Just A Thought

 Historically, God has consistently given His people encouraging messages of hope.  For example, He spoke this hope that Israel would be restored, through the Prophet Isaiah:

Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days. The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses. Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy! The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon, as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon. There the LORD will display his glory, the splendor of our God. With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees. Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.” (Isaiah 35:1-4 NLT)

When the Israelites returned to their homeland and were restored as a nation, something very visible began to take place that accents the fulfillment of the promise given through Isaiah. Here is how it is described on Wikipedia:

Agriculture in Israel is a highly developed industry. Israel is a major exporter of fresh produce and a world-leader in agricultural technologies despite the fact that the geography of the country is not naturally conducive to agriculture. More than half of the land area is desert, and the climate and lack of water resources do not favor farming. Only 20% of the land area is naturally arable…

The development of modern agriculture was closely tied to the Zionist movement and Jewish immigration to Palestine in the late nineteenth century.[4] Jews who immigrated purchased land that was mostly semi-arid, although much had been rendered untillable by deforestation, soil erosion and neglect.[2] They set about clearing rocky fields, constructing terraces, draining swampland, reforesting, counteracting soil erosion, and washing salty land.[2] Since independence in 1948, the total area under cultivation has increased from 165,000 to 433,000 hectares (408,000 to 1,070,000 acres), while the number of agricultural communities has increased from 400 to 725. Agricultural production has expanded 16 times, three times more than population growth.[2]

God will do the same for every individual or community who commits to cooperating with His plan. He searches for people who are willing to align with Him, so He can channel His blessings into our world. In short:

·       The enemy seeks people who will allow him to channel hatred, jealousy, strife…

·       God seeks people who will be agents of his love, joy, peace…

A nation, a community, a church, or an individual’s heart will be revealed by the fruit they bear. If their life is full of murder, selfishness, dishonesty, looting, immorality… everyone will know they have chosen to cooperate with the kingdom of darkness. If their life is full of kindness, mercy, integrity, love… everyone will know they have chosen to cooperate with the Kingdom of Light. It then follows: if our world is ugly, it is not because God is not good; it is because mankind refuses to align with God and His plans for goodness.

Those of us who have chosen to follow Christ (allowing Him to fill us with His love and power) have the distinct privilege of bearing good fruit even in difficult times. We can blossom in the dessert. We can love the unlovable and release our giftings to minister to all who will receive.

# posted by John W. Hanson @ Saturday, August 27, 2022

 There is a video on my hard drive that documents four and a half minutes of my life. I was flying, like a bird. Well, more like a bird in a hurricane. It was my long-awaited attempt at indoor skydiving. The advertisements were so appealing, and it looked like a lot of fun - and not all that hard.

Having arrived a few minutes early I had an opportunity to watch a few pre-teens take flight toward the end of their session. A small, lithe instructor was gripping one leg and one arm of one of his students, as they soared above the ginormous fan, twirling, screaming and laughing. I was ready.

After several minutes of instruction concerning hand signs and safety practices and a video in which indoor skydivers were flying high, doing summersaults and other stunts, we were asked to sign a release form, just in case things did not go well. Then we suited up. This meant removing my glasses and finagling into gloves, special shoes, oversized coveralls, and a helmet. I then put on special goggles and inserted ear plugs. With a limited field of vision, limited hearing, and no personal experience, the instructor and I stepped into the famous wind tunnel where astronauts once trained. 

My instructor rehearsed a few hand signals and had me practice crash landing, then he had me step back as the operator put the fan into full mode. He threw himself, face-first, toward the center of the ring and was instantly airborne, flying above my head with his legs and arms sprawling forward and aft in a half-bent formation. Again, he made it look easy.

Now it was my turn. He motioned form me to fall face-first toward the center of the fan. As I did so, I did not immediately soar. But neither did I hit the wire floor below. My instructor was gripping my over-alls, in an attempt to keep me in the center of the wind tunnel. Once centered, I rose six or eight feet into the air. The wind was noisy and beat at my whole body making me feel like I used to feel as a child when my family drove down the highway at high speeds with all the windows down.

I was trying to remember all the tips. Relax. Bend your arms and legs. Let the wind carry you. I thought I was complying, but my instructor seemed to be struggling to keep me in the air. Then he threw me to the edge of the circle where I tucked and rolled onto the padded seating area.

After helping me to my feet, he signed to me that I should be more relaxed and not so stiff.  I later learned that I was inadvertently pushing against the wind with my hands and feet, causing my body to veer off course. My second attempt may have been even worse. I could tell my instructor, who was not as heavy as I am, was earning his wages that day.

Four flights in less than five minutes, and both myself and my instructor were ready for someone else to try. My problem was that I had a very difficult time relaxing, as it was not normal for me to be flying, face down over a wire floor. If I had the time and money to pursue the sport, I might eventually gain enough trust and confidence to keep myself centered and even do a few summersaults. But for now, trust is counterintuitive.

Come to think of it, trusting God can be just as challenging. But flying with Him will be worth the time and effort.

# posted by John W. Hanson @ Friday, August 19, 2022