On Appointed Tasks and Talking Donkeys

It's interesting in the story of Christ riding on a donkey as He enters Jerusalem on Palm Sunday (Matthew 21:1ff), how the donkey just moments prior to the disciples coming to get him for His God-given appointed task, my friends, he was really just wallowing and whining and lamenting the fact that he'd never been ridden before. Right? If only donkeys could talk. (I think there was one in the Bible some where.) And can you just hear this donkey if he could talk? "Oh, woe is me. I'll never amount to anything. What's the use?" Right? And then one second later he's got the very Messiah riding on his back. I mean - do you know what I mean? And what's just around your corner that you know nothing about and God is going to use you in incredible ways that you've been created for beforehand (Eph. 2:10)? I get so excited just thinking about it. ******* And just remember when God starts using you that the applause goes toward Him and not you. (And what if that little donkey thought as they entered Jerusalem, "They're cheering for me," and not Jesus? Lord, help us to not be that kind of a donkey.)

What is Truth? - Part 2

With Jesus standing before him, Pilate asked the question, "What is truth?" And it was because Pilate lived in a day much like our own, I'm convinced, where we just don't know what to believe anymore since it isn't always the case that we can trust what we're being told. Right? We literally live in a land of liars ("the heart is deceitful above all things" - Jer. 17:9) under the management of the father of lies (John 8:44). And so how can we discern the truth in such a place? Is it really possible to separate fiction from fact? Well, in this second and final post on the subject (click here to read "What is Truth? - Part 1") I'm gonna do my best to give you an answer. You want to know the truth? Do you really? Then here's how: First, get Jesus in your life. After all, He is "the Truth" (John 14:6). Separating fiction from fact starts with Christ. It is through living in a close relationship with Him that we gain the sensitivity to tell when it's a lie we're being fed. And then the second thing you can do to know the truth: Hunger for the truth. When I want pizza and somebody gives me broccoli instead, it just doesn't cut it. Amen? I won't be satisfied until I sink my teeth into a thick, fluffy pan crust with pepperoni and sausage and five different cheeses on top. And it needs to be the case with truth. What are you hungering for today? "Those who "hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be satisfied." And I believe it's the same when it comes to the truth, too. Don't be satisfied with anything less. And then the third thing you can do to know the truth: Immerse yourself in the truth/Scriptures. When was the last time you read your Bible? Mmm? And that's just the least you can do, beloved. There's so much more. The writer of the book of Hebrews was surprised over the condition of certain Jewish followers of Jesus. They were still "babes" when they should have been "teachers" (Heb. 5:12-13). And some Christians are still sucking on a pacifier in their understanding and application of God's Word. Is it any wonder that these same people could think that abortion was a viable choice for women? Are you kidding me? And then the last thing you can do now to know the truth: Find someone who's trustworthy that can teach you. Apollos was a great instructor in the early church. But he still needed Aquila and Priscilla to take him aside and explain the "Way" more "perfectly" (Acts 18:24-26). Let us not fool ourselves that somehow we know it all (or can). And so to summarize the four points: (1) Get Jesus in your life; (2) Hunger for the truth; (3) Immerse yourself in the Scriptures; and (4) Find someone that can teach you. As you do these things you will become good at separating fiction from fact. And you'll be able also to help others answer the question, "What is truth?" for themselves.

What is Truth? - Part 1

Many years ago Pilate asked Jesus the question, "What is truth?" And Pilate asked that question, I'm convinced, because he lived in a day much like our own - where we just don't know what to believe anymore. Do you ever find yourself feeling like that? And as everything that happens and everything that's talked about and said, it seems like it's up for grabs whether it's fiction or fact. For instance, the Holocaust - it didn't really happen - right? - according to one world leader. He's probably the best example of how many are giving their own "spin" on things these days. Do you know what I mean by "spin" and "spinning"? And if you really want the truth about something, well, you just better make sure to read the New York Times. And then - whatever happened to Dan Rather? And then there's another reliable source to go to if you can't get the New York Times or have HDTV (Dan Rather's show is on it) where you can be convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt about things, my brothers and sisters. I'm talking about none other than Wikipedia - wikipedia.org - the encyclopedic website where they offer a rather unique approach. You see, it's collaborative. (Web 2.0 I think they call it.) You can add your own "take" to entries on Wikipedia. It's not revolutionary. It's evolutionary (literally). It's just another example of what I'm talking about - we just don't know what to believe anymore and the potential for "spin" and "spinning" is everywhere and anywhere. What we really could use is a "No Spin Zone." They ought to have a show like that. Do you think? (Of course, I know about Bill O'Reilly's show on Fox. I also know there's even "spinning" that takes place in the "No Spin Zone.") Which brings us back to the quesion: "What is truth?" which was relevant to Pilate's time and is to ours as well. So how do we answer the question? How do we discern the truth? How do we separate fiction from fact? Watch for my next blog post on this subject where I'll do my best to give you an answer.

Moving Forward by Looking Back

And so here we are with another year gone by the wayside. And, if anything, we have another chance for evaluation. And so to begin with, where does 2007 rank in your life experience? I mean, on a scale of one to ten (ten being the best and one being the worst) how do you see 2007 in areas like career, relationships, personal development, etc.? And maybe it was a five in career for you and six in relationships and a six and a half in personal development. And maybe the five in the career area - it wasn’t so much your fault as it was a lot of things took place that were beyond your control. And maybe the six in relationships – well, you see, in 2006 you had a one in that area so you’ve been improving big time. Do you see any areas of improvement in your life where you know you were going in the wrong direction, but now, at least you’re going in the right direction? And then what about the area of attitude? How’s your attitude on a scale of one to ten? And I think I heard somebody say somewhere, “Attitude is everything.” And no matter what the New Year may bring, if we can have a positive attitude, I think it’s half the battle. With this in mind I’ve included some quotes on attitude that I thought you might appreciate. May they help point you in the positive direction in 2008.

Life is a shipwreck, but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats. ~Voltaire

I had the blues because I had no shoes until upon the street, I met a man who had no feet. ~Ancient Persian Saying

Every thought is a seed. If you plant crab apples, don't count on harvesting Golden Delicious. ~Bill Meyer

Defeat is not bitter unless you swallow it. ~Joe Clark

Work is either fun or drudgery. It depends on your attitude. I like fun. ~Colleen C. Barrett

Always look at what you have left. Never look at what you have lost. ~Robert H. Schuller

An optimist is a person who sees a green light everywhere; while a pessimist sees only the red stop light. The truly wise person is color blind. ~Dr. Albert Schweitzer

Finally . . . whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ~Philippians 4:8

(Quotes gleaned from the following websites: Quote Garden, Wisdom Quotes, Inspirational Quotes and BibleGateway.)

No Idea What's Ahead

My grandfather died 12 years ago this coming Tuesday. Yes, that's right. It was on a Christmas day in 1995 that "Gramps" died. And it was 2 years ago on December 25th, 2005, that I first preached the message: "Lessons from the Holy Family," that this 4-part blog post series is based upon. (Read Part 1: A "God Thing or Part 2: Marriage Made in Heaven or Part 3: The Least Likely Place.) And since it was just such a significant anniversary then, having been 10 years ago to the very day that the phone rang with my dad on the other end saying his dad was gone, I reflected on the moment. And what I said in that message (and what I say again today) is I had no idea the twists and turns my life and my wife, Kim's life would take since then. ******* And just like the holy family of old, Joseph and Mary (by the way, "Gramps" real name was Joe and his wife, my grandmother "Dodd's" name was really Mary, too - no lie!) - and just like the holy family of old, Joseph and Mary and Jesus, from that first day around the manger, they had no idea what was ahead. Right? And they would have all these visit them - the shepherds and then the wisemen two or so years later. Certainly there were joyous moments. But then there was also how they'd have to escape to Egypt in the dead of night. Can you see Mary trying to gather up enough diapers with Joseph saying, "We gotta go. We gotta go now," since a king was after their son's throat? "Whatta ya mean? Why would Herod care about our little boy?" Because the devil knew who Jesus was. That's why he did. ******* And then all the other times throughout those years. ******* And Joseph would die. And then Mary was a single parent. Did you ever think about that? Jesus was raised in a single parent home for a time. ******* But then all the way up and until - there Jesus is hanging on a cross. Who would have thought all these things would happen? I thought a Christian would never have bad things happen to them. ******* But just like Joseph and Mary and Jesus, here Kim and I, with our kids are - now it's 12 years later (versus 10). And the holy family went through all that. And we've gone through what we've gone through. And you're sitting whereever you are reading this post right now having gone through many ups and downs, too, in this same time period as us. And can you agree with me? God's been faithful through it all and sustained us (and you!) just like He did the holy family long ago. And though we've had to deal with both good times and bad, God's still been faithful. And I'm convinced we're the better for what we've experienced and will be from this day forward whatever lies ahead. It's the final lesson from the holy family: We have no idea what will come our way, but as long as we have the Lord, we're gonna make it. And Joseph and Mary and Jesus have made it already. And Kim and I and you, the last 12 years have passed and here we are still by God's grace. And He'll see us through to the other side. Believe it. And have a merry Christmas, everybody.

The Least Likely Place

Coming at you with the third post now in a series entitled: "Lessons from the Holy Family." (Read the first and second post by clicking the following links: A "God" Thing or Marriage Made in Heaven.) And the third lesson from the holy family (Mary, Joseph and Jesus) is this (it's actually very similar to Lesson #1 in the first post): Let's not overlook what God's doing in the least likely place with the least likely people. ******* And the point's put well in the following quote (from "The Christ of Christmas" by Calvin Miller gleaned at sermoncentral.com): "He (the Lord) started the whole adventure of Christianity in Nazareth. Yes, Nazareth. Why Nazareth? Because there He found a woman who was completely yielded to His purpose for her life. Great works of God rarely start in big places. Rather, they start in small places - in some person with a big commitment." ******* And I was thinking the other day, where might Jesus be found if He were on the earth today? Have you ever thought about it? Well, of course, He'd be on TBN or The 700 Club or some other media outlet He would use. After all, that's the way to reach the masses. That's the way to get the message out. Right? ******* And don't get me wrong. It's not like I'm against these ministries or approaches to reaching people. We're all brothers and sisters in the same cause! But I still think it's interesting that the Lord chose to come to the planet and be born in a time where there were no cell phones or internet or mp3 players or godtube. I think it says a lot when you stop and think when Christ appeared. I mean, if He would have only come in our day, just think! ******* A passage to keep in mind that relates to this lesson #3 - Let's not overlook what God's doing in the least likely place with the least likely people - is Isaiah 55:8-9: "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways My ways,' declares the Lord. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.'" And did you maybe need to hear this today? ******* And so where's the least likely place in your experience and sphere of influence? I'm telling you, that's where Christ is and is at work, if you only look close enough.

Marriage Made in Heaven

This is now the second post in a series entitled: "Lessons from the Holy Family." (Read the first post by clicking here: A "God" Thing.) And the second lesson we learn from the holy family (Mary, Joseph and Jesus) is this: Marriage is between a man and a man or a woman and a woman like we found out a couple of years ago in England was okay. No! Marriage isn't between a man and a man or a woman and a woman. And I don't care if Elton John disagrees! (His celebrity status was used to promote the England thing.) Instead, marriage is to be between a man and a woman. The Scripture (and Christmas story, too!) can't be clearer on this. Matthew 1:24 reads: "After Joseph woke up, he and Mary (not Larry!) were soon married, just as the Lord's angel had told him to do." This is God's prescription for a man and a woman to be joined together in holy matrimony: "For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh" (Gen. 2:24). Marriage truly was made in heaven (not England!). Watch for Part 3 in the "Lessons from the Holy Family" series to come soon.

A "God" Thing

This is the first post in a series over the next four weeks leading up to Christmas entitled: "Lessons from the Holy Family." The holy family I'm talking about is none other than the holy family of old: the Virgin named Mary, Joseph her husband and the Christ child. And the first lesson from the holy family is this. Be careful. That thing you're being critical of just might be a "God" thing. And when you really think about it, the Christmas story really is a "family affair." No pun intended. I'll talk about the "affair" part in just a moment. But the Incarnation and the advent of Christ is all about a "family," first of all. Is it not? A "family" is at the middle of it. A "family" is at the middle of the Christmas story. Families play an important part in the Lord's scheme of things. It's the primary unit to communicate the gospel and the things of God. The church and pastor is a complement to the family, not the other way around. Did I say that too fast so you missed it? The church and pastor should not be the sole means that children learn about God and the things of God. God never meant it to be that way. But on now to the "affair" part of the Christmas story. Right? The "affair" part of the Christmas story: Mary gets pregnant out-of-wedlock prior to her marrying Joseph. ******* And can you just imagine the looks she got and what the ladies said amongst themselves - the conversations that took place as Mary's belly grew and continued to expand over the course of a period of time? And then when Mary was there standing with Joseph to be married? Can you just imagine the thoughts and thinking on the part of some? ******* Again, be careful. That thing you're being critical of just might be a "God" thing. We can be so critical even as Christians. I mean, if it isn't "the way we used to do it." Have you ever heard anyone say that? Or if it's not according to our opinions or our tastes. Or if it's a chorus instead of a hymn - fill in the blank! - then, well . . . . And I'm even convinced of this, my friends - for those who really aren't so open to God like they portray themselves to be believers, but are they really? - God just might choose to do something in the very way that would be offensive to them. I mean, the Messiah who is to save Israel is born in a manger in a cave? That can't possibly be a "God" thing. Oh, yes it is! ******* What is it in your life that's a "God" thing that you need to be more open to? ******* Watch for Part 2 in the "Lessons from the Holy Family" series to come soon.

What About The Faithful Who've Died?

There are three things that are true about believing loved ones that have gone on. The first thing that's true is: They’re with the Lord. They go to heaven. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, the Apostle Paul writes (and I paraphrase) in 2 Corinthians chapter 5, the second part of v. 8. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. And so when a believer in Jesus Christ dies, they are no longer there in their body. But they're some where. At the exact moment after their last breath, these go directly to Jesus. It’s the first thing that’s true about believing loved ones that have gone on: They’re with the Lord. They go to heaven. It's that quick, my friends. And now the second thing that’s true about believing loved ones that have gone on: They’re made whole. They get new bodies. ******* And when Jesus first reappeared after rising from the dead – have you ever read it? – the disciples were “startled and frightened,” the Bible says, “and thought that they were seeing a spirit” (Lk. 24:37). But then Jesus said to His startled and frightened disciples – He spoke and said, “‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have’” (Lk. 24:38). The fact is Jesus had a restored body after having died and come back to life. Jesus had a restored body. And then He even went on to ask for something to eat to give further proof. I just love that story. Have you ever read it? ******* “For this perishabl[e, my brothers and sisters] (that is, these frail and very temporary bodies of ours) - For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting’” (1 Cor. 15:53-55). It’s the second thing that’s true about believing loved ones that have gone on: They’re made whole. They go to heaven. They get new and restored bodies, too! And now on to the third and final thing that’s true about believing loved ones that have gone on: We’ll see them again. They will be at the reunion. Will you? ******* What reunion? ******* “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thess. 4:16-18). The church at Thessalonica worried about believing loved ones who’d gone on and what would happen to them? And so the Apostle Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, verses 16-18 that I just read so that they would feel at ease. Those who’d gone on were to be a part of the reunion – that grand and glorious reunion when Jesus comes back for His people. Those who’d died wouldn’t be left out of it. Actually, they were the first ones who’d participate. It’s the third and final thing that’s true about believing loved ones that have gone on: We’ll see them again. They go to heaven. They get new and restored bodies, too! They will be at the reunion. Will you? “[I]f you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved” (Rom. 10:9). “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed” (Rom. 10: 11bc).

To Trick or Treat or Not to Trick or Treat?

"Everything is permissible"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. Eat anything that is sold in the meat market, without asking questions for conscience' sake. For the earth is the Lord's, and all it contains. (1 Corinthians 10:23-26; NIV)

It's Halloween again very soon, my friends. And so I thought I might deal with the question of whether or not Christians should participate in costume parades and door-to-door trick-or-treating, etc. Without going into the history of Halloween, let me just say we can all agree there's much about this holiday's origins that isn't good. Therefore those who believe Christians should have nothing to do with Halloween have a very good point. And more power to them. But what about the other side of the coin (which I believe there is another side of the coin)? What about those who still choose to participate in Halloween despite it's origins? Do they have a leg to stand on? I submit to you they do based on the verses above. In them the Apostle Paul talks about the believer's freedom. The issue in Paul's day was whether or not a Christian could eat meat sacrificed to idols. Pagans used to do just that. They would dedicate meat to their so-called "gods." Then they'd sell the meat in the marketplace to anyone who would buy it. So the question was, "Could believers eat that kind of meat?" Paul's answer in the above verses was that it was okay to eat meat sold in the marketplace that had previously been sacrificed to idols ("Eat anything that is sold in the meat market"). It was not unlawful to do it. It was not a sin. (Is that a sigh of relief I hear from some followers of the Lord?) And yet I would go on to say to these believers who choose to participate in Halloween (this statement of mine also finds it's basis in the above passage), "Is it still the best thing to do even if it is permissible? Or might it be better to attend a church-sponsored alternative celebration and bring your unsaved friends and neighbors along with you?" Even if the church you're attending doesn't offer one, there are other churches in the area that do. Ultimately, the decision "to Trick or Treat or not to Trick or Treat" is yours, beloved, in this matter. Enjoy your freedom in Christ. "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:36)

Test Your Knowledge of the Old Testament

Do you know your Bible? Well, let's just find out if you do with a quiz. How 'bout it? This is now the second in a series entitled: "Test Your Knowledge of the Bible." The first test was on the New Testament. This second test will focus on the Old Testament. When you're finished you'll be able to check how well you did below. So let's go...

1. How many different books make up the Old Testament (according to the Protestant tradition)? (a) 39; (b) 66; (c) 28; (d) 27.

2. The Old Testament relates to the New Testament in the following way: (a) the Old Testament takes back seat to the teaching of the New Testament; (b) the Old Testament is the New Testament concealed while the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed; (c) the Old Testament should be taken as a separate body of writing with little or no relationship to the New Testament; (d) the Old Testament is the Jewish Scriptures while the New Testament is the Christian Scriptures.

3. The Hebrew Old Testament accepts the following books as unified texts versus being split up in to two (more than one answer): (a) 1 and 2 Kings; (b) 1 and 2 Samuel; (c) Ezra and Nehemiah; (d) 1 and 2 Chronicles.

4. Proof of the inspiration of the Old Testament Scriptures (that is, that they were given divinely by God and they are without error) is the fact that: (a) many of the authors began their writings with or used the phrase: "Thus saith the Lord," and "Hear the word of the Lord"; (b) the New Testament includes verses that speak of the Old Testament, too - verses like: "All Scripture is inspired by God" (2 Tim. 3:16a) and "But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God (1 Pet. 1:20-21; (c) predictions made by the Old Testament prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah and Daniel have come to pass (for example, Isaiah predicted the Messiah would be born of a virgin, Jeremiah predicted the fall of Judah, the exile to Babylon and Israel's return to her land, Daniel predicted the rise and fall of empires including Babylon, Persia and Greece) (d) all of the above.

5. The central and unifying theme of the Old Testament is: (a) the people of Israel and their establishment in the Promised Land and as a nation; (b) the giving of the Law/Ten Commandments to Moses on Mt. Sinai and his subsequent communication of that Law to the Israelites; (c) Abraham, who was to become the father of many nations and in his Seed would the peoples of the world be blessed; (d) the Person and work of Christ.

6. The books of the Old Testament are broken down as follows: (a) 5 of law, 12 of history, 5 of poetry, 5 of major prophets, 12 of minor prophets; (b) 5 of law, 12 of history, 5 of poetry, 6 of major prophets, 11 of minor prophets; (c) 5 of law, 12 of history, 5 of poetry, 4 of major prophets, 13 of minor prophets; (d) 5 of law, 12 of history, 5 of poetry, 7 of major prophets, 10 of minor prophets.

7. The Apostle Paul wrote most of the books of the New Testament. Who was it that wrote most of the books in the Old Testament? (a) Jeremiah; (b) David; (c) Samuel; (d) Moses.

Answers: 1. (a) 2. (b) 3. (a) & (c) 4. (d) 5. (d) 6. (a) 7. toss up between (c) and (d).

(This test was developed from the Unger's Bible Dictionary, the Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary and the following website: Wikipedia - Old Testament.)

Test Your Knowledge of the New Testament

This is the first in a series entitled: "Test Your Knowledge of the Bible." This first test has to do with the New Testament. What do you know about it? Let's find out with the following questions (you'll be able to check how many you get right below):

1. How many different books make up the New Testament? (a) 39; (b) 66; (c) 38; (d) 27.

2. How many different authors combined to write the New Testament? (a) 9; (b) 2; (c) 10; (d) 8.

3. Can you name the different authors who combined to write the New Testament? (a) Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Paul, James, Jude, Philemon; (b) God the Father and the Holy Spirit; (c) Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Paul, James, Jude; (d) Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Paul, James, Jude, Jesus.

4. Of the four gospels contained in the New Testament, it is believed that one of them was really produced at the dictation of which person? (a) Mary Magdalene dictated to Matthew; (b) Peter dictated to Mark; (c) Paul dictated to Luke; (d) Jesus dictated to John.

5. Which is believed to be the earliest written New Testament epistle (excluding the Gospels)? (a) 1 Thessalonians; (b) James; (c) 1 Corinthians; (d) 1 Timothy.

6. The New Testament was mostly written in what language? (a) King James English; (b) Aramaic; (c) Egyptian; (d) Greek.

7. There is one New Testament book that is considered to have a sequel. Which is it and what is the sequel? (a) Romans and Hebrews; (b) 1st & 2nd Peter; (c) John's Gospel and Revelation; (d) Luke's Gospel and Acts.

Answers: 1. (d) 2. (d) 3. (c) 4. (b) 5. (b) 6. (d) 7. (d)

(This test was developed mostly from the New American Standard Bible, Open Bible Version. For more information on the New Testament, take some time to visit: Wikipedia - New Testament.)

In the Belly of a Fish

"...The Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights" (Jonah 1:17). Sometimes when a person calls on God for help, it seems like the Lord rescues him from one dilemma only to face another. For Jonah, he went from being lost at sea to becoming fish food. Now I wonder what it must have been like for Jonah inside there. If you've ever seen Walt Disney's "Pinocchio," you might picture Jonah as Gepetto was--with elbow room enough to even lay out on a lounge chair if he wanted to. But I tend to believe that it wasn't nearly that comfortable of a lodging place. Fish digestive tracts aren't necessarily known for their quaint accommodations. Now inside the stomach it most certainly was dark, probably quite close-fitting and surely very slimy. And after three days and three nights with all the acids and enzymes at work, Jonah may have felt like he was as close to becoming a prune as anyone had ever been. And can you imagine if Jonah wasn't inside there alone? Surely he must have had some company, don't you think? Could there have been some other half-digested bait alongside him? This was a large fish. And what of the smell? It certainly was awful at best. Whatever the case, the belly of a fish surely must not have been the best of environments for Jonah to find himself in. Yet the fish was God's chosen means to rescue him! Again - sometimes when a person calls on God for help, it seems like the Lord rescues him from one dilemma only to face another. Has that ever happened to you? Has God ever chosen to answer your prayer for deliverance in a "creative way"?