I have a picture which always brings a comment from those who see it.  It shows a young couple in a sporty convertible stopped at a T-shaped intersection.  A map is spread out before them as they stare ahead at a massive wall of street signs pointing in all directions and making absolutely no sense.  The picture states, “Life just isn’t that simple anymore”.  The photo brings a smile because people commonly believe it’s true.  As our culture moves further and further away from established guidelines life really does appear to be complicated and difficult to navigate.  Life isn't simple anymore.  It appears that there is no sense of right and wrong.  Values and ethics have been blurred and judging a person's character is out of style, therefore anyone can be a “role model” or the reason for destructive behavior.

            Why do people shy away from making character judgments?  In many cases it is because no one wants to be considered judgmental or biased.  But this is not so in the Bible.  The Wisdom literature of the Old Testament has a clearly defined description of a godly man (or woman) and has no problem distinguishing between the godly and ungodly by those terms and labeling them accordingly.  Psalm 1 describes a godly person as one who “meditates” (literally chews and digests) on the Word of God, that is, the Law.  As the godly man becomes intimately attuned to God’s teachings, his life is blessed.  He is fruitful and secure.  For example, the word “streams” (vs. 3) in Hebrew means canals or channels of water, depicting a garden which is cultivated, not left to the whims of nature. The godly man is secure because his life is cultivated by God’s Word. The godly man knows God and God knows him because his thoughts and actions are tended by God.  And this is true for the godly woman as well.

            It doesn’t take any stretch of the imagination to see that Jesus was the ideal of the righteous man described in Psalm 1.  He was so in tune with the Law, He fulfilled every aspect of it (Mt. 5:17-18).  Jesus made it clear that He has come to do the will of the Father (Jn. 6:38-39; Mt. 26:39).  He not only did this out of love and obedience to His Heavenly Father, but also to demonstrate to us the life God demands of His children.  Jesus did not change the intent of God’s Law.  He demonstrated what the Law looked like when it was lived to its fullest.  In fact, the Apostle John states in 1 John 2:3-6, if we truly love and know Him, we will follow God’s commands just as Jesus did.

            The extent to which we live by and follow God’s commands, demonstrates our understanding of the way of the righteous.  But we do not need to find ourselves at the mercy of a wall of confusing road signs like the forlorn couple in my old photograph.  We have God’s instructions right at our fingertips through His Word.  And we can see how obedience to the Word will look by following Jesus.  If you read through Psalm 1 carefully you will notice a progression in the words walking, standing, and sitting as well as counsel, seat and way.  These words show us a growing level of intimacy and the exchange of thoughts and ideas.  The godly man directs these towards God; the ungodly towards those who mock Him.  The emphasis in the godly life is on the Law; not just knowing it, but doing it because we love God.  Jesus understood this and was obedient to His Father’s will, even to the point of death (Phil. 2:8).

            I have taken many trips to unknown places as a "Soccer Mom".  Setting out for tournaments and matches was always an adventure in the days before GPS and cell phones.  But I always had printed directions and a map.  Without them my chances of finding our destination and arriving on time would have been questionable.  I always read the directions and studied the map first.  Sometimes I’d read them more than once and although GPS has made finding your destination much easier, I still prefer looking at a map!  The point is always to familiarize myself with the directions so that I won’t have to worry about them while I am driving. 

            God’s directions are always clear and direct unlike that massive wall of highway signs encountered by that hapless couple.  If you are truly meditating on them as the words of Psalm 1 indicate and moving along the path described by its actions (walking, standing, sitting) there will be no question on the route your life should take.  This is the result of the meditations of the godly man/woman.  Christ is the fullest expression of its practice.  First John 2:3-6 then becomes our life’s ultimate mile marker.  As we meditate on and follow God’s Word we will be able to recognize when we are traveling along the Right Way or veering off track.

Ann LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre                                        

            Have you ever looked at a picture and although you knew it was impossible, you had to believe it was true because your eyes were seeing it?  I have a picture which I took of a clear glass ball sitting on my wooden floor.  I know the ball is sitting directly on the floor because I placed it there.  But if you were to look at the picture, you’d be convinced it’s floating just above the surface.  I am not sure of the science behind why the ball appears to be floating, and I know it isn’t because I personally placed that ball on my floor, but that’s what it appears to be doing.  It’s an optical illusion.  Optical illusions can be achieved in a number of ways but they all have one thing in common.  Optical illusions are visual brain teasers.  Some are geometric; others are illustrations which have hidden objects, or subjects that change appearance depending on which side of the brain is active when you view the picture.  Whatever shape or form they take, optical illusions are just that- illusions.  They are not what they appear to be.

            The Bible tells us there is a grand and dangerous optical illusion which we encounter in life and we run into it on a daily basis.  It is the temptation of sin.  Proverbs is so mindful of this illusion it repeats the warning two separate times (Prov. 14:12; 16:25).  Sin looks harmless at first glance, even good at times, but in the end, its reality is death.  And like optical illusions which dazzle our eyes and override the brain's rational process, our eyes are the instruments which introduce both godly and sinful thoughts into our lives.  Jesus illustrated it in this way, "The lamp of the body is the eye; if therefore your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.  If therefore, the light that is in you is darkness, how great the darkness!"  (Matt. 6:22-23).  Simply put what goes into your being through your eyes has a direct effect on both your heart and mind.  So, as the children's song goes, "Be careful little eyes what you see".

            One time, when my sister and I were in high school and our parents were out for the evening, we stayed up late to watch a Rod Serling’s Night Gallery.  The show was a compilation of stories that had a dark edge to them.  I've never really liked watching scary things, but my sister had talked me into it.  In spite of the fact I didn’t really want to watch it, I found myself unable to turn away as the story progressed.  It just so happened to be a dark and stormy night, so the stage was set for our nerves to be on edge as well, yet we kept watching.  As the climax approached and the fright factor increased we were both mesmerized and at the same time trying to will ourselves to turn off the TV.  At the exact moment our fears reached peak level a bolt of lightning and a clap of thunder pealed across the heavens and sent us into each other's arms followed by a frantic dash to the TV's OFF button!  We never watched another episode.   What had appeared to be fun, turned out to be anything but fun.  It was an optical illusion.

            I am no longer tempted to watch scary movies.  I’ve learned they give me nightmares or cause a tremendous amount of anxiety.  But it doesn’t mean I’m not prone to believing an optical illusion or two when it comes to sin.  The apostle Paul told the Corinthian believers that everyone is prone to the temptation of sin (1 Cor. 10:13) but it is not a hopeless situation.  He also reminded them that the Lord will always provide a way to escape that temptation.  For some it is an accountability partner, for others it is prayer, and for others it is literally removing themselves from the situation which produced the temptation in the first place.  Whatever it takes is whatever you must do and the Lord has given you the ability to do it.  While support from others, physical action and prayer are powerful tools in battling temptation, there is still one tool that is even stronger.

            The greatest scene of temptation in the New Testament is the encounter between Satan and Jesus (Matt. 4:1-11; Mk. 1:12-13; Lk. 4:1-13).  No matter what Satan enticed Jesus with, fame, power or pleasure, Jesus steadfastly refuted those temptations with God's Word.  It is the most powerful lens by which to view the optical illusion of sin.  Jesus knew that Satan's promises were optical illusions and what was true for any aspect of life could only be found in God's Word.  Like a lamp turned on in a dark room, God's Word dispenses light which shows everything for what it truly is.  If you are being fooled by the optical illusion of sin, immerse yourself in God's Word and surround yourself with His people (Ecc. 4:9-12).  This is the way a disciple keeps his/her eyes healthy.

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

          There is a decorative term in painting and flooring called "distressing".  This process involves deliberately removing paint from the furniture in small sections or putting dings and dents in the floor on purpose to give it a well-worn, rustic look. “Stressing out” something works in decorating, but no one really wants to deliberately introduce stress into their lives.  Yet, time and time again, we often put ourselves in that position by taking on too many activities and responsibilities.  Sometimes stress comes into our lives not by our own doing rather the current events and circumstances we find ourselves in introduces unexpected stress we’re not prepared to handle.  We find ourselves struggling to deal with what life has tossed our way.  Life makes us feel as if we are caught in a hurricane and we can’t wait for the storm to be over. 

            If there ever was a man who understood pressure and stress, it was King Hezekiah.  Hezekiah became king of Judah, the Southern Kingdom of Israel, in 715 B. C.  His first act as king was to remove the many high places built to worship idols and destroy pagan worship artifacts.  Because of his devotion to Yahweh, the Lord blessed him with military victories against the Philistines.  Shortly before Hezekiah became king, the Northern Kingdom of Israel had fallen to the Assyrians.  They were brutal warriors and ruthless conquerors that carried the people of the Northern Kingdom into exile and slaughtered the ruling class.  After the fall of the Northern Kingdom, the Southern Kingdom carried on but their security was always tenuous.

            Fourteen years into Hezekiah's reign, Assyria turned its attention toward Judah and according to 2 Kings 18:13, Sennacherib, King of Assyria, seized all of the fortified cities with the intent of also taking Jerusalem.  Sieges involved forcing all the inhabitants of a city to remain behind the protection of the city wall.  Sieges could last for years, sometimes even a decade.  Eventually though, either the city wall was breached, or the inhabitants starved to death from lack of food and water.  To surrender was to accept a gruesome death or a demoralizing form of slavery.   In the year 701 B. C., Sennacherib attacked the city of Lachish and destroyed it.  With the threat of attack on Jerusalem mounting, Hezekiah sought help from Egypt, but any assistance from the Egyptians died when Hezekiah’s envoy was attacked and massacred at Elteqeh.

            The trouble with stress is that it often sends us seeking solutions in the wrong direction.  And for Hezekiah, seeking assistance from Egypt was asking for failure.  In the long run this solution only added stress to the situation, rather than removing it.  When we encounter stress in our own lives how often do we seek solutions that don't resolve the problem?  We look for solace in entertainment, exercise, possessions and/or food.  We think if we relax with a good book, enjoy a bowl of ice cream or join a gym our stress level will decrease.  The trouble with these remedies is that although they may be helpful at first, in the long run none of them will relieve the effects of stress in our soul.  We are in the same way as Hezekiah turning to worldly solutions for a spiritual problem and like Hezekiah we won't find the answer in those earthly things.

            The devastating and brutal destruction of Lachish can still be seen in its ruins today in a layer of soil so thickly soaked with blood it remains red in color.  As word reaches Hezekiah of the loss of this massive but key city, an emissary of Sennacherib also arrives to taunt and ridicule the king for seeking help from Egypt.  The appearance of these messengers could have added more stress upon the beleaguered king. But this time, Hezekiah turns to the right Source for stress relief- the Lord Himself.  In a humble prayer, Hezekiah seeks help from the Lord and his prayer is answered (read 2 Kings 18:13- 19:37; Is. 36 & 37 for the whole story) in a miraculous way (Is. 37:36-38).

            Where will you seek relief from stress when you feel it threatening to disrupt your life?   Truth be told, stress will always be a factor we will deal with.  It can come from any number of sources: family, jobs, unstable times, neighbors, children, and so on.  How will you respond to the pressure?  Will you seek outside help or will you turn to The Helper?  If we learn anything from the life of Hezekiah, it’s that seeking help from the Lord can result in experiencing the unexpected ways He will help to relieve our stress.  So where will you turn the next time you encounter stress (Ps. 9:10; 54:4; 56:8-11; 105:1-4; 121:1-8; Is. 55:6; Jn. 14:16-18; Heb. 13:5-6)?

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

            Even in ruins Ephesus is an impressive site.  Ergin, our tour guide, described Ephesus as a metropolis, calling it the “Big Apple of Asia Minor”.  It certainly had similar features to many big cities, busy streets, theaters, a public library, places of worship, two thriving markets and even a brothel that advertised its location with a carving (that included directions!) in the street.

            Life here was probably quite pleasant as long as there were no uprisings to disturb the peace of Rome.  What strikes me most as I take pictures of the ruins is the sophisticated culture the early church was up against.  The people that lived in this city had a public sewage system, paved streets, stunning architecture and heated their homes.  They had jobs and families too.  But their culture was also steeped in pagan worship practices, amoral indulgences and greed.  Knowing this makes me realize the fortitude the Ephesian believers needed to turn away from this lifestyle even more impressive.  It is not hard to see then how the word “ekklesia” (eck-clay-see-uh) became associated with the church.  The Christian lifestyle involved a drastic change from the usual course of life.  Christians saw themselves as “called out” (the literal meaning of the word) from their former life (just like Israel had been called out of slavery in Egypt) to a new life in Christ.

            Luke notes in Acts 19:25-27 the impact the Gospel had in Ephesus.  He records the words of Demetrius, a silversmith whose business and livelihood were affected by the conversions.  “Men, you know that our prosperity depends on this craft, and you see and hear how not only in Ephesus but throughout nearly the whole of Asia this fellow Paul has won over and led away a great number of people telling them that gods made with hands are not gods at all.  There is risk for us that not only our business may come into disrepute but also that the shrine of the great goddess Artemis may come to be held of no importance.”  Demetrius’ compelling speech seems altruistic at first glance, but careful scrutiny of its content reveals his true motivation; he was losing money!  So his passion concerning his culture and tradition is suspect.

            Demetrius and his fellow silversmiths gathered to save their incomes, however, the Christians gathered to find strength in their fellowship.  Their actions were similar to philosophy students of the day who were commonly seen in the market places, gathering around a particular philosopher in a communal lifestyle to study and learn.  But the difference between a philosophical convert and a convert to Jesus is a supernatural one which Paul addresses in many of his letters.  To the Ephesians he wrote:  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and not that of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, that no one should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:8-10).  Paul recognized the churches he planted, like the one in Ephesus, were not of his doing, but God’s.  He wanted the believers to recognize this truth as they came together in fellowship.

            The believers of Ephesus, the "called out ones", stood before the culture of their day like David before Goliath.  They appeared small and ineffective before a gigantic foe.  But those individual believers were not alone- they had each other.  It became imperative to Paul that the church remain unified.  If they succumbed to division, they would become ineffective.  Paul knew with God’s help the believers in Ephesus would succeed.  “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Eph. 4:1-3)  We too are challenged to remain true to Paul’s teaching here in our church; to strive for unity among our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Our concerns for each other should not be driven by the media or current events, but rather our attention and desire should be focused on fulfilling those good works were created to do.  If being Christ-like is our goal and we remain unified in that goal as the early church did, we will have just as great an impact on our culture as they did upon theirs.

Ann LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

            Do you remember the “Name Game” song?  It was a game that took a name through several variations making silly rhymes by changing the beginning letter of the name throughout the song.  I’ll probably mix up the order here, but it went something like this- “Hannah Hannah bo banna, fe fi fo fanna”…and so on ending with the words “the name game”.  I think someone even made a hit record out of it during the 50’s or 60’s.  I remember singing it always produced several rounds of laughter.  While this game was merely for fun, names in the Bible were quite significant and never a laughing matter.  Names not only identified a person, they revealed something about the essence of that person as well.  Take the well-known names of Jacob and Esau for example.  Esau’s name was not only associated with his fiery red hair, but his earthly nature.  Jacob’s name described the matter in which he was born (grasping at his brother’s heel) and also his conniving nature throughout most of his life (Gen. 25:19-34)

            Names were never in short supply at Caesarea Philippi.  Herod the Great called it Paneasar Panias after the god Pan.  It became Banais when the area was under Arab control because Arabic has no “P”.  When Philip the Tetrach made it his capitol, he called it Caesarea after Caesar and Philippi after himself!  But King Agrippa II named it Neronias after the emperor Nero.  Kings came and conquered, constructed, and consigned names to Banias (the name that has stuck the longest and what the area goes by today), but they merely represent segments in history.  Of all those rulers who attempted to change its name, none really left a legacy which stuck.  Yet this place, this site, is the place where Jesus makes a point to be concerned about names (Mt. 6:13-18).

            Banias is peaceful now.  The land remains undeveloped since it is a national park.  The gentle pools of water which are situated not far from the impressive rock cliff that overlooked the hub of the city belie the chaos that once was part and parcel to the region.  It is hard to picture the wall to wall temples and shrines which once dominated the base of the cliff and yet standing before it, I am able to imagine Jesus here questioning Peter and the disciples in the midst of that noise and confusion, “Who do people say that I am?”  In essence Jesus is asking, “What names are they giving me?”  After the disciples respond Jesus goes further.  At a place where a myriad of gods could be worshipped and every sensual urge satisfied Jesus by-passes confronting the degrading aspects of paganism or refuting and discouraging the incorrect understanding of the crowds which followed Him and point blank asks the disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”

            A second twist in this story also involves names.  That Banias changed names so often and usually based on the whims of popularity, stands in contrast to the “renaming” of Peter.  No longer Simon (his Hebrew name), Jesus calls him “Petra” meaning rock.  As solid as a rock is, this name becomes firmly associated with Peter (and surprisingly it’s Greek too!).  Names were very important in Peter’s culture and background.  They signified something particular about the person, so this name was no accident.  Of course much can be written about the theological and historical implications of this incident (and it has!), but what impressed me about this account is how Christ knew Peter so well.  Peter may have needed more time to fully understand his confession concerning the person of Christ- “You are the Messiah”- but Jesus knew Peter so well he gave him a more appropriate name- even though Peter had some very un-solid moments in his future. 

            Peter’s purpose and personality in establishing God’s kingdom on earth are captured by this name better than his Hebrew one.  Amazingly, this is how well the Lord knows me.  Though he did literally rename me, He knows what makes me tick.  And like Peter, I have a purpose and personality which He will use to build His church.  You have a name.  God has given it to you.  He knows it because He made you.  What does this mean?  It means that God knows and loves you in the most intimate and deepest way possible.  How great is that?!  But do you know Him in the same way?  I hope you do.  However, I want to encourage you today, that no matter where you are, no matter what you’re going through- God knows your name and like Peter, He wants to use you to build His church.

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre