Emmanuel Christian Church

Luke 13

2010-03-01T10:43:00.000-08:00

I'm so glad to be caught up with my reading. Playing catch up is never easy. However, if there was ever a chapter I'm excited to begin writing about again it is Luke 13. There so much that can be said about this chapter. It has a little bit of everything: Jesus going against the religious elite, some beautiful descriptions of the Kingdom of God, and a great challenge to believers.

Currently, one of my favorite verses in the New Testament is Luke 13:24 where Jesus states (according to the NIV), "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to." Those who know me well, might be caught off guard, because most of my "favorite verses" are passages about God's radical compassion, love, and descriptions of the Kingdom of God. However, this one really stands out to me namely because of how badly the NIV gets it wrong.

Where the NIV uses the phrases "make every effort" and "will try," the greek terminology here is actuallymuch more graphic in nature. The greek words used to make up these phrases can otherwise be translated "agonize over" and "give a little effort" (respectively). With the phrases that the NIV uses, the passage sounds almost like a doubtful mother teaching her child how to use the toilet for the first time.

"Well, Johnny, we'll make an effort to go pee-pee on the potty." "At least you tried to make it."

Instead, the language of the original greek, in my mind, sounds like more like a war-time general commanding his troops in battle.

"You WILL make every effort to get past the enemies defenses!! Others have tried and failed miserably! You will not merely TRY to overcome your enemies, you will AGONIZE over it! It will be the only thing you THINK ABOUT!! You will succeed!!!"

See the difference??

Every time I read this passage I have a little notation in my margin which points out this textual issue and it never fails to catch me off guard and fire me up. So rather than "trying" to be a part of the Kingdom of God, we need to start agonizing over it; placing it at the forefront of our minds. Agonize over the Kingdom of God!!

Ready to Start Again

2010-02-25T09:14:00.001-08:00

Alright everyone, I'm finally caught up on my reading and ready to start discussing the readings each day. I can't believe how much a death in the family will take out of you. It's like everything I did wasn't enough to get caught up (I'm referring to more than just the reading through the NT in a year plan). But, I think I'm all caught up now and starting Monday will be back each day to discuss the reading of the day.

How is your reading plan coming? Are you finding it difficult to stay on track or not? Any thoughts?

Apologies

2010-02-16T09:47:00.001-08:00

Fellow bible readers, please accept my deepest apologies for not posting in nearly two weeks. The death of my grandfather took a lot out of me physically and emotionally, and maintaining a regular posting schedule seemed too much to deal with at the time. I am in the midst of catching up with the reading schedule and will post again soon (hopefully today or tomorrow).

How's your bible reading coming? Any thoughts you'd like to share?

1 Peter

2010-02-05T10:10:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! I hope you enjoyed reading 1 Peter. I often forget how much I love this letter. It's one of my favorites. It is such an encouragement to people suffering and offers a lot to be excited about, even in the midst of the worst persecution.

I love it when Peter writes, "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." We are quick to judge, quick to accuse, however, what if rather than jumping down someone's throat when they sin, we showed them the sacrificial love that Jesus showed us on the cross? What if we opened arms of love and compassion to the offender rather than raising fists of wrath?

Its hard to love someone with that kind of love. It makes us vulnerable to being hurt. But, think about how vulnerable God made himself when he sent his Son into the world. People will hurt you because of sin. You will hurt people because of sin. But, if we choose to protect ourselves and not love out of fear of disappointment and pain, we will never know what it's like to be in the beautiful relationship God intended for us to be in with him and with one another.

No matter how much you've read about and studied the sacrifice of Christ for the sins of the world, you can never know the full impact of that outside of a loving interpersonal relationship with another person. When you know you've done wrong and are completely forgiven for it by someone who loves you, then you've been given a taste of what it means to be forgiven by your creator. When someone else does wrong and you are given an opportunity to forgive that individual out of your unending love for them, then you've been given a taste of what it means to be like Christ and pardon someone.

1 Peter 1

2010-02-01T08:44:00.000-08:00

"Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

Out of the entire chapter read this morning, this one stuck out to me as quite noteworthy. Not very often does a minister or church leader offer the kind of encouragement to his/her congregation like Peter does here to those reading his letter. And though I don't know everybody who reads this blog, I know most of you are members of ECC, and you're members of ECC because of the scripture noted above. It is so amazing to be able to work with a group of people who, though they've never seen God, have never seen his son, Jesus, truly believe in him and the redemptive power of his death, burial, and resurrection. Take time to consider how amazing it is to be a part of a group that believes in such a thing. There are few words to describe the kind of power there is when a group our size shares such an amazing faith.

James 5

2010-01-29T09:35:00.000-08:00

Check out verse 16, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed."

Why don't we do this more often? Why do we merely "confess our sins to God," and leave the confessing to one another out of the healing process?

You and I both know the answer, but perhaps we're uncomfortable admitting it. It's because confessing our sins to a God who already knows them is a lot easier than breaking that news to an unsuspecting church. It's difficult to hear each others baggage. It's difficult to get to the place where we trust each other with our deepest darkest secrets.

So, another question: Are we actively pursuing the kind of community that is able and willing to do this? Or are we comfortable with a church that kind of knows everyone. We know each other on the surface level and that's all. It's really difficult and uncomfortable, but it IS the call of God upon his church.

Something to think about...

James 4

2010-01-28T06:30:00.000-08:00

"God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble...Grieve, mourn, and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourself before the Lord, and he will lift you up."

Disappointment, sadness, and guilt, are all feelings we are all too used to. We know we've done wrong. We know we've violated the laws of God. And we know we do not deserve the grace God has promised us through Christ, Jesus.

The good news is, if the above paragraph describes you, you are precisely the person God's grace has been poured out for. However, if you're the kind of person who goes through life justifying your sin, telling yourself you're "not as bad as that person," then you have reason to be worried. The only way you can justify your sin and trust in your own relative goodness is by judging the actions of others. James points out that not only are the proud going to be humbled before the Lord, but those who judge others are in fact judging themselves.

Rather than judging the severity of others sin, consider your own actions and weigh it against the holy law of God. As you discover who you truly are, a lawbreaker, humble yourself before the Lord and seek out his forgiveness for the sin in your life. This is the only hope for salvation any of us have regardless of what we've done or not done.

apologies

2010-01-27T11:40:00.001-08:00

Sorry for the lack of posts this week; it's been a long one. I think I'm caught up enough to post regularly again beginning tomorrow. God bless!

James 3

2010-01-27T11:38:00.000-08:00

Thinking before we speak is not always an easy thing to do. I have heard it said before that the people who are the “thinkers” or dubbed “the quiet ones” are the ones to watch out for, because when they get angry, they get angry. Or when they have something important to say, people listen. Upon reflection of my childhood years I know this was something that was difficult for me. I interrupted, said things I regretted, and so on. But as a kid I was still learning, sort of the, what not to do in a social setting. And I must admit I did get quite annoyed whenever I was corrected. Sure I am not perfect in speech, but that is something that takes wisdom

The latter half of the passage from James 3 specifically addresses how wisdom plays an important role in taming our tongues. Even if we may not be the most eloquent or knowledgeable of speakers it is still something we need to consider. To hold of on the discussion of wisdom, let us see why wisdom is needed. The tongue is often described as being the most viscous of all the parts of the body. It can cast gossip, discouragement, embarrassment, lies, and so forth. At the same time it can worship God, give praises to men and utter prayers in Jesus' name. The first half of James 3 gives us four metaphors on how the tongue acts:

“When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” (Vs. 3-6).

A rider atop a horse controls the horse's movements with a bit and reigns, telling it where to go. A ship's rudder also performs the task of maneuvering through water. The passage goes on to explain how the tongue is a restless evil and cannot be tamed by man alone, and this leads into the topic of wisdom.

Wisdom comes only from God. It is not something that we can claim to take credit for. Jumping back to the very first verses of James 3: “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.” (vs. 1-2). It is impossible to be perfect in speech and action, and if we choose to be in a teaching position we need to make certain our actions are in accordance with what God wants and not what we want.

There is a distinct difference between “worldly wisdom” and “heavenly wisdom.” Worldly wisdom seeks selfishness, bitterness, and dishonesty. Heavenly wisdom is the opposite, encompassing all that is pure, peace-loving, considerate and merciful. So the next time you go to speak, think first. Think about what you may have to say is going to be in anger or in love, because what you say really does affect those around you more than you may think. Whomever came up with the phrase “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me” must have been a monk, because, as that may be used to try to give someone encouragement, your words do matter.

“The kindest word in all the world is the unkind word unsaid.” ~Author Unknown

~Leigh A. Hartman

Mark 16

2010-01-22T06:13:00.001-08:00

If you have ever taken an in-depth look at the miracles surrounding Jesus' life, death and resurrection, then you will know how some scientists and non-believers over the years have tried to explain Jesus' resurrection as being possibly some sort of hoax by either the disciples or the Roman government itself. It is true that some of the actual events and cities from the biblical times have been discovered by archaeological efforts, including that of Pergamon, parts of ancient Jerusalem and Ephesus, but sometimes there is just too much left to speculation for a logical conclusion. And, when that happens, perhaps all we need to know is what the message and meaning of the passage really is.

Other religions see Jesus as someone who may have been a prophet, apostle, high priest, or other form of spiritual leader. They do not see Him as someone who came to complete one stage of the journey God laid out for us. If you attended the Christmas Eve service this past holiday then you would know that Bob, our minister, connected the events of Christ's birth with prophecies from the Old Testament, and how all of it together affects our future. It is a passage of hope, of faith, of life, of love. Passages in Isaiah (ch. 50, 51, 52), Zechariah (ch. 9) and Micah (ch. 5) tell of one who will come to be our redeemer, and these are fulfilled in Mark 16 (and the accounts in Matthew, Luke, and John).

There is a textual difference in some manuscripts of Mark that affects how some translations are printed today. Versus 9 through 20 are not included but still include important information. “First, the verses which follow (Mark 16:9-20) are not in any of the great early manuscripts; only later and inferior manuscripts contain them. Second, the style of the Greek is so different that they cannot have been written by the same person as wrote the rest of the gospel (William Barclay, The Gospel of Mark, pg. 5). What it does for us, though perhaps not written by the original author, is solidify what our mission as followers of Christ is to be. The mission that He died and rose for us. As summarized from page 370 of the commentary,

1. The church has a preaching task. It is the duty of the church, and that means it is the duty of every Christian, to tell the story of the good news of Jesus to those who have never heard it. The Christian duty is to be the herald of Jesus.

2. The church has a healing task. Here is a fact we have seen again and again. Christianity is concerned with men's bodies as well as men's minds. Jesus wished to bring health to the body and health to the soul.

3. The church has a source of power. […] is the conviction that the Christian is filled with a power to cope with life that others do not possess.

4. The church is never left alone to do its work. Always Christ works with it and in it and through it. The Lord of the church is still in the church and is still the Lord of power.
And so the gospel finishes with the message that the Christian life is lived in the presence and the power of him who was crucified and rose again.

The story of Christ is one of love, hope, faith and power. It is a life He was willing to lead for our sake and not His own. It is not a comfortable journey by far, but because He was willing, why should we not be willing as well? Christ not only set the example for us but came to us as a direct command to go out and tell others of the love, hope, faith and power. Not all things need to be explained. To show the nerdy side of me, there is a quote from one of my favorite Star Trek shows I think fits here: “"If you can explain everything, what's left to believe in? [...] Even when her science fails right before her eyes she still has full confidence in it." ~Star Trek Voyager, "Sacred Ground." Sometimes, all that's needed is faith.

~Leigh A Hartman

Mark 14 & 15

2010-01-21T11:54:00.001-08:00

These chapters are so tragic. Not in the sense that what happened to Jesus is a tragedy, because ultimately it's a victory, but what happens to those around Jesus is completely tragic.

I think of high priest, chief priests, teachers of the law, and elders who confronted Jesus and were the first to call for his death. They questioned him and after not liking his response they spit in his face and beat him. How tragic it must have been for them once they realized what they'd done.

I think of the "gang of thugs" who the chief priests sent to literally kidnap Jesus. They didn't even know who this guy was (evidenced by the fact that Judas had to kiss the one whom they were to take). They were paid hit men to do the dirty work of the Jews, yet how awful they must have felt upon Jesus' ultimate victory over death.

I think of the soldiers who mocked Jesus by dressing him in a fake robe and a crown of thorns. These guys knew what they were doing. At least the gang of thugs previously mentioned had some kind of an excuse. These guys surely must have eventually been destroyed by the atrocities they committed.

I think of the crowd that cried out, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" How many sleepless nights must they have experienced after his resurrection and ascension?

I think of Judas, the one who was lead astray by the temptation of a handful of gold coins. Mark doesn't offer us Judas' ultimate demise, but we know from Matthew's account that his guilt and depression were so overbearing that he was never able to even enjoy the fruits of his labor.

Finally, I think of Peter, who was so passionate about being Jesus' disciple, but at the first hint of trouble or potential persecution he denied knowing him. And as a result, Mark records, "And he broke down and wept."

The tragedy that struck the lives of all those around Jesus, of all those who betrayed him must have been so overwhelming. I know from my own experience, how much I've felt like a failure in the small ways I've denied the lordship of Jesus in my life, surely the tragedy of those who betrayed Jesus in person must have felt worse than words can describe.

God willing you or I will never have to know that kind of pain and anguish. All the more reason you be mindful of what you're doing and saying and reflecting on whether or not you are uplifting the name of Christ openly before others or denying him.

Mark 13

2010-01-19T08:09:00.000-08:00

For the most part, people do not like talking about the end of time. They want to believe that life can continue in the form we know, as living, human beings in a physical world. Throughout history many cultures have believed in some form of an afterlife or enhanced spiritual plane. The Egyptians built vast arrays of tombs in the famed Valley of the Kings, filling them (if they were rich), with everything one could need in the realm of the dead. The Chinese also built tombs for their emperors, and, in the most well known case, built thousands of terracotta soldiers for the first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. Supposedly they were used to usher him into the after life, to defend against any attacks from evil forces.

Chapter 13 contains some valuable information for us concerning the end times. When we hear of “the end times” the book we jump to first is the book of Revelation, where John takes us on a difficult journey of battles, visions and triumphs. At the beginning of the passage, the disciples are in awe of the magnificent buildings and stones. Jesus uses this as an opportunity to teach them, but it is a pretty heavy message. “Do you see all these great buildings?" replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down” (v. 2). Jesus' point here is that the old will pass away when He returns in order to make way for the new. Jesus warns us that there will be those who come before Him who will try to deceive us into thinking that they are Christ. Persecution will come, but we are to be strong and on our guard, ready for whatever may come. Brother will hate brother (v.12, and we will be hated because of what we believe (v. 13), but all these things are to happen before Christ returns.

Christ urges us to not be deceived, because that is the goal of an anti-Christ. In the popular book series by C.S. Lewis, the White Witch from The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe deceives Edmund into thinking he will become a king, and to bring his sisters and brother to her castle to live as his servants. This was part of a larger scheme to stop the prophecy of Aslan's return to Narnia and the balance of power returning from coming true. She performs magic to entice and lies to deceive. Aslan, the Great Lion, tells Lucy and Susan (Edmund's sisters) that the Witch did not understand the Deeper Magic. The Witch only saw what she wanted to see, and that was her role in whatever plan Aslan had for Narnia.

The same is with the anti-Christs. They are only a small part in the vast plan God has for us, but they can still be very effective. Just as Narnia passed away in The Last Battle, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (v. 30). Just as Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy learned to trust Aslan's word, we must also trust God in that only He knows truly what will happen and when it will happen. “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!” (v. 35-36).

“And as He [Aslan] spoke He no longer looked to them like a lion; but the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them, it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great story, which no one on earth has read: which goes on for ever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.”

-C.S.Lewis, The Last Battle

Leigh Hartman

Mark 12

2010-01-18T10:38:00.000-08:00

"Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's."

This saying of Jesus' has been one debated for millenia. This is a popular passage preached on during tax season. "Be a good Christian and honestly pay your entire share of taxes," or so the typical lesson goes. The argument being that taking advantage of tax credits and reductions that are in that somewhat "gray area" is sinful and wrong.

I, for one, don't buy this application of Jesus' lesson. During his ministry, the Romans were very aggressive in their taxation of the Jews. They demanded more than their "fair share" from even the poorest of people. However, there was a group of Jews that did all they could to resist this taxation. They fought against the powers that be and, in turn, created a much more hostile environment for everyone else.

At this point, it simply wasn't wise to resist the Romans like this. What could the Jews possibly gain? All along they were looking for a messiah that would "put the Romans in their place." However, Jesus, being the promised messiah, knew their view of the messiah wouldn't be fulfilled. So, rather than resisting the Roman persecution and over taxation, Jesus instructs his followers to "give to Caesar what is Caesar's and give to God what is God's." In other words, he repeats his former instructions to "turn the other cheek."

How does this play out in contemporary society? Well, unlike today in the United States, there was no viable way around the criminally high taxes. There were no first time home buyers' tax credit. There were no tax rate reductions for charitable giving. Things like this didn't exist, so to not pay in full what the tax collectors demanded was a death sentence, not only for the individual, but increased persecution for society at large.

Today there are legitimate methods for reducing your yearly tax bill. Take advantage of them! As a matter of fact, if we do not use the rights we have to reduce what we owe to the federal, state, and local governments the more likely those rights will eventually be taken away. Give to Obama/Rendell/your local government what is rightly theirs, but not more than is appropriate, because God expects to be given what is rightly his as well.

One last thing: Know that what Jesus had in mind by saying "give to God what is God's," was not merely money. Many of these people had nothing once they paid their taxes (as a matter of fact, it was quite common to be in debt over one's head with a tax bill), so what is God's definitely applies to matters of the heart and skill as well. Maybe you have no money to give during the collection at church, but you DO have time and effort. You have been created with some very special skills that can be used to God's glory if you choose. You have to choose for yourself if you're going to dedicate to God that which he created in the first place. Otherwise, you're just wasting His time.

Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and give to God what is God's. You have an obligation to be wise with your gifts. Are you being as wise as possible with both your money, time, and talents?? Something to think about.

1 Kings Two Proverbs 3

2010-01-16T07:42:00.001-08:00

King Solomon's name is recorded in the genealogy of Jesus in the first chapter of the book of Matthew. The story of King Solomon begins in 1 Kings 1, when David passes on rule of the nation to Solomon, continuing the line. 1 Kings 1:39: “Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon. Then they sounded the trumpet and all the people shouted, 'Long live King Solomon!'” It was not until after David's death did he assume the throne, and it was there that he asked God for the gift of wisdom. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 1 Kings 3:9:So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?" Tradition points to Solomon as being the author of Proverbs, Song of Solomon and Ecclesiastes. Proverbs is a book of wisdom, and Chapter 3 is no exception.

Although the last few verses contain several "do not's," the tone of the Chapter is essentially a good one. It explains the importance of wisdom, how it comes only from God. Wisdom should encompass all thought and action during the day, and how it plays a role in recognizing God's discipline as not strictly only punishment but in helping us know He loves us and wants what is best for us. In starting at the beginning, we find one of the most easily recognizable verses:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight," vs 5-6.

It can be hard to fully believe in something without being able to see it. Some people only take in what they see physically and try to do things on their own, independently without both God and people. The path may not always be easy, and we may not always know what is going to happen next, but that is where the word and idea of "trust" comes in.

As stated previously, wisdom and discernment should be what guides our decision making. I have this unfortunate habit of over thinking things a lot while I was in school. "Should I take this class?" "Should I go and talk to this person about this subject?" "Am I doing the right thing?" I would obsess over some subject and it would drive my friends crazy. One of my friends, who got to know me really well, would, every once in a while, just look at me and say, "Stop, breathe...just breathe, it'll be okay." That's what God does. He puts something or someone in your life who can just look at you and say "Stop, just breathe, turn back to God," and know that everything is going to be okay.

"Trust in the Lord, and lean not on your own understanding." Godly wisdom is more precious than our own human intuitions. As it says in Matthew 6:24, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Trusting others can be a hard thing to do, including trusting in God. but trust in God's wisdom will bring good, as "by wisdom the LORD laid the earth's foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place." (v. 19).

-Leigh A. Hartman

Mark 11

2010-01-15T09:32:00.000-08:00

Oh, how I love the passage about the withered fig tree. I must confess though, I love the passage, not because of its theological significance or the spiritual truth behind it, I love it because it makes me laugh.

You have to imagine yourself in the disciples' shoes. You've been following this guy for years now and up to this point he has changed the lives of everyone he's come in contact with in a positive way. By healing the sick, forgiving sinners, and challenging the religious elite, Jesus has been a force for good throughout his ministry. You almost get the sense, that up to this point in Mark's gospel, Jesus is pretty much a magical, Mr. Rogers-type character; he's out merely seeking to cheer up those who've been down for so long! He's a happy man, and other than when his disciples doubt him and the Pharisees prod him, he's never really seen as being "upset." But, today, you're walking with Jesus towards Jerusalem and all of sudden you see him approach a fig tree and curse it! Why does he curse it?? On the surface level, Jesus curses the fig tree because it wasn't producing any fruit. But, even Mark reminds his readers, the funny thing is, the fig tree shouldn't be producing fruit because IT WASN'T IN SEASON! Then, immediately following his cursing of the tree, Jesus goes into the temple and drives out all those "doing business." He chases out the money changers (currency exchangers like we have in our airports/major international cities), people selling stuff (doves and other goods for sacrifice), and even those merely carrying their new purchases around.

When I read this, like I said before, I laugh because I could just imagine Peter, and the other disciples asking themselves, "What gives? What did that fig tree ever do to him?? He went from healing a blind man and leading his own celebratory parade into Jerusalem to cursing a fig tree and chasing people out of the temple?! Why is Jesus acting so, um, grumpy?!"

The reason for Jesus' mood swing, isn't so much because he just became grumpy, but because Mark is now revealing to his readers the "other side" to Jesus' ministry. Jesus WAS/IS NOT your happy go lucky, Mr. Rogers kind of man/prophet/god. Jesus didn't come to merely make people happy. Don't get me wrong, he did come to bless those who deserved to be blessed, but he also came to condemn those who deserved to be condemned.

Back in the Old Testament, there's a story about the original construction of the temple in Jerusalem. In 1 Kings 8, after the temple was finished, King Solomon offers a prayer before the entire assembly of Israel, as a kind of invocation for the grand opening of this fantastic new structure that towered over everything in Jerusalem. In the prayer he states, "As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name - for men will hear of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm - when he comes and prays toward this temple, then hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name."

God's original intention for the nation of Israel, the city of Jerusalem, and the temple was that it be a beacon of hope and salvation for all humanity. It was not to be the "clubhouse for the in crowd," which is what the Pharisees and religious elite of Jesus' day turned it into. The foreigner was to be welcomed and taught of the love of God. However, the Jewish religious leaders decided that the knowledge of God would be for them alone, and only the "pure in heart" and "righteous" could approach the throne room of God (the temple). Meanwhile, outside of Jerusalem, people were suffering and dying. People lived their lives feeling forsaken because they believed their sin and/or the status they were given at birth permanently separated them from the one true God. And the results of this type of religious understanding was an Israel with leaves, but no fruit; an Israel that was alive and looked great from afar, but closer examination proved it to be unable to reproduce followers of God.

This is why this poor, innocent fig tree gets the axe (well, it doesn't get the axe literally, but its cursed and withers). It serves as a perfect illustration for the spiritual status of the nation of Israel. God wanted His Kingdom to spread through Israel, not for Israel to be the extent of the Kingdom. So, now that Jesus has entered Jerusalem, it was time to start expressing God's dissatisfaction for what these religious leaders have done to the faith. No more Mr. Nice Jesus.

This chapter begs us the question: What have we done with our relationship with God? Have we created a "in crowd type religion?" Or, do we view our relationship with God as something we want the entire world to enjoy? Something to think about as we begin this new year.

Mark 10

2010-01-14T12:45:00.000-08:00

While reading through today's passage my mind kept returning to phrase, "it was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law." Each one of the stories in today's passage, in one way or another, seem to be riding on this theme of having a hard heart. Jesus' teachings about divorce, children and the Kingdom, sacrificing your wealth, and the healing of Bartimeaus all touch on this theme. It's almost as if Jesus is trying to say, "If your hearts weren't so hard, you wouldn't be concerned with divorce, giving away your riches to those in need, and you'd act more like a child, or blind man, who with nothing to rely on other than faith approaches God for their very existence.

I don't know, but it definitely begs the question of us, "Are we hard hearted?" Are we concerned purely with keeping the law and not about softening our hearts to the needs and cares of others? In your marriage, does your heart yearn to ensure your spouse is happy and his/her needs are being met? In your relationship with God, are you more concerned with "doing the right thing" in order to earn his love rather than merely expressing his unconditional love to others by doing "right things." What's the condition of your heart? Do you approach God as an intellectual pursuit based on reason? Or do you run after him as a child runs to his/her parents out of love and necessity?

Just something to think about.

Proverbs 2, Psalms 3 & 4, Mark 7-9

2010-01-13T10:07:00.000-08:00

So sorry I haven't posted in a while. Want to hear my excuse?? Nah, I'm sure you don't. Regardless, I'll just say, between drill weekend (for those of you who don't know, I'm in the Air Force Reserve), Ritz work, and other stuff, I never found the time to update the blog. But, do know, that even if I don't write my thoughts on a particular text of the day, I AM STILL READING IT!!! I hope you are too.

Regarding today's reading, the one verse that stuck out to me comes from a line spoken by the father of the boy healed of an evil spirit. Jesus told the boy's father, "Everything is possible for him who believes." And in response the father stated, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

At surface level it would seem this statement is an oxymoron of sorts. Is it possible to believe and yet ask God to help us overcome our unbelief?? Of course it is. Not a one of us is 100% secure in our faith. We simply are not. When life throws us a curve ball, or when tragedy hits our household, there's not a single person who can say, "I never struggled in my faith." Faith and belief are fluid things. They are ever changing, ever growing or waning. There's no reaching 100% faith and never doubting again. If you were completely honest with yourself, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. There are those times when you need God to help you overcome your unbelief. I confess, I KNOW there are times I need his help.

Like the boy's father, do not be afraid to ask for divine assistance with your faith. If you find yourself waning in your faith, if your current situation in life is causing you to doubt, causing you to not see the point in having a relationship with your Creator, find even the slightest ounce of faith you need to toss out a plea for help from your heavenly father. If you are open and honest with God about your struggles, I can guarantee from personal experience, he is faithful in his response. It's when we fake our faith and merely go through the motions that troubles him (see Monday's reading about being clean or unclean).

Just be honest with him and ask for what you need. He gives generously!

Mark 6

2010-01-08T10:20:00.000-08:00

Mark 6 is a rather long chapter and it starts off with one of those passages that I've struggled with for a long time.

After crossing the Sea of Galilee a few times, Jesus finds himself at a place where ministry was difficult for him; his hometown of Nazareth. Now that his ministry had picked up steam and people were seeking him out, following him, and listening to him preach, the folks who must have known him since childhood were astounded by what they were seeing and hearing. These people not only knew him, they knew his mother and (step) father, they knew his brothers and sisters (biological, I might add), they knew his past and the text states, "they were amazed." They were amazed to hear him speak with such wisdom and heal with such power! However, they weren't amazed in the positive sense of the term. A few sentences later we discover that these people actually "took offense to him." These guys started asking themselves, "Who does this kid think he is?!?! He's a carpenter's son. He's no better than us! What gives him the right to preach to us? What makes him so special?!?"

And in response to such criticism, Jesus says something I truly wish he hadn't. He says, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and his own house is a prophet without honor." Those words have been some of the most difficult words for me because I've never wanted anything in ministry other than to serve God in my hometown, in Pittsburgh. People have asked me over the years, "What if you don't find a position in Pittsburgh?? What if there's nothing there for you??" And, yet, even then, I've responded, "I'd rather be in the 'Burgh without a paid ministry position, than be any where else with a 'title' of some kind." Being in my hometown, near my family, in the city I love, is more important to Erin and me than a ministerial pay check. We love this area so much! And, I think God has blessed that desire by plugging us in here with you all at ECC. Even if this position didn't work out. Even if I had to take a full-time job doing something else to supply for my family, I know I'd be happier serving the Kingdom of God here voluntarily, than any where else.

However, what we find in Mark 6 seems to suggest that going back one's hometown to minister is a mistake. Even Jesus found it difficult. How could I possibly expect to be able to do anything of good, if even Jesus found it problematic?? Over the years I've reflected on this passage and have come to two conclusions...

1) Jesus didn't say that ministryin one's hometown is impossible . He found it difficult, there's no hiding that, but because his focus was on a high octane ministry that was going to change the world, he didn't have the time to invest in his hometown to overcome the barriers that existed there. Jesus' focus wasn't on Nazareth, his focus was on all of Israel, and, ultimately, the entire world.

2) Jesus said, "only in his hometown is a prophet without honor." The key phrase being "without honor." When one leaves his/her hometown it's very easy for the folks of the community he/she ends up in to glorify the newcomer's past. When Erin and I were in Tennessee, the people there didn't know the mistakes I made in my past here in Pittsburgh. As far as they were concerned, I lived a perfect life before moving there.

In the ministry, as in many areas of life, it's much easier to build upon a clean slate than it is to work through existing, sometimes troubled, relationships. It can be quite tempting to think, "These people have known me for years. They know my mistakes, they know the kind of person I was, they'll never listen to me if I talk to them about the Kingdom of God. If only I could move some place new/find a new job/meet new friends/move away from my family, then, only then, will I be able to share the gospel with the people around me. Once I'm around people who don't know my past, then I'll be able to reach people for Christ."

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not faulting Jesus for not trying harder in his hometown. I fully acknowledge that he had a greater mission than to spend the necessary time to convince those folks that God instilled in him something greater than what his perceived lineage might suggest. Jesus' mission was much larger than simply Nazareth. His mission was the world so that ours could be local. Jesus had to skip out of his hometown so that you and I could be in a position to share with our hometowns the true nature of his kingdom.

What Jesus said is true: "Only in his hometown is a prophet without honor." But, who's worried about honor? Let's forget about the past, forget about being honored for who we are (or embarrassed by who we were) and choose to make honoring God our focus and start planting the seeds of faith here, in Pittsburgh, our hometown.

Scripture Reflections to Date

2010-01-08T10:18:00.000-08:00

Mark 1:

As Mark Gospel begins, an obvious pattern emerges rather quickly regarding the writing style of the entire gospel. Everything Jesus does is done with a sense of urgency. There's no fluff. With phrases like, "at that time," "after that," as soon as they left," and "very early in the morning," Mark clues us in that Jesus was on scene for a very short time, yet he had a very important mission to accomplish.

The first words of Jesus that Mark records are, "The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" Jesus is holding nothing back to proclaim the presence of the Kingdom.

Do you have the same sense of urgency regarding the Kingdom of God? I wish I could say I do. There's something to work on this year as we read through the NT.

Proverbs 1:

Wisdom = blessed, successful life not distracted by the foolishness and evil of the world.

Fear of the Lord = the beginning of knowledge/wisdom

Selfish life that ignores God, lives for ones self, and ignores wisdom will eventually fall to the dangers of the simple minded and be destroyed by their own complacency.

Psalm 1:

Whatever the righteous man does prospers?? Really?? I find that hard to believe when I watch so many "good people" being pushed aside as trash, and the wicked, the corrupt, finding success through their treachery. The only way this Psalm can be true is if the Psalmist isn't talking about prosperity in the "earthly," "here and now" sense, but rather in the eternal sense. The only way this Psalm makes sense is if there is more to life than the here and now. Thank God for the promise of eternity.

Psalm 2

One of the worst jobs has to be leading a nation as its president, prime minister, king, czar, etc. Being the one person in charge, the one person to make the choice between who lives and dies and for what purpose, cannot be an easy task. Then when you add to it the statements of this psalm, stressing that the Lord is ultimately and charge and world leaders will report to the Lord for their choices, it creates an even more daunting scenario. Makes you realize how much prayer the president, legislatures, governors, mayors, and all the leaders of our nation and all nations really need. They have much to be responsible for and it isn't only the security of their people.

Mark 2

"It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." When Jesus healed the paralytic, ate a meal at Levi's house, and answered his challengers about fasting, and the Sabbath, he revealed to those who were paying attention where God focuses his attention. Much as a doctor's focus is on caring for the sick, God's focus is on redeeming sinners. The law was written not to keep people from God, but to reveal God's nature and expectations of his people. Those who did not know the law, or felt separated from God by it, were supposed to be brought nearer to God through teaching it, not holding it up as a some kind of barrier.

Mark 3:

The thing that stuck out to me most in this passage had to do with Jesus' family. In verse 21 Mark writes that Jesus' family came to Jesus to try to "take charge of him;" or in the NRSV the phrase is translated, "the went out to restrain him." Even Jesus' family thought he was nuts while he followed the leading of his eternal father. Any one else have family members who don't understand why you do what you do with regards to your faith???

Mark 4:

The message that stuck out to me after reading these parables all together and concluding with the story of Jesus calming the sea is to have patience and not lose heart when those we share the Kingdom of God don't get it right away. Just like Jesus did with his own disciples, we must plant the seed of the Kingdom of God in the hearts of others, but we must also be willing to give that seed time to grow. Jesus told his disciples point blank that they'd received the secrets to the Kingdom of God, and in the very same chapter of the gospel we find them fearful and lacking in faith. How can this be?? Because the seed Jesus planted in them was still growing and it would be a few years before the fully "got it."

Mark 5:

Call me crazy but today's passage made me want to see a movie. The movie Legion is being released soon (I'll have to check the actual date later) and it's all about demons and angels fighting over humanity. Jesus casted out a demon(s) that identified itself as Legion (literally meaning, a large force, like a legion of Roman troops) in the story today. The movie looks frightening, but the spiritual world is quite scary if one is not secure in the Kingdom of God through the power of Christ.