February 25, 2018 Sunday

“And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He spoke this word openly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? “Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”” (Mark 8:31-38 NKJV)

            There are two parts of the Good News we often do not want to hear.  First is that we are sinners who deserve hell and are in desperate need of the Good News.  Second is that the Good News calls us to sacrifice everything, even our life, to honor our Lord who gave His life for us!

            Like Peter we want to “rebuke” God for this call upon our lives.  After all grace is free so what is this stuff about denying ourselves, giving our life and maybe even dying for God?  But we should remember that even when tempted Jesus purchased the grace that is free to us!  Indeed grace is very expensive it is just that Jesus paid the price for us.

            It is easy to think this is about being martyred for Jesus but I think it is very clear that Jesus also means many of us will Lose” our lives by not doing what we want but investing our lives in honoring the God who honored us by His life and in those God desires to come to Him.  In many ways I think this is harder!

            As I write this I am lying in bed on a Sunday morning when I want so badly to be with God’s people.  The pain and suffering seems to grow every day.  I prayed and asked God twice to heal me from this pain and disabling disease.  Twice God told me He would heal me through this!

            For over two years I have seen my pain grow and my abilities lessen.  I have had to step from my calling to the pastoral ministry and face the grief of doing something I loved.  I have left the parsonage life and been thrown into “real” life with little warning.  The hardest part is seeing how this affects my family as they become caregivers and the grief I see on their faces.

            But God promised me my ministry would grow through this and even though disabled I send about 40 cards each month to shut-ins, write this blog and have a prayer ministry that takes me around the world from my bed!

            What is amazing to me is Bonnie and I are reading a devotional on the history of hymns it is amazing how many writers suffered terrible problems and how many people as they faced death found solace and comfort from those very hymns!

            Are you giving your life to and for God?  Are you experiencing God presence each day as you offer everything to God?  For if you are not experiencing God’s presence you need to be where God is, with the hurting and the lost!

“God never asks anything from you He hasn’t already given to you and God will not ask you to do anything He hasn’t already done for you!”

            After being able to do so much now comes the time to pay for it!  Doing always has a price paid for in pain.  Some may ask why I do it if it leads to pain but it would hurt more to lay there and do nothing!  My Love and My Lord strengthen me every moment so I can serve you and love my family!  Help me to keep going and serving until I no longer can and then enable me to praise you from my weakness and pain!  Even as the pain grows and becomes terrible I thank God for all the weakness and pain because it helps me experience God’s presence more!

February 24, 2018 Saturday

“‘And if by these things you are not reformed by Me, but walk contrary to Me, then I also will walk contrary to you, and I will punish you yet seven times for your sins. And I will bring a sword against you that will execute the vengeance of the covenant; when you are gathered together within your cities I will send pestilence among you; and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy. When I have cut off your supply of bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall bring back your bread by weight, and you shall eat and not be satisfied. ‘And after all this, if you do not obey Me, but walk contrary to Me, then I also will walk contrary to you in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins. You shall eat the flesh of your sons, and you shall eat the flesh of your daughters. I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars, and cast your carcasses on the lifeless forms of your idols; and My soul shall abhor you. I will lay your cities waste and bring your sanctuaries to desolation, and I will not smell the fragrance of your sweet aromas. I will bring the land to desolation, and your enemies who dwell in it shall be astonished at it.” (Leviticus 26:23-32 NKJV)

            Does this passage horrify you?  Does this make you think that God is a terrible and angry God?  Then maybe as a radio person used to say “now here is the rest of the story”.

            God had rescued the people of Israel from slavery and in the process crushed one of the most power nations.  They saw the amazing power of God and not only were they set free but the people of Egypt wanted them gone so much they gave some of their wealth to Israel.  But right away they started to complain.

            In what was supposed to be a time of discipleship as they approached the land promised by God over and over Israel whined and failed to be disciple.

            Even when they got to the land and God helped them conquer fortified cities they gave up and settled for so much less.  They started worshipping gods like molech and even sacrificed their children to these gods.  The abundant food and provision from God was sacrificed to these gods even within the very Temple that was to house God’s presence among them.

            If you look at the list of things God is going to allow to happen or do to them we can see it is where they have taken God’s provision and blessing and used it worship the horrific gods around them.

            This passage ends with the amazing statement that the enemies of Israel will be astonished.  Israel had come from slavery and had marched into the land and God had put a fear in the hearts of those Israel would face.  Now these same nations saw these same people degenerate and become helpless prey!

            Someone once said that as Christians we are either prayed for or preyed on.  Which are you?

            I rested most of the day so I could go to Grandmommy’s birthday party.  Thanks to God for I made it through the meal and was able to go to her house for the party.  It was such a good time and it was so good to be there.  But I was so weary and then did not sleep well.  But thanks to God that I was able to be there!

February 23, 2018 Friday

““And you shall say to them, ‘This is the offering made by fire which you shall offer to the LORD: two male lambs in their first year without blemish, day by day, as a regular burnt offering. ‘The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, the other lamb you shall offer in the evening, ‘and one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a grain offering mixed with one-fourth of a hin of pressed oil. ‘It is a regular burnt offering which was ordained at Mount Sinai for a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD. ‘And its drink offering shall be one-fourth of a hin for each lamb; in a holy place you shall pour out the drink to the LORD as an offering. ‘The other lamb you shall offer in the evening; as the morning grain offering and its drink offering, you shall offer it as an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD.” (Numbers 28:3-8 NKJV)

            Reading this passage to many may seem like just another in the list of sacrifices where many animals were killed to please God.  It is always easy to blame God for our sin but the death of animals was a foretelling of how God would deal with sin and death.

            We see the daily offering was two lambs a grain offering of flour and oil and some wine.  What does this mean?

The two lambs foretell Jesus as the Lamb of God!  The two lambs prophecy Jesus would be 100% human and 100& God.

The grain offering foretells the bread of the Last Supper which is the Body of Jesus.

The wine offering foretells the wine of the Last Supper which is the Blood of Jesus.

The fire reminds us that when we receive salvation through Jesus God burns the dross of sin from our life.

            The two lambs are also a reminder of the presence of God as everyday one is offered in the morning and one in the evening.  Here we can see the presence of Jesus in our live, families, communities and nation throughout every day.

            When we acknowledge God’s presence and celebrate the offering of His Son Jesus we no longer offer mere animals but the greater offering of our love and praise.  Then as we are purified by the fire of God in our life we become “a sweet aroma to the LORD.”

            With the new CPAP machine I am sleeping better and have been able to do more.  The problem is my mind is still not clear so even as I try to do things I often mess them up.  It is so frustrating at times because I cannot seem to remember the correct order to do something.  But feeling a little better helped me get the cards out, helped me spend more time in the Bible and have a better prayer time.

February 22, 2018 Thursday

“Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying: “And as for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you, “and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ark, every beast of the earth. “Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” And God said: “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: “I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. “It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; “and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. “The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.”” (Genesis 9:8-17 NKJV)

            The sign of the rainbow has long been a sign God would not judge the world by a flood that covers the world.  Rainbows are a constant reminder of God’s acknowledgment of our sinfulness and of God’s mercy to us.

            Sometimes we forget our sinfulness and when the storms and ravages of nature and the earth come we can see them as acts of God.  We place the blame for our own sin on God. 

            Before humanity sinned creation was “very good” but our fall destroyed not only our harmony with God but also the harmony of creation.  Creation is no longer “very good” because we broke it!  Many things we blame on God are really the result of our own sin!

            Our lives, our families, our communities, our countries and even our world are broken because of sin.  In truth the leading cause of death is not cancer, heart disease or even sexually transmitted diseases but it is SIN.  The book of Romans covers the result of our fall and God’s cure for us.

            Some have tried to hijack the rainbow but it still is the sign of God’s mercy, even with the dire sin we see around us. 

            Have you wondered why serial killers, child molester, rapists, slavers and so many who do such evil in the world are not destroyed by God?  All sin cuts us off from God and if God were to destroy them in justice God would have to once destroy us all.

            The story of Abraham dickering with God to save Sodom and Gomorrah is so striking.  Abraham bid for the cities to not be destroyed even though their evil destroyed so many lives.  God acquiesced to save the city if only five righteous people could be found but the cities were destroyed because only four righteous people were found in the cities!

            WE DESERVE DESTRUCTION AND HELL!  While this is hard to hear it is Truth and only when accepted can we cry out to God who reminds us after storms that He will keep His word and covenant!

February 21, 2018 Wednesday

“« A Psalm of David. » To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me. Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed; Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause. Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day. Remember, O LORD, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses, For they are from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; According to Your mercy remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O LORD. Good and upright is the LORD; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way. The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way. All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth, To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.” (Psalm 25:1-10 NKJV)

            In a world where often want to believe everyone is good and they are saved David makes a point that we must lift up our soul to God and we must trust in God.  David also calls for God to “teach” him God’s paths and ways. 

            Look at how many times the word “teach” is used in this Psalm.  David by lifting himself and placing his trust in God has gone beyond that by developing a relationship with God. 

            In effect David is calling on God to be a teacher, Rabbi and discipler to him.  David opens himself to God’s teaching and guidance in his life.  With faith and trust David looks to God to be involved in every part of his life.

            David chooses to trust in God to be so close to him.  In the days of David there were many gods and even each god was seen differently in different cities.  The gods were to be served so they would keep people from harm and give the people what they needed.

            Many of the gods David saw were gods who demanded orgies or even children to be sacrificed to them.  Carved statues and images were bowed to and served in the hope that trouble would be averted.  Though different each one is actually a device of the evil one to draw us from the true God!

            But the God David called out to is described as a savior, merciful and full of loving kindness!  David calls upon God to forgive his sins and trusts in God to be able to and to want to forgive!

            Do you have faith in God?  If you have faith do you call upon God to teach you and guide you?  Is God a wrathful and demanding God to you or is God merciful and loving to you?

            The god you choose is the god you have to live with.  ETERNALLY!

            Today is a bad day.  My right foot is swollen, red and hot to the touch.  It is terribly painful to walk on.  Bonnie thinks it may be the gout so I am trying to eat more simply, take more of the cherry extract and stay off of it as much as possible.  I had the best time in the Bible and prayer than I have had in a while.  God is so good!

We live in times when it seems we are surrounded by enemies and we if we are not careful our hearts become fearful as we begin to look at these problems and quit looking to God who is our hope for the victory of good.

            We may think arrogantly that our problems are like no other time but as you read this prayers for the Confederate Soldier Prayer Book you will see we are not so different.

A PRAYER FOR OUR ENEMIES.

        O GOD, we beseech Thee, forgive and pardon our enemies, and give us that measure of Thy grace, that for their hatred we may love them; for their cursing we may bless them; for their injury we may do them good; and for their persecution we may pray for them. They have laid a net for our steps, and they have digged a pit before us; Lord, we desire not that they themselves should fall into the midst of these, but we beseech Thee keep us out of them, and deliver, establish, bless and prosper us for Thy mercy's sake in Jesus Christ our Saviour, to whom with Thee and the Holy Spirit, we desire to consecrate ourselves and our country, now and forever, imploring Thee to be our GOD, and to make us Thy people. Amen.

(From Prayers Suitable For the Times in Which We Live)

February 20, 2018 Tuesday

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us — baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.” (1Peter 3:18-22 NKJV)

            In an older version of the Apostle’s Creed there is an additional line which comes from this verse.  Some may not see the importance of this line or this passage but notice the importance in that not only is this mentioned but it is compared to a momentous act of grace.

“by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient,”

            This verse makes the startling statement that Jesus descended into hell to preach the Good News to those who are imprisoned by their sin in hell.  Some in the Church have thought this verse means people who are in jail but it is obvious by the rest of the verse this is more than that.

            God showed an amazing “divine longsuffering” as Jesus came to us to offer us hope and redemption.  Jesus came to a world that from the very first saw Him as a threat and attempted to kill Him. 

            Why would Jesus go to hell to preach the Good News?  Maybe because they lived before the coming of Jesus and therefore had not received the opportunity to hear the Good News and experience God’s glory and love. 

            Why do you think Jesus went to hell during His time in the tomb?  What could Jesus hope to gain?  How do you think you respond if Jesus shared the Good News with you?

                     

            Today was a terrible day!  My feet hurt terribly and made it almost impossible to walk.  I spent most of the day in bed trying to deal with the pain.  Bonnie took a day and went to Cades Cove and came back tired but renewed.  Rebecca and I had supper together and watched a movie together.  I slept well with the new machine. 

February 19, 2018 Monday

“It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him. Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”” (Mark 1:9-15 NKJV)

            Mark is full of immediates and coming to pass.  There is an energy and almost an emergency to Mark’s writing of what many believe is the first Gospel written for a rapidly growing and expanding Church.

            “It came to pass”.  This phrase is a reminder that the coming and ministry of Jesus is part of not only the flow of time but the flow of God’s redemption.  This phrase also reminds us that the work of Jesus was not just for over 2,000 years ago but is still being passed on by the Body of Jesus.

            If you take time to list the places Mark mentions we are taught that the ministry of Jesus not only happened in time but in a place.  God’s work of redemption happens in our time and place so as we preach the Kingdom of God we do so in our time and in our own place!

            What is our authority to say that Jesus is the Good News and that the Kingdom of God is at hand?  Mark shows us the authority of Jesus calling us to Baptism by being baptized and His authority comes from the recognition and calling of the Father.  Here we are shown the recognition and public declaration of the Father of Jesus.

We also are shown the shift from John the Baptizer to the ministry of Jesus fulfilling the declaration of John that Jesus would increase even as he would decrease.

            Are you willing to accept the authority of Jesus in your life?  Will you, like John, acknowledge that you must decrease so Jesus can increase?

            Today Bonnie and I went to pick up my new CPAP machine.  The people at Medical Necessities were very kind and helpful.  The machine has many new features which I hope will help me sleep better.  Bonnie is such a blessing!  The pain is growing so much since I have been doing more.  I pray the Lord will help me sleep!

February 18, 2018 Sunday

“Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished.” (Luke 18:31 NKJV)

            As we begin Lent we start our journey to Jerusalem and the cross just as Jesus and the twelve did year ago.  This journey must be made!  There is no way to get to redemption and glorification without traveling through the time of Lent.

            Do not waste your time arguing just get started on your journey, for we do not want to be late for our own cross which leads to more than we could ever hope or dream for!

Lent

Often seen as a time to

Leave behind or quit

Is really a time forward

Recovering loving God

It is a time of preparation

It is a time of anticipation

It is a time of participation

It is a time for glorification

A journey of relenting

Giving up all that is past

Giving up to God’s grace

Giving up my heart to God

It is a time of preparation

It is a time of anticipation

It is a time of participation

It is a time for glorification

A journey discovering love

The love of God for me

The love for God from me

The love of those God loves

It is a time of preparation

It is a time of anticipation

It is a time of participation

It is a time for glorification

A journey hoping God will die

Hoping our Love wouldn’t

Hoping that our Love will

Hoping we deserve such Love

It is a time of preparation

It is a time of anticipation

It is a time of participation

It is a time for glorification

A journey to Jerusalem

To see His glorification

To see our evil disgrace

To see tears on His face

It is a time of preparation

It is a time of anticipation

It is a time of participation

It is a time for glorification

A journey to the Garden of pain

To see bloods first horrible stain

To feel His souls deep strain

To see His face set once again

It is a time of preparation

It is a time of anticipation

It is a time of participation

It is a time for glorification

A journey to judgment seat

To see the Judge being judged

To see civilization ripped apart

To see our fear and its horror

It is a time of preparation

It is a time of anticipation

It is a time of participation

It is a time for glorification

A journey to the God’s cross

Nails pale to pain of His loss

Loss of His Father’s love

Love lost so love can be gained

It is a time of preparation

It is a time of anticipation

It is a time of participation

It is a time for glorification

A journey to Mary holding

The body of her beloved Son

The body of her dead God

The body of her redeemer

It is a time of preparation

It is a time of anticipation

It is a time of participation

It is a time for glorification

A journey to the empty tomb

To see Life resurrected to life

To see our Life brought to life

To see Life no longer empty

It is a time of preparation

It is a time of anticipation

It is a time of participation

It is a time for glorification

Walk with me God through Lent

Or should I say walk with You

Resurrect Your life within me

Oh My Love to become like You

                                                3/15/17

            Many times as I prepare for a message I work my heart through the difficult parts through poetry so I can not only understand what I can but also be able to share it with others so they can better understand. 

            The “poem” above is my attempt to see and discover the experience of Lent.  I put the word poem in quotes because I do not know if it qualifies as poetry but to me they are Heart Talks with God.  It is my hope and prayer God will use it to touch your life.

           

            I was able to go to worship at Asbury.  Rebecca and her friend Elizabeth sang together and I wanted to be there to hear them.  They did an amazing job as Bonnie did on the organ.  I know they made God smile.  Rev Sarah Varnell had a wonderful and moving message.

February 17, 2018 Saturday

“And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. And He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Step forward.” Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent. And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.” (Mark 3:1-6 NKJV)

            There is so much sadness in this passage on so many different levels it becomes a pain within a pain.  There is so much hurt of which most is intentional that is more striking coming from “religious” people.

            First we see the man with a withered hand.  In those days there was no government or private disability provider and so a handicapped person had to find a job of limited means, depend on the generosity of family or beg.

            Second the leaders of the synagogue hoped Jesus would heal the man on the Sabbath so they could accuse Him!  What?  They depended on the kindness and the power of Jesus to heal even if it wasn’t a convenient day.

            Third Jesus challenged them on their heart attitude by pointing out the desperate need of the man and the meaning of Sabbath.  On the Sabbath should we do evil or good?  On the Sabbath is it lawful to save a life or to kill?

            Fourth we see the terrible hardness of their hearts as they remained silent.  Were they silent because they didn’t know the answer?  Were they silent so they wouldn’t have to reveal the hardness of their hearts?  Were they silent so the others couldn’t see their own hearts?  Were they silent so they could better implicate Jesus?

            They seem to know that Jesus would heal the man so they counted on His love and kindness to condemn Him.  What kind of hearts could see the healing of a suffering person as a way of condemning someone?

            Just as they expected Jesus responded in love and healed the man.  There were so many people Jesus didn’t heal and we are left to wonder could Jesus have backed off and not healed this man?  Some might even declare that Jesus incited them by healing this man and challenging their beliefs.

            It always amazes me that church people are more surprised by what God does than those who are hardhearted or evil.  They knew Jesus would heal out of love while we debate what is the loving thing to do and actually believe we know better than God what that is!

            Then comes a very remarkable part of this story and the power of good.

“Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.”

As the saying goes the enemy of my enemy is my friend and here we see two religious enemies joining as friends against Jesus!  Just as we see groups today who fight against the Bible and Christian prayer being in school will actually fight for the Qur’an to be taught and for prayer rugs to be made available for Islamic students.  (I know some will find this statement to be unfair or unloving – BUT IT IS TRUE!  What does that say to you?)

            Religious leaders and people do not understand the power and glory of God.  It saddens me so much that those of the world believe in the power of prayer and the Bible more than we do!  Often church people have limited prayer and limited Bible reading while the world fears the power of prayer and the Bible and seek to limit its use!

            For why would you fight so hard to limit and curtail something you didn’t believe in?

            I slept better last night though it took me a little while to figure out the new configuration of the CPAP.  Rebecca’s friend Elizabeth McCrary is visiting with us this weekend and she and Rebecca will sing “Breathe on Me Breath of God” to the new tune Rebecca wrote.  I am so proud of Rebecca for using her talent in such a wonderful way.

February 16, 2018 Friday

“Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain. And the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” But He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him: “how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat, except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?” And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. “Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”” (Mark 2:23-28 NKJV)

            Many times when people challenged or questioned Jesus the response was a quote from scripture.  It is amazing that Jesus (the Living Word of God) who had all authority should choose to quote the Bible (the written word of God) as His authority.

            Even when the question or even the temptation came as a quote from the Bible Jesus know the fullness of God’s word and called His accusers on it. 

            “Have you never read” – what a question!   But it is so valid for people not just in the time of Jesus but in our time also.  Have you ever read the Bible?  Have you ever read the Bible through?  Have you ever studied the Bible to show yourself approved to God?

            I once was debating with some people from a cult and they told me they liked to talk to church people because they knew so little about the Bible that they could easily confuse them and lead them to their group!

            The Bible has taken many hits throughout history but it is still around and the detractors are only known as the people who got it wrong.  The same is true today and those who seek to disprove the Bible will only be able to confuse “church people” and not those who have come alive through the Living Word and make the written word part of their life.

            Will you take up the challenge to read through the entire Bible each year?  As you read the Bible will you ask for God to reveal Himself through the Bible and through the Holy Spirit?

            Confusion over my old CPAP machine settings left me unable to sleep last night.  I woke up feeling terrible and got worse as the day went along.  Bonnie waited about 2 hours to get my machine adjusted and they felt it was already okay.  But it doesn’t work like it used to and the buttons do not work as they did before.

February 15, 2018 Thursday

“Then He went out again by the sea; and all the multitude came to Him, and He taught them. As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him. Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. “But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days. “No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; or else the new piece pulls away from the old, and the tear is made worse. “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.”” (Mark 2:13-22 NKJV)

            Today I heard about the shooting in Florida at a school.  The death and violence happens so much we are no longer as shocked or as frightened by it.  That is so sad.

            After a shooting that took place when I was still in the pastoral ministry people asked me if God cares about these shootings.  “Does God not care that these kids die?”

            As I said before I want to say for others to hear, God does care! How can you know God cares?

            Every pain experienced by everyone involved in the shooting in Florida, even the shooter, was paid for by Jesus on the cross.  And not just this act of evil but every act ever done, every act being done now and every act that will be done in the future!

            On the cross as the nails pierced the flesh of Jesus, as the blood flowed and pain screamed from the lashes on His broken body, as the horrific thorns ripped at His scalp and skull every sin, every shooting, every victim, every criminal and every grieving person was borne by the only innocent victim and by the suffering of Jesus not only was salvation purchased but also healing!

            As the blood flowed down the cross of Jesus the ground where the seed of hope lies was fertilized, faith was able to grow in that soil to a strong and vibrant plant to produce the fruit of love with the seed of new life.

            God is there with every hurting person loving them and seeking for them to come to Him.  Long before the shooter ever thought about buying a gun God reached out to them, even in womb, calling them to life!

            Now God is calling out to you!  WILL YOU PRAY EVERYDAY FOR THE SAFETY OF YOUR LOCAL SCHOOLS!  Will you pray for the children who grow up in hate and despondency and reach out to care for them because God cares about them?  WILL YOU?

Today I heard about the shooting in Florida at a school.  The death and violence happens so much we are no longer as shocked or as frightened by it.  That is so sad.

            After a shooting that took place when I was still in the pastoral ministry people asked me if God cares about these shootings.  “Does God not care that these kids die?”

            As I said before I want to say for others to hear, God does care! How can you know God cares?

            Every pain experienced by everyone involved in the shooting in Florida, even the shooter, was paid for by Jesus on the cross.  And not just this act of evil but every act ever done, every act being done now and every act that will be done in the future!

            On the cross as the nails pierced the flesh of Jesus, as the blood flowed and pain screamed from the lashes on His broken body, as the horrific thorns ripped at His scalp and skull every sin, every shooting, every victim, every criminal and every grieving person was borne by the only innocent victim and by the suffering of Jesus not only was salvation purchased but also healing!

            As the blood flowed down the cross of Jesus the ground where the seed of hope lies was fertilized, faith was able to grow in that soil to a strong and vibrant plant to produce the fruit of love with the seed of new life.

            God is there with every hurting person loving them and seeking for them to come to Him.  Long before the shooter ever thought about buying a gun God reached out to them, even in womb, calling them to life!

            Now God is calling out to you!  WILL YOU PRAY EVERYDAY FOR THE SAFETY OF YOUR LOCAL SCHOOLS!  Will you pray for the children who grow up in hate and despondency and reach out to care for them because God cares about them?  WILL YOU?

February 14, 2018 Wednesday

““Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. “Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. “But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, “that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” (Matthew 6:1-6 NKJV)

            Why does God command us to give?  After all God doesn’t need our money does He?  Doesn’t God provide all we need and have?  So why does God command us to bring not only our offering but also our gifts?

            Economically it doesn’t make sense that God gives you 100% and then asks you to return 10%.  So if it is not economics what is it?  It is about our need to GIVE!

            Without offering to God and others we become unhappy with what we have and just see what we don’t have.  That is why the more prosperous a people the less happy they often are!  God knows we need to give and we need to trust in God so the command to give is for our good!

            As we return the 10% we make an offering to God.  When the Jewish people made an offering they returned part of what God gave them.  The offering is a reminder of God’s provision and His faithfulness in providing.

            Gifts come in one of two ways.  A gift is a monetary gift beyond the offering we make given out of a joyous heart and a thankful soul!  But a gift is also using the gifts God gives us through the Holy Spirit to strengthen the Body of Jesus.

            Another part of this passage is Jesus teaches us how to pray.  Notice the assumption is that you will pray for how can someone who has received God’s love not want to praise and thank God and seek to know God better?

            Jesus teaches us that prayer is a conversation directly with God.  The Jewish leaders saw prayer as a public ritual that often could be more directed at their “audience”.  Even today some use prayer as just another chance for a sermon for those around them.

            Do you see prayer as an intimate time to converse with God?  Do you see prayer as a time not only to talk with God but also a time to listen?  How important is prayer in your life?

                                                

            On this Valentine’s Day we went to Asbury for Ash Wednesday service and then to Puleos’s for lunch.  Bonnie and I had a good meal and we stayed and talked awhile.  Reminded me of when we were dating and would sit a long time and talk when we ate out together.  It was a very good day.