Indictment - Acts 7:51-53

"You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? But your ancestors did, and so do you! Name one prophet your ancestors didn't persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One--the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered. You deliberately disobeyed God's law, though you received it from the hands of angels." Acts 7:51-53

Acts 7 is amazing. In it, Stephen basically recounts the entire history of the Jewish people, ending with the indictment cited above. I am no theologian, but I would argue that this charge still holds true today, both for the Jews as a people and Israel as a nation. Not only do they still deny Jesus as Messiah, but they do not hold to the Old covenant system of sacrifices either. So where does that leave them? It seems, right where God said they would be-totally assimilated into the world around them. In a word, secularized. Maybe this is an extreme charge--they ARE still God's chosen people; but I didn't say it, Stephen did!

God, keep me from being judgmental, but give me the wisdom to call a spade a spade. You called us to be set apart for you, to live in the world as strangers in a foreign land, but to still be enough a part of it to affect change. Those are tough marching orders, but with you I know all things are possible. Please enable me.

Today's reading: Ex. 28-29; Acts 7

Know Your Gifts - Acts 6:2

"We apostles should spend our time preaching and teaching the word of God, not administering a food program..." Acts 6:2

Not that there was anything wrong with a food program, it was the byproduct of the apostles' teaching to care for each other. The point is, the apostles were realizing that this activity was not their call or their gifting. And it was drawing them away from their God-given purpose--preaching the Word. Once they released this responsibility to others who had the gift of administration, "God's message was preached to ever-widening circles." Acts 6:7 What a concept! If you concentrate your efforts in your area of gifting, God's word spreads! This is a valuable lesson for church leaders today. Leaders are called to lead, not administer. I believe that it is one of Satan's most powerful tools that pastors feel the need to CONTROL every aspect of their ministry--this is not a biblical model. Then they wonder why they are working 24/7 but their churches are either not growing, or they are not healthy. God's word says to go back to your first passion. What is the gift he gave YOU? Are you using it?

Jesus, thank you for the perfect business model for church as well as life in general. Keep my eyes focused on the gifts you gave ME, not what you gave someone else.
Today's reading: Ex. 25-27; Acts 6

Fallen Nature - Ps. 14:2-3

"The Lord looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if there is even one with real understanding, one who seeks for God. But no, all have turned away from God; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not even one!" Ps. 14:2-3

This verse puts a lot into perspective for me. It definitely hammers home the point about how much weight our works here on earth carry with God -- in terms of salvation, ZERO. When God looks down at earth, he either sees Jesus (those who are saved) or evil, nothing in between. Seems harsh, but that is what you get when you put humans face to face with God -- the ultimate mismatch; and without Jesus, our fallen nature condemns us. There is no getting around how definitive the conclusion is, "No one does good, NOT EVEN ONE!" Doesn't leave much room for the idea that "good people go to heaven."

Thank you Jesus for loving me enough to pay the ultimate price. I know I can NEVER repay you, all I can do is love you and do my best to obey what you ask me to do. Help me to always hear you clearly.

Today's reading: Ex. 23, 24; Ps. 14; Acts 5

History Lesson

This is unusual for my blog, but I would have felt irresponsible not posting this article.

We in the West have gone through too many years of relative peace to remember what it cost to buy that peace. We too often reason that "it will never happen here," or that more diplomacy, or at worst, isolation would be the better course. We act like we will always have plenty of time to explore the options. I highly recommend you read on:

THIS IS HISTORY THAT HAS BEEN AND/OR WILL BE LEFT out of our TEXTBOOKS.

Sixty-three years ago, Nazi Germany had overrun almost all of Europe and hammered England to the verge of bankruptcy and defeat, and had sunk more than four hundred British ships in their convoys between England and America for food and war materials. At that time the US was in an isolationist, pacifist mood, and most Americans wanted nothing to do with the European or the Asian war.

Then along came Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and in outrage Congress unanimously declared war on Japan, and the following day on Germany, which had not yet attacked us.

It was a dicey thing. We had few allies. France was not an ally, as the Vichy government of France quickly aligned itself with its German occupiers. Germany was certainly not an ally, as Hitler was intent on setting up a Thousand Year Reich in Europe. Japan was not an ally, as it was well on its way to owning and controlling all of Asia. Together, Japan and Germany had long-range plans of invading Canada and Mexico, as launching pads to get into the United States over our northern and southern borders, after they finished gaining control of Asia and Europe. America's only allies then were England, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Russia. That was about it. All of Europe, from Norway to Italy, except Russia in the East, was already under the Nazi heel.

America was certainly not prepared for war. America had drastically downgraded most of its military forces after W.W.I and throughout the depression, so that at the outbreak of WW2, army units were training with broomsticks because they didn't have guns, and cars with "tank" painted on the doors because they didn't have real tanks. And a huge chunk of our navy had just been sunk or damaged at Pearl Harbor.

Britain had already gone bankrupt, saved only by the donation of $600 million in gold bullion in the Bank of England, that was actually the property of Belgium, given by Belgium to England to carry on the war when Belgium was overrun by Hitler (a little known fact). Actually, Belgium surrendered on one day, because it was unable to oppose the German invasion, and the Germans bombed Brussels into rubble the next day just to prove they could. Britain had already been holding out for two years in the face of staggering losses and the near decimation of its air force in the Battle of Britain, and was saved from being overrun by Germany only because Hitler made the mistake of thinking the Brits were a relatively minor threat that could be dealt with later, and first turning his attention to Russia, at a time when England was on the verge of collapse, in the late summer of 1940.

Ironically, Russia saved America's butt by putting up a desperate fight for two years, until the US got geared up to begin hammering away at Germany. Russia lost something like 24 million people in the sieges of Stalingrad and Moscow alone... 90% of them from cold and starvation, mostly civilians, but also more than a 1,000,000 soldiers. Had Russia surrendered, Hitler would have been able to focus his entire war effort against the Brits, then America. And the Nazis could possibly have won the war.

All of this is to illustrate that turning points in history are often dicey things. And now, we find ourselves at another one of those key moments in history. There is a very dangerous minority in Islam that either has, or wants and may soon have, the ability to deliver small nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons, almost anywhere in the world. The Jihadis, the militant Muslims, are basically Nazis in Kaffiyahs -- they believe that Islam, a radically conservative form of Wahhabi Islam, should own and control the Middle East first, then Europe, then the world. And that all who do not bow to their will of thinking should be killed, enslaved, or subjugated. They want to finish the Holocaust, destroy Israel, and purge the world of Jews. This is their mantra.

There is also a civil war raging in the Middle East -- for the most part not a hot war, but a war of ideas. Islam is having its Inquisition and its Reformation, but it is not known yet which will win -- the Inquisitors, or the Reformationists. If the Inquisition wins, then the Wahhabis, the Jihadis, will control the Middle East, the OPEC oil, and the US, European, and Asian economies. The techno-industrial economies will be at the mercy of OPEC -- not an OPEC dominated by the educated, rational Saudis of today, but an OPEC dominated by the Jihadis. You want gas in your car? You want heating oil next winter? You want the dollar to be worth anything? You better hope the Jihad, the Muslim Inquisition, loses, and the Islamic Reformation wins.If the Reformation movement wins, that is, the moderate Muslims who believe that Islam can respect and tolerate other religions, and live in peace with the rest of the world, and move out of the 10th century into the 21st, then the troubles in the Middle East will eventually fade away, and a moderate and prosperous Middle East will emerge.

We have to help the Reformation win, and to do that we have to fight the Inquisition, i.e., the Wahhabi movement, the Jihad, Al Qaeda and the Islamic terrorist movements. We have to do it somewhere. And we can't do it everywhere at once. We have created a focal point for the battle at a time and place of our choosing........in Iraq. Not in New York, not in London, or Paris or Berlin, but in Iraq, where we are doing two important things.

(1) We deposed Saddam Hussein. Whether Saddam Hussein was directly involved in 9/11 or not, it is undisputed that Saddam has been actively supporting the terrorist movement for decades. Saddam is a terrorist. Saddam is, or was, a weapon of mass destruction, who is responsible for the deaths of probably more than a million Iraqis and two million Iranians.

(2) We created a battle, a confrontation, a flash point, with Islamic terrorism in Iraq. We have focused the battle. We are killing bad people, and the ones we get there we won't have to get here. We also have a good shot at creating a democratic, peaceful Iraq, which will be a catalyst for democratic change in the rest of the Middle East, and an outpost for a stabilizing American military presence in the Middle East for as long as it is needed.

World War II, the war with the German and Japanese Nazis, really began with a "whimper" in 1928. It did not begin with Pearl Harbor. It began with the Japanese invasion of China. It was a war for fourteen years before America joined it. It officially ended in 1945 -- a 17 year war -- and was followed by another decade of US occupation in Germany and Japan to get those countries reconstructed and running on their own again ... a 27 year war.World War II cost the United States an amount equal to approximately a full year's GDP -- adjusted for inflation, equal to about $12 trillion dollars. W.W.II cost America more than 400,000 killed in action, and nearly 100,000 still missing in action.The Iraq war has, so far, cost the US about $160 billion,which is roughly what 9/11 cost New York. It has also cost about 3,000 American lives, which is roughly the same as the 3,000 lives that the Jihad snuffed on 9/11. But the cost of not fighting and winning W.W.II would have been unimaginably greater -- a world dominated by German and Japanese Nazism.

This is not 60 minute TV shows, and 2 hour movies in which everything comes out okay. The real world is not like that. It is messy, uncertain, and sometimes bloody and ugly. Always has been, and probably always will be. The bottom line is that we will have to deal with Islamic terrorism until we defeat it, whenever that is. It will not go away if we ignore it.If the US can create a reasonably democratic and stable Iraq, then we have an "England" in the Middle East, a platform, from which we can work to help modernize and moderate the Middle East. The history of the world is the clash between the forces of relative civility and civilization, and the barbarians clamoring at the gates. The Iraq war is merely another battle in this ancient and never ending war. And now, for the first time ever, the barbarians are about to get nuclear weapons. Unless somebody prevents them.

We have four options:
1. We can defeat the Jihad now, before it gets nuclear weapons.

2. We can fight the Jihad later, after it gets nuclear weapons (which may be as early as next year, if Iran's progress on nuclear weapons is what Iran claims it is).

3. We can surrender to the Jihad and accept its dominance in the Middle East, now, in Europe in the next few years or decades, and ultimately in America.

4. Or, we can stand down now, and pick up the fight later when the Jihad is more widespread and better armed, perhaps after the Jihad has dominated France and Germany and maybe most of the rest of Europe.

It will, of course, be more dangerous, more expensive, and much bloodier.If you oppose this war, I hope you like the idea that your children, or grandchildren, may live in an Islamic America under the Mullahs and the Sharia, an America that resembles Iran today.

The history of the world is the history of civilizational clashes, cultural clashes. All wars are about ideas, ideas about what society and civilization should be like, and the most determined always win.Those who are willing to be the most ruthless always win. The pacifists always lose, because the anti-pacifists kill them.Remember, perspective is every thing, and America's schools teach too little history for perspective to be clear, especially in the young American mind.

The Cold war lasted from about 1947 at least until the Berlin Wall came down in 1989. Forty-two years. Europe spent the first half of the 19th century fighting Napoleon, and from 1870 to 1945 fighting GermanyWorld War II began in 1928, lasted 17 years, plus a ten year occupation, and the US still has troops in Germany and Japan. World War II resulted in the death of more than 50 million people, maybe more than 100 million people, depending on which estimates you accept. The US has taken more than 3,000 killed in action in Iraq. The US took more than 4,000 killed in action on the morning of June 6, 1944, the first day of the Normandy Invasion to rid Europe of Nazi Imperialism. In W.W.II the US averaged 2,000 KIA a week -- for four years. Most of the individual battles of W.W.II lost more Americans than the entire Iraq war has done so far.

But the stakes are at least as high ... A world dominated by representative governments with civil rights, human rights, and personal freedoms ... or a world dominated by a radical Islamic Wahhabi movement, by the Jihad, under the Mullahs and the Sharia (Islamic law).It's difficult to understand why the American left does not grasp this. They favor human rights, civil rights, liberty and freedom, but evidently not for Iraqis."Peace Activists" always seem to demonstrate here in America, where it's safe.Why don't we see Peace Activist demonstrating in Iran, Syria, Iraq, Sudan, North Korea, in the places that really need peace activism the most?The liberal mentality is supposed to favor human rights, civil rights, democracy, multiculturalism, diversity, etc., but if the Jihad wins, wherever the Jihad wins, it is the end of civil rights, human rights, democracy, multiculturalism, diversity, etc.Americans who oppose the liberation of Iraq are coming down on the side of their own worst enemy.

Raymond S. Kraft is a writer living in Northern California. Please consider passing along copies of this article to students in high school, college and university as it contains information about the American past that is very meaningful today -- history about America that very likely is completely unknown by them (and their instructors, too). By being denied the facts of our history, they are at a decided disadvantage when it comes to reasoning and thinking through the issues of today. They are prime targets for misinformation campaigns beamed at enlisting them in causes and beliefs that are special interest agenda driven.

You're Not The Boss of Me - Acts 4:19

"Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him?" Acts 4:19

In other words, God's the boss, not the world around us. I went through this paradigm shift a long time ago, but have to fight daily to keep that perspective alive and in charge. I always feel that it shouldn't be so hard, but I guess that's one of the reasons Jesus said that the path is narrow. Especially in my thoughts; I have my actions in way better control than my mind. I may look like the good Christian on the outside, but on the inside I am a selfish, murdering, slandering, idolatrous (and the list goes on) heathen. I totally relate to Paul when he says, "I love the Lord with all my heart, but there is another law at work in me that wages war with my mind." Rom. 7:22 God's definitely the boss, I'm just not always the model employee.

God, thank you for loving me even though...

Today's reading: Ex. 21, 22; Ps. 12; Acts 4

The Proof Is In The... - Ex. 18:11; Acts 3:12

"I know now that the Lord is greater than all other Gods , because his people have escaped from the proud and cruel Egyptians." Ex. 18:11

"What is so astounding about this? And why look at us as though we made this man walk by our own power and godliness?" Acts 3:12

Jethro's response is ALL God is ever looking for. A recognition of who he is, and a turning of the heart towards him. Throughout history, through today, and until his kingdom is reestablished here on earth, this has been his only purpose for the signs, wonders and miracles--proof that he IS God. For whatever reason, though, man is a hard one to convince, as Peter finds once again in Acts. This was hardly the first miracle that these people had heard about, or possibly even seen. Yet they seem more apt to attribute it to man than to God--and so the same trend continues today. It seems what started in the Garden so long ago, won't end until Jesus comes again.

Jesus, please forgive me for being SO worldly, SO skeptical, SO human. Thank you for never changing.

Today's reading: Ex. 17-20; Acts 3

Dry Ground - Ex. 14:21

"The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. So the people of Israel walked through the sea on dry ground with walls of water on each side!" Ex. 14:21

After leaving Egypt (a miracle in itself!), this is the first miracle that God performs for the nation of Israel (other than them following a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night, but that's just small stuff, right?!) -- HE SURE DIDN'T SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST! This is right up there with raising the dead! I say this because right after this event, the Israelites start complaining to Moses about their circumstances. I know it is said that this represents how unthankful and short-sighted all us humans can be, but come on!! That argument just doesn't hold water for me. God did ONE miracle for me 14 years ago, and it is still the driving force of my life. Reminding me daily that he has a plan and a purpose for me as an individual and HE will provide; that it will be HIS will , not mine, that ultimately is realized. I know I am passing judgment, and that it was all part of God's plan (who am I to judge?), but just call this human weakness on my part: Israel had NO excuse -- and they still don't today.

God, I am sorry for my judgmental attitude displayed above--it really is human weakness because I need to remove numerous logs from my eye before I would be justified in judging anyone else. But I just feel how your heart must have been hurt, and continues to be today; it makes me angry that we humans can't somehow keep a grasp on the larger picture. God, keep my eyes open to be able to always see your plan--give me the courage to act when you call.

Today's reading: Ex. 14-16; Acts 2

Leaven - Ex. 12:20

"I repeat, during those days you must not eat anything made with yeast. Wherever you live, eat only bread that has no yeast in it." Ex. 12:20

This is the first time I noticed what a big deal God made about his regulation of no yeast (leaven) during Passover. He repeated it a bunch of times in different ways, and was unusually adamant on the point. He went so far as to say that anyone who eats bread with yeast during this time would be cut off from the community of Israel! Harsh stuff! God was obviously making a powerful point here--I figured I should dig deeper. Here is what I came up with: Unleavened bread throughout the Bible was a symbol of purity, while yeast (leaven) symbolized a pollutant, or an impurity. Since Passover represented God delivering his chosen people out of slavery into the Promised Land, eating only unleavened bread during this celebration served as a reminder. A reminder that they were special, chosen by God to be his people, and therefore pure. God wanted his people to remember for all time how special he considered them.

God I thank you for grafting me into your family and calling me chosen as well. The leaven also represents being different, and I have a hard time with that. Like Israel, too often I just want to be like the rest of the crowd, yet I know you are calling me to so much more. Show me how to be "set apart" in the mission field you have brought me into.

Today's reading: Ex. 12, 13; Ps. 21; Acts 1

I told You So - Lk. 24:44

"When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me by Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must all come true." Lk. 24:44

Given the disciples upbringing, they MUST have remembered at least these two:

"All right then, the Lord himself will choose the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Emmanuel--'God is with us.'" Is. 7:14

"My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and feet. I can count every bone in my body. My enemies stare at me and gloat. They divide my clothes among themselves and throw dice for my garments." Ps. 22:16-18

Surely there cannot be many who fit these descriptions!!

Jesus, I pray that I am never blind to what you are doing.

Today's reading: Ex. 9-11; Lk. 24

God's Perspective - Ex. 7:3

"But I will cause Pharaoh to be stubborn so I can multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt." Ex. 7:3

I think we are all guilty of evaluating what God does based on our own measures of fairness, ethics, morals, etc... basically what we consider right or wrong. I think we place value in areas where God may place very little, depending on what his purpose is at the time. In the verse above, God makes it clear that HE will purposely harden Pharaoh's heart so that he can fully display his miraculous works. In other words, he is making a point so that he will be recognized as the God of the universe. Well, in so doing, MANY animals as well as people die. What would society today or PETA say about his methods?! The answer is, it doesn't matter--he is God and they are not. Bottom line is that God's economy is different than ours, he has a different way of assigning value to life than we do. We can try, but I don't think we will ever REALLY understand.

God, you are an awesome God, the Creator of all things -- thank you for adopting me as your child.

Today's reading: Ex. 6-8; Lk. 23

God's Handiwork - Ex. 4:1, 13; Deut. 34:10

"But Moses protested again, 'Look, they won't believe me! They won't do what I tell them. They'll just say, 'The Lord never appeared to you.'" ..."Lord, please! Send someone else." Ex. 4:1, 13

This account HAS to be for the benefit of mankind. Moses argued and protested what God asked him to do FIVE times! Face to face with God! I'm surprised he survived! This shows me at least two things: Moses had all the doubts and fears that I have; and God will accomplish his will through me regardless of what I think is possible--it will be for HIS glory. I just have to be obedient, even if it is a reluctant obedience. That, I believe, is the beginning of faith, and God builds from there. Moses was a living example of God's handiwork, evidenced by his epitaph recorded at the end of Deuteronomy. After a rough start, here is what it says of him, "There has never been another prophet like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face." Deut. 34:10

God, regardless of my insecurity and doubts, I pray, at the very least, that I am obedient.

Today's reading: Ex. 3-5; Lk. 22

A Father's Love - Lk. 20:13, 18

"'What will I do?' the owner asked himself. 'I know! I'll send my cherished son. Surely they will respect him.'" Lk. 20:13

"All who stumble over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone on whom it falls." Lk. 20:18

This definitely continues on yesterday's theme of God's love. This is God's heart spoken out through Jesus. This is him reaching out, again and again after brutal rejections. This is his final offer of his love--his most cherished possession, his only son. "Surely they will respect him," GOD says. This is a very revealing statement to me--this is showing what God actually EXPECTED our reaction to be--only to be brutally disappointed yet again. Luke 20:18 tells us that there will be no further offers, accept Jesus or accept the consequences.

God, thank you for your patience, your grace and your love.

Today's reading: Gen. 49, 50; Ps. 8; Lk. 20

A Broken Heart - Ps. 10:4, 11; Lk. 19:14

"These wicked people are too proud to seek God... The wicked say to themselves, 'God isn't watching! He will never notice!'" Ps. 10:4, 11

"But his people hated him and sent a delegation after him to say they did not want him to be their king." Lk. 19:14

I was having coffee with my good friend Vince last night, and was telling him that the more I read the Bible, the more I felt God's broken heart over being rejected by the very people he created and was willing to die for -- then I came home and read these verses! I can't begin to imagine the sorrow our God must feel. The only parallel I can draw is if my own children rejected me. And this isn't only rejection, mind you; this is them making it clear to me that they hated me, wanted nothing to do with me, and they were essentially erasing me from their memories -- I NO LONGER EXIST TO THEM. I cannot begin to imagine the pain I would feel... I doubt I will ever understand the love God has for me.

Jesus, you are my God and King, and I love you with my whole heart. Thank you for blessing me even though there is no way I deserve anything; and I am sorry for any pain that I cause you.

Today's reading: Gen. 47-48; Ps. 10; Lk. 19

Lessons Learned - Lk. 18:6, 29-30

"...so don't you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who plead with him day and night?" Lk. 18:6

"...I assure you, everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, will be repaid many times over in this life, as well as receiving eternal life in the world to come." Lk. 18:29-30

Two observations from today's reading: First, we are called to be persistent in our prayer, to literally "wear God out" with our prayer, he promises that he WILL answer! Second, and this is not to puff ourselves up in any way because it is only God that enables, but this is for our kids so they will always know their legacy. Verses 29-30 are your mom and dad -- we left home, brothers, sisters and parents to follow God, and remain willing to do it all over again if he asks us to.

Jesus, I will never cease thanking you for sending your Holy Spirit to help us in this life.

Today's reading: Gen. 44-46; Lk. 18

Unfailing Love - Ps. 5:7-8

"Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house; with deepest awe I will worship in your Temple. Lead me in the right path, O Lord, or my enemies will conquer me. Tell me clearly what to do, show me which way to turn." Ps. 4:7-8

Neither Joseph nor David were perfect men, but they loved and trusted God, and God was with them. As I read about Joseph in Genesis, I am struck by how much God loves him and continues to bless him. The circumstances he finds himself in are not always pleasant, definitely the result of a fallen world, but God protects and watches over him no matter the circumstance. So similar to David, and I imagine that David reflects Joseph's heart as well in Ps. 5. These men recognized their position relative to God, as well as where any blessing in their life came from. They stood in awe of him and TRUSTED him to protect and direct them. Unlike what the world would teach us as men, when the going gets tough, the tough turn to the Lord!

God, thank you for Joseph and David and their example of your love and provision.

Today's reading: Gen. 42, 43; Ps. 5; Lk. 17

Hard Hearts - Lk. 16:29, 31

"Moses and the prophets warned them. Your brothers can read their writings anytime they want to... If they won't listen to Moses and the prophets, they won't listen even if someone rises from the dead." Lk. 16:29, 31

A little tongue and cheek from Jesus here since HE was the one who rose from the dead! But what a true statement -- even in Jesus' own generation people refused to believe what had plainly occurred, how much harder for this generation so far removed. I'm not asking for excuses, it just amazes me how blind and hard-hearted humans can be (I should know, I was one of them not so long ago!). I know people with all the info they need (maybe too much) at their fingertips, yet they analyze/rationalize away the need for a Savior. They are much more content with a "religion" of their own making. How sad when they wake up on the other side of the chasm (Lk. 16:26).

Holy Spirit, thank you for pursuing me, softening my heart and saving me.

Today's reading: Gen. 39-41; Lk. 16

Treasures In Heaven - Lk. 15:31, 32

"Look dear son, you and I are very close, and everything I have is yours. We have to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!" Lk. 15:31, 32

In so many ways I can relate to the brother in this parable--it doesn't seem fair, what about me?! As I look more closely, I notice that the father is simply celebrating a lost son's return, and restoring him to his rightful place in the family. A perfect illustration of heaven's response to every salvation. What it does not speak to is further reward once in heaven, which will be determined by our deeds here on earth. The father tells the son that, "...you and I are very close, and everything I have is yours..." He is obviously differentiating this son's reward from the other son, but not taking away the need to celebrate. What we do on earth indeed matters!

Lord, thank you for never ceasing to watch for my return, I have indeed been found! Continue to show me ways that I can be fruitful and productive; protect me from the lies of the enemy that tell me to live every day for myself.

Today's reading: Gen. 37, 38; Ps. 7; Lk. 15

Time's Up - Lk. 13:8, 9

"The gardner answered, 'Give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I'll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, you can cut it down.'"
Lk. 13:8, 9

Chapter 13 should be a wake-up call for anyone putting a decision for Christ on the back-burner. Here's my take-away: God "planted" us on this earth to "produce fruit (definition for "productive" for this note is: accept Christ and be productive for the Kingdom)"; he is disappointed when we don't, and wants to wipe out the "unproductive"; Jesus intervenes, asks for one more chance, promising to give us EVERYTHING we need to be productive; time is limited though, and there WILL BE a day of reckoning; the world acts like that day will never come; that day will not be pretty for those still unproductive; they will SEE the Kingdom, recognize their error, THEN be thrown out--ouch!; finally, there are those on the earth who are not highly regarded either inside or outside the church who will be THE MOST honored by God.

Jesus, keep my eyes open to areas I am being called in to be "productive." Keep me from being deceived into believing I am producing for you when I am not.

Today's reading: Gen. 31-33; Lk. 13

Innocent Ignorance? - Lk. 12:48

"But people who are not aware that they are doing wrong will be punished only lightly. Much is required from those to whom much is given, and much more is required from those to whom much more is given." Lk. 12:48

Whenever I have read this verse in the past, I always concentrated on the latter half because that is the category that I felt I fell into--I have been given much, so much is required from me. Scary and motivating all at the same time! But, I got to thinking, who are the people that the first part of the verse refers to? Who are the people who are not aware of what they are doing wrong? OK, follow my logic here: We are still talking about saved people here, otherwise their punishment could not be considered light; if they are saved, they have the Holy Spirit just like I do; if they have the Holy Spirit, all truth has been revealed to them; if Truth has been revealed, and they are filled with the Spirit of God, can they have the excuse that they didn't know what they were doing was wrong? There should be no excuse for ignorance AFTER being filled with the Holy Spirit.......right?? Aren't we all in the same boat here with regard to being sinners? That is -- "WE ARE". And where is this "punishment" supposed to take place? There is no punishment in heaven is there?

I am confused, somebody please straighten me out!

Jesus, no matter the answer, I know you have blessed me with much. I also know that I fall woefully short when it comes to fulfilling what expectations at least I FEEL you have of me. Sorry for being the miserable and weak sinner that I am, but I pray that in my weakness, somehow, your strength will be realized. No matter how much I stumble, I pray that you keep on a path moving TOWARD you.

Today's reading: Gen. 29, 30; Lk. 12

God's Ways... - Gen. 28:13, 15

"... The ground you are lying in belongs to you. I will give it to you and your descendants. Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust on the earth!... What's more, I will be with you and protect you wherever you go." Gen. 28:13, 15

This is one of those instances where it is apparent that God's ways are different from ours. In this verse he is blessing Jacob... right after he has stolen Esau's blessing from Isaac! How can God reward him after this?! Where is the justice? Jacob also swindled Esau out of his birthright -- he was shrewd, but he was dishonest. In my small way of thinking, God is blessing a dishonest, devious and uncaring individual, and not holding him accountable for his actions. I understand that it was all part of God's plan from the beginning for Jacob to rule over Esau, and I also realize that I am in no position to be pointing fingers asking for God's justice (I would be fried on the spot!)--it just doesn't seem fair in man's eyes. I guess God's plan will be God's plan in spite of man's weakness and sin -- THANK GOD!

God, I thank you that you chose me even while knowing how weak and sinful I would be. Evidently I am part of the plan in spite of it all! Help me to recognize this on a daily basis as I want to beat myself up over my failures.

Today's reading: Gen. 27, 28; Ps. 4; Lk. 11

Control - Ps. 4:4-5

"Don't sin by letting anger gain control over you. Think about it overnight and remain silent. Offer proper sacrifices and trust the Lord." Ps. 4:4-5

I used to think that this verse and the one in Ephesians were talking about anger. I now think that God is really addressing issues of control here. Evidently, anger is a very powerful tool of Satan's; and when we allow anger to take root in us, we actually cede some aspect of control of our being over to him. I KNOW this is not theoretical but VERY real--I have felt it in myself very recently! The other day, Alice and I got into a rather heated argument and I got personally offended. As I allowed myself (it IS a choice) to get angry, I actually felt myself open a door and step onto a fast moving sidewalk--I started racing down this corridor of anger losing more control and caring less and less. And I think that's where it gets scary, when you don't care, what will you be willing to do? God's love holds us very tight, and when we love others without any concern for ourselves, we are in a very safe place--in fact, I believe Satan is completely disarmed. But when we get angry, and allow it to take root, I think we open a crack in the armor and are vulnerable. Satan definitely had me (not from a salvation standpoint mind you) for that moment because I gave him a foothold.

God, I thank you for your Son who set the perfect example of how to love, and I thank you for your Word that is the perfect owner's manual for this gift you have given me.

Today's reading: Gen. 25, 26; Ps. 6 (I read ahead); Lk. 10

It's The Principle - Gen. 18:23

From 1/7/07 reading:

"Abraham approached him and said, 'Will you destroy both innocent and guilty alike?'"
Gen. 18:23

WHY would Abraham intercede on the behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah? It could not be because of any great affection that he had for this place--it was well known for its depravity and virtual lack of any redemptive value. The only logical thing I can think of is the fact that Lot lived there, and that he seemed to be a righteous man worth saving. Maybe Abraham was ensuring that God would spare him. If this is not the reason, the only other possibility that my limited mind can come up with is that Abraham was such a righteous man that he was standing up for Sodom and Gomorrah based on PRINCIPLE. That a JUST God would not destroy the god-fearing along with the heathen just because he was too mad to spend the time to differentiate. If this was the case, Abraham was not only righteous, he was brave!

God thank you for the grace you pour out alongside your justice.

Today's reading: Gen. 18-19; Ps. 3; Lk. 6

What's My Measure? - Lk. 6:38

"If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving--large or small--it will be used to measure what is given back to you." Lk. 6:38

When Jesus talks like this, I am never sure whether he is talking about my reward being in this life or the next. Then my next though is, why should it matter? I am as weak as humans come; putting more value on me and today, than on others and tomorrow. How selfish and carnal is that?! Especially when God goes out of his way to describe my reward as being an immeasurable abundance, AND to warn me that my definition of reciprocity will be used on me--whether it be generous or miserly. This is, without a doubt, THE thorn in my size. I want my default to be generous and to give without expectation--but it is not.

Lord, only you can change a heart, and that is what is required here--divine intervention. Change your child.

Today's reading: Gen. 15-17; Lk. 6

The Promise - Gen. 13:14-16

From 1/5/07 reading:

"Look, as far as you can see in every direction. I am going to give all this land to you and your offspring as a permanent possession. And I am going to give you so many descendants that, like dust, they cannot be counted." Gen. 13:14-16

This, basically, WAS the Old Covenant, the promise God made to his people. God gave them this land as a PERMANENT possession, not as a bargaining chip for peace like Israel continues to use it for. Have they forgotten? Don't they know how special they are to God? How special this promise is that he made to them? Why do they continue in their disobedience? It's obviously not politically correct to be a warring nation, but diplomacy has not worked, and worse, diplomacy and peace is not what God asked of them. It was to take the promised land and occupy it, THEN, they will have peace.

Oh, Israel, if you would just be obedient and have faith! ...and I pray the same for me! God, pour out your Holy Spirit as you promised and bring revival to, your people, Israel.

Today's reading: Gen. 12-14; Lk. 5

Giants - Gen. 6:4

"In those days, and even afterward, giants lived on the earth, for whenever the sons of God had intercourse with human women, they gave birth to children who became the heroes mentioned in legends of old." Gen. 6:4

This, of course, refers to the Nephilim. Purportedly fallen angels who procreated with human women--their offspring growing to enormous size (King Og of Bashan left behind a bed that was 18.5' long!). One can't help but be fascinated by this, and I am no exception! Legend has it that these beings consumed enormous amounts of food, and after consuming all of the humans' resources, started consuming humans! Could it be that the Nephilim were one of the reasons that God wanted to wipe out the earth with a flood? Was Noah declared "blameless" because he had a "Nephilim-free" line? We will never know, but it is in an interesting topic!

God, whatever this was all about, I know I can trust you that you are in control, even in circumstances like these which are impossible for us humans to grasp.

Today's reading: Gen. 6-8; Lk. 3

Vegetarians? - Gen. 3:17

"All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains." Gen. 3:17

In ch. 1, God creates man and says, "Look! I have given you the seed bearing plants throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food." While not conclusive, these verses seem to indicate that our original design was to eat fruits vegetables and grains -- basically, what the ground provided. The only indication of the death of any animal was when God created clothing for Adam and Eve out of animal skins. This design appears true even for the animals: "And I have given all the grasses and other green plants to the animals and birds for their food." Could it be that before sin entered the world, God's perfect plan was for humans and animals to coexist peacefully as vegans? Even in God's curse, he says man "will struggle to eat of its grains..."

Just an observation...

God, I know I commit the same original sin that Eve did in the garden nearly everyday--please forgive my weakness.

Today's reading: Gen. 3-5; Lk. 2

A Unique Account - Lk. 2:18, 19

"All who heard the shepherd's story were astonished, but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often." Lk. 2:18, 19

I have just been recognizing how unique Luke's gospel is. He describes events and emotions not found in any other place: Gabriel's visits to Zechariah and Mary (more importantly, their responses); Simeon and Anna's encounters with Jesus, and Mary and Joseph having to go back to the Temple to find Jesus having discussions with the religious leaders just to name a few. How did he know all this? Much of it I am sure was simply passed down through oral and written accounts; after all, this was only a short time after Jesus' death. But what about the emotions and thoughts of Mary? They are incredibly instructive, but how were they recorded? This could only be the Holy Spirit, as I refuse to believe that someone as meticulous as Dr. Luke would speculate about anything like this.

Thank you Holy Spirit for completing the picture for us. I pray that I can learn and apply the lessons learned from both Mary and Zechariah.

Today's reading: Gen. 1, 2; Lk. 1, 2