A really good book will always leave you looking for another page, just one more please! A really good book will either take you up or take you down, there will be no middle ground. Good books will run the range of your emotions and you will be in agreement or disagreement with the story or subject and there will always be something you take away and tuck in the recesses of your mind. Sometimes you go back and read the book again after some time has passed. While the ending of most books are important there is always certain chapters, characters or subjects that stand out in your mind. The Bible is one book that should be read many times. It has sold or been given away more than any other book in the world, period. (According to Guinness World Records, the Bible is the best-selling book of all time with over 5 billion copies sold and distributed.) This information published in 2015. My wife has read through the bible at least three times. We all know of people that follow a “through the bible in a year program” and have done it many times. Why do they do it? For some it is a commitment of faith, others it is a discipline thing. One thing is for sure no matter how many times you read it you will always find something new, something to bring you comfort in times of distress. Many things are there but the best is yet to come. Woven throughout its pages you will find the history of God’s people and the one thing that will keep you going back. Hope and the Promise of what is to come. At the end of this blog you will find a URL that will take you to a list of gospel promises.

In Revelation 22:3–5 we have this promise.There will be none of those things that make life difficult or keep us from living a Christian life. WE will see his face. The promise will come true that the pure in heart will see God (Matthew 5:8). We are promised a privilege which was denied even to Moses. (Exodus 33:20). It is in Christ alone that we can see God. We are also promised that the people of God will reign forever and ever. Because we summit ourselves to Him only, we will find perfect freedom. There are many promises throughout the gospels but here in chapter 22 we find what John knows to be true. John is sure of the grace of the lord Jesus Christ having personally experienced it in his own ministry. I quote Barclay because I don’t think I could express it any better. The last chapter of the bible, the end of the book and Barclay sums it up in this way.

“Then comes the glory. Come what may, John was sure of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and equally sure that it was sufficient for all things. It is surely symbolic, and it is surely fitting, that the last word of the Bible should be GRACE.”

Revelation 22:21 (KJV)

21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

The book of Revelation is such that it should be read with an attitude of prayerful discernment, for it is our inheritance, promised to all who believe. I know of no book whose ending is the readers beginning. I hope you enjoy your time here in the pew and will come back often. Remember the URL below for a List of bible promises.   jk

https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/dictionary-of-bible-themes/2424-gospel-promises

References: William Barclay’s DBS

 

Lyrics above are from a Randy Travis song “Digging Up Bones”. Ryan Duncan had it right when he wrote this in 2014 and it fits our situation today just as well. I sometimes feel like even in the church we spend too much time digging up bones. Gossip, false actuations, un-founded rumors are always “Exhuming things that’s better left alone.” Even outside the church we see this menu of behavior in the run up to the Presidential election. Below are some people that were not without fault in their day, yet were called to do a needed task.

-Abraham -Was old.

–Elijah – Was suicidal.

-Joseph – Was abused.

-Job – Went bankrupt.

-Moses – Had a speech problem.

-Gideon – Was afraid.

-Samson – Was a womanizer.

-Rahab – Was a prostitute.

–Samaritan Woman – Divorced.

 Quite a list. Fast forward to today and let me share with you these words written by *Ryan Duncan the Culture Editor for Crosswalk.com

“We live in a world that has fallen to sin, and as a result, everyone is guilty of something. No one is perfect. Yet one of the great wonders of the Gospel is that God uses imperfect people to spread His glory. Since mankind first took their step outside Eden, God has been calling the broken, the faithless, and the poor in spirit to do great things in His name. Just read the Bible if you don’t believe me. In fact, Jesus’ ministry was distinguished for using unlikely people to share hope in a troubled world. Christianity is not reserved for the “worthy”, nor does God limit himself to the spiritually pious. The simple truth is we are all battered, bruised beggars at the doorstep of God’s mercy.” The author of Romans 3:23 had it right when he wrote, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

 This post is about the state of the “church” in relation to the turmoil within our nation. We have become a judgmental people displaying an excessively critical point of view of people and things based not on prayerful consideration but rather on what we want them or it to be. Now I will make a personal confession. I have been in turmoil over the possible ramifications that will come about, however this election turns out. Then, as always happens in all this turmoil the Pastor confronted me with a fact. Wham!!! Hey of course it matters but the fact is God will still be in control, Jesus will still be the risen Son of God through whom I will have eternal life and God loves me and there is nothing I can do about it; it doesn’t matter who wins or loses. So dig all the bones you want and you will just be left standing in a hole.

 Kelly Givens recently commented on several ways a person could open themselves to the Holy Spirit. Based around the teachings of Rick Warren and Greg Laurie, these methods included,

• Keeping your heart grateful
• Keeping your mind on Jesus
• Patiently waiting for His timing
• Living by His word 

• Remember, Jesus has used the smallest people to change the course of history. No matter where we come from, our home is in Christ.

I guess I am one of the small people, fact is most of us are. But….. Jesus has used the smallest people to change the course of history.

So let’s work at keeping a grateful heart, focusing on how Jesus would have us live, prayerfully seeking His leading and keeping his word first in our lives. I can vote for that!

 

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see you in the pew next week.

Jk

 References: Kelly Givens / Ryan Duncan / Bible Gateway /”Diggin’ Up Bones” is a song written by Paul Overstreet, Al Gore, and Nat Stuckey

After watching the news last night, I couldn’t help but wonder at how far we as a nation and people have progressed, or more accurately regressed, to where we now find ourselves. The lack of civility and respect and the acceptance of the “new norm” got me to thinking about Donald Trump. People are upset and offended by what has been characterized as “locker room banter.” Most consider what was said on the tape to be demeaning to women and in bad taste, period! Well I agree with that but find it odd that the language which was so crude and vulgar offended so many. I thought about this for a while, or as some of us older folks might say “pondered” on it a bit. First off what was said cannot be defended because of the context it was used in. More on that in a moment. After pondering and reflecting I believe I have made an important discovery. We could blame this behavior on any number of things but the blame game is part of the reason we are in this mess today. Instead I have found the culprit that encourages such behavior. Practice, that’s right practice. Dictionary says this about practice:

noun

1 the actual application or use of an idea, belief, or method as opposed to theories about such application or use the customary, habitual, or expected procedure of something

verb

2 carry out or perform (a particular activity, method, or custom) habitually or regularly

 

• scheme or plot for an evil purpose: what a tangled web we weave when we first practice to deceive.

Now back to the language thing. The context of the words used were demeaning and disrespectful, on that we all can agree, period! However, and it is a big however, most of your kids hear or see that every day! Oh not mine you say! Unless you monitor everything they see or listen to they do. This is the language of Hip Hop and Rap; it is the “new norm” the practice of the day. Many of our young women and girls consider some of the “reality” stars to be role models whom see it as common practice to go around in a state of near undress. Fashion today is about less being more. Now I could continue on with a list of things that fall under the “new norm” but it will accomplish nothing. I don’t wish to be judgmental, my judgement doesn’t count. I will say that there will be a judgement and I have it on good authority that the Judge is very partial to those practices which are pleasing to Him.  Here is the question of the day….are you a practicer? Two of the most common phrases associated with the word practice are: practice makes perfect – used to convey that regular exercise of an activity or skill is the way to become proficient in it, especially when encouraging someone to persist in it, do you practice what you preach?

There are so many things happening in the secular world that contribute to the stresses of this world that Christians have no control of. There are some stressful things occurring within the church that I see no lessening of in the near future. The question above is a valid one and very topical in today’s world, both in the church and the secular world. Are you a practicer?

 Hebrews 6: 1-3

Let’s press on to maturity

6 So let’s press on to maturity, by moving on from the basics about Christ’s word. Let’s not lay a foundation of turning away from dead works, of faith in God, 2 of teaching about ritual ways to wash with water, laying on of hands, the resurrection from the dead, and eternal judgment—all over again. 3 We’re going to press on, if God allows it.

 Taken from William Barclay’s Daily Bible Study:

THE writer to the Hebrews was certain of the necessity of progress in the Christian life. Teachers would never get anywhere if they had to lay the foundations all over again every time they began to teach. The writer to the Hebrews says that his people must be going on to what he calls teleiote ̄s. The Authorized Version translates this word as perfection.

(1) He means something to do with the mind. He means that as people get older they should more and more have thought things out for themselves. They should, for instance, be able to say better who they believe Jesus to be. They should have a deeper grasp not only of the facts but also of the significances of the Christian faith.

(2) He means something to do with life. As people grow older, their lives should more and more reflect Christ. All the time, they should be ridding themselves of old faults and achieving new virtues. Daily, a new serenity and a new nobility should be breaking upon life.

Methodists recognize this best from John Wesley’s question, “are you going on to perfection”. It all comes down to practicing what we have been taught. With that in mind we might ask, who is our teacher? To whom do we look to for encouragement in those things we do and practice in our everyday life. What shapes our moral code and behavior towards other people? If the church and our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ have provided us with the proper foundation are we being practicers, sharing what we have learned and seeking new souls for the kingdom, constantly living in a way that brings hope to those who need it most and in so doing, glory to the kingdom? Are we reaching out seeking to grow in his service and by doing so growing in faith and knowledge? Do we practice what we preach?

Will practice make us perfect? No, we will never be perfect but we should as John Wesley asked, be going on to perfection. Are you just with the crowd, or are you a PRACTICER, moving on to perfection.

May I Practice what I preach, come back to the pew, your always welcome!

jk

References: William Barclay’s Daily Bible Study / Common English Bible

 

 

 

 

 

 

The story from Luke is a familiar one that most of us have heard or read many times. One temptation that faces preachers, lay speakers and Sunday school teachers alike, is to try and find some new “creative” approach to “spice” it up. We do not acknowledge often enough the power of the scripture, the simplicity of the word is sometimes overwhelmed by our desire to trust to our own self instead of seeking the spirit to guide us in the reading of the word. So how do we hear it, really hear it today? I suggest we go beyond the words and their familiarity, while keeping the question Jesus asked us always before us: who was a neighbor to the man beaten and left to die? We have always known the answer to this question to be the Samaritan. Yet the literal answer given to Jesus was the “one who showed him mercy.”

First let’s set the scene. The road from Jerusalem to Jericho was known to be extremely dangerous. Jerusalem is 2,300 feet above sea level; the Dead Sea, near which Jericho stood, is 1,300 feet below sea-level. In less than 20 miles this road dropped 3,600 feet. It was a narrow road with rocky out-crops and sudden turns. It was, so to speak, the “happy hunting grounds” of thieves. So as Jesus tells this story he is using an example everyone understood was part of the world they lived in. In the fifth century it was called “The Red or Bloody Way” In the 19^th century it was necessary to pay safety money to the local Sheiks before one could travel on it. As recent as the 1930’s to travel this road after dark was certain trouble.  There was a certain man who was adept at holding up cars, robbing tourists and travelers and escaping to the hills before the police could arrive.

How about the people involved in this story?

-There was the traveler. He had to know the history of this road, so we might say he was a bit reckless and foolhardy. People seldom attempted the Jerusalem to Jericho road alone if they were carrying goods or valuables. Seeking safety in numbers, they travelled in convoys or caravans. This man had no one but himself to blame for the plight in which he found himself.  Do we sometimes find ourselves holding back because the person involved had no one to blame but themselves for the plight they were in? Do we tend to be judgmental first, offering help only if the situation or person meets our standards?

-There was the priest. He passed by even walking to the other side of the road. He was no doubt remembering that he who touched a dead man was unclean for seven days.

Numbers 19: 11 Those who touch the dead body of any human being shall be unclean for seven days.

He could not be sure but he feared that the man was dead; to touch him would mean losing his turn of duty in the Temple; and he refused to risk that. He set the claims of ceremonial above charity. The Temple and its liturgy meant more to him than the pain of the man. This priest was not a bad man, we are not bad people. The buildings, programs and liturgy of the church do not blind us of the needs of others. It does not stop us from reaching out; but sometimes like this priest we do not touch.

Act 3:6  But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”

Peter reached out and gave the his hand, helping him up.

-There was the Levite. He seems to have walked a little closer to the man before he passed on. The bandits were in the habit of using decoys. One of their numbers would act the part of a wounded man; and when the unsuspecting traveler stopped to help , the others would rush him and overpower him. The Levite’s motto was “safety first”. He would take no risks to help anyone else. Now most of the time bandits on the road are not our problem. So let’s update a bit. We will use “comfort zone” as our bandit. We sometimes shy away from people because they don’t look like us, don’t talk or dress the way we do, don’t smell like us. They are different and to help them sometimes requires us to leave our “comfort zone”.

 Mat 8:2  And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”

Mat 8:3  And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

 Here again we see the need of a touch; we must leave our comfort zone and reach out and touch, just as our Lord did.

-There was the Samaritan. The listeners would obviously expect that with his arrival the villain had arrived. The Jews had no dealings with Samaritans and yet this man seems to have been a kind of commercial traveler who was a regular visitor to the inn. He may not have been racially a Samaritan at all. You may be surprised to know that in the book of John the Jews call Jesus a Samaritan.

 Joh 8:48  The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?”

 The name was sometimes used to describe a man who was a heretic and breaker of ceremonial law. Maybe this man was a Samaritan in the sense of being one whom all orthodox good people despised. Two things about this man worth nothing:

 -His credit was good! The innkeeper was prepared to trust him. He may have been theologically unsound, but he was an honest man.

 -He alone was prepared to help. A heretic he may have been, but the love of God was in his heart.

 Here we learn a hard lesson. Christians aren’t the only nice people around. It is no new experience to find the orthodox more interested in dogmas than in help and to find the man the orthodox despise to be the one who loves his fellow-men. In the end we will be judged not by the creed we hold but by the life we live.

-Now let’s look at the teaching of the parable. The scribe who asked this question was in earnest. Jesus asked him what was written in the law and then said, “how do you read?” Strict orthodox Jews wore around their wrists little leather boxes called phylacteries, which contained certain passages of scripture.   

 Deuteronomy 6:4-9

4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.^{* 5}You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. ⁶Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. ⁷Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. ⁸Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem^* on your forehead, ⁹and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Also Deuteronomy 11: 13-20; to this the scribes added the following

Leviticus 19:18

¹⁸You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

With their passion for definition the Rabbis sought to define who a man’s neighbor was, and as can be expected they narrowed that to be their fellow Jews. So the scribe’s question “who is my neighbor” was genuine. Jesus’ answer involves three things.

(i) We must help a man even when he has brought his trouble on himself, as the traveler had done.

(ii) Any man of any nation who is in need is our neighbor. Our help must be as wide as the love of God.

(iii) The help must be practical and not consist merely in feeling sorry. There is no doubt that the priest and the Levite felt badly for the wounded man, but they did nothing. Compassion, to be real, requires an active response.

The Samaritan came near, had compassion, went to the man, bandaged the wounds, poured oil and wine on them, brought him to an inn, took care of him at the inn and when he had to leave, he gave money to the innkeeper to continue to help the man, promising more if needed when he returned. The Samaritan did mercy, and he did it, hands on, with the beaten man. What Jesus said to the scribe, he says to us —“Go you and do the same.” Life is full of dangerous roads. Who is being beaten up near us and left to die? Who is being chewed up and spit out by the culture, or individuals, groups or institutions where we are and left to die? Are we doing more than feeling sorry for them and passing by on the other side of the road? Right now……“WE NEED TO GO AND DO THE SAME”

Hope to see you in the pew next week…jk

Reference Material – Barclay DBS

Be aware that I use several sources and commentaries when I write these blogs and I will list those at the bottom of the page.

 Spiritual wilderness, we have all been there at some time or another in our Christian walk. The word wilderness conjures up a vivid image for most of us, a picture painted in our minds that comes easily to us. But this wilderness is not the same as a spiritual wilderness. As Christians, when we accepted Jesus Christ as our savior, we were adopted into the family of God. Our family inheritance  shared by all believers is eternal life through Jesus Christ. Like all families we share a common experience with our forefathers. They  all spent some time in the wilderness.  Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David, Elijah were there.  Even Jesus was there.  Their examples were  meant  to guide us as we also  pass  through  the wilderness  (1  Cor. 10:11-13). 

11 These things happened to them as an example and were written as a warning for us to whom the end of time has come. 12 So those who think they are standing need to watch out or else they may fall. 13 No temptation has seized you that isn’t common for people. But God is faithful. He won’t allow you to be tempted beyond your abilities. Instead, with the temptation, God will also supply a way out so that you will be able to endure it.

As Christians, when we refer to the “wilderness,” we  are referring to the times of God’s tests and trials in our lives and even there in the wilderness God is with us!  Direction has a lot to do with what we encounter in life. Consider that Jerusalem sits atop a long mountain ridge 2700 ft. in elevation. In the winter moisture laden clouds from the nearby Mediterranean drop their rains and snow on the western slope. Alas, there is no moisture left for the eastern slope. Thus there lies the wilderness of Judea, few trees, little grass and scorching temps. Many of God’s chosen would spend time in this wilderness because of unbelief or God had a few things to teach them. Why did God make these wilderness places anyway? Why would a person consider a direction that would place them in such a place? Life moves fast and sometimes we are doing well, riding high on a cloud in a blue sky. Then, whoops….something happens that knocks us off that cloud and we find ourselves on the ground and in the dirt, looking up at a gray sky. Perhaps God created this life wilderness to help us appreciate those good times. I prefer to believe that God also knew that the wilderness is an ideal place to test his people and to help them learn faith and endurance. In Hebrew, the word for wilderness is midbar.  Midbar has the meaning of “speak” or “word.”  God speaks to us in the wilderness. God also humbles and proves us in the wilderness.

There are many things that lead us to the wilderness. One key area is of course temptation and it comes in many forms. We tend to sometimes forget how important it is to worship God every day, in all ways and in all circumstances that life throws our way. Great example from the Word of God Today website.

“While in the wilderness, the children of Israel had some real trouble in the area of worship. Even while Moses was in the mountain receiving the law of the Lord, the  people  were  busy making  a golden calf to worship (Deut. 9:7-21).  Often, God has to keep us in the wilderness until all our golden calves become detestable to us. I am speaking of all those calves we adore in everyday life –  automobiles, jobs, houses,  success,  fame, fortune, etc.  It is often because of such things that we often must face the wilderness.”

 We often find ourselves in a wilderness of grief, sorrow and fear due to the pain we experience when a loved one dies or there is a serious illness with little hope of recovery. Whatever the reason we find ourselves in a wilderness of despair or our faith being tested by the ways of this world it is well that we remember strength can come from our time in the wilderness. So what can this wilderness do for us? It will teach us to persevere and we will mature because of our trials. Remember at the first of this blog we listed some of our forefathers who spent time in the wilderness and when we look back over Israel’s history it seems that so many of her blessings came from the wilderness. The wilderness breeds character; it also breeds humility. The wilderness  can  be a lonely place. Do you find yourself in a wilderness that is testing you physically as well as spiritually? Many of us try to escape the wilderness by ministering to ourselves in our natural strength, in this way we will fail. I urge you to turn to God; as they once said “put your troubles at the foot of the cross”. Pastor Ron Taylor, a guest speaker at church last week told how he and his brother would sing this before Sunday School. He also shared that he sung it at his brother’s request just before he died. It was Pastor’s Taylor’s message that led me to this weeks blog subject.

**My Lord knows the way through the wilderness,

All I have to do is follow.

My Lord knows the way through the wilderness,

All I have to do is follow.

Strength for today is mine all the way,

And all that I need for tomorrow.

My Lord knows the way through,

All I have to do is follow.     (**I do not know the origin of this song.)

The Lord’s way is the good way. Hope you come back next week.

Following Him jk

References:     http://www.wordofgodtoday.com/wilderness-experience/