Tag Archives: Bible

Things my biographer should write

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Only a short time into the book of Numbers, there are two statements I’ve read numerous times, which have not escaped my mind.

“So Moses did as the Lord commanded him.”

AND

“Moses and Aaron fell face down on the ground.”

Both Moses and Aaron are leading large groups of incredibly obstinate and stubborn people, and during all the whining, struggles, and frustrations, these are two very common responses from Moses and Aaron.  On countless occasions you see the Lord give Moses a command for his next move as the leader (often decisions and commands which will inevitably anger and frustrate the people), and the next statement in the text is, “So Moses did as the Lord commanded him.”  It is written so simply in our Bibles, but that statement represents a very significant action.  Moses was incredibly obedient to God when commanded anything of him.

Those commands were never simple, but the simple presentation of his obedience in scripture shows the great devotion and dedication of Moses.  That is phenomenal, and I really need to take a great challenge from that.  How obedient of God’s commands on my life have I been?  Would someone be able to write my biography and write, with confidence, “So PC did as the Lord commanded him”?

Well I am not so sure this person would be able to write of me that I frequently heard from God enough to actually do as He tells me, which brings up the second statement.

Each and every time anything came before Moses and Aaron, there was this second statement quickly following: “Moses and Aaron fell face down on the ground.”  Generally, once they were berated by their own people for having done what the Lord asked them to do, this statement followed.  Often when circumstances came their way and HUGE decisions needed to be made, this statement quickly followed.  Nearly every time, that statement would be followed with, “The glorious presence of the Lord appeared to them…”

As a leader, a husband, a man…I wonder if my biographer would be able to write of me that I was quick to “fall face down on the ground” once presented with difficult circumstances and decisions.  Actually, no, I don’t wonder at all!  My biographer would NOT be able to write that statement of me; at least not frequently enough to indicate a pattern.

This makes me wonder if I could change the course of my hypothetical biography from this point forward…

God’s Faith In You

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“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13

Think of the temptation you face the most. What is the temptation it feels you constantly have before you? What is that thing which seems you will never get out from under?

Paul reminds us that no temptation is unique to you. Nothing you are tempted by is new to you. Countless people for centuries have faced the same temptation; you are not the only one.

We are also to remember that God is not going to let you be tempted by anything he didn’t know you could overcome. When you are tempted, instead, think of how much faith the faithful God has in you.

This is NOT a “you can do it” statement, because it is important to recognize WHY God knows you could do it; because HE has provided a way to escape that temptation…should you choose to take that route. Many to most of us do not take the provided escape route. Otherwise we would not be speaking now of this recurring temptation, right?

Well perhaps we would, because temptation never ends. What can come to an end is the frequency by which we act on that temptation.

Though temptation will always come, God knows you can endure (without acting) only because he has always provided a way out (should you choose to take it).

So

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You reap what you sow (Gal. 6:18)
why are you surprised when
you are lukewarm
apathetic
bitter
…

Others reap what you sow (Jn. 4:37)
why are you surprised when
they are lukewarm
apathetic
bitter
…

————————

READING: Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs by Chuck Klosterman
LISTENING TO: Absence by Paper Route

Something About Jesus: random notes on Matthew 13-21

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On December 1, I began a challenge to read through the gospels in 30 days.  Along with a few other good friends, it has been a great journey through the life and teachings of Jesus.

My hope was to include reflections along the way and offer a place for those taking the challenge to post their reflections as well.

Due to the weekend, I read a lot and posted little. So here are just a few random reflections on I had from chapter 13-21 of Matthew.

———

CHAPTER 13
13:20-21 – I don’t want to be without deep roots so my faith may last longer…this soil speaks of those who fall away or walk away from faith as soon as there are problems or questions. This seems to define too many college and young adults without deep enough roots to last
13:33 – Do we permeate our world like yeast? Or are we clumped up?
13:38 – THE GOSPEL IS NOT THE SEED! WE ARE THE SEED!

CHAPTER 14
14:15-16 – How often we want Jesus to just do something instead of us actually acting on things we are not only capable of, but called to do.

CHAPTER 15
15:18 – How much of my worship do I offer with my lips but not my heart?
15:15-19 – the heart, the HEART, THE HEART

CHAPTER 16
16:4 – A wicked and adulterous generation looks for miraculous signs – in the age of the “new atheism”, we are a generation…a culture…a mindset not only looking for miraculous signs but demanding them
16:13-15 – Who do YOU say I am? – some say a lunatic, some say just a good man, some say only a great teacher, some say a prophet…but who do YOU say I am?

CHAPTER 17
17:17 – How long shall I stay with you? – Jesus knows he has to leave and die, but I wonder if he wonders at this moment, “Is this a good idea; leaving my Father’s message and mission in the hands of these people?”

CHAPTER 18
18:7 – Things that cause people to sin – this shows us that bad things do happen in this world, and people have the choice to do horrible and bad things. These things will happen, and it is no good for the one who makes those things happen…but it is not God or Jesus who makes them happen
18:10-14 – I must not be a shepherd, because I would “count my losses” in this situation. If I leave the 99 for 1, I leave 99 at risk for that 1. This has to do with the difference between how I see the world and how God sees the world. I see it as good vs bad and he sees it as lost vs found. If I could change my perspective of the world, perhaps that 1 would be worth the risk of the 99
18:21-35 – ANY TIME I DECIDE TO LOOK DOWN ON ANYONE FOR ANY REASON (especially for not following Jesus), it is a clear indication that I have forgotten the depth of my own failure. I have forgotten how amazingly good God is

CHAPTER 19
19:16 – I noticed the rich young ruler wanted to know “what good thing” he needed to do to get eternal life…so familiar to those of us today who just want to be good enough or do enough good to get into a perfect heaven with a perfect God
19:17 – and Jesus is quick to show him he certainly is NOT going to be good enough to get eternal life…only God is truly good enough
19:18-19 – so Jesus shows him ways to be good, and the rich young ruler thinks he can accomplish these things UNTIL Jesus sets the hook in verse 21
19:21 – a good reminder that no you are NOT “good enough”
19:25 – The disciples ask the right question: “then who CAN be saved” if nobody can be “good enough”
ANSWER: 19:26 – With man, impossible! With God, always possible!

CHAPTER 20
20:10-12 – Christians always think they are entitled
20:15-16 – How arrogant we are!
20:31 – WHEN THE WORLD DROWNS OUT OUR CRIES for Jesus, we have a choice. Will we just give up…OR…will we shout all the louder?

CHAPTER 21
21:9 – HOSANNA = “Save us”
21:44 – I want to be broken to pieces as I fall on the solid Rock of Christ, but I hope not to be crushed UNDER the weight of that Rock.

—————–

LISTENING TO: Sidewalk Prophets (self-titled album)

Something about Jesus: Matthew 7-9

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My original intent was to blog every other day through the Gospels, but today was so rich I had to write.

CHAPTER 7
7:5 – First take the log out SO YOU CAN SEE CLEARLY to remove the speck

7:15-20 – So a false teacher could NOT produce fruit…yet we like to attack people who are doing great ministry leading people to Jesus and discipleship, and we call them false prophets

7:24-27 – Storms come to ALL of us, but the question is, “What is your foundation?” And its good to answer that question before the storm comes.

CHAPTER 8
8:4 – Only a priest could determine a person’s reintegration into the religious community. Jesus knew that and wanted this man to be reintegrated

8:20 – Homeless Jesus! Where is THAT Christmas card? Where is THAT Christian imagery?

8:23 – The disciples followed him. What kept any members of the crowd from following him? What kept a mass of people from trying to be one of those on the boat with Jesus whom they were all following and listening intently to?

8:29 – I’m always stricken by the fact demons know Jesus so well! I think, possibly, demons KNOW Jesus better than a lot of Christians.

CHAPTER 9
9:2 - Amazing that FAITH is trusting hope in what we cannot SEE and yet Jesus can SEE our FAITH and perceive our thoughts (9:4)

9:4 – Why do you THINK evil in your HEARTS? – I wonder why we’ve so easily disconnected our brains from our hearts

9:11 – “Why does your teacher eat with…sinners?” I wish people would ask that about me, but alas, I’m often too afraid to eat there. I’m a pastor, for cryin’ out loud! Think of the implications!

9:14-15 – Jesus’ ministry provides what fasting seeks: communion with God’s presence, forgiveness, salvation, guidance

9:18-26 – FAITH says, “If God…then it WILL happen.” I am not so sure I have much faith in light of todays reading.

9:35-38 – It seems if it’s not one thing its the next for Jesus in these few verses and these three chapters. Jesus is just going, going, going. Sometimes even while he’s talking, someone comes to him in need. He is teaching, proclaiming, curing, and healing. He is curing EVERY disease and EVERY sickness.

When it would seem burnout is impending, you read verse 36.

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them BECAUSE they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

Basically he realizes the outrageous amount of hurt, disease and NEED in the human condition.

Then verse 37-38

“The harvest is plentiful” = there are A LOT of hurting people everywhere…always

“But the laborers are few” = but nobody else is meeting them in that hurt and need

“Therefore ask the Lord to send laborers” = ASK the Lord in faith and prayer that he would send people to serve the harassed, helpless, and hurting

BEWARE: Don’t think you can pray for laborers in order to skirt your responsibility to BE a laborer

Something About Jesus: I heard this was good

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Studies show that more and more people know less and less about the Bible. Less and less people read Scripture regularly enough to form even an elementary sense of what the Bible contains.

Each generation knows less than the one before it, and that is unnecessary. What is more, there are less and less people who have a true and accurate understanding of who Jesus Christ is.

I do not want to be a part of that group.

So I am embarking on a challenge to read through the gospels in 1 month. Would you take the challenge with me and defy the growing statistics of people with little understanding of Scripture and our Jesus?

BEGIN TODAY, DECEMBER 1

3 Chapters, 4 Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John), 30 days

Check in here for my reflections and please leave your reflections as comments.

Challenge others to engage with us!

Who’s in?