Posts
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
All Hallows Eve: Wendesday, October 31, 2007
A Happy All Hallows Eve (or All Saint's Eve) or Halloween, depending on you perspective and number of children in your house! Today is October 31, and lots of stuff has happened on this day. First, in 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the church in Wittenberg, thus starting the Protestant Reformation, which lead the way to the eventual formation of all Protestant Churches.
But, All Hollows Eve is also a day of preparation for All Saint's Day, which is tomorrow, and is celebrated in many churches this coming Sunday, where we honor and thank God for the Saints that have gone before and have joined the Lord and all the company of heaven.
And, it's also Halloween. Much like Mardi Gras, this holiday actually has Christan origins, like what was mentioned above. You can find out more about the Christian origins of Halloween and find some neat ways to focus upon our Faith during this day by clicking here.
Today, just a Gospel Lesson
Matthew 13:18-23
Today, what type of dirt are we? Are we ready to hear what the Lord longs to say to use through whatever means He may use? Are we ready to listen? Are we ready to take it in? Are we ready to grow from it? In all the different instances, the same Word was spread about, but the soil was not ready to receive what was there through the word.
Today, are we good gardeners? Are we tending the dirt of our souls? Are we pulling out the weeds that seek to choke off the word? Are we watering our souls through prayer and the word to keep our hearts from becoming hard? Are we offering forgiveness and grace to those that need it, and maybe even to those that don't?
Today, are we letting the word seep down deep into our souls and change who we are? Growing us closer to God? Today, what type of dirt are we? May we be good soil, and may God's word grow deep in our hearts.
But, All Hollows Eve is also a day of preparation for All Saint's Day, which is tomorrow, and is celebrated in many churches this coming Sunday, where we honor and thank God for the Saints that have gone before and have joined the Lord and all the company of heaven.
And, it's also Halloween. Much like Mardi Gras, this holiday actually has Christan origins, like what was mentioned above. You can find out more about the Christian origins of Halloween and find some neat ways to focus upon our Faith during this day by clicking here.
Today, just a Gospel Lesson
Matthew 13:18-23
Today, what type of dirt are we? Are we ready to hear what the Lord longs to say to use through whatever means He may use? Are we ready to listen? Are we ready to take it in? Are we ready to grow from it? In all the different instances, the same Word was spread about, but the soil was not ready to receive what was there through the word.
Today, are we good gardeners? Are we tending the dirt of our souls? Are we pulling out the weeds that seek to choke off the word? Are we watering our souls through prayer and the word to keep our hearts from becoming hard? Are we offering forgiveness and grace to those that need it, and maybe even to those that don't?
Today, are we letting the word seep down deep into our souls and change who we are? Growing us closer to God? Today, what type of dirt are we? May we be good soil, and may God's word grow deep in our hearts.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Thoughts
Good Morning,
Sorry about the lack of blogging yesterday. It was a long weekend with a long Monday, and my day just kind of got a way from me.
This morning, I want to ask you a question for my own guidance with my daily posting. Are they helpful to you? If not, is there any way they could be improved? Is there something that you would like to see instead of what I blog each day?
My blogging started out a couple of years ago as my own personal thoughts on the daily Bible readings for that day, but since then, they've transformed, and my own personal devotional life has changed some as well.
And today I was thinking about how as a pastor do you get people to buy into what God is doing and help them catch the vision that the Spirit may have, and the only what that can happen is through the grace of God working in their lives.
So, as the church, and as a Pastor, I have to do all that I can to allow that to happen. How does that happen? Through what Wesley called the "Means of Grace." Some of these are public: worship, communion, things of the like.
But, some are private: bible study, fasting, prayer. I want my daily posting to be a means of grace to you, something that allows you grow closer to God and deeper into His word.
Is it doing that? If not, how could it better do that? Feel free to comment or email me today or in the coming days with any thoughts. And, I'm not fishing for a compliment. I'm actually more interested in ways in how my daily posting can change and grow.
Thanks for you input.
Sorry about the lack of blogging yesterday. It was a long weekend with a long Monday, and my day just kind of got a way from me.
This morning, I want to ask you a question for my own guidance with my daily posting. Are they helpful to you? If not, is there any way they could be improved? Is there something that you would like to see instead of what I blog each day?
My blogging started out a couple of years ago as my own personal thoughts on the daily Bible readings for that day, but since then, they've transformed, and my own personal devotional life has changed some as well.
And today I was thinking about how as a pastor do you get people to buy into what God is doing and help them catch the vision that the Spirit may have, and the only what that can happen is through the grace of God working in their lives.
So, as the church, and as a Pastor, I have to do all that I can to allow that to happen. How does that happen? Through what Wesley called the "Means of Grace." Some of these are public: worship, communion, things of the like.
But, some are private: bible study, fasting, prayer. I want my daily posting to be a means of grace to you, something that allows you grow closer to God and deeper into His word.
Is it doing that? If not, how could it better do that? Feel free to comment or email me today or in the coming days with any thoughts. And, I'm not fishing for a compliment. I'm actually more interested in ways in how my daily posting can change and grow.
Thanks for you input.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Ordinary Time: Thursday, October 25, 2007
Old Testament Lesson
Ezra 1:1-11
After much darkness and pain, today, in this passage, we see the sun shine again. We read the pain of Lamentations. We read the prophets saying that destruction was coming. We read bad news after bad news after bad news. Today, we read some good. We see that the rain stops, the wounds are healed, and that life will spring forth from death. The people get to return home! The people get to go back to promised Land! God has not forgotten them. Just as in the Exodus, He is taking His people back to where they need to be. The night is over, and the sun shines again.
Remember, even if it is night in your life right now, God has not forgotten you. The sun will shine again. This too shall pass. God is not done with you yet. The will be joy and peace and comfort that is coming in the morning. Hold on, hold fast, help is on the way. The people returned to the Promised Land. God is still at work. Just as He is still at work in our lives.
New Testament Lesson
1 Corinthians 16:1-9
We see Paul giving very important instructions here about something that the church has always done. Taking up the collection! But in this passage, as it is now, the "collection" or "offering" or whatever you prefer to call it, is important. In many ways it is our response to the graciousness of God. He is a God that has given us so much, and in turn, He wants us to give back. Give our time, give our talents, give our gifts, and give our service. In short, give from all that we have.
And yes, that does mean money, but that is not all. That is just part. What God wants from us is something very simple. He wants all of us. He wants all that we are. And, when we give Him all that we are, He gives us something. He give us life more abundant, life grander than we could ever imagine. Today, give yourself away. And, in the giving away of yourself, you find more life than you could ever think possible.
Gospel Lesson
Matthew 12:15-21
We see Matthew quoting from the Old Testament this passage, showing that God's plan was always at work. He was making things ready for the coming of His son, for that was His ultimate plan and His ultimate means of salvation for His people. God's plan is always more that you and I can see. It is deeper and it is wider, and it is more than our minds can even understand.
That is why is so important for us to trust. We don't always know what He is doing. We don't always know His plan or see His path. We just have to trust and walk down the road that He has shown us. If we follow the light that He gives us, we will be where we need to be. He is always at work, doing more than we can see. He was making things right for the coming of His Son. The people just had to trust. Just like now, sometimes, we simply have to trust Him when we don't see what He is doing. Thankfully He always sees what He is doing.
Ezra 1:1-11
After much darkness and pain, today, in this passage, we see the sun shine again. We read the pain of Lamentations. We read the prophets saying that destruction was coming. We read bad news after bad news after bad news. Today, we read some good. We see that the rain stops, the wounds are healed, and that life will spring forth from death. The people get to return home! The people get to go back to promised Land! God has not forgotten them. Just as in the Exodus, He is taking His people back to where they need to be. The night is over, and the sun shines again.
Remember, even if it is night in your life right now, God has not forgotten you. The sun will shine again. This too shall pass. God is not done with you yet. The will be joy and peace and comfort that is coming in the morning. Hold on, hold fast, help is on the way. The people returned to the Promised Land. God is still at work. Just as He is still at work in our lives.
New Testament Lesson
1 Corinthians 16:1-9
We see Paul giving very important instructions here about something that the church has always done. Taking up the collection! But in this passage, as it is now, the "collection" or "offering" or whatever you prefer to call it, is important. In many ways it is our response to the graciousness of God. He is a God that has given us so much, and in turn, He wants us to give back. Give our time, give our talents, give our gifts, and give our service. In short, give from all that we have.
And yes, that does mean money, but that is not all. That is just part. What God wants from us is something very simple. He wants all of us. He wants all that we are. And, when we give Him all that we are, He gives us something. He give us life more abundant, life grander than we could ever imagine. Today, give yourself away. And, in the giving away of yourself, you find more life than you could ever think possible.
Gospel Lesson
Matthew 12:15-21
We see Matthew quoting from the Old Testament this passage, showing that God's plan was always at work. He was making things ready for the coming of His son, for that was His ultimate plan and His ultimate means of salvation for His people. God's plan is always more that you and I can see. It is deeper and it is wider, and it is more than our minds can even understand.
That is why is so important for us to trust. We don't always know what He is doing. We don't always know His plan or see His path. We just have to trust and walk down the road that He has shown us. If we follow the light that He gives us, we will be where we need to be. He is always at work, doing more than we can see. He was making things right for the coming of His Son. The people just had to trust. Just like now, sometimes, we simply have to trust Him when we don't see what He is doing. Thankfully He always sees what He is doing.
Ordinary Time: Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Old Testament Lesson
Lamentations 2:8-15
Sometimes in life, things happen that are so tragic that all you can do is weep. You may know in your mind that God is at work and He will bring something good out of it, but in the midst of the storm, all you can do is weep. We see the Prophet look at his destroyed city today, and all he can do is weep. He knows what has caused this, and we will later see that he does have hope for redemption. But, at that point, all he can do is cry.
Sometimes life kicks us good, and we can merely just weep. When that happens, may we know that our God holds us in His arms.
New Testament Lesson
1 Corinthians 15:51-58
This passage is part of the liturgy for a United Methodist service of committal, and each time I say it at a graveside, it gives me great hope. This body must be changed to enter into eternity. This life must be changed to enter into forever. We must pass through the Jordan, and we will come out the other side transformed. But, in a good way. For when we pass through the Jordan, and enter into true life, we can then say, where oh death, is thy sting.
Remember, what we see here and now is not the end of reality. There is a life far grander and far more real that we have not seen, but through Christ, we will know.
Gospel Lesson
Matthew 12:1-14
We see Jesus today call out the people because they were more concerned with keeping the letter of the law instead of the spirit of the law. The Lord wanted broken and contrite hearts, He wanted mercy. He was not as concerned with people following a checklist. He wants us to love Him. To love each other. To serve Him. And to serve each other. If we do this, we will satisfy every demand made of us. If we love. If we trust. If we live in grace. Today, let us not be so concerned with checking things off a list as we are about living and loving and serving. If love God and love neighbor. We will be the people that God needs us to be.
Lamentations 2:8-15
Sometimes in life, things happen that are so tragic that all you can do is weep. You may know in your mind that God is at work and He will bring something good out of it, but in the midst of the storm, all you can do is weep. We see the Prophet look at his destroyed city today, and all he can do is weep. He knows what has caused this, and we will later see that he does have hope for redemption. But, at that point, all he can do is cry.
Sometimes life kicks us good, and we can merely just weep. When that happens, may we know that our God holds us in His arms.
New Testament Lesson
1 Corinthians 15:51-58
This passage is part of the liturgy for a United Methodist service of committal, and each time I say it at a graveside, it gives me great hope. This body must be changed to enter into eternity. This life must be changed to enter into forever. We must pass through the Jordan, and we will come out the other side transformed. But, in a good way. For when we pass through the Jordan, and enter into true life, we can then say, where oh death, is thy sting.
Remember, what we see here and now is not the end of reality. There is a life far grander and far more real that we have not seen, but through Christ, we will know.
Gospel Lesson
Matthew 12:1-14
We see Jesus today call out the people because they were more concerned with keeping the letter of the law instead of the spirit of the law. The Lord wanted broken and contrite hearts, He wanted mercy. He was not as concerned with people following a checklist. He wants us to love Him. To love each other. To serve Him. And to serve each other. If we do this, we will satisfy every demand made of us. If we love. If we trust. If we live in grace. Today, let us not be so concerned with checking things off a list as we are about living and loving and serving. If love God and love neighbor. We will be the people that God needs us to be.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Ordinary Time: Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Old Testament Lesson
Lamentations 1:1-12
Lamentations may be the saddest book in all the Bible. In this book, the prophet weeps over his fallen city. He weeps because of the destruction. He weeps over what sin has caused to happen. He weeps over what used to be and over what can now never be. He weeps because that which was once so great now lies in ruins.
One of my favorite quotes ever is by Max Lucado. I've quoted it a million times and through my life I'll probably quote it a million more. The reason why God hates sin so much is because of what it does to His children. You can read Lamentations and see what sin can do if we let it go unchecked.
New Testament Lesson
1 Corinthians 15:41-50
We see here Paul talking about the first Adam and the second Adam. Through the first Adam, that is, Adam, sin entered the world. Through the second Adam, that is, Jesus Christ, life and salvation entered the world. Jesus Christ came to undo the effects of the first Adam. He came to set right those things which were corrupted by the fall. In short, He came to restore the world, and to restore each of us. He came to bring salvation and healing, and wholeness. He came to restore us.
Gospel Lesson
Matthew 11:25-30
Here is that great passage where the Lord tells us to come to Him, if we are weary. Today, are you weary? Are you tired? Are you burdened by life and its concerns? Are you weighted down? Are you stressed? Are you over come? Are you just plain old tired?
Go to Him. Rest in Him. Find life in Him. It is there. Rest and peace and comfort are there, in Christ Jesus. Are you weary today? Rest in Him.
Lamentations 1:1-12
Lamentations may be the saddest book in all the Bible. In this book, the prophet weeps over his fallen city. He weeps because of the destruction. He weeps over what sin has caused to happen. He weeps over what used to be and over what can now never be. He weeps because that which was once so great now lies in ruins.
One of my favorite quotes ever is by Max Lucado. I've quoted it a million times and through my life I'll probably quote it a million more. The reason why God hates sin so much is because of what it does to His children. You can read Lamentations and see what sin can do if we let it go unchecked.
New Testament Lesson
1 Corinthians 15:41-50
We see here Paul talking about the first Adam and the second Adam. Through the first Adam, that is, Adam, sin entered the world. Through the second Adam, that is, Jesus Christ, life and salvation entered the world. Jesus Christ came to undo the effects of the first Adam. He came to set right those things which were corrupted by the fall. In short, He came to restore the world, and to restore each of us. He came to bring salvation and healing, and wholeness. He came to restore us.
Gospel Lesson
Matthew 11:25-30
Here is that great passage where the Lord tells us to come to Him, if we are weary. Today, are you weary? Are you tired? Are you burdened by life and its concerns? Are you weighted down? Are you stressed? Are you over come? Are you just plain old tired?
Go to Him. Rest in Him. Find life in Him. It is there. Rest and peace and comfort are there, in Christ Jesus. Are you weary today? Rest in Him.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Ordinary Time: Monday, October 22, 2007
Old Testament Lesson
Jeremiah 44:1-14
There is much to be gained by looking around. Today, the Lord tell those that are His, but not living in Israel: look. Don't you see what happened when my people departed? Do you see the destruction that came upon them? Do you see how their sin lead to their doom? Do you see what their actions caused? Don't do the same thing.
There is much that we can learn from looking at our own mistakes, and the mistakes of others. The only bad mistake is one that we don't learn from. Today, may we look within, and look around, and see the things that we can learn from. May we grow from all we've done, good and bad, and may we set a positive, not negative, example for others.
New Testament Lesson
1 Corinthians 15:30-41
Paul reminds us that this life is not permanent, and as great and glorious as it is; it is just a reflection of what is to come one day. That can give us hope in all of life. As grand and wonderful as life is now, God has something better in store. So remember today and always, this life is just a glimpse of what awaits and this life is a just a fore taste of what is to come. Something sweeter is on the way.
Gospel Lesson
Matthew 11:16-24
We see here Jesus mention some of the criticism he receives. Some said He had a demon. Others said that He was a drunkard. That's a pretty broad cross section right there. The reason why folks didn't know what to make of His was because they weren't used to anyone like Him. They'd never seen someone love and serve and forgive as He did. They'd never seen a life lived out so full of grace. They'd never encountered one so full of God.
Now, of course He was the Son of God and God Himself incarnate, but He was also human. And He showed us how to live and love and forgive. And folks aren't used to that. They aren't used to lives lived out of grace. Today, may we live in such a manner, and may grace shine forth in all that we do.
Jeremiah 44:1-14
There is much to be gained by looking around. Today, the Lord tell those that are His, but not living in Israel: look. Don't you see what happened when my people departed? Do you see the destruction that came upon them? Do you see how their sin lead to their doom? Do you see what their actions caused? Don't do the same thing.
There is much that we can learn from looking at our own mistakes, and the mistakes of others. The only bad mistake is one that we don't learn from. Today, may we look within, and look around, and see the things that we can learn from. May we grow from all we've done, good and bad, and may we set a positive, not negative, example for others.
New Testament Lesson
1 Corinthians 15:30-41
Paul reminds us that this life is not permanent, and as great and glorious as it is; it is just a reflection of what is to come one day. That can give us hope in all of life. As grand and wonderful as life is now, God has something better in store. So remember today and always, this life is just a glimpse of what awaits and this life is a just a fore taste of what is to come. Something sweeter is on the way.
Gospel Lesson
Matthew 11:16-24
We see here Jesus mention some of the criticism he receives. Some said He had a demon. Others said that He was a drunkard. That's a pretty broad cross section right there. The reason why folks didn't know what to make of His was because they weren't used to anyone like Him. They'd never seen someone love and serve and forgive as He did. They'd never seen a life lived out so full of grace. They'd never encountered one so full of God.
Now, of course He was the Son of God and God Himself incarnate, but He was also human. And He showed us how to live and love and forgive. And folks aren't used to that. They aren't used to lives lived out of grace. Today, may we live in such a manner, and may grace shine forth in all that we do.
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