September 30th, Zechariah
All things considered, I'm a big proponent of simplifying matters of faith. Bible Studies I've gone to spend time worrying about verb tense, hidden meanings, discovering things that no one else was smart enough to see. When we see it, everything will magically change for my walk of faith.
I think all of the stuff we need for a challenge is laid out for us in an obvious sort of way and we don't even bother with it. Here's what you should try for a week from Zechariah...
1. Speak the truth to one another
2. Make judgements that are true and bring peace
3. Do not devise evil in your hearts against one another(that means everyone)
4. Don't love a false oath
If you feel you've completely mastered the list then...
Pray for your enemies
Rejoice always
Pray continuously
Forgive as the Lord forgave you
Encourage one another as long as it's called today(it is often "Today")
Give thanks in all things
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
There is no secret word of knowledge we should be looking for and verb tenses are nice, but in the end...if our life isn't looking any closer to these things laid out for us, our study of the Bible can turn out to be just that... a lot of BS(if you know what I mean).
What are you going to press into this week. How are you going to be more like Christ after a week of learning to do something a new way. Pray for your enemies all week, tell the truth to people all week, rejoice all week, forgive everything that comes across your life this week and see if life can't teach you more than the classroom.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Haggai All the voices in your life are not equal
September 28th, Haggai
Haggai tells the story of what happens when in the present you rebuild what was known to people in the past. It always reminds me of Statler and Waldorf, you know, the two muppets. Statler and Waldorf are the two old guys who never have anything good to say. There to, socialize and criticize, but never offer much positive.
Haggai has a big task..."You should have seen the old temple." Remember the one where David was told this wasn't to be his project so he stockpiled resources for his son. Then Solomon was so wise people just gave him gold, silver and bronze. You should have seen the old temple. It's a line that is alive and well today. If you are moving in to any project where the new is a replacement for something old...this will always be part of your burden(Hint: even if the old isn't as good as everyone says it was)
The good instructional piece for us all is to learn how to take comfort in God's voice and not Statler and not Waldorf. God reminds Haggai that the glory of the old or new temple was never the structure, value, or the gold. The glory of anything is the presence of God. And sometimes we have to live in the promises of God which comes to Haggai in 2:7-9 " I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. The silver is mine, the gold is mine, declares the Lord. The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts and in this place, I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts."
Good leadership invites the questions...Who are you going to listen to? Statler and Waldorf are a cliche around every corner of good leadership. The voice of God's direction has to be listened to inspite of it all. Listen to the voice that brings life!!
Haggai has a big task..."You should have seen the old temple." Remember the one where David was told this wasn't to be his project so he stockpiled resources for his son. Then Solomon was so wise people just gave him gold, silver and bronze. You should have seen the old temple. It's a line that is alive and well today. If you are moving in to any project where the new is a replacement for something old...this will always be part of your burden(Hint: even if the old isn't as good as everyone says it was)
The good instructional piece for us all is to learn how to take comfort in God's voice and not Statler and not Waldorf. God reminds Haggai that the glory of the old or new temple was never the structure, value, or the gold. The glory of anything is the presence of God. And sometimes we have to live in the promises of God which comes to Haggai in 2:7-9 " I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. The silver is mine, the gold is mine, declares the Lord. The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts and in this place, I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts."
Good leadership invites the questions...Who are you going to listen to? Statler and Waldorf are a cliche around every corner of good leadership. The voice of God's direction has to be listened to inspite of it all. Listen to the voice that brings life!!
Friday, September 27, 2013
Habakkuk - Zephaniah Hope!
Guest Blogger - Cheri Hudspith - sister to Terry
I loved reading through these two small books.
Habakkuk seems to being saying, “I’ve got questions.2 plus
2 is not adding up and I don’t understand." I love that Habakkuk trusted that it
was okay to ask his questions. I love God shows us through his examples and lots of other people in the Bible that it's okay to go to God with our questions too. I love that he’s confident that at some point God
will answer his questions. Habakkuk asks them and then he goes to a place where he
can watch and wait for the Lord to answer. I love this example too. God answers our questions as He sees fit and in the timing He believes is best.
I also love Habakkuk's response to the Lord’s
answer. He basically admits that he didn’t get the immediate action he was longing for. But he makes a decision to be a righteous man and trust that ultimately God will be found just and true in all things. I am so grateful, that like Habakkuk God gives us the righteousness we need to live by faith. Habakkuk not only believes but decides on a day when he didn't get the immidate answer he was looking for to rejoice in the promises that will be fulfilled in the future. Submission truly changes what our hearts are capable of doing.
Zephaniah’s words remind me of standing at the top of the
Mount of Olives looking out over the temple mount in Jerusalem last April. I had been told that it is an amazing view. So I was expecting that to be a positive experience. Instead, I was filled with sorrow. The Jerusalem that exists today represents the long wait and turmoil of this age to me. It is not what it once was. It is not what it will be one day. In large part it represents people misunderstanding what God has done for us.
But one day... one day. All will be made right.
Zephaniah 3:14 & 15 - Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!
For the Lord will remove his hand of judgement and will disperse the armies of your enemy.
And the Lord himself, the King of Israel will live among you!
At last your troubles will be over, and you will never fear disaster.
I am looking forward with Zephaniah to that day!
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Micah: Adventures in Missing the Point; Expectations
September 25th, Micah
What do you want from me? Very easily a statement of frustration that could be spoken in any relationship. Be it with family, friends, workplace, neighbor, we all live in some expectation with our interpersonal relationships. Sometimes those are clear, when they get muddy and offenses pile up, the first line gets spoken in numerous ways.
I think of dating relationships when people don't know what they want. Do they want to be close and get serious about this or do they want their freedom and do things to repulse being close. The poor guy/girl who has to figure it out can be overwhelmed and eventually give up...what do you want from me?
Our relationship with God certainly has some opinions, versions of normal, and the advice from others can get complex. Micah dives into the issue of "What should I bring to the Lord?" What is the expectation? Letter of the law, intent of the law, get muddled for people. What does God really want from me?
"With what shall I come before the Lord God...burnt offerings...calves a year old...a thousand rams...ten thousands of rivers of oil." I love hyperbole(exxageration to prove a point), literal people wonder if they should add ten thousands of rivers to the list or not...(adventures in missing the point) "Shall I give my firstborn...the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul..."
The question goes out, What does God want from me? Things get confusing, but God clears it up for us... Do justly, love mercy,walk humbly with God. Do justly; do the right thing, don't use your position of power for the benefit of yourself. Love mercy; it's not about people owing you, it's about forgiveness and grace. Walk humbly with God; it's not about rivers of oil, calves, and burnt offerings.It's about a desire to know that on a constant/consistent basis I am right with God. The people we will become will be radically different if we'd do justly, love mercy, walk humbly with our God
What do you want from me? Very easily a statement of frustration that could be spoken in any relationship. Be it with family, friends, workplace, neighbor, we all live in some expectation with our interpersonal relationships. Sometimes those are clear, when they get muddy and offenses pile up, the first line gets spoken in numerous ways.
I think of dating relationships when people don't know what they want. Do they want to be close and get serious about this or do they want their freedom and do things to repulse being close. The poor guy/girl who has to figure it out can be overwhelmed and eventually give up...what do you want from me?
Our relationship with God certainly has some opinions, versions of normal, and the advice from others can get complex. Micah dives into the issue of "What should I bring to the Lord?" What is the expectation? Letter of the law, intent of the law, get muddled for people. What does God really want from me?
"With what shall I come before the Lord God...burnt offerings...calves a year old...a thousand rams...ten thousands of rivers of oil." I love hyperbole(exxageration to prove a point), literal people wonder if they should add ten thousands of rivers to the list or not...(adventures in missing the point) "Shall I give my firstborn...the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul..."
The question goes out, What does God want from me? Things get confusing, but God clears it up for us... Do justly, love mercy,walk humbly with God. Do justly; do the right thing, don't use your position of power for the benefit of yourself. Love mercy; it's not about people owing you, it's about forgiveness and grace. Walk humbly with God; it's not about rivers of oil, calves, and burnt offerings.It's about a desire to know that on a constant/consistent basis I am right with God. The people we will become will be radically different if we'd do justly, love mercy, walk humbly with our God
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Obadiah-Jonah Keeping it "real!"
September 24th, Obadiah-Jonah
I don't want to proclaim God's love and redemptive plan to people because what I know is that... God is gracious, merciful, loving and he longs to keep disaster from people. If I go over to Ninevah and let them know all of this, they might repent and they'll never get punished like they deserve. Far be it from me to let that happen.
Now that all of this has come true... "it is better for me to die than to live."
It's hard to be wrong, it's hard to not make any sense, it's hard to hear our thoughts out loud and wonder how it all makes/made sense to us. I hear a lot of people proclaim they are just keeping it "real." It sounds like a good value at first, but if what is "real" is simply "wrong," there isn't a lot of value in being "really wrong."
Jonah is certainly keeping it "real" in this story. I'll give him a few points for being honest(in a game where the points don't matter). In the end Jonah is wrong and it doesn't take too many quotes out of the book to see how far off base he is.
For those who have an appreciation for keeping it "real", I can understand, Who wants a hypocrite right? But here is a value that's a lot bigger than just being real...it's that when we are being real...that we are right. Being real is a small value on it's way to a much bigger value. I know a lot of people who are real... and... they "just ain't right." There is nothing in this story that informs us if Jonah ever got it right, may that not be the case for us...
I don't want to proclaim God's love and redemptive plan to people because what I know is that... God is gracious, merciful, loving and he longs to keep disaster from people. If I go over to Ninevah and let them know all of this, they might repent and they'll never get punished like they deserve. Far be it from me to let that happen.
Now that all of this has come true... "it is better for me to die than to live."
It's hard to be wrong, it's hard to not make any sense, it's hard to hear our thoughts out loud and wonder how it all makes/made sense to us. I hear a lot of people proclaim they are just keeping it "real." It sounds like a good value at first, but if what is "real" is simply "wrong," there isn't a lot of value in being "really wrong."
Jonah is certainly keeping it "real" in this story. I'll give him a few points for being honest(in a game where the points don't matter). In the end Jonah is wrong and it doesn't take too many quotes out of the book to see how far off base he is.
For those who have an appreciation for keeping it "real", I can understand, Who wants a hypocrite right? But here is a value that's a lot bigger than just being real...it's that when we are being real...that we are right. Being real is a small value on it's way to a much bigger value. I know a lot of people who are real... and... they "just ain't right." There is nothing in this story that informs us if Jonah ever got it right, may that not be the case for us...
Monday, September 23, 2013
Amos 6-9 The best tool ever...
September 23rd, Amos 6-9
I have a few items in my office related to themes here in the OT. Scales, a plumb bob, and a gyroscope are all tools to help keep you from guessing so you can actually know. The scale let's me actually know the weight. A plumb line let's me know an exact point on the floor from an exact point on a ceiling. A gyroscope allows a plane flying in a cloud to know if it's wings are level with each other or level with the horizon.
Sometimes circumstances create a vertigo that our senses can't fix. The only way to get it figured out is to have something that is always right be at our disposal. Guessing leads to mistakes, leads to redo's, leads to time lost and trouble and in the case of a pilot who can't read his instruments...death. Many a wall would not have had to be rebuilt with a plumb line. Time, money, aggravation, each have a cost of their own.
We create a lot of tools for our work and our hobbies. Tools that meet a functional need... someone ought too invent a... that would make... easier. A thought expressed millions of times in the course of humanity.
It's almost as if there should be a tool to make life go better. Something that would show the horizon correctly, something that could be relied on for the sake of justice, something that would keep me from starting a project in the wrong place. Something that could keep my life on track along with my relationships, my work, my time. I sure wish God would have gone to great lengths to make a tool like that, a manual like that ...
I have a few items in my office related to themes here in the OT. Scales, a plumb bob, and a gyroscope are all tools to help keep you from guessing so you can actually know. The scale let's me actually know the weight. A plumb line let's me know an exact point on the floor from an exact point on a ceiling. A gyroscope allows a plane flying in a cloud to know if it's wings are level with each other or level with the horizon.
Sometimes circumstances create a vertigo that our senses can't fix. The only way to get it figured out is to have something that is always right be at our disposal. Guessing leads to mistakes, leads to redo's, leads to time lost and trouble and in the case of a pilot who can't read his instruments...death. Many a wall would not have had to be rebuilt with a plumb line. Time, money, aggravation, each have a cost of their own.
We create a lot of tools for our work and our hobbies. Tools that meet a functional need... someone ought too invent a... that would make... easier. A thought expressed millions of times in the course of humanity.
It's almost as if there should be a tool to make life go better. Something that would show the horizon correctly, something that could be relied on for the sake of justice, something that would keep me from starting a project in the wrong place. Something that could keep my life on track along with my relationships, my work, my time. I sure wish God would have gone to great lengths to make a tool like that, a manual like that ...
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Joel 1-3 Truth, a Path, and Hope
September 21st, Joel 1-3
Truth, path and hope is a great combination, take away one and what do you have left. Joel starts off his word with some truth, here's what's happening. To be delusional about what's happening so you will feel better won't actually help you. There needs to be some sort of assessment. There's no vitality without reality.
A path, where do we go. Twice in one week my observations are about hunger. Days ago was the issue of being full and forgetting God. Here Joel invites us to fast, weep and mourn, rend your hearts and not your garments. Verses later he invites a gathering for a fast. We invite a gathering for a potluck, maybe everything has it's place...everything has it's time...a time to gather stones and a time to caste them away. What is it about hunger that we should learn to step into.
Hope is at the heart of this story. "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." "The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, he relents over disaster." Because God is part of the story there is ALWAYS hope.
We all need the truth, keeping in step with the Spirit. I encourage you to consider a plan to fast as part of your spiritual disciplines. Maybe some planned hunger would be of great use to us. If you've lost hope, I encourage you to go back and read Ezekiel 37. Truth, a path, and hope...I pray you have all three!
Truth, path and hope is a great combination, take away one and what do you have left. Joel starts off his word with some truth, here's what's happening. To be delusional about what's happening so you will feel better won't actually help you. There needs to be some sort of assessment. There's no vitality without reality.
A path, where do we go. Twice in one week my observations are about hunger. Days ago was the issue of being full and forgetting God. Here Joel invites us to fast, weep and mourn, rend your hearts and not your garments. Verses later he invites a gathering for a fast. We invite a gathering for a potluck, maybe everything has it's place...everything has it's time...a time to gather stones and a time to caste them away. What is it about hunger that we should learn to step into.
Hope is at the heart of this story. "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." "The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, he relents over disaster." Because God is part of the story there is ALWAYS hope.
We all need the truth, keeping in step with the Spirit. I encourage you to consider a plan to fast as part of your spiritual disciplines. Maybe some planned hunger would be of great use to us. If you've lost hope, I encourage you to go back and read Ezekiel 37. Truth, a path, and hope...I pray you have all three!
Friday, September 20, 2013
Hosea 8-14 The Hunger Games
September 20th, Hosea 8-14
Fill and forget, sounds like the perfect gas tank or bank account!!! To not have something always be before you, to have moments where things just work and you don't have to think about it. I'm grateful that many things in my life are just that. My car, my furnace, my new apple computer...they just work. I don't have to think about them too much. You know how much you quietly rely on them when they stop working, when you have to start thinking about them.
While fill and forget is a nice thing, and it might work with inanimate objects, it never really works with anything that involves relationship. "Hey honey, suppers on the stove and the pantry is filled, I'll be gone for months, see you." Relationships require involvement and engagement if they are to be done well and any relationship that operates in the fill and forget mode in your life, is suffering. Hosea has something to offer about the problem of fill and forget.
Hosea 13:6 says..."when they had grazed and they became full, they were filled, and their heart was lifted up; therefore they forgot me." Reminds me of Proverbs 30:8b-9 "Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say "Who is the Lord?" or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God."
It's a tricky thing being full, maybe hunger a little more often would be of value.
Fill and forget, sounds like the perfect gas tank or bank account!!! To not have something always be before you, to have moments where things just work and you don't have to think about it. I'm grateful that many things in my life are just that. My car, my furnace, my new apple computer...they just work. I don't have to think about them too much. You know how much you quietly rely on them when they stop working, when you have to start thinking about them.
While fill and forget is a nice thing, and it might work with inanimate objects, it never really works with anything that involves relationship. "Hey honey, suppers on the stove and the pantry is filled, I'll be gone for months, see you." Relationships require involvement and engagement if they are to be done well and any relationship that operates in the fill and forget mode in your life, is suffering. Hosea has something to offer about the problem of fill and forget.
Hosea 13:6 says..."when they had grazed and they became full, they were filled, and their heart was lifted up; therefore they forgot me." Reminds me of Proverbs 30:8b-9 "Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say "Who is the Lord?" or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God."
It's a tricky thing being full, maybe hunger a little more often would be of value.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Hosea 1-7
September 19th, Hosea
Hey Hosea, marry a prostitute so you'll know what it feels like to offer your committed love to one who is always cheating on you.
-God
Hey Hosea, marry a prostitute so you'll know what it feels like to offer your committed love to one who is always cheating on you.
-God
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Daniel 10-12 Ask Me What I Know
September 18th, Daniel 10-12
Ask me what great thing I know! You might be impressed, you might be left wanting! People ask a lot of things, people ask a lot of things of God. Daniel asked something of God. God's response..."Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the end of time." If Daniel is anything like anyone who asks a question, that answer is not really what you were hoping for.
Daniel's question is related to the questions we all would like to know about, "O my Lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?" So we already heard God's response, but go ahead and ask me what I know? of all the future questions we could ever ask, here's what i know...God wins and the wicked will perish. The details are are shut up and not available, because in the end our trust isn't in knowing the outcome it's rooted in an omnipotent, omniscient God. Let us not steal the joy and task of trust that we are called to. A non-anxious presence through the storms of life.
One of my favorite Rembrandt paintings. Ask me what I know. Sometimes it's difficult to trust what the outcome will be. Sometimes it seems God doesn't care. Sometimes all I can see is the storm. What will be the outcome? There are things I want to know...now? NOW! We want to cure our anxiety by knowing the future. That is a myth. The cure for anxiety is in knowing the one who knows the future and trusting him!!
Ask me what great thing I know! You might be impressed, you might be left wanting! People ask a lot of things, people ask a lot of things of God. Daniel asked something of God. God's response..."Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the end of time." If Daniel is anything like anyone who asks a question, that answer is not really what you were hoping for.
Daniel's question is related to the questions we all would like to know about, "O my Lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?" So we already heard God's response, but go ahead and ask me what I know? of all the future questions we could ever ask, here's what i know...God wins and the wicked will perish. The details are are shut up and not available, because in the end our trust isn't in knowing the outcome it's rooted in an omnipotent, omniscient God. Let us not steal the joy and task of trust that we are called to. A non-anxious presence through the storms of life.
 |
| Storm on the Sea of Galilee |
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Daniel 7-9 Monsters INC, The power of weird!
September 17th, Daniel 7-9
Understatement of the story...after seeing visions of beasts with horns, eyes, and horns with eyes and a mouth, Daniel's observation of his day "my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me.". He even goes on to say..."my color changed." But, "I kept the matter in my heart."
There is something strange about the interactions that people have with God...they are a little strange and people tend to not forget them.God's not trying to be alarming, but I think he will do what it takes to grab our attention. Daniel was so disturbed it says he was sick sick for days, appalled and lost about what was going on. Note: God didn't just come in and solve it because Daniel felt bad. God's not being a jerk, and our running around to make everyone feel good doesn't always help.
Daniel has a levelheaded response to God in chapter 9. Prayer, asking for mercy, fasting, confession and a favorite line from verse 18, "For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy." Two very different stances before the Lord. Two stances still held thousands of years later. What's our stance when things get weird?
Understatement of the story...after seeing visions of beasts with horns, eyes, and horns with eyes and a mouth, Daniel's observation of his day "my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me.". He even goes on to say..."my color changed." But, "I kept the matter in my heart."
There is something strange about the interactions that people have with God...they are a little strange and people tend to not forget them.God's not trying to be alarming, but I think he will do what it takes to grab our attention. Daniel was so disturbed it says he was sick sick for days, appalled and lost about what was going on. Note: God didn't just come in and solve it because Daniel felt bad. God's not being a jerk, and our running around to make everyone feel good doesn't always help.
Daniel has a levelheaded response to God in chapter 9. Prayer, asking for mercy, fasting, confession and a favorite line from verse 18, "For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy." Two very different stances before the Lord. Two stances still held thousands of years later. What's our stance when things get weird?
Monday, September 16, 2013
Daniel 1-6 Get it while it's hot
September16th, Daniel 1-6
Some action packed reading!
Daniel 1: The King had a prescription for raising up greatness. Daniel choose a different way and the Eunuchs were up for the challenge. God granted Daniel skills in something the culture valued...interesting.
Daniel 2: Like Martin Luther King Jr, Nebuchadnezzar had a dream as well. Daniel interprets a dream about the kingdoms of the world when no one else can, giving glory to God
Daniel 3: Ego, large golden statues, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Ultimatums and choosing God's way when it means your life. I'd rather give up my body than worship any other god. Nebuchadnezzar's observation..."No other god is able to rescue in this way"
Daniel 4: A second dream, a realization that great quotes about the greatness of Daniel's God is not the same thing as following him. True in our day as well. It's not simply about getting people to notice God above others, but to follow Him.
Daniel 5: Next King in line decided to use golden goblets from the old Temple for his party. Now we use the phrase "the writings on the wall." The words say...Isaiah 5:26-28...
Daniel 6: People will try and undo you. Making special laws to single you out and get you thrown into trouble's way. Throwing you under the bus so to speak. Daniel gets it worse, thrown into a lion's den. You have to read King Darius' decree in 6:26-27. What people meant for evil, God used for good.
Some action packed reading!
Daniel 1: The King had a prescription for raising up greatness. Daniel choose a different way and the Eunuchs were up for the challenge. God granted Daniel skills in something the culture valued...interesting.
Daniel 2: Like Martin Luther King Jr, Nebuchadnezzar had a dream as well. Daniel interprets a dream about the kingdoms of the world when no one else can, giving glory to God
Daniel 3: Ego, large golden statues, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Ultimatums and choosing God's way when it means your life. I'd rather give up my body than worship any other god. Nebuchadnezzar's observation..."No other god is able to rescue in this way"
Daniel 4: A second dream, a realization that great quotes about the greatness of Daniel's God is not the same thing as following him. True in our day as well. It's not simply about getting people to notice God above others, but to follow Him.
Daniel 5: Next King in line decided to use golden goblets from the old Temple for his party. Now we use the phrase "the writings on the wall." The words say...Isaiah 5:26-28...
Daniel 6: People will try and undo you. Making special laws to single you out and get you thrown into trouble's way. Throwing you under the bus so to speak. Daniel gets it worse, thrown into a lion's den. You have to read King Darius' decree in 6:26-27. What people meant for evil, God used for good.
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Ezekiel 46-48 An Average day with an Above Average God
September 14th, Ezekiel 46-48
I can't tell if it's allergy season, too early in the morning(I am a morning person), or being in the prophets for a little too long, but I have a confession... It's one of those confessions I feel like maybe is a sign of something wrong with me, something I should fix more than express openly. Something that might make you think less of me. Are you ready, here it is...
I've come to the end of my rope caring about when the gate should be open, how many cubits the door is, or if one goes straight after passing through the gate or if they take a sharp right turn, or if one should use a third of a hin of oil or a fourth of a hin of oil to moisten the flour.
So I'm sitting here wondering if it's okay for me to feel this way or if it demonstrates some lack inside of me. God's Holy, Sacred Word should be stirring up something else inside of me.
Maybe I'm too much like Pavlov's dog thinking bells should drive me to drool and get a treat. Every interaction with the Bible should be grand experience of adrenaline rush. Today it's a story about where to boil the meat and bake the bread so that we don't transmit holiness to people. If anything got me going it was that.
Sometimes God simply asks us to obey. that obedience doesn't always part the Red Sea or brings thousands to Christ. So far today has been good, maybe grand inspiration will come later. Maybe it'll be another average day with an above average God and that's good enough!!
I can't tell if it's allergy season, too early in the morning(I am a morning person), or being in the prophets for a little too long, but I have a confession... It's one of those confessions I feel like maybe is a sign of something wrong with me, something I should fix more than express openly. Something that might make you think less of me. Are you ready, here it is...
I've come to the end of my rope caring about when the gate should be open, how many cubits the door is, or if one goes straight after passing through the gate or if they take a sharp right turn, or if one should use a third of a hin of oil or a fourth of a hin of oil to moisten the flour.
So I'm sitting here wondering if it's okay for me to feel this way or if it demonstrates some lack inside of me. God's Holy, Sacred Word should be stirring up something else inside of me.
Maybe I'm too much like Pavlov's dog thinking bells should drive me to drool and get a treat. Every interaction with the Bible should be grand experience of adrenaline rush. Today it's a story about where to boil the meat and bake the bread so that we don't transmit holiness to people. If anything got me going it was that.
Sometimes God simply asks us to obey. that obedience doesn't always part the Red Sea or brings thousands to Christ. So far today has been good, maybe grand inspiration will come later. Maybe it'll be another average day with an above average God and that's good enough!!
Friday, September 13, 2013
Ezekiel 43-45 Clean-up isn't as great as the covering for it!!
September 13th, Ezekiel 43-45
The Texas Penal Code speaks of four culpable(blameable) mental states in the commission of a crime...
Intentionally: I expressed a plan orally or in a written format to get even with someone
Knowing: When I kept hitting someone, I knew it was going to turn out really bad.
Recklessly: Speeding down a residential street, seeing children playing, hitting one chasing a ball.
Criminially Negligent: A reasonable person ought to have known. Shooting a 30/30 at a deer with a farm house behind the deer. One ought to have known that was a bad idea.
I bring that up because the Bible speaks often about unintentional sins and todays text speaks about anyone who sinned through "error or ignorance." I don't know about you, but the sin that I am aware of in my life is enough to overwhelm me. Much less to think about all the ways I am not living up to the standard through my own criminally negligent sin( things I ought to have known)!
The good news is that Jesus Christ bought and paid for all of it. The measure to which I fall short on my account (more like $2 million than $.02) is made up for by God's grace. I find it interesting that it wasn't just God's grace, but God's grace through the death of Christ. Sometimes it makes me wonder why God's grace couldn't stand alone without a sacrifice that costly. A big sacrifice for a big problem I guess.
I'm stirred this morning by the idea of grace covering not only the sin I know about and regret, but the sin I am not aware of in my life and God's abundant grace to cover that as well. The attempts to clean up will never be as great as the covering for it, thank you God.
The Texas Penal Code speaks of four culpable(blameable) mental states in the commission of a crime...
Intentionally: I expressed a plan orally or in a written format to get even with someone
Knowing: When I kept hitting someone, I knew it was going to turn out really bad.
Recklessly: Speeding down a residential street, seeing children playing, hitting one chasing a ball.
Criminially Negligent: A reasonable person ought to have known. Shooting a 30/30 at a deer with a farm house behind the deer. One ought to have known that was a bad idea.
I bring that up because the Bible speaks often about unintentional sins and todays text speaks about anyone who sinned through "error or ignorance." I don't know about you, but the sin that I am aware of in my life is enough to overwhelm me. Much less to think about all the ways I am not living up to the standard through my own criminally negligent sin( things I ought to have known)!
The good news is that Jesus Christ bought and paid for all of it. The measure to which I fall short on my account (more like $2 million than $.02) is made up for by God's grace. I find it interesting that it wasn't just God's grace, but God's grace through the death of Christ. Sometimes it makes me wonder why God's grace couldn't stand alone without a sacrifice that costly. A big sacrifice for a big problem I guess.
I'm stirred this morning by the idea of grace covering not only the sin I know about and regret, but the sin I am not aware of in my life and God's abundant grace to cover that as well. The attempts to clean up will never be as great as the covering for it, thank you God.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Ezekiel 40-42 Listening, Plans, Movement
September 12th, Ezekiel 40-42
Action or reaction? In a world without margin there is really only time for reaction. Reflection and intentionality to move toward a vision for a preferred future is a rarity. In our Veritas seminar (ECC denomination's look at congregational health and vitality) the terminology used is "a view from the balcony." Stepping out of the chaos of what is currently going on, how do I get a fresh perspective to see the big picture, move somewhere positive.
Ezekiel 40, twenty-five years into captivity is a long time. No doubt the way had been lost, the chaos normal, and something different unimaginable. God interjects with a plan, a detailed plan. A little glimpse from the balcony giving hope and direction to where God is calling us. A plan for a new Temple.
I always feel best in life when there is some movement, a direction is chosen, the river moving not stagnating. There are times and seasons for both. A time to tear down and a time to build up, a time to listen and a time to move into God's call.
I oray you are where you need to be, listening or working on the vision God has given you. Rejoicing in either moment, enjoying the chance to be in God's presence.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Ezekiel 37-39 Hope springs eternal
September 11th, Ezekiel 37-39
Trick questions by God are tough to answer. Ezekiel does well... Ezekiel 37:3
Speaking to something that has no ears...interesting...37:4
Very cool, love to have witnessed it...37:5
Kinda gross actually...don't mind missing it...37:6
Obedience...now we're getting somewhere...37:7
Almost, one more important step...37:8
From hope lost to hope fulfilled...37:9-10
Hope for all ages...37:11-14
Your gonna love this story!!
Trick questions by God are tough to answer. Ezekiel does well... Ezekiel 37:3
Speaking to something that has no ears...interesting...37:4
Very cool, love to have witnessed it...37:5
Kinda gross actually...don't mind missing it...37:6
Obedience...now we're getting somewhere...37:7
Almost, one more important step...37:8
From hope lost to hope fulfilled...37:9-10
Hope for all ages...37:11-14
Your gonna love this story!!
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Ezekiel 34-36 Strength
September 10th, Ezekiel 34-36
As a Pastor, chapter 34 is certainly a cause for reflection about the nature of being a shepherd of God's people. For those of you who find yourself in the midst of being small group leaders and caregivers in the church, I think all of these words are applicable as well. Care-giving and our own need for care are a delicate balance. Too often care-givers get things turned around and need care from the ones for whom they should be offering it. Issues go up the chain of command, not down it. The difficult thing for some is the next one up the chain of command is God and not another person, thus the phrase "it's lonely at the top." It's a good chapter of evaluation for caregivers!
36: 25-28 is another in a long line of favorite passages. As much as it is easy to look back into the Old Testament and wonder what is wrong with people, there is one drastic difference between then and now. That difference is the Holy Spirit. In the OT the Holy Spirit is said to come upon people to accomplish specific tasks God has for them, but there is no understand of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in people other than that.
The NT speaks over and over again about the Holy Spirit taking up residence in our lives. Verse 27 speaks about the Spirit inside causing us to follow God's decrees and statutes. It's a vision of a future day when things will be different. You and I are asked to be filled with the Spirit, to not quench the Spirit and to keep in step with the Spirit. God doesn't dwell in a Temple far away or that is inaccessible. God dwells in our hearts, the power of the Almighty dwelling inside of us.
Ahhhh, it's a good day. Thanks Lord for your strength inside of me, give me a full awareness of your presence in my life today.
As a Pastor, chapter 34 is certainly a cause for reflection about the nature of being a shepherd of God's people. For those of you who find yourself in the midst of being small group leaders and caregivers in the church, I think all of these words are applicable as well. Care-giving and our own need for care are a delicate balance. Too often care-givers get things turned around and need care from the ones for whom they should be offering it. Issues go up the chain of command, not down it. The difficult thing for some is the next one up the chain of command is God and not another person, thus the phrase "it's lonely at the top." It's a good chapter of evaluation for caregivers!
36: 25-28 is another in a long line of favorite passages. As much as it is easy to look back into the Old Testament and wonder what is wrong with people, there is one drastic difference between then and now. That difference is the Holy Spirit. In the OT the Holy Spirit is said to come upon people to accomplish specific tasks God has for them, but there is no understand of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in people other than that.
The NT speaks over and over again about the Holy Spirit taking up residence in our lives. Verse 27 speaks about the Spirit inside causing us to follow God's decrees and statutes. It's a vision of a future day when things will be different. You and I are asked to be filled with the Spirit, to not quench the Spirit and to keep in step with the Spirit. God doesn't dwell in a Temple far away or that is inaccessible. God dwells in our hearts, the power of the Almighty dwelling inside of us.
Ahhhh, it's a good day. Thanks Lord for your strength inside of me, give me a full awareness of your presence in my life today.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Ezekiel 31-33 A little refining goes a long way
.jpg)
Everything tends towards chaos. Even healthy growth is in need of refinement once in awhile. Vines/branches needs immense pruning to be fruitful. Do you want to grow a vine, or are grapes the goal. I can't tell you how much good healthy vine I cut off of my grapevines every year.
I'm in a refining moment with my bonsai collection. A year of good growth is followed up by a season removing much of that growth. Here's a Ponderosa Pine. Big and healthy, maybe too healthy if there is such a thing! It's hard to take that good growth of of these trees. In the end, if you want them to look their best, a little alteration is mandatory.
The call goes out in the prophets to reevaluate, refine, remember. The Israelites don't want to be pruned, don't want to be shaped by a master, they live in a struggle to assert my will or submit my will. They say God's way isn't just, isn't right...
I'm inviting you to trust an artist. The before and after shots are really quite spectacular!
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Ezekiel 25-27 The Nation Israel, tricky questions to this day
September 7th, Ezekiel 25-27
Happy Birthday Dad. He's a good man and keeps up on issues surrounding the nation of Israel. I find it interesting how a country so small, that is surrounded by countries that would love it's demise, can continue to exist. Some of today's passage reveals some things about the land of God's chosen people and political realities that surround it.
In 25:6 it says, "For thus says the Lord God, you have clapped your hands, stamped your feet and rejoiced with all malice within your soul against the land of Israel, therefore behold, I have stretched out my hand against you and will hand you over as plunder to the nations."
Much of our foreign policy in America is rooted in understandings of the above. As our nation moves further from a biblical view of things, most people probably just get frustrated that we even care about what goes on over there.
We serve a God who has a nation, land and a promise that he keeps. There is something sacred about the Holy Land. Part of the reason for Israel's security is fear of what America would do. That line might trigger a debate and the next one might as well. Maybe it's not our place to intervene. I'm not trying to be political this morning, but I think that God is the defender of Israel. For some Christians who are concerned about how issues are being handled in the middle east, the discussion seems to always leave God out of the equation. "If not America then who will defend?" Answer...Psalm 20:7 "Some trust in chariots(Tomahawk Missiles) and some in horses, but trust in the name of the Lord our God."
There is an interesting, many-layered backdrop to the issues around our world. In the end, God wins, God defends, God uses humans to carry out His work. Tricky to sort it out, make sure our faith is in God!
Happy Birthday Dad. He's a good man and keeps up on issues surrounding the nation of Israel. I find it interesting how a country so small, that is surrounded by countries that would love it's demise, can continue to exist. Some of today's passage reveals some things about the land of God's chosen people and political realities that surround it.
In 25:6 it says, "For thus says the Lord God, you have clapped your hands, stamped your feet and rejoiced with all malice within your soul against the land of Israel, therefore behold, I have stretched out my hand against you and will hand you over as plunder to the nations."
Much of our foreign policy in America is rooted in understandings of the above. As our nation moves further from a biblical view of things, most people probably just get frustrated that we even care about what goes on over there.
We serve a God who has a nation, land and a promise that he keeps. There is something sacred about the Holy Land. Part of the reason for Israel's security is fear of what America would do. That line might trigger a debate and the next one might as well. Maybe it's not our place to intervene. I'm not trying to be political this morning, but I think that God is the defender of Israel. For some Christians who are concerned about how issues are being handled in the middle east, the discussion seems to always leave God out of the equation. "If not America then who will defend?" Answer...Psalm 20:7 "Some trust in chariots(Tomahawk Missiles) and some in horses, but trust in the name of the Lord our God."
There is an interesting, many-layered backdrop to the issues around our world. In the end, God wins, God defends, God uses humans to carry out His work. Tricky to sort it out, make sure our faith is in God!
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Ezekiel 21-22 Like Keebler...Uncommonly Good!!
September 5th, Ezekiel 21-22
In the ebb and flow of life, we live in reactionary thinking. One generation keeps God at arms length that causes the next generation to bring God down to our level, which causes the next generation to put God out at arms length again. God is so Holy Other we can't conceive him to... God is so much a buddy that he would never correct me.
The problem really lies in the fact that God is both of those, a friend who is familiar with our weakness and a mighty God, unfathomable. We have to learn how to let Him be all that he is not just the part we like.
I bring all of that up because one verse today really stood out to me. It stood out to me because I see that I might be part of the problem in regards to balance in certain matters. The verse is 22:26b... "They have made no distinction between the holy and the common..."
It seems that, in an effort to make God feel accessible in our day, we (I) have wanted to help encourage God as part of the common. And he certainly is part of our everyday moments of life...but...on the other hand... God is not common, like Keebler he is "Uncommonly Good." An effort to make God feel so much like us that we have access to Him is true and helpful, but always to be understood in light of the fact that He is Holy, Perfect, All-Knowing, All-Powerful, Almighty, All-that-and a bag of chips!!
What a great thing to make the distinction between the Holy and the common. God's not a blade of grass outside my window...that's common. What a worthy pursuit, to press into what is uncommon!
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Ezekeiel 18-20 NO WAY, that can't be right!
September 4th, Ezekiel 18-20
Strongly held beliefs are just that...held with strength. A strong belief gets expressed here with an attempt at correction. It's a belief that doesn't seem to get corrected as many hundred years later, Jesus gets asked a question that reflects the same belief. The question asked of Jesus..."Who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind."
The assumption is the same assumption found in todays reading. Sons suffer because of the sin of their fathers or fathers suffer because the sons. Jesus was response was the same as his Father's response here in Ezekiel, no, not the case.
Maybe that truth is not really on our radar so you wonder why I care. The answer is we all have things stuck in our head. Things that we think are right and that we would fight for. If anyone came with a different idea, we'd pick a fight. Things we hold so dear that we can't give it up, or maybe can't even identify it as it is so much part of our cultural upbringing.
I invite you to invite God into your life today and reveal something to you about how God sees something different than you. Then instead of fighting it, ask God to walk with you to change it. See things the way God sees things.
I have no doubt we'll all find something!
Strongly held beliefs are just that...held with strength. A strong belief gets expressed here with an attempt at correction. It's a belief that doesn't seem to get corrected as many hundred years later, Jesus gets asked a question that reflects the same belief. The question asked of Jesus..."Who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind."
The assumption is the same assumption found in todays reading. Sons suffer because of the sin of their fathers or fathers suffer because the sons. Jesus was response was the same as his Father's response here in Ezekiel, no, not the case.
Maybe that truth is not really on our radar so you wonder why I care. The answer is we all have things stuck in our head. Things that we think are right and that we would fight for. If anyone came with a different idea, we'd pick a fight. Things we hold so dear that we can't give it up, or maybe can't even identify it as it is so much part of our cultural upbringing.
I invite you to invite God into your life today and reveal something to you about how God sees something different than you. Then instead of fighting it, ask God to walk with you to change it. See things the way God sees things.
I have no doubt we'll all find something!
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Ezekial 16-17 Your Momma was a .....
September 3rd, Ezekial 16-17
The title for chapter 16 says it all. If you love a good word picture of what God has gone through with the nation of Israel, then this chapter paints a masterpiece. To sum up...
The title for chapter 16 says it all. If you love a good word picture of what God has gone through with the nation of Israel, then this chapter paints a masterpiece. To sum up...
- It starts off with a "Your Momma" joke!
- On the day you were born, you were thrown into an open field and left for dead
- I (God) passed by and rescued you. I made you flourish like a plant in a field
- You became a full-sized adult, ready for love, I spread a garment over you.
- I made my vow to you and we entered a covenant(bride-bridegroom)
- I washed every stain off of you, clothed you, gave you shoes, silk.
- I gave you bracelets, a chain for your neck, a ring for your nose, and earrings.
- I gave you the finest of flour, honey and oil.
- You were famous among the nations because of my gifts to you.
- All the beauty given to you by God was reciprocated by you being a whore. Ouch!!!
In the rest of the word picture the word whore is used 14 times on top of the word prostitute, adulterer and lovers. It really drives the point home. We rightfully expect our spouses to not cheat on us. The pain of that failure is plain to see. It paints a great picture as God paints this bride/bridegroom picture in many places in the Bible.
The million dollar question is...Does the last bullet point make you feel bad OR does it give you some perspective about God's continued love in these matters? For a moment I invite you to not make this be about you and your guilt, but allow it to be about God and his great love for us. The riches of his blessings and a strong desire in our hearts to say thank you, thank you, thank you.
Monday, September 2, 2013
Ezekiel 13-15 Encourage the righteous, Dishearten evil!
September 2nd, Ezekiel 13-15
Here is the heart of the problem with the false prophetss of the land..."Because you have disheartened the righteous falsely, although I have not grieved them, and you have encouraged the wicked, that he should not turn from his evil way to save his life."
It's really a great guiding verse for ministry, for parenting, for our interactions with others. Am I disheartening people falsely, grieving people that God doesn't want to grieve? The line used several times is that the false prophet proclaims "declares the Lord" although God hasn't actually spoken. If we're gonna claim it was God's voice, it should be.
The second great question is How am I encouraging evil and keeping people from saving their lives? My first Youth Pastor gig was with a group of students who were good friends, mildly interested in God and had effectively chased away the kids in church who did love God and were interested in following Him. The negativity of one group drove away the other. I quickly learned that a new paradigm had to be the norm and it was tough strengthen the righteous and stop encouraging the wicked.
In the end it is a difficult road to walk, and in the name of love we end up doing it wrong. Some questions have great potential for evaluation in our lives and this one rises close to the top. How do we encourage the righteous and dishearten evil?
Here is the heart of the problem with the false prophetss of the land..."Because you have disheartened the righteous falsely, although I have not grieved them, and you have encouraged the wicked, that he should not turn from his evil way to save his life."
It's really a great guiding verse for ministry, for parenting, for our interactions with others. Am I disheartening people falsely, grieving people that God doesn't want to grieve? The line used several times is that the false prophet proclaims "declares the Lord" although God hasn't actually spoken. If we're gonna claim it was God's voice, it should be.
The second great question is How am I encouraging evil and keeping people from saving their lives? My first Youth Pastor gig was with a group of students who were good friends, mildly interested in God and had effectively chased away the kids in church who did love God and were interested in following Him. The negativity of one group drove away the other. I quickly learned that a new paradigm had to be the norm and it was tough strengthen the righteous and stop encouraging the wicked.
In the end it is a difficult road to walk, and in the name of love we end up doing it wrong. Some questions have great potential for evaluation in our lives and this one rises close to the top. How do we encourage the righteous and dishearten evil?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)