Seeds For Thinking

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

* The Lambs Finally Got It!
* Scripture: Jesus said to Peter, "Feed my lambs;" "Tend my sheep;" "Feed my sheep." (from John 21:15-17)

O Happy Day! The lambs finally got it! They all stayed with the rest of the flock when it came time to move.
We practice a system of grazing that requires frequent moves from one section of the pasture to another. Once we have the portable fences set up for the next paddock, we open the fence and let the sheep move onto fresh grass.
The older sheep know the routine, and stand waiting whenever they see us getting ready. The lambs, though, are so full of life and vigor that they seem to lose track of where mama is and what the rest of the flock is doing.
"Lambie-Lambie-Lambie-SHEEP!" Heads pop up, grazing stops, and the sheep move toward the shepherd. It takes a while for lambs to associate the shepherd's call with a move to a better pasture, though. Running and leaping is such fun that it takes some of them a while to notice that they have been left behind. Then they are apt to panic and try to go through the fence rather than the open gate. They may also turn and run the opposite way, away from safety, away from nourishment.
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs, tend my sheep." What if the Shepherd is willing, but the lambs won't cooperate?
Thinking about this gives me a new appreciation of the task Jesus gave Peter:
I can just imagine Peter praying about it. "Lord, about these sheep of yours: Some never seem to catch on. They don't associate the Good Shepherd's call with a better life ahead. They are having such a good time that they don't gather with the rest of the flock."
"They seem to prefer pleasure and comfort above the Word that proceeds from the mouth of God." (Mt. 4:4)
"I call them to come to Your gate in the sheepfold, Lord, but they either do not hear me, or ignore my call. They seem to have no problems hearing the call of the evil one, though. I am not an hireling who leaves the sheep. I would be willing to lay down my life for the sheep, just as you did for all of us. I fear that some of them will be left behind and lost forever."
We, as Christians, find ourselves in Peter's shoes. We are both sheep and shepherds, in the tradition of Matthew Chapter 10.
As sheep, we need to listen to the call of The Good Shepherd.
As shepherds, we need to share with the sheep 'out there' that Jesus is indeed the door, the way to salvation, and lead the lambs to find the pasture of eternal life.
June 18, 2006

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” John 10:11. NKJV)

Oh!
“Mairzy doats and dozy doats and liddle lamzy divey”(1)

But I’d rather they didn’t - eat ivy, that is. I think that they would do much better on their provided rations of hay and grain. One of the responsibilities of a herder is to provide nourishing food and water for the livestock.
Given the need, any vegetation is fair game, even ivy. Sheep are grazers, mostly looking down for their diet of grasses. They are noted for eating plants right down to the roots, a source of friction between cattlemen and shepherds on the range.
Sheep literally eat on the run, quickly grabbing, chewing and swallowing their food, then regurgitating the semi-digested mass, now known as cud, and chewing it again. As with other ruminants, the front teeth in the lower jaw bite against a hard, toothless pad in the upper jaw. These are used to pick off vegetation, then the rear teeth grind it before it is swallowed. There are eight lower front teeth in ruminants. The cloven-hoofed, cud chewing animals meet the Mosaic dietary laws of Deuteronomy 14:4-6.
It is important to see that the mothers are getting a nutritious diet during the time when they are nursing lambs. The good shepherd knows the sheep, (John 10:14) cares for the sheep, (as in the 23rd Psalm) leading them to green pastures and clean water, and is considerate of their needs. (See Genesis 33:13)
As livestock, sheep are most-often associated with pastoral imagery. Sheep figure in many religions, especially the Abrahamic traditions. Being a key animal in the history of farming, sheep have a deeply entrenched place in human culture, and find representation in the language and symbology of both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.
The patriarchs - Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - were herders. Job possessed thousands of sheep and camels, and hundreds of oxen and donkeys.
Yet, sheep and shepherds were not always welcome. Pharaoh’s clean-shaven court looked down on the rugged shepherd sons of Jacob. Joseph matter-of-factly informed his brothers, “Every shepherd is detestable to the Egyptians” (Genesis 46:34).
Jacob’s descendants became accustomed to a settled lifestyle and forgot their nomadic roots after spending 400 years in Egypt. When Israel later settled in Canaan, the few tribes still retaining a fondness for pastoral life chose to live in the Trans-Jordan (Numbers 32:1 ff).
After the settling in Palestine, shepherding ceased to hold its prominent position. As the Israelites acquired more farmland, pasturing decreased. Shepherding became a menial vocation for the laboring class. Shepherds were despised in everyday life. In general, they were considered second-class and untrustworthy.
However, Isaiah prophesied,“The Lord God shall come like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young.” (Isaiah 40:11) The good tidings of great joy at Jesus’ birth were announced to shepherds, “living in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night.” (Luke 2:8-20) Jesus Himself stated that He is the good shepherd; “The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)
John the Baptist called Jesus “The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) Sinners are redeemed “with precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (1 Peter 1:19)
Jesus said, “I am the door to the sheepfold; if anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”

(1) Sing "Mares eat oats and does eat oats and little lambs eat ivy."
1943 by Milton Drake, Al Hoffman and Jerry Livingston.

A kiddley divey too . . .
Although sheep and goats are related, their dietary preferences are somewhat different, if they can choose.
Goats are primarily browsers, like deer, and strip the leaves and bark off trees and woody plants, sometimes standing on their hind legs to reach as high as they can.

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: Jesus said, “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Luke 11:9, NIV

My wife and I have been immersed in the depths of shepherding the past few weeks. Our flock more than doubled in number, thanks to motherhood. Singles, twins, even triplets have been arriving at various hours of the day and night. We, the shepherds, have to go to them to see that all is going well. Being animals, the ewes do not come knocking at our door, seeking assistance. For the most part, the new mother knows what to do, and settles into the task of protecting and nourishing the lambs she is suddenly responsible for. The lambs, for their part, quickly turn to their mother, creating a bond that is quite strong and enduring.
I took time to watch one sunny afternoon recently as a ewe delivered her first lamb, cleaned it up, coaxed it to its feet, delivered a sibling, and soon moved off as a trio. No help needed!
Not so a first-timer a few nights later. It became obvious that delivery wasn’t going well, after I had spent an hour observing her progress. Finally, at 1:00 AM, I decided she needed some assistance, and had to pull a 17 pound ram lamb. The mamma promptly got up, and ran off! It took a while to finally coax her back to her baby, but she eventually settled into the motherly routine. Thankfully, they are getting along well now.
Still, we routinely check mammas and babes, rejoice at full tummies, and assist those that show signs of distress. We try to be good shepherds to our flock. We know they are very limited in their ability to let us know how they feel, or what they need.
Such a responsibility - the experience of watching over our sheep - brings a renewed awareness of the devotion of The Good Shepherd to our human needs. In Luke 11:11-13, Jesus talks about giving gifts to our children, and compares our limited ability to that of God, who much more gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.
How blessed indeed are those mothers who both give good gifts to their children, and know how to ask God for those things that are on the heavenly level.
Paul writes of the faith which first lived in Lois, then in her daughter, Eunice, and finally in Timothy (2 Timothy 1:5). We are not told more, but certainly these were praying mothers, knocking on God’s door for insight in the tumultuous times in which they lived.
Mary, the Mother of Jesus, concedes to be the Lord’s servant (Luke 1:38.) Yes, blessed be the mother who can sing, as Mary sang, “My soul praises the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” (Luke 146-47)
May 11, 2003

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” John 10:14 NIV
It was a sight any shepherd dreads to see . . . feet sticking up in the air. Among farm livestock, sheep have the unique ability to somehow get on their backs, feet upwards, and are unable to roll over and get up. I hate burying sheep! So I ambled over to this one, hoping the best, and fearing the worst. Lo and behold, the feet are wavering feebly. Maybe I’m in time. Yes! Hasn’t expired yet. Rolled her over, past the bulging sides, full of unborn lambs, and got her to her feet. Rather wobbly, but after a while she shuffled off toward the rest of the flock. Saved this one. Goes by the identifier of #80.
Two days later, #80 was present at my morning check of the barns, with two lambs. A lack of diligence on the part of the shepherds could have resulted in the loss of three sheep. This time, it had a happy ending.
This led me to thinking about the Chief Shepherd, The Door to the Sheepfold. How many times does Jesus find one of His Flock down and out, literally with “feet wavering in the air.” While we may not breathe our last and expire on the spot, we may cross that great divide that separates us from the abode of life and the abode of eternal death in the future - for all eternity.
Once sheep get lodged on their backs, only some force other than their own resources can get them right-side up again. So, too, with people.
I’ve read it, time and again . . . someone deep into dependency and addiction or steeped in sin, credits their salvation to being “rolled over” by the grace of Jesus. That’s what salvation is all about . . . being “rolled over” from sure death into life. Repentance is a turning, but it often - usually- requires an outside force. The Chief Shepherd has a lot of ‘hirelings’ working for Him.

Might we say that God The Creator, Jesus Christ His Son, our Savior, and the Power of the Holy Spirit enables us to be the physical hands and feet of a loving God reaching a world in need.

How will they know unless someone tells them? Sometimes the “word” can be as powerful as the strongest hands or feet. The soul requires a different force to turn it about, and that force is the Word Of/About God, and Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World.
Check the Flock often. . . be prepared to do some ‘rolling!’
April 28, 2002

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: “Let me pass through all your flock today, removing from there all the speckled and spotted sheep, and all the brown ones among the lambs, and the spotted and speckled among the goats; and these shall be my wages.” Genesis 30:32, NKJV

Jacob is described in Genesis 25:27 as a mild man, dwelling in tents. Jacob was a shepherd. The knowledge of the management of flocks of sheep and goats was about all that he brought with him when he journeyed to Haran in Padan Aram, to live with his mother’s brother, Laban. That, and a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in the way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God” (Genesis 28:20-21, NKJV).
There must have been times when Jacob doubted that he would receive little more from Uncle Laban than bread to eat and clothing to put on. Tricked into serving Laban for fourteen years as the bride price for Leah and Rachel, Jacob can not even leave with his wives and children without obtaining permission from Laban. (Gen. 30:26) Laban has a good thing going; God has blessed him with a great increase in livestock under Jacob’s husbandry. He wants to keep it that way! He readily agrees with Jacob’s proposal to split the flocks and herds. First, though, all the spotted and speckled livestock will be removed, so Jacob is starting out with nothing.
Initially, all of the animals still belong to Laban. His sons care for one flock, including all of the speckled and spotted ones at the start, discretely kept three days’ journey from the ‘home’ flock that Jacob cared for.
In the future, any animal that is spotted or speckled under Jacob’s care will belong to Jacob, and the most common colored animals would belong to Laban. Very clever! Another double cross. Plain animals would produce plain offspring, thus none of the flock would become speckled or spotted. Jacob would work forever - for nothing. However, Jacob was both persistent and ingenious. And he had God with him.
I have always been intrigued by the system Jacob developed to produce spotted animals. Spotted rods, spotted offspring, which of course were added to Jacob’s flocks. And I note that Jacob practiced quality control, selecting between strong and feeble livestock. (Genesis 30:37-43)
When the flocks came to drink, Jacob set up the spotted rods where they would see them as they conceived. They produced spotted offspring, which went into Jacob’s herd, as agreed upon. And, of course, his spotted herd increased in numbers so that Jacob became exceedingly prosperous. He had large flocks, as well as female and male servants, and camels and donkeys.
Laban’s sons become very disturbed at this turn of events. (Genesis 31) Jacob points out that their father has deceived him several times and changed his wages, but God has seen all that Laban was doing, and aided Jacob.
By agreement, all of the spotted and speckled animals belong to Jacob. He has worked for twenty years, fully and faithfully, for Laban, who even now claims all of the flocks, his daughters and their children as his property. In his eyes, Jacob has nothing, and should be sent away empty handed.
God rebukes Laban; He has been with Jacob throughout his twenty year ordeal. God calls Jacob, with his flocks and family, to return to the land of his parents.

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew 9:36, NIV

Need a good word? Try this one - “gregarious”- which comes from a Latin word meaning a flock or herd.
1 a: tending to associate with others of one's kind : SOCIAL
b: marked by or indicating a liking for companionship : SOCIABLE
c: of or relating to a social group
2 a: of a plant growing in a cluster or a colony . . .Merriam-Webster .

The King James translation renders it multitudes - many, many people. A literal translation of the Greek text reads, “wearied and cast away,” as sheep not having a shepherd.
Now think back a few years. Typical classroom.
Scenario: teacher leaves the room for some reason. Now you have a group of people, who are together, tending to associate with others of one’s kind. (See above definition) Now there is a leadership vacuum in the classroom.
Invariably, someone takes control. What will it be? Order (that the teacher hopes will happen) or disorder (which the teacher probably expects). If the class in general tends to order, everyone will go about their work. If there is one who crosses the line to disorder, it is a rare flock that will not follow.
Back to sheep. How many times (How many, Lord?) have I got all but one sheep through the gate, promptly and peaceably, and one (1) sheep “goes astray” with the result that the rest all turn, observe the renegade, and follow pell-mell!
What is there about a group/ flock that so looks for guidance, even guidance that leads them all astray? Crowd (mob) psychology, it is called. It takes a strong, strong person to move apart from such a crowd, to buck the rush to be a part of the multitudes, to be different, to stand out, to be a leader.
Leadership is a dangerous position, because the multitudes gain their power from the numbers of - or relating to - a social group. “Everyone is doing it.” Jumping off a cliff? No matter, everyone is doing it.” Gotta do it; gotta have it.
But the leader says, “Not me!” Jesus looked at the gregarious multitudes, not just going each their own way, but as a crowd following their most basic (lowest) urges. If it feels good, do it! and they did (are.)
What kind of workers are needed for the harvest (Mt. 9:38-39)?
Leaders! People who are prepared to say, “Hey! Multitudes, this is the way.”

* Be prepared.

* Be compassionate.

Jesus was observed by the multitudes to teach with authority. But (Mt. 9:36) he had compassion on them.
Love those multitudes!

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that He gave . . .” John 3:16 NIV
King Herod the Great was responsible for many excellent building projects in the kingdom he ruled. He was a skilled politician, and managed to keep his head attached to his shoulders when many of those about him were losing theirs. History affirms this. Then why was he hated so in his time? Because he, like many other ‘rulers’, used his power to oppress his subjects. (See Luke 2:16)
Not only kings, but also the religious leaders of Jesus’ time coveted power, and ruthlessly destroyed anyone who got in their way. Many members of the Sanhedrin, the supreme council and tribunal of the Jews headed by a High Priest and having religious, civil, and criminal jurisdiction, as well as the fundamentalist Pharisees, opposed Jesus’ teachings because of His popularity. Jesus also refused to follow many of their traditions, calling them hypocrites - and quoted Isaiah 29:13 to back up his words.
These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
They worship me in vain;
Their teachings are but rules taught by men.
God intended that rulers should “shepherd” His people, not oppress them. That applies to all leaders, religious or civil. Jesus built many of His parables around the theme of servanthood. He washed the disciples feet to drive this point into their hearts and minds. Read the gospels carefully: The greatest will be as the least. Study the parable of the Unmerciful Servant, Mt. 18:21-35.
How we treat others matters!
Check out the creation story, Genesis 1, especially Gen. 1:27-31. What exactly does it mean to “have dominion?” Can it be that God intended just what Jesus taught, that although humankind is the dominate form of creation, we are here to shepherd and care, not to ravage and abuse?
The core of Jesus’ teaching is contained in The Beatitudes. (Mt. ch’s 5, 6, 7) Peace, love for others, giving (without fanfare!) to the needy, prayer, keeping the Commandments of God, being fruitful in the Spirit - these things are acceptable.
Those leaders mentioned above, the Pharisees and teachers of the law, received criticism (Six Woes, Lk. 11:37-53) because they loaded people down with burdens, and have taken away the key to knowledge!
Are we people more powerful than the Holy Spirit? No! But the Holy Spirit is to “walk along side” us, to lift us up, to enable, to plead our case, to make life better for us.
If we are to truly follow the way of God, of Jesus, and the example of the Holy Spirit, we must be tolerant towards everyone, lifting, loving, pleading their case.
October 7, 2001