The Bible and Snow

Wow, there's lots of snow out there. I woke this morning loo,king forward to our Christmas Eve candle light service, only to see 2 inches of new snow already, and more on the way. Where does it all come from? One of our Elders reminded me of Job 38:22, Have you entered the treasury of snow, Or have you seen the treasury of hail, Which I have reserved for the time of trouble, For the day of battle and war? Maybe now it feels like you could answer, "Yes, I've seen it." There's another weather report in Psalm 147, He gives snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes; He casts out His hail like morsels; Who can stand before His cold? He sends out His word and melts them; He causes His wind to blow, and the waters flow.

Yes, God gives out snow, but also gives out His word. This year I was particular struck by the Shepherds of Luke 2, how the theme of "told" reoccurs in the story. The good news was made known to them, they went and saw that it was "just as they were told" and so they told others, making it "widely known."

Isaiah says that as the snow from heaven waters the earth...bringing life and fruitfulness, so shall God's word be (Isa 55:10-11). Isaiah also tells us the result of hearing and believing God's good news about the Savior: Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. God sent Jesus our Savior to remove our sins, to cover them over in His own righteousness. And unlike this present covering of snow, His forgiveness, His cleansing lasts forever!

Church services cancelled, but still we worship

I was looking froward to church today. It's Christmas Sunday, this was the time for us to remind each other and all who visit and worship with us what were given for Christmas. But, a foot of snow and a layer of ice on top of it makes it dangerous to get out. So, we'll stay home and celebrate together what we were given for Christmas--even before we open presents--cause what we really were given for Christmas is a savior!

So, how to celebrate??? The shepherds who first heard the good news of great joy to all people...that a savior has been born in Luke 2:8:14 celebrated three ways.

1. They settled it for themselves--they went to see what they had been told (2:15). They heard the good news from God's messengers, they believed it, so they went to see Him, Jesus, Himself, for themselves. Everything else comes after that. God gave us a Savior, any other celebration flows out of our first knowing Him.


2. They told everyone they could (2:17). They told not only that this child was born, but what the angels said it meant. That He was the Christ, He was a Savior, He was given for all people, and that in Him was real peace. They caused quite a stir, and perhaps some what not sure what to make of these newly declared evangelists, but they had good news for all people which could not be kept to themselves. This is a time of year when we get fresh opportunities to tell. even in answering that question, "So what did you get for Christmas?" Go ahead, tell them what you were given-a Savior!


3. They went out in worship (2:20). We had hoped to come in to church together to worship, after all it's Christmas Sunday. We wanted to have at least the 11:00 service if at all possible, but, weather doesn't determine whether or not we worship. We come to church to worship and we go back to our field, our home, our work or school, to worship. God has called us, in whatever lonely corner He found us, He gave us the good news, great joy, a Savior. Life is now different even though it seems much the same. Now life is a place of worship. In whatever setting He places us we will praise and glorify him.

becoming God's flock

Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture,

And the sheep of His hand.

Psalm 95:6-7 NKJV

Our saviour leads us like a shepherd, but how? Is it just individual, is it just that still small voice? Is it simply by reading the Word on my own, by myself?

Or, has the Good Shepherd given us shepherds, to lead us in His care? What would that look like? What would following His appointed shepherds look like? How well do I/we do that?

Hebrews 13:7, 17 urge us to consider and follow, for our own benefit. Does how I follow a shepherd relate to how I'm following the Shepherd?

becoming "foreigners"???

I spoke yesterday about politics in church, where our politics, or our politeuma, really are. Our true citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). I shared several quotes from Alexis de Tocqueville's critique of American democracy. What Tocqueville noted about America has some warnings for us as American Christians. There is always a temptation to follow along in the currents of our culture, when we are actually called to be Heaven's ambassadors, temporarily residents here to show and share God's glory and salvation in Christ. There is much that distracts us, but we who have been raised with Christ must seek those things which are above...(Col 3:1-4), and represent Heaven's values, even above our own interests, while we are here.

Here are those quotes (from De la démocratie en Amérique):
1. The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money.
2. There are many men of principle in both parties in America, but there is no party of principle.
3. There are two things which a democratic people will always find very difficult - to begin a war and to end it.
4. There is hardly a political question in the United States which does not sooner or later turn into a judicial one.
5. Materialism results from a passion for equality because people think that they ought to be able to have as much wealth as everyone else. Indirectly, materialism also comes from the philosophical tendency fostered by democracies to disdain lofty ideas or thoughts of eternity.
6. The main business of religions is to purify, control, and restrain that excessive and exclusive taste for well-being which men acquire in times of equality.

And one more...
Our home is in heaven, and here on earth we are a colony of heavenly citizens - M. Dibelius

becoming family

One of the strongest images for the Church, and a local church, is family. We are members of God's family, brothers and sisters, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. We have been born into this family, born again, born of the Spirit of God through faith in Christ (John 3).
Recently, I was reminded in our our family, what being God's family means in our church. Family is a place where your welcomed with a hug, you don't have to wait for an invitation to come, and you can bring your dirty laundry home with you--we'll work on it together!
I want opur church to be that for one another. Our past family expereince may not be perfect, it might not be what it could be, but our expereince in God's family, together, can be all that God intends it too be.
Leave a comment on what you think it takes or looks like for a church to be or do family together.

sewing pearls on satin

Imagine the wedding is just weeks away, you know things are not yet ready, and you're the bride! What are you doing, watching Oprah? Chillin with your ipod? No, you're frantic, focused on being ready. Minor distractions like eating and sleep mean nothing to you now. The Day is coming, when the doors open, and every head turns back, the music plays and you step toward your bridegroom. You have to be ready, the dress perfect, every bead and pearl in place.
The Day is coming, when Jesus calls his Bride, the church, to come be with Him in the place he has prepared for her, for us. Are we ready? Is the fine linen of the Bride (Rev 19:7-8) wrinkle free and shining bright? How should we be sewing pearls on satin?

a new humanity

God has made the church as a new humanity, a new man. The key is new, new in kind or quality--different--no more status quo. A key part of this difference is in our relationships with one another. I wanted to say that being reconciled with God we then can be restored to one another, but it's not that neat. These two are intertwined in Ephesians 2:13-18--God has made peace between man and God and between men... between women... between men and women?
Have we way over-compartmentalized our Christianity by focusing on a relationship between myself and God? Do I experience a relationship with God in relationship with others? How then, could I be more intentional about my spiritual relationship with God?

Wrestling with God

Jacob has obeyed God, returning to the land promised to him when God told him to (31:3). Fearing his "reunion" with his brother Esau, expecting he will still hold an angry grudge (32:6-7), he prays for God's protection (32:11).
Now, in the dark of night, someone wrestles with him, it turns out to be God himself, wrestling with Jacob to lay aside his own means and schemes. Only when Jacob is broken of his own strength can God provide for him. Does this mean that Jacob wasn't really trusting and obeying when he started his journey home and prayed for protection, or does God wrestle with him, break him down because he has obeyed, because he has prayed? Is this God answering his first steps of faith, now taking him further to deeper dependence?
Would I want God to take me there?

God Sends

The passage to the left (Isaiah 6) is long, but I think it separates nicely into the three responses of Isaiah: "Not me", "Send me" and "Why me?"
He saw himself as unworthy to serve--but God's grace cleansed him.
Cleansed and forgiven, he saw himself as eager to serve--God's grace compelled him.
In light of difficulty and the absence of great success,he might have given up--God's grace encouraged him. How? The hope of a stump. Where the stump is left, the tree that was cut down can grow back again. No stump removal, dug out, chopped out or burned out-God would restore what had fallen down. The seed Isaiah sowed would bear fruit.
Where are you in God's service? Sometimes I'm at "Not me", sometimes I'm eager to get at it, and sometimes I'm asking "why me" or "how long?" --all in the same week. It's not so bad to be asking the questions-God can take it. What's important is the answer...

Grace.

passing along a tradition of God's truth

BPChurch has a great heritage, we are rooted in history, having been founded 145 years ago by some of our areas first pioneers, and we are rooted in His story, having a strong heritage in God's word, passed from one generation to the next.
Passing that baton from generation to generation can be tricky. Who's responsible for the handoff? What specifically must be passed on versus what is unique and personal to each generation?
Our Olympic teams learned the hard way how important making the crucial hand-off is to running the race well. May we do well passing the gospel along to the next generation, so that BPChurch will continue to run the race set before us.

A Worn Out and Frustrated Servant

I recently ran in the Hood to Coast relay; I can identify with this runner who's ready to toss in the towel and let the race pass him by. Our life in Christ is a race to run, and sometimes we feel the same way. "Somebody cut me off!" "I'm tired, I've been at this a long time!" "I didn't train for this..." "They didn't tell me it would be that hard." "I'm not the best, I won't finish first, so why run at all?!"

Moses felt like that too. He turned his back fro a little bit to spend time on the mountain with God, and Israel just fell apart: no appreciation for his sacrifice and the pattern he had set. No commitment to stick out and remain faithful. Worn out and frustrated, it was hard to go on. Moses asked two things of God that made the difference for him, and will make the difference for us. He said, "Lord, show me your way." and Lord, show me your glory--show me yourself." We'll run a better race by getting our eyes off our will and on His way, off of our self and on Jesus Himself.

a girl named runaway - Genesis 16

We meet her in Genesis chapter 16, her name means "to run away." She's been caught up in a bad situation. Others have used her - it was normal and acceptable in the culture of that time, but as we read the story we just know it was wrong, and her story could not end well. When she gets a little proud she's slapped down, reminded that she's just ... Living up to her name, Hagar runs away. No where to go, kinda like that Journey song, "just a small town girl, livin' in a lonely world; she took the midnight train goin' anywhere..."

She's lost and confused, without hope and without God in the world (Ephesians 2). Now, God meets her there. Maybe she called out in desperation, like you and I have, because God shows Himself to her there as "the God who sees" and "the God who hears (answers)." The baby she's carrying, Ishmael, will be named "God hears." God's meets her not with condemnation and judging, but with hope. If she will only believe God, trust Him. The situation is bad, but God redeems broken people and broken lives, that's who He is. He redeemed me from loneliness to life, real life, abundant life. What about you?

God Pursues

Genesis 3 shows God pursuing. Man has wondered away, he's lost, and God goes after him. God knows where man is hiding, but he invites, rather than commands. Drawing him back, drawing him out he calls out, "Adam, where are you?"
Adam had walked with God, had relationship with God. He had wanted that relationship with God, but along the way he allowed himself to want something else more. That's the way it is with me. I know I should say "no," yet I convince myself its harmless enough just this once. But now closeness to God is lost, and despairing in my failure I want to withdraw--hide, from God and others. It's not that I didn't want God, but that I wanted something else more.
Still, today, God pursues. Still today God is calling to those He made to have relationship with Him, "Where are you?"

Blessed be Your name

Though we don't normally consider as such, the end of the book of Job is one of the better known theophanies or personal encounters with the Living God. We know Job's story because it speaks to the pain and sorrow and trouble of life. We identify with Job in his search for answers, and his complaint against God.
Job asks:
"Why has this happened?"
"What have I done?"
"Where are you God?
"How can you do this to me?"
"When will my suffering end?"

God answers "Who." He reminds us who Job's God is. The tension remains in the story because God never explains himself to Job, instead he explains Himself.

I don't mean to suggest offering pious platitudes about God in the midst of the real hardship and suffering that comes in life. We don't always get the answers we seek, and the ones we supply don't satisfy. Maybe God is redirecting from that age-old question "God, why have you...?" to "God, who are you?" In the midst of the trivia and trouble of life, something inside us cries out with Moses, "Lord, show me your glory!"

Behold your God--personal encounters with the Living God

For the next two months we'll be looking at different times when God shows himself. Theologians call it a theophany; it often happens at times of "narrative tension", when the story doesn't make sense, there are more questions then answers. Then, God steps into the story, shows himself, and if we notice, creates even more questions.

Maybe your in a time of "narrative tension." Maybe right now your story doesn't make sense. Maybe this is just the time when God will show himself to you in a new, unexpected way.

Follow the leader

It's a game we learned years ago, but I'm still perfecting it (like lots of the games I play.) After calling us to live in light of our hope, one of the first concrete examples Paul gives of that in 1 Thess 5:12 and following is to appreciate and honor those who are our spiritual leaders. Apparenlty this is imporant, perhaps more than we realize.

I wonder, why do you think this is so important? Or is it? If it is important, what will doing it look like?

Rescue the perishing

Because we have been rescued out of the darkness and into light by Jesus, we live different, we are not to be carried along by the same currents that lead to destruction, AND we can be used by God to rescue others .
The video below gives a graphic example of what it sometimes takes to rescue someone whose "on the edge." I offer it in honor of my good friend Jon who has served for 20 years as a firefighter rescuer, along with the many other men of BPBC and in our community who do the same.
May God give us grace to rescue people around us from certain destruction by extending to them the lifeline of the gospel of Christ.

Don't just "Jump" 1 Thess 5:1-11

1 Thess 5 reminds us we are different and calls us to be different. The world is rushing toward destruction, like a float party being swept along toward a waterfall. Like the legendary lemmings, the crowd "jumps" toward disaster.
I came across this video, adapted from an old Disney wildlife documentary about lemmings, mixed with the 70's rock classic, "Jump." It illustrates the insistant calls around us to "go ahead... come with us... jump!" So many voices today pull us to go along with the crowd, to go ahead and jump--to disaster.

A little background on the the Disney docu--apparently they had to buy the lemmings and import to the location. Then, the lemmings didn't want to "jump"--they had to herd them over the edge. Maybe that's a reminder that the media, although entertaining, is not always friendly...

1 Thes 5 calls believers, saved in Christ, to wake up and to watch out, for own sake and for others. Keep looking up for HIs coming, and keep looking out for yourself and others.

Sorrow...with hope? I Thess 4:13

but I do not want you to be ignorant [or uninformed], brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow [or grieve] as others who have no hope. 1 Thess 4:13

This is the reason Paul informs, clarifies or reminds them and us, about the rapture or catching away of the church, and that those who have died will be caught up with us to Jesus. But, where do I put the comma?

Some versions put a comma after sorrow or grieve. This could suggest that we should not grieve death, only those who do not have hope grieve death. Some would suggest that death our friend, bringing us into God's presence. Other versions have no comma, we should not grieve in the same way as others. We still grieve, have loss, but it is loss mingled joy because of our hope. Hope that assures us the one dead or sleeping is already in the Lord's presence. That the body lain lovingly to rest will be raised first, and be caught up with us.

Death is not a friend. Because of death each of us know sooner of later the loss of a loved one. Jesus himself wept outside Lazarus's tomb even knowing, that He would soon raise him. Death is the last enemy Jesus will destroy in resurrection.

Is it okay then to grieve? Is it good to "weep with those who weep" (Rom 12:15)? But can we sorrow or grieve in Hope?

Caught Up in His Coming 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18

"Forever, with the Lord, we will be!" That's the word order in the Greek text, an order that draws attention to the permanence and proximity of our future. Before there was bold face font or highlighting, the Greek language put things first for emphasis. What is for keeps, forever, is our being together in the presence of Christ Jesus. God's family gathered, a family union never to separate. This is what we press toward, this is what will matter most.

Other stuff that seems important now won't matter so much then, maybe it doesn't need to matter so much now? With the most important appointment in forever rushing up on us faster than time itself, what am I caught up in, what am I caught up with. I want to filter everything through one measure--what difference will this make when I hear the trumpet sound, and His voice calls, "Let's go!"

Getting ready to go 1 Thess 4:9-12

When there is a big event coming up, things get hectic in preparation and anticipation. Pastor David and Janice's daughter Kara gets married this weekend, and there has been a flurry of activity around their house as the day approaches. So much to get ready, so little time!

There's an even bigger day coming--Christ Jesus is coming for His bride the Church--and the Church is being prepared for that day. Now, with such a big event, you'd think the preparations would be frenetic, frenzied, and frantic; you know, like the rest of life. Actually, God tells us in 1 Thess 4:11 to slow down, be still, dial back, be quiet in heart, rest.

I wonder what I could without in terms of ambition or activity? We are soon to make a huge move, from here to "forever with the Lord." Much of what seems so important, won't matter at all then. Maybe its time to unload some of that now, as we get ready to go.

For Better or Worse? It's time to pay attention... 1 Thess 4:1-8

God Himself directs us, to increasing fruitfulness, to prepare us to be in His presence (3:11-13). Wrapping my mind around that is a bit of a stretch, but as I begin to apprehend, then the question is, "So what then, what must I do, in light of that?" In 4:1-8, Paul assumes that they, like we, are in an oversexed culture, sex appeal is used to sell anything from pantyhose to politicians. Just turn your TV on--no, on second thought don't! The internet's a mess and even your email isn't safe. How did these people get my address? Oh yeah, its on the website...

So, in all this, how can a young man keep his way pure, How can we keep abounding in fruit in such a fallen, rotting environment? Paul's answer is the same as in Psalm 119:9, "paying attention to what God says!" My problem may be too much attention in the wrong places, not enough in the right. It can be done--it must be done. It's time to pay attention. We'll pay if we don't.

1 Thessalonians 3:11-13

Church is a family, but not just any family, it’s God’s family. God himself is our Father and he directs us, leads us, guides us according to his own way, in ways he knows best. The Christian life, following Jesus is really all about following our Father’s will on our way home, into His presence. Today we walk side by side, together, as family, glad to not be alone, better because we journey together. Ahead of us is home, forever. What it will be we don’t yet fully grasp, but our Father awaits us, and has paid dearly in His Son to welcome us into his presence.

Good news makes a difference 1 Thess 3:6-10

What if what you do didn’t seem to last—make any real difference? What if the houses a contractor builds forever sit there empty, never become a home? What if the flu shots a nurse gives don’t keep anyone from getting sick, or a fantastic meal is put together but nobody comes to the table? What if a teacher gave their all, stayed late to finish study guides and review notes, but nobody studied and they all bombed the test? What if you planted a garden, but pestilence and pests seemed to keep anything from growing and bearing fruit? We want we do to matter, to make a difference.

In the middle of this weeks text, Paul declares, “For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord” 1 Thess 3:8. The record in Acts 18:5 shows that once Timothy arrived with that great news of how the Thessalonians were thriving spiritually in faith, in the midst of trouble and opposition, it made a difference to Paul. Hearing this news, he pressed even harder, devoting himself all the more to the ministry of the gospel. It seems even Paul was encouraged to press on in ministry by the good report that the gospel he had sown was bearing lasting fruit. And so it should- the Good news of Christ should make every difference!

There are many ways for us to encourage one another, but perhaps the best is this: if someone has invested in you, given you God’s truth and their own lives, take it up and run with it. Most of us have been given much, by many. What will you do with what you’ve been given? The difference it makes in you will make a difference to others.

God's word well sown bears fruit.

That's a simple statement, borne out, I think, by 1 Thess 2:13 (at right).

I remember different times when I got a little clearer glimpse that the Bible really was God's word, that it could be counted on, and that it was worth making life-altering decisions in response to it. God's word, powerful, making a difference, changing us. Wow. How?
Is God's word having its effect in me? It's good seed, is there something wrong with the soil? What should that fruit look like? Maybe it's supposed to look different than we think? Maybe we're busying hanging stuff on the branches that's in the way of the fruit God desires to grow...

like a nurturing Mother, 1 Thes 2:7

My mom had it tough, and I didn't make it any easier for her. She was hard on me at times, but even that was out of love, and her fear of where I was heading. God made moms and dads to love, yet sometimes they blow it, sometimes terribly - we're broken in sin - family is not what it is supposed to be.

But, even in God's family there should be the love of a mother's care (2:7) and a dad's strength (2:10-11). How have you seen it? What could it look like?

Hey, what are you doing here?!

I want to serve others for Christ, I want to come close, to live out our church mission statement: Reaching through Relationships. But often, there's something in the way... looking a little closer, it looks like me!
In 2:5-6, Paul says he didn't come to them using flattery, hidden agenda, looking for praise or seeking to control. Like it or not, these things are there, they are real in our relating with others.
I do these things because of what I need, or think I need. For instance, in serving you, I will try hard because I hunger for praise, I need to be affirmed. I'm trying to meet my own need--maybe more than serving you? We're all a jumble of mixed motives to be sure, but putting my finger on distracting needs, that I'm trying to fill, is the starting point. Finding those needs met by God in Christ frees me to serve you and glorify God.

your story in 1 Thess 2:1-4

I think Paul is reminding us of some of the reasons people might give up on trying to serve the Lord, being Busy in the Family Business.
Add in an anonymous post today - How have you wrestled with one of these questions, in relation to serving the Lord?

1. Does what I do make any difference? (2:1)
2. Is it worth the trouble? (2:2)
3. What will people think? (2:3)
4. Will God really use me? (2:4)

They are good questions--valid questions--we need to face them and not duck them... and God has real answers.

Busy in the Family Business

In 1 Thess 2:1-4 (posted on the right) Paul seems kinda defensive. It sounds like he already knows the suggestions critics are making against him--he's heard it before.
We've been there before. Maybe You stepped into service and it didn't go the way you expected. Maybe you gave your best but someone assumed the worst. Your not sure you could jump in again, you wonder why you would.
Paul's musings suggest answers to four common questions that relate to our service in Christ's body, the church:

1. Does what I do make any difference? (2:1)
2. Is it worth the trouble? (2:2)
3. What will people think? (2:3)
4. Will God really use me? (2:4)

I'm glad that Paul seems to have wrestled with these questions, and that he anticipates others will too. What help or encouragement is there for us in these four verses, for serving in God's family business?

Get Real 1 Thess 1:5-10

I want to be better at witnessing. There are people around me that need to believe in Christ. I should be good at "telling" others. But, is telling enough?
We want real power in our witness, and real power comes from being real. The gospel is powerful, but in 1Thess 1:5, Paul's message was further empowered by his person, who he was among them for their sakes.
What do they need to see in us, in order that they might hear us? What are some ways that Christians need to get real?

Thrive!

thrive! A major health care provider invites us to join them, and thrive. Can they really deliver that? God can. What does it look like? 1 Thess 1:9-10. Idols, serving the living God, waiting for His Son --what does that look like in life today? What do you think? We need to know, cause we want to...thrive.

Taking those first steps. 1 Thess 1:2-4, 9-10

Every new parent is anxious--waiting to hear their newborn cry out just after delivery, looking for those first indicators of "normal" speech and learning development. Urging them into taking those first steps.
In the Christian life, what are those first steps and signs of healthy development that we should be looking for? In these verses: the work of faith (in you), your labor of love, perservering in hope, provoke me both with what I have seen the frist fruit of, and yet want to stir up again in my life, more and more. Do we ever arrive? Will we ever not long for more? Do we most eagerly long for more fruit in our lives or is our passion and concern even more intense for others in the family we deeply care about?

Grace and Peace in the Church--a Sunday preview...

God’s family is to work out grace that produces peace. That peace is harmony and relationship, and yet too often we experience failure to meet expectations and we hide in isolation. I don’t let others close because if they see me warts and all, they’ll reject me. So we pass on Sunday morning and ask “How are you?” And we are “Fine, oh just fine, everything’s good, keeping busy, doing alright, yeah we’re just fine—fine as fine could be.” But I’m not. I hurt, I’m lonely, I’m not being what I know that I should, and could. I fall short, I don’t measure up, but I’m terrified that if you knew, you’d pull back, turn away, talk to someone else…about me. So, “I’m fine, yeah just fine, keeping busy…doing stuff…doing alright...just…fine.
Grace steps in there, and just gives a hug, an embrace. In the midst of all my protests that I’m really fine, doing okay—its an embrace that says, I love you anyway, I accept you, even knowing what you’re afraid to tell. And if you told me, I won’t turn away, talk to someone else, about you... But we’ll stand here, arm in arm, we’ll face that thing down together. We have to, cause we’re family, and you can’t just break up family, cause it leaves everybody missing something…

Family Birthright

One of my favorite images of a local church is family. Now, it doesn't always work well for us, because family is too often not what it is supposed to be..but church family, by God's grace, can be all that God intends it to be.
In 1 Thessalonians 1:1, is Paul's standard greeting, grace to you and peace...
How do you think grace, when lived out in the church family, brings and builds peace? Peace with God, Peace with yourself? Peace with others?
How have you found peace through grace?
Would you like to?

Resurrection Sunday

Why is Easter (Resurrection Sunday) so important? Why is it even bigger than Christmas--or is it? Why has the church through out the ages gathered on the first day of the week? Even baptism is given a new richer meaning in Christ's resurrection. Easter is not only our entrance into eternal life, it celebrates how we live that life day by day. It reminds us that when we gathered yesterday to lay the body of a dear friend in the ground, we do so in hope, not depair. Easter is big because the resurrection changes EVERYTHING!

Joshua 7 & 8 From Defeat to Devotion

Disobedience, defeat, dismay, direction, discovery, deliverance, devotion.
Seven words that describe the journey of Israel from failure back to victory. These seven words frame the story of the two battles for one little city called Ai . They also suggest a framework for our journey from failure to victory, from defeat to devotion.
For your reflection, and to share your comments if you wish:

• how has your disobedience of God's clear will led into failure?
• how has defeat led you, in dismay, to cry out to God?
• how has God met you in defeat, given direction towards discovery of a root of sin and what needs to change?
• how has God's gracious victory in an area of life led you into renewed devotion to Him?

Joshua 6 -- Jericho

Taking a fresh look at the story, I have one overarching question. Is the lesson for us one of obeying God or of trusting God? Don't try to have it both ways...Choose!
What do you think?

Check out this link for archeological info on Jericho:
http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/magazines/docs/v21n2_jericho.asp

Winning God's way

The battle of Jericho,
its one of those all-time classics, that oldest story of this oldest city, you've heard it before, or you just haven't been "around."
But, like the narratives before this one, notice the repetition, certain details repeated for emphasis. Why?
And what's with all the marching in circles? Is this any way to win a war? We often talk about "going around in circles" as a bad thing, yet here it was a God thing...
Has there ever been a time when God had you going around in circles, you were tempted to jump off the not-so-merry-go-round, and yet God was working while you were walking?
We want to see deliverance and victory today, but most that's worthwhile calls for sticking it out, staying with God's plan, until you see God work.

Servant of God, continue the march...

Trusting in the covenant

In Joshua 5, Israel goes to the extreme in their confidence in God's covenant. If we trust in God's covenant, we can celebrate his provision and have confidence in His victory.
My translation of Phil 3:3 goes like this: For we are the true circumcision, the ones who worshipfully serve by the Spirit of God, proudly boast in Christ Jesus, and do not have confidence in our natural humanity. Paul goes on in that chapter to describe his natural strenghts and assets as hindrances or liabilitities in the real pursuit of knowing Christ.
How might you agree with the apostle? How do human strengths and capabilities get in the way of knowing and serving Christ? Your honest comments will help all of us.

Circumcision--An uncomfortable topic...

Joshua chapter 5 is about circumcision. All of Israel's soldiers submit to debilitating elective outpatient surgery, just as battle with Jericho looms before them! This doesn't make any sense, on a human level. But, if their success only comes from relationship with God, it does.
They are willing to lay aside their own strength and ability. They intend to enter this battle standing in the strength of their covenant relationship with God. The procedure itself was not the issue, but the devotion and dependence it indicated (Gen 17:8-10; Jer 4:4).
Philippians 3:3 says, "For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, exult in Christ Jesus, and do not rely on the flesh [or who we are naturally]."
Abilities are good, but how do we rely on our natural human abilities when we should be relying on God and His promise?
Maybe this is an uncomfortable topic, not because of the procedure involved, but because of its implications on our dependence upon God...what self reliance must I lay aside?

Living Stones

Israel set up stones to provoke questions, to make opportunities to tell about the great thing God had done. Several of you have told me of ways we can do that.
Peter (1 Peter 2:5) also suggests a way. Coming to Christ in faith we are Living Stones. as such we should be always be ready to give a reason for the hope we possess (1 Peter 3:15).
How can we oursleves be living stones that provoke others to ask?

Joshua 4: Setting up stones

There is so much to do, a city to take, land to conquer, an inheritance to claim, yet they take time to pause and prepare in advance for questions children will ask. What God has done is too great to allow memories to fade, or the next generation not to know. The stones are set up to provoke couriosity, to lead to a question, so that then the parents can give their children "an answer for the hope that is in them."
How have you done this in the past? How have you (or could you) prepared a circumstance or setting to provoke a question so that you can tell what God has done.
How else could we set up stones so that "people may know?"

Crossing over on dry land... again!

Israel had been here before, 40 yrs before at the Red Sea... Why again?
3:7 says it would show everyonethat the Lord was with Joshua. Do you think Joshua was a little nervous to see God come through when the priests first put their feet in the water? "Sure, God did it for Moses, but will He do it for me?"
3:10 says that it was for all God's people, that "you shall know that the living God is among you" and will give you victory. I wan't to know more of that victory and awe of that comes with a greater confidence of the power and presence of the living God.........
My feet want that dry ground!

Joshua 3 Enter in to New Life in Christ

Joshua three - an interesting passage - it seems like we have been here before. Crossing the Jordan is so much like Israel crossing the Red Sea, 40 years earlier. Why the repeat?
What do you think God is showing them by this obvious parallel to their redemption in the Exodus, as He now brings them in to their inheritance?
When you determined to walk with Christ, what obstacle or barrier was in your way? How has God walked with you through it?

Grace to serve

Joshua's agents take on a difficult mission, find out the enemy has them trapped, yet God gives them shelter, a way of escape, and complete success in their mission. We also serve by God's grace, God working for us and through us. Tell me a story of what that has looked like.

Joshua Chapter 2

I am struck by God's grace. The story is intriguing, with some unexpected twists, but the biggest plot twist is that the harlot becomes the heroine, some random immoral woman would save the day--and be saved that day.
Rahab takes a real leap when she changes loyalties. What was she risking? Why does she do it? How is she similar to someone coming to believe in Jesus as their savior today?
You're not a spy, you're not CIA, your not involved in counterintelligence, so what's in this story for you? What difference does it make?

Introducing Bob's BP Blog

Okay, here we go. The first run of Pastor Bob's BP Blog.

I like sermons. I'm a Pastor, that's normal, in fact I probably like sermons more than most people. God has given us the opportunity to gather together and learn from His word, but sermons can be a tedious thing. Its all one way communication, monologue, there's not a lot of opportunity to interact, to dialogue along the way.
This blog is for that. I intend to post the passage for next Sunday early each week. I'll toss out some questions or musings that occur to me as I'm studying and musing on the text. I hope you'll respond to those and also even toss out some questions of your own. Share your own thoughts and insights or the difference you think this part of God's word should make in Clark County today.

I look forward to studying with you.

Pastor Bob