Happy Birthday, Christ Jesus The Lord!

[Steven Budlong]

Tomorrow, September 11, is our Lord's birthday. In the minds of men it is the day America was attacked by Islamic Fundamentalists. In my mind it was the day the devil initiated an all out war on the God's Saints. Remember, things that are literal can be figurative but they can also be both.We have forgotten how to read the Word. We have forgotten the importance of figures of speech. We have taken some things so literally that some still watch the heavens for "signs". The truth is that the signs (as signs happen to be) are all around us. The "signs of the times" are playing in the cinema, on your kids computer and on your iPod. Like Joel has said, the old men have been dreaming dreams and here they are... all about us. They shape and wash our culture. But we look past them and say "where did they ever come up with that!" My how we slumber!One of the things we were not taught in The Way Corps, were the keys to understanding biblical prophecy. The keys are not hard. They start with one fundamental truth that can be found in Habakkuk 2:1 - 4. Look it up, for I will not spoon feed you the Word of God. Look it up and you will see that prophecy will not be understood until it comes to pass. At that point it speaks, the literal words are fulfilled. Like water rippling across a pond it may appear to have applications at other points in time, for God's use of time and man's use for time are two different things. In history there are well over sixty noted dates where Christians gathered together to await the Lord's return. The Jehovah's Witnesses got it wrong in 1914, and several subsequent times thereafter. They were making stabs at the date based on man's reasoning. Don't laugh. Some of you have done it too. To understand prophecy you have to look at the "whole" Word of God. How has he spoken, to whom, when and why. Is it addressed to you or for you? And, is the holy spirit your teacher, your true teacher? Does he show you "things to come?" Why you? And what should you do with that information?If I were a cult leader I would pick September 11, 2008 for the return. Why? because it has all of the literal and figurative events wrapped around it and I would relish the idea of being right, like hitting the lotto! I guessed it, I figured it out. I am special and God has spoken to me. Even the math is reasonable, seven years to the day from the initiation of Satan's wrath.Since I am not a cult leader I will remind myself that no man knows the time or the season and that the Day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night. And I will rest my hope in Him, that when he comes to gather together His Body, then it will be time for the Bride, true Israel to come forward. Hey, did you know that there are more Jews in New York City, than in Tel Aviv? Curious, no???Anyway, let us be thankful for the whole Body of Christ, and pray fervently for them day in and day out. Pray for the Saints in India, pray for those that sleep to be awakened and pray that we watch with all diligence and listen, really listen to the promptings of the spirit. Jesus Christ said, you are my friends if you do whatsoever I command you. Wouldn't that be a great birthday gift to him... a little bit of obedience??? Happy Birthday Lord!

[Mike and Lisa Tracy]

Steven, one of the things I enjoyed so much about being in an area with you (even though it was way back when..) was that you were very serious about the Word of God and its interpretation and application. I am thankful to see that has not changed - other than to grow in grace and knowledge. Mike