The good shepherd and his dumb (?) sheep

Hey guys, I remember telling you all about this before last time, but I guess no harm hearing it once more, this time straight from the horse's, or rather, shepherd's mouth. It's a bit long, but it's a joy to read and understand who God is to us, and what we are to Him! :)

Jess

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Psalm 23 - A Shepherd's Perspective
"Shalom my friends. My name is Yeshua ben Yosef. I am from the ancient land of Palestine and I’m a
shepherd by trade. It is an honor for a man of my occupation to be allowed to stand here and speak with you today.
You see in my nation shepherding is not looked upon with favor. For most of my countrymen it is a job to be avoided rather than sought.
The hours are long.The work is dirty and backbreaking. You should see the thick calluses on my feet.
And the pay ... well let’s just say you’ll never get rich tending sheep for a living.
I learned the trade from my father and I continue the family tradition.

Your pastor thought it would be helpful for me to come and speak with you
today about my lowly occupation. I’m not really sure what a humble man
such as I could teach you, but I’ll tell you everything that I know.

Did you know that in the Bible you read, God refers to his people, you
and me, as sheep nearly two hundred times? You may have never considered
the significance of that comparison but I have because I work with sheep
day and night. Let me tell you it’s not a compliment to be called a
sheep. Why not rather eagles - majestic, swift and beautiful? No, God
calls us his sheep. Why not lions - strong, fearless, terrifying? No,
instead, God calls us his sheep. Oh they’re unique, but to be compared
to one is nearly an insult. A sheep is perhaps the stupidest animal on
the face of the earth. Have you ever seen a trained sheep in the circus?
You’ll see elephants, horses, bears, seals even hippos, but not sheep.
They’re too stupid to train. Sheep are also quite filthy. The wool
that you see in clothing has been cleaned thoroughly. The fluffy white
sheep that you view on your television sets didn’t get that way on
their own. Sheep will not and cannot clean themselves. The shepherd or
his hired hands must do it for them. Not only are they dumb and dirty,
sheep are utterly defenseless. They have no claws, no fangs, no wings.
They can’t run fast or scare an enemy off with a loud roar or spray a
predator with a noxious scent. All they can do is bleat.

Sheep are completely reliant on their shepherds. Their lives and
well-being depend on the person who oversees them each day. If God calls
us his sheep I wonder just what he’s trying to say?

Maybe you would understand God a little better if you spent a day with
me. Come with me on a journey shepherding sheep.

The day begins early, before dawn. It is my job to provide food and
water for my sheep. This is not an easy task. You see in my country the
land is parched and dry. We have nothing like the vast green pasture
lands that your sheep and cattle enjoy here. You can just turn your
animals loose and they have all the food they need. But not in my
country. Oh no. Grass can be found only in narrow strips separated by
long stretches of rock and dust. Except during the rainy season, water
is provided by natural springs or wells spread out here and there. I
sometimes have to lead my sheep
miles just for a few yards of grass or a quick drink of water. It is for
that reason that we arise early. It takes all day to find the
nourishment my sheep need.

I know the area like the back of my hand. I’ve walked every square
foot of it many times. This is how I’m able to lead my sheep. You may
have imagined that shepherding is like those old Westerns you’ve seen
where the cowboys, riding their horses behind the herd, drive the cattle
forward. Shepherding is somewhat different. I walk in front of the herd
and they follow me. Wherever I go they go. If I were unfamiliar with the
land or the sheep were left on their own they’d starve to death. But I
lead them. I know where the grass is. I’ve been there beforehand.

We spend the entire morning traveling from pasture to pasture. By
mid-day the sheep are exhausted and thirsty. They need refreshing or
they will die. Along the route I know the location of several oasis.
These places have shade and lush pasture for the sheep to rest. I make
they lie down and drink. Speaking of which, did you know that sheep
won’t drink from just any water source. Oh no. They will only drink
from quiet still pools. They have a natural fear of fast moving water
and for good reason. If a sheep should slip into a river or stream its
wool would soon soak up the water and become completely saturated. Sheep
are poor swimmers anyway, but the weight of the water in their wool
would cause them to sink and drown. That’s why the waters must be
gentle and still. If I can’t find a pool I have to create one by
diverting water from a stream. Now you’re beginning to understand what
hard work shepherding is.

My sheep will be fine and have everything that they need as long as they
follow me. I lead them along well-worn paths where I know we will find
food and water. They need my guidance.

My sheep also need my protection. The land where we travel is fraught
with dangers. Predators like lions and bears stalk the herds. There’s
the occasional pack of wild dogs. Some harmless looking plants, though
tasty, prove to be poisonous. A sheep might easily stumble over a cliff
or fall into a ravine and die. But my sheep have no need to fear. I
watch out for them. If they begin to wander off in the wrong direction I
have my trusty shepherd’s staff to prod them back in the right
direction. If they should fall into a pit or a ravine I use the other
end of my staff to reach down and lift them to safety. I carry two
sticks, though. One is a staff, but the other is a club. The staff is
for my sheep, but the club is for predators. My sheep may be dumb, but
I’m quite attached to them. I’ll fight tooth and nail for their
lives. Some of the hirelings and other shepherds I’m acquainted with
have seen me battle a few of those big carnivores. They laugh and joke
and tell me that some day one of those lions or bears will have me for
lunch. That may be true, but I can tell you that I won’t look the
other way or run the other way like those cowards. No, that’s the
difference between a good and a bad shepherd. A good shepherd will lay
down his life for his sheep.

As long as they follow me I guide and protect my sheep. It’s tough
work, but I always make sure my sheep have food to eat. I always check
out the fields before I allow them to graze. If there are poisonous
plants in the area and go through and weed out everyone by hand. I also
check the ground for snake holes. I told you it’s dangerous in my
land. We have tiny little vipers that live underground in some of the
pasturelands. When they sense the sheep grazing, they pop their ugly
heads out of the ground and bite the sheep on the nose. The infection or
venom from the bite could kill them. But I have a remedy for those
viscous little enemies. I walk off the entire area looking for snake
holes. When I find them I pour a little olive oil into the entrance of
the hole. Then I anoint the head and nose of each sheep with the same
oil and allow them to graze. The oil prevents the slick bodies of the
snakes from crawling out of their holes. They’re powerless to harm my
sheep. It makes me laugh to watch my little lambs have a picnic in the
very presence of their enemies.

By evening we return to the sheepfold. One by one I examine each of
them. If I find any cuts or scraps on their bodies I apply healing
ointment to their wounds. I make sure they have water to drink. If I
find one nearly overcome with thirst I have a special cup-shaped bucket
and let him drink by himself. Sometimes those sheep are so thirsty that
they stick their heads in too fast and too far and the water overflows
and wets their heads.

Before bedding down for the night I always count my flock. Occasionally
one of the lambs will stray, and there’s nothing more vulnerable than
a sheep without it’s shepherd. I go immediately to find it and bring
it back to the sheepfold.

Every once in a while one of my lambs will develop a habit of straying.
I remember one little fellow. I named him Jake. He came from a fine
family. His grandfather was one of my very first sheep. I called him Old
Abe. Jake’s father was Isaac. Both Old Abe and Isaac faithfully
followed me and stayed on the path, but not that little rascal Jake. He
turned up missing more times than I could count. Sometimes he was in
search of greener pastures while at other times I found him chasing
butterflies. He never realized the danger he in, but I understood it
clearly.

Something had to be done. We shepherds have developed a technique
guaranteed to prevent straying. It is used only as a last resort -- when
a sheep refuses to stay with the flock. The last time I caught him
straying I used it on little Jake. No doubt you will think that it’s
cruel, but it saves the life of my sheep. At the end of the day I found
little Jake wandering dangerously toward a steep gorge. I picked him up,
put him on my shoulders and carried him back to the sheepfold. He
didn’t struggle. Jake just looked at me with only trust in his eyes. I
sat him down and quickly placed his right front leg across my staff.
With one swift motion I pulled down of the long bone of his leg and
broke it. Wild-eyed, Jake struggled to get away. He immediately fell to
the ground in pain. He couldn’t understand. The one who provided for
him and rescued him, the one who he trusted was inflicting the most
excruciating suffering he’d ever endured. I didn’t want to, but I
had to do it to save his life.

Over the next few days, little Jake could barely get up. As the flocks
moved from pasture to pasture I carried him every step of the way. I
held him close in those days. He was suffering with that broken leg, but
all the while I carried him close to my heart. I sat him down to eat and
drink. Gradually he was able to walk again, but the smallest hill looked
like a mountain to him and the shallowest stream like a mile-wide river.
Whenever he encountered and obstacle all he could do was stop and look
to me. Then I’d pick him up and help him over. Jake learned to trust
and to follow. I had to break him to save his life. It worked. Jake is
still with me today and one of my most loyal sheep.

Well that’s a day in the life of a shepherd. It’s not glamorous, but
it’s a living.

As undignified as my profession is it still amazes me that God compares
himself to a shepherd and his people to sheep. I can see the truth in it
though. After all he meets our needs by providing the necessities of
life, by guiding us each day and by protecting us. I guess we would be
as content and at peace as my sheep if we’d just learn to trust and
follow him. Even if we don’t understand where he’s leading or what
he’s doing in our lives, if we’d just trust him and follow him
we’d be satisfied.

Thank you for listening. I’ve got to get back to work. This
shepherding is a never-ending job if you know what I mean?"

Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd; I
shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the
still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for
his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will
fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort
me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou
anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I
will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

beautiful, scandalous night

I used to think that I'd already known all I needed to know about Christ's dying on the cross. How difficult is it to understand? He was born of a virgin, lived a spectacular life, sentenced to death on the cross, became a replacement for our sins and rose again on the third day to defy death.

Yet now, the more I think about it, the less I feel I understand it. It's beautiful in an unexplainable way, it's way bigger than my mind can ever take.

jess

Choosing a Path

[Another note i wrote on facebook, and one which i prayed for guidance, that it flows correctly.]



The man lay silently across the ground.
Inches from his hand, the sword with a silver blade.

The Sword of Light.

Behind him, a village lay still. No signs of life, no activity. Not even a random movement in the darkness.

It lay deserted.

As the clouds parted, the Moon shone down on the man.

The Sword shone, a beacon in a dark place, chasing all signs of despair which lingers in the darkness.

The man lay still.

When the light shone on him, he hardly stirred.

The man lay dying.

----------------------------

A boy watched on. Long after the battle ended, he still looked on.

Finally, when he could bear no longer, the pain of conflicting ideals in his heart, he ran forward.

Looking for answers, looking for that sword.

----------------------------

[How long has it been...] The man wondered. Two hours? Three? Surprised to be able to draw breath, the man simply looked up at the night sky, treasuring the last minutes of his life.

The sound of footfalls caught his attention. Turning his head slightly, he made out a figure. Not too old, maybe seventeen or so, he thought.

The figure, a boy, it turned out to be, slowed down as they made eye contact. Slowly but surely, the boy approached the man.

The boy looked at the figure infront of him. Inhaling deeply, he let out a single name, which only made the situation all too real.

["Silvan."]

The man blinked, and a smile formed on his pale face. In the moonlight, the boy could see the blood that flowed from wounds which covered Silvan's body. Wounds that were allowed to happen.

["Why, Silvan. Why did they come and do this to us?"]

His answer came out in a coarse whisper...

[Because we were different.]

----- 2 Hours ago -----

Silvan stood alone, facing an armed mob.

Behind him, the village lay empty. Its inhabitants long fled into the mountains.

Silvan allowed it to happen.

A sword thrust came at him, and with a bright flash, the dark blade shattered into nothingness.

No matter how many weapons were brought to bear against him, the Sword of Light shattered each and every one of them. That nothing would ever penetrate his defence.

Silvan fought true, not willing to harm his attackers. The black swords wielded by his opponents stood widely in contrast with the shining weapon in his hand. On and on they came, trying to get this nuisance away from them, trying to extinguish the fire in his eyes.

Silvan fought on and on.

Until time took its toll, and finally, his sword arm wavered, and fell.

The opening was seized by a dozen blades.

-----Present-----

["You didnt kill any of them. Not even a single cut on them!"]

The boy exclaimed as he recalled the scene in a flash.

[No... I didn't.]
["Then why, why did they come and attack you, what did you do? You didn't do anything bad did you?"]
[No... It happened, because of our differences.]

Stumped, the boy looked on at the figure.

["Differences?"]

[Yes. Our beliefs.]

The clouds moved on, blocking the Moon, that everything became darker.
Tilting his head for a more comfortable position, Silvan muttered on.

[You saw, didn't you, a single silver blade, among the others?]

Nodding, the boy looked on as Silvan continued.

[Because they didnt like what i was teaching, the old ways of tradition, of how we used to live by Honour and a code of morals.]
["I looked up to them, they seemed to be so cool in life, but now, this ? Why did they have to reject you?"]

[Well, one cant live with two surfaces. It drains us. Before i stepped onto this path, my sword was jet-black, until i faced true adversaries, thats when i realised, how different we are today, than from the past.]

["But they can simply ignore you cant they?"]

[No, with every person who changes to follow the path, they fall in popularity. No one will suffer to see himself being ignored because of an outcast.]
["I had admired you too, for your swordwork, i believed that none of them would still be standing when they attacked. Why did you let them do this to you?"]

A slight grimace crossed Silvan's face, as the pain came back.

[Its because, they do not know the truth of their actions. There is still time for them to change. Should they really see, it will happen. Just in Time...]

["I want to... I believe in your morals, but now, how can i learn?"]

Silvan looked at the boy. Beckoning with a bloodied hand, the boy leaned forward, close to the man.

A movement to the other side caught his attention. Silvan's hand came up, and with it, a sword.

["Your sword?"]

Nodding, Silvan passed it on to the boy, and slowly closed his eyes as he continued.

[Yes, the Sword which pulled me out of my darkest times, when all else seems to fail, it shone the way, for me to follow, instead of simply wallowing in the darkness...]

He looked up to the boy.

[Its your time now. Thats why, the blades cut into me. I have found peace, in allowing another, to follow in its values...]

The boy looked at the blade. As the moonlight shone on it through a break in the sky, the edge glittered. Raising it high, he could feel its strength as it connected with his heart, forging a bond with with sword and wielder.

Looking back to say something, the boy halted.

Silvan lay on the ground, eyes closed, as if he was in a sweet dream.

["Thank you, brother, for giving me this chance to redeem myself, from all the evils which i have caused you and others..."]


By the village, another teenager watched the exchange in silence. By his side, the dark blade could be seen reflecting some light from the moon...

The Sword of Light

[Man... oh man...]

Stumbling through the valley, the man hobbled on.

Badly wounded, with no hope of escape, he looked at what he held onto this whole while.

His sword.

Silver in the moonlight, the blade retained its edge throughout the fight he had fought, and lost badly, to an opponent whom he had no knowledge of.While his opponent knew his every strength and weakness.

[I never stood a chance...]

The taunts echoed through his mind, the laughter of his enemy, as every effort the man made was countered, and he faltered.

He turned tail and ran.

Now, sitting on a rocky outcrop, exhausted from the numerous battles he fought, with each one getting tougher...

...and tougher...

...and tougher...

[Its no use]

His opponent blocked the way, theres no way for him to proceed on.
The valley is deep, and turning back will only end up in the failure of what he set out for.

[No use...]

He stood, with grim determination, not to turn back, neither to face his enemy again.

He will take his own life. Mark his defeat with his own hands.

[Now... slowly...-]

"[What are you doing?]"

The man looked up. He saw nothing. But he heard the voice.

"[What are you doing? Giving up?]"
[Theres nothing left for me to do.]
"[Oh? Theres a challenge waiting for you up ahead.]"
[Dont talk about it.]
"[Why shouldn't I? After all, you still got to get past him.]"
[Its NO USE!]

With that, the man swung his sword against the wall. Sparks flew, and the weapon fell him his hand as he fell weeping.

[Its no use, i lost, its too hard for me to overcome it. Theres no one to help me here.]
"[Of course, why involve others into fighting your struggles?]"
[You've said it.]
"[I've said nothing about them not supporting you from behind.]"
[Huh?]

He looked up. The sword shone against the moonlight. Lines of silver ran along the blade.

"[I've never, ever, let you down in all your previous fights. Even when you felt hopeless, i was there, to hand you the victory, as long as you put your trust in me.]"
[...]
"[What will your decision be? For all the other people who care about you, who look to you, they're all across this valley, cheering you on, if only you will take time, and listen to them, you shall hear.]"
[I do...]
"[They are across this valley, its only a hundred feet more, will you give up now?]"

Eyes widened in surprise, the man immediately got to his feet.

[Hell no, i've come MILES to this point, and theres only a hundred feet more?]
"[Yeah, just a little bit more. If you will put your faith in me, and let me aid you in your fight, let me be your sword in times of trouble.]"

Eyes on the sword, the man picked it up. The edge sparkled, as if the blade was calling out to him.

Looking ahead, he saw his opponent. Imposing as it was, the man did not feel the fear when he first fought it.

[Here goes, lets do it.]
"[Knew you would get back up. This guy here is called Discouragement, and hes the Enemy's elite. Once he got to you, you will feel nothingness, and will falter. However he has a weakness.]"
[Which is?]
"[Encouragement. The perfect counter. Recall all the words your people gave you, and know in your heart, that they ring true to this day.]"

Nodding, the man steeled his gaze upon his enemy.

[I have it. I have faith in my people, and in You. Be my Sword in times as these.]


The man ran forward... determined... to defeat his enemy.

Too much of a coincidence

The first thing on my list to thank God for is the change of interview dates. He shown me how imperfect man was at planning. Despite knowing my interview would clash with chemical defence and doing all sorts of things to prevent it, the two activities still clashed. This happened not once but 2 times repeatedly. By right my interview would be on wed but theres fire fighting on wed. See what I mean? All he needed to do was give us a mon off. Ta da! I have the whole mon to go for the interview. No rush at all.

Why do I say too much of a coincidence? Victor went through chapter 2 of John. There in that passage, Jesus revealed himself as the perfect planner. The ''time'' was not yet ripe when Mary asked about the wine. He shows that he has a time for everything and he will provide when the time comes. Theres no need to worry. Just trust in Him and he will provide. Provide not only enough to meet our needs but to the overflowing. Just like how the 6 stone jars were filled with top grade wine. This allows me to relate to the awesome God who planned the universe into being and it also encourages me to trust in him especially during tough times like my upcoming fire fighting. Hope this serves to motivate you.

Sam Low

what's real these days?

It is only all too obvious - what I see and know and have learned has to be real. Yet, if it were that simple, arguments and wars wouldn’t occur, would they? It’ll be all candy floss and lollipops. A quote says, “There are no facts, only interpretations.” Many times we’ve known that to be true, in conversations like these - “ooh he’s cute!” “Where got!?! You bat jiu ta stamp ar!”

There is such obvious proof of eternal and pervasive subjectivity before me,  manifested best in wars between religions over a piece of land that is said in their Holy Scriptures to be THE place where XXX was born/prayed/died. So now we subscribe to the attitude of  tolerance - “believe what you want, it’s cool! Just don’t interrupt my beliefs and force yours upon me.” 

But I cannot swallow this because it means that what I can’t see, and what I don’t know, doesn’t exist as a truth. Rene Descartes famously said, “I think, therefore I am“, and this means that thought precedes all things - acknowledgement of existence, and hence, action that is intended towards this existence. And this thought is of course determined by the things we absorb, and believe to be true. It sounds perfectly logical, but only if we all truly believe ourselves to be the centre of the universe.

And this is where it is flawed. Because evidently, we aren’t, and nothing, not even Obama, can say that all things are, because “I am”. When a heartbreak, or a tragedy, or a bad grade strikes, don’t we all tend to ask -Why ME? But as I’ve learned from a video about a woman struck with terminal stage cancer, the question should be why not me? What’s so special about me that makes me exempt from disease and sadness and a phenomena called death that has hounded mankind since forever?

Our realities are greatly determined by what we choose to be relevant to us. “Eee, history. I’m psychology major I need to know all this for what?” or “oh, I’m a Christian so I don’t need to know about Hinduism/Buddhism/Islam. Nothing to do with me.” No matter how hungry one is for knowledge, nobody can claim to knoweverything. Unfortunately, our disinterest in something doesn’t negate it’s existence, and its reality to someone else! It’s so simple yet we hardly see it. Drawing lines around ourselves makes the differences more stark, and therefore can only result in apathy or extremism .

The point of what I’m saying is probably best summed up in this riddle - If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? The answer may be a resounding YES!, because I am here and the tree is there - even if I don’t know it it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Yet, strangely, this isn’t the philosophy we apply to our own lives. We are content to live within our self-contained bubbles, and if anyone tries to introduce new ideas that we presuppose to be untrue or subjective to individual experience, we immediately shout, “INTOLERANCE!” Secularism has become a convenient excuse for our discomfort. Though outwardly we have access to more sources of knowledge than ever before, inwardly we are becoming suffocatingly narrow-minded.

(This is what’s happening in UK, a “Christian” country. A nurse lost her job because she offered to pray for a patient. Another was given a warning for wearing a cross necklace.)

Do we not realize that we are but a piece of a giant Jigsaw Puzzle? That there is a greater reality that transcends and unites all our differently sized and shaped realities - ‘the one ring that rules it all’? Just as the laws of Nature, backed by science, show that when something as big as a tree falls, it is impossible that it doesn’t make a sound, so there has to be a similar law of something, or Someone, greater than these little homo sapiens trapped in their time and space. I think you know what I’m driving at.

Just some thought these past week :)

Jess

Sun Cell Queries

Hi Everyone.. This is my first post since joining this cell. Attached below are the questions pondered during cell last Sun on John 1: 19 to 34

Verse 19 - 28
1. Who are the Levites?
2. What's Prophet? What's Elijah? What's prophet?
3. Who's Isaiah?
4. Why quote from the prophet?
5. Why only the 3 people stated can baptise?

Verse 29 - 34
1. How does John's water baptism reveal Jesus to Israel?
2. How does Jesus baptise with the Holy Spirit?

:)