Scripture passage that caught my attention today: Numbers 24:10-14 Then Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but instead you have blessed them these three times. 11 Now be off with you! Go home! I said, ‘I will reward you richly,’ but the LORD has denied you any reward.” 12 And Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me, 13 ‘If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of the LORD, to do either good or bad of my own will; what the LORD says, that is what I will say’? 14 So now, I am going to my people; let me advise you what this people will do to your people in days to come.”
Observation: Balak worried so much that, it seems, some of his worries came to fruition.
Application: Two of yesterday’s lessons in church were largely about trusting in God and, therefore, not succumbing to worry. The lesson above pretty much exposes the worries of Balak. He’s heard the bad news and now somehow mistakenly thinks that he can get someone else (in this case Balaam) to suddenly give him good news.
It would be like a person who has been positively diagnosed with cancer desperately trying to find another doctor to simply declare that he or she does not have cancer. Precious time for possible treatment or even dealing with reality is lost while one blindly gropes around in denial. Worry and denial are two sides of the same worthless coin.
There must be a better way…
Prayer: Lord, there is much we could worry about in this world. But we—and you—would be better served if we simply reflected your authentic love for this world and the people in it. Help us to focus more and more of our attention in that regard. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Scripture readings today included: Numbers 24-27 and 1 Corinthians 13)
Monday, February 28, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Motivating Factors
Scripture passage that caught my attention today: Mark 5:22-23 Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet 23 and begged him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.”
Observation: The leader was emphatic, and understandably so.
Application: A few moments ago, when I was in the middle of these devotions, our 11 y/o daughter begged me, with a smile on her face, to come and look at something on the computer. She said it was “a matter of life and death.”
Of course I knew she was kidding, but I obliged to get up out of my chair and take a peak at a cute little cartoonish thing she had found on the Internet. She laughed, I smiled, and then I went back to my chair to continue my devotional time.
But I was also secretly glad I got up. As I often tell her quite truthfully (though embellished with a little over-the-top dramatic affect) “you bring joy to my life.” Indeed she does. The inconvenience she requested of me was really not much of an inconvenience at all. And if she were “at the point of death,” you can believe that, much like the synagogue leader in the passage above, I’d be begging for some assistance from anyone who might hold the key to more life.
It’s interesting that Jesus offers such hope to people from all walks of life. Just a couple verses earlier in this chapter Jesus brings a whole new life to a severely disturbed and presumably mentally ill man who was a total outcast in society. On his way to heal Jairus’ daughter, an unclean woman touches him and also finds healing in his presence. It’s little wonder that the disciples remarked, in the previous chapter, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Prayer: Lord, we might not all receive dramatic healings through our prayers to you. But I still trust that there is at least some form of healing through all encounters with you, even if only to more fully appreciate what we already have. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(readings today included: Numbers 19-20, Psalm 28, Mark 5)
Observation: The leader was emphatic, and understandably so.
Application: A few moments ago, when I was in the middle of these devotions, our 11 y/o daughter begged me, with a smile on her face, to come and look at something on the computer. She said it was “a matter of life and death.”
Of course I knew she was kidding, but I obliged to get up out of my chair and take a peak at a cute little cartoonish thing she had found on the Internet. She laughed, I smiled, and then I went back to my chair to continue my devotional time.
But I was also secretly glad I got up. As I often tell her quite truthfully (though embellished with a little over-the-top dramatic affect) “you bring joy to my life.” Indeed she does. The inconvenience she requested of me was really not much of an inconvenience at all. And if she were “at the point of death,” you can believe that, much like the synagogue leader in the passage above, I’d be begging for some assistance from anyone who might hold the key to more life.
It’s interesting that Jesus offers such hope to people from all walks of life. Just a couple verses earlier in this chapter Jesus brings a whole new life to a severely disturbed and presumably mentally ill man who was a total outcast in society. On his way to heal Jairus’ daughter, an unclean woman touches him and also finds healing in his presence. It’s little wonder that the disciples remarked, in the previous chapter, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Prayer: Lord, we might not all receive dramatic healings through our prayers to you. But I still trust that there is at least some form of healing through all encounters with you, even if only to more fully appreciate what we already have. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(readings today included: Numbers 19-20, Psalm 28, Mark 5)
Friday, February 25, 2011
Snow Day Exercises
Today it's a level 2 snow emergency where I live. That means most people in my area will not be venturing out to work or school. And that means it's a perfect day to exercise!
Seriously...if you've been wanting to start exercising again but haven't had the time, today just might be your perfect opportunity!
That said, be careful and don't overdue it, especially if you haven't exercised in a while or have some health issues to consider.
Here's a little warm-up routine I do that, for some of you, might be a nice little workout in and of itself. If you're not sure how to do any of these particular exercises, most of them can be googled online.
Prisoner Squats (I usually do 10-12)
Leg Swings (10-12 per leg)
Lunges or, for a safer option, split-lunges (6-8 per leg)
Close-grip push-ups or, for beginners, same exercise with knees on floor (10)
Standing stick-ups (10)
Waiter's bow (8)
Plank, beginners might want knees on floor (30 seconds)
One leg Romanian Deadlifts with light dumbbells (10 per leg)
Hip pointer stretch
(repeat this set at least one more time, maybe two or three more times if using as your workout)
If you're more advanced, below was today's workout for me after the warm-up:
Set 1
Pull-ups (8)
Barbell Squats (90# for 15 reps)
1-leg push-ups (10 each side)
rest and repeat set
Set 2
Vertical Jumps (10)
Bent over Dumbbell Rows (12-15)
Cross-body Mountain Climbers
rest and repeat set
Set 3
Lying 1-leg curls with stability ball (10 per leg)
Lying hip extensions with feet on stability ball (5-6 for 10 seconds each)
Ab wheel roll-outs (10)
rest and repeat set
The squats in set 1 and the vertical jumps in set 2 can really get your heart pumping. Enjoy!
Seriously...if you've been wanting to start exercising again but haven't had the time, today just might be your perfect opportunity!
That said, be careful and don't overdue it, especially if you haven't exercised in a while or have some health issues to consider.
Here's a little warm-up routine I do that, for some of you, might be a nice little workout in and of itself. If you're not sure how to do any of these particular exercises, most of them can be googled online.
Prisoner Squats (I usually do 10-12)
Leg Swings (10-12 per leg)
Lunges or, for a safer option, split-lunges (6-8 per leg)
Close-grip push-ups or, for beginners, same exercise with knees on floor (10)
Standing stick-ups (10)
Waiter's bow (8)
Plank, beginners might want knees on floor (30 seconds)
One leg Romanian Deadlifts with light dumbbells (10 per leg)
Hip pointer stretch
(repeat this set at least one more time, maybe two or three more times if using as your workout)
If you're more advanced, below was today's workout for me after the warm-up:
Set 1
Pull-ups (8)
Barbell Squats (90# for 15 reps)
1-leg push-ups (10 each side)
rest and repeat set
Set 2
Vertical Jumps (10)
Bent over Dumbbell Rows (12-15)
Cross-body Mountain Climbers
rest and repeat set
Set 3
Lying 1-leg curls with stability ball (10 per leg)
Lying hip extensions with feet on stability ball (5-6 for 10 seconds each)
Ab wheel roll-outs (10)
rest and repeat set
The squats in set 1 and the vertical jumps in set 2 can really get your heart pumping. Enjoy!
Jarred to Life
Scripture passage that caught my attention today: Mark 4:10-12 When he was alone, those who were around him along with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11 And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything comes in parables; 12 in order that
‘they may indeed look, but not perceive,
and may indeed listen, but not understand;
so that they may not turn again and be forgiven.’”
Observation: The Bible has its fair share of bewildering passages, but for me this one is near the top of the list.
Application: Every so often I think it’s healthy to consider whether what we’re doing really makes any sense.
I’m really not trying to get into the current political debate on House Bill 5 partly because, while it’s interesting on some levels, I’m not sure I really know enough about either side of the argument to make particularly helpful comments. Still, I had to laugh last night when I was told that the governor said that he would only negotiate with unions that “make a product” and that therefore teacher unions would not be included in such discussions. I laughed because I thought to myself, “what better ‘product’ is there than educated children?”
Okay, I’m sure there’s another side to the story but, oddly enough, the passage above attributed to Jesus is even more bewildering. I mean, isn’t forgiveness of sins one of the very reasons that Jesus came to this earth? So why does he speak in ‘parables’ so that some people “may not turn again and be forgiven?” Even the most fundamental Christian has to admit that that’s very odd.
I sometimes wonder if Jesus said such things simply to jar people into thinking for themselves instead of just passively accepting everything that they’ve ever heard. Scripture doesn’t record it, but one can almost imagine the disciples nodding in agreement and then, all of a sudden, upon realizing what he really said, looking at Jesus and gingerly saying, “but didn’t you come to forgive people of their sins?” And then I can picture Jesus looking back at them with a little grin and eyebrow raise that says, “gotcha!” After all, the first thing Jesus did for the paralytic in chapter 2 was forgive him of his sins.
Prayer: Lord, help us to take a step back every now and then and consider how we might really best fit into your plan. Jar us to life…and to thought…and to service in Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included Numbers 17-18, Psalm 29, and Mark 4)
‘they may indeed look, but not perceive,
and may indeed listen, but not understand;
so that they may not turn again and be forgiven.’”
Observation: The Bible has its fair share of bewildering passages, but for me this one is near the top of the list.
Application: Every so often I think it’s healthy to consider whether what we’re doing really makes any sense.
I’m really not trying to get into the current political debate on House Bill 5 partly because, while it’s interesting on some levels, I’m not sure I really know enough about either side of the argument to make particularly helpful comments. Still, I had to laugh last night when I was told that the governor said that he would only negotiate with unions that “make a product” and that therefore teacher unions would not be included in such discussions. I laughed because I thought to myself, “what better ‘product’ is there than educated children?”
Okay, I’m sure there’s another side to the story but, oddly enough, the passage above attributed to Jesus is even more bewildering. I mean, isn’t forgiveness of sins one of the very reasons that Jesus came to this earth? So why does he speak in ‘parables’ so that some people “may not turn again and be forgiven?” Even the most fundamental Christian has to admit that that’s very odd.
I sometimes wonder if Jesus said such things simply to jar people into thinking for themselves instead of just passively accepting everything that they’ve ever heard. Scripture doesn’t record it, but one can almost imagine the disciples nodding in agreement and then, all of a sudden, upon realizing what he really said, looking at Jesus and gingerly saying, “but didn’t you come to forgive people of their sins?” And then I can picture Jesus looking back at them with a little grin and eyebrow raise that says, “gotcha!” After all, the first thing Jesus did for the paralytic in chapter 2 was forgive him of his sins.
Prayer: Lord, help us to take a step back every now and then and consider how we might really best fit into your plan. Jar us to life…and to thought…and to service in Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included Numbers 17-18, Psalm 29, and Mark 4)
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Questioning God
Scripture passage that caught my attention today: Numbers 14:15-20 Now if you kill this people all at one time, then the nations who have heard about you will say, 16 ‘It is because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land he swore to give them that he has slaughtered them in the wilderness.’ 17 And now, therefore, let the power of the LORD be great in the way that you promised when you spoke, saying,
18 ‘The LORD is slow to anger,
and abounding in steadfast love,
forgiving iniquity and transgression,
but by no means clearing the guilty,
visiting the iniquity of the parents
upon the children
to the third and the fourth generation.’
19 Forgive the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have pardoned this people, from Egypt even until now.” 20 Then the LORD said, “I do forgive, just as you have asked;
Observation: Once again Moses successfully negotiates with the Lord. In the Old Testament the Lord is presented as a juggling act between divine and human characteristics. Yes God is sometimes presented as almighty and powerful. God is also portrayed, as is the case in the passage above, as one whose mind changes, who cares what others think, who gets upset and then settles back down, as one with whom a mere mortal can sometimes reason. In the God of the Old Testament we catch a glimpse of the character of Jesus whom the Christian church understands to both fully human and fully divine.
Application: At a good number of times in my life I’ve been around people who are incredibly good at what they do and are revered by many. In each case the ones I’ve appreciated the most were the ones who were somehow still approachable. These are folks who, with all their talents, still reveal and understand their humanity.
I hope I’m not just trying to make God into my own image here, but I am often drawn to the stories in the Bible where the human characteristics of God are most revealed. So when Moses or Abraham or others are in a discussion or debate with God, I’m paying close attention to how God responds. And it leads me to wonder how God responds when I am personally in discussion/debate with the Almighty One. It’s not a case of lack of respect. I’ve got tons of respect…plus another ton of questions that, people like Moses, give me the courage to at least ask.
Prayer: Lord, thanks for allowing us to at least ask our questions and be in dialog with you. You did create us in your own image after all. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Scripture Readings today included: Numbers 14-16 and Mark 3)
18 ‘The LORD is slow to anger,
and abounding in steadfast love,
forgiving iniquity and transgression,
but by no means clearing the guilty,
visiting the iniquity of the parents
upon the children
to the third and the fourth generation.’
19 Forgive the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have pardoned this people, from Egypt even until now.” 20 Then the LORD said, “I do forgive, just as you have asked;
Observation: Once again Moses successfully negotiates with the Lord. In the Old Testament the Lord is presented as a juggling act between divine and human characteristics. Yes God is sometimes presented as almighty and powerful. God is also portrayed, as is the case in the passage above, as one whose mind changes, who cares what others think, who gets upset and then settles back down, as one with whom a mere mortal can sometimes reason. In the God of the Old Testament we catch a glimpse of the character of Jesus whom the Christian church understands to both fully human and fully divine.
Application: At a good number of times in my life I’ve been around people who are incredibly good at what they do and are revered by many. In each case the ones I’ve appreciated the most were the ones who were somehow still approachable. These are folks who, with all their talents, still reveal and understand their humanity.
I hope I’m not just trying to make God into my own image here, but I am often drawn to the stories in the Bible where the human characteristics of God are most revealed. So when Moses or Abraham or others are in a discussion or debate with God, I’m paying close attention to how God responds. And it leads me to wonder how God responds when I am personally in discussion/debate with the Almighty One. It’s not a case of lack of respect. I’ve got tons of respect…plus another ton of questions that, people like Moses, give me the courage to at least ask.
Prayer: Lord, thanks for allowing us to at least ask our questions and be in dialog with you. You did create us in your own image after all. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Scripture Readings today included: Numbers 14-16 and Mark 3)
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Questions of Fairness
Scripture Passage that Caught My Attention Today: Numbers 12:9-15 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them, and he departed. 10 When the cloud went away from over the tent, Miriam had become leprous, as white as snow. And Aaron turned towards Miriam and saw that she was leprous. 11 Then Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord, do not punish us for a sin that we have so foolishly committed. 12 Do not let her be like one stillborn, whose flesh is half consumed when it comes out of its mother’s womb.” 13 And Moses cried to the LORD, “O God, please heal her.” 14 But the LORD said to Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, would she not bear her shame for seven days? Let her be shut out of the camp for seven days, and after that she may be brought in again.” 15 So Miriam was shut out of the camp for seven days; and the people did not set out on the march until Miriam had been brought in again.
Observation: To begin, I should point out that this passage is connected to the first 8 verses of the chapter as well. Aaron, Miriam and another person were criticizing Moses for marrying the Cushite woman. God got wind of it and was upset with them. God called Aaron and Miriam to a meeting, chastised them both, but then punished Miriam only. Frankly, this seems really unfair. Aaron did the same thing that Miriam did, and she’s the only one that got punished? And besides, Moses had done something that was against the law (he married a Cushite woman). But on the bright side, apparently the law is not always binding when people in good faith (like Moses) try to do a loving thing (in this case marrying a foreigner) and also we see that the community did not move on until Miriam was able to join them again.
Application: Life is really unfair sometimes, even within the community of faith. I do not understand why Miriam had consequences but Aaron did not. It would be easier to understand if some earthly ruler had made the discipline decisions. But this the Lord, God Almighty! Surely the Lord could render a more fair judgment.
I know…I’m but dust and ashes and am not in a position to judge anyone, let alone the Lord of all. Still, even Moses and Aaron seemed appalled that the Lord would do such a thing. So I’m not alone in these feelings. In fact, I’m in good company…though apparently even good company can be wrong!
(Scripture readings included Numbers 12-13, Psalm 90, and Mark 2)
Observation: To begin, I should point out that this passage is connected to the first 8 verses of the chapter as well. Aaron, Miriam and another person were criticizing Moses for marrying the Cushite woman. God got wind of it and was upset with them. God called Aaron and Miriam to a meeting, chastised them both, but then punished Miriam only. Frankly, this seems really unfair. Aaron did the same thing that Miriam did, and she’s the only one that got punished? And besides, Moses had done something that was against the law (he married a Cushite woman). But on the bright side, apparently the law is not always binding when people in good faith (like Moses) try to do a loving thing (in this case marrying a foreigner) and also we see that the community did not move on until Miriam was able to join them again.
Application: Life is really unfair sometimes, even within the community of faith. I do not understand why Miriam had consequences but Aaron did not. It would be easier to understand if some earthly ruler had made the discipline decisions. But this the Lord, God Almighty! Surely the Lord could render a more fair judgment.
I know…I’m but dust and ashes and am not in a position to judge anyone, let alone the Lord of all. Still, even Moses and Aaron seemed appalled that the Lord would do such a thing. So I’m not alone in these feelings. In fact, I’m in good company…though apparently even good company can be wrong!
(Scripture readings included Numbers 12-13, Psalm 90, and Mark 2)
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Hearing the authentic Jesus
Scripture Verses that Caught My Attention today: Mark 1:14-15 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”
Observation: I wonder if it seemed odd in those days for Jesus to say such things.
Application: Earlier this morning I logged onto the internet to check on the weather conditions, school cancellations, etc. While doing so an advertising window popped up proclaiming that something big was going to happen in 2011 that would change my life forever, thus the advertisement beckoned me to “click here” to watch the “shocking video.” Rather than accept the invitation I chose to simply close the window and go on with my life. I had no time or interest in following what to me appeared to be nothing more than another internet scheme.
Yet the message of Jesus may well have seemed similar to the Internet advertisement. Jesus more or less indicated that this is the time, this is the year, God is here…NOW. Instead of “clicking,” Jesus asked the people of his day to take another kind of action (repent) and still more action (believe).
I wonder how many of them wrote him off as just another schemer. And I wonder if I would have done the same thing.
Still, my impression of Jesus is that he said such things in a way that was different from other claims. I don’t sense that he said things with a sense of panic, but rather with a sense almost calm authenticity. But I have no proof of that other than a Scripture passage or two indicating that he “taught with authority and not like the Scribes.”
Prayer: Lord, it’s not easy in our “gotta grab your attention” world to separate the authentic from the hype. Help us to hear and respond to the authentic you and not be distracted by others who might endeavor to make such claims for themselves. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Scripture readings today included: Numbers 10-11, Psalm 27 and Mark 1)
Observation: I wonder if it seemed odd in those days for Jesus to say such things.
Application: Earlier this morning I logged onto the internet to check on the weather conditions, school cancellations, etc. While doing so an advertising window popped up proclaiming that something big was going to happen in 2011 that would change my life forever, thus the advertisement beckoned me to “click here” to watch the “shocking video.” Rather than accept the invitation I chose to simply close the window and go on with my life. I had no time or interest in following what to me appeared to be nothing more than another internet scheme.
Yet the message of Jesus may well have seemed similar to the Internet advertisement. Jesus more or less indicated that this is the time, this is the year, God is here…NOW. Instead of “clicking,” Jesus asked the people of his day to take another kind of action (repent) and still more action (believe).
I wonder how many of them wrote him off as just another schemer. And I wonder if I would have done the same thing.
Still, my impression of Jesus is that he said such things in a way that was different from other claims. I don’t sense that he said things with a sense of panic, but rather with a sense almost calm authenticity. But I have no proof of that other than a Scripture passage or two indicating that he “taught with authority and not like the Scribes.”
Prayer: Lord, it’s not easy in our “gotta grab your attention” world to separate the authentic from the hype. Help us to hear and respond to the authentic you and not be distracted by others who might endeavor to make such claims for themselves. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Scripture readings today included: Numbers 10-11, Psalm 27 and Mark 1)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
