Friday, July 31, 2015

Windows 10 Review

Hey guys. I got the Windows 10 update and it's pretty cool.

Here is a walkthrough that shows off some of the features. (I apologize for the guy narrating. He's really annoying. Chowabunga?)

I had to go to this site to download the update and then force my Lenovo Yoga laptop to update, since I got tired of waiting.

I really like the new Start menu. It's very intuitive and customizable. Very useful.

I like the look of the windows layout. It's very clean and sharp looking.

My fav part of the update is the Edge browser. I really like how I can write on web pages, highlight, make notes, etc... and then share that page with my markups with my friends or on fb. Very cool.

The biggest disappointment is Cortana. It seems like a great idea, but I tried several times to do simple things like tell me the weather, tell me a joke (which the examples say it will do when you set it up), and tell me the height of the Eiffel Tower (all of which Siri and Google Now do effortlessly), and it gave me error messages "Try again later" every time. Boo.

But besides the Cortana failure, Windows 10 is the bomb. I love it. Very useful, user friendly. It really does combine the best of Windows 7 and 8 with the best of Windows Vista.



authority

Today's readings: 2 Chron 26:1-28:27, Rom 13:1-14, Psalm 23:1-6, Proverbs 20:11

Paul talks about authorities today. And he gives us great advice. It's not advice that we like to hear, though, especially given the givens of our current culture.

There is much to be upset about in the world today. Everyone can find something that they disagree with, and they think the world would be better if the people in charge would just do XYZ.

It's natural to feel that way. And it can be very frustrating when you feel powerless to change things. Like "the man" is walking all over you. And it's true that many who are in power abuse that power and don't look out for the common good.

But what does Paul say? Rise up and revolt? Sneak around and get what's coming to you? No. He says to obey the authorities. And if you were to ask him, I'm pretty sure he'd say to pray for them, too.

This takes away a great deal of our frustration. We are NOT in fact powerless. The greatest power in the universe is listening to our prayers - and He responds when we pray.

So let's pray for our country, for our leaders, even the ones we disagree with. Pray for wisdom and pray that they will lead us into a bright future. God still works miracles.

Thank You, God, for hearing the cries of those of us who feel powerless.

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

unwashed masses

Today's readings: 2 Chron 24:1-25:28, Rom 12:1-21, Psalm 22:19-31, Prov 20:8-10

There is alot in today's reading for us to enjoy. So much richness in Paul's letter to the Romans today. And my favorite part was when he tells us to spend time with "common people" and not to think of ourselves too highly.

This is a picture of love in action. It's never pleasant to spend time with someone who smells bad, says stupid things, and invades your personal space. I work in a bookstore, so these people approach me daily. (If that sounds odd, just Google "homeless Barnes & Noble".) The temptation to think of myself as better than them is strong, about as strong as the smell that I have to pretend not to notice.

And the temptation to talk about them when they leave is also strong. But love tells me to treat them with dignity. To listen to their concerns and help them. To act like they're as good as I am - because, in fact they are. And the fact that they treat me with dignity when I am tempted to treat them shabbily might mean they're not just AS GOOD as I am... maybe I could learn something from them.

God, thank You for the unwashed masses, who teach me what love really looks like.

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Jesus reading Psalms

Today's readings: 2 Chron 21:1-23:21, Rom 11:13-36, Psalm 22:1-18, Proverbs 20:7

Today we read a couple troubling things. The first is the Psalm. The Psalmist (probably David) is crying out to God, who doesn't seem to be listening or care. That's hard enough, but if you think of Jesus picking up a scroll like the one above and reading those words... perhaps knowing that He was going to experience them first hand? His body melting like wax? His clothes going to the winner of a dice roll? It would be a dark feeling indeed to read that.

And we also read some disturbing things in Romans. Paul seems to say that God purposefully imprisons us in disobedience so that He can have mercy on us. He seems to say that God throws us all in jail so that He can be the savior and let us out again.

If we read only these verses, we might get a strange view of God. And here's the important bit: if we only look at certain circumstances in our lives, we might also get a very strange view of God.

All of us go through times where we feel like praying "God, why have you abandoned me?" We all wonder where He is and why He doesn't just "fix it" sometimes.

But when we read these verses, and when we experience these times in our lives, we know that there are other verses and other experiences that balance these. We know that life is hard sometimes, but God is there. He cares. When we cry, He hears us. He tells us over and over not to be afraid. He will take care of us. It might look scary sometimes, but He is there. He knows what He is doing. We can trust Him.

God, thanks for teaching us to trust You in our scary times.

Monday, July 27, 2015

balance is important

Today's readings: 2 Chron 19:1-20:37, Rom 10:14-11:12, Psalm 21:1-13, Prov 20:4-6

So balance is important in all parts of life. It's especially important when you're reading books, and especially the Bible. There are parts of the Bible that say one thing, and if you read just that one part and build your thinking on just that one part, you're going to be unbalanced. But if you read the WHOLE Bible, and see the parts that balance the first, you get the whole picture. And it's true with other books, too. The more widely read you are, the more balanced your world view will be.

So today when Paul says "How can they believe unless they hear? And how can they hear unless they're told?" and so forth... many people say "There's no way that people can be saved unless Christians go tell them about the Gospel". But... have we forgotten what Paul said in this same book toward the beginning? He said that everyone is without excuse because creation itself tells us that God is there. So, it's important to share the goodness that God has put in our lives. But that's not to say that God can't save whomever He wants. Of course He can.

God, help me to find balance in my life, and in my reading of books that bring wisdom into my life.

Sunday, July 26, 2015

vibrate higher

Today's readings: 2 Chron 17:1-18:34, Rom 9:25-10:13, Psalm 20:1-9, Prov 20:2-3

So I'm going to take a break from Paul today and talk about the Proverb, since I totally ignored the Proverb yesterday (for maybe a good reason).

The Proverb today says something that facebookers will note well, as well as people who are out in public. "Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling."

You do find a great deal of foolishness online and in public. And there are times when it can be hard not to take what someone says personally. But, as the clever aphorism above says, and as the Proverb agrees, we can and should "rise above" such remarks, avoid getting caught up in the heat of the moment. and choose wisdom instead of foolishness. Arguably, that's what all of the Proverbs are pointing to - choosing wisdom.

God, help me choose wisdom by "vibrating on a higher frequency".

Saturday, July 25, 2015

reality waves

Today's readings: 2 Chron 14:1-16:14, Rom 9:1-24, Psalm 19:1-14, Prov 20:1

So a pretty cool thing happened with today's reading.

See, there are times in our lives when the Bible answers our questions. Some would say it answers all of our questions, but some would say there are questions it doesn't address. But I CAN tell you that in my life, there have been times that it has answered the EXACT question I'm asking.

Here is an example from a few years ago when I was in college. I was feeling this ... distance, between me and Jesus. Like I felt close to God the Father, and I felt the Holy Spirit moving in my life. But I felt this ... estrangement... between me and Jesus. So I asked, out loud, why do I feel estranged from Jesus? And I opened my Bible and the very first verse I looked at said "You feel estranged from Christ because you are trying to succeed according to the flesh and not according to the Spirit." Blew my mind, obviously.

So something similar happened with today's reading. I was just asking myself, "Would I give up MY salvation if I thought it would save the rest of the world?" And I open today's reading, and Paul says the exact same thing. He would cut himself off from Christ if it would lead the Jewish people to be saved.

But this raises a good question. Would YOU give up your salvation if it meant that everyone else in the world would be saved?

Thank You, God, for answering our questions before we even ask them.

Friday, July 24, 2015

nothing

Today's readings: 2 Chron 11:1-13:22, Romans 8:26-39, Psalm 18:37-50, Proverbs 19:27-29

Well, we go from one of the most quoted verses in the whole Bible (Rom. 8:28) to probably one of the least: Proverbs 19:29 which says: "The backs of fools are made for beating."

Let's focus on Romans.

So Paul says some powerful things today. He says that nothing can separate us from the love of God.

Now, before we start quoting this out of context (which happens every day), let's look at what this DOESN'T mean. Paul is not saying that since God is for us, we will get everything we want. It doesn't necessarily mean we'll even be healthy. In fact, it doesn't even mean we won't die.

How do we know this? Because he says so right in these verses. He says that we WILL face problems in our lives. And that we will die. But that even death itself won't separate us from God's love.

That may sound odd to you if you're in good health and have nice things and your family is healthy and safe. It might not be very comforting. But when (not if) the moment comes when you're staring death in the face... when life takes a turn and you're left wondering what is next, what you can do... this verse will bring strength, joy, and power into your life.

Because it means that God's love, even though it IS for the here and now, is not primarily for the here and now. It's for all of time. Our bodies will eventually fall apart and we'll die. It's not a fun thing, but it's part of our lives now that sin has taken its toll on us. But even though that will happen, we don't need to be afraid. We can trust Him through the most difficult, scary, unpleasant things that can happen to us. Because He will be there for us. He will strengthen us, and love us. And He will, ultimately, save us.

Thank You, God, for loving me so much that it transcends death.

Thursday, July 23, 2015

all creation groans

Today's readings: 2 Chron 8:11-10:19, Rom 8:9-25, Psalm 18:16-36, Prov 19:26

Wow. Today Paul says some amazing things that I don't think I've ever noticed before. He says that all of creation (that means the entire universe) was subjected to God's curse when Adam sinned, "against its will". Very interesting... seems that Paul is saying that the universe has a will. Of course, we're not sure exactly how literally to take that. But he goes on to say that it (creation) looks forward to the day when it will "join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay". Wow!

It's saying that we humans have been given a "foretaste" of what it will be like in the future, when all of creation will be redeemed. That's pretty amazing. So he's saying that all of creation wants to be "fixed" and made whole again, made perfect again, made eternal. And that that eternity rests inside of us humans already.

And he goes on to say that we humans are also looking forward to something we don't have yet - our perfect, eternal bodies. How cool will that be? And it lays to rest the silly notion of us "floating around in the clouds" with the angels, playing our harps and being bored. Heaven is going to be amazing. In fact, it's going to be SO amazing that Paul says (back at the beginning of the reading) that "what we suffer now is NOTHING compared to the glory he will reveal to us later". What does that mean? It means that as horrible as rape is, as terrible as Auschwitz was, they are nothing (not just less, not just a smaller amount... NOTHING) compared to how amazing and awesome the new heavens and new Earth will be.

That is mind blowing.

God, thank You for the wonderful gifts You have in store for us, and thank you for giving us humans that little foretaste to get us ready.

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

live in the Spirit

Today's readings: 2 Chron 6:12-8:10, Rom 7:14-8:8, Psalm 18:1-15, Prov 19:24-25

Paul talks today about two important things - living according to the Spirit of God, and living according to our sinful nature.

He makes it clear that you do one or the other. We can't overcome the sins that so easily drag us down if we aren't living with the Spirit of God in our lives.

But what does that mean? How do we receive the Spirit of God in our lives? Well, as with everything in our lives, we ask for it. We tell God that we want His spirit in our lives, and ask Him to send it into our hearts. This will produce the fruits of the Spirit - which are great things like love, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self control. Who wouldn't want those things?

If we haven't been baptized, then it might be time to do that. The Bible talks about the Spirit of God descending like a dove onto Jesus when He was baptized. And He promises us the gift of that same Holy Spirit in our lives. Something to think about.

But the main thing is to ask. Seek God's face, and He says He will be found. He wants you to walk with Him, and to become more loving, patient, kind, etc. That's His desire for you. Just ask.

God, please fill me with your Spirit, so I can walk away from the sins that drag me down.

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

till we have faces

Today's readings: 2 Chron 4:1-6:11, Rom 7:1-13, Psalm 17:1-15, Proverbs 19:22-23

When I awake, I will see You face to face, and be satisfied.

That phrase jumped off the page at me today. After I die, when I awake again in that new morning, I will see You face to face. And I will be satisfied.

These are wonderful words. We will see Him face to face, not through a glass darkly. We will be satisfied, not restless until they rest in Him. We will see the object of our deepest longing and desires... the One that we have been looking for all of our lives, even without ever completely realizing it.

We will leave "I still haven't found what I'm looking for" behind us at long last, and wander the streets that have no name with the One who never gets lost, who is our ultimate destination.

God, I long to see your face. Please help me grow into my own face, so I can meet you with one when the time comes.


Monday, July 20, 2015

eternal life

today's readings: 2 Chron 1:1-3:17, Rom 6:1-23, Psalm 16:1-11, Prov 19:20-21

Both the NT reading and the Psalm point to the reality of eternal life today. When we think of eternal life, we usually think of life after death, or heaven, right? But both Paul and the Psalmist (probably David) point out that eternal life begins now. We start living forever when we start following Jesus. He fills us with His Spirit and makes us more like Him, every day. And we begin to experience what living with God, the source and summit of our faith, is like NOW, in this lifetime.

Do you feel like you're experiencing eternal life? If so, great! Sounds like you've got things going the right way, and are experiencing His life and light in your life. If not, the solution is actually simple. You might think you have to donate so much money, and go to church so many times per week, and help twelve people each day. And all of those things ARE part of what living the eternal life mean. But you don't start there.

You start with prayer. Ask God to help you begin to experience eternal life here and now, in this lifetime. He will put His joy, peace, and most important, LOVE in your heart, and giving your money to help people, and going to church, and seeing people in need will no longer be something you have to MAKE yourself do. It will flow naturally, out of a grateful heart. You will be experiencing eternal life in the here and now.

God, please help me live Your eternal life now.

Sunday, July 19, 2015

to save the world

today's readings: 1 Chron 28:1-29:30, Rom 5:6-21, Psalm 15:1-5, Prov 19:18-19

Paul says some amazing things today. He may come across as a jerk sometimes, but he knows his stuff. He shows us that Jesus is the second Adam. That Adam brought sin into the world, and brought death to EVERYONE. And then he shows us that Jesus did something even greater, bringing life to the world.

Does this mean everyone will be saved? That's a big question, and many of you reading this will say "no, it doesn't." There is a book that just came out recently by Rob Bell in which he says that "Love Wins", and everyone goes to heaven. Is that possible?

Well, let's look at what the Bible does say. Of course, I can't do an entire Bible study on the subject tonight, as I only have so much time (and you don't want to read all day). But the Bible says that Hell is a real place. Satan and his followers will go there to be punished. And "anyone not found written in the Lamb's book of Life" will also be thrown into that lake of fire.

Will everyone be found in the Lamb's book of Life? I hope so. There have been many saints in the church throughout history that have believed that universal salvation is within the realm of possibility. I sincerely HOPE that no one goes to Hell. The thought of being separated from God for ever... is too horrific for me to contemplate. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy... I wouldn't wish it on someone like Hitler, or Jeffrey Dahmer. No matter how horrible someone may be, no matter what they've done... being separated from all hope for all of time, it's just too horrible to imagine.

Will everyone be saved? That is a concept that isn't foreign to what Paul is saying in today's reading. Will it happen? We don't know. I hope so. I guess we'll see. In the meantime, let's work, and pray, to the end that everyone will have a chance to be saved from hell and spend eternity with God.

God, please save us. We need you.

Saturday, July 18, 2015

to grow a faith

today's readings: 1 Chron 26:12-27:34, Rom 4:13-5:5, Psalm 14:1-7, Prov 19:17

today Paul makes one thing abundantly clear: God considers our faith to be important.

Paul tells us several stories, and each one emphasizes how important it is to God that we have faith. and when we think back to the Gospels we just got done reading, Jesus clearly saw faith as being very important, as well. Jesus made it very clear that we don't have to START with much faith. the picture above is of a man holding a mustard seed. that tiny seed grows into a huge tree.

that is a mustard tree.

God wants us, therefore, to GROW our faith. well, how do you do that? by exercising it, of course. also, by nurturing it. how do you nurture your faith? one of the best ways i've found in my short life is to hear stories of things that God has done. it makes it MUCH easier for me to trust God with my little problems when i remember the times He has helped other people with much bigger problems than mine.

but another really good way to grow your faith is the same answer to most questions we have in life: pray about it. ask God to increase your faith. obviously, faith is important to Him. He wants us to have MORE faith. so do you think He will answer "yes" when we ask Him "God, please give me more faith."? of course He will. this is one of those prayers that you KNOW you will always get a "yes" answer to.

God, please increase my faith.

Friday, July 17, 2015

sparkle

today's readings: 1 Chron 24:1-26:11, Rom 4:1-12, Psalm 13:1-6, Prov 19:15-16

Paul talks ALOT about faith today. if we didn't have the book of James to balance things, we might think from what Paul says that all we have to do is have faith, and what we do in life doesn't matter!

but we do have James, especially James 2:24. and we KNOW that it does matter what we do in life. Jesus said alot about "what we do to the least of our brothers" and made it clear that the sheep will be separated from the goats based on their actions.

but notice what Paul does... he takes the focus off of US, and puts it on God. that's the genius of this. i posted that sparkling eye in the pic above because the version i read of the Psalms said "return the sparkle to my eye", which i thought was beautiful. it was something you would say to someone you loved. in this case, God.

however, i also see that the eye above is looking at God for its hope. like the Psalm goes on to say. and like Paul is saying. if our focus is on God, and on His love, and on finding Him in our brother and sister here, and loving them... guess where it isn't. on ourselves. :)

that's the key. taking our eye off of our own holiness and falling into pride... and instead learning to love as we gaze on God, who IS love... and on our neighbor, who needs His love.

God, please help me keep my eye focused on You. and return that sparkle. :)

these are the ones

these are the people.

you see the symbol above on T-Shirts, and people change their profile pics on fb or G+ to show solidarity. these are the people who are hiding from ISIS. these are the people who need our prayers.

please watch the video (it's very short). please think of what it would be like if it were you and your loved ones fleeing for their lives from people who want to kill them in horrible ways.

please say a prayer for them today. what will that cost you?

WATCH this video and please pray for them

Thursday, July 16, 2015

we all make mistakes

today's readings: 1 Chron 22:1-23:32, Rom 3:9-31, Psalm 12:1-8, Prov 19:13-14

so we read today where Paul says that we've all blown it. every one of us has sinned. we've screwed up. we make mistakes. none of us is perfect.

isn't that refreshing? you're not the only screwup. you don't have to pretend you're perfect. God knows you're flawed, and He loves you anyway.

now let's remember that next time we hear a celebrity did something wrong. let's remember that when we hear that our neighbor messed up and lost their home and marriage. let's remember that when we see Greece struggling under the weight of its bad decisions. let's remember that God loves all of us, not just the ones who have it all together.

and let's love one another like He loves us.

God, please help me remember to love like You do.

i don't recommend Kingsman

i had high hopes for Kingsman. the trailer looked really good. but it was a huge disappointment.

first, i really didn't like the role that Samuel L Jackson plays. his sideways hat, lisping antagonist was just silly and stupid. every scene with him in it made the movie less enjoyable. i don't know why the director decided to go that direction with that character, but it was not a good choice. it made the movie less.

and the movie is over the top, gratuitously violent. i have watched many, many violent movies, and horror movies and thriller novels with lots of violence are some of my favorite movies and books. but this movie has scenes where everyone in a church just starts killing each other, for no reason. stabbing, ripping, tearing, blood splattering killing each other. in a church. for no reason. not bad guys, not good guys fighting for some cause. instead, it's the main bad guy pushing a button that makes them all go crazy and start killing each other. everyone in the scene dies.

there is another scene where hundreds of people's heads explode, shooting off of their bodies like fireworks. in fact, they play fireworks music while it's happening. wayyyyy over the top, and unnecessary.

and finally, there is an anal sex scene.

none of this was necessary to the plot. all of this could have been changed slightly to be less explicit and the movie would have been enjoyable. but by the end of the movie, i was more than ready for it to be over. and it left a very bad taste in my mouth. i was left feeling like i wish i hadn't seen it.

manners maketh man. i wish Kingsman had taken their own advice.

minions!

so i saw minions yesterday. it was just what i expected, and well done. very funny, clever, cute. good writing, well performed. Sandra Bullock was a little over the top in the antagonist role, but then again her name WAS Scarlett Overkill... and I didn't like Jon Hamm as her husband/chief henchman at all. he wasn't funny (in my opinion).

just a couple caveats - the movie starts with the minions evolving from the primordial soup. (mmmmm... primordial sooooouuuup) and the entire movie is about minions... which DO work for evil geniuses. so the characters in the movie all tend to be bad guys. they say things like "doesn't it feel GOOD to be BAD??" and stuff like that. if you're worried that your kids are a little too impressionable and will take these things to heart, you might wait till they get a little older.

but the movie is really well done. very funny. laugh out loud funny. you really get attached to Kevin, Stuart, and especially funny little Bob. something ... happens to one of these guys, and there is a touching moment when the other two mourn for him. (won't give spoilers by saying what happens)

i definitely recommend this movie for those adults out there who like a good, silly laugh. and if your kids are past that impressionable stage, where they can watch a movie about something without thinking it's all true, then i would take them.

banana!!

God is Judge

today's readings: 1 Chron 19:1-21:30, Romans 2:25-3:8, Psalm 11:1-7, Proverbs 19:10-12

Paul talks today about God being our judge, and how He is a good one. "Judging" has become a bad word in today's culture. but that's because we don't usually see what justice looks like. our country is struggling with moral issues on a daily basis, from gay marriage to abortion to euthanasia... and the highest courts in the land are giving us verdicts that leave many scratching their heads.

Paul points to the ultimate judge - a judge who gives perfect justice, with perfect wisdom, and incorporates perfect mercy, grace, and love into the verdict. sounds pretty amazing. i look forward to seeing it. is it scary? sure, coming face to face with perfect holiness will make even the holiest man tremble. but we remember that He is also perfect love, which according to 1 Cor 13 "keeps no record of wrongs" and we are heartened.

God, please help us find your justice, your love, your mercy, and your kindness in our lives.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

His goodness

today's readings: 1 Chron 16:37-18:17, Romans 2:1-24, Psalm 10:16-18, Prov 19:8-9

so Paul continues the theme started yesterday, which we talked about. he goes on to say that we should in fact be merciful and not judgmental to people who are destroying their own lives in sin. because, he says, we're doing the same thing! we are liars if we claim to be without sin, because we all sin.

but, in a beautiful, scintillating verse, Paul says in Romans 2:4 that God's goodness leads us to repent from our sins. and i know that's true in my life. when i get selfish and mad and start thinking i'll just do things my way, He does something amazing and beautiful and kind in my life, and it melts my heart of stone, and leads me to return to Him.

thank You, God, for your kindness which is new every morning.

Monday, July 13, 2015

hearts far from God

today's readings: 1 Chron 15:1-16:36, Rom 1:18-32, Psalm 10:1-15, Prov 19:6-7

well, Paul lays it out today. he talks about how we all start out knowing God is there, because the wonder of His creation points to Him. but so many of us turn from that knowledge, and deceive ourselves, and fall into a moral abyss like the one in the pic above.

it is easy to see the words of Paul reflected in our society today. and there are those who gleefully point out how sinful everyone today is, implying that they themselves are above such sin. also seeming to take delight in the fact that these "sinners" are bringing their own destruction upon themselves.

but the heart of God weeps for these misguided people. Jesus died for them. He paid a price you and i cannot fathom, so that those very people can come back to Him and be saved from those lives.

and, if we really look at our own lives, and at the holiness of God, we realize that we need that healing, too. we may not be floundering in the darkness and sin that we see our brothers and sisters doing, but we find the sins that so easily cause us to stumble all around our ankles. and chief among them is the pride of looking down on our fallen siblings with contempt and apathy.

just as God hurts for the fallen, so should we. just as He agonizes over their condition, so we need to care for them, to hurt with them, to desire their being lifted out of their darkness and back into the light and life of God.

God, please place your love into my heart, that i might love your children the way you do.

Sunday, July 12, 2015

jerks like us

today's readings: 1 Chron 12:19-14:17, Romans 1:1-17, Psalm 9:13-20, Prov 19:4-5

well, we're taking a second run through David's life, and it's a life that's rich enough and interesting enough to warrant a second pass. but not much new in the reading today.

in the NT, we have crossed from Acts into the Epistles. so there is some theology coming up. this should be interesting. i feel like we travel back in time with Paul today (even though he's a jerk sometimes, his heart is most certainly in the right place) and we see him yearning to visit the Romans, so that he can "impart some gift" to them. in one sense, this is generous and kind of him. in another, it kind of makes him sound like he thinks he's "God's gift to the Romans". :) but i suppose that he was just that, in many ways. so i'll stop picking on him.

i confess i'm excited about moving into Romans. it should make some good devotionals in the coming days. in the meantime, i merely reflect Paul's blessings to the Romans of his day, to YOU the readers of my day. may God the Father richly bless you by the power of the Holy Spirit through the love of Christ Jesus. (i pray this blessing to you, not because i'm anything special (i'm just a silly little sinner, myself) but because ANYONE can bless other people, even me!)

thank You, God, for giving even jerks like me and Paul the ability to bless others.

Saturday, July 11, 2015

we'll see

today's readings: 1 Chron 11:1-12:18, Acts 28:1-31, Prov 19:1-3

lots of interesting stuff in today's reading. the one that REALLY jumped out at me was the final proverb. how many people do you know that mess up their own lives and then blame God? i know several myself, and it always makes me sad. because you can't really tell them "hey, man. you screwed this up. it's YOUR fault, not His." but you know it is, and everyone knows it is, even the person who is mad at God.

another big thing from the reading is Paul telling the Jews in Rome that many, many Jewish people have hardened their hearts and won't listen to the amazing good news that is right in their midst. when we read these words, we think "how foolish those Romans were! how could they not listen?" 

but go on facebook any day of the week, and you find ... well, pretty much EVERYONE not listening to the good news in their lives. there are some here or there that are listening. every once in awhile you run across someone who really is thinking about what is being said, and taking it to heart, and learning from other people. but most people are stuck in whatever country/religion/culture they were born in, and won't budge an inch to change their minds, even if they hear the best news they've ever heard.

let's try not to be like that? let's be like the Gentiles, who did listen to the good news, and followed Jesus. what is He saying to you today?

and finally, the people on the island where Paul gets bit by a snake reminds me of this story

3 simple phrases change everything

today's readings: 1 Chronicles 9:1-10:14, Acts 27:21-44, Psalm 8:1-9, Proverbs 18:23-24

so Paul continues to amuse me with his bossiness. today he actually calls the crew together and says "you should have listened to me..." but he must have had some charisma, because the commander didn't let the soldiers kill the prisoners because he wanted to save Paul.

but what i wanted to talk about today was something that struck me from the OT reading and the Psalm. you see the contrast between Saul and David... both messed up, but David did something important, and Saul refused to. David said the three phrases that heal relationships. i've noticed that these phrases are very important in my life. i have a friend who can sometimes be difficult. but she is really good at saying (and meaning) "I'm sorry. Thank you. I love you." and when she says that, it heals our friendship.

i realize that i can be that way with God. i can be difficult. i mess up over and over. i do the same stupid things out of selfishness and stupidity. but when i say "I'm sorry. Thank you. I love you." it heals my relationship with Him.

the Psalm reflects this, in saying "thank you" and "i love you", just in other words.

you might notice that the picture above also includes "please forgive me". but to me, that phrase is just part of "i'm sorry".

God, You know i need to say these things to You daily. and so i do. i'm sorry. thank You. i love You.

Friday, July 10, 2015

Paul, the know it all

today's readings: 1 Chronicles 7:1-8:40, Acts 27:1-20, Psalm 7:1-17, Proverbs 18:22

ok, so you might notice i pick on Paul alot. and i don't really feel too bad. i mean, he gets alot of credit. and he wrote most of the NT. so i think he's gotten alot of acclaim... he can afford a little criticism. ;)

today, he's bossing the ship's captain around. he's not a professional sailor, but he tells the professional sailors what they should be doing. the fact that he turns out to be right doesn't change the fact that he's telling people their business and being kind of a jerk :)

i like the image above, because it gives you a feel for what it must have been like to be driven before the wind across the Mediterranean Sea. and Paul says that during their voyage, "all hope was lost". the sailors were scared...and it doesn't help that the know-it-all Paul is saying "i told you so... i'm going to write this in the Bible and everyone for all time will know you guys made a dumb decision..."

you've been there, haven't you? driven before the winds? off course? scared and confused? made a decision that seemed right at the time, when the sun was shining and the sky was blue, that now seems like the dumbest thing you've ever heard? and some self-righteous person is telling you that if only you had followed their advice, everything would be ok?

but He's there for us in the storm. when those sailors were afraid for their lives, He was with them. when 9/11 happened, people asked "where is God?" the answer is... right there in the middle of what's happening, feeling the pain of every victim, comforting every broken heart.

He is with you, too. right now. maybe your sky is blue and the sun is shining. He's here. maybe you've been driven before the winds for days, and all hope is lost. He's here with you, right now. reach out to Him, wherever you are. He's been reaching out to you this whole time... and reading this blog, right now, is an expression of Him reaching out to you. reach back.

God, thank You for being there for us in the middle of our storms. help us to have the courage to reach back to You.

Thursday, July 9, 2015

except for these chains

today's readings: 1 Chronicles 5:18-6:81, Acts 26:1-32, Psalm 6:1-10, Proverbs 18:20-21

in today's reading, Paul tells Festus that he wishes everyone could be like Paul, except for his chains.

as i'm writing this, a dear friend of mine is dealing with her abusive boyfriend. it's 4am, and she's texting me as she deals with trying to break it off and still keep her life together. this, on top of just finding out that her close friend from childhood just passed away in a 4 wheeler accident.

we all have chains, don't we? we all have struggles. we all deal with our demons, and fight against what tries to destroy us.

Paul's chains were because he did what God wanted. not all of us can make that claim. but we can all wish that others were like us in the good, and that they avoid the evil, the chains, that tie us down, just like Paul did.

God, please help me share my joy, and free me from my chains when the time is right.

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Jabez

today's readings: 1 Chronicles 4:5-5:17, Acts 25:1-27, Psalm 5:1-12, Proverbs 18:19

today we read the prayer of Jabez. there was a very popular book about 15 years ago called The Prayer of Jabez. it was read by many and despised by some. but it was actually a pretty good book.

it took apart this prayer that we read in 1 Chronicles, which the Bible says that God answered. Jabez sounds like the Hebrew word for "pain", and his mom named him that because of the pain she had bearing him. but he was a little worried that his life would be filled with pain, with a name like that. so he prayed, basically, that God would lift him out of the circumstances of his birth, and "enlarge his territory, bless him, be with him, and keep him from pain." pretty simple, but pretty profound.

we all find ourselves born into circumstances outside of our control. some of us are born into abusive families. some are molested as children. some are born into strange religions. none of us are born perfect. we all need to be lifted out of our circumstances and rise above where we find ourselves.

this is a good prayer for all of us. God, please be with me first and foremost. please bless me and increase my territory (give me more responsibility as i grow in my abilities). and please save me from unnecessary pain.

God, Jabez's prayer is my prayer today.

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

God stories

so i know that for me, i like to hear stories about things God does. and i know that it helps our faith to grow, and enables us to trust Him more when we hear about cool things He's done. so i thought i would share a couple with you.

when i was in college, i went on a mission trip to mexico. and while i was there, i didn't have an alarm clock. so the first night i was there, i prayed "God, i know You made the universe and everything, so i know You're capable of waking me up in the morning. i need to be up at 7am. please wake me up. thank You!" and the next morning i woke up right on time.

i did that all week, and woke up right on time every morning. when i got back from the mission trip, i started to set my alarm, and it felt like God spoke to my heart and said "What? I can't wake you up now?" and i said, "well, You CAN... but..." and He said "trust Me." so i didn't set an alarm. the next day i woke up right on time.

for the next fifteen years, i never set an alarm. a couple amazing instances of this: when i was in college, i skipped classes quite a bit. and at my school, you had to go to class at least 75% of the time or you failed. well, i had skipped the maximum number of times in this one class. and the teacher of this class counted it as an absence if you were late. the class was at 9am. well, one morning i woke up at 9:10am on the morning of that class. i was like "God! You let me oversleep! now i'm gonna fail this class!" but at the same time i sensed He was doing something...

so i got up, put my shoes on, and ran to class. i walked in, and the class was all sitting there looking at me... but no professor. a few seconds after i walked in, the professor came in behind me, apologizing for being late. God knew he was going to be late, and He knew exactly how long it would take me to get up, put my shoes on, and get to class. and He woke me up at exactly the right time for all of that to happen. just so i could be telling you this story of His faithfulness right now.

another time, i was working at this camp, and this guy i barely knew asked me to wake him up at 7am the next morning. i didn't even have a watch! let alone an alarm clock. so i said "OK, God. You heard him. he needs to be up at 7..." and i went to sleep.

the next morning i woke up out of a dead sleep, and said to the guy over in his bunk, "hey man, it's time to wake up" and he said "oh, OK, thanks" and i said "BTW, what time is it?" and he looked at his watch and said "7am, straight up."

Monday, July 6, 2015

on trial

today's readings: 1 Chronicles 2:18-4:4, Acts 24:1-27, Psalm 4:1-8, Proverbs 18:16-18

so we see another theme today... that is a trial. the OT reading is just another genealogy, but the NT reading, the Psalm, and the Proverb all refer to a trial and innocence vs guilt.

Proverbs 18:17 says something pretty simple, and yet profound: "The first to speak in court sounds right... until the cross examination begins." and that's so true. if you've been in court or seen a court scene in a movie or TV show, the first statement seems like it's all true, and you think you know what's happening beyond doubt. then the cross exam begins, and suddenly you wonder what is up or down.

same with Paul's trial. when they accuse him, it sounds pretty straight forward that he's a rabble rouser. but then Paul speaks, and suddenly things take a turn.

this points to a truth that the wise will take to heart. when you're in any situation, it's best to listen. hear all sides. let everyone have their say. then, once everyone has spoken, make your decision. if you base what you think on just one person's statement, or worse - make your decision before anyone speaks... you're shortchanging yourself and causing your choice to be less advised that it could be.

God, please teach me to listen far more than i speak.

you know nothing, Jon Snow

today's readings: 1 Chronicles 1:1-2:17, Acts 23:11-35, Psalm 3:1-8, Proverbs 18:14-15

the OT was genealogy, which can be interesting, but can also be dull.

the NT reading plugged right into the Psalm! it was almost like a refrain. forty Jewish men take a vow to kill Paul. he is rescued. the Psalm celebrates God rescuing the writer from danger, even though he's surrounded by men who want to kill him.

but the part of today's reading that stood out to me was the Proverb. "The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, the ears of the wise seek it out." as socrates said, the beginning of wisdom is in knowing (like Jon Snow) that you know nothing. the best way to become a better person is to be teachable. pride prevents so many people (including me!) from bettering themselves.

God, please give me a teachable heart.

Sunday, July 5, 2015

not what it appears to be

today's readings: 2 Kings 23:31-25:30, Acts 22:17-23:10, Psalm 2:1-12, Proverbs 18:13

so the theme today seemed to be "things are not what they appear to be". and when i googled that phrase to get an appropriate pic for this blog, i got some crazy results! as you can probably imagine. but the one above i thought was cool and interesting, so i chose it. apparently it IS what it appears to be, and the only reason it came up is because the phrase "appears to be" was in the description... that it appears to be taken at the ocean. anyway, enough about the pic.

in the NT, Paul appears to be a troublemaker, but he's actually a Roman citizen. this dichotomy causes some drama, as they realize what they've done to a Roman citizen. and Paul, being the jerk he is :) makes the most of it. he also plays one group against another by yelling "i'm in trouble because i believe in life after death!" which is sort of true... but not really. kind of "not what it appears to be."

but the OT is the most fun example of this. some guy with the amazingly freaky name of Evil-Merodach comes to power! holy cow. his NAME is Evil-Merodach. i mean... Merodach already sounds pretty evil. but they didn't stop there. they actually put the word "Evil" before it!!

but guess what... he's a nice guy! talk about things not being what they look like!

and you probably can guess where i'm going with this. so often in our lives, things are not what they appear to be. it always sounds scarier in your head, but when you say it out loud in the light of day to your friend, it sounds much less scary, and even a little silly. even the scariest of things... like cancer... lose the power to chill us when we look at them in the face of eternity. death isn't the last chapter... it's the preface to the REAL story. (thanks to CS Lewis for that idea) when we realize that, finding out that a child has died doesn't seem so pointlessly horrible anymore. children being taken home to be with their heavenly Father actually sounds pretty right. if nothing else, it helps put it all in perspective.

thank You, God, that things aren't what they seem to be, but that You are the ground of our being, and that when we dig deep enough, we find You there.

Saturday, July 4, 2015

kind of a jerk

today's readings: 2 Kings 22:3-23:30, Acts 21:37-22:16, Psalm 1:1-6, Proverbs 18:11-12

we're following along with Paul's acts in the readings these days. and i gotta tell you, i've never been a big fan. i know some people love Paul, and of course he wrote some of the best verses in the NT. but, in my humble opinion, he was kind of a jerk.

i won't go into all the reasons i feel this way. it's just a general impression i get from reading his epistles, and the accounts of his actions. and i've talked to other people who feel the same way, so i don't think it's just a personality thing.

but there is a good lesson here. let's say, for the sake of argument, that Paul IS in fact a jerk. God used him. He used him mightily, to do great things. to help people. to spread the gospel and to save people. to perform miracles, even. God used a jerk to do great things.

kind of gives us hope for us, doesn't it? you might not be a jerk... but i know that i can be sometimes. and when you see your OWN actions and think to yourself, "man, i can be a jerk!" you probably are a jerk, at least sometimes. i know i'm not a jerk all of the time. thanks to God, i'm learning to be kinder and more loving. to not always have to have my own way. to be full of the love of God, that was written about so eloquently in 1 Corinthians 13.

by Paul.

God, please open my heart to Your love every day, so i can be less of a jerk and more useful to You.

Thursday, July 2, 2015

His mercy endures forever

today's readings: 2 Kings 20:1-22:2, Acts 21:18-36, Psalm 150:1-6, Proverbs 18:9-10

once again we're shown how great God's mercy is. Hezekiah has done bad things... and Isaiah comes to tell him he's going to die. he "turns to the wall" and weeps, asking God for forgiveness.

God hears him.

God hears you and me, too. He hears us when we're hurting. and when we're scared. and when we're depressed. He hears our cries for help and healing.

He hears you.

God, please lead me to pray boldly, knowing that You hear me, and You love me.

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

the enemy

today's readings: 2 Kings 18:13-19:37, Acts 21:1-17, Psalm 149:1-9, Proverbs 18:8

the assyrian king sennacherib threatens israel in our readings today. he taunts them, and says that God will not rescue them. he even turns the table on them and says that God SENT him to destroy them.

the enemy comes to us in just such a way. he threatens to destroy us. he promises us riches if we surrender to him. he pretends that God sent him. he lies.

it can be hard to discern sometimes. the enemy comes as an angel of light. but God isn't expecting us to be experts on figuring out who is speaking to us. if we trust in Him, and ask Him to help us avoid the temptations that the enemy puts before us, and ask His help in resisting the one who would destroy our souls, He will.

we can trust Him.

God, please protect us from the evil one.