Whew! I am getting behind. Out of town for three days and then most precious #1 (and only) son was in town last night and today. Then - we also had Vacation Bible School and I was able to be a guide for 11 awesome kids going into 5th grade. What an eye-opening experience! I love kids.
I will read if you will. Any questions?
Monday, June 28, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Picking and Choosing
Luke 6-8
Right away in chapter 6 the Pharisees are getting upset about about the disciples plucking grains of wheat on the sabbath. Can you imagine how hungry they must have been to be eating raw wheat grain? I have never tried raw wheat grain, so I have no idea how filling it might be. It seems like one would have to eat quite a bit to be satisfied.
Then we get to the parts of the scripture that people don't seem to pay particular attention to. 6:27 talks about loving your enemies and doing good to those who hate you. It seems to me that the church would be a much more accepted if people practiced this principle. Next scripture that captured my attention - 6:37 - "Do not judge, and you will not be judged, do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven...". Hmmmmm. Jesus said it. Good words to live by.
Then Jesus goes on to practice what he preaches. He heals a centurion's servant, basically a gentile slave. He doesn't judge the centurion for not being of the same religion. It's about his faith. Faith in what Jesus can do. Jesus then tells the crowd, "...not even in Israel have I found such faith." I want to have that kind of faith. How about you?
The woman with the alabaster jar is another story that makes me wonder. In chapter 7, verse 47 Jesus says, "...the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little". Hmmmmmm.
My favorite story is in chapter 8 - the healing of the woman who just touched the fringe of Jesus' robe, and she is instantly healed after suffering for 12 long years. Jesus' response to her - "your faith has made you well". Just the slightest touch of Jesus can bring healing into our lives.
I think I was supposed to read 9 also, but haven't done it yet. Garth was fantastic last night. Very personal. I cried! He is so talented. No fancy stage stuff. I love the song "The River". He says he and Trisha are planning to do a road show in about 4 years.
Right away in chapter 6 the Pharisees are getting upset about about the disciples plucking grains of wheat on the sabbath. Can you imagine how hungry they must have been to be eating raw wheat grain? I have never tried raw wheat grain, so I have no idea how filling it might be. It seems like one would have to eat quite a bit to be satisfied.
Then we get to the parts of the scripture that people don't seem to pay particular attention to. 6:27 talks about loving your enemies and doing good to those who hate you. It seems to me that the church would be a much more accepted if people practiced this principle. Next scripture that captured my attention - 6:37 - "Do not judge, and you will not be judged, do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven...". Hmmmmm. Jesus said it. Good words to live by.
Then Jesus goes on to practice what he preaches. He heals a centurion's servant, basically a gentile slave. He doesn't judge the centurion for not being of the same religion. It's about his faith. Faith in what Jesus can do. Jesus then tells the crowd, "...not even in Israel have I found such faith." I want to have that kind of faith. How about you?
The woman with the alabaster jar is another story that makes me wonder. In chapter 7, verse 47 Jesus says, "...the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little". Hmmmmmm.
My favorite story is in chapter 8 - the healing of the woman who just touched the fringe of Jesus' robe, and she is instantly healed after suffering for 12 long years. Jesus' response to her - "your faith has made you well". Just the slightest touch of Jesus can bring healing into our lives.
I think I was supposed to read 9 also, but haven't done it yet. Garth was fantastic last night. Very personal. I cried! He is so talented. No fancy stage stuff. I love the song "The River". He says he and Trisha are planning to do a road show in about 4 years.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Every Day is Christmas!
Luke 2-4
Sorry to miss posting yesterday, but we were traveling and sightseeing. There are amazing architectural wonders in this world. It will be interesting to see if they stand the test of time.
Let's start with Jesus being born. No elaborate accommodations or preparation in this story. Last Christmas our congregation focused on "Simple Christmas" and it was wonderful. So many people commented on how much better their celebrations were. Less stress. More Christ centered. I hope we will do that again this year.
God coming to earth as a baby - in a stable - surrounded by animals, and shepherds, and
kings.
Luke 2:22-36 tells us about Jesus being presented in the temple. Mary and Joseph were part of a covenant community, and they were introducing their son into that covenant.
Chapter 3 is a roll call that includes governors, kings, and a couple of high priests. This genealogy is different from the one in Matthew. Both use sequences of 7's. In Luke there are 77 including Jesus and Joseph.
More later. Temptation information is fascinating. How well do you know Deuteronomy? Jesus knew it well enough to protect him from Satan!
Sorry to miss posting yesterday, but we were traveling and sightseeing. There are amazing architectural wonders in this world. It will be interesting to see if they stand the test of time.
Let's start with Jesus being born. No elaborate accommodations or preparation in this story. Last Christmas our congregation focused on "Simple Christmas" and it was wonderful. So many people commented on how much better their celebrations were. Less stress. More Christ centered. I hope we will do that again this year.
God coming to earth as a baby - in a stable - surrounded by animals, and shepherds, and
kings.
Luke 2:22-36 tells us about Jesus being presented in the temple. Mary and Joseph were part of a covenant community, and they were introducing their son into that covenant.
Chapter 3 is a roll call that includes governors, kings, and a couple of high priests. This genealogy is different from the one in Matthew. Both use sequences of 7's. In Luke there are 77 including Jesus and Joseph.
More later. Temptation information is fascinating. How well do you know Deuteronomy? Jesus knew it well enough to protect him from Satan!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Unity?
Romans 15-16, Luke 1
Romans 15 - Paul is planning to take a collection back to Jerusalem. When people know you are supporting their "cause", they are more likely to be supportive and interested in what is going on. Paul wants the support of the disciples left in Jerusalem. He wants Jews and Gentiles to realize that those who believe in the resurrected Jesus as the Messiah are ONE body.
What are we doing as a church, as individuals, to send the message that the church of Jesus Christ is ONE body, ONE family, and that if one suffers, all suffer?
Chapter 16 - Paul is covering all the bases by mentioning the names of all of his supporters.
Luke 1 - This account of the good news begins in the temple - to a cynical priest who is arguing with an angel! Luke's message helps us to see that God's work is with ordinary people. First we see an old priest and his wife are blessed with a child, and then an unmarried young girl is also blessed with being the mother of God's son. Is the last scenario scandalous? I think the message is that God's favor is not necessarily prosperity or comfort!
Luke's gospel focuses on fear (Luke 1:30), joy (Luke 1:44, 47, 58), and peace (Luke 1:79).
So - is reading through the New Testament helping you live your life differently?
Romans 15 - Paul is planning to take a collection back to Jerusalem. When people know you are supporting their "cause", they are more likely to be supportive and interested in what is going on. Paul wants the support of the disciples left in Jerusalem. He wants Jews and Gentiles to realize that those who believe in the resurrected Jesus as the Messiah are ONE body.
What are we doing as a church, as individuals, to send the message that the church of Jesus Christ is ONE body, ONE family, and that if one suffers, all suffer?
Chapter 16 - Paul is covering all the bases by mentioning the names of all of his supporters.
Luke 1 - This account of the good news begins in the temple - to a cynical priest who is arguing with an angel! Luke's message helps us to see that God's work is with ordinary people. First we see an old priest and his wife are blessed with a child, and then an unmarried young girl is also blessed with being the mother of God's son. Is the last scenario scandalous? I think the message is that God's favor is not necessarily prosperity or comfort!
Luke's gospel focuses on fear (Luke 1:30), joy (Luke 1:44, 47, 58), and peace (Luke 1:79).
So - is reading through the New Testament helping you live your life differently?
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Divisions or Unity
Romans 13-14
Interesting concepts today...
13:8 Owe no one anything. (Anyone out there owe someone something? Financial Peace University starts August 22 at Cypress UMC. Sign up soon! Or join a class close to where you live www.daveramsey.com ).
13:12 Put on the armor of light. ("Light" is one of my favorite words - Be the light!)
Already divisions in the church over food, drink, and observance of special days. I know of Christian religions that don't celebrate Christmas. Do you think there were people arguing about the sabbath? Do you have a difficult time "keeping" a sabbath?
14:13 Stop passing judgement.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if Christians could just concentrate on our shared beliefs instead of our differences?
Monday, June 21, 2010
Paul Knows His Old Testament!
Romans 9-12
Romans 11:20b (or c)-21 had special meaning to me today. "So do not become proud, but stand in awe. For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you." God is awesome.
One amazing thing that fascinates me is how Paul can quote the Old Testament. It is probably not possible that he had a copy of it in front of him to refer back to. Copies back in those days were few and far between. Do you realize how fortunate we are to have copies (Bibles) we can refer to? Or may that is not fortunate, because we rely on the convenience and not our memory.
The "election of Israel" is emphasized over and over.
Chapter 12:9-12 are very meaningful - "Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer."
How are you doing with outdoing "one another in showing honor"?
Are you enjoying Romans? What was your favorite part today?
Romans 11:20b (or c)-21 had special meaning to me today. "So do not become proud, but stand in awe. For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you." God is awesome.
One amazing thing that fascinates me is how Paul can quote the Old Testament. It is probably not possible that he had a copy of it in front of him to refer back to. Copies back in those days were few and far between. Do you realize how fortunate we are to have copies (Bibles) we can refer to? Or may that is not fortunate, because we rely on the convenience and not our memory.
The "election of Israel" is emphasized over and over.
Chapter 12:9-12 are very meaningful - "Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer."
How are you doing with outdoing "one another in showing honor"?
Are you enjoying Romans? What was your favorite part today?
The NEW Exodus - Renewal of a Promise
Romans 7-8
Chapter 7 was a little difficult for me to understand, so I am glad there are commentaries to help me understand why I was having difficulty with it and to affirm it was difficult!
We need to remember that Paul as a Jew was exceedingly zealous for the law, even to the point of death of others. His zeal and enthusiasm lead to destructive behavior. Where else have you experienced destructive enthusiasm?
Did you notice the number of times Paul uses the word "sin"? "The flesh" is something Israel shares with all humankind. The Torah simply shows up sin. The NEW exodus will free people who are enslaved by Torah. In the old exodus the Jewish people were freed from Egypt, but not freed from the slavery to sin and death. The SPIRIT enables the church to go forward into the promised land of new creation. Jesus and the spirit will lead us through the wilderness.
This was an interesting tidbit. Did you know that some people thought the secret name of Roma (Rome) was Amor (Roma spelled backwards)? Amor is translated to the word "love". A couple of key features of Roman culture was the justice of God and the peace of God. Loving God more than Caesar might create a threat to the Roman culture. Many people who love the Lord care passionately about justice. Caesar wasn't always just - especially not to Christians.
Chapter 8:26-27 helps me to understand the frustration of not knowing what or how to pray.
The last part of chapter 8, verses 31-39, are my favorites to read in times of trouble. The descriptions suffering gives us some insight into what first century Christians were experiencing. It also helps us when we are hurting. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ Jesus! Praise God.
Chapter 7 was a little difficult for me to understand, so I am glad there are commentaries to help me understand why I was having difficulty with it and to affirm it was difficult!
We need to remember that Paul as a Jew was exceedingly zealous for the law, even to the point of death of others. His zeal and enthusiasm lead to destructive behavior. Where else have you experienced destructive enthusiasm?
Did you notice the number of times Paul uses the word "sin"? "The flesh" is something Israel shares with all humankind. The Torah simply shows up sin. The NEW exodus will free people who are enslaved by Torah. In the old exodus the Jewish people were freed from Egypt, but not freed from the slavery to sin and death. The SPIRIT enables the church to go forward into the promised land of new creation. Jesus and the spirit will lead us through the wilderness.
This was an interesting tidbit. Did you know that some people thought the secret name of Roma (Rome) was Amor (Roma spelled backwards)? Amor is translated to the word "love". A couple of key features of Roman culture was the justice of God and the peace of God. Loving God more than Caesar might create a threat to the Roman culture. Many people who love the Lord care passionately about justice. Caesar wasn't always just - especially not to Christians.
Chapter 8:26-27 helps me to understand the frustration of not knowing what or how to pray.
The last part of chapter 8, verses 31-39, are my favorites to read in times of trouble. The descriptions suffering gives us some insight into what first century Christians were experiencing. It also helps us when we are hurting. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ Jesus! Praise God.
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