The Jericho Road

Richard W. Wilson’s new blog, Health Promotion Exchange, deserves a look for anyone interested in a meaningful exchange of ideas with a professional in public health education. The new blog is well written and articulate, something I have come to expect from Richard, who I have the privilege to value as a respected friend. 

From the blog: “You can get garden variety health advice from the daily newspaper, the “health” section of most book stores, and of course thousands of web sites. I’m hoping to present thought provoking and maybe change provoking thoughts about individual and community health. This blog is not just what to do about health, but how to think about it. I’m looking forward to an exchange of ideas with readers.”

About Richard: “I’ve been a professor of public health for many years, with positions at five different institutions. Currently I’m Professor and Chair of Health Promotion & Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health and Information Sciences, University of Louisville”.

I hope you’ll take the time to browse the Health Promotion Exchange, perhaps lingering long enough to offer a comment or two of your own. I doubt you’ll be disappointed even if from time to time you take a different view. 

I’ll have some time to read and relax over the next two weeks while I take some time off. I’ll be visiting family in Ohio, going to some meetings in Atlanta, then on to Florida to see a dying friend. During my travels I’ll do my best to write something here from time to time. 

I have some new books I’ll be reading along the way, one, The Lost Meaning of the Sabbath, the other, Knocking on Heavens Door (a New Testament theology of prayer). Perhaps both of these books will draw me into prayer. 

I’ve decided to spend more time in the book of Genesis as well, in preparation for preaching through the book when I return, but also out of a feeling that I need a deeper understanding of and communion with my Creator. 

A Favorite Quote: “The cross of Calvary is to be lifted high above the people, absorbing their minds and concentrating their thoughts. Then all the spiritual faculties will be charged with divine power direct from God. Then there will be a concentration of the energies in genuine work for the Master.” -Thoughts From the Mount of Blessings 44

Absorbing our minds, concentrating our thoughts. This is the secret of evangelistic power because it is the “secret” of Christian spiritual life. 

As Jesus said, “If I be lifted up I will draw all men unto me”. 

Beware lest there be among you a root bearing poisonous and bitter fruit, one who, when he hears the words of this sworn covenant, blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall be safe, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.’ This will lead to the sweeping away of moist and dry alike. The Lord will not be willing to forgive him, but rather the anger of the Lord and his jealousy will smoke against that man, and the curses written in this book will settle upon him, and the Lord will blot out his name from under heaven. Deuteronomy 29.18b-20

God delivered Jacob from abject slavery. He brought him out of Egypt, confirming his covenant with his forefathers, Adam, Able, Seth, Noah, Abraham, and Isaac. Not because of his righteousness (Deut. 8-9) but because God is faithful to his promise Jacob was redeemed with the Passover Lamb, the power of God’s right arm.  

Now he is cautioned, beware should you imagine you can bless yourself with security and meaning. 

We might mediate on these words lest Jacob’s history be ours. Only a remnant of Israel would be saved. Do we have a circumcised heart of flesh or does our fruit come from the poisonous heart of proud unbelief?

It seldom turns out well when I write in the middle of the night. I don’t expect this to be any different. Maybe it’s the illusion, the imaginary sense of security that being alone gives me, that makes me think I can actually say what’s on my mind. Of course, what’s on my mind in the middle of the night is not necessarily any more real than what I might be thinking in the middle of the afternoon. Reality is hard to come by any time of day. 

When I say it may not turn out well, me writing in the middle of the night, I was thinking of other times when I later felt embarrassed by my illusion of midnight honesty. There is a certain clarity that comes my way from time to time, a reminder that I’m at my best, that I’m most human and trustworthy when I see myself as I really am, which is actually less human and less trustworthy than I want to be. A paradox, I know. 

Living in the light is much harder than many day-creatures suppose. I mean living when and where others can see us as we are, not as we desperately want to be. Strange how I can feel more significant in being a sinner than a saint. 

It’s just a matter of being what I am, a sinner, and not pretending to be a saint. That’s all a saint is, a repentant sinner who is so sinful they cry out to God for mercy. But of course, as soon as one begins to talk of one’s own repentance, one’s own turning away from sin, then “one” falls from grace again. The sinner turned saint sins again. Pride is the real darkness. 

I cannot keep myself where I want to be. I am not a master of time and space. The best I can do is admit my lostness and wait for help to arrive. Wandering around in the dark will only make me harder to find. 

[Edit: I’ve rewritten much of this post. I had found, after several readings, that I clearly had been confused.]

I thought of deleting my Facebook account not long ago when I began seeing people from my friends list on large websites like CNN. Instead I’ve changed some more privacy settings for my account. That takes a little time, a little searching. Facebook, as some charge, could make it easier. Still, I’m not that worried. 

I’ll take the chance and stay on Facebook. It’s about as safe as me sitting here at my desk amid all the other viruses of life, as safe as walking down the street or in the mall, as safe as driving my car, as safe as eating out. If I demand being safe all the time, I’m living on the wrong planet. 

I do have my fears, more worries, my concerns for a few private areas of my life. I live now, as often as my faith allows, by talking with God about the things that matter. I’ve come to realize I am part of what makes this world unsafe. Others can feel vulnerable around me. Without God I am as liable to hurt as to be hurt. 

I suppose I’m saying the privacy issues on Facebook are not my greater concerns. 

If your worried about your privacy on Facebook then this link from the Telegraph (U.K) might help. It will tell you how to delete your account or how to adjust 5 primary privacy settings.

I’m planning some sermons, a longer series, going into greater depth on the meaning of Christ’ death and resurrection. I feel my knowledge of him is so shallow. I want more for myself, a deeper experience with God and I want that for my ministry as well.

This was something I promised when I began my ministry at Middletown last August. Some of you recently reminded me of that. God willing, I’ll be able to keep to these plans. 

I believe a more consistent study and meditation on the cross of Christ will meet our needs. I’ll soon have more to say on this, as well as more on the Gospel of John (our current study for mid-week church meetings).

The Nature of Church, Unity, and Spiritual Gifts have also been themes that I’m connecting in my mind through a focus on Calvary. I want a better understanding of the Holy Spirit’s work in relation to the cross, in how he makes the connection between the cross of Christ and our own. I want to understand his working for us and in us as the spiritual body of Christ, especially in the context of these last days before his return. 

I am sure there themes and such a study are also at the heart of our motivation and planning for organized witness and personal ministry. A continual vision of Calvary is our greatest need. The practical results of such a communion with God will surprise and refresh us. I hope to be a better example of this wonderful truth. 

The depression I’ve experienced over the past few weeks seems to be lifting. The grace of God is working for me through the prayers of those who know my needs. I appreciate your loving concern and helpfulness. 

The week ahead looks full of promise, full of opportunities in the work of Christ. I cannot imagine, do not want to imagine, what it would be like to return to the darkness I have known in the past. I cannot live this life without Christ, the Light of Life. 

I’m expecting the usual problems of daily life to continue, in fact, I expect significant changes as I reconcile with middle-age. However, I hope to use the problems of life as a means of knowing God rather than using God to deny reality or run from my responsibilities. 

I still believe in the necessary pain of life, of the need to be faithful through the problems of living until this life is swallowed up in the eternal life promised to me in Christ. Soon enough I’ll see Christ if I continue “abiding” in him. Just a short time now. It won’t be long.