Psalm 39:4–5 (NIV84)

4 “Show me, O Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. 5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man’s life is but a breath.         

The question, "What is important in life", is answered more proficiently when you face a family passing. All of a sudden what is important in life becomes clear. It is not the clothing style you have, nor the car you drive. It is not the material wealth you amass nor is it the notoriety that you have attained. It is not how smart you are or any of your accomplishments. When someone close to you passes to the next realm, all of a sudden, all of those things matter little, if at all.

What we are left with is God and each other. Only love matters. The love of friends, the love of family and the love from God. When you are in the throes of grief, how fast your car is or how many square feet your house is doesn't matter. In fact, ask anyone who has lost someone too soon and they would tell you that they would give it all up in a second to have that child, spouse or loved one back.

I think giving it up is a good idea. Maybe we could do that. I am not saying we should lack fashion, drop out of school and drive a beater, but let love rule! The time we have to love is to be utilized. Love is our heartbeat. Love deeply. Love often. Love through the hard times. Let love win out in your decision making. Recalibrate your life today to love those close to you, hold them, encourage them and call out the gold in them. Let love be the filter that every decision passes through. Now go hug and kiss your loved ones and tell them how much they mean to you!

It's funny how we read the Bible sometimes. I am reading Romans 1 & 2 today seeing how much Paul loved, how incredible God's love is for us, how the good news, which we are supposed to be preaching, is about God accepting people. Then there is the part about God's kindness drawing men to himself. I do see the other Spirit-breathed verses, but today I am struck by the goodness of God.

I love the fact that Paul wants to come and impart something spiritual to them. We can argue about the phrase "spiritual gift", but the point remains he wants to come and give them something. In turn he wants to receive something. There is this mutual encouragement that is spoken about. How about that. When we get together, give something away to encourage and be ready and even expect to receive something.

I am concerned that we have created a gathering of receive something rather than give something in the church today. As a pastor I want to give something, and I really don't expect to receive anything. I think my thinking is not well thought through. Why not? Why not create a culture that any given gathering, you walk away blessed, encouraged, prayed for or built up. I'm all in for that!

About ten or so years ago, maybe more, there was much said about the five-fold ministries. The church model had become a Moses model. The pastor was put in the number one spot and expected to lead as Moses lead. However we see in the New Testament a different model. One of shared leadership. The pastor is still vitally important but others are important as well. We get a glimpse of that here in Acts 13.

Acts 13:1–2 (NIV84) — 1 In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

There is within pastors the desire to be the solo helmsman. It is easier. They want to be the one to make the final decisions for the church. There is something to be said for that, but here the pastor is absent and the prophets and teachers are center stage. I guess you could look at this passage differently but the Lord spoke to me today and told me how much I needed the prophets and teachers. Only one person can actually move the rudder of a ship. It is a silly picture to have 5 people on the wheel. However there are other important jobs like navigation, engineering, even managing the crew. I think of prophets like navigators. They are vital to go in the right direction towards your destination. Navigators arise! Captains, listen to your navigator!

There is another key in this passage. They were gathered. Worshipping. Fasting. Listening for the Holy Spirit's directions. There was no power struggle. Just a desire to see God's will done. I think they knew that was the best way to see God's Kingdom come. 

John 3:3 (NIV84) — 3 In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

I learned that verse in Sunday School. People would ask you if you were born again when I was young. The Greek reads more like, "born from above". What is amazing to me is that people who are born from above, who have given their lives to Christ, fail to see and experience the "above". What I mean is that the promise here isn't reserved for after death alone, it is "seeing" the Kingdom of God. To see (in the Greek) is to perceive, to experience, to become aware of. It means much more than viewing with the eye. Maybe that is why we have packaged this verse with the others, the until we get to heaven verses. Yet, that is not the context nor the meaning of the word. This teacher who prompted Jesus to say the famous line, you must be born again (born from above), didn't get it. That is the point. On earth a teacher of Israel didn't get heaven on earth. Jesus was heaven on earth. Nic just didn't get it.

John 3:5 (NIV84) — 5 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

"Enter" is another word that needs defining outside our physical world view. To enter is to move into a space or to enter an event. In context Jesus again is talking about the Kingdom of God which obviously penetrates the material world of this earthly realm. There is this interaction, this reality to which Jesus points to and says to Nicodemus, that unless you are born from above, you won't see it, experience it or enter into it. What that means is that the "it" (the Kingdom of God) can be seen, experienced and entered into. It is here, on earth, available to those who have had their eyes opened.

The question is then, why don't some "born again" Christians see it, experience it and even act like it is here? On earth. Right now. Why is it that when people look to experience the Kingdom, they are degraded as people who are seeking an experience? I don't know about you, but, if being born again opens me to experience and see the Kingdom of God, then bring on the experience, knowledge, understanding and sight! And don't forget about the love! There is no love like a love super powered by the Kingdom of God.

The angel reveled truth. Zechariah, after talking to an ANGEL decided to doubt what the angel said would happen, could happen. For nine months he wasn't able to speak because of his challenging of God's messenger. Here is what I noticed in the narrative;

Luke 1:67 (NIV84) — 67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

I guess I always thought about the fact that Zechariah couldn't speak rather than how God not only restore his speech, but gave him words that were anointed! That is how God does it.

Sometimes we feel like we just aren't able to connect with God for one reason or another. We are not "in the flow." However, God has something for you. A fresh Word. Zechariah got the chance to agree with God at just the right time, and then, BAM! Maybe you feel like you are not breaking through or you aren't being used much. Your time is coming. Keep agreeing with God and let Him fill you. Don't forget the end of the story. You may be in the middle and discouraged because nothing seems to be happening. It's not over yet. Your time is coming. God is redeemer. He loves pulling you up, even when the place you're in is all your fault. He is faithful. 

Mark 12:12 (NIV84) — 12 Then they looked for a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd; so they left him and went away.

"Kill the messenger!" That is the cry of the unsure, the weak and the insecure. Do we do it? When someone calls us out on something do we degrade the person rather than respond to the call out? When someone disagrees with us to we use an "ad hominem", a reaction directed against a person rather than directed against a position. When a preacher says something we don't like to we go after him or her rather than the doctrine or stance they have taken? Do we feel compelled to use their name as the bad example or are we able to teach truth and divide it from error? It's time for a checkup?

They wanted to arrest and kill Jesus because his teaching was against their teaching and against them. I realize the Jesus himself called out certain sects when teaching. It's not like we can always ignore the nonsense that passes for religion, but the breadth of Jesus life was dedicated to preaching truth and good news, healing and releasing. He brought hope, love and power. That is our aspiration. 

Mark 4:38 (NIV84) — 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

They woke up Jesus to do something, right? Maybe not.

Mark 4:41 (NIV84) — 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

I don't think they thought he was going to calm the waves. I think it is very possible that they wanted someone to share their own anxiety. They certainly didn't expect, by looking at their answer, that Jesus was going to get the wind and waves to obey him. Consider this; misery loves company. I do it sometimes. I want my wife to feel my stress. There, I admitted it. Maybe you are like the disciples and 99% of people who want others to join you in your depression, anxiety, worry, anger or whatever. We don't do it all the time, but it happens. When we think about it reasonably, it is a shockingly ugly thought. I don't want my wife to feel my stress, I want her to de-stress me if anything. Maybe apologies are necessary when we catch ourselves doing this.

The disciples picked the right guy to share their anxiety and fear with. Mr. Fearless. He won't commiserate with you, but He will have compassion on you and eventually solve your issues if you let Him. The storms..., well, He is more about the inside than the outside. But He calms outside storms too!

By PT

Matt 21 starts out with an interesting parable about fairness. I know there are other applications, but the cry of the workers hired first was, "not fair!" Upon examining the parable, I think I agree with the workers who bore the heat of the day. All were workers, but some only worked a few hours. Not fair! I know that the first workers who were hired made an agreement with the boss, (so I agree with the boss) but somehow that didn't matter to them anymore. Hmmm...

It got me thinking about how many times I have been envious or jealous of what others have. Whether it material wealth, gifts, charisma, a big ministry, talents, popularity and fame, intelligence or good looks, sometimes I have wondered, "how come they got..., and I didn't." As the old joke goes, I must have been in the humor line when they gave out the good looks. (Or something like that). I wonder if the first hired workers would have been upset if they had not seen the last hired workers get paid?

What do you make of this? Is this a problem for you? I am dedicated to cheering everyone on and rejoicing when they get things I don't have.

 

By Jeremy Holstrom 
Matthew 14 -15

What would it be like to feed 5,000 people even if your budget was limitless?! What was it like to feed 5,000 people having only a few loaves of bread and two fish?! The practicality of this miracle blows me away - I just know how long it takes for us to all get out food at family gatherings which is typically about 40-50 people. I imagine Jesus began speaking while the food was past around which still would have created some commotion. 

This is what I love about Jesus. He is not deterred or set off course by the things I tend to occupy my time with (the details). He delivers the message / His does what He needs to do - what His Father has instructed Him do to. Never swayed or distracted by whats going on around Him. 

By Bela Gecsey


Wow! How much healing and fun can Jesus pack in 2 chapters.

What was so amazing to me, it was the people’s faith in knowing who Jesus was and what He could do that they were healed.  We have the power and dominion on earth to speak what Jesus has promised, it is by our faith, He is willing!

35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

The people came after Jesus because they knew they could be healed.

It says “healing every disease and sickness”,  Jesus had compassion or mercy for the people because they were harassed and helpless.

This tells me that not everyone in the towns and cities believed in Jesus.  People were mocking and making fun of the people that believed in Jesus.  There was still sickness, sin and disease in the towns.

Why does Jesus say not to tell anyone?

I have read this before many times and always wondered why.  Today when I read

4 Then Jesus said to him,“See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

I thought in this situation Jesus is wanting the Priest to declare that the man is clean and to follow the laws of Moses with offering.  Jesus didn’t want His declaration that the man was cleansed but for the Priest and by their laws declare him clean. Then when the Priest find out after their declaration that Jesus is the one that healed the man.  Gotcha!