Lord, you pressured me to take this prophet gig -- and you were so convincing, that I couldn't resist. But now I'm the laughingstock of the country -- a national joke. 8 Without fail, whenever I deliver your message, as I'm compelled to do, and declare that “violence and destruction are on the way” -- the laughing starts. Your message brings me nothing but constant insult and trouble.
9 So, when I try to quit -- to forget about you and all this prophet nonsense, that's when the fire inside me starts to flare, consuming my heart and then burning in my bones. I'm drained trying to hold it all in, until finally the words again erupt.
10 Then they start whispering behind my back. But I can hear what they're saying, "We need to put an end to Mr Doom and Destruction."
All my so-called friends are waiting for me to somehow trip-up so they can put me out of their misery. They want revenge!
11 But the Lord is standing by me -- like a heavily armed soldier defending me against all of their attacks.
So, in the end, my oppressors will trip-up but I'll still be standing. Their failure will be their humiliation and dishonor. No one will ever forget their disgrace.
12 Lord-over-the-armies, through your power you show who is right. For you have insight into the heart and mind. Pay them back for what they've done to me. I rest my case. It's in your hands.
13 Sing to the Lord, praise him -- for he rescues the oppressed -- snatching them from the clutches of evildoers.
Monday, June 22, 2020
Thursday, June 4, 2020
2 Corinthians 13:11-13
Brothers and sisters, as I wrap things up, be happy and well. Get your act together. Respond to my goading by living in harmonious and peaceful community. When you do that, the God of love and peace will be at home with you.
12 Holy hugs for everyone! Warm greetings from all of God’s people here.
13 Might all of you experience the outrageous generosity of the Master, Jesus Christ; along with the unrelenting love of God; and the intimate fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Amen!
12 Holy hugs for everyone! Warm greetings from all of God’s people here.
13 Might all of you experience the outrageous generosity of the Master, Jesus Christ; along with the unrelenting love of God; and the intimate fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Saturday, May 23, 2020
Acts 1:1-14
In my first volume, dedicated to our dear friend Theophilus, I spelled out everything Jesus did and taught from the beginning, 2 right up to the day when he was taken up into heaven. Before he ascended, the Holy Spirit empowered Jesus to give his chosen agents some final instructions. 3 After his death he kept appearing to them over a period of 40 days -- convincing them that he was alive and explaining to them about God’s regime. 4-5 Once, during a meal, Jesus ordered them to wait in Jerusalem for the Father's promised gift -- the Holy Spirit. He said, “I'm not saying anything new. You've heard this before. John baptized people with water, but in just a few days you'll be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
6 When they heard this, those gathered asked Jesus, “Master, does this mean that the time has come for you to re-establish the kingdom of Israel as a superpower?”
7 Jesus replied, “That information is way above your pay grade so don't fixate on figuring out the timing which the Father has established by his own authority. 8 But know this, the Holy Spirit is going to come to you. At that time you'll be empowered as my witnesses, first in Jerusalem, and then throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. From there you will move out to the entire planet with the news of what you have seen and heard from me.”
9 After Jesus finished these final instructions, as they were watching, he was lifted up and engulfed in a cloud that hid him from their sight. 10 While this was happening and they were looking up -- straining to see him in the sky -- two white-robed men rather suddenly appeared next to them. 11 They said, “Hey Galileans, are you going to stand here all day staring into the sky? Jesus is no longer here with you because he's been taken into heaven. But he'll be back. As certain as you saw him go, you can be certain that he'll return.”
12 They then returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives -- about a half mile walk from Jerusalem. 13 Once they got back into the city, they went to the upstairs room where they were staying. Peter, John, James, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James, Alphaeus’ son; Simon the zealot; and Judas, James’ son -- 14 together they turned their attention to prayer. And they were not the only ones. Some women (including Mary the mother of Jesus) and Jesus' brothers were in the group, too.
6 When they heard this, those gathered asked Jesus, “Master, does this mean that the time has come for you to re-establish the kingdom of Israel as a superpower?”
7 Jesus replied, “That information is way above your pay grade so don't fixate on figuring out the timing which the Father has established by his own authority. 8 But know this, the Holy Spirit is going to come to you. At that time you'll be empowered as my witnesses, first in Jerusalem, and then throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. From there you will move out to the entire planet with the news of what you have seen and heard from me.”
9 After Jesus finished these final instructions, as they were watching, he was lifted up and engulfed in a cloud that hid him from their sight. 10 While this was happening and they were looking up -- straining to see him in the sky -- two white-robed men rather suddenly appeared next to them. 11 They said, “Hey Galileans, are you going to stand here all day staring into the sky? Jesus is no longer here with you because he's been taken into heaven. But he'll be back. As certain as you saw him go, you can be certain that he'll return.”
12 They then returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives -- about a half mile walk from Jerusalem. 13 Once they got back into the city, they went to the upstairs room where they were staying. Peter, John, James, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James, Alphaeus’ son; Simon the zealot; and Judas, James’ son -- 14 together they turned their attention to prayer. And they were not the only ones. Some women (including Mary the mother of Jesus) and Jesus' brothers were in the group, too.
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
John 1:1-14
In my first volume, dedicated to our dear friend Theophilus, I spelled out everything Jesus did and taught from the beginning, 2 right up to the day when he was taken up into heaven. Before he ascended, the Holy Spirit empowered Jesus to give his chosen agents some final instructions. 3 After his death he kept appearing to them over a period of 40 days -- convincing them that he was alive and explaining to them about God’s regime. 4-5 Once, during a meal, Jesus ordered them to wait in Jerusalem for the Father's promised gift -- the Holy Spirit. He said, “I'm not saying anything new. You've heard this before. John baptized people with water, but in just a few days you'll be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
6 When they heard this, those gathered asked Jesus, “Master, does this mean that the time has come for you to re-establish the kingdom of Israel as a superpower?”
7 Jesus replied, “That information is above your pay grade so don't fixate on figuring out the timing which the Father has established by his own authority. 8 But know this, the Holy Spirit is going to come to you. At that time you'll be empowered as my witnesses, first in Jerusalem, and then throughout the regions Judea and Samaria. From there you will move out to the entire planet with the news of what you have seen and heard from me.”
9 After Jesus finished these final instructions, as they were watching, he was lifted up and engulfed in a cloud that hid him from their sight. 10 While this was happening and they were looking up -- straining to see him in the sky -- two white-robed men rather suddenly appeared next to them. 11 They said, “Hey Galileans, are you going to stand here all day staring into the sky? Jesus is no longer here with you because he's been taken into heaven. But he'll be back. As certain as you saw him go, you can be certain that he'll return.”
12 They then returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives -- about a half mile walk from Jerusalem. 13 Once they got back into the city, they went to the upstairs room where they were staying. Peter, John, James, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James, Alphaeus’ son; Simon the zealot; and Judas, James’ son -- 14 together they turned their attention to prayer. And they were not the only ones. Some women (including Mary the mother of Jesus) and Jesus' brothers were in the group, too.
6 When they heard this, those gathered asked Jesus, “Master, does this mean that the time has come for you to re-establish the kingdom of Israel as a superpower?”
7 Jesus replied, “That information is above your pay grade so don't fixate on figuring out the timing which the Father has established by his own authority. 8 But know this, the Holy Spirit is going to come to you. At that time you'll be empowered as my witnesses, first in Jerusalem, and then throughout the regions Judea and Samaria. From there you will move out to the entire planet with the news of what you have seen and heard from me.”
9 After Jesus finished these final instructions, as they were watching, he was lifted up and engulfed in a cloud that hid him from their sight. 10 While this was happening and they were looking up -- straining to see him in the sky -- two white-robed men rather suddenly appeared next to them. 11 They said, “Hey Galileans, are you going to stand here all day staring into the sky? Jesus is no longer here with you because he's been taken into heaven. But he'll be back. As certain as you saw him go, you can be certain that he'll return.”
12 They then returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives -- about a half mile walk from Jerusalem. 13 Once they got back into the city, they went to the upstairs room where they were staying. Peter, John, James, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James, Alphaeus’ son; Simon the zealot; and Judas, James’ son -- 14 together they turned their attention to prayer. And they were not the only ones. Some women (including Mary the mother of Jesus) and Jesus' brothers were in the group, too.
Wednesday, April 29, 2020
John 14:1-14
Don’t let any of this stress you out. Just as you trust in God, trust me.
2 My Father has a huge spacious house. Why do you think I said that I'm headed there to prepare a room for you? Do you think I'm just making this stuff up? 3 Once things are ready I'll be back to get you so that we can live there together. Yes, we'll be together. 4 You have the directions to where I'm headed so you know how to get there.”
5 Thomas interrupted, “Wait, Master, we still don’t know where this place is. How can we know which road to take?”
6 Jesus answered, “I’m the road -- the road paved with truth and life. And I’m the only road to the Father’s house. You can’t get there otherwise. 7 Knowing me is how you know the Father. Indeed, you do know him and you’ve seen him in as much as you know and have seen me.”
8 Philip said, “Master, if you’d just show us the Father we’d be satisfied.”
9 “Philip!” Jesus replied, “even after all this time I’ve been with y’all, you still can’t see it? If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10-11 Don’t you realize that the Father and I are so interconnected that I am in him and he’s in me? So, everything I’ve said to you isn’t just flowing from me but it’s all from him. If nothing else, believe it because of all the miracles you’ve seen me do. They flow from the Father who lives in me. 12 And if that were not enough -- get this -- because it’s the truth; anyone who believes in me will do the same miracles I do -- yes, even more significant miracles. Because I am going to be with the Father you’ll be carrying on the work. 13 And I will do through you whatever you ask that is consistent with me and my agenda. In that way the Father will be honored through the Son. 14 Just ask along these lines -- no limits -- I’ll do it.
5 Thomas interrupted, “Wait, Master, we still don’t know where this place is. How can we know which road to take?”
6 Jesus answered, “I’m the road -- the road paved with truth and life. And I’m the only road to the Father’s house. You can’t get there otherwise. 7 Knowing me is how you know the Father. Indeed, you do know him and you’ve seen him in as much as you know and have seen me.”
8 Philip said, “Master, if you’d just show us the Father we’d be satisfied.”
9 “Philip!” Jesus replied, “even after all this time I’ve been with y’all, you still can’t see it? If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10-11 Don’t you realize that the Father and I are so interconnected that I am in him and he’s in me? So, everything I’ve said to you isn’t just flowing from me but it’s all from him. If nothing else, believe it because of all the miracles you’ve seen me do. They flow from the Father who lives in me. 12 And if that were not enough -- get this -- because it’s the truth; anyone who believes in me will do the same miracles I do -- yes, even more significant miracles. Because I am going to be with the Father you’ll be carrying on the work. 13 And I will do through you whatever you ask that is consistent with me and my agenda. In that way the Father will be honored through the Son. 14 Just ask along these lines -- no limits -- I’ll do it.
Thursday, April 23, 2020
1 Peter 1:13-25
13-14 So, clear your heads and engage your brains. As you're doing that, make the coming appearance of Jesus Christ
the focus of all your hopes and aspirations. For the extent
of God's kindness will be revealed at that point and you
will start to realize how generous he is. IOW, instead of sliding back into the old ways (where you couldn't help
but give into every craving and desire) behave yourselves like obedient children.
15 Live lives completely and exclusively dedicated to divine service. This is the life for which God chose you. 16 In Leviticus 19:2 God says, “Since I'm all about a purpose that is exclusively different from the goals of the world, so you must be, too.”
17 Don't go thinking that the heavenly Father (the one to whom you direct your prayers) will let you get away with all kinds of mischief because you're his "favorite child." In this sense God has no "favorites" to whom he turns a blind eye. Certainly not! As sure as he rewards obedient behavior he will not put up with sloppy living. So you must revere and honor him during your time here in this strange place where you don't fit in. 18 You realize, don't you, that God actually paid a lot to get you out of this hell-hole life into which you were born. And we're not talking about money. You weren't ransomed with gold or silver 19 but with the precious blood of the chosen one -- the faultless and perfect sacrificial Lamb who came from God. 20 This was no after-thought on God's part. Long before the world began he had already designated the chosen one to be the ransom for us. But now, in these last days, way down the pipeline of history, God has revealed him to us. 21 Through this chosen one, raised by God from death and lavished with glorious honor, you have started to put your trust in God. And, indeed, you have remained faithful to him.
22 You've cleaned up your lives by acting on the truth. So now take the next step and start living out genuine love amongst your Christian siblings. Let the love freely flow from the depths of your purified being. 23-24 For you have been born all over again into a life that is endless. The old life ends at death, but your new life, triggered by the unending enduring message from God, will last forever. As we read in Isaiah 40:6-8,
15 Live lives completely and exclusively dedicated to divine service. This is the life for which God chose you. 16 In Leviticus 19:2 God says, “Since I'm all about a purpose that is exclusively different from the goals of the world, so you must be, too.”
17 Don't go thinking that the heavenly Father (the one to whom you direct your prayers) will let you get away with all kinds of mischief because you're his "favorite child." In this sense God has no "favorites" to whom he turns a blind eye. Certainly not! As sure as he rewards obedient behavior he will not put up with sloppy living. So you must revere and honor him during your time here in this strange place where you don't fit in. 18 You realize, don't you, that God actually paid a lot to get you out of this hell-hole life into which you were born. And we're not talking about money. You weren't ransomed with gold or silver 19 but with the precious blood of the chosen one -- the faultless and perfect sacrificial Lamb who came from God. 20 This was no after-thought on God's part. Long before the world began he had already designated the chosen one to be the ransom for us. But now, in these last days, way down the pipeline of history, God has revealed him to us. 21 Through this chosen one, raised by God from death and lavished with glorious honor, you have started to put your trust in God. And, indeed, you have remained faithful to him.
22 You've cleaned up your lives by acting on the truth. So now take the next step and start living out genuine love amongst your Christian siblings. Let the love freely flow from the depths of your purified being. 23-24 For you have been born all over again into a life that is endless. The old life ends at death, but your new life, triggered by the unending enduring message from God, will last forever. As we read in Isaiah 40:6-8,
“People are in their prime for such a brief time -- really when you think about it, no different than the grass, or a beautiful flower in a field. How long does the grass last before it withers or the flower before it fades and dries up?And this message from God is our Good News for you.
25 In contrast -- and here's the point -- God's word is constant from now and through all eternity.”
Friday, April 3, 2020
John 20:1-18
Before dawn -- way early on Sunday morning while it was still dark -- Mary Magdalene went to the tomb. And she saw that the big rock which had served as a door to the tomb had been moved. 2 So she ran to Simon Peter and the other apprentice (the one whom Jesus loved) and reported, “Someone has broken into the tomb and stolen the Master's body. We don’t know where they’ve taken him!”
3-4 Peter and the other apprentice bolted out to the tomb. They ran neck and neck part of the way but eventually, the other apprentice picked up some steam and outran Peter. 5 Arriving first, he bent down and looked into the tomb. He saw the uninhabited burial linens lying in there but he didn’t go in.
6 Once Simon Peter arrived, he actually entered the tomb and like his companion, saw the burial linens lying there. 7 Peter also saw that the face cloth which had been on Jesus’ head was neatly folded and separate from the linens. 8 Then the other apprentice, the one who had arrived first, also went inside the tomb. When he saw that the tomb was really empty he believed. 9 (At that point they didn’t yet understand the biblical teaching about the necessity of Jesus rising from the dead.) 10 Then the two apprentices went home.
11 On the other hand, emotionally-distraught Mary maintained a vigil outside the empty tomb. During an episode of tears she bent down to look inside. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting on the shelf where Jesus' body had been laid. One sat where his head had been and the other where his feet rested. 13 “Dear woman," the angels asked her, "why all the tears?”
She replied, “They've moved my master's body, and I don’t know where they’ve taken him.” 14 No sooner did these words slip from her mouth when she heard something behind her. Mary turned around and saw Jesus standing there -- except she didn't realize it was him.
15 Jesus said to her, “Dear woman, why all the tears? Who are you looking for?”
She mistook him for the gardener and replied, “Sir, if you've moved his body, please tell me where he is and I'll go take care of him.”
16 Jesus said to her -- “Mary.”
She did a double-take and exclaimed in Aramaic, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher).
17 She wrapped her arms around him as though she’d never let him go. Jesus said to her, “Don’t get all clingy. I've still got to go meet-up with my Father. I want you to go tell my brothers and sisters that, ‘I’m on the way up to my Father -- who is your Father -- to my God -- who is your God.’”
18 Mary Magdalene went and informed the apprentices, “I’ve seen the Master.” She then told them what he had said to her.
3-4 Peter and the other apprentice bolted out to the tomb. They ran neck and neck part of the way but eventually, the other apprentice picked up some steam and outran Peter. 5 Arriving first, he bent down and looked into the tomb. He saw the uninhabited burial linens lying in there but he didn’t go in.
6 Once Simon Peter arrived, he actually entered the tomb and like his companion, saw the burial linens lying there. 7 Peter also saw that the face cloth which had been on Jesus’ head was neatly folded and separate from the linens. 8 Then the other apprentice, the one who had arrived first, also went inside the tomb. When he saw that the tomb was really empty he believed. 9 (At that point they didn’t yet understand the biblical teaching about the necessity of Jesus rising from the dead.) 10 Then the two apprentices went home.
11 On the other hand, emotionally-distraught Mary maintained a vigil outside the empty tomb. During an episode of tears she bent down to look inside. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting on the shelf where Jesus' body had been laid. One sat where his head had been and the other where his feet rested. 13 “Dear woman," the angels asked her, "why all the tears?”
She replied, “They've moved my master's body, and I don’t know where they’ve taken him.” 14 No sooner did these words slip from her mouth when she heard something behind her. Mary turned around and saw Jesus standing there -- except she didn't realize it was him.
15 Jesus said to her, “Dear woman, why all the tears? Who are you looking for?”
She mistook him for the gardener and replied, “Sir, if you've moved his body, please tell me where he is and I'll go take care of him.”
16 Jesus said to her -- “Mary.”
She did a double-take and exclaimed in Aramaic, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher).
17 She wrapped her arms around him as though she’d never let him go. Jesus said to her, “Don’t get all clingy. I've still got to go meet-up with my Father. I want you to go tell my brothers and sisters that, ‘I’m on the way up to my Father -- who is your Father -- to my God -- who is your God.’”
18 Mary Magdalene went and informed the apprentices, “I’ve seen the Master.” She then told them what he had said to her.
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