April 29, 2011

Friday, April 29, 2011

Today’s Word

Festus told King Agrippa, “Paul’s accusers had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive . . ." Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear this man myself." He replied, "Tomorrow you will hear him." Acts 25:19-22 (NIV)

Today’s Reflection

One of my commentaries on this passage tells us about King Agrippa. “His family had a long history of encountering Christ. His great-grandfather, Herod the Great, the paranoid king, had tried to murder the baby Jesus. Agrippa's great uncle, Herod Antipas, actually met Jesus during his trial but failed to see him for who he was. Here Agrippa and his sister Bernice, carrying on an incestuous relationship, were confronted again by a gracious God with the truth of the gospel. As far as we know, they—like their ancestors—rejected the forgiveness and eternal life that is found only in Christ”

From this we learn a sobering lesson: families tend to pass on both positive and negative traits to the next generation. What kind of spiritual example are you setting for your children? Have you allowed Christ to break the chains of any generational bondage so that whatever bondages you “inherited” will not be passed on? If not, be like Jacob and don’t let go of God until he sets you free, even if it results in a painful limp.

Today’s Prayer

“Lord, please make me the generational link that links my children and their children, not to generational sins, but to freedom in You. Please. In Jesus’ Name. Amen”

April 28, 2011

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Today’s Word

“If I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!" After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: "You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!"
Acts 25:10-12 (NIV)

Today’s Reflection

Are you living in fear today?
Paul knew that he was innocent of the charges against him and that as a Roman citizen, he could appeal to Caesar's judgment. Because he had met his responsibilities as a Roman, he had the opportunity and right to claim Rome's protection. Likewise, when we walk with God, we enjoy the assurance and peace of knowing that we are guiltless before him and blameless in the sight of the world. Others may make accusations, but their charges will lack believability, and our own hearts will not condemn us.

Jesus is ruling the world at this moment. He is in charge of even the most unjust authorities. Paul knew that in entrusting himself to the Roman legal system, he was not abandoning trust in God, rather he was entrusting himself to system of which Jesus is still Lord.

Today’s Prayer

“Father, please give me the courage to live in such a way that I don’t need to hide or fear being found out. Help me to be forthcoming about my failures, be quick to admit my sin and to ask forgiveness of those whom I have wronged. Thank you, Lord, for this simple path that leads me out of fear and hiding and into the light. Amen”

April 27, 2011

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Today’s Word

“When Paul appeared (in court), the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges against him, which they could not prove” Acts 25:7 (NIV)

Today’s Reflection

Again, Paul had to sit and listen to his angry opponents hurl false accusations against him. This had been going on for years. There was nothing new in their argument. It was the same old litany of unsubstantiated charges.

But even untrue words have power—power to damage reputations, wound the spirit, and keep feelings of ill will stirred up. Be careful not to imitate the behavior of these "religious" men. They were guilty of breaking the ninth commandment. When others make untrue statements about you, do as Paul did: resist the urge to retaliate, simply speak the truth, and trust in a just God to make everything right.

Today’s Prayer

“Father, help me to seek to please you in all things. Help me also to weather storms of false accusations, and misunderstanding. Show me when I’m wrong so that I can apologize. When I’ve been wronged help me to see clearly enough to respond in a way that is edifying rather than harmful. In Jesus Name.”

April 26, 2011

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Today’s Word

“Felix hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and talked with him. After two years went by in this way . . . ." Acts 24:26-27 (NLT)

Today’s Reflection

Do you come back to God over and over only seeking to get what you want? Governor Felix came back to Paul over and over during Paul’s two years of imprisonment, not because he wanted more of God but because he wanted something for himself, in his case bribe money.

Jesus did tell us many times to ask for big things, but he told us to do so “in His Name”, “according to His will” (I John 5:14). Coming to Jesus for what we want instead of what He wants misses the central message of Christianity. The fact is that if we believe and subsequently receive nothing more than we have now, we are blessed. The resurrected Jesus is competently running the universe and he will, sooner or later, make all things new, redeem all things, including what is lacking in your life.

CS Lewis wrote that the fundamental prayer of the Christian is “Thy will be done, moving mountains can wait.”

Today’s Prayer

“Lord, forgive me for asking you to fulfill my wants instead of my needs. Please lead me to the joy of the prayer of relinquishment. ‘Lord, whatever you want from me, no matter what desire of mine you never fulfill, I am Yours and I will seek to honor you in all things. Lord, Thy will be done”

April 25, 2011

Monday, April 25, 2011
Today’s Word

“As (Paul) reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened. “Go away for now,” he replied. “When it is more convenient, I’ll call for you again.” Acts 24:25 (NLT)

Today’s Reflection

Are you finding it hard to face the truth? Have you been confronted with something about yourself that you just don’t want to admit? Felix was a powerful man known to be brutal to others, dishonest and immoral. Hearing Paul speak this way must have struck a cord because he didn’t want to hear any more. Yet he kept coming back to Paul off and on for two years.
Don’t resist facing the truth when it is presented to you. It is God’s act of grace regardless of who He uses. It’s an opportunity to admit the truth, ask God’s forgiveness, start fresh, and to embark on the path of change. Felix kept coming back, but, as far as we know, never changed. God seems angry only to those who resist. But those who humble themselves and ask for the fullness of his Grace discover his kindness.

Today’s Prayer

“Lord, forgive me for putting You off until it’s more convenient. I am so sorry for all those times when I’ve said in my heart, “when I have time, I’ll call for you”. Help me to face the truth about myself when it is presented and then bring that truth to you so that you can redeem it, heal it, and grow me into the image of your Son”

April 14, 2011

Reading for April 11-15
Preparation for Holy Week
Thursday

The Final Judgment

"But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.

Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.'

Then these righteous ones will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?'

And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'

Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, 'Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn't feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn't give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn't invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn't give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn't visit me.'

Then they will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?'

And he will answer, 'I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.'

And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life." Matthew 25:31-46 (NLT)

Pastor's Reflection

Jesus' description of the final judgment is very different to much that we've been taught about "getting into heaven when we die".

He says nothing about justification by faith alone, nothing about repentance or a sinners prayer and nothing about verbalizing trust in Jesus so that you have your ticket to heaven before it's too late.

Of course we must take scripture as a whole and one passage does not an entire theology make. Yet.........

Jesus instead chooses to tell us that when we help someone in need, we are actually seeing and helping Jesus. When we see someone in need (Jesus says that person is he) and do not help him, we are refusing to serve Him.

And he ties the final destination of either heaven or hell to our actions or inaction toward those in need.

It seems to me that at the very least I must examine "my ticket to heaven" (believing in Jesus) and think through how that "ticket" connects with my actions toward those in need.

Were you in church on Sunday? Did you see those 29 orphans in the slums of Kwa Njenga sing and greet us live via skype?? If you did, you saw Jesus. You saw 29 of Jesus' faces. You heard Him sing, you saw Him smile and He was very, very happy with all who saw His need and met it.

April 13, 2011

Reading for April 11-15
Preparation for Holy Week
Wednesday

Why will we deliver food, pull weeds, and repair homes on Palm Sunday?

The very same week that Jesus went to the cross, the mother of James and John asked Jesus to give her sons places of honor in the coming Kingdom.

When the ten others heard about this, they lost their tempers, thoroughly disgusted with the two brothers. So Jesus got them together to settle things down.

He said, "You've seen how quickly a little power goes to some people's heads. It's not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served -- and then to give away his life for the sake of others." Matthew 20:21-28

Pastor's Reflection

My favorite description of worship comes from the Apostle Paul.

"I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living
sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship." Romans 12:1 (NIV)

My favorite Old Testament reference to worship is this one.

"I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies.
Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them.
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them.
Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.

But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!"
Amos 5:21-24 (NIV)

This Sunday we will worship God at 9:00, offering ourselves to him a new through song, testimony, prayer and the Word. At 10:00 we will leave to serve (if you haven't signed up for a work site yet, you can do so on Sunday). That will be worship part 2. In many small ways we will become living sacrifices for others. We will, each of us in some small way, join God in letting Justice flow like a never ending river.

April 12, 2011

Reading for April 11-15
Preparation for Holy Week
Tuesday

Palm Sunday - The Sunday Before the Crucifixion

"Hooray! God bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord! God bless the coming kingdom of our ancestor David. Hooray for God in heaven above!" Mark 11:9-10 (CEV)

Pastor's Reflection

Like those who witnessed Jesus' victory parade into Jerusalem, we have expectations for what we think God should do to make life better, safer, and more enjoyable. We are like excited spectators, we can't wait to see suffering stopped, injustice corrected, and prosperity begun.

However, in just five days Jesus would be crucified just like the other seven or eight would be Messiah's of the first century were crushed.

This time it was different. Jesus had predicted his death. He rode in on a donkey, a symbol of humility and peace. He chose death over violent revolution. He chose to absorb violence, hate and insults rather than to seek revenge. Jesus taught us what it would look like NOT to go down swinging, yet end up on top. For he was resurrected from the dead.

One interesting historical note: all ancient cultures practiced human sacrifice. Human sacrifice, and eventually animal sacrifice held societies together, including Roman society. Jesus overturned the entire practice by becoming a sacrifice. Historically speaking sacrifice was ended in Rome with Constantine and has been virtually eliminated world wide and Jesus's sacrifice for us was the turning point.

Has anger, violence, and threat ended in your life as a means to "making things right?"

April 11, 2011

Reading for April 11-15 Preparation for Holy Week Monday Jesus Tells A Story To Any Who Ever Say, "It's Not Fair!" "For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work. At nine o'colock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing. So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o'colock he did the same thing. At five o'clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, 'Why haven't you been working today?' They replied, 'Because no one hired us.' The landowner told them, 'Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.' That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. When those hired at five o'clock were paid, each received a full day's wage. When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day's wage. When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, 'Those people worked only one hour, and yet you've paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.' He answered one of them, 'Friend, I haven't been unfair! Didn't you agree to work all day for the usual wage? Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?' So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last." Matthew 20:1-16 Pastor's Reflection I like very much the following comments from my Life Application Bible Commentary: Reversed Order Jesus repeated a principle that is recorded in 19:30. There he used it to respond to the disciples' amazement that wealth was not a gauge of acceptance with God. Here he said, "So the last will be first, and the first will be last" as the moral of the parable of the workers (20:1-15). Clearly, Christ rejects the widely accepted notion: "first come, first served". Why? Here are three possible reasons: 1. God isn't impressed by our achievements. The workers did no more than they were asked to do. The landowner gave them work they did not merit and fulfilled his promise. Those who worked all day were not cheated. Those who worked an hour had no reason to brag. The idea that God "owes" us something is wrong. Instead of complaining, we should be grateful that God seldom gives us what we deserve. 2. God rejects our comparisons. To understand our sinfulness, we should examine our tendency toward discontent and ungratefulness. Like children, we demand equal treatment when we think that we have received less than others. Yet we are rarely concerned for others when we're ahead of them. Like the landowner, however, God holds us to our agreement. God keeps his promises. Comparing ourselves to others will not help our defense when we stand before God. 3. God's rewards are his domain. The landowner held the right to be generous to whomever he desired. If we are not astonished at God's grace toward us, we will miss it completely. Are there areas of ungratefulness in your life? Use this list to remind yourself of what God has done for you.

April 8, 2011

Reading for April 4-8 Acts 23:12-24:21 Friday Paul Defends Himself Against Felix the Roman Governor "After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God. My accusers saw me in the Temple as I was completing a purification ceremony. There was no crowd around me and no rioting. But some Jews from the province of Asia were there -- and they ought to be here to bring charges if they have anything againist me! Ask these men here what crime the Jewish high council found me guilty of, except for the one time I shouted out, 'I am on trial before you today because I believe in the resurrection of the dead!' " Acts 24:17-21 (NLT) Here it is again, "the resurrection of the dead". Now we discover why Paul so badly needed to get back to Jerusalem. Pastor's Reflection If you read 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9 you will see that Paul was collecting money on his missionary journeys. The money was for famine relief for those in Jerusalem. For Paul this was central to resurrection. For him, particularly as a Pharisee, resurrection is rooted in what God had begun to do for the world in Genesis 12 when God told Abraham that his descendents (who came to be known as the Jews) would bless the entire world. It is seen in Isaiah 49 and 53 where his people were to be a light of rescue to the entire world. It is seen in Ezekiel 37 where a valley of dry bones comes back to life. It is seen in Isaiah 65 where a New Creation is promised. And now, with the resurrection of Jesus, he saw and we see foretastes of the final restoration of all things (Acts 3:21) in every act of practical help we give to others in Jesus' Name. Paul gives quite a few reasons for his commendation of the Macedonians (2 Corinthians 8, 9) for being sacrifical givers, but they all fall under the heading of this: We get to join God in the healing, restoring, renewing, repairing of a broken world. Do we have a higher privilege than this?

April 7, 2011

Reading for April 4-8 Acts 23:12 - 24:21 Thursday "I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets. I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will riase both the righteous and the unrighteous." Acts 24:14-15 (NLT) No Spin is Needed Pastor's Relfection Straightforwardness is the best way to go. In a world of spin, word massaging, talking points, euphemism, political correctness, fear of offending and manipulating communication to get results, it seems to me that it is becoming rarer and rarer to find those who speak simply, honestly, with gentleness and respect but not mincing the truth. Personally I find this really, really hard to do myself. I find myself never wanting to offend so I go out of my way to not to. Therefore one way I've learned to cut through all these manipulative language barriers is to do what Paul did. When accused of something, the best thing to do, if it's true, is to just admit it. "I admit I am a follower of the Way". And I then add my version of what Paul added, "which they call a cult. . . . . . . . " He took advantage of the opportunity to just simply and plainly say what he believed. Very, very cool I think.

April 6, 2011

Reading for April 4-8 Acts 23:12 - 24:21 Wednesday Why Would Paul Entrust Himself to Unjust "Justice"? "When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented the charges against Paul..... The governor then motioned for Paul to speak. Paul said. . . . . Acts. 24:10 Why Legitimize the Process by Participating In It? Pastor's Reflection Why would Paul submit to this kind of trial? I honestly don't think it's because he has to. Nor do I think it's because he's trying to manipulate his way out of jail or to save his skin. I think he was living at a level above that. It looks to me like Paul just couldn't escape his desire to take advantage of every opportunity to talk about the resurrection of Jesus. Actually Paul's situation is very, very interesting. In this passage he is about to talk again about the resurrection of Jesus. And he will do so before the legal authorities of both Judaism and the Roman empire. Paul is connecting the resurrection to justice! For Paul, God's justice is found in a huge world-wide vision of the meaning of Easter Sunday. What God did for Jesus, God is doing for the world. All the broken parts of the world are being put together by God. And guess what? -----that is the job of all legal authorities on earth, and Paul gets to express this reality before, in his view, the most important legal authorities in the whole world!!! (see Romans 13). What are magistrates supposed to do? Join God in bringing healing and justice to the world, remembering, of course, that justice is far, far more than punishing the bad guys. For Paul resurrection is EVERYTHING!!! "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." 1 Corinthians 2:9

April 5, 2011

Reading for April 4-8 Acts 23:12-24:21 Tuesday "Ananias, the high priest, arrived with some of the Jewish elders and the lawyer Tertullus, to present their case against Paul to the governor." Acts 24:21 If Mobs Stonings, Death Plots and Attempted Assassinations Don't Work, Get a Lawyer! Pastor's Reflections My "get a lawyer" comment really isn't fair. I simply can't believe that all the religious leaders were evil legalists. In fact I suspect that most were very good people simply doing their best to honor God. I'm sure some had ego and power motivating them just like some of us, but most were just honoring God in the only way they knew. So, what was their problem? Why are the Jewish leaders such "haters" when it comes to Jesus and Paul? This is where the lawyer comment comes in. One Jewish biblical scholar noted that from biblical time to today the legal field has been dominated by Jews and the field of science has been dominated by Christians. He speculated that the former is because Judaism is founded on Torah, The Law and the 613 additional commandments found in the Old Testament as well as the elaboration found in the Mishnah and Midrash and Talmud. Even though the Old Testament is full of grace (sacrificial system, escape from Egypt) still the way to be right with God had become rules "obey Torah". Christianity switches the order. God saves me. I accept his offer of salvation. In essence I accept God's acceptance of me. THEN I seek to obey, not to get right with God, rather because God has already made me right with him.

April 4, 2011

Reading for April 4 - 8

Acts 23:12-24:21

Monday

“a group of Jews got together and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. (but) the commander called two of his officers and ordered,. . . . .take 200 spearmen and 70 mounted troops. Provide horses for Paul to ride, and get him safely to Governor Felix.“ Acts 23:12-24

So, why does God save some, like Paul, and not save others, like (fill in the blank)

Pastor’s Reflection

God intervened and saved Paul's life. God used the enemy (the Romans) of the chosen people (the Jews) to save God's chosen servant (Paul) from God's chosen people. Lots of irony here.

God saved Paul, but let the apostle James die by the sword. I suspect James's family may have reacted like Mary and Martha reacted to the death of Lazarus. "Lord why didn't you do something? why did you save Peter and not James?

I apologize in advance if this answer sounds too simplistic or insensitive. However here's how my simple mind works. We live in a broken world, far worse than most of us are willing to admit. In a very broken world, very broken things happen. This changes the question for me. I do not ask, why me, why him, why her, etc. Instead I ask why not me. And the answer is Grace. I live by grace, not by merit. Why have I been spared and not someone else? I know for sure it's not because I deserve to live any more than anyone else. I simply chalk it up to grace and to my best to feel and live gratitude to the depths of my being.

Check out Jesus's answer to a similar inquiry in Luke 13:1-5.

April 1, 2011

Reading for March 28-April 1
Acts 22:30-23:1-11
Friday


“Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well.” Acts 23:1-11 (NLT)

“These men of faith I have mentioned died without ever receiving all that God had promised them; but they saw it all awaiting them on ahead and were glad, for they agreed that this earth was not their real home but that they were just strangers visiting down here." Hebrews 11:13 (TLB)

Receive in your heart of hearts today what won’t happen until “tomorrow”

Pastor’s Reflection

Paul did get to Rome, although as you will see, it happens under armed guard and under the worst of conditions.

However, one of the things to know about the book of Romans is that Paul wrote it in part as way to pave his way into the Roman church so that they could function as a stop over or bridge to the outer limits of the earth. Rome was not his final destination. In his letter (Ro 15:28) he’s clear that his vision is get the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

But he doesn’t get there. Instead tradition tells us that he was beheaded by the Roman forces under the Emporer Nero.

But, did he get to Spain in another way?

Moses did not get to enter the promised land.

But did he? On another mountain in Israel, Jesus met God and who was there, in the promised land? Moses (Matt 17:2)!! He got there not in his lifetime, but he got there.

You and I, too, can “receive” and “see” from afar “tomorrow” and be glad.

Joy should never be “when . . . . . . .then” dependent. We should receive God’s future today.