75 miles) per hour or more.  Storm clouds, called wall clouds, surround the eye, which may measure 32 kms (20 miles) in diameter.  These bring the strongest winds and the heaviest rain.  Hurricanes hit land with tremendous force, bringing huge waves and heavy rain.  Thunderstorms often form within hurricanes and produce tornadoes.   When a hurricane moves over land, strong winds and heavy rain hit the area for several hours, often causing severe flooding. 

In Scripture, God is often associated with the whirlwind, and we are told that God spoke to Job “out of the whirlwind.”  It is interesting that one translation says “out of the eye of the storm!”  When the ’storms of life’ assail us, we are assured that God is “a refuge from the storm”
 ( Job 38:1; 40:6; Isa. 25:4)   

The poets have found a lovely way of expressing a spiritual parallel to this phenomenon:  

Fear not that the whirlwind shall carry you hence,
Nor wait for its onslaught in breathless suspense,
Nor shrink from the whips of the terrible hail,
But pass through the edge to the HEART OF THE GALE.
For there is a shelter sun lighted and warm,
And Faith sees her God in the EYE OF THE STORM.
The passionate tempest with rush and wild roar,
And threatenings of evil may beat on the shore.

The waves may be mountains, the fields battle plains,
And the earth be immersed in a deluge of rains;
Yet the soul, stayed on God, may sing bravely its psalm,
For the HEART OF THE STORM is the CENTRE OF CALM.
Let hope be not quenched in the blackness of night,
Though the cyclone awhile may have blotted the light;
For behind the great darkness the stars ever shine,
And the light of God’s heaven, His love shall make thine.

Let no gloom dim your eyes, but uplift them on high
To the face of your God and the blue of the sky;
The storm is your shelter from danger and sin,
And God Himself takes you for safety within.
The tempest with Him passes into deep calm,
And the roar of the winds is the sound of a psalm;
Be glad and serene when the tempest clouds form,
God smiles on His child in the EYE OF THE STORM.
                                                Author unknown 

“May God, the giver of HOPE
fill you with continual joy and peace because you trust in Him—
so that you may have abundant HOPE
through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
(Romans 15:13 Weymouth) 

In Agape, Eulene

Dear Ones, 

I was speaking with my daughter on the phone recently when the line went dead!  A little later I tried to call her back, but had no dial tone.  Then I tried on the new cell phone with which I wasn’t very familiar, and I didn’t know whether the lack of success in getting through with that – to anywhere – was my fault, or that of the phone.  A little later the dial tone returned and, with some measure of relief, we were able to continue our conversation.  On an ensuing call, again, no dial tone!  In the meantime, David was expecting an important return call that would affect his day’s activities, so it was a little frustrating to realize he couldn’t be reached by phone.  Eventually, I managed on the cell phone to contact Telephone Repair, and was assured that, although they were experiencing difficulties in our area, their technicians were working on the problem in an effort to restore service as soon as possible. 

The whole incident turned my thoughts back to my precious grandparents who homesteaded on the Saskatchewan prairie early in the 1900s, and the lack of communication that prevailed in those days:  a post-mail letter once or twice a year to/from those at a distance;  a bi-weekly or monthly trip into town to obtain basic supplies;  a rare visit to or from a neighbor four or five miles away.  Or, if the message was extremely urgent, a telegram that might be delivered by horseback.  The closest they came to a telephone was the telegraph office in town!    I seem to have a vague childhood recollection of my Grandfather experimenting with tin cans at the ends of a long wire strung between his house and my Great Uncle’s house a quarter of a mile away!  I was too young to remember whether or not they ever worked.  :) 

Whatever would we do these days without our modern means of communication?  Telephones (with all their variations), radios, televisions, computerized communications, and other technological innovations of which I am unaware;  instantaneous connections, not only to the other side of the globe, but incredibly far out into space!   On the recent 35th anniversary of the historic 1969 moon-landing, we heard again the voice of Neil Armstrong announce, “The Eagle has landed!”  Our grandparents would have been totally overwhelmed with astonishment and disbelief. 

My reminiscing also brought to mind an old song we used to sing when I was a child: 

Telephone to Glory, O, what joy divine,
I can feel the current moving on the line.
Built by God the Father for His loved and own,
We may talk with Jesus on this Royal Telephone. 

I can’t describe the allegory any better than the words of the verses: 

 ”Central’s never busy – always on the line; 
You may hear from Heaven almost any time. 
‘Tis a Royal Service free for one and all. 
When you get in trouble, give this Royal line a call.  

“There will be no charges, telephone is free; 
 It was built for service just for you and me. 
He will be there waiting on this Royal line;
Telephone to Glory always answers just on time.

“Carnal interference cannot get control
Of this line to Glory anchored in the soul. 
Storm and trial cannot disconnect the line,
Held in constant keeping by the Father’s hand Divine.” 

            © 1919 F. M. Lehman 

It reminds us again of the glorious favor we have of instant, ongoing communication (the privilege of prayer) with our Creator, Saviour and Lord.  He invites us to call Him anytime:- 

“Call unto Me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things which you know not.”  (Jer. 33:30)
“Call upon Me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”  (Ps. 50:15)
“He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;  I will be with him in trouble;  I will deliver him, and honor him.”  (Ps. 91:15) 

How often do you use your Royal Telephone?  Instant connections are available to those who make the call.  You’ll never get a busy signal, you won’t get an answering machine at the other end, and you won’t be relegated to Voicemail or other automated “choices.” 

Together with the Psalmist, and countless others through the ages, “Because He has inclined His ear unto me, therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live.”  (Ps. 116:2)   How about you? 

“May God, the giver of HOPE,
fill you with continual joy and peace because you trust in Him—
so that you may have abundant HOPE
through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
(Romans 15:13 Weymouth) 

In Agape, Eulene

Greetings, 

I do believe that when “the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed…to dress it and keep it,” in His wisdom He knew that, in the midst of growing things, we could learn the most profound lessons of life.  (Gen. 2:8) 

Yes!  It is that time of year.  We do not have the garden we once had, but our few vegetables (along the fence and in “tires”) are growing – and so are the weeds!  Those unwanted plants that grow up, uninvited, rob the legitimate seedlings of their necessary food from the soil.  

We also now have a driveway and parking area covered with washed gravel which serves us well and which looks good – until it becomes spotted here and there with dandelions, plantains, purslanes, and other undesirables.  Then it looks shaggy and unkempt.   

Unfortunately, dealing with those intruders only on the surface does not solve the problem.  We must get “at the ROOT of the problem.”  Ah, yes, ROOTS! 
–Some roots are tender and break off easily, leaving the main part in the ground to grow just as aggressively as ever. 
–Some roots grow deep and it takes some serious digging to get hold of the whole root. 
–Some run underground for yards (meters in Canada J ) and it takes some diligence to follow the trail to their end. 
–Yet others grow in large clumps that leave a gaping hole when they are extracted. 

Not all weeds appear obnoxious.  Some can be rather attractive, with nicely shaped leaves and even pretty flowers.  And we allow them to grow, thinking they will not do too much harm.  But time passes, the rains come, and we get busy with other things.  Then one day, we discover that ‘harmless’ little weed has taken over and the proper plant beside it is looking stunted and under-developed.  We try to remove the weed, but the roots have spread and tangled with the roots beside it, so that it is almost impossible to avoid damaging the good plant even more. 

The Word of God uses roots to symbolize some things in our lives that are detrimental to our growth and development, and it warns us to keep watch for them.  “Follow peace with everyone, and holiness, without which no one shall see the Lord!  Looking diligently…lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.”  What starts out as a seemingly harmless ‘justified’ feeling of pride or self-pity, soon grows into resentment, malice, rancor, animosity.  It robs us of the joy and peace that comes with growth, development and maturity.  (Heb. 12:15) 

I think many of the problems we encounter in life are the result of permitting a little root to start growing:-  resentment, unforgiveness, anger (‘justified’ of course!), jealousy, pride, envy, love of money…   I recall a little chorus we sometimes sing with the children:- 

Dig them out, and get them gone,
All the little thistles in the fields of corn:
Envy, jealousy, malice, pride,
And all the other sins that in my heart abide.

The very best ‘trowel’ to deal with this kind of ‘weed’ is the Word of God, applied by the Holy Spirit.  “For God’s Message is full of life and power, and is keener than the sharpest two-edgèd sword.  It pierces…and penetrates…and it can discern the secret thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  No created thing is able to escape its scrutiny, but everything lies bare and completely exposed before the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do.”   (Heb. 4:13-16 Weymouth)   

The Message Bible says it is as “sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey.”  As we yield to God’s working in our lives, it is sufficient to deal with the most tenacious “roots” that, as I wrote in an earlier letter, tend to invade our Life’s Garden, pilfer our peace and joy, and steal the nutrients our spirits need to “grow in grace” and bear “good fruit.”   

The passage goes on to tell us that Jesus, our Saviour, has preceded us into the Presence of the Father, so we can “come boldly to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy, and find grace to help in our times of need.”   (Heb. 4:16) 

There isn’t much more satisfying to a gardener than tidy well-cultivated rows of healthy, fruitful plants, free of weeds and thistles.  “YOU are God’s garden – God’s planting…”  and He desires to have “plants” that produce the good “fruit of the Spirit,” which is “in all GOODNESS, and RIGHTEOUSNESS, and TRUTH, proving what is acceptable to the Lord.”  (1 Cor. 3:9;  Eph. 5:9,10) 

“Let us not lose heart in well-doing for, in due season, we shall reap if we do not give up.”  (Gal. 6:9) 

“Now the God of all HOPE
 fill you with all JOY and PEACE in the believing,
that you may abound in HOPE
through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
(Romans 15:13) 

In Agape, Eulene

Dear Friends, 

There is a little space between the back of our house and the tree covered hill which slopes away toward a valley on the North.  The fresh green leaves of the aspens whisper their praises in the light breeze, and the beauty of a mature clump of white birch continues to delight us.  Occasionally, on a calm pleasant evening, David and I will eat our supper there, sitting on our lawn swing. 

Towering above the delphiniums, flower pots and garden clock is a bird feeder in the form of a church building – steeple and all.  We have often watched the birds feed there, especially during the snowy winter days when otherwise food can be scarce. 

This year, we watched as a pair of small birds, possibly a type of wood sparrow, worked very hard at hauling in twigs and other nest-building materials.  It was sometimes a challenge for them to get some of the longer grasses through the opening.  But they persevered until it seemed that the “church” must be quite full.  

We wondered for a few days whether they might have given up on the project.  But, one evening, as we sat on our lawn swing eating our supper, we noticed quite a bit of chirping that seemed to come from the area of the bird-church.  Then we noticed one of the birds continually flying away, only to return with something in its beak.  When one delivery proved to be a wiggly worm, we realized that the chirping came from a family of baby birds crying for their supper. 

The whole scene brought to mind again the beautiful passage of Scripture found in the 84^th Psalm:
“How amiable are Your tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!  My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord;  my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.  Yes, the sparrow has found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God.  Blessed are they that dwell in Your house; they will be still praising You.”  

We like to sing a little different version of these verses:
How lovely are Thy dwelling-places
My soul longs for the courts of the Lord.
My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God,
You are my King and my God. 

What are His dwelling-places?  There was a time when God dwelt in the Holiest Place in the Tabernacle in the Wilderness;  then in the Temple built by King Solomon;  then in the Tabernacle of David.  Solomon himself questioned where God would dwell on the earth.  He declared that the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain God;  how much less the temple that he had built, though it was a great building built for a “God above all gods.” (1 Kings 8:27;  2 Chron. 2:6;6:18)  

In the Apostle Stephen’s famous oratory, he declared that, although Solomon had built Him a most magnificent and costly house, “Howbeit the Most High dwells not in temples made with hands, as said the prophet, ‘Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool.  What house will you build me? Says the Lord;  or what is the place of My rest?  Has not My hand made all these things?’” (Acts 7:47-50)

Again and again, God’s place of dwelling was questioned.  God Himself asks the question:  “Thus says the Lord, ‘The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool.  Where is the house that you build for Me?  And where is the place of My rest?  For all those things has My hands made, and all those things have been, says the Lord;  BUT to this one will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at My Word.”  (Isa. 66:1,2)

So again, the question presents itself:  “What are His dwelling-places? 

I believe the question is answered in the 132^nd Psalm:  “For the Lord has chosen Zion;  He has desired it for His habitation.  ‘This is my rest forever;  here will I dwell, for I have desired it.  I will abundantly bless her provision;  I will satisfy her poor with bread.  I will also clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.’ ”  (Ps. 132:13-16) 

Zechariah prophesied concerning this day:  “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion;  for lo, I come, and I will dwell in your midst, says the Lord.  And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be My people, and I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me unto you.”  (Zech. 2:10,11) 

As quoted in a previous letter (His Dwelling Places), the New Covenant “Zion” is a God-made place built with “living stones, built together for a DWELLING PLACE OF GOD through the Spirit.” (1 Peter 2:5) 

Paul also makes it very clear that the children of God, through our birth in the Spirit, are, indeed, the temples in which He dwells:  “Do you not know that YOU are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in YOU? …..for the temple of God is holy, which temple YOU ARE!”  And so it is, as Paul said, “Christ in YOU, the HOPE of Glory.”   (John 3:5;  1 Cor. 3:16,17)   

Is this what David in that 84^th Psalm was prophetically longing for?  He may not have understood it all, but was there a prophetic longing in his spirit for the ultimate mutual dwelling for both God and His people – in a totality of oneness?  He in us, and we in Him?   

Again, we have the beautiful New Covenant truth that there is a mutual dwelling:
Christ in You, the hope of Glory, and
you in Christ Jesus, your position in the Spirit realm..
(Gal. 2:20; Col. 1:27; 1 Cor. 1:2, 30;  2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:6) 

“May God, the giver of HOPE,fill you with continual joy and peace because you trust in Him—
so that you may have abundant HOPE
through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
(Romans 15:13 Weymouth)

In Agape, Eulene

Greetings! 

Lilies!  Who has not delighted in the magnificent fragrance of a lily?  After another spate of wintry snow, Spring has arrived – a little later than usual – and with it the Spring lilies.  Last week some friends came to visit, bringing with them a beautiful deep rose-colored Oriental Lily.  It is filling the room with its scent.  

Checking my “Guide to Gardening” I find that the stately lily plants, with their exotic flower forms, are one of the oldest cultivated flowers, and have been cherished for at least 3,000 years – in ancient Egypt, Rome, Greece, China, and Japan.  For centuries only a few species were known, the most famous being the pure white Madonna lily – traditionally a symbol of purity – from the eastern Mediterranean.  Like many wild plants, lily species can be difficult to transfer to the cultivated garden.  However, after more than half a century of hybridizing by professionals and amateurs around the world, many varieties of lilies now exist, and beautify gardens everywhere. 

The Lilies of the Valley with which we are familiar have clusters of small, white, bell-shaped flowers that hang from a strong reedy stalk.  There may be a dozen or more blossoms on each plant.  Their sweet scent has even inspired one of my favorite perfumes.  

Spring is here in earnest in our part of the country, and soon the Lilies of the Valley will be appearing with their delicate white waxy blossoms.  I don’t know how closely these resemble the lilies referred to in the Scriptures, but I know that they are a favorite blossom for their simple elegance and exquisite fragrance.  

I suppose they are a much more cultivated variety than the ones to which Jesus referred when He said, “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow;  they do not labor nor do they spin;  but I tell you that Solomon in all his glory was not clothed as one of these.”  He goes on to say that if He clothes the grass of the field that flourishes today, and tomorrow is discarded, how much more will God provide for His children.  (Matt. 6:28-34)  

Six thousand seasons have come and gone, the grass and the lilies of the field have flourished, faded and died with the fall frosts;  yet God has been faithful to His Word in all generations. 

In Solomon’s Song, there is a wonderful metaphor in which Christ is pictured as the choicest of flowers, “The Rose of Sharon, and the Lily of the Valley.”  Charles W. Fry, a song-writer in the 1800s, picked up on the theme and has given us a beloved old hymn that covers it all.  Take the time to meditate on each phrase: 

I have found a friend in Jesus – He’s everything to me;
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;
The Lily of the Valley – in Him alone I see
All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.
In sorrow He’s my comfort – in trouble He’s my stay,
He tells me every care on Him to roll;
He’s the Lily of the Valley – the Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.

He all my griefs has taken and all my sorrows borne,
In temptation He’s my strong and mighty tower;
I have all for Him forsaken – and all my idols torn
From my heart, and now He keeps me by His power.
Tho all the world forsake me – and Satan tempt me sore,
Through Jesus I shall safely reach the goal;
He’s the Lily of the Valley – the Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.

He will never, never leave me nor yet forsake me here,
While I live by faith and do His blessèd will;
A wall of fire about me, I’ve nothing now to fear -
With His manna He my hungry soul shall fill.
Then sweeping up to Glory I’ll see His blessèd face,
Where rivers of delight shall ever roll;
He’s the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.

Doesn’t that inspire you with HOPE in your heart? 

I pray that God, who gives HOPE,
will bless you with complete happiness and peace
because of your faith.
And may the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with HOPE.

(Romans 15:13 Contemporary English Version) 

In Agape, Eulene

Blessings, 

We have recently had occasion to think again about what are referred to as the “natural laws” of the universe.  When Almighty God created the Universe, he set within it certain laws that are irrefutable. 

One which governs everything on the earth, and with which we are all well acquainted, is the law of gravitation – “the force of attraction that acts between all objects because of their mass (that is, the amount of material they are made of).  Gravitation holds the universe together.  For example, it holds together the hot gases in the sun and keeps the planets in their orbits.  The moon’s gravitation causes the ocean tides on earth.  Because of gravitation, objects that are on or near the earth are pulled toward it.  The gravitational attraction that a planet has for objects near it is called the force of gravity.”  

It was the famous scientist, Sir Isaac Newton (1642 to 1727), who is credited with making this discovery.  When he was 23 years old, he noticed an apple fall from a tree, and he realized that the same force that made the apple fall holds the moon in its orbit around the earth.   Scientists have put forward a number of theories concerning the gravitational phenomenon.  

However, scientists have also discovered some laws that supersede the law of gravitation. 

In our physical world, this law is always at work with its downward pull.  But the power of the sun, sweeping over the ocean, pulls the water upward and overcomes the law of gravitation.  So we see two laws at work:  the upward pull of the sun, and the downward pull of gravity. 

The law of aerodynamics is employed to lift and fly heavy machines into the air, thus overcoming the ever present gravity.  Since the first primitive flying machines in the mid-1800s, men have been building and flying bigger and better airplanes, like the Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet which can carry as many as 500 passengers plus cargo.  And the supersonic airbuses that can fly faster than sound, at a speed of nearly 700 miles per hour, and a height of 40,000 feet! 

As well, in space travel, a rocket overcomes gravity by producing a pushing force called “thrust” which, like weight, can be measured in pounds.  To lift a spacecraft, a rocket must have a thrust greater than its own weight and the added weight of the spacecraft. 

Jesus tells us to “CONSIDER THE BIRDS.”  If you could ask them whether they were not afraid of the law of gravity, how would they reply?  They would say, “We never heard the name of Newton.  We know nothing about his law.  We fly because it is the law of our life to fly.”  Not only is there in them a life with the power of flight, but that life has a law which enables these living creatures to quite spontaneously overcome the law of gravity.  

The wise writer of the Proverbs listed four things that were too wonderful for him, which he could not understand.  One of them was “the way of an eagle in the air.”   It is the life of the eagle to soar high above the earth in the clear mountain air.  (Prov. 30:18,19)   

Spiritually speaking, the Bible describes the “LAW OF SIN AND DEATH” which became established because of the disobedience and sin of the originators of the human race.  This spiritual law affects the whole human race, as does the natural law of gravity.  “Wherefore, as by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for all have sinned.”  (Rom. 5:12)    

The 7th chapter of Romans shows us the futility of trying to live a Christian life through our own effort. 

In contrast, in the 8th chapter of Romans, Paul introduces us to another higher law that supersedes the law of sin and death.  That is the “LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS,” which actually liberates us from the law of sin and death.  United with Christ, the believer is acquitted, and is free forever from the law of sin and death.  The just requirement of the law, a righteous life, is accomplished not ‘by’ us but ‘IN’ us – by “Christ Who is our Life.” The law could not do this, but the SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS can, and does free us.  

When we “wait upon the Lord,” our “strength is renewed” so that we may “mount up with wings as eagles.”   (Isa. 40:31)   We may 

“be like a bird which,
lighting on a bow too slight
and feeling it give way, SINGS,
knowing it has WINGS!” 

Now may the God of HOPE
make you full of joy and peace through faith,
so that all HOPE may be yours
in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 Bible in Basic English) 

In Agape, Eulene