The Puzzle, November 2, 2009
Passing on Wilson
One generation shall commend your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.
On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
Psalm 145:4-5
We’re in a bad way, spiritually. Younger generations have little or no biblical knowledge, very few encounters with God’s power or holiness on which to draw, precious little respect for the Church. Couple this with the societal trend which marginalizes God from the public square, turning Him into an irrelevant figurehead, rather than an actual deity to be worshiped, and the prevalence of the worship of human knowledge as a truer god, and we have what we have. It’s a disaster.
We’ve gone without nationwide revival for over 100 years. What we’re dealing with are at least two generations who have never witnessed the power of God. They’ve not seen true repentance on a wide scale, or possibly even a small one. Repentance has been virtually ignored, resulting in a Church which has forgotten about sin. We seem to think God has forgotten about it, too. He hasn’t.
How do we successfully transfer our faith to other generations? First of all, we must have it, ourselves. For too many churchgoers, God has always been remote and optional, “The Man Upstairs.” Halfhearted attempts to pass on this version of Christianity fall flat. So do wholehearted attempts. Who needs a lame religion? It makes me think of aboriginal peoples worshiping sacred rocks or something and trying to pass down their “religion” to their children. Why bother? It makes me think of “Wilson,” the aptly named volleyball Tom Hanks adopted as his best friend and “god,” for lack of competition, in the movie, “Castaway.”
The best way to pass down our faith? Use it. When other generations observe something which works in everyday life, they may want it for themselves. The way to pass the torch is to carry it well, declare His praises, show people what an immensely wonderful thing it is to serve Jesus. Before other generations will accept the torch we’re trying to give them, they must first want it. What would make them want it? To see that in a confusing, mixed-up world, there is a true, workable solution. When they’ve seen the real thing in our lives and the difference it has made for us, when they hear us continually declaring the praises of God, we won’t have to force the torch into their hands. They will want what we have.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, November 3, 2009
Big Enough to Help
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD his God,
who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them,...
Psalm 146:5-6
There are times when we just need help. We aren’t smart enough, strong enough, rich enough, persuasive enough—we just need help. Where do we turn? Usually, it’s to whomever happens to be closest, and “available.” If a family member is standing around, we’ll tap them for duty, even when they are abysmally unqualified and quite unwilling. They’re close—that’s what counts. It’s less embarrassing to ask for help from an equally clueless loved one than it is from a trained (and probably expensive) professional. Consequently, those who could actually help us with our situation are seldom asked, and even the relatives aren’t recruited until all the pieces are in a brown bag that rattles. We used to get those at the Gun Shop—as the sheepish individual walked up to the repair counter, we’d start writing out the order: “Customer disassembled gun, not responsible for missing parts.” At least they had finally brought the thing in to someone who could help them. Had they brought it in earlier in the process, it would have been easier on everybody, though.
This psalm is a reminder of where we ought to go for help—early in the process: God. If there is anyone who wants to help us, it’s Him. If there is anyone capable of actually providing help, it’s Him. The little reminder of His qualifications and accomplishments which follows the admonition to put our hope in Him for help puts it in perspective: who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them,...
Think about it. He made heaven and earth. He made the sea. Suppose He could help me with my “big” problems? He sent His only Son to be my Savior, to die for my sins and give me eternal life. Think He would help out with our finances, if I asked Him?
If we’re needing help and we need to ask somebody, we might as well ask somebody big enough to do something about it! Blessed are the people smart enough to ask God when they need help! The Creator of heaven and earth can do anything. When we go to God, we’re asking Someone big enough to help.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, November 4, 2009
What Pleases God
His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love.
Psalm 147:10-11
I know people who delight in horses. Some delight in dogs or cats. Some delight in cars. People collect all sorts of things, from antiques to faceless dolls. Many delight in sports. Or the latest technology. Everyone with grandchildren seems to delight in them. The list is endless. So, is there anything in which God delights? As a matter of fact, there is, according to Psalm 147:11: but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.
There is a delight which comes to God’s heart when people respect and honor Him. When people depend on Him and accept His love for them, it gives God pleasure. It’s not really that hard to please God! All we need to do is love Him back. When we delight in Him, we can be sure He delights in us.
Is that so difficult? What is not to like about God?! Yet, the tendency is to be more preoccupied with things like cars or houses than with the God who made the Universe! It’s quite easy to transfer the attention which ought to be focused on our Creator to something else. Remember the end of the book of Jonah? The prophet is unceremoniously delivered to his assigned destination by being wretched up on the beach by a giant fish. Having now learned the lesson that obedience to God is inevitable, Jonah still hadn’t learned the attitude part. He preaches repentance to Nineveh, and is so successful in his endeavors that God gladly changes His mind about destroying the city.
Instead of being happy about it and writing a best-selling book for prophets on revival techniques, Jonah sulks outside the city, despondent because God spared his enemies. God provides a fast-growing gourd plant to give Jonah shade for his pity party. Instead of delighting in God, who is kind to both prophets and pagans, Jonah’s delight is only in the gourd. It’s his new best friend.
God takes it away; Jonah bitterly complains. The book ends with God’s gentle rebuke for a prophet who cares more about a shade plant than for an entire city of people. What pleases God? People who hope in Him, delight in Him, and have His heart. If we try to please God, we will. It’s that simple.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, November 5, 2009
America on Her Knees
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11
One day America will be on her knees. Every man, woman and child will be in an attitude of reverence before Jesus Christ. That is a fact, according to the Bible. The question is not if it will happen, but when.
There is another question, pertinent to each of us. What will be the reason for our humble posture? Will it be because the returning King has revealed Himself to all, and we are unable to stand before Him? Will it be in worship and adoration? How about repentance?
America will be brought to her knees. The question is, will we be kneeling in repentance or in submission?
If we kneel in repentance now, when Christ returns we will kneel in worship.
If we ignore the gift of salvation and refuse to submit to the Son of God, we will kneel, anyway, but it will be out of terrified submission. Think I’ll take repentance.
Many in our land have been working hard at trying to make God go away. Some want Him to leave entirely, and take His followers with Him. I guess in some ways they are more anxious for the Rapture than even His followers are!
Others would like for Jesus and the Christians to bug off, but “could God still please leave His blessings? We like those.”
Whether the attitude is disbelief or acceptance, defiance or trying to redefine God to correspond to our wishes and our control, the end result will be the same. We’ll all be down on our knees before Jesus. It’ll be either repentance and worship or it’ll be submission to the “Higher Power” once casually ignored.
In my lifetime, I’d like to see America on her knees. If we renewed our commitment to serve Christ and repented of our sin, at a national level, do you think God would ignore genuine repentance? I don’t. Can’t you see God unleashing His true blessing on the United States? Or we could continue on our merry way, with blatant disregard for Him. We’re all going to wind up on our knees, anyway. Let’s do it, now. That way when Jesus comes back, we’ll be the ones who are on our knees, smiling.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, November 6, 2009 (adapted from original, written September 9, 2008)
The Cliff
If you’re frustrated with the church, you’re not alone. Pastors and lay people alike are bewildered. Growing churches are rare. Even that “growth” is usually just migration. Growth through conversion? Limited to 5% of churches.
There are a lot of frustrated pastors, but they’re outnumbered by frustrated church attenders and former church attenders. Many people drive to the meeting, hoping to feel closer to God, and drive home, feeling less peaceful and more frustrated than when they came. Something seems wrong with that picture.
Even for the blessed few whose church is thriving, just outside the church steps is a culture increasingly steeped in sin, and proud of it.
I could easily go on for pages, but there’s no point. What we need are answers, not a postmortem.
For years, I’ve been saying that America is faced with a choice. The choice was between turning toward God and experiencing the greatest revival we’ve ever known, or choosing our own way and going over an ominous cliff. I think, as a nation, we’ve already chosen the cliff. We certainly haven’t chosen God. Even within the Church, the ranks of those souls on fire for Jesus are pitifully thin.
What can we do? It’s painfully obvious that the majority of our culture has discarded even the pretense of trying to honor God, in favor of whatever felt good. Does the Church need to follow suit? Our nation may not desire an awakening, but does that mean the Church can’t have one? At the very least, we could experience personal revival. God’s not holding out on us.
Don’t you believe that a God who loved the world so much that He sent His Son to us would also help us see spiritual transformation in our own lives, if we’re interested? He wants this more than we do.
Is it too late for America? I don’t think it’s too late for our nation to experience an awakening, although the awakening may very well come with a jolt of God’s judgment! I’m more concerned with the Church, though. If the Church continues in its self-centered stupor, we are going to blow this thing. We’ll either slide over the edge along with everyone else, or if America does get the revival we need, we’ll be clueless and unprepared. Neither of those is a nice option. Our culture needs the benefit of being confronted everywhere they look with real live Christians whose faith actually guides their lives.
For each one of us, it’s either the cliff or the Lord. Choose Jesus.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, November 9, 2009
A Love We Can’t Shake
But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” Ruth 1:16-17
Of all the books in the Bible, I find the tiny book of Ruth the sweetest. It’s the story of how God takes tragedy and bitterness and turns it all around, using human kindness and commitment. The story of how God restored Naomi’s life is the story of how He restores ours.
The book begins with five devastating verses. First, there’s famine. That alone would cause many to feel God-forsaken. Naomi’s husband, Elimelech, determined it would be best for his family to be homeless refugees, rather than starving locals. They moved to the country of Moab. There was no welcome wagon. Then he died. Now a widow in a foreign country, at least Naomi has her two sons. They marry Moabite girls, Orpah and Ruth. For ten years, Naomi copes with her grief and takes comfort in what remains of her life: her sons. They both die.
Without husband, children or grandchildren, numb with grief, Naomi prepares to return to Israel. She remembers a life which seemed “full,” even in a famine. Now it is an empty life. God has turned against her, she thinks. Even her name, Naomi, which means “pleasant,” has become a cruel joke she can no longer bear to hear. “Call me Mara (‘bitter’).” It’s all over. Bitterness has consumed her.
But God is about to turn this around. He starts with commitment. Naomi tries to send her daughters-in-law away, in fairness to them, but one won’t go. Ruth not only stays—she commits herself unequivocally to Naomi for life! “I’ll be buried where you are buried.” It’s one thing to commit yourself to a pleasant person. It’s quite another to willingly commit yourself to an angry, broken person who offers nothing but bitterness. She did, though. Ruth’s commitment to Naomi was the beginning of the turnaround.
Ruth’s commitment to Naomi is like God’s commitment to us. Jesus promises to never leave or forsake us. He laid down His life for us while we were still unrepentant sinners, He took upon Himself all our sin and grief and bitterness. He offers us a new life. Most of all, He offers us Himself—forever. There’s nothing we can do to shake His love. He won’t go away just because we are angry or bitter. We can blame Him and make everything His fault, and still He loves us. He absorbs our pain. He accepts and understands. It’s a love we can’t shake, even if we try.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, November 10, 2009
Throwing Your Life Away
She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi (Naomi means ‘pleasant’); call me Mara (Mara means ‘bitter’), for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?” Ruth 1:20-21
Ruth? Are you sure about this? If you were going to commit to someone for life and promise them that nothing but death would separate you, couldn’t you at least have picked someone in a better mood? Here you are, a penniless widow in a foreign country, and you’ve bound yourself for life to another penniless widow who is obnoxiously bitter. Not only that—she’s your mother-in-law. You said goodbye to your homeland and your relatives for this? Yup.
Bless you. People weren’t exactly standing in line to be Naomi’s friend. Bitter people don’t attract people; they drive them off. “Why choose to commit yourself to someone like that? Don’t you know you’ll be miserable? You’re throwing your life away.” No, you’re giving your life away. There’s a difference, a big one.
“Throwing your life away” is letting the hard knocks of human existence steal your joy and being content with being a victim. “Giving your life away” is what Jesus did for us when He offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sin. Ruth chose to commit herself for life to her bitter mother-in-law, and gave her what she needed more than anything in the world, right then: a friend. It changed them both. Kindness was desperately needed, but it had to begin with commitment.
When unbelievers run up against the Church, what do they sense? Warm acceptance? Or is the disapproval pretty strong? Not just disapproval of sin, but disdain for the sinner? Message received? “You don’t like me or accept me; neither does your God.” Bitterness grows.
Too often, the attitude extended toward unbelievers by the Church is similar to that expressed by the religious people in Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan. “Don’t get too close.” “They probably deserved it.” “Glad it’s not me.”
It’s the despised foreigner who comes to the rescue, the Samaritan who knows good and well that if it were him in the ditch, he shouldn’t be expecting any Jews to lend a hand. He gets involved, inconveniences himself, makes a financial investment and a risk, and rides off, un-thanked, anonymous and immortalized.
We’re followers of God. He loves the crabby, the stupid, the careless. When we lock on and commit ourselves to be kind to someone, regardless, something wonderful happens. We find ourselves channeling God’s kindness.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, November 11, 2009
Mr. and Mrs. Blessing
So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife.... and the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.
They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Ruth 4:13-15,17
If there’s a story in the Bible which is “cute,” this is it. By the end everyone is smiling. It’s a “happily ever after” story, except it’s true and God arranged it.
Years ago, we took our young daughter to Disneyland. Her biggest wish was to see Cinderella. When we were in Cinderella’s neck of the woods, she was on break. Then it started to pour. We never did see her.
When I get to heaven, I’ll get to meet Ruth and Boaz, and their great grandson, David, plus thousands of other people I’d like to see. All of them are real; they’re not actors, paid to present an image of an imaginary character. Naw, these are real people who have followed God and made it home. They’re all living happily ever after.
So will we. All we need to do is accept the gift of salvation Jesus offers us, and for all who are willing to follow Him home, He’s prepared the happiest place (not) on earth. It beats the other one, hands down, especially in a downpour, with Cinderella on break. We’re going to live happily ever after, with lots of company.
Meanwhile, life here can be a lot more fun than most of us make it. The key
to a funner pre-heaven existence is deciding to be the kind of person who blesses others. Who are the happiest people we know? Those people. Right?
God loves to bless people through other people. Ruth and Boaz both chose to be a blessing to others, and succeeded. Naomi didn’t need counseling; she needed a friend who would love her while she was still prickly. Boaz needed a woman as kind as he was. God used the kindness they showed others to bring them together. They became Mr. and Mrs. Blessing. We’ll see ‘em in heaven. Oh, and they made it into Jesus’ genealogy. Just try and outbless God!
If we choose to be a blessing, we will be. A letter came today stuffed with encouragement, plus a generous check, both needed by me. It came from one who long ago determined to be a blessing, and succeeded. That’s the way it always works. It’s a no-fail plan for a lot better life. And that’s just here.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, November 12, 2009
Anything Big?
And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz,... Ruth 2:2-3
The book of Ruth illustrates the tremendous influence of a godly businessman. In this story, Boaz is the “redeemer,” his ministry more effective than any preacher when it comes to this family. He saves them. They didn’t need a preacher, right then; they needed a savior and a protector and a provider.
Ruth could have stayed in Moab, helping fellow widows or something. She could have been a blessing in her homeland, maybe to many. But I don’t know how she could have possibly been a bigger blessing than to commit to someone who had run out of hope, and promise a destitute, grieving lady that she would never leave her, no matter what. She traded off what she had of her own life, in order to bless someone else’s. Rather than spending time in self-pity or commiseration, she went to work, doing the most humiliating, pitiful job there was—being a human seagull hoping to find a few grains of barley the harvesters had missed.
God used it to put her in contact with Boaz, a man of character holding out for a woman of character, someone like Ruth, willing to do whatever it took to be a blessing to people. Interestingly enough, Ruth didn’t stay a gleaner for long. One season.
Boaz thought his time had passed, that he would never know the joy of a companion who was a woman of character, yet who loved him. God imported one from Moab. By the time it was all over, there were blessings all around.
It might have seemed like a pretty boring life, to them. Becoming a nobody in a foreign land, where the only person you know is a person no one can stand to be around, anymore. Then you start gleaning because you can’t even get a real job where they pay you. Think “dumpster diving, B.C.” Even when it all turns out nicely, and there is finally enough money, and a kid and the pleasantness has returned to life,.... still, what did they do? Anything big?
Is getting your love story put in the Bible big? Being King David’s great grandparents? How about being ancestors of the Savior of the world? The choice two people made long before they met, of being a blessing to those around them, paid off handsomely. In Boaz and Ruth, blessing met blessing. It was a marriage made in heaven. We’ll see them there.
Dave Ness
I've been working on The Puzzle for years. This introduction was written for the book, back when I thought it would be 150 pages long, rather than a daily devotional which may take the rest of my life to complete. (There are already over 400 pages of The Puzzle in the archives on this site). I thought it might be helpful to include it so you know my original purpose in this work. A lot of things have changed since 2005, when this was written. God has not changed, though. The landscape is different for all of us than it was several years ago, but our God still knows the way. If we ask Him, He'll show us what we need to know.
Dave Ness
October 11, 2009
The Puzzle
Introduction
I’m not a mega-church pastor. In terms of church growth, my only claim to fame is that I’ve broken the 300 barrier four times, unfortunately all in the same church, and twice going in the wrong direction!
I don’t have a television or radio program, a trail of best-selling books, or a name associated with prestige, unless you count sea monsters in Scotland or the leader of “The Untouchable’s” (I don’t think I’m related to either one). I’m not even the pastor of a church, anymore. But God has put it on my heart to write this book, because I sense the desperation of Christians in our nation, particularly pastors, who are plagued every day with the question, “What do we do?!”
If God has already given you a plan, don’t bother with this book. If the Holy Spirit has already made clear to you what you are to do and where you fit in with His magnificent plan, you would probably be better served by just doing what God has shown you to do, and not spending much of the time He has loaned you in perusing books looking for answers you already have. If He has already shown you your place in the script, go play your part! When the curtain goes up and it’s your turn on stage, you don’t want to miss your entrance because you were off browsing in the bookstore.
If, on the other hand, you’re not in that elite group of Christian pastors and leaders who are riding the latest wave of church growth into more earthly stardom than they thought possible, this book will hopefully be worth your time, and of more benefit to you than spending the money on replacing lost golf balls you carelessly chunked into the lake while thinking of your church’s governing board.
If you’re frustrated, this book could help you. Number one, it will be of some comfort to you to know, for sure, that you’re not alone, that you’re not the only person on the planet who looks at the bleakness of the American church landscape and can’t abide the thought of listening to or preaching one more sermon contending that what we’re experiencing is as good as it gets, in terms of cultural transformation for the cause of Christ. No, there are other people besides you who see the bottom line of the culture wars and say, “If this is ‘winning,’ what would ‘losing’ look like?!”
There are others like you who have made the quiet assumption that if we keep doing the same things in the church in the same way we have for the past 50 years, we’ll probably have about the same results—which is not good. Instinctively, we know that the problem is not with God, the Bible or the plan of salvation. None of these need revamping for the 21st century, nor ever. But something needs to change, and we know it. We have the sneaking suspicion that it’s probably us. But how, and what?
You’re not the only one asking the question, “What do we do?” That’s why I’ve written this book—I want to know, too! In fact, I have to know what to do, especially since a year ago I resigned the church I had pastored for 11 years (Note: They stop giving you paychecks when you do that), I started a ministry called Servant Connection, dedicated to praying for America, and as I’ve prayed through about the whole question of how to see a spiritual transformation in America, I’ve felt led by the Lord to share my findings and directions with others who might likewise be struggling. Hopefully, what you find here is worth your time and won’t turn out to be a dead end. What I’ve found is fairly basic, so don’t expect anything too avant garde’, but also don’t expect to find anything that takes away from the glory of Jesus Christ and directs you instead toward a conference, a web-site or a soon-to-be-famous (any time, now) author. If anything in this book leads you to depend on some kind of technique instead of on Christ, or starts to make you believe that we can pull off something good with our own wisdom and resources which will somehow result in spiritual transformation, then chuck this volume in the nearest trash receptacle and shove it down deep so noone else will see it. Then please accept my deepest apologies. If this book doesn’t help you go toward Christ, I’ve lost my way and taken others with me down a dead end road.
I don’t think I’ve lost my way, this time, though, even if I do possess a legendary talent for that when it comes to navigating city streets or remembering my way around. The reason I think I’m going the right way through this minefield is because I’ve asked directions, rather than trying to find my own way, and I’ve asked the right person.
There is a favorite verse I’ve often put to the test—James 1:5: “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him...” I’ve staked the most important things of my life on this promise, and done it repeatedly. I’ve never regretted asking God for wisdom. I’ve never regretted following what I believed to be His direction. That’s why, if you already have a plan from God, you don’t need to hear what I have to say. You have your orders, already! Now it’s just a matter of obedience, plus some faith and perseverance. Go for it. Rejoice in God’s faithfulness to show you what to do!
But if you’re still in the place where you’re willing to obey God, but you aren’t sure what to obey, if you’re goodhearted but also frustrated, if you’re just trying to see through the fog, what I’ve tried to do in this book is to help us both to get to the place where we know the answers to the questions that won’t go away:
Where do I fit? What’s my place? What do we do, now?
If you have a God-given understanding of those things, already, you can simply take the next exit, and pass this volume on to someone who looks confused. But if you’re a little unsteady on your mission and you sometimes wonder what in the world you could do to make a lasting difference, please read on. I know the Lord of the harvest will grant us both the wisdom we need for the task at hand.
That task, by the way, is a big one! I have my sights set on a revival in America that would shake the world. I’m not talking about a series of meetings labeled “revival” or about city-wide crusades headed by well-known evangelists, although both of those things have their place. When I speak of “revival,” I’m referring to the kind of deep-down spiritual transformation that would yet be in evidence in society twenty years later, in thousands of still-changed lives.
Have I ever witnessed this kind of long-lasting revival on a widespread basis? The answer is “No;” I’ve only read about it, heard about it. I’ve been told of recent revivals in other parts of the world, I’ve read of great revivals, some of them in America; I’ve never witnessed one—at least not one on a national or even regional scale. The feeling in my heart is that we are at a crossroads in America, in these first years of the 21st century—we either have a spiritual awakening the likes of which none of us have ever witnessed, or we soon drop over a cultural cliff, also the likes of which none of us has ever witnessed. I believe God is leaving the choice up to us, as to which one it will be. I pray with all my heart that we take the right road, experience all the blessings that await us, and are in turn used to bless a needy world. If we don’t have revival, though—if the church continues to trudge along in America, satisfied with materialism and freedom in place of holiness and effectiveness, in a short while, we may awake to a nation unrecognizable, in a church with none of the things we treasured—or should have.
The American Revolution which helped form our United States came about because there were among the colonists those so in love with liberty that they preferred it over life itself. They became obsessed with independence. Although they didn’t really know what they were doing and had no idea how to form a new nation or even fight a war, although they had every chance of dismal failure, they determined to risk everything for liberty, and they succeeded. Through their sacrifice, a nation was birthed which has been unique in all of history, in terms of blessings, privilege and most of all, freedom. We are the beneficiaries of that sacrifice, still.
A new revolution is needed. This is not a civil war to be fought; it’s not a revolution requiring guns or violence of any kind. The new revolution which is needed in the United States is the one which occurs when millions of people, one at a time, experience a brokenness of spirit that leads them to a spiritual transformation at the hands of an Almighty God. When this kind of revolution takes place, entire cultures can be changed in a matter of days, in a transformation that positively affects subsequent generations for decades.
What would happen if America experienced genuine repentance and the awakening which would be sure to follow? How do we get there? I’m convinced that it’s not a matter of God holding out on us; I think we’ll get revival whenever we decide to get ready and to ask for it. What do we do?
That’s what this book is about: What do we do? The good thing is that there is no grand scheme I’ve cooked up in my office; there are no quick, easy steps, promises or guarantees, no traveling seminar coming to a city near you; all I can promise you in this work is that if we will seek out God, He’ll show us what to do, and He’ll do it on a basis that could not be more personal if He placed our name on it. The purpose of this book is simply to help us both to find the answers we seek as to His direction and purpose for us, to help us in hearing what God has to say to us individually, and as His Church.
He already has the answers—all of them! If this little volume can aid you in getting to the point where you are connecting with His answers, and you’re no longer confused as to where you fit in the puzzle, my mission in writing it will have been accomplished. God has answers for us. He won’t let us down. “What do we do, Lord?” He’ll show us. He wants us to know.
Dave Ness
Longview, Washington
December, 2005
The Puzzle, November 16, 2009
As Wise As We Want To Be
The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
To know wisdom and instruction,
to understand words of insight,
to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity;
to give prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the youth—
let the wise hear and increase in learning,
and the one who understands obtain guidance,
to understand a proverb and a saying,
the words of the wise and their riddles.
Proverbs 1:1-6
Early in his reign, in a life-changing dream, God appeared to Solomon and told him to ask for whatever he wanted. He chose wisdom. He got it, and more.
In his lifetime and beyond, Solomon had no equal when it came to wisdom, wealth and honor. As we begin the book of Proverbs, centered on what Solomon learned, with God’s inspiration, the thought hits me: We can be as wise as we want to be!
The humble prayer for wisdom is a prayer God loves to answer: “Lord, would you help me know how to do the right things? Would you teach me?” The answer is an enthusiastic “Yes!” The would-be wise are not disappointed in God’s response. After all, He’s the Author of wisdom.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Prov 1:7)
God doesn’t want us to be fools, so He has given us instruction from Him. When we apply ourselves to try to understand it and then we apply it, the result is “wisdom.” Knowledge comes from God. He is the One who built the brain in the first place. He is the One who took a lot of nothing and made out of it the Universe. His knowledge and power and understanding are beyond our comprehension. He offers us the chance to learn from Him, if we will submit to His instruction. Only a fool would turn that down.
If we will seek wisdom from God, He will make sure we get it! That’s exciting! We can either be a fool and despise wisdom and instruction, God’s or anybody else’s, or we can start with a fear of God and become as wise as we want to be.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, November 17, 2009
Make My Day
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7
The tide of information keeps growing higher. We’re drowning in it. But what about wisdom? Not so much.
Man’s knowledge has gotten us to the moon and back. God should be impressed. After all, He only created the moon; we landed some people on it. Isn’t it obvious which one of us is smarter? We can accomplish anything we want.
“Just like at the Tower of Babel.”
“That was different. Those were primitive people who didn’t know any better. Now we have computer technology so once again, almost everyone in the world can understand each other. We can do anything we want. This time you wouldn’t be able to stop us.”
“So you’re going to try to beat me with knowledge, something I created in the first place? Is that right? As one of your own poets has said, ‘Go ahead. Make my day.’”
“What could you do?”
“I think the right question is, ‘What can’t I do?’
All of your knowledge is based on things you’ve learned about a Universe I created. I gave you that knowledge in the first place. I gave you the ability to think. You think you’re smart because you learned the rules I put in force! If I made the rules in the first place, how hard would it be for me to change the rules? Make new ones? Eliminate any or all of the rules? Eliminate any or all of Creation? I’m not bound by ‘knowledge.’ Had I wanted to destroy your space program, or anything else, it wouldn’t have been very hard, for me!
Do you think that somehow, because I’ve allowed you to accumulate a little pile of knowledge, I am subject to your knowledge? That’s the oldest lie in the book, isn’t it? Who was it that said that if you just got enough knowledge—if you knew about not only good, but also evil, then you’d be like Me? The serpent. Do you recall where believing that lie led?
Meanwhile, for all who are interested, I offer more than just information. I offer wisdom. There will always be fools who think they are smarter than Me. But for those seeking true wisdom who submit to my instruction and follow Me, the learning will never stop. Knowledge is a creation of mine. It begins with Me. It will never rule Me. If someone wants to try to defeat Me using knowledge, that’s up to them. But a wise person would never do that. It’s why they’re wise.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, November 18, 2009
Children of Privilege
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:9-14
The world looks different for children of privilege. While some kids in poor countries patrol garbage dumps looking for lunch, children of privilege know which fork to use and have never been to a garbage dump. A child born into a wealthy home doesn’t think about whether or not they will eat, but only about what. They don’t fret over finances for things like food and shelter. When holidays roll around, hopes are justifiably high.
The attitude of the rest of society toward children of privilege is usually, “Lucky kid! They’ll never have to do without.” More than a bit of class envy lurks in our society. Never mind that so many rich kids grow up to be decadent, spoiled brats, completely lacking in wisdom, relationship skills and privacy. A lot of them don’t look “lucky” at all. Better to be raised by God-fearing, hardworking parents who “encouraged” us to mimic their values and work ethic upon pain of whatever it took. Praise God for lack of “privilege,” when it comes to some stuff!
But speaking of God, did you catch the “privilege clause” in this first chapter of John? The part that said that whoever wanted to had the right to become a child of God, and all we have to do is believe it’s a genuine offer and accept it? Talk about lucky kids! Can you see God’s child doing without? (Actually, we can. Christmas is coming up. Doesn’t every first-time mother dream of giving birth in a barn and not having so much as a clean place to lay her new baby, born without benefit of a doctor?) So, the “child of God” part doesn’t always equal luxury accommodations, at least, not here. (After here, we’ll not be disappointed).
Think of the things we don’t have to stress over since we’re children of God. He doesn’t wish for us to become decadent, spoiled brats, so He’ll probably allow us to earn our own way, make our own choices, face our own consequences. In addition, the sin-strewn world we inhabit hasn’t been remodeled for our enjoyment, yet. But the day is coming when we receive our inheritance. Meanwhile, our Father can do anything. His kids have a whole lot of stuff to not worry about.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, November 19, 2009 (Originally written, November 29, 2005)
Houston? Gotta Problem
If anyone thinks the Church in America is firing on all cylinders, I don’t know whom it might be. If we were a sports team, we’d be something like 1-16 at this point in the season. Reflecting on the glories of our solitary win won’t make the rest of the season less painful. We need a pretty big turnaround. Meanwhile, our competition grows more confident.
What’s our problem? It’s not God. It’s not the Bible nor the plan of salvation. No updates needed there. So, what are the key factors which have put the Church in America in such a mournful condition? These are a few of the observations I’ve made, in no particular order:
Lack of Focus
We just want it all, in America. Most churches try to do everything, afraid to neglect anyone’s good idea. The energy is diffused all over the place, like someone attempting to put out a fire by opening the fire hydrant prior to the truck getting there. A lot of water shoots out, but it just goes down the drain.
Lack of Purpose
Churches have mission statements, but people generally don’t pay much attention to them or even know what they are. Instead, they bring their own agenda for the purpose of the church. Finding others with the same agenda is like finding a blood donor match—difficult. It’s also tough to find people willing to lay aside their personal agenda in order to participate in someone else’s larger plan.
Lack of Love
I hate to even talk about this one. Where’s the deep-seated love for Jesus in the American Church? Where’s the committed love for one another, even for our spouses? Until love reigns in the Church, we will be frustrated and floundering.
Lack of Holiness
This goes with the lack of love. If we don’t really love Jesus, why would it bother us if we’re not becoming more like Him? As long as Christianity is presented to the world as a 2-minute prayer, a 2-second dunk, then you’re in the church directory waiting for the bus to heaven, there won’t be much difference between believers and non-believers. If no real change is even expected, we ought to quit calling it “conversion.” God’s standard has always been holiness. It hasn’t changed. We need to get back on His standard and ditch ours.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, November 20, 2009 (Adapted from original, November 29, 2005)
Houston? More Problems
Not only are we facing severe lack in the Church in America in several areas; we’re also dealing with too much. How so?
Too Many Resources!
We’re drowning in resources. Much of the time, all it does is keep us from ever needing God for anything. Sure, a personal tragedy or a national scare temporarily drives us to our knees, but as soon as the danger is past and things are back under our control, we resume spending our lives in the endless accumulation of possessions, each of them exacting its own tax on our time. Refusing to deprive ourselves (or our churches) of the basic niceties of life, we trudge on, managing our resources and pleading for more, neglecting our souls. Spiritually, we’d be better off with less. The kind of whining “less” would generate is something I’d rather not consider. We already have too much, and we want more.
In the Old Testament book of Judges (ch. 7), God required Gideon to pare down his army from 32,000 to 300. God knew if He granted the Israelites victory with a real army, they would take credit, themselves. With 300, there was no question who had helped them win. Are we willing to let God do decreases in our lives in order to free us from burdens or to simplify things, or will we only allow Him to add? What would have happened to Gideon had he decided to say “Thanks, but no thanks” to God’s direct instruction? Would he have just won with 32,000 instead? In the Church in America, time after time, we’re stuck with our resources and another loss, when we could have had a win if we’d done it God’s way.
Does that mean we need to shed our stuff? We do, if God said. Either way, we’d better get with His plan if we hope to see victory.
Too Many Choices
Jesus gave His disciples one choice: “Follow me,” or not. Caught up in the spirit of our age, we’ve managed to make discipleship—obedience to Jesus—optional, rather than a core requirement of Christianity! In its place has arisen the consumer mentality which customizes the Christian faith to align with our own personal preferences, in everything from worship styles to doctrinal beliefs. If we don’t get what we want, we just go elsewhere. The Almighty does not take dictation well. True disciples take orders from their master; they don’t give them. If we follow the Lord, He will get us home. If we try to lead God through a maze of requirements to satisfy us, we’ll find ourselves making a journey to nowhere, all alone. Disciples get one choice: Follow Jesus. Or not. Only one choice leads home.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, November 23, 2009
That Wisdom Looks Good on You
Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,
and forsake not your mother’s teaching,
for they are a graceful garland for your head
and pendants for your neck.
Proverbs 1:8-9
During this Thanksgiving week, I’m reminded of many blessings. One of them is the extreme blessing of good, godly parents. I thank God for them. Learning was not left to chance in our household, growing up. High expectations were placed upon each of us in all areas of academics. On our South Dakota farm there was plenty of work for all, according to our abilities, with the requirement that as one grew older, we accepted more responsibility, like it or not. Dad taught us to work; Mom taught us about God. They both got their point across very well. Excuses were unacceptable when it came to schoolwork. Laziness was not tolerated. (I tried being lazy but it turned out to be too much work). All four of us graduated from college with honors. All of us are serving the Lord. Something caught on, and we’ll always be grateful.
My mother told each of us all of the Bible stories in the Old Testament when we were children. Recently, at my urging, she published them in a book called Mom’s Old Testament Bible Stories: Heroes and Scoundrels. (Contact me for a copy). Because of Mom, as a kid I believed in every one of God’s miracles. When I got to seminary and one of my textbooks discounted the Old Testament Bible stories as mere folk tales, I hurled the book against a tree and chose to stick with what Mom had taught me. It was a great choice! I’ve never been sorry.
In the days when discouragement or laziness hound me, I fall back on lessons my Dad taught me about ignoring my feelings and excuses, and not quitting until the job is done, and done well. It wasn’t easy for him to teach me that, but I’m so very glad he persisted. It’s one of the best gifts I ever received.
This last paragraph is for the two people who are more than heroes, to me:
To Dad and Mom
For the thousands of lessons both of you taught me, thank you. I’m proud of you both. I praise God for giving me parents who chose such a good path and didn’t leave their children to figure it out on their own. You taught us. What you taught us was wisdom. It looked so good on you and worked so well that we each adopted it as our own. Now we are each trying to pass on to a new generation instruction that will help them and bless them for a lifetime, too. Thank you. I love you.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, November 24, 2009
People Who Know Stuff
My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding,
if you seek it like silver
and search for it as for hidden treasures,
then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
For the LORD gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
guarding the paths of justice
and watching over the way of his saints
Then you will understand righteousness and justice
and equity, every good path;
for wisdom will come into your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
Proverbs 2:1-10
How many different ways in just ten verses can God promise His children wisdom? It’s plain from this and other scriptures that if we desire wisdom, God is more than happy to grant it! Not only will we have wisdom; we’ll know how to use it.
Unfortunately, a great many in our land have chosen to go with their own knowledge, waving off any help from above. “Religion is just a crutch,” they say. Proverbs 1 is a grim reminder of what happens to fools without crutches who choose their own way. I’ll hobble along after wisdom, thank you. Others might not think they need God, but I know I do. There’s nothing stopping His people from seeking all the wisdom we need. We can come to God any time we want and seek His wisdom, knowing we’ll get it. Things may not be easy, but we’ll know what to do. He’ll make sure of it. We also come under His protection when we belong to Him.
Go after God’s wisdom! It’s there for us all. He wants us to know the answers and He wants us to know Him. We could be the wise people who know stuff because we know God. Or we could be crippled fools without crutches.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, November 25, 2009 (Adapted from original, April 21, 2008)
Formula for a Miracle
On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
John 2:1-11
What’s the formula for a miracle from God? Take a genuine need, then add faith and obedience. The bridegroom needed a miracle. He was out of wine and money, with days left to go in the wedding feast, and few options. Jesus’ mother didn’t have any money, either, but she’d given birth to the Son of God. She barged past His reluctance to get involved. Her faith in Him prompted His first miracle. Sometimes, that’s what it takes. God hardly ever comes up to people saying, “Wanta see a miracle?” First, there’s need. Then, there’s faith.
I love the way she involves Jesus by involving the servants. “Do whatever he tells you.” Always good advice, when it comes to God! With a parting “tag, you’re it” motherly move, suddenly it’s all up to Jesus. The servants will obey; if He says nothing, they’re off the hook. He says two sentences, they obey, and the Messiah’s first miracle is in the books. Need. Faith. Obedience. Miracle. Easy!
If it’s so easy, why don’t we see more miracles? Little need, for one thing. Miracles are for people with no other option. Little faith, for another. How many of us take our needs directly to Jesus, instead of hatching our own plan? Then there’s obedience. Is it hard to follow instructions which don’t make sense, like carting water to your boss, who is expecting wine? Yes, but obedience is the final ingredient for a miracle. The formula is there in the Book: Need. Faith. Obedience. Miracle. Easy.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, November 26, 2009
Praising God in an Empty Barn
Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
GOD, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer’s;
he makes me tread on my high places.
Habakkuk 3:17-19
It’s Thanksgiving Day in a land of plenty. Even in a deep recession, we have much for which to be grateful. Sadly, many aren’t thankful at all. The fact is, gratitude is a choice, not something which happens to people with full tummies. If we don’t learn to choose thanksgiving, contentment will always be elusive.
Habakkuk the prophet had learned contentment. In this passage he shows how effective it can be. Rather than praising God for a year of bounty, he is praising God in an empty barn. He speaks of a situation where every crop has failed, no food is available and there are no livestock in any of the pens. Starvation is a definite possibility. No hope is on the horizon. Yet he is rejoicing in the Lord. What can you do to someone like that? Satan knows the answer: Not much.
Though for a lot of us the barns aren’t exactly bulging with abundance, at least compared to times past, we’re still a long ways from Habakkuk’s situation. If he could praise God in an empty barn, we could at least do it sitting down to a Thanksgiving feast! Sure, we have bills to pay. There are uncertainties in our economy. There are things we might like which we cannot afford. So what? We have a great God who, when we trust Him, makes our steps as surefooted as a mountain goat’s. He’ll come through for us. We need to trust Him and loosen up.
We don’t have to wait for things to get better before we thank God. It’s a choice we can make, whether the pens are full or empty. The enemy of our souls finds it unsettling: “If they praise God in an empty barn, what would they do in a full one?!” If we want great acoustics for praise, it’s hard to beat an empty barn. Let ‘er rip.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, November 27, 2009
Too Much to be a Disciple
And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Mark 10:21-22
The rich young ruler had a lot to leave behind: the family inheritance, the wealth, the privileges that went along with it, the expectations of his family. Jesus made it clear, though: So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. (Lk 14:33) He meant everyone, not just people on the “rich and famous” list.
In our mind, we reason, “That’s not fair! I can’t leave all of this! I have too much, to just walk away from it!”
The Lord, reading our minds, answers, “Precisely. That’s why you must leave it. You can’t follow me and manage an estate at the same time. You can’t obey my orders and fulfill your family’s dreams at the same time. It’s one or the other.” Any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
What do you mean, I can’t be Your disciple?! All of this is Yours!
Good. Then leave it, and come follow me alone, without any of this. You can’t follow me and manage all this stuff at the same time.
But...
I thought you said it was all mine, that you were doing it all for me. Did I misunderstand?
No, but... Why are you making this so hard for me? I just asked you to bless what I’m doing for you; I didn’t ask you to take it all away!
Fine, then. I’ll be going, now.
Where are you going?
I have blessings to deliver to some people who call me “Master” and mean it.
We’ll have revival when we want it more than we want our wealth. Man, I hate to say that, but I’m afraid it’s true. Like the young ruler, as long as we love our wealth more than we love following Jesus, we’re going to be stuck watching the Lord work in other people’s lives and in other countries, while we ride herd on the inheritance. Revival may not actually cost us our wealth, but then again, it probably will. And for those of us who have a hard time walking away from the riches, God may just do us a tremendous favor and send along a natural, economic or political disaster to free us up to follow Him.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, November 30, 2009
God’s Total Health Plan
Part One
My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments,
for length of days and years of life
and peace they will add to you.
Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will find favor and good repute
in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Proverbs 3:1-6
While our national leaders try to “fix” health care in this country, there is a comprehensive plan right here in the Bible, with clear expectations and promises. It doesn’t stop at physical health, either. This is a complete package, with benefits for this life and all eternity. What the government is trying to do in 2,000 pages, God does in one. And whose promises do you suppose are more trustworthy? Nor do we need to cancel insurance in order to serve God, faithfully.
This is going to take a couple days. Let’s get started on God’s Total Health Plan. Every dependent child of God is eligible.
Our part: Do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments.
The benefit: length of days, years of life and peace!
Our part: Practice steadfast love and faithfulness.
The benefit: favor and a good reputation in the sight of God and man
Our part: Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him.
The benefit: straight paths (God’s unerring guidance).
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, December 1, 2009
God’s Total Health Plan
Part Two
Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your flesh
and medicine to your bones.
Honor the LORD with your wealth
and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.
Proverbs 3:7-10
We could pick anything from Proverbs 3:1-10 and apply it, and we would be far better off as a nation. The principles are right there. If we want better physical health as a country, here it is. If we want spiritual health, it’s here. If we want longer life, it’s here. If we want better mental health, it’s here. If we would like financial health, it’s here. Not only that, but those who lean on God and not themselves will get to spend eternity with Him.
Our part: Be not wise in your own eyes (Humility); fear the LORD, and turn away from evil (Righteousness).
Benefit: healing to your flesh and medicine to your bones.
Our part: Honor the LORD with your wealth, and with the firstfruits of all your produce.
Benefit: full barns, bursting vats (Plenty, and more).
God’s plan for our lives is complete. It includes all aspects; His principles apply to all situations. We need not worry about pre-existing conditions. He knows and forgives. We supply the humility and obedience; He supplies the benefits. We could be the people who live by God’s total health plan. Instead of being wise in our own eyes, we could be truly wise and depend on Him. We could turn away from sin and be faithful to our word, and find that righteousness and faithfulness even improve our physical health! We could honor God with our tithe and discover the financial blessing attached. And which of man’s plans offers peace? God’s total health plan is too good to pass up! We only need be a dependent. Let’s choose well.
Dave Ness
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