Some days are hard. Some days are full of stress and anxiety and fear that you long to get away. The problem is that we can't always run away to an all inclusive resort. Vacation and "mental health days" are great but we can't stay there forever.
The Book of Revelation is an authentic taste of what will be. It is a promise that in the end, God wins. Life may be hard now and unfair. But in the end, God will win. And we get paradise.
I do not think that paradise is a place like Jerusalem but a state of mind, of course that is another whole blog. But for now let us be content with this.
"All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved." The end will much like the beginning. The God who shaped Eden out of the chaos of our world will shape it into some thing new. Come Lord Jesus come.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
It is amazing to me how I can ask any question and find an answer within seconds on a search engine on my computer. I was surprised to find out that the #1 question asked is "Where is the safest place to stand outside in a thunderstorm?"
Jesus liked to ask questions of his disciples like "who do people say that I am?"
But really he was far more concerend about their own personal answer. "who do you say that I am?" Friend, teacher, compassionate leader are all good but Peter hits it right on the head.. You are the Christ!
He is God in the flesh, he is the king of my life. He is my savior. Of you may have enough common sense to not be caught outside in a thunderstorm but what does your life say about who Jesus is to you? Your answer may be the best thing you do all day.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
When life feels like it's on a roll.
Sometimes you may feel like life is a big gamble. Like the outcome of your life is resting on how the dice roll for you. If they roll right, you get "lucky". If they roll badly, your life goes down the tubes. It does seem that certain times in our life the stars are in align and there are lots of blessings. Then just when your relax everything seems to fall apart. Others may call this luck. But I don't. That's life and in everything, good or bad I see another hand at work, God.
In the past few months my reading of THE STORY I realize that I need to remmeber the UPPER STORY, God will.
The Book of Esther is a dramatic portrayl of this. God seems to be silent as his people suffer but then there is Queen Esther standing up to the King and the reversal of fortune of Mordeci. Whew! God was doing some major stuff.
There are days you may think God is not around or even cares. But as you read the book of Esther it reminds us that God is active, often behind the scenes, working things out for "the good of those who love him." Romans 8.28
He has put you right where you are, right now, so you can make a difference. You can say the words someone needs to hear. You can be the example someone needs to see. You can help someone find freedom from sin. So let others roll the dice and you let God take care fo the rest.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
More to the story
As we read through The Story we meet lots of people like ourselves, maybe some who are even worse. David is one of those people. His little affair with Bathsheba may have not been caught on tape but it was seen by God. When the prophet Nathan says "you're the man" he had a choice, deny, run away or confess. He could have made excuses or blame Bathsheba but instead he chose the better and healthier choice. "I have sinned against the Lord." 2 Samuel 12.13.
And God did with David's sin what he will do with yours or mine. He put it away. Psalm 103: 12-13.
You can so what David did today. Whatever you did on the first week of April you can stop right now and admit you have not only hurt yourself and maybe someone else plus offended God. Isn't that the apporiate thing to do on Holy Week?
And then let another shepherd from Bethlehem forgive it. That's better than any other choice you could make.
And God did with David's sin what he will do with yours or mine. He put it away. Psalm 103: 12-13.
You can so what David did today. Whatever you did on the first week of April you can stop right now and admit you have not only hurt yourself and maybe someone else plus offended God. Isn't that the apporiate thing to do on Holy Week?
And then let another shepherd from Bethlehem forgive it. That's better than any other choice you could make.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
God's people
"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.
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.
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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