God Invites Us As We Are
Acts 10:17-33
“You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean” Acts 10:28 (NLT)
Pastor's Blog:
Peter has just made this radical discovery that non Jews are just as loved by God as Jews. That was hyper-radical in his day.
I have often said that God accepts us just as we are. I am usually careful to add, however, that God won’t leave us there.
I now think a better way to express myself is to say the same thing, but to substitute the world “invite” for the word “accept”. God invites everyone into an eternal relationship with Him. He wants everyone, red, yellow, black, and white . . .everyone . . .in his forever family, none excluded.
The way anyone “gets in” is through God’s having opened the door by forgiving our rebellion and sin. He did this on the cross 2,000 years. This is the invitation. On the cross he said, “God forgive them”.
However, this does not mean we are finally accepted into His family. In order to be part of God’s family, I must accept the invitation. I must receive the gift. I must recognize that I get in as pure gift, not because I deserve it or have earned it any way. A gift is not a gift until it is received. I receive this gift by believing that God has forgiven me on the cross, that he has suffered for all my sin, and by living the remainder of my life as a “thank you” for what he has already done for me. At that point I am accepted.
Have you made this life altering acceptance of God’s invitation or are you just assuming that God accepts you as you are with no life altering corresponding response on your part?
To comment, click below.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
November 29, 2010
God’s Ringing Condemnation of Prejudice
Acts 10:1-16
"Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean." Acts 10:15 (NLT)
"What God has made clean, you have no right to call profane." Acts 10:15 (NJB)
"God has made these things clean so don’t call them ’unholy'!" Acts 10:15 (NCV)
Pastor's Blog:
The story is told of CS Lewis as a small boy of about 6 or 7. One day he announced to his father, “Daddy, I have a prejudice against the French.” “Why?”, asked his father. “If I knew that”, replied the young Lewis, “it wouldn’t be a prejudice!”
The word prejudice comes from the word pre-judgment. It has to do with making up your mind before having all the facts.
Personally I am convinced that most of what we think is well reasoned thought is in reality reasoning in defense of what we’ve already decided before getting the full story.
Jews and gentiles of the day had all kinds of pre-judgments about each other. Imagine then the uproar when Peter discovers that non Jews can have the same access to God as the Jewish “insiders”. This is not about 21st century “tolerance”. It’s about full inclusion.
Although we will see that there is a difference between “invitation” and “acceptance” into God’s Kingdom, we do well first to ask, “who is it I look down on?”. “Whom am I predisposed to call ‘unholy’, ‘profane’, or ‘unclean’?”
What do you do to counter your prejudices (and I suspect that there is no one without any)?
To post a comment, click below.
Acts 10:1-16
"Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean." Acts 10:15 (NLT)
"What God has made clean, you have no right to call profane." Acts 10:15 (NJB)
"God has made these things clean so don’t call them ’unholy'!" Acts 10:15 (NCV)
Pastor's Blog:
The story is told of CS Lewis as a small boy of about 6 or 7. One day he announced to his father, “Daddy, I have a prejudice against the French.” “Why?”, asked his father. “If I knew that”, replied the young Lewis, “it wouldn’t be a prejudice!”
The word prejudice comes from the word pre-judgment. It has to do with making up your mind before having all the facts.
Personally I am convinced that most of what we think is well reasoned thought is in reality reasoning in defense of what we’ve already decided before getting the full story.
Jews and gentiles of the day had all kinds of pre-judgments about each other. Imagine then the uproar when Peter discovers that non Jews can have the same access to God as the Jewish “insiders”. This is not about 21st century “tolerance”. It’s about full inclusion.
Although we will see that there is a difference between “invitation” and “acceptance” into God’s Kingdom, we do well first to ask, “who is it I look down on?”. “Whom am I predisposed to call ‘unholy’, ‘profane’, or ‘unclean’?”
What do you do to counter your prejudices (and I suspect that there is no one without any)?
To post a comment, click below.
Friday, November 26, 2010
November 26, 2010
There is No Such Thing as a Small Errand in the Kingdom of God“
Acts 9:32-43
Meanwhile, Peter traveled to Lydda. 33 There he met Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years. 34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up, and roll up your sleeping mat!” And he was healed instantly. 35 Then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas walking around, and they turned to the Lord.
“There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (Dorcas). She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor. She became ill and died. As soon as Peter arrived he went to the upstairs room filled with widows who were weeping and showing him the coats and other clothes Dorcas had made for them.
Peter asked them all to leave the room; then he knelt and prayed. Turning to the body he said, “Get up, Tabitha.” And she opened her eyes! When she saw Peter, she sat up! 41 He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then he called in the widows and all the believers, and he presented her to them alive. 42 The news spread through the whole town, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And Peter stayed a long time in Joppa, living with Simon, a tanner of hides. Acts 9:32-43
Pastor's Blog
Luke takes us from the earth shattering, history changing conversion of Paul to the upstairs room of a poor home filled with the knitting and sewing that had occupied the good lady who had just died.
If all we knew about Peter was that he healed a disabled man and had raised Dorcas from the dead, that would be enough. Individual hurting people are noticed by God. Their plight matters to Him. Peter was a mediator of God’s love to the “least” among us.
Dorcas was an unsung hero of the faith and Luke makes sure she makes it into his story. Peter noticed her, God noticed her and Luke noticed her enough to highlight her in his story.
Luke makes the point well: There is no such thing as a small errand in the Kingdom of God.
Acts 9:32-43
Meanwhile, Peter traveled to Lydda. 33 There he met Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years. 34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up, and roll up your sleeping mat!” And he was healed instantly. 35 Then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas walking around, and they turned to the Lord.
“There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (Dorcas). She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor. She became ill and died. As soon as Peter arrived he went to the upstairs room filled with widows who were weeping and showing him the coats and other clothes Dorcas had made for them.
Peter asked them all to leave the room; then he knelt and prayed. Turning to the body he said, “Get up, Tabitha.” And she opened her eyes! When she saw Peter, she sat up! 41 He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then he called in the widows and all the believers, and he presented her to them alive. 42 The news spread through the whole town, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And Peter stayed a long time in Joppa, living with Simon, a tanner of hides. Acts 9:32-43
Pastor's Blog
Luke takes us from the earth shattering, history changing conversion of Paul to the upstairs room of a poor home filled with the knitting and sewing that had occupied the good lady who had just died.
If all we knew about Peter was that he healed a disabled man and had raised Dorcas from the dead, that would be enough. Individual hurting people are noticed by God. Their plight matters to Him. Peter was a mediator of God’s love to the “least” among us.
Dorcas was an unsung hero of the faith and Luke makes sure she makes it into his story. Peter noticed her, God noticed her and Luke noticed her enough to highlight her in his story.
Luke makes the point well: There is no such thing as a small errand in the Kingdom of God.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
November 25, 2010
“Phew!” Glad we Got him out of the Way!!!
Acts 9;23-31
“some of the Jews plotted together to kill him . . . . So during the night, some of the other believers lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the city wall.
When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, . . the believers . . . were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer! Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them about Saul’s conversion and his bold preaching.
So Saul stayed with the apostles and went all around Jerusalem with them, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He debated with some Greek-speaking Jews, but they tried to murder him. 30 When the believers heard about this, they . . . sent him away to Tarsus, his hometown. 31 The church then had peace . . . ., and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers." Acts 9:23-31
Pastor's Blog:
“So, Paul, how did you start your great missionary career?” . . . “I was let down through the wall and ran away!”
Actually that is more or less what Paul himself wrote at the end of 2 Corinthians 11 deliberately showing the proud Corinthians that he was proclaiming the God who delights in standing everything on its head. All human boasting, a human pride has to be upended so that God’s glory can shine through.
So we shouldn’t be surprised that the first chapters of Paul’s great missionary career were full of plots and runnings away. You can almost feel the sigh of relief in verse 30, as the Jerusalem apostles finally pack Saul off by boat from Caesarea to Tarsus. Phew! That’s one bit of trouble out of the way. It’s actually kind of funny . . . . the Jesus followers finally get a little peace once Paul is gone!
Of course Luke is making a really important point. When God is at work, things are stirred up. There’s energy of all kinds. Saul had been stopped in his tracks, he was turned around. Yet the miracle caused not only more outpouring of the work of God but also more problems.
Is God stirring your world? Do you see God at work or do you just see problems?
Acts 9;23-31
“some of the Jews plotted together to kill him . . . . So during the night, some of the other believers lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the city wall.
When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, . . the believers . . . were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer! Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them about Saul’s conversion and his bold preaching.
So Saul stayed with the apostles and went all around Jerusalem with them, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He debated with some Greek-speaking Jews, but they tried to murder him. 30 When the believers heard about this, they . . . sent him away to Tarsus, his hometown. 31 The church then had peace . . . ., and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers." Acts 9:23-31
Pastor's Blog:
“So, Paul, how did you start your great missionary career?” . . . “I was let down through the wall and ran away!”
Actually that is more or less what Paul himself wrote at the end of 2 Corinthians 11 deliberately showing the proud Corinthians that he was proclaiming the God who delights in standing everything on its head. All human boasting, a human pride has to be upended so that God’s glory can shine through.
So we shouldn’t be surprised that the first chapters of Paul’s great missionary career were full of plots and runnings away. You can almost feel the sigh of relief in verse 30, as the Jerusalem apostles finally pack Saul off by boat from Caesarea to Tarsus. Phew! That’s one bit of trouble out of the way. It’s actually kind of funny . . . . the Jesus followers finally get a little peace once Paul is gone!
Of course Luke is making a really important point. When God is at work, things are stirred up. There’s energy of all kinds. Saul had been stopped in his tracks, he was turned around. Yet the miracle caused not only more outpouring of the work of God but also more problems.
Is God stirring your world? Do you see God at work or do you just see problems?
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
November 24, 2010
Son of God and Messiah
Acts 9:19-22(NLT)
Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days. 20 And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, 'He is indeed the Son of God!' 21 All who heard him were amazed. 'Isn’t this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem?' they asked. 'And didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them in chains to the leading priests?' 22 Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah." Acts 9:19-22 (NLT)
Pastor's Blog?
What do Son of God (vs 20) and Messiah (vs22) mean? What was Paul preaching?
What is the relationship between Son of God and Messiah? Luke doesn’t explain. “Son of God” is not used much in the OT, but when it is, it refers to two things: the people of Israel and the son of David, the Messiah himself. (2 Samuel 7:12-14, Psalm 2:7).
The whole point is that God will reach the world through Israel’s Messiah. Yet, triumphalistic as these verses are, Paul also remembers Isaiah’s vision of the suffering servant (Is. 53) who doesn’t conquer, rather saves by being “conquered”. Paul then put the resurrection into this mix and his preaching beginning here and continuing for the next 30 years has become the primary way Christians have understood God’s redemptive plan for the world, the single story of God rescuing the world beginning in Genesis 12 and ending in Revelation.
It will be 14 years between his conversion and the beginning of his most profound teachings in the late 40’s. He needed to sort through everything and get it right. He learned how to present The Message.
None of us is called to be an apostle Paul, but each of us can look up passages, study them, and with the help of others learn for ourselves God’s salvation plan for the world so that we can tell others. It’s not too hard. It just takes time and effort.
Acts 9:19-22(NLT)
Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days. 20 And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, 'He is indeed the Son of God!' 21 All who heard him were amazed. 'Isn’t this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem?' they asked. 'And didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them in chains to the leading priests?' 22 Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah." Acts 9:19-22 (NLT)
Pastor's Blog?
What do Son of God (vs 20) and Messiah (vs22) mean? What was Paul preaching?
What is the relationship between Son of God and Messiah? Luke doesn’t explain. “Son of God” is not used much in the OT, but when it is, it refers to two things: the people of Israel and the son of David, the Messiah himself. (2 Samuel 7:12-14, Psalm 2:7).
The whole point is that God will reach the world through Israel’s Messiah. Yet, triumphalistic as these verses are, Paul also remembers Isaiah’s vision of the suffering servant (Is. 53) who doesn’t conquer, rather saves by being “conquered”. Paul then put the resurrection into this mix and his preaching beginning here and continuing for the next 30 years has become the primary way Christians have understood God’s redemptive plan for the world, the single story of God rescuing the world beginning in Genesis 12 and ending in Revelation.
It will be 14 years between his conversion and the beginning of his most profound teachings in the late 40’s. He needed to sort through everything and get it right. He learned how to present The Message.
None of us is called to be an apostle Paul, but each of us can look up passages, study them, and with the help of others learn for ourselves God’s salvation plan for the world so that we can tell others. It’s not too hard. It just takes time and effort.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
November 23, 2010
The Courage of Ananias
“There was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, 'Ananias!' 'Yes, Lord!' he replied. 11 The Lord said, 'Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. 12 I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.'
'But Lord,' exclaimed Ananias, 'I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! 14 And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.' 15 But the Lord said, 'Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. 16 And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.'
So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, 'Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.' 18 Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized." Acts 9:10-18 (NLT)
Pastor's Blog:
I wonder if in vs. 15 we might be seeing God’s sense of humor.
Can you imagine? God wants to reach all the pagan world, not just Israel. So what’s He do? He chooses a hard line, fanatical, ultra nationalist, super-orthodox, Pharisaic Jew!!
Saul had been on mission to cause the suffering of the Jesus fanatics and now he is called not only to join them but to suffer on their behalf. God is the God of radical turn-arounds. In fact Saul (renamed Paul) will spend a life a suffering. So it is with Saul. So it is with Ananias. When God calls someone, said Dietrich Bonhoeffer, he bids them come and die. As with Saul and with Ananias, so with us.
My it never be said of any of us that we are in this thing (following Christ) for a comfortable life, human glory, power or wealth.
The story of Ananias is legendary among believers. This was his moment and he got it right.
“There was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, 'Ananias!' 'Yes, Lord!' he replied. 11 The Lord said, 'Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. 12 I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.'
'But Lord,' exclaimed Ananias, 'I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! 14 And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.' 15 But the Lord said, 'Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. 16 And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.'
So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, 'Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.' 18 Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized." Acts 9:10-18 (NLT)
Pastor's Blog:
I wonder if in vs. 15 we might be seeing God’s sense of humor.
Can you imagine? God wants to reach all the pagan world, not just Israel. So what’s He do? He chooses a hard line, fanatical, ultra nationalist, super-orthodox, Pharisaic Jew!!
Saul had been on mission to cause the suffering of the Jesus fanatics and now he is called not only to join them but to suffer on their behalf. God is the God of radical turn-arounds. In fact Saul (renamed Paul) will spend a life a suffering. So it is with Saul. So it is with Ananias. When God calls someone, said Dietrich Bonhoeffer, he bids them come and die. As with Saul and with Ananias, so with us.
My it never be said of any of us that we are in this thing (following Christ) for a comfortable life, human glory, power or wealth.
The story of Ananias is legendary among believers. This was his moment and he got it right.
Monday, November 22, 2010
November 22, 2010
The Conversion of the Apostle Paul
1 Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. 2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.
3 As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” 5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Acts 9:1-5
Pastor's Blog:
“If there is a God, if there is a spiritual dimension to our world, if there are indeed many dimensions to our world, then you are unlikely to get in touch with them, or only at a great distance, by holding off from anything which might open you to the enormous and powerful world which throbs with life and possibility never suspected by the average churchgoer”.
Try reading Ezekiel 1 as an exercise designed to lead you to encounter the holiness of God. This was a practice of at least some Jews and it has been suggested by serious scholars that this is exactly what the apostle Paul was doing on his way to Damascus. His mission to eradicate the Christ followers was one of seeking to honor God after all.
Imagine then his seeing with the eyes of his heart the glorious figure on the chariot, flaming with fire, surrounded by brilliant light and then seeing with his physical eyes, could it be, the face, the face of Jesus?!!
Suddenly Saul’s world is turned upside down. Terror, ruin, sorrow, shame, awe, horror, glory, and terror again, must have swept over him. He had seen Jesus (2 Cor 4:6, 1 Cor 9:1). Now the law and prophets had not only come true, they have been ripped apart and put back together again by Jesus.
Can you imagine Paul’s brilliant mind sweeping from OT text to text and seeing it anew! “ It’s all there, it’s all there!” he must certainly have thought.
Has your world ever been rocked by Jesus?
1 Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. 2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.
3 As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” 5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Acts 9:1-5
Pastor's Blog:
“If there is a God, if there is a spiritual dimension to our world, if there are indeed many dimensions to our world, then you are unlikely to get in touch with them, or only at a great distance, by holding off from anything which might open you to the enormous and powerful world which throbs with life and possibility never suspected by the average churchgoer”.
Try reading Ezekiel 1 as an exercise designed to lead you to encounter the holiness of God. This was a practice of at least some Jews and it has been suggested by serious scholars that this is exactly what the apostle Paul was doing on his way to Damascus. His mission to eradicate the Christ followers was one of seeking to honor God after all.
Imagine then his seeing with the eyes of his heart the glorious figure on the chariot, flaming with fire, surrounded by brilliant light and then seeing with his physical eyes, could it be, the face, the face of Jesus?!!
Suddenly Saul’s world is turned upside down. Terror, ruin, sorrow, shame, awe, horror, glory, and terror again, must have swept over him. He had seen Jesus (2 Cor 4:6, 1 Cor 9:1). Now the law and prophets had not only come true, they have been ripped apart and put back together again by Jesus.
Can you imagine Paul’s brilliant mind sweeping from OT text to text and seeing it anew! “ It’s all there, it’s all there!” he must certainly have thought.
Has your world ever been rocked by Jesus?
Friday, November 19, 2010
November 19, 2010
You Must Learn to Connect the Dots
"Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, 'Do you understand what you are reading?' 31 The man replied, 'How can I, unless someone instructs me?' And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him.
The passage of Scripture he had been reading was this:
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. 33 He was humiliated and received no justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”
The eunuch asked Philip, 'Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?' So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus.
As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, 'Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?' 37 38 He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing." Acts 8:30-40 (NLT)
Pastor's Blog
I can’t think of any other way to say it. If you are a Christian, you have a responsibility to be able to explain the Bible basics to another person.
The Ethiopian was reading Isaiah 53. Philip knew that passage and then connected it to Jesus. The Ethiopian saw the connection, believed, was baptized, was saved, and then took the Gospel to his homeland where Christianity has ebbed and flowed for the last 2,000 years (mostly in the Coptic church).
I think the primary way to learn the basics is to decide to do so and then act on that decision in whatever way works for you. It is not true that it is too hard. All it takes is time, trouble, and intentionality. If you are reading these comments you are probably a person who has done or is doing this very thing. I congratulate you!!! You are among a minority of Christians who are intentional about learning the Bible and desire to communicate its message to others.
I encourage you to continue learning, ask God for opportunities to “connect the dots” for others and then to actually walk through the door when God opens one up.
Notice that the Ethiopian asked questions. God was already working on him. Phillip just responded to his inquisitiveness. God prepares the opportunities, we just need to keep our eyes open and maintain our preparedness. We don’t knock down doors, we just walk through them. But that in itself is a big responsibility.
"Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, 'Do you understand what you are reading?' 31 The man replied, 'How can I, unless someone instructs me?' And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him.
The passage of Scripture he had been reading was this:
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. 33 He was humiliated and received no justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”
The eunuch asked Philip, 'Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?' So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus.
As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, 'Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?' 37 38 He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing." Acts 8:30-40 (NLT)
Pastor's Blog
I can’t think of any other way to say it. If you are a Christian, you have a responsibility to be able to explain the Bible basics to another person.
The Ethiopian was reading Isaiah 53. Philip knew that passage and then connected it to Jesus. The Ethiopian saw the connection, believed, was baptized, was saved, and then took the Gospel to his homeland where Christianity has ebbed and flowed for the last 2,000 years (mostly in the Coptic church).
I think the primary way to learn the basics is to decide to do so and then act on that decision in whatever way works for you. It is not true that it is too hard. All it takes is time, trouble, and intentionality. If you are reading these comments you are probably a person who has done or is doing this very thing. I congratulate you!!! You are among a minority of Christians who are intentional about learning the Bible and desire to communicate its message to others.
I encourage you to continue learning, ask God for opportunities to “connect the dots” for others and then to actually walk through the door when God opens one up.
Notice that the Ethiopian asked questions. God was already working on him. Phillip just responded to his inquisitiveness. God prepares the opportunities, we just need to keep our eyes open and maintain our preparedness. We don’t knock down doors, we just walk through them. But that in itself is a big responsibility.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
November 18, 2010
Why Do You Ignore God’s Promptings?
"As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, 'Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.' 27 So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah. 29 The Holy Spirit said to Philip, 'Go over and walk along beside the carriage.' " Acts 8:26-29
Pastor's Blog
It happens all the time. I get a thought, think it may be a prompting from God, then think maybe it’s not, then the prompting has come and gone without my having acted on it.
Sound familiar? The reasons I do this range from not trusting my thoughts, to not believing God “speaks” that directly, to being too “into” my own agenda for the day.
Here’s a thought that is probably worth heeding. It’s better to err on the side of following a prompting than to err on the side of ignoring one. The latter is too easy and leaves me living a self –directed life. The former is hard, requires interruptibility and inconvenience, and gets me off of myself and into others. Sounds like something God would do. Finally, how will I know if the prompting is from God or not unless I follow it? If it wasn’t from God, then at the very least I practiced obedience. At worst I lost some time.
If , on the other hand, I err on the side of becoming “unpromptable”, then . . . (you fill in the blank)
Phillip followed his prompting and the Gospel made it to the heart of Ethiopia. That was God’s plan. Phillip just had to “go south” instead of wherever else he was headed.
What is your latest “go south” prompting from the Lord?
"As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, 'Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.' 27 So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah. 29 The Holy Spirit said to Philip, 'Go over and walk along beside the carriage.' " Acts 8:26-29
Pastor's Blog
It happens all the time. I get a thought, think it may be a prompting from God, then think maybe it’s not, then the prompting has come and gone without my having acted on it.
Sound familiar? The reasons I do this range from not trusting my thoughts, to not believing God “speaks” that directly, to being too “into” my own agenda for the day.
Here’s a thought that is probably worth heeding. It’s better to err on the side of following a prompting than to err on the side of ignoring one. The latter is too easy and leaves me living a self –directed life. The former is hard, requires interruptibility and inconvenience, and gets me off of myself and into others. Sounds like something God would do. Finally, how will I know if the prompting is from God or not unless I follow it? If it wasn’t from God, then at the very least I practiced obedience. At worst I lost some time.
If , on the other hand, I err on the side of becoming “unpromptable”, then . . . (you fill in the blank)
Phillip followed his prompting and the Gospel made it to the heart of Ethiopia. That was God’s plan. Phillip just had to “go south” instead of wherever else he was headed.
What is your latest “go south” prompting from the Lord?
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
November 17, 2010
God is Not for Sale
"Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years . . . . . Everyone . . . . spoke of him as 'the Great One—the Power of God.' . . . . . Then Simon became a believer and was baptized. . . . When Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power. . . .
But Peter replied, 'May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought!' " Acts 8:15-20
Pastor's Blog
Believers are in danger of wanting the blessings and power of God, but not God Himself.
Simon wanted, not the gift of the Holy Spirit, but the power to lay hands on people and have the Spirit come upon them. And He thought Peter would sell him this power for money (this is where the word “simony” comes from, which means the attempt to buy spiritual office, status or power.
Peter’s reply is swift. Destruction is the only destination for such money, he says, and “you will be destroyed along with it”. (Luke doesn’t tell us what happened to Simon)
I find this so challenging. Do I honor God with preconceived notions of who God ought to be and what He ought to do, and thereby end up seeking the things of God instead of God? The only way through this I’ve found, at least for me, is to submit to God no matter what, accepting the fact that no matter what I do, or how “good” I may, nothing better that that which I already have may ever come my way.
I have earned nothing more than I already have. Nothing I can do can “buy” anything better than what I have at this very moment. It’s all gift. It’s all gift. God can’t be bought.
"Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years . . . . . Everyone . . . . spoke of him as 'the Great One—the Power of God.' . . . . . Then Simon became a believer and was baptized. . . . When Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power. . . .
But Peter replied, 'May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought!' " Acts 8:15-20
Pastor's Blog
Believers are in danger of wanting the blessings and power of God, but not God Himself.
Simon wanted, not the gift of the Holy Spirit, but the power to lay hands on people and have the Spirit come upon them. And He thought Peter would sell him this power for money (this is where the word “simony” comes from, which means the attempt to buy spiritual office, status or power.
Peter’s reply is swift. Destruction is the only destination for such money, he says, and “you will be destroyed along with it”. (Luke doesn’t tell us what happened to Simon)
I find this so challenging. Do I honor God with preconceived notions of who God ought to be and what He ought to do, and thereby end up seeking the things of God instead of God? The only way through this I’ve found, at least for me, is to submit to God no matter what, accepting the fact that no matter what I do, or how “good” I may, nothing better that that which I already have may ever come my way.
I have earned nothing more than I already have. Nothing I can do can “buy” anything better than what I have at this very moment. It’s all gift. It’s all gift. God can’t be bought.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
November 16, 2010
God Will Send You to Someone You Don’t Like
"Philip went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah. 6 Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. 7 Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city." Acts 8:5-8
Pastor's Blog
So, who is it you don’t like? What does God want you to do about that? Am I supposed to suddenly become best friends with him or her?
Acts 1:8 records Jesus telling his followers to reach out to Jerusalem, Judea and also Samaria. The first two were “family”. Samaria wasn’t. Samaria and Judea got along kind of like India and Pakistan. Samaria was an enemy.
Who don’t you get along with? Did you know that Jesus wants you to be a witness to the salvation of God through Jesus Christ to people in your sphere of Influence whom you don’t like?
What are you going to do about that?
One thing you can do is to recognize that that other person is in a position to be influenced by you whether you like it or not. And to recognize that isn’t an accident. And to conclude therefore that you are given spiritual responsibility for that person you don’t like. God has entrusted you with the gospel and for you not be a good steward of that trust in the life of that other person is a sin. Christians are not permitted to look at others and say “he or she is not my problem”. God has not granted us that relief.
Philip went to Samaria. But Samaria was on his God Given itinerary. Who’s on your God given itinerary?
"Philip went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah. 6 Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. 7 Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city." Acts 8:5-8
Pastor's Blog
So, who is it you don’t like? What does God want you to do about that? Am I supposed to suddenly become best friends with him or her?
Acts 1:8 records Jesus telling his followers to reach out to Jerusalem, Judea and also Samaria. The first two were “family”. Samaria wasn’t. Samaria and Judea got along kind of like India and Pakistan. Samaria was an enemy.
Who don’t you get along with? Did you know that Jesus wants you to be a witness to the salvation of God through Jesus Christ to people in your sphere of Influence whom you don’t like?
What are you going to do about that?
One thing you can do is to recognize that that other person is in a position to be influenced by you whether you like it or not. And to recognize that isn’t an accident. And to conclude therefore that you are given spiritual responsibility for that person you don’t like. God has entrusted you with the gospel and for you not be a good steward of that trust in the life of that other person is a sin. Christians are not permitted to look at others and say “he or she is not my problem”. God has not granted us that relief.
Philip went to Samaria. But Samaria was on his God Given itinerary. Who’s on your God given itinerary?
Monday, November 15, 2010
November 15, 2010
God Never Wastes a Tragedy
"As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, . . .'Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!' And with that, he died.
Saul (who later became the Apostle Paul who wrote most of the New Testament) agreed completely with the killing of Stephen.
A great wave of persecution began that day. . . .Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison. 4 But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went." Acts 7:57-8:1-4
Pastor's Blog
Stephen decides to follow Christ and right away dies a tragic death. What a waste! Or was it?
If the Bible is correct in its view that this life is only the duration of a breath and that life in the resurrection in the new creation is big and long beyond imagination, then a short life lived for and used by God for his purpose is not bad.
Life is not about comfort or pain or quality or longevity. It is about becoming God’s servant and living His purpose in whatever years and circumstances you are given. The real life for which this one is the preparation begins after this one. This life is the cover page, the next one is begins the book.
Stephen did what Jesus did. He offered forgiveness to the unforgivable. Saul heard that and was motivated even more to kill people like Stephen. Yet Stephen’s witness was part of the intervention of God which broke Saul and changed him into the Paul who became one of those people he wanted to rid the world of.
Stephen’s life was not a waste. A life of prosperity, character, public acclaim and success, even characterized by a generous spirit, although still used by God (God uses all things for good), can still be a waste in terms of the individual person’s heart. If all that was about him, then, well yes, what a waste.
"As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, . . .'Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!' And with that, he died.
Saul (who later became the Apostle Paul who wrote most of the New Testament) agreed completely with the killing of Stephen.
A great wave of persecution began that day. . . .Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison. 4 But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went." Acts 7:57-8:1-4
Pastor's Blog
Stephen decides to follow Christ and right away dies a tragic death. What a waste! Or was it?
If the Bible is correct in its view that this life is only the duration of a breath and that life in the resurrection in the new creation is big and long beyond imagination, then a short life lived for and used by God for his purpose is not bad.
Life is not about comfort or pain or quality or longevity. It is about becoming God’s servant and living His purpose in whatever years and circumstances you are given. The real life for which this one is the preparation begins after this one. This life is the cover page, the next one is begins the book.
Stephen did what Jesus did. He offered forgiveness to the unforgivable. Saul heard that and was motivated even more to kill people like Stephen. Yet Stephen’s witness was part of the intervention of God which broke Saul and changed him into the Paul who became one of those people he wanted to rid the world of.
Stephen’s life was not a waste. A life of prosperity, character, public acclaim and success, even characterized by a generous spirit, although still used by God (God uses all things for good), can still be a waste in terms of the individual person’s heart. If all that was about him, then, well yes, what a waste.
Friday, November 12, 2010
November 12, 2010
When Trouble Comes, Where Do You Look?
Acts 6:15 "And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel."
Acts 7:55 "But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;"
Pastor's Blog
This is no prayer meeting these men are dragging Stephen to. Their intention is pretty clear, they do not like the Gospel and they intend to stop it by silencing the messenger.
Stephen has been given the task of the distribution of food to the widows and has been doing it well, so well in fact that many of the priests were coming to faith. Stephen’s ministry is so effective that the temple worship is being affected. It might be one thing to be feeding widows it is another thing all together to make serious inroads into the Jewish faith, costumes and worship. Converting priest to Christianity was no small thing, these priests ministered at the temple. No wonder these men are accusing Stephen of speaking against the Law and the Temple. Stephen is now falsely accused and dragged before the Council, the same Council that had just dealt with Peter and John.
Yesterday we saw the need for others in times like this, but what happens when we find ourselves alone. We can not look to someone else, we are alone or are we? Jesus said “I will never leave you or forsake you” so we must not be alone. It might feel lonely but this is never an indication that we are alone. We are not alone because scripture tells us we are not even if our feelings tell us different. If it is between our feeling and God’s Word, the Word is right every time. What we need is to get our emotions to align with God’s Word. This is done by where we place our focus.
The mob put their focus on Stephen and what he was saying. They had already made up their mind about his message before hand. They simply needed him to cross the line. In other words they were waiting to rush him. Stephen, on the other hand, put his focus on Christ and Him crucified. When he was alone and in need in an earthly sense, he found he was not alone at all. He in fact had all of Heaven at his aide. Stephen is a wonderful example of a life lived in surrender in small ways each day which prepared him for a day when surrender would be all he had. Surrender for Stephen had not become “second nature”, but in fact it had become his new nature. This is what God wishes from all His children.
Acts 6:15 "And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel."
Acts 7:55 "But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;"
Pastor's Blog
This is no prayer meeting these men are dragging Stephen to. Their intention is pretty clear, they do not like the Gospel and they intend to stop it by silencing the messenger.
Stephen has been given the task of the distribution of food to the widows and has been doing it well, so well in fact that many of the priests were coming to faith. Stephen’s ministry is so effective that the temple worship is being affected. It might be one thing to be feeding widows it is another thing all together to make serious inroads into the Jewish faith, costumes and worship. Converting priest to Christianity was no small thing, these priests ministered at the temple. No wonder these men are accusing Stephen of speaking against the Law and the Temple. Stephen is now falsely accused and dragged before the Council, the same Council that had just dealt with Peter and John.
Yesterday we saw the need for others in times like this, but what happens when we find ourselves alone. We can not look to someone else, we are alone or are we? Jesus said “I will never leave you or forsake you” so we must not be alone. It might feel lonely but this is never an indication that we are alone. We are not alone because scripture tells us we are not even if our feelings tell us different. If it is between our feeling and God’s Word, the Word is right every time. What we need is to get our emotions to align with God’s Word. This is done by where we place our focus.
The mob put their focus on Stephen and what he was saying. They had already made up their mind about his message before hand. They simply needed him to cross the line. In other words they were waiting to rush him. Stephen, on the other hand, put his focus on Christ and Him crucified. When he was alone and in need in an earthly sense, he found he was not alone at all. He in fact had all of Heaven at his aide. Stephen is a wonderful example of a life lived in surrender in small ways each day which prepared him for a day when surrender would be all he had. Surrender for Stephen had not become “second nature”, but in fact it had become his new nature. This is what God wishes from all His children.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
November 11, 2010
When Contention Moves to Misrepresentation and Outright Anger.
Acts 6:11 "Then they bribed men, who said, 'We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.' "
Acts 6:12 "And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,"
Acts 6:13 "And set up false witnesses, who said, 'This man ceases not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:'"
Pastor's Blog
Have you ever been going along minding your own business, doing what you are supposed to be doing and have someone attack you? Attack not just what you are doing but where the attack becomes personal?
Well if you have then you have been persecuted. Now imagine that happening because you are stepping out in faith and following God. Are we not supposed to be protected from this kind of treatment when we are in His service? The Bible says no, “all those who would live Godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” 2 Timothy 3:12. If our idea of the Christian life is that we go from faith to faith and glory to glory with no opposition then there is something wrong in our thinking. We are missing a major part of the Gospel message, all of those who wish to grow in their relationship with God will sooner or later find themselves in pain, sorrow, trouble, persecution or something of the like. Scripture tells us, as well as life experience that no one escapes trouble in this world. Scripture tells us that it is not what we go through but how we go through it that makes all the difference. In other words we are not defined by what happens to us but by how we respond. This is not to diminish in any way the pain and sorrow, since of loss or problems we go through. It is to say that we are not to let them define our faith, our view of God or let them rewrite God’s plan for us. This can be a very hard thing to do and one of the many reasons we need others around us to love us and keep us on the right path.
Being a person who enjoys being alone allows a lot of time for reflection and quiet time with God which I love so much yet there is a danger if I do not seek to balance it with time in fellowship, real fellowship. I need others and so do you. I wonder if Paul would have gone on when he was stoned had it not been for Barnabas. Would Peter have rejoiced when he was beaten if it were not for John, would Silas have sung if it were not for Paul? When Jesus sends out the disciples they are told to carry no bag, no shoes no purse just do not go alone. Jesus sends them out in two’s as lambs among wolves Luke 10:1-4. Fellowship is not just a good idea; it is a vital necessity for the Christian life. We all need comfort; healing encouragement and perspective and Gods answer to these needs is others.
Acts 6:11 "Then they bribed men, who said, 'We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.' "
Acts 6:12 "And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,"
Acts 6:13 "And set up false witnesses, who said, 'This man ceases not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:'"
Pastor's Blog
Have you ever been going along minding your own business, doing what you are supposed to be doing and have someone attack you? Attack not just what you are doing but where the attack becomes personal?
Well if you have then you have been persecuted. Now imagine that happening because you are stepping out in faith and following God. Are we not supposed to be protected from this kind of treatment when we are in His service? The Bible says no, “all those who would live Godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” 2 Timothy 3:12. If our idea of the Christian life is that we go from faith to faith and glory to glory with no opposition then there is something wrong in our thinking. We are missing a major part of the Gospel message, all of those who wish to grow in their relationship with God will sooner or later find themselves in pain, sorrow, trouble, persecution or something of the like. Scripture tells us, as well as life experience that no one escapes trouble in this world. Scripture tells us that it is not what we go through but how we go through it that makes all the difference. In other words we are not defined by what happens to us but by how we respond. This is not to diminish in any way the pain and sorrow, since of loss or problems we go through. It is to say that we are not to let them define our faith, our view of God or let them rewrite God’s plan for us. This can be a very hard thing to do and one of the many reasons we need others around us to love us and keep us on the right path.
Being a person who enjoys being alone allows a lot of time for reflection and quiet time with God which I love so much yet there is a danger if I do not seek to balance it with time in fellowship, real fellowship. I need others and so do you. I wonder if Paul would have gone on when he was stoned had it not been for Barnabas. Would Peter have rejoiced when he was beaten if it were not for John, would Silas have sung if it were not for Paul? When Jesus sends out the disciples they are told to carry no bag, no shoes no purse just do not go alone. Jesus sends them out in two’s as lambs among wolves Luke 10:1-4. Fellowship is not just a good idea; it is a vital necessity for the Christian life. We all need comfort; healing encouragement and perspective and Gods answer to these needs is others.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
November 10, 2010
How to Withstand With Those Who Contend With You?
Acts 6:8 "And Stephen, full of grace and power, wrought great wonders and signs among the people."
Acts 6:9 "But there arose certain of them that were of the synagogue called the synagogue of the Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen."
Acts 6:10 "And they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke."
Pastor's Blog
While serving the widows and preserving the unity some come along who are bothered by what Stephen is saying. What are we to do and where do we find the ability to handle those who are causing trouble in or to the body of Christ?
It starts in verse 8 when we see Stephen was full of grace and power. The power must have given great proof of the truth of the message but the grace is what drew the people in. No wonder Stephen is listed at the top of the men chosen to lead this task. Yet at the same time it is not Stephen at all. Stephen has no claim to the grace for it too, is a gift of God just like faith, wisdom and the Spirit. Stephen is surrendered by the Holy Spirit for Him to do His blessed work from. The same is true of the power; it is not of or from Stephen. It is of the Holy Spirit and directed from Him. It is important for us to remember that it is not in our own strength that we are to stand but in HIS! Praise God then we can do it!
Luke has much to say about this in his Gospel in the 21st chapter and the 14th and
15th verses:
"Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate beforehand what you shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to contradict nor resist."
It is not Stephen’s faith, wisdom, spirit, grace or power that he is operating in it is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ. This is the heart of Galatians 2:20 …”the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of Christ”. It is not Stephen’s life we are looking at it is Christ’s life lived out through Stephan. This has everything to do with focus, our focus.
It is not Stephen’s words or wisdom but Christ’s, so we should be able to be rest in this promise but only if we are already at rest in Him with our focus on Him.
Acts 6:8 "And Stephen, full of grace and power, wrought great wonders and signs among the people."
Acts 6:9 "But there arose certain of them that were of the synagogue called the synagogue of the Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen."
Acts 6:10 "And they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke."
Pastor's Blog
While serving the widows and preserving the unity some come along who are bothered by what Stephen is saying. What are we to do and where do we find the ability to handle those who are causing trouble in or to the body of Christ?
It starts in verse 8 when we see Stephen was full of grace and power. The power must have given great proof of the truth of the message but the grace is what drew the people in. No wonder Stephen is listed at the top of the men chosen to lead this task. Yet at the same time it is not Stephen at all. Stephen has no claim to the grace for it too, is a gift of God just like faith, wisdom and the Spirit. Stephen is surrendered by the Holy Spirit for Him to do His blessed work from. The same is true of the power; it is not of or from Stephen. It is of the Holy Spirit and directed from Him. It is important for us to remember that it is not in our own strength that we are to stand but in HIS! Praise God then we can do it!
Luke has much to say about this in his Gospel in the 21st chapter and the 14th and
15th verses:
"Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate beforehand what you shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to contradict nor resist."
It is not Stephen’s faith, wisdom, spirit, grace or power that he is operating in it is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ. This is the heart of Galatians 2:20 …”the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of Christ”. It is not Stephen’s life we are looking at it is Christ’s life lived out through Stephan. This has everything to do with focus, our focus.
It is not Stephen’s words or wisdom but Christ’s, so we should be able to be rest in this promise but only if we are already at rest in Him with our focus on Him.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
November 9, 2010
Stephen Full of the Spirit of Wisdom and of Faith.
Acts 6:3 "Look ye out therefore, brethren, from among you seven men of good report, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business."
Acts 6:4 "But we will continue steadfastly in prayer, and in the ministry of the word."
Acts 6:5 "And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus a proselyte of Antioch;"
Pastor's Blog
What does it look like to be full of the Spirit or of wisdom or even faith? Whatever it is it must have been visible because the Apostles asked the people to choose men who possessed these attributes.
We saw in part what happened at Pentecost with the initial filling of the Spirit upon the Church, but what is it to be full of the Spirit and what does it look like? We know from the teaching of the Gospels that the Spirit of God is a gift given to us in which we play no part. It is based solely upon the grace of God and we only need to receive. Wisdom and faith are different though. Wisdom we are told to ask for in James 1 and it too will be given, but if we doubt we will receive nothing. So asking and not doubting are our part although wisdom is still a gift given. With faith we are told “faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God”. Romans 12:3 says “to each man is given a measure of faith” so we see like the Spirit and wisdom, faith is also a gift but it comes in seed form and must be nurtured by hearing. All three are gifts given that can not be acquired by any other means except God Himself , yet the last two require something from us. Wisdom that requires a lack of doubting, which is directly connected to faith and faith which needs the wisdom to know how to nurture it. It might seem all twisted up and in a way it is but not so twisted that it does not make sense. Wisdom also needs asking and faith also needs hearing and both of these are foundational components of communication. When we are communicating with God we call that prayer. We find wisdom in the scriptures as well as our ability to hear comes from them as well, so the Word of God is also critical to our being full of the Spirit of wisdom and of faith.
The Word and prayer go together and can not be separated. If one leans on the Word they will have knowledge/information but without prayer they might well lack the revelation to use it to the glory of God. If they lean on prayer they may receive revelation but lack the knowledge of where it comes from, maybe not from God.
Being full of the Spirit and being full of the Word both have the same outworking according to scripture. In Ephesians 5:18-6:9 and Colossians 3:16-22 we see that being filled with the Spirit and being filled with the Word produce the same result and it is visible and verifiable in the relationships closest to us, our families. This should also extend to our Church family but must start in our homes. I felt the Spirit of God once tell me “if you can not run your house why would I want you to run mine”. Being gifted by God does not mean matured in God. We need the Word of God building us up and at the same time we need prayer to keep us humble that we might become what a dying world needs, full of the Spirit of wisdom and of faith.
Acts 6:3 "Look ye out therefore, brethren, from among you seven men of good report, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business."
Acts 6:4 "But we will continue steadfastly in prayer, and in the ministry of the word."
Acts 6:5 "And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus a proselyte of Antioch;"
Pastor's Blog
What does it look like to be full of the Spirit or of wisdom or even faith? Whatever it is it must have been visible because the Apostles asked the people to choose men who possessed these attributes.
We saw in part what happened at Pentecost with the initial filling of the Spirit upon the Church, but what is it to be full of the Spirit and what does it look like? We know from the teaching of the Gospels that the Spirit of God is a gift given to us in which we play no part. It is based solely upon the grace of God and we only need to receive. Wisdom and faith are different though. Wisdom we are told to ask for in James 1 and it too will be given, but if we doubt we will receive nothing. So asking and not doubting are our part although wisdom is still a gift given. With faith we are told “faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God”. Romans 12:3 says “to each man is given a measure of faith” so we see like the Spirit and wisdom, faith is also a gift but it comes in seed form and must be nurtured by hearing. All three are gifts given that can not be acquired by any other means except God Himself , yet the last two require something from us. Wisdom that requires a lack of doubting, which is directly connected to faith and faith which needs the wisdom to know how to nurture it. It might seem all twisted up and in a way it is but not so twisted that it does not make sense. Wisdom also needs asking and faith also needs hearing and both of these are foundational components of communication. When we are communicating with God we call that prayer. We find wisdom in the scriptures as well as our ability to hear comes from them as well, so the Word of God is also critical to our being full of the Spirit of wisdom and of faith.
The Word and prayer go together and can not be separated. If one leans on the Word they will have knowledge/information but without prayer they might well lack the revelation to use it to the glory of God. If they lean on prayer they may receive revelation but lack the knowledge of where it comes from, maybe not from God.
Being full of the Spirit and being full of the Word both have the same outworking according to scripture. In Ephesians 5:18-6:9 and Colossians 3:16-22 we see that being filled with the Spirit and being filled with the Word produce the same result and it is visible and verifiable in the relationships closest to us, our families. This should also extend to our Church family but must start in our homes. I felt the Spirit of God once tell me “if you can not run your house why would I want you to run mine”. Being gifted by God does not mean matured in God. We need the Word of God building us up and at the same time we need prayer to keep us humble that we might become what a dying world needs, full of the Spirit of wisdom and of faith.
Monday, November 8, 2010
November 8, 2010
A Simple Assignment or is It?
Acts 6:7
"And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith."
Pastor's Blog
The task of serving the widows tables may at first glance seem needful but how could it possibly further the Gospel.
There is a single stream of thought from verse 1 through verse 10 which then flows into the trouble that starts in the 11th. The problem for the Hellenistic Jews was not just that their widows were being overlooked, but it in fact had become a point of division that was creeping into the Church. The Apostles saw their need for the Word and Prayer and at the same time saw the needs of the widows and the growing problem of racial tension. They rightly understood that the simple feeding of the widows would not heal all the troubles. They told the “all the congregation” Hellenistic and native Jew alike to select men to take charge of the task. Not just any men, men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of Wisdom. The disciples saw that the true need was greater than meeting the physical needs of the poor and helpless. By allowing the people to choose the men the racial tension would have been eased. The entire congregation would have felt their voice was heard and equal interest would be given to their situation. By giving the qualifications for the men the Apostles knew the Spirit of God would guide these men to bring about unity which was lacking between the two groups.
In other words the unequal distribution of food becomes an opportunity to bring about true unity which had never before existed in the Jewish community in Jerusalem.
Is it possible that by devoting themselves to the Word and to Prayer the apostles were able to discern all the needs, not just those needs that were manifest outwardly. What if we were to spend more of our time devoting ourselves to the Word and Prayer, not just doing them but really devoting ourselves, the totality of our being to them, would we then be able to discern the real true needs of those around us?
We are all given the “ministry of reconciliation” what we need is to be able to clearly see what the root problem is and how to heal it. This only comes when we devote ourselves to both the Word and Prayer.
Acts 6:7
"And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith."
Pastor's Blog
The task of serving the widows tables may at first glance seem needful but how could it possibly further the Gospel.
There is a single stream of thought from verse 1 through verse 10 which then flows into the trouble that starts in the 11th. The problem for the Hellenistic Jews was not just that their widows were being overlooked, but it in fact had become a point of division that was creeping into the Church. The Apostles saw their need for the Word and Prayer and at the same time saw the needs of the widows and the growing problem of racial tension. They rightly understood that the simple feeding of the widows would not heal all the troubles. They told the “all the congregation” Hellenistic and native Jew alike to select men to take charge of the task. Not just any men, men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of Wisdom. The disciples saw that the true need was greater than meeting the physical needs of the poor and helpless. By allowing the people to choose the men the racial tension would have been eased. The entire congregation would have felt their voice was heard and equal interest would be given to their situation. By giving the qualifications for the men the Apostles knew the Spirit of God would guide these men to bring about unity which was lacking between the two groups.
In other words the unequal distribution of food becomes an opportunity to bring about true unity which had never before existed in the Jewish community in Jerusalem.
Is it possible that by devoting themselves to the Word and to Prayer the apostles were able to discern all the needs, not just those needs that were manifest outwardly. What if we were to spend more of our time devoting ourselves to the Word and Prayer, not just doing them but really devoting ourselves, the totality of our being to them, would we then be able to discern the real true needs of those around us?
We are all given the “ministry of reconciliation” what we need is to be able to clearly see what the root problem is and how to heal it. This only comes when we devote ourselves to both the Word and Prayer.
Friday, November 5, 2010
November 5, 2010
Problems of Family Living
When the Family Just Can’t Get Along
“As the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.
So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, 'We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. 3 And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. 4 Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.' . . . . So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.” Acts 6:1-7 (NLT)
It often happens in families that some feel slighted by others, that some are favored over others and jealously and suspicion arises. The bigger a family gets, the more likely this is to happen. God led this early family of Christians to address this problem in the following way:
• The spiritual leaders saw that it was all the more important that they stay grounded in the “Word of God”. They thought it was more important than ever that took responsibility for knowing what God says and then telling this new expanded family how to live it.
• The spiritual leaders saw also that they needed to pray more, not less. They needed God. They couldn’t do without them.
• They delegated responsibility. Not only does everyone need to take responsibility for making a family work, but it is simply true that in a large group of people, things get complicated and life needs organized and administered.
On a side note, I bet Jesus is glad he didn’t have to live to 60 and have to move into the administration of large groups of people!!)
Making a family work is really, really, really hard. But these three actions apparently addressed the situation. The family grew even more!
When the Family Just Can’t Get Along
“As the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.
So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, 'We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. 3 And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. 4 Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.' . . . . So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.” Acts 6:1-7 (NLT)
It often happens in families that some feel slighted by others, that some are favored over others and jealously and suspicion arises. The bigger a family gets, the more likely this is to happen. God led this early family of Christians to address this problem in the following way:
• The spiritual leaders saw that it was all the more important that they stay grounded in the “Word of God”. They thought it was more important than ever that took responsibility for knowing what God says and then telling this new expanded family how to live it.
• The spiritual leaders saw also that they needed to pray more, not less. They needed God. They couldn’t do without them.
• They delegated responsibility. Not only does everyone need to take responsibility for making a family work, but it is simply true that in a large group of people, things get complicated and life needs organized and administered.
On a side note, I bet Jesus is glad he didn’t have to live to 60 and have to move into the administration of large groups of people!!)
Making a family work is really, really, really hard. But these three actions apparently addressed the situation. The family grew even more!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
November 4, 2010
Problems of Family Living
When Beliefs within the Family Clash
“The high priest and his officials, who were Sadducees . .. . . . arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But an angel opened the gates of the jail, and told them, 2'Go to the Temple and give the people this message of this life!' 21 So at daybreak the apostles entered the Temple, as they were told, and immediately began teaching. .
They then rearrested the apostles . . . . 'Didn’t we tell you never again to teach in this man’s name?' . . . . 29 But Peter and the apostles replied, 'We must obey God rather than any human authority'. . . . .. When they heard this, the high council was furious and decided to kill them. 34 But one member, a Pharisee named Gamaliel . .. .. . said to his colleagues . . .. 'my advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.' Acts 5:17-42
Pastor's Blog
Like this family of Jews, some of whom rejected Jesus and others of whom had begun to follow Him, our families can also experience a “split” based on religious beliefs. It’s a tough thing to face, especially when loyalty to a particular belief trumps loyalty to family. Blame, accusations and mistrust can replace family unity.
Within Judaism there were two approaches to this kind of problem. The “school” of Shammai was harsh: get rid of those who defect to another faith. The “school” of Hillel (the teacher of Gamaliel) said, “Torah is a matter of the heart”. We must “live and let live (my words). (on a side note, the apostle Paul trained under Gamaliel of the “liberal” Hillel “school”)
.
The result of this family spat? It turned out that Gamaliel was wise. If this new faith was not from God , it would fail. If it was from God it can’t be stopped.
From Hillel to Gamaliel to Paul, the New Testament leans away from legalism. The early followers of Jesus were adamant about what they had seen and heard. Sometimes they were “in your face” about it. Yet their heart was to tell everyone they knew, even those who fought them. For the traditionalists “whose world was rocked”, who foundation for living was called into question, Gamaliel was a more than a moderating voice. His was a wise one.
God seems to intervene in all kinds of ways: an angel one day, a leader from the opposition on another day.
Family unity matters. So does loyalty to Jesus. It’s not easy to negotiate these things.
When Beliefs within the Family Clash
“The high priest and his officials, who were Sadducees . .. . . . arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But an angel opened the gates of the jail, and told them, 2'Go to the Temple and give the people this message of this life!' 21 So at daybreak the apostles entered the Temple, as they were told, and immediately began teaching. .
They then rearrested the apostles . . . . 'Didn’t we tell you never again to teach in this man’s name?' . . . . 29 But Peter and the apostles replied, 'We must obey God rather than any human authority'. . . . .. When they heard this, the high council was furious and decided to kill them. 34 But one member, a Pharisee named Gamaliel . .. .. . said to his colleagues . . .. 'my advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.' Acts 5:17-42
Pastor's Blog
Like this family of Jews, some of whom rejected Jesus and others of whom had begun to follow Him, our families can also experience a “split” based on religious beliefs. It’s a tough thing to face, especially when loyalty to a particular belief trumps loyalty to family. Blame, accusations and mistrust can replace family unity.
Within Judaism there were two approaches to this kind of problem. The “school” of Shammai was harsh: get rid of those who defect to another faith. The “school” of Hillel (the teacher of Gamaliel) said, “Torah is a matter of the heart”. We must “live and let live (my words). (on a side note, the apostle Paul trained under Gamaliel of the “liberal” Hillel “school”)
.
The result of this family spat? It turned out that Gamaliel was wise. If this new faith was not from God , it would fail. If it was from God it can’t be stopped.
From Hillel to Gamaliel to Paul, the New Testament leans away from legalism. The early followers of Jesus were adamant about what they had seen and heard. Sometimes they were “in your face” about it. Yet their heart was to tell everyone they knew, even those who fought them. For the traditionalists “whose world was rocked”, who foundation for living was called into question, Gamaliel was a more than a moderating voice. His was a wise one.
God seems to intervene in all kinds of ways: an angel one day, a leader from the opposition on another day.
Family unity matters. So does loyalty to Jesus. It’s not easy to negotiate these things.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
November 3, 2010
Problems of Family Living
When Others think Your Faith is Weird.
“The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers were meeting regularly at the Temple . . . . . . But no one else dared to join them, even though all the people had high regard for them.
14 Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord—crowds of both men and women. 15 As a result of the apostles’ work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter’s shadow might fall across some of them as he went by. 16 Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed." Acts 5:12-16
Pastor's Blog
Do your neighbors ever wonder why you spend so much time at church? Do they fear joining you because they don’t want to “go overboard” like you have?
It’s even worse when they hear about really weird things happening which they associate with the “televangelist faith healer frauds”. Peter’s shadow healed people!!!! How weird is that, not to mention simply not believable.
Yet this New Community didn’t seem to think there was anything odd about all these healings. Luke says quite matter of factly in vs. 16, “they were all healed”. These believers seemed to think that God was free and able to do whatever He wanted. Nor were they burdened by modern democratic thinking which asks and demands, “if God does it for one, why not for all”. Nor does God’s power appear to be connected to the devotion or the holiness of those involved. They simply believed and God did even more than they expected.
It’s okay to be “weird” like the early Christians were weird, it that means believing that God is free to do what God wants. Just don’t act weird. Be yourself (if you’re a weird person by birth that’s okay, you’re stuck with that) , be humble, be a servant to your neighbors, ask God to unleash his power for them too just don’t’ pray out loud in weird ways on their doorstep).
When Others think Your Faith is Weird.
“The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers were meeting regularly at the Temple . . . . . . But no one else dared to join them, even though all the people had high regard for them.
14 Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord—crowds of both men and women. 15 As a result of the apostles’ work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter’s shadow might fall across some of them as he went by. 16 Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed." Acts 5:12-16
Pastor's Blog
Do your neighbors ever wonder why you spend so much time at church? Do they fear joining you because they don’t want to “go overboard” like you have?
It’s even worse when they hear about really weird things happening which they associate with the “televangelist faith healer frauds”. Peter’s shadow healed people!!!! How weird is that, not to mention simply not believable.
Yet this New Community didn’t seem to think there was anything odd about all these healings. Luke says quite matter of factly in vs. 16, “they were all healed”. These believers seemed to think that God was free and able to do whatever He wanted. Nor were they burdened by modern democratic thinking which asks and demands, “if God does it for one, why not for all”. Nor does God’s power appear to be connected to the devotion or the holiness of those involved. They simply believed and God did even more than they expected.
It’s okay to be “weird” like the early Christians were weird, it that means believing that God is free to do what God wants. Just don’t act weird. Be yourself (if you’re a weird person by birth that’s okay, you’re stuck with that) , be humble, be a servant to your neighbors, ask God to unleash his power for them too just don’t’ pray out loud in weird ways on their doorstep).
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
November 2, 2010
Problems of Family Living
When Family Members Take God For Granted
“There was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. 2 He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest. 3 Then Peter said, 'Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. 4 The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!'
As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died.. . . . Later Peter said to Sapphira, 'How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this?'. . . .. she fell to the floor and died.
Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened."
Acts 5:1-11
Pastor's Blog
In our society which “spins” everything and tells half truths, God has warned us. Lying to Him is dangerous.
We can’t have it both ways. If we love the generosity, power, boldness, and miracles generated by God in the early church . . . if we love how the New Community had become the new holy residence of God, then we must not be surprised when God takes his church, us, seriously enough to make it clear that there is no such thing as cheap grace. God is not mocked.
The New Testament tells of the same God we read of in the Old Testament. He is still holy and still dangerous. Check out Leviticus 10 about Aaron’s sons taking God lightly. Or Joshua 7 where Aachan bends the rules. Same thing in 2 Chronicles 26 with King Uzziah.
Annanias and Sapphira lied to their church family (which is the new temple) and to God.
God lies down his Marker. Lying is a way of saying “I don’t trust God”. In our society which “spins” everything and tells half truths, we have this warning.
DO NOT TAKE GOD FOR GRANTED
When Family Members Take God For Granted
“There was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. 2 He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest. 3 Then Peter said, 'Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. 4 The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!'
As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died.. . . . Later Peter said to Sapphira, 'How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this?'. . . .. she fell to the floor and died.
Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened."
Acts 5:1-11
Pastor's Blog
In our society which “spins” everything and tells half truths, God has warned us. Lying to Him is dangerous.
We can’t have it both ways. If we love the generosity, power, boldness, and miracles generated by God in the early church . . . if we love how the New Community had become the new holy residence of God, then we must not be surprised when God takes his church, us, seriously enough to make it clear that there is no such thing as cheap grace. God is not mocked.
The New Testament tells of the same God we read of in the Old Testament. He is still holy and still dangerous. Check out Leviticus 10 about Aaron’s sons taking God lightly. Or Joshua 7 where Aachan bends the rules. Same thing in 2 Chronicles 26 with King Uzziah.
Annanias and Sapphira lied to their church family (which is the new temple) and to God.
God lies down his Marker. Lying is a way of saying “I don’t trust God”. In our society which “spins” everything and tells half truths, we have this warning.
DO NOT TAKE GOD FOR GRANTED
Monday, November 1, 2010
November 1, 2010
Problems of Family Living
The Promising Early Years
“They felt that what they owned was not their own” Acts 4:32
“All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. . . . . There were no needy people among them, because they would bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.” Acts 4:32-37 (NLT)
Pastor's Blog
If you are fortunate you starting your family by sharing everything, holding all things in common, and you dreamed that it would always be like this. The early church family started off great. It was becoming exactly what the Old Testament had foretold. God had made them into generous givers exactly as the Old Testament had predicted.
With this passage Luke is making the dramatic claim that what is happening here in Jerusalem in this Christian Community is exactly what God has intended all along. Luke does this by basing vs. 34 on Deuteronomy 15, especially vs. 4. Jesus had set this very same agenda in Luke 4 by quoting Isaiah 61.
My wife, Kathy, likes to quote Revelation where Jesus tells us to remember our first love. Luke is writing long after these events and he has by now seen many things go wrong in the church. Perhaps, by recounting the beginnings of the church he wants to remind us how believers behave.
Luke shows us what kind of generosity and charity is generated when the Holy Spirit has His way. These people where demonstrating the fruit of the resurrection in way that many Christians today, who often sadly balk at even giving a tithe of their income to the church, can only dream of.
The Promising Early Years
“They felt that what they owned was not their own” Acts 4:32
“All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. . . . . There were no needy people among them, because they would bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.” Acts 4:32-37 (NLT)
Pastor's Blog
If you are fortunate you starting your family by sharing everything, holding all things in common, and you dreamed that it would always be like this. The early church family started off great. It was becoming exactly what the Old Testament had foretold. God had made them into generous givers exactly as the Old Testament had predicted.
With this passage Luke is making the dramatic claim that what is happening here in Jerusalem in this Christian Community is exactly what God has intended all along. Luke does this by basing vs. 34 on Deuteronomy 15, especially vs. 4. Jesus had set this very same agenda in Luke 4 by quoting Isaiah 61.
My wife, Kathy, likes to quote Revelation where Jesus tells us to remember our first love. Luke is writing long after these events and he has by now seen many things go wrong in the church. Perhaps, by recounting the beginnings of the church he wants to remind us how believers behave.
Luke shows us what kind of generosity and charity is generated when the Holy Spirit has His way. These people where demonstrating the fruit of the resurrection in way that many Christians today, who often sadly balk at even giving a tithe of their income to the church, can only dream of.
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