Meditate on it

Jesus Christ at the last supper: Mat 26:29  "Mark My words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in My Father's Kingdom."  Kinda shoots in the foot the idea that alcohol is a no-no.... I also found it interesting that Judas was told that he would betray Christ--even asks, "Is it me?"  Yet, this doesn't stop him. Christ knows that Judas will betray him, yet they continue with dinner. How different than how we would receive news of the betrayl of a friend.... The Last Supper--John August Swanson

"Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom." -Matthew 25:1 Until this morning, I have never taken time to fully understand the historical custom behind this verse. It's actually a lovely symbolism: "The whole imagery of the parable is drawn from Eastern marriage customs. The betrothal, which took place some time before the marriage, was a kind of solemn marriage contract, but preliminary to its final consummation. When the time for the celebration of the marriage came, the bridegroom came to the house of the bride and brought her by night to his own house. The virgin bridesmaids awaited his coming and attended the bride to the marriage feast." -People's New Testament I think I much prefer it: the way that the bridesmaids are actively involved and waiting with the bride seems much better than them just standing up at the front of a church like so many statues. Also, so sweet how their a

“Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven.” We are not told what this sign will be. His First Advent was accompanied by a sign in heaven—the star. Perhaps a miracle star will also announce His Second Coming. Some believe the Son of Man is Himself the sign. Whatever is meant, it will be clear to all when it appears."  -Believer's Bible Commentary Elena del Rivero's artwork of World Trade Center Debris End Times Honestly, this chapter and most end times prophecy distress me.  I don't like violent movies, cataclysmic disasters and the like.  Even the changing of the seasons leaves me slightly uneasy. Change doesn't come easy from where I stand. So when Christ talks about the heavens and Earth passing away, I'd just rather be somewhere else.  I don't want to go there.  I can't even get through the stuff in my attic for sentimental attachment.  I still remember the images from 9/11 of the office documents floating in the breeze, how a

I love that the psalmist directs us to praise God for the numerous ways that He works His providential ways in the universe.  Praise is always a right decision, and there are so few things that can be said of.   Spurgeon's commentary sees praise as a form of duty, a rightful service: "His service is perfect freedom, and those who fully enter into it discover in that service a thousand reasons for adoration. They are sure to praise God best who serve him best; indeed, service is praise. " He views our works for the Lord as a form of praise---good to broaden our definition.  Praise is the same as worship, funny how "worship" has become a more common term these days and is typically associated with music specifically. "These were not vain repetitions, for the theme is one which we ought to dwell upon; it should be deeply impressed upon the soul, and perseveringly kept prominent in the life." -Spurgeon

The Constancy of God There is something so soothing about psalms like Psalm 111.  It reminds me of the verse of Robert Browning:  "God's in his Heaven All's right with the world" To ponder God's deeds, to know that everything He does is consistent and a part of His eternal unfolding plan, gives me a great sense of peace and confidence.  Verse 4 notes that: "He causes us to remember His wonderful works." Even in bringing His goodness to our minds, He is so faithful.  It reminds me also of Matthew 22 and the way he sent servants out to remind the wedding guests that the wedding feast was ready to begin.  Not only will He not harm us, He is actively pursuing us for good even when we are oblivious or hostile to His loving intentions.  What a God!  What a blessing!  even when we are oblivious or even hostile to His designs.   What a God!  What a blessing!   Obedience "All who obey His commandments will grow in wisdom." Psalm 111:1

I don't have time to dig in here more this morning, but the issue is complicated.  Some prophecies have come true; some are still "out there" awaiting fulfillment, that piece is pretty straightforward.  But the question of whether there are still prophets today (a greatly abused term) and their role/authority is dicier.  One of the "gifts" given to the church is the gift of prophecy too---it all begs for more time and digging into the meaning of that word.... Jesus minces no words and holds back nothing in this chapter long rant to the crowd and his disciples about the evil hearts of the Pharisees.  The familiar images are here---cleaning the outside not the inside, whitewashing tombs, enjoying the "titles" of prestige but neglecting aspects of faith close to God's heart. Matthew Henry leads in with this overview: "In these verses we have eight woes levelled directly against the scribes and Pharisees by our Lord Jesus Christ, lik

Called or Chosen? Chapter 22 is taken up entirely with these tense exchanges between Jesus and the Pharisees.  The cross is looming, just ahead.  Their conversation seems to anticipate this and become increasingly focused, increasingly intense. This chapter is a difficult one, full of pithy statements to ponder such as: "For many are called, but few are chosen."   -Matthew 22:14 I know he is speaking to the Jews here, but it causes me concern as a thinking Christian as well.  The Jews were called, but then not all of them chosen because they lost themselves in the trappings and rules, while forgetting the heart of it all.  My salvation experience is now almost 20 years old now, and it's certainly lost some of its freshness along the way.   It's a much stronger, mature faith after 20 years.  It has shed some assumptions that were not vital.  It has been tested by deep sadness--the loss of my father, my mother, miscarriages, and just the general loss of ideal

Then Jesus told them, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don't doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, 'May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and it will happen. You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it." -Matthew 21:21-22 "This is the only miracle in which Christ cursed rather than blessed—destroyed rather than restored life. This has been raised as a difficulty. Such criticism betrays an ignorance of the Person of Christ. He is God, the Sovereign of the universe. Some of His dealings are mysterious to us, but we must begin with the premise that they are always right. In this case, the Lord knew that the fig tree would never bear figs and He acted as a farmer would in removing a barren tree from his orchard."  -Believer's Bible Commentary My own notes: *fig tree represented Israel, was symbolic.  Should have bore pre-fruit, because it didn't

  He is behind these cycles.  We are within them.   He is eternal.  We are for a moment, at least our earthly life.  How He will reconcile all of this in eternity, outside the circles, is one of the things I enjoy thinking about and looking forward to.  He's got a twist to it all---something beyond our wildest dreams: The Keeper of Circles "Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the LORD."  Psalm 107:43 I worry about our country--mostly I try to push such thoughts to the edges of my mind as the problems are so complex that I feel powerless to deeply understand the brokenness, much less do anything to address them.   But, I suspect that America is reaching a zenith of sorts.    Psalm 107 touches upon God's hand in the sweep from prosperity to humility, and humility to prosperity.  Indeed, it is He who brings water to the deserts, brings nations down or allows them to rise. "He changes riv

" "But Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them.  But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many." -Matthew 20:25-28 Over and over again I feel like I am hitting upon the issue of authority in the Church.  Here again and in the preceding story of the Worker in the Vineyard  Jesus is clearly denouncing the idea of a hierarchy with the Church.  The authority of the church is supposed to be in contrast to worldly authority: "But among you it will be different." The operative leadership words here are servant and slave.  How many leaders do you know who model these qualities?  Inside the Church?  For me, it

I love the sentiment of respecting right beginnings---even though things start out small, if the gesture, if the quest, if the act is in honor of the Lord, if it is an act of love or righteousness, the Lord is pleased. In the book of Zechariah, one of the main themes is for the prophet to encourage them to rebuild the temple. This is such an applicable image for much "smaller things" in our own lives that get broken down, pillaged, ruined.  It's hard to run against that wave of discouragement and begin anew. But Zechariah notes: Zec 4:10  For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven..." (King James) Zec 4:10  Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel's hand." (New Living) It's encouraging to me to remember that the Lord delights in the beginning of a work, not just

Do No Evil "Woe to the world because of offenses. For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes." -Matthew 18:7 My summary of this verse is that evil will always be present in this current world. Point A: Evil is a real thing, not an abstract subjective principle. Point B: Evil will be continually present because we live in a world of wheat and tares. Point C: Your job?  Make sure that you are not a channel of that evil, "offense."                        Revisiting the Pope Issue Is there an earthly head to the church? This question puzzled the disciples as evidenced in their question: "About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?" -Matthew 18:1 The transfiguration occurred one chapter prior, in Matthew 17 which singled out Peter, James, & John.  It's understandable that this would seem to single out these three as more important than

Don't know why, but it just struck me this morning that the Pharisees were the lawyers of their day, the keeper of the law.  In Matthew 19, they bring the issue of divorce to Jesus as a means of trapping him.  I find the dialogue interesting in a number of regard, particularly as divorce is so common these days.  From this I can pull out: 1. God's plan is for this mysterious "unity" between man and woman.  His intent was ordained from the beginning before the fall and was not an "after thought." Mat 19:6  Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together." 2. If you marry someone who is divorced for a reason other than martial unfaithfulness, you and that person commit adultery: Mat 19:9  And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery—unless his wife has been unfaithful. [And anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.]" 3. Better to not marr

Musings on Tattoos and Head Coverings I was chatting with some friends last night about tattoos. One friend definitely felt the Bible prohibited tattoos, and I was less sure. This morning, I dug up the passage in Leviticus. Just documenting my email ramblings: Here's the passage, followed by my musings on the topic: "But in the fifth year you may eat of its fruit, to increase its yield for you: I am the LORD your God. You shall not eat any flesh with the blood in it. You shall not interpret omens or tell fortunes. You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard.  You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the LORD.  Do not profane your daughter by making her a prostitute, lest the land fall into prostitution and the land become full of depravity. You shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD. Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves

Such wonderful sentiments in this psalm and all true.  What makes it hard for me to hope in some of them is that they are not fulfilled yet.  He hasn't healed all diseases yet.  He hasn't redeem my soul from hell yet. I am not sure how He renews my youth, as I am feeling rather old and discouraged with my energy level and ability lately. I trust in these things, though I do not hold them in my hand---yet. "O my soul, bless GOD, don't forget a single blessing! He forgives your sins--every one. He heals your diseases--every one. He redeems you from hell--saves your life! He crowns you with love and mercy--a paradise crown. He wraps you in goodness--beauty eternal. He renews your youth--you're always young in his presence. GOD makes everything come out right; he puts victims back on their feet. -Psalm 103:2-6 "Memory is very treacherous about the best things; by a strange perversity, engendered by the fall, it treasures up the refuse of the pa

We stress God's grace and forgiveness, His mercy.  But, here it is, Peter desired to protect the Lord... "And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you."  Matthew 16:22 and the Lord came back with... "But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."  Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?  For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done."  -Matthew 16

More Warnings about Religious Leadership Interesting how much talk of the Pharisees and their actions dominates the discussion in Matthew.  I recall this from Mark but don't recall that being the case in Matthew.  Of course, it makes sense with the thought that this particular gospel is tailor-made for the Jews and that it would focus on these things. Chapter 15 was dominated by the images of evil intertwined in the good...the parable of the wheat and tares, the mustard seed (with the "birds" nesting in the branches), the yeast.  Christ spends a lot of time of these "imposters" of the faith.  Now in Chapter 16, it begins with the Pharisees and Sadducees questioning him and again he replies with another enigmatic statement that highlights their "out-of-touch" nature: "And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair

This psalm has several images that remind me of the timeless nature of God: " Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD:  that he looked down from his holy height; from heaven the LORD looked at the earth, to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die, that they may declare in Zion the name of the LORD, and in Jerusalem his praise, when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the LORD." -Psalm 102:18-22 There is something so encouraging to me when I think upon the timeless nature of Him and His word.  Generations are united in our praise of Him.  The Bible, God's word, connects us across time that we might be inspired to praise him in an unbroken chain. "Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and th

"It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling."  Proverbs  20:3 "Knowing what is right is like deep water in the heart; a wise person draws from the well within." Proverbs 20:5 Need to think things through and draw from the depths... 11  Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright. "There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel." -Proverbs 20:15 "Do not say, "I will repay evil"; wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you." Proverbs 20:22