Isaiah 29 – 33

Sometimes when I read prophecies that are negative, I quickly get lost in the words. The meaning goes away and I just am reading each word individually and not as a whole thought. Does that ever happen to you? With that said I will try to bring logic and understanding to these chapters.

Jerusalem is under siege and although many of the people profess God, their actions speak otherwise. Verse 13 really sums up the hearts of the people in Jerusalem:

And the Lord said:
“Because this people draw near with their mouth
and honour me with their lips,
while their hearts are far from me,
and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,

How many people you know like this? How many times have you personally been like this? We tend to get things upside down like Isaiah describes in verse 16 where the “potter be regarded as the clay.” Things get quickly mixed up and suddenly what we drive or wear makes us whole and not our relationship with God.

It actually gets worse for the people of Jerusalem as they turn to the people of Egypt who were their masters. Often times we go back to what is known instead of working for something difficult. Personally, my engineering career has been like this, where I shun new technologies to remain in something known. The software world has past me by with the advent of Java and Object Oriented Design, where I still think in bits and bytes. Sometimes we need to be comfortable with change, but ensure the change is for God!

Chapter 30 verses 12 – 14 interested me:

12 Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel,
“Because you despise this word
and trust in oppression and perverseness
and rely on them,
13 therefore this iniquity shall be to you
like a breach in a high wall, bulging out, and about to collapse,
whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant;
14 and its breaking is like that of a potter’s vessel
that is smashed so ruthlessly
that among its fragments not a shard is found
with which to take fire from the hearth,
or to dip up water out of the cistern.”

This says to me pay attention and don’t drift or things we go sour!

Notice in reading Chapters 30 and 31 they both offer the people warnings about going to Egypt? Why did he repeat this twice? It may be because they were already starting down the wrong path and many times this needs more attention than just one warning. Also, thing about how this may apply today where we don’t seem to be making any progress in life or our relationship with God. Many of our finances are in ruin and we feel like a hamster running on a wheel.

Sometimes going back to something that’s easy and know is not necessarily the right thing for our lives. We lean on the final two chapters for the Lord to lean on our faith in him by asking to be gracious and help us as 33:2 states:

O LORD, be gracious to us; we wait for you.
Be our arm every morning,
our salvation in the time of trouble.

Just remember many times God has us wait not to punish us, but to allow us to dig deeper and really know Him better. I believe that is what was going on during this period, and many were not digging but retreating back to their past wicked ways. Take heart that God is there for you and often we just need to dig a hair deeper to really see what He is up to.

Job 11 – 12

Today we are looking at God in two different ways, one as a punisher and the other as all powerful. Zophar is convinced that Job is deserving of the pain as show in verses 4-6 :

4 For you say, ‘My doctrine is pure,
and I am clean in God’s eyes.’
5 But oh, that God would speak
and open his lips to you,
6 and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom!
For he is manifold in understanding.

Many times we are pure in doctrine and things suck, not because of God or Satan but because of situations. The Law is there to help smooth out life, but not make it easy. This notion that somehow God will make our lives easy and worry free if we follow Him has become wrong doctrine many teach.

Quickly look at David, there was a time he had it all and life was “easy”, but that was only when he slacked off. To get into that position of power he had to risk his life and fight a mighty warrior who was quite large. He was pursued by Saul and lived in caves before taking the helm. As leader he fought many battles and it was only until he wrongly slipped into an “easy” life that things fell apart.

I sometimes think my father has it right, still working full time at 80. He could slip into an “easy” life since he has been responsible his entire life, but feels a duty to help this nation by ensuring the Marine F-18 pilots remain sharp. I hope I can find purpose and need when I am 80. Anyway my point is maybe we are not meant to retire into the “good life” but remain in the trenches to not slip into death.

No the next chapter is Job’s view on God as a sovereign being who does as He wishes. He knows that although his life prior was nice, it’s God’s to do with as He wishes. He realizes that God is everything and controls everything as seen in verses 13 & 14:

13 “With God are wisdom and might;
he has counsel and understanding.
14 If he tears down, none can rebuild;
if he shuts a man in, none can open.

Now often what we think is God doing things to torment us, is just life. Sure God set the world and created everything. But He may be more “hands off” than we think. We live in a world that is most of the time operating as designed when it comes to nature. And the messes we create are a result of “the fall” and man’s ability to “step in it” with ease.

God has the power verses 24 & 25 show:

24 He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth
and makes them wander in a pathless waste.
25 They grope in the dark without light,
and he makes them stagger like a drunken man.

But I don’t believe He uses us as His puppets. No we just mess things up on our own! And often just get sucked into others doing wrong without God influencing the outcome. Hence where the Law comes in, if we follow it as God’s instructions and not His judging decree, we will be able to handle the storms in life easier.

Psalms 15 – 17

I love reading the Psalm’s, they are easy to understand and absorb, for the most. These three discuss our relationship with God. How we need to seek Him (15), have faith (16) and know His protection is always there (17). When you look at 15:2 & 3, one can only hope they fall into that mindset:

2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right
and speaks truth in his heart;
3 who does not slander with his tongue
and does no evil to his neighbour,
nor takes up a reproach against his friend;

No one can walk blameless in the world, but we can confess and shed the shackles of sin. Jesus died for us so this would be easy. Next we need to focus on truth and filling our hearts with that. God will set His truth on your heart, but you have to know it and be able to live it. The only way I know to do this is by reading the Bible each and every day!

The book of James goes into detail on controlling what you say and can be read along with this Psalm. Often if we just let our mouth go, we destroy things quicker than a sword! So “be slow to speak.” Doing no evil to your neighbor or friends is more easily said than done. I know more than one I have inadvertently wronged a friend. It’s easy to do and hard to unwind after the fact. So again be slow to act.

We wander into verse 16:10 and we see a prophecy of Jesus:

For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.

This is fulfilled in Mark 16:6-7. I know his may be difficult to connect the dots here, but many scholars have and we need to really dwell on this connection to see a real world prophecy example.

Now how many of us can proclaim 16:8?

I have set the LORD always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

If we set the Lord at our right hand we will not be shaken. Now it does not say life will be easy either, but whatever comes our way will not remove us from our faith in God. We need to know God is with us and with him we will never fail. We may have a season of poverty or pain, since most of the time that is just the world by design.

Take natural disasters, you cannot have the beautiful Rockies without massive earthquakes. You can’t have lush tropical islands without a volcano. Hurricanes are needed to flush out swamps and coastal regions. You add the toils and labor caused by Adam’s first sin and you get the world today with its ups and downs.

Don’t become 17:10:

They close their hearts to pity;
with their mouths they speak arrogantly.

Once you think you know it all and remove God from the equation things get mighty strange. This all gets spelled out in James and at least spoke to me clearly about one’s mouth. We need to understand we don’t know it all, and should always maintain a humble spirit. We also need compassion with a discerning spirit so we can have pity and help those truly in need. Once we know we have God and know He is with us, problems become manageable. So take to heart these Psalms, because David had the same feelings you and I do!

Judges 1 – 6

Sometimes I have “creepy” experiences when doing these studies, as with today. If you haven’t noticed I am all over the board which is a result of an active mind. For some reason as I was reading this my mind kept drifting to the hotel Bibles and how many no longer allow them. Don’t know why that was there, but the last part of the reading was the Bible’s name sake, Gideon. Thought I would share that before we continued.

This is a long reading which spans a few decades. Each section has a similar theme, Israel takes the land, leaves some of the inhabitants, they corrupt Israel, God gets mad, Israel loses the lands, they repent, God returns the lands and repeat. Chapter 1 verse 27 is the start of the problems:

Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean and its villages, or Taanach and its villages, or the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, or the inhabitants of Ibleam and its villages, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages, for the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land.

How quickly they disobey and drift. It amazes me, but at the same time we constantly see this. How many people do you know were on fire for God and then slowly start rejecting Him and worshiping gods of “name brands” and stuff? Today we don’t tend to drift between gods, we tend to allow the god of stuff take over, where “coveting” takes over God in our hearts. And science is quick to hop on quantum physics, which explains God, using it to disprove Him and create an avenue for more stuff.

The theme continues in chapter 3 verses 7 & 8:

7 And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. They forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth. 8 Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia. And the people of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years.

Othniel rises up and rescues them for 40 years until he dies, and the process keeps repeating. One would think after so many times the people would finally get it, but to this day as a whole it appears they never do. Chapter 4 gets interesting since it dispels the idea God does not want women teaching His word with Deborah. She is introduced in verse 4:

Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time.

As we continue, Deborah has Barak purse Sisera, who hides in Jael’s tent. This ends up being his end when Jael “offs” him in verse 21:

But Jael the wife of Heber took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand. Then she went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple until it went down into the ground while he was lying fast asleep from weariness. So he died.

It amazes how many men use the Bible to advance the idea women are subservient to them. Heck Deborah and Jael showed men their capabilities.

As we end out the reading we come upon Gideon, who I mentioned earlier as the name sake of the Gideon Bibles that are placed in almost every hotel room around the world. We often think of Gideon as some powerful warrior, but like David, he was meek. Chapter 6 verses 14 & 15 has God calling Gideon:

14 And the LORD turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?” 15 And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”

Interesting how God uses men like Gideon more often than ones like Samson. See when you use powerful, strong men often they will get the credit, where God tends to shine more through those that are not so powerful.

I like the story in verses 36 – 40 about the fleece. Here Gideon gets his answer the first try, but does not trust it and asks again. I would love decisions to be as easy as putting a fleece down to determine what you should do. Understand this decision was not just a big one for him, but also the nation of Israel. If he were to follow his calling and it was not from God, many thousands would die because of his misinterpretation. So don’t expect this to happen ever, unless you felt called to lead a rebellion.

I am amazed I had a though of the Gideon Bible in my head before reading this section. Things like this make me realize that this is not a complete waste of time. Recognize your nude from God and even though it may not be a wet fleece, rejoice that God said “hey!”

Genesis 20 – 23

We finish out the story of Abraham and Sarah and explore some deep understanding of their relationship with God. Chapter 20 starts with Abraham giving his wife away, claiming she is his sister. The man who took her had a dream in verse 3 which protected Sarah from being defiled:

But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.”

Fortunately for all parties he had not slept with her and awoke to quickly return her. I am sure we all would love to have a vision or something clearly point out the obstacles in life, like Abimelech got. When we complain about things and wish for this often time all we need to do is dive into the Bible. God has provided us a guide book for almost any situation! Granted it may not have specifics of your problem or be up-to-date with technology, but it does go to the root causes.

As much as it does provide us great insight and give us stories of promise, like chapter 21 when God gives Abraham and Sarah a son names Isaac in their old age. This gives us hope that many times when we feel we are “due” something or have been “promised” something, we must wait. Think about Abraham, who was 100 when Isaac was born. That is a long time to wait for a promise!

God keeps his promises even if we tend to mess them up as in verse 13 where Hagar’s son Ishmael receives the promise even though he is not God’s intended “plan”:

I will make a nation of the son of the slave woman also, because he is your offspring.

This is cool when you think about it, we can mess God’s plan up royally and He still will honor his promise.

Chapter 22 is something I always struggle with since God asks Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Think about it, you have waited 100 years to bear a son, and the one who promised him is now asking you to sacrifice him! I don’t care if God was before me with a burning bush, the only reason I would even start a journey like this is the knowledge of Abraham’s story. I would expect God to step in and therefore never intend on dropping the knife. Although that would appear to be obedience, it would not be since my heart would have no intention of completing the task.

This story foreshadows Jesus big time, but the only difference is Jesus was sacrificed! It shows the difficulty a father would have to allow his ONLY son to be sacrificed. We look at Jesus on the cross as salvation, but imagine God allowing this to happen! Would it change your decision at the altar knowing you son’s sacrifice would save the world? We should never casually accept what happened on the cross for our sake!

Romans 9 – 10

Paul is focusing on the Law and its lack of redemptive power. The Law is there to provide guidance for a healthy and prosperous life, but not to provide salvation. No one but Jesus has been able to uphold the Law, so it’s a standard no one can reach. No matter how much we show God our obedience to the Law, without faith it is worthless. Verse 32 sums up the need for faith:

Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone

Israel pursued the Law by works and not by faith and it wasn’t until Jesus opened their eyes that this became truth. People of Israel often this their birthright through Abraham is the ticket to heaven and maybe doing work in the Law will elevate their status.

Verse 21 uses the Potters analogy found in a few places in the Bible (Jeremiah 18:6 is most common reference):

Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?

We like to think God forms us into the image we want, but often time the form he makes us in is not what we necessarily want. Think about it we have to have the vessel for holding the wine for the feast or the flowers for Mother’s Day, but we rarely think of the need for a garbage can. When you think about it this way one can become depressed since we all see ourselves doing great things and being very powerful, not cleaning up after everyone else.

Chapter 10 has a great outline for salvation described in verses 8 & 9:

8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

The Law tends to muddy the waters when people explore salvation. The idea ones salvation can be lost due to sins or disobedience of the Law is far from true. The message of salvation is a simple one when you dig deep. The part that says confess with the mouth is easy to do; it’s the heart things that is hard. It’s easy to say you believe in God, it’s another to really believe it. This is where reading and study become important since the scriptures not only clarify right from wrong, but help show you God so your heart will believe.

Once you understand and believe, work to know and find God. Where salvation on the surface is easy, really knowing God is a different experience. Once you get your brain around God, work on wrapping your heart around it to ensure salvation.

Matthew 11 – 13

I am going to start with the last verse because it says so much about our world today. Here Jesus came back to his home town of Nazareth and was rejected in in verse 58:

And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief

I often wonder how much we miss as Christians in the “church” when we see someone become filled with the Holy Spirit that we knew before and reject his growth because of his past or his family. If Jesus were to come today would the church reject Him as the Pharisees rejected Him as the Messiah?

The chapters start with the Pharisees looking at John the Baptist and Jesus. They compare the two in the way they ate and drank in verses 18 & 19:

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”

Once you start pressing on the status quo, people start questioning your intentions and actions. I find it interesting that both men were flawed for exactly the opposite reasons, yet they were rejected by the ones in power. Why? Because it was “change” that they needed to believe in. Their power was being questioned and would be lost if they accepted this man from Nazareth.

Once they found Jesus a threat, the Pharisees set to find flaw in anything He was doing. Chapter 12 explores his healing on the Sabbath and the Pharisees response. Unfortunately there are only two option, being on or off the bus. This is an analogy Jim Collins used in “Good to Great” as he analyzed companies that were good and suddenly turned to great. The great companies had a common theme of kicking the bad apples off the bus and keeping the ones who were committed on. Verse 30 is Jesus’ way of saying just that:

Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

So might as well accept the teachings of Jesus and get on the bus, since it’s the right direction.

Now back to chapter 13 which is so filled with Biblical truths we could write an entire book just in this chapter. Jesus teaches so many parables in this one chapter you could read it over and over and still catch something new each time. He starts with the Parable of the Sower, which I seem to relate to the one thrown in thorns. I let my college days absorb my “morals” and lead me down a path of drinking and living for personal gratification.

I let the thorns consume my life! I let “the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word.” My Bible was lost and the next “encounter” was the goal, with drinking to consume the in-between time. It is funny how the Parable of the Lost Son comes to mind here. Even if we receive the word on rocky ground and we get eaten, this parable gives us hope of a second chance.

Now learn from one who is still picking thorns out of his skin, stay on the path Jesus has lain before you. It’s so much easier! As we see in the rest of these parables, you will find your “mustard seed” will become mighty and will be spared from being discarded. So again read with desire to know God, pray with knowledge that it’s being heard and learn to remain with God in fertile soil. So find that place and grow!

Isaiah 23 – 28

As with most of Isaiah prophecies one needs to read them multiple times to mildly get it. So don’t worry if your head is spinning after reading today’s chapters, mine is! Chapter 23 focus on the end of Tyre, a large seaport where it’s believed most of Solomon’s lumber came from. Isaiah accurately predicts the demise of the city and interestingly it’s restoration. Verses 17 & 18 expand on this time:

17 At the end of seventy years, the LORD will visit Tyre, and she will return to her wages and will prostitute herself with all the kingdoms of the world on the face of the earth. 18 Her merchandise and her wages will be holy to the LORD. It will not be stored or hoarded, but her merchandise will supply abundant food and fine clothing for those who dwell before the LORD.

It’s interesting that it will return to the same glory, but will be used for God’s purposes and not man’s. When Isaiah says “prostitute herself” does that mean the city will go back to the same ways before it was destroyed, but just it’s good be “holy to the Lord?”

Chapter 25 deals with the total annihilation of the earth. One can find some similarities between what is happening today as the population expands and we pollute the world more. Sure it’s way better in the states, but nations that now produce the stuff we consume are toxic waste lands. “The earth lies defiled under its inhabitants” are chilling words. And the next verse (6) goes into detail:

Therefore a curse devours the earth,
and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt;
therefore the inhabitants of the earth are scorched,
and few men are left.

Global Warming “experts” should grab on to this one! The Bible implies that we will pollute the earth and cause it to be scorched, and consumed of all natural resources. Isaiah was one of the first to purpose this idea that we should respect the land we live in. I wonder if he saw today. What if all the ice melted on the earth, what would happen? Estimates of a 200 to 300 foot rise … which would in no way cover the entire earth, like in the flood, but it would cause some issues. But I digress …

The next few chapters have some “gems” on our relationship with God. The first verse in the next chapter says a bunch to me personally:

O LORD, you are my God;
I will exalt you; I will praise your name,
for you have done wonderful things,
plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

How many times do we exalt God and praise His name? I do it every morning, but doing that outside my den is very rare. That is truly sad when you think about it. We should be praising God each and every chance we can, not isolating our praise to a closet every morning. How many of us can take Chapter 26 verse 9 to heart?

My soul yearns for you in the night;
my spirit within me earnestly seeks you.
For when your judgments are in the earth,
the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

Do we really yearn and seek God or do we just bask in His glory? We should not wait to learn His righteousness, but seek it always. Think about light and how you could have the most powerful spot light shine before you and if there wasn’t dust to reflect it you would never notice it. Or the radio waves that are all around us, without a tuning device we would never know they were there. It’s not that God is not with us, it’s we do not perceive His presence. Tune your body and mind to God and you will be amazed at what you find.

Read Isaiah and other prophets with an understanding that they are seeing one probable outcome, granted the most likely based on God’s knowledge of mankind. But as with Jonah’s vision about Nineveh being destroyed, that outcome changed because the people changed and repented. A scorched earth may be our future if we do not take Isaiah’s warnings to heart. Think about that for a while! What is your “Road not Taken”?

Job 9 – 10

Job is answering Bildad’s accusation that something is wrong with Job’s relationship with God. He opens with an interesting question “how can man be in the right before God?” When you ponder that one, he is absolutely right. If you talk to even the most “righteous” of the people you know about sin, you find they have many problems just like everyone else. The only real difference between then and a jailed rapist is they arrested their thoughts before they became out of control.

Job continues to talk about how great God really is in comparison to man. Verses 6 & 7 give you a view on this:

6 who shakes the earth out of its place,
and its pillars tremble;
7 who commands the sun, and it does not rise;
who seals up the stars;

When you look at everything it’s amazing that God even notices our prayers and pleas! When you look beyond this world it becomes unimaginable the total scope of God and then his love towards little ‘ole you. So when you see God work in your life it becomes even more amazing that something like that happens on a daily basis. Most of the time we just ignore what God is doing or take it for granted, like Job describes in verse 11:

Behold, he passes by me, and I see him not;
he moves on, but I do not perceive him.

The key there is our perception of God. Most often we think of God as some large old guy in the heavens that comes to earth on occasion. Therefore when we expect to see God, we expect a physical being that can touch us and talk to us. God may manifest himself to some that way, but for the most part He has many different forms and planes of existence that we need to expand our view before we can really experience God.

The remainder of reading in chapter 10 is Job lamenting his existence. Sure like can suck and, like Job, we wish we had never been born. But more often than not, these periods are very short in the grand scheme of things. Sure sometimes we cannot control our problems or ever hope for a change, as with paralyzed people. Yes we can read stories in the Bible and have the hope of Jesus healing us and making us whole, but rarely does this happen. We must learn to accept the frailties of the body and hope for healing, but never once blame God if healing never comes.

We must live for God and realize God is not doing things to punish us, but this is just the way the world is designed. We could not have the beautiful seas if not for the storms. We could not have the “purple mountains majesty” without the earthquakes. The mountain lakes would not exist without the rains or the tropical islands without volcanoes. We are not superman, our bodies are very limited. So accept the problems of life more as design and not punishment from God, much like Job. Just don’t get so down in the dumps you wish you had never been born! You have a purpose that God created you for, learn to live it!

Psalm 12 – 14

David often touches on matters that apply to our world today. Each Psalm addresses some major issue we are having either personally or corporately as a nation. Psalm 12 is concerned all the faithful are gone. David showed the concern in verse 2:

Everyone utters lies to his neighbour;
with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.

As with today when David said this I am sure it was an exaggeration since the faith would have died if David was the “only” one left. I assume it was an overwhelming majority who had drifted from God’s ways and not “everyone.” Even though this may be a stretch the words ring out to us:

8 On every side the wicked prowl,
as vileness is exalted among the children of man.

Where we may not be alone, we sure feel isolated. Today in the name of “freedom of religion” our faith is being stifled. No longer is Christianity being allowed “freedom” due to an over correction in the definition and leaning. As we see this is a “normal” cycle, but we still don’t have to agree, just remain faithful.

Chapter 13 gets into something I deal with constantly and that is God’s silence. Verse 1 opens with the questions:

How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?

How many times do you feel that way? I mean God is “omnipresent” yet many times we cannot see His work in our lives. Often it may be years after when we are connecting the dots that He appears. But one thing you need to be clear on, God is never away from you or forgets you. It only seems that way when we need to shift our focus or dig a little deeper.

Often this dovetails into chapter 14 where when it appears God is silent in our lives we conclude there must not be a God. Verse 1 again starts this pondering out:

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds,
there is none who does good.

We often are considered fools for believing in God, since science has “proven” this is just a random existence and we will cease to exist when we die. At the same time conservation of energy proves to me the spirit does not die, since the tremendous amount of energy required to drive this body is not there when we die. Why? It is because our spirit, or that energy, leaves the body to exist in the spiritual realm. We need to understand that for hundreds of years science has tried to explain away God and all that they end up doing is proving His existence or providing enough doubt to cause people to flee Him. Use science to understand God, not to dismiss Him!

Joshua 21 – 24

These last few chapters are Joshua’s “Swan Song” to the people of Israel. Imagine if you were at your end, what you would want everyone to know. Keep in mind, Joshua had a very close relationship with God and knew His heart. Chapter 22 verse 5 sums up what Joshua wants us all to know concerning our relationship with God:

“Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

I know Jesus supposedly broke this covenant, but in reality freedom from it does not mean we ignore it. I think Joshua’s wording is key here when he says “observe” and not “obey”. I think the “freedom” Jesus offered us was more the legalistic binding the Pharisees’ had made and not our obligation to honor it.

See this subject is one that can be debated without resolve. The Law was there to show us we cannot live to God’s desires, but it’s not for us to now ignore. Sure there are some parts dealing with sacrifice that Jesus did end at the cross, but most of these commandments still should be honored. Again not legalistically, but for our “own good”!

Chapter 24 verse 14 and 15 ask the key question in all our lives:

14 “Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Then the gods were idols, parts of God and people who exalted themselves to god like existence, yet all fell short of the one true God. Today we don’t worship gods similar to those then, not our god’s have names like Porsche, Versace, Armani, and Louis Vuitton to name a few. Our gods are no longer there to explain the unknown, but to fill the desires of our hearts. Sure having a Porsche doesn’t mean you worship one, but they represent the allure of making money and stuff our god.

Jesus warned us you cannot serve God AND money, you need to choose. Now He did not say you cannot HAVE money, but just don’t make it your god. Today we don’t need a god of thunder or a god of the oceans, since we know how weather and lunar events cause tides or how water particles rising cause static electricity that result in large discharges. No we now live with the knowledge of science to explain the how’s of natural phenomena, but many times not the reason why. Today we get sucked into a world of stuff and things that Joshua saw thousands of years before! So listen and learn before it’s too late!

Genesis 16 – 19

These chapters are some that people often hold up as the inconsistencies of God’s word. First, Sarai offers Abram her servant to father the child God promised. The Lot offers his virgin daughters to the crowd to protect his guests. Then these same girls get pregnant by making Lot drunk and sleeping with him. This becomes far too odd for most people to casually read and understand. I have read it multiple times and still have difficulty with what’s going on here.

First the child born to Sarai’s servant Hagar name Ishmael and he will be “a wild donkey of a man.” Often we see building being blown up in the “name of Allah” assume this is the bloodline of Ishmael. Although it’s difficult to verify Mohammed appears to be a descendent of Ishmael and therefore the promise God made in verse 10 is true.

Next we have God restating the promise to Abraham and Sarah, along with changing their names, that they will have a son. This time laughter ensues from both of them, since both were past 90 and Abraham would be 100 when the child was born. I could not imagine having another child at 50, so could imagine what Abraham is feeling.

Chapter 19 verse 14 offers the ultimate question about God:

Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.”

This is so profound when you really think about it and is often the core of our faith journey. The question I often ask is “if God is so great and powerful they why does He not show himself and do this?” “This” may be a myriad of things like parting the Red Sea again to getting me the winning lottery numbers. God has already done this for the people with negative results. He parted the Red Sea and within a short period the people had abandoned God for a golden calf. So the old “been there, done that” comes into play.

Also, I believe God is finding our love for Him becomes greater when we have to find him and not having His glory poured out before us. Don’t get me wrong miracles happen each and every day, but often get ignored or explained away. I am sure if the Chattahoochee parted for a live CNN broadcast someone would discredit God and “explain away” His existence. No we need to search God out, which often appears difficult, but being “omnipresent” He never leaves our side! It more we turn off the “God radar” and ignore those little signs.

Where is your faith? Do you believe God did all these things written in this book or is this just a bunch of fairy tales strung together with one common theme all pointing to Jesus that just randomly was put together? Or is this the Holy Word of God and it’s all true from cover to cover? Did Moses get creation right or did he explain it the best he could with the knowledge he had? Was this written so everyone could understand and therefore some “poetic license” was taken in many aspects, so to simplify? Your call!

Romans 7 – 8

The first “headline” I reach in this chapter is “Released From The Law.” As you know I take a different angle to the Law than the traditional view. Verse 6 is very clear on how we are released from the law:

But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.

I believe the Law was always there as a guide to the most fruitful life we can have on this earth. There are many true sins spelled out there, but for the most part it’s more guides to our lives. I always point to the food laws in this example, since I believe it was never a sin to eat pork but rather not the best food to consume for a healthy body. Read Jordan Rubin’s “The Makers Diet” for a more in depth discussion on the food laws and health.

Paul knows the struggles we all go through and notes 18 & 19:

18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.

I know many use this as an excuse for their wrongful acts which are abhorrent to God. Paul realizes this and makes it know in verse 25 that although we cannot do it on our own, Jesus is there in spirit so we can serve God and not ourselves.

Chapter 8 is one of those you should mark and go back to often, for reminders and refreshing of one’s spirit. Verse 5 separated out the way to think in God:

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

I know it’s crude but a saying I heard as a young man made an impression on me, basically “don’t let your d&*k run your life!” For men that is probably the most dangerous aspect to failing in God’s eyes. How many have fallen from grace because of “the flesh” to commit adultery, rape, incest and other awful acts? The “three second rule” comes into play where you have three seconds to turn, before lust grabs hold. Don’t make it an option to even look at the opposite with a lustful eye, it’s everywhere but you have three seconds to turn away … so do it!

Paul spells out our real relationship with God in verse 15:

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

This is a myth that Paul is dispelling that we are not free with a life in Christ. I know to the outside Christianity seems bleak and boring. I mean you can’t party or have sex, so who would want to join that group? When it’s not saying that at all! We live a life that is full, without indulging in the excesses. Christians can drink, it’s not a sin, but becoming a drunkard is. Christians can have sex, just not with everything that moves but your loving wife. In the time of Paul getting drunk only harmed you, but now with 2 tons of metal that can travel at high speeds, that excess become fatal for others. If you cannot control your urge to have sex, there are now diseases that are fatal for you. God is not saying don’t enjoy, just don’t enjoy in excess.

Now verse 28 is one of the most peached upon in Romans, I mean who does not want to know that “all things” will be “good”! I immediately turn to a college buddy whose son is in a wheelchair and cry out this being wrong. But it does not say things will be easy and fruitful, but all thing work for the glory of God and not you. Many times it takes decades to figure this stuff out, but we must live and accept life’s tumbles. I end with verses 31 & 32 for you to dwell on:

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Awesome!

Matthew 8 – 10

If you are intimated on reading the Bible, start with this book and James. Both read very quick and each chapter is packed with tons of information. I have heard each “segment” of these chapters preached in a sermon, so I will gloss over some deep meaning that you really need to go back and dwell upon yourself.

As I read though healing and miraculous signs Jesus calms the seas in chapter 8 verses 25 & 26:

25 And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” 26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

How many times have you woken the Lord and said “we are perishing?” I seem to do it weekly, yet never seem to be able to justify the drama I present. Oh my financial home is crumbling, but I have a job and a house to live it. So sometime we need to change perspective. In this instance they were caught in a squall nowhere near shore, they were in a perilous situation and even then Jesus calmed in in an instant.

Another thing I took from this is how Jesus calmed a natural threat, yet my financial woes are all self-inflicted. So many times we ask for God to calm our troubled waters and nothing happens. I know I often lose faith yet I really need to come to terms with not always being bailed out of situations I cause on my own. See the disciples were caught in a mess out of their control, most of the times we are not and expect Jesus to calm out “seas.”

I like the way Jesus sends out his disciples in chapter 10 verse 15:

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”

We must be mindful of the world and how dangerous it really is. Today we don’t have to fear being flogged or put in jail when we profess Christ, yet we do need to be wary of other forms of bondage. I can think of two which grip many I know, alcohol and pornography. As professing Christians the dark side really wants us to fail. The idea that physical destruction would discourage the faithful actually ended up strengthening them. But if one could creep in and destroy the faith through hypocrisy, then many would fall away.

So when you go into this world don’t think of these “distractions” as benign, but as evil ready to destroy your world. Jesus acknowledges his word will cause conflict and in verse 34 says we should not be lap dogs and just accept this:

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

In no way is this suggesting an offensive posture for conquest, but a defensive posture for protection. What is his offering is opposed by many and will be attacked on all ends; it’s our duty to defend our faith. We do not need to roll over and be docile when attacked. The eventual place is one of peace, but we are not going to get their frolicking through fields of daisies. Not it’s going to be an uphill struggle and the enemy will cast many distractions at you. Turning the other cheek is fine sometimes, but others need to be struck down before real damage is done. Know when the sword is needed and fear not using it!

Isaiah 18 – 22

As I read through these chapters I see a bunch of prophetic visions concerning various nations of Isaiah’s time. Most are gone with little trace, but chapter 19 describes Egypt which remains, granted much different from the times of Pharaoh. Also, Jerusalem is described here also, which still remains in turmoil.

There is very little in that really caught my eye until reading the footnotes of the study Bible. Chapter 22 verses 1 & 2 really had a profound impact:

1 The oracle concerning the valley of vision.

What do you mean that you have gone up,
all of you, to the housetops,
2 you who are full of shoutings,
tumultuous city, exultant town?
Your slain are not slain with the sword
or dead in battle.

Isaiah is asking why these sinful people are partying and not repenting for their transgressions. Hear people are just ignoring God and living for the moment, which is the party.

How many times do we do this today? Many take this to an extreme and move the party to themselves, ignoring their issues. Sure it’s easier to drink your worries away than to actually deal with them, but I have found it’s often easier dealing with issues head on than washing them away in a bottle.

Notice the very last line of these verses? They do not get the luxury of dying quickly in an invasion. Their death will be a worse kind, either through famine, plague or self-destruction. As with the revelers, who numb their bodies to the destruction of excessive drinking until things start to fail and they die.

I take this as a warning today that we need to really adjust our direction and focus away from the temporal things. Our desire for stuff has overridden sound fiscal judgment, leaving us on a road to ruin. Can we correct in time? Time will tell but I can personally say that once I determined paying off debt is more important than enjoying life or debt is coming down! So turn the God and live by HIS principles.

Job 7 – 8

We find Job lamenting how he has lost hope and just wishes to fade away. I read this and can’t imagine how someone could get into this state of despair. Although I can’t imagine being in the place Job is where everything, including his health, was stripped from him. Verses 2 and 3 give us a glimpse into what he is thinking:

2 Like a slave who longs for the shadow, and like a hired hand who looks for his wages,
3 so I am allotted months of emptiness,
and nights of misery are apportioned to me.

Job is searching for God and desiring his comfort, yet because of Satan God is in the shadows. God is never so far away that we cannot call on him for comfort; unfortunately His comfort may not be the same as what we desire. Job is one of the more difficult books to read since it goes far beyond what any of us could imagine. And again it’s difficult to understand why God allowed this to happen in the first place. Did the devil get the best of him in this instance? Or did He allow this for our example of real endurance?

I got to verses 13 & 15 which rattled my cage:

13 When I say, ‘My bed will comfort me,
my couch will ease my complaint’,
14 then you scare me with dreams
and terrify me with visions,
15 so that I would choose strangling
and death rather than my bones.

This has hit home for me in recent months since we have met a person with true night terrors. What would be a comforting mid-day nap for you and I, become a living hell for them. More than once I have heard them wake for a nap with blood curdling screams. The root cause is too horrific to even imagine, but the words become truth in this person’s life. They are living Job’s life on earth today and I know it’s not God releasing their life, but more the sins of others impacting their relationship with God.

I am glad they don’t have friends like Bildad to comfort them. He immediately starts hammering on Job that God only punishes for sins and afflictions like these are the result of transgressions. Granted Satan is a direct cause of these pains for Job, many still believe God punishes us for our sins. Elbert Hubbard said it in a nutshell, “men are not punished for their sins, but by them.” Sin has consequences; we cannot expect to be expunged from this by God’s grace. No we have to live in the mess we make.

Bildad’s view on our relationship with God is more like God is waiting to whip our butts for the slightest wrong. Many take the view that although God is in control of the world, He allows it to just kind of happen without much intervention. On the grand scheme of things, we are just a flash of light with little significance. Verse 9 expounds on this:

9 For we are but of yesterday and know nothing,
for our days on earth are a shadow.

For those who have read Macbeth and other Shakespeare plays you see a common theme where he points out life is full of melodrama and production, but really signifies nothing. This is the eternal question then, are you living for things that will rust (Matt 6:19) or are you helping others with their eternal salvation? So as the saying goes, “when life throws you lemons make lemonade.” Job is not making lemonade, but at least is not blaming God for his afflictions.

Psalms 9 – 11

The reading starts off with a major point in verses 1 & 2:

1 I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart;
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
2 I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

Give thanks first! I know I forget this so often and get wrapped into living in the muck and mire of life. It is amazing how so many of us are in misery, yet we most seem to have roofs over our heads and basic necessities of life.

My complaints and glum outlook stem from my managing money and personal health. Yet I rarely thank God for a lovely wife of 22 years, two awesome children, a nice home, a job and more things to be thankful for than I can think of right now. My outlook stems from personal woes of poor financial decisions and just not doing anything for my health. If I would simply follow God’s outline in the “Law” for money management and eating, my complaints would be limited.

The key in prayer is to create “structure” so you don’t forget certain things, like giving thanks and confession of sin. I know a “formula” for prayer often leads to a heartless rambling to God, but often when I “free form” my prayers they get egocentric and miss the mark. So don’t forget to give thanks for things in your life, including trials which will eventually give you insight and strength.

Now chapters 10 & 11 could apply to today as they did 3500 years ago. Verses 1 – 3 eerily seem written for today:

1 Why, O LORD, do you stand far away?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
2 In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor;
let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised.
3 For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul,
and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the LORD.

Many times we go through life and wonder where God is in the midst. We forget that God is omnipresent and therefore is always by our sides. We often miss noticing God when things are messy and we get wrapped up in life. Often it’s not until months after that we see God never left our side, but was gently guiding us. It is just like learning to swim, we will never learn if God keeps propping us up. Sometimes we need to go underwater and panic before we really figure it out. God loves to be a part of our lives, but as an observer and not a crutch.

The last verse of this reading hits the nail on the head:

7 For the LORD is righteous;
he loves righteous deeds;
the upright shall behold his face.

We need to pursue God and seek his favor, not just expect it to be given. Sure salvation is a gift, that has no strings attached and works will not get you into heaven, but we should be actively pursuing a relationship with God and therefore wanting to do his work. Don’t just rest on the laurels of God’s salvation, try to please him daily.

Joshua 16 – 20

There are historical implications to these chapters as far as how the lands were divided between the tribes of Israel. It’s interesting how some maps show Philistia in the southern coastal region, yet others do not. If you go back to chapter 15 and analyze the scripture you notice that the lands go to the sea, which implies the maps showing Philistia are to justify Palestine today, since they occupy the same general area. These maps give you an visual to the words in these chapters and provide some reference.

One thing you notice as you read these chapters is that the people are reluctant to take their lands. Think about it, they have been nomads for 40 plus years and this will require them to settle, so although a better situation it shows unwillingness for change. How many of us can remember a time when something cool was just before us, but it required hard work and therefore added to our reluctance to proceed? Chapter 18 verse 3 Joshua asks the question:

So Joshua said to the people of Israel, “How long will you put off going in to take possession of the land, which the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?”

How long do we “put off” things we need to do? It is call procrastination and I am guilty as these people for not doing things I need to. Sure in some cases we need to prepare financially or physically, but for the most part for whatever reason we avoid change. Many times we “lock up” because we are overwhelmed at the task before us.

I can think of moving the shop, it all went into the basement. This is fine, but shortly after we moved from the house with the intention of selling stuff off. We have racks of items that we need to sell, I even have a potential buyer for some of it, but I do nothing to forward that progress. So I sit on a bunch of junk that I know is losing value each day

Taxes are another hurdle that I had to deal with. For years we delayed doing our taxes, fortunately nothing was owed, but we were getting money back. It wasn’t until 2009 I got caught up and then immediately got behind again only to get fully caught up this year! The last of the returns went out and I am 100% done with filing. My problem was I would create micro-jobs that would become huge in total since I was delaying each one. Once they got huge I shut down on doing them, just like the people of Israel before the Promised Lands.

Sometimes we all need a “Joshua” to ask “how long will you put off” (blank)! I know I do more often than I care to admit. Procrastination is a disease in every one of us that not only kills our opportunities but dampens our relationship with God. How many times have you said I should read my Bible all the way through? I pray my sharing these ideas each day inspires you to pick up this book and read it often and with purpose. This is the best collection of writings that give us a glimpse into the spirit and being of God, so we should not procrastinate! Dive in and read your Bible!

Genesis 12-15

We discover the foundation of Abraham in these chapters starting in verse 2 with God’s promise to Abram:

And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.

Imagine having that promise from God! And then imagine having to wait like Abram did! I know my patience is lacking when it comes to waiting. It’s been four years since we decided to tackle our debt. There have been many things that have “upset the apple cart” over this time and we are still struggling to undo the mess. Granted it’s way better, but I just want it done and presently am looking at another 4 to 6 years before things get better. So I can only imagine what Abram is thinking during the decades he was delayed.

I often wonder if the delay was not from disobedience during this period. Verse 13 he tells his wife Sari to claim she was his sister so he would not be killed. Did that cause a delay or not? I often look at his life and wonder if God was using him as an example for patience or if it was an example of not doing thing your way. Either way as we will see Abram had to wait a very long time for a son.

You will notice God keeps reassuring Abram throughout the chapters as with 13:16:

I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted.

I often wish God would present my promise before me so clearly. I often think it’s my “destiny” to restore the family “fortune” but at the same time one could argue that’s just me wanting to be “rich!” How many of us would like their future spelled out for them, so it was not only clear but very bright? Although Abram had to wait and often messed things up trying to force the issue, as we will see the promise remained true.

This ties into the promise of eternal life with Jesus. This promise is spelled out clearly in the New Testament and is there for our future. I knew this at 12 yet throughout my life I drifted similar to Abram, yet Abram did things to protect himself I was more destructive to myself and my relationship to God. Abram never lost faith and kept moving forward with great anticipation. I can only say learn from Abram and not follow your ideas of protection, but remain steadfast to God’s. The promise is clear and all we have to do is have faith.

Romans 5 – 6

“Therefore since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” What a great start to the reading this morning! I mean think about it, you have faith that this guy who walked the earth some 2000 years ago is the son of God and represents the redemptive sacrifice for all our sins. Today people continue to try to debunk this story without success. So faith by people who have seen and heard firsthand accounts of Jesus is much easier than today. But once you experience the love God fills in you when you accept this story, there is no denying it.

Verse 3-5 touch on the suffering of Christians:

3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

During the time Paul was writing this, Christians were being jailed, tortured and even killed for their beliefs. While that happens in a few places around the world, for the most part our “suffering” is the occasional ridicule from non-believing friends. My friend David often posts some comment when I “Facebook” pictures from church like “drinking the Kool-Aid.” (search the Johnstown massacre for the reference, it’s awful) But I have never been jailed, beaten or for that matter know of anyone who has endured any suffering for Christ like this.

Sure we suffer in life, but I believe our aches, pains, illnesses, financial difficulties and the sort are all just a result of life in a non-perfect world. Sure God may use our calamities for His glory, but the suffering here, I believe, is Paul talking about more direct suffering from our faith than life. We may apply it to other suffering, but in all honesty most of my suffering has been at my own hand! All my financial ills were compounded by the economy, but if I had followed God’s basic financial principles turns in the economic landscape would have a less dramatic effect. My aches and pains are all results of something I did wrong, from not tuning my suspension, to running the wrong “ratios”, to going into a corner too “hot”. Non has been because of my faith in Jesus, but all have strengthen my faith.

Chapter 6 starts with a great question and answer:

1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

This is something I struggled with for 10 years before starting our family. My approach during those times was I could sin since grace abounds. Jesus died for ALL my sins therefore it didn’t matter what I did not under that umbrella of salvation. Verse 15 answered my assertion:

What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!

I wish this would have sunk at 18 like I has at 50! Just because we are given the “E-Ticket” to heaven, doesn’t justify us being hell on earth. No Paul is clear that our salvation should have us desiring to do the right thing, not allowing us to do wrong. I had a gnawing desire to do the right thing throughout my life which eventually took control when mama’s was pregnant with Vern. We started to terminate the pregnancy, but changed our minds at the last second and decided to defy logic of the time and start a family.

Paul ends in verse 23 with:

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

When you think about that it’s amazing. See we enter this world destine to die from our sins, that was forced upon us from Adam. Yet God sent Jesus as the perfect sacrifice for everyone’s sin, the only thing we must do is accept Jesus in our hearts, believe He is who he said and confess our sins by symbolically placing our hands on Jesus’ head and transferring our sins. (You need to go to the OT and look at how sin was transferred to the lamb to really understand this reference, Lev 1:4). So where we are burdened by sin at birth, our accepting the gift releases us. All we have to do is act!

Matthew 5 – 7

The reading today is one of those that you could clip the entire section and use it to discuss God. Jesus does his “sermon on the mount” and immediately starts with the “beatitudes.” For the “churched” this is a word we all understand, but it’s not something that most know. In a nutshell verse 3 – 11 start with “blessed are” and go into detail on an attribute God wants from us. Most think it’s a “B”-attitude since each verse starts with the letter B, but in actuality it is based on the Latin adjective beatus which means happy, fortunate, or blissful.

We could go on for hours on what each of these means and how we should apply them to our lives, but suffice that you should read them often and dwell on each and every one. As you move through chapter 5 we are asked to be “the salt of the earth” and we “are the light of the world.” Although seemingly simple these are difficult to actually do when you really think about it. We are to provide flavor to life and shine God through our actions. How many people have you seen professing Christ Sunday morning, yet living a dark life Sunday afternoon? Profess Jesus one day and then do shady business dealings the next. Hypocrisy is something Jesus want’s rooted from the church, so when we flavor and shine our light, there is no question on its source!

One of my favorite subjects is covered in verse 17 and 18:

17 (Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

Some argue that Jesus fulfills the law on the cross and therefore the Law does not apply. I argue it on different terms, the Law will always apply to this world as it has before Christ, the difference is how we should view its edicts. See the Law is impossible to follow, as we saw with Israel, but it is there more as a guide than restrictions. The Jewish people got in trouble because they became legalistic about the Law. The Law is “fulfilled” when Jesus returns and not at His death, so technically it still applies. But again most is not a set of legalistic rules, but a guide to live a full and satisfying life.

Chapter 6 goes into the Lord’s Prayer, which is a model on how to pray. Before presenting the prayer, Jesus gives us “shy” people an out to pubic prayer by saying it should be done in private where no one else but you are God are involved! When you dig into the prayer we ask for forgiveness, but like we forgive others! Verse 14 and 15 expand on this:

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Oh how this tosses a monkey wrench into things! God will forgive us, but we get to set the standard on how it will happen. If we expect loving and pure forgiveness, we should do the same to others that have wronged us. Greg, from MSU, is an example I cannot fathom to understand, his son was murdered and after the trial he has forgiven the young man who killed his son. I can see by his actions with the killer’s family this was truly done, since he still visits him in jail and works with the family often. Could YOU do that? You know the answer deep in your heart!!

Much of 6 and 7 dive into outward versus inward sins, since many times the internal ones are far worse. I think Jesus focuses on these since many times we can outwardly look pure as the wind driven snow, yet if we let dark thought invade our being quickly a layer of soot will tarnish that snow. Where the mind goes the body eventually follows and this is no more highlighted than in a crash. More than once I have been racing and will have an accident happen in front only to get caught up in it because my focus left the racing line and was directed at the melee before me.

One time I remember the esses at Sears Point, the guy in front hit the ground and slid off the track. No biggie in most cases, except it was the “esses” which meant he exploded the hay bales off the track and ricocheted back into the racing line. Somehow my focus remained on the track, not the accident, and I somehow split the rider and the bike at 100mph! This highlights why Jesus is warning us about “mental attitude” sins, our bodies will eventually follow if we allow them to fester.

This is one of those sections where most of the words are in “red” (depending on your Bible) and should be read over and over. I can tell you how many times I read this sermon and have heard it preached, yet still I am amazed every time I read it. I pray you have the same experience I do reading the words of Jesus. Technically, whereas most of the Bible is “inspired” by God, Exodus 20 and the words in “red” are God’s talking directly to us! So read, learn and apply!!

Isaiah 12 – 17

Some mornings you get started on the wrong foot, with missing energy drinks, no organic honey for the coffee, coffee which was not working right and a dog that runs in the house and pees all over the place, including our bed! With all this swirling around in my head, I am trying to digest one of the more difficult groups of chapters in the Bible. So excuse me if this does not flow real well.

Chapter 12 opens with verse 1 and 2:

1 You[will say in that day: “I will give thanks to you, O LORD, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me. 2 “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation..”

Yep this is an awesome first way to start this particular morning. Think about what he is saying here. God is it no matter how your relationship with Him is; our main action is to trust Him. If we trust that whatever comes “down the pike” is something He will help us handle, life becomes much more manageable mentally.

The chapter finishes out praising God for everything. Verse 6 is clear that we should “shout and sing for joy” for we are in the midst of “the Holy One of Israel.” How else should we respond? I know me personally I start of almost all my prayers like I did this morning’s thought with a “woe is me” rant, yet God has been faithful and just my entire life. I see a beautiful sunrise out my window and can’t see it because the honey is not in the right place. Sometimes we all need a chapter like this to focus our perspective, like on a positive note; we were not awakened by blood curdling screams! Progress is being made on that end.

As I read the rest of these chapters it becomes an apocalyptic mess for nations and apparently the world. As I read these chapters one thing I notice is the great nation of Babylon, or Assyria, or Philistia, or Moab, or Damascus all no longer exist. We can see traces, but for the most part Isaiah’s prophecies all came true. How many ancient reading accurately predict the fall and complete obliteration of a nation that come true. I guess if you were to “prophesize” any great nation will fall, that will eventually come true. It would be interesting to see how many actually fell exactly the way Isaiah predicted.

Verse 14 gives Israel hope at all times that they will return to their lands. In verse 1 Isaiah said:

For the LORD will have compassion on Jacob and will again choose Israel, and will set them in their own land, and sojourners will join them and will attach themselves to the house of Jacob

After Christ what does this mean for us? Do Gentiles who convert have a claim to these lands? If not do we have “claim” to any lands? More deep though that I am not prepared for this morning. Now high ho, high ho!!

Job 5 – 6

These two chapters are Eliphaz finishing out his contention that God does not punish the innocent and then Job’s response. This book is difficult to follow and hard to stomach since God essentially allows Satan to ruin Job’s life just to prove a point. I have little problem with him allowing Satan to kill of his livestock, fields, livelihood and inflicting him with pain, but I still have a difficult time with killing off his children. I don’t know if I personally could not get upset a God for that.

No matter what the circumstances, Job remains steadfast faithful to God. When you really think about life today and look at how this world works, all this could happen without Satan’s or God’s influence. Eliphaz contends that God will correct the wicked as in verse 13:

He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.

I often think that God is not as dynamic in the world as we like to think. I believe when you stray from the law there are natural consequences that cannot be ignored. If you eat the wrong things or too much, you get fat. If you spend more than you make and do not save, life is always difficult making ends meet. If you do not honor God and worship Him, you don’t get His helping hand when really needed. No this world is a world of cause and effect where actions have direct reactions.

Eliphaz takes the “religious” view that God is making things perfect for the good and not for the evil. Look at the banking dilemma today, so far the bankers have hosed the nation and are still living large. Sure the people who signed the toxic loans should not have done so, but the banks had no right packaging these toxic debts and misrepresenting them to investors. I am sure if they were “responsible” for their loans most of them would never have been made in the first place. I digress into a rant against our current woes where good people are being hurt while the evil people are making huge gains.

Job realizes that life happens, both good and bad, and we must roll with it. We should not forsake God for the bad and thank Him for the good. Job complains about his problems, but does not blame God. Chapter 6, verse 10 highlights this:

This would be my comfort; I would even exult in pain unsparing, for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

Can you do what Job is here? We need to use Job as an example and praise God all the time, not just when the good times are rolling. As my debt keeps me throttled, I try to live honoring God first. Sure it’s not gotten any easier, but it’s not God’s fault. I just doubled down and lost, now I am paying for it today. Honoring God is helping me correct the spiral and pay off the debt so I can live free in the future. If you can learn from me and don’t drift past doing the same thing I did.

I want to highlight one key point Job makes in verse 14:

He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

How easy this may seem, but how difficult it really is to actually do. We need to reach out to others in kindness, not only to help but to really show God’s love. We forsake others, it’s like disowning God. We need to ensure we keep out of our natural self-centered view on the world and follow Jesus’ example of self-sacrifice. It may not improve life immediately for you, but the lasting glory is unimaginable!

Psalms 6 – 8

These three Psalms work well together since they deal with one’s relationship with God. Psalm 6 focuses on asking the Lord for deliverance, while 7 asks for refuge. Psalm 8 declares the glory of God. These are some of the main components used when connecting with God via prayer. But connecting is simple when you start with the glory of God and honoring him, then focusing on the inner you, then others around you and finally the community as a whole.

Psalm 6 starts with a common request from me to God; “rebuke me not in your anger nor discipline me in your wrath.” I wish I would have followed that advice when raising my children. Often my anger would take over and consume my corrective action and I would over react. I use to believe I had this in “check” for years, but it came out a few weeks ago.

We were taking a 4 year old that spent the week with us back home to Ohio. During the trip she had a meltdown, and demon possession was bantered about. I remained calm until Katy and her mom went to the bathroom at a stop. She was running around out of control in a parking lot where I had to grab her so she would not get hit. When I sat her down I was in control, until she threw grass in my face and spit in it too boot. I went from calm to out of control in rage. You would never have noticed if you were watching me, but mentally I lost it. So when I pray this it’s from my perspective of “anger” and “wrath.”

Psalm 7 verses 4 & 5 hit me because David is asking for justice, from those HE wronged:

4 if I have repaid my friend with evil or plundered my enemy without cause, 5 let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it, and let him trample my life to the ground and lay my glory in the dust.

That is something that I find hard, it’s bad enough when you get a spanking from a loving God or even a parent. But when someone who does not have that loving bond seeks justice, all bets are off. I would have a difficult time asking this since who knows what would happen, but at the same time we need to ask forgiveness! That’s part of paying the price for doing wrongs. We cannot expect everyone that wronged us to suffer while our wrongs get forgiven by a loving God. We must ask forgiveness and forgive! “Forgive us our trespasses and we forgive others.” The Lord’s prayer says it all, we must expect forgiveness as we forgive others, yet it’s not saying hide your from your wrongs.

Finally the majesty of God is explored in Psalm 8 by immediately acknowledging “how majestic is your name in all the earth!” I wish that were the case today but unfortunately science has effectively dismissed any God. “Brilliant” minds like Stephen Hawking’s complete dismiss God because we are just random and die. So while God is accepted by most, a growing discontent has decided that there is NO God. Before people would worship attributes of God and bundle them into different gods or try to create idols to explain God’s creation. Now science attempts to debunk all that into a “logical” explanation of what happened and how things are created.

Verse 9 ends the reading with the following:

9 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You can’t make that true in the lives of others, but you can in your own. So make sure in your prayers you honor God and thank him often!

Joshua 11 – 15

During this period Joshua continues his taking of the promised lands and has learned his lesson about obeying God. God says do this and Joshua does; simple and outright obedience to the father. As we saw previously, once Joshua goes outside the will of God, things disintegrate quickly. That alone is a book in and of itself about life and obedience to the will of God. But let’s just suffice that there are boundaries God gives us for life and once we leave them things quickly go awry.

This has great impact on your life and lives of others around you. I think about my fathering before reconnecting with Christ and how the spanking was the only form of discipline. I wish I could reverse those years and help guide my children differently, but I pray that those scars heal and help develop character. As much guilt as I have for that, I feel sorry for what others have been through. This morning screams of terror rock my office as a friend relives the horror of their past in a dream. I do not wish to imagine what cause this, but pray the damage heals and life can go on.

As we continue the through the chapters there are many interesting stories on how the land is allocated to the various tribes of Israel. We get to see where many of the names come from as far as people and places. Pisgah gap is one of those names I always thought was Cherokee but discovered in this chapter is from the Promised Land. It is cool when you see how much of our nation and how many people are named from the Bible.

Now getting up there in years I have become acutely aware of the age of these men, I mean Noah living to 950 years!! Chapter 14 verses 10 and 11 gives Joshua’s age and condition:

10 And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, just as he said, these forty-five years since the time that the LORD spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old. 11 I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming.

I know at 50 I keep thinking that, but the 20% more me is a constant reminder that this is not so. I read this and wondered if it was true or if it is Joshua’s disillusionment about his actual condition. I wonder if this world has changed of our bodies have changed to much shorten our lives. As life spans increase and we discover ways to cure sick bodies it is still difficult to imagine a strapping 85 year old, much less a 950 year old.

If you get an opportunity look at how the lands were divided, it’s interesting when compared to a modern day map of Israel. It is very similar and I assume the 1948 UN Resolution used much of this historical information to determine the boundaries to return to Israel. This has been a constant state of contention since where terrorism and wars have been battled since all for this small 10,000 square mile chunk of the earth God promised Abraham. It was taken by force and has been defended ever since. The land has been conquered and occupied by many over the thousands of years since. Judaism, Christianity and Islam place Jerusalem as their hub. This history is real interesting when you look at how it still effects the lands today.

Genesis 8 – 11

These chapters explains what happened after the flood, which was just waiting for the water to subside and dry up, to the tower of Babel. Honestly, much of the reading is very dry and two chapters are almost dedicated to genealogy of Noah. But I did find a few things that caught my attention in the reading. After hitting dry ground and immediately doing an offering for God, Chapter 8 verse 21 assures us this will never happen again:

And when the LORD smelt the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.

The only thing that bothers me about this story is why in the first place did God do this? Was it to ensure a lesion for future mankind or did he truly get P.O.’ed at man and blow his top? I can remember a turning point of my anger. I was in 5th grade and lashed out at my friend Mike Lanning. He did something to tick me off and I grabbed the first thing I could find and hit him. It happened to be a long piece of electrical cable which left a huge welt on him. After that I stopped fighting because I saw the result of anger and what it did to other.

We always say God is the same and never changes, but did he actually change in this period? Did he “evolve” in handling his “children” from an angry dad to a benevolent grandpa? Granted he is a grandpa like my father, who being a Marine will still put me in the carpet if need be!!

The other thing that caught my eye in this story is one time Noah got drunk and his son walked in on him, passed out and naked. From there his offspring were cursed, again it appears to be Noah was being irrational, but then again who am I to figure this stuff out in a morning!

The story of Babel always intrigues me since it’s where the many languages of the earth came from. Think about how many words there are to describe on thing. Like the word “fish” where it’s molgogi, fische, isda, sakana, pescados, pesci and poisson, just to name a few. Why are most not even close? The key is trying not to build something to get to God, but to live for God.

The last little comment from the genealogy from chapter 10 is in verse 8:

Cush fathered Nimrod; he was the first on earth to be a mighty man.

I always wondered why in today’s world a “nimrod” describes a fool. The only thing I could pull is since Babel was in his kingdom; he is the “fool” who built the tower. Anyway the key is enjoy the stories and pull as much from them as you can!

Romans 3 – 4

In these chapters Paul looks at salvation in the view of the Law, the Jews and the Gentiles. The first thing he makes clear is salvation is not found in obeying the law or in works, we need to understand that no matter how dirty we get faith in Jesus is enough. In Chapter 3 verse 30 Paul points out that “through the law comes knowledge of sin.” I notice this is not capitalized and therefore may mean any system of “laws” that are in place. Therefore once we know we are doing “wrong” then we become aware of the definition of “sin” in our life.

Sure the Hebraic Law is very complex with “rules” on almost any aspect of life. The “laws” only show us our inability to live well in God’s sight, be it eating or taxes (tithing). Verse 23 & 24 spells salvation out:

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

We need to realize that we all fall short and not one of us is worthy. A pastor friend has confessed that where we see someone who is very righteous, he can show a very dark mind. For a while he was addicted to porn. That is something we can hide easily and is often just a state of mind. I can relate to this subject because if I hadn’t dealt with this before the internet I would be in a world of hurt. Sad thing is the state of mind is the key, not necessarily what you are looking at.

I use to read the Sears catalog and be obsessed with the women’s underwear section! And don’t forget the Sports Illustrated I got my mother to subscribe for me, but not for baseball stats but the infamous swim suit issue. I didn’t need Larry Flynt to get my mind thinking of sex, just an image of beauty. It’s something I struggle with often on the internet today, just glad I didn’t have the anonymous ability to get hard core stuff before arresting the urge. Not saying that it’s not there, just make sure I catch it BEFORE I click in that three second window of decision.

Now back to the law and our response to it. Paul makes it clear in the final verse of chapter three that “on the contrary, we uphold the law” because of our faith, not to gain salvation. That is profound when you think of it and difficult to understand since even now churches lay out doctrine which prohibits this or that and becomes more rule based than experience based. Not saying throw out the book and rock, but to uphold living “right” as a Christian.

Verse 7 starts with “blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven.” That can be all of us!! We just have to ask for forgiveness to get it, very simple (1 John 1:9)! Chapter 4 verse 15 says a bunch:

For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.

I believe this is more for those who believe it’s the law that brings salvation and not the relationship and love. We all can quickly get lost in the do this for Jesus and start doing works for a greater position. Sure we may have more jewels in our crown, but will that mean anything when it’s worthless? We should do works for our love and salvation through God and not for a better position once we go to heaven. Focus on your relationship with God, from there honorable living will naturally spring because you are living for him!

Matthew 3 – 4

These chapters are the start of Jesus’ public ministry. Interesting that Matthew starts with His lineage and birth, then skips 30 years to His ministry. His first encounter is with John the Baptist, who is making the way for Jesus as foretold in Isaiah 40:3. When questioned about being the Messiah, he answers in verse 11:

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

This sets the stage for Jesus as Isaiah prophesized 700 years earlier! How cool is that? And as Jesus comes up from the water verse 16 describes the event:

John then baptizes Jesus and the skies part and they see “the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.””

Jesus is now on the scene and ready to “do work!” Initially he spends time with God in the wilderness fasting, although that period is not documented until the end of 40 days. Now I have done long fasts, but 40 days is crazy! I am still not clear how that prepares you to communicate with God better, but it’s very clear in scripture to do it from time to time. There are extreme health benefits to doing 1 to 3 day fasts, so I assume that is more the purpose than some crazy Holy Spirit filled experience.

Anyway what gets documented during that 40 day period is his encounter with Satan, who tempts him three times. One to satisfy His hunger, one to prove He is God’s chosen and one to satisfy his earthly wants. All three times Jesus responds with a resounding no and references to why not. Satan did not need to be reminded of these since he knows the scriptures inside and out. If you command that kind of knowledge it’s easy to compromise those of less information.

This is a thread I can go on for ages. Recently we saw “Blue Like Jazz” which is a young man’s transition from youthful faith to questioning to rejection to revelation. It’s a fascinating journey which was much like mine, except I did not reject God but took more of an “agnostic theism” position where God existed and the values were unknown so you had freedom to do whatever. Also, my journey took about 15 years where his was more or less a year. The Bible can be easily reject by reading it and parsing out verses and events without full context, but viewing it as a circular event or better a peak where the base on each side is basically the same makes it become easier to understand and comprehend.

Hence why I say read it all, and keep doing it until it makes sense to you. I question much of what is written to this day. It’s perfectly normal not to believe much of the Bible, I mean parting the Red Sea is difficult to comprehend. Sure life may be easier if we reject the Bible and just live the way we want but let’s look closely at the final temptation. This is offering Jesus earthly riches over Godly ones, immediate satisfaction over future fulfillment. Effectively this is what you do rejecting God and doing your own thing. Sure you may not be bowing to Satan, but you notice you are bowing to the dollar, the Porsche or something that is not God. Satan doesn’t want you to bow to him as much as you NOT bowing to God. That is why the culture of stuff is so dangerous, since stuff substitutes our need for God.

But as we see quickly that’s a fail. I drifted down the path more often than not in those years. I still get caught in it from time to time, like having my computer background a Ferrari California. When you put your faith and thought into stuff more than God, you never are satisfied. The worship of money overrides the need for God. You notice most of the “uber rich” never are satisfied, so your thinking a million is enough will end once you reach that point and the goal will get moved to just out of your reach. Then $100 million, then a billion and so on because “there must be more” becomes the mantra.

Hence this is why Jesus rejected Satan’s offer, knowing that our only true satisfaction is with the God. Once you accept this life will be more satisfying and rewarding. You will not live for the bank balance, but for the relationships. Sure we have to live in this world and by its rules, but not be OF the world and sucked into its greed. So when you find yourself playing the fiddle and complaining about stuff remember God is in control and the stuff will fade away.

Isaiah 7 – 11

Isaiah is full of prophecies and with most prophetic writings they are open to interpretation. One of the more fascinating prophecies scattered in these chapter are the ones of Jesus. When reading this one has to remember that Isaiah wrote this book some 700 years before Jesus walked the earth. Yet in chapter 7 Isaiah references a person born to a virgin (verse 14):

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

The Gospels all describe Mary’s virgin birth and Jesus fulfills this prophecy. God gave Isaiah a vision of the future, which as you read on becomes more amazing when you start “doing the numbers!” The probability becomes astronomical very quickly and very quickly leaves little doubt Jesus is the one Isaiah and other foretold about. Even with the miracles and signs Jesus did, one could say it was a story. Yet God took care of this by giving us signs hundreds and thousands of years before Jesus walked the land. This would help conclusively prove Jesus is who he claims He is.

But even still people do not believe Jesus is the Messiah. Verses 14 and 15 highlight Jesus not being accepted:

14 And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.”

Jesus is a “stumbling block” for all who do not believe. For Hebrew and Muslim religions they have to dismiss much of the prophecies that were written about Jesus to keep their “religion” alive. Hence this is why Paul in Romans 9 talks about this prophecy. It is difficult to accept the foundation of what you believe to be shaken to its core.

Verse 17 talks about Jesus being “from the house of Jacob”. If you study the lineage you find quickly that King David is from the “house of Jacob”. So once again we see a prophecy fulfilled from Isaiah. Again you look at all 48 prophecies Jesus fulfilled the odds point conclusively that Jesus is “the man!”

Chapter 9 and 11 both start with where Jesus is from, which again adds to the case for Jesus being Lord. Verse 2 points to something key in that “people who walked in darkness have seen a great light” in Jesus. Funny thing is we can live in that darkness and hide from the light knowing it’s there all the time. I sure did in my youth. I knew what was acceptable in the eyes of the Lord and how to walk in the “light” but chose to ignore that path. Sure it caused difficulty but as I look back I can see time and time again God nudging me back on the path until I finally submitted. From experience I can say, don’t drift but live for Jesus. The path will not be perfectly smooth, but you will not stumble as much!

The final quick observation in the reading comes from chapter 10 when Isaiah is deconstructing what will happen to those who oppress. Many points caught my eye, but one stuck with me in verse 2 where “they may make the fatherless their prey.” This hit me along with the beginning about widows as not some past time, but today. Society has become accepting of single moms to a point where people are willing to take the easy path of divorce in marriage. The government will “help” those in need, but at the same time they oppress them into a life dependent on them. If you really think about it, one could start applying these apocalyptic prophecies to today and that’s spooky!!

Job 3 – 4

Entering back into the most depressing book of the Bible, where a man is allowed to suffer to demonstrate his faith is strong. In chapter 3 Job “opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.” Verse 11 has him asking:

“Why did I not die at birth, come out from the womb and expire?

It is very depressing when you think about it that someone’s condition is so bad they decide it’s better to remain unborn or still born in this case. In Job’s case he has lost everything and is now suffering great pain, reversing the past to alter the future is something I am sure most of us would want.

How many “if I had only …” have you said? I know it’s a bunch for me! If I had only invested 10% right out of college our finances would be so much better heading into retirement. If I had only focused on my job and not my pride, I may have been in a better position professionally. If we had signed a 3 year lease and not a 5 we would have a judgment trying to be collected on today. If we had controlled our purchasing and not extending our credit to the max, we would not have creditors pounding on our door. If we had maintained problems before they got out of control, we would not be in crisis mode all the time needing new roofs, barns, paint, siding and windows all at the same time. Oh I can go on forever on this subject!!

The big difference between Job and me is I could have controlled the hole I am in, where Job could not. No Job can look at his condition and question if things would not have been better if he had never been born. As Job laments being born, he never questions or blames God for his problems. How about you? Would you blame God if everything was gone and you were very sick?

Chapter 4 is where his “friends” start chiming in on his conditions. First is Eliphaz, who starts to point out that Job is being punished for something. In verse 7 he comments:

“Remember: who that was innocent ever perished? Or where were the upright cut off?

Eliphaz directly questions Job, insisting these inflictions are from sin. This is something that we all get sucked into, where our inflictions are because of God punishing us. I really think God is less active in our lives that way then what we believe. I mean consequences to ones actions are more in line with suffering than God getting his magnifying glass out! If you eat junk for decades, your heart will eventually fail. If you spend beyond your means, your bubble will eventually pop. You cannot stick your hand in the fire and say it is God punishing me for the pain!

No I believe God is active, but more on the positive side than negative. I think he has our backs and will help guide us along the way. We picked us a house in a deal that we eventually sold. The profits were the exact amount we needed to clear a debt that we had ignored for years and let pile up. Was that God doing some preemptive assistance? That “extra” home was just kind of thrown into the deal. I cannot say God was helping or we got lucky there, but again if I had done the right thing from the start it would not have been required and we would have enjoyed a buffer after selling the home. I think the universe and our world is acting as designed. The earthquakes are required to get the “purple mountains majesty”, they just happen and are not God smiting us for indiscretions. Sure he may from time to time, but 99% of the time sh&^ happens or we are digging ourselves out of our own pile.

Psalms 3 – 5

The Psalm’s are great for thinking about when you just need to “reflect” on the Lord. These three Psalms’ are grouped in David asking for God to save him (3), answer him (4) and lead him (5). Using these as a format covers your prayer each day, except I suggest adding in prayers of forgiveness and prayers for others. Verse 7 starts off very simple:

Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God!

Although David is asking for help and salvation he recognizes that it is up to the Lord ending with:

Salvation belongs to the Lord, your blessings be on our people!

I can’t help but notice how David prays for help, but realizes it’s not just about him, but others. I know he can be held up and a great example of success, but also as a great example of failure. This Psalm was written when David was in hiding from his son, due to the family meltdown after the affair with Bathsheba. You can see how this “divide” or hiccup in David’s life changed it forever and through generations. So you see he eventually turns back to God and try to get blessing back.

One of the most common requests I seem to have is asking God for answers. I am constantly looking for an easy way to figure out how to solve problems or messes I make and wish many times God will take a more interactive role in my life. At least spell out clearly the right path and answer. Verse 1 in chapter 4 starts off right:

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

How I wish it was that simple many times, that God would answer my prayers clearly. As I reflect on my life I believe God has done this and I just choose to ignore it. Often we ignore a clear message from God, not because we can see it but we choose not to accept the answer. Money is my major flaw, I spent with “faith” God would “bail me out!” I can say he has quite often, but one major thing we learned raising children, that if you do that too often they no longer rely on themselves. So this more recent collapse I have had to live under God’s principles of 10/10/80 and distort it so the debt was being paid aggressively to a 10/4/36/50 and as we come out our ability to live in abundance is more throttled than before.

Chapter 5 verse 8 starts with:

Lead me O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me.

The final request is actually quite simple; we have millennium’s worth of examples that have been recorded to follow. We don’t need a pillar of smoke and fire to lead us. We don’t need a booming voice from the heavens to answer our prayers. No we have all that in one book, the Bible! Think about how easy it is to get answers to our desires, it’s in this book. Sure they don’t have answers to how to deal with clicking internet porn, but the root cause is talked about often. Our hearts and root desires have not changed, only how we get there and how quickly we get in over our heads.

So read the Psalms’ with a desire to know God and see the struggle of others. You will quickly understand that although the writings are thousands of years old, they can easily apply to our world today. Technology has only become a tool to “burry” us quicker. At the same time, it can spread the Gospel of Jesus more quickly, so click and blog wisely!

Joshua 6 – 10

Joshua’s initial purpose in leading the Israelites into the promised lands is to conquer and destroy all the inhabitants. Chapter 6 is the story of the fall of Jericho where they march around the city for 6 days blowing trumpets. On the seventh, they march 7 times and shot on the trumpet blast. On this all the walls come down and the Israelites easily conquer Jericho.

The Lord gives simple instructions about the “plunder” and what to do with it. It becomes apparent something is wrong when in the next chapter they fail to capture a smaller city of Ai. Upon a thorough interrogation of the people they find Achan who took some of the plunder for himself. Because of this one act of disobedience they entire nation failed in their mission. Has this every happened to you? I have in school where one unruly kid spoils a trip or game for the entire class. I am sure I was also that one kid at some point in my life.

Anyway, the people have two examples of following God and the consequences of not following God. In chapter 8, the Israelites do what was commanded and destroy Ai on their second try. After this they renew the covenant and read the Book of the Law in full. Verse 35 spelled out the importance:

There was not a word of all that Moses commanded that Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, and the women, and the little ones, and the sojourners who lived among them

While this was happening, the word of their might quickly travels throughout the land, where in chapter 9 the other kings make plans to join forces and protect their lands. During this the Gibeonite people decided to deceive the Israelites and basically surrender to them. In doing so another key to our relationship with God was missed, and that’s their consultation with God. Verse 14 & 15 spell out their error in dealing with these men:

14 So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the LORD. 15 And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them

Again they fail before the Lord and because of this allow a people who are not of God in their midst. I have not done a detailed study, but wonder if these people are forefathers of the Palestine people who are claiming the lands of Israel today? But that could consume reams of paper trying to figure out the history there. The key point it they once again forgot to consult with God on a major issue.

When do we not consult God on issues? Do we move on major financial issues without consulting God? Do we make a “life change” without consulting God? Do you ask for help in picking the right tie? It can go to extremes, but I always believe it’s better safe than sorry. Sure we can go to extremes in our relationship with God, but I believe God likes the extra “noise” if you are trying to have a true relationship with Him.

We finish out chapter 10 with one of those things that science gets freaked out about, the day that stood still. See here God apparently stops the rotation of the earth to allow the men to fight in daylight. Science says no way this could have ever happened, while others claim to chart out the history of time and can prove the missing day happened. And then others claim it to be an elaborate tale of some other phenomenon that they could not explain. I think we should end on one verse 25:

And Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous. For thus the LORD will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.”

The key is follow God with strength, resolve and courage so that He will be fighting for you!!

Genesis 4 – 7

Sin entered and shortly thereafter Adam and Eve’s two son’s became a story for the first homicide. Abel and Cain made their offerings to God, who was pleased with Abel’s but not Cain’s. God talked with Cain in verse 6 and 7 saying:

6 The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”

This is a simple question of obedience to God. See from the beginning of man, we have been trying to please God without being able to control our hearts. In this instance God and Cain are trying to work out a heart issue. He is pointing out what was wrong to Cain as far as his intentions. See Abel took time to pick the best from his flock, where Cain just grabbed the required amounts. Where Abel was following God’s relationship with love, Cain was just going through the motions.

How many of us do that today? I know I do more than I care to admit with this “Thought” each morning. Many times it’s just the “formula” but not the relationship. I listen to “worship” music, but do other work during the songs. I pray, but just words and not heart felt requests to a living God. I read the words and sometimes write something that may touch someone, but really don’t live what I read.

Many times I am living the life of Cain. I lose focus on the relationship with God and do what I feel is required. When I get this way, like Cain, sin is crouching at my door. Fortunately I don’t get jealous and want to kill my “brother”, but I do drift and mostly let my mind go where it shouldn’t. It’s a funny thing, when you have been exposed to the church long enough you can do all the right things and appear to others like a saint, where in reality the mind has gone way past what God ever wanted.

The story of Cain and Abel is short, but oh so powerful in its content. Our relationship with God is far beyond doing the right things for “brownie points!” We can never work our way into heaven; it’s a gift from God through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. For us to really understand what this means is far beyond what man can ever comprehend. A story illustrates this (cannot verify the authenticity, but it’s an awesome illustration):

There is an old story about a man by the name of John Griffith, who lived in Oklahoma in 1929. He had lost all he had in the stock market crash. He moved to Mississippi where he took a job as bridge operator for a railroad trestle. In 1937 he was involved in a horrible accident. One day his 8 year-old son, Greg, spent the day with his Dad at work. The boy poked around the office and asked dozens of questions – just like little boys do. The bridge was over a river and whenever a ship came John had to open the bridge to allow the ships to pass. The day the boy was there with his father a ship was coming so John opened up the draw bridge. After a moment or two he realized his son wasn’t in the office and as he looked around, to his horror, John saw his son climbing around on the gears of the draw bridge. He hurried outside to rescue his son but just then he heard a fast approaching passenger train, the Memphis Express, filled with 400 people. He yelled to his son, but the noise of the now clearing ship and the oncoming train made it impossible for the boy to hear him. All of a sudden John Griffith realized his horrible dilemma. If he took the time to rescue his son the train would crash killing all aboard, but if he closed the bridge, the boy we be crushed in the gears. John would sacrifice his son. He made the horrible decision, pulled the lever and closed the bridge. It is said, as the train went by John could see the faces of the passengers, some reading, some even waving, all of them oblivious to the sacrifice that had just been made for them.

This story illustrates the sacrifice God made for us with Jesus!

As you are finishing out the reading, it goes quickly from the first homicide to the flood that wipes a depraved world off the map to reset the world once again. When I read this story and know where man ends up, I often wonder if there is a solution to sin in this world. No matter how much we do every man falls short, often very publically. We need to rely on the relationship and not the works as Abel did before he was killed.

Romans 1 -2

My initial comment before starting on this study Bible is Roman’s is more notes than scripture. This is not the case in my other study Bible’s.

As with most of Paul’s letters, this one starts with a greeting and a brief introduction. He introduces himself as “a servant of Christ Jesus” and his position as an “apostle.” Continuing he expresses his longing to go to Rome, but explains his delays. Then verse 17 shows the importance of our faith by saying:

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

This is actually a key point since Paul and the other apostles actually lived by experience which most of us pray for from time to time. We would love just some confirmation that God, like a Damascus moment, to prove to us God exists. The words written by men thousands of years ago don’t have the power we would like and we often demand something to solidify ones faith. Often this comes in the form of an answered prayer or an “odd” coincidence, but for some reason no matter how many little taps we get we want that one huge moment.

Well guess what, that isn’t going to happen! Think about all the great men who most likely wanted the same thing, men like Tozer, Warren, Piper, Aquinas, Spurgeon and more I am sure all wanted the same meeting with God. Unfortunately today if we had a Damascus moment, we would most likely be considered crazy and dismissed. So be gland you don’t have one and live on faith. There IS enough evidence without a face to face with God to prove His existence; you just need to be cognizant.

The rest of this study deals with the subject of God’s wrath and judgment on the evil doers in the world. Oh this can be a rabbit trail of despair for many since it doesn’t really deal with forgiveness and just punishment. Verse 18 sums it all up:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

Paul then touches on the question of “proof” by saying “his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.” Concluding that we are “are without excuse” for not having faith and belief in God.

From this point forward Paul points out how societies degrade as the one in Rome is at this time. What is “natural” and “civil” get dismissed and acts from “dishonorable passions” become “normal.” Chapter 2 then gets into the judgment of the righteous, the hypocrites and the followers of the law. In this case “God shows no partiality.” Verse 12 is clear of the fate of those under the law or not will be the same:

For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.

This is where hypocrisy really gets exposed, since the law is very clear. Many will teach one thing and do another thus causing conflict with those they teach. One thing I find interesting with the Christian church today is what to do and how to teach the law today. We cannot get into this legalistic society that the Israelites had evolved to, but at the same time we cannot dismiss the law as not applicable to us today. The biggest problem I see is teaching that we must follow some parts while dismissing others.

I will end this with my two favorite “laws” of tithing and of eating. Tithing is often preached and Malachi 3:10 is cited to test God with your tithe and he will bless you. Then the food laws are quickly dismissed as not required since Peter’s vision in Acts 10 of unclean food. My belief is both need to be taught, but not as “sins” but more as guides to a more fruitful life here on earth. We eat right and manage our money well; the majority of the problems here on earth would not affect us!! Think about how many times we get prayer requests for people’s health and finances. Sure it will not make the road smooth, but it will allow us to travel it easier.

Matthew 1 -2

This chapter lays the foundation for Jesus with his genealogy and birth. It’s interesting that although they break down Joseph from David they do not follow Mary’s lineage. Technically from this account Jesus only has “rights” to David’s throne from marriage and not blood. Some argue that the lineage described in Luke 3 is that of Mary and shows her connection to David and therefore holds true to the “bloodline” of Jesus. Either way Jesus is from God and therefore Adam and therefore David by default, so I am not too worried about this detail.

The chapter ends with the conundrum Joseph has to deal with and the visiting of an angel to allow him to relax. Although a very short passage, this has significance since the virgin birth is recorded. Although this book does not give a very detailed account of the birth of Jesus, they do focus on the wise men, who travel to Jerusalem and talk to Herod. Herod becomes enraged at the possibility of prophecy being fulfilled and asks the wise men to return once they find Jesus. They traveled to Bethlehem to find Jesus, gave him gifts and then through a vision were told not to return to Herod, which they obeyed.

Now Herod put an order to kill all the boys younger than two years old to eradicate the possible Messiah. Before this happened Joseph was told in a vision to escape to Egypt, thus fulfilling another prophecy “Out of Egypt I called my son” from Hosea 11. So again Jesus fulfills a prophecy. After Herod’s death, they returned to Nazareth for safety reasons.

And thus Jesus fulfilled many of the prophecies from the Old Testament before his ministry even began. I am sure these were “details” most ignored since they were easily overlooked since the Jewish people were looking for the “big signs” and not necessarily the little ones of lineage, place of birth and where he traveled and lived. As much as people want to reject Jesus as the Messiah, signs like this make it very difficult. Once you get into all the prophecies Jesus fulfilled, it becomes impossible to ignore these facts. I say they are facts since many other religions also document His existence and these fulfilled prophecies, although they do not accept them as fulfilled in Jesus.

I like Matthew’s story of the birth, since it goes into details that the most common account in Luke does not. This story fills in some holes and gives details that help solidify the legitimacy of Jesus as the Messiah. But when you really get to it, no matter how many prophecies are fulfilled in Jesus it is still faith that Jesus is the Messiah. Part of salvation comes in belief that Jesus is who He says He is. If we cannot accept that, then salvation is impossible. So read and think before rejecting this book.

Isaiah 1 – 6

This is one of those sections of the Bible where Isaiah prophecies over the future of Judah and one can look at applying it to today. Chapter 1 lays out the case against Judah to the point where “children deal corruptly.” And their condition is such that “the whole head is sick and the whole heart is faint.” To the point where “there is no soundness in it” the case against Judah is grim. While most of Judah is corrupt and in need of correction, the first part of chapter 2 lays out the hope of the future for the faithful.

But this gets quickly overshadowed by the day of judgment on the people stating in verse 6. Verse 12 sums up the judgment in store for Judah:

12 For the LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up—and it shall be brought low;

This touches on one of my “pet peeves” in prideful people. I find with me personally, when I get full of myself, I tend to get “spanked” often. I assume it’s because of my other “pet peeve” of hypocrisy that I remain in “check” there. The key is you pump yourself up too much there is only one way to go, and that’s down.

Chapter 3 focuses on the judgment on Judah, how beauty and pleasure get quickly turned to ugliness and pain. This chapter in verse 11 starts out a series of “woes” to the wicked and the results of their sins. The chapter continues by exposing the “rot” in their society where “instead of perfume, there will be rottenness.” We like to look at this as God’s punishment towards the people, but often I wonder if this is not just the natural result of sin.

Think about it, when you go outside God’s guidelines, things tend to fall apart. Now is the God wrecking things or just the natural result of leaving the path? I know this is a tangent for these chapters, but really one needs to think about it. In finance God defines a 10% donation, 10% savings and 80% living for a fruitful life. Today this is highlighted by the demise in our economy, where everyone, including the governments throughout the world who are living on more than they make. It has become a recipe for disaster. God is not punishing us; we are just living the natural result of poor money management.

Chapter 5 really digs into the “woes” a verse 8 onward. Again verse 9 makes me reflect on today’s situation where “many houses shall be desolate, large and beautiful houses, without inhabitant.” All owned by banks who allowed reckless borrowing and through their own greed turned a blind eye. We can look at passages like this and see the ills today while wondering why we let history constantly repeat itself.

We end in chapter 6 where Isaiah takes responsibility for God’s calling. Verse 8 is clear:

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

God asks a Isaiah answers yes. How about you? Do you ever feel “called” to do something? What is your answer to God? Is it “Here I am! Send me.”? Or is your answer “not the right season?” I know I answer the latter more than the first and have to change this. One thing to be clear you need to learn to read emotions over “God’s calling”. More often than not, we get called into something that we wanted over a true “calling”. So learn to discern God’s voice of that of your inner desires or like Judah the natural direction is disaster.

Sometimes things just don’t line up, messes that must be cleaned … and other such fun early am has held me from finishing this thought today.

Happy Easter … and remember this is not about chocolate bunnies and eggs … but of our risen savior Jesus Christ!

Job 1 – 2

Job is one of those books in the Bible that gets very depressing very quickly. Job was a “blameless and upright” man “who feared God and turned away from evil.” He was not only this but very well off or shall I say “blessed”. See the first part of this story shows us an image of a God fearing man who lives righteously and is blessed in return. One thing not to take from this story is God will bless you financially if you follow him like Job. If you are following God for those reasons your path is wrong. No, God may or may not bless you because of your works and as we see in today’s world you don’t have to be a follower of God to be wealthy. Most of the time it’s a lack of ethics that works in today’s world. If you disagree then just review the banking mess we are in and point to one ethical or Godly man in the bunch!

I digress once again, as we move on in the story Satan is talking with God and God presents Job as an example of a good human. I often wonder if Job was it or if he was just the shining example of prosperity that did not get corrupted. As I read the next part Matthew 4:1-11 instantly comes to mind. After 40 days of fasting Satan comes to tempt him and Jesus does not bend. God, in the case of Job, allows Satan to have his way with Job as long as he is not killed. I often wonder why God allowed this and if this happens often?

In short succession Satan hits Job’s possessions and kills his children and still in verse 21 Job reflects on “stuff”:

And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”

This is an awesome way to say “you can’t take it with you!” It amazes me how Job can lose his family and still not lament that. Sure I can understand losing all your possessions without blaming or at least questioning God. But once my family is killed, I don’t think I could have the same resolve as Job. Sure I may not revoke my faith, but I would whine up a storm to God!! Who cares if the stuff gets restored, there is no way the children can return. So although in the end he has more, the first cannot be replaced unless you have faith they were with God and maybe their spirits returned in the new batch. Either way life would never be the same for Job, not matter how much was “restored”!

Chapter 2 starts with Satan again being allowed to harm Job so God can prove a point. Verse 4 God states “he is in your hand; only spare his life.” And this opens up a world of hurt on Job with want appears to be leprosy. From here his wife and three friends get involved. His wife first comments to Job in verse 9:

Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.”

At least his friends sat with him for seven days and nights before speaking up. He must have been a mess since they could not recognize him from afar. Through all this Job did not curse God or question why this was happening. Now I notice one thing in verse 7 where it clearly says “Job did not since with his lips.” I often wonder what was going through his mind. Did he complain to God there? And if so did God communicate back with visions? Could that have given Job peace through these afflictions? Either way the story is clear, life here on earth will suck from time to time and if it is great don’t lose focus on God, since everything is temporary or as Solomon said in Ecclesiastes “everything is meaningless!”

Psalms 1-2

I love reading the Psalms; they are short, sweet and get to the point quickly. If you would dwell in just Psalms and Proverbs for a while it would help your overall view on life and build your relationship with God. These two Psalms go into a person’s character and the way they lead. Again just parking in either of these chapters would help ones outlook on how you run your life.

Chapter 1 contrasts the way of the righteous to that of the wicked. The first point King David makes is clarify who is your “counsel”. How often do we pick the one who is the fool to listen to? Oh how that has happened to me so often when the one who says “hey guys watch this” becomes the one we endeavor to be like. We should look for the ones who are successful and live Godly lives while avoiding guidance from the fools and wicked.

He also mentions not “standing the way of sinners” or “sitting in the seat of scoffers.” Here is simple we just need to bail out of association from these people. If a person has a problem with say porn, the last thing I personally would do is try to stand in their way. Follow me on this, if you know you have a weakness then the last thing you want to do is put yourself in the line of fire! If that sinner comes to you for help, offer it. But don’t just stand there condemning their actions, because it will fall on deaf ears 99% of the time and it could suck you in.

Verse 2 gives the key to living more than anything else:

but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

In David’s time that’s all they really had was the books written by Moses. Sure there were other wirings that were available, but the law was their “Word”. After Jesus, the “church” gathered all the writings of Moses, the prophets and biblical scholars, along with the disciples and Paul to form what we have today as the Bible. This now is our “law” that we need to “mediate on day and night.” Just set aside a time each day to read a chapter or two, don’t try to do it all. I can say with 100% certainty this will help your walk with God.

Chapter 2 focuses more on the reign of anointed men. The world is full of “leaders” who are wicked and we often wonder how they get anointed. I still am not sure how this happens, but can assure you they are NOT anointed by God. We look at today and see many leaders who are in direct opposition of God or interpret their “calling” to eliminate all others who do not bow to their “god”. Often Christianity gets singled out for overstepping the bounds and become twisted. Two examples I can think of are the Crusades and Nazi Germany. The Crusades are often singled out as Christian expansion but we often forget that they were in response to the Islamic Caliphate and their expansion into Europe. Nazi Germany twisted the Bible in a propaganda campaign to justify the extermination of millions of Jews. One was a defensive action that went overboard, the other was just pure evil in it’s leaders.

I think as we assume roles of leadership the key we must focus on is verse 11:

Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

We need to have a healthy respect for the power of the Lord. I often think today we demoralize God into some kind of genie whose job is to give us stuff. Prosperity preaching wins over obedience since that gives us what we want. The last thing we want to hear is just how powerful God really is in our day to day lives. We don’t need to fear the Lord as long as we do chapter 1 and meditate on His Word day and night! But we need to have a healthy respect for what God can do.

Leaders especially need to have a healthy respect for the Lord because they have a much greater responsibility than most of us. Their actions no only impact their lives but the lives of millions. So in the position this Psalm is focusing on, they should follow its words much closer. I personally fear for our world as leaders are allowing the erosion of civil decency in the name of freedom. If I could only write what I know, but unfortunately Larry Flint would question printing it in his publications. Fortunately I do not know from experience, but from first hand recounting. Oh I could rant for hours on this, but will just say keep YOUR relationship with God strong so when the sh%$ come down, you will have some isolation!!

Joshua 1-5

We are at the point where the “torch” is passed from Moses to Joshua, who will lead the people into the Promised Land. Moses had been denied entering the lands due to his anger and died just before they crossed into the Promised Land. Chapter 1 verse 2 states:

 

“Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel.

 

This is where Joshua first address the people after being handed command. During this time Joshua has doubt and God addresses his concerns and in verse 5 comforts him by saying “I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.” How many of us would love to hear God actually say that to us. Sure we may have a mental image and when reading this passage it is like God saying it to us, but how cool would it be to audibly hear His voice! I am jealous to some point about this, at the same time I don’t know if I would like the responsibility because when He is audible you are really being called to something big!

 

Chapter 2 is about the spies who enter Jericho to scout the lands before they enter for battle. The last time they did this the scouts freaked the people out to the point they did not trust in the Lord. This was the reason they wandered the wilderness for 40 years. This time God showed favor and gave them protection, interestingly from a prostitute. Verse 1 introduces them to Rahab, who protects them from capture.

And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there.

 

Because of the protection she gave them they made an oath to protect her and her family. They would use a scarlet cord in the window to signal the men not to harm the people in this home. Everyone else would die! I have never seen battle, but can only imagine the chaos that ensues. It amazes me the men had the fortitude to maintain composure and protect this family just by a cord in a window.

God wanted to make sure the people knew He was with Joshua by something big. They were preparing for entering the promised lands, yet had to cross the Jordan, which was in flood stage.  God instructed Joshua to bring the Ark to the bank, which he did. What followed in verses 15 and 16 were amazing and secured Joshua’s authority with the people:

 

¹⁵ and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), ¹⁶ the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho.

 

How cool would it be to actually cross on dry ground where there once was a flooding river! I know today people want to see something like this, me included. This is often used by non-believers to point out there is no God. They claim if God exists why does He not do something like this again! That is a tough one the answer, and to believers Jesus answers this in Matthew 4, quoting Deuteronomy 6:16, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.” But to non-believers this is a tough one, since that is where they can validate their claim.

 

As we move into chapter 4 they are crossing the Jordan and in verse 3 God “command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests’ feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.’” How cool would that be to actually find this stack of stones? I am sure after thousands of years they have either been dismantled, buried in feet of dirt and silt or have been washed away, either way if they were found people would claim a hoax anyway and there would be doubt.

 

Interestingly when they first enter the Promised Land, battle is not the first thing. No they first have a ceremony to circumcise the men and celebrate Passover. I find this interesting that instead of going immediately to battle, they honor God. Is that something you do today? Do you start the day honoring God or leaping from bed to rush to get started? I have found I must schedule my time well or I get overwhelmed with the daily activates. For me getting up an hour earlier helps me focus my attention onto God and start my day by first honoring him. Joshua is ready for battle and still rests in 5:15, with the commander of the Lords army where he said to Joshua “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” Joshua again focused his attentions on God and not “work”! Do the same an life will be more in focus, not necessarily easier, but God never promised us a rose garden.

Genesis 1 – 3

Well we start immediately into the creation of the earth, to man and right to the fall. In three short chapters we blow it completely. Chapter 1 is one of the most controversial chapters in the Bible when it comes to science. Here Moses tries to explain how the earth was created to people who had no scientific background. So I am sure there are things left out and glossed over. Verses 1 and 2 state:

1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Then God said “let there be light” and the chapter continues. Day one is over and on to day two when he creates the oceans. The third day he created vegetation and the fourth created the moon and seasons. Day five God creates living creatures. And finally the chapter closes with Day six and God creating man and woman. Interestingly this is not Adam and Eve! Now the Bible’s view and science’s view of creation are very different. What the Bible says takes 6 days to complete; science says it took millions if not billions of years. We could go on for days debating this and one thing is for sure we will never know. Both descriptions of creation require faith and you know I just am not worried about it. Interesting that the rate of rise of the salination levels in the sea implies the earth is only a few thousand years old. But then you can get into fossil records and carbon dating to get millions of years on the time line. You will find people will dismiss evidence that disproves their theory, so always question the source.

Chapter 2 starts with a very import aspect of life, rest. Verse 2 states:

2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.

Do you take time out to actually rest? Or is this crazy world we live in have you running every direction? How many times have you “burned the candle on both ends” and literally burned yourself out? God has something here, we need rest in order to survive in the world. We find that many illnesses result from lack of rest and being overly stressed. Maybe it’s time to take God’s words to heart and rest at least once a week. I know the argument starts here on if it’s Saturday or Sunday and when is worship day, but again I don’t worry about this, the formula is simple … work six days, rest one.

Verse 7 describes the creation of man:

then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

I wonder if Moses wrote this as a description of what happened on day 6 or this was the creation of the chosen people, or the nation of Israel. It’s not clear, but there has always been the question of where did the other people come from and that may explain it. God created man and then created the head of the nation of Israel in Adam. Verse 18 has God create woman from man. Then it goes into some basic growing up with your parents and then your spouse. Again it’s crazy when you look at all this and think that it happened in a day, but then again there is nothing that supports “evolution” other than changes within a species. So again my faith lies in a hybrid of the Bible and science, but again it’s just my idea and nothing more.

Chapter 3 is where man blows it and separates himself from God. The story is well know, Eve falls to temptation and draws Adam into the sin. God calls them out and scolds them. From this point we go through 66 chapters before God and man return to paradise. The difference is Adam and Eve were righteous where in Revelation we return as redeemed through the blood of Jesus. As we read the rest of the Bible note the mirror between the Old and New Testaments as they both have Jesus as the pinnacle. This is the most exciting part of the Bible, is seeing how it all ties together.

As you have noticed I have been “back filling” the blog with older posts .. in editing them I also noticed I have lost most of my verse numbering … sorry about that, guess this site does not like the <> I use in the word doc.

Part two is I am starting up my read and will be using the ESV version. I will also be following a year in the Bible per subjects with the following as my sylibus:

http://www.heartlight.org/devotionals/reading_plans/differenttopics.pdf

Enjoy and don’t be too concerened over the large number of posts. This is starting tomorrow on 1-Jan in the outline … so Genesis 1-3!!

For those who have faithfully read these ramblings, I thank you. The chapter by chapter study is complete for the NLT. I am taking a week off and backfilling/editing my old thoughts that have not made it to the blog yet.

So you will see new stuff … if you have any prayer requests contact me at cvs (at) bellsouth (dot) net … also feel free to contact me on the new direction I am about to impart.

Finally I would like to thank Pastor Bobby who without his 40 days of prayer prompt would never have taken me down this enlightening path. Hope I have (and will in the future) help all you all

chuck

2 Peter 3:4 –

They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.”

Think about when the New Testament was written, these men were expecting Jesus’ return any time. The did not expect that 2000 years later people are still saying “the end is near”! I really believe that it is getting close because as Peter wrote in verse 15, God is waiting for all to repent. Right now more than ever, the Gospel has been spread throughout the world. Although we may think the Gospel is spread all over, I constantly talk with people that have never heard the “message” here in the states.

Now what does that mean for us? Are we as Christians doing our “job” of spreading the Gospel? I know I fall short daily. Where I can type and tell this computer about God, but put me face to face with a skeptic and I clam up! We all need to get comfortable sharing the Gospel on a personal level and outside our comfort zone. The best way to get “comfortable” with sharing your faith is to read more! This will get you “book smart” and will help in real world applications.

As I said earlier, the apostles all expected Jesus to return in their lives. But verse 8 is one of those that often is quoted about time and God. How “a day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.” God really transcends time when you think about it. Like energy, He has always been and always will be. When compared to infinity our day is nothing. Do you notice the one thing few quote in that verse? How a day is like a thousand years!! That really shows how God transcends time when there is no difference between the two to Him.

One point about this verse that we need to take light of and that is the mocking that we will get. It’s less now since there has been 2000 years of waiting, we can say it’s not time. Now Harold Camping recently did not help the “cause” by predicting the exact hour and day it would happen. Was he just full of himself or was he like Jonah, watching Nineveh and waiting for their destruction only to have God’s compassion spare them? We will never know, but the key point is to not focus on the end more than the now. People love see what Jesus can do in their lives, now. Hearing about an eternity in a place they don’t believe in because of a God they can’t image tends to turn people off more than on. I think it’s more for the urgency of believer to spread the word, than to draw non-believers in … but I may be wrong!

2 Peter 2:9 –

So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment.

There are a bunch of things in this chapter that require reading and re-reading. Its premise starts with false teachers and verse 3 focuses on the ones that are in it for the money. The TV evangelists are constantly being exposed as frauds and living lavish lifestyles. Mega church preachers are constantly in the news about their excesses and this falls into preaching for their own self good and not their “flock”. Sure tithing is something that is explained in the law and the sole purpose was to ensure the Levites were supported since they did not have land or a way to make money.

The Levites were the preachers of the Israelites, so the tithe is to sustain the ministry team. The last thing I want to get into is what is “enough” for a ministry team, but to warn you about the “false” teachers that “write checks their tails can’t cash” giving you false hope on your tithe. It’s just to support ministry and not a way to win the lottery! The false teach can creep into having people drift into some dark areas and Peter describes some Old Testament stories, which are highlighted in this verse of hope. We see that our world may be destroyed around us and God will protect us in these times.

I can think of how many times I thank God for my job. I was laid off during “good times” and found a position quickly, but pride and anger lost that position before I even started. Then for 8 years I helped in the bicycle shop. In 2007 we instantly saw the market change and started the “fall” of the shop. Then 1 year into one of the worst economic conditions I have seen in 50 years, I find work. Then 2 years later the business fails. Did God protect us or did I just get lucky? You know my answer!! I am not saying he will protect you from trials, we are still deep in debt and being sued 2 years later, but we are in a far better place with me working that having remained on the sinking ship!

Now I was going to grab onto verses 19 thru 22, because they struck me personally. My story is one of being saved at 12, but drifting sharply away at 18. I read that with great concern since I knew the truth and choose to ignore it. I started down a path of drinking and debauchery that no one would be proud of. The only thing I never did was reject God, I did ignore His teachings. Thirty years later I can see the “damage” that I did, but also can see that God rejoiced when I returned. I really think this is more of a warning to those who live believe then reject God as not being real. When you have no clue you are doing wrong that is one thing, but to turn away without asking forgiveness is what God gets upset at. So from personal experience, just make life easier on yourself, don’t chase the instant gratification and pleasure! Read, pray, repeat!!

2 Peter 1:9 –

But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.

First go back and read verses 5-7 before pondering this verse; I’ll wait. This development is what Peter is talking about. We grow in our faith and knowledge by exhibiting these virtues that Peter describes. It’s never a “pop goes the Christian” by just saying “the prayer” and the Holy Spirit instantly builds you into a model Christian. Now we all come to God with baggage and difficulties that require a process to shed. We live for Jesus but also need to grow with Jesus and it’s a process.

You saw in 1 Corinthians 3:2 that you start your walk with milk, not deep theological issues. You read scripture and pray to expand your knowledge. Working with others not in a vacuum helps you walk the path Jesus desires that Peter lays out in verses 5-7. But if we forget and drift off that “narrow path” life goes “outside” what God has planned for our lives. It’s your responsibility as a believer to “grind out” your faith and make sure you do X, Y and Z to grow as a Christian.

I know I failed at this early on in my life, I started right but followed “my” feelings and not the Holy Spirit. Ever been in Church and feel like the preacher is talking right to you? It almost seems like this man who does not know you, is speaking right to your heart. Well guess what? In most cases you are not special. The struggles you are experiencing are the same as many go through. Sure you may be there at that time specifically to hear the message, but most of the time it’s a common thread in many lives.

I know we get all wrapped up in the “all about me” idea and many times the timing may be all about you! The only time that I really think God singled out someone and preached to them was with my friend Pat. His “come to Jesus” moment was just by chance. He walked into a little church with a visiting preacher that would not have been there if his truck hadn’t broken down. He had words that his mother said to him from something decades earlier repeated by this man while looking right at him! In that case I really think God said here I am lets fight!

But again I drift from the key point and that is to focus on your development as a Christian. Don’t just pray and stop trying to find your father in heaven. Read, study, discuss, attend, worship and grow in Jesus. After 10 or so years of devoting my focus back to God I can say it’s all worth it. I don’t have any more of a line to God than a new believer, but I understand the nature of God better and can be at peace with Him through the good, the bad and the ugly.

1 Peter 5:2 –

Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.

This is something that many pastors struggle over throughout their career. Many feel they were meant for a higher calling, not just a small church of 20 or so. Their vision is a mega church that can serve the world with missions and donations. Their message reaches hundreds of thousands because it’s broadcast worldwide. Yet God has them with this small number, in the middle of nowhere. This preacher asks, “How can I serve “willingly” when “I” know there is a higher calling?”

I think we need to look at our “lot” in life and determine if we are serving “willingly” or “grudgingly”? God may have larger plans for this preacher, but he wants to see his heart. If God cannot trust him with 20, how could he ever trust him with thousands? At the same time I think service with expectations is false willingness. Think about the preacher who feels called to the mega church, what if his “willingness” is driven by the idea that just biding his time with these will open the doors more quickly. Would he heart be truly willing or based on expectations?

The ugly heart thing! We can say all we want about how holy our meager life may be, but if we are not “willingly” serving in that capacity, life may never change. I look at this “thought” which when I started I had visions of grandeur. I figured all I needed to do was make a site that said what I was doing and publishers would flock to picking this idea up. My debt which peaked at about $600k would be eliminated by royalty checks rolling in daily. Paid email subscriptions would hit a million in a month or so. That was when I started and that was my expectations. Now I have 1 more chapter to finish and I will have a complete set of “Thoughts” with the entire NLT version of the Bible.

I never got one dollar for royalties or subscription fees, never got what my heart desired. I don’t know if you’ve noticed but I took down the “subscription” side of the site and now post every “Thought” on a “Tumblr” site and hope that more than just the few I email get something out of this. Sure I would like my debt to go away still, but I am not expecting it. Through the years of doing this I peaked at $600k debt, and have slowly gotten below $400k in three years of applying God’s financial principles to my finances and not expecting God to be a genie and grant my wishes.

Where am I going with this analogy? Well I was entrusted with a task, which I felt would lead to grandeur and was never settled in my heart with the small list I had until recently. Will this ever go past you guys? God only knows? I just hope and pray I have touched you in a way that’s inspires you to read the Bible cover to cover as many times as you can!! I will start over again after 2nd Peter and continue writing. Thanks for all the comments and inspiration throughout the years.

1 Peter 4:2 –

You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.

This is a great chapter for the basics of living with God. It talks about how things may not always be rosy and to embrace these times and “be very glad!” I honestly cannot say I have ever been “very glad” to have any trial come before me. Sure in the end I may understand the reason and how it helped me grow, but still may not be glad about the trial. That is one of those mindsets I need to work on during the trials of life.

The one common threat I seem to have with my personal trials is that I live life chasing my desires more than God’s. Maybe that is why they seem to pile on at times. More than once I have noticed these tend to spiral down into some seeming abyss before I refocus my desires. And believe me if you listened to my prayers it would be a ton of time about me and my problems. I seem to find that once every few months or so I need to refocus my prayer life. I will spend a week focusing on praying for others and not ask God for one thing for myself.

I also find if I refocus and search for a service project to help someone out, it tends to get me back being “anxious to do the will of God.” The key is find your “trigger” that will get you to remove your selfish desires and work on God’s desires. The funny thing is that once you do this, you tend to find your desires become fulfilled. Now I still have yet to win the big jackpot or have a huge windfall that removes all my debt. But I seem to be able to make ends meet and chip away at the debt when I remain focused on doing God’s will.

The problems and trial in life seem to remain when I stop tithing or when I turn to inwards. Peter talks about living for God in the first part of this chapter and then suffering in the next. Although the connection is not explicitly stated, it is implied that when your focus is on God, life’s problems tend to not seem that rough. The look on some peoples face when I talk about what I am going through is priceless. After the shop being closed for over a year, we are still dealing with judgments and lawsuits. Katy was served with a notice to produce and we just found out another company has files suit against us and we are awaiting service. I we get mired in the circumstances, we will lose focus on God and his desires for our lives.

1 Peter 3:1 –

In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over

This is the most quoted scripture by men in a marriage and they tend to ignore the next section. Peter wrote these instructions for marriage not to be thrown in each other’s faces, but to be lived as an individual. Oh how I could spend hours on the subject of marriage and will try to condense it into a few “thoughts” this morning. The first thing you need to learn more than anything else is you will not “fix” your spouse. These words thrown in their face will only infuriate them thinking why not you? I can say with all honesty that most of the arguments we had come from my own self-deception and pride. I ignore my part of this equation and focus on hers!

Marriage is a colliding of two different mindsets and the first key is making sure you are marrying the “right one”. I don’t think there is “one” right person like many preach, but there is that right match. Falling in love and falling in bed are two very different things. Men look at sex more for the physical while women look more towards the emotional, that’s where problems arise. The Bible is clear about sex and that is to wait for marriage. I wish I had because the underlying issues brought into the marriage. Now don’t get me wrong, God does not abhor sex like many want you to think. God gave Adam Eve to be “fruitful and multiply”, in essence they ran around the garden naked having sex!

Once married, pride is the next thing that MUST fall. If the marriage is all about your needs, it will fail. The easiest way to burn someone out is to focus on “me” and not on “them!” I think the best way is to learn what works for them and do it. Learn what makes them feel loved; be it getting gifts, or affirmation, or kindness, or quality time, or the physical touch. You may be wired differently and what work for you may not work for them, so learn. Don’t keep giving costly gifts if what they really want is just a cup of coffee on the back deck and a long talk.

Also, learn the cycle that destroys a marriage; betrayal, inflate, distort, justify and blame. Betrayal comes when you don’t do something that you know you should. Next you inflate their fault and your virtues by looking for the worst and finding it. You distort the truth and see what you personally want to see, if you see ugly you will find ugly. Once you get there you justify the action because what you found allows evil. Then you blame because your own selfish pride will never allow blame to be turned inward. Then it starts to escalate back to self-betrayal and the act becomes more hurtful. What may first start as not opening the door may quickly escalate to working late to an affair, which the “cycle” will provide false justification.

When all is said and done the key is wait for true love and don’t confuse lust for love. And once you are married leave your pride at the door and serve your spouse. If your focus is on them, the destructive cycles will not occur as frequent. Learn the “cycle” and break is whenever you notice it starting. Again it turns to humbling yourself before your spouse. You can see throughout your live how fragile this relationship is and how you must enter in with no compromise and no options. Do not compromise the marriage or allow any other option than working it out!

1 Peter 2:12 –

Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

This gets into sticky subjects of how we live our lives before others. Although scripture is very clear about many sins of the world, many times as Christians we need to set ourselves apart from all sin. Drinking is the most favorite on for many. The Bible is clear about being a drunkard, yet Jesus and the disciples drank together. Today many church’s doctrines do not allow drinking of any sort, for the reasoning of this verse.

Especially as new believers we allow the sins of the world to creep into our lives. Stuff that seem no big deal, allows us to “drop” our guard. Also, our witness gets compromised even when we are doing stuff that is acceptable. We are asked to walk a “narrow path” and not attract everyone by keeping the “status quo!” So when we let the start of “sin” creep into our lives, even though nothing is wrong your witness to your neighbors may be compromised.

We need to figure out the balance between living a life that is unique but at the same time attractive to non-believers. I could go on judging churches that do this o that, which actually causes more to make “fun” of them than attract new believers. At the same time I find many churches that are so attractive to new believers, that the Gospel is missed. Peter is trying to make it clear that life can be wonderful as a Christian and we need to make sure that “hypocrisy” is avoided at all cost!