Garry Mullen

Today’s Scripture Reading (November 19, 2009): Ezekiel 42

I believe that we are a unique people. There is no one quite like you – or me – in this world. And that is a good thing. The fabric of this world is made up of us. Rather than feeling lost in this world – we need to recognize what we add to the tapestry of the world.

As Ezekiel continues through his vision of the ideal temple, he comes to the rooms set aside for the priests. It was in these rooms that the offerings were brought. What has been placed before God is holy – and because it is holy, it has to be treated differently. It is set aside for God.

What we sometimes forget is that God is still asking us for an offering – but the offering he wants is our lives. He wants what is unique and special about us, left on his altar. He wants to make us – holy. What was once only a description of items and offerings that were entrusted to the priests – is now a description of about our unique lives.

Jesus called the church his body – for Ezekiel what was once about rooms that could be measured – is now about lives that can be measured and set apart for him. And that includes you - and me. We are called to so much more than just belief – we are called to be offerings, holy and set apart for God.  

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 43

Today’s Scripture Reading (November 19, 2009): Ezekiel 41

A number of years ago I was part owner, with my Dad and my Uncle, in an automotive dealership. Originally the dealership was in a small town. It was part of a service station, corner garage, plus the dealership. Space was at a premium. We dreamed of, maybe, someday being able to build a bigger dealership. One with a larger showroom and a bigger clean up area and proper office space. It was a good dream.

As Ezekiel’s vision continues, the man with the measuring rod continues to measure the ideal temple.  By the time he finishes measuring the temple, it is bigger than the one that was now laying in ruins in Jerusalem. The combined are was bigger than the entire Temple Mount.

The significance of this is really not known – but maybe it indicated a time when God would demand more from us than just the occasional sacrifice. Maybe a time would God would want all of us. Maybe it references a time when he would write his law on our hearts. Maybe it foresees a day when he would have all of us and we would have all of him.

God doesn’t want just part of you. He is not interested in being a charm that you can pull out and wave at your problems. He wants all of you. And we need to desire to order our steps and follow him. Are you willing?

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 42

Today’s Scripture Reading (November 18, 2009): Ezekiel 40

What do you hope is going to happen today? In your dreams, what does this day look like? It is not an easy question. I wonder if for most of us, hope has very little to do with today. We hope that we are happy, maybe that we don’t meet many grumpy people. Maybe we hope to laugh at something and spend time with some good friends. What is your hope for hope for today? The truth is that we need hope just to get out of bed.

Ezekiel 40 starts the last prophecy of Ezekiel. For the rest of the book we will only hear Ezekiel speak in the vision. No longer will the man speak. It is a familiar place for him - a place of comfort and hope in a world that wasn’t offering much of either.  The year was 572 B.C. The temple, the center of Jewish life, the legacy of King Solomon, the last king of the united nation of Israel, was gone. The exile was in full swing. And Ezekiel’s last vision is of a new temple. This temple has never been built, and probably won’t be – at least not by human hands. But it is hope.

Ezekiel is told to speak the words of the vision to everyone – to give Israel hope. My wish is that we can do the same. We hold a hope that the world needs. It is of a place that, just like Ezekiel’s temple, won’t be built by human hands. There is something beyond this. Jesus died so that we could achieve it and his bones are no longer in the grave because he has gone there ahead of us. We have a hope.

Welcome to hope!

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 41

Today’s Scripture Reading (November 17, 2009): Ezekiel 39

How well do you know what it is that you do? Whatever it is that you spend your time doing, my guess is that you know what it is you do fairly well. Each one of us has a skill set. There is something that you do better than other people, and conversely things that you don’t do as well. That is the way that it is supposed to be.

Sometimes the things that we do are passed down in family lines. We learn from parents the secrets of the occupation or business. Part of the knowledge what we do is understanding the purpose of what occupies our time. Tonight I attended a lecture by evolutionary creationist Denis Lamoureux. It was a great evening partially because Dr. Lamoureux knows what it is that he does. You don’t have to agree with his stand, but you quickly become convinced that he knows what it is that he does – and passionately believes in what he teaches.

The repeated phrase in Ezekiel is that then they “will know that I am the Lord their God.” As Ezekiel speaks in the conclusion of this controversial prophecy – he speaks it directly to Israel. Israel will know that he is their God. I think there is reason for that. Israel’s purpose was to bless the world – it was their job. They stood as the children of God, in the center of God’s blessing so that they could bless the world. They couldn’t do it unless they realized who God was. They needed to continually be reminded of that. And so the Bible continually contains the idea – the reminder of who God is.

And we need the same continual reminder. Church, you are here to bless the world. You can only do that if you recognize God at work in you. There are no other options. And you (we) need to be continually reminded of that.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 40

Today’s Scripture Reading (November 16, 2009): Ezekiel 38

Do you ever wish that you knew what was going to happen in the future? Maybe be able to pick the winning lottery numbers, or know who was going to win the big game. Or even just know what the weather was really going to be like for the day so that you can dress properly. Sometimes it might be fun (although knowing the winner of the big game would take all the fun out of it for me.)

Ezekiel 38 starts out a very controversial prophecy. Part of the reason for the controversy is that the prophecy doesn’t seem to have been fulfilled. In fact, the description that is contained in Ezekiel’s words fits more with today – then maybe any time in Israel’s history. In the past century we watched Israel be gathered back from many nations. In spite of the violence, it seems that they live in relative safety. At least, the defense of Israel is in her hands in a way that is hasn’t been for almost two millennia. So some people have openly wondered if, just maybe, there is a war on the horizon. Okay, it really doesn’t take that much imagination.

Prophecy can lead us into the future. But the real problem with it is that until the events actually happen, it is hard to read meaning into them. I don’t know what is going to happen to tomorrow. I don’t know if the words of a prophet that are now over 2600 years old are really unfulfilled – but being ready to be fulfilled. (And before you ask – I don’t know if the world will come to an end in 2012.) I am comfortable that God is in control. Ezekiel 38 ends with the words “they will know that I am the Lord.” And that is really the point.

So, have a great week – no matter what it is that the future may hold!

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 39

Today’s Scripture Reading (November 15, 2009): Hebrews 10

One question that seems to keep being repeated in our culture is the question of why we bother with the church thing? Aren’t our lives busy enough? And besides, the church isn’t much. We can be Christian without it. Can’t we?

The problem is that this church that we downgrade, Jesus calls his “bride.” He places importance in the church. I think some of the problem is that we have lost her purpose. The author of Hebrews tells us to not give up meeting together – but the reason is that the church that Jesus loves is a source of encouragement. And that is something that we have lost.

Today we come together to worship. I hope that when you show up you feel encouraged. But even more I hope that you are an encouragement to those that you come in contact with. In this busy world – that is what we really need.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 38

Today’s Scripture Reading (November 14, 2009): Hebrews 9

One of the time management things that I have always struggled with is the handling of mail. I understand the rule – touch the paper once, make the decision and then file it or recycle the paper. Repeatedly having to deal with the paper is a waste of time. And I understand the importance – and it makes a lot of sense – I just have problems with the follow through. As a result my desk is in perpetual need of being cleaned. And my time management – well it is not where it needs to be.

And it seems crass to equate Jesus sacrifice with time management – and yet we treat it like that is all it is. We seem to think that God’s sacrifice can’t be once and for all. A sacrifice made that long ago can’t count for us. Our question seems to be that there must be more that we need to do. And often the answer seems to be that there must be rules that must be kept. The result is that we become legalistic in the ways that we live and in the ways that we relate with others. And because of that, we grow farther away from God. Keeping the law will never be enough to set us free and put our guilt behind us. Only the sacrifice of Jesus can do that.

Jesus paid the price once. The second time he comes to us – it is with the offer of salvation. And how well we are able to keep the law doesn’t effect either of his actions. All that matters is this  – are you ready to accept him when he comes to you?

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Hebrews 10

Today’s Scripture Reading (November 13, 2009): Ezekiel 37

I had a great talk with some friends today. On the discussion table was the idea of hopelessness.  It has almost become epidemic in our lives. It is robbing us of the sparkle in our lives – the smile in our worship. We are running too hard.  Work is good for us – but too often it seems that the work isn’t getting us where we need to be. The situation seems so hopeless. As a society, the hopeless desires of our heart are killing us. We are dying.

I remember an old song that my grandfather used to sing. It was an old spiritual “Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones. Now hear the word of the word of the Lord.” I think we need it sung over us. We need the life brought to the dead dry bones of our lives. We need life back in our desires. We need the breath of God in us.

And that is what he has promised. To look in our dry lives and bring life. To renew us and put the flesh back on our lives.

I have no idea what today might hold for you. But remember that when everything seems hopeless – that is the time to turn to God and just ask. Tell him that the dry bones need life. And remember that the battle is his. Now, hear the word of the Lord.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Hebrews 9

Today’s Scripture Reading (November 12, 2009): Ezekiel 36

I am concerned about the state of the current church.  I really don’t know how to describe it. It is – confusing. In some ways, it is stuck deep in the past. We just don’t seem to be able to get a hold of how to be disciples of Christ in this century. But then there is the fringe that almost seems to have lost sight of the mission – or Jesus Christ. The result seems to be that some churches are becoming more and more empty. We have stopped making a difference to the world that we live in. We have become a holy club – speaking language only we can understand. If we are supposed to be a blessing the world – to be God’s physical hands in the world – I think we are missing it. The Church is a shadow of what it is supposed to be.

But I also don’t feel like God has abandoned his church. It may not be where he designed it to be – and in the west we may be declining – but it is a temporary situation.

Israel was barren, its people had been removed. And it fell on Ezekiel to speak the word of God to the exiles. And God’s message was that the time was coming when the people would return. One more time Israel would bloom and be fruitful. The nation would once again take its place among the nations. It would be a blessing.

I hope that is God’s message for the church. I hope that God is working through us, so that one day we will be fruitful again. I hope that the people will return. But if that is to happen, like the Israel that Ezekiel ministered to, we will need to rely on God and his direction.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 37

Today’s Scripture Reading (November 11, 2009): Ezekiel 35

It is so easy to be negative. It is even easier to react negatively about someone or something when everyone else is already reacting negatively. We are usually not good at standing alone for something – even if we believe in it.

God was speaking against the nations because they harbored hostility against Israel – and they were doing it in the time of their calamity and punishment. In other words, they were hostile to them when they were already suffering. God was willing to stand against Israel, but he wasn’t going to stand for others jumping on the bandwagon with him. What he had done had to be done. But the nations could have decided not to heap on the punishment. They could have decided not to be negative. But instead they chose to harbor hostility and throw Israel on the sword.

I wonder if there is a message here for us. How often has the Christian church used the judgment of God on those that we might call sinners as a reason for us to display hostility against them? I wonder if God will call us for it.

God’s judgment is never a reason for us to be hostile. It is a reason for us to be kind to the ones that God loves – and misses. It is the action that he expects from us.

Today is Remembrance Day. If we could all stand in a room we would possibly all have different views on what is happening in war torn areas of our world. But today – we put the hostility we might feel aside and honor them. It is absolutely the least that we can do.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 36