Scripture verses that caught my attention today: John 2:23-25 When he was in Jerusalem during the Passover festival, many believed in his name because they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to testify about anyone; for he himself knew what was in everyone.
Observation: Jesus recognized the human condition.
Application: We don’t necessarily like to admit it, but as humans we are a pretty fickle lot. We cheer…and then we jeer. We’re on again, off again. We’re up on life and down on life, full of faith and, sometimes, devoid of faith.
Is it any wonder that “Jesus…wound not entrust himself to them?” Of course not. Like the Scripture says, “he knew all people…he himself knew what was in everyone.”
A bigger question is, “do we know what is in everyone or, more precisely, within ourselves?” Are we fully aware of who we are? Do we recognize the gifts that we bring to the table? And the baggage?
And do we recognize that some of the things that we might think are gifts might in reality be baggage? And visa versa?
It occurs to me that the religious leaders in Jesus’ day thought they were doing right in crucifying Jesus. The one time that Jesus did “entrust himself to them” they were revealed for who they really were.
And don’t think for one minute that we would have handled things any different. The ‘condition’ that Jesus recognizes within us is our humanness.
Nevertheless, Jesus himself became human. Humanity might have its share of sickness, but not so much so that Jesus wasn’t willing to take that ailment on himself. In the human flesh of Jesus is, through communion, the very presence of God.
Yes, Jesus knew what was in everyone. But do we know what can be found in him?
Prayer: Lord, thanks for accepting what all that is in us and offering us all that is in you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Scripture readings today included: Isaiah 63-64, Psalm 107, and John 2)
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Hotel workout
Exercise Tip: Preparation and Planning is Key
Right now I'm at a Stephen's Ministry training week in Pittsburg, PA. The 44-story hotel naturally has a fitness room, but all fitness rooms are different. So the key for me was to take a few minutes to scope the place out last night so that I could plan my morning workout around what this particular fitness facility had to offer.
In this case they have a great set of dumbells (good) and a number of resistance machines (not so helpful for my routine) and a host of cardio equipment (which I don't need/use for my workouts because in my workouts the cardio is built right in).
Still, I found everything I needed including:
--Space for my warm-up
--a lat pull-down machine to simulate pull-ups
--an exercise ball for some ab work
--a towel to lay on floor for my arm to rest on for side planks
--dumbells for a number of my exercises.
As it turned out, someone else was using the exercise ball when I wanted/needed it, so it's good to know alternative exercises that will accomplish a similar purpose. (In this case I did cross-body mountain climbers instead of Stability-ball Jack-knives.)
the workout was as follows:
Set 1
Lat Pull-downs
Dumbell Squats
One-leg push-ups
rest 30 seconds, repeat set.
Set 2
Bulgarian split squats
Cross-body mountain climbers
rest 30 seconds, repeat set
Set 3
Bent-over dumbell rows
Plank, side-plank and leg raise routine
Overhead dumbell presses.
rest 30 seconds, repeat set.
Done.
Right now I'm at a Stephen's Ministry training week in Pittsburg, PA. The 44-story hotel naturally has a fitness room, but all fitness rooms are different. So the key for me was to take a few minutes to scope the place out last night so that I could plan my morning workout around what this particular fitness facility had to offer.
In this case they have a great set of dumbells (good) and a number of resistance machines (not so helpful for my routine) and a host of cardio equipment (which I don't need/use for my workouts because in my workouts the cardio is built right in).
Still, I found everything I needed including:
--Space for my warm-up
--a lat pull-down machine to simulate pull-ups
--an exercise ball for some ab work
--a towel to lay on floor for my arm to rest on for side planks
--dumbells for a number of my exercises.
As it turned out, someone else was using the exercise ball when I wanted/needed it, so it's good to know alternative exercises that will accomplish a similar purpose. (In this case I did cross-body mountain climbers instead of Stability-ball Jack-knives.)
the workout was as follows:
Set 1
Lat Pull-downs
Dumbell Squats
One-leg push-ups
rest 30 seconds, repeat set.
Set 2
Bulgarian split squats
Cross-body mountain climbers
rest 30 seconds, repeat set
Set 3
Bent-over dumbell rows
Plank, side-plank and leg raise routine
Overhead dumbell presses.
rest 30 seconds, repeat set.
Done.
Heaven's Grand Opening
Scripture Verse that caught my attention today: John 1:51 And [Jesus] said to [Phillip], “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
Observation: heaven will be “opened.”
Application: Verses like this are what probably give us the impression that heaven is a ‘place.’ We envision an entrance of some sort, be it pearly gates or some other sort of majestic opening. We may imagine someone stationed at this entrance to check credentials and the like. Wouldn’t want any riff-raft getting in there now, would we?
But who really ‘opens’ heaven? And wouldn’t it be a wonderful sight to see heaven itself open? Wouldn’t it be great to be there when it opens up? Would we stay up all night standing in line like people do for movie premiers or for a chance to be the first to buy Apple’s latest electronic gadget?
I don’t know. Maybe it doesn’t work that way. But Jesus seems to indicate that, whatever the opening of heaven is like, hanging around him is the way to see it.
Prayer: Lord, help us to not only be willing to hang around you, but to truly long to hang around you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: Isaiah 60-62 and John 1)
Observation: heaven will be “opened.”
Application: Verses like this are what probably give us the impression that heaven is a ‘place.’ We envision an entrance of some sort, be it pearly gates or some other sort of majestic opening. We may imagine someone stationed at this entrance to check credentials and the like. Wouldn’t want any riff-raft getting in there now, would we?
But who really ‘opens’ heaven? And wouldn’t it be a wonderful sight to see heaven itself open? Wouldn’t it be great to be there when it opens up? Would we stay up all night standing in line like people do for movie premiers or for a chance to be the first to buy Apple’s latest electronic gadget?
I don’t know. Maybe it doesn’t work that way. But Jesus seems to indicate that, whatever the opening of heaven is like, hanging around him is the way to see it.
Prayer: Lord, help us to not only be willing to hang around you, but to truly long to hang around you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: Isaiah 60-62 and John 1)
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Something to think about as we start our day
Scripture Verse that Caught my attention today: Isaiah 55:2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
Observation: God wanted the people of old to spend both their money and their time wisely.
Application: Nutritionally speaking, they are called “empty calories.” These are snacks and other forms of food (using the term loosely) that have little if any nutritional value. They often consist mainly of two kinds of ingredients, namely forms of sugar and a whole bunch of other ingredients that few of us can even pronounce. It’s not really food. It’s not really true nutrition.
Time vampires, to use a direct marketing guru’s phrase, is another culprit. Not in terms of nutrition, but in terms of what we do with our time. Much of it is more or less wasted. I’m not saying that we should be complete production-a-sauruses (my own little term for it). There is deep an abiding value, at times, to just be with someone else or even to be by oneself for quality reflection and the like. But so often we are doing neither of these things, let alone doing something productive. We mindlessly surf TV channels and/or the Internet or get lost in our addiction to gaming or checking e-mail or whatever other time-vampires we allow to take hold of us.
The Lord would point us to another way. Spend (whether money or time) on that which is worthwhile, that which truly satisfies.
Which leads to an interesting question. What truly satisfies you? What really leaves you feeling fulfilled at the end of the day?
What, if you could look back 10 years from now (or even a week from now), would be the kind of endeavor for which you would be deeply grateful for having been engaged? And is what you are doing right now, at this very minute, leading you in that general direction?
“Listen carefully to me” says the Lord through the prophet Isaiah. “Eat what is good and delight yourselves in rich food.”
Somehow I think the Lord is referring to something far greater than just lunch, though a healthy lunch might still be a good start.
Prayer: Lord, help us to take heed to your advice with how we spend all of the resources you have provided at our disposal. They are truly your gifts for us to receive with joy. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today include: Isaiah 53-56 and 2 Peter 2)
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
Observation: God wanted the people of old to spend both their money and their time wisely.
Application: Nutritionally speaking, they are called “empty calories.” These are snacks and other forms of food (using the term loosely) that have little if any nutritional value. They often consist mainly of two kinds of ingredients, namely forms of sugar and a whole bunch of other ingredients that few of us can even pronounce. It’s not really food. It’s not really true nutrition.
Time vampires, to use a direct marketing guru’s phrase, is another culprit. Not in terms of nutrition, but in terms of what we do with our time. Much of it is more or less wasted. I’m not saying that we should be complete production-a-sauruses (my own little term for it). There is deep an abiding value, at times, to just be with someone else or even to be by oneself for quality reflection and the like. But so often we are doing neither of these things, let alone doing something productive. We mindlessly surf TV channels and/or the Internet or get lost in our addiction to gaming or checking e-mail or whatever other time-vampires we allow to take hold of us.
The Lord would point us to another way. Spend (whether money or time) on that which is worthwhile, that which truly satisfies.
Which leads to an interesting question. What truly satisfies you? What really leaves you feeling fulfilled at the end of the day?
What, if you could look back 10 years from now (or even a week from now), would be the kind of endeavor for which you would be deeply grateful for having been engaged? And is what you are doing right now, at this very minute, leading you in that general direction?
“Listen carefully to me” says the Lord through the prophet Isaiah. “Eat what is good and delight yourselves in rich food.”
Somehow I think the Lord is referring to something far greater than just lunch, though a healthy lunch might still be a good start.
Prayer: Lord, help us to take heed to your advice with how we spend all of the resources you have provided at our disposal. They are truly your gifts for us to receive with joy. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today include: Isaiah 53-56 and 2 Peter 2)
Friday, July 27, 2012
The Reason I'm Strange
Today I learned that I am one of only 1.2 percent of American Adults.
Seriously.
According to a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, only 1.2 Percent of American adults can identify with EACH of the following:
--eat a healthy diet
--have a normal blood pressure
--exercise regularly
--don't smoke
--have a normal blood sugar level
--are at a healthy weight
--have healthy cholesterol levels
Statistically speaking, I guess I'm strange! (Some might say I'm strange even without statistics, but that's another story...)
It's sad that there aren't more people who can claim such strangeness.
The other day I was making a routine hospital call that required walking up a small incline to the main hospital entrance. Another woman arrived at about the same time and so we walked up to the entrance together and eventually even boarded the same elevator.
Once in the elevator the woman quipped, "that hill gets me every time...I guess I'm out of shape."
Her comment really caught me by surprise. I didn't even consider it a "hill," much less a measurement for conditioning. But out of shape she was, as evidenced not just by her comment, but also by her breathing. She's one of the 98.8 percent who cannot relate to everything on the above list.
It doesn't have to be this way.
1.2 percent is not a fixed number. That number can get bigger...and fast!
Be a part of it. Hop on the band wagon. Ride to the beat of a healthy heart moving healthy blood to healthy organs.
Such efforts won't necessarily make you a better person (only God does that!). But they can make for a higher quality of life, one with far less huffing and less puffing.
Praying for your own strangeness,
Kent
Seriously.
According to a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, only 1.2 Percent of American adults can identify with EACH of the following:
--eat a healthy diet
--have a normal blood pressure
--exercise regularly
--don't smoke
--have a normal blood sugar level
--are at a healthy weight
--have healthy cholesterol levels
Statistically speaking, I guess I'm strange! (Some might say I'm strange even without statistics, but that's another story...)
It's sad that there aren't more people who can claim such strangeness.
The other day I was making a routine hospital call that required walking up a small incline to the main hospital entrance. Another woman arrived at about the same time and so we walked up to the entrance together and eventually even boarded the same elevator.
Once in the elevator the woman quipped, "that hill gets me every time...I guess I'm out of shape."
Her comment really caught me by surprise. I didn't even consider it a "hill," much less a measurement for conditioning. But out of shape she was, as evidenced not just by her comment, but also by her breathing. She's one of the 98.8 percent who cannot relate to everything on the above list.
It doesn't have to be this way.
1.2 percent is not a fixed number. That number can get bigger...and fast!
Be a part of it. Hop on the band wagon. Ride to the beat of a healthy heart moving healthy blood to healthy organs.
Such efforts won't necessarily make you a better person (only God does that!). But they can make for a higher quality of life, one with far less huffing and less puffing.
Praying for your own strangeness,
Kent
Preparation for when we're gone.
Scripture Verse that caught my attention today: 2 Peter 1:15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.
Observation: Peter wanted people to still be able to function well in the world after he was gone.
Application: When we’re gone, people carry on. They always do. They have no choice.
Some, however, carry on better than others.
If we’re in a position of leadership and/or influence, one of our roles is to prepare people to carry on well, perhaps even exceptionally well, without us.
From a practical standpoint such preparation may include teaching valuable skills and insights as well as offering some degree of mentoring for some.
From a spiritual standpoint, such preparation includes walking in a humble manor that always points people to the incredible love through which God has claimed us through Christ.
In other words, we want people to know that they will be able to carry on just fine without us, but they will not be able to carry on just fine without Christ.
Sure, we might somewhat selfishly hope people are at least a little sad when we’re gone. But it should be a sadness prompted with the hope that we’ve simply made a positive difference in their lives in some way—as well as reminded them that they can do the same thing…perhaps even more so.
Prayer: Lord, all of us have days that are numbered. Help us to make good and thankful use of whatever number of days we are given. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Scripture Readings today included: Isaiah 50-52, Psalm 92, and 2 Peter 1)
Observation: Peter wanted people to still be able to function well in the world after he was gone.
Application: When we’re gone, people carry on. They always do. They have no choice.
Some, however, carry on better than others.
If we’re in a position of leadership and/or influence, one of our roles is to prepare people to carry on well, perhaps even exceptionally well, without us.
From a practical standpoint such preparation may include teaching valuable skills and insights as well as offering some degree of mentoring for some.
From a spiritual standpoint, such preparation includes walking in a humble manor that always points people to the incredible love through which God has claimed us through Christ.
In other words, we want people to know that they will be able to carry on just fine without us, but they will not be able to carry on just fine without Christ.
Sure, we might somewhat selfishly hope people are at least a little sad when we’re gone. But it should be a sadness prompted with the hope that we’ve simply made a positive difference in their lives in some way—as well as reminded them that they can do the same thing…perhaps even more so.
Prayer: Lord, all of us have days that are numbered. Help us to make good and thankful use of whatever number of days we are given. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Scripture Readings today included: Isaiah 50-52, Psalm 92, and 2 Peter 1)
Thursday, July 26, 2012
As You Plan Your Day
Scripture Verses that Caught my attention today:
Isaiah 47:15 You are wearied with your many consultations;
let those who study the heavens
stand up and save you,
those who gaze at the stars,
and at each new moon predict
what shall befall you.
Isaiah 48:17 Thus says the LORD,
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
I am the LORD your God,
who teaches you for your own good,
who leads you in the way you should go.
1 Peter 5:2 tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it—not for sordid gain but eagerly.
Observation: Similar messages from three different areas of Scripture. There is a place for consultation, but at some point one needs to be listening to the direction of the Lord. And each of us has a “flock” of some kind to which we are to exercise oversight.
Application: These days I’ve been a bit of a sponge for information that has the potential to be very helpful for evangelism. I’ve signed up for weekly e-mails, a monthly newsletter and CD and will also be entering into a short-term coaching agreement. It’s very interesting stuff (as well it should be because it’s not particularly cheap!). It’s the kind of thing that was never really taught in seminary (and if seminaries could teach everything a pastor really needed to know, I suspect it would be a 10-year experience rather than 4). Still, as Isaiah put it in chapter 47 in verse 15, one can become “wearied with your many consultations.”
As I read on I ran into verse 17 of chapter 48 which served as a reminder that the Lord is the one who “leads you in the way you should go.” Good point.
And then in 1 Peter I was reminded to simply tend the flock that is in my charge.
The point of all of this is not to avoid consultation. In fact, it is wise to regularly seek consultation. That’s part of being humble—recognizing that others can help us see a fuller picture and the like. But at the end of the day—or maybe closer to the beginning—we are called to respond in our own way to the Lord’s leading. At that point all other consultations need to be put in their place and we move forward according to the faith and insight that we have been given. We exercise oversight for whatever “flock” is in our charge, be it a congregation, a company, a customer, a family, a relationship, a ward of patients, a class of students, maybe even a pet or some other aspect of creation. All of us are in charge of something or someone, not in some dictatorially fashion, but in the sense of tending and caring.
Oh…and one more thing. 1 Peter speaks of disciplining ourselves. So in some respects a key member of our respective ‘flocks’ are ourselves.
This morning I was working on my to-do list for the day. I had scribbled down some of the little things (basically tasks) that needed to be done, but had not yet determined what the major project should be for the day. Instead I decided I would do devotions first and seek some direction in that way before determining the focus of my best time today.
Today’s lessons confirm that, as helpful as all other consultations might in many ways be, listening to the promptings of the Spirit is still the best way to start. Everybody else’s agenda (including my own) will tend to have a self-serving component. God’s Spirit, however, offers a far more holistic view and is most worthy of our attention before we undertake anything important or even determine what really is important.
Prayer: Lord, thanks for these readings today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today include: Isaiah 46-49 and 1 Peter 5)
Isaiah 47:15 You are wearied with your many consultations;
let those who study the heavens
stand up and save you,
those who gaze at the stars,
and at each new moon predict
what shall befall you.
Isaiah 48:17 Thus says the LORD,
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
I am the LORD your God,
who teaches you for your own good,
who leads you in the way you should go.
1 Peter 5:2 tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it—not for sordid gain but eagerly.
Observation: Similar messages from three different areas of Scripture. There is a place for consultation, but at some point one needs to be listening to the direction of the Lord. And each of us has a “flock” of some kind to which we are to exercise oversight.
Application: These days I’ve been a bit of a sponge for information that has the potential to be very helpful for evangelism. I’ve signed up for weekly e-mails, a monthly newsletter and CD and will also be entering into a short-term coaching agreement. It’s very interesting stuff (as well it should be because it’s not particularly cheap!). It’s the kind of thing that was never really taught in seminary (and if seminaries could teach everything a pastor really needed to know, I suspect it would be a 10-year experience rather than 4). Still, as Isaiah put it in chapter 47 in verse 15, one can become “wearied with your many consultations.”
As I read on I ran into verse 17 of chapter 48 which served as a reminder that the Lord is the one who “leads you in the way you should go.” Good point.
And then in 1 Peter I was reminded to simply tend the flock that is in my charge.
The point of all of this is not to avoid consultation. In fact, it is wise to regularly seek consultation. That’s part of being humble—recognizing that others can help us see a fuller picture and the like. But at the end of the day—or maybe closer to the beginning—we are called to respond in our own way to the Lord’s leading. At that point all other consultations need to be put in their place and we move forward according to the faith and insight that we have been given. We exercise oversight for whatever “flock” is in our charge, be it a congregation, a company, a customer, a family, a relationship, a ward of patients, a class of students, maybe even a pet or some other aspect of creation. All of us are in charge of something or someone, not in some dictatorially fashion, but in the sense of tending and caring.
Oh…and one more thing. 1 Peter speaks of disciplining ourselves. So in some respects a key member of our respective ‘flocks’ are ourselves.
This morning I was working on my to-do list for the day. I had scribbled down some of the little things (basically tasks) that needed to be done, but had not yet determined what the major project should be for the day. Instead I decided I would do devotions first and seek some direction in that way before determining the focus of my best time today.
Today’s lessons confirm that, as helpful as all other consultations might in many ways be, listening to the promptings of the Spirit is still the best way to start. Everybody else’s agenda (including my own) will tend to have a self-serving component. God’s Spirit, however, offers a far more holistic view and is most worthy of our attention before we undertake anything important or even determine what really is important.
Prayer: Lord, thanks for these readings today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today include: Isaiah 46-49 and 1 Peter 5)
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