Numbers 15-16; Mark 6:1-29

Where’s it written that YOU have to WIN?

How do You define SUCCESS?

Those two questions came from my friend GEORGE – in response to my complaints about how I was being treated at church.

And then I remembered John the Baptist. John had a great handle on these questions. You can see it in his observation at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry,

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”

John didn’t have to “win” in the way WE think of winning.

He knew his life didn’t end with an executioner’s sword in a prison. His definition of success wasn’t a narrow view of his own personal outcome. Jesus’ success was HIS success. Jesus’ win was HIS win.

Wow. I wonder what can be accomplished this week if I don’t have to win, and if Jesus’ success – is MY success.

Have a Victorious day!

Numbers 12-14; Mark 5:21-43

It was TOO LATE.

Jairus had the right idea – ask Jesus to heal his sick daughter – but it was just too late. Right?

So what does Jesus say to Jairus?

“Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

Jesus goes to Jairus’ house – and raises his daughter back to life.

Same thing happened to Daniel – who trusted God to keep him out of the lion’s den. Too Late – they got thrown in. TOO LATE – right? Wrong. God rescued Daniel IN the lion’s den.

Same thing happened to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – who trusted God to keep them out of the fiery furnace. Too Late – they got thrown in. TOO LATE – right? Wrong. God rescued them IN the fiery furnace.

Next time I get thrown in – and it looks TOO LATE for God to Rescue me from getting bit or burned – I’m taking this one with me:

“Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

TOO LATE? Maybe for somebody else. 

See you tomorrow!

Mark 5: 1-20 

I must admit up front, this passage always catches me off guard. I remember reading this one night with my son. When we came to the part with the demons being cast onto a flock of pigs, and they drown themselves, my son looked at me as if to ask, “Did you just make up the part about the demon-pigs?” My response was this; we will have to ask Jesus what’s up with the demon-pigs when we get to Heaven.
Seriously, I love how Jesus heals the worst cases. He never refers a case to a specialist, he never says your situation is too tough.
This poor guy, the man who lived in the tombs, possessed by many demons, everyone in the area knew who he was. When Jesus casts out the demons, He tells the man, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” Can you imagine that knock on the door? Mom, dad, I’m home! Talk about amazed!

Mark  4: 21-41

Parables, parables and more parables!  There is so much good stuff in this study today, you could spend a whole week getting your head around each parable Jesus teaches.
A lamp on a stand? Why are you hiding the good news of Jesus from the world, or from your neighbor?
The growing seed? By spreading the seed, the good news of Jesus, the kingdom of God grows. Even in Woodland!
The mustard seed? From the smallest beginnings, mighty things are possible. Even in Esparto!
 It all comes down to the good news. If we hide the lamp, if we don’t sow the seed, if we don’t make that first small step, we are not fulfilling God’s plan. I don’t know about you, but I have found God’s plan for my life works a lot better than the ones I come up with.

Mark 4: 1-20  

 In the parable of the sower, Jesus speaks about how the word of God, the seed, is cast in many places. What happens to the seed, whether is grows or whether it withers and dies, depends on the type of soil where it lands. He is the trap I find myself in when I read this parable; I naturally assume that I am good soil.
Woops.
In Francis Chan’s bestseller, Crazy Love, he warns against this. Do not assume you are good soil.
Speaking for myself, I am a big patch of thorns. Work, success, money, hobbies, stress, fear, these are the thorns trying to crowd God from my life. Our relationship with God grows when we put Him first, when we study His word, and put it into practice.  When we become the good soil.
Is it time for a little spiritual yard work, maybe a little weed eating? I had better find my string trimmer.

Numbers 3-4; Mark 3:20-35

I’m trying to get better with NAMES.

Because – remembering a person by NAME – says they MATTER to you as an INDIVIDUAL. Part of the Popularity of the ’80′s TV show “CHEERS” – was captured in the theme song:

 “Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your NAME.”

 When somebody remembers MY name – it tells me I MATTER to them. So when God says in Numbers 3:43,

 “The total number of firstborn males a month old or more,

listed by name, was 22,273.”

 That’s HUGE. It tells me that God is interested in people’s NAMES – that He’s interested in them as individuals. Still is. The Apostle John ends his 3rd Letter with these words:

 “Greet the friends there by name.”

 I’m working on it. Thoughts?

See you tomorrow!

Numbers 1-2; Mark 3:1-19

I had been a BAPTIST all my life.
But when I was diagnosed with “terminal, inoperable” cancer -
my life was saved by a JEWISH doctor – in a CATHOLIC hospital.
To them, I wasn’t a BAPTIST. I was their PATIENT.
I’m so GLAD they put relationship ahead of religion.

For the Pharisees in Mark 3, it was the OTHER way around.
That’s why they HATED Jesus.
They wanted Him killed for healing a guy’s shriveled hand on the Sabbath.
Religion over Relationship.
That made Jesus mad. He Healed the Guy’s hand.
Relationship over Religion.

2ooo years later – Jesus Christ Healed a BAPTIST -
through a JEWISH doctor in a CATHOLIC hospital.
I’m so Glad HE put relationship ahead of religion.
Aren’t you?

Have a Wonderful day!

Leviticus 26-27; Mark 2

One day, in a Shopping Mall dressing area, my son Jonathan met CHRIS WEBBER. As Chris left the store, he was MOBBED by a large group of older kids. But Chris FRUSTRATED them when He ignored them – looked back at Jonathan, and said – “Hey man – I’ll see you later, ok?” The older Kids didn’t like their Hero ignoring them for somebody they thought wasn’t worth it.

Same deal with the PHARISEES and JESUS. When Jesus ignored them in favor of dinner at an IRS agent’s house – they were FURIOUS!

& When they COMPLAINED about it – Jesus answered, :

 “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Translation: “If you’re Too Cool for IRS-type guys, then you must be Too Cool for ME, too. I came to become friends with people who AREN’T Too Cool for other people – people who AREN’T PERFECT in their own eyes. You guys don’t qualify.”

 Sobering reminder – when I’M feeling Too Cool to stop and befriend somebody, or when I’m feeling COOL in my own eyes – I’m actually PUSHING Jesus Away. Maybe I’m NOT So Cool – after all…

See you Tomorrow!

Leviticus 25; Mark 1:23-45

 (Hold on to your hats! Mark reads like a THRILL Ride – I call it the Gospel of ACTION! Here we go…)

 What a BEGINNING! Jesus is Baptized by John – and it says:

 “As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’”

 What a Commencement! And LOGICALLY – you’d expect a Sermon,

or a Miracle, or a Party to follow, RIGHT? But LOOK what happens NEXT:

 “At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, and he was

in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan.”

 “No PAIN, No GAIN.”

Ever find yourself in a similar situation? You experience this Big VICTORY in your life – then – you IMMEDIATELY find yourself out in the DESERT – being Clobbered by the Enemy. SUCCESS – followed by Hardship. Seems like a weird equation.

 BUT – It’s IMPORTANT to discover when things get TOUGH after a WIN – that God isn’t messing with us – there’s an AGENDA here. “No PAIN, No GAIN.”

 AND – looking closer – you see God’s Purpose – to CONFIRM what the VICTORY taught you – out where things are tough. He did it to confirm Jesus; and He does it to toughen and confirm our Faith and Character.  SO – next time you find yourself in the DESERT after a WIN – Remember: “No PAIN, No GAIN.” Or to put it more precisely: “PAIN, GAIN.”

Have a GREAT day!

Leviticus 23-24; Mark 1:1-22

This last year we celebrated my Mom’s

80th Birthday! I LOVE celebrating with friends and family -

BUT – looking at Leviticus 23 – the question occurs to me:

Think you love to party? Love to Celebrate with friends?

Nothing like your CREATOR does… ONE LOOK at Israel’s Celebration Calendar tells you – we have a GOD who LOVES to CELEBRATE with His people!

Passover – Firstfruits – Feast of Weeks – Feast of Trumpets -

Day of Atonement – Feast of Tabernacles

Every eight weeks or so – God threw a Celebration with His People.

And when you THINK about it – it makes SENSE – Who has MORE to Celebrate? And if THEY celebrated like that BEFORE Jesus Rose from the Dead – IMAGINE the possibilities NOW! Sounds like we have some CELEBRATING to catch up on – Your house – or Mine?

See you Tomorrow!