Ag so nobody reads this. Why bother...

Be quiet...

Be quiet.

Zep 3:17

The Lord your God is with you,

He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love He will rejoice over you with singing.

By a show of hands:

Who wants to go to heaven?

Who is going to heaven?

Who is not sure?

Well, the good news is, this morning I am going to give a sure-fire way of getting to heaven…

Worth listening to?

My sermon title this morning is

 “be quiet”

Brothers and sisters, we are the plugged in generation. We suffer from information overload. Forget the age of Aquarius, it’s the age of Microsoft. We have so much stuff going on at the same time that we don’t know whether we are coming or going. From early in the morning to late at night our senses are overloaded, We are, literally,  shell-shocked.

Noise affects human behaviour. In one experiment carried out by psychologists, a student leaving a library intentionally dropped an armload of books. In 50% of the cases, a passerby stopped to help the student pick up the books. Then the experimenters brought out a lawn mower without a muffler and started it near where a student would again intentionally drop the books. This time, only about 10% of the people who passed stopped to help. It was clear that behaviour changed because of the ear-splitting sound of the nearby lawn mower.

In experiments in Los Angeles, researchers found that children who lived in neighbourhoods near the airport could not complete certain tasks undertaken when jets were landing and taking off as easily as children who lived in quiet neighbourhoods. Some studies of prison conditions have shown that the high level of noise causes more complaints by prisoners than the food or other prison conditions do.

"Carry some quiet around inside thee," the well-known Quaker, George Fox, used to say. "Be still and cool in thy own mind and spirit, from thy own thoughts, and then thou wilt feel the principle of God to turn thy mind to the Lord from whence cometh life; whereby thou mayest receive the strength and power to allay all storms and tempests

The closest some of us will come to quiet is this bumper sticker…

Recently we lost Eskom. One day it was there, and the next it was gone, I dunno how it happened, but are no longer a Eskom client. You see, we use to have peace and quiet – we never had that in Jhb. And then we got Eskom, electricity. And with electricity came noise. Noise from TV, cell phone, radio, internet,

Our lives are filled with noise. Satan intends it to be. The more noise the better, because the more noise, the less quiet. And its only in quiet that we can find God.

And God will quiet you with his love. And God did quiet us this week – If you saw the newspaper articles stating that farmers are responsible for nearly half (48%) the incidents of electricity theft countrywide. I find this really difficult to believe, especially since the wording of the article is ambiguous and misleading. However, turns out they are really out to get us, since we now have to cough up R23 000 as deposit for the luxury of being a Eskom client.

Thankfully, Eskom has assisted in Gods plan. You see, suddenly there is no more noise. There is a return to the basics.

Ps 131:2

But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

Not only are our lives filled with noise, we are also living in unnatural surroundings, overcrowded, bunched up, on top of each other. This is not how we are supposed to be living.

In his book, Quest For Character, p. 35-36. Charles Swindoll tells the story of a  research psychologist at the National Institute of Mental Health who was convinced he could prove his theory from a cage full of mice. His name? Dr. John Calhoun. His theory? Overcrowded conditions take a terrible toll on humanity. Dr. Calhoun built a nine-foot square cage for selected mice. He observed them closely as their population grew. He started with eight mice. He documented his findings in a book called John Calhoun "Death Squared: The Explosive Growth and Demise of a Mouse Population

The cage was designed to contain comfortably a population of 160. He allowed the mice to grow, however, to a population of 2200. They were not deprived of any of life's necessities except privacy--no time or space to be all alone. Food, water, and other resources were always clean and in abundance. A pleasant temperature was maintained. No disease was present. All mortality factors (except aging) were eliminated. The cage, except for its overcrowded condition, was ideal for the mice. The population reached its peak at 2200 after about two-and-a-half years. Since there was no way for the mice to physically escape from their closed environment, Dr. Calhoun was especially interested in how they would handle themselves in that overcrowded cage. 
Interestingly, as the population reached its peak, the colony of mice began to disintegrate. Strange stuff started happening. Dr. Calhoun made these observations: 1)Adults formed natural groups of about a dozen individual mice. 2) In each group each adult mouse performed a particular social role...but there were no roles in which to place the healthy young mice, which totally disrupted the whole society. 3) The males who had protected their territory withdrew from leadership. 4) The females became aggressive and forced out the young...even their own offspring. 5) The young grew to be only self-indulgent. They ate, drank, slept, groomed themselves, but showed no normal aggression and, most noteworthy, failed to reproduce. After five years, every mouse had died. This occurred despite the fact that right up to the end there was plenty of food, water, and an absence of disease. After the research psychologist reported on his experiment, a couple of significant questions arose.

Q: "What were the first activities to cease?"
A: "The most complex activities for mice: courtship and mating."
Q: What results would such overcrowding have on humanity?"
A: We would first of all cease to reproduce our ideas, and along with ideas, our goals and ideals. In other words, our values would be lost."
Charles Swindoll, Quest For Character, p. 35-36.

We have to be weaned off the noise, the overcrowding, the sensory overload.  Beloved, for those of us who work a full day, it is impossible to have quiet time if we have noise (tv) going. I don’t know about you but I am not a morning person, so I battle with mornings – or at least that’s my excuse.

Isa 32:17

The fruit of righteousness will be peace, the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.

Sometimes God needs us to be quiet so we can listen. Lets look a few bible characters that God “quietened with is love”  

Paul: Now Saul was like me, full of fire. Don’t mess with Saul. On fire for the Lord – or so he thought. Acts 8:1 says Saul was consenting unto the death of Stephen. So full of fire was Saul for the Lord that he consented to the death penalty of a fellow jew. No sooner had the stoners picked up their cloaks from his feet and Saul was off on the next crusade. Fast, furious, busy Saul. Saul had a mission, a career, a defined goal in life.

I identify with Saul in a big way. My life was like that. Chasing the dream, laying up riches, living the dream. The faster the better. Fast cars, fast women. Ever seen that bumper sticker “the one with the most toys wins”?.

Acts 9:8

And Saul arose from the earth, (where he had been stopped in his tracks) and when his eyes were opened he saw no TV. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

No he is blind – how fast is his life now? How focused is Saul on his career? Does he have time for prayer now? Did God slow him down? And why blindness? Why not lameness? Why not deafness? Of all the things God could have done to Saul to slow him down, why blindness?

Lets find the answer in Gen 3:6

And the women SAW than the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired.

Beloved, our sight is where Satan attacked first. Of all the senses sight is truly the window to the soul. We see many things on a daily basis, and we have become so shell-shocked that nothing shocks us anymore. For us men – really, we have no chance? Satan knows we are sight driven so everywhere we look, we have skin on show. You don’t even have to open the magazine, just walk past the newspaper stand and try no to look at the covers. It doesn’t matter if you’re watching national geographic, there will be an add break with a woman that better looking or skinner than your wife. The media drowns us in imagery…

So Saul has his primary sense taken away – In Saul case his eyes blinded him scripturally, so God blinded him so he could see. Our eyes create more noise than we realise – satan is out to fill our minds with junk so there is no space for anything else.

Eph 3:19

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God

If you are full of something, is there space for anything else? What are we full of?

Lets look at Jonah. Jonah had a busy life, what with running and jumping on ships and hiding and fighting with God. Jonah said things as they were – when he was displeased with God, he said so, regardless of how misdirected his displeasure might be. Jonah was a man of action – the Almighty calls you out, and you run away? Remove yourself from the problem, as far away as possible. Jonah didn’t sit around, places to be, people to see. Busy busy busy.

But then the Lord needs to quieten things down. Slow things down. Isolate the problem. Remove the outward, external references. Ever wondered why a fish? Why not maroon him on a deserted island? Why the bizarre experience of a fish belly? Why not cast him adrift in the vast sea for month? Because Jonah needed silence and solitude. Isolation. Away from the normal humdrum of life.

Instead, the rhythmic beat of a whale’s heart mixed the occasional lonesome mating call of the largest creature on earth. I know it doesn’t say it was a whale, but c’mon really, what else?

Jonah prays: 2:5

The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me, seaweed was wrapped around my head

Isolation and quiet. God physically told Jonah to shut up and listen. Be quiet.

And so we can find lots of instances where quiet and isolation work toward as a closer relationship with God – Moses in the desert, John the Baptist in the wilderness, David the psalmist writes in

Ps 131:2 I have stilled and quieted my soul…

But lets also look at the supreme example – the ultimate expression of a true relationship with God – Jesus.

Matthew 14:22

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him while he dismissed the crowd (noise) After he dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came he was there alone…

Jesus knew there are times when we need to be quiet and still before Him. Jesus knew that for a deep and meaningful experience with his Father, he needed to shut the world off for a while. He needed to isolate himself from the distractions and cares of the world. He needed to be quiet…

Jesus wasn’t inventing a new way of worshipping; he was simply practising what he had been preaching for 4000years! He was putting his own instructions into practise.

Exodus 14:13

Moses answered the people; Do not be afraid, Stand still and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring today. Stand still.

                                        

Numbers 9:8

And Moses said to them; stand still that I may hear what the Lord will command concerning you.  

1 Sam 9:27

Samual said to Saul, tell the servant to go on ahead of us, but you stay here awhile so that I may give you a message from God

Job 37:14

Listen to this Job, stop and consider Gods wonders.

Beloved, can there be any doubt that God communicates via that small still voice. And God wants to communicate with us. In fact, he is desperate to communicate with us. He has a special plan for each and every one of us that he wants to relate to us – he does not want us to live in darkness and confusion! But how can He talk to us when the world is drowning out His voice. We are bombarded from all angles from morning till night. Some of the noise we cant help, but some of it we can! There are things we can simply switch off! The radio does not need to be on all the time. There is nothing uplifting on Tv. Listen, Satan knows the value of quiet time, so he’ll do anything in his power to kill quiet!

Brothers and sisters, if we are having difficulty switching off the world, what chance is there that we will like it in heaven? Will we not yearn for the fleshpots of Egypt?

Jesus turns towards the sea and says and Quiet! Be still. Is there not a small chance that Jesus is saying to us today, Quiet, Be still. There is nothing worthwhile for us in this world. It is time for us to switch off the world and switch on to Jesus and eternal life. 

Now I am not saying that you need to kill Eskom and go solar – although we are charged with looking after the earth and solar is doing just that. But I am saying that we need to kill the noise. Kill the intrusions into our mind. Kill the distracting influence of Satan. Kill the things that are leaving us empty and fill up on Jesus.

The Lord your God is with you,

He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love He will rejoice over you with singing.

Jesus will quiet us with his love. Yes Lord Jesus. If it means a crazy eskom account to achieve that, so be it. Quieten us please Lord!

In closing turn with me to those famous words in psalms 46:10

Be still and know that I am God.

Amen

Rage, rage against the dying of the light!

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on that sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light. 

Dylan Thomas

Just don't get it..

Ok, so I am totally new to blogging...Laugh if you want, but I just never saw the need or the attraction. Now that my circumstances have changed somewhat I suddenly feel the need to reach out. To who? I still don't understand how blogging works, so who is likely to read my blog? Why? Who cares? It all just seems so random... I'm not particularly interested in other people's blow by blow commentary of their latest pregnancy or   bowel movement, so why would people be interested in mine? I can's seem to figure out how to search for people who might be interesting, so right now I am confused as to the purpose of blogging. Do we all just have a narcissistic need to be heard, even if by complete strangers? Do we need some sort of existential realization that we matter? Are just desperate for a subjective interaction with something, someone, somewhere? Surely if the purpose of blogging is social, Facebook would suffice? Does the truth lie in a inherent need to either connect with people who share our ideals, or convert those who don't to our little corner of the playground... Its all just so random...

Christian Rock

Christian rock – an oxymoron?

Look, whenever you start the topic of music at your business meeting or church board, you are likely to open the proverbial can of worms and nobody likes worms unless they’re strung on the end of a hook! If you’re in a young and vibrant church, the general consensus would be that we need to liven up our song services – if you’re in a older, more traditional church, the thought of a guitar in the front would make the head elder have an epileptic fit. I’ve been to churches where the song leader is not allowed to move his hand in time to the music and I’ve been to churches where the “praise team” is enjoying themselves far too much! So where do we draw the line? Is there a line? Do we have to stick to the same old hymns that Grannie and Grandpa sang before the war?

Now listen, if we are to be brutally honest here, we can find scriptural references for both sides of the argument here. One the one side we’ll have the conservatives quoting Paul in Corinthians when he says God is a God of order. (2 Cor. 14:33) and on the other side we’ll have the liberals quoting David when he says “Praise Him with tambourine and dancing” (Ps 150:4) Lets not even go to the cultural differences in song since that will open the second can and we only have one hook! So where do we go for answers? Well, let me warn you at the outset – I don’t have them! If you’re reading this in the hope of some miraculous enlightenment, stop reading and go make a tofu sandwich…

The best I can do is to give you my personal experience, for whatever that is worth. I used to be into rock in a big way. It started way back when I stole (sorry, borrowed…) my sisters’ Queen LP’s and played them when my parents weren’t home. From there I moved into everything from Deep Purple to Alistair Cooper. Without giving these guys too much credit, suffice it to say I was well schooled in the school of rock! One thing I remember clearly from those crazy head-banging days: the beat! Not the words so much, but the beat. Those cuckoo-clock-shattering guitar riffs interlaced with Mike Tyson-thumping chest compressions. It provided me with everything I wanted and thus I was ripe for the message it proclaimed! Would I have cared if Marilyn Manson tore pages from the Bible in his live concert? Would it have mattered that Roger Waters spat at someone? No way! I was enjoying the music and the message!

So now I see the same beats entering my church… The beats that Satan undoubtedly uses to create enjoyment is now playing in our churches. Now before you think I am about to start ranting about the young people of today, let me state unequivocally that as a young (er… although bald…) person, I believe that the young people are the most important people in the church! Sorry Granddad, you had your chance! We need to duct-tape our young people to the salvation chair and never let them go! But how? By bringing the beats of the world into the church? Oh, but I hear you say we need to attract people by the music – attract them to what? To be entertained, or to the living Redeemer in Jesus Christ? I have searched my Bible and I cannot find one instance where someone was converted by the music in the synagogue… Now I must be careful since I am not a theologian and perhaps there is such a place, but I cannot seem to recall Jesus starting the sermon on the mount with a band and a drum kit…

Ok, so I now I know I have upset a lot of people and I apologise (not sincerely though). However, truth be told, I also don’t have the answer! (I warned you!) Exactly where do we draw the line between a “lively song service” and an Abba Concert? Is one guitar ok but no drums? Can we flick the switch on the rhythm section of the organ? Frankly, I have no idea where the line is simply because I don’t think anyone has ever drawn a line. So we stumble forward in the dark…or do we? From the pen of inspiration come these words:

“The things you have described ... the Lord has shown me would take place just before the close of probation. Every uncouth thing will be demonstrated. There will be shouting, with drums, music, and dancing. The senses of rational beings will become so confused that they cannot be trusted to make right decisions. And this is called the moving of the Holy Spirit”. EG White LDE 159.1   (Last Day Events)  

For me the answer is found in 1Co 10:31” Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God”. To the glory of God… Now there’s a thing. So what the Bible is telling me is that it’s all about God? It’s not about my entertainment or how I “feel”, it’s about God! So truth be told – God sits with the most amazing gaggle of musicians and orchestras playing weird multi-vocal stuff in perfect harmony, and I try to please Him with my primitive banging of a drum? How glad I am that God is a patient and tolerant God!

If we are to be brutally honest with ourselves (which hurts mostly), we will have to admit that any attempt to “liven up” the song service is not for the “glory of God”, but for our own entertainment. We want to enjoy it more and God just better enjoy it too! Don’t get me wrong – singing poorly, out of tune, dragging the song like chewing gum under you shoe is just as wrong! Its reflects on how little we think of being in the presence of Majesty! But at the core of it all we need to realise that we cannot “appease the gods” by banging a drum or even by singing loudly! It’s about God and how we respond to what he has done for us in our lives. We need to praise Him, to the best of our ability, but with the distinct understanding that we will never come close to the praise He is worthy of, or used to! We simply plod along under the good graces of a smiling Creator who loves us so much that He smiles at our simple attempts at music. As to the line and where it is – I have no idea but a very wise man once said to err on the side of caution…So for me, I will sing the hymns as they were written and try to remember that it’s not about my own entertainment – it’s all about God. I shudder to think that we might want to bring the world’s music into our churches. The world’s music should stay the worlds music and never the twain shall meet! Christian rock? That’s like a Christian gangster…