November 14, 2017 Tuesday

            Awoke early but rested through the night.  In preparation for Advent and Christmas I am going through Isaiah where the promise of Jesus is offered and proclaimed.  I want to have this time of preparation for Advent which is a time of preparation for Christmas.  I usually don’t like to start any Christmas things until after Thanksgiving but this year it seems that Thanksgiving is Prelude to Advent.

            The day was long and not good.  I was so weary and later in the day I lost my appetite and didn’t eat.  Before this I never lost my appetite.  Even when I was vomiting if I saw a commercial for food it would sound good.  But now even when I am not nauseous I sometimes don’t get hungry and I have learned to not eat when I feel like this.

We continue with the eighth part of this Upside Down study.  These studies are for your personal use or if you want to use them in a class you have my permission.

Chapter Seven

The Ten Commandments are like a protective fence. 

When I was a young Christian I remember this comedian talking about the 10 Commandments.  He talked about how hard it was to not do the don’ts.  He said the more he tried to not do the don’ts the more don’ts he did.  No matter how hard he worked to not do the don’ts the more he did them!

            So one day he saw that there were a lot of do’s in the Bible.  God called us to do so many things and that is where he found the answer to his dilemma.  He said that the more time he spent doing the do’s left him with less time to do the don’ts!  So now he spent so much time doing the do’s that he didn’t have enough time to do the don’ts!  WOW!

“35 ¶ Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it. 36  Incline my heart to Your testimonies, And not to covetousness. 37 ¶ Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, And revive me in Your way. 38 ¶ Establish Your word to Your servant, Who is devoted to fearing You. 39 ¶ Turn away my reproach which I dread, For Your judgments are good. 40 ¶  Behold, I long for Your precepts; Revive me in Your righteousness.” (Psalm 119:35-40 NKJV)

But here is another lesson from farmland America.  At my first charge we were talking about the 10 Commandments and someone brought up that many people thought that the 10 Commandments were a sign God wanted to keep people in their place and not let them have fun.

How does a young pastor respond to that?  To a certain degree we all believe that God is sort of an ultimate kill joy.  We see God as the ultimate parent who doesn’t understand “younger” people and their “needs” (Isn’t it interesting that what we desire always quickly becomes a need?)

So I asked these farmers why they built such tight fences for their cows.  Did they want to keep the cows from being free?  Did they want to keep their cows from the cows they wanted to be with?  Did they want to keep the cows from the “better” fields around them?

Their response was striking.  I will list them to help you understand their concern for their cows and for their safety:

1. The fences kept the cows from wandering off and getting hurt by cars and trucks on the road.
2. The fences kept the cows from getting into other fields which might have dangerous plants that could injure or even kill them.
3. The fences kept the cows from mixing with other cattle that may not have been adequately protected and expose them to dangerous diseases.
4. The fences kept the cows within a safe space and even protected them from themselves!
5. The fences made it harder for them to be stolen by someone who was only interested in their own agenda and didn’t really care about the cows.

The farmers were quick to tell me that they were indeed concerned about the safety of the cows because it was in their own best interest.  But many also stated that with ownership came a desire to not just keep them safe but to see to their well being and comfort.  They cared about their cows!

Finding joy inside the fence

We really are stupid so much of the time.  We seek for happiness (a transient good feeling based on our experiences) when God offers us the ultimate gift of joy (a peace and hope which stands even in the face of terrible experiences).  

I know many will be offended by being called stupid but I do want you to realize that I am admitting that about me!  I wander off looking for happiness and leave the joy of being in God’s safe pasture and risk being killed! It is the human condition which is both the seed of the Fall as well as the fruit!

May you find the Joy of the Lord within the “confines” of the Ten Commandments and as scripture offers to us may “the Joy of the Lord be your strength”!

Which of the 10 Commandments is hardest for you?

Do you see the breakdown of the 10 Commandments?

Why doesn’t God just strike us down when we sin?

What place does sin have in a Christian’s life?  (Suggest you read James 1)

           

November 13, 2017 Sunday

            I have rested and prepared for this day all week!  Each week is designed by me to be able to be at Worship with God’s people.  Ever since God saved me I have set this time of worship as a given time for each week.  Over the years I have gone from it being part of my schedule to a time that I looked forward to and rejoiced in.  It saddens me that so many begrudge the time and miss the joy of loving the God Who for first loved us!  It is my hope and prayer that I can make My Love smile!

            Worship and Sunday school were such a blessing. After that time I always feel so tired and as usual I sort of crashed and the pain increased.  I did put supper on the stove while Bonnie was at choir.  My hands are so weak and I do not have much control so Bonnie had everything ready for me to start.

November 12, 2017 Sunday

            I have rested and prepared for this day all week!  Each week is designed by me to be able to be at Worship with God’s people.  Ever since God saved me I have set this time of worship as a given time for each week.  Over the years I have gone from it being part of my schedule to a time that I looked forward to and rejoiced in.  It saddens me that so many begrudge the time and miss the joy of loving the God Who for first loved us!  It is my hope and prayer that I can make My Love smile!

            Worship and Sunday school were such a blessing. After that time I always feel so tired and as usual I sort of crashed and the pain increased.  I did put supper on the stove while Bonnie was at choir.  My hands are so weak and I do not have much control so Bonnie had everything ready for me to start.

I usually say that I still prepare sermons because it helps my mind but to be honest God still gives me messages and you are all my congregation now.  As with every message I ever preached may this bring glory to God and make My Love smile!

November 12, 2017 Matthew 25:1-13 “Give me Oil in my lamp”

23^rd Sunday after Pentecost    

Through the Bible and prayer allow the Holy Spirit to fill your life!

                                    Psalter Reading Psalm 78:1-7

1   O my people, listen to my instructions.  Open your ears to what I am saying,  2   for I will speak to you in a parable.  I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—  3   stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us. 4   We will not hide these truths from our children;  we will tell the next generation  about the glorious deeds of the LORD,   about his power and his mighty wonders. 5   For he issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel.  He commanded our ancestors  to teach them to their children, 6   so the next generation might know them—  even the children not yet born— and they in turn will teach their own children. 7  So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands.                             Psalm 78:1-7 NLT

1 “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaid who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, 4  but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. 5  When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’ 7 “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. 8 Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’ 9 “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. 11   Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ 12  “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’ 13 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.                                                                          Matthew 25:1-13 NLT

In our time we miss the meaning of this title.  We might “update” it so say that we need a light bulb in our lamp but that would miss the point entirely.

Really we should ask God to give us His “electricity” or power so our lamps will remain alight and light up our lives and the world around us.  And also be a light for future generations.

We are called to “keep watch” and maybe we can translate that to our time as keep plugged in to God’s power and presence.  Our ears must be open to God’s wisdom, teaching and guidance if we are to not only be ready for Jesus but help other to have the “electricity” to keep their lamps alight.

We can blame the world for the problems we see but as I heard one time you cannot blame evil people for being evil, but you can blame good people for not being good!

Because we are not plugged into God’s power so many suffer in the darkness and will die without ever seeing God’s light!  LET GOD’S LIGHT SHINE IN YOU AND THROUGH YOU!  Then many will rise up and call God and you blessed!

November 11, 2017 Saturday

Didn’t sleep well but I am some rested.  Last night was a great time of prayer and I am humbled by God allowing me this blessing.  In the midst of so much pain and loss I can honestly say that I am at peace and am filled with joy. 

I could feel bad about not being able to go places and do things but I really don’t feel bad and I travel so much through prayer.  I want most of all to be with My Love and my family and I have that.  I would not trade all that was for what I have.  I am so very blessed!

Bonnie and I had a wonderful time with our devotion from Near to the Heart of God which gives a short history of a hymn and the words.  The words are always special but this hymn by Anne Steele really touched me.

Father, whate’er of earthly bliss

Thy sovereign will denies,

Accepted at Thy throne,

let this  My humble prayer, arise:

Give me a calm and thankful heart,

From every murmur free;

The blessing of Thy grace impart,

And make me live to Thee.

Let the sweet hope that Thou art mine

My life and death attend,

Thy presence through my journey shine,

And crown my journey’s end.

Morgan, Robert J.. Near to the Heart of God: Meditations on 366 Best-Loved Hymns (p. 320). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Here is the seventh part of The Upside Down World of Theology.

Chapter Six

Churches are like cows, they digest slowly.

            Pastor’s especially are often frustrated at how long it takes to get a church to change its direction or it way of doing things.  But I have found this to actually be a great protective measure to keep a congregation from being blown side to side by every new “doctrine” or really half baked teaching going around!

            When I was going to college there was a local church who sent its pastor off to a conference he was interested in.  When he came back he surprised his conservative congregation by saying that he no longer was a follower of Jesus but believed that Noah was the great leader they should follow!  But the whole community was even more surprised when the congregation followed their pastor!

            “10 ¶ Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.” (Acts 17:10-12 NKJV)

            The people of Berea were like cows.  They were either Jews or God-fearers and when they heard Paul’s message they went home and took everything he said and compared it to scripture.  When they saw that their teaching went along with scripture they believed!

            We live in a world of fad diets and of fad science.  Just look at the incredible edible egg.  When I was a boy eggs were a cheap source of food for people who didn’t have a lot of money.  Like us.  Then science discovered that eggs were a high source of cholesterol and therefore very dangerous to your heart.  Sales went down as people tried to eat healthier.  New studies showed that eggs were a good source of protein at a cheap price and contained a healthier kind of cholesterol and the price went up!  Can I get a baa! 

Mooving along

            Think about cows for a minute.  I know this is not scientific but from what I remember from my days serving in farming country cows eat very slowly and grass takes a long time and lots of processing to become milk or hamburger.

            A cow will take a bite of grass and begin to chew.  It is fun to watch a cow take a bite and chew, then chew and then chew some more.  After it reaches a rather disgusting consistency they swallow it and it begins a long process through the multi stomached processing plant that a cow is so it can turn plant matter in hamburgers and milk.  At times if the grass has not been chewed enough the cow will regurgitate it and chew it some more.  Gives new meaning to seconds doesn’t it?

            With that in mind let us look at the people of Berea.  They listened to the message and started to chew on it.  They took the message home and passed it through the stomach of the Bible.  Here it was processed some more.  They kept coming back hearing more and digesting more and eventually they were processed from Jews or God fearers to become Christians!

“Please take an illegal u-turn.”

            A friend of mine has one of those wonderful GPS devices in his car and it was giving us traveling advice in real time.  We stopped so I could take over the driving and the GPS emphatically said, “Please take and illegal u-turn.”  We have laughed about that for years!

            But that is the world for you!  The world wants to get you in the same path as everyone else (remember the baa) and when you are following God that means they want you to take an illegal u-turn!  Because the world will do everything in its power to divert you from not only following God but getting to God in the first place.

            Some will say I am being paranoid (as opposed to pessimistic) but if you have read your Bible (you have haven’t you?) than you will have discovered that God is paranoid like that!  God has some really terrible things to say about the powers in the world and if you missed it the worst statements are about religious leaders!

            Moove slowly as you grow in the faith about your understanding of God and of the Church.  Understand the difference between the little c church (congregation or denomination) and the Big C Church (the Body of Christ!).

            Like the people of Berea keep going back to the Bible to check out not only what you hear, but what you believe.  And remember that Jesus is Lord!  And that means you are not!

When issues are discussed in the church or in society what impact does the Bible have for you?

Do you see God as the ultimate kill joy?

Could the 10 Commandments be God’s process of turning us into Christians?