Who You Gonna Call?

Download audio file (022810.mp3)

Elijah’s life is told in both 1 and 2 Kings. In their original form, however, they were just one book. That means the life of Elijah is placed right in the center of the book of Kings. This week we looked at the second-last time we see Elijah—the account of Ahab’s son Ahaziah.

On the surface, this looks like a story about God’s indiscriminate judgment. We watch as Elijah, perched on a hilltop, hurls down fire from heaven to burn up at least 100 men. Look a little closer, though, and you begin to understand why.

This story is about our priorities. Who do we call on when we’re in trouble? Who do we listen to? Finally, who has the last word in our lives?

I showed this picture from Gustave Doré at the start of the message:

You can see more of Dore’s artwork here.

All for Vegetables?

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From Kashmir to Tibet, from Palestine to Caledon, land disputes and the wars they spawn are a fact of human existence. Dave B. reminded me of the words of Mark Twain following this Sunday’s service:

Buy land, they’re not making it anymore.

This week we looked at an ancient land dispute from the perspective of the five parties involved (1 Kings 21:1-29):

1. Naboth (not to be confused with the coffee)
2. Ahab
3. Jezebel
4. Elijah
5. Yahweh

The perspectives of these five people shine a light on our own lives.

A Costly Calling

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This past Sunday we looked at what it costs to be called:

• For Bonhoeffer, it meant giving his life for his ideals
• For Buechner, it meant laying aside his writing career to attend Seminary
• For Aung San Suu Kyi, it meant enduring prison for her ideals
• For Elijah it meant barbecuing his oxen to leave his old life behind
• For Peter it meant leaving his fishing gear behind

What does it mean for us? Do we consider just how much this Christian life costs us (everything), or do we tack it on to our life like an exercise infomercial that promises great results in 20 minutes, three times a week?

Here are the two books I read from and the music video we watched:

• The Cost of Discipleship

• Now and Then: A Memoir of Vocation

Jezebel Jitters

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It’s axiomatic: the lowest valleys in life follow the highest peaks. Elijah’s life is no exception. Look at what just happened:

• He watched his God drop fire from heaven to consume his offering
• He slaughtered 450 prophets of Baal
• He prayed for and received rain for the first time in 3 years
• He ran in front of Ahab’s chariot all the way from Mt. Carmel to Jezreel

Life doesn’t get any more spiritually thrilling than that.

Now see what happens next: Jezebel threatens Elijah’s life so he takes off running into the wilderness in a downward spiral of fear, myopia, loneliness, self-pity, despair, and spiritual deafness.

In this week’s message we examined those qualities that fear brought to Elijah along with how God cared for and corrected his prophet.

Note: I read from The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon during the message.

Rain

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Last week we looked at the showdown between the prophets of Baal and Elijah. That was likely the most spectacular moment that any Israelite had ever witnessed. If that was the most spectacular, then this week we looked at the most important: rain.

Now that Yahweh’s demonstrated his victory in so dramatic a fashion, it’s time to end the drought with a big ol’ rainstorm. This short narrative demonstrates four elements of the Christian life clearly:

1. Humility
2. Faith
3. Abundance
4. Strength

I had to clip out the parts of the message where we discussed the topics as a congregation, since I was the only one with a microphone. Feel free to share any of your experiences on these four topics in the comments.

Showdown

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Elijah has reached the apex of his ministry. Ever thing prior to this is prologue; everything that follows is afterword. After three years of drought—a drought that shook the Israelite’s confidence in Ahab and his wife’s god, Baal—the true God decided to demonstrate his power.

Read the passage for yourself (1 Kings 18:20-40). Seldom has so much drama been packed into so concise a package. My pulse starts to race as I imagine how the event must have played out.

Let me encourage you to get into the story. Imagine how Ahab would have felt as his support reached an all-time low. Imagine Jezebel’s rage as her prophets were killed. Imagine Elijah’s relief when the evening rolled around and God answered.

What a story.

Here’s the video we showed in the middle of the message:

. . .

In other news, our offering for Haiti raised approximately $2,200! Thank you for giving so generously. I know it wasn’t easy—especially since we took up an offering for the food bank in December, and one for Zimbabwe’s Village of Hope earlier in January. I don’t like to overburden you with requests for money, but as we all know, the situation in Haiti is desperate. Thank you sincerely for helping our Haitian brothers and sisters.

If you missed the offering and would still like to give, you can give online directly through the PAOC.

You’ve seen the reports on television. There’s nothing I can write that would more vividly illustrate the devestation. I’ve been to Haiti twice on mission trips—I can’t fathom how that country could possibly be in worse shape than it already was.

I’ll be blunt: we need to give. Money. I’ve donated through the PAOC’s ERDO division. I’ve met our contacts on the ground and know the money will be well spent. Also, the Canadian government will match all contributions made before Febuary 12th. Your contribution through ERDO will meet the government’s criteria for this program.

We are encouraging our own congregation to give in this Sunday’s offering. However, you can also give directly through the ERDO website.

Rejoice with those who rejoice,
weep with those who weep.
—Romans 12:15, NRSV

Update: Sunday’s offering raised approximately $2,200 for Haiti. Thank you to everyone who gave so generously.

Troublemakers Unite!

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Oh, it’s on.

Elijah’s second visit with King Ahab was about as abrupt and unexpected as the first. He wandered out of the desert and gave Ahab some instructions: Meet me on Carmel. We’re going to settle this once and for all.

Ahab (predictably) called Elijah a troublemaker. Elijah turned the indictment right back. In this message we looked at what it means to be godly troublemakers in today’s world.

Troublemakers unite!

. . .

Here are the videos we played near the beginning of the message:

This past Sunday Gord Coolidge (along with his kids) from Village of Hope in Zimbabwe came to update us on their work. It was exciting to hear everything that God has been doing through them in Zimbabwe. You can hear the full report below:

Download audio file (011010GC.mp3)

And, in case you were curious, the offering following the service brought in $1,835.00 $1975.10 to further their work over there. Thanks to everyone who contributed.

There are a few ways to move forward from here:

1. Support them regularly in prayer. Write their names on your prayer list and remember them daily. We need to back up with prayer those who take leaps in faith.
2. Support them with monthly giving. Just mark “Coolidges” on an envelope and 100% of the funds will wired to their bank account.
3. Consider sponsoring a child in Zimbabwe through the PAOC’s Childcare Plus program. $29.00 per month can make a big difference.

Download audio file (122709.mp3)

. . .

On the first Sunday of the new year, we took an in-depth look at Communion:

Download audio file (010310.mp3)

. . .

Gord and Anita Coolidge from Village of Hope will be with us this coming weekend. I’m looking forward to an interesting time as we hear first-hand about what’s happening in the Village of Hope, Zimbabwe.