Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Off to the Beach
My wife and I are headed to the beaches of North Carolina. I'll post some pics from the trip soon.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Luke (the other one for you Star Wars fans)
My small group is working through Luke; so here are a few thoughts on the middle chapters.
Seems to me that chapter 15 is about two entities who are separated. As for God, he is always pursuing us…searching the wilderness, emptying the house, looking to the horizon and running to us. For our part, repentance is key…turning toward God’s voice and responding to his invitation to forgiveness. In what way are we walking away from God and ignoring his call to something better? What do we need to repent?
Chapter 16 is a tough one. But primarily it is a picture of the difference between the Kingdom of the World and the Kingdom of God. Greed, self-gain, self-reliance and self-justification vs. obedience and temporary suffering for eternal reward. Which Kingdom are we living in? Better question; in what way are we living in the Kingdom of the World and in what ways are we living in the Kingdom of God?
Chapter 17 reveals characteristics of those living a Kingdom-of-God-kind-of-life. Look for these elements: holiness, forgiveness, faithfulness, servanthood, thankfulness, discernment, obedience, readiness. Are we seeing these things in our lives?
Seems to me that chapter 15 is about two entities who are separated. As for God, he is always pursuing us…searching the wilderness, emptying the house, looking to the horizon and running to us. For our part, repentance is key…turning toward God’s voice and responding to his invitation to forgiveness. In what way are we walking away from God and ignoring his call to something better? What do we need to repent?
Chapter 16 is a tough one. But primarily it is a picture of the difference between the Kingdom of the World and the Kingdom of God. Greed, self-gain, self-reliance and self-justification vs. obedience and temporary suffering for eternal reward. Which Kingdom are we living in? Better question; in what way are we living in the Kingdom of the World and in what ways are we living in the Kingdom of God?
Chapter 17 reveals characteristics of those living a Kingdom-of-God-kind-of-life. Look for these elements: holiness, forgiveness, faithfulness, servanthood, thankfulness, discernment, obedience, readiness. Are we seeing these things in our lives?
Monday, July 21, 2008
The Person of Prayer
Luke 11
When asked by his disciples to teach them to pray, Jesus gives them what we refer to as the Lord's Prayer. However, he continues with a statement about asking and receiving, knocking and the door being opened. I guess I never noticed that the end of this section has something specific that the asker will receive; "...how much more will your Father in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask."
In a section on prayer, Jesus says, "Ask for the Holy Spirit." This has been my experience. One year I determined as a New Year's resolution that I would be more of a person of prayer. Over the next year or two, I encountered the Holy Spirit's presence in my life. It's as if God took my resolution as a prayer and said, "Okay, if you want to be more of a person of prayer, let me introduce you to THE Person of Prayer."
When asked by his disciples to teach them to pray, Jesus gives them what we refer to as the Lord's Prayer. However, he continues with a statement about asking and receiving, knocking and the door being opened. I guess I never noticed that the end of this section has something specific that the asker will receive; "...how much more will your Father in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask."
In a section on prayer, Jesus says, "Ask for the Holy Spirit." This has been my experience. One year I determined as a New Year's resolution that I would be more of a person of prayer. Over the next year or two, I encountered the Holy Spirit's presence in my life. It's as if God took my resolution as a prayer and said, "Okay, if you want to be more of a person of prayer, let me introduce you to THE Person of Prayer."
Friday, July 18, 2008
Luke and Manning
I was reading the parable of the sower in Luke today. When Jesus talks about the seed that falls among thorns, he says in his explanation of the parable that three things choke out what begins to grow; cares, riches and pleasures.
Brennan Manning wrote a book entitled The Importance of Being Foolish in which he says that three basic idols prevent us from moving closer to Christ-likeness; security, power and pleasure. Does anyone else see the connection between these two?
Brennan Manning wrote a book entitled The Importance of Being Foolish in which he says that three basic idols prevent us from moving closer to Christ-likeness; security, power and pleasure. Does anyone else see the connection between these two?
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
The Old is Good
Luke 4 & 5.
Throughout these two chapters, Jesus is revealing who he is through acts and words of power and authority. Yet those in the synagogue of his hometown, and the Pharisees throughout these two chapters can only think in terms of social constructs and rules.
Whose son is this - Joseph's, right? Who can offer forgiveness of sins? Why do you dine with sinners? Why don't your disciples fast?
At the end of it, Jesus says, "And no one after drinking old wine desires new for he says, 'The old is good.'" I wonder where God is revealing himself in power and authority in and around my life, and I might be missing it because it disrupts something old that I think is good...something in my life that I really like or on which I want to rely.
Throughout these two chapters, Jesus is revealing who he is through acts and words of power and authority. Yet those in the synagogue of his hometown, and the Pharisees throughout these two chapters can only think in terms of social constructs and rules.
Whose son is this - Joseph's, right? Who can offer forgiveness of sins? Why do you dine with sinners? Why don't your disciples fast?
At the end of it, Jesus says, "And no one after drinking old wine desires new for he says, 'The old is good.'" I wonder where God is revealing himself in power and authority in and around my life, and I might be missing it because it disrupts something old that I think is good...something in my life that I really like or on which I want to rely.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Turning Around
John the Baptist called for repentance; and in Luke when people asked "What do we do?" he responded by giving descriptions of opposite behavior than they had been living. I find this interesting; I've often struggled just simply changing my behavior for any length of time without the grace and power of God changing me from within.
On the other hand, I have seen how even small heart-attitude changes that come with honest effort to be obedient to God have provided room for God's Spirit to work in me and change me. Perhaps that was what John was seeking. Just as the Son of God is coming onto the scene, John is calling people to turn around for a moment so that they might not miss the gift being given.
What are your thoughts on repentance? Can we stop doing the wrong and start doing the right outside of God's transformational power in our lives? Is the desire and effort to do so a catalyst for that transformational power to do its work in us?
On the other hand, I have seen how even small heart-attitude changes that come with honest effort to be obedient to God have provided room for God's Spirit to work in me and change me. Perhaps that was what John was seeking. Just as the Son of God is coming onto the scene, John is calling people to turn around for a moment so that they might not miss the gift being given.
What are your thoughts on repentance? Can we stop doing the wrong and start doing the right outside of God's transformational power in our lives? Is the desire and effort to do so a catalyst for that transformational power to do its work in us?
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Scatter-brained
Reading Luke 1 this morning and ran across this line from the Magnificat.
"he (God) has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts."
I've heard of being scatter-brained, but I'm wondering what this is exactly. It seems to be saying that the proud become lost in their own delusional imaginations. I'm guessing that primarily it is to operate from the myth that they can handle whatever comes under their own strength.
Where am I approaching life in this way? Am I scattered in my own imagination? Would the opposite of this be a togetherness or a central focus on the thoughts of God's heart?
"he (God) has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts."
I've heard of being scatter-brained, but I'm wondering what this is exactly. It seems to be saying that the proud become lost in their own delusional imaginations. I'm guessing that primarily it is to operate from the myth that they can handle whatever comes under their own strength.
Where am I approaching life in this way? Am I scattered in my own imagination? Would the opposite of this be a togetherness or a central focus on the thoughts of God's heart?
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