So in celebration of writing this blog for over a month now, I wanted to revisit and revise my first ever blog post.
My first post I just wanted to explain the quiet part of my blog title. Habakkuk 2:20 states, "But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him." To me this is where life starts, ends, and should be all the time in the middle.This being the anniversary of the not so super storm Sandy, I am reminded of the quiet before the storm. Being quiet before God while life is going well and we are receiving blessing from God, can help us endure and withstand better the storms of life. Being quiet before the struggles and challenges come can help prepare us better. In the quiet moments we can gather supplies, like rooting our faith deeper in God, giving us a clearer picture of God so we can trust Him more, and also help our patience gain fortitude. All activities we can have in the quiet as we wait for the next storm of life that God allows to come our way.
Keeping quiet in life can also help you discover many enjoyments. Being quiet with our minds can allow God to show you the joys in life that He as blessed you with. Being quiet with our mouths can help us see the joy in our life that the voice and noise wipes out.
It can bring you much wisdom when you listen before you talk. It can make you a better and more generous person as you let others talk and have what looks like the spot light.
It can make you a more loving person so that the wrong and hurtful thing is not said. Being quiet is also where you learn the most and gain the most wisdom.
The quiet is where I discovered that I need to be and is the place I need to be in my God, the quiet. The quiet before Him, to listen to His voice.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Monday, October 28, 2013
Long day Humor
It has been a long day for me, it started at 8 last night and have not really slept since Sunday morning.
So I though I would share this from a blog I read since it gave me a laugh.
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/
This is a great blog and I pray it brightens your Monday.
So I though I would share this from a blog I read since it gave me a laugh.
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/
This is a great blog and I pray it brightens your Monday.
Sunday, October 27, 2013
His Voice
John 10:16
"And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd."
"And they will listen to my voice"
When was the last time we as the sheep to the Great Shepherd listen for His voice. He talks, we should listen. Listening is the key to it all. Jesus is always talking. Have you heard Him? Here are a few places I have heard the voice of my Shepherd
His word
My Pastor
A sunset
My children
My wife
The wind blowing in the forest
A friend
A song
A movie- currently while I am watching "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium"
A book
My brother
In work of the world
These are a few places to name a few that I have heard the voice of my Shepherd. When we are truly listening we as the sheep will know and hear the voice and words from our Shepherd.
Also remember that prayer is a two-way conversation. We should be listening for the voice of the Shepherd, because her is always talking to His sheep.
"And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd."
"And they will listen to my voice"
When was the last time we as the sheep to the Great Shepherd listen for His voice. He talks, we should listen. Listening is the key to it all. Jesus is always talking. Have you heard Him? Here are a few places I have heard the voice of my Shepherd
His word
My Pastor
A sunset
My children
My wife
The wind blowing in the forest
A friend
A song
A movie- currently while I am watching "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium"
A book
My brother
In work of the world
These are a few places to name a few that I have heard the voice of my Shepherd. When we are truly listening we as the sheep will know and hear the voice and words from our Shepherd.
Also remember that prayer is a two-way conversation. We should be listening for the voice of the Shepherd, because her is always talking to His sheep.
Saturday, October 26, 2013
His Mission
John 10:16
"And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd."
So I have been thinking over this verse the last day or so. Yesterday, I looked at the first sentence and a couple of truths I understand from it. "I must bring them also" is what I would like to ponder a little bit now.
The first word is huge in this sentence, I. This means that Jesus is the one who brings in the outside sheep. As we looked at yesterday, there are individuals outside of the fold that Jesus calls sheep. But now Jesus, the shepherd must bring them in. Jesus must bring them in. That means the work of missions or bringing in others to the fold is Jesus job. That struck me in a big way when I started to think about it. I always thought missions was my job. But it is not, it is Jesus job to bring in the others. Jesus must bring them in. When I am talking to others about Jesus and bringing others into the fold, I am working for Jesus. I knew this but I forgot it is Jesus job. Jesus says I must bring them in. Do not forget it is Jesus job and when we help Jesus.
The second word in the clause, "I must bring them also", is must. Jesus must bring them in. Jesus is commanded to bring others into the fold. This is not optional. Must is a strong commanding word and action that will take place. Jesus MUST bring in others. What does that look like? Bringing in others to the fold must take place, by Jesus.
Both of these words say to me that, as an image bearer of Jesus now on the earth I am commanded to bring others in. When the world sees Jesus, they see Him through his sheep, which is me. That means I am what the world will see as Jesus, "I must bring them also". That means it is up to me to bring others into the fold with me and I do not have a choice. I do not have a choice to tell others about my Shepherd, my Savior. I do not have a choice to show in action who my protective Shepherd is. I must bring them also.
When was the last time you said to yourself, I must bring others into the fold with me, because Jesus must bring others in.
"And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd."
So I have been thinking over this verse the last day or so. Yesterday, I looked at the first sentence and a couple of truths I understand from it. "I must bring them also" is what I would like to ponder a little bit now.
The first word is huge in this sentence, I. This means that Jesus is the one who brings in the outside sheep. As we looked at yesterday, there are individuals outside of the fold that Jesus calls sheep. But now Jesus, the shepherd must bring them in. Jesus must bring them in. That means the work of missions or bringing in others to the fold is Jesus job. That struck me in a big way when I started to think about it. I always thought missions was my job. But it is not, it is Jesus job to bring in the others. Jesus must bring them in. When I am talking to others about Jesus and bringing others into the fold, I am working for Jesus. I knew this but I forgot it is Jesus job. Jesus says I must bring them in. Do not forget it is Jesus job and when we help Jesus.
The second word in the clause, "I must bring them also", is must. Jesus must bring them in. Jesus is commanded to bring others into the fold. This is not optional. Must is a strong commanding word and action that will take place. Jesus MUST bring in others. What does that look like? Bringing in others to the fold must take place, by Jesus.
Both of these words say to me that, as an image bearer of Jesus now on the earth I am commanded to bring others in. When the world sees Jesus, they see Him through his sheep, which is me. That means I am what the world will see as Jesus, "I must bring them also". That means it is up to me to bring others into the fold with me and I do not have a choice. I do not have a choice to tell others about my Shepherd, my Savior. I do not have a choice to show in action who my protective Shepherd is. I must bring them also.
When was the last time you said to yourself, I must bring others into the fold with me, because Jesus must bring others in.
Friday, October 25, 2013
His Sheep
Today I was reading in John in chapter 10 about Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Verse 16 struck me today and I want to write a few post on some of the thoughts that I have.
John 10:16
"And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd."
The first things that struck me or the Holy Spirit illuminated and challenged me with was the first sentence in the verse. "And I have other sheep that are not of this fold." So Jesus has other sheep. I am not His only sheep. The pride I feel and even some arrogance that I am Jesus and He is mine is wrong. I should feel love in Jesus not pride. I am one of His sheep. Just like He chose and found me when I was not of this fold, so now that I am in this fold I should feel love for my Shepherd and find joy in supporting Jesus in bringing others into the fold. I am not the only sheep. Yes, Jesus knows my name, knows the hairs on my head, and has my life in His hands, but I am not the only sheep. I got challenged by that sentence, when was the last time I prayed for a sheep that was outside the fold that Jesus could bring in?
The second thing God showed me was that Jesus loves all the sheep. He says, I have sheep, which means even those outside of the fold. Jesus loves the others outside the fold just like they were His own. Those outside of the fold Jesus still calls His sheep, which means He loves so much that He brings them inside the fold with His other sheep and calls them by name. So I should love those outside of my fold. Jesus love everyone like His sheep, that means I should too. I need to love those outside of my fold like Jesus, sacrificially.
"Not of this fold", is how Jesus ends the sentence. That means if I am one of His sheep, am in the fold. This is a comforting fact. I am in the fold of Jesus and am one of His sheep. If I watch the Shepherd as one of His sheep, I am safe and secure and should not fear.
Tomorrow, I want to look at the second sentence, first clause "I must bring them also". But do not forget, there are other sheep of Jesus not of our fold.
John 10:16
"And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd."
The first things that struck me or the Holy Spirit illuminated and challenged me with was the first sentence in the verse. "And I have other sheep that are not of this fold." So Jesus has other sheep. I am not His only sheep. The pride I feel and even some arrogance that I am Jesus and He is mine is wrong. I should feel love in Jesus not pride. I am one of His sheep. Just like He chose and found me when I was not of this fold, so now that I am in this fold I should feel love for my Shepherd and find joy in supporting Jesus in bringing others into the fold. I am not the only sheep. Yes, Jesus knows my name, knows the hairs on my head, and has my life in His hands, but I am not the only sheep. I got challenged by that sentence, when was the last time I prayed for a sheep that was outside the fold that Jesus could bring in?
The second thing God showed me was that Jesus loves all the sheep. He says, I have sheep, which means even those outside of the fold. Jesus loves the others outside the fold just like they were His own. Those outside of the fold Jesus still calls His sheep, which means He loves so much that He brings them inside the fold with His other sheep and calls them by name. So I should love those outside of my fold. Jesus love everyone like His sheep, that means I should too. I need to love those outside of my fold like Jesus, sacrificially.
"Not of this fold", is how Jesus ends the sentence. That means if I am one of His sheep, am in the fold. This is a comforting fact. I am in the fold of Jesus and am one of His sheep. If I watch the Shepherd as one of His sheep, I am safe and secure and should not fear.
Tomorrow, I want to look at the second sentence, first clause "I must bring them also". But do not forget, there are other sheep of Jesus not of our fold.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Genealogy
I want to post tonight my response to a few questions I was asked to respond to in my NT 501 class for school.
Here are the questions and then follows my response.
How does the genealogy of Matthew serve his larger narrative purpose? How does this differ from the structure and purpose of Luke’s genealogy? Finally, how does the prologue to John’s gospel function in comparison to these genealogies?
Here are the questions and then follows my response.
How does the genealogy of Matthew serve his larger narrative purpose? How does this differ from the structure and purpose of Luke’s genealogy? Finally, how does the prologue to John’s gospel function in comparison to these genealogies?
First, I love these questions, because I believe that everything in the Bible is there for a purpose and can have some value in learning more about God,His character, and our relationship with Him. So the genealogies have a purpose, that much to me is clear. First, the genealogy of Matthew serves his purpose for a lot of reasons but I want to focus on one specific area. One of the themes or purposes I find in Matthew, and my NT Professor added to it, is that Matthew is trying to tell his readers that Jesus is a better or more righteous Israelite. Jesus is the true or better Moses and true or better King David. So Matthew wants to point is readers back to the beginning and show the line of connection between Jesus and Abraham, the first person in Israel history. Throughout the book Matthew is connection Jesus to the Old Testament by having Jesus fulfill prophecy or be connected to the Law. Matthew wants to tell his readers that Jesus is a true Jew and the only perfect Jew, so he connects Jesus to all of the Jews of old and even connects Jesus lineage to some of the Jews that have had some major sin struggle. I believe this is one way and one of the most important parts and reason why Matthew includes Jesus family tree back to Abraham.
One a side note I think it is important that Matthew shows some gentiles, especially women, in his family tree as one end of the book and then Matthew has the other end of the book be the great commission to all people including the gentiles. So even though one of the themes in Matthew is that Jesus is the true Israelite, He did not just come and die for the Jewish people but for all of mankind.
Matthew list of names and Luke's list of names are different because first each was writing to a different set of people. As explained earlier Matthew was writing to other Jews and wanted to connect Jesus to the Jewish faith in the beginning, where as Luke was writing to Theophilus and probably a Greek audience as a whole. This would make Luke desire to connect Jesus back much father and broader to a larger people group. Luke then connects Jesus back to Adam and shows that Jesus is a human being no different than Luke's readers.
Another reasons that Luke's genealogy is different than Matthew's is because he is writing with a different purpose. Luke wants to show that Jesus is a human being and has emotions, feelings, passions, and desire that are human and no different than Luke's readers. So Luke wants to connect Jesus back to Adam, the first human and show that Jesus is strait from the beginning.
A side note that I find interesting in Luke's structure is that Adam was the beginning of the human race and the beginning of sin, now Jesus has come and is a new start to a new beginning. To steal some of the words I used earlier describing Jesus as a better Israelite, Luke shows that Jesus is the better human or perfect man. Jesus is a better Adam that will be the one and only to come as the Christ and start a new line.
I think that both of these genealogies have some connection and yet major distinctions from the beginning of John's gospel. John wants to show Jesus relationship to someone just like Matthew back to Abraham and Luke back to Adam. I think John wants to take Jesus back to God, before Abraham and before Adam. That is the structure of his prologue. John wants to show the relationship of Jesus to God because it fits in with his purpose, Jesus is God in human flesh. Verses 1 and 2 of John's gospel is like a genealogy, he is just showing that Jesus goes way back before any human was around, and that is significant.
I think that each of the 3 writers had a purpose in their writing and the genealogies are each a great example of showing one of the truths that each of the writers wanted to get across to the reader. Each of them are connect in this fact that they show Jesus connect to others for a reason but each unique in the purpose and point of that connection.
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Crock Pot Christianity
Today I was reading as post on my favorite blog. He used the line "the work of the Lord in our lives is more like a crock pot than a microwave". When I read this line for the first time in the article I glanced over it without much thought in the whole scheme of the article. But when I went back and reread it over, it started to get my mind thinking. This line struck me in 2 ways that I want to share.
First, I believe this line is a good description of what not only the works of God should do to us but also the words of God. I find in my life that the Bible has more of a crock pot effect on me rather than the microwave effect. When I open the Bible and simmer over a passage or truth and let it sink into my life, it seems to have a greater impact. Yes, the Bible can have an instant impact when I read it for the first time in a long time, but a deeper and longer eternal impact seems to happen when it has time to sink deep and fill me up with the flavor of God and His words. I find to when I focus my devotions on a single passage for 20 minutes rather than read a whole set of verses in 20 minutes, the time is more meaningful and God speaks softly and clearer to me. Not to say that reading the Bible through is bad, I believe it has many benefits that I do not want to explore at this time, but when was the last time we sat and simmered over a single passage and let it resonate in our hearts and minds.
The idea of God's work in our lives is a crock pot reminded me of the smell of the crock pot when I get home from work and my beloved has made a beef roast in it all day. I love the sweet smelling aroma when there is something cooking and simmering in the crock pot. This reminds me of 2 verses, Gen. 8:21 when Noah's sacrifice is a sweet smell to God and gives Him glory. It also brought Paul's 2 Cor. 2:15 when Paul describes us as the aroma of Christ to God. This means our lives should be a sweet smelling life pleasing to God. A life that is like a crock pot, slow cooking pot of glory to the King. Yes, simple fast quick acts can bring praise to God and give Him glory, but I find that a life slowly building, simmer with spice's of praise added to the life can give God a life more pleasing and honoring to Him.
When was the last time we thought about the life of a lover of Jesus as a crock pot; simmering and building with great smelling praise and glory to God?
First, I believe this line is a good description of what not only the works of God should do to us but also the words of God. I find in my life that the Bible has more of a crock pot effect on me rather than the microwave effect. When I open the Bible and simmer over a passage or truth and let it sink into my life, it seems to have a greater impact. Yes, the Bible can have an instant impact when I read it for the first time in a long time, but a deeper and longer eternal impact seems to happen when it has time to sink deep and fill me up with the flavor of God and His words. I find to when I focus my devotions on a single passage for 20 minutes rather than read a whole set of verses in 20 minutes, the time is more meaningful and God speaks softly and clearer to me. Not to say that reading the Bible through is bad, I believe it has many benefits that I do not want to explore at this time, but when was the last time we sat and simmered over a single passage and let it resonate in our hearts and minds.
The idea of God's work in our lives is a crock pot reminded me of the smell of the crock pot when I get home from work and my beloved has made a beef roast in it all day. I love the sweet smelling aroma when there is something cooking and simmering in the crock pot. This reminds me of 2 verses, Gen. 8:21 when Noah's sacrifice is a sweet smell to God and gives Him glory. It also brought Paul's 2 Cor. 2:15 when Paul describes us as the aroma of Christ to God. This means our lives should be a sweet smelling life pleasing to God. A life that is like a crock pot, slow cooking pot of glory to the King. Yes, simple fast quick acts can bring praise to God and give Him glory, but I find that a life slowly building, simmer with spice's of praise added to the life can give God a life more pleasing and honoring to Him.
When was the last time we thought about the life of a lover of Jesus as a crock pot; simmering and building with great smelling praise and glory to God?
Monday, October 21, 2013
Joy in Your Spouse
Ephesians 5:25, 28 "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her...In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself."
John Piper pointed out something to me today as I was reading his book "Desiring God" which I was not expecting. Now as I sit next to my beloved watching her favorite show (and a wedding episode to top it off, about finding joy in each other you find joy in life) I find this point to be true.
Piper says, " In other words, husbands should devote the same energy and time and creativity to making their wives happy that they devote naturally to making themselves happy. The result will be that doing this, they will make themselves happy. For he who loves his wife loves himself". In other words if I put all my effort into finding joy in my wife and giving her joy, my life will be joyful and I will be full of joy.
Now I am not saying I am good at this, I will be the first person to say I have a long way to go. But when the focus on my life and pouring it into the joy and life of my beloved, I find the greatest joy and life fulfillment in myself. And on that note I am being called to go pour more joy into my beloved and leave the screen.
Remember pour more joy and love into your spouse and you will find more joy and love in your life and in you.
John Piper pointed out something to me today as I was reading his book "Desiring God" which I was not expecting. Now as I sit next to my beloved watching her favorite show (and a wedding episode to top it off, about finding joy in each other you find joy in life) I find this point to be true.
Piper says, " In other words, husbands should devote the same energy and time and creativity to making their wives happy that they devote naturally to making themselves happy. The result will be that doing this, they will make themselves happy. For he who loves his wife loves himself". In other words if I put all my effort into finding joy in my wife and giving her joy, my life will be joyful and I will be full of joy.
Now I am not saying I am good at this, I will be the first person to say I have a long way to go. But when the focus on my life and pouring it into the joy and life of my beloved, I find the greatest joy and life fulfillment in myself. And on that note I am being called to go pour more joy into my beloved and leave the screen.
Remember pour more joy and love into your spouse and you will find more joy and love in your life and in you.
Saturday, October 19, 2013
"You are the Christ"
So this past week I have been studying big time for my New Testament survey exam. One of things I had to study was the outline of each of the 4 gospels and where different narratives, miracles, and discourses by Jesus are at. One of the narratives and teachings sections I had to know was Peter's confession from Matthew chapter 16.
As I have been pondering over this text throughout the week it got me thinking. In 16:15 Jesus ask the disciples "Who do you say that I am"? These were men who have spent a lot of time around him, listening to him, talking with him, watching him preform miracles and teach about the kingdom, Peter, the outspoken one of the group says, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God". What strikes me about this is Peter gets it right. He knows who Jesus is and His relationship to God the Father. I truly believe that Peter even has a good idea that he might be speaking to God in the flesh or at least something pretty darn close. But what also strikes me is what Peter does in just a few short verses later.
Starting in verse 21 of chapter 16, Jesus begins to predict His death to His disciples. Jesus says He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things and be killed. What does Peter do. Peter pulls Jesus aside and says, "This shall never happen to you" and Peter rebukes Jesus. Wow, this is the same man that a few verses ago got it right with Jesus and now wants to stand in the way of God in flesh.
2 things strike me about this section of verses from Matthew and the reactions of Peter. First, Peter did not fully understand who Jesus was and what He was doing. Peter had grown in His relationship with Jesus over the years and had an idea of who Jesus was but he had plenty of room to grow. This is a man that walked day to day with Jesus and he still had room to grow in his relationship with God. How much more room does that leave me to grow. That should tell me that if I find moments where I think my relationship with God is good and I know what He is doing, I should think again. I am still learning each day more about my Savior and I should desire to learn more each day about Him. It challenges me to grow in love with God more so I desire to know more about Him each day.
The second thing that this set of verses teaches and challenges me is that Peter wanted his kinda Savior. Peter wanted a savior he could control and put in the mind box of Peter. This one hit home even more. When do I find myself wanting to control God and tell Him what to do and how to act? When do I want to put God in my box and fit Him to my image? When do I want a Savior that will conquer my Roman problems instead of dying for me? I find myself more and more like Peter each day in that I want God to be my god in my image doing my bidding. And then Jesus is right, Satan has a bidding for me and I am not following God the right way and standing in the way, so to speak, of God's purposes for my life.
God is amazing, wonderful, perfect, holy, loving, and not even close for me to understand. I should desire to learn more about Him each day and understand who He is and NOT make Him into what I want but let Him be what I need. That is the point in all this rant, I need to realize God is there and I need to learn Him each day so I can understand He is there for what I need in His plan. I pray that I can learn from Peter.
As I have been pondering over this text throughout the week it got me thinking. In 16:15 Jesus ask the disciples "Who do you say that I am"? These were men who have spent a lot of time around him, listening to him, talking with him, watching him preform miracles and teach about the kingdom, Peter, the outspoken one of the group says, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God". What strikes me about this is Peter gets it right. He knows who Jesus is and His relationship to God the Father. I truly believe that Peter even has a good idea that he might be speaking to God in the flesh or at least something pretty darn close. But what also strikes me is what Peter does in just a few short verses later.
Starting in verse 21 of chapter 16, Jesus begins to predict His death to His disciples. Jesus says He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things and be killed. What does Peter do. Peter pulls Jesus aside and says, "This shall never happen to you" and Peter rebukes Jesus. Wow, this is the same man that a few verses ago got it right with Jesus and now wants to stand in the way of God in flesh.
2 things strike me about this section of verses from Matthew and the reactions of Peter. First, Peter did not fully understand who Jesus was and what He was doing. Peter had grown in His relationship with Jesus over the years and had an idea of who Jesus was but he had plenty of room to grow. This is a man that walked day to day with Jesus and he still had room to grow in his relationship with God. How much more room does that leave me to grow. That should tell me that if I find moments where I think my relationship with God is good and I know what He is doing, I should think again. I am still learning each day more about my Savior and I should desire to learn more each day about Him. It challenges me to grow in love with God more so I desire to know more about Him each day.
The second thing that this set of verses teaches and challenges me is that Peter wanted his kinda Savior. Peter wanted a savior he could control and put in the mind box of Peter. This one hit home even more. When do I find myself wanting to control God and tell Him what to do and how to act? When do I want to put God in my box and fit Him to my image? When do I want a Savior that will conquer my Roman problems instead of dying for me? I find myself more and more like Peter each day in that I want God to be my god in my image doing my bidding. And then Jesus is right, Satan has a bidding for me and I am not following God the right way and standing in the way, so to speak, of God's purposes for my life.
God is amazing, wonderful, perfect, holy, loving, and not even close for me to understand. I should desire to learn more about Him each day and understand who He is and NOT make Him into what I want but let Him be what I need. That is the point in all this rant, I need to realize God is there and I need to learn Him each day so I can understand He is there for what I need in His plan. I pray that I can learn from Peter.
Friday, October 18, 2013
Better Father
First, thank you everyone who prayed for me yesterday as I took my exam. It went ok. I know I got a questions or two wrong but God will decide if I am meant to pass or not. I will know the results in a few days.
But, I was reminded today of an important truth and two important lessons for me as a father and son to the King. So I was around my 4 blessing from God today that I call my children. I was around them all day which is 9 hours more than normal. As the day wore on I started to realize I was becoming more fond of and being drawn to my youngest child, Elliana. I was enjoying her more than my other 3 children because she was listening to me better, she was joyful and in a much happier mood, and wanted to be around me. Where as my other 3 children were more irritable, not listening, and just down right full of themselves. Ellie today, I will admit was my favorite child.
This first reminded me of my perfect Heavenly Father, who is not one to play favorites. Even when I am His child who is cranky and not filled with joy of life, my father still wants to hear from me, be around me, and is still willing to chase me down for a talk. My I am not in a mood to listen to my Father's Word, and obey what He is asking me to do, He still loves me and wants to talk and still be around me. This hit me around 6:30 when Ellie was sitting on my lap, No matter what child I am being to my Father, He is still loving, caring, and not playing favorites. Even when I spit in His face, He still loves me. Praise the LORD, for being a much better, holy, and loving father than I am.
Second, watching Ellie today asked me, am I joyful in life? Seeing her run around the house, play with her siblings, and just plain have some fun, she was filled with laughter and joy. Ellie got knocked over by her sister and started to cry, but after a few minutes she was right back playing with her sister and laughing. Things were being taken from her and she was getting picked on but she continued to be filled with joy.
She challenged me, am I filled with joy? Paul says, "rejoice in the Lord". Am I filled with as much joy in life which brings about forgiveness and love for others. I need to be more like my daughter.
Third, today, specially as I am sitting right now writing, I realized I need to be a better father. I need be a father more like my Heavenly Father in the mood of my youngest daughter. Watching her today forgive her siblings, be full of laughter, and no matter what emotions were around her be joyful and Jesus like, is the father I need to be. No matter what each of my kids are like and what moods they are in, I need to chase them down and love them no matter what. My perfect Father does not show favoritism and loves all of His children equally. I have been challenged to imitate Him more in the mood of my youngest child.
Monday, October 14, 2013
The Prayer
So over the next few days my mind will be filled with New Testament study as I prepare for my first exam. But I received much encouragement tonight from a friend who said they read this, so I want to write things out in my life even as I am studying. Sundays excellent sermon in church was from the LORD's prayer from the book of Luke. This got me thinking what my prayers look like and even what a prayer from my life today would look like written down. So here it goes.
Perfect Father, thank You for who You are.
Thanks for the ways I saw you working today in my life even in this broken world.
Father your grace and mercy were evident everywhere today, so thank you for allowing me to see it
and I pray that you would open my eyes to see more tomorrow.
Father, your love is great
and thank you for loving me today even when I hurt you in my sin.
Thank you for allowing me to love others in a simple form like the way you love me
and I pray that you can give me more courage and patience tomorrow to love even more people through you
Father you know I stumble and fall a lot
so I pray that you will forgive me of the ways and hurts that I have committed to you.
thank you for the joy you have in me as you forgive me and purify me
and I pray to that I can find the joy in forgiveness of others.
Father, thank you for the ways that you provide for me in my needs even before I know them
and thank you for the ways you are already meeting my needs tomorrow.
I pray that you can provide in my life right now in my preparation for the test
and I thank you already for the way you will meet my needs on Thursday.
Father, I pray now that you will guard me as I study to learn more of you
and to retain my knowledge so I can give you more glory through this experience.
I also ask that you will calm my nerves so that I can focus this week on what is more important
and thank you for my wife who is caring for me this week as I study
and help me not to neglect her but give her the due time she needs
Father, thank you for this opportunity and chance to learn
Help me to praise and worship you even through the stress and challenge it is.
Thank you for being in control and running the show
I pray that you will help me to trust you more and more each day
Amen
Perfect Father, thank You for who You are.
Thanks for the ways I saw you working today in my life even in this broken world.
Father your grace and mercy were evident everywhere today, so thank you for allowing me to see it
and I pray that you would open my eyes to see more tomorrow.
Father, your love is great
and thank you for loving me today even when I hurt you in my sin.
Thank you for allowing me to love others in a simple form like the way you love me
and I pray that you can give me more courage and patience tomorrow to love even more people through you
Father you know I stumble and fall a lot
so I pray that you will forgive me of the ways and hurts that I have committed to you.
thank you for the joy you have in me as you forgive me and purify me
and I pray to that I can find the joy in forgiveness of others.
Father, thank you for the ways that you provide for me in my needs even before I know them
and thank you for the ways you are already meeting my needs tomorrow.
I pray that you can provide in my life right now in my preparation for the test
and I thank you already for the way you will meet my needs on Thursday.
Father, I pray now that you will guard me as I study to learn more of you
and to retain my knowledge so I can give you more glory through this experience.
I also ask that you will calm my nerves so that I can focus this week on what is more important
and thank you for my wife who is caring for me this week as I study
and help me not to neglect her but give her the due time she needs
Father, thank you for this opportunity and chance to learn
Help me to praise and worship you even through the stress and challenge it is.
Thank you for being in control and running the show
I pray that you will help me to trust you more and more each day
Amen
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Practical cont.
Before I begin, I would ask anyone who actually reads this to please pray for me on Thursday afternoon, I have my 1st Master's exam. And on that note, as I was studying today, God kindly reminded me that right now that is my ministry and that should come second to my wife, which has been a focus of my rants the last few days. I pray that today my wife realized that she will always come after God in my life but before everything else, even a hard test this week.
But I wanted to write today about another way practically that I can show my wife she is first to me in front of my ministry (even if my ministry right now is Lowes). Today's practical advice, which I also believe should be for every husband for their wife even those not in formal ministry, is to make sure she knows she is your greatest earthly treasure. I have been convinced that my great treasure chest of joy in life is my relationship with God. But as I open that treasure chest of pleasure in God, I have found a small jewelry box called my better half, my bride, my beauty, and my soul mate. I must treasure this jewelry box with all my life and she must know that she is this great treasure and prize. And I have discovered a few practical ways in letting her know.
First, I must affirm her ministry and service for God. I must take time to let her know that she is a great servant for God in her passion and calling for God. I must encourage her and support her in the areas she enjoys God. I must not make her feel like MY ministry is more important and that I am a better servant. Because that is a false and prideful way of making her feel not treasured. I must make sure she know that she is God's greatest gift to me and my ministry but also a gift in her own way in her service to God.
A second way I can let her know she is my greatest treasure is by taking time off just for her. She must see practically and visibly that she comes first. How this looks can vary. I have learned that it could be a special lunch one day or a time away from everything, even my ministry and reading, just for her. She must see her place and hear from my mouth that it is true. She must feel treasured by my time. I can buy her or praise her all the time but my time is the greatest way I can show her she is treasured.
And finally a third way to make sure she knows she is treasured is by diving into her world. I must get to know her. I must find her passions, desires, heart joys and heart aches, and I must know what burdens her. I must discover how she finds joy in Jesus and what drives her to serve God joyfully and not dutifully. Knowing all of this will help me better meet her needs on her terms. That is what will help her see she is treasured, meeting her on her terms and not on my terms. That is true love and a perfect way in making sure she is treasured.
These are just a few ways that I have found in making sure my love of my life knows she comes first next to any ministry or job. I will be the first to admit, I wrote all this but I have a long way to go to meet and do everything I just typed. I pray by the grace of God I can grow into the man I just wrote about.
But I wanted to write today about another way practically that I can show my wife she is first to me in front of my ministry (even if my ministry right now is Lowes). Today's practical advice, which I also believe should be for every husband for their wife even those not in formal ministry, is to make sure she knows she is your greatest earthly treasure. I have been convinced that my great treasure chest of joy in life is my relationship with God. But as I open that treasure chest of pleasure in God, I have found a small jewelry box called my better half, my bride, my beauty, and my soul mate. I must treasure this jewelry box with all my life and she must know that she is this great treasure and prize. And I have discovered a few practical ways in letting her know.
First, I must affirm her ministry and service for God. I must take time to let her know that she is a great servant for God in her passion and calling for God. I must encourage her and support her in the areas she enjoys God. I must not make her feel like MY ministry is more important and that I am a better servant. Because that is a false and prideful way of making her feel not treasured. I must make sure she know that she is God's greatest gift to me and my ministry but also a gift in her own way in her service to God.
A second way I can let her know she is my greatest treasure is by taking time off just for her. She must see practically and visibly that she comes first. How this looks can vary. I have learned that it could be a special lunch one day or a time away from everything, even my ministry and reading, just for her. She must see her place and hear from my mouth that it is true. She must feel treasured by my time. I can buy her or praise her all the time but my time is the greatest way I can show her she is treasured.
And finally a third way to make sure she knows she is treasured is by diving into her world. I must get to know her. I must find her passions, desires, heart joys and heart aches, and I must know what burdens her. I must discover how she finds joy in Jesus and what drives her to serve God joyfully and not dutifully. Knowing all of this will help me better meet her needs on her terms. That is what will help her see she is treasured, meeting her on her terms and not on my terms. That is true love and a perfect way in making sure she is treasured.
These are just a few ways that I have found in making sure my love of my life knows she comes first next to any ministry or job. I will be the first to admit, I wrote all this but I have a long way to go to meet and do everything I just typed. I pray by the grace of God I can grow into the man I just wrote about.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Priority Practical
So my last post I talked about making sure my wife (and also kids even though they were not talked about) is put first in my life (she must be after God though) before my ministry as a Pastor. I quoted the Apostle Paul from Ephesians where I stated, "Husband are to love their wives AS Christ loves the church". But what does that mean practically? I mean it is nice to say and tell people I am doing but what does that actually look like?
I am going to try and give a few examples over the next few posts that I have learned from my life and that I hope to get better at each day as God convicts me. I also believe that my wife should come first not only when I am in the formal ministry but she must come first everyday even if I am roofing or working the retail world.
First, she must be a part of my ministry. I must keep her informed in what I am doing, how I am serving, and what God is doing. In the role of a Pastor I am not saying I must tell her every detail (sometimes there must be important info I cannot share) but I must keep her in the loop. My love of my life must know what I am doing for God and not be kept in the dark. She can learn from my experiences in life and get a better understanding of what God is doing through us and me in life and also she can see a new side of God from my interactions in life and ministry.
Another reason I need to keep her involved in what I am doing and how I am serving is she can have a different and sometimes better perspective. God has created men and women equal but different. This difference is very important, so as my wife can see what I am doing and how I am responding in the ministry and even in life, she can have a new perspective. She can challenge me to a different view. She can open me to a new response and when I am interacting with other women she will help me understand them better.
A third reasons for keeping her involved and in the know with what I are doing in ministry (but also life's works now) is it can inspire and strengthen her to serve better to. I have learned that my wife goes where I go. She finds her confidence when I am confident. She learns through me. All this to say when I am serving God and she knows it she to will be inspired to serve God. This means she can either serve God with me in some areas of my life or she can find her place to serve God. Keeping my wife in the know with what I am doing will help her understand where God can use her and help her find her place in serving God.
All this to say today that when my better half knows that she comes first in my life before my ministry (and even now at Lowes) she is going to be more in love with God and inspired to serve Him herself to. Inspire her to serve God, do not make her feel second rate behind the job.
I am going to try and give a few examples over the next few posts that I have learned from my life and that I hope to get better at each day as God convicts me. I also believe that my wife should come first not only when I am in the formal ministry but she must come first everyday even if I am roofing or working the retail world.
First, she must be a part of my ministry. I must keep her informed in what I am doing, how I am serving, and what God is doing. In the role of a Pastor I am not saying I must tell her every detail (sometimes there must be important info I cannot share) but I must keep her in the loop. My love of my life must know what I am doing for God and not be kept in the dark. She can learn from my experiences in life and get a better understanding of what God is doing through us and me in life and also she can see a new side of God from my interactions in life and ministry.
Another reason I need to keep her involved in what I am doing and how I am serving is she can have a different and sometimes better perspective. God has created men and women equal but different. This difference is very important, so as my wife can see what I am doing and how I am responding in the ministry and even in life, she can have a new perspective. She can challenge me to a different view. She can open me to a new response and when I am interacting with other women she will help me understand them better.
A third reasons for keeping her involved and in the know with what I are doing in ministry (but also life's works now) is it can inspire and strengthen her to serve better to. I have learned that my wife goes where I go. She finds her confidence when I am confident. She learns through me. All this to say when I am serving God and she knows it she to will be inspired to serve God. This means she can either serve God with me in some areas of my life or she can find her place to serve God. Keeping my wife in the know with what I am doing will help her understand where God can use her and help her find her place in serving God.
All this to say today that when my better half knows that she comes first in my life before my ministry (and even now at Lowes) she is going to be more in love with God and inspired to serve Him herself to. Inspire her to serve God, do not make her feel second rate behind the job.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Priority #1
So my thought tonight will go along with my last post. As I have moved one step further into my journey with God each day I seem to be reminded that no matter what I do, I must put my family first. I believe this will be vitally important when I get into full time Pastoral ministry.
I have first learned to sense when my wife and better half is in need. I have notice that unless I bring her along with me in this journey and share with her a lot of what God is doing in me and through me, she seems lost. I have noticed that her gauge is tuned into mine. When I feel close to God she is strong confident and is a great support. But when I become distracted, disillusioned, and totally over burdened in life, she to can become irritable and a stress factor for me. This also then factors into her spiritual heart beat and relationship with God. This challenges me to because I believe that God makes the man accountable to Him for the spiritual heart and the wife.
God is reminding me through each step that when, Lord willing, I become enthralled in my ministry and my faith family that I shepherd that I will only go as far as my wife's support. My wife must come first because then and only then will my ministry succeed. As Paul reminds us in Ephesians, "husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the church".
This means practically that my ministry cannot come first before my wife. My wife must come first. She must be the ultimate sacrifice and my first choice. She must realize that she means the world to me and that even as the weight of ministry and love of God's children, she is still my first and most important love.
God created the man and women and the relationship of oneness in marriage before sin entered the world, before His mission through Christ, and way before the church. This union is the foundation for the rest of the Christian life and it is also what I found to be the foundation for success in what happens next. That means and what I have come to realize my wife is the most important thing and relationship in my life next to my bond and relationship with God.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Money and Ministry
So today I am going to try and be a little more open and honest. Some people might even say I might be about to rant. In most of my previous post, I was more practical in what I was trying to get across. I wanted to connect the Bible to relationship and try and drive myself to be a stronger and deep follower of God and lover of Jesus. But tonight I just want to fire away from the hip and begin maybe a week of doing so about my journey.
So first when I mean my journey, I am talking about the call of God in my life to serve Him and when I mean serve Him, I mean work in a full time pastoral role. This has been an interesting and exciting journey. I have trusted God each step of the way and He seems to teach me something new everyday. One of the biggest things I am continually learning about is the relationship between my family (my beautiful bride and my lovable and crazy kids) and my future ministry. A discussion I have been reading about over the last few days that has many sides to it is money and a Pastor. How much is to much and how much is not enough for a Pastor. That can be a tough question. This is where I think the relationship between my family and my ministry is important. I believe that my family should and will always come first before my ministry. I will dive into this conviction in my life in the next post but it is what has stemmed me with every decision I have made up to this point in regards to my position in ministry. But when it comes to money, I believe I need to make enough that my family is supported and not hurt by my ministry. This does not mean my family has to live in luxury and have a vacation home with 4 cars and a 4,000 sq/ft house, but what it does mean is my family is taken care of and not in need. The money level in my life and pay for doing God's work must not make my family despise the church and God for the sacrifice but love Jesus even more for the blessing and grace He has give the family for serving Him. This means as I am looking at the ministry God will lead my family in, the level of money that He will provide must be sufficient to support and meet the needs of my family. I have come to follow God's leading in my life by using money to guide me in my search and not have money be the root of evil and despair.
So first when I mean my journey, I am talking about the call of God in my life to serve Him and when I mean serve Him, I mean work in a full time pastoral role. This has been an interesting and exciting journey. I have trusted God each step of the way and He seems to teach me something new everyday. One of the biggest things I am continually learning about is the relationship between my family (my beautiful bride and my lovable and crazy kids) and my future ministry. A discussion I have been reading about over the last few days that has many sides to it is money and a Pastor. How much is to much and how much is not enough for a Pastor. That can be a tough question. This is where I think the relationship between my family and my ministry is important. I believe that my family should and will always come first before my ministry. I will dive into this conviction in my life in the next post but it is what has stemmed me with every decision I have made up to this point in regards to my position in ministry. But when it comes to money, I believe I need to make enough that my family is supported and not hurt by my ministry. This does not mean my family has to live in luxury and have a vacation home with 4 cars and a 4,000 sq/ft house, but what it does mean is my family is taken care of and not in need. The money level in my life and pay for doing God's work must not make my family despise the church and God for the sacrifice but love Jesus even more for the blessing and grace He has give the family for serving Him. This means as I am looking at the ministry God will lead my family in, the level of money that He will provide must be sufficient to support and meet the needs of my family. I have come to follow God's leading in my life by using money to guide me in my search and not have money be the root of evil and despair.
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Service
So this morning in my worship service the passage from Luke 10 about Mary and Martha was the text preached on. Listening to this text talked about and the implications of Martha's heart issue compared to Mary's got me thinking. I also talked about, in my Adult Bible class, what a real relationship with God looks like rather than just a life of belief. I dove into the fact that God, or Jesus, should be our great treasure, most prized relationship, and ultimately where the source of great pleasure and joy in life stems from. I think Mary understood this because in the verse in Luke 10, she just sat at Jesus feet and basked in His glory and the pleasure of His presence.
So what was wrong with Martha's heart and her issue. I do not believe she was sinning but she was rather serving out of the wrong motive and heart. Martha's relationship with Jesus in this story was about the service not the pleasure of the relationship. And I find that is where I am a lot of the time. Do I teach in Sunday School because I find pleasure in enjoying God or because I am doing His service? Do I tell others about My Jesus and what He can do because I find joy in that relationship that I cannot contain or because I find it a duty? I truly believe that the relationship with Jesus should stem everything else. My relationship with Jesus, the pleasure, joy, and excitement that this brings should stem the service. This was Martha's issue. After Jesus was done teaching, I can imagine that Mary would then love Jesus and enjoy Him by helping serve Him with her sister. But in the moment the more important task was enjoying the relationship with Jesus. The relationship should drive the service. That is the heart issue, service being driven by pleasure in the relationship rather than service out of duty. Next time I find my service for God to be draining or frustrating, I should check my relationship with God and see if that needs fixed first. When my service becomes anxious and stressful, I should check my pleasure and joy in God. My service should be like Mary, driven by my love and pleasure in God, not the reversal of serving to find love and pleasure. Thanks to Mary and Martha I need to find what is important before I begin my service.
So what was wrong with Martha's heart and her issue. I do not believe she was sinning but she was rather serving out of the wrong motive and heart. Martha's relationship with Jesus in this story was about the service not the pleasure of the relationship. And I find that is where I am a lot of the time. Do I teach in Sunday School because I find pleasure in enjoying God or because I am doing His service? Do I tell others about My Jesus and what He can do because I find joy in that relationship that I cannot contain or because I find it a duty? I truly believe that the relationship with Jesus should stem everything else. My relationship with Jesus, the pleasure, joy, and excitement that this brings should stem the service. This was Martha's issue. After Jesus was done teaching, I can imagine that Mary would then love Jesus and enjoy Him by helping serve Him with her sister. But in the moment the more important task was enjoying the relationship with Jesus. The relationship should drive the service. That is the heart issue, service being driven by pleasure in the relationship rather than service out of duty. Next time I find my service for God to be draining or frustrating, I should check my relationship with God and see if that needs fixed first. When my service becomes anxious and stressful, I should check my pleasure and joy in God. My service should be like Mary, driven by my love and pleasure in God, not the reversal of serving to find love and pleasure. Thanks to Mary and Martha I need to find what is important before I begin my service.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Thirst
Before I get into the meat of what I want to say tonight, congratulations to my good friend and brother in Christ Seth on getting a nice prize only hours into the season. But now onto more important things. So in last nights post I talk about keeping a focus on God rather than on life's problems and the God solution to meeting the need. But I began to think what exactly do I mean when I say the person needs to focus on God. This is also something I have been thinking about as I have prepared this week to teach in my church family. What do we mean when we say focus on God. I have come to find what I believe is the clearest picture of focusing on God. It is the first 8 verses of Psalms 63. And here it is
O God, you are my God;
I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;
my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land
where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in your sanctuary
and gazed upon your power and glory.
3 Your unfailing love is better than life itself;
how I praise you!
4 I will praise you as long as I live,
lifting up my hands to you in prayer.
5 You satisfy me more than the richest feast.
I will praise you with songs of joy.
6 I lie awake thinking of you,
meditating on you through the night.
7 Because you are my helper,
I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.
8 I cling to you;
your strong right hand holds me securely.
I began to read this verse every day in preparation for understanding what it means to focus on God or even better to know God. I believe these verse are the perfect picture in the life that know's God and is continually seeking after Him. To focus on God is to know Him, have a relationship with Him, seek after Him, and ultimately have Him as the greatest treasure in our life. I pray that I can say truly that God is my greatest joy and treasure and that I can echo what the writer of this Psalm is expressing.
Friday, October 4, 2013
The Focus
So, I pray that this post is kind of what the question that I was asked about the other night. I also would like to spend the next few post dealing with this question and many layers that are underneath this discussion or idea.
So I was asked how can a person or group of people totally rely on God, in the midst of challenging and tough circumstances, stay humble without getting prideful and arrogant as God continually provides and meets the need each time?
I believe this is very challenging. When life is hard because of health problems, money situations, or life's bad breaks, a true believer in God must turn to Him in those times of need. This is where it must begin. First, let me say that God is in no way required to meet the need and provide sustenance for the person, but in His grace and mercy He can provide for the situation. But how can the person stay humble in the life that is continually carried by God through many dire needs?
I believe the first place the humility begins is in the focus of the person. When life gets us down and money runs out, do we focus on the need or do we focus on the God who meets the need? That is the first question that must be asked and the beginning of this discussion. When God is continually meeting the needs of His children, does the situation distract us from God or help us focus on God better? The answer should be that focus must be on God and not the situation. "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, Rejoice". (Philippians 4:4) Paul was not saying the person should rejoice in the provision of God or the need being met, he was telling the reader to rejoice in God. Rejoice, focus, and praise God. That is where it starts and that is where it must end. Finding the true happiness and joy in the Lord rather than in what He does while keeping the focus on God and not on what He is doing for us. The focus then is on God and not on what He is providing so that pride in what He continually is doing for us should not be. Pride in our God is what it should be. When the person in the situation or life that is being met has pride in God, it is humbling to understand who He is and why He cares for us enough to show us favor and grace.
So the first place to keep humble when God is providing again and again is to check where is the focus, the problem and provision or in the God who loves us. That is the first step in staying humble. I pray this starts to answer the question that has been raised.
So I was asked how can a person or group of people totally rely on God, in the midst of challenging and tough circumstances, stay humble without getting prideful and arrogant as God continually provides and meets the need each time?
I believe this is very challenging. When life is hard because of health problems, money situations, or life's bad breaks, a true believer in God must turn to Him in those times of need. This is where it must begin. First, let me say that God is in no way required to meet the need and provide sustenance for the person, but in His grace and mercy He can provide for the situation. But how can the person stay humble in the life that is continually carried by God through many dire needs?
I believe the first place the humility begins is in the focus of the person. When life gets us down and money runs out, do we focus on the need or do we focus on the God who meets the need? That is the first question that must be asked and the beginning of this discussion. When God is continually meeting the needs of His children, does the situation distract us from God or help us focus on God better? The answer should be that focus must be on God and not the situation. "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, Rejoice". (Philippians 4:4) Paul was not saying the person should rejoice in the provision of God or the need being met, he was telling the reader to rejoice in God. Rejoice, focus, and praise God. That is where it starts and that is where it must end. Finding the true happiness and joy in the Lord rather than in what He does while keeping the focus on God and not on what He is doing for us. The focus then is on God and not on what He is providing so that pride in what He continually is doing for us should not be. Pride in our God is what it should be. When the person in the situation or life that is being met has pride in God, it is humbling to understand who He is and why He cares for us enough to show us favor and grace.
So the first place to keep humble when God is providing again and again is to check where is the focus, the problem and provision or in the God who loves us. That is the first step in staying humble. I pray this starts to answer the question that has been raised.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Charity in Belief
Over the last 24 hours I have been reminded multiple times about having charity in my theology, or as Joshua Harris would say, "humble orthodoxy". This is important for anyone with belief to remember but even more important for brothers and sisters in Christ to remind themselves of continually. I was listening to N.T. Wright defend his position on women in the ministry and then had to respond; first with what I liked about his methodology and what I agreed with him on. Doing this simple exercise before I started to defend what I believed was good because it got me to realize that there were even some things I had in common with this man I disagreed with and more importantly I could hear his passion and even see the humility coming through in his defense. Then, I was talking today with a good friend and mentor today and we always rib each other in fun about our theological differences but in the end we love each other an take it back to the core unity in Christ. He was reminding me today, "what hill are we willing to die on and what hill is a waste to fight on".
So, this charity in belief is important to remember. We should always be finding the common base of the belief; the grace of God that washes away all our sins in the life of faith and spreading that great news to others, the common core. Now I am not trying to say that having positions, on spiritual gifts or how salvation actually works or does man have free will to not, is a bad thing. The bad thing and maybe even sinful things is how do you defend those positions. Is speaking in tongues a hill worth dying on, to quote a great friend of mine. Or is a women preaching on mothers day, a thing to split a church over? I think in both of these cases not it is not. Where is the charity and humility in the belief? As brothers and sister in unity under Christ, we need to show love to each other, humility in what we believe, and charity in how we share it. This will then allow the world to see a true Christ in His church, rather than a hypocritical and fight brood of people.
So, this charity in belief is important to remember. We should always be finding the common base of the belief; the grace of God that washes away all our sins in the life of faith and spreading that great news to others, the common core. Now I am not trying to say that having positions, on spiritual gifts or how salvation actually works or does man have free will to not, is a bad thing. The bad thing and maybe even sinful things is how do you defend those positions. Is speaking in tongues a hill worth dying on, to quote a great friend of mine. Or is a women preaching on mothers day, a thing to split a church over? I think in both of these cases not it is not. Where is the charity and humility in the belief? As brothers and sister in unity under Christ, we need to show love to each other, humility in what we believe, and charity in how we share it. This will then allow the world to see a true Christ in His church, rather than a hypocritical and fight brood of people.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
The 4 Gospels part 2
I am sitting here tonight as I write listening to my Pittsburgh Pirates play their first postseason game since I was 10, so I cannot guarantee how good this post might be. That being said, I want to finish my thoughts on the importance and differences in the 4 books of the Bible we call the Gospels.
Up front, I want to say that these thoughts are not deep and no where close to exhaustive. If you desire a better understanding of the complete aspects of the 4 Gospels look to a good commentary or New Testament introduction, like "An Introduction to the New Testament" by DA Carson and Douglas Moo. But in a previous post I talked about how the different gospel accounts fill in the holes of each other and the important parts of the story. The 4 gospels fit together like a mosaic.
I want to touch a little in this post on why some of the gospels have the same story or teaching by Jesus but have it in a different way or format. We can have confidence in that each Gospel account is true and without error and that there is no mistake in a certain set of verses in the different accounts, especially the passion stories to end each Gospel. I believe we can have this confidence for 3 simple yet important things to remember.
First, each Gospel account is from a different person's perspective or view of the story. Matthew was a disciple with Jesus, so He got to see many events and teachings first hand. Mark, is the view of the Apostle Peter, and he is unique in that like Matthew he was there first hand but Peter was also one of the inner 3 that got special privileges that some of the others, like Matthew would not have. Luke is a descriptive narrative in that he interview many people including Mary and Paul to get his account. John, like Peter, was an inner apostle and got many first hand and intimate times with Jesus but John also does not include a lot of what Mark, ala Peter, records.
The second thing to remember is that the 4 Gospels were written by each author to different people and places. We know who Luke was writing because he says it right away in the beginning of his writing. So Luke was writing to a Greek man who was probably connected a lot to Greek and Hellenistic Jews. Church tradition teaches us who the other 3 accounts were writing to, Matthew was writing to a Jewish church in Syria, Mark was writing for the Christians in the city of Rome, and John was writing in essence for the whole world about a particular issue.
This brings us to the third thing to remember when reading and comparing the 4 Gospel. Each author had a different topic or issue to write about. Each author wanted to show Jesus in a certain light or an important aspects about the Savior. Matthew was writing to the Jews to show that Jesus was a better Israel and the true King. Mark had a key in that he wanted to show Jesus as a servant who would suffer for those he loves and that to follow Him meant the follower might have to suffer. Luke wants to show the things that have been said about Jesus are true and that he was a man who lived in the power of the Holy Spirit. John make is really clear why he is writing when he states it in 20:31, Jesus is the Christ the Son of God.
So in bringing this long post to a close, I could not have imagine not having each of the 4 different, unique, and amazing Gospel accounts to read and learn more about each day like some of the early 1st century church's. So we to can take confidence in know that all of the Bible is unified and complete for our benefit and knowledge of God's Word.
Up front, I want to say that these thoughts are not deep and no where close to exhaustive. If you desire a better understanding of the complete aspects of the 4 Gospels look to a good commentary or New Testament introduction, like "An Introduction to the New Testament" by DA Carson and Douglas Moo. But in a previous post I talked about how the different gospel accounts fill in the holes of each other and the important parts of the story. The 4 gospels fit together like a mosaic.
I want to touch a little in this post on why some of the gospels have the same story or teaching by Jesus but have it in a different way or format. We can have confidence in that each Gospel account is true and without error and that there is no mistake in a certain set of verses in the different accounts, especially the passion stories to end each Gospel. I believe we can have this confidence for 3 simple yet important things to remember.
First, each Gospel account is from a different person's perspective or view of the story. Matthew was a disciple with Jesus, so He got to see many events and teachings first hand. Mark, is the view of the Apostle Peter, and he is unique in that like Matthew he was there first hand but Peter was also one of the inner 3 that got special privileges that some of the others, like Matthew would not have. Luke is a descriptive narrative in that he interview many people including Mary and Paul to get his account. John, like Peter, was an inner apostle and got many first hand and intimate times with Jesus but John also does not include a lot of what Mark, ala Peter, records.
The second thing to remember is that the 4 Gospels were written by each author to different people and places. We know who Luke was writing because he says it right away in the beginning of his writing. So Luke was writing to a Greek man who was probably connected a lot to Greek and Hellenistic Jews. Church tradition teaches us who the other 3 accounts were writing to, Matthew was writing to a Jewish church in Syria, Mark was writing for the Christians in the city of Rome, and John was writing in essence for the whole world about a particular issue.
This brings us to the third thing to remember when reading and comparing the 4 Gospel. Each author had a different topic or issue to write about. Each author wanted to show Jesus in a certain light or an important aspects about the Savior. Matthew was writing to the Jews to show that Jesus was a better Israel and the true King. Mark had a key in that he wanted to show Jesus as a servant who would suffer for those he loves and that to follow Him meant the follower might have to suffer. Luke wants to show the things that have been said about Jesus are true and that he was a man who lived in the power of the Holy Spirit. John make is really clear why he is writing when he states it in 20:31, Jesus is the Christ the Son of God.
So in bringing this long post to a close, I could not have imagine not having each of the 4 different, unique, and amazing Gospel accounts to read and learn more about each day like some of the early 1st century church's. So we to can take confidence in know that all of the Bible is unified and complete for our benefit and knowledge of God's Word.
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