NOVEMBER EDITION... 2018

I. INTRODUCTION: What a great month, November.  Of all the months so many people love to enjoy, it seems by November people begin to slow down and appreciate what they have received. It has also been a time do a bit of reflecting.  America has in its tradition a focus of Thanksgiving as a holiday.  Think about this my friends and readers.  Here is a holiday that commemorates no hero, celebrates not battlefield,  support no lobby that is behind it; no group or sect or party claims it.  Yet, Christmas cannot dim it nor July 4th steal its glory.  And all America loves it with quiet and intense affection that is reserved for it no other day of the year.

What makes Thanksgiving different?  What makes it beloved?  What makes it real?

Perhaps the answer is simple: Thanksgiving is an affirmation.  It is our heart's testimony to a deeply held conviction-- the conviction that these things we call free and decent and American did not just happen to us.  We did not get them because we were wiser, or more clever, or even luckier but another gracious hand was involved. 

This conviction is the sum of many beliefs and experiences.  The belief in the dignity of every human being.  The belief in a real right and wrong.  The belief in decency and honesty and integrity.  The belief in a responsibility, under God, to our fellow-man, wherever he/she may be.  For these beliefs, and the American way of life, Thanksgiving and the day we celebrate these realities is our joyous affirmation to a kind Providence for His blessings and guidance.

II. DIGGING DEEPER... "A WELL WATERED DESERT?"

Abraham's cattlemen and those of his nephew Lot were carrying on a feud among themselves.  Abraham, the man of faith, said to Lot,the man who lived by sight, "The whole land is before you.  Take what you want and I will occupy what you do not want."  The Scriptures  states: "Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah"  (Gen.13:9,10).

The environment has definitely changed.  Today the Jordan Valley is 1291 feet below sea level, the lowers place on earth.  The temperature sometimes reaches 130 degrees in the middle of the day.  Why all the contrast from an earlier period?  We in twenty-first century have become well away of environmental changes.  This should come as no surprise to us.  There is an answer for the skeptic.

The discoveries of the archaeologists show that the Jordan Valley was well populated in the time of Abraham and Lot. (Approx. 2500-2000B.C.)  A mound discovered at the south end of the sea of Galilee (Khirbet Kenak) shows the presence of a large city existing at the time when Lot "beheld the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered."  Potsherds indicate that the city was occupied about the period mentioned above.

William F. Albright and Melvin Grove Kyle did archaeological work in the Jordan Valley in 1924.  Their archaeological investigations "have proven that the most prosperous period of history of this was in the early Bronze Age (3000-2000B.C.) and that the density of its occupation gradually declined until it reached the lowest point in the early Iron II Age." (1)  Nelson Glueck's exploration in the Jordan area before and after 1940 showed that this area had been densely populated.  "He discovered more than seventy ancient sites,many of them founded more that 5,000 years ago...Thus the archaeological discoveries have shown that no one who knows the facts can set aside as inaccurate the Biblical record of Lot's choice of the Jordan area." (2)  It is evident that Lot chose the part of Canaan popular with most people went there to live.  Like so many carnal Christians of our time, he was "following the crowd."

The Word of God shows how a "well watered" plain can soon vanish.  "Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not just after evil things, as they also lusted." (I Cor. 10:6).  "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." (Matt. 16:25).  We could go on and one and quote such passages as: I Tim. 3:3; I John 2:15-17.  These are for our instruction.

Lot looked on the well watered plains of Jordan and walked by sight.  His paradise was destroyed.  Abraham lived by faith and obtained a city with foundations.  We have choices to make as well.  Let Abraham be our example.

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1.William F. Albright, The Archaeology of Palestine and the Bible (New York: Fleming H. Revell Co. 1933), p. 134.

2. Joseph P. Free, Archaeology and the Bible History (Wheaton: Van Kampen Press, 1952), p. 56.

II. DID YOU KNOW!!!

"The U.S. standard railroad gauge (distance between rails) is four feet, eight-and-one-half inches.  Why such an odd number?  Because that's the way they built them in England and American Railroads were built by British expatriates.  Why did the English adopt that particular gauge?  Because the people who built the pre-railroad tramways used that gauge.  They in turn were locked into that gauge because the people who built tramways used the same standards and tools they had used for building wagons, which were set on a gauge of four feet, eight-and -one-half inches.  Why were wagons built to that scale?  Because with any other size, the wheels did not fit the old wheel ruts on the roads.  So, who built these old rutted roads?  The first long-distance highways in Europe were built by Imperial Rome for the benefit of their legions.  The roads have been in use ever since.  The ruts were first made by Roman war chariots.  Four feet, eight-and-one-half inches with the width of a chariot needed to be able to accommodate the rear ends of two war horses.  Maybe "that's the way it's always been."  Think about this as you think about good traditions built on a perfect God and transient man.  Many of man's changes are often needed and in need of constant change.  But God knows when His changes are needed through love and grace. 

III. NUGGETS OF NOURISHMENT... A Thanksgiving Outline Sermon

Title: The Road to Thanksgiving: What a Child can Teach Us...

Text: Psalm 131 and Psalm 75:1

Introduction: There is great joy in the simple and profound aspects of scripture. Psalm 131 is one of the "Pilgrim Psalms" also known to many readers as "The Psalms of Ascent."(Psalms 120-134)  This means they were Psalms sung as the Jewish pilgrims made their way up the mountain paths toward the city of Jerusalem and its festivals.  Their purpose was to prepare the heart for worship as hymns and choruses do today in Christian worship today.  This Psalm(131) has great lessons for us as children learning more about ourselves and about God.

A. Humility- vs. 1- Humility is a strange quality.  You do not know when you are truly humble.  If you feel and say and tout humility, then in short your are not humble but proud and the direct opposite of humility.  Our culture does not prize humility and in fact gives it low value.  Remember the bumper sticker so noted a few years ago..."The one dies with the most toys wins."  A wise friend of mine use to respond to this quaint phrase above by saying, "So what? Dead people do not play with toys."  A healthy step on the road to Thanksgiving is "Humility."  Consider the words of the Apostle Peter I Peter 5:6.

B. Simplicity- vs. 2- When a child is born, they soon seeks nourishment from their mother's breast.  Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner all come from the same place.  Her milk and comfort will place a cranky crying child back to sleep. (consider EL Shaddai in language definition) "Shad" is the Hebrew word for "breast."  The baby doesn't seek a food bar with a variety of options, but seeks nourishment and comfort from one place.  So it is with our souls, nothing  can satisfy our souls like God in all realms of our existence. The mother's milk will eventually dry up but God's nourishment through His Word will never quit giving us all we need for health and strength and meaning in our lives.  Jesus told the tempter in the wilderness "...man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God..." 

C. Integrity- vs. 3 The advice in this third verse is genius.  We are to put our hope or "confidence" in the Lord.  As a child grows it seeks out the mother's advice and wisdom.  It puts confidence in her responses to the questions of life for a young mind. As the child sits on the mother's lap or at her feet a "confidence" or "hope" is generated. He or she seek to be "near." A wise child of wise parents  will wean their child/children off of the world's pablum, and on to the word of life in scripture.  This "confidence" we speak of will pay dividends for the future in the life of the child.  A true epiphany occurs.  When troubles come into life, being "Near Him" is the answer.   When joys abound, it is being "Near Him" that really satisfies.   This is what integrity is all about as our lives show forth peace and hope for the future.  We decide in daily life through these God given instruments that  "life is about decisions!"

Conclusion: Consider then this great short but profound Psalm.  Earlier we read in Psalm 75:1 "...We thank you, O God! We give thanks because you are near." (NLT) Remember, God loves you and seeks you daily.

IV. WORDS OF WISDOM CONCERNING "GRATITUDE."

Here is a group of wisdom words brought by W. Waldemar  Th.D.(1900-1960)

What if?

1. What if nobody cared to call us friends in those plastic years of youthfulness!

2. What if nobody cared when we return at nightfall, worn and frayed by the strain of daily toil!

3. What if nobody cared when thieving years robbed us of youth, health, substance, and security!

4. What if nobody cared when we slip out into the silence of eternity!

5. What if nobody cared to enfold our loved ones in comforting arms when we have made the twilight voyage!

However, because we do care, let us "do unto others as we would that others do unto us."  You see, Thanksgiving always blesses others while Apathy leaves us void of virtue.