Monday, March 31, 2008

Acts Chapter 12 - March 31, 2008

12:1 - The ESV (English Standard Version) translates this verse, "About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church." Violent hands...that is such a simple and powerful description. Everything that God has created in us, that was originally good, can be corrupted and turned towards evil if we choose it. The choice is up to each of us. Hands made to wash feet and embrace one another can be used to destroy and abuse. Eyes made to see the beauty of God's creation and see areas where we can make a difference for God ca be used to lust and covet. The list could go on indefinitely...are we going to follow the example of Herod or Jesus - the oppressive worldly king willing to do anything to maintain the status quot, or the King of kings who was willing to give everything to lead a revolution of love?

12:5ff - Prayer is powerful and effective. Do it.

12:19 - I find it interesting that when the king cannot figure out what happened with Peter, he skips town for a while. Maybe he fears an uprising from the Christians because of the unlawful arrest? He doesn't understand that the Christians don't care. He is caught up in political intrigue surrounding his throne that is just idiocy to a follower of Christ. He lives his whole life worried about how to get more power and more wealth and how to keep what he is got without being literally stabbed in the back by one of the many people he has crushed to get to the top...everything about who he is, is wrapped up in the few short years that he has on earth, and he cannot understand that people who could care less about that junk. The Christians aren't looking for revenge or payback, they are caught up in a much more important struggle...fighting to make an eternal difference. Living to pull back the veil in this world so that people they come in contact with can see that there is so much more to our existence than what we know. He can't fathom that, so he runs off to Caesarea and unwittingly to his grave. Which system do you find yourself more caught up in?

12:22ff - Does any of you remember learning this famous speech that Herod gave when you were in school? I mean we had to have learned it...when the people listening heard his speech they called him a god...we studied it in school, right? Wrong. Like Herod, his beautiful speech has become worm food for the ages, while the word of the Lord continue to bring power and change into the lives of people all over the world.

Friday, March 28, 2008

Acts Chapter 11 - March 28, 2008

11:18 - I think in every authentic believers life, there comes a time when you realize that the gospel really is for everyone, and it is a wonderful and terrible experience at the same time. It is wonderful to see the scales fall f your eyes/the calluses fall away from your heart as you open yourself to loving people you never thought you could. It is a terrible experience as you look back with shame on the years jaded by hidden internal hatreds. This verse really jumped out at me because the disciples fall silent (shame), yet they glorify God as they finally understand His love is for all.

11:26 - If you have a huge timeline of Christianity tacked up on your wall, here is where you mark, "First called Christians."

11:29 - When the first Christians saw that famine was coming, they immediately acted...no excuses...no empathy, followed by instantly forgetting...just action. Am I doing everything within my resources to address the famine issues in the world, whether they be spiritual or physical? No. How do I act? What is my next step? 

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Acts Chapter 10 - March 27, 2008

10:2 - Cornelius was as good as good can get...he was a Gentile who somehow came to know that there was a God - one true God...he was a devout follower...he prayed constantly to God...not only did he honor God with prayers, but he allowed that top shape his life and give generously. He was awesome, but it still wasn't good enough - did you notice that? God comes to him and instructs him to find Peter so that he can hear the gospel of Jesus. No man can be good enough to save himself - the only way into heaven is through Jesus Christ.

*This does bring up an interesting concept, because it seems clear from the life of Cornelius that people can come to a knowledge of God and worship Him before they hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. Cornelius was a completely sold out God-follower, before he ever heard about Jesus. Paul tells us in Romans that people are without excuse in their unbelief, because nature itself cries out that there is a creator. The ultimate rhetorical question comes when you ask, "What happens to people that humbly understand that there has to be a creator God and they live to honor Him, when they die before ever hearing about Jesus Christ?" Well, Jesus sacrifice was once for all, correct? I do not believe that our just God will hold people accountable to a truth they have never heard...but at judgment, when faced with the truth the people who humbly and simply served God will accept the truth about Jesus and enter into salvation. Those who openly rejected God and Jesus while on this earth will continue their course and even when brought before the TRUTH - they will arrogantly choose their own way. This still leaves a huge mission for us as Christians, because people need to know about the hope of Jesus. People need to hear that message of salvation and true life. What of the people that are so blinded by their flawed cultures that they cannot see God until somebody shows Him to them. We have work to do. God thought it was so important that Cornelius understand the truth about Jesus that He sent angels to guide Cornelius to the way. Wow - that was long!

There is a lot more juicy theological stuff in this chapter, but I want to hear from you - so go comment on what I have written or on what God placed on your heart through your reading.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Acts Chapter 9 - March 26, 2008

9:1 - He is breathing threats and murder against people...and he considers it godly work! When confronted with the gospel of Jesus Christ, everything changes...he becomes a man who faces violence against his person with prayers for his abusers and praises on his lips. The message of Jesus Christ is foolishness to the world, but it is powerful - it is far more powerful than oppressive violence...Paul understood that after his conversion. It is dangerous for us as Christians to get into the mindset of forcing people to believe what we believe through power...whether that be in the voting booth or through the legal system. Christianity thrives when it is lived out as unshakable love- unmovable faith...in the face of persecution and worldly oppression. The power is stripped from the sacrificial servant message of Jesus when we become the dominators trying to force people to bend to our will.

9:16 - Those are some real words of comfort. But there should be comfort in the fact that we know what we have to face. If we truly live as followers of Christ - we will suffer for the sake of his name. We will give up things we like...live according to a different standard than the rest of the world...we will be mocked and considered ridiculous for our beliefs...we will suffer, but that is part of what it means to take on the name of Christ. As a Christ follower, we are plugged into the way and the hope and the life that comes along with Jesus, but we are also plugged into the suffering and the sacrifice of Jesus. Paul transitions from a Jewish belief system with a code of behavior that you can save yourself with and look down on others because of...into a belief system where man seeks to humble himself and understands that he will never be good enough, but he will always be loved.

9:20ff - I love how Paul just goes...he understands he was wrong, and he completely pulls a 180. Everything changes. He came to imprison Christians and a few days later he is converted people into Christianity. He doesn't wait for proper training or get a few years under his belt before he begins evangelizing...he just does it - immediately.

9:39 - I think this is beautiful, and it always makes me ask, "What is my legacy?" When I have gone on - will people notice a difference, because I was reflecting Jesus Christ into the lives of people I came in contact with?

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Acts Chapter 8 - March 25, 2008

8:5 - One word...SAMARIA. The Jews hated the Samaritans. They were considered half-breeds because they were Jews who had intermarried with other non-Jewish Arabic people. They had created their own temple in Samaria so that they could continue their own form of Judaism, which enraged the Jews even more. But the power of the gospel enabled Philip to overcome his bias and hatred and share the truth about Jesus with the people of Samaria. Who is my Samaria? What do I need to do to overcome my bias and live out the gospel like Philip?

8:13 - Simon is a con-artist...he has seen it all...he knows every trick in the book...he knows how to put on a good show and wow the crowds, but when he is faced with the reality of the power of God at work he is truly amazed. It is so easy to get caught up in the things of this world...to think they are meaningful and powerful and awe-inspiring (Right now, I'm thinking of March Madness...the drama, the Cinderella stories, the passion for the game, the athleticism)...but when we catch a glimpse of God at work int he lives of people and the world around us - I think we like Simon understand what it truly means to be amazed and inspired. God's power makes everything else seem so ephemeral (Good word, huh?)...it makes all the stuff we get jazzed about seem so unimportant - because it is. Nothing can hold up to the magnitude of the reality of the power of God working in our lives.

8:30ff - Again, Philip is such a great example of what it means to really "live it." After taking the gospel to his once hated religious enemies, we now see that he is completely open to the Spirit of God at work on him and he is willing to listen and follow the Spirit's prompting. He goes where the Spirit leads him and he is ready when an opportunity to present the gospel makes itself available. God, I want to be so plugged into you that I am always ready...always ready to follow your urging...always ready to leap into the opportunities that you create for me to expand your kingdom.

8:36 - Baptism - let's throw all the hypotheticals aside...all the theological debates aside...look at the simple statement from the Ethiopian eunuch. "Hey there's some water, what is holding me back from getting baptized?" He believes in the truth of Jesus that Philip has shared and he is ready to act. He believes - there's some water - what is holding him back? Why wouldn't he get baptized? That is what he is saying - I believe, why wouldn't I follow in the footsteps of Christ? That is what the baptism debate comes down to for me...if you are a believer and nothing is physically holding you back, why wouldn't you get baptized? It's what Jesus did...it's what we do to make our allegiance. Does it save you - no, Jesus does! Do we do it for church membership - I sure hope not...I hope we do it because we believe and because of that belief we act. Why wouldn't we?

Monday, March 24, 2008

Acts Chapter 7 - March 24, 2008

7:1-50 - If you ever wanna take somebody through a summarized history of God and the Israelite people...there you go.

7:49-50 - Isaiah puts it beautifully (66:1-2), "What kind of house could you build for me?" Is that not so simple and so true at the same time? Nothing a human being could ever make or devise could house God. What kind of arrogance does it take for us to think that we could build something big enough or beautiful enough to contain our own creator? He is the creator of our intellect, how could we ever reason or explain God? We can't, and I like that I can't house him physically or spiritually or intellectually, because then He wouldn't be God...he would be a god that could be constrained within the understanding or abilities of a flawed man...not all that impressive.

7:51ff - Stephen has the guts to do something with his captors that few of us have the guts to do with ourselves; he looks back at what God has done for them and how they consistently turned their backs on Him even in the midst of His faithfulness and he calls them on it. I hope that when I get caught up in doubt and confusion and worry and complaining about the way things are going in my life, that I will look introspectively back at my history with God, see his faithfulness and turn from my stiff-necked obsession with immediately questioning Him. I want to be a man like Stephen, who in the face of lies and violence is completely at peace (See 6:15). He understands that God is in control and even when they are stoning him to death he is following in the footsteps of Jesus and crying out for the forgiveness of his murderers. I want to live in the knowledge of the faithfulness of God and let that dictate my reactions to the circumstances of the world around me.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Acts Chapter 6 - March 21, 2008

* I am unable to access the Internet. Read the chapter and comment please.

Acts Chapter 5 - March 20, 2008

* I am unable to access the Internet. Read the chapter and comment please.

Acts Chapter 4 - March 19, 2008

* I am unable to access the Internet. Read the chapter and comment please.

Acts Chapter 3 - March 18, 2008

* I am unable to access the Internet. Read the chapter and comment please.

Acts Chapter 2 - March 17, 2008

* I am unable to access the Internet. Read the chapter and comment please.

Acts Chapter 1 - March 15, 2008

Three notes - A: I missed a day this week, so that is why I am journaling on Saturday. B: I am gone next week (Mission Trip, no computer access), so I will make 5 chapter headings and you guys can read and comment on the chapter you read each day. It's all on your shoulders - you'll do great! C: Sheldon had a great idea...we are going to read through Acts next, so that we can save Luke and John's accounts of Jesus' life for later in the year (To get a little Jesus throughout the year, and to miss out on some redundancy) - sound good?

1:9ff - How cool is Jesus? Rocketing into heaven on a cloud! The original Superman...and the only real one for that matter - sure the comic Superman could fly, but Jesus created the universe - top that! I think we have a case of something similar to what happened on the day of the Transfiguration (Matthew 17) going on - the disciples are so blown away by the power of Jesus that thy don't want to move. Maybe they are thinking he will be right back and so they are going to wait; maybe they want to set up shop at the place where Jesus flew into heaven, and they just want to stay there and worship him...whatever it is they are stuck, staring at the sky. The angels show up to give them a little jump start, "Hey guys, it's time to get to work - move it along - nothing to see here - shows over people!" Jesus didn't train these disciples to sit and enjoy the show - he trained them to go and do - to change the world, and that's what they did. I don't want to allow myself to get to a place whee I am sitting and waiting for God to move - He created me to be His hands and feet in this world, and I want to trust Him and step out in faith...God please give me the strength to walk the path f Christ daily.

1:20 - "Let another take his office." This is from Psalm 109...go and read this Psalm right now if you have the time, it is incredible. Look at how the Spirit of God is moving through David...he is crying out to God about his own struggles, but what he is unknowingly doing is prophecy about what will happen to the Son of God - how he will be betrayed. Is that not incredible. David speaks of how he is guiltless, but he has accusers on every side. He cries out that he is innocent, yet being mocked and betrayed by the people he rules. Sound familiar? God granted David mercy in his hour of need, when he was surrounded and betrayed...yet when Jesus cried out to escape the betrayal that was awaiting him, God offered him over to his accusers - for me...and you. That is the beautiful love that we find ourselves surrounded by.

Friday, March 14, 2008

March Chapter 16 - March 14, 2008

16:5-6 - Whenever people come in contact with the spiritual realm...they are totally freaked out. This is the case repeatedly in the bible. An angel shows up and people get scared. Let's not forget, these are only angels...their just angels...they are way below God -WAY, WAY below God in the incredible, awe-inspiring presence department (And every other department for that matter!). If we as human beings cannot stand being in the presence of angels...how could we in the flesh stand the presence of God? We couldn't. Some people question why God doesn't just show up, so that we will all believe? Because he is merciful - He knows we can't handle it (There's lots of reasons: Pure goodness can't be around sinfulness with obliterating it; He wants to give us the choice to love Him and we would have no choice if He was here is all his glory, etc.). That just jumps out to me as another example of God's mercy and love for us.

16:13-14 - The disciples allowed their own fear and their sadness surrounding the death of Jesus blind them from seeing Jesus at work in other's lives. I want to make sure that in my life, I do not allow the struggles that I go through to blind me from the amazing things that God is doing in my life and the lives of others. I want to have such an open connection with God as I go through life that I am not plagued with doubt, but I am alive with joy and praise.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Mark Chapter 15 - March 12, 2008

15:7 - Mark says that Barabbas was in prison for murder he had committed during an insurrection. Maybe the people called for him to be released because they wanted a man of action...they wanted the man who was willing to kill for his beliefs and kill to overthrow the Romans. What they didn't understand was that Jesus was also a man of action...a man who was God, who came to overthrow sin and death by giving his life instead of taking another's.

15:43ff - In verse 43 the ESV describes Joseph of Arimathea as a man who was looking for the kingdom of God. I think he found it. He has the courage to go to Caesar despite the hatred that his countrymen have for Jesus and ask to take care of his body. The kingdom of God is about having the courage to stand for God no matter what the opposition. He personally took Jesus off the cross, a certainly gruesome job - prying the nails out and wrapping up his blood drenching, scourge whipped body up in a linen clothe. The kingdom of God is about people willing to get their hands dirty for God. He used his own resources to buy a tomb to give Jesus a respectable burial place. The kingdom of God is about people willing to sacrifice their time and effort and materials to serve God. I hope in the death and resurrection of Jesus - Joseph found the kingdom he was looking for...it seems like he did.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Mark Chapter 14 - March 11, 2008

14:10 - The woman who poured the expensive oil over Jesus head, was the last straw for Judas. He was a zealot - a man passionately, often violently opposed to the Roman rule, and he had signed on with Jesus the Messiah to be on the front lines of the revolution. He became treasurer of the disciples (A great position since the Messiah was believed to bring economic prosperity to the Jews), expecting to become a man of incredible wealth and power (I believe). And then, all his master Jesus ever talks about is how he is going to fail! He is going to die - that would be the ultimate failure in the eyes of a zealot. Jesus lets crowds hang around and feeds people for free and then this woman is allowed to waste a jar of ointment that cost a years worth of wages...enough was enough - this Messiah was not the one he was looking for, and so he went to the high priests. It is dangerous to try to make Jesus what we want him to be, instead of let him mold who we are.

14:41 - Three times Jesus came to Peter and found him asleep after he had asked him to stay awake and pray to fight temptation...interesting that Peter also fails three times to stand up for his belief in Jesus, as his disciple, a few verses later. If we are going to overcome our own battles with doubt and fear, we have to turn to the father for strength as Jesus did. Jesus cried out to God and had the power to accept death on the cross. Peter fell asleep and would not even acknowledge his love for Christ to a little girl. Which one of these is a better picture of your prayer life?

14:65 - In the ESV, verse 65 says, "And the guards received him with blows." Just days before they had received his with cheers and songs of praise (When they thought he was their Roman conquering hero), and then...they received him with blows.

Monday, March 10, 2008

Mark Chapter 13 - March 10, 2008

This is very similar to Matthew Chapter 24, so I won't be redundant and cover the exact same things...

What really jumps out at me is verse 13:10...this really seems to sum up the whole chapter for me. Verse 10 comes after Jesus explains how terrible things are going to get in the world of men - wars, violence, natural disasters, famine, Christians persecuted and put on trial (This doesn't sound familiar at all (Dripping with sarcasm)). But Jesus wants us to understand that the gospel MUST be proclaimed...no matter what happens...no matter what we come up against, the gospel must be proclaimed. That is our job. I get so unbelievably caught up in meaningless stuff that as I sit here and look with my mind's eye at my life, I can hardly believe it. I only have a short time on this earth and I MUST proclaim the gospel...everything else is going to pass away when I do...what legacy will I leave behind? Hopefully one of a man who desperately tried to live out the gospel of Jesus Christ. I don't want this to sound like I think we should all run around verbally proclaiming the gospel at inappropriate times actually becoming a deterrent for people turning to Christ...I think we need to live the gospel: that through the way I live...the the joy and peace that I have...through the choices I make...through the things I say...through the relationships I build...through the use of my time...I proclaim the gospel. That's what I want to do...why can I not get that through my thick skull?

Friday, March 7, 2008

Mark Chapters 11 and 12 - March 7, 2008

11:11 - I thought it was interesting that Jesus goes into the temple and looks around at everything. He sees the money changers and the commercialism of His father's house...I'm sure the righteous anger starts to bubble up inside him, but he walks away. He doesn't clear out the temple the instant he sees it...he takes some time to confer with God...to consider the course of action he needs to take - that is pretty good advice for us to follow when we feel the anger start to rise. If the anger is righteous, I believe that God will show us a constructive change-bringing way to deal with the situation...and if it is selfish anger, I believe that God will show us the changes that need to be made in our own heart.

11:15ff - And even when we see him act on his righteous anger, we see how constructive and positive it is. Sure he is clearing out the temple, but he is clearing the evil out...and as he clears he is teaching the crowds gathered in the temple, so that not only is there physical cleansing, but spiritual. Maybe the physical act is representative of the point that Jesus, throughout his teaching, wanted people to understand...motive matters! It's not that you are changing money in the temple...it is that you are trying to take advantage of people...what was meant to be a place of redemption and worship has become a place of extortion.

12:12 - The Pharisees were able to perceive that he was referring to them in the parable of the tenants - what does that tell us? It tells us that they were intelligent men...the disciples could never figure out what Jesus meant when he told parables, and these religious leaders instantly understood. From a human perspective they were the cream of the crop. Unfortunately, human wisdom wasn't strong enough to allow them to see through the lies they had built their life around to the way of Jesus. It's heartbreaking. The simple, country bumpkin disciples couldn't explain what the parables meant, but they knew who Jesus was...which would you rather be? We run the risk as human beings of allowing intelligence to become a wall of arrogance that separates us from God. Training your mind is important, but training your soul is tantamount (Cool word, huh?)!

12:44 - May I contribute out of the abundance of my time, my wealth, my gifts, etc. The point is not the size of the gift, but the heart of sacrifice. Once again, the motivation behind the act is what God is what truly interests God.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Mark Chapter 10 - March 5, 2008

10:5 - Jesus says that the OT Jews were allowed to divorce because of the hardness of their hearts. I believe that there are times when we allow ourselves to keep on sinning because we have allowed our hearts to be hardened. There are things in our lives that we make excuses for and sin traps that we continue to fall into over and over, because we don't want to stop. Sure, there are going to be mistakes in our lives and sins that we fall into (Thanks be to God for the gift of his son Jesus!), but that doesn't mean that we throw up our hands in defeat and allow it to keep happening. We need to turn to God for strength and fight for personal holiness because we serve a holy God. I don't want to make concessions for myself when it comes to sin because, "I just can't beat it!" I want to honor God with my life.

10:15 - May I go into each new day on a mission to step into the kingdom of God...excited about why God allowed me another day of life. That is how my sons wake up - excited about what the day holds...smiles on their faces. I often find myself wishing I could sleep more and dreading what the day holds. May I choose to humbly give each and every new day to God and enjoy the wild ride that will ensue.

10:18 - A good reminder for me - no one is good except for God. I need his merciful sacrifice today just as much as I needed it yesterday, and just as much as the "sinful, self-serving heathens" that I share this world with (I have also occasionally been known to be sinful and self-serving - DOH!). Like I talked about in the first paragraph, I want to fight for holiness and then fall into the merciful arms of Jesus when I realize that I will never be good enough.

10:46-52 - God, please heal my blind eyes when I fail to see you at work in my life and the lives around me.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Mark Chapters 8 and 9 - March 4, 2008

Sorry, I didn't have extended access to the Internet yesterday, so I will be covering 8 and 9 today. Also, I feel horrible (Much love for you James), so if I'm off my game...my apologies (Sorry God).

8:12 - I love the way the ESV words the beginning of this verse, "And he sighed deeply in his spirit." That just jumps off the page...you can see the frustration of Jesus with these religious leaders. It is really kinda heartbreaking that the Pharisees don't get it. The Messiah is there and they just can't see it...they won't buy in...they have to have every question answered...they have to have a sign from heaven, and Jesus says they aren't going to get it. (Heavy sigh) How many times do I have to worry and question God only to see His plan come to fruition later, before I start walk with a childlike trust through my life?

8:17-21 - IT"S NOT ABOUT BREAD! I bet that was floating around Jesus head somewhere as he sets his disciples straight. Jesus is waxing eloquent about the destructive lies of the Pharisees and his followers cannot stop worrying about where their next meal is supposed to come from. What lessons from God are we missing out on because we are so caught up in the things of this world?

8:36 - "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?" Absolutely nothing...it is actually ridiculous when you think about it this simply.

8:38 - May I live unashamed.

9:23-24 - The father's response is beautiful in it's simplicity and humility. I believe - now please help me in my unbelief. I want to pray like this and live like this..."I believe in you Jesus but I know I am flawed and I know I have unfortunately doubted you before, so please help me in my unbelief."

9:29 - We don't know exactly how the disciples were trying to drive out the demons, but prayer was the only answer to fight this evil spirit. I think in the face of spiritual warfare and temptation, prayer should always be our first option. Call on the name of Jesus; meditate on his name - on the image of him on the cross; call on the strength of your Father in heaven. Maybe the disciples were relying on themselves...we can't do that. The enemy doesn't pull any punches and neither should we.

*There is some really interesting stuff at the end of the chapter, but again - I feel like crud (Again, much love J), so please comment...I look forward to reading what you think.