February 2022

God’s Will

By Galen Harrill / February 28, 2022 February 28, 2022

We have a sort of pop mishmash of ideas about God and what He’s doing in the world that is, as my dad says, about as clear as mud. In situations like the present one in Ukraine, these ideas either stand as serious slander against God’s character or force us to properly re-evaluate who God truly is. So, I’d like to take a look at a couple of things in hopes of clearing things up.

First, not everything that happens is God’s will. I often hear people claim it is when some tragedy strikes. Who do we think God is?? Do we truly believe God is happy about the pain people feel every time something bad happens? Someone loses a child – God’s will. Someone gets cancer – God’s will. Someone declares war on an innocent nation – God’s will. Let’s be clear – none of this has anything remotely to do with God’s will. That’s why Jesus, when teaching us how to pray, tells us to say, “Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” Why? Because so much of what happens here is not God’s will. The world is at war with God’s will and only aligns with it when His people, living by His Spirit, bring justice, mercy, joy, grace, love, peace, holiness, reconciliation, and all those things into their spheres of influence. It is a prayer that His Lordship will be recognized and realized in the lives of more and more people. And this leads me to another muddy concept….

“Everything happens for a reason.” Do me a favor. Go to biblegateway.com and put that into the search bar. I’ll tell you what you get. Nothing. It’s not in the Bible. Oh, you might get something close, and I’ll deal with in a minute. But to debunk this reason thing… the world, as described in the Bible, has a master and it’s not God. It’s the father of lies. There is no reason in him. None. Nada. Zippo. Zilch. Think about it. Have you ever been dumb struck by some evil reported in the news? Have you ever said, “I just can’t get my mind around this”? Well, there’s a reason for that, and the reason is there is no reason. Evil doesn’t operate on the level of reason. Evil has no logic. Now… the father of lies likes to make sin look like it has some sense, he likes to trick people into doing his twisted will by connecting dots, but it’s total illusion and if we’re holding to God, we’ll find no sense in it.

But here is the wonderfully miraculous thing – God can take all this and transform it into something beautiful. That’s what Paul is saying in Romans 8:28, which may have come up in your search; “And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose” (Berean Study Bible). God can take the chaos and hatred Satan throws at us through war and sickness and loss and pain and poverty and want and bring meaning to the meaningless.

Example? Currently, there is an absolutely senseless war going on. Not God’s will. Yet God is already weaving meaning by moving hearts towards justice, compassion, and mercy. May we be instruments of His will.

Thanksgiving Overflow

By Galen Harrill / February 26, 2022 March 1, 2022

Big punch. The Bible is full of short passages with it. Such a one is Colossians 2:6-7 that says, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thanksgiving.” Yes, yes, your translation probably doesn’t say “walk,” but that’s the word. I’ll get there in a minute. But what gets me here is the “overflowing with thanksgiving” connected to the “just as.” Now I know how I felt when I became a Christian. I was overflowing, no question! Paul calls us to remember that because he expects us to overflow a year in – five years in – 20 years in – 80 years in… How’re we doing? Whew… I can tell you from personal experience I’ve had long seasons of thanksgiving drought! Yet Paul says overflow – continually. Yeah. That’s another word chock-full of punch. Okay Paul, how? It all fits together here. If we’re going to overflow with thanksgiving, we’re going to have to stay real close to Jesus. How close? Um, “in.” Not “with,” “in.” Walk in Him. Moving around in Him. Treading, hiking, perambulating in Him, covered in the fullness of Christ. He directs the steps. His eyes turn our focus on His ways in the “fulness of the Deity” as it describes Jesus a little later. Not “with” as an outside observer taking in our own perceptions of our surroundings, but “in!” Let’s get this very clear here though – this is an invitation Jesus gives to us every day. He’s not forcing us to do it. We can step out any time. But why in the world would we want to?? A little later Paul says we have been given fulness in Christ. We are made complete – but only in Him! The other language is just as punchy – rooted in him, built up in him, strengthened in the faith as we were taught. Like physical therapy is to physical regeneration, walking in Christ is the spiritual therapy we need to live amazing spiritual lives! We stay firmly rooted in Him, drawing all our sustenance from Him while He builds us up to strengthen our weaknesses in the faith we received. And it’s daily and it’s a spectacular new thing as Jesus continually piles on mercy and grace and shows us new vistas of splendor. “Of course it was great at first – but that was just the beginning. Here – have some more. And more. And more….” And our hearts? Well, they overflow….

A Song for Ukraine

By Galen Harrill / February 25, 2022 February 28, 2022

A Song for Ukraine

In a very real way what I have here is not the purpose of this website – except maybe it is. Faith is not easy and it gets messy. So, I’ve got to admit, the world events of the past few hours challenge my faith deep in my core. I spent ten years in a country that had freed itself from the harsh realities of the Soviet Union. I met and know brothers and sisters in Christ who are Russians. And I met and know brothers and sisters in Christ who are Ukrainians. And for the life of me I can’t understand why this is happening. One thing I am sure of though, there is no reason in Satan’s doings so understanding evil in any reasonable way is impossible. But what is God doing? One thing I am sure of, the more heinous the crime, the more miraculous the salvation. I don’t consider myself a poet – but pouring myself into this and knowing the One who took on the full impact of this crisis on the cross helped me get through this day. Others are suffering far worse than I am, my prayer is with them all….

A Song for Ukraine

When evil men with evil intent move against God’s justice,

When the innocent suffer for seeking the truth, and freedom is torn away,

We cry aloud and add our tears to the Man of Sorrows’ knowing

with Heaven’s revelation clear, God’s will was trampled today.

A tyrant now rages and pours out his scorn, trusting only his power,

And our “Your-will-be-done” is a prayer of admission, the world does not bow to Your throne.

While the raging and warring indiscriminately swallow the righteous and the evil,

Our hearts are broken, with unanswered questions, yet trusting You care for Your own.

So, we struggle and seek to understand a power devoid of reason,

That props up a madman to ravage a nation just seeking to live, love, and be.

But a power of malice is a power unhinged and we will not find an answer,

Until we turn to the One who delivers and gives us the true faith to see.

Against such hate, against such rage, there is just one salvation,

One hope, one peace, one reason, one love, and it’s only the way of the cross.

So, a maniac wars with Satan’s wrath to undo Ukraine, the nation,

“Why hast Thou forsaken me?” God too has endured the loss.

2:22 AM

By Galen Harrill / February 21, 2022 February 28, 2022

…that’s when I realized I was seriously awake. My wife and middle daughter had left thirty minutes ago to take a six-hour trip to Cleveland for an accepted college student’s day. Traffic at that time was probably non-existent, but this is Pennsylvania. Visions of dare-devil venison ran through my head, and I hoped they had hung up their antlers and declared car-dodging season over. But it just takes one Bambi-Knievel wanna-be. “Tell Isabella to watch out for deer,” was the last thing I told my wife, right after I said, “I love you, be careful.” I was supposed to be on this trip. Yeah, I wasn’t going back to sleep. I don’t really suffer from insomnia; I’ve always taken comfort knowing God doesn’t need sleep and He’s got everything under control (Psalm 121:4). But occasionally…. In times of stress or excitement, usually the former, I can hack two hours or more out of a good night’s sleep. The mind either races from one thing to another or fixates on a particular situation and won’t let go. “Don’t look at the clock!” It calls to me. I look. That’s when it’s really over. “Why don’t you pray?” Good advice, but I’ve learned something. At these times it’s better for me to listen and not talk. Let me explain…. When I’m giving in to worry, I need to take an actual physical attitude of prayer – hands lifted or knees on the ground or sitting with head bowed low, barely balanced; that keeps me from losing focus on God and directing my thoughts to Dr. Doubt and Mr. Worry. Lying down and trying to keep from disturbing my wife while formulating prayers to God just doesn’t get it done. But listening, that’s a different story! David speaks of thinking of God (Psalm 63:6) and meditating on His promises (Psalm 119:148) through the watches of the night. I’m not sure of everything he had in mind here, but my application of what it means has really helped me out. When the mind races, I reach out for God’s voice in the scriptures lodged in my head and I suddenly find rest. I’m not expressing myself, I’m letting God express Himself to me. His voice is soothing and hushes my spirit into peace. Like a familiar voice to a baby, His comforts me, calms me down, and suddenly, He’s rocked me to sleep.

It’s There in Black and White Review

By Galen Harrill / February 21, 2022 February 22, 2022

For most of my life, it seemed like society was making good strides toward a more just world for people of all backgrounds. The past few years, however, have certainly seen a reversal of this as the national discourse has become coarser and more divisive, especially regarding race. The concurrent violence has made dear brothers and sisters in my own church fear for the safety of their own friends and family. As one of my brothers put it, “It feels like 1965.” We as a church have lamented this turn of events and asked how we can be a light to a world growing darker as we believe it is only in the church where true reconciliation can happen. How to affect this? It was in one of these discussions with a brother I learned about a book.

It’s There in Black and White – Scriptural Answers to 37 Questions People Are Asking about Racial Tension in the Church, published in 2020, is exactly what it says it is. Co-authors Glenn Colley, Ben Giselbach, Hiram Kemp, and Melvin L. Otey collaborate to answer each of these 37 questions. According to them, the questions were originally divided up and worked out individually, but each section faced the scrutiny of all until all were happy with the result. Importantly, two of the authors are black and two are white (their own description of themselves). Each also offers up a short autobiography, which establishes their credibility to speak to the issues they address. They further add brief stories of four other individuals to help us “appreciate the vast range of experiences people have had” (p.8). They define terms to avoid confusion and help readers understand where they are coming from and end with a scripture index.

The book is easy to read, educational, and inciteful. At 89 pages, you can read it in a single sitting, but I’d recommend taking some time to digest each section. They cover a range of topics including slavery, Critical Race Theory, color-blindness, reparations, racism in the church, and the merging of culturally diverse churches to name a few. Every question is thoughtfully discussed and thoroughly held to the standard of scripture. The authors display a firm grasp of the material and a dedication to the Lordship of Jesus in finding ways forward.

I highly recommend It’s There in Black and White to anyone who wants a scriptural outlook on these questions. If we hope to make changes in ourselves, our churches, and our society, we must start with Spirit-led, open, and honest dialogue; this book delivers. No wonder – as the authors state, “If we possess the fruit of the Spirit and seek to live by the Christian graces, there is no subject that Christians cannot discuss and still maintain unity” (p.77).

It’s There in Black and White is Published by PlainSimpleFaith and available at the publishing website plainsimplefath.com, https://plainsimplefaith.com/product/there-in-black-white/

Of Broken Hips and God’s Grace

By Galen Harrill / February 17, 2022 February 28, 2022

Maybe a bit on the ironic side – I can’t walk and I’m launching a site called Daily Faith Walk. It had something to do with ice, friction, gravity, angles, comparative densities, and force. It wasn’t pretty! I’ve got a non-displaced crack in the socket of my hip. Rest is the order of the day, or rather the order of a few weeks, and I’m not supposed to put any weight on my leg. No walking. So, I’m out of commission. Sort of…. In Genesis 31, Jacob decides to do what he wanted to do for years. He had been managing his father-in-law’s family business so to speak and it was time for a change. His father-in-law’s family was becoming jealous and Jacob was not feeling the love. It wasn’t going to be easy – Jacob had his hands full. Besides running a very successful goat-breeding operation, Jacob had other responsibilities – two warring wives; a household staff with complicated work/personal relationships and the resulting kids; a diversified portfolio of livestock. No matter, he was going home and the long-standing, unresolved personal issue of a brother who wanted to kill him would just have to sort itself out. Where was God in the mix? Well, not far away, even if Jacob wasn’t giving it much thought. He knew God promised to bless him. He knew God told him he would go home. That doesn’t mean he was completely ready. God wanted Jacob to see what happened now was all God’s doing, not his own – and it was all for his own good. Skipping over all the panic livestock installments Jacob sends to his bristly brother, we finally get to the part where God won’t be ignored. “Hey! You want the blessing? You want to know where I’ve been this whole time you were exiled? You want to know where all this good stuff you’ve got came from? Not you! It’s been me this whole time and if you didn’t have to put a little umph into it you wouldn’t appreciate it. You’ve already been blessed! Wrestle with that! And just so you won’t forget, I’m going to give you something to help you remember every time the weather changes – how about a trick hip?” So, I’ve had this dream of launching something new. I’ve taken some probing steps in that direction for years. But God is now saying, “Jump!” and I won’t worry about the hip. This is God’s blessing and He’s just making sure I know it….