Day 66 "A Power Greater Than Global Warming?”

To know God is to know He is awesome as the Psalmist writes in our reading today. We also read of the awesome power of God when Jesus calms the sea. The question is asked..." “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” In a world concerned with global warming it is great to know the power of the One Who made the Globe! (For more read Day 66, October 2006).

Day 65 How do we know the good soil?

Jesus teaches in the parable of the sower something obvious about discipleship. Three outcomes are unacceptable 1) path 2) rocks 3) weeds.
The good soil is the key location. How do we know the good soil? One way is doing what we are doing....reading God's Word. The other ways are worship, service, prayer, and using our gifts for the glory of God. Are we spending enough time in the good soil? Our growth depends on the habits of our life. (For more read Day 65 in the October link of 2006)

Day 64 Can you name the 12 Disciples?

(For my comments about the sexual laws in Leviticus go to Day 64, October, 2006)

Today...how about a fun question? Can you name the 12 disciples? I admit I looked.

Peter
James
John
Andrew
Philip
Bartholomew
Matthew
Thomas
James
Thaddaeus
Simon
Judas

(For more read Day 64, October 20006)

Day 63 How much time to think about God?

The Psalmist says "he meditates upon the Lord's teaching in the night." What a powerful image! How much time do we spend pondering the awesome Word of the Lord. Perhaps reading the Bible each day provides such a time to meditate. (For more read Day 63 in October of 2006)

Day 62 Have we new wineskins?

Our spiritual growth can get "stuck." We sometimes need wholesale changes of routine to avoid the "ruts" of life. Tweaking is not always enough. Jesus' new life needs a new structure. (our open hearts and minds) We sometimes have to move out of comfort zone to grow. The metaphor of "new wine and new wineskins" is a great image to consider. We need not ever become complacent. (For more read Day 62, October 2006)

Day 61 Where to find a high rock?

The Psalmist speaks of a rock "rock higher than I." Where do we find this rock? In prayer. Worship. Discipleship. God's ways are higher than our ways. Perspective comes when we spend time with God and serving Him. I am always amazed why miss the tall rocks of perspective God places in my path everyday. We can see the forrest in spite of the trees. (For more go to October, 2006, Day 61).

Day 60 Which sinners to eat with?

Jesus' disciples are confronted with the question..."Why does He eat with sinners?" A better question might have been..."which sinners should Jesus eat with and fellowship with at the table?" The sinners that know it or the sinners that are blinded by self-righteousness. Today...no matter who we dine with we are eating with sinners! (For more read Day 60, October 2006).

Day 59 "Why Baptism?"

Why must we be baptized (once) to be received into the membership of the church? One answer is we are baptized, as an initiation into God's Kingdom. The best answer is Jesus was baptized and demonstrated Heaven's approval. Notice also He moved to the desert. Baptism is in the words of Bishop Will Willimon..."something God does for us." Is this not also evident that God is with us in the wilderness? Baptism prepares us for the temptations, trials, and suffering which are inevitable. (For more reading go to Day 59, October, 2006)

Day 58 What about those that have not heard of Jesus?

One often asked question is..."what will happen to those who never hear of Jesus?" The answer belongs to God alone. Only He knows His response to the over 6 billion people on the earth. A more important question we can answer is..."What is our response to the Great Commission?" We have heard and we are to tell, teach, and make disciples! This we know for sure.
(For more read Day 58 in the October, 2006 linkj.

Day 57 Do we believe in the resurrection?

Today's reading is Matthew's account of the resurrection. Notice that there is a "cover up" story to claim the body of Jesus was stolen. How could there have been such corruption to want to "cover up" such amazing news!
The people of that day would stop at no ends to discredit Jesus.

Today, people still are too analytical about the resurrection of Christ. Have we grasped the good news of the risen Savior! Jesus' resurrection is not just history. New life is possible today! Do we live as though we believe in the resurrection. Fearless and confident the victory is already won. (For more you can read day 57 in the October, 2006 link)

Day 56 Why we require signs?

As Jesus is crucified there is great skepticism about Him. When His death comes and the temple is torn, earthquakes shake, and the dead rise. A Centurion proclaims Him the Son of God. The plotting begins to guard Jesus' tomb. Why is humankind in need of signs to believe? Why do we require signs? (For more read Day 56, September, 2006)

Day 55 Where is God in the presence of enemies?

Jesus on the cross has to endure alone. The Psalmist asks where God is in the presence of those who "speak smooth as butter but inwardly are of war." The moments of apparent defeat do not last. The assurance of victory and the final victory is our ultimate hope! God has the final word! (For more read Day 55 on September, 2006 link)

Day 54 Who is King?

Jesus was asked if He was King of the Jews? Though unrevealed at the moment...He was that and so much more...King of Kings, Lord of all Lords, Name above Every Name! The crowd chanted for Barabbas...they had no idea...not a clue. Before we consider how absurd the people were in this day...How about us today? Is Jesus' Lordship clear to us?

Day 53 Is Peter's Denial Worse than Judas' Betrayal?

I have pondered and wondered is Peter's denial worse than Judas' betrayal? My opinion is the shortcomings were the same. Peter was reinstated through grace and Judas opted away from Jesus. Judas' fate was tragic and opens up other theological questions. Could he have received forgiveness like Peter?

Day 52 What was the charge against Jesus?

Have we ever considered...what was His offence? Why would He be sentenced to death. The accusation of blasphemy is the reason cited in today's reading. As I read today, I remembered how humankind will find a reason to condemn. The Psalmist says it like this..."You love evil more than good,and lying more than speaking what is right." How true. (You can read more on day 52 in September 2006)

Day 51 How to get rid of guilt?

How do we get rid of guilt? Leviticus calls for a guilt offering. David prays a prayer of confession..."create in me a clean heart." Guilt is a great debilitating force today. God's grace is the best remedy I know. Guilt free and grace filled can not only add years to life but life to years. (for more read September, 2006, Day 51.)

Day 50 What is the meaning of Holy Communion?

Today's reading contains the meaning of Holy Communion. We are to remember Jesus' Body and Blood in His death for us on the cross. Jesus' sacrifice changes the need for the blood of animals sacrificed, as we have read in Leviticus today. The next time we receive Holy Communion remember Jesus' perfect sacrifice given for you, me, and the world. (to read more look to Day 50 in the September 2006 blog).

Day 49 Do we serve the least of these?

In reading Jesus' Words in Matthew, we are warned not waste talent or money...be prepared...and serve the least of these. As we seek to be a disciple do we serve the least of these? This message appears to be essential to serve Jesus! How we treat the least, last, and lost is a reflection of how we treat Jesus. Do we treat the least well? How do we really see Jesus in serving others? (For more read Day 49 in the September 2006 link.)

Day 48 Our offerings an afterthought?

In reading Leviticus, we cannot help but notice offerings are front and center to our relationship with the Lord. Obviously, the offerings are very meticulously described and given. An average offering takes about three to four minutes in our worship today. In giving little time and token amounts ...are our offerings today an afterthought? We do have tithers, generous givers, cheerful givers, and sacrificial givers to elevate the worship in the modern day offering. Amen.

Day 47 When will the Kingdom Come?

One area of great theological difference is regarding eschatology (end of times or coming of the Kingdom of God). In our tradition, we hold to the teachings that even Jesus claimed He did not know the day or the hour. How could we? Matthew does provide for us symptoms of the end of times. During the robust winds of Hurricane Ivan... I might have could have been convinced the time was near...but it appears to me we just do not know! (For more reading go to Day 47 in September of 2006)

Day 46 Why did Jesus come down on religious people?

The Matthew reading has Jesus come down hard on religious people. Why did Jesus come down so hard on them? The answer is simple. They were the ones that gave Jesus the most trouble. When religious people observe the letter of the law but no spirit...a major reason for being religious is lost. Jesus teaches about mercy, justice, and grace in addition to keeping the law. We would do well to do the same. Ouch! I am one of those religious people. (for more reading go to Day 46, September 2006)

Day 45 How to leave an audience speechless?

Jesus places the Saducees in "their place" as they ask Him trick questions?
The absurdity is the Saducees, who did not believe in Heaven, asked questions of Jesus about life after death. Later, a lawyer, asked about the greatest commandment (knowing there were 3500 laws and seeking to put Jesus on the spot) was silenced when Jesus gave an answer. Later, Jesus claimed to be Lord of David. The Saducees were left speechless! (For more thoughts read Day 45, September, 2006).

Day 44 Whom to invite?

The parable Jesus tells of the wedding feast reminds me of the recent sermon series No Perfect People. Are we not called to invite whom ever will come? Even those not on our primary invitation list. I have never understood (myself included) why we are reluctant to invite all kinds of people to respond to the greatest message ever! (For more read Day 44 on the September 2006 link)

Day 43 Why are we so disrectful of God's Ownership?

Jesus tells a parable of the owner of vineyard that goes away and then has his servants killed, when they go to harvest the fruit. The owner then sends his son. He is killed. Jesus is foretelling of the cross and His death. This theme of rejecting God's Son is an undercurrent for the Gospels. In another application of the teaching...are we respectful of God's ownership today...our lives, bearing His fruit, honoring Him with our stewardship? He indeed is the owner. Something to think about. (You can read more on Day 43, September of 2006)

Day 42 Do we always listen to the crowd?

Two stories today warn us not to listen to crowds. The golden calf resulted from a mob who demanded a god they could see. Jesus enters Jerusalem and the crowd chanted "hosanna." This same fickle crowd will turn on Jesus in only days. We would do well to learn from these two stories...be aware of following the crowd. They may be loud but they could be wrong!

Day 41 "Do you know what you are asking?"

Jesus was asked by a mother for her two sons (disciples) to sit on the His right and left in His Kingdom. Jesus pointed out she did not know what she was asking for them. Those closest to Jesus will serve and not be served. The "cup" of Jesus would require suffering on the cross. She, nor the disciples, had no idea what she was asking. Our discipleship also calls us to serve.

Day 40 What to make of unfair wages?

Jesus' parable of the workers in the vineyard does raise eyebrows. How can the last workers, ho worked only one hour, receive the same wages as those who worked all day? Obviously the answer lies in the priceless value of grace as not wages. Why would a disciple begrudge working longer in life? Would this also be a point to consider? (For more info read Day 40 on the link of September 2006)

Day 39 Can rich people be saved?

Can rich people be saved? Absolutely! Jesus refers to the "eye of a needle" which is an actually a hole in the wall. A camel could stoop to enter through the wall. Likewise...humility leads all to the Kingdom of God rich, middle class, or poor. (For more info read Day 39 in the September 2006 link)

Day 38 We are not perfect why not be honest?

Psalm 38 is one of the most honest Psalms so far in our reading. Much like David in Psalm 51 this is a "gut wrenching" confession. We have been focused on "no perfect people" and obviously we all have sin and imperfections to confess. Why are we so slow to confess? The Psalm, among other spiritual needs, convince us of our need of confession. Is this not a great need? There is mercy with the Lord. (For more on this days's reading go to September, 2006, Day 38 link)

Day 37 How many times do we forgive?

How many times should we forgive someone? Once? Twice? Seven? Jesus says seventy times seven! According to my math that is more forgiveness than most of us would ever consider. Have mercy on us O God! We seem like the man of the forgiven debt who demanded payment! (For more read day 37, September 2006)

Day 36 "Rules or Boundaries?"

The Ten Commandments would be considered rules by a majority of persons. Have we ever considered them also as boundaries? Boundaries to build priorities (God first), honor parents, respect neighbors. If what I am writing doesn't not make sense...just read the Ten Commandments with an eye toward the chaos of no boundaries. I would contend the Ten Commandments are both rules and boundaries. God wrote the manual of how to find real life! (For more please read Day 36 on the September, 2006 link)