When this edition of Ready for the Road Ahead first appeared in the church bulletin back in September of 2012 life was moving along on an even keel.  This week our well ran dry until a good rainstorm refilled it.  So being reminded of  how to deal with obstacles was certainly good timing on my part!

            One of the things I learned as a soccer mom is that you can drive anywhere with a good set of directions and map; even if you’ve never been there before.  I drove all over the state of New Jersey, from the top to the bottom, taking my son Christopher to his soccer games that way.  Nowadays GPS will get you where you need to go, but I still prefer a map and written directions!  Whether you use GPS or a map and directions is up to your personal preference, but unless you get in the car, turn the key and pull out of the driveway, you aren't going anywhere.
 
           In Joshua 3, we find Israel ready to embark on a journey into the Promised Land.  They had wandered through the desert for 40 years, lived on manna, camped in tents and survived a few skirmishes along the way.  And now, after some initial preparation, the people were ready to enter the land.  But there was one final obstacle in the way, the Jordan River.  The Jordan is a pretty river.  Its Hebrew name means “descender”.  And that is just what it does from the base of Mount Hermon all the way down to the Dead Sea (the lowest point on the face of the earth).  Sometimes it’s only as wide as a creek, but at the time of the Spring harvest its banks easily overflow.  The Jordan River at flood stage can extend its width from 35 feet to 1 mile.  Its gently flowing current can become a gushing torrent when the waters fill up.  And this is the time of year when Israel arrives to enter the land.
  
          Can you imagine what was going through their minds?  Here are a few suggestions: “We can’t cross this river!  Its banks are overflowing!!”, “O.K. Lord, it’ll take a few days, but we can gather some trees from Shittim, get some pitch and build a few rafts”, “What are you thinking Lord?  We are desert people!  No one here knows how to swim!”  Crossing the Jordan must have seemed like an insurmountable obstacle.  But in order to enter the Promised Land, Israel had to cross it.

            Even more surprising are the words in verse 13, "And it shall come about when the soles of the priests who carry the Ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest (not BY, not NEAR, but...) IN the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan which are flowing down from above shall stand in one heap".  Notice there’s no “toe-testing” here (You know that little “dipping motion” we do when we want to see how warm or cold the water is before we dive into it?).  The priests had to plant the soles of their feet firmly in the river bed.  You see to play the game you have to get on the field.  To take the trip you have to pull out of the driveway.  And to cross the Jordan, you have to get in it.
    
        Imagine if every time you hit an obstacle in your walk of faith what might happen to your perspective if you approached it with an air of expectancy as Joshua did in verse 5.  “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”  What if you pushed aside the fears and doubts that you have when confronted with obstacles and tackled those problems with this attitude, “Wow! Another problem!  I don’t know how it’s going to work out, but I know the Lord is going to help me overcome this.  He really came through the last time.  I can’t wait to see how He helps me out of this one!” 
     
When       How can you turn your view of obstacles into visions of opportunity?  How can you see things the way Joshua did?  Like Christopher who practiced countless hours before he set foot on the soccer field or a traveler who studies the directions to his/her destination, you can train yourself to meet obstacles by focusing on the basic skills of your faith and consecrating yourself.  Now I don’t mean that you need to run home, take a bath and do the laundry as those ancient Israelites did when they consecrated themselves!  But making the basic skills of your faith (Bible study, devotions, prayer time and fellowship) a priority in your life will consecrate you for "crossing the Jordan".  They prepare you to look at obstacles from a different perspective and that perspective will help you through whatever challenges you may face.  These tools help you to look at obstacles the way Joshua did- as an opportunity for God to do wonders in your midst.  So keep this in mind when obstacles come your way: To play the game, you have to step on to the field.  To take the journey, you have to pull out of the driveway.  To cross the Jordan, you have to get in.  It’s time to get ready, get set and GO!
 
Ann LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

This edition of Ready for the Road Ahead was  originally published as a bulletin insert in October of 2011.

           The leaves have finally turned color and are slowly dropping on to my lawn as I sit and type this week’s column.  Three important holy days, Rosh Hashannah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot, are being celebrated by the Jewish people before both people and celebrations settle in for the long span of time before the festival cycle starts again in the Spring.  The Holy Days will end on a high note in the celebration of Simchah Torah (Rejoicing in the Law).  It occurs on the last day of Sukkot, which is also known as the Feast of Tabernacles, and it is a time to rejoice, just as its name states.

            The Torah, or Law, is defined as the five books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.  Torah means to “direct, teach, instruct, guide or show”.  The Torah is divided into yearly readings and read every Saturday morning at Torah Service.  It is customary to complete the cycle of reading on Simchah Torah.  There is an old Jewish adage which says, “Turn the Torah, and turn it over again, for everything may be found in it.”  So to affirm the truth that one must never stop studying God’s Word, it has become customary to turn at once to the beginning of the Torah and start again when the cycle is completed.

            The Torah is highly treasured.  The scroll is usually 2 1/2 feet high and is printed by hand with only a genuine quill pen on kosher animal skin.  A typical scroll is 20 to 30 skins long and weighs 15 to 20 pounds.  The skins are sewn together so intricately that it is virtually impossible to see the seams.  They are then wound around the “Trees of Life” or Torah holders.  The coverings are exquisitely decorated in beautiful brocades or satin with appliqué and sometimes even semi-precious stones.  The Torah scroll itself is never touched by hand.  It is carefully placed on a special reading table, and the reader uses a special pointer, called a yad, to keep his place.

            The Torah is an important part of religious life to devout Jews.  They are mindful of many scriptures which encourage and command them to take its words seriously such as Joshua 1:8 and Proverbs 7:2.  On Simchah Torah the scroll is removed from its special cabinet in the synagogue and paraded about the sanctuary.  The people follow behind with music, singing, and the blowing of shofars.  There is candy for the children (because God’s Word is sweet like honey) and they are called to the platform to say a blessing over the Torah reading.  This is the only time children are allowed to do this.  When a synagogue is vandalized or burned and the Torah is destroyed it is a tremendous loss to the congregation, economically, physically, emotionally and spiritually.

            In light of this, how we should view the Scriptures?  The Bible is the most amazing book the world has ever seen or read.  It has been translated into thousands of languages, printed in every shape and style; maligned, discredited, upheld, misunderstood and underestimated in its strength and power.  Churches today revere it, ignore it and even re-word it.  Yet it has endured and maintained its integrity for centuries.

            How precious is the Bible to us?  Think of all the Bibles that have been smuggled into Communist and Muslim countries at the risk of life and freedom.  Think of all those who have traveled to remote places to learn languages only a few speak so that the Word can be communicated to them.  This Book allows us to truly understand the heart and mind of God.  Life was breathed into it by the Holy Spirit and it brings life to us.  Yet, many times we toss it aside just as carelessly as we would a paperback novel.  I wonder what our brothers and sisters in persecuted countries would think about that.  How would they react if they learned many of us ignore the Bible because our schedule is demanding and we are tired?  What would our brothers and sisters in Haiti, China and the Sudan do if they could hold and read one single page of God's Word when we have more than one copy sitting on a dusty shelf?   Perhaps in the business of our lives, we have placed the Bible in a low spot on the list of our priorities, but is that where it belongs?  Shouldn't we treat it with reverence and rejoice when we come together as God's people to learn from and study it?  If we can proudly display the paraphernalia of our favorite sports team, why don't we do the same for the Bible?  Perhaps we could learn something from our Jewish friends!
 
Ann LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

            For many women, the make-up is as essential as a survival kit.  The miracle of make-up is that it can cover the little imperfections that gnaw away at our self-esteem.  But make-up can only work wonders on the outside.  Covering the inward imperfections is a much more difficult task and the psychological gymnastics we go through to achieve this status often do more harm than good.  There is one festival in the Jewish calendar whose main focus is that of “covering”.  In Leviticus 16 it is called Yom Kippur.  Yom (rhymes with home) means day and Kippur (kee-poor) means covering, thus, the Day of Covering.  It is also known as the Day of Atonement.  A covering hides something but it does not remove it.  That’s why according to the Scriptures it is necessary for Jews to observe this day annually (Lev. 16:29-34).  No person is capable of removing their sins, only covering them.
 
          In Biblical times, the observance of Yom Kippur involved a rather lengthy process of washing and sacrifices to cover both the sins of the High Priest as well as the nation.  Yom Kippur was the only day of the year that the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies (Lev. 16; 23:26-32).  His sole purpose there was to sprinkle the sacrificial blood on the Ark of the Covenant as a covering for the sins of the nation for another year (Lev. 16:9, 14-19).  But in order to enter the presence of a Most Holy God the high priest washed several times over, wore simple garments made of the purest fabric possible and entered that sacred precinct with a censor filled with an aromatic coals (Lev. 16:4, 12-14,  23-24).  Bringing the stain of sin into the Holy of Holies was very serious and the consequence of defiling it was disastrous to the one who caused it (Lev. 10:1-3).
   
         Another ceremony carried out on this day involved the selection of the Scapegoat (Lev. 16:7-10).  Two identical goats were chosen.  Both goats symbolized the severity of sin.  One died picturing God’s judgment.  The blood of this goat was splattered on the Ark.   The High Priest placed his hands on this goat and “transferred” the sins of the people to the animal.  The same was done to the second goat but this time “the Scapegoat” was not sacrificed but instead led out to the wilderness (Lev. 20-22).  The goats teach us two interesting aspects of God’s judgment.  First, that although the punishment for sin is severe, a substitute can take the penalty.  Second, once the appropriate sacrifice has been made, the Lord sends off the remembrance of that sin “into the wilderness”.  It is gone, forgotten, remembered no more.
     
       Since the destruction of the temple it has become customary for faithful Jews to offer prayers, repair broken relationships and right the wrongs of the past year for the atonement of sins on Yom Kippur.  But the Scripture is clear that no amount of repentance or the intention of good works can atone for sin.  So how can sin be erased like chalk from the blackboard?  How is it that the writer of Hebrews can write, “And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more”? (Heb. 10:17)
  
          The answers to these questions lie in the person of Jesus Christ.  His atoning work is represented in the two goats.  First, His shed blood has met God’s requirement and is an acceptable substitute for ours and secondly, through Christ’s atoning death, our sins are no longer remembered by God.  But now at the consummation of the ages, He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. (Hebrews 9: 26b).  Hebrews 1:3 and Hebrews 9: 11-12 also state that Christ has entered the Holy of Holies and has sat down, meaning His work was complete and finished, something earthly priests never had the privilege of experiencing and therefore Christ does not have to do this over and over again.
          
  To most of us the Berlin Wall merely represented a division between two political ideologies.  But for those who lived in its shadow, it represented separation from the love and warmth of family and friends.  Mankind was separated from God in the same way.  The veil which stood between the Holy of Holies and the Holy Place was heavily woven and six inches thick.  It was only entered once a year.  And like the Berlin Wall, sin seemed to stand solid and cold between man and God.  Who could bridge the gap?  No one but God Himself.  For now there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ.  (Rom. 8:1)  Jesus more than covers sin, He removes it!
 
Ann LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

            Julia Margaret Cameron was one of 7 daughters born to Adeline and James Pattle.  Her sisters were all quite beautiful but Julia considered herself to be the one born with intellect.  In 1835 she met two important men who would shape the course of her future: Charles Hay Cameron who would later become her husband and Sir John Herschel, the well-known astronomer, who would introduce her to the newly discovered art of photography.  Surprisingly, Cameron had no contact with any artistic endeavors before her 48th year.  But the gift of a camera for Christmas from her daughter and son-in-law set her on a path which produced almost 900 pictures in 12 years.  And although her softly focused portraits of respected figures of the day, mythological or literary tales and people from the Bible were initially disregarded by critics, Cameron is now credited with the first photographer to take close-up portraits and her images are immediately recognizable.  To say that Cameron was “focused” might sound like a bad pun but her passion to express beauty and capture the essence of a person’s character through portraiture is still unparalleled in the photographic world.
            While Julia Cameron focused her attention on photography the Lord has set His focus on an entirely different matter- time.  In addition to holy days and holy weeks, the Lord also designed holy years for Israel.   The Sabbatical Year was celebrated every seventh year.  The Lord commanded five main requirements to be followed in the observance of the Sabbatical Year.  1) All cultivation activities ceased (Ex. 23:10-11; Lev. 25:2-5).  This did not mean the earth stopped producing fruit, or that the Israelites could not pick what grew.  Only plowing, sowing, and pruning ceased.  In our day the thought of this seems absurd.  But in essence the Lord was promising that the land would provide for them throughout the Sabbatical year just as the manna had carried them through the Sabbath.  2)  Any crops that sprang up naturally by themselves in the Sabbath Year were accessible to anyone in the community (Ex. 23:11; Lev. 25:6-7).  The thought behind this was that God had produced this crop for the benefit of all.  3)  Any produce that sprang up naturally by itself had to be eaten in the season that it appeared.  It could not be stored for future use.  Saving something like a squash could produce seeds for planting which was strictly forbidden (Lev. 25:5).  4)  Debts were released during the Sabbath Year (Dt. 15:1-4).  Notice that the debts were not erased (as some have assumed), only the payments were deferred.  God did hold the people responsible for their debt, but in an agricultural society when agriculture was not operating, it was logical that payments be postponed.  5)  During the Sabbatical Year the Torah was read aloud to the people during the Feast of Tabernacles (Dt. 31:10-13; Neh. 8:2, 13-18).  When the Israelites traveled through the wilderness they did not have the luxury of planting crops and harvesting the land.  Putting trust in the feeling of security that settlement brings had to be removed from their daily lives in order to refocus their thoughts to a time when every day and every meal was truly given to them by the Hand of God.
            Since the Sabbatical Year was part of the Torah, it was to be observed as diligently as any other command given by God.  But sadly, Scripture records that it and many of the other commands were not observed prior to the Exile.  2 Chronicles 36:21 tells us that the Lord carried Israel away to Babylon for 70 years, "until the land enjoyed her Sabbaths".  After the Exile, Josephus records that the Sabbath Year was observed even under both Grecian and Roman rule.  But the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD brought sweeping changes to the observance of the Law.   Today the Sabbatical Year is calculated but its observance is merely the recognition that it exists.  There are many reasons for this, but the primary cause is the lack of a Temple and the agrarian society that supported it.
            Many of us tend to separate ourselves from the Old Testament with the reasoning, "That was then; this is now".  But if we truly believe God's Word is timeless and written for all, there is a principal here we must apply to ourselves.  I would submit to you that it concerns our focus.  The Sabbatical Year caused the people to focus on the One who truly supplied their daily and yearly needs.  It made them realize it was not their efforts of pruning, plowing or planting that brought forth the bounty which took care of their daily needs; it was God.  We are no different.  We rely on jobs, investments, social security, credit cards and any other resource available as if those things are giving us our food, clothing, heat, electric and security.  Is this true?  It is a challenging thought and one that demands we examine our focus.
Ann LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

            The elders and on-lookers gathered at the inner chamber of the city gate.  There was an air of expectation and curiosity.  The people of Bethlehem had been aware for a few months now that Naomi had returned from Moab with a foreign daughter-in-law.  At first her presence had raised a few eyebrows and caused some suspicion.  However, Ruth's gentle spirit and obvious love for her mother-in-law as well as the God of Israel had stopped their tongues from wagging in gossip and caught the eye of Boaz, a prominent citizen and eligible bachelor.  Boaz desired to make his affections into something more.  He wanted to make Ruth his wife, but according to God’s law and the protocol of the day, an important ceremony had to take place first. He had to redeem the land which belonged to the family of Elimelech, Naomi’s husband.  Boaz had made it known that he was willing to step forward and redeem it, but one other relative stood in the way as his “branch” in the family tree was closer to the trunk than the one belonging to Boaz and technically speaking that relative had the right to claim the land first.  In order to redeem the land, this relative would have to marry the widow of Elimelech's son (Ruth), a task he was unwilling to do.  Boaz agreed to marry Ruth as well pay for the land and the redemption and wedding moved forward.

            The kinsman-redeemer seems like an odd ritual in our society.  We don't understand the deep connection that the ancient Israelites had to their tribal and family allotments which were determined by God after the conquest of Canaan.  Nor do we grasp the significance of carrying on the family name through the birth of children, particularly sons.  So the picture of men debating over property and marriage in the gates of the city seems strange and out of style.  We really don't comprehend the sacrifice Boaz made in order to marry Ruth and fulfill the Law.  By agreeing to redeem Elimelech’s land and marry Ruth Boaz in essence was stopping the continuation of his family name and perpetuating that of Elimelech’s.   We might say Boaz was losing himself and becoming Elimelech. We all know stories of people who have reinvented themselves to become a success but replacing our identity to carry on someone else’s legacy is unheard of.  Yet that was really what the role of the kinsman-redeemer was all about.  Because we do not understand the implications of that act in the ancient world we miss an important lesson about our Savior.

            There were several regulations designed by the Lord which the kinsman-redeemer had the ability to fulfill if he so desired.  Under the Law, a near relative could avenge a wrongfully slain relative's murder (Num. 35:12-34) or if he had the financial resources, redeem a poor relative out of slavery by paying the acquired debt.  Property could be redeemed and returned to the family as well (Lev. 25:25; 48-49).  In this way Boaz is an exemplary kinsman-redeemer because he takes Ruth as his wife and buys the land belonging to Naomi's family back thus returning their inheritance and continuing the line of Elimelech and his son; Ruth's late husband (Gen. 38:8; Dt. 25:5; Ruth 3-4).

            The role of the kinsman-redeemer teaches us a wonderfully important theological lesson.  Only a near relative is qualified to pay the price that frees a person from slavery, or to buy back property that was lost or sold.    We had “lost” our land and family status at the Fall (Gen. 3) and were considered slaves to sin (Rom. 6:1-6).  When Christ gave up His heavenly glory, and took on human flesh and nature (Phil. 2:5-8), He became qualified to pay the terrible price for our salvation (Heb. 2:14-17).  Without His relation to humanity through flesh and blood, Christ would not have qualified as a kinsman-redeemer. 

            God is certainly the "ultimate" Kinsman-Redeemer of His people across the pages of the Old Testament.  Trapped as slaves in Egypt with no possible hope of release, the people needed someone to step in and bring them back to their land.  The Lord rescued them and brought about their redemption (Ex. 6:6; 12:51).  But His actions are not limited to the Old Testament; they are a part of our story too.  In Ruth's story (where we have the clearest picture of the kinsman-redeemer in action), Boaz becomes a picture of the Messiah who would be sent to redeem humanity from the bondage of sin.  Jesus has performed the same actions a kinsman-redeemer.  He has offered Himself as a payment for all, restoring our lost inheritance and redeeming us when it seemed we were as destitute as Naomi and Ruth (Eph. 2:13-22; Heb. 4:14-16).  The practice of the kinsman-redeemer is an illustration of the greatest love of all (Jn. 15:12-13) and Jesus has perfectly fulfilled this role.  So then, how should we respond to a redemption as great as this (1 Pet. 1:17-21)?

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

Ready for the Road Ahead is reaching into the archives of pieces which were written before the website began while I continue with physical therapy after my knee surgery.  This piece was first published in May of 2011.    

       On June 17, 1978, a bride walked down the aisle of the First Presbyterian Church in Caldwell, New Jersey.  There in front of friends and family, she promised her groom to love, honor, obey and be faithful to him through sickness and health.  He promised the same to her.  Of course, I was the bride and my husband Jeff, was the groom. The marriage ceremony is a covenant.  The American History Dictionary defines a covenant as a binding agreement made by two or more persons or parties; a contract.  We can see how this applies to a bride and groom.  Their ceremony is legal and binding.
 
           Early in the morning on March 10, 1979, a nurse placed a tiny bundle in my arms.  My son Erick weighed eight pounds, fourteen ounces and was twenty-one inches long.  He’s now a fully grown man and at least seven inches taller than I am!  But at the moment he was placed in my arms, I promised to love him, to care for him and to teach him everything I could until he was able to make his own way in the world.  A mother’s undying love for her children is also a covenant.
 
           These illustrations from life help are excellent tools to help us understand three very important covenants which are woven throughout God’s Word.  The Abrahamic Covenant is like the relationship between the mother and child.  The Mosaic Covenant is like the covenant between the bride and groom.  And finally the New Covenant is also reflected in the parent-child relationship.
     
       The Abrahamic Covenant is foundational to all the other covenants.  It first appears in Genesis 12: 1-3.  The fulfillment of this covenant rests solely on God and His ability to keep His promise.  The Abrahamic Covenant is an unbreakable, unconditional promise that God made to Abraham and upheld through Isaac, Jacob and the Jewish people.  However, all believers are included in a spiritual sense in the Abrahamic Covenant (Romans 4:16).  The main provisions of the covenant can be summed up in three promises with equal weight which God will bestow upon Abraham:  a people, a blessing, and a land.  In a similar fashion a child is given a name and genetic traits when he/she becomes part of a family.  There is nothing the child does to earn them; they are passed on by the parents and in the same way there was nothing Abraham did to earn the promises of this Covenant.  They were passed on to him by the Lord. 
 
           The Mosaic Covenant is a conditional covenant between God and the people of Israel.  It is modeled after the kind of agreements in the Ancient Near East which were usually agreed upon by kings and their subjects.  The books which specifically deal with the actual conditions of the Mosaic Covenant are Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.  Genesis and Exodus are also considered to be part of the Mosaic Covenant, but they do not list the specific laws and regulations as explicitly as the other books do.  The basic command and promise of the Mosaic Covenant is found in Exodus 19:5-6.  When the people of Israel agreed to this covenant it became their guide and the Jewish people have tried to be faithful to it ever since.  The bride and groom make promises to one another in their wedding ceremony, much like Israel and God made promises to one another when the Mosaic Covenant was ratified at Mount Sinai.
  
          The New Covenant is the covenant God has made with all who believe in Him.  It first deals with Israel, and secondly with the church.  The New Covenant can be found in Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hosea 2:18-23 and Zechariah 2:10-11.  The New Testament indicates that the church is included in the New Covenant (Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Hebrews 8:8, 9:15).  The New Covenant is founded on the fact that Christ died for our sins, freeing God to redeem, reconcile and transform mankind apart from human merit or worthiness.  The New Covenant is a grace filled covenant that will be observed by God throughout eternity.  It is unconditional like a parent’s love for their child.
     
       The most wonderful aspect of all of these covenants is the God who made them.  Throughout the pages of Scripture we discover His faithfulness in keeping all of the promises He makes, both conditional and unconditional.  We should always keep this in mind as we journey along the road of faith.  Whenever we meet a challenge, trial or triumph, we would be wise to take the risk, fight the good fight, have faith in God and move forward.  Our Promise Keeping God has not failed us yet and He never will (Deuteronomy 7:9).

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

This week's reprint originally appeared in our church bulletin on February 13, 2011.  At that time Egypt had been experiencing 14 days of riots giving rise to the perception that times were very uncertain...   

        One time while visiting Cape May, Jeff and I saw a print in a gallery that we just had to have.  It was a photograph of a lighthouse off the coast of France, well known for the stormy waves that crash upon it each day.  A photographer in a helicopter had captured one of those waves as it smashed around the base of the lighthouse while the lighthouse keeper blithely looked skyward to see what the noise was all about.  One glance at this picture and you want to yell, "Watch out!!  Get inside!!"

            How many times over the years have you been gripped by headlines?  There never seems to be a shortage of fearful circumstances.  Mass shootings, urban unrest, violent storms and wars between nations dominate our media.  It seems that the world is a fearful place to live without a shelter to keep us safe in the storm.  One glance at the headlines and your mind wants to yell, "Watch out!!!  Stay inside!!" 

            No one understood better about how chaotic life could be than the ancient Israelite.  Due to its key location on the path of several major trade routes linking 3 continents, Israel was constantly subjected to attacks and turnovers.   Not only was their little sliver in the Fertile Crescent valuable for trade, other nations such as Assyria and Egypt, were on a mission to prove that their gods were far more powerful than Yahweh.  They viewed their military victories as a reason to proclaim that Yahweh was weak and undependable.  As threats for another invasion surfaced it was enough to cause any faithful Israelite to yell, "Watch out!!  Don't go outside!!"

            When Israel was conquered by Babylon in 597 B. C. it truly was a fearful time both for the weak and powerless people who were left behind and for those who were carried off into exile.  The future was uncertain and most wondered if they would survive.  If they had the ability many would have chosen to “stay inside”.  But that was not possible.  Instead the people were thrown into the storm but it taught them a valuable lesson.  The times may have felt unstable but God was in the midst of it with them.  Surprisingly that lesson is most prominent in the Book of Esther which describes the origin and reason for the festival which the Jewish people faithfully (and rather joyfully I might add!) celebrate every year.  The strange thing about the book of Esther is that God's name is never mentioned.  On the surface it appears that God is not involved in the story at all.  Actually, God is very cleverly disguised within the story, and to the faithful there is no doubt that He is the source of Esther's courage and the reason the Jews prevail.

            Sometimes the chaos of the world feels the same way.  No matter what continent, no matter what nation or state, strife and turmoil seem to say that God is not involved in our world at all.  Times are unstable and uncertain.  However, the psalmist encourages us in Psalm 46 that even when mountains shake and the waters roar, God is in the midst of His people acting as an anchor and a source of hope which will see us through the storm safely (Heb. 6:13-20).   We may not see it; we may not sense it, but we know God is at work in our story.

            The Sea of Galilee is often depicted as an idyllic body of water surrounded by pleasant hills.  However, it is not always that peaceful.  Cutting into those rolling hills are gorges called "scarps" and when the wind blows down through the scarps on to the Sea of Galilee it stirs up the water and sailing becomes treacherous.  Such a storm is recorded in Luke 8:22-25.  This storm was so fierce that even the disciples who were seasoned fishermen feared they were about to die.  Whether it is a massive wave off the coast of France, a disturbing headline about our chaotic world or a squall upon the Sea of Galilee, there is only one thing to do when a storm of that intensity comes your way.  Esther turned to God through fasting and prayer.  The disciples turned to Jesus.  Rather than succumbing to panic or hiding when life seems out of control, our best recourse is to follow in the footsteps of the psalmist and place our trust in the Lord (Ps. 121) for that is where our help comes from.     
 
 
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

          While my days are still basically filled with trips to physical therapy I'm continuing to draw from several years of Ready for the Road Ahead that were never published on my website.  The end of August and beginning of September marks the start of soccer season so it seemed appropriate to pull this one out to revisit.

           On July 5, 1994, my son Christopher and I attended "Game 44" of the World Cup.  The game was being held at Giants Stadium.  We went early to take in some of the activities set up outside the stadium and it was amusing to see all the costumes people had put together to wear to the game.  Bulgaria was pitted against Mexico and the stadium was completely full.  Over 70, 000 fans were there to witness the first game of the world’s grandest competition to go into overtime, and then a sudden death shot out in order to determine the winner.  The atmosphere was amazingly electric and we were blessed to watch the shoot out in the front row!  The World Cup, The Super Bowl, The World Series, The Stanley Cup, and the Olympics all have one thing in common.  They are the premiere game that determines the best of the best in their given sport.   If you've been able to attend one of these championships, you can't help but be captured by the energy of cheering on your favorite team and the instant familiarity you have with the thousands of others who have come to do the same.   It is why many teams in many sports consider their fans to be "the twelfth man".
 
            The Christian walk can feel like an intense athletic competition.  We are met with opposition, temptation, trials, challenges and obstacles in our daily lives as well as milestones, victories and the satisfaction of a job well-done.  If you've ever tried to face the challenges alone, you know how discouraging and detrimental that can be.  And who wants to celebrate a victory by themselves?  It's so much better to celebrate with others who understand your joy and want to celebrate with you.  Most importantly though, knowing there are others who surround you with encouragement and love, no matter what part of the journey you're on, is like the team whose "twelfth man" cheers them on to victory in spite of the tremendous obstacles they face to win.  This is the imagery that the author of Hebrews is reminding us of when he writes that we have a "great cloud of witnesses" watching us as we run the race of faith in Hebrews 12:1.   Not only do we have fellow believers here on earth to help us take on the challenges of the race, but we also have those who have gone on before (take a look at chapter 11 if you want to know who some of them are), sitting in the bleachers of heaven, and rooting for us to fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith (2 Tim. 4:7).
 
            Paul was well acquainted with the struggles of the Christian walk.  When writing to the Corinthian Church he used several images from the Olympic games to describe his struggles and the outcome of those trials (2 Cor. 4:7-18).  Those words, afflicted, crushed, perplexed, not despairing, persecuted and struck down were terms which also applied to wrestling and running.  Like an athlete who trains his body almost mercilessly so that it will perform in competition, the struggles of faith train us for an eternal end and although no suffering is pleasant, Paul reminds us that it is temporary.  Our great cloud of witnesses know better than we do the glories to come therefore they cheer us on like the fans in the stand who call out encouragement to their team when they are behind. 
 
            Have you ever noticed that Paul often closes his letters with greetings from the believers with him to those who will receive it?  Paul is reminding them all that they are in the "faith walk" together and face the same challenges.  The same is true for us.  We not only have a fan base in heaven, there are earthly counterparts that can be a source of encouragement too if we let them (Heb. 10:23-25).  Whether or not you are a well-trained athlete you may be facing a competitor this week.  That adversary could be as simple as managing your time better or as deep as overcoming an addiction.  Remember, you are not alone in this challenge.  There is a "great cloud of witnesses" gathered around you to cheer you on.  Draw on the strength and enthusiasm of your "twelfth man".
 
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

            Before I began posting Ready for the Road Ahead on my website I usually had titles for my pieces but they weren’t printed on the church hand-outs.  However when I initially wrote this piece on August 4, 2013 I made sure it was included.
 
            Who would have thought that when I set out to meet my newest grandson on June 29th that I would end up with two new tires, a broken speedometer and a new battery!  The beginning of my trip was uneventful.  In fact, Jeff checked the oil and other such things to make sure everything was a-o-k for the 8 and a ½ hour drive.   But about 150 miles into the trip, while passing a slow moving truck in the center lane, I heard a loud POP and I knew immediately that I’d just gotten a flat!  I quickly pulled over on to the shoulder and while my mind was racing as to what to do next, I noticed that someone else had pulled over ahead of me.  As I stepped out of the car to assess the damage (and boy was that shredded tire a shock!), a kind gentleman came up to offer assistance.  First order of business: move the car from the left shoulder to the right shoulder!   Oh dear!  That was going to be tricky!!   But we managed to do it and decided AAA was the best “call” to make.  Three and ½ hours later I was on my way again thanks to a tow truck/auto shop owner who had my tires in stock (Coincidence? I think not!) and noticed that a second tire was about to give out too.

            As I sat in the air conditioned waiting room and thought about what had just happened, I realized in a modern sense that I’d just been visited by “angels”; not the winged and awesome kind that gather about God’s throne to praise Him (Is. 6: 1-3) but the human kind whose hearts are geared toward helping people in distress.  And I’d like to say that the rest of the trip was uneventful and worry free but it wasn’t!  Just after crossing over the Pennsylvania/Ohio border, the speedometer decided it had lived a long and productive life and died.  Four days later, the battery did the same.  Poor Jeff, every time I called home I could here the unspoken question, “What broke now?”  This was definitely NOT the trip I’d planned!  But, I eventually arrived in Michigan.  The week was filled with lots love and came rapidly to an end! I was worried about driving home. What could go wrong this time?  Thankfully nothing went wrong with my car, but construction on Route 80 did slow the traffic down to a halt a few times.

            Life does have its unexpected twists and turns. Sometimes you set out on a quest or heading towards a goal and get totally tossed about by an unexpected event like a blown out tire. Other times the road is filled with detours or even a dead stop and you wonder if it's really worth making the journey at all. Maybe those road hazards put fear in you so that you don't even want to venture forth lest "something else goes wrong" like a busted speedometer. I guess after this trip, I've learned that the bumps might not necessarily be fun, but the fear is worse; and there will always be kindness when a stranger stops to help or a service person does their job well, or someone says an encouraging word. The bottom line is this- it does look better in the rear view mirror, but unless you leave the house, there will be nothing in the mirror to see. And if you don't leave, you may never experience the joy of where the journey brings you. So, it's best to pack your bags and be as prepared as you can.

            Setting forth on a journey that brings you to something unexpected puts you in good company with a number of Biblical people:  Abraham, Daniel, the disciples and Paul to name a few.  Once settled in at my son’s house after the tire fiasco, I was reminded of Paul’s second missionary journey.  Instead of reaching his projected target of the west coast of Asia Minor, God redirected him to Macedonia.  I thought about Paul’s original destination.  Had he reached it at that time we may never have had several New Testament letters that Paul wrote to churches he planted on that re-routed trip (Philippians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians) or Luke’s account of the detour in Acts 16.  I started to wonder what had occurred that day which wouldn’t have happened otherwise:  a 30 minute time of praise and prayer while waiting for the tow truck, being able to speak a blessing into the lives of two helpful strangers, and even the enjoyment of a beautiful sunset since a broken speedometer tends to insure you keep the speed limit!  And of course the eventual joy of reaching my destination and meeting my grandson!  I encourage you to take time and enjoy the detours and unexpected turns in your journey.  God is in the midst of them!  Watch and see what He is about to do (Heb. 11:7-8).

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 actually watched a loaf of bread rise?  After you mix the leaven in warm water, it looks rather cloudy and unappealing.  Adding it to a bowl of sifted flour only seems to make matters worse.  The result is a gooey, stretchy mess.  But the yeast bonds to the gluten of the wheat while it is being kneaded, and after the malleable ball of dough has been left sitting for about an hour, it's almost doubled in size!  I am sure there's a wonderful scientific explanation for this, but I don't know it!  What fascinates me about this process is how quickly the bread rises and how much the yeast causes the dough to expand.
   
         In Luke 13, after Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a mustard seed, He uses another unlikely example to illustrate God's kingdom- a lump of yeast (Lk. 13:18-21)!  It is a picture from everyday life, but this time, it has a twist.  Scripture almost always uses yeast as a negative image (1 Cor. 5:6-8 for example).  But in this case, Jesus uses yeast to symbolize the way the Gospel would expand and affect an unsuspecting world.  This time yeast is seen as a positive influence.
 
           So, what does the yeast in Jesus' parable do?  When it is placed in the dough, it changes the dough (Lk. 13:21).  Like the yeast which a baker places into a ball of dough which in turn causes it to rise, the Lord has placed the Gospel into the world in order for it to expand.  The Gospel, or Kingdom, works like yeast in two ways:  1) it changes individuals until their whole being has been transformed.  2) It changes society as a whole.  When it affects individuals, they in turn affect the culture in which they live.
     
       Yeast changes and transforms bread.  Bread made from water and wheat alone, is hard, dry, and not too nourishing; but yeast, mixed into the dough, changes and transforms it.  When yeast has been added to bread there are four results which represent the effect the Gospel has on people:  1) yeast makes bread soft and no longer hard.  The Gospel does the same.  It penetrates hearts of people and softens the hardness of their life.  As a result we become softened toward God too.  We become a more caring and giving person (Ezek. 11:19-20; Col. 3:12-15).  Softness is one of the trademarks of a transformed person.  2) Yeast makes bread porous and moist, no longer dry.  The Gospel does the same.  It penetrates the dryness of a person's heart and life.  The Gospel moistens our hearts so that we can grow into a moist or fruitful person (Lk. 8:4-15; Jn. 15:8; Col. 1:10).  3)  Yeast makes bread satisfying.  The Gospel changes a life with no purpose or meaning and gives a person purpose, joy and hope.  4)  Yeast makes bread nourishing.  The Gospel not only gives purpose, but it inspires, commissions, and cultivates.  A person transformed by the Gospel is able to bring truth to the world.  The Gospel is able to explain the reasons for the emptiness and loneliness of the human heart and to replace them with love and fellowship (Prov. 15:30; 25:25; Is. 52:7; Rom. 10:14-15; Eph. 4:15-25).
     
       It should be noted that yeast works quietly and silently.  You don't hear it fizzing or crackling like milk poured on Rice Krispies.  But you know it's working because you can see the difference in the dough.  This says something about the way we should be living as transformed people in this world.  As part of the "yeast of the kingdom" we are to be making an impact in the world that we live in.  Yeast changes the whole lump.  It permeates every pore of the dough's being.  And so it should be with the kingdom.  As "yeast" in this world, we should be impacting every pore of society.  As a disciple of the King of Kings, how will you be an effective lump of yeast this week?  How will you expand the kingdom?  Jesus is challenging you to make a difference.
 
Ann LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre