Archive for the ‘Pastor’s Blog’ Category

Posted on February 6, 2012 - by genes

John 6: 63

Interpreting scripture happens on more than one level.  True, every text is composed of letters that form words and ideas which will provide a basic translation.  I run into people all the time who read a text and just don’t understand how it could be meaningful to a person’s life.  Their understanding is based purely on a worldly, grammatical perspective.   However, there is an essential ingredient necessary for true understanding of God’s word – the Holy Spirit.  Just as the Holy Spirit brought the word into existence so too does it work in the life of the spirit-filled man or woman to bring understanding.  It is just one of the Spirit’s gifts to an open heart.  Consequently, Jesus’ words, through the agency of the Holy Spirit, do not only tell about life … they bring life.  Join me in praying today  for loved ones who’s hearts have been closed to the Holy Spirit.  Whether He uses me, someone else or some event, may the Spirit penetrate my friend’s heart today.

Posted on February 3, 2012 - by genes

John 15: 9-10

Would you like to make Jesus happy?  Not only does that seem like a worthy goal, it is one that is straightforward and direct.  Love one another as I have loved you.  While Jesus does make this an obligation for those who would be His followers, He also makes it clear that followers who are faithful in the keeping of directive will enjoy the intimate friendship of Christ Himself. Instead of thinking about how difficult it is to love unlovely people … keep before yourself today the pleasure that Christ will have because of your loving attitude.

Posted on February 2, 2012 - by genes

John 14:7

If you are reading Jesus’ message each day, you have probably noticed that we are in a grouping of scriptures where He repeatedly makes the same point:  You know me, you know my father.  Know my father, you know me.  While that may be obvious to us … it has not been obvious to many people from Jesus’ time until now.  Consequently, He makes the point over and over.  That is the funny thing about important points – they need to be said, demonstrated and repeated until every one does get THE point. 

Posted on February 1, 2012 - by genes

John 10: 37 & 38

These two verses were uttered at a rather tense moment.  To set the stage, verse 31 tells us that the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Their reaction was based on the fact that, increasingly, Jesus had been linking Himself to God the Father and the Jews viewed that as blasphemy.  In the midst of this charged atmosphere Jesus went even further suggesting that His many good works underscored a direct connection to the will of the Father.  While the angry crowd did not mind the “good works” that Jesus did, they couldn’t see the connection between the two.  With our passage Jesus makes it plain that His works and His oneness with God were a package.  He did mighty works because He was one with the Father – each reality giving testimony to the other.  Jesus’ ultimate point was that any rational, open minded person looking at His life and ministry could not explain His works without believing that His power came directly from His unity with God.   Even with such verbal testimony, not to forget recent miracles like that in John 9, the crowd continued their efforts to stone Him … but He escaped, for the time being.

How often have you heard people say that Jesus was a good man who did good things in a loving and kind way but he wasn’t God?   That is precisely what Jesus’ detractors said about Him nearly 2,000 years ago.    It is still vitally important that people connect the power of  His actions to His unity with God.  He showed His power so that we might believe.

Posted on January 31, 2012 - by genes

John 5: 22-23; 26-27

This passage stresses the unity of the Father and the Son.  It illustrates that old phrase:  Like Father, like son.  God the Father has such confidence in His son that He can delegate the most of important of tasks to Him – atonement and judgement.  This is important news, particularly to those who feel they can by-pass Jesus on either topic.  Dishonoring one is the same as dishonoring the other.

Posted on January 30, 2012 - by genes

Matthew 6:8-13

Every line of this model prayer is important and I would never wish to suggest otherwise.   Even so, if picking verses upon which we need to concentrate – work on –  it probably would not be verses 11, 12 or 13.  It’s not that they aren’t important because we need food, forgiveness and spiritual help.  In truth, most of us are usually pretty good about communicating to God all the things we feel we need to survive.  We don’t need a tutorial on that.  The part of the prayer that seems to be the easiest to overlook is that first part – the part where we ask that the Father’s will be the overriding concern in everything that happens in this life.  It is a prayer that is, first and foremost, a desire for God’s agenda take center stage.  Food takes on meaning as it provides us with the physical strength to serve God.  Forgiving others becomes an imperative because that is what God’s plan of reconcilation is all about.   This prayer is a purpose statement underscoring the fact that we exist to serve our heavenly Father and trust in Him to supply us with what need to do so.   

Posted on January 28, 2012 - by genes

John 16:33

Peace is one of those words that gets thrown around a lot in our world.  Everyone from UN Delegates to military moms wants peace.  Yet, even if world peace were to arrive on this planet, that would be no garuntee for the sort of peace Jesus was talking about in this passage.  He used the word to describe a special gift that He could give His followers – wholeness brought on by reconciliation with God.  With such a relationship, Jesus could even talk about peace just hours before His death and it is the very peace He offers us.

Posted on January 27, 2012 - by genes

Mark 10:45

Blessed to be a blessing.  Though not stated in those exact words, blessed to be a blessing is a reoccurring theme throughout the Bible.  God blesses us so we can bless others.  It was even true with His only begotten Son.  Jesus’ ministry on earth was not about what people could do for Him – it was about what He could do for people.  If we want to be like Him, then we must become a servant who serves, or blesses, all we meet.

Posted on January 26, 2012 - by genes

Matthew 9:12 & 13

It is mercy that finds favor with God – not sacrifices by those who feel themselves to be morally superior to everyone else.  Jesus’ comments in today’s passage really should not have surprised any observant Jew due to the fact that the prophet Hosea had described God’s desire for His people with the same basic idea many years before:  For I desire mercy, not sacrifice and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.  (Hosea 6:6)  Jesus ate with tax collectors and other notable sinners because, in doing so, it provided them with an opportunity to learn of God’s grace.  It is amazing that the religious leaders of Jesus’ day could write off whole groups of people, thinking them not worthy of fellowship with God.  Yet, they did.  It is a sobering thought, as well as a thought provoking account.  Is there anyone that you feel morally superior to?  Perhaps, you should invite them to dinner.   

Posted on January 25, 2012 - by genes

John 7: 16-18

This is one of those passages that sets the record straight on a couple of issues.  Jeses makes no bones about the fact that He is a messenger from the God of the universe, a fact that is  patently clear to devotees of God’s message. When a follower of God hears God’s message in another speaker, he will know that the new speaker draws his power and message from God because they are unified.  To this end Jesus would labor during his entire ministry, setting a faithful example of faithful servant we can follow.