318 Ecclesiastes 4 – 7; James 5
"A three-stranded rope isn't easily snapped." so says the Quester. Basically, if you are alive make sure you find some good friends. He also says, if you are never born count your lucky stars. The preacher is laying it out that life is difficult. Do you believe life is difficult? It is and we need more than all the trinkets to get us through. The preacher, as you will learn, has had the opportunity to have much of the fluff. He is saying it is all empty. In the midst of that you still have to eat, work, live and breathe. In the midst of all of this life, don't go it alone. In the midst of this life make the most of what God gives you.
James has harsh words for those who gather wealth by being corrupt. The corrupt are not stockpiling wealth, but judgment. What need do you have? Figure out what need you have and do something about it. If you feel great, then sing--you have a need to sing. If you are hurting--pray. If you are sick, call the Elders to anoint you and pray over you. Please read James five carefully, especially about the healing. We need more of this in the church and by God's grace it will happen. Let's pray together that the Lord would touch our people and relieve some of the suffering.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
317 Friday, November 13, 2009
317 Ecclesiastes 1 – 3; James 4
When Peterson uses Quester it is his translation of teacher or preacher. The Quester is a plain talker and says it is all smoke and mirrors, this life that is before us. The life we try to create, manipulate, and consecrate on our own terms. The Quester wants to alert us that all of our best efforts will be in vain if we are not connected with the eternal God. At first you may think the Quester is a de-motivating speaker, but it is just the opposite. He is trying to motivate us to lean into the Lord. He wants us to truly understand with every fiber of our being that this life is worthless without the Lord in charge of our lives. Open your hearts up to one of the wisest humans to ever grace this planet.
A person once said to me that many brainstorming meetings are just blamestorming meetings. James does some blamestorming of his own--he points his finger right at us. Where do the fights come from? They come from our own lust--us wanting our own way. We even pray that way thinking that God will not see through us. Who is the champion of the "my way" camp? The devil is the champion of that camp and we have to be cognizant of his activities and rebuke the devil and the evil ways. Stand against the devil and draw near the Lord with a humble heart. What are you trying to do right now that is from the "my way" camp and not God's way? Let God purify you and your motives. Amen.
When Peterson uses Quester it is his translation of teacher or preacher. The Quester is a plain talker and says it is all smoke and mirrors, this life that is before us. The life we try to create, manipulate, and consecrate on our own terms. The Quester wants to alert us that all of our best efforts will be in vain if we are not connected with the eternal God. At first you may think the Quester is a de-motivating speaker, but it is just the opposite. He is trying to motivate us to lean into the Lord. He wants us to truly understand with every fiber of our being that this life is worthless without the Lord in charge of our lives. Open your hearts up to one of the wisest humans to ever grace this planet.
A person once said to me that many brainstorming meetings are just blamestorming meetings. James does some blamestorming of his own--he points his finger right at us. Where do the fights come from? They come from our own lust--us wanting our own way. We even pray that way thinking that God will not see through us. Who is the champion of the "my way" camp? The devil is the champion of that camp and we have to be cognizant of his activities and rebuke the devil and the evil ways. Stand against the devil and draw near the Lord with a humble heart. What are you trying to do right now that is from the "my way" camp and not God's way? Let God purify you and your motives. Amen.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
316 Thursday, November 12, 2009
316 Song of Songs 4 – 8; James 3
When you read Song of Songs you would think you are reading a hallmark card or a poet from the romantic period. Here is just a taste, "The fire of love stops at nothing--it sweeps everything before it. Flood waters can't drown love...". Wow--they must really be in love. Here is the deal you hook up eros with agape and you have a powerful combination that is explosive. How is your love life?
Step right up ladies and gentlemen and see for yourself the one and only tongue tamer in North America. There are none like the tongue tamer for the lion may make a kill, the elephant move a tree, but the tongue can wreak havoc by turning harmony into chaos and send the world up in smoke. There is none more powerful than the tongue and we have the tamer here tonight in the big tent. Watch your words and pray to God for a tame tongue. James chapter three has got to be one of the most sobering passages in the Bible. Pray for yourself, for your church, and pray especially for each other that God would help us to tame our tongues.
When you read Song of Songs you would think you are reading a hallmark card or a poet from the romantic period. Here is just a taste, "The fire of love stops at nothing--it sweeps everything before it. Flood waters can't drown love...". Wow--they must really be in love. Here is the deal you hook up eros with agape and you have a powerful combination that is explosive. How is your love life?
Step right up ladies and gentlemen and see for yourself the one and only tongue tamer in North America. There are none like the tongue tamer for the lion may make a kill, the elephant move a tree, but the tongue can wreak havoc by turning harmony into chaos and send the world up in smoke. There is none more powerful than the tongue and we have the tamer here tonight in the big tent. Watch your words and pray to God for a tame tongue. James chapter three has got to be one of the most sobering passages in the Bible. Pray for yourself, for your church, and pray especially for each other that God would help us to tame our tongues.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
314 Tuesday, November 10, 2009
314 Song of Songs 1 – 3; James 2
The Song of Songs was for years seen as an allegory. The groom expressing his love for the bride was seen as Christ revealing His love for the church. One of our church fathers preached for thirteen years on the Song of Songs. I can't even imagine being in that congregation! The Song of Songs is no more or no less a love story. It is man and a woman expressing their love for each other. It is affectionate love and it is eros love. This book pulls those two loves together and our society needs to hear that message again and again! It is this pure love between bride and groom that yes includes sex and it is right in the Bible. If God made us, then God made sex. He also made it a pleasurable experience. God has not hidden this fact from us, yet many times the church has literally been in the dark ages on the subject. The shame should be that we don't talk about it; not the other way around.
James is reminding us that we are all made in the image of God. To treat someone better in the church because they are perceived as more influential is a sin!! I mean it is a sin--big time. James is pushing the love commandment that we are to love one another. Love… one… another!! This is never easy. You have to bring it into context of each and every relationship. This royal law is never to be disregarded for any reason! Tough! If you don't think so get in a room and explain a situation you are in and see how many answers you get on what you ought to do in light of “love one another”. Today show some love to your spouse and to someone that may not expect it. LOVE!!!
The Song of Songs was for years seen as an allegory. The groom expressing his love for the bride was seen as Christ revealing His love for the church. One of our church fathers preached for thirteen years on the Song of Songs. I can't even imagine being in that congregation! The Song of Songs is no more or no less a love story. It is man and a woman expressing their love for each other. It is affectionate love and it is eros love. This book pulls those two loves together and our society needs to hear that message again and again! It is this pure love between bride and groom that yes includes sex and it is right in the Bible. If God made us, then God made sex. He also made it a pleasurable experience. God has not hidden this fact from us, yet many times the church has literally been in the dark ages on the subject. The shame should be that we don't talk about it; not the other way around.
James is reminding us that we are all made in the image of God. To treat someone better in the church because they are perceived as more influential is a sin!! I mean it is a sin--big time. James is pushing the love commandment that we are to love one another. Love… one… another!! This is never easy. You have to bring it into context of each and every relationship. This royal law is never to be disregarded for any reason! Tough! If you don't think so get in a room and explain a situation you are in and see how many answers you get on what you ought to do in light of “love one another”. Today show some love to your spouse and to someone that may not expect it. LOVE!!!
Monday, November 9, 2009
313 Monday, November 9, 2009
313 Ruth 1 – 4; James 1
I hope you read the introduction to Ruth. He really nails it! I often tell people to remember when they feel low, "that they are unique like everyone else." There are times in life that we can feel like bench-warmers. We are on the stage, but we have the bit parts--like playing a tree. Ruth helps us understand that we never know what we might contribute to the kingdom of God. Tragedy had struck this family and Naomi is trying to do what is best for her two daughter-in-laws. One takes Naomi's advice and goes back home but Ruth says, "Where you go, I go; and where you live, I'll live." Ruth goes back with Naomi to her people the Jews. To make a short story even shorter Ruth ends up marrying Boaz and they had a son named Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse and Jesse was the father of David. This seemingly insignificant event led to Ruth being part of the Messianic line. By the way, Ruth was not Jewish--how about them apples?!? Way to go Ruth!!!
Martin Luther did not want this book to be in the Cannon of Scripture. Dr. Luther had his reasons because it had been so misused by his denomination. However, Martin was wrong because James is explaining the other side of faith. The side of faith that James was wrestling with was those that said they believed, but never saw any changes in their behavior. James did not believe that you worked for faith, but he did believe in a faith that works.
Right off the bat the brother of Jesus hits us with the thought that when troubles come to consider it a gift. In the NIV it says, "to count it pure joy." In the context of living in troublesome times James clues us in on the priority of prayer. Pray, pray, pray and then ask some more--God loves to give His children gifts. Give it a shot today--got trouble-pray!
I hope you read the introduction to Ruth. He really nails it! I often tell people to remember when they feel low, "that they are unique like everyone else." There are times in life that we can feel like bench-warmers. We are on the stage, but we have the bit parts--like playing a tree. Ruth helps us understand that we never know what we might contribute to the kingdom of God. Tragedy had struck this family and Naomi is trying to do what is best for her two daughter-in-laws. One takes Naomi's advice and goes back home but Ruth says, "Where you go, I go; and where you live, I'll live." Ruth goes back with Naomi to her people the Jews. To make a short story even shorter Ruth ends up marrying Boaz and they had a son named Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse and Jesse was the father of David. This seemingly insignificant event led to Ruth being part of the Messianic line. By the way, Ruth was not Jewish--how about them apples?!? Way to go Ruth!!!
Martin Luther did not want this book to be in the Cannon of Scripture. Dr. Luther had his reasons because it had been so misused by his denomination. However, Martin was wrong because James is explaining the other side of faith. The side of faith that James was wrestling with was those that said they believed, but never saw any changes in their behavior. James did not believe that you worked for faith, but he did believe in a faith that works.
Right off the bat the brother of Jesus hits us with the thought that when troubles come to consider it a gift. In the NIV it says, "to count it pure joy." In the context of living in troublesome times James clues us in on the priority of prayer. Pray, pray, pray and then ask some more--God loves to give His children gifts. Give it a shot today--got trouble-pray!
Sunday, November 8, 2009
312 Sunday, November 8, 2009
312 Proverbs 28 – 31; Matthew 28
We are at the end of Proverbs and I hope you make it a habit to read them at least twice a year (more would be better). There are thirty-one chapters in the book of Proverbs and that lines up with some calendar months. So much of the book of Proverbs is reminding us that there are fools, wicked people, and then there righteous and wise people. Is it the wise path or the foolish path that you are on right now? What decisions are you making and what is the basis for those decisions? The sage exhorts us to "Walk straight--live well and be saved; a devious life is a doomed life." Everyday we are given another chance to walk the straight and narrow and enjoy the blessings of God. If we stray the sage reminds us that, "You can't whitewash your sins and get by with it; you find mercy by admitting and leaving them." We must always go toward God. We must believe that God is full of mercy and grace. We must believe that grace and mercy is for us!!
Bam!!! What do you mean the tomb is empty? Where is this Jesus? Yes boys and girls our Lord is risen! Christ has beat the last enemy--death. Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and life and those who believe in me shall not die." This is Terry's paraphrase. Do you believe? No other religious leader even dared to make the claims that Christ made and especially that He would rise from the dead. Jesus is who He said He is or He is a sick psychopath. I believe He is the way, the truth, and the life. Do you?
We are at the end of Proverbs and I hope you make it a habit to read them at least twice a year (more would be better). There are thirty-one chapters in the book of Proverbs and that lines up with some calendar months. So much of the book of Proverbs is reminding us that there are fools, wicked people, and then there righteous and wise people. Is it the wise path or the foolish path that you are on right now? What decisions are you making and what is the basis for those decisions? The sage exhorts us to "Walk straight--live well and be saved; a devious life is a doomed life." Everyday we are given another chance to walk the straight and narrow and enjoy the blessings of God. If we stray the sage reminds us that, "You can't whitewash your sins and get by with it; you find mercy by admitting and leaving them." We must always go toward God. We must believe that God is full of mercy and grace. We must believe that grace and mercy is for us!!
Bam!!! What do you mean the tomb is empty? Where is this Jesus? Yes boys and girls our Lord is risen! Christ has beat the last enemy--death. Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and life and those who believe in me shall not die." This is Terry's paraphrase. Do you believe? No other religious leader even dared to make the claims that Christ made and especially that He would rise from the dead. Jesus is who He said He is or He is a sick psychopath. I believe He is the way, the truth, and the life. Do you?
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