Matt 26-28
What is amazing to me, is that to start off this study Jesus is already looking down the road just ahead of him. He drops the word Betrayed. What is crazy is that Mary didn't even know that when she bought, brought, and poured that fragrant oil on Jesus; she was preparing him for burial in a way that they weren't going to be able to do because of the Sabbath. God had looked into the future in such a way that he planned out how to keep the Sabbath by using Mary. And sure enough Jesus is right, we are talking about Him, but her story is being read and told.
It always boggled my mind as to why none of the disciples really paid any attention to Jesus saying that Judas was going to betray Him, and that it would have been better for him not to be born! Like, did they miss that?! And then Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss. The very thing that God created to be an example of love. The thing that every generation learns from their parents and thinks they discover with someone else. Such a sad abuse of that gift.
Someone says that Jesus' silence spoke louder than his words...I think before the phrase, actions speak louder than words. It's also interesting that someone says that if Pilate wouldn't have pronounced the death sentence for Jesus, the mob would have taken him and crucified him anyway. Wow, what a different life Pilate might have had.
What I think is so Awesome about Jesus is that he looked into the future at what he would have to endure and kept walking. He started up the path and it became harder, but he kept walking. When it was so hard that he was proclaiming his desire for another way, and an angel had to come steady him, he kept walking. And when the road became a path of blood, and a literal hill that he had to climb with a cross on his back, he kept walking. Jesus plodded faithfully and passionately upon the hardest road ever. Man of God--God of Man
Friday, October 9, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Stephen
Acts 7
The craziest thing that Stephen does in my eyes is that he preaches without fear to the Sanhedrin. This seems like no big deal, but really he is like the precurser to John Huss, Jerome, Martin Luther and all those other brave men that stood before powers and authorities and loudly proclaimed, "You can take my body, you can take my life, but you will never get me to turn from my God whom I Love and will gladly die for!"
Whoa, sorry about that, went preaching there for a sec. Something that I always found intriguing is that I can't follow his logic of where he is going with any of what he says. The best I can come up with is that he is saying don't be like the grumblers of old, accept the truth. One thing I learned while I was in Hebrew class with Leatherman and we were going through the book of Ruth, was that there needed to be certain witnesses. So they would get the parties involved together at the gate of whatever city, and they would call the elders, and there would need to be at least three elders. These elders had to be men that knew the particular situation that they were dealing with, all its history, and could make a fair ruling. When Stephen was stoned, God was following the rules that he set up in Israel. vs. 54 says that they were cut to the heart, then vs. 55 says [stephen] was full of the Holy Ghost (so obviously he is present). and later in vs. 55 Stephen says he saw...Jesus standing on the right hand of God. There were three Elders (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) there when the Sanhedrin was fully rejecting Jesus, and throwing out God's covenant. I don't know why it is neat to me that God follows the rules, because it shouldn't be.
The craziest thing that Stephen does in my eyes is that he preaches without fear to the Sanhedrin. This seems like no big deal, but really he is like the precurser to John Huss, Jerome, Martin Luther and all those other brave men that stood before powers and authorities and loudly proclaimed, "You can take my body, you can take my life, but you will never get me to turn from my God whom I Love and will gladly die for!"
Whoa, sorry about that, went preaching there for a sec. Something that I always found intriguing is that I can't follow his logic of where he is going with any of what he says. The best I can come up with is that he is saying don't be like the grumblers of old, accept the truth. One thing I learned while I was in Hebrew class with Leatherman and we were going through the book of Ruth, was that there needed to be certain witnesses. So they would get the parties involved together at the gate of whatever city, and they would call the elders, and there would need to be at least three elders. These elders had to be men that knew the particular situation that they were dealing with, all its history, and could make a fair ruling. When Stephen was stoned, God was following the rules that he set up in Israel. vs. 54 says that they were cut to the heart, then vs. 55 says [stephen] was full of the Holy Ghost (so obviously he is present). and later in vs. 55 Stephen says he saw...Jesus standing on the right hand of God. There were three Elders (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) there when the Sanhedrin was fully rejecting Jesus, and throwing out God's covenant. I don't know why it is neat to me that God follows the rules, because it shouldn't be.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Mary
Luke 1,2 ; John 19:17-27
A lot of things could be said about Mary. She must have been a very faithful and devoted woman to be chosen of all the people on the earth, in all history to have the son of God. I think this reflects the feeling by God that good parents can make a difference in the raising of children. She was so faithful too. Her reaction to finding out she was pregnant was to run away from rumors to her cousins house, and rejoice during this experience. What a tough time this must have been for Joseph.
Even more intense was the end of Jesus life. The ridicule that she could have endured at the beginning would have been nothing to the courage as she walked right up to the cross in the midst of Roman Soldiers and a crowd of nay sayers. This woman was bold! I am not sure that I would have been that bold, but I don't know what I would have done. I do know this, She was an WOG!
A lot of things could be said about Mary. She must have been a very faithful and devoted woman to be chosen of all the people on the earth, in all history to have the son of God. I think this reflects the feeling by God that good parents can make a difference in the raising of children. She was so faithful too. Her reaction to finding out she was pregnant was to run away from rumors to her cousins house, and rejoice during this experience. What a tough time this must have been for Joseph.
Even more intense was the end of Jesus life. The ridicule that she could have endured at the beginning would have been nothing to the courage as she walked right up to the cross in the midst of Roman Soldiers and a crowd of nay sayers. This woman was bold! I am not sure that I would have been that bold, but I don't know what I would have done. I do know this, She was an WOG!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Daniel
Dan. 6
So first obvious question, Why didn't Daniel just move back from the window like 3 feet? or close them, or pray in his closet like the Bible tells us? Seems to me like he is goading them. To go back to your room and blatantly disobey doesn't seem like what God wants him to do? I am impressed with the king tho. I don't honestly believe that they were appealing to his ego. If you read it you find that they say that all the princes of the kingdom have gotten together and come up with this...so the king stamps it into law. A case could be made where it says that the king is upset with himself when they tell him about Daniel, but I think it is more likely that he just signed it and kept going like nothing was abnormal. Either way, he spends all day trying to overturn it, then speaks to Daniel of his faith in God, then he spends the whole night fasting (and maybe praying). Then Daniel who is always solid, and here demonstrates an incredible trust in God and faithfulness to him goes willingly into the pit. Another question, why does Daniel say 'live forever' to the king? wasn't that a phrase saved for the people that actually considered the king a god?
So first obvious question, Why didn't Daniel just move back from the window like 3 feet? or close them, or pray in his closet like the Bible tells us? Seems to me like he is goading them. To go back to your room and blatantly disobey doesn't seem like what God wants him to do? I am impressed with the king tho. I don't honestly believe that they were appealing to his ego. If you read it you find that they say that all the princes of the kingdom have gotten together and come up with this...so the king stamps it into law. A case could be made where it says that the king is upset with himself when they tell him about Daniel, but I think it is more likely that he just signed it and kept going like nothing was abnormal. Either way, he spends all day trying to overturn it, then speaks to Daniel of his faith in God, then he spends the whole night fasting (and maybe praying). Then Daniel who is always solid, and here demonstrates an incredible trust in God and faithfulness to him goes willingly into the pit. Another question, why does Daniel say 'live forever' to the king? wasn't that a phrase saved for the people that actually considered the king a god?
Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego
Dan 3
A couple of thoughts come to mind.... Where is Daniel during all this hoopla? He seems to be missing, or he's bowing down, but I don't think that is as legitimate. And why did the king think to build a golden statue? Was it really a statue that was supposed to look like the one in his dreams, just this one was all gold? I semi buy that and think that is probably tru, but I also think it could be a giant golden statue of the god that they were serving (Marduk, and Dagon, but I think Dagon was Darius, so probably Marduk). Why did the king spend all that time and money getting those leaders together just to have them bow to this image. It seems like he wouldn't have wasted everyones time like that. Another question I have is why didn't the guards stop heating it? Like they literally heated it until they died! That is stupid in my book, because I would stop as soon as I couldn't handle the heat anymore. Anyway, I just think they are stupid. Final question is do you think the king is actually referring to his limited knowledge of Jesus when he says that there was the image of the son of man in the fire with Shad, Mesh, and Abed?
A couple of thoughts come to mind.... Where is Daniel during all this hoopla? He seems to be missing, or he's bowing down, but I don't think that is as legitimate. And why did the king think to build a golden statue? Was it really a statue that was supposed to look like the one in his dreams, just this one was all gold? I semi buy that and think that is probably tru, but I also think it could be a giant golden statue of the god that they were serving (Marduk, and Dagon, but I think Dagon was Darius, so probably Marduk). Why did the king spend all that time and money getting those leaders together just to have them bow to this image. It seems like he wouldn't have wasted everyones time like that. Another question I have is why didn't the guards stop heating it? Like they literally heated it until they died! That is stupid in my book, because I would stop as soon as I couldn't handle the heat anymore. Anyway, I just think they are stupid. Final question is do you think the king is actually referring to his limited knowledge of Jesus when he says that there was the image of the son of man in the fire with Shad, Mesh, and Abed?
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Esther
Esther 1-10
This chick was a WOG!! One thing I wonder is when it says that all these virgins were preparing themselves for the king, were they all sleeping with him? That would make me wonder if she was really doing what God wanted. But maybe she said no, or maybe it's ok because she did Marry him. What do you think? I also didn't really understand why Mordecai didn't bow before Hamaan. It wasn't like he would have been calling Hamaan a God. I think it was simply a sign of respect and honor, but maybe Mordecai didn't respect Hamaan....I don't know.
I do know that She is ballin when she walks right past the guards and into the court without the king calling her in. That was bold! Then again it was bold to point at Hamaan and say that he was plotting against them when this was the Kings homeboy! This was like his best friend, and if anyone had more loyalty to the king it was him. So she is a courageous woman in my book. A woman whose Courage saves a nation!
This chick was a WOG!! One thing I wonder is when it says that all these virgins were preparing themselves for the king, were they all sleeping with him? That would make me wonder if she was really doing what God wanted. But maybe she said no, or maybe it's ok because she did Marry him. What do you think? I also didn't really understand why Mordecai didn't bow before Hamaan. It wasn't like he would have been calling Hamaan a God. I think it was simply a sign of respect and honor, but maybe Mordecai didn't respect Hamaan....I don't know.
I do know that She is ballin when she walks right past the guards and into the court without the king calling her in. That was bold! Then again it was bold to point at Hamaan and say that he was plotting against them when this was the Kings homeboy! This was like his best friend, and if anyone had more loyalty to the king it was him. So she is a courageous woman in my book. A woman whose Courage saves a nation!
Just a thought
Maybe we should stop being frustrated with the church and trying to change it. Maybe we should just be part of it and get involved as much as we can. We are always talking about it's problems and solutions, and maybe it doesn't help. I don't know, and I'm open to ideas, but I have definitely been part of the this is the problem, if they only...
Nathan
2 Sam 11, 12
Wow, I'm reading this David, Urijah and Bathesheba story and I'm mesmerized. I've read it tons of times before, but still it is interesting. It is amazing how David continues to dig himself a hole even though he knows it is wrong. I can't believe how much lying is being thrown around here....not to mention cheating! Nathan tho, what a guy!!! Brave and Courageous, and Bold to go stand before a guy that just had someone killed to cover up his sin. Nathan is my boy, talking in parables like Jesus. It just goes to show how the Pharisees could have reacted when they knew there sin. Wow, this story nearly brought tears to my eyes, what a bold thing for Nathan to do, and what an incredible response from David. I'm impressed with how Nathan does the work of the Lord no matter who where or how. But I can't say i'm not also impressed with David's response. When it came to decision time, either I'm going to fully embrace this lie, or I'm going to fully come clean, David did the right thing.
Wow, I'm reading this David, Urijah and Bathesheba story and I'm mesmerized. I've read it tons of times before, but still it is interesting. It is amazing how David continues to dig himself a hole even though he knows it is wrong. I can't believe how much lying is being thrown around here....not to mention cheating! Nathan tho, what a guy!!! Brave and Courageous, and Bold to go stand before a guy that just had someone killed to cover up his sin. Nathan is my boy, talking in parables like Jesus. It just goes to show how the Pharisees could have reacted when they knew there sin. Wow, this story nearly brought tears to my eyes, what a bold thing for Nathan to do, and what an incredible response from David. I'm impressed with how Nathan does the work of the Lord no matter who where or how. But I can't say i'm not also impressed with David's response. When it came to decision time, either I'm going to fully embrace this lie, or I'm going to fully come clean, David did the right thing.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
David
1 Samuel 17 is the chapter we are going to be working with, so....
I always think of the movie troy when I read these verses and that Giant guy with bulging muscles that is totally owned by Brad Pitt. I think it is crazy how much more you can carry and wear with two more inches and more body weight, but here is a guy with 3 more feet, and is thick with muscle!
Couple quick questions that I know you already know the answer to:
Who should have fought Goliath?
Why did David pick up 5 stones?
Why didn't Israel attack instead of sit there waiting for forty days? It seems to me like I would have maybe waited four or five days, then said, "OK, we don't have anyone that wants to challenge you, lets just go attack the whole army." Well, now that I read vs. 21 it looks like they were fighting every day. It sounds like David keeps asking him what the king will give him, but I also sense a focus more on the removing of the reproach that the philistine is bringing on him. I can't decide. I do want to say that David sounds like a thug! I always have loved the part where they talk cause Goliath is like, hey, curse you by my god's, then the birds and the animals are going to eat you. Then David's argument back is like, nuh uh I'm going to curse you by my God, then the birds and animals are going to eat you! Take that Goliath right back at you. It is kinda a weak but very strong retaliation.
It's kinda a gross finish with David carrying Goliath's head, but what I think is significant is that David does all this for God's reputation sake. To Show that the God of heaven is the living and true God. That takes a lot of guts to do what he did, but he was prepared for the moment.
I always think of the movie troy when I read these verses and that Giant guy with bulging muscles that is totally owned by Brad Pitt. I think it is crazy how much more you can carry and wear with two more inches and more body weight, but here is a guy with 3 more feet, and is thick with muscle!
Couple quick questions that I know you already know the answer to:
Who should have fought Goliath?
Why did David pick up 5 stones?
Why didn't Israel attack instead of sit there waiting for forty days? It seems to me like I would have maybe waited four or five days, then said, "OK, we don't have anyone that wants to challenge you, lets just go attack the whole army." Well, now that I read vs. 21 it looks like they were fighting every day. It sounds like David keeps asking him what the king will give him, but I also sense a focus more on the removing of the reproach that the philistine is bringing on him. I can't decide. I do want to say that David sounds like a thug! I always have loved the part where they talk cause Goliath is like, hey, curse you by my god's, then the birds and the animals are going to eat you. Then David's argument back is like, nuh uh I'm going to curse you by my God, then the birds and animals are going to eat you! Take that Goliath right back at you. It is kinda a weak but very strong retaliation.
It's kinda a gross finish with David carrying Goliath's head, but what I think is significant is that David does all this for God's reputation sake. To Show that the God of heaven is the living and true God. That takes a lot of guts to do what he did, but he was prepared for the moment.
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