Constant Faltering Devotion

Looked up a rather unknown Misty Edwards song today- you should listen to it... here are some of the words;

I can hear the rhythm of the Lion of the tribe of Judah

He's doing a new thing so we're singing a new song

he's not a baby in a manger anymore He's not a broken man on a cross
He didn't stay in the grave and He's not staying in heaven forever

He's alive He's alive He's alive

People get ready! Jesus is coming!

People walking ground with their fingers in the their ears saying
"La-du-du-du-du I don't want to hear the sound of the coming King"

Once again I'm going to shake everything that can be shaken
Once again I'm going to break everything that can be broken

This song reminds me of how much in my life can be shaken and broken. I've been learning about that lately...too much of my life can be shaken- but if all is built on Christ I should be unshakeable in every circumstance. I have been putting some of my joy and hope and things that can be shaken. After all, in the very end what remains besides love? Nothing. Nothing but love remains. I think that I need to replace my all in my God.

And
"It feels like I'm born again
It feels like I'm living
It feels like I'm breathing
It feels like I'm moving"
once again, this time after time. I want to stay devoted- constantly, consistently, and forever.

Compete or Complement?

"The arguments against female executives who become mothers are not easily dismissed. On the other hand, might not the problem be in the way we have structured things in our society? While it is true that the woman becomes pregnant, it is not true that only she is a parent. Where is her husband? By what right does his life go on unchanged following the birth of his child while his wife is expected to significantly alter hers?" Everything You've Heard is Wrong Tony Campolo

Preach it Tony Campolo! It's so frustrating to be female sometimes because some people see us as weaker, dumber, and all around inferior. It's almost as if we're too competitive to understand that maybe God meant us to complement each other.

He Carries Me . ? !

I made a decision - today, God will be first. I cannot promise that I have placed him first in my heart yesterday, or will hold him in that lofty place tomorrow- but today I am and will. I'll be exploring what this means for a while I believe.

Looking for a specific Psalm someone mentioned the other day I ran across Psalm 68, loops of blue pen encircled verse 13 (NIV version) but now that I'm rereading it I really like verse 19 too- the whole Psalm is quite poetic...

May those who hate God melt like wax in a fire
Let the godly be glad in God's presence
He places the lonely in families and sets captives free
The very earth trembles before him
At his command abundant rains come to refresh
He provides the needy with a bountiful harvest

Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms.

My God, our God, is a God who cares. He really, truly cares about those who are in bondage, alone, hungry, and hurting - it is those who hate him, not the weak and impoverished, who will come to ruin at the end of tha day.

Who is this God who loves me enough to carry me in His arms? He is strong and he is gentle, he inspires fear in the fearless and comforts the inconsolable. You might already know this- but that's why I don't write for you - I write because God is showing me old things in new ways and tenderly opening my heart to him again and again.

"Do no wrong"

Satellites contain us
Traffic lights control us
Rockets shoot us up into the stars
Rockets shoot us up into the stars

Letters keep us posted
Numbers calculated
Nothing picks us up when we are down
Nothing picks us up when we are down

Complement the atmosphere
Fill the ground with all our tears
Dry them up to make it clear

~Thirteen Senses "Do No Wrong" lyrics

cHaNgE

For Lent I'm doing something different- I'll be posting on a different blogspot . I'll just be writing about what I am doing differently during Lent to draw closer to Jesus. This may include some Bible verses that impacted me that day, or it might not, we'll see. So follow the link if you want to read about my Lent commitment.

Sleepless Nights and Gorgeous Sights

Last night I went ice-skating around midnight, it was such a great time with God, and so serene. I told him I would read his word when I got back to the room; I get back, my roomie's in bed, the lights are out. So I read it for a little bit and work on my memory verse with a little booklight I have. I close it, the room is dark, it is almost two: I want to go to bed. I can't. Ended up grabbing my bible, pillow, and a sleeping bag and just went out into the hallway and slept. There was something so comforting about it. I know people probably think I'm weird for liking to sleep on the floor more than on beds- but I've always liked sleeping bags more. Anyways, I got some more Bible reading in out there and ran into some great things!

A story I really like from Acts is the one where a Jewish high priest is trying to go around casting out demons "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out". So this day the evil spirit answers and says; "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you? The possessed man beats them up and they run out naked and bleeding. Now, what I've found is that stuff like that doesn't just happen for no reason at all- there's always a lesson behind it. The consequence? Everyone was seized with fear and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. Many who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds, then publicly burned their scrolls Acts 19:20 says, "In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power".

Wow! The fear of God (forgotten a lot nowadays)and holding Jesus' name in high honor can cause people to confess their evil deeds (in public nonetheless!)and lead to an actual change of action. Yup- that all happened, and spread the word of the Lord even further, and it grew even more in power. Incredible!

Remain True

Today I was reading about some followers going out to the Greeks to speak to them. The Lord's hand was with them, and guess what that meant? A great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. The Jerusalem church hears this and wants to see it- to hear about it- (is this legit?) so they send Barnabas. What did Barnabas do? Acts 11:23 tells us;

"When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts."

What is the evidence of grace? The Amplified says that Barnabas saw the favor God was bestowing upon them. God bestows his favor on those who love, obey, serve, and call on Him. This made Barnabas very joyful- so what did he do with his gladness? He encouraged them to stay just as devoted to God as they presently were. Sometimes we witness many come to Christ but forget that it is also so important to encourage them to REMAIN TRUE to the LORD! An initial acceptance of Jesus is no good if we don't remain true to Him, and with all our hearts- none of this half-hearted remaining true...

Why him??

Y'know what? I realized something. It's hard to do things on your own. There are some things I try to do (blog about my bible everyday, memorize James, pray more often, stuff like that) and it's just plain discouraging to feel like you're the only one doing those things. That's why I like going to Ron's office for prayer in the mornings- there are always people there- it's uplifting, times like that remind me that I'm not alone. I'm glad we're a body of Christians- that there are others- that I don't have to do everything all alone. I've been going back over the sermon on the mount in Matthew (Matthew 5-7 anyone who wants to memorize something, this is a great piece to memorize- do it with me!). But today I was reading in Acts about the conversion of Saul to Paul. When Paul is in Damascus (still blinded) the Lord speaks to one of his followers and tells him to go ask for Saul from Tarsus. His follower (Ananias) tries to tell God why it's a terrible idea.

Acts 9:15-16
But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and show the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."

I wonder what went through Ananias' head as God told him that this despicable, saint-harming, arrester is His chosen instrument to carry his name. I think I would have been jealous- this man, Ananias, had obviously been faithful to God, the power of the Lord was upon him- yet the Lord chose such a terrible guy to represent His name. I might have wondered what was wrong with me, why God wouldn't use me in that way, or why I had to be responsible for helping the man so many followers feared and disliked... God just goes on to say that He will show Saul (Paul) how much he must suffer for His name. So Ananias goes and prays that he may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit, he is and goes out to speak powerfully and prove that Jesus is the Christ. At first all the disciples were afraid of him and didn't really think he was a disciple, I can imagine that those feelings were a form of suffering for Jesus. His suffering increased as he grew in God and faith. I don't really understand why God didn't just use one of the many that were coming to Christ and truly following him- why didn't he use someone like Ananias or Barnabas in the role he gave to Paul instead?? Sure, the radical conversion of Paul really shows the glory of God, but this makes me wonder about my own testimony... it isn't radical- will God pluck a lost one from the sea of sin and work through that person more than he works through me, though I ask Him everyday to let his will come in my life? I suppose that's rather a selfish thing to ask, but still, I wish I understood God's ways better. In any case, I am grateful for all I've been given, and the chances to shine for Him that I do have, nothing else matters but to bring the most glory to God possible.

Acting Out

I remember a time, a year or two ago, when I stumbled upon Acts. I was in my studio, just reading the Bible, I'd finished whatever and just flipped to twenties of Acts, and started reading- I read everything- not to be "spiritual" or anything, but because it was SO enjoyable. The story totally drew me in, and gave me a desire to see something like the church in Acts here today. As I read Acts today I started making a list of what happened between God and his servants, starting in Acts 4:31, here it is:

-The apostles prayed (Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus)
-The meeting place was shaken
- They were all filled with the Holy Spirit & spoke the word of God boldly
- They were one in heart and mind
- Shared everything they had
- Continued to testify to Jesus' resurecction
- Much grace was upon them all
- Helped needy believers
- Some believers sin against God (Ananias and Sapphira)
- God and church leadership enforce consequences (God strikes them dead)
- all of the believers have a healthier respect for and fear of God
- apostles perform many miraculous signs and wonders
- highly regarded by the people
- more and more believe in the Lord
- healings (ALL the cords brought were healed- Acts 5:16), freeing from evil spirits
- persecution of the aposles - they are arrested
- divine deliverance -an angel opens the jails doors and gives them instructions
- they obey and stand in the temple and teach the people the message of new life
- brought before the religious leaders
- stand up for beliefs- "We must obey God rather than men!" (Acts 5:29)
- the Pharisees are furious BUT one stands up and reasons with the other Pharisees (his name is Gamaliel which means "benefit of God", he says (Acts 5:38-39)"Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." great logic!
- the pharisees are persuaded and flog the apostles, tell them not to speak in Jesus' name, and let them go
- The apostles leave rejoicing that they are counted worthy to suffer disgrace for the Name (what a different outlook than most of us "Christians" have!)
- day after day in the temple courts and from house to house they NEVER stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ

Notice how everything stemmed from a "simple" prayer? The apostles (truly obedient to God) prayed that the Lord would enable those who serve him to speak His word with great boldness. They asked him to stretch out his hand to heal people and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of his holy servant Jesus. And God answered their prayers (He said he would do this y'know), so maybe we should pray more - fancy that!

What is it to You?

I finished the gospel of John today. Y'know, it's been harder and harder to get enough of God. Kind of like eating- when you feast everyday you have more of a capacity to eat, and a greater hunger when you don't; but, if you are accustomed to starving, going a day or three without food isn't as hard and doesn't affect you nearly as much. Well, I want to feast on God every day, every single day- not just a tiny meal of Jesus- no, I don't want that to satisfy me, oh I pray that I may always hunger. There were so many significant verses, I think the following is particularly poignant though, it's when Jesus is asking Peter if he loves Him and telling him to "Follow Me". (John is following them)

John 21
When Peter saw him (John), he asked, "Lord, what about him?"
Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me."

Sometimes I think we ask God "what about so-and-so?" just to give us an excuse. If God has called us to something, if Jesus himself has requested that we follow him, why would we care about what anyone else would be doing? Jesus had just told Peter what would happen to him when he was older, and Peter responds by asking what the future of someone else is? Why? Jesus replies that it doesn't matter what his plans are for someone else when he has clearly told Peter the plans he has for his life. What Jesus plans in others' futures does not have ramifications on us- meaning it doesn't change the calling God has placed on our life. Certainly we are interdependent and function as a body, but EACH individual needs to obey what God has told them. If God has planned for us to be a medical doctor, or missionary, or businessperson, or pastor, or wealthy, or to be a martyr for his name it doesn't not matter that John Doe got called into something else- it does not affect the fact that we must follow Jesus.

Maybe your room-mate will live a comfortable life with all the amenities to a ripe old age of 106, but what those around us are called to does NOT change the fact that we are to follow Jesus. If God has given us a difficult route and others an easier path, what is it to us- should it affect the passion we follow Him with? Never.

We do Not Belong- but Take us Not

In part of John 17 Jesus is praying for his disciples, He says some deep stuff; not surprising since He is divine... This part really resonated with me:

Jesus talks about how he has delivered God's message to his disciples, and now the world hates them - because, like Jesus, they do not belong to it. When God's message is given to us we have a message so much better than anything the world can say to us- how then could it hold onto us? The next verse is highlighted and circled multiple times (I guess it has always resonated with me):

I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one.

So, even though we don't belong to the world Jesus isn't suggesting that God come and grab us now (we have been given His message remember). Instead he prays that God will keep us from the evil prince of this world, that we will continue to be in it, but not belong to it. Jesus isn't of the world and those to whom he delivered God's message are not worldly either. Jesus has prayed that his Father will not take us from the world but will keep us from the evil in it, next he prays this;

Sanctify them [purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] by the Truth; Your Word is Truth.

Jesus wants us to be purified and made holy, to be set apart by his Truth-breathing Word. We kinda need to get God's word into us if we want to be purified by it.

Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

We've been sent into the world, not belonging to it, but we have been sent to it. This world needs to hear God's message too: on our behalf Jesus dedicated himself so we could be made holy by means of the Truth. He gave his life as a ransom for many - I pray that we never take His sacrifice lightly. He could have just told us the truth or made a movie out of it or written it down or told one person to tell everyone else- but instead, He lived out the truth- and he died and rose again so that the Truth of God's message would come alive.

Fruity Pruning

A lot of things stuck out to me in John today, I feel like this book is getting read way too fast- it will be ending way too soon for my liking. John 14:13-14 caused me to stop and think ("And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.") But that is not what I am going to write on today (though I really would like too). I thought this parable was really applicable to me-

In John 15 Jesus says;
"I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the gardener. Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit."

So we're Christians, followers and imitators of Christ, but say we're just chilling on the Jesus vine - are we really imitating anything about Jesus? He never stopped bearing fruit, the produce of sincere love, not even as he died. If we aren't bearing fruit (or if we have produced fruit sometime in the past, but stopped) we will get cut away, period. Less eternally painful is the process of pruning. God is trimming away the parts of us that aren't like Him, that don't bear fruit, if we stay connected an surrendered to Him. He continually cleanses and trims what is not in character with the True Vine away. God isn't cutting away the parts in us that are hard to give up to see the pained expression on our faces as we are asked to give something up- no, he trims us so that we may bear MORE and BETTER fruit. See- there's a reason we have to keep surrendering ourselves to God.

Jesus continues to say that if we live in Him he will live in us. Everyone then, and now, knows that if you pluck a branch off of a vine it will wither, at first you might not be able to tell, but that doesn't mean it's not happening. If we are not vitally united to the vine (Jesus)there is not going to be growth, we won't see the fruits of the spirit or any other good fruit. So if people have a hard time seeing the fruit in our lives we're going to need to ask why that is.

Notice Me!

Jesus did plenty of miracles, many believed because of them, and many would still not see the miracles as the signs they were (Pharisees and other religious leaders mostly). But some leaders did believe in Him. There's a catch though- they wouldn't confess their faith because they were afraid they would be kicked out of the synagogue. John 12:43 says this about the leaders who believed;

"For they loved the approval and the praise and the glory that come from men [instead of and] more than the glory that comes from God. (They valued their credit with men more than their credit with God)."

They cared more about getting ousted from the silly synagogue than ousted from their relationship with the God of the synagogue- ludicrous, isn't it? I kinda wonder what happened to them... Jesus says that if we are ashamed of Him now he will be ashamed when he comes in his glory (Luke 9:26) and that whoever acknowledges Him here and now He will acknowledge before his Father in Heaven, and whoever disowns him, that person will he disown (Matthew 10:32-33). So where does that leave people who won't confess their faith for fear of people?

It's nice to get acknowledged by important people here on earth, but it would be far better to be acknowledged by Jesus before his Father in Heaven...

Where does he hail from?

I was reading aloud from John today, practicing for my oral interpretation class, and I really enjoyed reading this part aloud. There is sarcasm, condescension, judgment, and truth. The people speaking are the Pharisees investigating the healing of a blind man (by none other than Jesus himself)...

John 9:29-34
29We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don't even know where he comes from.

30The man answered, "Now that is remarkable! You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31We know that God does not listen to sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and a worshiper of Him and does His will, He listens to him. 32Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."

34To this they retorted, "You were wholly born in sin[from head to foot]; and do you presume to teach us?"


The Pharisees are absolutely sure that this guy who was surely seeped in sin like a teabag in water cannot lecture there impeccable standards and ideals. That was their cheap reaction when they could think of nothing better to say. The man, once blind (and apparently clever too), is presenting some simple logic: God only listens to those who are obedient to His will, and only God can open eyes, so this man must come from God because of what he does, otherwise he couldn't do anything. Good logic on his part, obviously too good for Pharisees who enjoyed their blindness.

I wonder if people could logically deduce where my actions come from? I think it is pretty easy to see motives most times, would people see my actions and say that I could not do them without the strength of God? Or would they easily see them as something anyone could do in their own strength?

A Name Above All Names= a Scary Idea

I'm reading one of my favorite gospels now, and I have to say Jesus was one crazy-awesome speaker! Since I am taking a rhetoric class this semester how he gets his points across is what's sticking out.

John 5
41I receive not glory from men [I crave no human honor, I look for no mortal fame],
42But I know you and recognize and understand that you have not the love of God in you.43I have come in My Father's name and with His power, and you do not receive Me [your hearts are not open to Me, you give Me no welcome]; but if another comes in his own name and his own power and with no other authority but himself, you will receive him and give him your approval.44How is it possible for you to believe [how can you learn to believe], you who [are content to seek and] receive praise and honor and glory from one another, and yet do not seek the praise and honor and glory which come from Him Who alone is God?

No surprise here, but Jesus is SO right. We are often unwelcome when we come in God's name, and with his power, yet we are fine if we come in our own strength. Why is that? Why can weaklings win the approval of other weaklings but weaklings imbued with strength from another Source cannot? Sometimes I feel like that about leadership. If you are completely surrendered to God, well that's great, but what if you are more loyal to Him than to the company or your job? When we are only surrendered to ourselves it is easy for another human to take the reins of control, but when we surrender to God he's not going to give this control up to some random person, no matter how much more "important" their title is than ours. God is still not a respecter of persons. How can we learn to believe in someone beyond ourselves if we are fine with being "satisfied" by other people, by getting our worth from them? If we'd rather have the praise of men than of God, so be it; we're just shooting ourselves in the legs.

Facedown

I finished Ezekiel today- it got a tad hard to focus on in some of the parts, like how many cubits everything is. I wish it wasn't so foreign to me- it would be easier to appreciate if I knew why the altar needed "a rim of one span around the edge" or why a special gift of "a sixth of an ephah from each homer of wheat" should be offered. But I don't, nor do I know anyone who does, too bad really. Something that stuck out to me often enough in reading Ezekiel is his reaction to God's glory.

Ezekiel 43
Suddenly, the glory of the God of Israel appeared from the east. The sound of his coming was like the roar of rushing waters, and the whole landscape shone with his glory... and I fell facedown.

Falling facedown wasn't this super spiritual, once in a purple moon experience- it happened when the glory of God was present. So why am I not on my face more often? Do I not care enough about God to seek Him constantly, to witness his glory? Or has this generation just forgotten what reverent fear of the Lord is like?

"And I'll fall facedown as your glory shines around..." - Facedown by Matt Redman

The story we never heard in Sunday School

Today was an interesting day, good, just a little different. If I could I think I'd enjoy starting all my days off in a similar fashion. My alarm goes off at 7:45 for prayer around 8:10 (in our chaplain's office, pretty addicted now). I turned off that silly alarm- I hadn't been planning on going, but for whatever reason I was awake, and when you are truly awake there is no going back to sleep. So I got up and went. Prayer was splendid. It's kind of weird for me, you see, everyone (about 7 of us) prays out loud, at the same time for whatever request. It's so noisy, it's cool to listen- but we all seem to say the same thing... Why? Is God not dynamic enough or are we not near enough to Him, or is that just what happens at a small, liberal arts Christian college? I don't like adding my voice to all the noise, so I kind of whisper my prayers, at times I feel so unspiritual, but my relationship with God isn't always something I like to broadcast- oh, I don't know...

I had an intriguing thought last night, I was thinking about all the problems of the world, all the pains of a human heart, and I know what they all stem from- a lack of intimacy with God. If we would just draw nearer to Love all of the evil and hate would fade away, for things such as those can never conquer Love. So why aren't we advocating for intimacy with God? Well, I guess it isn't really something you campaign for, it's more something to pray for and inspire towards.

One more thing, last night a friend said something to me--- he always makes me re-examine life as I know it (how he achieves this I am virtually clueless, because this is a rare happening)--- this is what he said: "There are no tough women, only bitter ones." I don't know if I agree, but I can certainly see some reasons why he said that. It reminds me of a longing deep within my soul, which I sometimes wonder if God placed there...

Anyways, back to my morning- I come back from prayer and dig into my Bible, actually just flip it open. I was going to finish up Ezekiel or read some of John, but instead I opened right up to Jonah. It was a good book to re-read. The part that always gets me is at the end, when Jonah is sitting under the shade of a vine that God made grow to give Jonah respite from the scorching sun (he was sitting here waiting to see if God would destroy Nineveh), and how angry Jonah was when God provided a worm who chewed up the vine and he had no shade. Jonah was so concerned about himself, his own comfort, I mean here is this prophet sitting back to wait for the destruction of a giant city they just preached to, like he's at an Imax theatre or something! What nerve. But I guess, if I really thought about it, I can be like that too, happy when God shows me mercy and forgiveness, but sometimes I don't want to see others receive it. I mean, sure of course, deep down I really do, or maybe superficially I do and the selfishness is deep down, but in any case, we've all been like that once or twice. It was just weird to me that Jonah got so irritated with God's compassion on the sinful, but contrite city of Nineveh. That's the part we never hear in Sunday school.

My blog was more of a journal today, sorry, this really isn't the blog for that, but I've had so much on my mind lately, and God has been teaching me so much, and I just feel selfish when I want to share it all with someone, so if you read this, it isn't like I forced it on you, y'know?

I like this question God poses in Jonah 4:4

But the LORD replied, "Have you any right to be angry?"

Have any Habits?

So, I don't know why it's been so long since I've blogged- I didn't stop reading my Bible, or praying, and scripture didn't stop speaking to me- I just never felt like blogging about it. Good habits are hard to create, but they're always so easy to break. I was reading about habits on a psychology blog today, and thought this was interesting...

"What this study reveals is that when we want to develop a relatively simple habit, it could take us over two months of daily repetitions before the behaviour becomes a habit. And, while this research suggests that skipping single days isn't detrimental in the long-term, it's those early repetitions that give us the greatest boost in automaticity.

Unfortunately it seems there's no such thing as small change: the much-repeated 21 days to form a habit is a considerable underestimation unless your only goal in life is drinking glasses of water."

Maybe that's why it's so tough to form a habit of holiness and self-control- because a passionate pursuit of God is so different from how we naturally are (selfish, self-reliant, apathetic, mediocre, etc) that is a habit that will take our whole lives. Well, now that I look at my verses I guess they kind of do tie in - hmmmmm, I wasn't even planning that...

John 3:5-7
Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'

We have to be cleansed by the Spirit's purifying power- it's simply impossible to clean up ourselves on our own (think trying to lick chocolate pudding off your face with a tongue covered in pudding) it's just one of those impossible things. Thankfully what is impossible for us IS possible for God! When we physically try to give birth to good, godly habits it is impossible- our flesh will never give birth to the goodness of the Spirit. We need more of God's spirit if we are to draw closer to him- not more meticulous efforts and methods to draw close to him in our flesh. For how can flesh draw near Spirit, for they are realms apart? Are we surprised with this revelation? It kind of made me think but Jesus tells Nicodemus that he should not be astonished at this news, we shouldn't be either, instead I will try to live out this truth...

Put it into Practice

Ezekiel is getting better and better, I got a lot out of it today... one of the few accomplishments I've had this Saturday. This verse stuck out because it made me wonder if I put what I hear preached into practice, amongst other things.

Ezekiel 33:31-32
My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.

Why would anyone waste their time listening to something they planned on never doing? I don't know, but we do it all the time anyways. I think we do this because if we make the outward appearance look good, and we talk the talk or seem like we are then we have achieved our goal of looking good. Because as we all know you don't really have to be good to look good. Many times people are willing to listen to the gospel message, even "accept" Christ into their hearts, BUT the real question is whether or not we are willing to put the words we hear (or don't hear, but read in the Bible during our personal devotions)into practice; because anyone can sit and listen to something and still not put it into practice. We can say things we never intend on doing, we can even do the right things with our heart still in the wrong place. Devotion and unjust gain cannot be going on in the same person- if we are devoted to Christ we won't be "gaining" a whole lot by the world's standards- but, we will be gaining eternity with God- I think it's worth it all. To the Israelite's Ezekiel might as well be throwing a concert- they think it's fine and dandy to listen to him, but it's not as if they will actually put what he says into practice. Sad...

Blood on your Hands?

I like Ezekiel - I must have read it sometime recently because in my reading today I found a verse underlined- I read it again and am just as in awe as the first time. The verse is found in Ezekiel 33 (which has a lot of good things to say); I'll highlight a few of them.
1.) God isn't happy when the wicked die- what gives him true pleasure is
when the wicked person completely turns from his wicked ways- because,
in doing that, he will live.
2.) Some people are so consumed by wickedness that they would rather die than turn from their ways. I think this includes some "christians" who are "saved" but living for the world and not turning from wickedness at all.

God has given Ezekiel an analogy of what his role is like: a watchmen. If this person on the wall (someone positioned to look for invaders or approaching disaster) sees the danger they are looking for and don't warn people- if they just skedaddle without telling anyone they will be responsible when that disaster hits the people, who had no warning. Their blood will be on the irresponsible watchman's hands. God is reminding Ezekiel that he will be responsible for the Israelite's if he chooses to ignore God's word, or just to hold it in. This is the tough message God wants Ezekiel to give to his people...

12And you, son of man, say to your people, The uprightness and justice of the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression; and as for the wicked lawlessness of the wicked lawless, he shall not fall because of it in the day that he turns from his wickedness, neither shall the rigidly upright and just be able to live because of his past righteousness in the day that he sins and misses the mark [in keeping in harmony and right standing with God].

13When I shall say to the [uncompromisingly] righteous that he shall surely live, and he trusts to his own righteousness [to save him] and commits iniquity (heinous sin), all his righteous deeds shall not be [seriously] remembered; but for his perversity and iniquity that he has committed he shall die.

You can probably imagine what I was going to say about these verses, and why they stuck out in the first place. So use your own brain and think about them. I think it's a trap we often fall into as Christians

Let's Burn that "Fire Insurance"...

I had a lot pop out at me today: Luke 23:50-51 24:19,32,46-47,49 all had some significant meaning for me. But since I usually try to keep this brief I'd like to talk about Luke 24:46-7

And said to them, Thus it is written that the Christ (the Messiah) should suffer and on the third day rise from (among) the dead, and that repentance [with a view to and as the condition of] forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

Hmmm... repentance and forgiveness have been pretty hot topics lately. Reading this verse in the Amplified is interesting, especially this; "repentance as the condition of forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name". What? What in the world is repentance? When I was little it just meant saying sorry to my little sisters so I wouldn't get in trouble. (you know how that goes- you don't actually need to have a change of heart or feel truly sorry- ya just gotta say it!) But, like the univversity chaplain said the other night, repentance is totally turning around. Even wikipedia defines repentance as "a change of thought and action". So it must be true. (that was a joke.) But if we read that verse with the meaning of repentance in mind; "a change of thought and action, a total turn-around from one's old life as the condition ("assumption on which rests the validity or effect of something else") of forgiveness of sins is what we ought to be preaching in the name of Jesus. It's a mouthful and a thoughtful too. But what if that's what Jesus meant- that we really have to CHANGE and not just say a sinner's prayer in order to receive forgiveness. Not trying to invalidate anyone's "fire insurance" but it's just something to think about...

Sifted by Satan

I really didn't think I'd have much of anything to say... I'm finishing up Luke- and everyone knows all about passion week and the crucifixion. Couldn't have been more wrong though- what I have read so far today is exactly what I needed (course I didn't know that till I read my Bible- we're like that sometimes y'know, dreading something that will end up being wonderful) So many things stuck out today- think Luke 22

Jesus reprimands his power hungry disciples by saying "let him who is the greatest among you become like the youngest, and him who is the chief and leader like one who serves". That got me thinking- what does he mean to be like the youngest? I don't know how other people were when younger, I only know how I was. When young I wasn't trying to get "leadership experience" or build my resume or rule over people - I mean, sure I may have been a bit bossy, but usually those things were far from my mind. Maybe that's what Jesus meant- to stop caring about the positions the world values so much and become something they spurn- a servant. (Not always the most impressive thing to put on a resume)

Jesus says to Peter, "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." He uses Peter's previous name, three times. Peter vehemently protests, saying "I am ready to go with You both to prison and to death". I do believe that is what Peter wanted to do, what he hoped he would do. But things didn't turn out that way... "And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter recalled the Lord's words, how He had told him, Before the cock crows today, you will deny Me thrice.And he went out and wept bitterly [that is, with painfully moving grief]. - this is SO far from what Peter said he would do- from what he wanted to do. His heart was wracked with the pain and shame of what he did. He ends up returning to his trade, sure of his unworthiness. Yet when Christ rises he comes and calls him to feed His sheep. Jesus says that he will build his church with Peter. How could Jesus do this? He offered another chance to someone who had completely and utterly denied him? To one who, even though Jesus prayed that his faith not fail, had utterly failed. Jesus told him to strengthen his brothers when he turned back too. How can God use someone so weak to give strength? It's hard to accept all of this- I have failed Christ so often in my short life- I say I will not deny him, but my actions contradict that sometimes - and it does break my heart- for this is not how it should be. I guess I must keep praying that I do not fall into temptation, and if I fall asleep when praying I'll just have to get up and pray that I won't fall into temptation.

God is incredible, in a way that entirely goes beyond my understanding- how can I possibly understand such extravagant love and inexhaustible grace? I stand amazed.

A Love Worthy of Intimacy

I actually read something in the Message translation today- interesting how much of a difference wording can make- I liked the passage but wondered what it looks like in the lovely, trusty Amplified... here it is! Read this carefully, it's great!

1 Corinthians 8
1Yet mere knowledge causes people to be puffed up (to bear themselves loftily and be proud), but love (affection and goodwill and benevolence) edifies and builds up and encourages one to grow [to his full stature].

2If anyone imagines that he has come to know and understand much [of divine things, without love], he does not yet perceive and recognize and understand as strongly and clearly, nor has he become as intimately acquainted with anything as he ought or as is necessary.

3But if one loves God truly [with affectionate reverence, prompt obedience, and grateful recognition of His blessing], he is known by God [recognized as worthy of His intimacy and love, and he is owned by Him].

If we have only knowledge we are going to get a big head- that's how it goes. But love, love on the other hand deflates our big heads because we realize that others are to be thought of as more important than ourselves- so we stop caring about how knowledgeable we are and start caring about how we can help others with that knowledge. Love doesn't puff up, it builds up - knowledge inflates, and someday, something will come along and pop that puffed up head - but love builds up, a process carried out on a strong foundation. Love wants to see others become all God has in store for them to be.

If we think we're all knowledgeable and understanding about divine things we need another think. God is divine and God is love, how can we know the divine without knowing love? We can't - if that is what we think we don't truly know love.


True love for God is this; that we fear Him, lovingly - love and respect don't get separated for God either. Love is obedience- and not 5 years or 5 days down the road- today, now, this very instant, in ALL that we do and think. Love also involves thanking God - recognizing that the good in our life is because of him- that every good and perfect gift comes from Him. If we love God in that way we have a small picture of what knowing love, what knowing Him, is like. Not only are we know by God through this kind of love, we are also worthy of his intimacy and love, and we are owned by Him. I am my beloved's and He is mine. What powerful thoughts to think on... and I'll be sleeping on this too.

Declaration from a Heart of Pride

Evil kings, God, Satan, prophets. Intriguing characters that I have ignored for a while. This is the verse that popped out today;

Ezekiel 28:2
"Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord God: Because your heart is lifted up and you have said and thought, I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas; yet you are only man [weak, feeble, made of earth] and not God, though you imagine yourself to be almost more than mortal with your mind as the mind of God"

What is it with humans and wanting to be God? There is some type of a disconnect- we are not made out of the same stuff as God. We are only human, no matter what we cannot disguise our earthen origin. It is only the breath of God that made us anything more than a lump of clay. But throughout the ages, and probably forever, people have declared themselves gods- pride has overtaken our minds and fooled us into thinking that we are gods.

Denying Demanding Distractions

In my reading today it seemed like I'd read it all so many times. And, with there being 3 gospels that say pretty much the same thing, I had read much of this before. That shouldn't just turn off my brain though - it should make me look even deeper to find fresh meaning. I can see I'll have to be careful to not fall into that rut... Anyhow Luke 21:34 is the verse that I found pertinent today.

"Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap."

And, for the wonderful Amplified translation:

"But take heed to yourselves and be on your guard, lest your hearts be overburdened and depressed (weighed down) with the giddiness and headache and nausea of self-indulgence, drunkenness, and worldly worries and cares pertaining to [the business of] this life, and [lest] that day come upon you suddenly like a trap or a noose"

We have to constantly and consistently be keeping our eyes wide open, guarding against the attack of burdens and depression which come from the temporary happiness, following headache and nausea, of our self-indulgent ways. Worldly worries and the cares of this life also can sneak up, jump on our shoulders and start weighing us down to the ground if we don't constantly move towards Christ. We can't stand still in this life and wait for the extra burdens to pile up, making it even harder to choose Christ, we must keep chasing Him, and choose to deny distractions.

Tree Climbing!

Today I am left with a burning question... Luke 19:10 says that;

"The Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost."

I'm a Christian, which means I should want to be as much like Christ as I possibly can, so how can I seek those who are lost, and show them the hope of salvation I've found.

Where are the lost? I feel like there aren't very many where I am. At least none who think they're lost, so I can't very well help those who don't think they need help.

---

This life goal of Jesus finishes up the story of Zacchaeus the tax collector (random fact: his name means pure). Zacchaeus was a rich, short guy who wanted to see Jesus so bad he climbed a tree. I kinda wonder if it was as undignified back then as it would be now- honestly, Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector - in other words the type of guy who would definitely wear a suit and tie to work nowadays. I can't imagine some IRS tax collector climbing a tree to hear a religious revolutionary... Zacchaeus must have REALLY desired to see Jesus to go through all that effort. Would I climb a tree just to see Jesus pass by? Would I do something potentially awkward and socially iffy just to get a better glimpse of God? Jesus ends up seeing him in the tree and telling him to come down, for he must stay at his house. I don't know all the cultural traditions, but I feel like this was probably an honor, thus the irritation of the others, muttering "he has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner'." Indeed, he has, and good thing, because I am a sinner and I would very nuch like Jesus to have residency within the temple of my heart... Zacchaeus IMMEDIATELY responded to Jesus' call. He wasn't like, I need to go back to work right now - "time is money", he didn't get embarrassed from being called out by Jesus (and while in a tree nonetheless), he didn't try and put off Jesus' call - he responded immediately. I feel like a lot of people don't immediately respond to Jesus' call, and not just his call to salvation; there is a call on my life that I am not responding to immediately (sure, I don't know if I am supposed to right now) but Zacchaeus went ahead and gave half of all he had to the poor and declared that he would pay back those he cheated 400%. For this- for his intense desire, immediate response to Jesus call, and the way he responded (by doing something that proved his supposed "change of heart") Jesus said that salvation had "come to this house". Because of this he was a son of Abraham, i.e. a part of God's very own family!

I was only going to write what was above the line, but, once again, I am carried away.

On Hands and Knees

Okay, I know it's the New Year, everyone probably wants to read through their Bibles in a year. I've been wondering though, is that the smartest way to approach it? Seems like turning Bible-reading into a quantity over quality thing. I'd ask, which is better; reading through the Bible in "as little as 15 minutes a day", and getting through it all in a year, or investing time and digging deeply into the crazy ideas that are presented? For example, today's through the bible in a year reading would be; Genesis 28:1-29:35, Matthew 9:18-38, Psalm 11:1-7, and Proverbs 3:11-12 ... is it better to read that than two of Jesus parables, and to really think about how they call us to radically alter our lifestyle? I know this is a long prelude, but I couldn't help but think of it as I read in Luke today- the content is intense, I could read over it quickly and read more- but would I really be reading God's word to its' fullest then? I feel like I wouldn't be.

Two things stuck out today - the parable of the persistent widow and the parable of the pharisee's prayer.

Luke 18:7-8
"And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

Here we have a rhetorical question which turns out to show us one of God's promises: God will see that his chosen ones (His elect), the ones who cry out to him day and night, will get justice quickly. But what an odd question to end with...
God is saying that if his chosen ones are crying out to him persistently (you need faith to ask a God you can't see to meet your needs, and to keep trusting Him, to offer up that need to Him so much takes faith that He won't let you down.) they will get justice... BUT He then asks if this will be what He sees when He comes to earth. How many people will Jesus find on their hands and knees crying out with their entire beings day and night to the Only one who can hear them? I wonder...

I may write about the Pharisee's prayer later, notice that it comes right after this parable.

Shrewder than... No one

Wow! I feel like I just learned something new, or gained a new insight. I was reading the parable of the shrewd manager in Luke 16 today (I've been slowly reading through look and savoring every bite- it's a great book to take in!), a bunch of things jumped out at me, I'll share a few.

You probably know the story- a rich man hears that his estate manager has been squandering his possessions. So the manager is like "uh-oh, I'm going to get fired really soon, I need some job security." He quickly calls the people who are in debt to his master, he lessens their debts.

"For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings."

What is Jesus saying? That we aren't shrewd in how we deal? Actually...yes. Even worldly people know how to promote their own interests (even if the way they do it is sometimes shady), but we Christians don't know how to promote our Heavenly Father's interests with our earthly talents, or possessions, or money. We need to figure out how to use even the lowly, temporary stuff of this world to promote the high, eternal purposes of God. Ouch -that bites, are we really that dumb?

"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?"

This is true with more than being trustworthy with money. If someone cannot remain faithful to their boyfriend or girlfriend when dating would you trust them to be a faithful spouse? If someone did not read their Bible daily in 2009 would you trust them to read it daily in 2010, or the rest of their life? See, if we can't be trustworthy in small-ish things we will have an even harder time being trustworthy with the same thing in a bigger context. If we cannot properly handle deceitful riches of this world will we properly handle true riches?

Midway through my blog I began looking for commentary on the passage, and this blog came up, it was thought provoking to me.

Only 15 verses, but a lifetime of concepts to mull over...

Words your Lips Give

Proverbs 12 has a lot to say about the lips, and words.

"An evil man is trapped by his sinful talk, but a righteous man escapes trouble."

"From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him."

"Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing."

"Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment."

There's more, not sure how I overlooked this theme before, I guess sometimes it's easy to get absorbed in each individual verse and not see the bigger picture.
I want to be filled with good things, to bring healing, to have my words endure forever- I do not want to be trapped by what I say or pierce the hearts of others like a sword, or have what I say last but a moment. I want to use my breath to speak the truth God has shown me. I'm going to intentionally work on saying kind, healing words today.

Chicks and Quick Hugs

I love Luke, I really do, or rather all the information about Jesus this gospel has.
Jesus says this, in Luke 13:34;

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!"

What a proclamation of unfailing love. God sent prophets to speak truth into the lives of his children, but, rather than listening, they killed those meant to show them the way to Life. Even through this Jesus deeply desires to draw his beloved close to him; that is love. Even in the face of Jerusalem rejecting those God sent He still loved them, and then, He himself reaches out to draw them in. But they reject his loving arms, they would not have anything to do with being gathered to God like chicks to a hen.

I'm sure I reject Christ's attempts to draw me into his arms. I wish I wouldn't, I'm not even quite sure how I do. Maybe I'm rejecting His embrace when I won't leave the arms of my lesser lovers long enough to give Him more than a quick hug.

Rapid Pollution

I was reading a parable from Jesus today, this one has two strongly different interpretations which both make good points. Here's the passage:

Luke 13:20-21
Again he asked, "What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? 21It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."

Okay, cool, if we read it super fast what probably comes to mind is how a little bit of God can permeate our entire being. That God's kingdom has a powerful influence that works from the inside out.

Then I thought for a second... Wait a minute- yeast is usually referring to sin or hypocrisy or false doctrine. So what could another meaning be? Maybe Jesus was warning us about how quickly human ideas and ways of doing things can take over the truth of God's kingdom. One worldly, immoral, power-hungry, self-righteous, false follower can pollute a whole congregation. Bad pastors can put on a godly facade long enough to pitch their human ideas to the congregation, effectually indoctrinating them. Don't think so? You must have never heard of prosperity preachers...

Devastation, Damnation

I was reading a bit of Ezekiel today and a verse in chapter 22 stuck out. It may have been because of what I read in 1 Corinthians earlier. "Better devastation and embarrassment than damnation". In the verse God says

"Son of man, will you judge her? Will you judge this city of bloodshed? Then confront her with all her detestable practices"

Not very many people take pleasure in confronting, even fewer know how to do it out of love. But wouldn't we rather be devastated at a loss of job or reputation than by a loss of eternal life? Wouldn't we rather "die" of embarrassment in front of people we know that stand before God, ashamed, knowing how often we chose our own detestable way instead of His.

Doing Dishes

I once was invited to dinner at a friend's house, I knew their family wasn't the most clean-freakish family out there. When they were setting cups on the table and the outside looked slightly suspicious what do you think I did? Of course, I peeked discreetly into the cup's inside, that's the important part anyway...

39And the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40 You fools[ones acting without reflection or intelligence]! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? 41But give what is inside the dish to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.

42 "But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.

This passage makes me think of a few times in my dishes duty days when I would quickly run a washcloth over the outside and run hot water into the cup and consider it "clean enough". I mean, the inside didn't look dirty, and what they don't know can't hurt them, right? Is that really true? Say you look nice enough on the outside, but on the inside you always lusting. The people you are devouring with your eyes might not notice (right away) so it's not hurting them, but it is destroying your view of people as more than just bodies. In essence your dirty inside is infecting you. The Pharisees were wicked and greedy- if they gave away some of the stuff they held inside- the things acquired by greed, or if they got rid of some wickedness with kindness their inside might have had a chance to get clean. Sometimes I think it's a lot easier to keep the outside clean because everyone can see it- immediate accountability right there. But the inside can be hidden pretty well, there is no one staring into your soul, ready to chide you for all the dirty things there.

The Pharisees were good rule-followers, they had the percentage of spices to give down to a fine art, but God is bigger than that. He wanted justice for the ones they oppressed. He longed for them to see the bigger picture behind the rule- love for God. He wanted them to tithe out of love for Him, instead they just tithed, did the outer deed, and neglected the inner motive of love. He wants them, and us, to both obey and love Him.

Do you want 1/2 of Me?

I've been attempting to memorize James lately, and I was just reading it today, a few of the recent verses jumped off the page. James 1:22;25;26 - I'm memorizing in the NIV but I just looked at the verses in the Amplified version. Wow, you have to read it!

22But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].

Everyone rationalizes something wrong at one time or another in their life. I feel like I do it more than most- maybe it's because I'm overly logical- honestly, I think I just think too much! But this verse makes it clear that we will be betraying, or tricking ourselves if we only listen to the Word. Most of the people I know go to church every Sunday, and at my college we have chapel twice a week- so we are hearing the Word- but are we obeying the messages we hear? A lot of times I'd have to reply that I don't think so. Christ's message said to love others as ourselves, and most people I knew love themselves waaaay more than they love starving children, or the homeless in Jackson, or the persecuted Christians in North Korea. Apparently selfless love is hard to live.

25But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience).

When we obey we will be blessed. Not because we are following some silly set of rules, but because love is obedience. We do NOT love God if we don't do what He asks; there is no doubt in this, if we love Him we will obey his commands: the utmost of which is love.

26If anyone thinks himself to be religious (piously observant of the external duties of his faith) and does not bridle his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person's religious service is worthless (futile, barren).

Our lives are not going to bear any fruit if we are just observing some pious duties. Love is more than external, it permeates our entire being and saturates us with selflessness. Do you want half of me? We cannot "half" love someone- if we only love them externally (you know the type; "oh, Jodi, I looove her", when inside there is definite jealousy and selfishness) that is not love, no, not at all. Love is first internal, and it manifests externally.

Bad Priest, Good Samaritan?

The experts in the law had some good questions they asked- even if they were, most times, trying to trick Jesus into something. Luke 10:25-37 has one of these questions. An expert in the law stands up (no surprise, but to test Jesus), he asks how he can share in the eternal salvation of the Messiah's kingdom. Jesus is smart enough to not just shove an answer down his throat, so he asks the law expert what pr

"You must love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself"

Jesus says "okay, do this and you'll have no worries about enjoying endless life in the Kingdom of God. But this man wanted to justify himself - he probably knew in his heart that he definitely didn't love everyone as himself- so he'd better make sure his "neighbors" were a select, small group of people.

No luck there; Jesus tells the parable of the good Samaritan. A half-dead man was on the side of the road, both a priest and Levite walked around him, bu the Samaritan stopped and helped him to his fullest extent. Jesus asks :which of these was a neighbor to that man?" The expert knew it was the one who "had mercy on him". You know he has the right answer because Jesus says, "go and do likewise".

You see, sometimes we are awfully good about loving our friends in church- we smile and run up, saying "hug", and that's just dandy- maybe love, probably not. But it isn't just other Christians who are our neighbors. The significance of the Samaritan? Years and years on rivalry and strife separated these two groups. They did not like each other...at all. I read an article about the Samaritans here, it said this: "At the mention of the Samaritan, Judean listeners would have bristled, rejected the plot, and quit the story, in spite of their initial inclination to give it as sympathetic hearing." Likewise if any Samaritans were in listening range they would have been revolted by the way a Samaritan helped out a Jew. Jesus sure knew how to tell uncomfortable stories.

If we can get over being offended and realize that everyone is our neighbor, if we could reach out to the hungover, or homeless, or homosexuals, or helpless, or hurting, just as much as we reach out to those we actually do love; well, the reputation Christians have might just change.

What was I thinking?

Nothing was sticking out at all in my reading today (my own fault). Then when this verse did stick out I really wished it hadn't. This really wasn't the typical, pleasant way a verse "sticks out", it was more like the way a sword sticks out...

Ezekiel 20:32
You say, "We want to be like the nations, like the peoples of the world, who serve wood and stone." But what you have in mind will never happen.

So now the reason it was so poignant; this verse is me. I recall a time when I was about eight years old- I done something "naughty" and had been sent to my room. The rest of the family was downstairs, sharing a dessert together and having a good time. I was upset! I thought they might feel bad if I started crying - most other kids my age wouldn't have moral qualms about doing this. They would probably think that they had been unjustly punished. I knew I deserved to be sent to my room. But because I felt like it would be acceptable for any of my peers I started crying. I used the excuse of being like the rest of the world. Too many times throughout my life I have wished to be like the "people of the world" in some way. Whether that be ethically or intellectually or any other odd assortment of ways. I have wished that I could just not know so much about right and wrong and motives, because then, perhaps, I could be just an ordinary person, and so many more things would be excusable then, things I have wanted to do. Of course I am not really like this now, I mean, there are times when wisdom is still painful, but I know that I would rather follow God than any other alternative. The path is so much harder - don't let prosperity preachers fool you into thinking that being a Christian is all blessings and happiness - because it is also trials and resisting temptation, and going the extra mile- it is self-sacrifice and self-surrender. And I guess, somewhere deep down, I always knew that what I had in mind would never happen- that God would not just let me throw away my morals on a whim. Good thing God knows what He's doing, because I sure don't.

To Preach. And Heal?

I've been thinking about power and church lately. It seems so often like the church is structured for power struggles- struggling from youth pastor to assistant pastor to lead pastor, but I don't think that is the kind of power we want to be characterized by as Christians. We don't want to be known for our power-hungry, corrupting desires; but for power from on high. Don't be fooled - people are really into supernatural power nowadays- who wouldn't want to know their future, or be healed of cancer. So many time we go out and preach at people- but they don't see any power being displayed. At that's not our fault- right- I mean it is God's power, not ours... Right - but we need to seek God, to be close enough to Him that his hand is upon our lives at all times. That we cannot do anything but out of God's power- that would be a great problem I wish I could inflict on our postmodern churches...

Luke 9
1When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 6So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.

See- we shouldn't be basing our church on other churches around us- we shouldn't care what is or is not happening at their services or outreach events. We should always use the Bible as our standard. And in the Bible the disciples left, as soon as they got instructions, and went out preaching the good news of Jesus, and healing people. Why are we always saying that the second half was for them, in their times, but not for us now?

I think we're too afraid, too afraid that we'll be exposed as the fake seekers that we actually are. The path is narrow- not many walk on it- but we want to make it seem as if we're a Christian nation. Well, we're not, we aren't striving to seek God through trial and temptation, we aren't reaching out to the downtrodden as individuals- sure we have welfare and food stamps and stuff that we fund, but how personal is that? Not very. How much are we doing as individuals to seek God? We can't always rely on surviving off of one meal a week. We have to eat every day- three times a day... What if people read their Bibles and prayed three times a day? And did not forget what they read, but DID it? Oh, you don't have time? I understand, do you have time to eat lunch? Yes? Hmmmm, what about not feeding our physical bodies until we are fed spiritually? Yes, we could very well starve, but I think if we have to skip a couple meals we would soon learn to put God FIRST- as in before everything... Maybe if we do this God will give us the power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases AND send us to preach the kingdom of God, maybe He will give us the strength and power for these things if we show Him we actually want it.

That we would desire it more than our food or sleep or reputation or amusement... That we would stop thinking of life as increments of "our" time, and realizing that we need to make this His time.

Hidden Secrets on Display

I was reading my bible today, I read a first that kind of goes along with things I've been thinking about. Here's the verse;

Luke 8:17
"For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all."

"We can try to hide things from others, from ourselves, and from God. How tempting to shut our eyes from the consequences of our sinful ways and bad habits, even when we know what those consequences are. And how tempting to hide them form others and even from God. But, nonetheless, everything is known to God who sees all."


When I was little I read this verse, and I was so scared. I thought about all the awful things I did and all the mean thoughts that had occupied my mind at one time or another. I remember thinking that I could only hope that everyone else would be preoccupied with their own secrets being revealed. Over the years my views have changed, and now, reading this verse causes me steer away from making secrets. For every bad thing I do and hide I know I will be held accountable. Someday all of our dark secrets will be brought to light and be made know to all. I for one am going to try my best to not create those dark and dirty secrets, and when I do I'll strive for honesty. I want to aim to live a life free from moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent everywhere I look.

Beloved Bride or Prostitute?

So I'm used to reading a parable/ allegory or two in the gospels. But I just read, possibly, one of the best allegories ever and it is in Ezekiel. Chapter 16 to be precise, everything before it was engaging too, but I feel like this chapter is written to our nation, to how we live today...

6-7And when I passed by you and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you in your blood, 'Live!' I said to you in your blood, 'Live!' I made you flourish like a plant of the field. And you grew up and became tall and arrived at full adornment. Your breasts were formed, and your hair had grown; yet you were naked and bare.

God saw Jerusalem birthed and thrown out into a field because she was despised. He saw his beloved helplessly kicking about in her own blood, so he saved her. God breathed his life into her and she blossomed,yet somehow, she was naked still.

8And when I passed by again, I saw that you were old enough for love. So I wrapped my cloak around you to cover your nakedness and declared my marriage vows. I made a covenant with you, says the Sovereign Lord, and you became mine.

God's beloved Jerusalem needed more than just rescuing from her imminent death- she needed love. So God came, proclaiming His love and desire for her to become His. In the next verses we read about how greatly he lavishes his love on her- He bathes her and outs ointments on her and clothes her (fine and costly clothes) and adorns her (fancy jewelry) and crowns her, he feeds her well. And with this treatment what bride wouldn't become even more beautiful? Jerusalem was no exception - she became very beautiful and rose to be a queen, her fame soon spread throughout the world because of her beauty. The Lord "dressed you in my splendor and perfected your beauty," He delights in her. But read the very next verse;

"But you trusted in and relied on your own beauty and were unfaithful to God and played the harlot [in idolatry] because of your renown, and you poured out your fornications upon anyone who passed by [as you worshiped the idols of every nation which prevailed over you] and your beauty was his."

What an awful bride. If you're a guy I hope you never ever marry anyone who would be that cruel and awful and spiteful and... wait a minute... that bride is US... God is the one who gives us every good and perfect gift, yet we take them and learn to trust in the gift while forgetting the giver. We rely on what God gives us so much more readily than we actually rely on Him. Her fame tempted her, the power was corrupting, and she caved in- becoming a prostitute who would lavish her favors on any who passed by. In her thirst for power she compromised her first love and was lead away into worshiping idols. She took the gift of beauty God gave her and gave it away.

as if she owned it...