Good Saturday morning! Nothing like starting the weekend with the Word!
Methodists didn’t start the practice of eating together :) :Leviticus 22:17-23:44
Cut off your hand: Mark 9:30-10:12
I do not trust in my bow: Psalm 44:1-8
Shut up -- talk is sinful: Proverbs 10:19
Jesus is really cool in His ability to give everybody a chance to be the greatest. If you think about it, much of society, especially in Jesus’ day, lifts up only the individuals who are privileged to being born in the best family or to gain the most wealth. The disciples thought of Jesus as a ruler who had yet to gain the throne, much like David. David, Jesus’ earthly ancestor, had been anointed as king for a long time before he made it to the throne and ruled as king. Jesus’ disciples were jockeying for position to be among Jesus’ highest nobles once Jesus ascended to the throne. Of course, Jesus knew that He would never become a king in an earthly way. He had to tell the disciples how to become great in eternal ways, because Jesus’ kingdom is an eternal one, not an earthly one.
I don’t care what family you were born into. I don’t care how much money you have. I don’t care what color your skin is. I don’t care if you’re a cute thing or if you’re as ugly as toe jam. If you want to be among the greatest in the eternal kingdom you must be a servant to others. That’s the condition to being great in Jesus’ kingdom. Being great in Jesus’ kingdom means LILYMI (Living It Like Ya Mean It), especially the parts about loving God & loving your neighbor.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
February 27, 2009
February 27
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February 26
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Though it is difficult to understand many of the ceremonial laws we read about in Leviticus I believe there is a principle to take home that is summed up in 19:2 'Be Holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.' Jesus himself has fulfilled the sacrificial laws and is therefore our way of holiness and salvation. We are clean because we believe and follow after Christ.
In Mark there are some great descriptions of who Jesus is. Over today and yesterday's readings we receive Peter confessing Jesus as the Christ, then Jesus predicting that he will have to be given over to death. Peter is not happy about this and after confessing him as the Christ he is now harshly rebuked for giving up faith on the Messiah's mission. Then there is the event of the transfiguration. Though Jesus has emptied himself of his glory in becoming a servant, for a moment the disciples are reminded of his true glory. Jesus then shows his authority over evil spirits. The point of all this? Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah, is on a mission in this world to set us and the world to rights... He invites us into this mission.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Feb. 25 (Ash Wednesday) - Demons are Wusses
Aunt Bertha looks really hot, but: Leviticus 16:29-18:30
Spit of speech: Mark 7:24-8:10
Blessed is he who has regard for the weak: Psalm 41:1-13
Income tax, spiritual style: Proverbs 10:15-16
A friend of mine once commented about the teachings in Leviticus 18 years ago when we were in our late twenties. He said, “It’s hard to imagine that God even had to tell the Israelites not to do these things.” :)
One has to wonder what was said by the mute man whom Jesus healed (Mark 7:31-35). Maybe it was, “Thanks, Jesus. It’s way cool to be able to speak again! But next time, can You just put Your hand on my lips instead of spitting on my tongue?” :)
The story in Mark 7:24-30 gets to me. First, some Bible geek information: Mark wrote what we call “The Book of Mark” to the Romans. I think everybody in our youth group is non-Jewish. Mark is showing us that even though Christianity has a lot of ties to Judaism (the religion of Jews – the Old Testament), Christianity is not just for the Israelites. The woman who had a demon-possessed daughter was Greek. At first it seems like Jesus’ response to her request was a way of Him saying that He was a bit racist and wanted to keep His miracles & teachings to only the Israelites. But I believe He knew that she would be able to provide a lesson experience for the many people in the house. This was a glaring example that Jesus came for all of us, including us Gentiles (non-Israelites)!
Look also at what was vexing the woman – the fact that her daughter was demon possessed. Some people find an interest with what they think powers from Hell can bring into their lives. Do Satan and his demons exist? Yes. But don’t become fascinated with the defeated. Jesus has dominion over demons. The One to get excited about is Jesus. Satan & his lot are a bunch of wusses.
Spit of speech: Mark 7:24-8:10
Blessed is he who has regard for the weak: Psalm 41:1-13
Income tax, spiritual style: Proverbs 10:15-16
A friend of mine once commented about the teachings in Leviticus 18 years ago when we were in our late twenties. He said, “It’s hard to imagine that God even had to tell the Israelites not to do these things.” :)
One has to wonder what was said by the mute man whom Jesus healed (Mark 7:31-35). Maybe it was, “Thanks, Jesus. It’s way cool to be able to speak again! But next time, can You just put Your hand on my lips instead of spitting on my tongue?” :)
The story in Mark 7:24-30 gets to me. First, some Bible geek information: Mark wrote what we call “The Book of Mark” to the Romans. I think everybody in our youth group is non-Jewish. Mark is showing us that even though Christianity has a lot of ties to Judaism (the religion of Jews – the Old Testament), Christianity is not just for the Israelites. The woman who had a demon-possessed daughter was Greek. At first it seems like Jesus’ response to her request was a way of Him saying that He was a bit racist and wanted to keep His miracles & teachings to only the Israelites. But I believe He knew that she would be able to provide a lesson experience for the many people in the house. This was a glaring example that Jesus came for all of us, including us Gentiles (non-Israelites)!
Look also at what was vexing the woman – the fact that her daughter was demon possessed. Some people find an interest with what they think powers from Hell can bring into their lives. Do Satan and his demons exist? Yes. But don’t become fascinated with the defeated. Jesus has dominion over demons. The One to get excited about is Jesus. Satan & his lot are a bunch of wusses.
Monday, February 23, 2009
February 24 (Tuesday) - Mouthing Off
Scapegoating: Leviticus 15:1-16:28
What comes out of the mouth: Mark 7:1-23
I am poor and needy: Psalm 40:11-17
Mouth of a fool: Proverbs 10:13-14
Keep in mind that not everything Jesus said & did was written down in the gospels. Of all the things of Jesus Mark knew about, he decided that this was important enough to be written down.
Think about all the junk that comes out of our mouths. Jesus wasn’t lying when He said that it’s what comes out of our mouth that defiles us.
Now before you start saying that it doesn’t apply to today, that times have changed, yada-yada – think again. People like to say that our world has changed too much to live godly lives, including with our mouths, in today’s time. Those people don’t know much about the Roman empire.
Mark wrote his gospel primarily for the Romans. Their lifestyles were about as decadent as 21st century Americans. It’s safe to say that if the Romans were expected to watch their mouths, we are too.
What comes out of the mouth: Mark 7:1-23
I am poor and needy: Psalm 40:11-17
Mouth of a fool: Proverbs 10:13-14
Keep in mind that not everything Jesus said & did was written down in the gospels. Of all the things of Jesus Mark knew about, he decided that this was important enough to be written down.
Think about all the junk that comes out of our mouths. Jesus wasn’t lying when He said that it’s what comes out of our mouth that defiles us.
Now before you start saying that it doesn’t apply to today, that times have changed, yada-yada – think again. People like to say that our world has changed too much to live godly lives, including with our mouths, in today’s time. Those people don’t know much about the Roman empire.
Mark wrote his gospel primarily for the Romans. Their lifestyles were about as decadent as 21st century Americans. It’s safe to say that if the Romans were expected to watch their mouths, we are too.
February 23rd (Monday) - How to Make Fast Food
The best mildew removal system: Leviticus 14:1-57
Jesus teaches the disciples the art of fast food: Mark 6:30-56
I proclaim Your righteousness: Psalm 40:1-10
Love conquers all wrongs: Proverbs 10:11-12
In today’s passage from Mark, there were lots of hungry folks & not one McDonald’s in sight. The solution is simple to Jesus. In verse 37 He told the disciples, “You give them something to eat.” The disciples responded like He was demanding the impossible from them.
That’s an absurd response when you think about what the disciples had just done. I didn’t mention it in yesterday’s post, but the disciples had just gone out with no food, money, or extra clothes and preached to the lost, healed the sick, & cast out demons (Mark 6:6-12). You’d think at some point they’d realize that anything is possible with Jesus.
Now that I’ve stepped on the disciples toes it’s time to step on my own. I gotta quit doubting my abilities to do my part in the great commission of taking His word to others & helping the needy. These things seem impossible to do, but they shouldn’t seem impossible to me. It wasn’t too long ago that I had the seemingly impossible hurdle of fighting for custody of my sons: that thing men just don’t win at. But the Lord brought them home to me. I shouldn’t have worried then, because before that I was healed from epilepsy: something I’d heard from doctors for over a decade that there was no way to cure. I worried about that one too, but I shouldn’t have. Because when I was 16 my brakes went out in my car and the Lord saved my friend & me by having my car squeeze through a tiny space that it’s impossible to squeeze a car through, much less a 1974 Lincoln Continental Mark IV. :) You’d think after all of that it’d be easy to trust the Lord with what He commanded us to do.
The key is where almost all of us fail. It’s in the 2nd sentence in the above paragraph, where I base my doubts on “my abilities”. That’s just it. It’s not my abilities or your abilities that causes the impossible to happen. Almost every Christian makes this mistake.
If we want the folks in our town to get crazy for Jesus, if we want demons (of which there are many) to be cast out, if we want the sick to be healed, and if we want the hungry fed then we have to trust Jesus to give us the ability. If He told us to do to it, then He can make it happen through us.
Jesus teaches the disciples the art of fast food: Mark 6:30-56
I proclaim Your righteousness: Psalm 40:1-10
Love conquers all wrongs: Proverbs 10:11-12
In today’s passage from Mark, there were lots of hungry folks & not one McDonald’s in sight. The solution is simple to Jesus. In verse 37 He told the disciples, “You give them something to eat.” The disciples responded like He was demanding the impossible from them.
That’s an absurd response when you think about what the disciples had just done. I didn’t mention it in yesterday’s post, but the disciples had just gone out with no food, money, or extra clothes and preached to the lost, healed the sick, & cast out demons (Mark 6:6-12). You’d think at some point they’d realize that anything is possible with Jesus.
Now that I’ve stepped on the disciples toes it’s time to step on my own. I gotta quit doubting my abilities to do my part in the great commission of taking His word to others & helping the needy. These things seem impossible to do, but they shouldn’t seem impossible to me. It wasn’t too long ago that I had the seemingly impossible hurdle of fighting for custody of my sons: that thing men just don’t win at. But the Lord brought them home to me. I shouldn’t have worried then, because before that I was healed from epilepsy: something I’d heard from doctors for over a decade that there was no way to cure. I worried about that one too, but I shouldn’t have. Because when I was 16 my brakes went out in my car and the Lord saved my friend & me by having my car squeeze through a tiny space that it’s impossible to squeeze a car through, much less a 1974 Lincoln Continental Mark IV. :) You’d think after all of that it’d be easy to trust the Lord with what He commanded us to do.
The key is where almost all of us fail. It’s in the 2nd sentence in the above paragraph, where I base my doubts on “my abilities”. That’s just it. It’s not my abilities or your abilities that causes the impossible to happen. Almost every Christian makes this mistake.
If we want the folks in our town to get crazy for Jesus, if we want demons (of which there are many) to be cast out, if we want the sick to be healed, and if we want the hungry fed then we have to trust Jesus to give us the ability. If He told us to do to it, then He can make it happen through us.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
February 22nd (Sunday) -- Quarantining Cooties
Quarantining Cooties: Leviticus 13:1-59
Would you like fries & a drink with that head? Mark 6:1-29
Mouth Muzzle: Psalm 39:1-13
Winking and Chattering: Proverbs 10:10
That was a pretty cool retreat up at Camp Sumatunga! I hope everybody who went had as good a time as I did.
The teaching in Leviticus 13 seems pretty harsh. If you’ve got cooties you’ve got to stay away from everybody else. And stuff a dead person falls on has to be destroyed (that was back in Leviticus 11:33).
Has anybody ever heard of Louis Pasteur or Robert Koch? In 1876 they individually (unknown to each other) demonstrated that contagion (an infection on someone) could be passed from person to person. Until then, the western world didn’t understand things like germs.
But God did! The earliest evidence of sanitary practices & public health is found in the first 5 books of the Bible. What to many people seemed like a bunch of Jewish religious hooey turned out to prevent the Jews from having many of the devastating plagues that hit other nations, most notably Egypt. Just because they didn’t understand why God told them to do these things doesn’t mean they shouldn’t do them. These practices saved many lives.
Fast forward to the 21st century. We have to trust God & do what He says. To do otherwise would be foolish, especially when we have history to use for wisdom in today’s world.
Would you like fries & a drink with that head? Mark 6:1-29
Mouth Muzzle: Psalm 39:1-13
Winking and Chattering: Proverbs 10:10
That was a pretty cool retreat up at Camp Sumatunga! I hope everybody who went had as good a time as I did.
The teaching in Leviticus 13 seems pretty harsh. If you’ve got cooties you’ve got to stay away from everybody else. And stuff a dead person falls on has to be destroyed (that was back in Leviticus 11:33).
Has anybody ever heard of Louis Pasteur or Robert Koch? In 1876 they individually (unknown to each other) demonstrated that contagion (an infection on someone) could be passed from person to person. Until then, the western world didn’t understand things like germs.
But God did! The earliest evidence of sanitary practices & public health is found in the first 5 books of the Bible. What to many people seemed like a bunch of Jewish religious hooey turned out to prevent the Jews from having many of the devastating plagues that hit other nations, most notably Egypt. Just because they didn’t understand why God told them to do these things doesn’t mean they shouldn’t do them. These practices saved many lives.
Fast forward to the 21st century. We have to trust God & do what He says. To do otherwise would be foolish, especially when we have history to use for wisdom in today’s world.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Links for the Weekend
Hope to see everyone at the retreat who will be there!
February 19
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February 20
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February 21
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