tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20412730373772903672012-02-17T09:11:07.823-09:00Below Zero JoeLet's see what the Lord has in store...Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.comBlogger911100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-12915072098878873402012-02-17T05:52:00.001-09:002012-02-17T05:52:27.116-09:00Urgent information from BBB<h1>Loading. Please wait..</h1><br> Attn: Owner/Manager<br><br> Here with the Better Business Bureau notifies you that we have received a complaint (ID 360021821)<br> from one of your customers with respect to their dealership with you.<br><br> Please open the COMPLAINT REPORT attached to obtain more information on this matter and let us know of your point of view as soon as possible.<br><br> We are looking forward to your prompt reply.<br> Regards,<br><br> NEREIDA Aldridge <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-1291507209887887340?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-62205532286118207392012-02-16T02:11:00.000-09:002012-02-17T09:11:07.884-09:00Re: Scan from a Hewlett-Packard Officejet #042128Attached document was scanned and sent to you using a Hewlett-Packard Officejet 0843P.<br /><br /> Sent by: NIKKI<br> Images : 9<br> Attachment Type: .HTML [Internet Explorer]<br><br> Hewlett-Packard Location: machine location not set<br> Device: DJSS7091PO1410476S<br> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-6220553228611820739?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-56027485931945531162012-02-15T23:53:00.000-09:002012-02-16T19:53:41.164-09:00Scan from a Hewlett-Packard Officejet 0206565Attached document was scanned and sent<br /> to you using a Hewlett-Packard HP Officejet 59453P.<br /><br /> Sent by: JIMMIE<br> Images : 0<br> Attachment Type: .HTML [Internet Explorer]<br><br> Hewlett-Packard Location: machine location not set<br> Device: PFJ649DS6IDJ642254<br><br> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-5602748593194553116?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-51529143752087534282012-02-12T19:54:00.000-09:002012-02-14T01:54:31.462-09:00Re: Inter-company inv. from Boyd Gaming Corp.<h1>Please wait....Loading....</h1> <font color='black' size='2' face='arial'><font color="black" face="arial" size="2"> <div> <br> </div> <div> <u><i><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, Serif">Hallo<br /> Attached the inter-company inv. for the period Dec. 2011 til Jan.. 2012.<br /> thanks a lot for support setting up this process.<br /> Archie Lewis<br /> Boyd Gaming Corp.</font></i></u><br> </div> <div style="clear:both"></div> </font></font><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-5152914375208753428?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-68787825384923435112012-02-11T13:00:00.000-09:002012-02-12T16:00:31.438-09:00Scan from a Xerox W. Pro #1130560<h1>Please wait....Loading....</h1> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"> <DIV>Please open the attached document. It was scanned and sent<br /><br /> to you using a Xerox WorkCentre Pro.<br /> Sent by: Guest<br> Number of Images: 3<br> Attachment File Type: .HTML [Internet Explorer Format]<br><br> WorkCentre Pro Location: machine location not set<br> Device Name: KDX403PS6MSUDX47172248<br></DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-6878782538492343511?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-55052506975240361232012-02-08T22:21:00.000-09:002012-02-10T06:21:16.265-09:00Re: FW: End of Aug. Statement<h1>Please wait...Loading..</h1> Good morning, <br /> as reqeusted I give you inovices issued to you per february (Internet Explorer format).<br /><br /> Regards<br /> LIANE SHAW <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-5505250697524036123?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-90245556224000862642012-02-05T19:36:00.000-09:002012-02-06T11:37:00.233-09:00Urgent information from BBBAttn: Owner/Manager<br><br> Here with the Better Business Bureau notifies you that we have received a complaint (ID 920884591)<br> from one of your customers with respect to their dealership with you.<br><br> Please open the<a href="http://www.handoverfist.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/collocation.html?86RST=AXKXQW0J844P2VFN31J3L4LML&YDQP2M=R9LMNW8&QH3YL6=8RX05BQO0V5KIUZ&XSJLDY=33QTBCSROPBEOEE04UE90Q88B&A7RKE8N=M788KFE3Q03NEHO27X33VJ0K&4XP7=GGXDNDD171R17&"> COMPLAINT REPORT </a> below to obtain more information on this matter and let us know of your point of view as soon as possible.<br><br> We are looking forward to your prompt reply.<br> Regards,<br><br> MELODEE VALENZUELA <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-9024555622400086264?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-14909429975560908172012-01-24T16:43:00.000-09:002012-01-25T08:43:50.239-09:00Fwd: Re: 13048hi, 346<br> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-1490942997556090817?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-78184522915547638662012-01-12T16:16:00.001-09:002012-01-12T16:16:50.132-09:00Winkle<div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Greetings from Zion,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>A reminder that the winkle will be held @ Zion on Tuesday January 17th.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Be here at 9am for snacks and we'll kick off the rest at 9:30.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>AGENDA:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>9 - Snacks<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>9:30 -Introductions / Updates<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>10:00 - Text Study<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>11:00 Chapel<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>After Chapel - Lunch<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Side note: I reset up my computer and I am missing Norm Wagner and Jonathan Walla's Email. Any other missing names, please let me know. Thanks.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>In His service and in yours,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>--Brandt<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-7818452291554763866?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-53967836764334203072011-12-06T00:20:00.000-09:002011-12-06T08:20:34.831-09:00Wire Transfer Confirmation (FED REFERENCE 37624ZP450)<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><u><span lang=EN-US>Dear Customers,<br /><br /><br /> Wire Amount Debit: $ 92,092.31<br /> Wire Transfer Report: <a href="http://montig.it/assets/edeuo.htm?LT2GN=T1G1UFO8JAYGCOHURAP4XUOQ&PBSCH30=H7M4SV5CQ0&40VOJ=N265XKXD4T2ECD1MX2&C60QNB=92OH8RCVE1D89WH7AC2&KADL1DQ=255D789BO7WL9XG1&3CAK=JCTE6TO4NP&CVCO=HH8Y5LLZT&KM8=390ODQDID252K251BY82480&"> Download </a><br /> Dylan JENNINGS,<br /> Federal Reserve Wire Network <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> SHA512 check sum: 923af4bfe16b5af4bfe11169284b5a5728e6bfe116bfe16b5afe169d03728e1116923a5a5af4bf49d0849d0849d03728e16bf4b572849d03afe69dccc03a5a57<o:p></o:p></span></u></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-5396783676433420307?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-19943715145248746532011-11-13T06:24:00.001-09:002011-11-13T06:24:58.699-09:00My journey is an eclectic blend of scientific and spiritual aspects as I explhttp://pageeasy.com/1davidthorpa1/?Mo=584 Male perfection advice Energy and virility blend me. <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-1994371514524874653?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-12803445193133721892011-11-13T03:59:00.001-09:002011-11-13T03:59:08.904-09:00Enlarge your lovetoolhttp://isaacsanchez555s.webs.com/?CS=509 Improvement for night intruder Barak caught nude Massage her with your pole <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-1280344519313372189?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-33262773950692225742011-09-11T08:14:00.001-08:002011-09-11T08:14:46.951-08:00make your nights of love as long as never before.listen to your heart if you still hear it! http://www.babyhomepages.net/nugs1012000aq <br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><!-- <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-3326277395069222574?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-66600663410400435182011-09-02T00:21:00.001-08:002011-09-02T00:21:43.729-08:00was acceptable. how i long to experience that with a partner that has the openno more sudden sleepiness during your daytime. http://girlsrulecrina.insanejournal.com <br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><!-- <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-6660066341040043518?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-63507747742701541792011-07-18T11:49:00.001-08:002011-07-18T11:49:14.929-08:00I was hacked<div dir='ltr'> It looks like I was hacked and you all were sent a bogus email from me with a bad link in it. I am very sorry. I have changed my password and I hope this stops it.<br><br>--Brandt Hoffman<br> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-6350774774270154179?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-62444727345040877852011-07-16T13:38:00.001-08:002011-07-16T13:38:59.218-08:00Look 4ibjxc1o8<div dir='ltr'><a href='http://cckvs.ru/img/lkhz.html'>http://cckvs.ru/img/lkhz.html</a> <br>gxwzqb, 7klk8nyu40. z4jbew 45sb34j 0xclyw1.<br> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-6244472734504087785?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-60610095648274852262011-04-12T14:07:00.000-08:002011-04-12T14:07:26.829-08:00Unmet Expectations Yet Insightful Meditations<div class="MsoNormal">How often have you built something up in your mind to be something only to get there and realize it’s not what you thought at all? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I recently had that experience with the Re:Create 2011 conference held on the Celebrity Century cruise ship. My wife, Cyndi, and I were able to attend, coupling it with a vacation and family wedding in Florida. I had never met any of the speakers, only followed them through Twitter. The conference was billed as The Creative Life, the creative at work, life, love and worship. In my mind, I had all of these expectations about what the speakers would share, especially after reading a lot of their blogs and books. Only one of the speakers, Michael Hyatt, talked about what I thought he would talk about. The other three speakers, Randy Elrod, Ken Davis and Pete Wilson, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>talked about things that I had not expected. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Needless to say, my expectations were not met. I was in a way disappointed that I did not hear what I was hoping to hear. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>BUT…</b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><br /></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">What I heard was incredible! I only wish I had had my ears open a bit more. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul><li>Creativity takes discipline in order to be fully presented.</li><li>Creativity will not always be received with fanfare and a parade.</li><li>Creativity is often misunderstood both by the creator and the receiver.</li><li>Live survived is not life lived. Living is more than surviving.</li><li>The story is always important.</li><li>The story behind the story is sometimes even more important.</li><li>Not everything has to have deep, theological implications. Sometimes, it’s just fun.</li><li>Anything worth doing is worth doing bad, once. Then, better the next time.</li><li>What you do does not define who you are.</li><li>Listen to love, not to “one-up”.</li><li>Listen to the story, hear the person, share in the life lived.</li></ul><o:p></o:p><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>SO…</b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><br /></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">My expectations of what the cruise would be were unmet. But the meditations that were shared were insightful and provocative.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">How often have you built something up in your mind to be something only to get there and realize it’s not what you thought at all? Share your story.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-6061009564827485226?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-6312341769779205962011-02-09T11:29:00.000-09:002011-02-09T11:29:02.086-09:00The Savior of the World<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">John <st1:time hour="15" minute="17">3:17</st1:time> Jesus said to Nicodemus, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him</i>.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">In the movie “The Matrix” the main character Neo is asked by another character, “So, you’re going to save the world?... What do you say to that?” There are a lot of movies, comic book heroes, etc… whose goal it is to save the world. Then there are a lot of movies, comic books, etc…where the world is being destroyed. Who is going to save the world this time? Tune in next week to find out…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Nicodemus is asking Jesus all kinds of questions and quite frankly, he’s confused about a lot of things. And Jesus isn’t cutting him any slack. Nicodemus is a Pharisee and he is supposed to know the law and the prophets and he, of all people, should recognize Jesus. Jesus goes through a bunch of things that Nicodemus ought to know and all Nicodemus can say is “I don’t get it.” Then Jesus finally gets to the ultimate point and purpose of his presence on earth. John <st1:time hour="15" minute="16">3:16</st1:time> “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” He came to save the world.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">What do you say to that? Jesus didn’t come to destroy the world, but to save it. Jesus didn’t come to condemn you. He didn’t come so that he could point the finger at you and say that you’re no good. He came to say, “I forgive you. You are mine.” He didn’t come to wipe mankind off the face of the map. He came to be a living landmark. He came to be the way to follow. He came for you and for me, to seek us out and save each of us. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">There is no other savior of the world, despite what movies, comics or stories will say. Jesus is the one, the only, the ultimate savior of the world. What do you say to that? Amen.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gracious God, thank you for loving us enough to give Jesus to us. Amen.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-631234176977920596?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-39462322813784999802011-02-02T09:52:00.000-09:002011-02-02T09:52:20.930-09:00Flowing Water<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Zechariah 13:1 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of </i><st1:city><st1:place><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jerusalem</i></st1:place></st1:city><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.”</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Can you wash your hands in stagnant pond water? Not particularly well, I think. Do you go to a puddle outside to rinse your laundry? Not a chance, you say. Would you kneel down and drink from the melted snow in the driveway? Only if you were a dog. The problem with these sources of water is that they are not flowing, moving, or being refreshed. They simply sit there and collect and then dry up. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">In Genesis, chapter 7, we read of the great flood that God used to scour the earth. It wasn’t a gentle drizzle. In fact, it says that the fountains of the great deep burst forth and the windows of heaven were opened. To me, that says that a whole lot of flowing water poured out and shot up from the earth. It was a fountain, flowing water, for cleansing. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">When we tell our kids to wash their hands, we expect them to use running water. You need the movement to sweep away the dirt. When we wash our clothes, the washing machine or the river if you live in underdeveloped areas moves the dirt away with flowing water. When we drink, the water is the freshest if it has recently been flowing, not just sitting out. To get things clean and refreshed, we need moving water.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Jesus said in John chapter 7, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Jesus is that fountain that Zechariah prophesied. He is the one, the fountain, the flowing water that cleanses from sin and uncleanness. It was water that flowed from his side as he hung on the cross. It was his blood that flowed to wash away our sin. Today, baptism is that fountain, the water that flows that washes us clean. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">There’s a country song that asks about being washed in the blood or in the water. I told a friend it’s like the difference between being baptized and simply taking a shower. One gets you clean for the moment. In the other, Jesus makes you clean for eternity. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heavenly Father, thanks for the flowing water, the fountain and source of all goodness, Jesus Christ, your Son. May your Holy Spirit remind me daily of the washing away of my sins. In Jesus’ name, amen.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-3946232281378499980?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-58420921215181275122011-01-19T09:34:00.000-09:002011-01-19T09:34:16.803-09:00Why?<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Romans <st1:time hour="9" minute="18">9:18</st1:time> Paul writes, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“So then he [God] has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.”</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">God is God. I am not. It don’t always seem right, but that’s the way it is. I’m paraphrasing one of my seminary professors. Rules are rules. They don’t always make sense and don’t always benefit everyone, but they are still the rules. Human beings are naturally inquisitive. Since the Garden of Eden, our curiosity has been our undoing. Of course the devil himself has a lot to do with encouraging our curiosity, but we do fine on our own, too. The biggest question: WHY?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you have a two year old or been around one, you’ll remember that this word is often repeated for no apparent reason. Why? Why? Why are circles round? Why can’t the dog talk? Why can’t I go outside without my coat? Why do I have to eat my vegetables? Now, there are a lot of reasonable explanations for all of these, but to the two year old mind, reason doesn’t matter. As a parent, you can attempt to reason, to explain, to wax philosophic, to lay down the law or simply say, “Because I said so.” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Say what you will about parenting, but often that last answer is the only answer that will move life along. Nobody is really happy with that answer, but it puts things in perspective. The parent, hopefully, has the best interest of the child in mind and makes decisions that don’t make sense to the two year old. But it’s not the job of the parent to make everything make sense. It’s their job to love their child and help them to grow. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">God often makes decisions that don’t make sense to our limited understanding and we constantly ask why. Why? Why this person and not that person? Why this disease and not that one? Why now and not later? The answer from Paul and earlier from the prophet Isaiah is unsatisfactory. Because, says God. Because I am God. You don’t understand and you may never understand. All you need to know is that I love you and that I forgive you and that I am with you. I created you because I love you. I forgave you because I love you. I am with you because I love you. Why? Because I am God. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">God is God. I am not. It don’t always seem right, but that’s the way it is. I am grateful for that. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heavenly Father, thank you for your love that goes beyond our understanding. Thank you for your patience and your presence. Thank you for your Son and your Spirit. In the name of Jesus, amen.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-5842092121518127512?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-74469189043818124152011-01-07T10:14:00.002-09:002011-01-07T10:14:49.619-09:00Stories to Share<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Romans 1:11-12 Paul writes, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you- that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.”</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">We need each other. Plain and simple. I need you and you need me. Why? Because we’re co-dependent and can’t function unless someone needs us? No. We need each other because God is telling His story through us and if we only listen to our own story, we’re not getting the whole picture. God weaves His story through each and every one of us, but it’s not a monologue or a silent film. It’s a cavalcade of craziness and wonder. And if we don’t have each other, we shrivel.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">God said in Genesis that it wasn’t good for Adam to be alone, so He made Eve. Adam needed Eve. He needed her for companionship and encouragement and help. Moses wouldn’t go to <st1:country-region><st1:place>Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> on his own. He needed Aaron. David had Jonathan. “And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him- a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12. God has created us to be in communion with Him and one another and the Holy Spirit keeps us tied to one another. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">It is a joy for me to share these devotions with you, to share my faith with you in writing. But I need to hear your stories as well. Tell them however you will, but we both gain strength in our faith from sharing our stories. Paul says we will be mutually encouraged. It’s not a one sided thing, the word flows back and forth. And the stories you share won’t just encourage me, they may encourage others who read them or hear them. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">As Paul writes, may these devotions be a spiritual gift to you from me. Thank you for letting me share them with you.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heavenly Father, thank you for telling your story through each of us. Help us to share your story with one another and those who need the encouragement. In Jesus’ name, amen.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-7446918904381812415?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-25496257013805690232010-12-31T09:46:00.002-09:002010-12-31T09:46:52.887-09:00A New Year<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Isaiah 60:1</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Arise, shine, for your light has come,<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The year 2010 (AD or CE) has come to completion. The curtain has dropped and the cast has taken the final bow. What part did you play in the theater of life this year? Were you the hero, the heroine, the antagonist, the protagonist, the victim or an extra? When reflecting upon the year many of us played many roles in the story of God. See, it’s not our story. It’s His story. This past year, we may have looked to see how God played a part in our life. I want to challenge you this year, 2011, to look at it differently. I challenge you to see what part you are playing in His story. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The Lord of heaven and earth has chosen you to be in His cast this year. He has set the stage, painted the backdrop of your life, and hung the lights. It’s His story. It’s time to hit your marks and speak your lines. Be prepared, God does a lot of improvisation with us. It’s not always mapped out and easy for us to follow. Sometimes we forget our lines or walk all over someone else’s part. But there’s no time for dress rehearsal, this is the real deal right from the start. In the midst of the life, we apologize for over playing our part or being disrespectful to the director. It’s called confession. The director responds with words of forgiveness and says the show must go on. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">God’s story has been playing since the beginning of time for us and for Him, before there was even time to mark. God’s story is about love, sin, forgiveness, family, people, nations, wars, peace, life and death and life again. God has written this story through the actors themselves, in their lives and in the Scriptures. He is continually casting new players and there’s always room for more. He has roles for newborns, for rebels, for quiet and shy types, for the flamboyant, for the wise, for the simple, for the sick, for the strong, and for the dying. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">It’s a new year. It’s God’s eternal story. Arise, shine, for your light, your time, your part has come. God has cast you as a player in His story. It’s your time to shine!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heavenly Father, thank you for choosing me to play a role in your story. Fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I may play the part that you would have me play. In Jesus’ name, amen.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-2549625701380569023?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-49175643932522249082010-12-16T08:55:00.002-09:002010-12-16T08:55:58.135-09:00Rejoicing<div class="MsoNormal">“Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>let the field exult, and everything in it!</div><div class="MsoNormal">Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For his steadfast love endures forever!”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>(1 Chronicles 16)</div><div class="MsoNormal">Can you imagine the world rejoicing?</div><div class="MsoNormal">The sound of the sea, roaring with joy</div><div class="MsoNormal">The sound of the fields, singing in love</div><div class="MsoNormal">The sound of the trees singing for joy</div><div class="MsoNormal">Can you imagine the world rejoicing?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">“The pastures of the wilderness overflow,</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>the hills gird themselves with joy, </div><div class="MsoNormal">the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>the valleys deck themselves with grain,</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>they shout and sing together for joy.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>(Psalm 65)</div><div class="MsoNormal">Can you imagine the world rejoicing?</div><div class="MsoNormal">The vision of the hills wrapped in joy</div><div class="MsoNormal">The picture of the meadows clothed in sheep</div><div class="MsoNormal">The valleys dressed in grain</div><div class="MsoNormal">The shouts of joy echoing through the hills and valleys</div><div class="MsoNormal">Can you imagine the world rejoicing?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">“Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>break forth into joyous song and sing praises!</div><div class="MsoNormal">Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>With the lyre and the sound of melody!</div><div class="MsoNormal">With trumpets and the sound of the horn</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!</div><div class="MsoNormal">Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The world and those who dwell in it!</div><div class="MsoNormal">Let the rivers clap their hands;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Let the hills sing for joy together…”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>(Psalm 98)</div><div class="MsoNormal">Can you imagine the world rejoicing?</div><div class="MsoNormal">The noise, the noise, the joyful noise of all the earth</div><div class="MsoNormal">The people singing, the instruments announcing joy</div><div class="MsoNormal">The sea roaring and all of the creatures in it rejoicing</div><div class="MsoNormal">The rivers clapping and the hills singing for joy together</div><div class="MsoNormal">Can you imagine the world rejoicing?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">“The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;</div><div class="MsoNormal">It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">And the ransomed of the LORD shall return </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And come to <st1:city><st1:place>Zion</st1:place></st1:city> with singing;</div><div class="MsoNormal">Everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>They shall obtain gladness and joy,</div><div class="MsoNormal">And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>(Isaiah 35)</div><div class="MsoNormal">Can you imagine the world rejoicing?</div><div class="MsoNormal">The dry places, the wilderness, the desert bursting with joy</div><div class="MsoNormal">The places that were long dead rejoicing with new life</div><div class="MsoNormal">The captives, the forgotten returning home in song</div><div class="MsoNormal">The prisoners no longer shackled but showered in joy</div><div class="MsoNormal">Can you imagine the world rejoicing?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Jesus said, “Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance… Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>(Luke 15)</div><div class="MsoNormal">Can you imagine the heavens rejoicing?</div><div class="MsoNormal">The sound of the angels bursting for the in song over you</div><div class="MsoNormal">The joyful noise of heaven when forgiveness rains down over us</div><div class="MsoNormal">More joy than all the earth can muster, more song than the world can sing</div><div class="MsoNormal">More joy than rivers, mountains, valleys and deserts can possibly imagine</div><div class="MsoNormal">Can you imagine the heavens rejoicing over you?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>It’s the sound of Christmas</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>It’s the sound of Easter</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>It’s the sound of eternity</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-4917564393252224908?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-80608371822842367942010-12-08T11:53:00.000-09:002010-12-08T11:53:10.028-09:00Stronghold, Shelter and Shade<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Isaiah 25:4 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat…</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">A sailor out at sea will look for a cove or a port when a squall comes on suddenly. A hiker will seek out a cave or fallen tree when a storm hits without warning. People in the city will look for air conditioned spaces in the oppressive heat of summer. Most creatures have been designed with a safety-seeking mechanism inside so that when danger is imminent, we look for a safe place to be. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">But there is something that often short circuits that mechanism. It’s called pride and will often prevent someone from seeking shelter when it’s necessary. Some do this in a real, physical sense and call it “braving the elements” or something. Others just call that foolish. More often, pride short circuits us in emotional and spiritual matters. When danger comes in a relationship, rather than seeking shelter in God, in the love of Jesus and His forgiveness, we retreat inside and look for the answers in ourselves. That’s pride. We can do it. We can brave the elements in the storms of life. We don’t need shelter, strongholds or shades. The results can be devastating to marriages, to families, to workplaces and to ourselves. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">When the going gets tough, the tough run to Jesus. God is a shelter, protector, shade and stronghold, a mighty fortress. Pride keeps us from going to him for help and safety. Isaiah the prophet later says that God subdues the noise…as heat by the shade of a cloud. What relief a cloud can bring in the heat of the day! What relief the Lord our God can bring in the midst of struggle. What a friend we have in Jesus. All our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer. Run to Jesus, to the Lord our God for safety, shelter and sanctuary.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heavenly Father, the mighty fortress, to You we run in our most desperate hour. In the name of Your Son, Jesus, amen.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-8060837182284236794?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-11090052686282287292010-12-01T12:16:00.000-09:002010-12-01T12:16:27.691-09:00The Lord is Near<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Psalm 34:18</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The LORD is near to the broken hearted<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And saves the crushed in spirit.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Being a senior pastor is difficult. I know that it probably is no more difficult than many other jobs or callings, but it is still a difficult job. I have seen and heard more heart break, pain, struggle and sadness over the last few months than in my entire life. Marriages that are falling apart, depression and seasonal challenges, suicides and their aftermath, cancer diagnoses that were fairly unexpected, funerals, and the list goes on. This is not a list assembled so that you will have sympathy for me or feel sorry for me. It’s not about me. It’s about pain, the broken hearted, the crushed in spirit. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Can there be hope in the midst of pain? Can there be peace with heart break? Can there be joy under the tears? Can there be love with a broken heart? In the middle of these trees, the answer to these questions cannot possibly be yes. But as they say, you often can’t see the forest for the trees. Sometimes the trees are so tall and wide that you can’t see around them. But the real answer to the questions is: yes. Yes there can be hope, peace, joy and love in the middle of the mess. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The promise of God in Psalm 34 is astounding. God is near. He is near is another way of saying He is here. God is with us all in the mess. For those whose heart has been broken, God is here. For those whose spirit has been crushed, God is here. He sent His Son, Jesus, into the world of pain, struggle, broken hearts and crushed spirits. He lived, walked, hungered, hurt and died. He was no stranger to pain. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">He is no stranger to your pain either. Though you may not feel it or sense it, God is near. You may not see it or hear it, but He is here with you in the middle of the heart break. His promise is His promise. I need to hear it as much as you and as much as those who can’t see the forest. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Lord is near to the broken hearted and saves the crushed in spirit.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Lord, thank you for being there. In Jesus’ name, amen.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-1109005268628228729?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-53100762557319275912010-11-30T14:23:00.000-09:002010-11-30T14:23:01.591-09:00Random Hope VersesThese are some of the verses used in this past Sunday's sermon on Hope.<br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal">We begin the new church year</div><div class="MsoNormal">We begin the new advent season</div><div class="MsoNormal">We begin the walk toward Christmas</div><div class="MsoNormal">We begin in much the same way as we’ve begun most things</div><div class="MsoNormal">We begin in our mess, at our most desperate time</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">In our hour of deepest need,</div><div class="MsoNormal">In the midst of death indeed</div><div class="MsoNormal">In the minds of those who heed</div><div class="MsoNormal">Hope comes…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">When all will say all hope is lost</div><div class="MsoNormal">When days are like a tempest tossed</div><div class="MsoNormal">Jesus Christ comes in as Hope</div><div class="MsoNormal">His Cross proclaims, That’s all she wrote!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">There is always hope. </div><div class="MsoNormal">We can’t feel it, but we know it. </div><div class="MsoNormal">We can’t teach it, but we show it.</div><div class="MsoNormal">To strengthen those whose courage is weak</div><div class="MsoNormal">To hold up those whose vision is bleak</div><div class="MsoNormal">There is always hope.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Hope is courage in the face of fear</div><div class="MsoNormal">Hope is strength when the enemy draws near</div><div class="MsoNormal">Hope is food when hunger calls</div><div class="MsoNormal">Hope is shelter when the world falls</div><div class="MsoNormal">Hope is Jesus, the Savior of all.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Hope comes in the light</div><div class="MsoNormal">Hope comes with the light</div><div class="MsoNormal">Hope comes with the Hosanna</div><div class="MsoNormal">Hope comes with Jesus</div><div class="MsoNormal">Hope comes in Jesus!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">We put on the armor of light to fight</div><div class="MsoNormal">We put on the robe of Jesus Christ</div><div class="MsoNormal">We stare in the face of darkness and sin</div><div class="MsoNormal">We know the Hope in the end will win</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-5310076255731927591?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-580746578566498612010-11-18T09:25:00.000-09:002010-11-18T09:25:55.065-09:00Words<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The chief priests, scribes and elders at the foot of the Cross </i>Matthew 27:43</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I would have this as my prayer…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I would have this as my last words…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>I would have this at my funeral…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Words of scoffers</div><div class="MsoNormal">Words of mockers</div><div class="MsoNormal">Words of cynicism</div><div class="MsoNormal">Words of derision</div><div class="MsoNormal">Words of sarcasm</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;">You</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">intended</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;">to harm me, but God</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">intended</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;">it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Genesis 50:20</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;">You’re a joke<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;">You’re no good<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;">You’re shameful<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;">You’re a sinner<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;">You’re hopeless<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;">Maybe, but I am a child, a son of God!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;">How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">1 John 3:1</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;">I trust in God<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I know He desires me<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>I know He will deliver me<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>I know I am His forever.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;">Amen<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-58074657856649861?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-84729144854895870202010-11-03T12:45:00.000-08:002010-11-03T12:45:37.536-08:00Forgiving Father<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jeremiah 3:22a, “Return, O faithless sons; I will heal your faithlessness.”</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">There was some snow on the ground in November and I was helping my grampa chop wood for his stove. He sent me to fetch his hatchet to split some kindling. “It’s on top of the wood pile, behind the fence.” I ran to get it and climbed up the fence. With the hatchet in hand, I jumped down off of the fence. My glove caught and my arm slid down across the metal wire. The metal sliced the back of my wrist and I was bleeding. For some reason that I still don’t understand, I pulled my glove on over my hand and never told anyone that I had been cut.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">When we get ourselves into trouble, our first inclination is to hide. When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, they were ashamed of their sin and also their nakedness and they hid. Jeremiah is recording the conversation that the Lord is having with him regarding the nations of <st1:country-region><st1:place>Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region><st1:place>Judah</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Both nations have followed other gods and have disgraced themselves. They have every inclination to hide. Figuratively speaking, they have run away and tried to hide from God. But God does not want them to hide, nor is he seeking revenge and destruction for them. He wants to forgive them and help them to heal. “Return…and I will heal your faithlessness.” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Healing comes from God. The call to <st1:country-region><st1:place>Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region> is a call to repentance and healing. That healing comes from forgiveness. That’s why we have confession and absolution as a part of each worship time. It’s a time of healing. We have been unfaithful to God. He calls us to return to Him. We know that we can’t heal our own unfaithful hearts, but that doesn’t stop us from trying or from trying to hide it. God knows what is on our hearts. He knows the unfaithfulness and sin that we try to hide. He knows it and still sent His son Jesus to die for it. Jesus died so that you and I don’t have to hide our sin anymore. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">My arm still bears the scar of that snowy day. It’s what my Dad once referred to as a “distinguishing characteristic.” Jesus bears the scars for our sin, even still in His hands and feet. His resurrected body bears the marks of the cross. They are one of His distinguishing characteristics. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>Father, forgive us for our unfaithfulness. In Jesus’ name, amen.</i></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-8472914485489587020?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-1792896193157646222010-10-20T11:33:00.000-08:002010-10-20T11:33:49.344-08:00The Word is Near You<div class="MsoNormal">Romans 10:8 <b>But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim)…</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The Word is near you</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In your mouth</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>In your heart</div><div class="MsoNormal">The word is near you in your mouth</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In your mouth?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>In YOUR mouth?</div><div class="MsoNormal">Yes, in your mouth, the mouth that spits, chews, the mouth that bites, consumes</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>In YOUR mouth?</div><div class="MsoNormal">The mouth that gossips, curses, swears, lies, THAT mouth?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Yes, the word is near you, in your mouth</div><div class="MsoNormal">Ezekiel, Ezekiel, eat this scroll</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>Eat this scroll and tell me what you taste.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Is it hate, spite, bitterness, intolerance?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>No, the word is in my mouth and it tastes sweeter than honey</div><div class="MsoNormal">The Word is Jesus, in your mouth and</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Must </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>Be </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>There.</div><div class="MsoNormal">He is there among the gossip, venom, spit and anger.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It is the Word that is there to forgive, to love, to change</div><div class="MsoNormal">He is there because he has to be…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He is there to be Confessed, Consumed and to Save</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The Word is near you</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In your mouth</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>In your heart</div><div class="MsoNormal">The Word is near you in your heart.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In your heart?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>In YOUR heart?</div><div class="MsoNormal">You know the darkness in your heart</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You know the evil that lurks in the depths of your heart</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>You know what is in the deep places that no one knows</div><div class="MsoNormal">The word is in your heart?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>From out of the heart comes all manner of evil things</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Lust, greed, hate, pride, darkness, bitterness, envy</div><div class="MsoNormal">The word is near you, in your heart</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Has</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>To </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>Be.</div><div class="MsoNormal">The Word is Jesus and he has to be in the midst of the filth</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the midst of the darkness and the sin</div><div class="MsoNormal">If he’s not there, there’s no hope</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>No hope</div><div class="MsoNormal">The Lord, The Word, Jesus is in your heart</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The heart that is the holder of faith</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>The faith that rescues</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>The word that cleanses</div><div class="MsoNormal">The Word in your heart, Jesus</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Is life everlasting</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The Word is near you</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jesus is near you</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>He is in your mouth </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>He is in your heart.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-179289619315764622?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-33898299397038701122010-10-05T09:49:00.002-08:002010-10-05T09:49:54.154-08:00A Little Goes A Long WayLuke17:5-6 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”</i><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">5-hour energy drink. It’s a tiny little energy drink that packs quite a wallop. A little bit goes a long way. Computers have gotten smaller and smaller, yet are faster and more powerful than they ever were. A little bit goes a long way. A lot of cars have gotten smaller too. Fuel economy and alternative energy tends to make things a bit smaller. And when it comes to gas in those cars the goal is to make a little bit go a long way. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">The disciples ask Jesus to increase their faith. What did they mean by that? Well, Jesus had just laid down a pretty tall order for forgiveness. It’s not something that we are inclined to do too readily even once, but Jesus says to them that they are to forgive someone 7 times in a single day. A little bible number code here. 7 is a number of completion and so forgiveness of seven times means forgiveness for every time. Complete forgiveness every time. “We’re gonna need more faith for that, Jesus.” And Jesus response, “A little goes a long way.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Forgiveness is not something that we, any of us, are very good at. We are more likely to either brush off what happened with a casual, “It’s ok.” Or we may hold a grudge and not forgive someone for what happened. And to hear Jesus say that we must forgive completely each and every time someone asks for it and perhaps even if they don’t ask for it is perhaps a little ludicrous. Complete forgiveness, every time, for everything? Impossible… Luke <st1:time hour="18" minute="27">18:27</st1:time>, Jesus said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” Oh, yeah. Forgot about that.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">See, that’s what Jesus is saying. A little faith goes a long way. That little faith that comes to us as a gift from God. That’s all we need. Because really, it’s not our faith that matters, it’s the faith of Jesus that matters. His faith is what works inside each of us. If it were left up to me, it would all fall apart and forgiveness would never happen. It’s not me. It’s not you. It’s Jesus. And that’s all we need.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">A little goes a long way. How much faith do we need? Faith like a child, faith like a mustard seed. Tiny, tiny. For those who think that you need to pray harder, believe more, have more faith… no. Tiny faith. If you have faith like a mustard seed you can do amazing things. Jesus will do amazing things through you. And the most amazing thing is not raising the dead, miraculous healings, speaking in tongues or any of the flashy stuff. The most amazing thing is simple forgiveness because a little forgiveness goes a long way. Doesn’t it? Literally speaking, a little forgiveness reaches all the way to heaven. Jesus said in John 20:23, “If you forgive the sins of any they are forgiven.” That means when we forgive the sins of someone else, they actually are forgiven. How amazing is that? What more do you want?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Today, that forgiveness comes to me and you. In the Lord’s Supper today, forgiveness comes and the food we need to strengthen the little faith we have. And look, the wafer is a little bread and the cup is a little wine. A little goes a long way. Do you need to drink all of the wine or eat all of the bread? No. A little goes a long way. It’s the little energy shot that replaces the giant can of sugar water. You don’t need any more than that. Because, as my professor Dr. Nagel used to say, “God does not work in fractions.” When he says the body and blood are shed for you for the forgiveness of your sins, it’s complete, total. That little bit goes a long way.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ultimately, the most amazing little bit going a long way is Jesus himself. One man, one cross, three nails, one Friday afternoon, one empty tomb. One Holy Spirit. One for all mankind for all time, for all eternity. The little bit goes the longest way. Amen.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-3389829939703870112?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-63248745338041265112010-09-28T12:08:00.000-08:002010-09-28T12:08:26.099-08:00Sharing IdeasThere are a lot of ideas that run through my head on any given day or hour. Most of them get filtered out and disappear like smoke. Some of them stick around for a while and eventually find their way out the door. A few actually make it into my conversations and prayers. However, even the ideas that make the cut often get held back from being put into practice for a number of reasons.<div><br /><div>1. <b>They are premature</b>. They don't get buy in from others because the "long range" of it isn't able to be described or adequately fleshed out. This isn't always a shortcoming of the idea itself. More often it's a hangup of those who hear the idea and may or may not be brave or foolish enough to make the leap.</div><div>2. <b>They get stolen</b>. I'm not a person who has to have credit for things, but it still frustrates me when someone grabs and idea and runs away with it. Because, ultimately when the idea fails, the person comes back to me and blames me for not following through. Not sure how that happens, but it has happened. </div><div>3. <b>The looming fear of failure</b> suppresses the idea. 'nuff said.</div><div>4. <b>The looming fear of success</b> suppresses the idea. If the idea makes it out of the gate, the institution wants it followed, tracked, measured, analyzed, graphed and so forth. The microscope is focussed and the idea is judged successful or not. But, for me, just the fact that all of the metrics get applied to each idea is oppressive. </div><div><br /></div><div>So now what...</div><div><br /></div><div>It's time for more of the ideas to be shared. It's time for the fear of success or failure, theft or misappropriation to step aside and let the ideas live. Whether they live long or short, whether they meet with overwhelming fanfare or crickets chirping is completely beside the point. Ideas need to be shared in order for any of them to do anything. Ideas won't sit still without burning a hole in your heart or head, like a hot coal on a cheap lawn chair. </div><div><br /></div><div>How do you share ideas?</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-6324874533804126511?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-29081290001349633082010-09-22T09:29:00.000-08:002010-09-22T09:29:00.773-08:00Restoration of Respect1 Timothy 5:1-2 Paul writes, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.”</i><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Let me get up on a nostalgia soapbox for just a moment. Remember TV shows like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Leave It To Beaver, Andy Griffith, The Brady Bunch</i> and even <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Addams Family</i> and the <st1:state><st1:place><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Munsters</i></st1:place></st1:state>? They were shows with some amount of respect for family and the children, while still being children in their mischievous ways, respected their parents. Turn on any show on the Disney channel or other stations for that matter and you will see TV shows where the kids run the world and that all grown ups are idiots. There is no respect for family and certainly no respect for parents, if they are even around. There is a visible and tangible breakdown or distortion of all things family. I know that we cannot go backward, but a reasonable renewal of respect for family is needed. I shall now climb down from my nostalgia soapbox. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Paul is writing a letter to a young pastor, Timothy. He is giving some basic instruction about how to address the people of the congregation. It is all about respect. God had placed Timothy in this congregation and he was to treat all of the people with purity and respect. Those men older than he, he was to treat as fathers. Those men younger, he was to treat as brothers. Women older than he, he was to treat as mothers and the younger women as sisters. Respect, love, honor and purity. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">How do we treat our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ? Or even those outside the church? Do we treat them with respect, love, honor and purity or are we arrogant, disrespectful, antagonizing and impatient? How about in our own family? It’s difficult to hear Paul’s words and not think, “I wish it were like that.” But we long for the day when the respect for family is restored, within the church and outside the church.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Jesus was told once that his family was waiting to see him. He replied that his family consisted of those who heard his word and kept it. Family means different things to different people and in different times. But Jesus died for all people, of all times, in all situations and in all families, which includes you, me and even those who have no regard for family. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">We pray that the Holy Spirit, through forgiveness and reconciliation will restore and renew the respect, honor, purity and love that are missing so often. And as those through whom the Holy Spirit works, that forgiveness and reconciliation begins with us. May it be so, Amen. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-2908129000134963308?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-65875925499671950252010-09-21T11:44:00.000-08:002010-09-21T11:44:58.813-08:00Tinnitus and the Low HumIt was a new experience for me. I spent three days at moose hunting camp in the Anderson area of Alaska. The hunting grounds were only an hour and a half south of Fairbanks so it wasn't a long way away, but when I was out there it seemed to be a long way from anything. With a borrowed four-wheeler, borrowed .338 rifle, and a lot of time, I camped and hunted with my friends Gerry and Jonathan. The weather was warm and beautiful, though not conducive to hunting moose. They prefer cold and grey. Each morning we would set out before sunrise and find our spot by the pond. Each evening we would set out before sunset and find our spot at the pond. Then... sit and wait.<br /><br />It would've been different if we could sit and wait and talk, but you have to remain as silent as possible and as still as possible. For four or five hours we would sit and try not to move. When was the last time you <b>had</b> to remain silent for that length of time? Because it wasn't a matter of wanting to or choosing to. If we wanted to hunt moose, we <b>had</b> to. It was not easy. As I sat in the utter silence of the Alaska wilderness, I realized just how noisy my head had become.<br /><br />First, I noticed the high pitched ringing. A constant squeal. When I was little, our TV used to have the same high pitched ring when you turned it on. Now, my ears ring. Maybe I watched too much TV, maybe it was all of the loud concerts, countless ear infections, whatever it was. I can't get rid of the ringing.<br /><br />Next, I felt a deep hum. It would start and stop rather randomly, but at first, I looked around to see where it was coming from. But I'm out in the middle of nowhere. There's nothing to hum. Just as suddenly as it started it stopped. Whew! Hummmmmmmmmmmmmm. What is it? Do you hear that? I guess it's just in my head.<br /><br />High pitched squeal, low range hum...no silence for me.<br /><br />I'm sure 90 percent of the noise is physiological. But, in my mind, there's something else at work. It could be one of two things or both things, I'm not sure. Either it's God trying to grab my attention and let me know that He is always there. (but why would he use such an annoying sound?) Or it's the other guy trying to not let me have a moments peace. Or maybe it's both, one high and one low in competition in my head. The sound made it difficult to contemplate life in anyway but negatively. I struggled with positive contemplation, except right at sunrise, when the frost would start to form and the tops of the mountains would turn pink and orange. And right at sunset when the sky would go from blue to pink to purple and the air would turn cold.<br /><br />Either way, I think I need to go back again and sit longer and listen again to the noise. Maybe, just maybe if I listen long enough, if the silence will last long enough, the noise will go away.<br /><br />Perhaps?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-6587592549967195025?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-37809098141336429102010-08-26T09:55:00.000-08:002010-08-26T09:55:06.832-08:00Faith is No Illusion<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'MS Shell Dlg'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">2 Corinthians </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"><st1:time hour="16" minute="18">4:18</st1:time></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"> Paul writes, “…</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">We look not to things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”</i></span></span></span> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I really enjoy watching a good magician. I don’t think they call themselves magicians anymore. They’re illusionists. I really enjoy watching a good illusionist. They have the ability to make you see things that aren’t there or to not see things that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">are</i> there. But when an illusionist is bad, there’s nothing funnier. When an illusion is so poorly executed that it leaves no doubt that it’s all a sham, the show goes out the window and the guy is out of a job. The unseen is so much more powerful than the visible. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Paul is writing about our faith in Jesus. Faith is the belief in the unseen things of God. Faith is not an illusion but it is unseen. Many people in Paul’s day put their trust only in things that they could see, feel and explain. Idols were made by carving stone, wood or shaping metal. They were things that people could see. But stone doesn’t last forever and neither does wood or metal. The seen things are transient. They don’t last. They are a poor illusion gone bad. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">“Show me, God!” Many people today look to God as an illusionist and want him to reveal his methods. Show me how it’s done and then I’ll believe. Tell me all your secrets and then, I’ll follow you. And the church, in the grand scheme of things, hasn’t always been so helpful in that. In an effort to please people, God has often been softened and the unseen things have been ignored, downplayed or forgotten. The mystery of God, of Jesus, of the Holy Spirit and the Sacraments is powerful because it is unseen. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The seen things of the church, of our own idols, will not last. They will all fade one day. Churches are buildings made of human hands. Pastors are people whose bodies will not stand the test of time. Hymnals and Bibles will dry up and turn to dust. The things of the world will do the same. Great monuments and statues will crumble. Leaders and celebrities, despite their best efforts, will not live forever. Constitutions, manifestoes, and other official documents of freedom or oppression will one day disappear. They are transient. But those things of God which are unseen are eternal. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Faith is not an illusion, it is unseen. God is not a trick, but a mystery eternal. Our faith, the faith that is a gift from Christ himself, holds to those things which are unseen. Faith, hope, love, these are things unseen. One day, the unseen things will be seen. When Jesus comes back, those things that are eternal will be visible. The communion of saints will be a feast that lasts forever. One day our eyes will see that which cannot be seen. God Himself. What a day that will be!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heavenly Father, keep me steadfast in faith until the day when the unseen becomes seen, the invisible becomes visible and I see you face to face. In Jesus’ name, amen.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-3780909814133642910?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-37352904546171351002010-08-24T09:57:00.000-08:002010-08-24T09:57:23.178-08:00We’re Sure to Get Somewhere<st1:city><st1:place><st1:personname>Alice</st1:personname></st1:place></st1:city>…went on, “Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”<br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the [<st1:city><st1:place>Cheshire</st1:place></st1:city>] Cat.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I don’t much care where—,” said <st1:city><st1:place><st1:personname>Alice</st1:personname></st1:place></st1:city>.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“—so long as I get <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">somewhere</i>,” <st1:city><st1:place><st1:personname>Alice</st1:personname></st1:place></st1:city> added as an explanation.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Oh, you’re sure to do that,” said the Cat, “if you only walk long enough.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>From <st1:personname><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Alice</i></st1:personname><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">’s Adventures in Wonderland</i>, by Lewis Carroll</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 10;"> </span><b>Hebrews 11:8</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Where are we going as a congregation? As God’s people, where we go is in God’s hands and we trust that He will continue to lead and guide as He has throughout human history. But we are a people who like to have control and like to be in charge and like to have all of the details before even agreeing to go on the journey. God never reveals too much of His plan, much to our dismay and frustration. He simply says, “Go!”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><st1:city><st1:place><st1:personname>Alice</st1:personname></st1:place></st1:city> pleads with the Cheshire Cat for direction. He offers no specific details or a map. He simply says, “You’ll get somewhere so long as you keep moving.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just keep moving.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">For <st1:place><st1:placename>Zion</st1:placename> <st1:placename>Lutheran</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>Church</st1:placetype></st1:place>, we will just keep going. But we are not without direction or guidance. In fact, with the Holy Spirit in charge, we are sure to get where we need to go. Through His leading, we developed our mission statement: To Proclaim Christ’s Gospel to All People. With His guidance, we developed our ministry objectives and will use those as our topographic map. We have the lay of the land. We have the landmarks in sight. We will go wherever God leads.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Some landmarks for all of us to keep an eye on… Wednesday night changes, intentional bridges between generations, more bible studies, developments in our worship activities, continuous calls to keep our eyes on Jesus and to let the cross be the focus. Where will we be a year from now? I don’t know. But we’re sure to be somewhere and we won’t be there alone. Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Matthew 18:20.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-3735290454617135100?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-21248416557046188042010-08-17T09:41:00.000-08:002010-08-17T09:41:24.139-08:00From Job to Paul- A Funeral Sermon<div class="MsoNormal"><b>Job</b>- The trees are beautiful aren’t they Paul?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Paul</b>- Yes, Job, they are very beautiful.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Job</b>- The thing about trees is that they get cut down or blown down or struck by lightning or burned up by the fire. They’re never the same after that.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Paul</b>- Things like that sure do change the trees. Most people would say that the trees are dead after that.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Job</b>- But that’s not really so because trees sprout up again. Even from a stump a shoot can form and a whole new tree comes up. It takes a while, but it grows again.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Paul</b>- They do grow again. Sometimes it takes the death of one tree to grow a whole new forest. Look at the fires in the forests. They burn up acres of land so that new trees can grow. Amazing how God works in the world, eh Job?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Job</b>- Truly. But it’s different for us people. We die but we don’t sprout new people. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Paul</b>- No, we don’t sprout new people. When we die, we die. It seems like a pretty permanent thing. But we often say that we fall asleep. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Job</b>- But Paul, when we fall asleep, we wake up again. When we die, we can’t hear or see or move, so waking up is nearly impossible. I’m not sure I like saying that we fall asleep.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Paul</b>- Take it easy my friend. There is someone to wake us up. God our Father will wake us up. With the sound like a trumpet and with his great booming voice, the same voice that spoke into creation the entire world will call your name, my name and wake us up.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Job</b>- If He can speak and create mountains then He can sure speak and wake the dead. But what about in the mean time? Life is hard, full of tragedy and pain. And when someone close to us dies, how do we get through it?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Paul</b>- Life is tough and death is real. There’s no way around that and to pretend as if everything is fine when it’s not, isn’t helpful. But here’s the thing, it’s what I told my friends in Thessalonica. Because we’re Christians, we look at the tragedy of life with a different set of eyes. We look at death not with despair, but with hope. But it’s not a hope in something fluffy and white clouds and harps. It’s a hope in the one and only savior, Jesus Christ. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Job</b>- So, what you’re saying is that death sprouts hope like a stump sprouts a new tree? Death sprouts hope. When you say you hope in Jesus, tell me what that means.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Paul</b>- My hope in Jesus is this: I was baptized in Jesus’ name. Since I was baptized in Jesus’ name, I will die like him but I will also rise like him. His death is my death. His resurrection is my resurrection. My hope is in something certain, eternal life with Christ. That’s why death sprouts hope. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Job</b>- The trees are beautiful aren’t they, Paul? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Paul</b>- Yes they are and a beautiful reminder of the hope we have in Jesus.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Hilda was a wife, a widow of 39 years, a mother to her children and a mother to those who needed one. She was servant in church, in Sunday School, in the community, at the Pioneer’s Home. She learned to drive at age 57 and bought her first car. She prayed continually, shared her devotional life with her children and her love for the Holy Scriptures. She was steadfast in her faith in Jesus. All of these things are important to those of us who are left here this afternoon. Hilda made a mark, left her legacy on our lives. Some of you here today can say that you know Jesus because of Hilda. She has run her race and finished well. For that we will ever be grateful to our Father in heaven who gave us time with Hilda.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">But today is not a day to praise Hilda for all of her good deeds. Today is a day to look to Jesus, the giver of our faith and Hilda’s faith. Today is a day to remind ourselves that we, like Hilda, are sinful human beings in need of God’s grace and forgiveness. Today is a day where we look to the cross and remember what God the Father in His mercy has done for you, me and Hilda on that tree. That tree is the tree that sprouts hope. Jesus’ death on that tree is the spring of hope and life for all of us. The trees are beautiful aren’t they?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-2124841655704618804?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-50760217724790439182010-07-14T12:29:00.000-08:002010-07-14T12:29:03.625-08:00What a Rush!<div class="MsoNormal">Judges 14:6 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Then the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat.</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Call it adrenalin, excitement, or whatever, but you know that feeling you get when something thrilling is about to happen. I’m sure you’ve heard stories about people being able to do amazing feats of strength in emergency situations. All of these are quite a rush. Driving race cars, jumping out of airplanes, or public speaking can provide the rush of adrenalin… or the Holy Spirit.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The story is about Samson. The Sunday School lesson is that Samson was super strong because of his long hair. But his strength was not really in his hair, but in the power of the Holy Spirit in his life. But for adults, the rest of Samson’s story is not as glamorous, but more scandalous. He was not a nice guy or a Superman type. He was blood thirsty and cruel and a bit of a womanizer. We don’t teach that in Sunday School. God worked in his life for a distinct purpose and a prescribed time. He can use anyone, any time. After all, He’s God. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">More than once, the Holy Spirit rushed upon Samson and he was able to do the astounding. Killing a lion with his bare hands is just one example. Jesus told his disciples in Mark 13, “And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.” Later in Acts 1, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in <st1:city><st1:place>Jerusalem</st1:place></st1:city> and in all <st1:place>Judea</st1:place> and <st1:city><st1:place>Samaria</st1:place></st1:city>, and to the end of the earth.” With the Holy Spirit comes power.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">For Samson it was feats of strength. For the disciples it was power to proclaim. The Holy Spirit works in mysterious ways, ways of which we are unaware. But rest assured, the Holy Spirit is at work in you. Maybe he rushes in and provides strength when needed. Perhaps he gives you the right words to say when you need them. In baptism, the Holy Spirit gives the gift of faith in Jesus. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I don’t know if racing cars and sky diving are necessarily Holy Spirit things. But that rush, that boost, that overwhelming presence of something astounding is there. Pay attention to those times when you find yourself able to do something that would be impossible and give thanks to God for his presence. Then, give thanks to God for His presence even when you can’t feel Him. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Help me to live out my life in an expression of His presence. In Jesus’ name, amen. <o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-5076021772479043918?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-86877738832680611112010-06-23T12:21:00.000-08:002010-06-23T12:21:09.801-08:00Food in Your Teeth<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Psalm 139:23-24 S</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">earch me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you ever had a bit of food on your face and not realized it? You walk around talking with people and they can’t stop staring at that seed of broccoli caught in the corner of your mouth or that chunk of spinach on your front tooth. How embarrassing! Then, finally, a good friend whispers in your ear that there’s food on your face. With gratitude for your friend, your excuse yourself and take care of the situation. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How many of us walk around with sin caught in our teeth and not realize it? Or perhaps we’ve justified or excused the sin and are in denial of what others can see. Maybe we say, “Well, everyone else has stuff in their teeth too so I’m just fitting in.” The problem is sin is sin and it messes us up and keeps us at a distance from God. It doesn’t matter what we think about it or how we justify it. Just like gravity is gravity, sin affects everyone. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The psalmist goes to the only one who can accurately point out, seek out and root out our core problems. God alone can search our hearts, our thoughts, our messed up ways. We can’t even do it ourselves very well. We need God’s Word to do it. It’s called the Law and hurts, embarrasses and points out the obvious and the not-so-obvious pieces of sin. So there we sit, in all our shame with the food all over our faces and stuck in our teeth. What can we do? Nothing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But Jesus can, has whispered and will continue to whisper in your ear. “I forgive you. I will wash your face. I washed the disciples’ feet. I will wash your face and make it clean and presentable.” In baptism, Jesus washes our face and makes us clean. In the confession and forgiveness of sins from other Christians, he washes our face and makes us clean. In His Supper, through the body and blood, he washes our face and makes us presentable. Through those things, he leads us in the “way everlasting.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heavenly Father, thank you for knowing all things and knowing what’s in our hearts. Thank you for knowing what’s there, even when we don’t want to see it. Above all, thank you for your Son, who came down to walk among all of us with food on our teeth and on our chins. Thank you for washing us clean and making us presentable before you. In Jesus’ name, amen.</span><o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-8687773883268061111?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-32038730075103827382010-06-22T15:05:00.000-08:002010-06-22T15:05:17.807-08:00For Such A Time As ThisWhat an amazing weekend! Very busy but satisfying. Three baptisms, an ordination, a retirement and an installation, all in one day. WOW!<br />And now the dust settles...<br /> I find myself in the seat of the Senior Pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Fairbanks, Alaska. Are you kidding me? Just three years ago, I arrived from St. Louis, Missouri fresh from the Seminary and God put me on the anvil of pastoral ministry. For three years, He pounded on me with His hammer and stuck me in the forge, then into a bucket of water. This horseshoe is not finished. There is more pounding to be done. Some of it I'm looking forward to but some of it, I'm not. No one likes to be pounded on by the smithy. But that's the only way to be shaped and formed.<br /> How will I lead? Not sure to be honest. I pray that the grace of God and the spirit of Jesus are the leads and I'm here to be used by Him. Jesus gave his disciples a hard time for their aspirations to leadership and prominent seats in his kingdom. See, we don't volunteer for this. Jesus calls us and by His Spirit, he enlightens and sanctifies us for service. I can only lead so long as Jesus leads. I can only do what He calls me to do.<br /> Now, the truth is that I will make mistakes. Probably a lot of them. Most of the time I will make mistakes because I'm trying to do things my own way and thinking I know best. Some of the time, I will make mistakes because I listened to what others had to say and followed their advice. The amazing thing is that even though I am sure to make mistakes and messes, Jesus still says, "Follow me and I will make you a fisher of men."<br /> God never reveals too much too soon. He only shows me a little at a time because it's all I can handle. So, don't ask me where I'll be in 5 years or 10 years or where the church will be or what we'll be doing. I don't know. God knows, but he's not tellin'. We'll find out together.<br /> As Senior Pastor, this is my prayer right now, today: F<i>ather in Heaven, I'm glad you know what you're doing. Because I'm really not too sure. There's a lot in front of me and around me. I can't do it all. You have graciously surrounded me with gifted people. Encourage them, by Your Spirit, to use their gifts in whatever way you would have them. May we support and learn from one another in the bonds of fellowship. May the grace of your Son Jesus and your mercy pour out over the work of your hand in this place. Help us to come to you not just when we need it, but before we need it. In Jesus' name amen.</i><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-3203873007510382738?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-652083983122668322010-06-02T10:22:00.002-08:002010-06-02T10:22:58.858-08:00Sheep and Shepherds<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">John <st1:time hour="10" minute="11">10:11</st1:time> Jesus said, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me...”</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">How many shepherds do you know? I know a few people who raise sheep for 4-H, but I’m not so sure they’re what you would call shepherds. But just the same, these folks know their sheep. They know each of their sheep by name and by sight. I guess you get to know sheep pretty well when you raise them from lambs on up. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Jesus knows me. I don’t know where I heard it first, but someone reversed the lyrics on an old Sunday School favorite. “Jesus knows me, this I love.” Jesus can pick you out from a crowd. He knows everything about you, better than you know yourself. That’s hard to believe, but it’s true. He knows the good things and the bad things. He knows the light places and the dark places. Just as the friends who raise sheep know all of the faults and all of the benefits of their sheep, Jesus knows you inside and out. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">That can be a bit intimidating and perhaps embarrassing. I don’t know what goes on in a sheep’s mind when they are being “inspected.” (Probably not much) But I know what goes on in my mind when my heart is being inspected by Jesus. When I come to confession and think over the dark spots of my heart, I am embarrassed and ashamed that they are still there. But John says that in Jesus is life and that life is the light of men. So the light has to come and shine in the dark places of our lives so that we can truly live. The sheep need to be looked over from head to tail and the faults revealed so that they can be repaired and the sheep can win the blue ribbon.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Jesus knows his sheep and his sheep know him. He knows everything about them and still loves them. He knows all of the dark places of our hearts and still, the good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. He laid down his life for you and for me on the cross. And he has some of us shepherds under him to care for his sheep. Pray for your pastors that they may speak with the voice of Jesus and not lead the people astray. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heavenly Father, you know more about me than I know about myself. Thank you for bringing me into your pasture and continuing to care for me through your shepherds here and now. In Jesus’ name, amen</i>.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-65208398312266832?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-20374929205519266682010-05-21T09:51:00.000-08:002010-05-21T09:51:09.105-08:00Pentecost!<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Acts 2:4 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Acts 2:11b “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God</i>.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">How many languages can you speak? Most people in <st1:country-region><st1:place>America</st1:place></st1:country-region> can only speak one language, English. Some may be able to manage 2 or 3, but beyond that there aren’t many people that can speak multiple languages. I’ve always envied people who were multilingual. For a while, I was able to manage German pretty well. Then, I switched to biblical Greek and Hebrew. Now, well, I’m pretty competent with English. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There is something about communicating in foreign languages that is intriguing and perhaps a bit romantic, regardless of which foreign language. But here in this amazing event of Pentecost, the languages are anything but romantic. In fact, they are nothings short of astounding. The background- It’s 50 days after Passover, thus Pentecost. It’s a festival for the Jewish nation. For the followers of the Way, they are not called Christians yet, it is a strange, foot in both worlds, feeling. They are Jewish by birth but followers of Jesus by rebirth. They’ve come to celebrate the feast of Pentecost and then, the Holy Spirit literally rocks their world.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It’s also interesting to note that not too long ago, they were hiding behind closed doors because they were afraid of the Jews. Now, they were standing in the open in <st1:city><st1:place>Jerusalem</st1:place></st1:city>. Amazing what God can do. The Holy Spirit comes in with the sound of a rushing wind and he takes up residence on the heads of the disciples in the form of something like a tongue of flame. It’s the best you can do when describing the Holy Spirit. Sounds like::: Looks like::: Not sure, but what you can describe is what he does! Because what happens next is nothing short of amazing.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Holy Spirit fills them up and they begin to speak, to proclaim the Gospel, to talk about God and Jesus. But they do it in languages that they themselves didn’t know they could speak. All manner of languages from all manner of places. From the far west of Egypt to the islands of the Mediterranean to the far east and north, people had come from all over and were now hearing of Jesus in their own words. Some thought the men were drunk, some wanted to know more, but everyone was amazed. The Holy Spirit would not be held back, he would not let the men and their own apprehensions get in the way. The story of Jesus needed to be told to all the world, right there, right now and it was indeed. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The story of Jesus still needs to be told. All the time. Let me put it this way: We still need to tell the story of Jesus! Oh <st1:personname>Pastor Joe</st1:personname>, you still need to tell the story of Jesus, that’s why you’re here. You’re right. I do. But I’m not the only one here who can or does tell the story of Jesus. To be honest, none of us is really worthy to tell the story of Jesus. And the devil wants to remind you of that. You’re a sinful, miserable mess. How in the world can you presume to tell people about Jesus when your life isn’t perfect? The devil wants the story of Jesus to remain quiet, or silent. But the story of Jesus isn’t about you and me. It’s about Him. It’s about what he’s done for you and me, the miserable messes that we are. He has forgiven us, remember we talked about that last week. He has saved us from ourselves and he sends His Holy Spirit to be our counselor and guide and comfort. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It’s the same Holy Spirit that he sent to the disciples. That same loud, wind rushing, flaming head spirit comes to me and you. Don’t look now, but your head’s on fire. You’ve been given the gift of the Holy Spirit to speak the words of the Gospel. Me, the sinful, cracked pot that I am, has been forgiven and blessed by the Holy Spirit to share the Gospel. And I get to do it in all sorts of languages. No, I’m not about to start speaking in tongues, though that might be kind of interesting. I speak in many different languages in other ways. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Can you share the love of Jesus and the Gospel with infants and toddlers and wobblers and preschoolers? Then you can speak their language.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Can you share the love of Jesus and the Gospel with kids in elementary school or middle school or high school or college? Then you can speak that language.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Can you share the love of Jesus and the Gospel with adults, both young and not so young? Then you can speak that language.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What languages can you speak? Can you speak the language of an engineer or scientist, a teacher or a doctor? Can you speak the language of a missionary, in the villages or around the world? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Speaking in tongues is not always about foreign languages, though the language of a 2 year old could certainly be described that way. It is the power of the Holy Spirit to share the Gospel, words of forgiveness, words of law and gospel, words of hope, the words of Jesus with many different people. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So how many languages can you speak? My guess is more than you realize. May the Holy Spirit open your lips so that your mouth can declare the praise of God. Amen!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-2037492920551926668?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-88953174746278931842010-04-21T10:05:00.000-08:002010-04-21T10:05:18.135-08:00Forgiveness and Love<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Luke <st1:time hour="19" minute="48">7:48</st1:time> And he [Jesus] said to her, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Your sins are forgiven</i>.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Could it be put more simply? Could the message of Jesus be put in clearer terms? I don’t think so. Forgiveness is hard to come by in most relationships and to really grasp what happens in forgiveness is impossible for us. But forgiveness is what Christians are all about. And for Jesus, forgiveness is directly connected to love. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">In this part of Luke’s gospel, Jesus is eating at the home of a Pharisee. And a “sinner” comes into the house (as if those already present weren’t sinners). She begins to wipe Jesus’ feet with her tears and her hair and anoint his feet with expensive ointment. The Pharisees scoff at her and, by association, Jesus. Jesus proceeds to tell them a parable that is a scathing critique of their “holier than thou” life and their belief that they somehow don’t qualify as sinners. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">He forgives her sins. The sinner is forgiven, right in the face of those who feel that they don’t need forgiveness. She is forgiven because Jesus forgives her. “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Her sins, which are many, are forgiven- for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little</i>.” How many are your sins? Those who are forgiven a lot love a lot because they realize how undeserving the forgiveness is and live that out. Those who live in their denial of sin can’t possibly grasp the ideas of love and forgiveness. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Jesus forgives you. It is one of the most humbling and joyful parts of being a pastor. I get to speak those words to a lot of people all at once. The words don’t come from me. It’s not only a human level of forgiveness but a holy level of forgiveness. But I’m not the only one who can speak those words. Each one of us Christians gets to speak those words. The astounding thing is that when any one of God’s children says, “Your sins are forgiven,” Jesus tells us that indeed those sins are truly forgiven. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Whatever sins you may be carrying around, Jesus can and does forgive them. Listen for those words when you are in church or go to whomever you have wronged and ask them for forgiveness or go see your pastor and talk to him about private confession and absolution. Forgiveness is what we’re all about and where there is forgiveness there is love. Where there is love, there is forgiveness. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heavenly Father, forgive me, for the sake of your Son, Jesus. Forgive me for all of the sins that I have committed. Breathe new life into me through your Holy Spirit. Thank you for your mercy and grace and forgiveness and love. In Jesus’ name, amen.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-8895317474627893184?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-71562472031778969952010-04-14T13:54:00.002-08:002010-04-14T13:54:34.394-08:00A Strange Sound, A Strange Power<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Luke 5:5-6 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And Simon answered [Jesus], “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets. And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I’ve noticed a strange power that some people have. My dad has it. I have it and others have it. It showed up when I was first learning to drive. I would get in the car and drive to the store. While I was driving I would hear a strange sound in the car. When I got home, I would tell my dad about the strange sound. He would then get in the car and drive it and the car would not make the strange sound. The next time I drove the car, the sound was gone. It’s a strange power that some people have. Just when you think everything is going wrong, they show up and everything is fine or better. Is there someone in your life that possesses that strange power?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The fishermen had worked all night long and come up empty. Eight or more hours of back breaking labor and you have nothing to show for it. That stinks! The sea is empty. All the fish are gone. There’s something wrong with the nets. Then, Jesus shows up. “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” But there’s no fish, the fishermen think. This guy is crazy, they might laugh. If you say so, we’ll try it. Then, the miraculous catch of fish astounds everyone. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">It’s not hard to know what Jesus’ strange power is. He’s God. He shows up in the lives of the fishermen when they had nothing to show for their work. They couldn’t boast in their boat load of fish. In fact, others may have laughed at them for coming home empty handed. But not Jesus. In his strange, powerful way he shows up. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">He shows up in our lives to forgive us and make the strange sounds stop. Now, it’s not always a lightning bolt or something, but he shows up. He shows up and makes the sounds stop in Holy Communion In bread and wine he’s there to quiet the noise. In prayer, we get the chance to tell him about the noise we’re hearing and he shows up to say, “What noise? Don’t be afraid, I’m with you wherever you go.” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">My dad’s power may not be the same as Jesus because my dad is not Jesus. But you get the idea. Thank God for people who show up and stop the noise and thank God for Jesus who shows up and reveals to us that there’s more to life than the noise.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heavenly Father, thank you for taking care of the strange sounds in our lives those sounds of sin that hiss and clang. Through your son, Jesus, you show up and reassure us that you are here with us, in the midst of the noise, to quiet the noise. Amen.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-7156247203177896995?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-11647051577805055532010-04-08T10:50:00.000-08:002010-04-08T10:50:44.846-08:00Heart, Life, Community, World- breaking it downEach of these topics would be discussed and taught from Scripture and the Confessions of the Lutheran Church<br /><br /><b>Session #1-</b><br />Creation and the Fall and our present human sinfulness<br />God's promises to His people<br />The Message and Cross of Christ<br />Worship and the Means of Grace<br /><br /><b>Session #2-</b><br />Spiritual Gifts<br />God's purpose for you and all Christians<br /><br /><b>Session #3-</b><br />Christian Stewardship- What has God given you and what are you going to do with it? This involves all of the gifts God has given us, not just time, talent and treasure.<br /><br /><b>Session #4-</b><br />Christian Discipleship- Living by the Law/Gospel paradox, following Jesus and carrying your own cross, spiritual disciplines and real life.<br /><br /><b>Session #5-</b><br />The Church and the body of Christ- Your place in His family, at this congregation in particular, who are you here for?<br /><br /><b>Session #6-</b><br />Small groups and life together- growing in community, who is here for you?<br /><br /><b>Session #7-</b><br />The Church on earth- serving one another in Fairbanks and throughout Alaska, mission groups, VBS, etc...<br /><br /><b>Session #8-</b><br />The Church serving the world- connections with LCMS missions agencies, national missions and world missions and the Great Commission.<br /><br />Thoughts, questions, comments, brushes with greatness, humorous anecdotes that you care to share?<br /><br />.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-1164705157780505553?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-47506966444660437162010-04-08T10:30:00.000-08:002010-04-08T10:30:44.027-08:00Heart, Life, Community, World<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'MS Shell Dlg'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'MS Shell Dlg'; font-size: small;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">In June of this year, the senior pastor of our congregation is going to retire from parish ministry after serving for forty years; fifteen of them were here in <st1:place><st1:city>Fairbanks</st1:city>, <st1:state>Alaska</st1:state></st1:place>. A lot of people talk about me filling his shoes when I become senior pastor. I always laugh and say that he’s taking his shoes with him when he moves and that I have my own shoes to fill.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">But, all joking aside, one of the shoes that will need to be filled is the development, preparation and facilitation of a new member’s course. I started a while ago working on what I thought were the main ideas that needed to be discussed for those who were interested in membership at our congregation. Here’s my list. I’ve tried to break it down into sections that make it easier to follow. Almost two years ago, God inspired me one way or another to write down these four words: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Heart, Life, Community, World.</b> This, as I know see it, is a progression of the Christian life. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">#1- <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">God begins with the Heart</b>. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>From Ezekiel 36:26- (The LORD said) And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">#2<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">- In Christ, we all have new Life</b>.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>From Romans 6:4- (Paul writes) We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">#3- <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are connected to the Community of faith.</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>From Acts 2:46-47- And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">#4- <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Christians live by the Father, Son and Holy Spirit to proclaim the Gospel to all the world</b>.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>From Revelation 21:1- (John writes) Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Each of these topics would be divided up into two week sessions. There’s a lot to talk about in each of these pieces. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I’d be interested to hear what topics you would put under these headings, how you might divide it up and what you think is most important for someone who is new to the church to know. I plan to put my topics under each heading on another posting soon.</div></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-4750696644466043716?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-82561626088322394482010-04-07T09:34:00.000-08:002010-04-07T09:35:05.555-08:00Post-Game Show<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;">Hebrews 10:24-25 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>I like to watch sports on TV. I’m sure I’m not alone in this. But I almost always turn off the TV or change the channel when the game is over. I don’t stick around to watch the post game wrap up. Even after the Super Bowl, my attention is diverted elsewhere. What is it about the post-game that is so uninteresting? Well, for starters, I just watched the game. Do I need to hear again about the game I just watched? Second, the commentary is often mundane and repetitious. There just isn’t much to say that could match the excitement of the game we just saw. Nope, I don’t stick around for the post-game.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>In case you missed it, we just celebrated Easter. In fact, we’re only a few days post-Easter. What a day, what a week that was! Palm Sunday, the triumphant yet paradoxical entry of Jesus into <st1:city><st1:place>Jerusalem</st1:place></st1:city>. Maundy Thursday and the drama of the Last Supper, the arrest and kangaroo court. Good Friday, the shouting, spitting and horrible torture of the Son of God. His death and burial followed. Then, the big show, the game of all history, the glorious resurrection on Easter Sunday. What a day! The excitement, the pageantry, the light and life of Jesus. Does it get any better than this?</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>But now what? Post-game wrap up? Recap the events? Are we gonna stick around or change the channel? Some of the disciples decided that they were going to hit the road, maybe to beat the traffic. They started walking along the road to Emmaus. (Luke 24:13-35) With downcast eyes and heavy hearts, they commiserate as they walk. Then, the star quarterback, Jesus, shows up and walks along with them. But he’s out of uniform so they don’t recognize him. They recount the game to him, how they’d hope they would win, but it looks like they lost. Jesus, knowing that they weren’t planning on sticking around, begins to recount the whole game to them. The big picture, the whole tournament, not just one game. In the immortal words of any infomercial “But wait, there’s more!”</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Easter day may be over. But don’t change the channel yet. We’re reminded in Hebrews that we should not neglect gathering together and we should gather together all the more, as the last days approach. In other words, “But wait, there’s more!” Stick around for the post game wrap up. Go back or come back to church next week. There’s more to this tournament called the Christian life than a one game event. And talk with any person, particularly one who is a professional at a sport and they’ll tell you that it takes practice, repetition, dedication and hard work to play the game. And in this game, you’re not just a fan, you’re a first-stringer.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">Heavenly Father, stir up in our hearts the Holy Spirit so that we, with faith and endurance, will stick around for the post-game and the next round of the tournament. Thank you for the gift of faith and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, amen.</span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-8256162608832239448?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-25372107592390826522010-04-01T12:58:00.001-08:002010-04-01T13:00:14.234-08:00Darkest Before Dawn<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;">Luke 23:44-45a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed.</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>There are many ways to say it. It’s always darkest just before the dawn. Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes with the morning. I’ve written about darkness before. I’ve written about light before. But I can’t say that I’ve written about the light of the sun failing. The sun’s light failed for three hours while Jesus hung on the cross. He hung on the cross in darkness.</o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Without fail, this is the pattern that God has set for the movements of the planets, moons and stars. As Jesus hung on the cross, it was supposed to be light. The sun was scheduled to shine. But this time, the sun failed. The light didn’t shine. Did God put his hand in front of the bulb? Did he cover it with a cloth? Or did he simply flip the switch? It was dark when it should have been light.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now, I suppose I could use this as a great analogy and say, “When have you felt like the sun’s light failed in your life?” But I think that would be doing a great injustice to what took place that Friday. Because in one way, what happened that day is not about you and me. It was about Jesus and what he meant to the Father and to the world that He created. This death on the rugged cross of <st1:place>Calvary</st1:place> meant so much to the universe that the sun couldn’t bring itself to shine. It has not happened since. Since that day, the sun has made its appointed rounds without fail.</p><p class="MsoNormal">In another way, what happened that day is completely about you and me and every person that has ever walked the face of the earth or will ever walk the face of the earth. In that darkness was the oppression of sin. In that darkness was the sin of the world, you and me included. Jesus alone bore the weight of that sin on the cross. In that darkness he hung and the sun failed to shine.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">That’s Good Friday. No joy yet. Only darkness. The light of the world, the light of life, the light of men, both the sun and the Son were shrouded in darkness. For now, we wait. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">“Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”</i> Psalm 46:10. Indeed, in three days, He will be exalted!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Heavenly Father, in darkness the sins of the world of all time and history, were laid on your son. The oppression was so great, the sadness so profound that the very sun failed to shine. Be present in our darkness, according to your word and promise. We wait with repentant joy, in hope for the not yet to be now. In Jesus’ name, amen</i>.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-2537210759239082652?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-20878947522812030842010-03-25T13:33:00.002-08:002010-03-25T13:38:06.862-08:00More Floor Fixing!<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:16.0pt;">Ministry Objectives/ Corporate Goals/ Congregational Goals</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The MO’s function like an architectural model of a proposed building. With some information and the desires of the client, the architect designs the building and constructs a foam model, based on the design. You can look at the model and get a real sense of what the outcome will be. The model inspires and motivates those who have a stake in the new building. But all of the details, the wiring, the plumbing, the color of the carpet, etc…remain to be seen and are not part of the model. They are underneath the surface. The model is there for all to see and for all to be inspired by and for a clear vision of what the future will look like. MO’s are the model. As Les Stroh puts it, they are the broad-brush strokes that point the congregation in a particular direction and describe what the congregation will look like. The MO’s describe a preferred future vision.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Having said that, the struggle is that we all want to see the details now. But we must fight against the urge to put all of the “how-to’s” into the MO’s. The How comes at a different level and is functionally part of the individual action plans of the staff, not the MO’s.</o:p></p> <ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><u>We use the gifts and talents God has given us in service to His Kingdom here and throughout the world</u>. (Matthew 28:19-20)- <span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">Go therefore and</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">make disciples of</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">all nations,</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">baptizing them</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">in</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">20</span></span></span></sup></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">teaching them</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">to observe all that</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">I have commanded you. And behold,</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">I am with you always, to</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">the end of the age.</span></span></span></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><u>We share the love of Jesus Christ within the Native communities of Alaska</u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. (Acts 1:8)-<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">But you will receive</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">power</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">you will be</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">my witnesses in </span></span></span></span><st1:city><st1:place><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">Jerusalem</span></span></span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> and in all </span></span></span></span><st1:place><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">Judea</span></span></span></span></st1:place><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> and</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><st1:city><st1:place><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">Samaria</span></span></span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">, and</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">to the end of the earth."</span></span></span></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><u>Multiple generations influence one another in their faith journey</u>. (1 Timothy 5:1-2)- <span class="apple-style-span"><b><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">1</span></span></span></sup></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father,</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">younger men as brothers,</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">2</span></span></span></sup></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.</span></span></span></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><u>Strong bridges exist for young people at major transition points in their faith and growth</u>. (Luke 18:15-17)- <span class="apple-style-span"><b><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">15</span></span></span></sup></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></sup></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">rebuked them.</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">16</span></span></span></sup></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">But Jesus called them to him, saying,</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">"Let the children come to me, and</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">do not hinder them, for to such belongs the </span></span></span></span><st1:place><st1:placetype><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">kingdom</span></span></span></span></st1:placetype><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> of </span></span></span></span><st1:placename><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">God</span></span></span></span></st1:placename></st1:place><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">.</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">17</span></span></span></sup></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">Truly, I say to you, whoever does not</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">receive the </span></span></span></span><st1:place><st1:placetype><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">kingdom</span></span></span></span></st1:placetype><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> of </span></span></span></span><st1:placename><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">God</span></span></span></span></st1:placename></st1:place><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> like a child shall not enter it."</span></span></span></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><u>We are constantly driven toward Christian maturity as disciples of Jesus</u>. (Ephesians 4:11-16)- <span class="apple-style-span"><b><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">11</span></span></span></sup></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">And</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">he gave the</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">apostles, the prophets, the</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">evangelists, the</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">shepherds</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">and teachers,</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">12</span></span></span></sup></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">building up</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">the body of Christ,</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">13</span></span></span></sup></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">until we all attain to</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God,</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">to mature manhood,</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">to the measure of the stature of</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">the fullness of Christ,</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">14</span></span></span></sup></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">so that we may no longer be children,</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">deceitful schemes.</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">15</span></span></span></sup></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">Rather,</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">speaking the truth in love, we are to</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></sup></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">grow up in every way into him who is</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">the head, into Christ,</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">16</span></span></span></sup></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped,</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.</span></span></span></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal">The mission statement: <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;">Proclaim Christ’s Gospel to all people.</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The Great Commission:</span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:6.0pt;color:black;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;">19</span></span></span></sup></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;">Go therefore and</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;">make disciples of</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;">all nations,</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;">baptizing them</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;">in</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;">the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;">20</span></span></span></sup></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;">teaching them</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;">to observe all that</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;">I have commanded you. And behold,</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;">I am with you always, to</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;">the end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20</span></span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:black;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The Great Commandment:</span> </span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">9</span></span></span></sup></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">Jesus answered,</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">"The most important is,</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God,</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">the Lord is one.</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">30</span></span></span></sup></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">31</span></span></span></sup></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">The second is this:</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31</span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color:black;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The over-arching vision comes from 1 Corinthians 7:1</span>7- <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him.</span></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-2087894752281203084?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-45494118840983862882010-03-24T09:35:00.001-08:002010-03-24T09:35:45.234-08:00The Silence of Jesus<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;">Mark 15:5 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed</i>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>There are times in our lives when words simply do no good. When someone close to us passes away, words usually do no good to heal the pain. When we’ve hurt someone so badly with our harsh words, more words do not make it better. When faced with horrendous arguments or hostile debates, silence is often the higher road. But in all of those situations, the struggle is to let silence be silence and not to fill it with noise just so we don’t have to face the still, small voice in our heads.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Jesus knew that words would fall on deaf ears as he stood face to face with his accusers. He knew that it was for that very purpose that he was sent to this place. It was necessary that he face this time. And arguing his case would have only made it worse, though it’s hard to see anything worse. Accusations were flying, but Jesus was silent. Fingers were pointed, but Jesus said nothing. The mob was stirred up and demanded blood, but Jesus remained passive.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>On this Wednesday before Palm Sunday, we will let Jesus’ silence speak for you and me. No need for more words, except… amen.</o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-4549411884098386288?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-19260518731898072352010-03-03T10:07:00.000-09:002010-03-03T10:08:26.725-09:00Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done<p class="MsoNormal">Thy Kingdom come</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“My Kingdom is not of this world.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thy Kingdom come</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Kingdom of heaven is like…</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thy Kingdom come</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Baruch atah adonai elohenu melech ha-olam</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Blessed are you, O Lord, our God, ruler of the universe</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thy kingdom come</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Does he need our invitation?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Does the king of the universe need the permission of his creation to bring his kingdom?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">No… certainly not</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thy kingdom come</p> <p class="MsoNormal">It has, it is, it will always be</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thy kingdom come</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is at hand, it’s near, its here</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thy Kingdom come</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Our Father who art in heaven</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Hallowed be thy name</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thy kingdom come</p> <p class="MsoNormal">In heaven, on earth, throughout time and space</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Baruch atah adonai elohenu melech ha olam, our Father</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In me, Lord Jesus, in me</p> <p class="MsoNormal">In me through Faith</p> <p class="MsoNormal">In me through Word</p> <p class="MsoNormal">In me through Body and Blood</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thy kingdom of forgiveness</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thy kingdom of life, now and forever</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thy kingdom of salvation</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thy kingdom come</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thy will be done</p> <p class="MsoNormal">In thy kingdom</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">But I want…</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>I want…</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>I want…</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thy will be done</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thy will be done</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Not the will of the one who opposes</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Resist the Devil and he will flee from you</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“If you are the son of God…”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“It is written…</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color:black">Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">will</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color:black"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color:black">be able to test and approve what</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color:black"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">God's</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color:black"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">will</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color:black"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color:black">is—his good, pleasing and perfect</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color:black"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">will</span><span style="color:black">.</span></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thy will be done</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Does he need our permission?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">No, certainly not.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Is it just kind of us to put our own wills aside?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">No, not kind, necessary</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thy will be done</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thy will is done in heaven</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thy will is done in the universe</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thy will is done where the Spirit moves</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thy will be done here, now, in this place, in me.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In all I say, thy will be done</p> <p class="MsoNormal">In all I do, thy will be done</p> <p class="MsoNormal">In all I know, thy will be done</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Wherever I go, thy will be done</p> <p class="MsoNormal">When I rise, thy will be done</p> <p class="MsoNormal">When I fall, thy will be done</p> <p class="MsoNormal">When I get back up, thy will be done</p> <p class="MsoNormal">When I get knocked down, thy will be done</p> <p class="MsoNormal">When you pick me up, they will be done</p> <p class="MsoNormal">In those who see me, thy will be done</p> <p class="MsoNormal">In those who speak with me, thy will be done</p> <p class="MsoNormal">In <st1:city><st1:place>Jerusalem</st1:place></st1:city>, <st1:place>Judea</st1:place>, <st1:city><st1:place>Samaria</st1:place></st1:city> and the ends of the earth, thy will be done</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In me, thy will be done.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-1926051873189807235?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-19363207288952646342010-03-03T10:01:00.001-09:002010-03-03T10:05:21.263-09:00Death Leads to Life<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;">John <st1:time minute="25" hour="11">11:25</st1:time> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Death has come to our congregation once again. A dear man, a saint in his own right, has passed from life to death and people are sad. This is as it should be. Death is sad. Death is not an easy event to pass through for anyone. Sometimes a sense of relief accompanies death, but it’s not a time to celebrate. And it’s hard to know what to say to the family and friends. You hear all kinds of things that people say in an effort to soothe the grieving.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Jesus doesn’t offer pithy statements or sappy sentiments about being in a “better place” or looking down from “heaven.” In verse 23, Jesus simply says, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">“Your brother will rise again.”</i> And then later, he offers the amazing, yet confusing statements in verse 25. The question comes to all of those who look death in the face. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">“Do you believe this?”</i></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Do you believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life? For those who believe in Jesus as the Son of God, the Christ, the Savior, He is not only the way to eternal life, he is the eternal life itself. He is not the reincarnation nor the resuscitation, he is the resurrection. He is not just someone who talked about life or offered a good path to living a good life, he is the life eternal. Life only exists in Jesus forever.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Death leads to life for those who believe in Jesus. Life is lived in anticipation of the inevitable. Death will come to each one of us, eventually. But, according to Jesus, death leads to life. It doesn’t just lead to a life of a disembodied soul which now is in heaven. It doesn’t lead to being turned into an angel and watching over your relatives. Those are Greek philosophies and <st1:place>Hollywood</st1:place> special effects. No, it’s none of that with Jesus. With Jesus, death leads to real life. Eternal life. Are the dead ones form our past now living? For those who believe in Jesus, they are. They are living, right now. And we are living, on this side of death, waiting to join the eternally living.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Death is not easy. It is not supposed to be. Death is the result of the sin that has so corrupted the world and all of us with it. But that sin is taken care of by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, the one who passed through death and into life. The first one to pass through death into life. In our baptism, we are eternally connected to the one who is the life and the resurrection, the life eternal, Jesus.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>We say goodbye to the ones that have passed on. It is sad. But because of Jesus, we can honestly say, “We’ll see you soon.”</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">Father in Heaven, watch over the living and those who are on this side of death. With hope in your son Jesus, we await the day when all of the living and the dead will be reunited in the feast that never ends. In Jesus’ name, amen.</span></o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-1936320728895264634?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-64394557788731780362010-02-24T12:07:00.000-09:002010-02-24T12:08:03.364-09:00Light and Darkness<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;">John <st1:time minute="12" hour="8">8:12</st1:time> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">And Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Here in interior <st1:state><st1:place>Alaska</st1:place></st1:state>, light and darkness have very tangible meaning. While the darkness creeps in beginning in June, it doesn’t really become noticeable until around September. The darkness rapidly overshadows the light and dominates the hours of the day. Awake in darkness, work in darkness, breathe a sigh of relief for a couple of short hours, then back home in darkness, asleep in darkness and the cycle begins again. Darkness has long been a metaphor for sin, chaos, all that is corrupt and broken in the world. And this metaphor is more real, for myself, living in a land that is dominated by either light or darkness.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Sin creeps in to our lives. It isn’t noticeable at first. A little bit here, a little bit there and we feel like we can deal with it. As corrupt human beings, living in a world that has been broken by sin, we become addicted to sin in all of it’s tangible grip. That darkness rapidly takes over and we find that we live most of our lives in darkness and sin. And those few short hours of light, perhaps that is on Sunday, when we spend time in God’s house, in worship.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Jesus said that He is the light of the world. In the Gospel of John, John says that the darkness can not overcome the light, understand the light or comprehend the light. The light is mysterious and wonderful, even in the midst of the darkness there is light.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>The Aurora Borealis, the Northern lights, are the perfect metaphor for that mysterious light in the midst of the darkness. Here in <st1:state><st1:place>Alaska</st1:place></st1:state>, those lights are wondrous. In the coldest months, in the darkest months, the green, purple, red curtains of light dance across the sky. It’s as if God Himself is sending a physical, and yet very spiritual reminder of His eternal presence. Jesus uses words, “I am the light of the world.” Look to me, he says, and you will not spend your days in darkness.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Just as the darkness crept in from summer to winter, so too the light creeps in from winter to summer. Beginning in December, the light comes back. Slowly at first, but then seemingly more rapidly as the spring break up approaches. You begin to notice light as you sit at the breakfast table and that you can still see the sky after dinner. The light has returned and the joy with it.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Jesus is the light of life. Jesus is the light of joy. Jesus is the light of hope. Come June, the sun shines nearly twenty-four hours at a time. The sun warms the earth and the vegetables grow to record sizes. It is a foretaste of the eternal sunshine of the heavenly kingdom, I think. Only then, Jesus will be the sun and the Son.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>For those who are struggling in the darkness, myself included, Jesus is the hope for light. Jesus is the only hope for light. Even in the midst of the physical darkness, hold on. Don’t let the darkness of night or the darkness of sin bring you to despair. Hold on. The light is coming and has now come. “The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light!” Isaiah 9:2.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son to be the light of the world, the light of life. Help us in the darkness to see the light. By the Holy Spirit, help us to share the light of life, Jesus, with those who still sit in darkness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.</span></o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-6439455778873178036?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-6994606787788884092010-02-11T10:34:00.001-09:002010-02-11T10:34:55.327-09:00Less is More<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;">John <st1:time hour="15" minute="30">3:30</st1:time> John said, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">He must increase, but I must decrease</i>.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Have you heard the phrase “less is more”? We use it in reference to food and spiciness and when we talk about our daughter putting on make-up. Less is more. Understated is better than flamboyant. Less activity can lead to more productivity. The less we are busy with the more we can concentrate on what we are doing. Less is more.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>John the Baptist was talking with the Pharisees about Jesus. Jesus had begun to increase his ministry with gathering disciples and baptizing people. The Pharisees were challenging John and wondering what he thought about this new guy who seemed to be eclipsing his own ministry. And John’s simple response is: That’s the way it should be. John knew that his own ministry wasn’t about him. It was about Jesus. And now that Jesus was here, John needed to become the supporting role and eventually fade into the background. “He must increase, but I must decrease.”</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>It is the prayer of most preachers, I suspect. Jesus, this is all about you. May I fade into the background so that you are brought to the foreground. Our humanness fights against that, though because we always want the attention on us. We long for the spotlight so that people notice us and validate that we exist as humans. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be noticed and loved and appreciated. But all too quickly it becomes all about us. Everything we do, good and bad, becomes an attempt to draw attention to ourselves.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>John wasn’t being self-deprecating. He wasn’t trying to get the Pharisees to feel sorry for him so that he could get into their pity spotlight. He was following the plan that God had laid out for him. “Do your thing until my Son shows up and then, let him lead the way.”</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Jesus lives in each of his baptized, called children. The prayer is that Jesus would increase in our lives and that our lives would fade into the background. Paul says that Jesus lives in each of us. It is no longer I who live but Christ living in me. (Galatians 2:20) Less of me, more of Jesus.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">Heavenly Father, may our lives reflect your love. Our self-centered ways sometimes distract people from seeing Jesus living in us. May we decrease so that your Son may increase in us. Amen.</span></o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-699460678778888409?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-9765493746319983252010-01-21T14:14:00.000-09:002010-01-21T14:15:46.052-09:00You Gotta Have Heart!<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;">Romans <st1:time hour="10" minute="10">10:10</st1:time> Paul writes, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">“For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved</i>.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>The other day, my son wanted to see what a real human heart looked like. So we went online and looked it up. He was pretty grossed out. The human heart isn’t very attractive. God often prefers function over form. Jesus said that it was out of the heart that all kinds of evil come. He also said that we should love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. The heart of the matter is your heart.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Paul is writing about righteousness. There were still some people who thought that they needed to depend on their own works, their own merit, their own goodness to be justified, saved or forgiven. I’m so glad that we aren’t like that anymore. (please read that with a whole lot of tongue-in-cheek) Paul said that belief is in the heart, not the head and not the strength. Well, the heart is something that we have very little, if any, control over. It functions on its own most of the time. There are those whose heart needs some help, but mostly it just goes on beating. Paul is not talking about the physical heart, but that which is deep down in the very core of your being.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>On our own, left to our own devices, our hearts are dark and dingy places. There’s not much there. There is certainly no belief in Jesus in a heart left in the dark. Paul talks a lot about how the Holy Spirit gets into our hearts and brings light to the dark places. John talks about that too. Paul goes on in Romans 10 to talk about believing coming from hearing and hearing coming from speaking. Someone needs to speak the words so that someone else can hear them so that the heart can believe them.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>The one that is active in all of that is the Holy Spirit. He’s the one who creates and sustains faith. The Holy Spirit prompts the mouth to speak and even, according to Jesus, teaches the mouth what to say. Then, through the words spoken, the Holy Spirit guides them into the ears and down into the heart where He once again creates faith. And it’s through that faith that clings to Jesus justification comes.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>That’s a lot of work for the heart. How has the Holy Spirit been giving your heart a work out?</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">Heavenly Father, you prefer function over form. Stir up in our hearts the gifts of faith and belief through your Holy Spirit. Then, open our mouths to speak the words that the Holy Spirit can use to create faith in someone’s heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.</span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-976549374631998325?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-29956524516017356382010-01-13T10:04:00.001-09:002010-01-13T10:05:57.088-09:00Abnormal<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;">(previously published at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, West Des Moines, Iowa)</p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;">Ezekiel 36:26 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">“And I [the Lord] will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>You’ve all heard of Frankenstein, right? My favorite version of the story comes from the movie “Young Frankenstein.” Ok, so it’s not the most true to the story, but it’s funny. I always crack up when Gene Wilder asks “Igor” where he got the brain for his creation. It came from a jar that was marked “Abby Normal.” This brain caused all sorts of crazy things to happen for the monster, including singing and dancing. The brain was not normal, it was abnormal.</o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>According to the world, you and I are “Ab Normal.” Ezekiel was proclaiming the word of God and He was saying the same thing. The world considered the Hebrews normal at this point. But it was because they had gone against everything the Lord had commanded and blended into the world around them. They worshipped the world’s idols and followed their customs and gone as far as to use the Lord’s name profanely. They were a lost cause, but normal according to the world.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So the Lord said that He wasn’t going to stand for it anymore. He wasn’t going to allow His people to become permanent fixtures of the world. He had every right to completely wipe them off the face of the planet, to scrap the project as it were. But that’s not what He does. He promises to deliver His people from their sin. Rather than let them die in it, He brings them out of it. He promises to make them “Ab Normal.” He’s going to go all Dr. Frankenstein on them and remove the old, dead organs and give them new ones. They won’t be normal any more. That stony heart, gone! In its place, a replacement heart from God Himself. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now, it is we who are abnormal. A king born in a stable was abnormal. A man claiming to be God was abnormal. An innocent man dying for the sins of the world was abnormal. A dead man rising again and entering rooms despite locked doors was abnormal. It is because of what Jesus did that we are made abnormal. God shows us mercy when what we deserve is death. That is abnormal. None of this makes sense to a “normal” world. The children of God no longer fit in. We do not have hearts of stone, but hearts of flesh. We do not have worldly spirits, but are filled with the Holy Spirit. We are cleansed from sin and given new life. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">When someone says to you, which I have heard all my life, “you’re really weird,” our response is along the lines of “thank you, but I prefer abnormal.” Being different is fantastic. Being abnormal is tremendous. And one day, when Jesus calls me home, I’ll be perfectly abnormal.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">Father, forgive us for sometimes wishing we were normal. There are days when it would be easier to blend in. But you graciously rescued us from a life of normalcy. You replaced the old parts with new life. You forgave us when you could have squashed us. Thank you for you mercy and for making us abnormal. Through your Holy Spirit, may we always stick out like sore thumbs for everyone to see. In Jesus’ name, amen.</span></o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-2995652451601735638?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-74391624764347181432010-01-06T09:41:00.004-09:002010-01-06T09:44:23.782-09:00Epiphany<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;">Matthew <st1:time minute="10" hour="14">2:10</st1:time> When they (the Magi) saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="apple-style-span"><b><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">From Isaiah 60</span></span></span></sup></b></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="apple-style-span"><b><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1</span></span></span></sup></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"Arise, shine, for your light has come,</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><b><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">2</span></span></span></sup></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">See, darkness covers the earth</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /> and thick darkness is over the peoples,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /> but the LORD rises upon you</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /> and his glory appears over you.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><b><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">3</span></span></span></sup></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Nations will come to your light,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /> and kings to the brightness of your dawn.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p><b><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">19</span></span></span></sup></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The sun will no more be your light by day,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /> nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /> for the LORD will be your everlasting light,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /> and your God will be your glory.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><b><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">20</span></span></span></sup></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Your sun will never set again,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /> and your moon will wane no more;</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /> the LORD will be your everlasting light,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /> and your days of sorrow will end.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">God shines in the little Jesus.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">God shines in the bright star.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Rejoice exceedingly</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Tears of joy</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Laughter spilling out of your smile</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Great joy</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Happiness like nothing else</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">God shines in the little Jesus.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">God shines in the bright star.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p><i><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">May the bright Son of God shine on you, in you and through you and may your smile be unable to contain the joy and laughter. May it spill out into every conversation, every meeting, every hug, so that all may know who it is that shines in you. Amen.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-7439162476434718143?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-67108015939428804332009-12-30T09:47:00.001-09:002009-12-30T09:48:41.396-09:00A Fast From Yourself<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;">Isaiah 58:6-7 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Lord said, “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him and not to hide from your own flesh?...”</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Fasting comes in and goes out of style regularly. Some see it as a serious spiritual discipline that can be used to create clarity of mind in order to hear God better. Some see it as a seasonal thing to be done every Friday in Lent or something like that. Fasting, the act of denying the body either food or something else, has good things and bad things about it. There’s a problem when the good thing is used to show off and people have a “look at me” attitude about their fasting.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>That was the problem the Lord was addressing in Isaiah. The people had begun to use God’s laws as a means to an end. They were twisting them in order to get what they wanted from God. God was wise to it. He knew what they were up to. He is not one to be fooled or manipulated by petty humanity. “Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high.” Verse 4.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>God urges his people to take a fast from themselves. Fasting is not about you. Fast from yourself and help the homeless, hungry and hopeless. Fast from yourself and work for those who are caught in bonds of wickedness and oppression. This urging is for you and for me as well, not just the Israelites. In other words, we need to get over ourselves and look out for others. I think this call is more appropriate today than ever. We will not curry favor with God by flaunting our personal, spiritual piety.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Personal piety is important. To be in God’s word, to be part of his fellowship, to share in the sacraments, prayer, etc… all of these things are important, but are not to be used to try and win God’s approval or man’s approval. God’s approval was accomplished for us by Christ on the cross. We can’t do anything without Jesus. Philippians <st1:time minute="13" hour="16">4:13</st1:time> “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>It may be hard, but through Christ, we can fast from ourselves. Deny ourselves our selves. Jesus came not to be served but to serve. Our fasting should be a fast from serving ourselves in order to serve others. Look for those opportunities to serve and then do it.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">Heavenly Father, you sent Jesus from the cradle to the cross in order to bring us back to you. Now, your Spirit lives in us and enlivens us to serve you by serving the least in this kingdom. Help us to do that and save us from ourselves. In Jesus’ name. Amen.</span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">Isaiah 58:8-9a “Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’”</span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-6710801593942880433?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-54108081034554431952009-12-23T09:42:00.000-09:002009-12-23T09:43:34.152-09:00Baby’s First Words<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;">Isaiah 44:6 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Thus says the LORD, the King of </i><st1:country-region><st1:place><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Israel</i></st1:place></st1:country-region><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.”</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>What were your first words? Baby talk can be really fun to decipher. The gurgles, the mumbles, the coos all mean something to someone. Momma hears “momma” and Daddy hears “momma.” All of the language development takes place so quickly and if you happen to teach your baby sign language, it takes place even faster. Whatever your first words were back then, they meant something to someone.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus. God, the creator of the universe, the King of Israel, was born as a little baby. What do you think his first words were? The words recorded by the prophet Isaiah may not have been Jesus’ first words, but they sure would fit. “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.”</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>“I am the first…” Jesus was the first born Son of God, the only begotten Son of God. God had never come to His people in human skin. He was the first because he had been around since before people were created. He was first because he was before everyone else. Now, he was the first and he would be the last.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>“I am the last…” God would never again come in this same way. He would never again show up in human skin in the form of a baby. He would finish what God had begun so long ago, the redemption of mankind. His birth, life, and death on the cross would be the final chapter in the salvation story, until He comes again in glory.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>“Besides me there is no god.” All of the other “gods” of this world amount to nothing. There is no other god except the Our God, the LORD. No one else can give us what God can give us. Nothing else can offer forgiveness, life and salvation. Jesus, the baby born in <st1:city><st1:place>Bethlehem</st1:place></st1:city>, is the true gift of Christmas.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>I’m pretty sure that the infant Jesus did not come out able to speak in clear and loud terms about who he was. His first words were probably in Aramaic, though I don’t think gurgling takes any particular language. But His Father speaks for Him, through the prophet Isaiah in no uncertain terms about who He is.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>May you always know with confidence who God is, was and always will be. Jesus, the first and the last, the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, a baby born in <st1:city><st1:place>Bethlehem</st1:place></st1:city>, our Redeemer crucified and risen.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Merry Christmas.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Thank you for Christmas, Heavenly Father. Amen</i>. </o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-5410808103455443195?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-611248448223297822009-12-16T11:42:00.000-09:002009-12-16T11:43:14.814-09:00A New Nobility<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;">Isaiah 32:8 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">He who is noble plans noble things and on noble things he stands</i>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>When was the last time you used the word “noble” to describe someone or something? It’s a word that conjures up images of kings, queens and knights. Nobility along with chivalry seem to be archaic ideas. Is anyone truly noble or chivalrous any more? Lords and ladies, fair maidens and knights in shining armor… I know that we tend to romanticize the past, but romantic ideas can move us to change things for the better.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Isaiah is writing words of prophecy against all those who are not noble. He is proclaiming the wrath of God on all those who devise evil schemes, who plot and plan to exploit the poor and out cast. He also proclaims that a king is coming who will reign and rule in righteousness and justice. Justice and righteousness, these are noble things. This is the King who is coming.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Whether you read these words of Isaiah as prophecy about an earthly ruler or if you read them about Jesus, the fact is that God stands for justice and righteousness. The one who plans noble things and stands on noble things stands with God. The chivalrous knights of old stood with God. The noble ones of days past stood with God.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.</i> Philippians 2:13<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.</i> Galatians 2:20. The truly noble live because Christ lives in them. The chivalrous work according to the plans that God has laid out for them. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">He who is noble plans noble things and on noble things he stands</i>. Isaiah 32:8</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>May you know that the Holy Spirit lives in you. Your breast plate of righteousness comes from God Himself. He gives you the armor that any knight would be proud to wear, through His Son Jesus. In your baptism, you were knighted and given the mission to go and proclaim the Gospel of Christ to all people. So do noble things, plan noble things and stand upon the most noble thing of all, the Word of God.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">Heavenly Father, enliven our hearts to plan and do noble things, all to your glory. Amen.</span></o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-61124844822329782?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-45203731462635610872009-12-10T13:13:00.000-09:002009-12-10T13:14:16.442-09:00Father’s Love<p class="MsoNormal">1 John 3:1a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">See what kind of love the Father has given to us that we should be called children of God; and so we are.</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’m a dad. I have been for a little over 11 years now. It’s a strange thing to be a dad, a father of children. There’s a love that a father has for his children that is both protective and adventurous. It’s protective in that you will guard your children with your life. It’s adventurous in that you encourage your children to explore the world, even when it means that they might get hurt.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>We are God’s children. We are God’s children because God says we are. The Father has poured out His love on us. Through Jesus, God’s son, He shows His love for all of His other children. He protects Jesus with His very presence, because He loves him. He allows Jesus to go through the pain of crucifixion because He loves us, too.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>God protects you with His very life. That life was lived in Jesus. God encourages you to explore the world that He created, knowing full well that you will get hurt. But He also knows that through pain comes growth. And even when we get hurt, God is present to carry us through the pain.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>God calls us His children and that is what we are.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">Father in heaven, protect us and keep us in Your love, now and always. Amen.</span></o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-4520373146263561087?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-40841359600021077732009-12-03T10:22:00.000-09:002009-12-03T10:23:40.587-09:00Lions!<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;">1 Peter 5:8- <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Lions are amazing animals. I’ve seen them in the zoo and heard them when they roar. It’s a very scary sound. The roar echoes throughout the zoo, especially in <st1:city><st1:place>St. Louis</st1:place></st1:city>. When those lions roar, everyone hears it. There are not many animals, to my knowledge, that would dare oppose a lion, particularly when it’s meal time. Fearsome beasts, the king of the jungle or the savannah, the lion is a force to be reckoned with.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Peter uses the image of the prowling, roaring lion to describe the devil. The devil is constantly, ferociously on the hunt for someone to devour. The image is a fearful one for humanity. Peter’s image comes with the warning to be watchful, keep a clear head, pay attention so that you can hear, see or smell the lion coming.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>One thing that occurs to me, through Peter’s description is that the lion is not very stealthy. He prowls around roaring. That voice can be heard loud and clear. He’s not sneaky. Elsewhere, the devil is described as a serpent, more crafty than the others. So, it’s not that he can’t be sneaky, but Peter sees the devil as a very noticeable creature.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>The devil has been a student of human behavior since the beginning of time. He knows how we act, interact, and behave. He is constantly on the move and looking for his next meal. But there is someone else who is constantly on the look out. And he is also known as a lion.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>“And one of the elders said to me, ‘Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.’” Revelation 5:5. That’s Jesus, my friends. This Lion has conquered all. He has conquered the other lion. He has conquered the power of the other lion. He is Jesus.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>This Lion is a force to be reckoned with, just as lions on the savannahs of <st1:place>Africa</st1:place> have no animal opponents. This Lion laid down his own life, this Lion did not roar when he was put on the cross. It was in His humility that He was most powerful. So we are watchful, but we do not weep. We are clear-headed, but our faith is secure with the Lion of Judah.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">Heavenly Father, creator of all things. Help us, through your Holy Spirit, to be mindful, watchful and aware of the prowling lion, the devil. Comfort us with the roar of your Son, the Lion of Judah, Jesus, our Savior. In His name, Amen.</span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>P.S.- This was a challenging devotion to write for a Detroit Lions fan. They don’t roar too much, neither are they conquerors nor devourers. </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-4084135960002107773?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-71950418810097013152009-11-25T09:23:00.003-09:002009-11-25T09:25:11.994-09:00Food for the Body & Food for the Soul<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Deuteronomy 8:3 Moses said, <i>“And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.”</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Lord’s Prayer- Give us this day our daily bread… </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">So much of Thanksgiving revolves around food. I know that we try hard to remind our kids, our friends and everyone that it’s more about being thankful for all kinds of things, not just food. But food is a big part of the day. It’s the visible, tangible, delicious part of expressing our gratitude. We over-indulge in some of the richest foods we ever eat. <st1:country-region><st1:place>Turkey</st1:place></st1:country-region>, ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, bread, and don’t even get me started on the deserts. Food for the body.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">As we gather with friends, family, neighbors and strangers around this food, the fellowship of the Holy Spirit is there with us. He puts the part of the body together in such a way that no one else could. I mean really, look at those who gather at your table. What a strange group of people that God decided could fit together. Sometimes they fit together in odd ways and sometimes we struggle with how they fit, yet there they are. And there, Jesus is among them, as we gather in his name. Food for the soul.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Food for the body and the soul. It all comes from God the Father. I know it may seem simplistic to think along these lines, but it is what it is. It all comes from God. He is the creator of all things. The food that we eat comes from God. But… this all comes with some caution. Because we can forget that the food comes from God and begin to think of the food as god, or of ourselves as god because we either grow, work for or purchase the food. What God has provided, we so easily appropriate as our own. How easily does Thanksgiving become about the menu and what people will think of us, our home, our hospitality and soon, “oh, yeah, it’s about God too.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">God has a reminder to remember in Deuteronomy 8. Why did the Israelites go hungry in the wilderness? Because God wanted it that way. Why? Because they were getting too big for their britches and life became all about them. God, the creator of the universe decided to humble them and remind them of who He is. They went hungry. Now this isn’t to say that all those who go hungry are being humbled by God. Sometimes people go hungry because others don’t share. Sometimes people go hungry because they don’t want to be fed. For the Israelites, they went hungry because God wanted it that way. God was starving their bodies and souls for a reason.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Then comes the manna. Then comes the word. God wants the Israelites to know that all that they have comes from Him, but it’s not enough to simply live in the body. God provides what they need to live in body and soul. Food for the body, manna. Food for the soul, the Word of God. Food for now, manna. Food for eternity, the Word of God. You have to be hungry first to know what it means to be truly fed. He let them be hungry in the body so they could know what it meant to be fed by manna. He let them hunger in their souls so that they would know how He feeds them his life giving word.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Food for the body and for the soul. Our bodies get hungry. Our souls get hungry. In the midst of our indulgence, we are still hungry. Our plates may be overflowing, but our souls are wasting away. They waste away because of our sin, because of our lack of gratitude and it’s into that hunger that God sends His Word. His Word comes in the form of Jesus, and it’s Jesus who feeds our souls. It’s Jesus who gives us forgiveness for those sins and feeds our souls for eternity. We are not god. It’s helpful to remember that. We are children, in the wilderness, unable to fend for ourselves and we need that Word, Jesus, to sustain us. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Jesus is food for our souls. Through the Holy Spirit, he brings us together and nourishes our souls. We are fed, not only for ourselves, but also in order to feed others. God gives us abundantly more than we could ask so that we can share it with those in need. We gather our offerings today so that we can share with Lutheran World Relief. We gathered food for the Food Bank in order to share with our community. It is the working of the Holy Spirit that feeds the soul, giving us the energy necessary to care for the “least of these.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">So, go ahead, eat until your pants don’t fit. God has indeed been good to us and continues to feed us in body and soul. In humble gratitude we gather around a full table, sharing in the lives of those around. In the same manner, we share the abundant blessings of body and soul with those who are in need. For indeed, we do not live on bread alone, or turkey alone, or stuffing alone, or cranberries alone, but always and forever, we live on that which comes from the mouth of the LORD.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Amen.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-7195041881009701315?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-19448045667144612802009-11-18T14:45:00.001-09:002009-11-18T14:47:21.123-09:00Desperation<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;"><b>Jeremiah 37:20</b> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">“Now hear, please, O my lord the king: let my humble plea come before you and do not send me back to the house of Jonathan the secretary, lest I die there.”</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><b>Jeremiah’s prayer of desperation</b>. He had been put in prison for prophesying against the king. While in prison, he was horribly mistreated and beaten, then neglected and forgotten. It was a place of darkness, loneliness and pain. “Don’t send me back there.”</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><b>Jonah’s prayer of desperation</b>. “When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple.” Jonah was in the belly of the fish, a place of darkness, loneliness, and death. “Save me, dear God, from this place.”</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><b>Paul’s prayer of desperation</b>. “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Paul was in the place of darkness in his own body. He was crying out from a place of darkness and war, mind against body, soul against nature. “I want to do the right thing, but I can’t seem to do it.”</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><b>Jesus’ prayer of desperation</b>. “ ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” On the cross, Jesus cries out into the darkness, from a place of absolute isolation, excruciating pain. “Where are you Father? Why have you left me here, all alone?”</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><b>What is your prayer of desperation</b>? What do you cry out to God when you are in the dark places, whether physically, emotionally, psychologically? Cry out to God. He hears your prayers and knows your state. He promises to hear and answer our prayers, according to His divine will and knowledge. I can’t promise miraculous deliverance. I can promise the assured presence, forgiveness and steadfast love of God, through His son, Jesus, our Lord and through the Holy Spirit. Know that he is there with you, wherever you are. You are not alone.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">God, help me!<o:p></o:p></i></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-1944804566714461280?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-37037485050406204922009-11-13T14:54:00.003-09:002009-11-13T15:08:07.617-09:00Fixing the Floor part 3When you know the floor is creaky and unsafe, you call in an expert to give you an estimate on what it will take to fix the floor. Back in October, we had such an expert come in. His name was Les Stroh. In two short days, he guided us through part of a process to evaluate the floor and find the weak spots. He also helped us to begin the process of restoring the floor, even building a new floor, if that's what it takes.<div>So together with several people who comprise the leadership of Zion Lutheran Church in Fairbanks, we worked to evaluate the floor, test the weak spots, and imagine a new floor. The new floor has the potential to look fundamentally different than the old floor. It's kind of like replacing carpet with hardwood. Though it may only seem cosmetic, foundationally, these floors are different.</div><div>The work has begun and we are beginning to address one of the weakest spots of our floor: Our Core Values. We've never really talked about them, as far as I know. What is it that we truly hold dear here at ZLC? Why do we think God has put us here? Because this spot has been weak for so long, other parts have been weakened as well. We're not sure why we're here, so we're not sure what we should be doing. Since we don't know what we should be doing, we just do stuff. Any stuff, in the hopes that something comes out of all of the doing stuff. </div><div>We're not to the doing stuff part of our floor work yet. We're still working on the foundation of the floor. We're rebuilding the joists that hold us up. It's going to take a while, but it's worth the work in the long run. Les Stroh uses the terms "Core Values and Critical Targets". We're addressing the core values. I'll let you know what we come up with and where we go from here.</div><div>Calling all carpenters!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-3703748505040620492?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-3535871844763094802009-11-11T09:38:00.000-09:002009-11-11T09:39:12.777-09:00God With Us<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;">Jeremiah <st1:time minute="23" hour="23">23:23</st1:time> “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Am I a God at hand,” declares the LORD, “and not a God far away?”</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Did you know that there are video cameras all over the place keeping watch over the citizens? I don’t say this in order to cause paranoia, but only to help us remember that because of security reasons, we are constantly being monitored. It’s really a strange feeling, knowing that we are being watched.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Some people feel that way about God. They see him as a distant, divine police officer waiting to catch us slipping up. Then, when the day of judgment comes, we’ll sit in a room and he’ll play back all of the tapes. What a sickening feeling! Can you imagine having to relive all of the highlights, lowlights and horrible-lights of your life while God sits there with crossed arms and raised eyebrows?</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>But that’s not who God is. He is a God-at-hand. This means that he is here and now, as well as then and later. There is no place that you can go that he is not. He’s everywhere. That could be a scary thing, but, for me, it’s extraordinarily comforting. There is no place that God is not. That means wherever I go, He is with me. He’s not with me with a divine checklist like a driver’s ed instructor. He’s with me as a guide and comforter. He is with me as a protector and provider.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>He is a God-at-hand. He is a God made flesh. He is a God with us. Immanuel. Jesus. He is a God who knows our every need and has promised to provide daily bread. He is a God who in every way is as human as you and me, yet is without sin. He is a God who died on the cross to be the final sacrifice and He is a God who rose again to life everlasting.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>God promises to you and me that when our sins are forgiven, he remembers them no more. He forgives and forgets. So he keeps no record of our sins. Will you sit in a room and watch your life in replay? No, because a life lived is a life lived. God does not keep your sins on tape.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">Heavenly Father, what a comfort it is to know that you are at hand. You are not a God who is far away, but one who is right here with us. You showed yourself to us in your son, Jesus. Through his life, death and resurrection, you keep us close to you. In the Holy Spirit, you are nearer to us than we are to ourselves. Thank you for your forgiveness and your promises. In Jesus’ name, amen.</span></o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-353587184476309480?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-4585810447149009832009-10-28T13:33:00.001-08:002009-10-28T13:34:46.684-08:00A Mouthful<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Deuteronomy 30:14 [The Lord said] “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.”</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Don’t talk with your mouth full. Kids around the world have heard that said from the beginning of time. Some adults still need to be reminded of that life lesson. Yuck! It’s rude to talk with your mouthful or to chew with your mouth open. That’s why God gave you lips.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Have you ever had someone put words in your mouth? What an odd expression. How can anyone put words in your mouth? I can put food in my mouth. Words come out of my mouth. But words don’t go in my mouth.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Let’s put the two together. How about this: You should talk with your mouth full of words that God has put there. God has put words in your mouth and words in your heart. So with a heart and mouth full of words, go and talk. </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">What word has God put in your mouth and heart? Jesus, forgiveness, love, grace, mercy, peace, hope, joy, Law, Gospel, faith. Take your pick. All of these words come from God and he put them there through his Son, Jesus. He stirs them up with the Holy Spirit and fills your mouth with good things to say.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">So, go ahead. Talk with your mouth full. Just make sure that what it is full of is God’s Word, God’s Son, God’s Spirit.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Heavenly Father, thank you for filling our mouths with good things to say. Our mouths don’t always say good things, but through your Spirit who fills our hearts, we can speak good things. Help us to speak words of truth, grace, mercy, love and forgiveness, through your Son Jesus. Amen.<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-458581044714900983?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-61047993041592949432009-10-14T11:02:00.000-08:002009-10-14T11:04:11.439-08:00The Sacrifice<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Deuteronomy 12:27b The blood of your sacrifices shall be poured out on the altar of the Lord your God, but the flesh you may eat.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> Flesh, blood, and sacrifice are not comfortable words for us in a worship setting. At least in the way that God is using them in Deuteronomy, they sound a bit visceral. Maybe they even sound offensive or gross. But in terms of the life of the early Hebrew people, these words meant what they said. When they were talking “flesh” they were talking about the meat of animals. When they were talking blood, they were talking about the blood from an animal. When they talked sacrifice, they meant killing the live animal in a ritualistic way, according to the Law of God. These are rough words, guttural words, real words.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>These words are used in our liturgy for the Lord’s Supper. We talk of flesh, body, blood, bread, wine and sacrifice. But Jesus, the Word made flesh, has changed the significance of these words for us. In John <st1:time minute="53" hour="18">6:53</st1:time> Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” According to Deuteronomy <st1:time minute="23" hour="12">12:23</st1:time>, the blood is the life. Jesus says that the “flesh and blood” together are life. I guess that’s the difference between baser animals used for sacrifices, like sheep, bulls and birds and Jesus.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Here’s how Jesus changed things. The sacrifice now is not something we do. We do not bring animals to be sacrificed nor do we sacrifice Jesus. Jesus offered himself as the sacrifice, on the cross. There can be no more human sacrifices that appease God or satisfy the Law. Jesus died once, for all. Jesus said to the Pharisees in Matthew <st1:time minute="13" hour="9">9:13</st1:time>, “Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’”</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>The blood we speak of is now not the blood of animals, but of Jesus himself. The blood was spilled on the cross, not on the table. Matthew 26:27, And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Now, the blood of Jesus, the life of Jesus, is poured into our bodies. His life is in our lives.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>The flesh, the body, is now not just meat on the grill, to be burned up. Luke <st1:time minute="19" hour="22">22:19</st1:time>, And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” The flesh, now connected in bread. We do not have wine and meat in the Lord’s Supper. We have wine and bread. The bread, the body, both of which we eat, just as we drink the blood, give us life.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Come to the table. The sacrifice has already been done. The flesh and blood, bread and wine, body and blood are given and shed for you. You don’t have to give or shed your blood in order to make yourself right with God. In fact, you couldn’t give or shed enough blood. Only the blood of Jesus, only the flesh of Jesus, shed and given for you. On your behalf, in your place.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Amen! Thank you, Jesus</i>.</o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-6104799304159294943?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-7359722474744401512009-10-07T09:33:00.001-08:002009-10-07T09:34:32.432-08:00Laborers<p class="MsoNormal">Matthew 9:37-38 The [Jesus] said to his disciples, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Who is a laborer?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Is it you?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Is it a pastor?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Is it someone who is well-schooled?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Who is a laborer?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Is it you?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Can you pick grain?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Can you pick grapes?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> Who is a laborer?</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Is it you?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Is it you?</p> <div style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"><o:p> </o:p></p></div> <p class="MsoNormal">To be a laborer requires no special skill. It requires no special schooling, training or ability. Laborers are required to have only one thing: willingness. Laborers are those who are willing to work. If you aren’t willing to work, you can’t be a laborer. Some laborers do have special skills, training, ability, but it’s not a requirement. Jesus tells his disciples to pray for more people who are simply willing to work in the field, God’s field, to bring in God’s harvest.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Who is a laborer?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Is it you?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Are you willing to share?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Are you willing to listen?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Who is a laborer?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Is it you?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Are you able to show them Jesus?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Are you willing to be patient?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Who is a laborer?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Is it you?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Will you put your hand to the plow?</p> <div style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">Will you keep your eyes upon Jesus?</p> </div> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">To those who labor, Jesus offers rest. To those who bear the burden, Jesus offers his yoke which is light. To labor does not mean that you must travel far away, knock on doors and tackle people with the 10 Commandments. There are many different laborers, but all sharing the load, carrying the burden as a joy.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">May the Lord of the harvest strengthen you with His Spirit so that your days of labor may be a joy in His sight. Amen.<o:p></o:p></i></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-735972247474440151?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-12272418063131558372009-10-01T14:56:00.001-08:002009-10-01T14:58:22.439-08:00Prayer<p class="MsoNormal">Matthew 6:7-8 Jesus said, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him</i>.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Prayer is a very personal thing. For some, it comes easy, like talking to a good friend. For others, it’s awkward and feels forced. And still for others, there needs to be a formula to follow. No matter where you are at with your prayers, it is still a vital part of the life of a Christian. We need to pray. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Jesus is talking with his disciples and helping them develop good communication skills with the Father. Apparently there were many examples of prayers even then. Jesus says that the Gentiles heap up empty phrases. Perhaps he was referring to some type of incantation, repetitious but void of any meaning. Maybe it was more like a “ohm” phrase, a mantra if you will. Again, this is something that for Jesus was considered void of meaning.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Each Christian prays differently. Some like to repeat God’s name. Some like to “just” pray. Some only follow the liturgical form. The question that rises is why do you pray like you do? What do you hope will happen from your prayer?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Jesus says that your heavenly Father knows what you need even before you ask him. Just as parents know what their children need, God knows what you need. So then Jesus introduces the disciples to what we call today The Lord’s Prayer. In verses 9-13, Jesus teaches his disciples how they should pray.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sometimes we’re able to pray without ceasing… 1 Thessalonians <st1:time hour="17" minute="17">5:17</st1:time></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sometimes we don’t have the words…Romans 8:26</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sometimes we pray out of darkness… Jonah 2:1</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Where ever you are with your prayers, just pray. And when nothing comes to mind or there’s too much on your mind, pray as our Lord Jesus taught us to pray:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Our Father who art in heaven,<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Hallowed be thy name,<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Thy kingdom come,<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Give us this day our daily bread<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>And forgive us our trespasses<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>As we forgive those who trespass against us<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Lead us not into temptation<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>But deliver us from evil<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">For thine is the kingdom<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>And the power and the glory<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Forever and ever. Amen.<o:p></o:p></i></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-1227241806313155837?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-88375582417830433252009-09-09T12:16:00.000-08:002009-09-09T12:17:38.424-08:00Paradox<p class="MsoNormal">Philippians 2:3 Paul writes, “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">What a paradox it is to be a Christian…</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Servant</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>Leader</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Sinner</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>Saint</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Shepherd</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>Sheep</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Living in Christ</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>Christ living in me</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Boasting in God<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>Humble in Christ</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Power from the Spirit</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>Perfected in weakness</p> <p class="MsoNormal">What a paradox to live in this world…</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>It’s all about you</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>But it’s not about you</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Be a servant to all</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>Not a doormat</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Yourself</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>Others</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Pride</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>Humility</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Sin</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>Forgiveness</p> <p class="MsoNormal">What a paradox to follow Jesus…</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Slave to sin</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>Slave to Christ</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Follow<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>Lead</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Seeking</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>Being sought</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Discovering</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>Being uncovered</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Not doing</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>Already done</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The life and heart of Christ in the life and heart of the Christian is a paradox. God in human flesh, forgiveness and grace wrapped in skin. Christ in you and in those upon whom your gaze falls. </p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-8837558241783043325?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-29146360789832023522009-08-26T09:46:00.000-08:002009-08-26T09:47:00.123-08:00Tired, Not Really!<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">2 Corinthians 4:8-10 Paul writes, <i>“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.”</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I am tired. Just when I think I have gotten some energy back, I’m tired again. I think there are more people who are tired than there are who have energy. Just look at all of the energy drinks out there. There are tons of them, from purely chemical to purely organic, from some with tropical rainforest fruits to straight corn syrup, you can find an energy drink to suit anyone. Why are there so many energy drinks? Because people are tired.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Paul’s words to the Corinthians shows me why I’m so tired. Afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, struck down, carrying death and carrying life. Just reading those words make me tired. How about you? It is the life of the sinner saint, the paradox of Christian existence that wears down the human soul and body. Luther wrote in the Large Catechism about this very thing. The human becomes a target of an enemy that never sleeps nor grows weary. Temptations pop up constantly, like little advertisements on your computer. Just when you click one away, a new one is there. What do you do when you can’t stop them from coming? You shut off the computer and retreat.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>When the afflictions, perplexing things, persecution and blows come, you and I as mere human beings cannot withstand them on our own. We run to the death and resurrection of Jesus, the death and life of our Savior that we carry within us. We run to the Lord’s Prayer. That is why we are not crushed, driven to despair, forsaken, nor destroyed. Because if we, through baptism, have been tied to a death like Jesus, we will surely be raised up to new life like him. The sinner/ saint paradox is what it is. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>But we still get tired. Spiritual fatigue shows itself often in physical fatigue, at least it does with me. When my spirit is flagging, my body is flagging. That’s when I go to the store and buy a concoction of chemistry and mystical rainforest fruit. I think it’s more psychological than it is real. That feeds my body and wakes it up, but it does nothing for my soul. I pray for the life of Jesus to be manifested in my body. Wow, what a prayer! My soul will grow weary, but Jesus never tires. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Would you be so bold as to pray that prayer with me? As more and more of us suffer from a tired soul, would you pray that the life of Jesus would be manifested, would show itself in your body? Let’s see what the Lord has in store with that one!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Heavenly Father, though we grow tired from the constant battle, the death and life every day, we pray that through the power of your Holy Spirit, that the life of your Son, Jesus would be made manifest in our bodies today! Amen, Amen, Amen!<o:p></o:p></i></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-2914636078983202352?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-57391734528044329682009-08-20T09:18:00.000-08:002009-08-20T09:19:10.096-08:00Making a Statement<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">1 Corinthians <st1:time hour="11" minute="26">11:26</st1:time> Paul writes: For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> What is it about you that makes a statement? For some, it’s the clothes they wear. The more expensive, the more fashionable, the flashier the clothes, the louder the statement. What do your clothes say about you? What does your car say about you? What does your house say about you? Think about the statement you make every time you walk out the door. “Well, I’m not trying to make a statement. I just wanted to go get a loaf of bread,” you might say. That may be true, but the fact is that everything about you makes a statement of some kind or another.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Statements are open to interpretation, though. They are often misinterpreted and misunderstood. Paul was writing to the Corinthian church because their practice of the Lord’s Supper was making the wrong statement. It showed him that they didn’t really get what it was all about and that they were making a mockery of the sacrament. Some where pigging out while others were going hungry. Some were getting drunk while others were left thirsty. Not only were they getting in trouble with Paul but they were thumbing their noses at God, and he wouldn’t stand for it. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” If you’re making fun of this stuff now, what statement are you making about the sacrifice of Christ and his forgiveness. He called them to account and with brutal honesty, told them they’d better shape up. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>When you come to the Lord’s table for communion, you are making a statement. Whether you think so or not, you are. When you stand at the altar, you are proclaiming the death and resurrection of Christ for the forgiveness of sins, not only in your life, but in the lives of all those around you. When you come to the table, it’s not just a you-and-Jesus thing. It’s a you-and-me-and-Jesus thing. We stand together, proclaiming our faith in Jesus and our thankfulness for all that he has done and continues to do for us. When you come with hands open, you make a statement that you stand with the church that feeds you. This is where it gets sticky. Do you believe what this church believes about what you are eating and drinking? I suppose you are free to make up in your mind what you think you believe about it all, but you’re also free to be very wrong about it and thus, run the risk of being like the Corinthians. I’ll ask once again: what statement are you making when you stand before the altar and share in the feast of the Lord’s Supper?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Through faith in Christ, the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are fed with the bread of life for the forgiveness of our sins, the strengthening of our faith, for eternal life and for salvation.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Heavenly Father, through the sacrificial death and glorious resurrection of your Son, Jesus, we are mercifully given forgiveness, life and salvation. Strengthen us by your Spirit to come to your Holy Supper in humbleness and in faith. Until we feast in the heavenly kingdom, in Jesus’ name, amen</i>.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-5739173452804432968?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-85075228629886646292009-08-14T10:00:00.000-08:002009-08-14T10:01:48.447-08:00Scandalous!<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;">John <st1:time hour="18" minute="58">6:58</st1:time> Jesus said, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">“This is the bread that came down from heaven, not as the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”</i> Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught in <st1:city><st1:place>Capernaum</st1:place></st1:city>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%">“Did you hear what he said?” Scandalous! Top scandals always revolve around celebrities, politicians and sports stars. We eat this stuff up, too. We love a good scandal. We love to see the mighty brought low, those who think they’re untouchable exposed. Scandalous. Until the scandal is brought home, then, we don’t like it so much and wish everyone would just stay out of our business. Hmmm. Something doesn’t seem quite right. Even the simplest things can be made scandalous. Innocent pictures, benign letters written, all can be turned into something scandalous.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%">Jesus turns bread into something scandalous. I think he does it on purpose. I don’t think it was an accident that Jesus took something like manna and bread and made it into something shocking. The people needed to be shocked. They needed a wake up. They needed to have the ordinary turned extraordinary. “And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” Yikes! Yuck! What?! Bread becomes flesh? Scandalous. Our precious manna, first turned to Jesus and now, quite literally to his flesh, the meat of his bones. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%">Yet out of this scandalous talk of flesh, blood, eating and drinking come the words of eternal life, as Peter confesses later. The living Father gives life to Jesus and Jesus, through his flesh and blood sacrifice on the cross, gives life to you and me. These are incredible words of eternal life for you and me today. Despite the scandal of food, flesh and blood, Jesus promises life from them. Jesus says that the words he speaks are spirit and life. They are the air we breathe. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%">Jesus is still scandalous today, isn’t he? I mean, we can talk about all kinds of things that for all intents and purposes should offend us, but when it comes to talking about Jesus, it can be incredibly scandalous. People are not offended by the amount of sex, drugs, death and violence on TV, but put Jesus on there and “Oh My bleep” Who do those Christians think they are? Scandalous. Spirituality is great as long as you don’t mention Jesus. He’s scandalous, because he says he is the only way to the Father. Does any of this really make sense at all? </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I want to take a quick survey, but you don’t have to raise your hand. What are the things that are scandalous to talk about in church? Money, politics, sex? What are the things that are scandalous to talk about in the “outside” world? Jesus, church, faith. Again, HUH? </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%">Jesus is Scandalous. He takes bread, food, and makes it scandalous. He takes the common and scandalizes people with them. And Peter makes a confession that sticks with us today: Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed and come to know that you are the Holy One of God. The words of eternal life are scandalous. They are scandalous because they do what they say. His words spoken effect what they are speaking. When he says, “I forgive you.” You are forgiven. When he says, “This is my body,” it is what he says. It’s scandalous because words represent what they are spoken about, they don’t become the very thing. But with Jesus, they do. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%">Which leads me to the scandal of the Lord’s Supper. Whether Jesus was trying to clue the world in with this discussion in John is still up for debate. To me, the debate doesn’t matter much. The Lord’s Supper is a scandal in itself. Bread and wine become body and blood, solely based on Jesus’ scandalous words. It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink. That’s straight out of the catechism. This body and blood, this flesh and blood, this living bread is given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins, for life and for salvation. That is scandalous. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%">And all y’all are wrapped up in the scandal. Simply sitting in this place puts you in the midst of one of the longest running scandals in the history of creation. It puts you in the middle of the sinner/saint scandal, of those who don’t live a life that measures up to the scandalous standards of the Father and yet the very same that Jesus died for. How scandalous is it to be a Christian? Jesus asks the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Are you scandalized by me? But you’re here, now, in this place because you are not scandalized by Jesus and his words. You are forgiven, not forsaken. Scandalous!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-8507522862988664629?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-38568306404919060292009-07-29T13:57:00.002-08:002009-07-29T14:10:58.259-08:00Fixing the Floor Part 2The new developments in the "fixing the floor" concept...<div>First, I was reminded while working on our float for the Golden Days Parade here in Fairbanks about who the carpenter is... It's not me. Jesus, most people assume, grew up learning the trade of his father, Joseph. But in the spiritual sense, Jesus is the carpenter and also the cornerstone. So to think we could build or rebuild anything without Jesus would be foolish. It has to be about him or nothing else matters.</div><div><br /></div><div>Second, when handling the wood necessary to rebuild, one tends to get splinters. Smaller pieces break off and lodge subcutaneously causing irritation. The splinter that has been stuck since just this morning reminds me that this rebuilding, fixing the floor, is larger than just one congregation. Perhaps it means planting a church or opening a satellite or just a coffee shop, not sure yet. </div><div><br /></div><div>Third, there are many talented, gifted, Spirit-filled people that need to be involved in this project. A team needs to be brought together to share this vision and help with the building up of God's kingdom. </div><div><br /></div><div>From fixing the floor to building another house, Jesus is the carpenter and the Holy Spirit is the foreman. More to come as time goes by...</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-3856830640491906029?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-3576369329778946802009-07-15T15:05:00.004-08:002009-07-17T13:45:29.917-08:00Fixing the FloorWhen we lived in Michigan, we lived just north of the city of Detroit. We read in our church bulletin one Sunday that a mother about four miles to the south of us needed a crib for her new baby. Our son had just outgrown our crib, so we decided that we could give it away. We took it apart and I drove down to 5-mile road to deliver the crib. As I approached the house, I noticed that the stairs were in need of repair and had to choose carefully how I walked up to the door. The porch was the same. As I entered the house, meeting the owner who was a wonderful woman, dedicated to her family and very loving, I noticed the floor had holes and loose boards all over the place. She directed me to follow her to where she wanted the crib. I followed her every step, knowing that if I ventured off the path, I'd be through the floor in no time. But she had learned how to walk among the loose boards and nail pops and holes in order to get from point A to point B, in her own home. She was unable to fix the floor, so she normalized the damage and navigated accordingly.<div><br /></div><div>Our church has learned to navigate a broken floor. We struggle with Christians who are inactive and unresponsive to the needs of the community and even of their own house. How have they become inactive? They didn't used to be. In fact, they came to the church very excited, eager and willing to be part of the community. But once they were in the house, they discovered that no one was moving. Why aren't they moving? Because the floor is broken and if you move, you might fall through. There are some who are moving, but they are moving very carefully, deliberately and slowly. You have to be that way because the floor is not safe. </div><div><br /></div><div>How did the house fall into disrepair? I'm not sure. I have my guesses and maybe historically, there are a lot of reasons, but honestly, that's not important. The important thing is to consider whether you want to teach people how to walk on a broken floor or do you want to fix the floor? Which is going to be more work? In the short term it might be easier to teach people where to step, but that limits movement because you can't have everyone moving at the same time. It also limits creativity and the path that is prescribed by safety is the only way to go. If you go outside that path, you run the risk of injury. This path is marked by words like: w<i>e don't do things like that here, if you want to get things done you have to do it this way, it's just not a sure thing, so we probably shouldn't do anything, someone tried to do that before and got hurt.</i> Have you heard these things? So the short term solution is limiting, prescribed and boring.</div><div><br /></div><div>We need to fix the floor. We need to create a place for exploration, creativity, excitement, movement. How do we go about creating or re-creating an environment where God's gifts can be given the freedom and energy they need in order to accomplish his work with joy and excitement?</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-357636932977894680?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-40048189557966001772009-07-01T11:21:00.000-08:002009-07-01T11:24:10.742-08:00Celebrity Worship<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;">In light of the recent passings of Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson and Ed McMahon, among others, there is a great need to be reminded of the created-ness of man. We tend to worship with our gossip and our attention those who have attained some imaginary status of celebrity. Remember all of the others who have passed on, saints in the eyes of God, that no one has remembered or have been splashed across the newspapers.</p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Acts 10:25-26 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> Have you ever met anyone really famous? I mean, a super-star celebrity or great statesman, world leader? Chances are that not too many of us have met someone that holds high worldly status. But even when meeting someone of mild worldly status, we tend to behave differently. We might smile a lot, gush about how great they are and how we’re such big fans and we might even get a little nervous. But it grieves my heart when I see people overflow with emotion and worship of a person that should only be given to God.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Cornelius is a gentile who was held in high esteem even by the Jewish authorities. He was given a vision by God to call Peter and listen to what Peter had to say. But when Peter shows up, Cornelius treats him as if he were God. The scriptures use the word worship. He worshiped at Peter’s feet. A sign of respect is one thing, but out and out worship is another and Peter won’t have it. “I’m just a guy like you.” Peter wants to be sure that Cornelius and all of those in the household know that he doesn’t think more highly of himself than he ought, to quote Paul. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>There is a lot to be read here. Some proverbs might come from this. Don’t get a big head. Don’t think that you’re better than anyone else. Beware of those who fall at your feet for they may be tying your shoelaces together. Peter wanted everyone to know that it was the message from Jesus that was of utmost importance, not necessarily who it was that brought it. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Our worship is reserved for the King of kings and Lord of lords, God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. No one else and nothing else is deserving of our worship. In the Psalms, the writer talks about things made from stone or wood or metal that can’t hear, see or speak. We don’t worship those. We don’t worship anything that is in creation. We only worship the Creator. We don’t worship anyone who needed saving. We only worship the one who is able to save. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>So for all of those celebrity worshipers, keep in mind that they are only men and women, just like you and me. They are no more deserving of our worship than you are deserving of being worshiped. And if you feel like you deserve to be worshiped, try your hand at creating life from nothing and when you can do that, we’ll talk.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">Heavenly Father, thank you for creating us. We praise your wonderful name and are blessed to be part of your creation. Through your Holy Spirit, help us to be mindful of the difference between Creator and creation. Help us always to keep our worship focused on you and only you. In your Son’s name we pray. Amen.</span></o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-4004818955796600177?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-58552165529459051882009-06-23T13:22:00.000-08:002009-06-23T13:25:02.341-08:00women/mothers are more attentive to the spiritual than men/fathers.<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande'; font-size: 11px; "><div id="comments_paging_container_5350570473011639482_121747235341" class="comments_paging_container" style="overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; position: relative; float: left; "><div id="comments_page_current_5350570473011639482_121747235341"><div id="comment_5350570473011639482_121747235341_2588736" class="ufi_section" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(236, 239, 245); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(229, 234, 241); clear: left; float: none; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; margin-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 6px; padding-right: 4px; padding-left: 6px; width: 350px; padding-bottom: 0px; background-position: initial initial; "><div class="comment_content" id="comment_box_5350570473011639482_121747235341_2588736" style="float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 2px; width: 311px; "><div class="comment_actions" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); margin-left: 4px; "><span class="comment_meta_data" style="font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; ">20am June 23</span><span class="comment_credits" style="margin-left: 4px; "></span></div><div class="comment_text" style="padding-top: 2px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; "><div id="text_expose_id_4a414763d27a44018797105" class="comment_actual_text">That it's more often women than men who decide to involve their family in a church and/or assume the responsibiliy to follow thru with that commitment.<br /><br />Why do you ask?</div></div></div></div><div id="comment_5350570473011639482_121747235341_2588962" class="ufi_section" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(236, 239, 245); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(229, 234, 241); clear: left; float: none; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; margin-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 6px; padding-right: 4px; padding-left: 6px; width: 350px; padding-bottom: 0px; background-position: initial initial; "><div class="comment_profile_pic" style="text-align: left; padding-right: 2px; padding-bottom: 4px; float: left; "><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1377692265&ref=mf" title="Joe Baumgarten" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; "><span class="UIRoundedImage UIRoundedImage_GIRLIE UIRoundedImage_SMALL" style="display: block; background-color: rgb(196, 205, 224); overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; position: relative; width: 32px; height: 32px; "><img src="http://profile.ak.facebook.com/v226/1242/18/q1377692265_4161.jpg" alt="Joe Baumgarten" class="UIRoundedImage_Image" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; display: block; position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; vertical-align: middle; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); height: 35px; width: 35px; background-position: initial initial; " /><span class="UIRoundedImage_Corners" style="display: block; position: absolute; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; top: 0px; left: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; width: 100%; height: 100%; background-position: initial initial; "><img src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/images/ui/UIRoundedImage.png?8:156558" alt="" class="UIRoundedImage_CornersSprite" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; display: block; position: absolute; top: -50px; left: -50px; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); height: 35px; width: 35px; background-position: initial initial; " /></span></span></a></div><div class="comment_content" id="comment_box_5350570473011639482_121747235341_2588962" style="float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 2px; width: 311px; "><div class="comment_actions" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); margin-left: 4px; "><a onclick="remove_feed_comment_dialog("121747235341", "5350570473011639482", 2588962, "1377692265", 0, 22, "0", "8dd1371884a47f03"); return false;" class="x_to_hide" title="Click here to remove this comment" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; background-image: url(http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/images/sprite/MegaSprite_5005_ltr.png); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: medium; border-right-width: medium; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-width: medium; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-color: initial; margin-left: 3px; margin-top: -1px; float: right; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 5px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; width: 3px; background-position: -844px -64px; "> </a><span class="comment_meta_data" style="font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; "></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1377692265&ref=mf" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; ">Joe Baumgarten</a><span class="comment_meta_data" style="font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; "> at 9:29am June 23</span><span class="comment_credits" style="margin-left: 4px; "></span></div><div class="comment_text" style="padding-top: 2px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; "><div id="text_expose_id_4a414763d2f6a4b86157469" class="comment_actual_text">Curiosity. It's a quote from someone in leadership. Who is it that gave men permission to not be "spiritual?" This is an issue God's been working on in my head and heart.</div></div></div></div><div id="comment_5350570473011639482_121747235341_2589010" class="ufi_section" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(236, 239, 245); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(229, 234, 241); clear: left; float: none; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; margin-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 6px; padding-right: 4px; padding-left: 6px; width: 350px; padding-bottom: 0px; background-position: initial initial; "><div class="comment_profile_pic" style="text-align: left; padding-right: 2px; padding-bottom: 4px; float: left; "><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1377692265&ref=mf" title="Joe Baumgarten" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; "><span class="UIRoundedImage UIRoundedImage_GIRLIE UIRoundedImage_SMALL" style="display: block; background-color: rgb(196, 205, 224); overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; position: relative; width: 32px; height: 32px; "><img src="http://profile.ak.facebook.com/v226/1242/18/q1377692265_4161.jpg" alt="Joe Baumgarten" class="UIRoundedImage_Image" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; display: block; position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; vertical-align: middle; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); height: 35px; width: 35px; background-position: initial initial; " /><span class="UIRoundedImage_Corners" style="display: block; position: absolute; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; top: 0px; left: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; width: 100%; height: 100%; background-position: initial initial; "><img src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/images/ui/UIRoundedImage.png?8:156558" alt="" class="UIRoundedImage_CornersSprite" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; display: block; position: absolute; top: -50px; left: -50px; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); height: 35px; width: 35px; background-position: initial initial; " /></span></span></a></div><div class="comment_content" id="comment_box_5350570473011639482_121747235341_2589010" style="float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 2px; width: 311px; "><div class="comment_actions" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); margin-left: 4px; "><a onclick="remove_feed_comment_dialog("121747235341", "5350570473011639482", 2589010, "1377692265", 0, 22, "0", "8dd1371884a47f03"); return false;" class="x_to_hide" title="Click here to remove this comment" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; background-image: url(http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/images/sprite/MegaSprite_5005_ltr.png); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: medium; border-right-width: medium; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-width: medium; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-color: initial; margin-left: 3px; margin-top: -1px; float: right; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 5px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; width: 3px; background-position: -844px -64px; "> </a><span class="comment_meta_data" style="font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; "></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1377692265&ref=mf" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; ">Joe Baumgarten</a><span class="comment_meta_data" style="font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; "> at 9:31am June 23</span><span class="comment_credits" style="margin-left: 4px; "></span></div><div class="comment_text" style="padding-top: 2px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; "><div id="text_expose_id_4a414763d346b1854871438" class="comment_actual_text">or is it that men are spiritual on a different level or wavelength and we have forgotten that?</div></div></div></div><div id="comment_5350570473011639482_121747235341_2589565" class="ufi_section" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(236, 239, 245); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(229, 234, 241); clear: left; float: none; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; margin-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 6px; padding-right: 4px; padding-left: 6px; width: 350px; padding-bottom: 0px; background-position: initial initial; "><div class="comment_content" id="comment_box_5350570473011639482_121747235341_2589565" style="float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 2px; width: 311px; "><div class="comment_actions" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); margin-left: 4px; "><span class="comment_meta_data" style="font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; "> at 9:57am June 23</span><span class="comment_credits" style="margin-left: 4px; "></span></div><div class="comment_text" style="padding-top: 2px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; "><div id="text_expose_id_4a414763d3b4d4a48540285" class="comment_actual_text">I think people tend to equate spiritual with church involvement... this muddies the waters</div></div></div></div><div id="comment_5350570473011639482_121747235341_2589811" class="ufi_section" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(236, 239, 245); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(229, 234, 241); clear: left; float: none; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; margin-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 6px; padding-right: 4px; padding-left: 6px; width: 350px; padding-bottom: 0px; background-position: initial initial; "><div class="comment_content" id="comment_box_5350570473011639482_121747235341_2589811" style="float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 2px; width: 311px; "><div class="comment_actions" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); margin-left: 4px; "><span class="comment_meta_data" style="font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; "> at 10:08am June 23</span><span class="comment_credits" style="margin-left: 4px; "></span></div><div class="comment_text" style="padding-top: 2px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; "><div id="text_expose_id_4a414763d40225159344440" class="comment_actual_text">To some, the two are one in the same. No muddy water here.</div></div></div></div><div id="comment_5350570473011639482_121747235341_2590063" class="ufi_section" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(236, 239, 245); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(229, 234, 241); clear: left; float: none; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; margin-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 6px; padding-right: 4px; padding-left: 6px; width: 350px; padding-bottom: 0px; background-position: initial initial; "><div class="comment_content" id="comment_box_5350570473011639482_121747235341_2590063" style="float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 2px; width: 311px; "><div class="comment_actions" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); margin-left: 4px; "><span class="comment_meta_data" style="font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; "> at 10:22am June 23</span><span class="comment_credits" style="margin-left: 4px; "></span></div><div class="comment_text" style="padding-top: 2px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; "><div id="text_expose_id_4a414763d44f91e06043785" class="comment_actual_text">Joe, to answer your follow-up questions... I don't think men are considered off the hook to be spiritual beings. Maybe there is something to your speculation that men are spiritual in different ways. I just think women have taken the lead for so long that some men have just become comfortable with their secondary role.</div></div></div></div><div id="comment_5350570473011639482_121747235341_2590234" class="ufi_section" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(236, 239, 245); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(229, 234, 241); clear: left; float: none; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; margin-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 6px; padding-right: 4px; padding-left: 6px; width: 350px; padding-bottom: 0px; background-position: initial initial; "><div class="comment_content" id="comment_box_5350570473011639482_121747235341_2590234" style="float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 2px; width: 311px; "><div class="comment_actions" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); margin-left: 4px; "><span class="comment_meta_data" style="font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; "> at 10:31am June 23</span><span class="comment_credits" style="margin-left: 4px; "></span></div><div class="comment_text" style="padding-top: 2px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; "><div id="text_expose_id_4a414763d4b5b8324701316" class="comment_actual_text">I think women/mothers feel the need to be a part of a church in order to be valitaded and try to show themselves and their children that there is a world around them that shares the faith</div></div></div></div><div id="comment_5350570473011639482_121747235341_2591481" class="ufi_section" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(236, 239, 245); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(229, 234, 241); clear: left; float: none; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; margin-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 6px; padding-right: 4px; padding-left: 6px; width: 350px; padding-bottom: 0px; background-position: initial initial; "><div class="comment_profile_pic" style="text-align: left; padding-right: 2px; padding-bottom: 4px; float: left; "><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1377692265&ref=mf" title="Joe Baumgarten" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; "><span class="UIRoundedImage UIRoundedImage_GIRLIE UIRoundedImage_SMALL" style="display: block; background-color: rgb(196, 205, 224); overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; position: relative; width: 32px; height: 32px; "><img src="http://profile.ak.facebook.com/v226/1242/18/q1377692265_4161.jpg" alt="Joe Baumgarten" class="UIRoundedImage_Image" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; display: block; position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; 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position: absolute; top: -50px; left: -50px; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); height: 35px; width: 35px; background-position: initial initial; " /></span></span></a></div><div class="comment_content" id="comment_box_5350570473011639482_121747235341_2591481" style="float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 2px; width: 311px; "><div class="comment_actions" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); margin-left: 4px; "><a onclick="remove_feed_comment_dialog("121747235341", "5350570473011639482", 2591481, "1377692265", 0, 22, "0", "8dd1371884a47f03"); return false;" class="x_to_hide" title="Click here to remove this comment" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; background-image: url(http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/images/sprite/MegaSprite_5005_ltr.png); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: medium; border-right-width: medium; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-width: medium; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-color: initial; margin-left: 3px; margin-top: -1px; float: right; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 5px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; width: 3px; background-position: -844px -64px; "> </a><span class="comment_meta_data" style="font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; "></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1377692265&ref=mf" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; ">Joe Baumgarten</a><span class="comment_meta_data" style="font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; "> at 11:28am June 23</span><span class="comment_credits" style="margin-left: 4px; "></span></div><div class="comment_text" style="padding-top: 2px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; "><div id="text_expose_id_4a414763d50532c34411837" class="comment_actual_text">great discussion, keep going. I agree with Andy in that people feel by serving the church they are serving God. While for some this may be where their gifts are used, but not necessarily. I also agree that men have in many areas of the church fallen into a complacency created by women filling the vacuum left when men stepped down. That may be a chicken and the egg thing, which happened first? For Danielle or MIke, is the social network replacing the spiritual side of fellowship?</div></div></div></div><div id="comment_5350570473011639482_121747235341_2592481" class="ufi_section" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(236, 239, 245); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(229, 234, 241); clear: left; float: none; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; margin-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 6px; padding-right: 4px; padding-left: 6px; width: 350px; padding-bottom: 0px; background-position: initial initial; "><div class="comment_content" id="comment_box_5350570473011639482_121747235341_2592481" style="float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 2px; width: 311px; "><div class="comment_actions" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); margin-left: 4px; "><span class="comment_meta_data" style="font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; "> at 12:12pm June 23</span><span class="comment_credits" style="margin-left: 4px; "></span></div><div class="comment_text" style="padding-top: 2px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; "><div id="text_expose_id_4a414763d55e66b23877104" class="comment_actual_text">I work with Community Theater. We always have more women available for involvement than men.... is this a spiritual thing? Again, I would submit that one can easily mistake scheduling availability ... with spirituality. Also, I think it is a mistake to assume that all spiritual things are tied to the church. People always say that 20 percent of<span class="text_exposed_hide">... <span class="text_exposed_link" style="background-image: url(http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/images/add_content_spr.gif); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; white-space: nowrap; background-position: 100% 1px; "><a onclick="CSS.addClass($("text_expose_id_4a414763d55e66b23877104"), "text_exposed");" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; ">Read More</a></span></span></div></div></div></div><div id="comment_5350570473011639482_121747235341_2593194" class="ufi_section" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(236, 239, 245); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(229, 234, 241); clear: left; float: none; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; margin-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 6px; padding-right: 4px; padding-left: 6px; width: 350px; padding-bottom: 0px; background-position: initial initial; "><div class="comment_profile_pic" style="text-align: left; padding-right: 2px; padding-bottom: 4px; float: left; "><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1377692265&ref=mf" title="Joe Baumgarten" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; "><span class="UIRoundedImage UIRoundedImage_GIRLIE UIRoundedImage_SMALL" style="display: block; background-color: rgb(196, 205, 224); overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; position: relative; width: 32px; height: 32px; "><img src="http://profile.ak.facebook.com/v226/1242/18/q1377692265_4161.jpg" alt="Joe Baumgarten" class="UIRoundedImage_Image" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; display: block; position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; vertical-align: middle; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); height: 35px; width: 35px; background-position: initial initial; " /><span class="UIRoundedImage_Corners" style="display: block; position: absolute; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; top: 0px; left: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; width: 100%; height: 100%; background-position: initial initial; "><img src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/images/ui/UIRoundedImage.png?8:156558" alt="" class="UIRoundedImage_CornersSprite" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; display: block; position: absolute; top: -50px; left: -50px; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); height: 35px; width: 35px; background-position: initial initial; " /></span></span></a></div><div class="comment_content" id="comment_box_5350570473011639482_121747235341_2593194" style="float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 2px; width: 311px; "><div class="comment_actions" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); margin-left: 4px; "><a onclick="remove_feed_comment_dialog("121747235341", "5350570473011639482", 2593194, "1377692265", 0, 22, "0", "8dd1371884a47f03"); return false;" class="x_to_hide" title="Click here to remove this comment" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; background-image: url(http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/images/sprite/MegaSprite_5005_ltr.png); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: medium; border-right-width: medium; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-width: medium; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-color: initial; margin-left: 3px; margin-top: -1px; float: right; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 5px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; width: 3px; background-position: -844px -64px; "> </a><span class="comment_meta_data" style="font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; "></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1377692265&ref=mf" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; ">Joe Baumgarten</a><span class="comment_meta_data" style="font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; "> at 12:44pm June 23</span><span class="comment_credits" style="margin-left: 4px; "></span></div><div class="comment_text" style="padding-top: 2px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; "><div id="text_expose_id_4a414763d63fe4e54463797" class="comment_actual_text">I'm with you. An us vs them or a he vs. she approach is asking for trouble. However, I think there is a distinct male/female design for a spiritual life. The church has since the 60's catered to a feminine spiritual approach that has discounted, discouraged and disenfranchised a majority of men from service in the church.</div></div></div></div><div id="comment_5350570473011639482_121747235341_2593721" class="ufi_section" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(236, 239, 245); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(229, 234, 241); clear: left; float: none; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; margin-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 6px; padding-right: 4px; padding-left: 6px; width: 350px; padding-bottom: 0px; background-position: initial initial; "><div class="comment_profile_pic" style="text-align: left; padding-right: 2px; padding-bottom: 4px; float: left; "><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1377692265&ref=mf" title="Joe Baumgarten" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; "><span class="UIRoundedImage UIRoundedImage_GIRLIE UIRoundedImage_SMALL" style="display: block; background-color: rgb(196, 205, 224); overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; position: relative; width: 32px; height: 32px; "><img src="http://profile.ak.facebook.com/v226/1242/18/q1377692265_4161.jpg" alt="Joe Baumgarten" class="UIRoundedImage_Image" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; display: block; position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; vertical-align: middle; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); height: 35px; width: 35px; background-position: initial initial; " /><span class="UIRoundedImage_Corners" style="display: block; position: absolute; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; top: 0px; left: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; width: 100%; height: 100%; background-position: initial initial; "><img src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/images/ui/UIRoundedImage.png?8:156558" alt="" class="UIRoundedImage_CornersSprite" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; display: block; position: absolute; top: -50px; left: -50px; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); height: 35px; width: 35px; background-position: initial initial; " /></span></span></a></div><div class="comment_content" id="comment_box_5350570473011639482_121747235341_2593721" style="float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 2px; width: 311px; "><div class="comment_actions" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); margin-left: 4px; "><a onclick="remove_feed_comment_dialog("121747235341", "5350570473011639482", 2593721, "1377692265", 0, 22, "0", "8dd1371884a47f03"); return false;" class="x_to_hide" title="Click here to remove this comment" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; background-image: url(http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/images/sprite/MegaSprite_5005_ltr.png); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: medium; border-right-width: medium; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-width: medium; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-color: initial; margin-left: 3px; margin-top: -1px; float: right; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 5px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; width: 3px; background-position: -844px -64px; "> </a><span class="comment_meta_data" style="font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; "></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1377692265&ref=mf" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; ">Joe Baumgarten</a><span class="comment_meta_data" style="font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; "> at 1:10pm June 23</span><span class="comment_credits" style="margin-left: 4px; "></span></div><div class="comment_text" style="padding-top: 2px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; "><div id="text_expose_id_4a414763d691f2020041367" class="comment_actual_text">maybe I read too much into the statement in the first place...</div></div></div></div><div id="comment_5350570473011639482_121747235341_2593806" class="ufi_section" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(236, 239, 245); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(229, 234, 241); clear: left; float: none; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; margin-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 6px; padding-right: 4px; padding-left: 6px; width: 350px; padding-bottom: 0px; background-position: initial initial; "><div class="comment_content" id="comment_box_5350570473011639482_121747235341_2593806" style="float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 2px; width: 311px; "><div class="comment_actions" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); margin-left: 4px; "><span class="comment_meta_data" style="font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; "> at 1:14pm June 23</span><span class="comment_credits" style="margin-left: 4px; "></span></div><div class="comment_text" style="padding-top: 2px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; "><div id="text_expose_id_4a414763d6dcd9c51060369" class="comment_actual_text">I think people can take and interpret a statement like that in a lot of different ways.... that's why I think it should generate a discussion rather than a conclusion.</div></div></div></div></div></div><div id="comment_5350570473011639482_121747235341_2593974" class="ufi_section" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(236, 239, 245); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(229, 234, 241); clear: left; float: none; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; margin-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 6px; padding-right: 4px; padding-left: 6px; width: 350px; padding-bottom: 0px; background-position: initial initial; "><div class="comment_profile_pic" style="text-align: left; padding-right: 2px; padding-bottom: 4px; float: left; "><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1377692265&ref=mf" title="Joe Baumgarten" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; "><span class="UIRoundedImage UIRoundedImage_GIRLIE UIRoundedImage_SMALL" style="display: block; background-color: rgb(196, 205, 224); overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; position: relative; width: 32px; height: 32px; "><img src="http://profile.ak.facebook.com/v226/1242/18/q1377692265_4161.jpg" alt="Joe Baumgarten" class="UIRoundedImage_Image" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; display: block; position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; vertical-align: middle; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); height: 35px; width: 35px; background-position: initial initial; " /><span class="UIRoundedImage_Corners" style="display: block; position: absolute; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; top: 0px; left: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; width: 100%; height: 100%; background-position: initial initial; "><img src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/images/ui/UIRoundedImage.png?8:156558" alt="" class="UIRoundedImage_CornersSprite" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; display: block; position: absolute; top: -50px; left: -50px; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); height: 35px; width: 35px; background-position: initial initial; " /></span></span></a></div><div class="comment_content" id="comment_box_5350570473011639482_121747235341_2593974" style="float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 2px; width: 311px; "><div class="comment_actions" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); margin-left: 4px; "><a onclick="remove_feed_comment_dialog("121747235341", "5350570473011639482", 2593974, "1377692265", 0, 22, "", "8dd1371884a47f03"); return false;" class="x_to_hide" title="Click here to remove this comment" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; background-image: url(http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/images/sprite/MegaSprite_5005_ltr.png); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: medium; border-right-width: medium; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-width: medium; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-color: initial; margin-left: 3px; margin-top: -1px; float: right; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 5px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; width: 3px; background-position: -844px -64px; "> </a><span class="comment_meta_data" style="font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; "></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1377692265&ref=mf" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; ">Joe Baumgarten</a><span class="comment_meta_data" style="font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; "> at 1:22pm June 23</span><span class="comment_credits" style="margin-left: 4px; "></span></div><div class="comment_text" style="padding-top: 2px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; "><div id="text_expose_id_4a41478b584e66d22371474" class="comment_actual_text">and I love the discussion.</div></div></div></div></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-5855216552945905188?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-51748694964719418802009-06-18T09:58:00.000-08:002009-06-18T09:59:04.278-08:00‘nuff said<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Proverbs <st1:time minute="27" hour="17">17:27</st1:time> Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Someone once said, “Better to keep your mouth closed and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt."</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Those two sound really similar. I think I’ll take their advice today. How about you? God’s peace to you.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-5174869496471941880?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-52644891186172647802009-06-10T12:34:00.001-08:002009-06-10T12:34:44.469-08:00Baptism and Hygiene<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Luke 13:10a Jesus said to him, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">“The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean.”</i><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> Customs and traditions of hygiene are different in our culture than they were in Jesus’ time. A person did not bathe very often back then. Not like today where some people take two or three showers per day. No wonder that there are so many skin moisturizers out there and a million varieties of soap and shampoo. We have a culture of cleanliness, I suppose. But it wasn’t so much of a concern for those in Jesus’ day.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> I am going to attempt a metaphor here, so if you’ll follow along, we’ll see where it takes us.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> Jesus washes his disciples’ feet in order to demonstrate an act of love, humility and service to each other. He sets that as an example of what we ought to do for one another. Peter wants his entire body washed, but Jesus tells him that he has already washed and is clean and just needs to have his feet washed. For the baptized Christian, he has been washed, cleansed and does not need to be washed again. However, there is a daily need for confession and forgiveness, a daily need to have your feet washed. Baptism happens once. For me as a pastor, the sooner the better. When someone gets sprayed by a skunk, you want the smell to be gone as soon as you can. Original sin has us all smelling like skunks and so, the need to be baptized is urgent right from the start. Baptism cleanses us from the eternal effects of original sin. Then the daily problems of sin has us smelling like skunks over and over again. But we don’t run to the baptismal font each time we sin. We run to the forgiveness of Jesus, the confession of sin and the absolution that comes from one Christian to another. “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean.”</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> We bathe in the waters of baptism. We wash our feet through confession and forgiveness.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> Peter said to Jesus, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” Forgiveness is important. Regular forgiveness is essential for a healthy life, as is good hygiene.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> The question for us to consider is: In our hyper-hygienic world, do we treat baptism the same way as we treat a shower, two or three times a day?</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> Just some thoughts as you walk along the road. This is a work in progress as more of the word picture comes to light.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Heavenly Father, thank you for the washing of baptism, the cleansing of water and Word. Help us not to neglect the daily washing of feet, the regular confession and forgiveness that is necessary for our health, both now and eternally. In Jesus’ name, amen</i>.</o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-5264489118617264780?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-78981851943377115672009-06-04T12:09:00.000-08:002009-06-04T12:10:15.347-08:00JesusLuke 22:67-69 (They said to Jesus) <em>“If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”<br /></em><br />Has anyone ever told you something that you simply couldn’t believe? I’m not referring to any sales pitch or time-share scam. I’m just talking about your regular friends sharing something with you that is just too hard to believe. Maybe they tell you something about their past or something that’s going on in their lives right now and you just can’t believe it. Perhaps the problem is not with their story, but with our preconceived notions, our made up images about the person. Or even more, it’s about our denial of the reality of their lives. We just don’t want them to be who they are, but who we want them to be.<br /><br />The Pharisees and the scribes, the religious know-it-alls of the time, wanted the Christ to be something in particular. They had good reason. They had studied the scriptures and had a detailed description all laid out. Plus, they had in their minds what they wanted this Christ, this savior, to do. So when Jesus shows up, he doesn’t fit their mold. This Christ is not the Christ they were expecting. When he reveals who he is through his words and actions, it doesn’t flow with their preconceived notions and thus, he must be a lunatic. Their interrogation of him is pointless because it can’t possibly give them the answers they are looking for.<br /><br />“Tell us,” they say. But Jesus knows better. He has studied humanity from the very beginning. He knows that his words don’t mean a thing to them because they’ve already closed their minds to him. “Even if I tell you plainly, you won’t believe me.” What’s the point?<br /><br />Why do we do it? What’s the point of us talking about Jesus or sharing his message with people who have essentially closed their minds to the Gospel? For the most part, I can’t begin to answer these questions. But one thing I do know is that sometimes there is a chink in the armor of those hard-hearted people. You just don’t know when even one word of the Gospel can penetrate their defenses. When the words of Jesus enter the ears, the Holy Spirit does wonders. And that’s not up to us.<br /><br />Jesus’ death on the cross was as much for the Pharisees as it was for you and me. It was as much a sacrifice for the atheists as it was for evangelicals. Some have realized it sooner and it is their privilege to share the Gospel, to speak those words of forgiveness, to serve others in humility, to show them with words and actions who Jesus is.<br /><br /><em>Heavenly Father, words often seem to fall on deaf ears. Keep us steadfast in our faith, by the power of the Holy Spirit, so that we may continue to share the Gospel of your Son Jesus with those around us. In Jesus’ name, amen.</em><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-7898185194337711567?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-74128113958136445622009-05-07T13:56:00.000-08:002009-05-07T13:57:17.802-08:00Approval<p class="MsoNormal">1 Thessalonians 2:6 Paul writes<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">, “Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.”<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Are you looking for a pat on the back? An atta-boy? Do you seek the spotlight, the limelight, or the nightlight? Why do you do what you do? I ask myself these questions often. Sometimes, a little attention is nice. It feels good to be appreciated and we all need those positive strokes of encouragement. But that can all go wrong when everything we do is for the attention of the people. Look at me, look at me, look at me… </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Paul continues later in this chapter to say, “For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.” Exhorting or urgently warning, encouraging and charging people isn’t always accepted easily. No one likes to be told that what they’re doing isn’t right and they need to straighten themselves out. You certainly won’t get people to like you if you show them their sins. And if what you’re going for is the approval of people, you might go as far as to say that “I’m ok, you’re ok, and all dogs go to heaven.” </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Paul says that’s not why they came to Thessalonica. They didn’t come to get the approval of men. They came to share the Gospel, the hope of glory in Jesus. They didn’t come to get people to like them but to help them to see the right path to walk. Do you seek to please God or to please men? I ask myself this question as much as I ask you this question. Because of the old adam, the sinful nature, the answer is yes. I often seek the approval of men and I often seek the approval of God. Being a human being is rough that way. It’s a constant battle. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>But we don’t fight alone. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, in baptism, in the Lord’s Supper, in our daily lives, we fight the good fight. Through the power of forgiveness, we strive to live lives that please God, rather than others. And our lives are pleasing to God only through the Son and the Spirit. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Heavenly Father, we fight the fight against pride and vanity. Help us not to seek the approval of men, but only to please you. Empower us to that end through your Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit, amen. <o:p></o:p></i></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-7412811395813644562?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-69083059418007584162009-04-15T13:19:00.000-08:002009-04-15T13:20:26.870-08:00Life After Death or the Living Dead<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">1 Corinthians <st1:time minute="35" hour="15">15:35</st1:time>, But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Life after death is such a fascinating subject. Our culture today loves the concept of life after death. Zombie movies are a dime a dozen and everyone has a different idea of what the “living dead” would look like. Do they move really slowly or are they quicker, like savage animals? Do they lumber around moaning and groaning or is it worse? Zombies aren’t the only living dead that fascinate us. Vampires do too. But vampires are sexy. From the Twilight books to the vampire movies, vampires are sexy and seductive and powerful and even, in some eyes, beautiful. But they’re all WRONG! All of this begs the questions that are asked in 1 Corinthians.<span style="mso-tab-count:1"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>How are the dead raised? It is not some mystical incantation or ancient reading of a scroll or a magical potion. The dead are raised by the power of God and according to His time. That answer doesn’t satisfy us very well. We’ve seen the dead raised in movies and it always has something to do with a ancient curse or a virus or something. But when we look into scripture, the power of God, the breath of God, the Word of God is the only way that the dead are raised. Ezekiel 37 shows us that the breath and the word of God brings dry bones back to life. In Matthew 11, it’s the voice of Jesus that raises Lazarus. Again in Matthew, this time Chapter 27, after Jesus’ death on the cross, God raises a number of those who had “fallen asleep” and they wander into the city. How are the dead raised? The power of God and by his will.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>With what kind of body do they come? This is another intriguing question. What will we look like when we’re raised from the dead? Zombies generally look pretty nasty. Their skin is falling off and they’re sometimes oozing gross stuff from various parts of their bodies. Vampires often look really cool and Goth and sophisticated, except for their pointy teeth. Again, wrong idea. Lazarus, from Matthew 11, was raised in the same body that he died in. The soldiers from Ezekiel 37 had bones, muscle, tendons and skin, a normal human body. The dead that arose in Matthew 27 were seen and recognized in the city. People knew them. And Jesus himself, when he appeared to his disciples was recognized by his body. He even still had the wounds from the crucifixion. Paul has this to say, “But God gives it a body as he has chosen…” We don’t get to determine what we will look like when we “come back.” It’s God’s will and God’s power.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>We are human beings with bodies and souls. That is the only way that I can be human. God created me that way. My thought is this: when Jesus comes back and raises all of the dead to life, I’ll still be human. A human that won’t ever die again. A human that won’t be sick again. A human that won’t cry tears of fear and sadness again. But I will be human. We don’t turn into angels or spirits of light or anything weird. Paul says that we will be changed and made imperishable. No zombies or vampires, just imperishable humans and what looks like, I have no idea. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Heavenly Father, we put our hope in the resurrection of your Son Jesus. Through baptism, we are given his resurrection to be our resurrection. As our bodies change through the years, we look forward to the day when we will be made imperishable, according to your power and your plan. In Jesus’ name, amen.<o:p></o:p></i></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-6908305941800758416?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-84865446068131117162009-04-14T09:36:00.000-08:002009-04-14T09:39:02.860-08:00Don’t Be Afraid, It’s Easter!<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Mark 16:1-8</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">And [the angel] said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of </span></i><st1:city><st1:place><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Nazareth</span></i></st1:place></st1:city><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">, who was crucified. He is risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to </span></i><st1:place><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Galilee</span></i></st1:place><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">. There you will see him, just as he told you.”</span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">What are so many people afraid of when it comes to church? I’ve heard it said that the roof might fall in. They might get hit by lightning. The church is going to ask for my money. The earth might open up and swallow me. But as near as I can tell that only happened once and it was back in the days of Moses, so I’m not so sure that we can use that excuse anymore. I’m here to tell you today, don’t be afraid. It’s Easter and Christ has risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Don’t be afraid. That’s what the angels told the women when they showed up at the tomb that morning. They went expecting to find a body wrapped in grave clothes, but what they found struck fear into their hearts. What they found was that the tomb was empty and there were these two guys there in blazing white clothes. They were scared! Some translations say they were alarmed. Some say they were terrified. Regardless of what translation you read this story in, the women were scared! And the first thing the angels say is don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid, Christ is risen!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">You may have come in here this morning expecting to find one thing and instead found something completely different. You may have expected to find your usual seat open, but instead, someone new is sitting there. Or you may have expected to be called out because you haven’t been here in a while, but instead you were greeted with a warm welcome and a “good to see you.” Don’t be afraid. It’s Easter. And Christ is risen!... You are welcome here and we’re glad that you came through the doors.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">The women were welcomed by the angels in the tomb. They didn’t have to roll the stone away and there was no body to be prepared. But they were still afraid. This went against everything they knew, everything they expected and it was scary. “See the place where they laid him,” the angel said. Normally, when you set a body down in one spot, it stays there. If you go to a funeral and someone invites you to see the body, what do you expect to see? A body! But in this case, there was no body there. Afraid? You bet they were afraid. Afraid because if someone had stolen it, they might be accused. If someone had desecrated the tomb, they might be next. Afraid? Only more so because there was a strange guy in a white robe sitting there telling them, “Don’t be afraid.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">It’s so much easier said than done, isn’t it? Don’t be afraid. Is there a time when Scripture allows for fear? Yes, when the apostle Paul writes about those who are breaking the law, either God’s law or man’s law. If you are doing wrong, you need to be afraid. You need to be afraid of punishment from the authorities. You need to be afraid if the life you are living is going against what God has laid out for his creation. Be afraid, be very afraid… or as Luke Skywalker said in Return of the Jedi, “I’m not afraid.” To which Yoda replies, “Oh, you will be. You will be.” If you are afraid of getting caught for doing something, stop it or get help to help you to stop it. You don’t need to live your life in fear.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Don’t be afraid. It’s Easter and Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. From Genesis Chapter 15 </span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:</span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"><br /></span> <span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> "Do not be afraid, Abram.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"><br /></span> <span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> I am your shield,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><sup><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: 'Charis SIL'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">[</span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2015:1&version=31#fen-NIV-362a%23fen-NIV-362a" title="See footnote a"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">a</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">]</span></span></sup></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"><br /></span> <span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> your very great reward.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><sup><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: 'Charis SIL'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">[</span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2015:1&version=31#fen-NIV-362b%23fen-NIV-362b" title="See footnote b"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">b</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">]</span></span></sup></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">"</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">From Exodus </span><st1:time minute="13" hour="14"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">14:13</span></st1:time><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> </span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><sup><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: 'Charis SIL'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">3</span></span></sup></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Deuteronomy </span><st1:time minute="29" hour="13"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">1:29</span></st1:time><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> </span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Then I said to you, "Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Joshua </span><st1:time minute="25" hour="10"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">10:25</span></st1:time><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> </span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the LORD will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">2 Kings 6:16- Elisha’s servant is afraid because they are surrounded by their enemies on horses and chariots…</span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">"Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Isaiah 44:8 </span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Do not tremble, do not be afraid.</span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"><br /></span> <span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago?</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"><br /></span> <span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me?</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"><br /></span> <span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> No, there is no other Rock; I know not one."</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Every time an angel shows up in the New Testament the first words out of their mouths is: Do Not Be Afraid! To Joseph, to Mary, to Zechariah, to the Shepherds and at the resurrection to the women at the tomb, Don’t be afraid! Jesus, the one you are looking for has been raised, Christ is risen!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Alleluia, the message is for you and for me this day: Christ is risen. The one who was in the tomb, dead and buried is alive forever. Those whom he calls his children have nothing to fear, in life or in death because he has conquered death. And he is risen! So don’t be afraid. It’s Easter and Christ is risen! </span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-8486544606813111716?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-889621587552815582009-03-26T09:03:00.000-08:002009-03-26T09:05:30.070-08:00Don’t You Get It?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><p align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Mark 8:17-21</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"><br /></span></p> <p><b><sup><span style="Charis SIL";font-family:";font-size:8.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">17</span></span></sup></b><span style="Charis SIL";font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: "</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened?</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> </span></span></i></span><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><sup><span style=" Charis SIL";font-family:";font-size:8.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">18</span></span></sup></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="Charis SIL"; font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember?</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span></i><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><sup><span style=" Charis SIL";font-family:";font-size:8.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">19</span></span></sup></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="Charis SIL"; font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?</span></span></i><span style="Charis SIL"; font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">"</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">"Twelve," they replied. </span></span><b><sup><span style="Charis SIL";font-family:";font-size:8.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">20</span></span></sup></b><span style="Charis SIL"; font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">"</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">"</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">They answered, "Seven."</span></span><b><sup><span style="Charis SIL"; font-family:";font-size:8.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">21</span></span></sup></b><span style="Charis SIL"; font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">He said to them, "</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Do you still not understand?"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">One of our favorite sayings used to be: how many times do you have to hit your head against the wall before you realize it hurts? In other words, don’t you get it? We pray in the Lord’s Prayer: give us this day our daily bread. What does it mean to depend on the Lord for your daily bread? He provides for the needs of his children. He promises that. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">For the disciples, they were in the boat and realized that they hadn’t brought enough bread for everyone. They start complaining about it and Jesus, trying to make a point, cautions them about being seduced by the need for signs, like the Pharisees. Missing the point, as they often do, they continue whining about not having enough bread. Jesus flies off the handle into a rant:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="Charis SIL"; font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened?</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span></i><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><sup><span style=" Charis SIL";font-family:";font-size:8.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">18</span></span></sup></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="Charis SIL"; font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember?</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="Charis SIL";font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">In other words: Don’t you get it? Why are you still talking about bread? I’m talking again about things far more important than bread and you’re still hung up on bread. Enough about the bread! We’ve been through this and both times didn’t I provide more than ample bread for everyone? 5,000 people, 4,000 people and still more bread than they could eat. Jesus reminds them that the devil is in the details. He reminds them in no uncertain terms of the two “signs” he has already performed and the immeasurable provision of God. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">When we were at the Seminary, we were really poor. Literally, we lived below poverty level for nearly four years. Our income didn’t come close to matching our bills. To be completely honest, I never knew month to month if we’d make it. Yet, only through God’s grace, we were able to come out even at the end of each month. Our daily bread was provided. God gave us only what we needed each day. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">He provided exactly what we needed in his Son, Jesus. Each daily, he richly blesses us with only what we need, forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. All of these came through his Son. The disciples got hung up on details and signs, just as we often get hung up on details and worry. When we worry about things, Jesus reminds us: Do you remember when I died on the cross? Remember when I rose again? Remember when I promised that I would be with you always, to the end of the age? Remember…</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style=" ;font-size:11.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Heavenly Father, help us to remember your amazing provision, through your Son, Jesus. Empower us to share that news and help others to remember. In Jesus’ name, Amen.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></p></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-88962158755281558?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-51471342699077412092009-03-18T13:45:00.000-08:002009-03-18T13:46:11.412-08:00Epiphany in Savoonga<p class="MsoNormal">I don’t have too many mountain top experiences, ah-ha moments or epiphanies. I have a lot of little moments that keep me going, but rarely does God give me a bigger glimpse of His work in the world. I know I only spent four days in the village community of <st1:place><st1:city>Savoonga</st1:city>, <st1:state>Alaska</st1:state></st1:place>, but it was one of those moments for me. And to top it off, the ah-ha moment only hit me after I had re-entered “normal” life in <st1:city><st1:place>Fairbanks</st1:place></st1:city>. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Here is the epiphany: God is real! </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I know that may not seem like an epiphany to some but for me, this was astounding in the depth of the simplicity. God is real. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The moment hit me as I was talking with my wife, Cyndi, about the struggles of the business of church and how I wish that we could not have to deal with that. The day to day, whining, complaining, making mountains out of mole hills, grunt work of the church is incredibly draining and, for me, distracting. I get down when petty disagreements and personality conflicts seem to take precedence over the sharing of God’s word and the good news of Jesus. I know that as a pastor, I am called to share that word with God’s people. That means that in the midst of all of the mess of life, my job is to be the one who brings the good news. So what do you do when all you want to do is tell the people of God to shut up and quit whining? Apparently, a pastor can’t do that. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">What you do is you go away for a bit. Maybe it’s for a long while, a sabbatical, or maybe it’s a short while, like four days in Savoonga. You have to remove yourself, or have God remove you, in order to gain some perspective. That is how I was blessed by God while in Savoonga.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It was not a single moment or a single person who shared with me the reality of God and the power of the Holy Spirit and the salvation of Jesus. It was simply being in Savoonga. While sitting and talking with people, worshiping three days straight, hearing stories and being far away from anything I knew, God was and is real. For the people in Savoonga, God is present, imminent, here and now. He is not some distant, ethereal, vaporous genie, waiting to be conjured up when needed. He is real. God is the guy who delivered food to the house when the wind was blowing. Jesus is the voice that answers prayers and comforts hearts. God is the guy who, somehow, delivered fuel oil to the island just before the tanks ran out. The Holy Spirit is the breath that was given to a dying child who held on just long enough for the parents to say good bye. God is real.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It makes me ponder, ruminate and question my own approach to God. Have I seen him as real and imminent or have I only thought of him as a metaphysical concept? Have I only spoken of him in big words, deep words or words that help me to fit him into a theologically manageable box? Have I spoken to him as though I didn’t think he really hears me, but only because that’s my job? Have I allowed my mind to be conformed to this world, even the church world, and not transformed by the word and spirit? </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now, mind you, this issue has not arisen just since I’ve been a pastor. For those who are concerned about burnout or other things of that nature, relax. This is how God has dealt with me throughout my life. When I stray, he redirects me with a firm hand. That firm hand is always governed by love. It has always happened that way and this time, with Savoonga, it is no different. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">He took me there through my friends with Celebrate Recovery, Alice, Don, Liz, Charles, Bill, Chris and Lisa. He took me there with a firm hand and certain plan. He took me there to meet Him again. I met him in Jacob and Kammie, Owen and Logan. He took me there to see him again. I saw him in the snow, ice, sunrise, and the general store. I saw him in the homes of Ora and Heather. I heard him in the voice of 94 year-old Ora who told me that men don’t wear caps in front of women. Yes, ma’am. I heard him in the Yupiq voices of “How Great Thou Art.” I heard him in the life story of Sherry and her son who died on the cliff. I heard him in the laughter of Ike and Marvin and Dean. God took me there to meet him again and for that I am humbled and grateful. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">God is real. He is here with us in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is with us in the Word and Sacrament and in the body of Christ, the church. He is also as real as the person sitting next to you. Thanks be to God for His patience and love.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-5147134269907741209?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-73599005112823098212009-03-18T11:31:00.000-08:002009-03-18T11:32:16.060-08:00<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">About to Burst!<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Jeremiah 20: 9 “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">But if I say, ‘I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,’ his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot</i>.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Have you ever tried not to laugh? I mean, really tried not to laugh in the face of something so funny? Like when a child says something in all seriousness that, to us, is just hilarious. You can’t laugh because you’d hurt the child’s feelings, so you hold it in. Can you feel the laughter welling up inside, nearly bursting through your teeth? Hold on to that feeling.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>How about when you’ve been drinking a lot of tea or coffee or water and you’re standing in line at the check out. Nature takes its course and soon you feel another kind of pressure. It starts out as irritating but soon it becomes down right painful to hold shut the flood gates. I know you’d rather not, but hold onto that feeling, too.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>The prophet, Jeremiah, is facing torture and ridicule. He’s been put in the stocks and beaten. He’s on public display and I’m sure people are throwing more than insults at him. The reason he’s there is because he has been speaking God’s word in public. That’s a prophet’s job. To save his skin, all he needs to do is stop talking. Just don’t say a word, hold it in. But he says that he’s tried to hold it in, to not speak God’s word. The result is a fire burning in his bones. It’s a pressure cooker, ready to explode. It’s like standing at the checkout line with an over-full bladder. Resistance to the pressure is futile.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>The fire of God’s word burns inside with such intensity that even when he tries to hold it in, he grows tired and cannot keep it up. God’s word is like that. Sometimes it sits quietly in our souls and percolates. Then, when the opportunity arises, so does His word. Perhaps a friend mentions a problem she’s having. There’s a rumble deep inside of you and soon, God’s word, maybe a verse from Scripture, lands on your tongue. Do you clench your teeth? Do you bite your tongue? Do you hold it in? How much energy do you use tightening muscles to keep God’s word from escaping your lips? </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Let it go and speak it. Like Jeremiah, you can’t hold it in forever. And why would you want to? When the promises and reassurance of God’s grace are so wonderful, why would you hold it in? Paul reminds us in 2 Timothy 1:8, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">so do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord…But join with me in suffering for the Gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life- not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace</i>.” Speak the word of God that is on your tongue and don’t be ashamed of it. Laugh out loud and then run to the restroom!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language: EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">Heavenly Father, your word is a lamp unto my feet and light to my path. It wells up inside like a volcano, ready to erupt. May your Holy Spirit open my mouth to speak it. Strengthen me by your grace and mercy to be a vessel of your word. I know you have saved me through your Son, Jesus, now let me proclaim it! In Jesus’ name, amen</span></i><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-7359900511282309821?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-65378087543531748362009-03-01T13:11:00.001-09:002009-03-01T13:11:33.440-09:00I'm back from church and it's time for a nap.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2041273037377290367-6537808754353174836?l=belowzerojoe.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Below Zero Joenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041273037377290367.post-83213515969434732962009-02-25T13:26:00.001-09:002009-02-25T13:26:56.547-09:00Our Place<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Luke 18:13 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Jesus said, “But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God be merciful to me, a sinner!’”</i><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">What is your place?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In the grand scheme of things, what is your place? King, ruler, <st1:stockticker>CEO</st1:stockticker>, pretty darn good citizen, nice guy, average Joe, scoundrel, murderer, criminal, scum of the earth? We all struggle with our place. Where do we see ourselves? Where does the world see us? Where does God see us? I know it’s a lot of questions to answer, but they all have to do with our place in the world. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Jesus is talking to a group of people that Luke describes as being self-righteous and snobby. He sets up the story with a Pharisee, a prominent religious person, going into the temple and tooting his own horn, so to speak. He follows that up with the tax collector, the scum of the earth. And we read his prayer in verse 13. “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” Which man knew his place? </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>The Pharisee thought he knew his place. I do all the right things. I’m generally a nice guy. At least I’m not as bad as that jerk over there. Jesus tells the people listening that the Pharisee is setting himself up to be humbled. And rest assured, God will humble him. God has a way of humbling the proud of heart. Those who think they’re all that, God knocks down a few pegs. Those who don’t know their place, God will put them in it. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">God has put me in my place more times than I care to count. It doesn’t feel to good. But it’s necessary. “For the moment, all discipline feels painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>The tax collector knew his place. He wouldn’t even be so bold as to look up to heaven. As a creature of the Creator, we are dust and to dust we shall return. “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he out to think…” Romans 12:3. Today is Ash Wednesday, when we are reminded of our place in the world. Sinners. We are the created beings, creatures of God. We are not the Creators. We are not gods. We are not the captain of our own ships, despite what the world would have you believe. Our place before God is dust. From the dust, we beg for mercy.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>That mercy comes in the form of Jesus Christ, God wrapped in dust. God who took on, who assumed a dusty body. He did this to become one of us. To walk as one of us. To live as one of us. To die as one of us. And it is his death that makes Fri