Sunday, August 31, 2008

Great Sunday!

Hey all, as you can see I put the video of worship yesterday on the blog last night. I also started a facebook profile and updated the Real Life christian church group...didn't know we had one did you!

Anyway, tell your friends about the site (and you tell them about the church!) let's see if God can use this tool to help us tell others about Jesus! Hey, it's a dirty job, but someone's got to do it!

See you all tomorrow (virtually!)

PRAYER: Please remember to keep Doug E in your prayers. He suffered a mild stroke on Thursday and is in the VA hospital for tests and rehab.

Dirty Jobs Series: Knee Deep

8/31/08

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Luke 22 / August 29 - you can be an activator!

The second half of verse 32 deserves a second look. Here Jesus says to Peter "when you turn back strengthen your brothers."

When you use a glue stuff called JB Weld you have to add an activator to the paste to get it to hold or "weld" things together. Peter is used to activate the brothers because he could say "I've been there, its okay, God can still use you to do incredible things if you are willing."

I know many believers, maybe you are one, who don't think they can encourage or help others in their walk because of the missteps and failures in their own lives. This is absolutly not the case.

There are people that only you can reach becasue you've been where they are. Youre failures as a christian can actually make you better able to speak to and share the gospel with others.

Now, don't go out and sin so that you can connect with someone! But don't assume that you aren't able to either.

Like Peter who sinned by disowning God you too can "turn back and strengthen others." Be an activator of others so that they can "stick like glue" in their faith and overcome their failures to be used by God.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

No post this am

Sorry folks, rough evening.

Just one thing. You might say a prayer for Maddux McCarthy who is sick and has a touch of pnemonia and been in and out of the hospital since last Thursday. He is home and doing a bit better but a prayer wouldn't hurt! thanks!

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Luke 20 / August 27 -

It's late and I'm tired.

Jesus tells a story about a tenant who mistreats those sent to collect a "portion" of what is owed the land owner. In the end the owner sends His son, whom He loves and they kill him.

The owner is God. His son is Jesus. The tenants are the religious leaders and the Jews who (through their forefathers) killed the prophets and those sent by God somehow thinking they would be in charge if the owner were out of the way or too scared to collect what was owed.

His final statement is just to remind those who were listening. No one escapes from God. Those who put their faith and trust in Jesus or are "broken to pieces" are restored and made whole and cleansed. But those who try to do it all on their own and reject Jesus will be crushed.

Here's the bottom line: you can't outwit God. You can't hide from Him, you can't keep what is His, you can't get there on your own. What's God's is God's and one way or another He will always get what is His.

Don't try and hide or keep what rightfully belongs to Him (that's all of you!).

Have a GREAT Wednesday!

Monday, August 25, 2008

Luke 19 / August - excuses, excuses...

Hey guys, great day yesterday! It was an exciting day and a good start to the fall season. You all did a great job making our guests feel welcome and wanted and want to come back.

Today I want to put the Zaccheaus narrative and the parable of the "minas" (coins/$$).

First, Zacch: Here's a guy that was too short to see over the crowd and so he climbed up a tree in order to see Jesus and we know that Jesus was concerned about little Zacch because he stopped and wanted to have dinner with him. Because Zacch was short he had difficulty seeing Jesus. It was a disability to him because it kept him from seeing or doing what he wanted to. There are a lot of people who have issues and challenges in seeing Jesus in today's world too. It may not be their height but could be a past experience with the church or a "christian" family member. It could be the time, the building, the people, the music, etc., etc. We hear lots of things like, "all they want is my money." "I don't have to go to church to be a Christian." These are all excuses but the bottom line is people want to see Jesus and they will find a way to overcome their "disability" in order to see HIM.

In the Parable of the minas it is impossible to miss the point, Jesus expects us to use what we have been given to reap a benefit for Him. And He will hold us responsible for what we did with what we had. (please note that we are not held responsible for what we don't have but only for what we do have.) So in the end Jesus is going to want to know, did you have access to a step-ladder? That's right, did you have the ability to help someone "see" Jesus, and did you employ it?

What have we been given? What are we doing with it? What have you been given? What are you doing with it? You've heard me say many times that people have lots of excuses (disabilities) as to why they don't come to church, instead of fighting it, let's get a ladder (or plant a sycamore tree!)

Just to help people see Jesus - Corey

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Luke 18 / August 25 - the little children

There are a few sentences here where Jesus has an encounter with little children. Which is kind of strange seeing that the Bible says there was nothing about Jesus that would cause someone to look twice at him, in fact He was apparently not very handsome. So to have little children want to come and sit with him is strange, except that, few kids know a stranger and they also have a keen way of knowing, intuitively, if someone is a "good" or "bad" person. So they came to Jesus and sat on His lap (presumably) and He touched them and spoke gently to them.



But the disciples didn't think this was right so they told off the kids and their parents. They told them to, "leave the master alone. Can't you see He's busy?"



And while the disciples are getting on the kids Jesus begins to get onto the disciples and tells them, "the kingdom belongs to such as these." But what does He mean? God's Kingdom belongs to a bunch of children? We all have to become little children if we want to get to heaven? How is that possible?



I think the idea is NOT that we must become children but the key is in the words He uses, "to such as these." Children have faith, they do not always need to "see" with their eyes but they believe with their hearts. Have you ever seen a little kid on Christmas Eve who runs to bed because he knows he can't be up or Santa won't come? And on Christmas morning he absolutely believes Santa has been there!

What kind of faith do you have? Jesus says that we must have, the faith of a child. Not blind faith but complete faith, total faith, absolute faith.

How's your faith today?

Friday, August 22, 2008

Luke 16 / August 23 - what will it take

The very last verse of this chapter (31) says a lot. The story that precedes it tells of a dead man who wants someone to raise from the dead to go and tell his family what awaits them if they don't believe. Abraham tells him If they didn't believe Moses and the Prophets, they won't believe even if someone rises from the dead.

Now the story is about a beggar named Lazarus who the rich man wants Abraham to send back to tell his family, but you have to assume that who Abraham is talking about is Jesus rising from the dead and those same ones who wouldn't believe Moses or the prophets won't be convinced even when Jesus rises from the dead.

The bottom line is that some people just aren't going to believe. The Bible says that no one comes to the Son unless the Father draws them. And the sad truth is that not every one who hears will believe, even though someone rose from the dead. But just because no every person who hears will believe is no reason for us not to try and tell EVERYONE about the One who can save anyone and who knows, someone may believe and when they do, we will celebrate with all of heaven.

So we'll try anything and risk everything to win anyone to the one who can save everyone. See you Sunday!

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Luke 15 / August 22 -

The first 7 verses of this chapter I just love. Because it reminds me of who I am to Christ; yes I know that I am important and so are you and that He loves me and died for me and all that stuff that makes me His child. But who I am in Christ also means that I get to take a back seat to every one else who He loves.

See, I've been in and heard of lots of church who after a while as the people grow and mature they also begin to think that because they are such "good" Christans or have been in that particular church for a long time it makes them more important. So as a minister you have to appease the people who are already there and spend all your time taking care of the sheep in the pen that you don't have any time to grow the fold.

Okay, let's just be honest. Every church that is looking for a new minister says that they want to grow and bring in new people, but few are willing to really do anything that will help that happen. It's one of those things that we Christians say 'cause it makes us sound good and holy but we don't really mean it. It doesn't take long to figure out that many Christans think the minister is doing a good job if he is meeting their needs but they don't stop to think about the needs of the people who are on the path to Hell.

In this parable Jesus states clearly that His focus is not the sheep in the pen, but the sheep that are "lost." And as His church that ought to be our focus too! We should never get so comfortable that we think church is about us or for us but we should constantly be thinking, how can we put our wants aside to meet the needs of the people who are not here yet. Why? cause we are already going to heaven! Our salvation is as sure as our faith but there are those who do not have that confidence. Jesus wants those people to have peace in their relationship with Him.

So what do I say to myself and to the church? (close your ears this is harsh!) Shut up and quite whining! It's not about you and what makes you comfortable, its about those people who are lost who need Jesus, not about those of us who already are in the pen.

Have a great Friday!

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Luke 14 / August 21 - don't get side tracked!

There should be no question that Jesus is talking the about Jewish nation who were the ones that God had chosen and to whom the Messiah, Jesus Christ, came to first with the offer of salvation through faith or belief in Him.

It is interesting that this parable (or warning) begins with a statement from one of the guests with Jesus. And the statement was true, it would be a blessing to eat at the table in the kingdom. But you see, the people that Jesus was eating with believed that based on their station in life they would surely be the ones who would be eating with God in His kingdom.

The story Jesus tells is one that would not have been lost on them...It just occurred to me that the original statement by the guest with Jesus may have been prompted by Jesus opening statements in this chapter. He may have been feeling like Jesus was attacking him (which He was) and so he wanted to assert his place at the table.

So Jesus says that there is going to indeed be a banquet but when the guests are called they will have what seems like justifiable excuses; wedding, death in the family, I have to do my hair, etc. But the bottom line is that they aren't there, they were too busy, too many more important things to do. So, others are called who come and still more from even farther away come. Why could they come? They didn't have anything better to do. They were hungry. They were thirsty. They didn't have comfortable lives and a packed social calendar. So they came and they filled the house.

What's the moral? Those who thought they were going to eat at the table all had other things to do and so passed on the invite. But God is not going to have an empty table, so the message, call to believe went out to others and they accepted the invitation.

I know you are busy, I know that life is full and there are so many things that could occupy your time and mine, but we must make time for God. Don't miss your opportunity to accept the invitation (faith in Jesus) and so secure your place at the table. Make time for God!

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Luke 13 / August 20 - when it's time to heal

I'm going to make it short today.

When Jesus or the disciples healed it was two things, immediate and complete. Now I know that someone who reads this will say, "what about the blind guy whom Jesus healed and he saw people that looked like trees walking around." Well, it's been proven that that was a normal process of someone who had never seen before. But look, leprosy, gone. bleeding, stopped. Deaf, hear. Blind, see. crippled, made whole. Possessed, freed. Boom. that's it.

When Jesus heals it is complete and immediate but it was also dignified. Did you know that no where in Scripture did anyone who was healed, or "touched" fall down on the ground and shake or fall back or pass out or get "slain in the Spirit." Surely you have seen the healers on TV put their hand on the person, say some unintelligible thing and the person needing healing falls back on the ground and has some sort of mild to severe convulsion. Never happened in the Bible, at least it was never recorded.

What was recorded was the immediacy and the completeness of the healing. Oh, and one more thing. Many times they didn't fall down, they jumped up and down and praised God and thanked Jesus. Does God heal by knocking people down on the ground? I suppose He could if he wanted, but what is the purpose? Jesus always did everything on purpose, so what is the purpose of someone falling? Today it is used as a "sign" that the person has been "healed" or received the Spirit or something. But for me, the lame restored. The crippled made whole. The demon possessed freed. The deaf and blind and bleeding made to hear, see and stop. That's what I want to see. That's what Jesus does.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Luke 12 / August 19 - What did He say?

Did you ever notice that sometimes people say one thing but mean another? That happens in marriage and in other relationships. But Jesus never said anything that He didn't mean.

In verses 49,50 Jesus does just this. He says one thing but it is not to be taken at face value.

In Jesus' first statement he speaks of coming to bring fire on the earth and how He wishes it was already kindled.

  • Given his previous statement about the servant who doesn't do his job one might think Jesus is talking about the fire of wrath or anger.
  • Given the statement following these verses you might think it is a fire of disagreement between family members.
  • But I think a better opinion is that the fire represents the Holy Spirit that came in Acts 2 as "tongues of fire."
  • This makes sense for two reasons. 1-Jesus was not looking forward to His death but the Holy Spirit would only come after His death and resurrection, so Jesus the terrible death Jesus knew He would suffer would be over if the "fire" were already kindled. 2- Jesus knew that for the church/Kingdom to move forward the Holy Spirit would need to come and live "in" His followers.

Jesus next speaks of a baptism that He needed to undergo, but His immersion had already happened. So what baptism is He speaking of? It is the baptism of pain and death that He would need to undergo before the "fire" could come.

here's the deal. Jesus wanted us to have the Holy Spirit because He knew it would be better for us, to have Him "in" us. But the pain He would undergo could only be expressed as a complete immersion in pain. Jesus could have stopped it. He could have said no. But He knew the only way the plan would work is if He gave Him self willingly to the death that would usher in the Christian age.

He did this for you. He suffered so that we could have the "down payment guaranteeing our inheritance in heaven." Thank you Jesus for your willing submission to this baptism so that we could receive the "fire."

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Luke 11 / August 18 -

Good morning everyone. After preaching yesterday morning Jack and I went to see Doug Enge who is in the VA hospital in Wichita awaiting a hearth cath to determine the severity of some blockage. I'll let you know how all that goes.

When I got home I had to take the oldest two kids to the local sports store for some things as they will be starting volleyball and cross country tomorrow.

When I got home Trent and I had another struggle and I have just been wiped out every since. It's about 15 after 9 and I am heading to bed. So, I'll read Luke 10 with you this morning and should be ready to go tomorrow!

Have a great Monday in Real Life!

Friday, August 15, 2008

Luke 9 / August 16 - can you say, "Can of Worms?"

It's Saturday morning and tomorrow is Sunday and I'm feeling a little spunky. The first few verses of this text tell of when Jesus gave the 12 apostles power to drive out demons and "cure diseases." This is the only time when Jesus gives anyone specific power. While this chapter speaks of others who can "drive out demons" no one else is given power to heal.

Now, this is a special ability/power. What Jesus in effect did was give carte blanche ability to heal. No prayer apparently. No questioning. Just blanket ability to heal and drive out demons. Notice that the apostles were a little trigger happy by verse 54 they wanted to "call down fire" on a town. They knew they had power.

Okay, now let me stir the pot. My opinion here...(notice I said OPINION!) is that the ability to heal on demand-such as the apostles had-died with the apostles and what I call 2nd generation healers. All the apostles had the ability to heal (Peter and Paul actually could heal by their shadow falling on someone) and there were some to whom the apostles gave the power to but there is no Biblical record of any 2nd generation healer. We have Jesus giving the power to the apostles. the Apostles gave it to a few others, but no one else was ever given the power.

Today we have some folks who claim they are descended from an apostle and so have power to heal or drive out demons. There are some who claim that they are a modern day apostle. (I actually had a guy breath on me one time and told me I just received a double portion of the Holy Spirit. I think he had a little too much "sauce" and there was no change that I could tell in my Spiritual life or ability, oh, and his breath smelled bad!)

If you ask me if I believe that people today have the carte blanche ability to heal? My opinion is NO. Do I believe that people are healed today? YES!!!! The difference? Heeling's come today through prayer, not merely some individuals whim, as with the Apostles.

So, would anyone like to throw the first stone? Maybe Benny Hinn?

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Luke 8 / August 15 - 12 years of shame...gone.

It's Friday!!!
Once again we read about the woman who was "subject to bleeding" for 12 years come and touch Jesus. It occurred to me as I read this that this was a much worse problem then I originally thought.

Perhaps you've seen the commercials on TV about young girls in some third world country who had to miss school during their period because they didn't have any hygiene products. Imagine that for 12 years. You see this ladies bleeding was like a constant period. Which is troublesome by itself. But she also had been to many doctors and none of them could help. You can read the text here.

Imagine having a toothache for 12 years, nagging pain that won't go away. Everywhere you go and everything you do that toothache is just right there, always with you. I guess (sorry ladies) that this might be close to what this lady was going through. But there is a bigger issue for her.

In Jewish culture a woman on her period was considered unclean. in Leviticus chapter 15 the rules for a woman on her period and/or a discharge other than her period are found. But what being unclean means is that you can't worship. You can't be involved with others. You can't be in a public place. Anyone who touched you or anything you wore or came in contact with would be considered unclean. This woman was an outcast among her own people. In fact, if everyone in the group that was "crushing" Jesus would have known about her bleeding it is possible they would have killed her for making them all unclean. She was taking a huge risk. But then again no risk, no reward. In the end of the text you read that she came "trembling" and fell at His feet in front of all the people-how scary.

So, this is not just a woman who had a cut that would not stop bleeding. She was unclean. She was a cast out. She was desperate. She was trying one last time...

Friends, this is what Jesus does. He picks one out of the crowd. He touches the outcast. He offers hope. He is the only one who can help. Jesus is in the business of taking the unclean and making them clean. Maybe you need the touch of Jesus today. Maybe you're scared of those that are around. What will they say. What will they do? Does it really matter? You can be healed. You can be clean. You can life, real life, more and better than you ever imagined.

Are you ready for cleansing touch of Christ?

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Luke 7 / August 14 - trying to button it up.

Hey, so I'm reading today's text and two things hit me and reminded me of some previous posts. Let's look at this as an example of what I was talking about in the earlier posts.

First on August 2nd I wrote about baptism and Jesus question about whether John's baptism was from God or man. If you don't remember it you can take a look at it by right clicking here and say "open in new tab" so you don't loose this post.

There are some verses here that really speak to the heart of that post. It says that the tax collectors and "all the people" believed Jesus (acknowledged God's way was right) BECAUSE they had been baptized by John. They understood that John was the modern Elijah who was prophesied to come before the Messiah. But the Pharisees did not understand or believe BECAUSE they had not been baptized by John.

So, once again we have confirmation of the importance of baptism as it affected and is credited as the reason people believed Jesus words about John.

The second thing to look at comes when some of John's followers go and ask Jesus if he is the Messiah. Instead of Jesus just saying, "yes." Which he could have done. And instead of saying, "well, duh." Which he could have said. He defines the post from yesterday. Jesus just shows (fruit) what the two needed to know. and when he was done he said, go and tell John, the blind see, the dead are raised, the deaf hear, the demons are dispatched.

Jesus let his fruit speak for him.

Have a good Thursday. School is back in session...Yeah!

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Luke 6 / August 13 - Believers should be a little fruity...

One of the things that you see in believers if you spend much time with them is their fruit. Now, I realize that I may be a little hard on us Christians but think of this. I am sitting here watching the Olympics and all these young girls doing gymnastics (I'm watching with Andi) and they have chosen to be gymnasts at this level and have to expect a great deal of scrutiny. You and I have chosen to align ourselves with Christ and so we must expect the scrutiny of the world. Think of it this way, the Olympic committee decided to let china, a Communist, smog ridden country host this years games. Now, many are complaining about the pollution and the human rights issue has almost taken the top platform during the games. What did we expect? As Christians we should expect, even relish, the watchful eye of the world. It is when people are watching that we have the opportunity to shine and then, hopefully they not be seeing us but Christ.

Jesus, in verses 43-45, talks of fruit. He says that every good tree bears good fruit and every bad tree bears bad fruit. Jesus is being a little critical of believers. A Christian needs to produce good fruit. Fruit like love and grace and peace and mercy. There are far too many believers who try to show their good fruit on Sunday but on Monday that fruit shows that it is rotten.

We are not to judge people, we are to judge fruit. We ought to look at our fruit, check it twice and then spray for bugs.

Have a Great rest of the week!

Monday, August 11, 2008

Luke 5 / August 12 - this one just hit me...

Okay, I realize that I am not a scholar. I don't claim to be. I do the best I can with what I have, a bit of knowledge a little common sense and the will to tell someone about it. That being said, I saw something today that has stumped me for years. I have never gotten a real satisfactory answer, and don't know what I would do if I got one of those ivory tower answers anyway. But maybe you've seen this before and wondered about it, so let's look at it together and see what we can come up with.

In verse 17 we find Jesus sitting with a group of guys who don't like him very well and there is a little tag at the end of that verse that I have never figured out. It says that "the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick." Did you catch that? Luke felt it necessary to tell us that there was some power that was there (don't really know how he knew) that led or urged or prompted Jesus to heal.

Okay...I know what you're thinking, cause I am thinking it too! THIS IS JESUS! GOD'S SON! HE HAS THE POWER! I don't get it? Why was it necessary for Luke to tell us that at this particular time, this particular place, there was something that hadn't been there before so that Jesus was able? willing? directed? (take your pick) to heal.

Remember when we were going through Matthew? I just remembered and looked it up. In chapter 13, verse 58 it says that Jesus didn't many miracles because of their lack of faith. So, in that case, Jesus seems to be limited in his miraculous healing ability not because of any inability on His part, but because of "their" lack of faith.

And here, Luke points out that there was some sign, some feeling, some smell or visible thing or some thing that was just understood so that Jesus perceived power to heal. But still. Isn't the power of Jesus to heal, create, fly, transform, curse a bush and get angry with the thieves inhabiting the temple, completely and totally separate from anything else going on? Doesn't Jesus just have the power to do? Can't Jesus just do whatever, whenever? Come on! The Bible tells that by "Him" everything was created. Can't this guy do anything he wants, whenever he wants?!

The answer to that question is both YES and NO. Jesus, remember is the poster child for humility, which some have said is strength, under control. A team of horses, powerful and fast under the control of a small piece of leather or a bit. Jesus absolutely has the power and the ability to heal and do whatever else He wants, whenever He wants. But He doesn't. Why? we find that portion of the answer in John 5:19 where Jesus says I can do nothing by myself. I can do only what I see the Father doing because what the Father does, I do. (that was all my paraphrase, click on the link to see if just like Jesus said it).

Jesus had the power to heal, but didn't because the Father did not want it, for some reason, perhaps only He knows fully. In Luke 5 Jesus healed, not because he got some special telegram from God giving him permission, but because it was what God wanted at that moment. Jesus gives over control of His power and ability to His Father.

What a perfect picture for you and I. We CAN do anything we want, but it shouldn't be just about what we want, it should be about what HE wants. You see, God has our best interest at heart, so if we follow Him and act in HIS will, we will never go wrong and we will in all practicality be acting just like Jesus. What would Jesus Do? whatever His Father wanted him to.
Have a good Tuesday!

Friday, August 8, 2008

Aug 9th

Hey all. It is late Friday night and I am tired and so I'll just read the text with you today. See you Sunday!!!!

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Luke 1 / August 8th - foundation for faith

Good Friday friends!

I want to talk to you about faith. I am one of those people that says, faith is NOT just a step into nothing. I don't believe in a "leap" of faith which infers that there is some gap that you have to "leap" over to get to saving faith.

If you read the first 4 verses of Luke 1 you will see that this "leap" is not something Luke was interested in either. He says that he wants to write an orderly account of the life of Christ so that his benefactor (Theophilus) would "know the certainty" of the things he had been taught. Luke is saying, don't just believe because someone said it, let me lay out the history from eyewitnesses and from my own account so that your faith will have a foundation in the truth.

You see I believe. When someone on TV says that the casket of "Christ" has been found with his bones in it I laugh and turn the channel. I have faith. But it is not blind faith. It is not pie-in-the-sky faith. I believe because there is historical fact. Because there is no other credible option. Because evolution has been completely debunked. Because there has to be more to life than birth, a few years, and death.

So my faith is supported by reality. Truth. Fact.

There are no bones. The tomb is empty. The eyewitnesses are countless. The historical data is inescapable. So my faith has foundation... but even if it didn't, I'd still believe!

See you Sunday!

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Mark 16 / Aug 6 - in case you don't know...

((The most reliable early manuscripts and other ancient witnesses do not have Mark 16:9-20.))

Perhaps you noticed this statement in your Bible reading this morning. Or maybe you knew it was there. Well, here's what you need to know. The most reliable early manuscripts and other ancient witnesses don't include Mark 16:9-20.

Here's the really simple version. The Bible as we have it today has been put together from manuscripts that have been saved and protected through generations. Nothing we have dates to the time of Jesus but the Dead Sea scrolls went back farther than any previous manuscripts and were more complete (as I recall from my OCC days). So some of the manuscripts we had prior to the Dead Sea scrolls contained Mark 16:9-20, but when the older manuscripts were found, proved to be accurate and then compared to the earlier manuscripts there were some discrepancies. This is one, and another one at John 7:53-8:11.

Instead of just removing the text it was left in with this caveat, "these are not the most reliable."

So this is what I do... I only use these texts as support material, to help reinforce a passage that says the same thing, just maybe in a different way. I do not, nor do I plan on, preaching directly from these texts as they are not among the most reliable.

We can talk more about this later if you're interested. I'll dig out my notes!

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Mark 15 / Aug 6 - what you want is an eye witness...

If you've ever been in an accident or hauled off to court (no, not just you Joyce) what you want is an eye witness right? Someone who was there, who saw the whole thing, who's testimony can be trusted.

Why is the story of a man who claimed to be the Son of God still talked about today? Eyewitnesses. Everything Jesus did was in full view of everyone, everyone saw it and when things are done in the open they are hard to dispute.

Jesus death was in plain view and the names of those who saw it are listed. And there are some women here in this chapter here who saw it all. There were two women that watched Jesus die and they saw where he was put in the ground. They said, "that is where it happened. This is where we were standing. Here is where we fell and wept on the ground. And that tomb, that one right there, that is where they laid him, that's the stone that they rolled over the opening."

You can't discount an eye witness. And yet you and I must remember what Jesus said, "blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." I didn't see, but I believe those who did. What about you?

Monday, August 4, 2008

Mark 14 / Aug 5 - not that it matters...

I want you to take a second look at verse 26. This portion of Scripture is powerful when it comes to Jesus and His incredible example of servanthood and love. But I want to skip all that. In fact, this whole chapter is loaded with all kinds of things that it would take weeks to discuss each item of importance. But we won't look at any of that.

We're going to look at this silly verse that doesn't change the passage one little bit. So, why would we waste time on it? Well, I just got curious. This verse says that they "sang a hymn" and went outside. And I've heard this argument lots of times about why Praise songs aren't biblical or if you sing hymns you're more spiritual or something and this passage along with others is used.

Well, the bible says that we are to sing "songs, hymns and spiritual songs." Or, "I will sing hymns to your name." I mean, even Paul and Silas sang "hymns" while they were in jail. So, as you can see, Hymns are the more spiritual way to worship God. So, I've heard this kind of thing not just about hymns but other pet issues too. So, I decided to poke around the word a little bit.

Did you know that the word hymn may have actually come from the Greek god of marriage, hymen. And a wedding song that was sung. It also literally means, a song of praise; a song of praise or joy and a song or ode in praise to gods or heroes. What this all means is that the word hymn was around before the Biblical writers used it to describe what was going on. It did not originate with the Bible and simply described what was being done. It was a certain kind of song - sung to gods or about heroes.

So, isn't this exactly what is going on today? People singing songs of praise or joy to God? What is different? Hymns tell stories, some of them good and some not so good. The modern day hymn expresses the emotional or "feeling" side of our relationship with God. So, let's put this issue to rest shall we? You say potatoe and I say potato but we're both talking about the same famous brown (or sometimes red) meaty thing that you pull up out of the ground and then make french fries out of!

Have a good Tuesday!

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Mark 13 / Aug 4 - does one little sentance change it?

Hey all. I'm ready to trust a little more, do a little more and sin a little less this week!

Okay, so I'm reading through this chapter and have read it before and know that some people will put this passage with some from the book of Daniel and the book of Revelation and talk about when Christ is going to come back.

We read about false christs and supposed prophets and this "abomination that causes desolation" and how horrible it will be and many think that this is a reference to the end times, you know, Armageddon and all that Revelation stuff. But I wonder if people stop a bit too soon?

Did you read verse 30? Did you notice that Jesus tells of all these horrible things and then he says that "I tell you the truth." which always means, pay attention. Listen up! Heed my words. (not just "I'm not lying.) "This generation will not pass away until all these things have happened."

So, what does that mean? well... discovering that is part of Biblical interpretation. But aside from a whole bunch of study, it seems to mean that all these things will happen in your life time. And again, without getting into a huge post here, they did happen. The Temple was destroyed, a guy who didn't believe in God stood in the Temple compound, the Jewish people fled into the hills and lived in caves. This all happened 40 years later, around 70AD, at the hands of the Roman empire.

Is this a prophecy of the end times as some suspect? Is it a warning to the disciple (a few were alive to at least hear of it though most had already left Jerusalem because of the persecution)?John wrote the book of Revelation on the exile Island of Patmos about 90AD so he was certainly alive, though it is hard to know if he had received word of it or not.

Read carefully! See you tomorrow!

Friday, August 1, 2008

Mark 11 / Aug 2 - What's the big deal?

In the end of this chapter Jesus asks a question of the religious leaders who were trying to trap him.

It was a question about baptism. Now, John came with a message of repentance because "the kingdom of heaven is near." Part of John's message was the act of immersion as a "sign" of their repentance and desire to be prepared for Jesus (though they didn't completely understand that the Messiah was coming so quickly). John baptized many people, and many more people beleived that John was a prophet, some even thought he might be the Messiah.

So Jesus asks the stuffed shirts where the baptism of John came from. Was it from God, in which case they would be dissobeying. Or was it from man, in which case they people would have been stupid for believing his message.

The guys say they don't know, so Jesus says he won't tell them where His power comes from.

What I want to know is, why would Jesus ask this question in the first place? Jesus power came from God which is the connection with John's baptism. If the religious leaders couldn't tell where John's baptism came from they would not be willing to accept that Jesus' was God's Son.

So, does this mean that baptism is from God? or just some silly thing that we "men" made up?