G-d's Days of Commemoration

The Passover season is coming up and it will soon be time to contemplate its significance. It is the only feast so far that Jesus Christ was physically present on earth when it was fulfilled. After that, he was gone back to heaven and was not physically present in the New Testament to keep the other festivals and to command their observance.

Many Christians feel that Jesus abolished all other laws except the 10 commandments, when many of them have not yet been fulfilled (Matthew 5:17). In fact, if we study the scriptures carefully, only three of the festivals/feasts were fulfilled.

At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came. That is another occasion that we have neglected to celebrate according to God's calendar. SDA Pentecost does not fall in God's time line either, as SDA church leaders have chosen a convenient day for "Pentecost and More". Generally, some other churches name themselves after the feast, for example Pentecostals, and totally ignore this celebration of the anniversary of the Holy Spirit entering the church. Instead, the church leaders chose to remember Azusa Street Revival.

The Day of Atonement - which is believed to be of special significance to SDA theology is also not commemorated corporately or even on the correct day. However, Feast of Trumpets is all but ignored in SDA theology, despite the fact that it comes before the Day of Atonement.

It is a pity that some feel that Jesus abolished all other laws except the 10 commandments, when many of them have not yet been fulfilled. While the sacrificial ceremonies have been abolished (or perhaps suspended since G-d promised Phineas the Levite an everlasting priesthood in Numbers 25:13), because of the fulfilment of Jesus as our sacrifice, it was not God's intention that we do not commemorate these special seasons, especially those with future meaning and significance. They are still his Feasts, even the Sabbath (Leviticus 23:2).

It is not about observing days and times, but about reflecting and commemorating on God's work and intervention in human affairs. As Christians we love celebrations and annual special times like Christmas and Easter. Why should we just choose our own anniversaries to celebrate G-d, when he has his own?

Think Positively: Practical Thought Control

I got a ride to work with a female lecturer colleague. She had in her car stereo a CD from Success Magazine. On a previous occasion I remembered talking to an entrepreneur who told me about his preference for e-books over local media, as he did not always want to hear what local radio had to offer. So instantly I remembered that conversation and asked my female colleague about what she was listening to.

She went on to tell me about her desire to control her thoughts, by choosing what she listened to. She spoke that the local media was too negative and if she continued listening to that stuff, it would make her start thinking negatively about life and people. I thought about what she said in light of previous revelations that G-d has given me regarding thought control.

Sermon on thoughts

Background:

I was given the responsibility this week to lead the class discussion for the Sabbath school class. In the mid week, after a trying time, I could not sleep and was up until midnight. I then found myself praying and giving thanks to G-d. Then G-d made use of this time as his office hours, giving me a sermon, through guided instruction and reading of Lesson 6 of the Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide.

The Sermon:

Think about the things that are true (Philippians 4:8). The Bible states that our minds must consider information that is true. Should we focus on non-fiction information only? What about fiction? What about soap operas? Movies? Books read such as novels, tales and fantasies?

Think about things that are of good report (Philippians 4:8 KJV). The Bible admonishes us to listen and reflect upon good news. G-d is not only concern about us spending time on fiction. He is also concerned about our news papers, Internet news, television news and radio news. So should we read our papers, listen to radio, or turn television on for news? Especially if the news is not good? When we get the headlines, we can determine from them whether the news may be good or bad and as a result make a decision to pay heed to the report.

Negative reports and news make our own thinking negative. To get positive thinking, we need positive news, positive reports and positive information sources. We need to take heed to the information that we digest and make a part of us. If what we have inside is good, then our actions and what we do or say will be good (Luke 6:54).

As such we need to store in us good music, positive music and positive information. Our consumption of information should be less on the entertainment side. We must watch documentaries and good news.

Wrong thoughts lead us to wrong actions. Wrong information leads us to wrong decisions. As such we have to be critical of the media and the information given. Is it truthful?

Dwelling on wrong ideas leads to sin. Dwelling on wrong thoughts or even the wrongs that others did /have done also leads to sin.How can we forgive others, if we keep dwelling on how they have wronged us?

Further, how can we be like Christ, if we compare ourselves to others worse than us? How can we better, if we keep focusing on those who do wrong rather than focus on those who are better than us.

“We need a constant sense of the ennobling power of pure thoughts and the damaging influence of evil thoughts. Let us place our thoughts upon holy things. Let them be pure and true; for the only security for any soul is right-thinking.”—Ellen G. White, The Signs of the Times, August 23, 1905.

Evil proceeds from within us (Mark 7: 21-23). If we focus on our humanity or other human beings, then we will sin. If our thinking dwells on the current world system and how we live today, then we will not be able to live right with our neighbours, friends or other persons. We have to occupy our mind with some one's lifestyle and value system that is better than ours. Someone that is divine and lives above human sensuality. Someone who lies beyond our humanity.

If we are looking in our flesh we can't please G-d (Romans 8:5-7). If we are content to just be citizens of this world, then we will not please G-d. For we will want to obey the laws of the world, rather than the laws of G-d (Mark 7:8).

I love computer and the Internet. With the technology and RSS feeds I can get customised media and news and information galore. I can even customise who I get information from and where. However, I hardly set up personalise news and media from the Web to include Bible based messages or even the words from the Bible. In fact, I might even ignore news that are in the form of scripture and quotes from G-d's word, even songs.

Songs are important once they are scriptural and true. They too can speak into us and cause us to meditate on G-d, his spiritual laws and on spiritual kingdom matters (Colossians 3:16-17 NIV).

I am Jamaican, but when I am in another country, I don't get my Jamaican news, but read the news of the country that I am in. However, if you are an immigrant and a temporary resident, you will want to keep updated with news from the country of your permanent residency.

There are so many negative information being disseminated today; many negative thoughts and ideas being thrown at us daily, but we need to have a spiritual filter, to sift only what is good and to be determine to disseminate good information only.

We need to power our minds with good thinking and good thoughts everyday, so whether it is positive music, speech (including motivational talks) or readings and meditations; we need to feed our minds with powerful, transformational and positive thinking to go through each day and overcome our obstacles and problems.

END.

Reference:

The Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide (Jan-Mar 2011) Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

Demise and Rebirth of the Caribbean Challenge and the need for Caribbean Christian magazines

Yesterday while waiting for my doctor's appointment, I foraged for a magazine in the basket provided for something to read during the wait. I saw the Caribbean Challenge a magazine that I remembered the title, for during high school as a member of the Inter-Schools Christian Fellowship (ISCF), I used to sell that magazine, promote it and even purchased and read it. I was about to bypass that magazine, for something "more educational" when I realised that that was 1) the unchristian thing to do and, 2) that the other magazines were not educational but more gossip, entertainment and lifestyle magazines such as Ebony etc.

I pulled up the Caribbean Challenge and began browsing. From the Editor's note, I realised the news that the the Caribbean Challenge went out of business. Further, I discovered that this magazine was now being published by the Caribbean Graduate School of Theology (CGST).

This morning I searched for the Caribbean Challenge online and found this:

Jamaica’s Christian magazine, Caribbean Challenge is going out of business, reported the Jamaica Gleaner. The magazine, published by Christian Literature Crusade in Jamaica for more than 50 years, once had a circulation of 30,000 in the region. Eaton Facey, who served as its editor, told the Gleaner that it was “a painful decision” to shutter the magazine (Tainsay).

I also checked the Gleaner's site for the original story which I found. If you have the time, check Dawes.

As I browsed through the new Caribbean Challenge under new management available online through the following link: http://cgstonline.org/images/chall.pdf I made several observations and notes that I want to share.

The new magazine is greatly needed, but unfortunately seems like a promotional magazine or brochure for CGST. Nevertheless, I observed that even in this regard the magazine has sought to make theology accessible to the common man and applied to daily life.

My concerns though as a trained Librarian were:

1. the absence of a publication date on the cover or elsewhere in the magazine. 
2. the absence of publication information or even an editorial statement on how frequently it would be published and
3. opportunities for letters to the editors and for readers to write back

The points of concern are really technical in nature and based on best practice and knowledge in my field of study. My ability to see these issues really highlights my awareness of where G-d has led me. In my secular and vocational studies, G-d has given me the opportunity to know what makes a good publication for libraries and booksellers. In fact, my vocational and secular education pursuits are in line with my spiritually revealed purpose of literature evangelism (please pray into that purpose for me).

I do see a need for a Caribbean Christian magazine and specifically for the Caribbean Challenge:

• to answer questions for people who are searching and those who seeking answers to theological questions. Such a magazine should provide answers that help people  to end their search and find Christ, to better understand the Bible or be challenged to deepen their spirituality, spiritual knowledge, quality of life/living and walk with G-d.
• to make theology accessible to the common man and applied to daily life
• to provide an opportunity to think about G-d and his will for humanity collectively and personally in a format that is graphic, modern and relevant to the information needs of the current generation

Works Cited:

Dawes, Mark (Religion Editor). "The demise of the 'Challenge'" Jamaica Gleaner Saturday | December 6, 2008 http://mobile.jamaicagleaner.com/20081206/news/news5.php


Tiansay, Eric. " CRI News Beat: Starfield; Soraya Moraes; Caribbean Challenge; Acoustic Gospel Vol. 2" Christian Retailing News Beat MONDAY, 09 FEBRUARY 2009 http://www.christianretailing.com/index.php/news/industry-news/news-beat/18359-cri-news-beat-starfield-soraya-moraes-caribbean-challenge-acoustic-gospel-vol-2

Learning from conversations in the Dancehall genre of music

Matthew 6:31-32 (King James Bible)

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

New International Version (©1984):

For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

New Living Translation (©2007):

These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.

Over the holidays I had the chance to listen to Dancehall music both secular and gospel. On Friday new year's eve, G-d brought to my mind a revelation or observation regarding the musical content.

For secular Dancehall, the lyrics of the artistes are focused on material things and life in the physical realm. They are concerned about clothes, food and the everyday struggles of career, power and meeting human needs.

For the gospel Dancehall, the lyrics are focused on spiritual consciousness and on overcoming personal and spiritual vices.

To make these points, I have embedded four videos here. As you will observe the secular Dancehall music videos are focused on achievement, the attainment of personal greatness and the pursuit of wealth. When you listen to the gospel or Christian Dancehall, you will get a sense of a different struggle. For in the Christian's Dancehall lyrics and conversation, the struggle is not regarding survival in this life, but regarding the struggle for spiritual purity

Enough of my commentary. Just listen for yourself to the lyrics and just forget about the music. (If you can't hear the lyrics, you can always Google them).


Secular Dancehall






Gospel Dancehall

The Parallel Universe

The Christian lives in two worlds. He or she contends with a parallel universe, unlike the man of the world who is secular and does not relate to the G-d of the universe, but dwells primarily on the every day realities. The secular man can only live in the world that he sees, while the Christian both lives in the world of the material and physical, but also in the realm or spiritual reality. Spiritual reality is that realm where interaction takes place between humanity and G-d and/or other spiritual entities (whether angels or demons).

So while the Christian is in the world of the material and is concerned about meeting his or her needs, the Christian is also concerned about the interaction that they have in the universe of the spirit. He or she is concerned not only with the quality of life as a citizen of earth, but also the quality of his or her interaction in the universe of the spirit.

"Ye shall have Tribulation"

I begin with the scripture text, John 16:33 (King James Version):

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

When I was young, I had a misconception about being a Christian. I thought that being a Christian meant immunity; immunity from bad situations and circumstances.

I do not remember being taught in my early Christian years, that bad things will happen to people regardless of their relationship with Christ in this world. I was under the impression that once I came to Jesus, that "no weapons formed against me shall prosper, and every tongue formed against me, G-d will condemn". I felt that with my relationship with Jesus, I would get security from gunmen and armed thuggery.

While we are ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20 New International Version), Christians do not get diplomatic immunity from world events and the affliction, grief, sorrows and troubles that occur because of our existence in a fallen world, where nature sometimes fights against us. If there is one thing that JESUS promises us, it is that while we are not guaranteed peace, but we are guaranteed tribulation. Yet, we are told to face our tribulations with good cheer.

In another part of the scriptures, Peter declares that our fiery trials will be the norm. Peter declares in the King James version of the Bible:

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: (1 Peter 4:12).

 
Affliction, tribulation and the grief that we all experience as human beings are facts of living in our current world. This will never change until JESUS wipes away every tear from our eyes (Revelation 21:4; Revelation 7:17). We will not totally eradicate human suffering today. It is because, human suffering is a part of the consequence of the sins of Adam. Through Adam, tribulation is our necessary condition of existence. Not even Jesus's first advent eliminates this. Rather, accepting Jesus may intensify our own afflictions, seeing that we pledge allegiance to a system outside of the world's system.
 
Another pastor suggests that pain is G-d's megaphone to get our attention. Humanity on a whole need to experience lack and suffering, in order to recognise their need and come to G-d.