Today Prague is celebrating the Velvet Revolution (called that because not a shot was fired). After 35 years of communist oppression, the Russian tanks left when the people gathered and said NO MORE. I believe that the basis of God’s creation is to give us freedom to choose. By kicking faith in God out of Czech – freedom went with it. (I’ll include some photos of the gathering today in St Wenceslas Square.) I toured the National Museum today which has a history and then a natural museum. What disappointed me was the natural history of the world. There were amazing displays of every form of life but no mention of the creator who designed it all. Such a pity. How far has the Czech Republic come when God is still excluded? There is no proof of evolution but plenty of proof of God’s design. I think it is wrong but I don’t know what to do about it. Example from home: The Seattle Times offers daily weather and horoscope. I asked them why not include a Bible verse? I got no answer. Leaving God out is the biggest mistake affecting the USA today.
We ask God to vindicate us but fail to mention Him to anyone. Today Pastor Mike preached on Ps 26 – a psalm of lament from King David’s early life. I could tell because David wrote it before the whole murder incident. He sounds very pious which is not a good foundation for praying. Ps 26 sounds more like; where are you and why aren’t you helping? The pastor also referenced the frank way in which Moses talked with God. How do we approach God because we fail so often? We have days with pain, confusion, and anger yet parts of scripture say to, “count it all joy when trials come”. Scripture interprets scripture so how do we cry out to God and practice faith at the same time? Some days we just want a rescue. In summary, this Psalm begins with complaints then, in the end, the demands become requests. In the end of begging for help we see our complicity in sin that offends God and others. There is an ‘oops’ moment then faith returns. Pastor Mike closed with a reference to the ‘great exchange’. Our sin is credited to Jesus and the earned righteousness of Jesus is credited to all who call upon the name of the Lord. That is why we have the privilege to talk with the Almighty God who created every person in St Wenceslas Square and you and me are counted too.
