Tag: Luke

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Bowl Season!

Yeah, it’s Bowl week, and it’s gotten off to a great start with to game saving touchdowns late in the game.  I have to say that fourth down call by The Herd was a great play.  But here’s something pretty cool that happened off the field.

As you probably know, the players are rewarded quite well at this games.  The bowl gifts range from TV’s to watches, from iPods to rings. Tons o’ swag – well – of course swag that is under the $300 NCAA limit.  Yesterday however, a few Louisiana Tech players gave their packages to children from the Make-A-Wish foundation.  That’s probably even more incredible than the touchdowns and tackles.  Jump over and read about it here.

And be inspired by the heart of those players, and the magic of the Christmas season.

Keep Giving!

 

38Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”  Luke 6:38 New International Version (NIV)

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McFly, McFly

Hey, This is a pretty cool day today. Today is Pretend to be a Time Traveler Day! Head on over to your local TARDIS or jump in the DeLorean, it’s time to go back in time! Or maybe you want to go forward in time?  Which would it be for you?

Given this time of year, and some of the thoughts I have had this week, if I could go back in time today, I would head back to a pasture 2000 years ago.

 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

 13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

 15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Luke 2 NIV

 

I can’t imagine what those dudes were thinking. All of the sudden an angel appears and reveals the greatest message ever given.  Wow, I would love to see that!  Can you imagine?

So today, lets all find our inner Marty McFly or go find the Doctor and spend some time traveling, or at least pretending to travel, through time! 

And as you go, sing “Glory to God in the highest” just like those angels!

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Mary’s Response

Yesterday I was directed sort of unknowingly to this particular part of the ‘Christmas  Story’ in Luke. It’s a short passage immediately after Mary has a simple but powerful conversation with the Angel of the Lord.

I had read this passage so many times in the past, but yesterday it seemed these words were a lot closer to home than before. No, I did not have an angel talk to me. And no, I am not pregnant!. But I do struggle with submitting myself to the commands and directives of the creator of the world. I do struggle hearing those commands and saying “sure if that is what you want!”

But, that’s exactly what that young girl, Mary did.

 

38And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:38 English Standard Version (ESV)

Could you imagine if we actually responded that way to the commands of our Lord? I believe we would see incredible things happening! Her response, is quite an example. Might be worth following that example today?

Let it be to me.

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Finishing…

Oh man! I can’t believe I missed it! Yesterday was November 1, 2011. Or 11/1/11. ( for the European readers that’s 1/11/11). They called it Binary day and that is just chock full of date and number fun! But yeah, next week is even better because next Friday is 11/11/11!!!!! Sweeeeet!  I can’t wait until 11:11 on 11/11/11!!! 

Oh and I found something neat that is happening that weekend- the 12 and 13. It’s called finish weekend. A group of people in Michigan are getting together for the weekend to finish projects that they have started but have not quite completed. I think that’s a pretty cool idea. I am sure most of can join them in Michigan, but you can extend the idea into your home or community or self !

And just to prove my point, I think I will take a verse completely out of context about the need to finish work:

28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ Luke 14 NIV

Seriously though, what Jesus says there is correct. We have lots of things that we get started and not completely finish.  That leads me to two thoughts for today.  First, take advantage of this little ‘finish weekend’ idea. Find a project that is lingering around and knock it out that weekend.  You’ll feel great about yourself!

Secondly, lets look at what Jesus was really driving two in Luke where he mentioned the incomplete tower

33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. Luke 14 NIV

Hm.  He says,’ you have got to give up yourself if you are following me!’.  Hearing that, it maybe that we should also use next week to be finished with something? 

 

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Go and Do Likewise

Yesterday I had the pleasure of teaching the parable of the Good Samaritan to a group of teenagers.  Yeah, what fun is that  – you talk, they stare at you like you are not human.

But despite that I think they heard something, and the main thing I told them, is probably something all of us could be reminded of as well.

Before this parable Jesus has been asked to clarify who a person’s neighbor is.  He tells a story that we all know pretty well about a man and his rescuer.  He finished the story by with this little exchange:

  36“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:36-37

This is really interesting, as if I can paraphrase that last bit, it might be like this:

“Go and have mercy on those who hate you, oh and also have mercy on those that you hate.”

And that’s a pretty amazing way of showing who are neighbor is that we are commanded to show love towards ( with as much love as we show ourselves!!!)

Well, what else can I say, except – Go and Do Likewise!