Pinky and the Brain Gravy Style

Gone for a While

2009-11-13T06:15:00.001-07:00

I am trying to figure out Facebook so I can get a fanpage going for The Oasis. I may be away for a few weeks, but check us out at "The Oasis Christian Church" on Facebook.

Love, Michael

1 Peter 4 and Romand 5

2009-11-06T06:29:00.002-07:00

I read 1 Peter 4 and Romans 5 this morning.

1 Peter 4:2 - ... anxious to do the will of God. - I run into so many people who are anxious about so many things. They are anxious about money or the next promotion or what someone said or whether they are being marginalized or if they are getting their way or if they will win or...... and yet here is Peter saying the only thing it is right to be anxious about is doing the will of God. What does that look like? When I see people around me being anxious I notice that they are consumed with it. They think about it always. It changes everything and affects everything. It affects how they rest and how they eat and how they sleep and how they talk. When you tell them to stop they say they can't. Can you imagine if we were anxious to do the will of God? If we were consumed with it? If everything else in life was affected by it? If it affected our eating and our sleeping and our attitude? Lord, I want to be anxious to do your will.

Romans 5:17 - ... for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. - Can you honestly say that you have victory over sin in your life right now? If yes, than you can know you are walking where God has called you. If not, than you are not walking with Christ the way He has called you. We can call it struggling or whatever else we might come up with, but the truth of being in Christ Jesus is triumph over sin in this life. We have let the world water down the truth of the Bible so much we actually expect sin to be a natural part of the Christian experience when God has said otherwise. God has said that if you are in Christ you will have victory over that which tempts you and has won in the past. That means if you sin with pornography being in Christ means you should be free of that now. If you are not there is a problem with your relationship with God. It isn't just a weakness or a struggle it is a major problem with your faith because Jesus said you would be free indeed. I think so many of us have just settled into the idea that sin should be there. Sin should not. We don't need to become legalistic or remove grace, but we have to realize the proof of Jesus being in our life is less and less sin not. It is more and more freedom and not just little by little. Jesus healed instantly. We have to be careful of the lie that says Jesus heals us slowly over time. It causes us to let our sin endure longer than it should.

I am reading a book and the author makes a statement that really stuck with me. He says, "In the same way, you have to stop loving and pursuing Christ in order to sin." Did you catch that? You and I have to QUIT loving and pursuing Jesus to sin. I believe that is true. You can not love God and sin. You can sin and then return to God, but we need to sin for what it is - a denial of God and a love for something more than we love Him. When you sin you are picking that over God. Think about that. When you look at pornography you are picking what you see and feel over God. When you gossip you are picking importance over God. When you lie you are picking safety over God. When you are selfish you are picking yourself over God. You cannot love and pursue god and sin. Man, that changes a lot for me. The next time I want to sin I will he confronted with the gravity of the choice I am really making.

Love, Michael

1 Peter 3 and Romans 4

2009-11-05T10:11:00.003-07:00

I read 1 Peter 3 and Romans 4 this morning. Here are a couple of ideas that stood out to me.

In 1 Peter 3:2 it says by observing your pure and reverent lives. when it is talking about how a godly woman can help her unbelieving husband come to know God through Jesus. The question that popped into my head right away was, Do we live such pure and reverent lives that others are caused to believe?
Most of us would quickly admit we are not pure. We live soiled lives. We complain that it is because we live in a dirty world. And yet Jesus our Savior and Lord promised things would be even better for us when the Holy Spirit came. And Jesus, while He was on earth, lived a life in a dirty world without getting soiled. He showed us the way and then He empowered us to do it.
But, I think the bigger question on my heart is are we a reverent people? When someone looks at my life do they see reverence or something else. Going through the church planter thing I can tell you that most of my reverence was drained. Unfortunately a loud segment of the church planting population is so focused on being free from the rules and traditions that we fail to be reverent about God or our faith. We become very worldly leaders in an effort to reach the world for Christ. The problem is people need to see our reverence for God and His word and truth and peace and His Church or they will never care that we entered their world to share Christ with them. As my buddy Justin would say, We sold our birthright for pea soup!!! We have traded reverence for relevance only we are not all that relevant and when did God ever say relevance was more important than fruitful reverence anyway?
I wonder what would happen if all of us decided to beg God for develop in us a reverence for Him and His word that would cause us to react like Isaiah in the throne room of God in Isaiah 6. What would happen in our lives and our faith and what would happen to our witness if we had such a deep respect and awe towards God that it came out? According to 1 Peter, we would become better witnesses and help a great many people come to Jesus.

I love Romans 4:18. It says, Even while there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping - . WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is what the Bible means when it talks about faith. Even when there is no logical reason to believe we believe and if you keep going you see the reason Abraham believed even though there was no reason for it. God spoke. God had made a promise and since Abraham thought more of God's promise than he did the circumstances around him he held out hope. Where in your life have you quit believing or quit hoping because there is no reason to hang on and yet God has made a promise? Let God be proved true and every man a liar. I love what Paul goes on to say: He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. (Romans 4:21) God, may you help us become the kind of people who are fully convinced because we know you!!!

Love, Michael

A Test

2009-11-04T12:29:00.003-07:00

I have a great test for anyone reading this to take. Grab your Bible and read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Now, go back and re-read it and everywhere you see the word love insert your own name instead. If you can read it that way with a straight face and an honest heart than good job. But, if you can't read every single phrase of it that way know that God is revealing to you where you need to surrender to Him, because you aren't living a Christian life in that part of your life.

Love, Michael

1 Peter 2 and Romans 3

2009-11-04T06:57:00.003-07:00

I am reading 1 Peter 2 and Romans 3 this morning. There are a lot of really deep, good, theological truths in there.

1 Peter 2:2 - Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk SO THAT you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,. This verse makes it very clear. You will not grow in your experience of salvation of you do not develop a craving for God's truth. Your salvation will at the most amount to very little and at the least not amount to anything at all. We need to develop a hunger and a passion and a desire for God through His truth. So many people miss the God part and just go after the truth part. All of faith is about a relationship with the Father and when we don't desire that above all else we miss out. Some will complain that they can't make themselves want something, but the truth is when we choose to pursue something with all of our energies we begin to love that thing. We did not love our spouses before we found them. It was the pursuit of them that helped spur the love we now have for them.

Peter mentions God's will which brings me back to something I read recently. The author was focusing on the idea that so many of us say we want to know God's will when what we really want is God's specific will for our lives from now until death. God very rarely gives us that because He knows we would have the tendency to walk away from Him. He conceals some of His will so we will stay beside Him, which is what is best for us anyway. Also, if you really want to know God's will, just read every passage in the Bible that says God's will or pleases God. You will find several things. The problem for us is we don't want to focus on those specific things. God has told us what His will is, we just didn't like that it didn't focus on us.

1 Peter 2:24 - Why did Jesus bear responsibility for our sin on the Cross? ... so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. He did not die just so we can go to heaven. He died SO THAT we could die to sin and SO THAT we could live for what is right.

Romans 3:22 - We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. - It is by faith that we are made right. Not faith like we think where we say we believe there is a God, but faith that puts an active trust in God and that relies on God. The faith that makes us right is a relational faith and not just a mental one. It is a faith that hungers for God and anything less than that isn't faith.

Romans 3:31 - Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law. - Obedience does not necessarily lead to faith. Faith without obedience is a lie and not true faith. True faith always leads to willing obedience.

Love, Michael

2009-11-03T18:07:00.002-07:00

I'm reading a great book by Francis Chan called Crazy Love. Good book. I would recommend it for anyone close to accepting Christ or who is looking for a refreshing of their own faith. I read his other book Forgotten God a few weeks back and enjoyed it as well. It deals with welcoming the Holy Spirit back into your life.

I am also reading one by Lee Strobel and Mark Mittleberg called The Unexpected Adventure that has been really good for motivating different approaches to evangelism. Instead of teaching how to evangelize they simply share personal stories about when they shared Christ. It has been great for helping me look and prepare for more opportunities to share the Good News about Jesus. It even led me to pick up a homeless guy and spend some time with him.

God has been doing some really neat things in my heart and soul lately. I have always had a problem with watered-down faith in America and in myself and God has been showing me how to bring my love for Him and His church alongside of that dissatisfaction in a healthy way. I just want so badly for those who say they follow Jesus to experience the true moving of God's Spirit and a faith that is represented by a great love that motivates a powerful life instead of getting it backwards and having people do what they are supposed to do without really understanding that a love of God should be the stimulant. Love of God and not just behaving.

Love, Michael

2 Peter 3

2009-10-30T06:18:00.002-06:00

3:1 - to stimulate your wholesome thinking and refresh your memory. - We don't tend to tend towards wholesome thinking and so we need things that will remind us to and stimulate a hunger in us to. The word of God is great for making us hungry for righteousness. Without it in our lives it seems like we will do what we think is best and move away from godly living.

3:3 - mocking the truth and following their own desires. - WOW! We must be in the times Peter prophesied about. So much of our culture, even in the church unfortunately, is made up of people who either try to mock the word of God or who live only for whatever they feel or think best or is most convenient for them. We have to find a way to help people see that this is a sinful way to live.

3:4 - everything has remained the same - Ever heard that in science class? Even good science recognizes that things do not stay the same and so the whole basis for evolutionary thing has a massive flaw from the beginning. To say everything is the same except for when it changes is a cop out and bad logic.

3:8 - A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.

3:9 - ... No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. - I love God. I know that seems silly, but I really do. Consider that He endures our sin and our wrecking this world and hurting each other because He wants each one of us to make it back home before the end of all things and the beginning of everything.

3:11-12 - Live holy and godly lives as you look forward.

3:13 - Heaven = a world filled with God's righteousness.

3:14 - ... while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in HIS sight.

3:17 - Be on your guard...

3:18 - ... you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. - The way to be on your guard is to grow. I think it is worth noting that Peter says you MUST grow in grace and knowledge and not that it is a good thing. I don't think it is a command as much as it is a necessity to live a pure and blameless life. You must grow in grace and knowledge or you will not live a life that honors God.

Love, Michael

2 Peter 2

2009-10-29T08:49:00.002-06:00

2:1 - ... there will be false teachers among you. - God has spoken through Peter to warn us that there will be people among us who teach falsely and who lead people away from the truth of God. We need to be aware of these people and how they work. It seems to me our Christian culture will accept almost anyone who says they are speaking for God without doing much of the hard work necessary to see if they really are. We are so lazy spiritually that we refuse to discern between those who are teaching the truth and those who are teaching a man made religion. I think that is why it is so hard for those who are truly preaching the Word of God to do their jobs, because those who should be listening are listening to others who do not agree with the Word. Here are some of the characteristics that Peter gives throughout chapter 2:
- cleverly teach (1) - instead of teaching the Bible plainly and openly
- deny Jesus as Lord (1)
- immoral (2)
- greedy (2)
- proud and arrogant (10)
- creatures of instinct (12) - do what they feel instead of research out God's will
- scoff at things they don't understand (12) - leave no room for the mystery associated with God
- love to sin in the open (13)
- delight in deception (13) - do not live completely in the light
- commit adultery with their eyes (14)
- love to earn money doing wrong (15)
- brag (18)
- slaves to sin(19)

2:5 - ... Noah warned the world of God's righteous judgment. SO God protected Noah when he destroyed the world of ungodly people with a vast flood. - I totally see a cause and effect here. Because Noah warned the world (cause) God protected him (effect). If God were to come and apply a cause and effect type of outcome for the way you are living right now would it lead you to rejoicing or fear? God longs for us to live without fear as we do what He wants done so that He can bless us tremendously. We cannot have the blessing of God by living a weak, distracted Christian life.

2:7-8 - Lot was a righteous man because his soul was tormented by the sin around him. I give Lot a bad rap because of how I understand what I read in Genesis, but apparently he was more righteous. He was bothered to the point of feeling tormented because of the sin around him. I think I am annoyed by sin at times, but I am not sure I feel tormented like I should.

2:9 - So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment. - There are two really great ideas in here. 1) God knows how to rescue us. We do not have to understand how God rescues us to have confidence that He can. We spend a lot of time trying to figure out the future, but we would be better off trusting the God who is not bound by time. 2) God will deal with the wicked.

2:10 - He is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desires, and who despise authority. - This verse scares me to death for our church and our culture. We have so many who are caught up in pornography and adultery and sex outside of marriage and who see nothing wrong with it or who treat it like a little sin. We do not realize the severity of the wound inflicted on our souls or the church when we let those continue in our lives. Our culture has made sexual sin something everyone struggles with and therefore something that is expected and while not okay kind of accepted. We need to personally do whatever it takes to run sexual sin out of our live. No more excuses. We choose to live a holy life or we choose to stay in sexual sin, but it is our choice.
And the thing about despising authority - in a young church made up of younger Christians rebellion is seen all the time. We need to see how serious a rebellious spirit is in God's eyes. We cannot allow rebellion. Now that doesn't mean we go on a witch hunt, but it means we need to passionately teach on the need for submission in the believers life and not let people stay rebellious. We need to find the grace and the wisdom to confront rebellion in a way that will hold people accountable and free them.

2:19 - They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. - Do you ever promise freedom while living in slavery to sin?

2:20-21 - And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life. - WOW! This is a powerful warning. People can argue about once saved always saved and all of that, but there is no disputing the fact that Peter says we have to make a great effort to stay free from sin and continue in righteousness. We are COMMANDED to live a holy life. Why did we let go of that teaching? We have been so consumed with grace that we have begun to disgrace grace by sinning. The true power and effect of grace is a life of less sin, not more. We do not understand grace if we can use it to sin. Real grace moves us to holy living.

Love, Michael

2 Peter 1

2009-10-28T07:46:00.003-06:00

I didn't blog yesterday as I was writing material for our LIFE Group Leaders for 1 Peter 1-5. There is so much good stuff in there.

1:2 - Mat god give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. - I love that Peter says as you. So many people sit back and wait for God to add to their grace and peace. You and I are called to grow in our knowledge about God and Jesus, because to know them is to know grace and peace. So many people do not know the God they follow or they know a lot about Him, but they do not personally know Him. God did not call you to win spiritual jeopardy, but to come in to a living relationship with Him every day.

1:3 - By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life.... - We are not incapable of what the Scriptures call us to be and do. We are unwilling.

1:4 - And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us GREAT and PRECIOUS promises. These are the promises that ENABLE you to share his divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires. - God's promises enable us to live the right way. We need to examine what they are and then believe them. It is not enough to know God's promises. We have to choose to live inside of them whether we "feel" them or not. To walk in faith of a promise God has made is to honor God greatly.

1:5 - I thought the way the NLT translated this was great. instead of add to your faith like the NIV says it says, supplement your faith. The idea of supplementing just struck me deeper than add.

1:8-9 - The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. - So many people today feel unproductive and useless when it comes to the things of God and yet here Peter tells us exactly how to change that. He also says that for a person to choose not to mature in faith is to prove that they are not seeing things the right way and they are forgetting that they were once a slave to sin who has been freed. In other words, they are forgetting to be so grateful they pursue God.

1:10 - ... work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. - I think that so many of us look at salvation as completely from God (which it is), but then we forget that we still have a part to play. God is in the leading role, but we support what He is doing and has done by how we live. Peter is here calling us to make a great effort to make sure on our part that we are Christian. Christianity is not a passive activity. It takes a daily effort to seek God and pursue the Christ-like way.

1:19 - ... you must pay close attention to what they wrote for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place - How much attention do you pay to the prophets of the Old Testament? How much attention do you pay to the Old Testament at all? I see so many "modern" Christians who make no effort at all to understand what has been written in the past and so they miss out on so much of what god has for us. If you want to mature in your faith (which God expects you to do) then take the time to go back and read and learn from the Old Testament. There are pictures of God there you will never know otherwise.

Love, Michael

Psalm 107

2009-10-26T06:59:00.001-06:00

I love this Psalm. I see the psalmist expressing the different life circumstances we find ourselves in and how God rescues us from every one of them.
4-9
10-16
17-22
23-32

107:2 - Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies. - Why do we have to be commanded to do what should come naturally to the truly grateful? If YOU have been redeemed then say something. Speak up. Tell someone TODAY that God has bought you back from sin and heart-ache and destruction. I think the reason we don't say anything is that we aren't totally convinced that we have been redeemed from all that much.

107:9 - For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

107:16 - For he broken down their prison gates of bronze; he cut apart their bars of iron.

107:20 - He sent out his word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death.

107:29 - He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves.

107:35 - But he also turns deserts into pools of water, the dry land into springs of water. - God can make a spring anywhere, any time no matter the numbers, $$$, resources, etc. It takes only one person who decides to let God pour His Living Water in their soul. Will you allow God to make a spring where you live by allowing Him to fill you not with more teaching or more effort or more church, but with more of the Holy Spirit of God? The Church does not need more of a lot of things, but only one thing. We need more of the Holy Spirit and less of all the things were are pursuing in books and through $$$ and all of that. The truth be told, for years I have tried everything I could to get the Church to grow, but in reality all I needed was to pursue God and ask for His Spirit more and that is something He has promised to ALWAYS give in abundance. The problem with our churches is us.

107:43 - Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the Lord.

Love, Michael

Psalm 101

2009-10-25T05:40:00.003-06:00

101:2 - How can you be careful to lead a blameless life? It starts with living a life of integrity in your own home. So many of us want to be a light for Christ in the world and in the Church, but we are nothing until we are full of integrity at home. I think the idea of integrity has been corrupted in some ways because we take it to mean only that we do, what we say and that we follow all of the laws. But what about how we treat other people, how we speak, how we honor God in our passions and anger and the way we spend our times. To live a blameless life through integrity means that we spend our time purposefully and not laying on a couch or always chasing the next animal or the next dollar or the next promotion. Integrity at home means that when our wife and kids see us they believe the truth of the entire Gospel because of the way we are living. It means we feel and believe what we practice. To do what you are supposed to do without feeling it and owning it shows a total lack of integrity.

101:3 - I will REFUSE to look at anything vile and vulgar.... - Isn't it interesting that David doesn't say he will struggle to overcome or try real hard or hide from... David says that he will make a firm decision to not look at ANYTHING vile or vulgar. Why is it that men struggle with pornography so much? It is because we want to! Seriously, although I know that will offend some, we struggle because we are not willing to refuse ourselves that pleasure. If you refused to eat fish I am certain no one could make you. If you refused to vote Republican or Democrat I am certain no one could force you otherwise. If you refused to listen to Acid Rock I am certain you would not allow anyone to make you. BUT, we say we cannot refuse the lure of pornography. Garbage. We don't want to, that is the problem. We are men of enough courage and strength to refuse anything in the world and yet we don't. David says that the way he leads a blameless life is to refuse to look upon anything that would defile him. I wonder when we will wake up to the truth that God has indeed empowered us through His Spirit and His word to be able to refuse to sin.

101:4 - I will reject perverse ideas and stay away from every evil.

101:6 - I will search for faithful people to be my companions... - Is part of the struggle in your own life that you have not made it a strategy to only search out godly people for your companions? I understand that we purposefully invite people into our lives who are lost so we can minister to them, but when you think of the people you truly trust and run with and whose opinion you highly value, are they godly people? We hijack our chance for blamelessness when we bring ungodly people into our inner circle of friends. We have got to learn to be the kind of men and women who faithfully search for godly friends so that we can excel at godliness.

Love, Michael

Psalm 84

2009-10-24T17:09:00.002-06:00

84:1-2 - How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Heaven's Armies. I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord. With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God. - I endeavor to live a life that honestly hungers and thirsts for the presence of God in my life like this verse talks about. I want to pour every ounce of my being, every breath, every ounce of attention and strength, into knowing Him, being known by Him and walking in His perfect will.

84:5 - What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. - I love the idea of those who set their hearts on pilgrimage. I think because the concept of pilgrimage has been lost because so many false religions do it. When I think of going on a pilgrimage I think of setting out on a journey to honor God.

84:10 - A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked. - I would rather be the lowest in God's presence than the highest the world has to offer. I am reading Foxe's Book of Martyrs right now and I am blown away how devout men and women were in the past and how much they longed for heaven. They wanted so badly to be with Christ. I wonder what has happened to our faith that we don't long for heaven, we don't see the beauty of giving our lives for Christ and we find it so hard to stay focused on nothing but Christ alone.

84:11 - ... The Lord with withhold no good thing from those who do what is right. - I love this verse. We have let the world's theology convince us that God somehow does withhold from us and it is the same lie the serpent told Eve. We have to believe the best God because it reflects Him to others. We need to believe that god with withhold nothing from us that is good for us.

Love, Michael

Psalm 62

2009-10-23T12:06:00.002-06:00

62:1 - I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. - What does the way you wait look like? In the past I have either not waited and just pushed ahead or I have waited in a pouty/depressed kind of way. The call of Psalm 62 is for you and I to wait in peace. It is to tame our hearts and apply our faith to such a degree that we wait without stress. How we wait says a ton about what we truly believe and the true measure of our submission to God and His teaching. To wait any other way than in peace is to reject God's truth or worse yet to embrace it and yet not obey it.

62:2/6 - Some of the names used for God = my rock, my salvation, my fortress. I would encourage you to spend some time thinking about what each one of those things represent. A rock is a firm place to stand, but it is also a place where David would hide when the enemies came against him. It was a safe place. Take each one of these and just spend some time trying to understand why God is that and you will be truly blessed.

I love that the NASB says He only is all of these things. God is not one of the places I hide. God is not one source of my salvation and saving. God is not one of the places that protects me. God is the ONLY one and ONLY thing who can do any of that. Part of waiting on God is realizing that He is the ONLY source of hope you have. If we would focus our energy in times of trouble on God and not solutions, God would be all the solution we ever needed.

62:5 - Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. The only people I have ever met who can wait in peace are those who truly have their hope in Him and not in something else. Truthfully, many of us hope in God AND ..... We hope in God and the test scores or God and our boss or God and the economy or God and .... If you want peace form God you have to hope only in god.

62:7 - My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. - We need to apply this truth deep in our hearts. Our victory is not the result of our boss or the lottery or any of that nonsense. Our victory and honor come from God alone and if we would look to Him alone we would have more of it.

62:8 - How to wait patiently on God - Trust in Him and Pour out your heart to Him. It is that simple. some of us trust God, but we never open up and talk to Him. Others pour out their heart to God but they don't trust Him enough to follow Him. We have to learn to trust god and pour our heart and souls out to Him as a result of our trust. We need to wait in confidence and not in mystery. God will answer and it will be perfect, that is why there is no mystery in waiting on God.

62:10 - ... And if your wealth increases, don't make it the center of your life. - I think we will all read that verse, agree and then keep going when I believe the Spirit of God would beg us to stop and spend some time trying to see if we have indeed made our wealth the center of our lives. I would love to ask you a bunch of questions here to see if this is true, but I will not have near the impact the Holy Spirit will so I will pray. Dear Lord, please speak to every single person who reads this verse through my writing it to them. Please deeply convince us of the truth of this verse in our own lives. If we have made wealth the center of our life would you show us that so clearly it deeply moves us. Thank you.

62:11-12 - ... Power, O God, belongs to you; unfailing love, O Lord, is yours...

Love, Michael

Psalm 51

2009-10-21T13:03:00.004-06:00

51:1 - God's mercy is because of His unfailing love and His great compassion. I know that most people will hear that and go of course, but I think it deserves consideration. Do you truly believe that God's mercy is completely, 100% because of His great love and compassion? If so, every time you experience it it will draw you closer to Him and make you more and more grateful. You will find that His mercy to you causes you to love Him more. But, if it is just something or if somewhere deep down you think He owes it to you or it is because of your behavior or even your beliefs than you have missed the point and you might just end up taking it for granted. You might end up being a "good Christian" who doesn't properly see the mercy of God.

51:1/9 - Sin always leaves a stain. Sin isn't something that is easy to wipe off. It gets down in the fabric of who we are and it ruins us. The only hope for us when we have sinned is for Jesus to come and bleach out the stain with His blood. I am sure we do not see sin as something that ruins us, but it is.

51:2 - Wash me / Purify me - When was the last time you prayed that prayer?

51:3 - For I recognize my rebellion; - I think this is the key to this whole passage. We cannot be washed, clean, purified and restored if we refuse to recognize our rebellion. We have to see it, understand it as rebellion and then openly confess that to God. And maybe, if you keep going in this chapter, maybe we can't have the Holy Spirit living in us the way God wants if we refuse to recognize and name our rebellion. As Christians, we have the bad quality about us where we confess sin without admitting that it is rebellion against God. We need to call it what it is so we can be healed from it.

51:5 - This is a hyperbolic statement meant to make a point. Unfortunately, some people have taken this verse out of context and then built a whole theology on it that we are born sinful or with sin or with a sinful nature. The truth is the Bible NEVER uses the term sinful nature. The times you see that in some translations it is the word flesh. And to say that flesh is sinful is to say that Jesus was born sinful. And, if you say flesh is sinful, but Jesus wasn't sinful than you are either saying Jesus wasn't here in the flesh (which defies Scripture) or that Jesus wasn't fully man (which defies Scripture). We need to see this verse in the light of the whole passage and the light of the whole Bible. David is making a dramatic statement to express the extent to which he feels the guilt and responsibility for his sin.

51:7 - Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. - I wonder if you truly believe that. Do you truly, honestly, fully believe that if Jesus purifies you and washes you that you will be as pure and clean as a brand new blanket of snow?

51:8 - ... you have broken me... - I know a thing or two about being broken. When I was in Bible college I realized in my head that I was not broken in my heart. I prayed and prayed for God to break me. It was a wise prayed from an unwise person. God, in His love and mercy, did break me and allow me to be broken by various circumstances in life. While I do believe god orchestrated everything that led to me being broken, I do believe He allowed it out of His great love. It took a sledge hammer to break the stone from around my heart, but He did it. I am not where I want to be, but I am headed there. I would challenge you, if you truly have a desire to fully be known and fully know the Father, pray that He breaks you and then receive that as a gift. Your faith will never be the same and that will be a good thing.

51:10-11 - Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don't take your Holy Spirit from me. - So many things here. I love the idea of asking God to renew a loyal spirit in me. Can you see not only the depth of David's remorse, but His deep love of fellowship with God? What would honestly be different in your life today if God took His Holy Spirit from you? Seriously. Not theologically, but how would your life be different from the way your are living? See, if our lives wouldn't instantly crumble without the Holy Spirit we are not where we need to be.

51:12 - Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. - Could you pray, "Make me willing to obey." today? I hope you will.

51:17 - The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

Love, Michael

Psalm 42-43

2009-10-21T08:48:00.004-06:00

42:1-2 (NASB) As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for Thee, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God? - I love the imagery of someone so thirsty for God that they long for Him. I have been told that a deer, even while being pursued will stop to drink. Can you imagine a hunger for God so great that you would even stop in the middle of a life threatening attack just because He was there and you needed to be with Him. A thirst for God that stands above all ambition, hope, fear, desire.... That is how we are supposed to pursue God. Not like something good, but like breathing. It needs to be so passionate that we would never imagine going minutes, more or less, days and weeks and months, without a true encounter with Him.

42:3 - Sometimes, from the outside, our lives may look like they are absent God. We may end up in such tough circumstances that others might reason that God is no where near us. It is in times like these that the inner hope and peace we have in Jesus and exhibit to others can be a tremendous testimony to God. If the world asks you where God is and yet they see peace in you they will be more inclined to believe God is bigger than your circumstances. When my folks were killed by a drunk driver the inner peace God granted us and that we agreed to receive, made a huge impact and still does to some people today.

42:5/42:11/43:5 - When you are discouraged, sad, disturbed or in despair it is because your hope is misplaced. You cannot have a healthy hope in God and become those things. It means you have begun to hope in other things - your health, the amount of money you have, your future, the size of your church, etc. A true hope in God is so big is consumes those things and encourages us all the time. This is not a chastisement, just a reminder. The next time depression or despair or discouragement sneaks into your life run back and check where your hope is honestly at.

42:6 - To put your hope in God REMEMBER!!! Remember that no matter where you find yourself or how far away you feel that God is near. Remember who HE is and what He has done and has promised to do. Remembering is one of the best ways to restore hope.

42:8 - Remember that each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me (and you). Remember that. And then let that remembering cause you to sing songs, praying to God who gives me life. If we will remember God's love for us than we can sing no matter how dark it feels and we can pray in the knowledge that God is the giver of life and all good things. And sincerely singing and praying will help to restore that hope. It is a beautiful cycle.

42:11 - (NASB) ... The help of my countenance and my God. - I love the way that sounds. God is the help of my countenance. He is the helper to my disposition or my attitude. God, because of who He is and what He does, changes my face because He changes my heart.

43:1-3 - It seems to me that these verses may be a sort of process prayer that we can pray that will help us remember and therefore restore our hope. Look at specifically what the psalmist asks for and consider why and where that kind of prayer would lead your heart.

43:1 - (NASB) Vindicate me / Plead my case / Deliver me

43:2 - For you are God, my only safe haven... - What a beautiful thing to remember. God is the ONLY safe place. Locking our hope up anywhere else will mean it is at high risk to be stolen or lost.

43:3 - Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live. - I am amazed that the way psalmist longs to restore his hope and to see things changed is by asking God to guide and lead him back to where God is at. So many times we feel discouraged and we blame God. We think it is because God is far away or unfaithful or distracted. The psalmist realizes that a loss of hope that leads to discouragement is because we have gotten off course and not because God has. His prayer is that God would lead him back by truth and light. Do you see God so well that you can pray that way?

43:4 - ... the source of all my joy ... - Lord, let us so live in Jesus that you truly are the source of ALL of our joy.

Love, Michael

Psalm 22

2009-10-20T07:08:00.002-06:00

22:1 - Most people rightly tie this verse and this Psalm to the crucifixion of Jesus in the Gospel. The problem comes in that they do not understand the meaning or the context behind the Psalm and so many (most) people have assumed that Jesus is saying that God has abandoned Him. You will hear good teachers say that God abandoned Jesus on the cross because of the sin of the world. That is a very wrong teaching. god never turned His back on God, especially not in the middle of the most obedient act in history. When the rabbis used a verse from a Psalm you had to go back and examine the WHOLE Psalm and see what the theme or meaning was. In this case, the point of Psalm 22 is that it may appear or feel like you are abandoned, but indeed you are not (vs 24). I truly believe with everything in me that Jesus wants us to go back to Psalm 22 when He quotes verse 1 so that we will understand while it may look like He is abandoned, indeed He is not!!!

22:2 - Sometimes in life it does feel like we can get no relief. Life just keeps coming like wave after wave and it keeps taking your breath away. It is like being in the ocean and every time you come up to catch your breath and another wave hits you. It does feel that way sometimes and the Bible acknowledges that. But I love verse 3 where it starts of YET.

22:6-8/12-18 - A very clear prophecy about the crucifixion. Incredible when you understand it was written 900 years before Christ!!!

22:3/9 - One of the most powerful words in the entire Bible - YET. It feels this way, it looks this way, you might think and YET it really isn't. God is teaching us through David's Psalm that no matter what it feels like, seems like, looks like, others say, you and I always need to remember the TRUTH from God. The truth of our situation is not the ultimate truth. God's truth always stands above all of it no matter what. I praise God for that. Nothing trumps God's truth.

22:19 - O Lord, do not stay far away! You are my strength; come quickly to my aid!

22:22 - I will proclaim/I will praise -

22:24 - (NASB) For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted. Neither has He hidden His face from him; But when he cried to Him for help, he heard. - This is the key to understanding this whole Psalm and what Jesus was communicating from the cross.

Love, Michael

John 20-21

2009-10-19T10:20:00.002-06:00

20:8 - he saw and believed - What did they see that caused them to believe? I have always taken it to be the way the strips of cloth and the cloth that had been around Jesus was laying. If Jesus had not really been dead and fought His way out of the clothes they would have been everywhere, but if He was resurrected by God they might have been laying just as the body had been, but without the body.

20:19/21/26 - Peace be with you. - What is it Jesus is trying to help us see that He says this three times and always as His first thing?

20:22 - Then he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit." - The disciples did not have the Holy Spirit indwelling (living inside of them) up until this time. The next time you see the Holy Spirit coming on the disciple sit is at Pentecost and this time it the Spirit coming on them for miraculous gifts.

20:29 - You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.

20:31 - But these are written SO THAT you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name. - What is it we are supposed to believe? Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus is the Son of God. These should lead us to a powerful life in His name. If you do not have a powerful lif ein Christ you have a belief problem.

21:15-17 - Jesus obviously asked Peter 3 times as a reference back to the three times Peter denied Him, but I think this was redemptive and not punitive. I think Jesus did it to help Peter see he was completely restored in Jesus' eyes.

21:19 - by what kind of death he would glorify God. - God can be glorified in our living and our dying.

I never caught the Follow me. to Peter before. I am not sure it has more significance than any other place Jesus said it, but it just struck me that it was there. Maybe the significance is that Jesus was letting Peter know he got in trouble the first time by not following Jesus and now he needs to get back to following.

21:25 - Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written. - I have always loved this statement. It is just filled with admiration for Jesus and all He did. It reminds me of a little kid talking about how His dad could have run 1,000 miles.

Love, Michael

John 19

2009-10-18T05:57:00.002-06:00

19:10-11 - ...Don't you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you? Then Jesus said, "You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above...." - There is a verse in Romans and a concept in Christianity that we are supposed to submit ourselves to the authorities in our lives as they are all there at God's will or design. When I have discussed that with others we all want to know how far you take that obedience and here is Jesus taking it to the point of death. And the reason He does that is because He trusts the Father so much. He recognizes that God is Sovereign and so He entrusts Himself to the ultimate authority. Our generations struggle SO MUCH with authority and that is a HUGE problem for our Christianity. If we cannot obey the earthly authorities God has placed in our lives we will NEVER obey God's authority. It is true. If you can't obey the leadership in your life, whether it is godly or not, you cannot obey God.

19:12 - This verse is an open threat by the Jews that they will turn Pilate in as a traitor to Caesar if he doesn't do what they want.

19:15 - "... We have no king but Caesar," they leading (chief) priests shouted back. - I can't even imagine what hatred for Jesus must have been in these men for them to be willing to call Caesar their king.

19:28 - Jesus knew that his mission was now finished... - Jesus accomplished every single thing He came to accomplish.

19:35 - ... so that you also can (continue to) believe.

Love, Michael

A Question

2009-10-17T08:54:00.001-06:00

I am wondering how many people are viewing this blog, because I need to decide whether to keep doing it or do something else. If you could hit the comment button and let me know I will give it about a week and then make a decision about continuing it or doing something else. Thanks.

John 17-18

2009-10-17T08:39:00.002-06:00

I am posting for yesterdays reading and today's.

17:3 - And this is the way to have eternal life - to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. - I find it interesting that we talk about eternal life in a multitude of ways, but Jesus says it is to know God and to know Jesus. I was trying to express last night at a worship and prayer thing how I just want to know God better, but not like know the facts know, but know in breath by breath relationship. I want to know eternal life and not just know about eternal life.

17:11 - ... now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. - Unity is a core characteristic of God and apparently we struggle to stay in it, because of all the things Jesus could pray for He spent much of His prayer on unity.

17:15 - I'm not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. - Jesus has no intention to take us out of the world, because we need to be fruitful in the world. What Jesus longs for is for us to take the world out of us. We spend so much time in the world that we become united with the world and anyone who is united with the world cannot be united with Christ. When we are one with the world in our views of work, money, scheduling, sexuality, entertainment......we are not and cannot be one with God.

17:11/21/22 - (NASB) that they may be one - This must be REALLY significant because Jesus prays for it 3 times in His final prayer for us.

18:6 - As Jesus said, "I AM he," they all drew back and fell to the ground. - This verse has always blown me away. Here is Jesus in the garden and as this force of people comes to arrest Him He says His true name (I AM) and they all fall down. I always wondered why now when in the past when Jesus said "I AM" people didn't fall down. Is it because He is so close to the crucifixion and His glory is leaking out more and more? Is it because God is making a statement to them? Is it because He is making a statement to us about who was still in control?

18:10 - Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest's slave. - It isn't just about our passion for Jesus. It is about even our passion being submitted to Christ's will. I know there have been times in my life where I thought my passion made my approach okay. It is about His will FIRST and then my passion.

18:28 - ... His accusers didn't go inside because it would defile them, and they wouldn't be allowed to celebrate the Passover. - WOW! Hypocrisy at its worst. They were murdering the innocent, but didn't want to mess up their religious obligations. I wonder where we do this today?

18:38 - What is truth? - People have been asking this question since before Pilate uttered it and they still utter it today. The reality is Truth was standing in front of Pilate and had he truly wanted to know what truth was he could have asked and Jesus would have explained it. Most people who question what truth is are not truly seeking an answer, they are looking for an out. If you truly want to know about truth then go to Jesus ans research it out. At the worst you will have Jesus' opinion (if you don't believe) and at best you will find Truth.

Love, Michael

John 16

2009-10-15T10:49:00.002-06:00

16:1 - (NASB) These things I have spoken to you, that you may be kept from stumbling. - I find it amazing that Jesus very clearly tells us where to look to prevent us from stumbling or for having an ineffective faith and yet we still walk around like we have no way of knowing better. Jesus taught through this section specifically to tell us what the core ingredients are for healthy faith. 2 Peter 1:5-9 teaches us similarly when it says, For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

16:7 - But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don't, the Advocate won't come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. - Jesus knew that it would be better for us to live with the Holy Spirit than even to walk with Him. I think there are times I want to believe that my Christian life would be so much stronger or more effective or better if I could walk with the physical Jesus, but Jesus says having the Holy Spirit is better. This means we have to figure out what works to make more room in our lives for the Holy Spirit and then to follow Him.

16:8 - The Holy Spirit - convicts the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment.

16:13 - He also guides you into all truth and He will tell you about the future.

16:27 - for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God.

16:33 - I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.

Love, Michael

John 15

2009-10-14T10:19:00.002-06:00

15:11 - I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow. - The key to this whole section is this verse. You need to hear it so you can understand the context of the whole chapter. Jesus wants you to obey, love and produce fruit so your joy can be complete and full. That implies that if you are not obeying or not loving or not producing fruit your joy will not be complete and full. I find it very interesting that so many of us live without joy and we think it is God's fault somehow. If God has promised us joy and we do not have it it is our doing and not His. If we will not fully obey or completely love or do the hard work to produce much fruit than we will not have the full measure of joy He wants for us. That is pretty exciting to me, because it means I can influence the level of joy I experience in life.

15:2 - He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. - There are only two options. Get cut off or get pruned. I think many of us are looking for the place in life where we get to just be a pretty plant that doesn't have to do anything, but I don't see that here. The Christian life is a participant life and there is no arriving or sitting back or just being. You are always called to be working hard to produce the fruit that God wants in the world.

15:4 - Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. - We have to stay in Jesus. We cannot get away from a deep and daily relationship with Jesus. When we say we didn't have time to read or pray or worship or seek Him we are saying we didn't have time to be with Him and if we aren't with Him we loose our effectiveness. I wonder if the reason so many of us have trouble getting traction in our lives that leads to a powerful moving of God is that we keep leaving Him for the busy-ness (business) of the day. Could it be that we are leaving Him out and therefore not producing fruit and yet we seem unaware of it?

15:5 - much fruit - Jesus isn't looking for little fruit - I was nice to the person that cut me off, I didn't yell at the kids, I read my Bible. He is looking for much fruit. He is looking for major change and major effect in the lives of others.

15:7 - But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! - How is that for a promise from Jesus?

15:8 - When you produce MUCH fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

(NASB) By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.

How much glory did you bring to the Father this week? How about today?

15:10 - When you obey my commandments, you remain in me love, ... - You cannot separate love of God from your actions. We want to say we love God but we sin, but to sin is to stop loving God for a time. True love deeply impacts your actions.

15:13 - There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. - I think we rightly see this as talking about the crucifixion, but we miss that Jesus laid down His life for His friends while He was alive as well. Every choice He made to restrain Himself or to do the right thing was Him laying His life down for His friends while He lived. Are we ready to do the same thing? I think we would be more inclined to die for a friend than to live for one.

15:16 - ... go and produce LASTING fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.

15:19 - The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. - How much does the world love you? That may tell you a lot about whether you are walking with God in the right way. To be honest, I think I work so the world will love me more than I should. I need to live more radically, not to incite people, but to honor God and if I was it would mean I was offending more people because of truth. If there is no one offended at your living you probably aren't living the life that Jesus called you to. That deeply convicts me personally.

Love, Michael

John 14

2009-10-13T06:41:00.002-06:00

14:1 - Don't let your heart be troubled. How do you do this? I mean, it is easy to say not to be troubled, but what practically do you DO to not be troubled? According to Jesus you trust in God and trust in Him. Most, if not all, of the trouble in our life comes about because we do not trust the Father and the Son. If we trusted them what would there be to be troubled by?

14:2 - There is more than enough room in my Father's home. - This is a such a cool idea when you understand it from an Eastern worldview. The homes in the east are not like our single family units. They start with a house and a courtyard and the family members build onto the house and share the courtyard. They all live together. When Jesus says there are many rooms He is saying there is plenty of space for Him to build us a place to live with Him and the Father and the rest of the family. What an incredible idea. So many of us think of Heaven like a mansion on a hill somewhere, but Jesus' promise is for Him to prepare a room for us in His Father's house and not just in His Father's lands. I love the idea of being so close to God that I get to share the courtyard with Him and see Him every day.

I am going to prepare a place for you - This phrase and the statement about preparing a room in His Father's house is tied to the wedding practices of that time. The bridegroom would make the proposal and if the young lady agreed he would go back to His Father's house and start building a room on His Father's place for the two of them. When the Father says the room is ready the Son can go and get His bride and bring her home to live with Him and the Father. It means the bridegroom spends lots of time and energy preparing the perfect place for his bride. In our case it means Jesus is spending His time preparing a terrific place for His bride, the Church.

14:3 - ... so that you will ALWAYS be with me where I am.

14:6 - I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. - No one!

14:10 - Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?

14:12 - I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, AND EVEN GREATER WORKS, because I am going to be with the Father. - I know this is not the experience for many of us, but that is something we need to work through, because God is always faithful and true. We need to work with the Holy Spirit through the Word of God to figure out how to begin to live in such a way that greater things begin to happen because we are with the Father through the Son with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

14:13-14 - That ask me anything is about the Father's glory. It isn't about us getting everything we want. People who get everything they want are normally called spoiled brats. The promise of Jesus is that we can ask anything we need to accomplish the will of the Father and He will equip us with it.

14:16-17 - Advocate/Comforter/Encourager/Counselor = Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. - We need to reconfigure our life so that the Holy Spirit has room to lead us.

14:23 - All who love me will do what I say, My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.

14:26 - The Holy Spirit will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. - Are you open to being taught, reminded and led by the Holy Spirit? It seems like this is one of those things where He is willing, but He waits not only for our openness, but also our attention and effort in this area.

14:27 - I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart.... - Have you received this gift? If not, it is on us and not on Him. Let God be proven true and every man a liar. God has given you the right to peace of mind and peace of heart. Will you do what it takes to receive that gift at least today?

14:31 - but I will do what the Father requires of me, SO THAT the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let's be going. - I love this verse. Jesus will do whatever the Father requires SO THAT the world will know. Will you do WHATEVER the Father requires so the world will know Him? What a great verse to have as a life's purpose.

Love, Michael

John 13

2009-10-12T06:52:00.002-06:00

13:2/27 - Judas was tempted to sin, but Satan did not enter him according to John until he decided to sin. I think that is really interesting. Many people believe Judas didn't have a choice, but I see here that he did, but chose to betray Jesus anyway.

13:11 - In the NASB it says that Judas was betraying Jesus. The tense for the verb there is present participle which means ongoing, continuous or repeated action. This was not a one time thing. Judas had been involved in multiple acts that led him to betray Jesus. The same can be said of us. When we continue to betray Jesus or Jesus' interests for our lives we can eventually harden our hearts to the degree that we walk away from Him. I think for those who believe in once saved always saved you would have to give an honest examination of whether Jesus ever considered Judas a true disciple. And, if He did, then wouldn't that say something about our ability through repeated disobedience to walk away?

13:8 - Unless I wash you, you won't belong to me. - I meet a lot of people who want to come to Jesus with their pride intact. It can't happen. Until you and I realize that we are totally bankrupt apart from Jesus we have no part in Jesus. No one stands before the throne unless the Son has cleaned them and then we only stand by His grace and not what we have done. This should be refreshing to those who feel unworthy and startling to those who think they are okay.

13:15 - I have given you an example to follow. do as I have done to you.

13:19 - I tell you this beforehand, so that when it happens you will believe that I AM the Messiah. - The Greek actually says so that you will believe I AM.

13:34-35 - So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. - I think it is a sad state of affairs that Jesus has to command us to love each other, but I see why. My natural inclination is to like people, but not to love them to the degree I put them in front of my needs and wants. Jesus had to command love, because we would have chosen a hundred other things first if it was up to us. And I love that Jesus doesn't leave the definition of love up to us for us to twist or water down. He says to love just as He has loved us. WOW! I need to love people the same way Jesus loved people. And then Jesus explains that part of the reason we love like Jesus is so the world will see that love and recognize us as His followers. I wonder if people recognize Jesus in the way you love them and others. Do they see Jesus in the way you love or just the way you talk about loving?

I was reading a book recently titled Forgotten God where he says that he and his elders decided to go back to Acts to see what they were missing that the early church had. He said they also decided that they were not loving each other the way the early followers loved each other and so they made a commitment to love Acts 2:42-47 style. Why it is that we find Acts 2:42-47 so amazing and so desirable and yet we are so unwilling to live that way?

Love, Michael

John 12

2009-10-11T05:55:00.002-06:00

12:1-8 - Usefulness to God does not require that we understand the implications of what we are doing. It merely means we faithfully do what God puts on our hearts to do. Mary had no clue that what she was doing would signify Jesus upcoming death, burial and resurrection, but she felt moved to anoint Jesus and she did. We have to remember to do what we are called to do and not just what we understand.

12:10-11 - I am amazed that people would want to kill Lazarus because of Jesus had done in him. I wonder if Lazarus was living so gratefully that he wouldn't shut up so it would just be easier to kill him. If that was the case, are you living so gratefully that someone should want you dead?

12:12 - A historian I have been listening to says that the triumphant entry of Jesus took place on lamb selection Sunday as part of the Passover festival. Think about that. Jesus waits to make His final entry into Jerusalem on the same day that every good Jew would have been selecting a lamb to sacrifice for their sins so that God's judgment would passover them. Beautiful.

12:13 - Some people have looked at the events of the triumphant entry and seen the people reacting more out of political ambition than religious conviction. Since the palm branch was a sign of national pride and the term Hosanna means Save now! some believe that the people were recognizing Jesus as the Messiah and King, but as a military one and not the way He intended to come. This explanation has a lot more weight to it when you consider how quickly the people begin to shout Crucify him! just days later. If they wanted freedom from the Romans and thought Jesus could bring it, but wasn't, they would have been angry.

10:24 - I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels - a plentiful harvest of new lives. - This is a powerful teaching that every Christian needs to take some time to let soak in. We do not become fruitful by trying really hard, but by dying to our own lives and letting God create new life through our death. When we can die more and more to our daily desires and selfishness and ways of thinking and let God use that as fertile soil to show others His love and truth, we have become truly useful to God. I fear that so many of us are hanging on to this life to tightly.

10:25 - Those who love their lives in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. - I like how the NLT phrases that second sentence.

10:31 - The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. - I am interested by the timing here. Was Satan cast out in some way at the resurrection or is this still to come?

10:37 - But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him. - I typed this verse simply to remind myself that even when the Gospel is preached and we minister exceedingly well, most people will not believe. We are stubborn people.

10:43 - For they loved human praise more than the praise of God. - May this NEVER be true of us. May we never care more about what people think than what God has already said. To be honest, most christian leaders I have met, even the good ones, care way too much about what others things and it is one of the number one sources of ineffectiveness in their Christian walk. If we cared more about God's truth than we did what we looked like to others we would speak differently, act differently, dress differently, etc. for the glory of God. You cannot please God while trying to please people. If you find yourself trying to get people to like you, approve of you, respect you, etc. please talk to God and work it out. All the good learning will be wasted if you can't care more about His praise than theirs.

Love, Michael

John 11

2009-10-10T11:06:00.002-06:00

11:4 - ... it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this. - I think it is amazing to consider that God would allow bad to happen to us for His glory and to increase our faith. What I mean is, so many of us want an easy life, but God wants us and those watching us to have a tremendously faith filled life and He is willing to go to extremes to help that kind of faith grow. Jesus loves His purpose for mankind above His love of my understanding. I love it. that may be offensive to some, but I need to know that God's will is bigger than me and my desires. I think it proves the goodness of God that He would let Lazarus (a good friend of His) die so that others could eventually believe.

11:6 - Jesus stayed two more days before going to Lazarus.

11:15 - And for your sakes, I'm glad I wasn't there, for now you will really believe...

11:17 - Lazarus had been in the grave for four days.

11:21-22 - Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask." - I love the expression of faith on Martha's part. She truly believes that Jesus can ask and God will give her her brother back. Notice that Jesus lived in such a way that Martha believes that God will be the One to restore life.

11:25-26 - Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?" - That is the question for every single one of us.

11:32 - (Mary) Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. - I have always wondered if the way the story is told, if Mary wasn't upset with Jesus. She stayed when Martha went out to Jesus and when she comes to Jesus, even though she says the same thing her sister did, I always get the impression she is mad. Just my opinion.

11:33 - The NLT says a deep anger welled up within him. I did not find that in the NASB or the NIV. I am not sure of there is something in the original language that would indicate that and if so, I wonder what the anger was. The other translations all say that He was deeply troubled in His spirit.

11:40 - Jesus responded, "Didn't I tell you that you would see God's glory if you believe?"

11:48 - If we allow him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in him. Then the Roman army will come and destroy both our Temple and our nation. - The Pharisees had gone so far in loosing their purpose that they couldn't see that the Messiah was at hand. the were more worried about the things that led up to the Messiah instead of the fulfillment of those things. The Temple was always a predecessor of Jesus and Jesus fulfills all the things it pointed to (prayer, intercession, forgiveness, meeting with God). they forgot the main thing. And, they were more concerned with their nation than what that nation was created for in the first place.

11:50 - You don't realize that it is better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed. -I am amazed, that even though this man was standing against Jesus, God still chose to use him. God will use anyone and anything to fulfill His plan for salvation and redemption.

11:52 - And not only for that nation, but to bring together and untie all the children of God scattered around the world. - I love that we are included in this.

Love, Michael

John 10

2009-10-09T13:06:00.003-06:00

This whole chapter is great. It deals with the Good Shepherd (Jesus), the sheep (followers of Jesus) and the thief (Satan). I think what is really powerful is to go through the chapter and look at the characteristics of each, especially what the true characteristics of the sheep are. If we do not do what Jesus says sheep do than we are not truly sheep. In other words, if we do not listen and follow than we aren't really His sheep.

10:3 - ... the sheep recognize his voice and come to him.

10:4 - ... he walks AHEAD of them... - To be a true sheep you have to be okay with the Shepherd walking in front of you, not with you or behind you. If you aren't okay with Jesus being in front you aren't a sheep. ...they follow him...

10:7 - I am the gate for the sheep.

10:9 - Sheep get to be saved, come and go freely, find good pastures. Saved is obvious in meaning. Come and go freely I think mean live in peace and safety without concern. Find good pastures mean know they will always be lead and provided for.

10:10 - thief = steal, kill, destroy
shepherd = rich and satisfying life

10:11-13 - A good shepherd would sacrifice himself because it isn't about the money. This is true of Jesus and it should be true of those of us that pastor His Church.

10:16 - This verse says that Jesus has other sheep, but the part people forget is it says they are of the SAME shepherd. The reason other religions don't fit this verse is they do not follow the Good Shepherd, Jesus.

10:18 - No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded. - Love this verse.

10:27 - My sheep listen to my voice; - This is repeated several times. To be a sheep is to listen to Jesus.

10:28-29 - ... No one can snatch them away from me, ... he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father's hand. - I love this. It reminds me of a son letting other people know that no one is stronger than His Dad.

Love, Michael

John 9

2009-10-08T07:26:00.002-06:00

Pretty straightforward chapter.

9:2/3 - Why was this man born blind?...This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. - I think we wonder a lot about why certain things happen to people. In an effort to "protect" God we think it is always related to sin. Some things apparently occur so God can do a great work and show Himself through it. I'm not saying I get it, but Jesus said sometimes our weaknesses and afflictions are part of God's plan to reveal Himself to us and through us. We should be careful not to run from every thing we perceive as bad in life. It may be that God is preparing to do a great thing in our lives and we need to faithfully trust God.

9:14 - This Sabbath thing really messed the Jews up. The "nice" thing is we are so much better at it. Apparently, our approach has been to go to the other extreme and not honor the Sabbath concept from God at all. I wish we could figure out how to honor God with a Sabbath without obsessing about it.

9:20-22 - His parents sold him out because of fear of the Jews.

9:25 - ... But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see! - I love this. We all need a I was blind, but now I see! testimony ready when people ask. We all need a response about what we know God has already done in our lives through Christ. I would challenge you to take some time to consider what you know because of what He has already done and then be prepared to share that whenever you get the chance.

9:41 - "If you were blind, you wouldn't be guilty," Jesus replied. "But you remain guilty because you claim you can see." - We have to be careful how we see ourselves. If we are humble and admit we are still learning we can receive grace, but if we think we have it all figured out we will be judged accordingly.

Love, Michael

John 8

2009-10-07T07:10:00.003-06:00

8:3 - caught in the act of adultery - The text indicates that she was actually caught doing what makes one guilty of adultery. Some people have wondered if this was a setup, because the Pharisees knew right where to go and the guy is never mentioned.

8:6 - The Pharisees used an opportunity for grace to bait the trap they were setting with Jesus. What bait would they use to bait a trap against you? To be honest, for many of us, they could use money, sex, anger, etc. Jesus lived such a good and godly life that their best bait was godliness. May we live so that the enemies of God would believe the best bait against us would be our godly living.

8:11 - Go and sin no more. - In our modern culture all we hear is the statement about Jesus not condemning. Left off is this important call for the woman to go and stop sinning. Be careful not to think that grace is just about forgiveness. It is about renewal and doing things differently.

8:12 - I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life. - Jesus leads you to a life of light. I hate walking in darkness. It is scary at times and just plain frustrating at other times. Jesus says that if you will live by Jesus' teaching you will be able to walk according to His light and the light of His teaching.

8:19 - (NASB) You know neither Me, nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.

8:24 - That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I AM who I claim to be, you will die in your sins. - Without Jesus you will die in your sin.

8:31-32 - You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. - I have heard this verse taught many times and normally people focus so much on being set free that they forget that Jesus said part of your freedom is in you remaining faithful to Jesus' teaching. We need to teach faithful freedom and not just freedom.

8:34 - ... everyone who sins is a slave of sin.

8:36 - So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

8:44 - The devil = murderer, hates truth/no truth in him, liar

8:47 - Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God... - I meet many people who say they belong to God, but who have no real desire to be in the Word or to be around it. this might be a great indication for each of us about where we truly are.

8:51 - I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!

8:56 - Abraham saw the day of Christ. I find this fascinating. I wonder if this can teach us anything about life after death. Is Abraham's experience true just for him as a fathef of faith or do all people who die in Christ see all that is coming.

8:58 - Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I AM!"

Love, Michael

John 7

2009-10-06T06:43:00.002-06:00

7:4 - You can't become famous if you hide like this. - It is funny, because we have such a messed up perspective on things. We think that it is all about becoming famous, but Jesus couldn't care less about fame. He was interested in purpose. Purpose trumps fame. Are you trying to make a name for yourself or for God?

7:5 - For even his brothers didn't believe in him. - That had to be hard. My brothers and sister are very encouraging and supportive of me. I can't imagine how hard that was for Jesus.

7:6 - (NASB) My time is not yet at hand, but your time is always opportune. - I have seen a few translations that basically translate this as though any time were right in the world's eyes, but God has specific times in mind for us. I confess that I am not as wise as I should be about the timing of things. I need to talk to God and let Him set the calendar and agenda.

7:24 - Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.

7:38 - Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, "Rivers of living water will flow from his heart."

7:39 - (When he said "living water," he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.) - It blows me away to realize that we have the Holy Spirit from God inside of us when so many others never did. We say it would have been easier to be a Christian back then, but we are wrong. God has given us the holy Spirit and the revealed Word of god. We should be the most faithful people.

7:52 - ... no prophet ever comes from Galilee! - and yet Isaiah 9:1-2 indicates that the Messiah will.

Love, Michael

John 6

2009-10-05T08:59:00.002-06:00

6:1-13 - Feeding of the 5,000 Men
We often only see what we can see instead of simply asking God what He wants us to do and start doing it. I wonder how many miraculous workings of God He has to withhold, because we think we are under-resourced. We are children of the King. We have never been under-resourced, nor will we ever be. We need to remember that.

6:11 - Give thanks for what God HAS provided and it will be enough to satisfy and to have leftovers.

6:13 - 12 baskets would have been a powerful statement to the observant Jews that Jesus was the Bread of Life for the 12 tribes of Israel. This is great, because when Jesus goes into the Decapolis (10 cities) where the Jews said the 7 Gentile/Pagan Nations lived, Jesus fed 4,000 men and then they collected 7 baskets of leftovers, indicating that Jesus is the Bread of Life for the non-Jews as well.

6:20 - Don't be afraid. I am here! - In the Greek this can be translated, Don't be afraid. I AM is here.

6:27 - But don't be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval. - I like the way the NLT words this.

6:29 - (NASB) This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent. - So many people want to do so much for God, but the first and primary work He is looking for from us is for us to believe Him. Everything else gets in the way until we work that out on a daily basis.

6:35 - I am the bread of life.

6:40/47 - The word believing in this passage is a present participle. This indicates continuous, ongoing action. So, the verse is best understood to say when we believe and continue or persist in our belief.

6:63 - The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. - If we would learn that real effect and results come form the Spirit and not our effort we would be more effective, more satisfied and a whole lot more rested.

6:66 - (NASB) As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew, and were not walking with Him anymore. - What in the teachings of Jesus cause you to withdraw? Does it lead you to not walk with Him anymore? I see many people who once walked with Jesus who seem to have decided that something He taught didn't jive with how they thought or felt so they stopped walking with Him. God, grant us the wisdom to know that when we don't like what you have said it is our problem to work out, but we still need to walk with you and have Peter's heart.

6:68 - Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.

Michael

John 5

2009-10-04T07:01:00.002-06:00

5:6 - Would you like to get well? - It is a great question, because a lot of us complain about what ails us, but to be honest we are more comfortable with the pain we know than the process of healing we don't know. So many people today choose their sickness out of fear. I bet God asks us all the time if we truly want to be well. Some of you carry hurt and sin and fear inside of your hearts that cripple you just as much as this man's physical injury and yet when God asks you have no ready response. Trust the God of Heaven and answer yes when He asks if you want to be made well. He would never cause pain in your life that wasn't worth it.

5:9 - The man was healed INSTANTLY. INSTANTLY!!! Can you imagine seeing this?

5:12 - (NASB) Who is the man who said to you, "Take up your pallet, and walk?" - WOW! They didn't even ask about the healing. They were so focused on the Law that they totally missed what God was doing. I wonder when we focus on the mat instead of the healing.

5:14 - Now you are well; so stop sinning or something even worse may happen to you....5:15 - The man goes and tells on Jesus. Incredible.

5:18 - ... thereby making himself equal with God.

5:21 - For just as the Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants.

5:23 - ... Anyone who does not honor the Son is certainly not honoring the Father who sent him. - No matter how you look at it, it takes us following Jesus to honor the Father. In our pluralistic age many people want to make it about being good or reverent or holy, but it starts and ends with being Christ's.

5:24 - ... already passed from death to life. - I like the already part.

5:29 - Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment. - Those who have made it a habit of their life to live in evil will rise to judgment.

This was from the headings in the NASB

5:33-35 - Witness of John the Baptist

5:36 - Witness of Miracles and Works

5:37-38 - Witness of Father

5:39-47 - Witness of the Scriptures

5:39-40 - You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life. - Remember that it is not about religious knowledge, but about a relationship based on truth that sets you free. Study the Scriptures to know your God better, not just to have a bunch of answers. Be a practitioner of faith and not just a teacher of it.

5:44 - (NASB) How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another, and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God? - Convicting verse.

5:46 - If you really believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me.

Love, Michael

John 4

2009-10-03T10:40:00.003-06:00

4:2 - I wonder why Jesus didn't baptize anyone. I have always thought it was so no one would think more highly of themselves because Jesus was the one that baptized them.

4:4 - Why did Jesus HAVE to go through Samaria? He didn't physically have to go through Samaria. Was this a HAVE TO because of what Jesus needed to do in the life of the Samaritans?

4:6 - It is important to realize that even Jesus got tired and weary at times and yet He continued to minister.

4:10 - If you only know the gift God has for you... - Powerful statement. I bet Jesus would say the same thing to us too. If we only knew the gift God had for us we would be so much more trusting of Him.

4:14 - But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.

4:21 - ... the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. - This time came about in the time of Jesus and exists today. Where we worship is not the issue, but how we worship.

4:24 - For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.

4:26 - Jesus states that He is indeed the Messiah.

4:35 - ... But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. - !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4:39 - Many Samaritans form the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, "He told me everything I ever did!" - What do people believe about Jesus because of what you said this week?

4:50 - ... And the man believed what Jesus said and started home. - So often God is willing to do incredible things, but we have to act in faith upon what He is already said for it to take effect. The man believed and therefore he started for home. Is there somewhere in your life right now where God has spoken and now it is time for you to set out in total faith that what He said is true? I read a book this week that talked about how people say they believe Jesus brings freedom, they pray for freedom from things like lust and then they stay addicted to pornography. The author's position was if you believe the Holy Spirit frees you than you have to start for home by stopping your viewing of pornography. To say you can't is to say the Bible, God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are wrong. It is about His power and your choice, not just His power.

Love, Michael

John 3

2009-10-02T15:55:00.002-06:00

3:2 - God sent Jesus to teach us.

3:4 - Born again = Born from above

3:5 - ... born of water and the Spirit - This water is most likely not talking about baptism, but about the natural human birth (water) and the rebirth at conversion (Spirit).

3:6 - Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. - I loved the way the NLT put this. We can only produce what humans can produce. look at our churches. So many of them are only producing a human can produce (a good show, a good service, a good sermon, a good worship set), but God wants us to experience what only the Spirit can bring. We need to rely on the Spirit so we can have what the Spirit is capable of instead of just what we are capable of.

3:12 - (NASB) If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how shall you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

3:14 - Moses lifting the snake in the wilderness was a foreshadowing of Christ.

Numbers 21:8 - Then the Lord said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard (pole); and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he locks at it, shall live." - I love the imagery God uses of one who is bitten. If you have been bitten by sin than you need to look to the Savior. The promise for the Israelites is the same as the promise for us. If we have been bitten by the snake (the devil) then we must look to the One who was on the pole (the Cross) to be saved.

3:16 - one and only or only begotten is better translated one of a kind or especially unique.

3:19 - ... people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.

3:20 - All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.

3:30 - (NLT) He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. (NASB) He must increase, but I must decrease. - I hope we can learn to live this way. I think the Greek here indicates a cause and effect. For Jesus to become greater John HAS to become less. For Jesus to become greater in and through us we HAVE to become less. We cannot have more of Jesus without less of us. That really stops me in my tracks. I have prayed so often for more of Jesus, but I have never associated more of Him with less of me. If I truly want more of Him when I pray that prayer I need to go back with Him through my life with a chainsaw and begin cutting out me, so He has room. I have responsibility when I want more of Jesus.

3:34 - (NLT) He speaks God's words, for God give him the Spirit without limit. (NASB) For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure. - I think this verse is saying that Jesus was given the Spirit without limit. I tried to look in other commentaries to see if that was for Jesus or for us to. But, I wonder because of what Jesus said, if the Spirit is given to use without measure as well.

3:36 - Anyone who believes in God's Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn't obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God's angry judgment. - In this verse Jesus married the idea of belief and obedience together. You cannot say you believe and not obey.

Love, Michael

John 2

2009-10-01T08:28:00.002-06:00

This covers the miracle in Cana where Jesus turns the water into wine and the first time Jesus drove people out of the temple area.

I am really curious about the miracle at the wedding feast. Jesus tells His mom it isn't His business or time, but then He does it any way. I wonder if this was to show He respects His mom, to show He gets involved with stuff that is really not His thing to bless us or to somehow reinforce that everyone else gives their best up front, but with God things only get better and better. Not sure what to think.

I did think it was interesting that at this point Jesus' mother and brothers are with Him and later they think He is crazy and come to take Him home.

The first time Jesus goes and clears the temple He says that they have turned God's place into a market place. Have we done that with the church in modern day America? Not just on Sundays (although you do see that more and more), but have we turned the whole body of Christ into one big selling machine instead of a place of prayer and grace and celebration and sacrifice.

2:17 - Passion for God's house will consume me. - When John says God's house I think it would be wise to not think about it like a building, but God's people, His household. Does passion for God's people consume you? I mean, does it consume you to the point that you would get angry if people weren't having the opportunity to meet with God? Would it consume you enough to stand up and seem a bit wild about it? In the NLT translator notes it says this verse could also be translated Concern for God's house will be my undoing. - Can you imagine if those of us in leadership loved the church so much it was our undoing.

2:24 - Talks about the idea that Jesus did not entrust Himself to any man because He knew what was in a man. I know we think we do the same, but do you look for praise and affirmation from a boss, co-worker, spiritual leader, friend? If so, you are entrusting yourself to them even though you know enough to know what is in that person. Entrust yourself to God and then give yourself for the sake of people. We get that one backwards a lot.

Love, Michael

PS - Really stoked because at The Oasis we have our first Worship & Prayer Night tonight and I think God is going to do some really good stuff during that time. I am getting more excited about it by the minute.

John 1

2009-09-30T09:11:00.002-06:00

I decided to stop where I was in Judges and jump over to the book of John.

I am reading John in the New Living Translation (good translation for easy reading and getting the basic thought) and also in the New American Standard Bible (good word for word translation that is harder to read, but super for getting closer to the exact words used) with a word study commentary. There are some really neat ideas that shine through in each.

In verses 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 19, 15 the word used comes from the Greek word eimi which is the "to be" verb of the Greek language. In this case it is en which is the imperfect sense and means "had been before for an undetermined time". The idea being in John 1 that Jesus (the Word) had been from before the beginning. Jesus was pre-existent. Because of the way some of our translations translate this section of the Bible some people have come to think that Jesus was created by God. The better understanding of this passage and the whole Bible is that Jesus was the initiator of Creation, but that He has always been with God from before the beginning.

In verses 3, 6, 10, 14, 17 John uses the Greek work ginomai in the aorist (eginota) which means "to become something it wasn't before." What you get then is the idea that Jesus was from before the beginning, but that when He came to live on earth He became something He was not before and that would be human. This is a really important and powerful understanding because some people then were saying Jesus really was just a spirit and had no flesh, but this would disagree with that. And today there are people who say Jesus is just one of many created beings, but this would say that John under God's inspiration said Jesus was from before the beginning and therefore is indeed God. Just check out verse 1 where John says the Word (Jesus) was God.

1:5 - The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. (NLT) The NASB says the darkness did not comprehend it. I love the literal translation which says the darkness couldn't take hold of it. I am left with the idea that Jesus was and is so much beyond the control or comprehension of the darkness. It couldn't and can't manipulate Him and it can't figure Him out. Jesus is above the power and influence of anything dark. As my wife Nancy said last night at Bible study, Jesus is untamable and wild.

1:8 - John says that he was a witness that came to tell about the light. The Greek word there is where we get our word martyr from. John came to be a martyr. Did you?

1:12 - believed him and accepted him - It isn't enough to actually believe in Jesus. You actually have to accept His rule in your life or you r belief will mean nothing. Check out James 2:19. True belief causes a lifestyle change.

1:18 - There is an interesting comment in the translator's commentary here. It says that the article (the) is left off of the word for God (theon) and therefore John is expressing that no one has seen God in His complete, eternal and entirety except Jesus. This would be another great proof that Jesus was and is God because if no human or created thing has seen God completely and Jesus has than Jesus is beyond creation.

1:22 - How would you answer the question, What do you have to say about yourself? John had an answer ready that was 100% tied to God's purpose through Jesus. Does your answer have 100% Jesus or does it involve parts of the world?

1:29 - Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. - The word used here can also be used to mean to pick up a stone and move it from the earth. Jesus came to take the overwhelming weight of our sin off of us and He did it by being the sacrifice to God for us.

1:33 - who will baptize with (in - NASB) the Holy Spirit. - I have always understood this to be something God does with the indwelling of His Holy Spirit in the person's life at their water baptism. I am researching the Holy Spirit out more and more right now in my life to see if that is the right answer here or if there is something bigger we are missing in our understanding of the Holy Spirit.

1:39-46 - Come and see. - What a great approach. We try to get so clever with people to get them to meet Jesus, but if we had the confidence because of a changed life and the power of God on that life we could easily just say come and see for yourself. I think we get gimmicky because we haven't fully pursued God and therefore we can't honestly say come and see, because there isn't much to see.

1:51 - ... the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth. - The NASB says that the angels ascend and descend on Jesus. I have never seen this before. I love the idea that Jesus is the stairway between heaven and earth. If you are on Jesus than you are on the way to heaven. It really makes sense when Jesus says that He is the Way. You cannot get there any other way.

Love, Michael

Judges 17-18

2009-09-29T08:31:00.002-06:00

This section of Judges is not chronological with the first 16 chapters. Most scholars believe that this is simply events and information to prove how unholy and distracted the people of Israel had become.

I also found it interesting that Judges covers about 324 years from start to finish.

The key verse in these two chapters as far as I can tell is 17:6 where it says, In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit. The people apparently all went their own way after Joshua and the elders died. Even during the rescues from the Judges earlier in the book you get the sense that it is only parts of Israel that turn back to God.

This whole episode with the idol and the priest were another powerful example of how far the people had walked away from God's way of doing things. They substituted the idea of religion for obedience. They thought that if they worshipped at all God would be pleased with them. God is not pleased with religion for religion's sake. He is looking for true worship through obedience to Him. Sincerity in disobedience is not a higher goal than obedience out of love.

Love, Michael

Judges 13-16

2009-09-28T09:05:00.002-06:00

13:5 - I think it is interesting that the angel says that Samson will begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines. I think historically, it isn't long after this couple of hundred years or so that the Philistines are completely delivered from the Philistines through Saul and then David and Solomon. It is just that idea that you might be a part of God beginning something, so don't get to fired up or bummed out if you don't get to be the one that sees it come to fruition.

13:8 - Teach us how to bring up the boy - We should all pray this prayer, although I wonder if they listened well, because they sure seem to just give him whatever he wants.

13:12 - What is to be the rule that governs the boy's life and work? - Another great question we should be asking God about our children.

13:25 - and the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him... - Oh, Lord, would you please begin to stir not only in us again, but in our sons!!!!

14:4 - His parents did not know that this was from the Lord, who was seeking an occasion to confront the Philistines... - It is really hard for me to get this. Samson basically looses his temper and the Bible says in some way it was part of God's plan. I trust the character and nature of God, so I am comfortable with it, but I don't fully grasp it.

14:6, 14:19, 15:14 - All these verses say that the Spirit of the Lord cam eon him in power. Just love it!!!!!

14:9 - Samson broke his Nazarite vow by touching the carcass of the dead lion.

14:10 - Samson broke his Nazarite vow by being a part of a drinking party. In the Hebrew the word for feast here is drinking festival that lasted 7 days.

It seems like one of the lessons to learn from this is to know who you are supposed to be in Christ and don't negotiate that. Had Samson stayed true to his Nazarite calling and let God lead him how much better off would Israel have been? If you figured out your role and then stuck to it without compromise how much stronger would the church be???

15:11 - I merely did to them what they did to me.- Living like this will get your eyes gouged out and leave you under a pile of rubble.

16:20 - ONE OF THE SADDEST VERSES IN THE ENTIRE BIBLE. But he did not know that the Lord had left him. God, may we never live in such a way that we do not know whether you are with us or not. May we always live where you stay with us and in us and your power rests on us.

Love, Michael

Judges 8-12

2009-09-27T06:02:00.003-06:00

I read Judges 8-9 yesterday. It was good stuff. Pretty straight forward so not a lot of comments.

I read Judges 10-12 this morning.

10:6-7 - ... And because the Israelites forsook the Lord and no longer served him, he became angry with them.... - I seriously wonder many times if someone were writing the history of our lives and our church what would they write under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Would they have to write that we forsook God and no longer served Him? Would they have to right that we honored God with our lips, bu tour hearts were far from Him? Would they be able to write that we were devoted to Him in the right kind of way?

10:14 - Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble. - I am sure some people would be offended by this, but I have no issue with it. If they really believe that serving these false gods is right then why would it be wrong for God to remove Himself from the situation and let them have what they want? So often we want to live like hell and yet have God present us with heaven. We need to realize that we choose by our faith and the actions it causes whether we live with peace or in chaos. We have to learn to stop blaming God and start taking responsibility for our choices. God is willing to rescue and bless, but He won't force it.

11:29 - Then then Spirit of the Lord came on Jephthah. - Just love verses about the Spirit of God coming on people.

11:34-40 - I have never fully understood this section of Judges. I have heard people try to make sense of it by saying Jephthah would not let his daughter marry, but the text says a burnt offering. The best I have come up with is that God NEVER condones or accepts this anywhere in Scripture. It seems like maybe it is something from the pagan culture that Jephthah does that God would not have him do.

12:1 - What's up with the Ephraimites and always trying to start a fight after someone else goes off to war and has a victory? What is that all about?

Love, Michael

Judges 5-7

2009-09-25T10:08:00.002-06:00

Chapter 5 is a song about what had happened sung by Deborah and Barak.

6:7-11 - The verse says that God had rescued and delivered the people, but they refused to listen to Him. Where has God delivered you? Where has He rescued you? Where are you not listening to Him?

6:13 - Gideon trusted what he could see and had experienced over what god was telling him. We have to learn that our perception of reality is not reality. god's spoken word is reality in every circumstances.

6:14 - I wonder why God told Gideon to go in the strength he had. I bet it was so Gideon would realize he couldn't without God. It was to help him recognize his need and god's willingness to help.

6:16 - I will be with you, - some of the most powerful words you could hear if you were Gideon. And think about this, Jesus said these same words in the Great Commission to you. Where is YOUR strength, Gideon?

6:17 - This is the 1st sign Gideon asked for.

6:27 - Gideon did destroy the altars to the false God's but he did it at night. What would the outcome and response have been if Gideon had honored God by doing it in the day time? Can you imagine how much glory God would have received if Gideon had let God stand in front of his fear? We must learn to do everything in the daylight of no fear, because we trust the God who will one day reveal everything. Let people praise God by doing the difficult out in the open.

6:34 - The Spirit of the Lord came on Gideon, - And then look what Gideon did. We live with the indwelling of the Spirit of the Lord, so it is time we start doing even more than Gideon did.

6:36-38 - 2nd sign asked for

6:39-40 - 3rd sign asked for. Interesting, God never corrects Gideon for asking for confirmation.

7:2 - The Lord said to Gideon, "You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boats against me, 'My own strength has saved me.'" - WOW! They started out with 32,000, but that was too much. They worked it down to 10,000 (vs 4), but that was still too much. God wasn't satisfied until it was 300 (vs 7)!!!! We think resources make the difference, but God makes the difference. Sometimes too much of something removes God's willingness to move. We need to take joy when we are really weak because God loves to work through things where His glory shines through the brightest.

7:8 - Interesting. Gideon didn't send them home, but to their tents. Was this in accordance with god's will or was Gideon hedging his bet?

7:10 - God reassured Gideon in the midst of his concern.

7:17 - Watch me. Follow my lead....Do exactly as I do. - This is something only a leader can say. why are we so afraid of saying this to people? Maybe because we want on out so we can sin or stumble or stop for a while without feeling responsible to others. Godly leaders have no problem telling people to follow and watch and do.

7:22 - The Lord did the fighting for them. He is always the ultimate fighter in these situations.

Love, Michael

Judges 3-4

2009-09-24T06:48:00.002-06:00

3:2 - God's plan was for the Israelites to totally destroy the inhabitants so that the Israelites would have peace and not have need of war, but because they disobeyed God adjusted that and left the inhabitants there to test and train the Israelites. We need to remember that if we do things God's way, without wavering, it makes life so much easier. It is when we disobey that we end up living with snares that god never intended for us.

3:6 - They took their daughters in marriage and gave their own daughters in marriage to their sons, and served theirs gods. - No matter how much our society wants to make it okay, we should do everything we can to make sure that Christians marry Christians. Who you marry will normally deeply affect your faith. Some marry thinking they can bring someone to Christ through marriage, but Paul says just the opposite is going to happen when he writes in 1 Corinthians 7:16.

3:7 - The result of the previous verse is seen immediately in this verse.

3:10 - The Spirit of the Lord came on him... - The Spirit of the Lord came on him and empowered him, but we live with the Spirit of the Lord inside of us. How much more should we be out courageously rescuing God's children?

There is a pattern throughout Judges. Sin --- Suffer --- Cry out --- Get rescued --- Sin

4:6-9 -God commanded Barak to go, but Barak had conditions on it and so God took away from him what could have been his. (9) "Certainly I will go with you," said Deborah. "But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman." - I love her confidence and clarity. Do you see that the problem with Barak was the course he was taking? The course we take in obedience to God does matter incredibly.

4:14 - Go! This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands. Ha snot the Lord gone ahead of you? - Who is your Sisera? Who is it that has you worried enough that you hesitate to fully obey God? We have to remember that today is the day that Lord has delivered us from everything in life and so there is nothing to fear. GO! Go and obey God as He has called you to without fear.

4:15 - At Barak's advance, the Lord routed Sisera and ... - We have to move before God will rout our enemies. Barak had to take the first step, but then God did all of the routing. Never think God will just go ahead without your obedience and never think that your obedience means you go it alone. God goes before us and He does the work and secured the victory for us.

Love, Michael

Judges 1-2

2009-09-23T07:22:00.002-06:00

1:3 - It is good to ask your brothers for help and to help them in return.

1:6 - When the Bible records that they cut off the thumbs and big toes it meant that the person would then have trouble picking up stuff and walking. It relegated people to being beggars who crawled around. It was a total act of humiliation.

1:19 - The enemies of Israel had superior technology (iron) and yet with God with them they had no trouble overtaking them. Technology and resources do not determine the outcome when God is with you.

There were a few times I picked up on the phrase the Lord was with them. This is highly significant. God didn't tell them what to do and then stand back. He was actively engaged with them while they carried out His commands. God is no less with us when we do what He calls us to. We need to remember that.

1:35 - I wonder what would have happened had the Israelites been more determined than the people in the land. I heard one man say that if the Israelites had been willing to come out of the foothills and take the good land that god offered them they would have had an even greater influence over the world at that time. Fear kept them in the foothills and it kept them from making the impact they could have made. What does fear keep us from influencing?

2:2 - Had the people disobeyed by making a covenant with another nation (yes the Gibeonites) and had they worship other gods and bowed down at their altars (yes). We can not follow God AND....and anything.

2:3 - God left some people in the land because of the Israelites disobedience. He didn't want it that way, but that is what their disobedience led to. What is in your life because you have not fully obeyed God that causes you grief?

2:7 - The people served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders... - We need to do all that we can to make sure that our ministry outlives our lives.

2:10-11 - After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals. - I want you to see a pattern here. The people didn't properly pass on their faith. They didn't teach and tell the stories of God's faithfulness. and since they didn't teach the younger generation what God had done and how He had been faithful those people walked away. Are you doing all that you should be doing right now to make sure to take about God and His faithfulness to your kids and to other kids? Will they know enough about how He has been faithful to trust Him themselves or will your lack of talking lead them to go find something else to worship? We are the bridge between our faith and whether faith will exist in the lives of those closest to us in the future. We have to talk about God's faithfulness or they will go looking somewhere else.

2:14 - Obedience grants god's favor which allows you to resist evil and overcome in life.

2:19 - more corrupt...They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways. = the Lord was very angry with them. What are you hanging onto that you refuse to give up? Do you know that it causes God to be angry with you? I think we think that because of Jesus God never gets upset with us. Our evil practices and our stubborn ways still anger God.

2:22 - Their punishment was that God would now leave the snares in the land that He initially had intended to remove. God had a great plan for their life, but their refusal to follow Him completely even when things got tough meant they would never experience it fully. They would get some of it, but not all. We need to decide if we are okay with some of it or if we want God's very best for our lives, family and community. If we want God's best for PW than we need to fully obey our God.

Love, Michael

Mark 15-16

2009-09-22T07:09:00.002-06:00

15:5 - Sometimes silence is the best defense. So many of us argue our case, but Jesus left Himself in the hands of the Father. (1 Peter 2:23)

15:12 - What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews? - that is the question every one of us is asked.

15:14 - If you find yourself repeating the same thing only louder and louder there is a great chance that your heart isn't right. Yelling, even about good things, most likely means our hearts have taken a detour.

15:16-20 - Love = allowing those you are saving to mock and beat you while you are saving them.

15:32 - ...that we may see and believe. - The problem for the chief priests and teachers of the law was their lack of faith as much as it was their thirst for power. They didn't want to have to believe what they couldn't see and therefore control. we need to be careful not to make Christianity only about what we as leaders can see, understand and control. There should be things we are just as amazed by. Too many answers means too little of a God.

15:33-37 - Jesus gave His life up at 3 PM. 3 PM was the time during every day when the priests sacrificed the lamb for the sins of the people. God is perfect in His timing. What an incredible way to teach us who and what Jesus was and is.

When Jesus calls out and the people say He is calling Elijah it is because the name Elijah means God is God.

15:38 - The curtain being torn from top to bottom was huge, because it meant that God was tearing away that which separated Him from His people.

15:43 - We focus so much on the disciples running away that we forget some people acted boldly. Joseph of Arimathea went boldly to Pilate.

16:6 - ... who WAS crucified. He IS risen! He is not here. - I love this. He was crucified, but He isn't any more. He IS now risen from the dead and can no longer die. And, oh yeah, He ain't in this tomb anymore. Your Savior is RISEN!!!! That should change something for you today.

16:7 - I think it is interesting that the angel sends them to the disciples and Peter. Jesus has such a desire to redeem and reconnect with us even after we have betrayed Him that He calls us by name. Jesus dealt with this head on for Peter's sake.

The last half of Mark 16 is not in the best and earliest manuscripts. This probably means Mark didn't write it there, but others did as other people wrote about Jesus and recalled what happened. It is worth listening to, but be careful about putting too much weight behind it as it is a 50/50 proposition and not as solid as other writings in the Scripture.

16:14 - ... he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. - You know this part is true because you can check out the other Gospels (Matthew, Luke, John) and find this in their record. I wonder if Jesus would have to rebuke those of us in leadership at The Oasis for our lack of faith and stubborn refusal to believe sometimes. Right now, to be honest, I think He would praise us for our faith and belief, but let's keep it that way.

16:16 - Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. - I am a baptism guy, but I would use this verse lightly. Since it is in a section that is 50/50 I would be careful not to build a whole theology off of it. It is funny because the baptism people point to this to prove the significance of baptism with salvation and the faith only people point to it to prove that baptism is not necessary. Same verse, but different biases cause different understandings. Work hard to make sure to admit your biases up front so you can honestly examine the Scriptures as a whole.

16:17 - This verse is interesting to me.

Love, Michael

Mark 14

2009-09-21T06:29:00.002-06:00

One of the overwhelming thoughts that I got while reading chapter 14 of Mark was that the first time the disciples lives were at stake they ran away and hid, but the next time they gladly stood their ground. It is an amazing change that is a tremendous proof of the resurrection of Jesus. If it was a hoax and they knew it they would have ran even faster, they proved that the first time. By standing their ground, even to the point of death for all but John, they prove the resurrection deeply changed their lives. Lies don't do that. At a minimum they believed in the resurrection.

14:1 - When you have to get sly or crafty you are headed to, if not already in, sin. God calls us to be wise, not to be sly. The next time you have to get overly creative at work or with your spouse or with a neighbor, you need to check if sin is present.

14:5 - I believe that Judas was the one who was so indignant because he used to help himself to the community's money bag. I am not sureif that is recorded in one of the Gospel about this time Jesus was anointed or the first time, but it does say Judas like to steal money from the bag and that is why he was bent out of shape.

14:8 - She did what she could. - I love this verse. It is not about what you would did if you had or what someone else did, it is really about doing what you can. Jesus will judge us based on what we did with what we had. That should be a huge relief for many of us. It isn't about giving millions of dollars, it is about giving what you have faithfully. It isn't about preaching to millions, but to each person God entrusts to you. It isn't about sharing Jesus with a movie star, but with the neighbor God has put in your life. It isn't even about loving the whole world, but loving those God has placed in your world. Do what you can.

14:34 - Prayer is keeping watch.

14:38 - Watch and pray SO THAT you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. - True. We need to pray for strength because we are weak in ourselves. We need to ask God to protect us and strengthen us, because we are not strong enough on our own.

14:47 - Peter cut off Malchus' ear (John 18:10) and Jesus reconnects it just by touching him. You would think that the whole "Let's arrest Jesus" thing would have ended in that moment, but it just goes to show you how hate can blind you.

14:54 - Following Jesus at a safe distance leads to betrayal. - 14:71 - I don't know this man you're talking about.

Love, Michael

Mark 13

2009-09-20T06:39:00.003-06:00

The theme of chapter 13 is definitely to be on guard and to be ready. Apparently, Jesus knew we would get distracted.

It is hard to tell which prophecies are about the fall of Jerusalem that happened in 70 AD and what is dealing specifically with the end of time. I guess, to tell you the truth, I don't get real fired up about whether Christians will be raptured or if the world will end all at once or if it is tomorrow or 1,000 years from now. I really sense that God is more concerned with my obedience right now than me figuring out things He said I wouldn't figure out. I think we should have a good sense of what we believe about the end of the world, but if we aren't being faithful to the degree we should be does it really matter what our end times view is?

13:9 - ... On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. - I thought this was such a cool verse that I have missed in the past. The persecution and suffering that Christians will undergo towards the end of time will be their ticket to witness to those in positions of authority. It isn't suffering for no reason, but the doorway to sharing Christ with those who would seem otherwise beyond reach. Maybe the suffering in your life right now is God enabling you to share Christ with someone else - a doctor, judge, teacher, boss, etc.

13:13 - Everyone will hate you because of me, but those who stand firm to the end will be saved. - Faithfulness is required for salvation. We must endure in our faith. It isn't enough to have believed once. We must be in belief now and each day.

13:36 - If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. - Being real honest, are you ready for Christ's return right now or would you get a sinking feeling in your gut if you knew He was at the door?

Love, Michael

Mark 12

2009-09-19T12:12:00.002-06:00

12:14 - Man of integrity = not swayed by others
pay no attention to others positions
teach the way of God in accordance with the truth
So, are you a man of integrity?

12:17 - Then Jesus said to them, "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." - I love this verse. Jesus just hits at the root of everything. what in your life belongs to God? EVERYTHING!

12:24 - Are you not in error because you don't know the Scriptures or the power of God?

12:26 - Jesus attributes Exodus to Moses.

12:27 - God is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living.

12:28-31 - The greatest commandments are the heart of all the commandments - relationship with God and others.

12:41 - Jesus watched people give.

12:44 - They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to love on.

Love, Michael

Mark 11

2009-09-18T10:38:00.003-06:00

11:9-10 - I have always believed these to be the same people that days later are screaming CRUCIFY!. I wonder if they were or if a small number of others were. Maybe, the larger number of people failed to stand up. I guess that would be just as bad as being in the crowd. Do you ever not join in the sin and yet sin by not standing up against it?

11:13-14 - It wasn't the season for figs so what is Jesus teaching here? Be fruitful always???

11:16 - There is a time to stand up and stop being passive.

11:17 - house of prayer - What should we be doing to make The Oasis a house of prayer?

11:23 - Doubt destroys the effectiveness of prayer.

11:25 - And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, SO THAT your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. - You forgiving others is a CONDITION of you being forgiven. We use the word UNCONDITIONAL so much with regard to the Bible, but it is a man made idea. It is not that God is finicky, but God also does not write a blank check. God has expectations for us when it comes to all things and we need to search those out instead of accepting a nice, but incomplete truth.

Love, Michael

Mark 10

2009-09-17T09:29:00.002-06:00

10:1-12 - Jesus starts by asking what they currently believe/know and then teaches from there. This is a great technique when people have questions and especially when you sense they want a fight and not an answer. You begin by asking them to reveal what they know/believe and then you walk through Scripture (not opinion or experience) to see if that stands up. If it doesn't it is Scripture and not you refuting them.

10:5 - It is because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote this law. - I just found this verse really interesting. Moses had permitted divorce because the people's hearts were hard. Divorce is a matter of a hard heart. If we would see it that way we could push past all the reasons and excuses and emotion and realize if we soften our heart towards God He will enable us to soften our heart towards the other person and we will be reconciled.

10:9 - Marriage is God joining a man and a woman together and no one (not even those in the marriage) have the right to undo that.

10:11-12 - Divorce and remarriage leads to adultery. Adultery is forgivable, but tread lightly. I would encourage anyone who is not yet divorced to fight for the faith to believe God and not to give in or give up or figure God will forgive you. We should not think we can sin knowingly and expect forgiveness and then get it. If you are already divorced and remarried I think Scripture would teach for you to confess your sin to God and the person you were married to and the one you are married to now and then stay with the one you are now married to. I see nowhere where the Bible says another divorce would somehow honor God.

10:14-15 - ... for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.- WOW!

10:21 - The rich young man lacked treasure in heaven even though he had obeyed all of the law. Can you do everything you are supposed to do and still not have done enough? I think it is more about your heart. If we only do what we are supposed to do we have failed to have the kind of change in our hearts that leads us to Jesus.

10:24 - But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God." - It is ironic that the leader of Christianity has said it is hard to enter heaven and yet we try to sell people on how easy it is. No wonder so many are disenchanted. They signed up for something easy and they got something tough. I wonder how many would have still followed Jesus had we been more honest with them on the front end and how many would still be walking with Him today.

10:26 - Who then can be saved?

10:27 - With human beings this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.- NOTHING is impossible for God. NOTHING! Think about that for a minute. Where in your life have you decided something is beyond reach, beyond repair, beyond change? Where in your life have you let something become "just the way it is" when the God of the impossible has said He could and would change it? Never give up on God's ability no matter how convinced you are.

10:29-31 - We will receive a reward for what we give up in our pursuit of God. What will your reward look like based on what you are currently giving up?

10:38 - I wonder how many times we don't know what we are asking for.

10:43-45 - Greatness comes in serving.

10:48 - Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more. - Don't let the crowd determine if you get to Jesus or not. If it is hard yell louder. Don't let them determine your future. God listens for the yells of the blind. Confess you blindness and then yell out for God over the crowd and over the noise of life.

10:51 - What do you want me to do for you?- Would you have an answer for Jesus if He asked you today? What do you want Jesus to do for you? Maybe nothing happens because Jesus is waiting for us to make our minds up.

Love, Michael

Mark 9

2009-09-16T07:12:00.003-06:00

9:1-10 - What is the reason for the transfiguration? It seems to have a lot to do with preparation for the crucifixion.

9:5 - How did the three disciples know it was Moses and Elijah?

9:19 - The disciples ability or inability to cast out the demon hinged on the issue of their faith.

9:22 - Satan wants death and pain for people.

9:23 - If you can? Everything is possible for one who believes.

9:29 - This kind can come out only by prayer. - When Jesus says this He seems to be talking about prayer prior to this moment since He doesn't pray here. I wonder if there isn't something here about preparing in prayer so that we have the ability at times when we are away from prayer. Can you imagine praying this morning in a way that made things possible tomorrow or next week?

9:35 - Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and servant of all.

9:43-48 - It is better to dramatically lose a part of your body than to forfeit heaven.

Love, Michael

Mark 8

2009-09-15T09:11:00.002-06:00

8:4 - Even the concrete realities of life don't hinder or restrain God's ability and willingness to move. It didn't matter that they were in a remote place and there was no food to buy. When God wants to do something He is not limited by our resources, politics, land, etc. God's will is accomplished wherever He wants it to be. We need to remember that so we leave lots of room for God to do the miraculous instead of having such little faith that God chooses not to move miraculously among us.

The disciples also ask if anyone can get food in a place like this. Well, Jesus isn't just anyone. AND NEITHER ARE YOU!!! When you accepted Jesus Christ and began your walk with Him you were changed. You are no longer just anyone and you need to remember that.

8:17-18 - ... Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? ... And don't you remember? - How would you honestly answer these questions if Jesus posed them to you?

8:29 - But what about you? Who do you say I am?

8:33 - Get behind me, Satan! You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns. - I look at this verse and it causes me to believe that when all I can think about are the human concerns I am thinking like Satan would have me think. When there is no room for God in my thinking Satan is winning. To be a follower of Christ is to consider the human, but focus on the godly.

8:34 - To be a disciple of Jesus you MUST: 1) deny yourself
2) take up your cross
3) follow Jesus
I think we are so familiar with this verse that it has lost meaning to us. To be a disciple you don;t pick one out of three. You MUST do all three. You must say no to yourself everyday (how good are you at that?), you must take up your cross, pay the price for your faith (do you carry a cross each day or just drag it around behind you?) and you have to follow Jesus. The last one seems pretty obvious, but what did you do today to actively follow Jesus instead of just checking in with Him and then doing what you had planned anyway?

8:36 - What good is it for you to gain the whole world, yet forfeit your soul? - Another way of asking this might be, what good is it to have the biggest church in town and yet lose your soul? Or, what good is it to become fire chief and yet lose your soul? What good is it to become debt-free and yet lose your soul? What good is it to become highly educated and yet lose your soul? What good is it to do ANYTHING and yet lose your soul? The question Jesus is asking is a question of focus and priority. Why do we keep putting other things in front of Christ? We know it won't be worth it in the long run and yet we keep doing it. We keep thinking other things will satisfy more. We know better. It is time we start reminding ourselves with how we make every decision that our souls are more important than whatever we are being offered or whatever we are chasing.

Love, Michael

Mark 7

2009-09-14T07:01:00.003-06:00

7:6-7 - He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written;
These people honor me with their lips, but theirs hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain;their teachings are merely human rules."

7:8 - You have left go of the commands of God and are holding to human traditions.

7:13 - Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that. - I wonder where we do this today???

7:20 - What comes out of you is what defiles you. - I have done a lot of searching my own life in this area. It isn't so much what I do, but why I do what I do that is the issue. For instance, it isn't just the lusting, because you could try to stop, but it will be a constant battle. The real question is what belief is broken inside of you that causes you to want to want that way in the first place. There is something in your heart and faith that is broken. When you can dig all the way down to your heart you can figure out why and then you can begin to change that through Christ. Our hearts is the source of sin and when we can focus on that Jesus is glorified.

7:21 - For from within, out of your hearts, come... - This is what God would have you see. It is what is in you that causes sin not just what you experience on the outside. People who are unfaithful, abusive, greedy, angry, apathetic, etc. have a problem inside.

7:24 - ... he could not keep his presence secret. - I love this. Just Him being there caught people's attention. What can we do to help people see Him?

7:24-30 - Healing the Greek woman's daughter. This had always confused me, because it didn't line up with the personality of Jesus to say something like this. I did research on it in college and the general consensus is that Jesus is testing her reaction. He is saying what she would expect to see how she responds and when she responds well He gladly heals her daughter. This isn't Jesus being mean or calloused it is Him testing the quality of this woman's faith and heart.

Love, Michael

Mark 6

2009-09-13T06:05:00.002-06:00

6:3 - Jesus had at least 4 brothers and 2 sisters.

6:5-6 - Their lack of faith limited Jesus' ability to do miracles. It is somewhat amazing to think that Jesus would be limited by anything, even while on earth, but the people's lack of faith made it so He could not do many miracles. What is our lack of faith doing to limit the moving of God?

6:12 - They went out and preached that people should repent. - It just blows me away how we have changed the teaching of Scripture over time. So many people now act and teach as though repentance is not necessary but saying a prayer or getting baptized is. One of the major components of salvation is repentance; it is turning away from sin and turning back towards God. There is no salvation without repentance.

6:31 - It is okay for leaders to take time for their team to go to a quiet place and rest.

6:34 - When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.... - When people do not have someone to walk with them, provide for them, protect them and teach them they just go in every direction. Jesus was a good shepherd, because He was willing to take care of the people's needs. We are good leaders when we do the same.

6:41 - When you give thanks for what you do have instead of focusing on what you don't have God makes what you do have enough. If God is in it, God will provide for it, so we need to focus on the task at hand and not the resources we are aware of. Can you imagine how many things don't get done because we focus so much on the material provision?

6:46 - There are times for you as a leader to get away by yourself to pray.

6:56 - ... and all who touched him were healed. - If we can get people near Jesus He will heal them.

Love, Michael

Mark 5

2009-09-12T08:22:00.002-06:00

It is interesting to note that the demons drove the man out among the tombs. Satan will do whatever he can to separate you from places of life. He does not want you near other people and definitely not near those who want to bless you.

5:7 - Regardless of what people want to think, those in the spiritual realm recognize who Jesus is.

5:12 - The demons begged Jesus... - This shows that the real authority rests with Jesus. You have nothing to fear, because Jesus has the power and authority to protect you.

5:17 - The people were afraid. It doesn't say why they were afraid. It could have been that they lost money. It could have been that they thought the demons would come back for them. There is no need to be afraid when Jesus does something good. The blessing of God never comes with anything bad.

5:19 - Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how much he has had mercy on you. - This is the call of Jesus to every one of us. have you shown your appreciation to Jesus by doing it or have you decided to go off and do your own thing? Gratitude is shown by obedience.

5:24 - Jesus still goes with us if we will only ask.

5:28 - Does your thinking make room for God to do the impossible? So many of us will not make the mental room for Jesus to do the miraculous. Is it any wonder that it isn't occurring among us? We need to begin to think the very best about Jesus.

5:34 - Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering. - God longs to say this to His daughters and His sons.

5:36 - ... Don't be afraid; just believe. - I am certain that Jesus would say this to most of us today. Quit believing what you can see and what you experience and what you know and just believe. Believe that Jesus is capable of far beyond anything you know. Just believe.

Love, Michael

Mark 4

2009-09-11T09:40:00.002-06:00

Mark 4:1-20 - Parable of the Sower
1 - Satan steals the word of God from people's hearts so he can keep them away from fruitfulness. I think many of us get caught up in the idea that Satan is some mischievous little red guy on our shoulder or some gremlin just trying to mess things up. He is not. He is the worst kind of enemy there is. His heart is set not just on your destruction, but on as much pain as he can inflict along the way. His primary way of ruining a life is to separate someone from the word of God, so that they have no hope. We need to fight for the word of God in our own life and in the lives of others. The word of God will bring the truth of God which will set people free. We have to quit trying fancy techniques to save people and just get back to the one thing we know works - give people God's word and do everything we can to protect it in their lives.

2 - No roots means you are not going to make it in faith when troubles and persecutions come, and they will come. You cannot accept Jesus and be inactive about it. It takes an effort to grow and develop deep roots, because trouble will come. I have a friend who no sooner than he accepted Christ he was given an "opportunity" which has come with so much pressure it is killing his faith. We have to help people do the hard work from the moment they accept Christ instead of acting like they have time. Every person that says yes to Jesus should be protected with prayer and taught how to put together a deep life in Christ at the outset and not years later. By the time years later comes around their faith is dead inside of them.

3 - Unfruitful because of worry, deceitfulness of wealth and desire for other things will kill/choke out your faith. You have to keep a tight rein on your desires, your dreams, your wishes and you wants. A person can see a good faith choked out in minutes if they don't give Christ control of their hearts. You can faithfully follow for years and then let greed or materialism or worry or something else creep in and then your faith is choked out and you are left with nothing. Zealously fight for a pure heart and put up precautions all over your life so you don't fall here.

4 - Good soil = fruitfulness. If you are producing fruit you have good soil and if you are not there is a problem with the soil. (Soil = your heart and mind.) Weed your life. Fertilize it to make it healthy. Till it up from time to time to make sure it isn't getting hard. Water it with grace and worship and service. Pay attention and work hard. No successful farmer sits back and waits for the plants to plant and grow themselves. He does everything in his power while relying on God. Become active in weeding and preparing your life for God to move.

4:21 - Light is mean for a stand. The modern idea is to hide your light because it is somehow offensive to others, that is offensive to God. We need to choose who we would rather offend.

4:22 - ... With the measure you use, it will be measured to you - and even more. - Scary and awesome. I need to use a greater measure of grace and love and a lesser measure of criticism and selfishness. What about you?

4:26-29 - We scatter the seed --- God grows the seed --- We harvest the crop. I find myself obsessing about the growing part and yet the most faithful part of the formula is God. I need to focus on planting and harvesting what god grows.

4:38 - ... don't you care? ... (4:40) no faith - I am always amazed at this event. The disciples did what we do when we are in trouble - they believed their circumstances more than they believed their Lord and God. Faith is believing more in the character of God than in the circumstances around you. Faith is trusting Jesus when death is certain because you believe He is truer than what you fear. I wish we could see how different life would be if we trusted the character and nature of Jesus even when He seems to be sleeping more than we trust the things we see and feel.

Love, Michael

Mark 2-3

2009-09-10T08:56:00.002-06:00

2:4 - they made an opening - I love this story. You have a guy who has a major need to get near Jesus but he can't. He is paralyzed and their is a crowd. And, the text doesn't tell us, but it isn't even clear whether he wants to get near Jesus. But his friends want him to be healed. His friends love him so much that they want to make sure if healing is even possible that their friend gets his shot at it. When they encounter the crowd they don't walk away and they don't wait. The Bible says they made an opening. They climbed up on the roof and DUG A HOLE IN IT. YES! They were so set on getting their friend near Jesus that they didn't let anything stand in the way. And when the man is lowered in front of Jesus ( a scene I would LOVED to have seen) Jesus tells the man and the crowd that because of THEIR faith the young man is forgiven and then He heals them. THEIR faith. Your faith and the action it creates can help others get forgiven AND healed.
What are you like with your friends? Do you let the crowd or the problems stop you from getting your friends near Jesus? Do you stand around waiting for things to clear out when you know Jesus is close? We have got to become the kinds of friends that dig a hole in a roof so our friends can meet Jesus. We need to start making an opening instead of waiting for one to magically appear.

2:8 - Do you believe God still allows us to know things in our spirit about people and circumstances or was this just for Jesus or just for then? I firmly believe that as we walk with Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit that God continues to allow this to happen. He speaks something clearly in our souls that we would otherwise have no way of knowing. The caution is, we need to be careful that we do not mistake hunches for the Holy Spirit.

2:14 - Do you reason with God when He calls or do you get up and follow?

2:17 - It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.

2:21-22 - This passage confuses some people. Jesus is simply teaching that His way of doing life and faith are not an add-on or a patch, but a whole new way of doing life. The change Jesus calls for is a total remaking of your heart, mind and daily living. Anything short of that will only end up tearing you apart.

2:27 - The Sabbath was made for people... - We totally don't get this. God has called us to a day of rest as a gift to us and not as some rule or regulation. It is His gift.

3:2 - Do people watch you closely because they KNOW you will do something righteous or does it surprise them when you do?

3:5 - This passage tells us one of the things that ANGERS Jesus - stubborn hearts. You may think your stubborn heart is no big deal, because of god's grace, but you would be wrong. God is gracious, but you and I need to understand He has little patience for those who know better and yet choose to live like they didn't.

3:29 - The only unforgivable sin I have ever found in the Bible is in this passage. It is not suicide or adultery or drug use or prison or any of that. The unforgivable sin is intentionally attributing what God is doing to Satan for the point of leading others away. I believe it is an intentional sin and not something you accidentally do.

3:35 - Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother.

Love, Michael

Mark 1

2009-09-09T06:57:00.002-06:00

1:1 - The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, - It was just the beginning and we are a part of its continuation!!! What have you done today to further the good news about Jesus the Messiah?

1:4 - preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. - The baptism of John was tied to forgiveness.

1:5 - Confessing their sins they were baptized. - I wonder what this looked like. Did they confess all of their sins or was this about them confessing specific sins and characteristics? Would John baptize them if they didn't confess? I just have this picture of confession being very much a part of baptism and wonder if that is something missing from the church today. What if people confessed at their baptism. How much more powerful would that be and what would it do in the person? I would think we would have less people getting wet and more getting baptized.

1:8 - I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. - The difference between Jesus' and John's baptism was that while they both dealt with the forgiveness of sins, Jesus came with the Holy Spirit. Interestingly enough, every person in the New Testament that is called a Christian had the Holy Spirit. The apostles receive it by Jesus blowing on them after His resurrection, others receive it at baptism and when Paul runs into some people who were baptized by john for forgiveness, but who had not been baptized into Christ, Paul says they need the Holy Spirit and he baptizes them. Baptism is tied to the Holy Spirit.

1:11 - It was at His baptism and later at His transfiguration that God spoke from heaven and said He was pleased with Jesus. Those two events then are highly significant.

1:15 - Repent and believe the good news. - It is ironic that we have dropped repent and and completely from our theology. you had to repent AND believe the good news. It was not following Jesus to one or the other. You are called to both.

1:18 - At once they left their nets and followed him. - Have you left your nets (work) behind to follow Jesus or have you told Him you will serve Him from the boat? many good Christian men and women tell Jesus yes and then stay right where they were before He called. To follow Jesus is to leave the boat behind. It doesn't mean you quit your job, because they still fished. It means that Jesus becomes more important than what you were doing and you now do it to support His work and not to support yourself.

1:22 - The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. - Love this verse.

1:31 - Peter's mother-in-law responds to being touched/healed by Jesus by getting up and serving.

1:35 - Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. - We make a million excuses for why we don;t have time to seek God, but Jesus got up before alarm clocks and went out to meet with God while it was still very early and dark. We will find God when we quit making excuses and start working hard to find God.

1:40-41 - If you are willing...I am willing. - Jesus is still willing to cleanse, heal and change your life. Nothing you have done has made Him unwilling. Nothing!

1:43-45 - This is one of the reasons Jesus didn't want people talking about Him healing them.

Love, Michael

1 Corinthians 16

2009-09-09T06:48:00.005-06:00

16:2 - On the 1st day of the week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up so that when I come no collections will have to be made. - The things we can draw from this verse is that they met on the 1st day of the week as opposed to the seventh. This was to celebrate the day of the week when Jesus was resurrected. Each person is expected to set aside money from their income as a gift. God calls us to percentage giving and not just a certain amount ($500, $100, etc.). This lines up with the Bible's teaching on giving a tithe (10%). The people here were saving for a gift to the church in Jerusalem that was struggling.

16:9 - because a great door for effective work has been opened to me and there are many here who OPPOSE me. - I love this. I have to stay because I have good work to do and people are after me. HA! Most of us would think pressure and attacks were a reason to leave, but they convince Paul to stay longer.

16:13-14 - Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.

16:15-16 - Submit to those who devote themselves to the Lord's work and who join the work and labor associated with it.

Love, Michael

1 Corinthians 15

2009-09-08T07:10:00.002-06:00

15:2 - By this grace you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. - No matter what anyone wants to tell you, you need to walk in obedience to God to remain in the grace that will save you. You cannot accept Jesus and then go back to your old life and remain with Jesus. The whole bible teaches that staying in Christ is what counts and not just a moment in time decision that wasn't followed up.

15:3-4 - This is a good synopsis of the entire Gospel: death, burial, resurrection, appearances

15:10 - But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them - yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. - What a great verse. The grace of God was not without effect in my life. Is the grace of God having no daily effect on your life? If so, how is that. The grace of God ought to cause such a change in our thinking that it changes our behavior. Our gratitude ought to change how we view our life and our walk with God. How could we not focus our attention on Him more and on the things of this world less? We make excuses about not having time for the Word or prayer or worship or serving or teaching, but the grace of God ought to so change our lives those come first no matter what.

15:14/17 - The resurrection is critical to the Christian faith!!! You cannot have Christianity without it.

15:19 - If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all others.

15:20 - Christ has indeed been raised!!!! - Don't ever forget that and never let that become a fact like George Washington was president is a fact. just those words ought to hijack our day to praise.

15:29 - I have heard a few explanations here, but still not sure what this is talking about.

15:33 - Do not be misled: 'Bad company corrupts good character.' - This was from a Greek poet. If you hang out with the wrong people you will end up with the wrong kind of heart. Just look back over your own life and you know this to be true. for some of you, the thing holding back your growth in Christ right now is you keep hanging out with the wrong kind of people at work or at play and your faith is held back because of it. Look at every relationship and see if it is causing you to run ahead with Christ or stay back with the world.

15:36 - ... what you sow does not come to life unless it dies.

15:42-44 - Body = perishable to imperishable
= dishonor to honor
= weakness to power
= natural to spiritual

15:49 - so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.

15:55 - Once Jesus conquerors death we will be able to sing: Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? for the time being we rest in the truth that Jesus has already overcome death, even though we still feel the sting.

15:57 - But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

15:58 - Stand firm. Let nothing move you. Give yourself fully because you know your labor is going to make a difference.

Love, Michael

1 Corinthians 13-14

2009-09-07T14:45:00.002-06:00

13:1 - Mentions human and angelic tongues.

13:1-3 - Love is the standard over the whole discussion of spiritual gifts. If you have not love, it really doesn't matter what you end up concluding.

13:4-8 - This passage is used in weddings a lot and so most of us are so familiar with it that we miss the great strength in it. This is a definition of love. You can hold how you are acting, feeling, thinking up against this passage and determine whether or not you are walking in love.

13:11 - ... When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.

13:13 - Love is greater than faith or hope.

14:1 - It is okay to be eager for spiritual gifts - especially prophecy. Prophecy here is probably both speaking about the future AND something similar to what we call preaching today.

14:2 - Tongues = talking to God in a way that others don;t understand
= edifies yourself rather than others

14:5 - Tongue can be interpreted for the benefit of the church if they are truly tongues from God.

14:12 - ... try to excel in those that build up the church .

14:17 - Tongues is giving thanks in some way.

14:18-19 - Paul spoke in tongues as something he did outside of church.

14:22-25 - Confusing passage.

14:26 - ... Everything must be done SO THAT the church may be built up.

14:27-28 - If there is not someone there to interpret, the person who speaks in a tongue should keep it to themselves.

14:34 - Is the word law critical to the contest of this passage?

Love, Michael

1 Corinthians 12

2009-09-06T06:52:00.003-06:00

12:1 - Now about the gifts of the Spirit, I do not want you to be uninformed. - Most of us still are. We need to study the Scripture to see what the truth is and then stand on it instead of hiding from the truth in fear we are going to find out we disagree.

12:4-6 - Different kinds of gifts, service and working, but the same Spirit/Lord/God.

12:7 - The gifts of the Spirit are given for the COMMON good. They are not for the individual, but for the body. I wonder what this speaks to those who believe in a personal prayer language as a gift of the Holy Spirit. Would this indicate that the gifts of tongues is something other than that since that would be about the individual and this gift in context would be about the body? Just a thought.

12:13 - For we are all baptized by one Spirit so to form one body - whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free - and we were all given the one spirit to drink. - The key throughout this whole passage is the term ONE.

12:18 - In fact, god has placed the parts in the body , every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.

12:25 - so that there should be NO DIVISION in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.

12:30 - The answer to the questions here is actually given in the Greek text. It says, "No!". All are not given all of those gifts. To judge someone as not Christian or less Christian because they do not have the same gift you have is not theologically right.

12:31 - Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.

Love, Michael

1 Corinthians 11

2009-09-05T07:57:00.002-06:00

11:1 - Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. - I think it is ironic how many people complain about being an example when Paul says it is a mature thing to say. Live so well that you can call other people to follow you as you follow Christ so that they can begin to follow Christ better. We need to man up and walk with Jesus well enough for others to follow.

11:2-16 - This whole section has always perplexed me. I am not sure if that is because I have a hard time understanding it because of our culture or because this is an opinion and not a command from Paul. I always wonder if the words tradition and practice somehow have a ton of significance in the understanding and application of the passage.

11:3 - Christ is the head of man and man is the head of woman.

11:9 - neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. - Although this verse rile some people up it is Biblical truth. Woman was created as a partner for man. Man has no right to treat her poorly as she is a gift. If we would function inside of God's truth (both sexes) instead of trying to rewrite it to fit our politically correct world our homes, lives and communities would function a whole lot better.

11:11 - Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.

11:18 - There shouldn't be any division in the church. When there is at least one is (is most likely???) not walking as God has called them.

11:23-26 - Bread = a representation of the body. The Catholic church teaches that the bread actually becomes the body, but Paul does not say that. Using figurative language like he does throughout the whole New Testament, he is expressing that the bread represents that body Jesus offered in our place on the Cross.
Cup = blood that was poured out to cover over and make restitution for our sin.
Both = a proclamation of the Lord's death until He returns.

11:27-32 - Examine yourself when taking communion or you will face judgment. In this church some were getting sick and some had even died because they did not examine themselves when participating in the Lord's Supper. Paul says this judgment is a discipline that works to prevent you from becoming so calloused you end up being condemned with the world.

Love, Michael

1 Corinthians 10

2009-09-04T09:26:00.002-06:00

10:1-5 - Paul explains that you can be deeply involved in spiritual things and still displease God. The root of pleasing God is obedience and motive. When you read, pray, give, serve, but refuse to obey He is not pleased. When you do all of those things and your heart is angry, selfish, proud, etc God is not pleased. If we would understand what God wants from us we would see that the stuff we do is not the issue. It is our heart that is the issue. And if our hearts our right we would do the stuff to help us walk in Christ with a great heart.

10:6 - Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.

10:7-10 - Paul explains that we need to NOT do what the Israelites did. He highlights 4 things to not do or be: idolaters, sexually immoral, testing Christ with our disobedience and grumbling. And then he follows it up with a verse in 12 that reminds us we have to be careful we don't think we are doing good when we aren't. I tie that verse back to these 4 things and say check these in your life carefully, because they are the main sources of stumbling.

10:12 - So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall.

10:13 - Nothing has or will overtake you that you can't find a way through it in Christ. NOTHING!

10:14-22- You cannot mix godliness and sinfulness.

10:23 - We need to make decisions not based on can we or do we have the right or the money, but based on what is beneficial and constructive to our faith and to the lives of others.

10:31 - So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. - How many things would you quit doing if you only did things for the glory of God? How would it change your attitude if you only did things for the glory of God? How would that change the outcome? We say we are doing everything we do for God, but we need to carefully look through our motives. When we do all that we do for the glory of God we will suffer and yet celebrate.

Love, Michael

1 Corinthians 8-9

2009-09-03T06:34:00.002-06:00

8:1 - ... knowledge puffs up while love builds up. - True. If you have ever talked with someone when they think they are right (even if they are) it is really unsatisfying. They keep pushing their opinion and it makes it hard to communicate. On the other hand, when someone is responding in love they listen and you are left with a deep sense of satisfaction. Make sure when you talk it is not out of knowledge, but love first. If the love doesn't lead the way, you are probably walking in pride or control.

8:6 - One God (the Father), one Lord (Jesus Christ)

8:9 - Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. - This verse has been used to manipulate and control people for decades because people misunderstand it. If you follow in the verse 11 you realize Paul is talking about doing something that will lead a weaker Christian to start sinning and walk away from God. This is not about preferences. It is not about whether someone else approves of what you are doing, but if what you are doing convinces them to do something their hearts and minds can't handle. It would be like this. If I drink a beer every once in a while and someone doesn't approve that is not what this verse means. However, if I have a friend who is a recovering alcoholic and I go to the bar a couple times a week, he sees that and starts going to and he eventually ends up drinking again I have done what Paul prohibits. Really it is about loving people enough to consider them even in how you live.

8:13 - Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, SO THAT I will not cause them to fall. - I love that Paul loves his brother in Christ enough to even give up BBQ for the sake of his brother's faith/ What in your life should you give up for the sake of someone else?

9:7-14 - This section is about paying those who minister to you. Love this verse although some percentages would have been helpful. HA!

9:16 - For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! - I definitely feel this way.

9:19 - Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.

9:20-21 - I am not under the law, but I am under Christ's law.

9:24 - ... Run in such a way as to get the prize. - All running is not the same. some of us jog through faith and then wonder why we don't get what we are hoping for. You have to run hard and disciplined. We will not see the church in Pueblo West we hope for by running like everyone else around us!!!

9:27 - ... so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. - It is about your walk with Jesus first. You need to have such a well developed and intimate relationship with Christ first, SO THAT you have something to offer others. Why work so hard to make sure others no Him when you don't know Him well yourself. Live a qualified life.

Love, Michael

1 Corinthians 7

2009-09-02T06:59:00.002-06:00

7:4 - The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to the wife. - I know that you can have all kinds of fun at the cost of a verse like this but you can also miss the main point. When a wife gives herself to her husband she protects him from sexual sin and she draws him closer to herself. When a man makes himself available to his wife she is kept from sexual sin and relational sin because she feels closer to him. Sex is a beautiful gift from God that strengthens a marriage. never use it as a weapon and never think that it is insignificant. Work out what each of you needs and offer yourself to each other in a way that fulfills that need. Remember, love never demands something that degrades the other person.

7:5 - Again, I think this section strongly explains that being sexually active with your spouse prevents sexual sin, and temptation to some degree.

7:9 - ... for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

7:10-11 - Christians DO NOT initiate divorce except when their spouse has been sexually unfaithful and even then it is not a command but a chose. Some will argue, what about a bad marriage? Change it. Get counseling, read books, try harder, do something, but don't walk away. I read a study once where couples were going to a last ditch marriage counselor as they were headed to divorce and something like 90% of them were still married 5 years later and said they were happier than they had ever been in marriage. Don't give up on your spouse and don't give up on God's ability to redeem your marriage.

7:12-16 - Christians stay in marriage as long as the other person is willing. Some people ask about spouses who are being abused. Although this passage does not speak to that it seems from Scripture as a whole that they should leave, but not divorce. If they do end up divorcing then the Christian should remain unmarried and sexually inactive for the rest of their life or until the death of their spouse.

7:17 - Nevertheless, each of you should live AS A BELIEVER in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to you, just as God has called you. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. - I have heard this verse in other translations and it doesn't have the focus on living like a believer, but remaining in the situation you are in. I like the emphasis on living like a believer no matter the circumstances. You should live like a believer at work regardless of your job.

7:19 - ... keeping God's commands is what counts.

7:23 - You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. - Debt is slavery.

7:28 - ... those who marry will face many troubles in life ... - This is true. It is not that the relationship is somehow flawed, it is just that with marriage comes added responsibility and therefore the level of potential heartache and stress increases.

7:39 - A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. - I take this verse to mean that Christians should only marry Christians. Many people's faiths have been hurt by marrying someone who does not walk in the Lord with them. Some of the people who initially don't believe come to Christ, but that proves God's grace and yet does not nullify this command. We would save ourselves a ton of heartache if we would marry people who hold the same faith and values we do. I take this so far that I will not marry a Christian to a non-christian. That has made me public enemy #1 sometimes, but I believe it honors God.

Love, Michael

1 Corinthians 5-6

2009-09-01T06:50:00.002-06:00

The church in Corinth had a big problem. There was a man who had been sleeping with his mom, or more likely step mom. Everybody in the church apparently knew about it, but no one said anything. This sin between two people began to infect the whole church. Sin that is not dealt with often does that. It begins in one or two people, but as godly people refuse to react in a godly way the blessing of God is removed and the whole body suffers. A lot of these two chapters deals with Paul explaining how the Corinthians should react and why. Bottom line: When you see open sin in the church and do nothing because you don't want to rock the boat or be confrontational or cause an issue, the whole body ends up suffering greatly. The greater act of love is to make someone mad, but help to save their soul.

5:2 - ...Shouldn't you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? - Paul says it should deeply hurt you and not just deeply offend you. Offense for the sake of Christ is okay, but it should go deeper and it should be like a death, because left unchecked it will end in death for someone. Paul says to kick the person out of the church. Right away some will balk at that, but godly wisdom knows best. The intent is to get the person's attention and therefore help them change. To let this exist in the church is absolutely unloving, unwise and wrong.

5:5 - ... for the destruction of the flesh SO THAT his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord. - This is about saving the soul even though you have to offend the person to do it.

5:6 - ... a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough. - The truth often missed here is that when you leave open sin in the church (we are not talking about going on a witch hunt) it infects and diseases the whole body. If you cannot obey God in confronting open sin you are led to the sin of disobedience. One open act of adultery, drunkenness, greed, etc left unaddressed in the church can devastate a church. Love the body enough to confront the individual.

5:9-11 - Paul has some incredibly strong directions for how we should or should not engage those who are sexually immoral and yet call themselves a Christian. He says not to associate with them and not to even eat with them. The heart of this command is not to unnecessarily hurt the other person, but to help them see the cost if their lifestyle in an effort to help save them. when we rely on human wisdom here we say it doesn't make sense and it won't work, but Paul has already expressed earlier in this letter that God's wisdom can be trusted.

6:1-6 - Paul deals with disputes among Christians ans says when we attack each other, sue each other, fight out in the open with each other we trash the good name of our Lord. His counsel is not to cover it up, but to go to godly men and women and ask them to help us settle the matter. The truth is most of us don't want godly counsel in a fight, because we know we will have a part in the guilt. We want to be justified more than we want to be righteous many times.

6:7 - ... Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? - I love this verse. At the end of the day we want justice not because we are just, but because we don't want to be the one that pays the price.

6:9 - ... Don't be deceived.... - Satan uses deception to lead us to sin. Paul says that people who walk in sexual immorality and other such sins WILL NOT inherit the kingdom of heaven. It doesn't matter how much money they give, how often they go to church or read their Bibles. Open sin leads to a closed door when it comes to salvation.

6:11 - WASHED...SANCTIFIED...JUSTIFIED - You were cleaned up, set apart and God took care of all of your debts.

6:13 - the body is not meant for sexual immorality

6:18 - Flee from sexual immorality. - You have to run away from it like it can kill you in an instant, because IT CAN. You don't get close or linger near it. At the first sign in your head or heart of a temptation or a thought or a feeling you need to confess it to God and run the other way. It is better to overreact when it comes to protecting against sexual sin than to take the risk. So what if they think you are nuts. God will be honored by how sincerely you love Him and desire to remain pure for Him.

6:19-20 - ... You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. - You were purchased. you were a slave to sin and therefore to death. They owned you. Jesus Christ bought you. He has since freed you, but not so you can become a slave again. At the end of the day, if you will not restrain yourself, Paul appeals to the fact that you are still a slave only this time to Jesus. Do not hurt yourself. Honor God with what you do with your body.

Love, Michael

1 Corinthians 4

2009-08-31T06:34:00.003-06:00

4:2 - Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. - What trust have you been given? Some of you have been entrusted with a church, others with a family and some with wealth. Some of you have been entrusted with a leadership position, others with a skill or ability and others with a quality or characteristic. God expects all of us to use what we have been given for His purpose and His glory. One day we will be asked what we did with what God entrusted to us. what did you do with my church? What did you do with the influence I gave you? what did you do with the money I entrusted to you each month? What did you do with your family or your artistic ability or your compassion? Each one of us needs to live so that we have a ready and good answer.

4:4 - My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. - I find it frustrating how many people today believe that because they feel innocent they must be innocent. God is the judge and we would be wise to let Him tell us whether we are innocent of guilty. The problem for most of us is we are outside of conviction because we have convinced ourselves that what we feel is the truth. It may be that we are walking in disobedience and sin, but don't feel it. Go to God and ask Him if you are walking as righteously as you feel you are.

4:5 - Jesus will one day expose the motives of people's hearts. - Does that excite you or scare you to death? That might tell you something.

4:7 - For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

4:12-13 - We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world - right up to this moment. - This is a great job description of a Christian leader. The one that stands out to me the most this morning is the slander one. When someone at work slanders you do you respond kindly or do you fight back? A godly leader answers slander with kindness.

4:20 - For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. - YES!!! This is something God has really been working on me about lately. The kingdom of God is about His power being seen in the lives of people and not just studying or preaching or singing. It is about His Spirit moving in ways that are impossible. It is about instantaneous change and not gradual change. It is about instant healing and not just healing through doctors. It is about instant provision and not just a better job. We have nullified the possibility of the miraculous by settling for what the world offers instead. We no longer beg for instant healing instead we ask God to use the doctors. I am all for doctors, but why not ask the Great Physician first? We need to get back to the place where we expect the Spirit of God to do incredible things and quit just talking about it.

Love, Michael

1 Corinthians 3

2009-08-30T05:57:00.002-06:00

I was reading 1 Corinthians 3 this morning and something really struck me. I have always understood that the letter to the Corinthians deals with division, but I have never seen how thoroughly it ties together. It has always seemed to ramble a bit, but then this morning it was like God was showing me how all of the pieces fit together. In chapter 3 when Paul is talking about human wisdom it is because our 'wisdom" is what causes us to become the source of division many times. We think we know better and so we divide the church.
Also, Paul says in verse 17 that "you TOGETHER are the temple." I have always heard this verse as "you are the temple" and don't do anything to hurt that temple. This is way different. This is saying we, the body of Christ and not just one individual, are the temple of God and if anyone divides that temple God will not be happy. Big difference from me being the temple and us being the temple.

3:1 - Infants in Christ still tend to be worldly in nature. This is important because it can increase our grace with them and it can also be used to teach others that they are acting like an infant in Christ when they live or reason by human standards. I would think it would be easier to help convict a person who has been a Christian a while that they need to change if you could help them see that they are an infant in Christ. The problem for most of us is we think we are so mature in Christ. Maybe helping people see what infant Christianity looks like will help them grow out of it.

3:3 - We should act different than mere human beings. I hear people saying things like, "It's only human nature." or "Everybody else does it too." We are not mere human beings. We have the Spirit of the LIVING God inside of us and so we do not do what mere human beings do. We live differently. We live victoriously. We live sacrificially.

3:6-7 - God alone makes the seed grow. Planting and watering are both good tasks.

3:13 - their work will be shown for what it is ... test the QUALITY of each person's work. - This verse is very interesting in light of how many of us believe. Many people believe that just loving Jesus is enough. This verse says that Christians will be judged in some way to test the quality of their work. I wonder if you are living in a way that will make this show and tell exciting for you or nerve racking. God is too God for us to just escape the flames. We should prove the depth of our gratitude by the quality of our Christian lives.

3:17 - ... you TOGETHER are that TEMPLE. - Makes a lot more sense in context than the idea that you individually are the temple of God.

3:18 - It is people thinking they are wise that leads to division. I can't tell you how many times I have seen churches struggle with division because someone thought they knew better. True humility follows its leaders when they are walking Biblically. If someone doesn't like a program or a direction or an idea, humility follows as long as it does not defy a salvation level teaching.

3:22-23 - ... all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

Love, Michael

1 Corinthians 2

2009-08-29T09:29:00.002-06:00

I am reading 1 Corinthians 2 today.

2:2-5 - a Great reminder not to try to preach with eloquence or human wisdom. It is so easy to try to preach so that people will enjoy it instead of preaching with the power of Christ where people will benefit from it. I am all for good preaching.but we have to be careful that we don't put creativity in front of truth.

2:4-5 - My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, SO THAT your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power. - This is the reason we avoid trying to preach so the people will like it. People need help not entertainment. they need to have their faith on Jesus and not on their preacher. We can actually hurt people's faith when we focus on being better preachers at the cost of being better Christ followers. Let the truth of God coming through you and out of you be what teaches and not just some truth you found, wrapped up neatly and then presented with a sideshow. Let people see a demonstration of the power of God's truth to change their life. God forbid that anyone put their faith in me. After all, like one man said, we are just glorified newspaper boys selling someone else's truth. may they always see the truth and forget about me.

2:7 - The wisdom of God comes with mystery. In our culture we have lost our sense of awe because we try to explain and understand everything. sometimes the best thing you can do is sit back and enjoy God instead of trying to understand Him all the time. Not that we could unravel all the mysteries of God, but why try? Leave a sense of mystery in your faith and it will help you worship him.

2:9 - What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard and what no human mind has conceived - these things God has prepared for those who love him. - Besides really digging how good the things God has planned for us, I love the use of the word prepared. He has ALREADY done it. they are already waiting. It isn't like there is anything left to chance. God has already got it ready and He is just waiting on us now.

2:12 - We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. - Love this verse. God gives us the Spirit so we can understand the truths we need to know that will encourage us.

2:14-15 - Having the Spirit is critical to understanding.

2:16 - ... but we have the mind of Christ.

Love, Michael

1 Corinthians 1

2009-08-28T09:10:00.002-06:00

Starting 1 Corinthians today.

1:2 - When Paul uses the word church he means those who:
are sanctified/set apart
called to be holy
together with other Christians
If your idea of church doesn't match that it isn't the church of the Bible.

1:5 - enriched in every way - Do you believe that your relationship with Jesus enriches you in EVERY way? If not, there must be something undeveloped, underdeveloped or missing in your walk. Jesus enriches everything - marriage, parenting, work, play, rest. The life Jesus intends for us is one where He blesses every single part.

1:7 - Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gifts as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. - Remember, Paul is speaking to the church and not just one individual. He says that the church as Jesus puts it together does not lack any of the gifts it needs. We need to pay attention to the giftedness of each person so we can make sure to be the complete and mature church Jesus wants us to be. I think many times we think we lack what we need, but God has provided EVERYTHING we need for success and effectiveness.

1:8 - He will also keep you firm to the end, SO THAT you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1:10 - ... no divisions among you ... perfectly united in mind and thought. - Jesus would have that we be completely united. I find it interesting how deeply everybody else's division bothers us. When someone at church goes their own way and does it their own way it deeply offends our spirit of unity, but how often do we look at the places in our life where we choose ourselves over unity? That is the first thing we can deeply impact anyway.

1:13 - Paul expresses that a couple of the key aspects of Christianity are the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and your baptism into Christ. Check out the word into.

1:17 - This verse can be misunderstood to mean baptism is not or was not significant to Paul. In reality, when you consider the context of the passage you understand that Paul is expressing that faith is not in him. God did not call Paul to baptize people or bring people to faith in Paul, but in God through Christ.

1:21 - We are saved through what is preached.

1:25 - For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. - YES!!!!! Not that God has any weakness, but even if He did it would be stronger than our strongest strength.

1:26-31 - Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. ... - Read this section. What were you before you were in Christ? I was just a guy and now, in Christ, I get to share the most significant message of all time and eternity. What about you? Isn't it true that Christ has made you who you are?

Love, Michael

Ezekiel 40-48

2009-08-27T09:12:00.002-06:00

I decided to finish up Ezekiel this morning so I powered through Ezekiel 40-48. Most of it deals with details for a new temple and a new way of worshipping. Here are a few verses that stood out to me.

44:8 - Instead of carrying out your duty in regard to my holy things, you put others in charge of my sanctuary. - I wonder if we do this. Do we take the holy things of God and tasked them or delegate them to other people? What would some of the holy things that God has entrusted to you be? Are you doing them or figuring out how to get others to do them?

44:34 - They are to teach my people the difference between the holy and the common and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean. - This is the job of any godly leader and yet we spend so much time teaching them other things. We need to get back to helping people develop the ability to distinguish so they can honor God in the way the live.

46:9 - The reason God had them enter through one gate, but make sure to leave through a different one may have been to help emphasize to them that they needed to leave differently than they arrived. How many times do we leave an experience with God and His people the same way we came. Being in the presence of God and of God's people should cause us to be changed in some way. If we go through a service or a small group or a day and we are not affected by it we need to check the hardness of our hearts. God changes you and so does being with His people.

Love, Michael

Ezekiel 39 and Jude

2009-08-26T07:55:00.002-06:00

I read Ezekiel 39 which was pretty straight forward. No comments on it.

I also read Jude, just for something extra.

1:3 - contend for the faith - When I think of contend I think of someone fighting for and wrestling for and standing up for. Do you fight for the faith or just walk in and out of it? Do you defend it when it is attacked or just turn the other way? Do you work hard, breaking a sweat for the Kingdom of God or do you just half-heartedly put your back into it?

1:4 - ... They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign Lord. - Two sure signs that it is not of God - it allows for sin of any kind and it denies that Jesus is the ONLY way.

1:8 - Sin that leads to eternal destruction: pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse.

1:12 - shepherds who feed only themselves - There are a lot of these out there today - leaders who lead for their own benefit. We have to make sure we are shepherds who feed the sheep and not just feed off of the sheep.

1:16 - grumblers and faultfinders - Wow! I so don't like this verse. It points right to my heart sometimes. We have to quit the simple act of grumbling and complaining. It isn't blowing off steam it is dishonoring God and wrecking our faith. There is more power in our words than we care to admit.

1:19 - These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instinct and do not have the Spirit. - This is the basis of division. People who do what comes natural to them instead of what the Bible teaches and who do not walk with the Holy Spirit. There is a big difference between going to church and walking in the Holy Spirit.

1:20-21 - But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. - Great way to stay in Christ - build yourself up and pray.

Love, Michael

Ezekile 38

2009-08-25T08:51:00.001-06:00

I read Ezekiel 38 today. Good stuff, but nothing to comment on.

Ezekiel 36-37

2009-08-24T10:32:00.002-06:00

I read Ezekiel 36-37 today. Chapter 37 is one of my favorite passages of Scripture. It talks about God breathing new life into dead bones.

36:21 - I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone. - God has a deep concern for how we treat and represent His name. I wonder how He feels about the way we represent Him. When someone looks at you do they see the great love of God, the grace and mercy, the respect and awe you have, a sense of worship and obedience? Am I living so that others believe the best about God or would they think less of Him because of how I talk, walk, ....?

36:26 - I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. - Beautiful verse.

37:3 - Can these bones live? - I love the picture God uses. There is a valley of dead bones all lying around in a huge heap and He asks Ezekiel if they can live again. Most of us would say no. Dead things never come back to life. But God is making the point that He brings dead things back to full life. If you have sinned and feel dead in an area of your life you need to know that one word from God and you can be alive again. Why stay dead if you don't have to?????

Love, Michael

Ezekiel 34-35

2009-08-23T06:15:00.002-06:00

Chapter 34 shows that God expects leaders to consider and take care of the people entrusted to them. Leadership is not position-focused, but responsibility focused.

34:4 - You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. - In this verse you can definitely see what God expects from leaders, especially shepherds or elders.

34:10 - Leaders are held accountable for my (God's) flock. - They have a responsibility to God for the condition and health of the people under their leadership. It isn't enough to get frustrated over their sin and weakness. We will be held accountable for what we do to help them. It is not that we have to change them, change is for them to embrace, but we must do everything in our power, the easy and the uncomfortable, to help them grow and one day we will be asked about what we did and how far we were willing to go.

34:11-16 - God will personally intervene to shepherd His people -JESUS!!!!! He will do several specific things that we should be doing also:
- search, look for and rescue the lost
- look after those who are near us
- bring them out of difficulty and into a place of peace
- pasture them (feed them) in good places
- tend to them and care for their needs. Pay attention to them.

34:16 - I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice. - It might be easy here to think that God is picking on the strong, but He is speaking about those who have made themselves strong off of the meat and condition of the flock. It isn't strength God has a problem with, but making yourself strong off of other people.

34:17-19 - Really interesting section.

35:6 - ... Since you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you. - I know here that God is speaking specifically to the people of Mt. Seir, the Edomites, but I think the principle is still true. When we do not hate bloodshed, but instead get involved in it and honor it we suffer the same fate, because our hearts become calloused. We have so many kids who live in our "Christian" homes who feed on violence everyday and we do nothing about it. In some cases we buy the guns, games and books. We need to teach our kids to value what God values. Turning the gore off doesn't turn the issue off. Death is the opposite of the God of life.

Love, Michael

Ezekiel 29-33

2009-08-22T06:57:00.003-06:00

I have read Ezekiel 29-33 the past couple of days.

33:9 - Implies that Ezekiel would not be saved if he was not faithful to fulfill his ministry. WOW!

33:11-20 - Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, house of Israel?'
"Therefore, son of man, say to your people, 'If someone who is righteous disobeys, that person's former righteousness will count for nothing. And if someone who is wicked repents, that person's former wickedness will not bring condemnation. The righteous, if they sin, will not be allowed to live because of their former righteousness.' If I tell the righteous that they will surely live, but then they trust in their righteousness and do evil, none of the righteous things they have done will be remembered; they will die for the evil they have done. And if I say to the wicked, 'You will surely die,' but they then turn away from their sins and do what is just and right— if they give back what they took in pledge for a loan, return what they have stolen, follow the decrees that give life, and do no evil, they will surely live; they will not die. None of the sins they have committed will be remembered against them. They have done what is just and right; they will surely live.
"Yet your people say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' But it is their way that is not just. If the righteous turn from their righteousness and do evil, they will die for it. And if the wicked turn away from their wickedness and do what is just and right, they will live by doing so. Yet you say, house of Israel, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' But I will judge each of you according to your own ways."

One comment in the commentary I am reading along with Ezekiel really struck me. He says, "the one 'possessed hope without holiness,' the others were 'hearers of the word, but not doers of the work.'" WOW! That is so true of people today. Some have an unrealistic optimism based on how they were raised or what country they live in or some distorted view of what salvation is and others gather around to hear the Word constantly, but they never really apply it and do the work God has called them to do.

Another thing the commentator expresses is how the Bible always says that the way a man is living (in willful sin or striving for holiness) is what we are judged by and the Bible has no such concept as once saved always saved. God is not inconsistent if He saves a man and then that man chooses to live a sinful life that leads him away from grace. In those cases, God is consistent in holiness and judgment and the man is the one who is inconsistent. Isn't it funny how we can contrive a doctrine and then blame God if it doesn't work out. Our willing obedience is brought together with God's grace to save us. It would make God a very unjust God to save a man and then let him live like hell on earth, but somehow act as those His hands were tied to try the man for his sin. God is consistent and just and His grace is never ending, but obedience and grace will forever be tied together in the mystery of Christ.

33:31 - My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain.

Today we are headed out to the apple orchard with some friends to pick apples and berries. Should be a lot of fun. Man, I sound like such a yuppie and I don't even own a Volvo. HA!

Love, Michael

Ezekiel 26-28

2009-08-20T07:06:00.001-06:00

I read Ezekiel 26-28 today. Good stuff.

Many people look at chapter 28 as an explanation for Satan falling from heaven, but it doesn't work if you read the context. Ezekiel is talking to the king of Tyre with several prophecies and the idea that he somehow shifts to talking about Satan is not a good interpretation of the passage. The truth is there is very little about Satan's origins in the Bible. Just thought you should know.

Have a great day.

Love, Michael

Ezekiel 24-25

2009-08-19T08:35:00.001-06:00

Read Ezekiel 24-25 today. It deals with some of the judgment God was brining on other nations for mocking Israel's destruction.

Michael

Ezekiel 22-23

2009-08-18T07:55:00.002-06:00

22:12 - When a nation forgets God things get raunchy really quick. Want an example? Look at TV over the last 50 years or even the last 10 years.

22:15 - The Diaspora (the scattering of the Jews) was, in part, about cleansing the land of the evil that had been carried out in it.

22:26 - ... they do not distinguish between the holy and the common. - Do we?

22:30 - I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one. - I think it is really interesting that Ezekiel and Jeremiah and the other prophets were not considered the men to stand in the gap. It seems like God was looking for someone among the people to stand up. I wonder if in Pueblo West God is saying that the preachers are not going to be the ones to fill the gap and save the city, but the people. Individuals who are willing to stand up and fill the gap to win this community to Christ.

23:24 - ... I will turn you over to them for punishment, and they will punish you according to their standards.

23:35 - ... Since you have forgotten me and thrust me behind your back,... - Simple question - Where are you thrusting God behind your back and why?

23:29 - The Israelites would sacrifice their kids in the fire as an act of pagan worship and idolatry and then trot off to the temple to "worship" God. How sick. Ever go to church and then watch something that dishonors God that same evening? Ever go to Bible study and then go home to get on the net to look at pics? Ever go on a retreat and then rush home to get drunk? Ever read the Word for the day and then hurry back to your anger, pride, lust or arrogance? We can learn a lot from the Israelites and what happens when your faith doesn't sink in and affect how you spend the rest of your day.

The irony was that she used the gifts which God had bestowed upon her to advance the cause of idolatry.

(James Smith, The Major Prophets, pg 441)

The Israelites were using the things God has blessed them with as part of their idolatry. I wonder how we do this today. Do we use the financial blessing of God to buy things that soil our souls? Do we use the blessings of freedom God has bestowed on us to take care of our own needs instead of looking to take care of the needs of others? Do we take simple things like the gift of travel and use it to worship the God of adventure or recreation instead of honoring God by using it to take the Gospel places? The things that God has blessed us with should be used for His purposes. Find where you are currently blessed and you have found part of your purpose.

Love, Michael

Ezekiel 19-21

2009-08-17T08:59:00.002-06:00

I read Ezekiel 19 yesterday.

I read Ezekiel 20-21 today.

20:6 - a land I had searched out for them...the most beautiful of lands. - I thought it was neat that God explained that He was the One who would search out a land for them. We get so busy trying to finding our own land (whether for a church physically or our place in the world) and yet God has promised to find the perfect place for us if we will simply follow Him and let Him do the searching.

20:11 - God explains that His decrees will bring life if people will obey them.

20:37 - I will take note of you as you pass under my rod, and I will bring you into the bond of covenant. - I just love the sound of this verse. You have God saying He will act as the Good Shepherd who carefully watches for His own and then takes good care of them. I get the picture of a shepherd who is making sure to get every one of his sheep because he knows he will take good care of them and he loves them. He separates them from the others because the others will be treated harshly.

21:27 - A prophecy about Jesus.

Love, Michael

Ezekiel 17-18

2009-08-15T11:35:00.001-06:00

WOW! Chapter 18 is awesome. I don't know how many times I have read through the Bible and Ezekiel 18 just jumps out there for the first time I can remember. It is filled with all kinds of theology, doctrine and the true heart of God. You just have to go read Ezekiel 18 and see all that is in there.

Chapter 17 is a neat parable to explain what Israel was doing.

17:8/23 - produce branches, bear fruit and become a splendid vine. - I thought this was interesting from a strategic standpoint. Could you take this as the heart of God for all who follow Him?

18:4 - For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child - both alike belong to me...

18:7 & 12 - It seems like there are really only 2 options in God's eyes: give and provide for the poor and needy or be considered someone who oppresses the poor and needy. It doesn't seem like you can be neutral or uninvolved here.

18:20 - ...The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them.

18:23 - Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live? - God gets a bad rap as someone who likes seeing the wicked destroyed. From what I read in the Bible God is brokenhearted that any would choose wickedness, but He is swift and just in His dealing with them. God would rather that every person live well, but if they aren't He will protect those who are by bringing justice on the wicked. It may not seem like it at this moment, but God will deal with those who choose their own way over the way He has called Him to. In the meantime, He longs for every person to turn back to Him so He can save them.

18:24 - I wonder if this verse would help in a discussion about once saved always saved or whether a person can walk away from God after choosing Him.

18:31 - ...get a new heart and a new spirit....

18:32 - For I take no pleasure in the death of the anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Prent and live!

Love, Michael

Ezekiel 16

2009-08-14T13:31:00.003-06:00

I read Ezekiel 16 today. Talk about one of the most graphic explanations of what Israel did (and we do) when we turn our backs on God and forget who we are. In one section Ezekiel records the prophecy God gave to him and says:

...degrading your beauty, spreading your legs with increasing promiscuity to anyone who passed by.

WOW! Talk about God making a point. Sin and rebellion and selfishness and pride make us prostitutes with regard to our faith. We run after anyone and anything that will make us feel better and all the time we dishonor our God. He even goes on to say that Israel didn't even require payment for her prostitution. How many times do we turn our backs to God and our fronts to someone or something else and we don't even require payment? WOW!

Ezekiel likens Israel to other nations who had been unfaithful to God and he says the things that led to their prostitution were being arrogant, overfed, unconcerned and not helping the poor and needy. Sound like our society today? It does to me.

And yet through this passage God says that He will yet change things and make atonement for you for all you have done,...

Love, Michael

Ezekiel 14-15

2009-08-13T10:35:00.001-06:00

Read some good stuff in Ezekiel 14-15. Instead of commenting on it I will share an article I wrote for our newsletter.

Nancy and the kids have a game they play in my house called - ONE MORE! Nancy will ask one of the kids for a kiss and they will give her one and then she will say - ONE MORE! The right response is to give her ONE MORE kiss and then she will say ONE MORE! This game can go on for a LOOOONNNNGG time.
The heart of that game is love. Nancy wants the kids to know that she loves them so much that one isn’t enough. And she wants them to know that two or three or four isn’t enough either. Just ONE MORE would be enough.
It is like the Diamond Rio song, One More Day. It is a song that talks about someone losing someone they love and how they would give anything for just ONE MORE day with them. They would pay more attention to them, hold them more, be with them more.
This whole week I have been ONE MORE-ing God in the morning. At our elders non-retreat we talked about a desire we each had to add worship to our daily life. I jumped all over it and have been totally blown away by how refreshing it is and how it helps keeps my heart and mind settled during the whole day. On Tuesday I started doing a little worship and ended up 2 hours later. Today, I was just going to worship for a few minutes and then it turned into about an hour.
Now this isn’t to toot my own horn, but to remind you that God is worth ONE MORE! He is worth ONE MORE try, ONE MORE minute or hour or day, ONE MORE percent, ONE MORE conversation, ONE MORE whatever. One day this life will be over and for those of us that walk with Jesus that will be a good thing. But I think many of us will look back and think, “Man, if I could just have ONE MORE day back there I would do it differently.” Why not live differently today and give God ONE MORE of whatever will make Him smile.

Love,
Michael

1 Peter 3-5

2009-08-12T08:28:00.004-06:00

So here is the stuff from this morning.

3:4 - the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.

3:6 - We don't submit because we are afraid. Afraid of getting taken advantage of. Afraid of being forgotten or becoming less significant. Fear keeps us from being the people God called us to be. And, if we cannot submit to the people God has put in our lives (husbands, parents, bosses, church leaders, etc) we cannot and will not submit to God the way we should. It is a truth most of us refuse to accept, but it is a truth none the less.

3:7 - Treating your wife poorly hinders your prayers!!!

3:9 - Those who bless receive a blessing.

3:15 - To have people ask you about your faith you have to have a hope that is seen. Is your hope so obvious that people ask you about it? We think people will ask us when we know more, but God says they will ask us when we hope more.

3:20 - God waited - WOW! Did you hear that? God waited. What in the world is so important that God would wait? What would cause God to step in line and wait instead of just walking to the front of the line and doing whatever He wants? YOU! God waited for the sake of saving Noah and His family. God waits today to bring the earth and everyone in it to justice because He wants you to be saved. God...waited (and waits).....for YOU! He won't forever, but He does right now.

3:21 - I am a baptism guy. I am one of those guys who has read through the Bible multiple times and I can't see baptism as something less than a part of God's plan for every person who comes to Christ. I love this verse that reminds us that even baptism would be meaningless without the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus is the centerpiece of our hope.

4:5 - But they will have to give an account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

4:8 - Above all, love... - Simple enough.

4:10 - Serving = administering God's grace

4:19 - Commit yourself to God and continue to do good - especially when you suffer.

5:2 - Shepherds, it matters why and how you watch over the flock. Be careful to judge and watch over your own motives.

Love, Michael

1 Peter 1-2

2009-08-12T08:09:00.002-06:00

I had a crazy day yesterday. It started out with an early morning coaching appointment and then moved on to me getting the chance to worship for about 2 hours, which was awesome. I was going to worship, read and then pray, but the worship thing got ahold of me and I didn't stop until after 10 AM. Then, when I got ready to go read and pray, God gave me a great opportunity to serve some friends and my community. By the time all was said and done it was after 9 PM, I hadn't read or prayed yet and I still hadn't eaten since lunch. We ordered pizza and I showered and then spent some time reading the Word. I didn't seem to manage a good prayer time, but I did enjoy my time in the Word. You will probably notice I jumped into 1 Peter. I didn't have my commentaries with me and didn't want to read just to read, so I figured I'd read 1 Peter last night and today and then jump back into Ezekiel tomorrow (Thursday). Hope you don't mind.

1:2 - ...Grace and peace be yours in ABUNDANCE. - I love the abundance part. Not just grace and peace, but large quantities of grace and peace. Costco or Sam's Club warehouse/bulk quantities of it.

1:5 - It is through faith that we are shielded by God's power.

1:7 - Faith is a big deal to Peter. Look at how many times he refers to it in his letter.

1:8 - ...filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. - Do you experience this? If not go back and reexamine your faith. This should be the normal experience for every follower of Christ.

1:11 - The prophets were filled with the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of Christ). Cool to see the same God working the same way thousands of years ago.

1:13 - Your hope is not set on things here and now, but on things in the future.

1:16 - Principle - Be holy, because God is holy and He wants to give you a great relationship with Him. Sometimes we think the things God says are rules. Some of them are, but most of them are God's way of explaining to us the good He wants to do in our life and simply giving us the parameters for receiving those gifts.

1:23 - The word of God is living and enduring.

2:2 - Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, SO THAT by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. - Love this verse. Get hungry for God.

2:5 - Your calling = to be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

2:9 - God's special possession - Get that - YOU are God's SPECIAL possession. I have a sword that was passed down to me from my dad from his dad from WWII. It is a special possession to me. I show it to almost everyone who comes over to my house because I am so proud of it. You are that in God's house - the thing He loves to show everyone and tell everyone about.

2:11 - foreigners and exiles - We need to develop this mentality more. Some of us are dual citizens and that never works.

2:16 - Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God's slaves. - You are free for a purpose!!!!

2:18 - Slaves, in reverent fear of God... - I was struck by the idea that we submit not because the other person deserves it, that isn't even a legitimate question. We submit out of a fear and love for God. You do not submit to your boss because he is some great guy, but because you fear and love God and therefore you would rather honor Him no matter what it costs you. I have some friends who really struggle with their boss because he seems to be a man who struggles with pride and competency, and I would tell them, Honor your boss out of reverence for Christ Jesus and God the Father. How you treat him says a lot to the world around you.

2:21 - Suffering for good is part of the example we are to follow.

2:23 - ... Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. - One of my favorite verses. Really. I know I say that a lot, but this one really is one of my favorite out of my favorites.

Love, Michael

Ezekiel 12-13

2009-08-10T08:24:00.002-06:00

My brother and his family took my family to a climbing club in the Springs yesterday after church. It was a blast. My hands and arms are still tired.

Not a lot for you today from Ezekiel, mainly because it is pretty self-explanatory when you read it. Israel is rebellious, her leaders lie because they are afraid of the truth and God is coming to sort things out.

12:2 - According to Ezekiel rebellion can be defined as having eyes, but refusing to discern what is going on and ears, but refusing to hear what God is trying to say. It appears that God has created us with the ability to see and hear, but we mess that up by the way we live. I wonder how many of us think we are doing all we can to walk with Jesus, but in reality we are living rebelliously because we refuse to see and listen. We want it to come easily, but it takes attention. God, forgive us for our lack of attention that leads us to rebelliousness.

13:6 - ... Even though the Lord has not sent them, the say, "The Lord declares," and expect him to fulfill their words. We have to be careful not to be people who speak for ourselves. It is easy to get caught up teaching what you think or what your opinion is, but the truth of God is all that truly matters. As leaders, teachers, etc. we have to stay focused on teaching His word, His way and let Him be the One that does the good work.

Love,
Michael

Ezekiel 7-11

2009-08-09T06:28:00.002-06:00

Yesterday I read Ezekiel 7-8. I was really struck by how it says I will judge them according to their conduct. four times. You know, now days we are told that what we do doesn't matter. Since we have grace actions don't matter. but that doesn't line up with Scripture. Our actions do matter. They are not the only thing that matters, but God will judge us in part based on our conduct. I wonder what God thinks when we say we love Him and then do nothing to adjust our conduct to honor Him. It is a lot like someone who says they love you and then goes out and cheats on you. Love is proven by what we do as a response to it.

In the commentary I am reading as I go through Ezekiel there were a few neat comments as well. The author, Smith, says, "This judgment would correct their faulty notions about the nature of God (7:1-4)." That is an interesting way of looking at this tough time in Scripture. God used severe punishment and trials to save a greater number of people. And then he quotes a man named Andrew Blackwood as saying, "the death of material property turned out to be the resurrection of faith." That is true. When we lose everything we go back to God. Why not go back to God now? The truth is sometimes it takes great loss before we see true value.

Today I read Ezekiel 9-11. Here are a few verses for you.

9:4 - Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the forehead of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it. - I wonder how many of us are grieved and lament over the detestable things done in our community. Do we cry out to God to change the rate of divorce or the hurt or the senseless death? Do we beg God to intervene and change people's hearts so they are no longer alone and isolated? god, that I might grieve and lament over my city in a way that honors you.

11:12 - ... but have conformed to the standards of the nations around you. - I am amazed at this constant warning in the Bible and how much we simply ignore it. When we as followers of Christ conform to the standards and patterns of the people around us we dishonor God and ruin our faithfulness. We cannot live like those around us. they do not live as God intends. No matter how we wrap it up, we have to live with a different standard and not just inside. The standard you live by is seen on the outside. Why are we so afraid of being different? One day our difference is what will save us and yet we shun it today. What silly Christians we are. We turn our backs on what will save us.

11:19 - I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. - Beautiful verse. God has the power to remove our hearts of stone.

Love, Michael

Ezekiel 4-6

2009-08-07T12:17:00.002-06:00

Some really tough prophecy because of Israel's choice to turn it's back on God and live like everyone around them.

I was struck by how often the pain in our life is from choices we have made to turn our backs on God and then how we get mad at God for it. The way we live towards God dynamically effects our lives. When we live with rebellious and sinful hearts we hurt ourselves.

The phrase Then they will know that I am the Lord. is used 60 times in this book. God wants us to know Him for who He is. When we see Him for who He is we will understand He deserves our every obedience. How will the lost world see Him if we choose to live our own way? They have to see the value of God through our expressions of submission and love before they will understand.

I loved the part in chapter 6 where God says some will remember and be grieved at the way they have lived. Some of us will remember one day and we will be grieved. why not prevent that in our own lives bu looking at Him for who He is today?

Ezekiel 1-3

2009-08-06T14:52:00.002-06:00

So, I am looking for the next place in the Bible to read and I decided on Ezekiel. For those of you that don't know, Ezekiel is a book full of prophecy and some pretty hard to understand imagery. I want to assure you I have no clue about most of it, but I do want to go through it along with a commentary on Ezekiel and see what good things God has stored in there.

One of the main themes of the first three chapters (and I'm guessing the whole book) is that the house of Israel is rebellious, obstinate and stubborn. The whole reason for Ezekiel's call to go to the people and tell them what God had to say was because they refused to listen to God at all. These people did what they wanted irregardless of what God taught. Not to much different from Christians today. Many of us do whatever we want no matter what God has spoken through His word. We listen and then do what suits us best. It's no wonder our faith is so weak and we have so many issues. Obedience leads to health and when we choose our way over obedience we are once again walking away from God.

One thing I found really fascinating was the commentators explanation for the 4 faces of the living creatures. He says that the four faces (man, lion, eagle and ox) represent that God is supreme and rules over man, wildlife, birds of the air and livestock. It is the idea that God is supreme over everything. He also says that the motion of the wheels and the eyes on everything refer to God as all-knowing and always present. Neat ideas.

Here are a few verses:

2:7 - You must speak my words to them, whether they listen of fail to listen, for they are rebellious.

3:7 - But the house of Israel is not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for the whole house of Israel is hardened and obstinate.

3:11 - ...whether they listen of fail to listen.

3:14 - ...I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the Lord on me. - I am not sure how to take this. It could be that Ezekiel was mad the experience was over. It could be that he was angry with a righteous anger. Maybe he was mad God had called him. For some reason he was pretty upset.

3:18-21 - When I say to the wicked, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their lives, those wicked people will die for their sins, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sins; but you will have saved yourself.
Again, when the righteous turn from their righteousness and do evil, and I put a stumbling block before them, they will die. Since you did not warn them, they will die for their sins. The righteous things they did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the righteous not to sin and they do not sin, they will surely live because they took warning, and you will have saved yourself. - WOW! Talk about accountability. God says that when we withhold the truth because we are afraid of how people will react, we are held accountable for what happens to them. See, we want to choose accountability, but it has already been chosen for us when we accepted Christ. We are accountable for all those we know. We can complain and moan about that much like some of the prophets did early on or we can embrace it and start helping people get right with God.

2 Corinthians 12-13

2009-08-05T08:34:00.002-06:00

12:6 - ... so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say. - I like this verse. We should live not so that others can think too highly of us, but so that they will think the right thing about us. The hard part here is our fleshy nature thinks we are better than we are. We tend to overstate how important we are or how hard we work or what a great sacrifice we are making. The truth is we need to see ourselves honestly and we need to strive to help others see us that way. When someone praises you beyond your true ability or actions you need to take caution and maybe even help them see otherwise. Some of us are seen as heroes to others and it inhibits their ability to be taught. They figure you are so far ahead of them that what you are teaching is true for you, but could never be of them. Also, we make it so that others don't feel like they can rebuke us. Honesty would be a blessing to them and us.

12:9 - My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. - God loves to work through the weak so no one is confused about who is doing the good work. We hate to be weak! We choose to be seen as strong rather than to be used by God. What would happen in your life and faith if today you found your greatest area of weakness and asked God to use you there?

12:10 - ...For when I am weak, then I am strong. - It is true. When you can admit you have no strength God comes in to make up the difference. When you think you can work it out on your own He lets you and you and I normally fail.

12:14 - ...what I want is not your possessions but you.... - This is how I feel about The Oasis.

13:4 - For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him in our dealing with you.

13:5 - Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; tests yourselves.... - We are called to examine whether we truly are IN the faith and not just near it. We have to be careful not to trust our feelings or our desires, but to test our faith against the word of God to see if we are who we think we are. There would be nothing worse than to get home to heaven and have Jesus say, You aren't who you thought you were. Leave.

13:11 - Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. - What a great call for those of us in the body of Christ. We should make this one of our rallying cries.

13:14 - May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. - Cool verse. Gets all three - God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit - in there and talks about grace, love and fellowship. I could see this being used as a blessing for people as they leave a Sunday service or a LIFE Group or something like that. Isn't it funny how weird many of us would think it would be to have someone bless us as we leave and yet how Biblical it is? I wouldn't want to hear the same thing week in and week out, but from time to time a blessing over the body would be really powerful.

Love, Michael

2 Corinthians 10-11

2009-08-04T07:46:00.002-06:00

10:1 - By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you - In an elders' meeting I was a part of this past Sunday I was reminded of the wisdom of approaching people with meekness, gentleness and patience. It is easy to want to go wring necks, but Christ never did that. Even when He was turning over tables it was out of a deep love for His Father and the people. Except in extreme circumstances we need to approach and deal with people out of grace and not through power.

10:2 - ... people who think that we live by the standards of this world. - I find this verse alarming because I know so many Christians who really do believe we live by the standards of this world. They live their lives as though we had to be like the people around us. Look at our houses, cars, schedules, values, vacations, checkbooks. We have bought into the lie that to be effective we have to be like the people around us. We need to engage the culture, but we do not have to be so familiar with it that people can;t tell us apart from those whose only hope is this culture. We should live by such a different standard that others notice. We try so hard not to let our Christianity show. We have been convinced it is wrong, people will mock us and we will be more effective if it isn't obvious. It is right to let your Christianity be evident, you will be mocked and effectiveness comes through grace and truth and not cleverly disguised games to cover up our faith.

10:5 - ... we take captive EVERY thought to make it obedient to Christ.- I think most of us think of our thoughts like wild horses that just run and run and we have no obligation to harness them, but Paul says we are to take every single thought we have and make it submit to Jesus as Lord. We focus on lust and greed and all of that many times, but I think he is saying to take the good thoughts and the neutral thoughts captive as well. Some of us think so much about career advancement and let it run wild in our heads that it, left unharnessed and not submitted, affects our hearts until what we want is not what we strive for. Some of us want adventure so badly that we let it go unchecked and eventually nothing satisfies us except the next thing. What an ungrateful way to live. We need to take every thought captive to Christ.

10:8 - ... the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, - WOW! What a great verse to tell us why God gave us authority. It isn't to over-protect or to force others to produce, but to build them up. We protect and help others produce, but it is for their benefit in Christ and not our fear or need for control.

10:12 - ...When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. - One of my favorite verses.

10:15 - ... Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand. - This is our hope. To expand the sphere of activity in your life so that others can know Christ as well.

10:18 - For it is not those who commend themselves who are approved, but those whom the Lord commends. - I wonder how concerned we are with being approved. I think many of us think that once we accepted Jesus we could just hit auto-pilot, kick back and do whatever. The New Testament is filled with passages that say we should work hard to be approved. I am not exactly sure how all of that works out, but I do know this: One day God will ask very Christian how they lived and we had better have a great answer. What will the outcome be if we don't? Paul talks about escaping as one barely getting out of a burning building and who wants to thank Jesus for saving them by barely getting by?

11:2 - I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, SO THAT I might present you as a pure virgin to him. - I so feel this way about The Oasis. I want to present her to Christ without stain or blemish. A lot of us live lives that would offend a groom. I pray we can live in such a way that the Groom is honored.

11:8 - I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. - I can understand this verse.

11:15 - ...Their end will be what their actions deserve. - Our actions will have a huge say in what we receive at judgment. Our society has taken action completely out and said everything is based on grace. Your actions don't matter. That is simply not true from the Bible's viewpoint. Our actions will be judged. To be honest, our actions prove the authenticity of our faith.

11:23-29 - This passage reminds me of the statement the Lord made to Ananias when he was sent to Paul. The Lord says, "I will show him how much he must suffer for the Name."

Love, Michael

2 Corinthians 9

2009-08-03T09:06:00.002-06:00

WOW! What a beautiful chapter about giving. I am blown away but how much it has to say about our hearts and the way God works when we give. It is so easy to get caught up with the dollar signs and commas and all of that, but God goes right to the heart and He talks about the power of our generous giving. And He makes some really cool promises.

9:2 - Your enthusiasm in giving can spur others on to action.

9:6 - Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. - This is really seen as true in life. Those who keep their hands closed only get what is in their hands, but those who live with hands wide open continually receive from God. So many of us want to plant two seeds and have acres of harvest. What you receive back is in direct proportion to what you put in. If you want an abundance of grace and provision and joy than invest yourself in those things first. The truth is every single one of us is getting the true return on the investment we have made. If you don't like the return increase the investment.

9:7 - Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. - I have heard tons of people quote this verse as a reason for not giving. That's crazy. God loves a cheerful GIVER. To not give because you aren't cheerful doesn't please God in any way. The heart of the teaching is to get your heart so right with God and grace and generosity that you are cheerful. It is not to have an out for giving. God would have everyone of us be cheerful in our giving to the point of giving everything. That is what Jesus did. What if Jesus had had your approach to giving when it came to His sacrifice for your sins? Would you be in great shape or would you be in great need? We need to give with hearts absolutely overwhelmed by the gift already given to us. Enough of this not giving because we can't be cheerful about it. Let's change our hearts and not neglect our giving.

9:8 - And God is able to bless you abundantly, SO THAT in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will ABOUND in every good work. - Here is a promise for you. You trust your resources to God and HE will take care of everything. I can tell you I have seen a lot of people who wanted to take care of their own finances and it has ended in ruin. God sees now and around the corner, so there is no fear in giving to God.

9:10 - I love the words increase and enlarge here. We so often worry about the deficit when we give to God in God's way, but here Paul speaking through the guidance of the Holy Spirit says that God does the opposite of what you expect. You expect because you gave something away you will have less, but God increases what you have and enlarges your ability to do what God has called you to do. It is an amazing tie - giving and fruitfulness other places. You might think your giving is an area all by itself, but your giving, and your heart when giving, deeply impacts so many other areas of your life.

9:11 - You will be made rich in every way SO THAT you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. - God empowers us with wealth SO THAT we will share it with those in need. When we are faithful with what we are given God entrusts more to us. I would love to be able to be generous in EVERY opportunity and occasion and Paul says the key to that coming true is to be faithful and generous with what you currently have. So many of us are waiting for things to change before we become generous and God is waiting for our generosity so we can change and help to change others.

Man, this is good stuff. As Americans we struggle with talking about money, because it is such a god to us. As Christians we need to take the stigma away from this and see that God has called us to a blessing and to be a blessing in this area. As we learn to put God in front of our finances we will experience more of the life He always intended for us.

Love, Michael

2 Corinthians 7-8

2009-08-02T05:43:00.002-06:00

7:1 - ...let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

7:6 - God who comforts the downcast, comforted us.

7:9 - ...not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance.... - There is a difference between being sorry and being sorry in the way that God intends to lead you to life. Godly sorrow changes your heart. Many of us are sorry we got caught or sorry we feel a certain way, but godly sorrow is sorry deeper down that the transgression occurred within us in the first place.

7:11 - Godly sorrow brings earnestness, eagerness, indignation, alarm, longing, concern and a desire to see justice done. If you do not experience these in connection with your repentance it may be you are just sorry, but not in a godly and fruitful way.

8:2 - In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity, - WOW! What a verse. I wish it could be said of us. The worse the economy gets the greater our joy should be because we are not from this place and our hope becomes richer as we are reminded that this world has nothing for us. Our difficulty financially ought to remind us of our eternal hope in Jesus and cause us to give BIGGER! When we can't give in difficult times it says something about where our faith truly lies.

8:3 - They gave BEYOND their ability. Beyond. They knew what they could handle and they gave more. That is some serious faith and some serious love. We have to be careful not just to give what we can. Grace gives BIG and BEYOND!

8:4 - the privilege of sharing - Wouldn't it be awesome if we all saw it this way? God gives us the privilege of joining with Him. It is like a multi-billionaire inviting you into a business with him. God invites us into changing eternity with Him and we get all uptight about it. It is a gift and an opportunity. We should take our two nickels, our hundreds of thousands of dollars or whatever we have and join with God in what He is doing. We should give as those who feel highly blessed to even be invited to give towards what God is doing. How we must insult God with the way we give at times.

8:5 - having given themselves first of all to the Lord, - Money is not the issue and yet you can see the issue through money. We are to give ourselves FIRST to God and if we do it shows through how we give.

8:6 - Giving is an act of grace.

8:7 - ...see that you also excel in this grace of giving. - HA! I can just see our hearts screeching to a halt at the word excel. I think many of us want to just get a passing grade when it comes to giving. We don't have any intention of being an A+ giver. C- will do just fine.

8:12 - for if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. - The beauty in partnering with god is that the amount is never the issue. God is pleased when we give our tithes and offerings from what we have. 10% is within the reach of every follower of Christ where $1,000,000 wouldn't be. god says, "Let me make it easy for you. No matter what you make give me the first 10%, that way all of you can be a part of this." Every one of us has the power to obey this teaching.

8:13 - The goal of Paul's comments was equality. He wanted each person to do their part. It is funny how many people withhold because they are concerned others won't do their part. If we would be faithful to give what God has called and instructed us to give and not worry about others things would change dynamically. Our gift is to God and He can make even a few fish and some bread given faithfully be enough for thousands. Our hearts is the issue and God loves a cheerful giver.

8:15 - Paul uses an illustration that speaks volumes. He likens giving for the Corinthians to the deal with manna in the desert. If you don't know that story, the the Israelites were in the desert and didn't have any food. They cried out to God and He answered them with bread that they named manna (literally what is it?). God's instruction was to gather a certain amount each day, no more and no saving it for other days except for the day before the Sabbath. They could collect 2 times as much on Friday and it would not rot. The teaching was and is dependence on God. Paul uses the same analogy. We need to trust that God's provision is enough and know that if we do it God's way it will be okay. So many people do not give because they fear they will go without. god has made a promise and proven Himself over and over through thousands of years of human history. god blesses faithful giving and He does not let the faithful go hungry or in need. A lot of our financial troubles occur because we do not trust god so we do not give faithfully. We have a million reasons, but it is a trust issue. God has promised to provide for our every need if we will put Him first. As you give in faith you will not go without.

Love,
Michael

2 Corinthians 5-6

2009-08-01T07:59:00.002-06:00

5:2 - Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, - When was the last time you groaned waiting for heaven? It is so easy to get so caught up in this life that heaven is a nice thought, but not a longing. I pray that we can get to the place where we long for heaven like we long for food when we are hungry or a drink when we are thirsty. If we could live content with what God has given us and discontent (in a good way) until we reach heaven it would change our hearts and the outcome of our lives.

5:5 - Now the one who has fashioned is for this very purpose is God, - I love verses that remind us that God has personally and intimately created us for His very purposes. The word fashion reminds me of someone intricately working a piece of wood. God intricately designed you for His specific purposes.

5:7 - We live by faith, not by sight. - The unfortunate truth of our lives is we live by sight when we should live by faith. We live by what we see and understand and know. God has called us to live in faith. The picture I have always gotten is that while our eye sight only allows us to see a few feet ahead, we walk confidently and steadily trusting that God sees far ahead.

5:10 - Everyone will face a judgment based on what they have done and how they have lived. The Bible says that those without Jesus will be judged for rejecting Him and they will have to deal with the penalty for their own sin and those who walk in Christ will be saved, but will be judged based on how they lived that saved life. I fear there are many Christians who will have a hard time as the enter Heaven because they did not take the responsibility of this Christian life seriously.

5:11 - Because we fear/revere God we try to persuade people to walk with Jesus. If we are not trying to persuade people it may be that we do not revere God at the proper level.

5:14 - for Christ's love compels us... - If we aren't compelled to share Christ than are we really living in and exercising Christ's love?

5:15 - And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. - I am amazed at how deeply selfish living has its hooks in some of us. I think we think selfishness is a problem for the weak or immature. In reality, selfishness is so deeply ingrained in most of us that we don't even realize how selfish we are. We sit back thinking we serve and give and love all the time when in reality we have hearts that see ourselves first and get mad at every inconvenience.

5:16 - So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. - Are you here yet?

5:18 - God has given us the ministry of reconciliation. It is a privilege and a responsibility that every Christian has. We are called, invited and expected to be those who work hard to reconcile people to God. notice it doesn't just say to get them baptized or to say a prayer. We are called to help them reconcile people to God. This takes a lot more time and effort, but God is looking for disciples and not just decisions.

5:21 - God made him who had no sin to be sin (the sin offering) for us, SO THAT we might become the righteousness of God. - Beautiful verse.

6:1 - We have to be careful not to receive God's grace in vain.

6:11 - ...opened wide our hearts to you. - Those of us who lead need to open wide our hearts to our people. We can't see it as us and them. We need to open our hearts wide!!!!

6:14 - do not be yoked together with unbelievers. - Don't be tied to someone who isn't tied to Jesus. Watch your relationships so that you don't let one grow that is going to draw you away from your faith in the long run.

6:17 - Come out from them and be separate... - We have to live separate. Our culture says to make our faith, our lives and our churches as much like the world as possible. But what does this verse say about that? There is a balance between reaching the world and mingling with the world.

Love, Michael

2 Corinthians 4

2009-07-31T10:40:00.002-06:00

4:1 - Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. - This is awesome. Read this verse and then read verse 16. This whole chapter is an explanation of why we do not lose heart. It is a definition and a game-plan for how to think and process when you feel like you are at the end of your rope.

4:2 - ...by setting forth the truth plainly... - I have shared with many of my close friends that there is a culture in Christianity that says we need to be so creative we almost trick people into following Jesus without really knowing what they are doing. We use so much stuff (coffee, drama, architecture, music, etc.), not that those things are inherently bad, that they never really get to meet Jesus. I am all for creativity and engagement, but we have to put things in the right order. First, we PLAINLY set forth the truth. We help people see what is the essence of what we are teaching and who is the source and foundation of this truth. We clearly tell people about Jesus and the call to live a life surrendered to Him. Then, and only then, do we add the creative elements. If we would start with truth and add creativity instead of starting with a dancing bear who can juggle and then trying to slip in some Jesus we would be a lot more effective and God would be a lot more honored.

4:4 - The god of this age goes around blinding people. That is his goal, his purpose, his strategy. He convinces us of lies and skews the way we see things until we can't see goodness, or peace or hope or joy. A great prayer to combat this is to pray God, please keep falsehood and lies far from me. Help me live inside of your truth, which is truth.

4:7 - But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. - It is interesting how God works. He allows us to be involved, but He makes sure we do not go off on our own to help. God is a God of relationship and so He wants to keep us with Him and not just for Him. He allows us to be broken and weak so that we stay close and so that others will see Him. We are not a deep enough source to get people where they need to be, but He is. If we stay broken and cracked and glued together than there is more room for God to shine through. Be careful not to work towards so much competence that you no longer rely on God. God moves the most, it seems, through those who stay the most open to Him. many of us have tried so hard to help we have made it hard for others to see God.

4:8-9 - Pushed, but not pushed beyond what God can enable us to endure.

4:13 - ... we also believe and therefore speak, - True faith speaks to others about Jesus. If you do not speak about Christ with the lost and the found alike, do you really, truly believe?

4:15 - Grace should cause thanksgiving to overflow. When we receive the gift of eternal life that we do not deserve (grace) it should cause us to be thankful in every circumstance and to overflow, spill over, flood the streets with thanksgiving.

4:16 - ...being renewed day by day. - A promise form God that He will renew you each day.

4:17 - For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. - Love this verse. Our troubles really are light and momentary in the bigger picture. We see them as huge when they are just close. It is like a stop sign and the sun. The stop sign can seem SO BIG because of how close it is to us that we forget the truth size of the sun. We can become convinced that the stop sign (or problem) is bigger than God. How silly. We worship to remember the true size of God so that when the stop sign is close we aren't fooled.

4:18 - What we see is temporary. Be careful not to entrust yourself to something that is melting. If you had the chance to stand on a Rock or an iceberg which would you choose? Your reality, and mine, are icebergs - they are temporary. Stand on the Rock no matter what it seems like is happening around you and you will never lose your footing.

Love you all, Michael

2 Corinthians 2-3

2009-07-30T07:52:00.002-06:00

2:4 - It is okay to show emotion to show the depth and extent of your love. It may freak some people out, but it blesses others. I recently expressed my frustration with the group of Christians I work with. It freaked some of them out and they left, some of them decided to withhold their offering (never understood that) and others thanked me for being honest. The effect was it hurt the overall attendance and giving, but it helped me and others see what we could do to change things. There is a balance here. Our culture freaks out any time someone truly expresses emotion, but as long as we have to pretend everything is okay we miss out on truly knowing each other and truly growing together. Wise (I might have messed this part up) sharing of how you feel can grow you and others in a mighty way.

2:7 - Now instead you ought to forgive and comfort him, SO THAT he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. - In the 1st letter to the Corinthians church there was a man who had been sleeping with his step-mom. Paul rebuked him and the church for putting up with it. He had told them that since the man refused to repent he should be kicked out of the church so that he understood how serious the situation was. Apparently the eventually listened to Paul and kicked the man out. But then they kind of left him there. In this 2nd letter to them Paul says that now it is time to try to restore the man. We have to be willing to quickly and completely obey God, but we have to be careful not to become so overzealous that we forget to understand the intent. In this case it was to lead the man to repentance not to punish him.

2:11 - Satan actively tries to outwit us and we need to be aware of his schemes. I am so amazed at how many times this concept comes up in the Bible. There is an active enemy trying to disrupt, discourage and dissuade us from moving forward and it is not enough to just endure it. We need to be fully aware of how he works so that we can take our stand and help others take their stand against him. We need to study the Scriptures to see the devices and schemes he uses and then plan against them. On a battlefield lives are at risk, but here it is so much more - it is souls!

2:12-13 - peace of mind - I am absolutely blown away here. Paul says God had opened a door for him, but since he didn't have peace of mind he went somewhere else. I think we have this wrong thought that if there is an open door in front of us we should take it even if we aren't settled in our hearts and minds about it. I am not saying we shouldn't overcome fear, but if we are in a situation, even a good one, and we do not have the peace of Christ about it, we need to ask Jesus where that peace is and go find it. Peace is way too important to live without. Jesus came so that we can have peace so if your faith isn't bringing peace you need to run to God and ask Him why.

2:15 - For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. - I used this verse when I preached at my parents' funeral. They truly epitomized people who brought Jesus with them wherever they went. They weren't super-spiritual people, but real people who love Jesus and loved people. The grace people experienced near and through them was Jesus. We are the aroma of Christ to those who need to be encouraged and those who need to find Christ. How do you smell today?

3:5 - Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.

3:12 - Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. - Your HOPE should cause your boldness and not just your personality or your opinions or your status. When we truly understand what/who our hope is in it causes a passion to rise within us. We can conqueror kings, take back cities and confront friends with the truth.

3:14/16 - The veil that keeps people blinded can only be removed through Jesus.

3:17 - ...where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. - If you don't feel free you are probably not living like Jesus intends. If you feel trapped by money, fear, depression, anxiety, anger, hopelessness, whatever you are most likely trying to receive God's peace and freedom your own way. God has promised that where He is there IS FREEDOM.

Love, Michael

2 Corinthians 1

2009-07-29T14:19:00.002-06:00

Man, I started 2nd Corinthians today and it totally spoke to me. It has so much to say about where I am at right now and what God is doing in my life and the church here. Good stuff!

1:2 - Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. - If you are walking with God you should be experiencing and extending grace and experiencing and bringing peace to others. If those two things don't represent your life and what your life does for others you are not where God wants you. Make a change in your belief, your actions, your location, your attitude. Do something, but everywhere God is there is grace and peace. Everywhere.

1:3-4 - ...the Father of all compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in our troubles, SO THAT we can comfort those in ANY trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. - God has promised to comfort us in any and all circumstances. I can testify to this. When my mom and dad were killed by a drunk one Saturday morning in 2001 I would have thought there was no way to ever live and breathe again. It sucked the wind right out of my soul. And yet, because God is full of grace and my life is in His hands He comforted me to the place where I can not only breathe again, but offer air to others who are hurting. God comforts us SO THAT we can comfort others. He has empowered us to reach-out to others and help them. It isn't about having the right answer. It is about knowing God. Sometimes all you can say is nothing. Sometimes just comfort is all there is to offer - an arm around a shoulder, a prayer, a walk, a note. Wherever you have been comforted by God go out and comfort others there. It is your God-designed ministry opportunity.

1:7 - Our hope for you is firm... - I love this!

1:8-10 - far beyond our ability to endure...this happened THAT we might not rely on ourselves but on God...He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On HIM we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us.- WOW! If you are reading this and you are form The Oasis you can see truth all through this. We stand in the middle of this verse right now. We have found ourselves at a really tough place financially and yet I believe we have been allowed to get here so that we quit relying on ourselves and our money and our effort and even our people and start relying on God. God longs for us to wait for Him and He has promised that if we will He will bless us in ways unimaginable. We have indeed set out hope on Him to deliver us and HE WILL!

1:18 - But as surely as God is faithful... - I love how Paul uses God as an illustration like we would the sun. We might say, "As surely as the sun rises each day..." God is so faithful that He is the best illustration of faithfulness. Even better than the sun, moon and stars. Now that is a faithful God!

1:20 - For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. - I love this. Every promise God has ever made is a yes in Jesus. Jesus multiplies the promises. I know that sometimes we are really hesitant to look at the promises God has made because some people have abused that idea and said God promised them a Cadillac or whatever. But, every promise God has made is yes to us in Jesus. The promise of hope - YES! The promise of healing - YES! The promise that we will be provided for - YES! God says YES!!!!

Proverbs 30-31

2009-07-28T08:24:00.002-06:00

30:1 - I am weary, God, but I can prevail. - Cool verse. Being weary is not a sin, but failing to hold out hope and remember who your God is when you are weary is.

30:5 - Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. - The first part of this verse is great, but the second part really resonates with me. God is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. If we do not run to God for our protection, provision and answers than how can He shield us? It is our job to run to the source instead of trying really hard to figure it out on our own. I believe God longs to bless His church and every follower of Jesus, but we have to learn to go to Him. You do not have because you do not ask.

30:8 - Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty or riches, but give me only my daily bread. - I have prayed the first part of this verse for me, my family, my brothers and sisters, my elders, my staff for several weeks now and it has made a HUGE impact. Asking God to keep lies away so we can see the truth has helped me to develop better relationships, to avoid sin and to stay on track. I love that he says, only my daily bread. We need to pray for our needs and let God take care of our wants.

30:12 - those who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not cleansed of their filth. - God, I pray that we are never those who are pure in our own eyes and yet are still covered in filth. Help us be an honest people who is pure and cleansed in your eyes and by your hand.

30:20 - This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, "I've done nothing wrong."

30:33 - For as churning cream produces butter and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife. - If you do not want difficulty in your life than do not stir up anger. Don;t have conversations with people about subjects you know will make them mad. Don;t talk politics with them if you know it angers them. Don't ask about a person or situation if you know it is going to set them off. How many times do we mess up our lives and others lives by stirring the pot? God says that just as certain is the natural process that produces butter or bloody noses, if you don't leave things that antagonize alone you will bring trouble to your life and the lives of others.

31:8-9 - Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. - This should be one of the rallying cries of every Christian. With Christ as our banner and guide we should stand up for those who are forgotten, marginalized and walked on. We spend so much time either jaded at those who really aren't in need or filling every need, that we often forget to take care of real needs.

31:10-31 - Paints a picture of a wife of noble character. This should never be used by a husband to speak harshly against his wife. It should be a great job description for a wife to work towards. If a man comments on this at all it ought to be to encourage his wife in how she is doing what a godly wife does.

31:27 - She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. - This is beautiful to see. When my wife is managing our household with wisdom and grace our whole family lives in great peace.

31:30 - Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. - When was the last time you praised your wife? They hear all day long how they are not thin enough, pretty enough, sexy enough, nice enough....enough. When was the last time you thanked her for her faithfulness, hard work, love, mercy, laughter, joy?

Proverbs 29

2009-07-27T08:03:00.002-06:00

29:7 - The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern. - Those of us who want to be called one of God need to remember that He cares deeply for those who are genuinely poor and in need. When we care, and by care I mean do something and not just feel something (James 2) we show the heart of God to them. And, when we do not do anything for those truly in need we prove to have bad fruit and therefore have parts of our life that are not transformed by Jesus.

29:11 - Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end. - We need to learn that blowing off steam is an act for the foolish and not the wise. The wise brings peace because they do not let their emotions rule them. The truth be told, many of us blow up because we haven't had the courage to deal with our issues as they came along and they built to a point we couldn't handle them any more. True wisdom has the courage to confront instead of waiting until we have had enough.

29:15 - A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom, but children left to themselves disgrace their mother. - When we let our kids dictate their own paths we lead them to death. Our kids need guided, corrected and led.

29:21 - A servant pampered from youth will turn out to be insolent. - I have seen this to be true in my own life. When I have hired people and pampered them by giving them too much up front it hasn't worked out. There is something about treating a servant well, but still helping them work hard that benefits everybody.

29:26 - Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the Lord that one gets justice. - Good reminder that all things (justice, provision, healing, etc) come from the hand of God. If we would entrust ourselves to the King of Heaven we would be well on our way to the best things in life.

Love, Michael

Proverbs 27-28

2009-07-26T05:47:00.002-06:00

27:2 - Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.

27:5 - Better is open rebuke than hidden love. - Proper rebuke saves. hidden love lets someone go to destruction because we are more concerned with ourselves than we are with them. When we confront for the sake of the other person's soul we show a tremendous love. A love that would put itself in an uncomfortable spot for the sake of someone else. Sounds like a description of the Cross to me.

27:10 - Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family, and do not go to your relative's house when disaster strikes you - better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away. - When my parents were killed by a drunk driver I ran to my family. There was nothing wrong with that. The problem was I never let the people I was ministering to in Bayfield minister to me. I stayed hidden with my family for a month and then decided to simply stay there. The good people of Bayfield never got a chance to minister to me and my family and it hurt them. It was wrong of me to do that. As hard is it may seem, there is tremendous truth in this passage.

27:17 - As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

27:18 - Those who guard a fig tree will eat its fruit, and those who protect their masters will be honored. - The timing of this verse is really interesting to me. My wife just ordered a book on praying for your leaders. I take this verse to mean that when protect our leaders through prayer (and other ways) we benefit from it. When we do the hard work of lifting them up to god everybody, including us, benefits.

27:12b - ...but people are tested by their praise. - True. I have seen this play out many times.

27:23-27 - For elders.

28:1b - ...the righteous are as bold as a lion. - I have times when I am and times when I'm not. My boldness because of Jesus is a great witness. I need to work hard to stay bold in my asking and living so it honors Him.

28:9 - If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable. - This is not taught much any more. Most places and most Christians teach that God listens to every prayer. The truth that I have found in the Bible is that God listens to the righteous and God listens to the prayer of confession from a sinner turning back to Him. God does not listen to those who do not submit to Him in relationship.

28:13 - Those who conceal their sins do not prosper, but those who confess and renounce them find mercy.

28:14 - Blessed are those who always tremble before God, but those who harden their hearts fall into trouble. - WOW! Love this verse. I see a total application to worship. If the thought of God causes us reverent fear and passionate worship we are good, but if we can sing without being affected by God than we are on our way to trouble.

28:19 - Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty. - There have been times in ministry when I have chased fantasies rather than working the land and it has indeed led to spiritual poverty for individuals, the church and ministry poverty for me. Always do the work that will produce fruit. never stop to do some other "good work." If you can't disciple and... than don't do the and. If you can't share Christ regularly and... than don't do the and. If you can't grow as a follower of Jesus and... than don't do the and.

28:26 - Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.

28:27a - Those who give to the poor will lack nothing,... - I am more and more convinced that this is a principle we need to keep in front of us. If we would make it our passion to love god and take care of the poor and those in real need, I believe god would continue to pour provision on us.

Love, Michael

Proverbs 25-26

2009-07-25T10:06:00.002-06:00

25:9 - Do not betray a confidence, even when you are trying to win an argument. So many times we throw other people under the bus so we can win. that shows a real lack of integrity and trust. If you can't entrust your cause to God while protecting those who have spoken in confidence to you, than your case is not as righteous as you think.

25:14 - Like clouds and wind without rain is one who boasts of gifts never given. - This is really true.

25:19 - Like a broken tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in a time if trouble. - True again.

25:26 - Like a muddied spring or a polluted well are the righteous who give way to the wicked. - never give way to the wicked. Never just get tired of fighting and let the wicked run away with your group or church or community.

25:28 - Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control. - The wall broken down meant there was no longer any sense of security or peace. The enemy could come in at any moment and destroy. Live with self-control and you will live with safety and therefore peace. This affects the leaders among us just as much as the followers. We have to learn and develop a life of self-control and self-discipline or we are like rulers protecting the gap who let the enemy in because we are weak or unwilling to do the hard work of changing our own lives.

26:7-9 - This is a reminder of why we should be careful when we speak proverbs.

26:20 - Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down. - People tend to be like carriers. someone speaks words that will injure or kill and we choose whether we take it ourselves or whether we pass it on to another. When someone says something that isn't glorify to God let it die with you. Why tell even one more person. All that does is continue the disease. how many times have we experienced someone saying something stupid and we tell others. All that does is increase the injury the the person who said it and to the hearts of the people you tell.

26:28 - A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin. - Lying and flattery are brothers, not distant cousins. They are one in the same. If you flatter (speaks words that aren't true) or let people off the hook when you needed to speak words that were true to them, you lead them to ruin.

Michael