ta ethne

A Promise Written In The Stars – Genesis 15

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Imagine you’re under a starlit desert sky, feeling the weight of unanswered prayers and unfulfilled dreams. That’s where we find Abram in Genesis 15, a man chosen by God but wrestling with doubts. For new Christians, this chapter is like a beacon, illuminating God’s unshakable promises, the power of faith, and the beauty of His grace.

Genesis 15 unfolds in the life of Abram faces big problems: he is old, his wife Sarai can’t have children, and the land God promised is filled with other tribes. It’s a moment of tension — God’s promises seem impossible. For many of us, this is relatable. Maybe you’ve been wondering if God will come through for you in a tough situation, like a broken relationship, a job loss, or a health struggle. Genesis 15 shows us how- God meets us in those moments.

The chapter begins with God’s voice cutting through Abram’s fears: “Do not be afraid Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”(v.1) Picture this like a coach pulling you aside before a big game, saying, “I’ve got your back, a great game plan and victory is already assured.” God is promising to protect and provide for Abram in ways far beyond material wealth.

But Abram’s heart is heavy. He blurts out, “What can You give me since I remain childless?” (vv.2-3) He is thinking practically — without a son, his legacy will pass to his servant Eliezar. It’s like you praying for a new job after months or years of rejections and wondering if God is really listening. Abram is saying “I’ve prayed for years for a son and I still don’t have a family of my own.”

God’s response is stunning. He takes Abram outside, points to the starry sky and says, “So shall your offspring be” (v.5) Imagine, in our example above, God saying to you, “That job? I’ve got something bigger planned. Your future is as vast as these stars.” Then comes the gamechanger, “Abram believed the Lord and He credited it to him as righteousness” (v.6) Abram trusts God’s wild promise and God declares him righteous — not because of good deeds, but because of faith.

Think of a new Christian, struggling with anxiety about their future. Maybe they are jobless and they feel as if God’s plans for the are stalled. By reading Genesis 15 we can become inspired by Abram’s faith. Instead of spiraling down into depression over circumstances, that person turns to God in their own “Abram moment”, praying to God saying: “I trust You even though I can’t see how You are going to turn this around.”

God reaffirms His promise to give Abram the land (v.7) and when Abram asks, “How can I know?” (v.8) God does not scold him. Instead, He instructs Abram to prepare a covenant ceremony with animals cut in half (vv.9-10) In ancient times, this was like signing a contract in blood, a serious commitment. In effect you were saying, may what happened to these animals happen to me if I break the covenant. God is saying, “I am putting my reputation on the line for you.” We can know God keeps His promises because Jesus paid our sin debt on the cross.

As night falls, Abram sleeps, a God reveals a sobering vision (vv.12-16) He predicts that Abrams descendants will be enslaved for 400 years (in Egypt) but will be freed and return to Canaan. God adds that the “sin of the Amorites” isn’t yet full, showing His patience before judging the Canaanites. This is like God showing you a movie trailer of your life. It includes tough scenes but promises a happy ending. It teaches that God’s plans unfold over time, often beyond our understanding. For Christians, its a reminder that hardships do not mean that God has forgotten you.

I a jaw-dropping moment, a smoking firepot and blazing torch, symbols of God’s presence, pass between the animal pieces (v.17) In ancient covenants, both parties walked through, vowing to keep the deal or die. Here, only God passes through, showing the promise depends on Him alone. He then details the land’s boundaries, a promise pointing to the ultimate inheritance in Christ.

It is like God signing a contract with His own blood, saying “This is on Me.” That is grace. God’s promises don’t depend on our perfection but on His faithfulness. We can find freedom in knowing our salvation rests on Jesus’ finished work on the cross not on our ability to be “good enough”. Just like with Abram, God walked through death alone to seal the covenant.

Abram’s story shows God keeping impossible promises. Whether you are praying for a healing, a restored relationship, guidance or something else seemingly impossible to come about, Genesis 15 tells us God’s promises are as sure as the stars.

The prophecy of Israels slavery shows that God orchestrates history. You struggle is not random. God is weaving it into the tapestry of your life into His perfect plan. The next time doubt creeps in, picture the stars and choose to believe God and trust that He is our shield and reward, and He alone can do the impossible. Like Israels 400 years in Egypt, trust God to be sure about His timing when you are going through a difficult season in life and seemingly, or literally, has gone on for years. He has not forgotten or abandoned you.

One of my favorite pieces of art is “The Starry Night” by van Gogh. It speaks to me of the wonder and majesty of God’s creation. Seemingly simple, the more one gazes at it the more mesmerizing it becomes. It moves me to contemplate just how great our God is and how much He loves us. Step out under your own “starry night” of faith. Trust God, believe His Word and watch how He writes your story for His glory.

A New Easter Hymn

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Here’s an Easter hymn in the tradition of Henry Van Dykes’ Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee and set to the tune of Beethovan’s Ode to Joy (9th Symphony)

Easter Hymn: “Joyful, Joyful, We Proclaim Thee“

Verse 1:
Joyful, joyful, we proclaim Thee,
Risen Lord, our King above;
From the grave Thou hast ascended,
Filling hearts with hope and love.

Verse 2:
Death and sin are now defeated,
By Thy cross and empty tomb;
Light and life are now completed,
In Thy resurrection’s bloom.

Verse 3:
Angels sing and saints are praising,
Heaven and earth resound with joy;
For our Savior, death displacing,
Lives forever, our great King.

Verse 4:
Thou art risen, Thou art reigning,
Lord of all, both great and small;
In Thy name, we are sustaining,
Hope of heaven, for one and all.

An Easter Poem

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In the dawn of Easter morn, we rise

With hearts reformed, we lift our eyes

The tomb is empty, the stone rolled away,

Christ our Savior, has conquered the day.

No works of ours could earn this grace

No law could meet God’s holy face

By faith alone, through Christ we’re freed

His blood, our ransom, meets every need

The cross once heavy with sin’s dark weight

Now stands as hope, our eternal gate

He bore the wrath, the curse undone

In Him, God’s justice and mercy won

Reborn in truth, we sing His name

Sovereign Lord, forever the same

From death to life, His Spirit calls

Redeemed, we worship, as grace enthralls

This Easter, let our souls proclaim

The Risen King, whose Word shall reign

In Christ alone, our hope is sure

Forever His, forever secure

Grief and the Christian Faith

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Grief is an inescapable reality in a fallen world. The sting of loss — whether through broken relationships, death or shattered dreams — cuts deeply into the human soul. Yet, for the Christian, grief is not a solitary or hopeless journey. It is a journey walked under the sovereign hand of God, illuminated by the promises of Scripture< and sustained by the hope of Christ’s victory over sin and death.

The Bible does not shy away from the rawness of grief. From the anguished cries of Job (Job 3:11) to David’s lament over his fallen son (2 Samuel 18:33), Scripture acknowledges that sorrow is a natural response to loss. The Christian perspective begins with the foundational truth of the Fall: sin has fractured God’s good creation, bringing death and decay into the world (Genesis 3:17-19, Romans 5:12). Grief, then, 7is not an anomaly but a consequence of living in a world marred by sin. It is a reminder that things are not as they were meant to be.

Yet, this recognition does not leave us in despair. The Christian faith emphasizes that even in this brokenness, God remains sovereign. Nothing, not even the deepest pain, falls outside His Divine Purpose. In grief, we are invited to trust that God is working, even when His ways are inscrutable.

For the believer in Christ, grief is not borne alone. Psalm 34:18 assures us, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” This promise anchors the Christian’s understanding of suffering: God does not abandon His people in their sorrow but draws near to them. Jesus Himself, the Man of Sorrows (Isaiah 53:3) entered into human suffering, wept at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:35) and bore our griefs on the cross (Isaish 53:4). In Christ, we find a High Priest who sympathizes with our weakness (Hebrews 4:15), offering comfort that is both divine and deeply personal.

Christian theology underscores that this comfort is not mere sentiment, but a reality rooted in God’s covenant faithfulness. He has promised never to leave or forsake his people (Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrews 13:5). Even in the darkest valley, the Christian can echo David’s confidence: “You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).

While grief is real, it is not the final word. The Christian faith clings tenaciously to the hope of the resurrection and the making of a new Earth where death, sorrow and suffering will be no more. Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 4:13 that believers “do not grieve as others who have no hope.” This does not mean that Christians avoid tears or suppress sorrow — Jesus Himself wept — but that their grief is tempered by the certainty of Christ’s triumph over death. Because Jesus rose from the grave, those who are united to Him by faith will also rise (1 Corinthians 15:20-22). Death has been defeated, and the day is coming when “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 21:4) when the new heavens and earth are created for us.

This hope reshapes how we mourn. Loss is temporary; reunion is eternal. For the Christian, grieving is an act of waiting — waiting until the fulfillment of God’s promises will come to pass. The promises of removing the curse of sin and restoring creation to how it should be.

Grieving as a Christian involves both lament and trust. Lament is not a sign of weak faith, but a biblical response to pain. The Psalms are filled with cries of anguish – “How long O Lord?” (Psalm 13:1) – that model honest wrestling before God. We are free to pour out our hearts, knowing that He hears and cares. At the same time, trust in God’s sovereignty and goodness steadies us. Romans 8:28 assures us that “for those who love God all things work together for good.” This does not erase pain but reframes it within God’s redemptive plan.

Practically this might mean weeping over a loved one’s death while clinging to the promise of eternal life. It might mean wrestling with unanswered questions while resting in the truth that God’s wisdom surpasses our own (Isaiah 55:8-9). It is a posture of humility, acknowledging our limits and God’s infinite goodness.

Finally, the Christian faith emphasizes that grief is not meant to be endured alone. The church, as the body of Christ, is called to “weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15). Fellowship with other believers provides tangible support – prayers, meals or simply a listening ear. Moreover, God has given us the means of grace – Scripture, prayer and the sacraments – to sustain us in sorrow. The Word reminds us of God’s promises, prayer draws us into His presence, and Communion offers a foretaste of the heavenly banquet where all tears will cease.

Grieving as a Christian is a paradox. It is sorrow mingled with hope; lament tempered by trust. We mourn deeply because we love deeply, yet we lift our eyes to the One who hold all things in His hands. In the end, our grief is not the end. Christ is risen, God is Sovereign, and the day of restoration draws near. Until then, we grieve as those who belong to Him, resting in His unfailing love and looking forward to the dawn when mourning will give way to everlasting joy.

Standing Firm – part 2

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In a previous post I discussed the principle of learning to stand firm against the attacks of the enemy. I mentioned not going out to look for trouble with our enemy but to stand firm when trouble comes to us. But what about intercession? Intercession is actually a form of standing firm. The difference is that we stand firm between the enemy and another.

What do we do when we stand between them? We pray to God on their behalf. That is it. We simply go our Father on their behalf. Many times people are too upset to pray themselves. They might be in too much despair. They may even be unaware of what is going on. So we pray for our brothers and sisters, asking God to intervene in their lives.

It doesn’t mean we go out to fight their battles. We don’t challenge the forces of the enemy for them. We stand up for them, praying to the Lord of the Heavenly Host to fight for them. We stand in the gap until they are strong enough to stand firm on their own. This takes courage and empathy. It is easier to simply let the enemy focus on another and not draw attention to ourselves. It takes empathy to care enough to get involved. But we are called to stand. Do you have the courage to stand and intercede for others?

Standing Firm

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In 1 Peter chapter 5 these words are written, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” Ephesians 6:11 tells us to “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” 

Notice that in both cases we are called to stand firm. In almost 35 years of ministry, I have encountered evil many times, in many forms. I have seen people controlled by evil spirits, paranormal activity and things that don’t seem to have an earthly explanation. Unlike other individuals who go around seeking out encounters with spirits or claiming to do exorcisms, my encounters always happened in the normal course of doing ministry.

Instead of rebuking the enemy or seeking a “power encounter”, I have learned simply to stand firm and in doing so, the enemy has to retreat. I call on my Heavenly Father to give me the strength to endure and to stand firm while also calling on my Lord and Master Jesus to deal with the evil in front of me. Could I rebuke the unclean spirits in my authority as a Child of God? Yes. But I can also appeal to my Lord who is always with me. Now, if He says, “I will let you del with this one”, so be it. Until then, I will resist the evil, pray to the Lord to overcome my enemy and continue to stand firm in the face of all dangers.

Simply having the strength to stand firm in the face of terrible evil is difficult. It is overpowering, full of depravity and uncleanness. It is emotionally taxing, especially for those of us who are empathetic in nature. It is frightening when facing non-mortal entities and experiencing some of their power. Standing firm takes a lot of spiritual strength.

Ephesians 6 goes on to say, “13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” Three times here we are told to stand. We prepare by putting on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness and the gospel of peace. All this, just to stand firm. James 4:7 tells us to resist the devil and he will flee from us. We don’t have to attack him, we just have to resist, to stand firm, and like a strong seawall, his waves of attack will break against us and fail, leaving him no choice but to retreat.

We don’t roll over, freeze up or cower in fear – we stand. We also do not go seeking trouble, challenging what we don’t fully understand, but we stand firm in the truth. We stand firm in presenting the gospel, we stand firm in discipling the nations, we stand firm in advocating for morality, decency and peace. We don’t abdicate our responsibility. We keep our eyes on Jesus and stand in Him alone. He is our Shield and Defender. He is our Rock in whom we trust. Who shall we fear, knowing the Lord is for us.

Be encouraged, then, when the enemy reveals himself and you encounter evil. Stand firm in the strength of the Lord and watch the enemy retreat.

Exaggerating for Effect

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In an effort to drive home a point or advance an agenda, many people exaggerate a real event or occurrence. While some parts of the story may be true, or even technically correct, the whole narrative is skewed so as to become propaganda to further a cause. As Christians, we should strive to “tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth” so as to not bring harm or slight upon the perfect person of Jesus Christ.

One such popular slogan tossed around today is that Jesus, Mary and Joseph were “refugees” because they fled to Egypt to avoid Herod’s persecution. That is an example of what I am talking about. People are trying to take a modern connotation of what a refugee is and superimpose it onto a historical event. Jesus did go from Israel to Egypt for a short period of time. However, both Israel and Egypt were Roman Empire territories. They did not flee to another country such as modern-day refugees fleeing war torn Syria for Sweden.

Jesus’ flight into Egypt would be more like someone fleeing Newsom’s California for DeSantis’ Florida. Still remaining in the United States but going to another jurisdiction to avoid political persecution. We would not call them a refugee. Also, the trip was self-funded. Mary and Joseph had received the gifts from the Magi – gold, frankincense and myrrh – which would have provided plenty of money for the young family to travel, find a home and set up shop in the large Jewish community already residing in Egypt. After a couple years, as soon as Herod dies, they return back to Israel and settle in Nazareth.

Now, under a very broad definition of refugee, a person fleeing from political violence, for a very short period of time, one might consider Jesus to have been a refugee. From a practical standpoint, no, He wasn’t. And He wouldn’t identify as one since He was under 5 when all this took place anyway. He would have little to no memory of it as His childhood was stable, growing up in Nazareth. Those who bandy this about are trying to drive an agenda that doesn’t need support from stretching the truth like this. We already have commands of Scripture to take care of others, to support the poor and indigent, to treat all people with dignity and respect, both countrymen and the alien among us.

Using an event like the Bethlehem slaughter of infants to try and score political points today does an injustice to Scripture. The flight to Egypt would have happened anyway because it was a prophetic event. This was done to fulfill the Scripture “Out of Egypt I have called My Son”. A temporary (estimated 3 1/2 years) of hiding and then a return to one’s homeland is not the same as permanent refugee status today inside another country. Temporarily fleeing political persecution would be a more accurate way to describe what occurred, although it wouldn’t fit the current political narrative being pushed. And this is too bad, because Jesus doesn’t need us to “spin” events for Him. He simply needs us to present the truth simply, cleanly, and clearly.

2025 Plans

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So, 2024 did not go as planned. From the devastation of Hurricane Helene doing far more property damage than can be repaired in the foreseeable future, to changing vocations to work as a chaplain with a different company and various crises that popped in and out of our lives, 2024 saw Ta Ethne on the back burner.

We enter 2025 filled with optimistic expectations. A blog a week is the goal – 52 hopefully helpful essays that will run the gamut from inspirational to informative and maybe even inquisitive. With new, added responsibilities in work life this is ambitious, but I feel necessary to continue the work.

So many have reached out to encourage me to write another book. Maybe, just maybe, 2025 will let us catch our breath long enough to begin the process of note taking, compiling and beginning a rough draft. If one has suggestions on a particular topic, shoot us an email.

Remember, no matter how dark it may seem, Christ’s light banishes the darkness. Perhaps, as dark as 2024 was for so many, it was fitting for the year to end with Christmas and the first day of Hanukkah to both be on the same day.

God bless you with His grace

40 Days 0f Praise — Day 40 Easter

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CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY by Charles Wesley

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia; Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia; Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia

Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia; Fought the fight, the battle’s won, Alleluia

Death in vain forbids Him rise, Alleluia; Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia; Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia

Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia; Where’s thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia; Following our exalted Head, Alleluia

Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia; Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia

Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia; Praise to Thee by both be given, Alleluia

Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia; Hail the Resurrection Thou, Alleluia

King of glory, soul of bliss, Alleluia; Everlasting life is this, Alleluia

Thee to know, Thy power to prove, Alleluia; Thus to sing and thus to love, Alleluia

            What greater day is there for a Christian to celebrate than Resurrection Sunday?  Without the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, we would have no spiritual birthday to celebrate. We would have no Christian faith. We would be of all people the most miserable.

            Our enemy, Satan, could not foresee the return of Christ from death’s domain anymore than he could grasp the reality of mankind’s redeemable soul. He, as an angelic creature, does not have one and neither he nor they fully understand how it works.

            Because of the finished work of Christ, our soul can be born again, born from above, made new. We become righteous, justified, free from sin’s curse. What a wonderful Savior is Jesus our Lord.

            If a Christian cannot be excited on Easter, if they cannot sing and praise and shout in celebration for Christ’s return from the grave, then I would posit that they are not a Christian at all. Oh, the glorious truth of the gospel writers, showing us the account of that first Easter morning. Sad, dejected, confused disciples go to the tomb. Emboldened, resolute, joyful disciples go forth into the world on Monday, having seen the Risen Christ. May we always celebrate our Lord of Life.

            May we know and prove His resurrection power in our lives.

Lord God, thank You for sending Your Son to purchase our salvation. We rejoice this day, honoring His resurrection from the dead and celebrating His reign at Your powerful right hand.

40 Days of Praise — Day 39

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So I am one day off due to missing a day last week. I intended to finish on Resurrection Sunday. Today then will be a two- for-one. A post this morning, then an Easter post this afternoon. Enjoy.

MORE ABOUT JESUS by Eliza Hewitt

More about Jesus would I know, More of His grace to others show

More of His saving fullness see, More of His love Who died for me

More about Jesus let me learn, More of His holy will discern

Spirit of God, my teacher be; Showing the things of Christ to me

More about Jesus in His Word, Holding communion with my Lord

Hearing His voice in every line, Making each faithful saying mine

More about Jesus on His throne, Riches in glory all His own

More of His kingdom’s sure increase, More of His coming, Prince of Peace

REFRAIN:

More, more about Jesus, More, more about Jesus

More of His saving fullness see, More of His love who died for me

           To learn more about Jesus everyday should be the desire of each of us. No matter how much I study and how much I learn, I have only scratched the surface of knowing Him. I desire to know more about Him. I am glad that eternity means forever, because that is how long I anticipate it taking to even begin knowing Him.

            In learning more about Him, I will come to understand what He means when I am given direction by Him. I will be able to discern His will more clearly and obey Him more completely. I will come to understand His Words revealed in the Scriptures, written for our guidance.

            One of the greatest ways to learn more of Him is to talk to Him, through prayer, each day. It is in conversing with Him that we learn to hear His voice. We also read of Him in the Bible, so that we can compare what it says to what we hear, to make sure we are hearing His voice and not an imposters.

            Another reason I desire to learn more about Him is to be able to show others I know, whom I care about, what He is like. I long to show His grace and transforming power to those around me who need Him most. If I am going to be greedy and shout more, more, I want it to be a holy greediness to understand my Lord better.

            My prayer for you, is that you will desire to know more about Him also.

Lord, help us desire to know more of You. Reveal Yourself to us as we come to You in prayer, as we read of You in the Bible. Speak to us in an unmistakable voice, one that cuts through the clutter and noise of the world. Help us to know You so that we may live a life pleasing to You and bring others to You for salvation.