Friday, September 12, 2008

Why I Like Ike

When Pioneer 11 swept by the planet Jupiter in December 1974, the little spacecraft did something amazing for all of us. Like a kid running past a playground with a low-tech cell phone, the little metal gadget took a dozen close-up pictures on it’s way to parts unknown.

It took a long time for NASA to download and clear up those photos, six months as a matter of fact, (and you think your computer is slow) but in May of 75, NASA released part of its planetary portfolio. People threw babies in the air.

The photographs stunned the world with the most detailed view yet of Jupiter's great red spot. A hurricane-like storm as big as our planet with components beyond comprehension. It turns out the lethal mixture of things like ammonia, methane and even liquid metals flying around at speeds of 400 miles an hour make for really cool pictures.

It’s scary but you can’t help but look at it. It’s something really ugly that’s amazingly photogenic. Reminds me of Keith Richards and the Rolling Stones.









Hurricane Ike is nothing like the Great Red Spot but it’s a terrible storm nevertheless. As it barrels down upon our beloved Texas, folks down south batten the hatches and buy stock in Home Depot.

I was recently in Brownsville after Hurricane Wilma made land fall on July 23rd. I saw the aftermath of what a weak category 2 hurricane does. Man what a mess. Now twice in the same season, the Texas coastline suffers a headache at best and a killer at worst. It’s a good time for prayer warriors to sharpen their swords on behalf of those overwhelmed by Ike’s devastating destruction.

One of the cities that have been affected greatly by both hurricanes is the stunningly beautiful Corpus Christi. The name Corpus Christi means the Body of Christ. The Brewer does not believe this is a coincidence. I think God is speaking to us Christians.

Ladies and gentlemen, buckle your seatbelts.

There are all kinds of thought on the voice of the Lord but I think God talks through anything and everything. Romans 1:20 says that the hidden things of God are clearly seen through the things around us or the things that are made. Some of the deepest truths I have ever received from God have been through life messages. Some of the greatest revelations have been through things my little kids have said or in every day situations.

We preachers have very little influence in reaching the masses. I don’t think God is scared one bit to use the headlines to get a point across. I even believe Hollywood is the Jackass; God will use most to speak to this generation. That’s another story.

Jesus himself went around pointing at common events in people’s lives and revealed deep spiritual truths saying, “The Kingdom of heaven is just like that!”

Psalms 29 says that the voice of God is not limited to any one way of delivering His word.
The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.
In this case, I think the voice of God might literally be upon these waters.

Now you probably think I’m going to tell you this is word of judgment because of the disaster involved. I don’t think God is fixated on judgment like a lot of my friends in the Christian community are. I think that’s what the cross was for. It seems to me, many times the greatest of the goodness of God is revealed in the biggest of messes. That’s the Jesus I know.

The name Ike is a Hebrew word associated with the understanding of laughter. Could it be that God would have an encouraging word of laughter in the midst of such hardship? You bet He does. The idea of Biblical laughter is not so much about getting the jollies as much as it is about having confidence in an overwhelming circumstance. In the book of Job, the Bible says God will make us to laugh at our enemies. It’s a word of confidence. Now is not the time for you to back up or shut down. Ike has changed your weather.

It’s also worth noting that Ike is remembered in America is a war hero and the 34th President of the United States. 34 is the Biblical number for miracles. From turning the water into wine to healing the ear of Malchus, the Bible records 34 pre-resurrection miracles of Jesus.

The point is that there is a very real change in the season for Corpus Christi and it’s got Ike and 34 all over. If you want to see God speaking in this I think you can and if you want to receive it, I think you can. The body of Christ needs real war heroes to rise up and believe God for his manifest power in these difficult days. Hurricane Dolly blew through Corpus and Padre Island six weeks ago. Dolly is a feminine form of the word sorrow. Dolly means Sorrow, Ike means Laughter. The body of Christ has a choice to make in the midst of our storms. I like Ike.

Contact the Brewer @ www.FreshFromTheBrewer.com

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