Thursday, May 24, 2012    

Redeemed

There are all kinds of words that we hear, read, and say over and over in Christians circles. We say them and hear them so often that I think sometimes we lose touch with what they really mean. They become too familiar unless we step back now and again and take a fresh look. Today, for me, that word is: Redemption.

I came across the word and the concept this morning in my reading in Numbers. A little history of a word never hurts to put it back into focus. Here’s the passage:

The firstborn of every mother, whether human or animal, that is offered to the Lord will be yours. But you must always redeem your firstborn sons and the firstborn of ceremonially unclean animals. Redeem them when they are one month old. The redemption price is five pieces of silver (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel, which equals twenty gerahs).

However, you may not redeem the firstborn of cattle, sheep, or goats. They are holy and have been set apart for the Lord. Sprinkle their blood on the altar, and burn their fat as a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord. (Numbers 18:15-17, NLT)

Every firstborn…human or animal…belonged to the Lord and was supposed to be offered (as a sacrifice) to Him. But God had made a provision for them to be spared from their death…redemption. God’s people were allowed to buy their firstborn back from death (with the noted exceptions). There was a price to be paid and I imagine all parents paid it willingly.

Jump forward a few thousand years and we see Jesus doing that very thing for us. He is paying the ultimate price…buying His children back from death. He does it willingly. He does it because He loves us.

Jesus redeemed me. He redeemed you. He paid the price so we don’t have to. It’s a good reminder!

03.12.2011 | Visits: 142 Devotional, Jesus, Spiritual Musings Add a Comment

Feeling Out of Focus

This week has been weird. I feel out of focus. It’s nothing specific, just one of those general feelings of discontent. I’m getting my work done so it’s not that I’m actually out of focus…I just feel out of focus.

I was hoping that writing about it would help, but so far no luck!

I did read something this morning in the book of Numbers (a book I was dreading, but am now finding that I am enjoying). It was about Moses…more specifically about how God defended Moses when Aaron and Miriam criticized Moses (how cool would that be? To have God Himself come to defend you personally?). Here’s what God said about Moses:

But not with my servant Moses. Of all my house, he is the one I trust. I speak to him face to face, clearly, and not in riddles! He sees the Lord as he is. So why were you not afraid to criticize my servant Moses? (Numbers 12:7-8, NLT)

Two things I notice here. First, God says He speaks to Moses clearly…with no riddles. I know a lot of people who wish that’s how God would speak (although I think He does and we just make it hard). Second, Moses “sees the Lord as He is”. I love that phrase. Moses saw God without any filters. He really saw God. I want that.

So I’m off to try and find some focus today…maybe I’ll learn to hear and see God more clearly in the process.

03.09.2011 | Visits: 534 Devotional, Misc Ramblings, New Pastor Journal, Spiritual Musings 1 Comment

Saturday Funnies 3/5/11

This is a great compilation of stupid game show answers. It’s just over 2.5 minutes and worth the time…enjoy…

 

If you liked that, here’s a bonus…

03.05.2011 | Visits: 131 Humor, Saturday Funnies Add a Comment

Cursing Fig Trees

During my Scripture reading this morning I read the following passage:

The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it. (Mark 11:12-14, NLT)

This particular scene has always disturbed me. Partly because I didn’t really understand what Jesus was doing here (the scene doesn’t seem to really mean much upon my initial reading). And then partly because Jesus curses this tree…but the tree wasn’t supposed to have fruit yet. Doesn’t seem fair, but I know Jesus did it so there must have been a good/right purpose behind it.

I confess that before this morning I hadn’t really done much digging to see what was really going on here. I solved that problem this morning and I learned two main lessons from this passage.

First is the more technical reason behind what Jesus was doing here. This scene is a prelude to Jesus entering Jerusalem and clearing out the temple. The scene with the fig tree was a foreshadowing indicating that Jesus was condemning the actions of the religious leaders…their time was coming to an end because they weren’t fruitful. He also used it as an opportunity to teach the disciples about faith (see Mark 11:21-25).

Second, and more applicable to me personally…Jesus is making a statement here about the fruitfulness of our lives. It’s time to start making fruit. There’s no excuse for His disciples not to bear fruit. We can’t be barren fig trees. Jesus expects us to bear fruit in our lives and there are consequences for a fruitless life.

A lesson I continue to hear and am trying to fulfill in my own life…

03.03.2011 | Visits: 262 Devotional, Jesus, Spiritual Musings Add a Comment

Is Your Heart Too Hard?

Most of us have heard the term “hard heart” before. Many of us may even know someone we would describe as having a hard heart. A few of us may even confess that we’ve had a hard heart at one time or another.

But largely we think about this phrase in terms of other people. This is especially true for those of us who are trying our best to follow Christ. We look at those around us who don’t seem to want to follow Him and may conclude that their hearts are simply too hard. And that may very well be the case…but we must be careful about casting stones. Sometimes the stones we throw bounce right off those hard hearts and hit us squarely in the forehead.

Let me give you an example from Scripture:

[The disciples] were all terrified when they saw him. But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!” Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed, for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in. (Mark 6:50-52, NLT)

Jesus had just fed well over 15,000 people (the 5,000 only counted the men in the crowd) with just a few loaves of bread an some fish scraps. They head out in a boat, get caught in a storm, and see Jesus walking on water to help them out. They freak out…understandable. But it isn’t their reaction to the walking on water that Mark says they didn’t understand.

Mark says they still don’t understand the feeding of the crowds…the miracle of the loaves. Why? Did they not understand because the physics don’t make sense? Did they not understand because too much was happening all at once? None of the above. These spiritual giants, men chosen by Jesus Himself, didn’t understand because “their hearts were too hard to take it in”. They weren’t ready…their hearts hadn’t been softened enough. They couldn’t yet take something like that in.

I think I’ve been there…might be there right now. My heart is way too hard at times to take in what God wants me to take it…much less what He’s done. Between my hard hearts and my faithless attitude it’s a wonder He ever gets anything done with me. Thank goodness His power overcomes my weakness! Hard heart and all!

02.24.2011 | Visits: 163 Devotional, Jesus, Spiritual Development, Spiritual Musings Add a Comment

How to Stop a Miracle

I continue to read through the book of Leviticus as part of my One Year Bible reading plan. Thankfully, I’ve also got some New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs thrown into the mix. Leviticus has some good stuff, but today’s reading was all about how a priest should handle people with skin diseases. Necessary…but gross!

The passage I read int he book of Mark this morning was another matter altogether. As often happens (more so recently), I saw something new in a story I’ve read many times before. That’s one of the many things I love about reading Scripture…there’s always something new because God is just that awesome!

Here is the story I read this morning:

Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown. The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?” Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their unbelief. (Mark 6:1-6, NLT, emphasis mine)

Jesus goes home and finds out that his own family and friends refuse to accept Him or believe in Him. And it has a huge affect. Because of their unbelief He can’t do any miracles among them (save for a few “minor” healings). I’ve never made this connection before, or at least not this clearly. Jesus’ ability to perform miracles among the people was heavily dependent on their faith in the miracle.

Wow…and ouch!

The same must be true for me today. How is my faith affecting the work of God in my own life? Am I stopping the miracle because I don’t believe in it (or in Him)? Am I expecting the miracle FIRST and THEN I’ll believe? Or do I believe in the miracle and the one who is going to perform it and then He does His amazing work?

Am I expecting the miracle or keeping it from happening in the first place? I wonder…

02.23.2011 | Visits: 114 Devotional, Faith, Jesus, Spiritual Musings Add a Comment

The Jersey Curse Continues

With yesterday’s trade of Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks, my jersey curse continues. No, I didn’t own Melo’s jersey…I owned Chauncey Billup’s. And with him included in the trade I now have my second jersey in the last couple of years made irrelevant. And I REALLY liked both the jersey and the player in this case. Chauncey is a class act, home-town boy made good who will be missed. An innocent causality of another player’s ego. It’s sad to see him (Chauncey) go…I only hope he’ll be back sooner than later.

The first instance of “The Jersey Curse” started with Mr. Jay “Whiny Boy” Cutler. I purchased his jersey just months before “the coach who shall never be mentioned by name” traded him away to Chicago. I was hoping it was a one-time occurrence…but alas it was not. It took a little longer this time, but the curse has claimed it’s second victim…and this time a player I actually respected as much as the team.

The really bad news is that I still have one jersey left…the Cutler replacement. Again, I love the player and I got his jersey because I was SURE it was a safe buy. The Broncos absolutely couldn’t let this guy get away! Surely not. Well, here’s hoping…but it’s not looking so good so far…

UPDATE: The power of a blog!! The same day that I wrote this blog, the Broncos signed Champ to a new four-year deal. Is the curse over??

02.22.2011 | Visits: 186 Broncos, Hobbies, Sports 1 Comment

Saturday Funnies 02/19/11

I received the following in an email this week from a close friend of mine. You really do have to love the honesty and brashness of British humor…enjoy…

These are classified ads, which were actually placed in a U.K. newspaper:

FREE YORKSHIRE TERRIER.
8 years old.
Hateful little bastard.
Bites!

FREE PUPPIES.
1/2 Cocker Spaniel, 1/2 sneaky neighbour’s dog.

FREE PUPPIES.
Mother is a Kennel Club registered German Shepherd.
Father is a Super Dog, able to leap tall fences in a single bound.

JOINING NUDIST COLONY!
Must sell washer and dryer £100.

WEDDING DRESS FOR SALE.
Worn once by mistake.
Call Stephanie.

**** And the WINNER is… ****

FOR SALE BY OWNER.
Complete set of Encyclopaedia Britannica, 45 volumes.
Excellent condition, £200 or best offer. No longer needed, got married, wife knows everything.

02.19.2011 | Visits: 112 Humor, Saturday Funnies Add a Comment

The Importance of Staying Connected

I am learning a valuable lesson at the start of this new year. Sometimes lessons are hard to learn, this is one of those cases because it’s exposing an area of weakness and failure on my part. That’s hard to admit and harder to deal with. I’ve been in my role as pastor now for 13.5 months (but who’s counting?). I have loved every minute of it. It’s not work…it’s a passion.

But being passionate doesn’t guarantee success (no matter how you measure it). And being passionate doesn’t mean you’ll do things right. I haven’t. The good news is that not all is lost…not even close. I have great people around me that know what they’re doing and are picking up the slack.

The lesson I’m learning is about the importance of staying connected. When I was in the corporate world this wasn’t nearly as important. People got paid to work and if they didn’t do what we expected they either shaped up or…(you know how that one ends).

Not so much in my new line of “work” (I still hate calling it that). Here, connections are life-blood…critical to keeping anything alive. Over the past few months I’ve made the decision to focus my attention on a smaller number of people…really poor into their lives as best I can. Not a bad call…not one I regret…but I got distracted. Also not an excuse, just the reality.

The consequence is that I lost connection with others. These are leaders that I left in the dust, flapping in the wind (choose your own metaphor). And it’s my responsibility to correct the situation. It will take work. It will take focus. It will take dedication.

But that’s the other great thing about connections…they can be re-established. This is an error that has an “easy” (if not simple) fix…get connected again! So that’s what I’m doing…and I hope I’ve learned my lesson!

02.16.2011 | Visits: 105 Church, Leadership, Ministry, New Pastor Journal Add a Comment

Confessions of a Scale Watcher

“Hi, my name is David and I’m a scale watcher.”

There, I admitted it. I can’t help myself. And no, I’m not making light of the situation (okay, maybe just a little…but only to make myself feel better…it’s another thing I do).

Ever since I started losing weight the first time (several years ago) I became a scale watcher. I weigh myself several times in the morning and at least once at night. It’s not a bad discipline for those of us whoa re trying to lose weight. After all, you need to know where you stand…so to speak.

The problem for me is that it becomes an obsession. A focus that is just a bit off center. I did…and still do…need to lose weight. The scale did…and still does…help keep me on track. I know when I need to become more disciplined…now would be good…and when things are moving in the right direction…down.

But do I need to weigh myself before AND after a shower? Do I need to weigh myself in the morning AND at night? Do I need to consider getting a new scale because the one I have now is a big-fat stupid head (and don’t even get me started on that Wii Fit thing!)?

No.

What I need to do is get a little more discipline in my life, use the scale once in awhile to make sure I’m on track…and enjoy life in the process. The scale is a tool (in more than one way). =0)

I’m sure there’s a spiritual application here somewhere, but I’ll let you hash that one out on your own (leave a comment if something really good comes to you)…I’m off to see if I’ve lost any weight from the calories I burned typing this…

02.15.2011 | Visits: 121 Humor, Misc Ramblings, Soap Box Add a Comment

Previous Entries
Newer Entries