Once An Arafat Man: A Book Review
Through an incredible series of events, Tass, finds Jesus in Kansas City – a bright light, a voice, and a change of heart (sounds an awful lot like the Apostle Paul to me). In the same manner as his Arafat days – Tass approaches his new found relationship with Christ with a reckless abandon. He finds himself on an assortment of dangerous missionary journeys – and watches in awe as his God made a way when there was no way.
Incredibly, Tass then becomes an adamant supporter of Israel, while at the same time, having a heart for his own people’s devastation in the Gaza Strip. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Tass and his wife, Karen, founded an adventurous ministry, “Hope for Ishmael”.In the First Century, the Apostle Paul had to convince the church that Jesus loved the Gentiles, and now, 2000 years later, Tass reminds the Gentiles that God still loves Isaac and Ishmael too!
“Once an Arafat Man” is action-packed, compassionately generous, and ever insightful. Tass captures the essence of personal change – that only Jesus can pull off – and, the best part is, you are invited to go along for the ride with him. I would highly recommend this book to all – to followers of Christianity, Judaism, or Islam; this book was written for you – and you might just find that it changes your life.
Rallies, Strategies, & the Holy Spirit
So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom, and they marched on that roundabout route seven days; and there was no water for the army, nor for the animals that followed them. -2Kings 3:9
King Jehoram knew how to rally the troops. As a matter of fact he managed to land King Jehoshaphat and the King of Edom to fight on his behalf. King Jehoram even had a fail-proof strategy – to march his three-kingdom army through the badlands of Edom and stage a surprise attack. But King Jehoram forgot the water. In the middle of a desert land – he forgot the water.
Scripturally, “water” is emblematic of blessing, baptism, salvation, prosperity, the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God. For the Christian to forget the water – is a serious thing. The other two (rallies and strategies) are a necessary part of the spiritual battle to which we are called – but we must not forget the water.
When you have no more faith to muster up
Communal faith. Communal strength. Communal prayer. When one is down – another is up. When I feel beaten down from every enemy known to man – then man (my brothers and sisters) stands in for me.Yes, the church may be flawed – but when it comes right down to it – it’s still nice to belong!
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. -I John 5:4
When You Have No Words To Say
The first time our “Lil’ Guy” went to the hospital by ambulance was during Sunday service. He was almost two years old and he had been sick – his Momma, his Papa, and his Nana were with him – preparing him to go to the doctor’s office. I was at church – preaching (something about communal faith and the “Transcendent Brotherhood”). I got in my car – checked my cell phone – had several messages – scary ones at that – muffled and gut-wrenching sobs on the other end of the phone. I got a hold of his Papa on the cell phone – as they were chasing behind the ambulance on the way to the hospital. I raced to get there. On the way I called several pastor friends and asked them to pray.
You may not believe in the gift of other tongues – you may disagree with the Pentecostal/ Charismatic doctrine on the issue of glossolalia – but this is our experience on that day. Brandy called 9-1-1 as her dad gave our Lil’ Guy breaths. If you could hear the 9-1-1 tapes – you would hear her in between her giving pertinent information to the operator – speaking in other tongues. And… as I was driving to the hospital (in between phone calls) I tried to pray logical/ intelligible sounding words – but all I could do was groan…groans that came from within the inner-depths of my being…
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. -Romans 8:26-27
When You Have No More Strength To Weep!
So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. -I Samuel 30:3-6
The Bible tells us that David reached a point of utter exhaustion in the heat of an intense battle that brought to him great personal loss. His men were turning on him – hating him for his lack of leadership and especially the predicament they now found themselves in. David felt himself a million miles from God. The Bible says that he “wept until he had no more strength to weep.”
I’ve been there – in the hospital with our little boy, at least, upon two different occasions. I’ve “cried my eyes out” as we say in our day. I’ve literally cried to where I had no more strength – no more tears to cry. I know the pain of passion. I know it’s misery. I know it’s death-grip on the heart. I’ve been frozen-still as doctors race to save my baby boy. I’ve been there, trust me – I’ve been there. Truth is, we still have battles ahead of us – but we are winning them all one-by-one. Remember, It’s in those moments when you feel like throwing in the towel you must be even more determined to stay the course, for your victory is surely just around the bend!
For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. -2 Corinthians 4:11
Beautiful
In 1526, William Tyndale introduced the first English translation of the New Testament to be put in print. Along with his remarkable translation (of which many of his terms and phrases in translation still remain today in the KJV, the NKJV, and, not to mention – in our everyday language) were the introductions as such words asscapegoat, atonement, and beautiful.
Tyndale was widely thought a heretic for his translating the most Holy Word of God from the Latin (actually Tyndale relied heavily on the Greek and Hebrew) to the language of the common people (English).His invention of new words and poetic phrases sickened the scholars of his day. They found the word beautiful to be of the most offensive of his trendy new words. Tyndale used this word, meaning, “full of beauty”, to describe the God of the Bible most affectionately.
Tyndale defined the gospel, thus; “Evangelion (that we call the gospel) is a Greek word and signifieth good, merry, glad and joyful tidings, that maketh a man’s heart glad and maketh him sing, dance, and leap for joy. . .” . It’s with this great conviction that William Tyndale left to us the Word of God written in our common tongue – that we might indeed, leap for joy!
In October of 1536, Tyndale would be kidnapped, tried, convicted, and thus, strangled to death. Afterward, his corpse would be burned at the stake. The price of your Bible. The price of a word – beautiful.
How beautiful upon the mountains
Are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who proclaims peace,
Who brings glad tidings of good things,
Who proclaims salvation,
Who says to Zion,
“Your God reigns!”
-Isaiah 52:7
The Lion’s Roar
When our baby boy was born, we were elated. I’ll never forget his piercing cries echoing in the somewhat empty delivery room – the sounds of my baby boy’s wailings, spinning around my head like a helicopter. The nurses taking him to the side to clean him up and wrap him in swaddling clothes. (I liken their work to that of the pit-crew at NASCAR.) Then – they presented our beautiful baby boy to us. Wow! What a sight! I couldn’t believe it!
But all was not well. He was a month premature and very frail. He immediately went into the NICU at Baptist hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. In the NICU, he was enclosed in an incubator and we were allowed to touch him only through the holes in the glass. He would occasionally forget to breath. The nurses would casually walk over and nudge him and he would once again commence to breathing. A very frightening sight for a new mom and dad.
Our lil’ guy would be in the NICU for two weeks. (Not a long time in comparison to some – but still emotionally draining all the same.) The long rides from Gallatin to downtown Nashville were a bit draining. The entire day at work was one of continually thinking, “I need to leave this place and get to that place to see my baby!” I could smell his scent on my clothing when we left him at night. It was very difficult and emotionally draining.
I’ll never forget the first night Brandy and I left the hospital to go home. We had stayed up to the last possible moment that our insurance would allow (after all, that is where our baby was). Brandy slid bravely into a wheelchair and looked straight ahead as the nurse pushed her along. We turned the corner and passed the NICU. Brandy turned and looked at the locked door of the NICU longingly as we passed by. Very strong, very strong indeed. The nurse rounded the bend and guided the wheelchair around a series of bends and then down a long narrow hall way, only to turn one more corner, and then, out of the hospital and into the parking garage.
The nurse was very kind and helped Brandy into the car. We were all very silent the entire time, (Brandy, the nurse, and I). I was amazed at Brandy’s strength through it all. After all, this is not the way a new mother ever expected it to be. You are supposed to leave with your baby – not leave your baby. I went around to the other side of the car and sat down in the driver’s seat. The nurse turned the wheelchair around and walked off and out of sight.
Then it came. Brandy, (my little five-foot-nothing wife), let out a cry – no! a roar!– like I’ve never heard before or since! She later said, “I didn’t know I had that in me!” The mother lioness was crying for her baby cub!
I’ve been thinking the past couple of days. How has the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (our Aslan) cried over his children? Too weak to breath on their own. Too frail to walk on their own. Disconnected from Him. How does He cry? Wail? ROAR? For us, His children.
I suspect, we would maybe say, “Wow! I didn’t know He had that in Him!”
Amos 3:8
“A lion has roared!
Who will not fear?
The Lord God has spoken!
Who can but prophesy?”
Faith’s Fool
Faith is a fight down the narrow way. Any one who says faith is “easy believism” has obviously never tried it. As a matter of fact, to not have faith is an easy cop-out often leading to spiritualisms that are completely unfounded in Scripture and more romantic sentiment than truth. I have seen faith at work. Conversely, I have seen people take the “easy road” out and lose out. I have witnessed bold saints of God fighting the fight of faith in desperate situations, and “I have never seen the righteous forsaken”!
In no way do I point an accusing finger at the person who believed for their miracle, and seemingly, lost out in their fight. I know that here “we see through a glass darkly”. I’m sure Joseph felt, many times, he was failing. To the outsider looking in, Joseph was moving further and further away from his miracle. And yet, he was in fact, moving closer. Faith can fool you some of the time … and it will fail you, none of the time!
Late Nite Thoughts
Ever wonder why it is we stay up past our bedtime? I mean, when we are dirt tired and can barely keep our eyes open? Why is it we linger long at the edge of the bed of the “oh so coveted slumber” when it is so readily made available to us every nite? What keeps us up? Whatever it is, it is also what keeps us sleepy throughout the day. Are we lonely? Are we grasping for one last breath of serenity? Is it that we are afraid something is going on in the world and that we might actually miss it? Maybe, it’s just that our thoughts run wild best at nite when it’s quiet. Whatever the reason, discipline says, “It ain’t healthy!”
Generic Boxes & God
Anyone else feel like we’re back in the old U.S.S.R.? Walmart has really thrown me for a loop with their return to the 70’s generic white boxes. What sort of strategy is that? They’re ugly, they’re plain, and the other guy (whoever makes the name brand of their generic) has much more appeal to my visual senses.
Before you judge me for being so childish to allow something as surface as a box to cloud my sound stewardship, remember this,…God likes variety. Just look around. Note the vast assortments of differing flowers, grasses, and trees set against bright blue skies with little white clouds floating by. Observe the animals that must’ve taken Adam a coon’s age to name in all of their species and sub-species varied from one grouping to the next. He even created people of different colors, sizes, and shapes… speaking languages all their own. Every snowflake is unique to itself. All this to say, God is NOT a generic God and I am NOT a generic sorta’ guy.
Pastor Shane Ogle
