I had to go to Wayne County Court (Detroit) today for jury duty. I was not selected to serve on a jury but I was hit by something deep while sitting in the courtroom.
In every trial there is falsehood and in many of them there are people who are deliberately lying (be them prosecutor or defendant). You see, both sides can't be telling the truth (why have a trial if they were?). There are a lot of untruths floating around a courthouse.
This is symbolic of our world. Think of all the gossip, demeaning advertising, sarcasm and lies that shoot through our world everyday. Don't think to hard... it's overwhelming!
The only thing that can cut through all of these evil messages is THE TRUTH.
Whenever you get a chance today make sure that you testify to the TRUTH... the Sacrifice of Jesus, the Power of the Spirit and the Faithful Love of the Father.
Peace be with all of you!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Ears
Today I was struck by the last phrase of the Gospel. Jesus says "Whoever has ears ought to hear."
This phrase reminds me of Chris Tucker in Rush Hour II. This is Jesus' way of saying "Do-you-understand-the-words-that-are-coming-out-of-my-mouth?!"
This phrase reminds me of Chris Tucker in Rush Hour II. This is Jesus' way of saying "Do-you-understand-the-words-that-are-coming-out-of-my-mouth?!"
Jesus is talking about more than not ignoring him. He is encouraging us to take what he says and apply it to the core of our lives!
God has given us ears to hear... but we must work to develop hearts that listen.
I'll let you read the passage, Mt. 13:36-43, to find out what Jesus was encouraging his disciples to hear.
Peace turtles!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Matthew 13:31-35
Mt. 13:31-35
Jesus liked to use everyday examples to get his point across. In today’s Gospel he compares the Kingdom of God to the growth of a mustard seed and leaven in bread.
I take it that none of you have tried to grow mustard in the desert… so let me try to paint a picture.
Farming in Jesus’ time was a very exact science. There was a short window between seasons where crops could be planted. Plant too early and your seeds will be washed away in the rain. Plant too late and their roots will die when the rainy season comes to an end.
Mustard takes about 6-8 weeks to grow from a tiny seed into a large (almost 4 ft. tall) bush. During this time period the farmer would have to weed, water and protect the crops.
Baking bread took similar time and effort. Jesus’ peeps had no grocery store to buy baking powder and yeast… leavening agents had to be grown for a few days within the leftover dough before more bread could be made (like the Amish Friendship bread that you bake and pass the extra dough along to your friends). Bake too early and your bread will not rise… bake too late and the dough will go bad. Both scenarios land you knocking on the door of your neighbor begging for bread.
Do you see what Jesus is trying to say? The coming of the Kingdom is going to take some serious time and effort! What Jesus was starting with his short ministry and small group of followers- with hard work and patience- would continue on through history to bring the fullness of the Kingdom of God to humanity!
This work continues on today. The work of building the Kingdom has been handed from generation to generation and now we find it in our hands. Happy farming and baking! Peace turtles!
Jesus liked to use everyday examples to get his point across. In today’s Gospel he compares the Kingdom of God to the growth of a mustard seed and leaven in bread.
I take it that none of you have tried to grow mustard in the desert… so let me try to paint a picture.
Farming in Jesus’ time was a very exact science. There was a short window between seasons where crops could be planted. Plant too early and your seeds will be washed away in the rain. Plant too late and their roots will die when the rainy season comes to an end.
Mustard takes about 6-8 weeks to grow from a tiny seed into a large (almost 4 ft. tall) bush. During this time period the farmer would have to weed, water and protect the crops.
Baking bread took similar time and effort. Jesus’ peeps had no grocery store to buy baking powder and yeast… leavening agents had to be grown for a few days within the leftover dough before more bread could be made (like the Amish Friendship bread that you bake and pass the extra dough along to your friends). Bake too early and your bread will not rise… bake too late and the dough will go bad. Both scenarios land you knocking on the door of your neighbor begging for bread.
Do you see what Jesus is trying to say? The coming of the Kingdom is going to take some serious time and effort! What Jesus was starting with his short ministry and small group of followers- with hard work and patience- would continue on through history to bring the fullness of the Kingdom of God to humanity!
This work continues on today. The work of building the Kingdom has been handed from generation to generation and now we find it in our hands. Happy farming and baking! Peace turtles!
The Least Engaged
I have a favorite saying. The saying, from Jerry Goebel, is "The least engaged have the most power in a relationship." This simply means that if you desperately want a relationship to work but the other person doesn't want it to... it's not going to work. Both members of the relationship have to be fully invested in it.
Until recently I had never applied this phrase to my faith. Obviously God is the most engaged member of my relationship with Him. Afterall, God has created me, He sustains me... He even sent His Son to die for me. There is little more that God can do to make this relationship work. The rest is up to me.
It's pretty simple. If I don't take the time to make my relationship with God work... it won't. Peace turtles!
Until recently I had never applied this phrase to my faith. Obviously God is the most engaged member of my relationship with Him. Afterall, God has created me, He sustains me... He even sent His Son to die for me. There is little more that God can do to make this relationship work. The rest is up to me.
It's pretty simple. If I don't take the time to make my relationship with God work... it won't. Peace turtles!
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