Josh 1-4 Be Strong and Courageous and Safe

March 11th, Joshua 1-4

       Joshua feels like a new beginning and a fresh start. Part of that is the new call to press into the promised land. With that new call comes the often repeated phrase "Be Strong and Courageous." As your about to step into warfare with people the call to strength and courage is because the task ahead makes you feel weak, overwhelmed and fearful. The clash of two values, feeling weak(saying no to the promised land a generation ago) verses knowing strength comes from God. Which value will you choose? Fast forward to 2013...
       It's like the George Carlin sketch about football and baseball. He makes fun of the differences and the ultimate goal of each. In baseball the entire goal of the game, the way you know you've done everything you can is to "Go Home and Be Safe." Our Christian radio station is obsessed about talking about safety. I hear Christians talk about and pray for safety more than other themes we might need to pray about. I really struggle with the idea that one of our main values in Christianity is safety. Imagine the Bible where the predominant theme of every story was safety. To be honest, safety is not a value at all in God's Kingdom. Be Strong and Courageous and Safe doesn't have the same ring to it. God's call on our life is to be on the frontline of expanding God's Kingdom. The goal of baseball has become the goal of the church, that's why the church is losing ground. BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS!!
     
       In other news, read about Rahab.It's hard to believe how much the residents of Jericho knew about God's people leaving Egypt. News travels fast without CNN.

If you've ever wondered why I have 12 stones in my back yard, here's your chance to read the story in Joshua 4. it ends with my end for today..."So that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever."