Tag: Luke

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My Favorite Week

It;s Friday and for those of you that don’t have that song still stuck in your head you realize that we are on the verge of one of my favorite weeks of the year.  It kicks of this weekend with what has been called Palm Sunday and then ends next week with the Resurection day on the Passover!  This is exciting stuff.

And so today I thought I would share one of my favorite verses and one of the verses motivates me to keep writing this blog.  When Jesus was entering Jersalem he was being praised by the residents there, much to the chagrin of the “religious leaders” of the time.  Take a look:

 35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.

 37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

 38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

   “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

   40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (Luke 19:35-40, New International Version, ©2011)

What I love about this verse is that Jesus says hey if you silence them, even the stones will cry out and testify to me! That’s pretty powerful!
But why does that motivate me? As much as I would love to see stones literally praising him, I think that is my job to testify of his love and grace and mercy.
How about you, are you letting the rocks do your job, or are you keeping them relegated to a back up role?

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Overtaken With Joy

March Madness continues tonight is full force, even though my bracket is kaput. Speaking of basketball, have you seen this video from this Spanish basketball game that has been circulating the Internet?

Although the end of this game is quit speculator, its the audio commentary that makes this clip – so make sure you have your speakers on. Even though you probably can’t understand a thing he is saying, unless like American Idol star Laura “you speak one language and that language is Spanish”. Anyway, despite the fact that you can’t probably are not sure exactly what he is saying, the emotion, raw and uncut at the end of this game comes through loud and clear. He is clearly overwhelmed, awe struck and full of joy.

I have to wonder when was the last time that I was presented with anything that produced so much joy that I was overwhelmed like this guy?

This was just at a basketball game, consider how others reacted when then encountered the Savior of the world

26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.” (Luke 5:26, New International Version, ©2011)

8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man. (Matthew 9:8, New International Version, ©2011)

Maybe today is a day to stop and consider the awe inspiring gifts you have received.

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28-29, New International Version, ©2011)

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Johnny Appleseed Day

First of all, thanks Ray for the great post yesterday, to keep us all focused on that so important Freedom in our lives. So I have been in the Nation’s Capitol and its oblivious a very inspiring place, and I am sure it will generate some ideas into next week. Today I wanted to continue the weeks “Day” theme, but after spending days with a bunch of 8th graders, my idea engine is a little rusty!

But this is one of those days in March that has a cool date 3-1-1. Its the non emergency number, and I thought I conjure up some good thought but then I remembered it was Johnny Appleseed Day!

Yeah, a day to remember that guy who walked around the county passing out various apple seeds and who is attributed with the spreading of so many apple varieties around the country. It’s a pretty good lesson on the power of one person impacts others by sharing a gift that he had.
So today on this Friday, how about considering the gifts you have, the knowledge you have the insight and hope that you have, the love that you have, the grace and forgiveness that you have, and share that with others. Think of yourself as Johnny Graceseed, or Susie Hopeful, and see how that impacts those around you!

oh of course that reminds we of several verses, but the first one is a sort of suggestion/command we are given my that hero, Jesus

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20(NIV)

and this maybe this one:

38 Give, 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, ©2011)

and finally this one:

6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 1 Corinthians 3:6 (New International Version, ©2011)

Spread some seed!

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Ash Wednesday

The week burns on and the the weekday theme continues as we head straight into Ash Wednesday!
This is the start of the Lenten time for some folks, where they give up stuff that keeps from the serving their Lord and Savior. I guess that’s a pretty good thing, as you know I am a big fan of people transforming and chaning! And in some ways this is similiar to a New Year’s Resolution. I think however, that we need to be careful about changing for a season. Look at what the Christos says in Luke 14:33

33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. Luke 14:33 (New International Version, ©2011)

ouch!, He doesn’t day put away stuff for a season. He doesn’t say keep you favorite behavior because that’s just you. He says to give ALL, ALL the time.
I like the way David Platt talks about this. He says all the rest of you relationships need to look like hate when you compare then to your relationship with the creator. It is first and foremost and obvilously so.

So, I guess it’s fair to say, what are you giving up today – for good?

Burn it!

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Fat Tuesday

What a crazy day!

Fat Tuesday!

Mardi Gras!

woot woot, lets go party it up, because tomorrow we are giving it all up for Christ as part of Lent.

Yep, What a crazy day.

Now, I am not attempted to be a buzz kill at all with this little bit of encouragement today, but there is something interesting about this whole concept to me Take a look at the Christos says about giving stuff up.

23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. Luke 9:23-24 (New International Version, ©2011)

It’s an interesting comparison to the whole concept of having a day of excess before you give up something for Him. Tough message, tougher to do.

What do you think?