I challenged our family to read through the Bible's New Testament by the end of June this year.
(I'm about halfway as of this writing, have to kick it in gear!)
There was just enough time to breeze through Philemon while my plane taxied to the airport terminal last week.
Part of the Apostle Paul's introduction caught my eye and brought out the yellow highlighter pen:
"I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because i hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, my brother have refreshed the hearts of the saints."
From Paul's letter to Philemon
I have been so fortunate to stay in touch with a great network of brothers (and sisters) these past 25 years.
These are the Bible study pals from church who show up without fail every Tuesday at 6:30 a.m..
They are the guys from another state and our previous home, who still get together for annual camping trips when we can.
It's the three new colleagues at work who have been joining together before work or over lunch for fellowship and scripture reading.
And the many, many people I've only known for a brief season of prayer & praise - a neighbor, a co-worker, a musician, a fellow traveler.
I hear and see their faith in the Lord Jesus. More importantly, I experience their faith as encouragement, with great joy.
It is because these brothers in Christ, whether I've known them 25 years or 25 months, are active in their faith - making it real - and thereby refreshing the heart of this Believer.
I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers.
What do you believe?
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Now I Have Told You
Mary and Mary Magdalene went to Jesus' tomb on the third day and an angel appeared to them. He showed them the empty tomb.
"Go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.'
Now I have told you." Matthew 28: 7
This is one of those sections of the bible that I have read more times than I can count. But I don't recall that last line of the angel's ever hitting me like it did this Holy Week..
The angel said: "Now I have told you."
You know the rest of the story. The two women bravely returned to the skeptical disciples and confirmed that Jesus had risen.
No one forced them to do that.
Matthew's text explains that they were "afraid yet filled with joy" as they ran to tell the others. They ran.
The angel explained what they should do, but he didn't coerce them in any fashion. There was no hint of "tell them, or else...."
He just said, "Now I have told you" and they took it from there.
I'm not doing enough to tell the people around me that Jesus has risen. And I certainly don't run to get it done.
Why are we not showing any sense of urgency to let people know this fabulous news:
Jesus died on the cross for your sins. He rose again and defeated death.
You can repent and believe in Jesus, and so defeat death for all eternity.
You will receive abundant blessings and a deep sense of peace as you follow Jesus (life won't be perfect, but it will hold together a whole lot better with Jesus!).
It doesn't cost you a thing.
"Now I have told you."
What do you believe?
"Go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.'
Now I have told you." Matthew 28: 7
This is one of those sections of the bible that I have read more times than I can count. But I don't recall that last line of the angel's ever hitting me like it did this Holy Week..
The angel said: "Now I have told you."
You know the rest of the story. The two women bravely returned to the skeptical disciples and confirmed that Jesus had risen.
No one forced them to do that.
Matthew's text explains that they were "afraid yet filled with joy" as they ran to tell the others. They ran.
The angel explained what they should do, but he didn't coerce them in any fashion. There was no hint of "tell them, or else...."
He just said, "Now I have told you" and they took it from there.
I'm not doing enough to tell the people around me that Jesus has risen. And I certainly don't run to get it done.
Why are we not showing any sense of urgency to let people know this fabulous news:
Jesus died on the cross for your sins. He rose again and defeated death.
You can repent and believe in Jesus, and so defeat death for all eternity.
You will receive abundant blessings and a deep sense of peace as you follow Jesus (life won't be perfect, but it will hold together a whole lot better with Jesus!).
It doesn't cost you a thing.
"Now I have told you."
What do you believe?
Billy Graham - Rock the Lakes
Franklin Graham visited Milwaukee last week to kick off preparation for Rock the Lakes.
This is a great opportunity to see and share God's love in a wonderful outdoor setting.
Dates are August 20-21 in Veteran's Park.
Visit billygraham.org/Milwaukee to learn more.
Or call 877 907 9111 for details.
I last volunteered for a Billy Graham crusade in Cincinnati in 2001 or so.
The entire process of preparation and participation was a great joy.
I encourage you to attend and bring friends and family.
What do you believe?
This is a great opportunity to see and share God's love in a wonderful outdoor setting.
Dates are August 20-21 in Veteran's Park.
Visit billygraham.org/Milwaukee to learn more.
Or call 877 907 9111 for details.
I last volunteered for a Billy Graham crusade in Cincinnati in 2001 or so.
The entire process of preparation and participation was a great joy.
I encourage you to attend and bring friends and family.
What do you believe?
Then We Will Believe in God
My wife and I attended Palm Sunday services at a church across town.
It was so beautiful. Floor to rafter glass walls and lots of Light!
They read a very interesting section of Matthew's Gospel, the crucifixion of Jesus.
"Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their head and saying, 'you who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself!
Come down from the cross if you are the Son of God!
Let him come down now from the cross and we will believe in him." from Matthew 27: 39-42
I listened to the those words and smiled at the irony!
If God will do it my way - then I will believe.
"If he comes down from the cross then we will believe."
In effect, they were saying, 'stop what you are doing (humbly redeeming the world of sin) and fulfill our expectations for a 'god.'
This same impertinence is what I hear over and over and over again in our own time.
People think nothing of establishing their own limits or qualifications for an acceptable god (idol).
It's upside down. The question they - and we - should have asked was,
"How may we repent and come to know God and His plan for our lives?"
Not, 'how may we shape a god who accommodates our lives as we choose to live them.'
I asked, and then found God's answers in the rest of Matthew's gospel...
What do you believe?
It was so beautiful. Floor to rafter glass walls and lots of Light!
They read a very interesting section of Matthew's Gospel, the crucifixion of Jesus.
"Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their head and saying, 'you who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself!
Come down from the cross if you are the Son of God!
Let him come down now from the cross and we will believe in him." from Matthew 27: 39-42
I listened to the those words and smiled at the irony!
If God will do it my way - then I will believe.
"If he comes down from the cross then we will believe."
In effect, they were saying, 'stop what you are doing (humbly redeeming the world of sin) and fulfill our expectations for a 'god.'
This same impertinence is what I hear over and over and over again in our own time.
People think nothing of establishing their own limits or qualifications for an acceptable god (idol).
It's upside down. The question they - and we - should have asked was,
"How may we repent and come to know God and His plan for our lives?"
Not, 'how may we shape a god who accommodates our lives as we choose to live them.'
I asked, and then found God's answers in the rest of Matthew's gospel...
What do you believe?
Who Crucified Jesus ?
You did.
Who crucified Jesus?
I did.
Authorities sent Jesus to the cross for being a rebel.
He preached forgiveness and mercy - a liberating mix of redemption and grace that autocratic leaders still find threatening today.
He was sent to the cross for being a rebel.
But he endured the cross so our sins could be forgiven.
There is no need for redemption if there is no sin.
"For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." Coloassians 1:19
Who crucified Jesus...what do you believe?
Who crucified Jesus?
I did.
Authorities sent Jesus to the cross for being a rebel.
He preached forgiveness and mercy - a liberating mix of redemption and grace that autocratic leaders still find threatening today.
He was sent to the cross for being a rebel.
But he endured the cross so our sins could be forgiven.
There is no need for redemption if there is no sin.
"For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." Coloassians 1:19
Who crucified Jesus...what do you believe?
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