Saturday, 3/14/2015

“He knows nothing; and he thinks he knows everything. That points clearly to a political career.” 
~ George Bernard Shaw

DEUTERONOMY 23-25

More laws..however God demands that while being obedient they do not err on the side of selfishness.

19When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. 20When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow. 21When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow. 22Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. That is why I command you to do this.

MARK 14:51-72

Jesus' prediction comes true...

After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”

71He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”

72Immediately the rooster crowed the second time.^h Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twiceⁱ you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

JOURNAL

To know yourself is a truly humbling experience.  It is to understand that you are no better than the worst of those that we tend to judge and disdain.  I find that the easy role to slip into is that of looking at others and thinking of all the ways they should act better.  I especially do this when it comes to how they should act towards me.  It gives me a form of affirmation to look around and see myself as better...

Yet this is the complete opposite of how Jesus loves and how he commands me to love others.  I am not to focus on how others can love better...my focus is to be on how I can love better.  

43“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighborⁱ and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? (Matthew 5:43-47)

Friday, 3/13/2015

"The american dream never really existed, it was a marketing scam."
~ James Altucher

DEUTERONOMY 20-22

Very strict laws...leave no wiggle room.

18If someone has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and will not listen to them when they discipline him, 19his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him to the elders at the gate of his town. 20They shall say to the elders, “This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a glutton and a drunkard.” 21Then all the men of his town are to stone him to death. You must purge the evil from among you. All Israel will hear of it and be afraid. 

22If someone guilty of a capital offense is put to death and their body is exposed on a pole, 23you must not leave the body hanging on the pole overnight. Be sure to bury it that same day, because anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse. You must not desecrate the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.

MARK 14:26-50

Jesus predicts his death and Peter makes great claims of all he will do...

27“You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written:

“ ‘I will strike the shepherd,

and the sheep will be scattered.’^d

28But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

29Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”

30“Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice^e you yourself will disown me three times.”

31But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.

JOURNAL

A world of scam artists.  When it comes down to it...that's really what we all are and what we long to be...recently we went to a presentation after we received a solicitation for a free cruise.  Turns out...surprise, surprise...it was a big scam.  Great promises for us to receive something for nothing when in fact it was a way to milk 9,000.00 for membership to a travel club.

Even though I didn't fall for it...I was pissed!  Here though, God has shown me that I am no better and continually do the same thing in my own life.  My desire is to extend as little effort as possible and get as big a reward as possible.  Isn't this the american dream...do a little work, come up with a good idea and then make billions and live off the interest in paradise.  Better yet, go play a sport, use a gift God gave you and reap hundreds of millions of dollars off people coming to watch you...play a game.  We glorify those people, we put them on magazine's and pay them millions of dollars just for them to sign a piece of paper.  

I'm not here to throw stones...I long for that just as much as the next person, yet when I look to scripture...those aren't the true heroes.  It actually is those whose lives are the opposite.

36Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37They were put to death by stoning;^e they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38the world was not worthy of them.  (Hebrews 11:36-38)

Thursday, 3/12/2015

“Because God has made us for Himself, our hearts are restless until they rest in Him.” 
~ Augustine of Hippo

DEUTERONOMY 17-19

God gives instruction for the future King of Israel...in addition to not taking many wives, he also is not to accumulate an abundance of wealth for himself.

18When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. 19It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees 20and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.

MARK 14:1-25

Jesus is at the home of Simon the Leper, a woman brings in an expensive jar of perfume and anoints Jesus with it...

4Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages^a and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

6“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7The poor you will always have with you,^b and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

10Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over. 

JOURNAL

Again with Jesus it is all about the intent, motive and the heart.  It never really is about the money.  I think this is why God warns the Israelites in setting out the guidelines for future kings.  Possessions acquired for the purpose of identity and or out of fear or greed are toxic to the soul.  Jesus has just previously taught them to care for the poor and so I understand their horror in seeing a woman "waste" a year's wages. 

However in regard to her heart, this was not waste, this was love and devotion to God.  Again, never about the money and all about the heart.  Interesting though that this is precisely when Judas decides to go to the Priests and offer to betray Jesus.

In our culture it is easy to get caught up in either the race for excess or in the culture of responsibility.  Either path puts us consumed with making our lives fit a certain pattern, look a certain way.  Reality is that neither path leads to our heart being given solely to God. This will look different for every person, for only God knows what is truly behind our actions and motives...yes the perfume was a "waste" in worldly terms, it was also a waste when it comes to the moral police...yet Jesus declares that it will be given as an example wherever the Gospel is preached. 

Again it is never about the money...it's all about the heart.

19“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

Wednesday, 3/11/2015

“What is hell? I maintain that it is the suffering of being unable to love.” 
~ Fyodor Dostoyevsky

DEUTERONOMY 14-16

God commands a time to cancel debts and to always care for the needy and poor...

28At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, 29so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

1At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. 2This is how it is to be done: Every creditor shall cancel any loan they have made to a fellow Israelite. They shall not require payment from anyone among their own people, because the Lord’s time for canceling debts has been proclaimed. 

7If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. 8Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. 9Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near,” so that you do not show ill will toward the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. 10Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. 11There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land. 

MARK 13:14-37

Jesus continues to discuss the future and that all should know that no one except God knows when that time will come...

32“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33Be on guard! Be alert^e ! You do not know when that time will come. 34It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

35“Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’ ”

JOURNAL

Although God is very clear about laws and blessings he also is very clear about how we are to view those to whom are indebted to us and to those who are poor and needy.  God is clear to point out that there are times and places for debts to be forgiven and that the Israelites are to always care for the poor.  

God commands to give generously and without a grudging heart.  Lending here is viewed as a way to help and to show grace...not as a means for making money.  

How does this apply in today's world?  I think it ultimately comes back to the heart. If the intent is to harm and see people as objects and means to our own profits and pleasure, then I think that we are treading on dangerous ground.  If our wealth, possessions and treasure are the means in which we place our confidence and hope, then we also are in danger of making it our God.  

I think this is why there are so many verses that apply to money and warnings against it becoming more than it's intent.

15Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” (Luke 12:15)

Tuesday, 3/10/2015

“What is hell? I maintain that it is the suffering of being unable to love.” 
~ Fyodor Dostoyevsky

DEUTERONOMY 11-13

God again commands them and gives them the secret to life...first and foremost before obedience is to Love the Lord

1Love the Lord your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always... therefore all the commands I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to go in and take over the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 9and so that you may live long in the land the Lord swore to your ancestors to give to them and their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey.

MARK 13:1-13

Jesus remarks that the Temple will be torn down and Peter, James and Andrew ask him privately when this will happen and Jesus gives them a glimpse to the future and their own fate... 

9“You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. 10And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.11Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

12“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 13Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

JOURNAL

These are hard words from Jesus.  He lovingly gives the disciples the sobering news of their future.  I am sure this is not the words they were longing to hear...persecution, death...families torn apart.  It is awful.  Yet I also know that it is reality and truth.  It goes on in the world now.  It again is a reminder to not put my trust in a certain outcome.  I am to love and trust God.  There and there only is where my hope is to be.  This is sobering and in many ways disappointing because I do long to know that I have a comforting future.  One in which I see my family thriving.

The reality though is that is not what is promised...it may happen but it is not what I am to place my hope in...it goes back to the Israelites and God's first command to Love the Lord God above all else...then to love others.

9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.^c Do not be conceited. (Romans 12:9-16)