Concord Chronicle

It has been a few weeks since I've shared a personal or family anecdote, but I thought I'd share something that happened just today.

We attended Evan's first (and last) volleyball tournament today. This was only the team's third time playing against another team. And today, they had the opportunity to play against 4 others. I'm sure they felt intimidated. We watched their second game a couple weeks ago. They had definitely improved since the last match.

We found it interesting, however, that their coach left them before the halfway mark. (Maybe she had another appointment or an emergency came up. I'm not sure, but she left.) The JV Coach remained. He resumed "coaching" - calling the plays, rotating players in and out of the game, and giving directions from the sidelines. However, after the break, he sat down the rest of the time. All the other teams and team members stood - as if it was protocol or practice. He scrolled through his phone most of the time. Needless to say, the team started to falter.

JV team members stepped up to the task. I don't know if it was a mentoring exercise or they just stepped in for lack of engagement from the coach. But we all witnessed a dramatic change in the team spirit once they were getting encouragement and direction from their peers. Did they win? No, they didn't win any of their games. BUT they did show team spirit, drive, heart, and perseverance.

I believe the JV Coach missed a critical point of the day - teamwork. He may have been in proximity to the team, but he was not involved. He was separated or not interested in the action or lack of concern for the players. Thank goodness the other members that stepped in and filled in place.

I pray that if you are in the role in mentoring others, that you stay engaged. Don't allow your mentees to falter. In the same turn, if you are in a mentee role, but are not getting the support you need from your mentor, seek your support or peer group that can speak to you words of encouragement. And step in whenever you can. Be observant and empathetic. Don't let those around you struggle. You may not win this game, but you've been seen to the end with comrades who care.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:24-25, NIV

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.

Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Ephesians 4:9-12, NIV

AnnMarguerite Jones

A concept relied on in logic and mathematics is that of “necessary and sufficient”. If one is making arguments to support a conclusion, those arguments may indeed be necessary to the proof, but not sufficient to complete it. Necessary and sufficient is the minimum amount of evidence needed to completely prove the assertion.

Increasingly one of the arguments I hear against Christian belief is that Jesus was a “good man, a great teacher, but not divine”, and is put in the same category as other good men, great teachers, and philosophers.

But, as Christians, we make and rely on the claim that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah as predicted in The Old Testament. This is a bold claim, and cannot not be ignored. If it’s true, we can reject the notion that, “Jesus was just a good teacher but nothing more.” If false, we have legitimate grounds to dismiss and possibly reject the entire Christian message! So let’s have a look at the evidence in support of our claim.

Let’s observe the fact that the same verses that New Testament writers labeled “messianic” are the same passages that Jewish scholars have identified in exactly the same ways. You can find dozens of such references in the rabbinic writings like the Talmud, Mishnah, and Targums, all written long before Jesus was born.

We also must observe that there are two very different kinds of Messianic prophecies.

Old Testament scholars, both Jewish and Christian, see as many as 800 verses that point to a Messiah, (in Greek “Christos” - the “anointed" one), a unique person who fulfills God’s plans and promises. But some of them describe a reigning messiah who brings in peace and prosperity while others paint pictures of a suffering messiah who atones for sins.

In the first category (as many as 500 out of the 800 verses), we read of a messianic age when:

– “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.” (Micah 4:3, NIV)

– “The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.” (Isaiah 65:25, NIV)

Some of these passages speak of divine judgment, such as, “You [God] will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.” (Psalm 2:9, NIV)

However, in the second category, we find prophecies like these:

– The first messianic prophecy in the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve disobeyed God: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Gen. 3:15, NIV)

– “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6, see all of Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12, NIV)

These examples are just a tiny sample of a huge collection you can easily find with a simple Internet search, but they do raise an interesting question. How could one person do both—reign and suffer?

One proposal that the Jewish teachers came up with was that there would be two Messiahs.

The reigning king they called “Messiah, son of David” (see for example, 2 Samuel 7 and Psalm 89), and the suffering servant “Messiah, son of Joseph” (for example Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22).

While the “two Messiahs” suggestion does solve some of the difficulties raised by the two vastly different kinds of messianic prophecies, it does not take into account that there are also a few messianic prophecies that tie the suffering and the reigning to the same person.

For example, Zechariah predicted a time when God Himself, in the person of the Messiah, will come to earth and people “will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.” (Zechariah 12:10, NIV)

He came the first time and was pierced. He returns a second time and reigns (see the rest of the book of Zechariah).

So, rather than pointing to two Messiahs, the Old Testament envisions one Messiah who comes twice.

Also, we must take into account what the New Testament writers claimed.

They identify Jesus as the one who fulfills predictions of the first coming (see Matthew 1:22-23; 2:5-6; 2:15; 2:17-18 among many other places) and the one who will fulfill promises of a future return (see Mark 14:62; Matthew 24:29-31).

Jesus Himself claimed that things written in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms were about Him (see Luke 24:44) and that “Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.” (John 8:56, NIV)

If Jesus was correct—that the prophets spoke about Him, that He arrived when and where and how they said He would, and that He provided atonement for sin so people could know God intimately—we must take His word (and the prophets He affirmed) seriously.

We end up echoing the words of the blind man, right before Jesus healed him, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:47, NIV)

While it is certainly necessary that Jesus was a good man and a great moral teacher, the fact that He does indeed fulfill all the Old Testament prophecies of the coming Messiah is both necessary and sufficient to support the claim that He is the promised Messiah, and as such his claims and teachings cannot be dismissed as just an interesting alternative.

He’s coming again and it will be very different for this world when he does.

Let’s make sure as many people as possible know and are ready to receive, and be received by, him!

Blessings on you and yours,

Jim Black

P.S. If you’d like to read previous ruminations of mine they can be found at https://www.salvationarmyconcordca.org/chronicle/?category=Bible%20Study

SUNDAY

• 9:00 AM - Youth Praise Team Practice - Chapel
• 10:00 AM - Spiritual Education & Discipleship Classes
• Corps Cadets - Classroom 2
• College Age Class - Corner Classroom
• Adult Sunday School - Library
• 10:30 AM - Prayer Group - Chapel Foyer
• 11:00 AM - Worship Service - Chapel
• 12:15 PM - Food & Fellowship - Fireside Room

TUESDAY

• 4:30 PM - Craft Class - Library
• 6:00 PM - Men's Bible Study - Fireside Room
• 6:00 PM - The Power of the Holy Spirit Names - Library/Hybrid
• 7:00 PM - Songsters Practice - Chapel
• 8:00 AM - Senior Band Practice - Chapel

WEDNESDAY

• 10:00 AM - CAMEO: Deeply Rooted in Joy - Fireside Room

FRIDAY

• 4:00 PM - Ladies' Getaway/Crafting Weekend - Arnold

What: "FLOURISH" Divisional Women's Rally

When: Saturday, May 18th - ONE DAY ONLY

Cost: $50 covers t-shirt, lunch, and program materials (extra fee for crafts)

Where: Suisun Kroc Center

We are excited to announce Flourish as the theme for our 2024 Divisional Women’s Rally! The theme comes from Psalm 92:13, “Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.” Our Women’s Department is planning a unforgettable day filled with workshops, live auction, grab bags, live music, words of encouragement and much more!

We are also doing our infamous grab bag and silent auction fundraisers. There is also a live auction portion and an opportunity to purchase the centerpieces at the end of the day.

Registration is due April 22nd.

This initiative of turning our thoughts and prayers towards the same part of the world at some point in the same week is a beautiful way to unite us as a global Army family and I thank you for the commitment you each give to this.

Territorial Commander - Commissioners Daniel Kasuso

Territorial President of Women’s Ministries - Commissioner Trasey Kasuso

Chief Secretary - Lt. Col. Nkwachukwu Ezeonyilimba

Territorial Secretary of Women’s Ministries - Lt. Col. Nkechi Juliet Ezeonyilimba

We praise and thank God for:

• Saving one of our expatriate officers from a road accident.
• Journey mercies granted to the territorial leaders in their familiarization tour and installation of Abia Divisional leaders and Osun Sectional leaders.
• Journey mercies granted to all the youth officers travelling to Abia Division for their annual workshop.

Territorial prayer requests:

• Wisdom and courage for our territorial leaders.
• God’s intervention so that the growth of the territory will not be hindered.
• That the Territorial Men’s Congress this year shall be a huge success.
• The Territory to be able to implement the fullness of the strategic plan from 2021-2025.
• Financial open doors to the territory and a successful 2024 Self-denial
• Nigeria as a nation, may God to restore the economy and security of our nation Nigeria.
• May God give Nigeria godly politicians, who will have feelings for the poor mases.

Email: annmarguerite.jones@usw.salvationarmy.org
Website: https://www.SalvationArmyConcordCA.org
Location: 3950 Clayton Road, Concord, CA, USA
Phone: (925) 676-6180
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tsaconcord