My apologies for not updating my blog in the last couple of weeks. Traveling around the AOR (Iraq) is not condussive to being communicationally faithful. Hopefully things will slow down enough where I can update it weekly.

For the next several weeks I would like to discuss along with you some of our Lord’s most intriguing words. These words were spoken as he was ministering to the crowds along side of a mountain. This particular sermon begins what is formally known as the "Sermon on the Mount", contained in chapters 5-7 in the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew 5:3-12 reads, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

These popular and oft misunderstood versus form what is commonly known as the Beatitudes. The Latin word for blessed is "beatus", and from this comes the word beatitude. Jesus said if we follow this path in seeking our joy and fulfillment, then we will surely be "blessed".

Warren Wiersbe writes, "Imagine how the crowd’s attention was riveted on Jesus when He uttered His first word, "Blessed". This was a powerful word to those who heard Jesus that day. To them it meant "divine joy and perfect happiness". The word was not used for humans; it described the kind of joy experienced only by the gods or the dead. “Blessed” implied an inner satisfaction and sufficiency that did not depend on outward circumstances for happiness. This is what the Lord offers those who trust Him!” Human happiness is something which is dependent on the chances and the changes of life, something which life may give and which life may also destroy. The Christians blessedness is completely untouchable and unassailable as it comes from and is maintained by God.

William Barclay has said, “The greatness of the beatitudes is that they are not wistful glimpses of some future beauty; they are not even golden promises of some distant glory; they are triumphant shouts of bliss for a permanent joy that nothing in the world can take away.” When we are blessed by God, we are blessed by God, despite the difficult circumstances that may arise.

When you look at this list of ingredients Jesus gives for happiness, it certainly causes many of us to raise an eyebrow. This strange list appears to be the very antithesis of what most of us are looking for when it comes to making us feel blessed. Hopefully as we study these "attitudes that ought to be" they will become to us less foreign and something that we all strive after diligently.

We will discuss what it means to be "poor in spirit" next week. God bless each of you!

Ch P

Heavenly Applause

For most of us, we enjoy the occasional pat on the back to keep us encouraged. We have an inherent need to know that someone is on our side and that they are proud of us. Hebrews 12:1 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

We are told by the writer of Hebrews that we have a heavenly “cheering section” that continues to root us on as we run the “race marked out for us”. Who is it that sits in the stands of heaven to cheer us on? If you have read Chapter 11 of Hebrews, which I highly suggest that you do, you will find a list of Old Testament saints that have gone on before us. Individuals such as Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, David, Samuel, and those who were martyred for their faith cry out to us saying “we made it and so can you”. Their lives are a witness and a testimony that faith can endure to the end and that God rewards those who remain faithful. Despite overwhelming circumstances, they stayed the course and they fought the good fight. (2 Timothy 4:7) These same victorious saints of the Old Testament are a part of a glorious fan base that is routing you on from eternity to model your life after theirs and stay the course. Their message is in line with the Marines Motto, “Semper Fidelis”, which means “Always faithful”.

This is not the entirety of your fan base. There are also those who have lived in the era after Christ that are beckoning you toward the finish line. My wife lost her grandmother a couple of weeks ago. She was a woman of faith that endured to the end. She joins this “cloud of witnesses” that is stirring me and my family forward, to complete the journey, to finish the race. Many of your beloved family members have also preceded you in joining this heavenly body, pointing you to Jesus and to the finish line.

Young William Wilberforce was discouraged one night in the early 1790s after another defeat in his 10 year battle against the slave trade in England. Tired and frustrated, he opened his Bible and began to leaf through it. A small piece of paper fell out and fluttered to the floor. It was a letter written by John Wesley shortly before his death. Wilberforce read it again: “Unless the divine power has raised you up... I see not how you can go through your glorious enterprise in opposing that (abominable practice of slavery), which is the scandal of religion, of England, and of human nature. Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils. But if God be for you, who can be against you? Are all of them together stronger than God? Oh, be not weary of well-doing. Go on in the name of God, and in the power of His might.” (Daily Bread)

Please know that when life seems to be overwhelming and you feel that you want to give up, my advice to you is to be very still and you might here a faint cheer. It is the cheer of those who have been in your same predicament, struggled with same issues, yet they persevered in their faith. They say to you, “we did it, and so can you.” Semper Fidelis!

Ch P