"childbirth. taxes and death. There is never a convenient time for any of them." As I read Matthew 22. 15-22 I realize that I owe "Caesar" taxes and a few other things but I owe God my very life!
As I look at the pictures of dead presidents on the bills in my wallet I realize I do not worship them. But what does it mean for me to bear God's image?
We should walk around each day as if we have God tattooed on our foreheads and on our hearts.
What does it mean for the cross of Jesus to take central place amid all our other pledges of allegiance? How do we use the dollars entrusted to us as signs of Gods' reign in our lives? As the people of faith how doe God DNA of compassion show in ou lives? What will we give in his honor?
But amazingly, this isn't a one way street. God has a tattoo!
He has our names, his children tattooed on the palm of his hand. he cares for us, forever.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
And jesus Sang
One of my favorite preachers is Barbara Brown Taylor let me share her latest post:
"After all this time I thought I knew Jesus really well. Then just last week- preparing to preach at a worship time - I discovered something unsettling about him. I discovered that Jesus never played an instrument, never led his followers in song, or even hummed a familiar tune. How is it possible to be fully human without ever making music?
After a word search I tried hymn and struck a jackpot. According to Matthew and Mark, it is possible that Jesus sang once. On the first night of the Passover, after he had shared the last supper with his friends,they did one last thing together before they headed out that night. "when they had sung a hymn " both evangelists say " they went out to the Mount Of Olives." How had I missed that verse? How many Maunday Thursday services had I sat through without ever hearing that verse? Then I remembered that they would have sung the Hallel- Psalms 113-118- sung during evening prayers.
I know there are others who are ahead of me on this, but this is the first time I have heard that Jesus was fully human for he sang. The lord to whom I pray to not only sang praises and asked for strength to endure. Jesus may only have sung once, but when he did, the Word Made Flesh became Music as well."
"After all this time I thought I knew Jesus really well. Then just last week- preparing to preach at a worship time - I discovered something unsettling about him. I discovered that Jesus never played an instrument, never led his followers in song, or even hummed a familiar tune. How is it possible to be fully human without ever making music?
After a word search I tried hymn and struck a jackpot. According to Matthew and Mark, it is possible that Jesus sang once. On the first night of the Passover, after he had shared the last supper with his friends,they did one last thing together before they headed out that night. "when they had sung a hymn " both evangelists say " they went out to the Mount Of Olives." How had I missed that verse? How many Maunday Thursday services had I sat through without ever hearing that verse? Then I remembered that they would have sung the Hallel- Psalms 113-118- sung during evening prayers.
I know there are others who are ahead of me on this, but this is the first time I have heard that Jesus was fully human for he sang. The lord to whom I pray to not only sang praises and asked for strength to endure. Jesus may only have sung once, but when he did, the Word Made Flesh became Music as well."
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Lnet 2011
What is faith?
All of us can resonate with the phrase "life is difficult." But how many of us could reply "but God is good!" In Hebrews 11 Paul states "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." What does that mean?
When life throws us lemons can we see the need for lemonade? Paul states that the ability to live through life with serenity and hope is a gift given to us by God and lived out each day in daily life. Like most followers of Christ, Paul knew that God does some of his best work in the worst of times. He then recites case after case of people who stuggled in life yet continued to believe in the goodness of God. Could our names be added to that list?
How can we have such faith? It begins with the word HAS. Jesus has already paid the price for our forgiveness and HAS offered the gift of life with God. Pray to God that he not only gives you the gift of faith and the eyes to see his goodness in the midst of these dark days.
All of us can resonate with the phrase "life is difficult." But how many of us could reply "but God is good!" In Hebrews 11 Paul states "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." What does that mean?
When life throws us lemons can we see the need for lemonade? Paul states that the ability to live through life with serenity and hope is a gift given to us by God and lived out each day in daily life. Like most followers of Christ, Paul knew that God does some of his best work in the worst of times. He then recites case after case of people who stuggled in life yet continued to believe in the goodness of God. Could our names be added to that list?
How can we have such faith? It begins with the word HAS. Jesus has already paid the price for our forgiveness and HAS offered the gift of life with God. Pray to God that he not only gives you the gift of faith and the eyes to see his goodness in the midst of these dark days.
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