Ordinary

I have been recently thinking about the ordinary Christian life. Many times we read about the radical Christian life, the missional Christian life, the fulfilled Christian life, or even the emotional Christian life. Ordinary is defined in the dictionary as; to be expected or usual. This got me thinking about my life everyday as a Christian. Here is a list of things that I have come up with that should be a part of ever day, which means this list is things I should expect everyday or should be a usual part of my day as a Christian.

Trust Christ
repent of my sin
read God's Word
abide in Jesus
love God
die to self
take up my cross and follow the Spirit
love my neighbor
proclaim the Gospel to myself along with family, friends, neighbors

Now many times we think of these things as radical for life. While they are radical for the world around us to see, they should not be radical for our lives daily. Radical in the dictionary has extreme in the definition. This list should not be extreme for our lives each day, this list should be expected for our lives each day. That means everyday I should be living the ordinary Christian life at work, at home, with my family, and in my community. Are you an ordinary Christian?

An enemy of my enemy is a friend

"You have enemies? Good, that means you stood up for something, sometime in your life." ~Winston Churchill

"The supreme art of war is to subdue your enemy without fighting."~ Sun Tzu

"In the end, we will not remember the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." ~ Martin Luther King JR

I read over all of these quotes recently and felt the power in the words. I never thought in my wildest dreams that there would be feelings inside me in ministry where I felt like I was trying to love an enemy. Each human being before they know Jesus and He draws them to Himself, are by nature enemies of the Cross. So when we reach out as the church into the lost and broken world we are reaching out to our enemies and presenting them with the good news of Salvation. So I knew that ministry would be a big part reaching the enemy for Jesus and loving the enemy for the sake of God. But I never thought that I would feel like those I am called to experience the "one anothers" with would feel like an enemy. Now, I am not saying it is their fault they feel like an enemy. I know the feelings inside me have come as a part of how I have acted and sinned in my still broken nature. And I know these people are not trying to act like enemies of mine (or at least I pray they are not). But Satan has filled my broken heart with feelings of depression and sadness and thoughts that they feel like an enemy. Whether it is the silence, the strong push back for things I stood for, or even the art of war, I hate the feelings of enemies.

But good has come from these feelings. They have driven me to my knees in prayer. I have found that these feelings go away when I pray for the feelings and people. I have been reminded that it is not for these people I do what I do. I have felt the conviction of the Spirit and the Words of Scripture saturate me with the truth it is the glory of God alone that matters. I have been reminded the more I read the Bible that "God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in him", not satisfaction in these feelings or people. God has show me I need to be zealous for Him and Him alone. God as reminded me now, a year in, that I minster for Him alone. And when He gets the glory it impact others whether they feel like an enemy or a friend.

Avenger

The Webster's dictionary defines avenge as; to take vengeance for or on behalf of, to exact satisfaction for a wrong by punishing the wrongdoer. In Numbers 35, God gives instructions for His people to have cities of refuge. The cities of refuge were a place for a person to go if they killed someone. The relative or avenger of the dead person would then go to the city where it was decided if the killer did it by accident or actually murder an innocent person. The avenger then would either leave because the killer was innocent and the death was an accident or the avenger would kill the murderer in vengeance for his relative that was murder. The avenger then would be cleared of the death of the murderer because he was getting vengeance and avenging his innocent relative that had been murder.

I am a comic book/movie junky and nerd. I love myself a good comic book. I love spending 2 hours watching a good comic book movie (has to be a marvel movie though to be good). I love watching the hero's save the day and rescuing the innocent people. My favorite comic book movie is "The Avengers". In that movie, Tony Stark as Ironman gives one of the best lines in the movie. He is talking face to face with the villain when all odds seem against the heroes. He tells the villain that the combined heroes should be called Avengers because they have come to get vengeance for the innocents of earth.

Why do we ultimately have heroes and the hero mindset desire in our culture? Because everyone knows we need a hero, someone who will get vengeance for us because we are innocent or at least we think we are. Did you know every hero is just a shadow of the greatest Hero?. Even the avenger rule in Numbers 35 is a shadow for the greatest Hero. And here is the greatest kicker in the whole shadow and foretaste thought from not only Numbers 35 but the rest of the OT. The greatest Hero is not only the Avenger but also the only Innocent. Jesus Christ is the greatest hero there is. Jesus Christ is the perfect complete and only true avenger. But Jesus is also the innocent who pays the price as the avenger for us. Wow what a truly beautiful picture and truth we can hold on to and enjoy.

So next time you watch a hero movie, realize it is just humans desiring to know and have the hero in their lives. And realize we already have the perfect Hero and Avenger living and dying for us, we do not need a Captain America to save our day, WE HAVE JESUS!

Ouch

Today I read 3 more chapters from Numbers. I looked ahead and realized that tomorrow will be the last day reading in the book. On March 1st I will begin to read Joshua, which means that the book of Deuteronomy will be read through in less then 10 days. Wow that is fast but I am covering the whole Bible in one year, so I should have expected that some books would be read through fast. This fast pace made me go back and think through what I have been reading over the last few days. I think my favorite section reading in Numbers was when Balaam's donkey started to talk. As a kid, I always wished that maybe, my pets or even a wild animal would talk to me. I used to imagine me and my superhero animal friends communicating and saving the day. But in Numbers, a real live animal talks. A donkey talks to it's owner. When this donkey talks it is in the middle of a longer narrative where the prophet Balaam from Peor  comes and instead of cursing Israel, God commands and he blesses Israel. When I was younger and immature, I wished like my superhero animal friends, that I was Balaam and I got to bless God's people and hear a donkey talk to me.

But now as an adult, I am thankful to God I am not Balaam. In my reading today, Balaam meets his demise as he is put to the sword and killed because he is a false prophet who tricks God's people into sleeping with and fornicating with the Midianite women (remember Phinehas from the other day's post). So, Balaam is actually a bad guy, not one of God's chosen people, who God uses to bless His people one time. God uses Balaam, a bad guy who ends in hell, to do His will. Glad I am not Balaam. But it challenges me in realizing that God uses both His chosen people and those He choses not to save for His work. That begs to ask me the question, is God using me because I am one of His or because I not one of His and He is using me anyway? That asks me another question then, how does my life, faith, words, and actions speak to my relationship with God? God does the saving. God does the using of people for His will. So does my life and fruit show that I am one of His , that He is using? We do not want to be like Balaam and be used by God but end up being put to eternal death by our sinful unrepentant life of folly.

Out with the Old in with the New

I can get some serious heart burn if I do not pay attention. I discovered this a few years ago while I was eating a large pizza, drink a gallon of tea, and watching a football game on the couch. I could not sleep that night as the burn kicked in and I got some serious stomach pain and even lost some of my voice the next day. So I know now that I have to watch what I eat, how much of some things I eat, and the fact that if I do not take care of myself, the heart burn kicks in and the Tums tablets struggle to help me feel good.

As I have been reading through the Torah to start the calendar year and specifically the Old Covenant from Exodus through Deuteronomy, I have been thinking about my hear burn. My hear burn is like my sin. I love pizza and Turkey Hill tea. Just like I love the world and the stuff of the world. But getting pizza and tea inside me creates bad feelings and pain deep within. The world takes my already sin nature and does the same thing. The world stirs my sin and makes it much worse to the point I feel guilt, remorse, and even sorrow over the sin I commit against God and others. So the heart burn is like my sin.

The Tums tablets are like the Old Covenant. The tums give me temporary relief. The tums mask the true problem and calm my stomach down for a little. The tums do not fix the problem they just help alleviate it for a few hours. The Old Covenant is the same way. It was temporary relief for the people. It gave them a break from the wrath of God because the animals took it. The Old Covenant masked the problem and truly did not fix the sin issue to the core.

So for me to truly fix my heart burn and be healthy, I need to make a diet and lifestyle change. I need to stop eating greasy and spicy food. I need to get more sleep and stop drinking so much tea and coffee. This would all be a lifestyle change that would fix my hear burn permanently (unless I reverted back to pizza and tea). This life style change is like the New Covenant. The New covenant with Jesus fixes the sin problem. The New Covenant circumcises our hearts and gives us a new nature that does not like to sin or enjoy the sinful world. The New Covenant is the permanent fix to the problem that Tums or Old Covenant could not fix. The New Covenant is so much better and I am so blessed to be a recipient of the New Covenant.

Are you grateful for the New Covenant in Jesus and does your life show this life style change?

Phinehas and the verb

My kids love the Disney show Phineas and Ferb. I will admit, I enjoy watching the show with them when I can. The musical numbers or Perry the Platypus or the inventions they make up, all draw me into watching it. I find the show interesting because it is 2 brothers trying to get the most they can out of summer. When I was younger, all I wanted to do in the summer was sit around and play video games or go to the pool. But these brothers are trying to get the most out of each day because they know that summer only last so long before School starts again. I find it interesting to, the cartoon design of each of the characters. Ferb's head looks like a sideways T and Candace there sister, well her head has a long neck so it kind of looks like a backwards P. Phineas' head is a triangle but if you tilt your head a little while watching it you could also say it looks like the tip of an arrow or spear.

Now, you might be asking, what does this kids TV show have to do with Scripture or anything from the Bible. Let me explain. Today I was reading again from Numbers. In Numbers 25, Phinehas the son of the High Priest kills a sinner with a spear. See God did not want His people to be inter-marrying with the sinful idolatrous world around them. But the Hebrews forgot this so the men of Israel started to have sex and marry the Midianite women. Oh no! God was not happy and He brought about a plague and started to judge the people because of the sin of these men. Well, one day as Moses and the priests were weeping at the entrance to the Tabernacle, a Hebrew man walks right by them and takes a Midianite women into his tent. Well Phinehas sees this, is zealous for the glory of God and follows them into the tent and drives a spear through both the man and the women. God makes a special covenant with Phinehas because he is so zealous for the glory and honor of God, that he went and killed a sinner and the women.

For starters I find it interesting that Phineas' head looks like the tip of a spear and Phinehas killed someone by thrusting a spear through them. But I also find a better connection that is the point of my writing. Phineas is all about and zealous to get the most joy and fulfillment out of his summer. While Phinehas is zealous for the glory of God and His honor. Both of these Phineas/Phinehas are zealous for something. The question begins then are we the Phineas who is zealous for our own pleasure and joy or are we Phinehas who is most zealous for God and His joy and glory? Here are a few questions to help you know what you are zealous about.

Do you speak up when you hear God put down or do you hide?
Do you openly talk about God or do you join the negative dirty talk?
Do you give to God sacrificially or do you spend more money on yourself?
Do you use Saturday for your enjoyment only or does it set you up for God on Sunday?
Would you rather sleep or read your Bible?
Are you lazy or do you take care of the blessings God has given you?
Do you read the Bible with your kids or do you yell at them because they get in the way?
Are you broken and weeping over the glory and honor of God being diminished in your life?

Being zealous is not just an adjective, it is also a verb as you are active in pursing and pushing the honor and glory of God, not only in your life first, but also in the lives of your brothers and sisters around you that have missed or trampled it.

Walk by Faith

Ministry is tough. I find myself asking God daily, "are you sure this is what you want me to do? Are you sure I am qualified to lead a church? Are you sure you trust me to shepherd your sheep?" God typically answer with a simple reply, "walk by faith in me, obey what my will of desire is for you, and just do it!" I have find myself relating to a song by Jeremy Camp that I love and I wanted to share the lyrics today since I find myself singing it over and over again and reminding myself of the truth.

Would I believe you when you would say
Your hand will guide my every way
Will I receive the words You say
Every moment of every day

Well I will walk by faith
Even when I cannot see
Well because this broken road
Prepares Your will for me

Help me to win my endless fears
You've been so faithful for all my years
With one breath You make me new
Your grace covers all I do

Well I'm broken- but I still see Your face
Well You've spoken- pouring Your words of grace

Well hallelujah, hallelu
(I will walk by faith)
Well hallelujah, hallelu
(I will walk by faith)

I will walk, I will walk, I will walk by faith
I will, I will, I will walk by faith

Numbers

Yesterday I started to read through the book of Numbers. Numbers is an interesting book in that some of it is like Leviticus in that it is law and holiness. In the reading today we found some of this Law as the purity of the camp and the Nazerite vow were commanded by God. Numbers is also similar to Exodus in that there is story mixed in to help illustrate a point and show some theological truth. This will be illustrated in the reading tomorrow as the Cloud of God and the leaving of Mount Sinai takes place. It is important to remember though as we read through any of Scripture that the setting and backdrop of the passage is in view.

In Genesis 15 and 17, God makes 2 covenant promises with Abraham. The first promise is the promise of an offspring to the point of a great nation. Numbers chapter 1 highlights the fulfillment of this promise as the people are counted and a nation of around 3 million is organized. The second promise to Abraham is the promise one day of the land. The rebellion of the spies, except Joshua and Caleb, show that the people have forgotten this promise. But at the end of the book as the nation is waiting for God across the Jordan river in Moab, the highlight and fulfillment of this promise is at hand. So as we read through Numbers we must keep the Covenant with Abraham in view. As we read about the faithfulness and rebellion of the people in this book we must keep the promises of God in view.

So what promises of God do we need to keep in view everyday in our lives so that we live more faithful to Him daily?
-"I will never leave you nor forsake you"
-"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases"
-"God's mercies never come to an end and are new every morning"
-"He who began a good work in you will see it through to completion"
-"His Word is truth"
-"His Word is a lamp for our feet"
-"The Law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul"
-"The commands of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart"
-"be Holy because I am Holy"
-"God is love"
-"I am not a God of confusion but a God of peace"
-"For I the Lord your God am a jealous God"
-"Vengeance is mine, I will repay"
-"I am coming soon"

I have been hacked

Last month I gave my blog to a friend and fellow Elder from church to write in. Today I would like another friend and fellow Elder to share his thoughts in my blog. So here is what my good friend Mike has to say about life with and serving Jesus.  I love this man dearly and could not imagine my life and ministry at this point without him. These are some raw and honest thoughts but yet refreshing to know Mike still has confidence in who he is in Jesus and that confidence can help him in the quiet moments of reflection.

I have to admit, taking the time to read has been a chore for me the past several years.

I have a stack of books at home now that I have intended to read but for one reason or another, I don't make the effort. It's dishonest for me to tell someone who lends me a book that I'll read it but not get to it. I apologize for that.

That being said, I'll make another confession. In the past, I have treated Gods' Word like the Sunday newspaper. I skim through it, look at the parts that interest me, and then pitch it in the re-cycle bin. The next Sunday, same routine.  Not what you would expect an elder to say? Would you rather read, something to "make you feel good", or tickle your ears?  Something insightful, and thought-provoking? I'm not your guy. But God.

The past year has brought many changes in my life. My job is a roller coaster ride wearing a blindfold sitting backwards in the seat. I have been neglectful at home and not paid enough attention to Kim (who, by the way, is a saint). My house would give Bob Vila (TV home improvement guy) the shivers.    But God.

Then I was elected to be an elder. Warts and all. Then this and that and conflicts, and changes, and ruffled feathers, and blah blah blah.    But God.

I tried writing something insightful, with brevity, perhaps a small portion of wit and wisdom. In fact, I had started 3 different commentaries and tossed them.   But God.

At times I felt I have wasted a good portion of my life on ME. At times I felt alone in this life, even with Kim and the boys.  At times I had  wanted to run out the door down the street screaming at the top of my lungs. At times I had felt like falling asleep and not waking up. At times I put on a happy face and pretended.    But God.

I am a sinner, destined one day to spend eternity in Hell.   But God.

You can choose to dismiss this commentary. You can comment one way or another. You can un-elder me if that is what you want. At this point in my life, I am in His Hands, and I have God to answer to. I am His child and choose to devote my life completely to Him. I have nothing but myself to give. I am not a smart person, not eloquent and apparently not a good teacher. But I give what I am, and what I have, to God for His Honor and Glory. He has promised me a place with Him someday, not that I deserve it, or earned it with "good works", or looked on favorably by others. But by His Grace through His Sons' Sacrifice.....for me!!

And you too.

Leviticus

"Whew, I made it through that book." That is what I found myself saying this morning after I finished reading the last few chapters of Leviticus. It went by fast. I only started to read through the book on February 1st and now on the 9th we have finished the last chapters. It is a hard book to read through but I found an easy book to understand. Let me explain what I mean in that it is easy and hard at the same time.

First, Leviticus is a hard book to read through. This is the first big section of Scripture to read in that is not narrative or story. After reading through Genesis and then a good portion of Exodus, Leviticus is much different in style and type of reading. To add to the change in genre of reading, the Law style and commands are much more difficult to get through. The chapters on what a person could not touch, or eat, or do. The big sections that dealt with the Priest and their holiness were tough to read through. And even today as the year of Jubilee was read through, it seems very repetitive and meticulous to get into. This makes the book of Leviticus hard to make it through. I felt many times I was reading the same thing over and over and over again. I felt like saying, ok God I get it, "be holy because I am holy", I understand. I sometimes felt like it could be said in far less time and words.

But this brings us to the point in that Leviticus is easy to read. We know the big theme and point to the book, "I the Lord your God am Holy, so be Holy." I get that and I understand that. Compared to a book like Laminations and Isaiah, Leviticus is easy to understand. Just like the Hebrews were to be holy, we also in the church today are to be holy and being holy means following God's law and commands to the perfection. When we understand that we are to be holy, we then know why the few stories are added to Leviticus, like Nadab and Abihu and in the reading today the boy who blasphemes God. These stories are there to show us what being Holy is not. So Leviticus is much easier than most book of the Bible to understand which makes it much easier than most books to read.

So as I found myself struggling some days to read through Leviticus it was encouraging to know that the message was clear and easy for me to pick up on. I pray as I begin Numbers tomorrow that, even as some days will be a struggle to read through (like the ordering of the tribes) that most days the message and teaching from God will be easy to understand and pick up.

Holiness Code

Today in the Bible reading plan I am going through I got to read more from the holiness code of God. In Leviticus chapters 18-20 I read about who I should not be having sex with and when I break the holiness of God by committing acts of sin, what should happen to me. Knowing the holiness of God and this code, I should be stoned about 50 times already. But for God and His gracious love and His mercy. But what I found interesting in reading the 3 chapters, is in that God's holiness code effects every area of life. Sex, my relationship with my parents, my business practices, how I eat, how my week is organized around the Sabbath, how I manage my house and property, my relationship with my friends and neighbors, my worship back to God, and even the clothes I wear. God's holiness code covered 100% of the Hebrews life BUT IT ALSO COVERS 100% OF OUR LIVES. So that means to obey God is to remember and have His holiness and purity effect ever area of my life. I like the question approach again when I think of the holiness of God effecting my life. So let me ask some question to see and gauge our level of holiness and obedience to God.

What kind of movies and TV shows do you watch and like? are they holy and pleasing to God?
Are you honest with your employer? Do you give him/her your best?
Is your week organized around Sunday worship coming first?
Have you read the Bible and prayed with your spouse and children?
How is your level of lust...do you enjoy looking at others?
How much time do you spend on the internet or your smart phone?
Are you lazy at home or do you provide for your family in all areas?
Is your first reaction prayer?
What sinful/dishonoring to God habits do you have?
When was the last time you found yourself hungry to hear from God?

If your like me, a sinful broken person, you will not be able to answer everyone of these questions with a resounding Yes Jesus I love you all the time. Guess what, you would be stoned too. Praise be for Jesus and His grace for me a broken sinful person. "Be Holy, because I the LORD your God am Holy". Thank you Jesus for being Holy in my place perfectly.

The Day of Atonement

Leviticus 16 gives the order for what is to take place during the most holy day of the year. During this day the High Priest offers atonement or payment for the sin of the whole community. During the ceremony he gives a bull and ram up for offering for the sin of himself and his family. The High Priest also offers 2 goats up in atonement for the people. Each of these 2 goats has a different job to play. Each goat gives us a different action of the atonement process and each goat gives us a different picture of what Jesus did on the cross. Let me explain and go a little deeper.

Goat #1- This is the goat of propitiation. This goat spills all his blood bearing the wrath of the holy God. This goat is the substitute for the people and pays for it with his life. This goat takes care of the penalty for the sin of the people. This goat is slaughtered, burned on the alter, and its blood is sprinkled before God on the Ark of the Covenant. This goat give us a picture of Jesus Christ and His penal substitution for us on the cross. This means that Jesus bore the penalty for us in our place and spilled all His blood for us. This is also called the vicarious atonement. Jesus Christ is our vicar in that He stood in our place and bore the full complete holy wrath of God for our sin. Jesus did not have to stand in for us but He did and bore the full propitiation for our sins.

Goat #2- This is the goat of expiation. This goat had all the sins of the people placed on him by the high priest and then it was sent out away into the wilderness. The expiation of sin is similar to the Psalms that says God does not remember our sins as far as the east is from the west. This means that the God will no longer remember the sins of the people because they have been removed from His sight. This expiation work is also done by Jesus on the cross. Jesus paid for our sin and then removed it from the sight of God for those who believe in Him. Jesus takes our sin by His payment and removes it from the sight of God, so when God the Father sees us, He does not see our sin but the perfect holiness of His Son. Then God can adopt us into His family and call us His child. Jesus through the cross expiates or removes our sin.

The whole Bible is the story of Jesus. The day of atonement is a day that gives us a great picture and foreshadows the cross. I hope and pray it gives us more thanksgiving as we see in the bloodiness of these goats that Jesus did an amazing work for us in our place so we could stand before the Father, if we just believe and obey.

Purity and Seperation

I read 5 more chapters today from Leviticus 11-15. First let me say Yuck. The section of skin defilements and bodily discharges gives me the shivers. But these 5 chapters are a huge part of the theme of the book; purity and separation. Leviticus 11:44 states, "I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy." God wanted to separate His people from the rest of the people from the earth. God was telling them, "I am separate from you, so you need to be separate from others. Do these things with purity and cleanness and this will separate you from others".

We in the church today, who call the LORD our God, also need to be separate. Now I am not saying that you cannot eat a pig or that you must go to your Pastor for skin check. But what I am saying is, does your life reflect the fact that you are one of the LORD's children and separate and holy from the rest of the unbelievers on the earth. Let me give you some questions that you can ask yourself to know if you are truly separated and holy before the LORD and different than those in this world.

Does your language stand out compared to others?
Do you have worldly habits?
Do others know by word AND deed that you truly love Jesus first?
Is your week organized and scheduled around gathering in church to worship God?
Do you honor the authority God has placed in your life?
Are you full of joy in all circumstances?
How much do you yell in anger at others?
Are you equipping others in your life to serve Jesus also?
Do you desire and hunger for the Word of God?
What makes you happy?

These are some questions that have helped me identify how my holiness, purity, and separation from the world is. Let me just add, when I mean separation, I mean separation like Jesus. Jesus lived in the world. Jesus loved others including the lost. Jesus reached out and touched the world spiritually and physically. But Jesus life and actions were separated from the world and He influenced them, not the other way around.

Do you influence the world by your holiness or does the world contaminate you?

The Tent of Meeting

Today in my Bible reading plan we read through Leviticus 8-10. I will be covering chapter 10 and the death of Nadab and Abihu on Sunday. These 3 chapters deal with the Priests and their Holiness towards God and more about God's Holiness towards the people. But as I have been reading through the book so far this week a title for the Tabernacle has stuck out to me; "the Tent of Meeting".

The tent of meeting or the tabernacle was called this by Moses in his writing because it was the place where the people met God. God dwelt and hovered over the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies. God's cloud and fire would also hover over the actual tent itself. Moses tells us that when the cloud or fire would rise and move the people were to move with it. The tent of meeting is where the people brought their offerings to meet God and sacrifice to Him. The tent of meeting is where Moses and Aaron would talk to God and hear from Him. The tent of meeting is where Yahweh was at and when the people wanted to see or hear from Him, that is where they would go.

Now understand this clearly, the tent of meeting does not equal our church building. Let me say that again, the tent of meeting/tabernacle does not equal our church building. Yes we gather in our church building with others in our faith family to worship God. Yes we go to the church building to hear from God and His Word and respond back in worship. But we do not need to go to the church building to only hear from and meet with God. We have the Holy Spirit living in us every minute of every day. We can talk to God every minute of every day and do not need to go to a place to do so. We have God living in us, which the Hebrews before the Cross did not have. The building is not what matters when the people gather, it is the people gathered together in community and fellowship for worship. We have the tent of meeting in our bodies, which Paul makes clear as a tent of sorts. And our tent/body is where true worship takes place as Paul states, "present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God." Out tent of meeting is our bodies not the church.

Beginning of Leviticus

Yesterday and today, in the Bible reading plan, I read through the first 7 chapters of the book of Leviticus. I realized after reading through Genesis (50 chapters) and Exodus (40 chapters) in the first month of the year, Leviticus is going to fly fast. But something big about the nature of God struck me the last 2 days as I read through these 7 chapters.

God is a God of order and organization. God had a plan and will for how He wanted every offering done, even to the point of what to wear when the ashes were moved outside of the fire and camp. This thought gives me a great comfort in the fact God is meticulous with how He does everything and is not random. God has a unique design for how He wants each sacrifice which means God has a unique design for how things are working in the world today. Knowing God is not random and is a God and Father of order is comforting and encouraging because I know then, what happens to me is not merely chance or random actions.

This order and organization of God also challenges me too. It makes me ask do I relate to God then in order? First, is my Sunday morning worship organized and orderly in its worship and response to a God of order? Also, is my life set in a way that is order around the God of order? God wants my entire life to be worshipful. Does my life reflect the order of God always in it or do I live randomly leave what is left for God? and getting to Him what it "falls into place"?

The Superbowl

 God showers the whole world with grace, mercy, and blessings everyday. I believe God showers His people, the church, with more blessings and grace than He does the world each day. But most days we forget, miss, or do not recognize God's gifts and grace in life's daily moments. I have been pondering the Super Bowl as a gift from God and an act of grace given to the world, especially His church. So I have come up with a list of the many different ways the Super Bowl is a gift and blessing from God.

1)Sports are a gift from God in the fact He gives us a body to move, run, jump, and enjoy the physical activities that football can bring.

2) Sports highest showcase, the Super Bowl, shows the true mastery, drive, and determination that God has given the human race.

3) The Super Bowl gives a chance for some of God's greatest athletes to tell the stories of how the gospel changed their lives and how they now live and play for Jesus. (a.k.a. Russel Wilson and Peyton Manning)

4) Football shows off the greatness of the mind that God has given some men as they scheme and figure as the coaches and management of the NFL Teams.

5) Football is a form of art, like music, drawing, painting, design, and singing. Art is a gift from God for us to enjoy and bring love and pleasure into our lives.

6) The Super Bowl's commercials allow us to laugh and find happiness sometimes which is a great gift from God.

7) It can bring emotions of joy, happiness, tears of joy, and a heart full of wonderful emotions as the teams win or lose. Emotions are an amazing gift from God.

8) The Super Bowl is a competition event. Competition in the pure true sense is a gift from God because lovers of Jesus can use this drive and emotion to drive one another in the church to be more and more like Jesus.

9) The Super Bowl and football in general can bring camaraderie to the faith family as members of the church root for the same team and have fun with those who root for another team.

10) The Super Bowl can be an intentional time that the faith family can gather and find pleasure in one another and the bond that is celebrated in the union of Jesus and His church, while eating great food and watching football while laughing together.

What would you add to the list?

God gives us amazing blessings, gifts, and grace each day. Let us be looking every where with our eyes wide open celebrating and praising God for His amazing love for us in the small moments of life.

The Tabernacle and Priest

In the Bible reading plan I have started reading through the second half of the book of Exodus. First, we need to remember that from Exodus 19 on there is no narrative feed and some of the material is God dictating to Moses and other parts of the text are stories that fit into the Law section that gives us a clearer picture of God and His character. Remember, this book is about getting to know God and both the law and the stories work together in helping us get to know God. But as I have been reading chapters 24-31 of Exodus, 2 words stuck out to me and kept being found in the text. The words are Holiness and Atonement.

God's holiness means the He is separated from sin and devoted to seeking his own honor. This holiness and separation of God can be found in many places throughout the text in Exodus. The current that separated the Holy of Holies, the covering of the whole tabernacle, the fence around the tabernacle, the separation of the Priest and Levites from the rest of the People, and the consecration of Aaron and his sons. All of these facts point to the holiness of God and His separation from sinful and unholy people. We to today have the same problem. We are just as unholy as the Israelites and there is no way to cross that bridge to holy. That is why we need Jesus first on the cross but also everyday reconciling us back to a holy separated God of purity.

Atonement is another word that stuck out to me. The sacrifice of the animals, the money set to God as a sacrifice from the people, are to examples from the text. Think about how much blood was spilled and how many animals died daily to pay for the sin and unholiness of the people. When you would begin to add up just some of the figures we are talking gallons of blood daily that was spilled for the people at the Tabernacle. That is a lot of atonement. Now think about the fact we as the children of God today, do not have to spill any blood ourselves or take our animals to get sacrificed. Why? Because Jesus was our atoning sacrifice on the cross and spilled all of His blood for us.

Worship Class

I had to write this week what I learned and was impressed upon me the most during this worship class. Here is my answer that many of you might find interesting.

This Course and Me

            The theology, history, and practice of worship class has taught me so much about worship I am not sure where to begin. Going into the class I knew that worship was not just singing. Many people in church today think that worship is equal to singing and this class reinforced the truth that that is not correct. Going into the class I also knew that worship was a life. I am a big fan and reader of the Reformers and John Calvin has it right in stating, “Our heart are in idol factory”. So I knew that worship was much more encompassing that the simple worship service. What I learned the most from the class and will impact me as I serve Jesus’ church is how this “life of worship” plays out in the worship service. Calvin is right about the heart but what I also found from this class is that the worship service itself is also an idol factory if we do not understand hot it is supposed to work.

            Dr. Cherry in her book “The Worship Architect” that worship is revelation and response. I knew this going into the class. Growing up in a fundamental Bible church engrained my young mind with the truth that church and the services in it is about learning more of God and praising Him for what you know. But what I found from this book along with much of the other material in the class was the fact that worship is that simple in church; revelations from God of Himself to us and our response to those revelations back to Him. I learned and was immersed in the fact that anything that takes place in a worship service should fall in one of these two categories. The actions that take place then should either be about God revealing more of Himself or our response. I discovered that worship is that simple.

            This simplistic understanding of worship then taught me so much about what and why I do what I do in the service. It taught me how prayer should fit in the service. It gave me an understanding that prayer than can play a part in the revelation of God but also in the response to God for His revelation. I have always viewed prayer an important in the service but now understanding the role it does play, prayer has become much more of my acts of worship in the service. I have begun to open my worship with a pastoral prayer and have found that my closing prayer plays a part in the sending of God of His people back into the world, which is more of the revelation of God.  

 The class also showed me the point of singing and what the role that music should play in the service. I have always viewed music as a response a part of worship. This is still true in the fact that music does play a part in the response but it has allowed me to understand where that response should be. Response must come after God reveals something to us so having a response song, say 10000 Reasons, in the beginning is wrong. My understanding of where songs fall has changed. The material has also helped me to understand that music can play a significant part in the revelation of God. Music that opens and begins a service must have a deeper theological revelation of God and lead into the response songs. My thoughts on music and worship have broadened greatly.

 The material also grounded me in the truth that the teaching of the Bible and reading of it is a significant part of worship. It helped me to understand and appreciate the Lord’s Supper even more. It gave me a deeper thought process on how the offering and tithes play into the response and revelation part of worship. How a special number sung up front can play into the revelation of God but also allow for a response of the people. Even something as simple as announcements play into the revelation and response has been impressed upon my mind.

But this class also taught be that the worship service is an idol factory. Revelation and response is worship. If the balance is off then the idols of the heart are shown. If the worship service has too many elements about and for response and nothing around revelation the focus is on the people and them alone. If music that is responsive, and prayers that are supplication, and even acts of response like people recognition, dominate the service, the service has become about the people and a worship of God is not found. This response only service shows the true idols of the heart of the faith community. But it is also if the balance swings the other way. If the service consists only of revelation after revelation. If the teaching is only ever done and Scriptures is only read but the response is left out, the service has become a feeding frenzy. If the people are about getting fed spiritual and having no response, are they truly worshipping? True God honoring worship and a Biblical understanding of His revelation must bring about a heartfelt response back. So again if the balance as swung to revelation only the idols of the faith community are exposed.

So not only has the class helped me understand the simplistic nature of worship in revelation and response and what fits into each category, but it has also given me an understanding of balance in it. We need to find a balance in the church today. Too many churches are out of balance in worship either swinging to revelation or response. This out-of-balance shows the idols of the church. Thanks to the class, I pray that I begin to find a better balance of revelation and response not only in my own life but also in the worship services I lead.

Complexity

“Give in to the complexity of God.”

Alone

I find it interesting the feeling of being alone. I am an introvert by personality so I enjoy being alone with a good book or the Bible and a good cup of coffee. Being alone is part of who I am and part of what I enjoy. After being in a crowd of people at any given time, the feeling and relaxation of getting away from it all and being by myself is nice. When I am alone I find peace in my God and the quiet moments to allow the Spirit to convict the things that I need to change. Being alone recharges my batteries and after a quiet spell or two I find that I have the energy and desire to be with others and serve them. Being by myself many times either in the office or even a coffee shop by myself is very comforting.

But at the same time I hate the feeling of being alone. There is being alone but there then is the feeling of you are alone. I hate this feeling. I think the feeling of being alone is a work of my flesh and also the devil. When you get this feeling of being alone the world seems to be against you. You seem to no be able to do anything right. Seems like one problem after another add to the plate of life. When you get the feeling of being alone you feel beat down. Many times this feeling can come when you do things wrong and then they snowball out of control. This feeling can come when other accuse you of false things. This feeling of being alone can come when you do not feel any support. This feeling of being alone drives you to the point sometimes, when you are not careful, to just giving up and being depressed. When you get this feeling of being alone it drives you nuts to be alone. The feeling of being alone sucks.

Now I wish I could say that here are 5 keys to not feel this way. I wish it was as easy, at least in my life, to say do this and you will not feel alone. I always find myself as an equation man, wishing I could do 1+2 and solve the problem. But the feeling of being alone, again from my life, does not go away like that. I find that it takes many many days for this feeling to go away. And it only takes days of Bible reading and prayer that seem to change the feeling. I know I am not alone. I know I have a Savior who will always love and is right next to me. I know I have the power of the Spirit in my life. Knowing though does not always change the feeling. Yes, there is hope. My God will supply all my needs as I try to follow His will. So God will lift this feeling from me as I rejoice in Him. Remember that God commanded us to Rejoice and enjoy Him always no matter what the feeling. So the hope I have is the more I try to enjoy God the more the feeling will go away. But we live in a broken world with a broken self and broken others so it takes time. I just hope in the fact that one day in the next few God will help lift the feeling and one day the feeling of being alone will never be there again.

Exodus 18

Today in the Bible reading plan we read the last few chapters leading up to the stop at Mt. Sinai in Exodus 19. In my teaching time tomorrow I will be looking at the narrative from Exodus 16 and talking about God's blessings in our lives and the correct response we need to have to them. So today I want to share a few thoughts on Exodus 18 and another blessing from God and our response.

In Exodus 18 Moses' father-in-law shows up and celebrates with the Hebrew's God's faithfulness and blessings. Jethro then gives Moses some great advice and another blessing from God. Moses up to this point has been leading and judging the people by himself. Jethro realizes that Moses could use some help, so he tells Moses to get some help and find other leaders to serve and judge with him. Moses listens to this great advice and finds other men that are God fearing and trustworthy. This is the first mention in Scripture of a plurality in leadership. Yes Moses is still the liaison between God and the people. Yes Moses still brings the Word of the Lord. Yes Moses is still the first among equals. But now Moses has help and support and other men to lead the people with him.

A plurality in leadership is a great blessing from God. I am a Pastor. I bring the Word of the Lord 50 times a year. Yes I will answer someday and be accountable for the flock under me. But I have experienced and rejoice in this blessing of plurality in leadership first hand. I get the blessing and joy to serve with 3 other God fearing trustworthy men. I have the privilege to cry with them, pray with them, serve others with them, rejoice with them, and lead with them. Having these other men serve along side with me as my equals has give me accountability and friendship. These 3 men love me and serve me in ways that I could never anticipate. Having others walk alongside me in this journey, just like Moses had his other leaders, has proved to be a blessing beyond words. And now I have the responsibility to use them in leadership and listen to their advice. God has blessed in giving other leaders and now I get the chance to respond in trusting the other leaders and listen to their advice.

To my dear friends and fellow Elders, I thank you for your love, support, encouragement, and accountability. To all others, this plurality in leadership is God designed and there for our benefit, are you using others in your life or are you doing things on your own by yourself being a lone wolf? God has designed us to live in community with others, whether they are fellow leaders or members of our faith family.

Exodus 13-15-Worship

As I said a few days ago, one of the main themes of the book of Exodus is knowing God through experience. The other day I talked about Moses and Pharaoh each getting to know God through their experiences with Him. In the reading today the whole nation of Israel gets to know God by their experiences at the shore of the Red Sea. They get to see the power of their Yahweh first hand as He not only protects them and saves them by dividing the Sea but then they get to see the wrath of God in the total destruction of the Egyptian army. But as the Daily Walk points our for those who read it, when we begin to know more of God and see Him reveal more to us, we must have a response. Exodus 15 is a key to the narrative in the first half of the book. God reveals Himself and the people have a response. This is called worship. Worship is about revelation and response. Worship takes place daily as we see God moving in our lives and we respond with thanksgiving. Worship in the Sunday services is about revelation and response. Worship take places in the teaching times as God reveals Himself and His will and then response take place through giving, singing, and partaking of Communion. Worship is something that needs to flow from us daily and even hourly as we get to know more of God through experiencing more of Him. Do respond like the Hebrews when we see God revealing more of Himself?

Power in the Blood

Today in the Bible reading the Passover was read. Many different truths and great theology stuck out to me. The lamb and it's foreshadowing of Christ in so many ways is clear the more you read through the text. Much else can be found and gleaned through the reading of the Passover story many times. But 2 things tuck out at me clearly the first time I read it today.

First, Pharaoh's sin and its effect. The story in Exodus 12 makes it clear that Pharaoh does not die at the hand of God but His oldest child does. Pharaoh is the man with the sin of pride and his rejection of Moses and the Lord. But others, many others in fact pay for that sin with their lives. How may times is this true in our lives. How many times do others pay more than we do for the sin we commit. In fact I am convinced that others pay with us for every sin we commit. The sin of lust...others besides us pay for that. The sin of pride....others will always feels the payment and effects more. The sin of gossip....always hurts others more than us. The sin of covetness....the other person is hurt as much as we are. The act of unbelief...God is hurt just as much as we are. So our sin, just like Pharaoh's goes far beyond ourselves and effects others in a big way.

The other truth I found reading through Exodus 12 is the power of the blood of the Lamb. Let me share this truth by giving you the words to one of my most favorite hymns, "There is Power in the Blood". Exodus 12 is bloody but there is power in the blood.

1. Would you be free from the burden of sin?
   There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood;
   Would you o’er evil a victory win?
   There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.
   
   • Refrain:
     There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder-working pow’r
     In the blood of the Lamb;
     There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder-working pow’r
     In the precious blood of the Lamb.
2. Would you be free from your passion and pride?
   There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood;
   Come for a cleansing to Calvary’s tide;
   There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.
3. Would you be whiter, much whiter than snow?
   There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood;
   Sin-stains are lost in its life-giving flow;
   There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.
4. Would you do service for Jesus your King?
   There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood;
   Would you live daily His praises to sing?
   There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.

Are you finding power in the blood like the Hebrews did in Exodus 12?

Listening to Scripture

Last year my church bought a copy of the NIV Live A Bible Experience. This is a dramatic reading of Scripture with different people doing the different characters in Scripture as the Story is read. When Abraham talks with God it is 2 different men talking the different verses and parts of the Story. When Jacob is interacting with his 2 wives, it is 3 different people talking and bring Scripture to life. There is emotion in the readers voices and depth to what they are saying in their voice inflections.

Along with reading though the Bible this year, I have also taken to listen to Scripture read in this dramatic way. This had done 2 different things for me that have become a real blessing. First, it has brought more life and depth to God's Word. As the writer of Hebrews says, the Word of God is living and active and sharper than a two-edge sword. Listening to God's Word read is how it was written and intended to be heard the first time. This has allowed the emotion and depth of the living Bible come to life. God is still moving and acting just like He did in His interactions with Abraham and hearing it gives depth to it and the truth becomes more clearer.

The second thing that listening to Scripture has done for me is given new insight to certain parts of the Bible. When we read through the Bible we read it silently or to ourselves. But when it is read to us dramatically a new picture is shown. I never realized how perverted some of the patriarchs were until the listening to Jacob and his wives interact from different voices. It has brought the characters to life and has helped me understand more of God and His grace and faithfulness to all kinds of people and through all kinds of stories of sin and failure. The stories have become real and I have began to relate more to the Biblical characters and realized I am just like them and they are just like me; broken and sinful people saved by the grace of God.

So I would encourage anyone to find a way to listen to the Bible come to life in this dramatic reading of His Word.

Exodus 8

I have never had a guest post before. A friend of mine and fellow Elder at church wrote some great thoughts on the reading today from Exodus 8. His thoughts made me laugh but also think deeply about the Word of God. Here is what he had to say...

When I was a kid, one night I noticed a chirping sound.  I followed the chirping sound for about a half a mile until I found that the chirping seemed to be coming from stagnate little pond or maybe the trees behind it.  I couldn’t see what made the noise, but later, my friend told me that they were spring peepers.  I looked them up and spring peepers are small frogs 1” to 1.5”.  The males make a high pitched noise to attract mates.

Now if you lived thousands of years ago, in a place with a hot climate, like Egypt, you would need a house that has good ventilation.  However, with lots of ventilation, there would be no way to keep out the frogs.  Even the palace was full of frogs.  The frogs were probably looking for food and wanting to mate.  They were everywhere.  Frogs in the food, frogs in the beds.   While I don’t think Africa has spring peepers, the noise of all that croaking would have been loud and heard everywhere.  It was so bad the Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron to get rid of the frogs. 

Personally, I haven’t had any bad experiences with frogs, but I can relate to how terrible gnats and flies can be.  It doesn’t take very many relentless gnats or flies buzzing around my head, getting in my eyes, ears, nose, mouth and hair, and biting everywhere they land, to make me feel miserable.  Even worse than the frogs, the gnats and then the flies would have crawled on and gotten in everything.

When Moses prayed to God and the current plague left, it must have been such a relief.  Then the next plague comes and it starts all over again.  Why wasn’t 1 or 2 or 3 plagues enough for Pharaoh to learn to do it God’s way.  Why is it that sometimes I have to learn the hard way.  And sometimes I don’t actually learn, and the hard thinks keep coming over and over again.  When I do things my way instead of yielding to God, I bring darkness, confusion, and misery, for myself and everyone around me.  But, as God’s children, saved by grace, with the life of Christ living in us, as we yield to the Spirit, putting to death our old desires, we can be the conduit, the channel, that Jesus uses to bring Light, Freedom and Life.

Exodus-Knowing God

Today in the Bible reading plan, Exodus 3-6 was to be read. These chapters got me to thinking about one of the main themes of the entire book, knowing God. Exodus is a book with a big theme about coming to know God through personal experience. In the reading today we see 2 different people who either have come to know God through personal experience or are about to come to know God through their personal and even violent experience with Him.

Moses in chapter 3 gets to meet God in the bush, somewhat face to face and hear His voice. Moses gets to know God by His personal intimate covenant name, I AM WHO I AM (the LORD and also YHWH). This personal meeting with God sets the stage for Moses the rest of the story as he now acts and becomes a mediator between the LORD and His covenant people. Moses begins to know the LORD now in chapter 3 at the burning bush, but as the story progresses He finds out so much more about God and His revealed character like; His holiness, patience, covenant love, longsuffering, compassion, hatred toward evil, justice, and majesty. Today's reading marks the beginning of the journey for Moses to come to know God through experience.

Pharaoh in chapter 5 also begins his journey into coming to know of God through personal experience. In 5:2 Pharaoh states, "Who is the LORD that I should obey Him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go!" Pharaoh is defiant in the fact he does not know I AM and he think he is the I am. But as we will see in the next 3 days of reading, Pharaoh gets to know of and about some of the character of the LORD through his personal experience and interaction with Him.

So who's personal experience in knowing God would you rather have, Moses or Pharaoh? And does your life and obedience match which person you would rather be?

Starting Exodus

Today in the Bible reading plan we read Exodus 1 and 2. Finally, we get to another book of the Bible and read about new characters in the story. Here are some initial thoughts to keep in mind as the book of Exodus is read through in the next 3 weeks.

First, Exodus is the second part of a much larger narrative and story. The larger narrative and story is called the Pentateuch, which in the English Bible is Genesis through Deuteronomy. That means Exodus just carries over many of the same themes, topics, and truths from Genesis. It should catch our ear that the first lines in Exodus sound similar to many of the same lines found in Genesis with the genealogy stuff.

Second, Exodus is a bi-fid book. This means the book, unlike Genesis structure, can now be split into 2 parts. The first part of Exodus is chapters 1-19 and the second part of the book is 20-40. The first half of the book is narrative and the second half of the book is Law. Follow this 2 part structure as we read through the book. Many of the stories and narratives found in the first 19 chapters will be taught about and revealed in Word in the Law portion of the book.

Finally, this bi-fid structure means that after chapter 19 is read the narrative style and chronological order should be throw out the window. Chapters 20-40 take place on or at the foot of the mountain and happen at different times and the events get mixed up. The story now goes more for theological points connected rather than narrative connected.

Just some point to keep in mind as we begin to read and enjoy the book of Exodus.

FYI- My favorite character in the book of Exodus is Bezalel

Reading Genesis 45-47

In the daily walk devotional today the word Sovereignty is talked about. This is a big word, with a simple meaning, that has an amazing picture that is connected to a comforting word. The daily walk asks us to make our own definition of Sovereignty, so let me explain what I mean in the sentence above by giving you my definition first.

First, I define sovereignty as: God exercising His perfect total power over His creation showing His rule and reign over all that He has created, including me and my "small time" events and circumstances. Yes this is a wordy definition but sovereignty is a big word that can have complexity to it but it does have a simple meaning.

Second, the simple meaning is basically: God has totally control with perfect power. Wow, this simple meaning then taken out of my bigger definition has some clarity to it. But this simple definition totally separates God from His creation and everything in it. This then is an amazing picture.

Third, this amazing picture shows that God is the controlling factor in everything not man. God is above, beyond, and totally separated from the creation that He controls and shows His power in. That means we as humans, though we think we do, do not control very much of anything. God has complete control and in His power controls all circumstances, even to the simplest action like the falling of a snowflake. This then is connected to a very comforting and encouraging words called, God's decrees.

I define God's decrees as: the eternal plans of God so that, before the creation of the universe, He determined to bring about everything that happens. That not only means that God controls everything perfectly, but He has a plan and design for everything perfectly in a perfect way. That should give us great comfort in the fact that nothing, every, happens by chance and is everything ever is dictated and controlled by God in His plan before the creation of the universe. That means before Creation, God planned to put Joseph in prison, before creation, God had in His plan for 9/11 to happen, and before Creation God planned for me to be His child and a pastor. Wow! I know this will bring up many other questions about free will and choice but as a child of God, His plan and decree put forth by His Sovereignty should bring us great comfort in knowing He has a plan, nothing takes place by chance, and we are in His plan and perfect control. So when the cancer word or natural disaster takes place, in our lives, we can have comfort in knowing God in His decree with His sovereignty has got it covered and we can rest in that.

*Any questions on this see me, email me, call me, or facebook me since this is a lot to digest.*

Genesis 41-44- What's up Judah again?

Today in the reading we read through the section of the story of Joseph where he gets vaulted from the prison to Pharaoh's right-hand-man to the meeting and testing of his brother's. Chapter 44 is focused on the change now in Judah. When we last saw Judah 2 days ago in chapter 38, he was a sinful pervert who could not control his house or himself.

But God, has done a great work in the life of Judah and now shows the change in Judah's character and compassion for others. Of note is the fact that Judah's speech in 44:18-29 is the longest speech in the Bible by any of Jacob's sons. This speech through Judah, marks the turning point in the relationship of Joseph with his brothers. Judah displays great humility in referring to Joseph as "my lord" 7 times and to himself or the family as "your servants" 12 times. We must remember that it was Judah who had the idea to sell Joseph into slavery and now Benjamin, the "favorite son" was on the cusp of being sold into slavery also. So what does Judah do this time? Judah volunteers to stay in Benjamin's place in slavery. Here is my version of what Judah is saying to Joseph...

"My lord, I know, I did not sin against you by stealing the cup. But this young boy cannot bear the punishment for this offense against you. So please, credit me with this boy's sin, punish me in his stead, impute the offense you have against this boy on me. My lord, please allow me to take his place and serve the punishment for his crime."

Who does that sound like???

What's the big deal?

"What’s the big deal...isn’t worship ultimately about God? Is it really necessary to render a pastoral approach to the worship leadership ‘gig’"?

This was a question I was asked today in my worship class. Here is my initial response to it.

First, I want to recognize that this is a loaded question. To fully answer and explain all of the part to the pastoral approach in worship would take at least one book if not multiple volumes to follow. I would like to spend a few words on the practical matter of the pastoral approach to leading worship.

Yes, worship is about God, for God, and to transform us more and more into the image of God in the form of Jesus Christ. That being said, God has created each of us uniquely as David describe in His Psalm about God forming him in his mother's womb. So we each in the church have different passion, desires, likes, preferences, and thoughts on how to worship and be transformed through this worship. I imagine it like a futbol team in that all the members of the team have different skills, traits, and abilities than others. That is why on the team each player has his different task to fulfill in the game; some to be defenders, others to be possessors, and finally some to score the goal. If the coach of the team did not have every player in mind for the game plan and overall control of his team it would not succeed in reaching the win. It would be a bunch of players running around not working together and having severe issues. This is the same for the pastoral approach to worship. The church is a flock and needs a "little shepherd" to move it unified in one direction, that being true God honoring worship, and accomplish the task and goal of the community. So the Pastor must to like the coach and know the worshippers, how they desire and worship best, and how the content and culture work together in context. If there was no pastoral approach there would be a bunch of people worshipping but not together unified as a community worshipping God together as a community and the goal of that community would fail.

I know this answer seems a little practical but I think it is a good place to answer and begin a discussion of the big deal of pastoral leadership in worship. The need for a "leader" to unify the community in the same direction who ahs a heart for Jesus and knows his people.

Genesis 38-What's up Judah?

*Breaking News*~We interrupt your regularly scheduled story of the man of integrity, Joseph, to bring you a breaking story on the man of not so much integrity Judah.

That is what chapter 38 does for us in the middle of the story of Joseph. The last section of Genesis, which starts in chapter 37 is about Joseph and his faith and integrity in the God of his forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But the writer of Genesis, Moses, throws in this story of Judah for us to read and ponder. The Judah in chapter 38 is there to contrast the Judah of chapter 44 along with the Joseph of chapter 39. Even more important for us to remember in reading this is the fact that Judah was in the line of David and Jesus. This man if sexual promiscuity and unfaithfulness is in the family tree of the Savior. By this unexpected interruption of the story of Joseph, Genesis and the original readers were kept in suspense. We must wait a little longer to discover what happens to our man Joseph after he is sold in the slavery.

But the story of Judah and Tamar is not irrelevant to the main course of the whole narrative. This was not added as a footnote but also teaches us the theology of Genesis and continues the themes and phrases of the rest of the story. It is concerned with how the promises of the descendants for the patriarchs should be fulfilled. It shows how the hard-hearted Judah was stopped in his tracks and then prepares us to meet a different Judah later on the in the story. It even gives us another set of twins in the picture of the younger overtaking the older. This story of Judah has a purpose and reason and when compared to Joseph begs to ask us the question.

Are we more like Judah or more like Joseph?

Genesis 32-36-God's Promise fulfilled

These 4 chapters focus a great deal on the relationship if Jacob and Esau and was written for the reason of comparing, contrasting, and showing them together in the story. Chapter 32 is a huge key to much of this section but I will be covering that chapter this coming Sunday so I would like to focus on a different question at the moment.

So why exactly is chapter 36 in the book of Genesis when it is a family tree of Esau and the story is about Jacob? This is a question that should have jumped out at us as we were reading the text today.

 Remember, as I have already noted Genesis alternates accounts of the non-elect patriarchs, Ishmael and Esau, with accounts from the chosen line-Terah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The opening section in chapter 36 should catch us as it shows Esau had migrated out of the promised land for economic reasons. Once again, this section shows us how the promises and blessings from God are being fulfilled. Esau leaving the promised land has left it all to Jacob for his blessings. Rebekah had been told by God that two nations were in her womb and that the older would someday serve the younger brother. The emergence in chapter 36 of a nation of Edom from Esau shows the promise of both nations as is later recorded, Edom will be subject to a nation of Israel under King David. This chapter shows that even minor promises from God can and will come true. Wow! How much more certain is the fulfillment of the central promises of God then to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and US today!

Common Grace-Genesis 21-24

Yesterday I looked at 4 instances of God's grace from the previous 3 chapters in Genesis. I discussed a little about His grace and what it looks like sometimes. God's grace is simply stated in the truth that God gives us something we do not deserve and that is an act of grace. As God's chosen people today we think of God and His grace in a big way around the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. When we think of grace, we in most ways and thoughts think of His grace in a salvation and redemption way. In the chapters today we saw a few more instances of that, one being the birth of Isaac. This is a salvation act of grace in that God kept His promise to Abraham and gave him a son and blessed that son. We also saw God and His salvation grace in the scene on top of the mountain right before Isaac is sacrificed.

But God is a God of grace to all, even to those who are not chosen and will spend eternity in Hell separated from God. God giving grace to those outside of His plan is called common grace. Common grace today is defined by Jesus as God giving rain to the just and unjust and God giving everyone safety in travel, and God blessing unbelieving parents with children or big retirement accounts. Even people taking their next breath is an act of common grace by God. In the chapters we read today we saw God and His common grace shown. God providing a way out for Hagar and Ishmael and then blessing them is common grace. 22:20 and the family listing of Nahor is God showing us His common grace to people that were outside of His chosen will. So we need to see this common grace from this text as well as every day life. God and His grace is much bigger and broader than we think or imagine as His children. We need to not only thank God every day for His salvation grace or special grace but we also need to be thankful for God and His common grace. Then while we are being thankful we can introduce unbelievers to their experience of God and His common grace in their lives and equip them to take the next step to finding God and His salvation grace. Lets not miss the bigger picture of God and His grace to all, outside our little narrow self window.

It is all about Grace- Genesis 18-20

In the Bible reading plan today we read 3 more narrative stories from the life of Abraham. One word links these 3 chapters together very clearly; grace. Let me give you 4 examples of grace from these 3 chapters that I see. These examples are only the beginning of grace but they show some grace in the clearest way. Remember, Genesis is not interested in the events for their own sake but for what they disclose about the nature of God and His purposes. These 3 narratives clearly show the nature of God and His purposes and they make know to us God is a God of grace in spite of who we are and the brokenness we show and sin we commit.

1-18:19- "For I have chosen him"
God chose Abraham to make His purposes and plan go forth. Remember, Abraham was an idolater in Ur when God chose and called him. Abraham did not worship Yahweh alone and was a broken sinful man before God called him out and made a covenant with him. God made the covenant and gave Abraham the right standing before Him. That is grace is the clearest sense, God did not have to do any of that and could have let Abraham rot in his own sin and be damned for it.

2-Getting Lot out of Sodom
Lot was a broken man who could not lead his family well. Lot was not like his uncle and a true man of faith in Yahweh. Lot was backsliding away from God when he moved his family into Sodom and even in the middle of chapter 19 tries to send his daughters into harms way. But God, in spite of all this saves him and his family from the destruction of Sodom. Again a clear act of grace shown and even told to us by God in His conversation with Abraham right before it.

3-God in His Holy Righteous judgment destroys Sodom
You might say how is this an act of grace. But think about it for a minute. God is Holy all the time and should do this to every human being who ever existed, except one, Jesus Christ. This Holy wrath of God though was poured out on the one human being who did not deserve it. That same fire and brimstone was poured out on Jesus on the cross and in grace from God, Jesus took it for US. Sodom's destruction is a clear picture of what God did to Jesus on the cross for us and WE are no better than anyone in the town of Sodom which was destroyed. Clear as day grace there.

4-Same mistake twice
How many times do we seem to commit the same sin over and over again. Abraham does when he tells Sarah to lie again and not say she is his wife. Yes they were related by blood, but more important Sarah was his wife. That is called stretching the truth which is lying. Yet God still uses this broke sinner for His purposes and keeps the covenant. Abraham breaks the covenant clear as day in chapter 20 and the covenant was only a few chapters ago in 17. Yet God in His grace keeps the covenant with Abraham and keeps His promises. Again grace in the purest sense.

I pray and hope that in the reading today you can see the grace of God. This same grace is given to us today, tomorrow, next year, and for eternity. Lets rejoice in a gracious loving God who keeps His covenant with us, in spite of our broken sinful nature and committed acts of unbelief every day.

Genesis 15-17

Today we are reading through some very key passages to not only the story of Abraham, but also Genesis and the entire Biblical story of Jesus and redemption. Genesis 15-17 deal with the covenant relationship that God makes with Abram. Chapter 15 is the first instance of the full covenant so I will deal with this chapter in the teaching time this coming Sunday. But chapter 17 also gives us a bigger picture of the covenant blessings that God will be giving to Abraham and his descendants. Chapter 17 also gives us the covenant stipulations that Abraham must keep, one of them being the physical ramification of circumcision. Verse 13 is a huge key to the point of this circumcision. This act took place so that a physical marker is seen of Abraham and his descendants’ relationship with Yahweh.

Sorry to tell you but circumcision does not mean the same thing today. We as the church have a different type of circumcision. As Ezekiel will show us later on, as well as many other writers, we as the church today who have a faith in Jesus have a circumcision of the heart. Our hearts have the marker of our relationships with Jesus. But we also need to realize something also with this truth. We also, because our hearts are not physical, have a physical act or marker that shows our relationship with Yahweh. We have obedience. Abraham obeyed God and put the physical marker on himself and all his family. When our hearts are circumcised by Jesus a change will take place and we also should and will desire to obey Him. So just like Abraham had a physical marker now to show the covenant between him and Yahweh, we to have obedience as our physical marker of our covenant relationship with the same Yahweh God. So I guess then, we need to ask ourselves, if we do not want to obey Yahweh and His commands, are we in a covenant relationship with Him?

Genesis 12-14

Today we get to read the beginning of the story of Abraham. In the first 3 chapters we read today he is still called Abram. There is a lot going on in the text with 3 different stories connected in these 3 chapters. I find 2 great truths coming today among many that I would like to point out. These 2 truths seem to come up in my life continually and the more I desire Jesus or commit acts of unbelief in Him, the more they become real to me.

First, in chapter 12 God makes a promise to Abram about the land and giving it to him. But when the famine shows up Abram does not trust God and goes to Egypt, where He commits another act of unbelief and has his wife lie. To make matters worse later on in the story, when Pharaoh gives Abram gifts in 12:16, one of the gifts he gives is a servant named Hagar. But how many times in my life do I do the same thing as Abram. I commit a sin and make it worse by committing more sin and more sin rather than trust God first. Or I could repent of my first sin and have faith in God rather than sin the more and try to fix it myself. I can never fix my own sin, only God can. Abram in chapter 12 is giving us a negative action for us to see and respond differently than he does.  

The second application I find in my life when I desire God and obey what he wants is the truth about loving others and experiencing God deeper blessing. So Abram gets back from Egypt, he does not make the mistake this time and loves Lot and gives him his pick of the land. Lot chooses the better half, but God in spite of this, blesses Abram and reminds him of God’s promise from Chapter 12. I also find that when I take a seemingly sacrificial step of faith in God, He is even fuller of blessings and faithful responses to me. God wants us to take these steps of extreme faith in Him, because He is willing and desires to bless us, spiritually and sometimes physically, above and beyond what we think or can imagine.

Genesis 10-11

These thoughts come courtesy of my beloved. I have never let her thoughts in my blog so today is a great day to start. These thoughts come from our daily Bible reading.

How many times have you read the story of the Tower of Babel? Or heard it told? I cannot even count how many times I have and yet, I learn new things in each reading. God gives me new insights. The people came together to build a tower to the Heavens, to prove themselves best. And God, in his wisdom scattered them, giving them different languages…..humbled them.

How often have you heard that famous little colloquialism, “God helps those who help themselves.” You won’t find that in the Bible because it’s not there.  But how often do we act as though it’s true? Trying our hardest to work our way into God’s favor, doing good works, we act like those in Babel, believing that through our hard work, we can build our way to God.  I’m so thankful that this isn’t the case. God offers me grace and forgiveness and all that he requires of me is to ask. To humble my heart and admit my wrong doing. To admit I am weak, a sinner. I needed this reminder today and most days; that although I’m going to mess up, God still loves me and desires me in his presence, not through my own work but through belief in Him.

Gensis 6-9

This is the same blog as the Bible reading discussion on my church's website. Most days I will post the same in both places but other times when I am not the one writing for the discussion, my blog will be different especially on quotable Friday's.

Today we are to read the story of Noah. Many of us know this story from Sunday School or other children's Bible clubs so it is very familiar to us. There was even a movie made in 2014 about the story of Noah but half way through strayed big time from the Biblical text. I want to do a few things today on the discussion for us. I will point out an application from the story of Noah but then, like I will attempt to do many times throughout each month, give some layout structure and some of the exegesis so you can interpret the reading and understand some of it on your own. In doing this I will point out themes that start and carry though to other readings, I might talk topics or key words that appear in the text, or I might even focus on a character in the story and show the plot or conflict around them and the Hero God. So here are 3 keys to helping unlock this passage as well as future readings.

#1- Historical writing vs. Theological writing
Genesis, along with the rest of Scripture is concerned and writing for and about God, not for an historically accurate date keeping fact book. Yes the story of Noah is in history and the writer wants us to know this is a true historical story. He does this by including times and days and counts. But the writer and God, are more focused on showing God and His interactions with the people, in this case Noah. So this story, along with every other narrative in the Bible, is a story about God and written to showcase God and is done in a great way setting it in an historical timeframe without focusing on the historical details to much. So we need to read this like it was intended. Do not get caught up in the time and setting details. It is not important what year this happened in or what the world was like with the technology or how the governments and ruling powers acted. What is important is God and His interactions with Noah. So do not get hung up on the details and feel like you need the details to read the narrative.

#2- Covenant
Chapter 9 in the story of Noah gives us the first clear cut covenant between God and man. Yes, God made a covenant with Adam and Eve in Genesis 3 and there is even a possible covenant with Eden and the earth in Genesis 2 but in the story of Noah God uses the word covenant. Covenants with God are a key theme not only in the book of Genesis but the entire Scriptures. Covenants is how God relates to man and is a key component in our relationship with God. We will see more this year of covenants like, the Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, and finally the New Covenant. Keep your eyes out also for covenant language of God and His relationship with man. We will dive more into covenants later as we study Genesis (I will be preaching on Genesis 15 next Sunday), Exodus, Deuteronomy, 2 Samuel, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Hebrews to name a few places.

#3-"This is the account" (record, lineage, family)
These simple four words help us understand the structure of the book of Genesis. These words are used 11 times in the book to break up sections of the story (2:4, 5:1, 6:9, 10:1, 11:10, 11:27, 25:12, 25:19, 36:1, 36:9, 37:2). So Genesis consists of a prologue which is 1:1-2:3 and then the rest of the book can be divided up in these 11 parts. Each part is about a particular family unit and as the story progresses God draws himself closer to that particular family unity in many ways. Here are the 11 family units; Heavens and earth, Adam, Noah, Noah's 3 sons, Shem, Terah and extension to Abram, Ishmael, Isaac, Esau, Edomites, Jacob. This structure will help us understand the book a little better and also see how God and His relationship changes more with each family unit. This will help reveal more about the nature of God and His purpose with mankind. This is a great tool in understanding the text so be on the lookout for more structure help like this as we read farther along in the story of God in His Word.

So just a note on some application that I love from the story of Noah. Genesis 6:7 concludes some of God's thoughts on His creation. God has had enough and is tired and sick of His creation rebellion against Him and living in unbelief. God decides that He will wipe everything off the face of the earth and start over. Then immediately after this confession of God and His regret of the sinful nature of mankind, God chooses Noah. Verse 8 states, Noah however found favor in the eyes of God. God chooses Noah. The Scriptures never say anything positive about Noah up to this point and it only gives a picture of the sinfulness of man. But in spite of all that God chooses Noah to save and then in verse 9 it states that Noah walks in righteousness. Where does this righteousness come from? This righteousness comes from God and His favor with Noah. Noah becomes righteous because God chose Him favorably. WOW! I love this truth and picture from Noah because it gives me hope in my sinful state. God chose to save me also through the blood of Jesus and as now given me the same righteousness that He gave Noah. Our God is an awesome God who never changes and is still in the business of choosing people for righteousness and salvation. Because of this righteousness then also Noah, had faith in God and obeyed God and was saved. Simple, we also need to have faith in God obey God and He will save us and give us righteousness, just like Noah.

Happy New Year

I have decided to make 3 resolutions this year and only 3 people will be able to tell me if I keep these resolutions; God, my beloved, and my doctor.
My first resolution is to love the Word of God better and have more confidence in its power at work.
My second resolution is to love my wife more and with more grace than I ever have. I always have plenty of room to grow in my marriage and union with her.
My third resolution is to love my body better. I want to exercise more and eat healthier this year than I did last year. I am not getting any older and can use all the help I can get in living healthier.

But now on to the good stuff of my blog, the Bible reading plan thoughts...

First Day of the Bible Reading Plan
Today is New Years Day. Today marks the first day of the new Year. Today gives a chance for new beginnings, new habits, and a chance to right last years wrongs. Today also marks the first day of the Bible reading plan. Today we are to read Genesis 1 and 2. "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth". This is the firsts sentence in the Bible and one of the most important to know by heart. This first sentence of Genesis is only 7 words in Hebrew but it can teach us 7 important truths that should impact and change us for the new year and for life. Think about these 7 truths and ponder them all year as the Bible is read daily.

#1-God exists.
The first essential truth to understand so that we can please God, is knowing that He exists.

#2-God existed before there was a universe and He will exist even after this world passes away.

#3-God is the main character.
The Bible is about God, written by God, and tells us what we need to know concerning God. As we read the Bible this year remember that God, in three persons, is the main character and the point is for us to know Him as the main player.

#4-God as Creator did what no human could do.
The Hebrew word for "to create" is bara. This word implies the divine and has no human character, quality, or trait in the meaning. As Creator God is in control and we are the created.

#5-God is mysterious.
When, how, why, where, and what, are all the questions that this first verse should bring us about the existence of God. But knowing God is mysterious should give us joy and hope in that fact He is way beyond our understanding, yet He loves us all the same through this mystery.

#6-God is THE Creator of the heavens and the earth.
He does not just modify pre-existing matter but calls matter into being out of nothing.

#7-God is not dependent on the universe.
We depend on God for everything as the created and God is outside of our control. God is sovereign and beyond anything that we can imagine and we can depend on that, not the other way around.

Lets think about these 7 truths all year long as we read about God and begin to get a glimpse of Him from His Word. I pray these 7 truths change you for the better this New Year.