2004

Jonah: Covenant

This is the most human of my books and is based upon Jude 20-23. "But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God; wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And convince some who doubt; save some by snatching them out of the fire; on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh". In this book Jonah discusses covenants both divine ( Luke 1: 68-72 )and human - the remnant (pg 32) and of my greatest friend or the meeting (pg 62) and of human compassion. More=>

The comparison of human covenant and divine covenant creates a sticking point for my Jonah. As much as he tries to convince God that man is good in his very nature and capable of survival without any sort of God, Jonah is caught by his own words into admitting that man is man and God is God. Gods' promises are forever. Our promises, though soul-felt, are temporal and weak. I often revisit this theme in my weekly meditations and prayers. You may get these meditations by emailing sbovia@neo.rr.com. Or you can check the daily meditation on Jonahsway.com.

Sample: "Who can say, 'I have made my heart clean; I am pure from my sin'?" Proverbs 20:9

A twenty-seven year old man hung himself in his garage this week. The fact isn't easy to wrap a mind around. But the location is even harder to grasp. It was across my back yard at the time my wife and I were walking our daughter and grandson to her car. If we would have looked up, we could have seen the young man leave his house and go into the garage. But we were busy with life; making plans, giving hugs and saying good nights. Death was the farthest thing from our minds.

But I wonder now if anyone ever told him God loved him/ If anyone ever explained that there was hope beyond the cruelty and hate of this world? That there is no situation so bad that God can't find a way to heal it? I know I never did. Shucks, I only know the family in a passing fashion and I don't believe I would know the man who hung himself if I saw him in a crowd. That's my problem.

I choose to stay to myself for the most part. To meddle in other peoples affairs is not my style; live and let live, I say…..the reality is stark….when Christ's' message isn't shared, despair is the inevitable victor….

Jonah: Covenant
2004