Thoughts From Luke - Day 60

                                                       Luke 12:35-48

³⁵ “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, ³⁶ like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. ³⁷ It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. ³⁸ It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. ³⁹ But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁰ You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
⁴¹ Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”
⁴² The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? ⁴³ It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. ⁴⁴ Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁵ But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. ⁴⁶ The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
⁴⁷ “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. ⁴⁸ But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.


               It's the holidays, so I just watched Home Alone and little did I know there is a Bible verse for it -"If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into." Ha! I'm sure that Jesus wasn't being prophetic of a future Christmas movie so let's see what His thrust is in this passage.

            I remember High School gym class when we would have to do calesthenics like push ups while the gym teacher walked around the class of 100 guys. When his eyes were on you, you made sure that you were doing them proper but when he was at the other side of the gym, you dogged it. The same was true when working as a bus boy or summer lawn mower for the school district. I could certainly goof off a lo when the boss wasn't around but when he drove up, there was always a lookout saying "here he comes". Because I know that is in me, as a boss, I'm less bothered when I find my employees on Facebook, etc., as long as they are getting the work done. How can I demand what I couldn't give. But then, if there are employees that goof around all the time and don't get their work done - well that's another story. On the other hand, if there are employees whose work standard and ethics are so high that they don't entertain themselves on the boss's "dime" - well those are keepers. Those are the ones you know you can trust to handle even the money. Those are the ones you pay handsomely and elevate because they are operating by a higher standard.

            I think that Jesus is giving us a similar principle here. As believers who are now in the Kingdom of God (see the previous blog), we are serving a new master. The previous master was Satan who was so clever that we didn't even know we were serving him because he steps in the shadows and has us serve ourselves as we live for money, pleasure, comfort, lust, food, entertainment, longevity, power, prestige, etc. As long as we aren't living for God, he wins. But now we live for God. He is our master. He owns us. However, it is sort of like this 30 year old guy that my son is going to officiate his wedding. His dad owns lots of miniature golf courses, go-kart tracks, and tourist traps in the Southeast. His dad is a multi-millionaire. The son is working for the dad in some capacity with a modest salary in a small office helping his dad run the business. Some day the dad will give the son and his sister the business. However now he is basically just serving the dad. There is a love relationship there but yet a boss/employee relationship too. The dad would be disappointed with the son if the son didn't take the work seriously because that would be showing the dad and his business disrespect. The dad wants to see the son succeed and will do all he can to help him succeed and point him in the right direction and cut him some slack. But eventually, if he disdains the business, it would all go to his sister.

            I think Jesus' point here is not so much, "watch out because I'm coming back and if you aren't behaving well, you don't get to go to Heaven", but rather, here is how you identify if you are truly a son of God - a citizen of the Kingdom of God - if you have left "the matrix". First, we are eagerly, not fearfully waiting for His return because we are headed to a party (36-40). True believers are living "looking up for their redemption draweth nigh". We can't wait for the one we love to greet us, welcome us to the banquet table and say "well done, my good and faithful servant." Even though we are busy doing earthly work, we aren't forgetting that He is coming back soon and we keep one eye on the sky. Second, true believers are becoming more like Christ. Mark 10:45 says that Jesus came to serve and a true believer will be serving others. In fact, the clearest sign that you are no longer living for self and aren't part of Satan's kingdom, is that you are serving and considering others above yourself. If you are insensitive to the needs of others, are prejudicial, are hoarding, etc. you really can't be a transformed follower of Christ - you are still living for the Kingdom of this Earth. This sounds harsh and we all slide back into selfishness, but remember, just like the dad of my son's friend, his goal is to groom you not exclude you. Mercy triumphs over judgement.

         Father, as this New Year approaches, may I become less and less self-centered. Help me keep my eyes fixed on you. Help me to fall deeper in love with you and the thought of Your return to so empower me that my daily activities are transformed by that realization. Amen.

My Top CCM Songs of 2016

                             My Top CCM Songs of 2016

  Okay, here goes. My top 50 Christian songs of the year. I would preface this by saying that very few of these have made it to the radio for three reasons. 1. I may have weird tastes 2. Once they make it to the radio they are so overplayed that I get sick of them  3. I like to introduce people to less promoted artists. I think people like Mercy Me, Casting Crowns, Tenth Avenue North, Lauren Daigle, are way over-hyped. Let them garner their Dove Awards and CCM praise elsewhere which they will. Also, I don't get into gospel music, much R&B, hard rock so they won't be well represented. However I do include praise and worship songs which I would say is somewhat unique to end of year lists.


1. Live it Well - Switchfoot      Even radio couldn't wear this one out. This is my life motto; "life is short; live it well"  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov_lnXy7tkQ

2. Money and Fame - Needtobreathe   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbQ9lU1nqpQ

3. Runnin'  - RelientK   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_9Q2wSe8VA  Welcome back RelientK. Not sure you've landed back on solid ground yet, but love this song.

4. Heroes - Digital Age  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpUR1Jvck9I

5. Holy Water - Switchfoot    It's really a tossup between any Switchfoot song  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpzyjZtjxzg

6. Hard Love - Needtobreathe   Ditto. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bhKo1z0Jz0

7.  Best is Yet to Come - Group1Crew   How can you argue with a song title like that? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgEYeXcUuAA

8. Resurrecting - Elevation Worship  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rf8Zzn4nOzc  Best worship song of the year

9. Run Devil, Run - Crowder  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=US1-R-R9lYQ  Cheesy, but I love it.

10. Come Up - Remedy Drive  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jYTgV332t4

11. Hold My Forever - Pearl City Worship  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeFLsY9MZAw

12. Where the Light Shines Through - Switchfoot  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNP_Du9dSB0

13. Love Changes Everything - Red Rocks Worship  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXWRxDjsEXQ&list=PLJ0WCsSHTz0D0o19KJauwvXBzM-G1Qqd1

14. Friend of the Groom - Dogs of Peace https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZPdHuqfEE4  retro 70's Christian music. Good stuff!

15. Across the Universe - Mosaic MSC  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QC36uwVbo-M

16. Love With Your Life - Hollyn  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfVetZeaxuc

17. Love is Action - Tauren Wells  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCnsiP8atW0 
          radio is trying to wear #16,#17 out, that's why they have dropped this far

18. Set My Heart - Vertical Church Band  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8pMqbDAEP0

19. Sinking Deep - V.Rose  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_peXUfPLGE  Breakout album for V.Rose. I would say female vocalist of the year although everyone else in the universe would say Lauren Daigle. This song reminds me of Plumb.

20. He's the Light of the World - Dogs of Peace  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BJnW8nQ5T8  Take the time machine back 45 years, turn on Christian radio and this is what you hear.Oh wait, there was no Christian Radio.

21. This We Know - Vertical Church Band https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_G-JQGqUl0 Best Worship band of the year.

22. Shouting Ground - Crowder https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VSmlvAHOAA

23 Live on Forever - The Afters  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdS7EWMNrWc

24. If the House Burns Down Tonight - Switchfoot  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zS7jlWG5Dlw  Too soon to play this in Gatlinburg

25. Be Here Long - Needtobreathe  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNL1Ei9kYyA

26. Down in Flames - Matthew Parker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQHmAQoeTEA

27. Writing on the Wall - Paper Route https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ic8YJ0mRYEk

28. Set Me Ablaze - Bryan and Katie Torwalt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ca9W1VSx24

29. All I Have - Stars Go Dim https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN0vzTrQzqY&list=RDZN0vzTrQzqY    Pillar????

30. How Sweet it Is - Digital Age https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0U0VASEmvHQ

31. Local Construction - RelientK  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaddAGw0dc8

32. Balconies - Paper Route https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fFkQ0M-TPY

33. Wake Me Up (Amnesia) Group1Crew https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvYAh6wvR-o

34. Palaces - Love & the Outcome  (no link??? - listen on Spotify)

35. This is the Life - Tommy Saint https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGagiNpgDw4&list=PLVtgYtJUiPbzZV5XVxOFtRP3ne7HPpB9F

36.  I See the Lord - Vertical Church Band https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOiTOqFy4_s

37. Open the Clouds - Unspoken https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y555d2j9RY

38. Galaxies - Digital Age https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtwVHN9X_FU

39. On Again off Again - Group1Crew https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPRv8b-kI1k

40.  Bottom to the Top - V.Rose   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKbcW1nilaI

41. Born to Live - About A Mile https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9Xwe6H3lJ4

42. Ends of the Earth - Love & the Outcome  - (no link??? check Spotify)

43. Wherever I Go - One Republic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jclnm-0ktHM

44. Exalted Over All - Vertical Church Band https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqnRj1N4blA

45. Give it Time - Zach Bolen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjdlrUYsaek  Remember Dire Straits?

46. Don't Fear - Flame feat. V.Rose   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiS3UJ_UIOk

47. Push - Thousand Foot Krutch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiS3UJ_UIOk

48. Hope - John Tibbs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiS3UJ_UIOk

49. Stolen - Nine Lashes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TzbOF-bLKs

50. Keep Me - Crowder https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uxh063IdT0

Thoughts From Luke - Day 59

                                                      Luke 12:24-34

Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. ²³ For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. ²⁴ Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! ²⁵ Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? ²⁶ Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
²⁷ “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ²⁸ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! ²⁹ And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. ³⁰ For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. ³¹ But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
³² “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. ³³ Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.


             As the new year approaches, this is a good time to regroup, reassess, take inventory, self analyze, reflect on who am I, what am I living for, what motivates me, what consumes me, and what worries me, and then make some adjustments. We are told in this passage that there is one thing that should be filling our minds and that is the Kingdom of God. This is the reality outside our reality that takes faith (vs.28) to know it is there. Are you living for The Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Earth? Am I?

            I love movies that illustrate this fact. There are two off hand that I think of, The Truman Show and The Matrix. In the Truman Show a concept for a TV show is cooked up where a central character is raised from birth in a huge dome with actors playing parents, friends, co-workers, wife, towns people,etc., and the whole fascination is watching this guy grow up not knowing everyone is watching him, while thinking that this is the real world. They can only keep the secret so long until Truman starts getting inklings that there is something else outside his reality and he is so consumed with this that he nearly dies trying to find it but finally does and leaves his bubble. The Matrix is similar in that all of humanity is trapped in little pods from which the computers generate electricity to run as they have artificial intelligence and have taken over the world. In order to keep the humans in this state, their minds are hooked into this make believe world called the Matrix where they they "live" and think is real. Some have figured out that there is a reality outside their reality, have broken out of their pods, and seek to find others in the Matrix that are also questioning that there may be a reality outside this reality.

         It fascinates me that some in Hollywood have stumbled on the fact that there is a "world" outside our world, which is called The Kingdom of God. There is a king called Jesus who came into our world to make a way to deliver us out of the world in which we are living, and living as if this were the ultimate reality. In this world, the goal is comfort, ease, relaxation, pleasure - and we get this with money. Therefore if you work hard, make wise investments, marry well or are lucky enough to be born into wealth or power, you will have a good life. If you don't have or do any of the above, you will have a bad life and be looked down on and be miserable and hate those who have more. This is the reality that people living on this Earth have bought into whether they admit it or not. Jesus came, and we as those who have "figured it out", to tell those on this Earth that there is a reality outside this fake reality controlled by Satan, that we can be delivered into. We don't leave this Earth - like Truman - but walk among everyone else having been given the Spirit from above inside of us, and live for totally different goals - we live to please our God and don't worry about money, stuff, pleasure, ease, comfort, etc. because we have all that waiting for us for all eternity when we leave this planet. Our needs are met by our king until the day we die at which time we go to the ultimate reality where we are children of the king and live forever in pleasures forevermore.

          As we take inventory of ourselves at the end of the year, look at your finances. Where is the bulk of your money going - toward pleasure, comfort, ease, and amassing buffers to prevent the loss of those - or is it going towards bringing people into the kingdom and helping those who are suffering in the injustices of this world. Are we amassing or maintaining. Our we grasping tightly to our money with both hands clenched or are we holding God's money with an open hand allowing it to come in and go out. One thing I plan on doing before the end of the year is to go through my checkbook and look at my charitable donations. Normally I do this the following year nearing tax time, and then I think," I am giving more next year." This is "next year". I need to give intentionally not haphazardly. What about you??

My Top 10 Christian Albums of 2016

                                     My Top 10 Christian Albums of 2016

         As usual there were plenty of other great albums put out this year like One Republic, Judah and the Lion, Ben Rector, JohnnySwim, Paper Route, Gawvi,  who are professed Christians but, although may have some spirituality in their albums, have put out albums that wouldn't be perceived as Christian per se (by my definition). Therefore they aren't included in my list. So here goes..

10.

 probably wins best cover of the year. A throwback to early 70's Christian rock when it all began. Love this.

9.



         This is the year of the worship album, or else it's just that our church finally started a contemporary worship service and I am not denying myself of this music anymore to keep me from being discontent. Anyway, Mosaic MSC has some outstanding songs.

8.

        Matthew Parker put out a great album here. Unfortunately, the songs aren't "Christian" enough (by my definition since it's my blog) to put up higher. Maybe as I listen closer, I will analyze the lyrics more and move it up.

7.

 

Just when I thought RelientK was dead, after their last terrible less than Christian album, they return to their old greatness - although not as overtly Christian as their older works which are classics. That's why I can't rank it higher although quality wise it certainly deserves a higher ranking.

 

6.

 

Vertical Church Worship Band is the worship band of the year with this album. There were multiple other great efforts with Chris Tomlin, Passion, Brian & Katie Torwalt, Elevation worship, and Mosaic MSC, but this album surpasses them all.

 

5.

 

The Digital Age, David Crowder's back up band, put out their second album. Although arguably not as good as their first one, still good enough to make #5. Not included on this is their recording sessions of "Oceans" which is really good. Check it out on YouTube

 

4.

 

Group 1 Crew was one of my most anticipated releases this year because they seem to keep improving both individually and collectively. This album didn't disappoint with a number of good, catchy, radio friendly songs.

 

3.

 

Did, I mention David Crowder? His second album has found his style. He feels more comfortable in this album than his first and this one incorporates a little rock and rap with his hillbilly style. Good stuff. A lot of other years this would have been #1. But... 

 

2.

 

Needtobreathe put out a classic with Hard Love. Probably the most talented Christian band that has tremendous cross-over appeal is, in my view, hampered only by their lack of boldness for Christ in their lyrics, concerts, and interviews.

 

1.

 

They just keep getting better. Bold lyrics and still crossover appeal. Nothing else was close to this.

 

 

 

 

Thoughts From Luke - Day 58

                                                  Luke 12:13 - 21

¹³ Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
¹⁴ Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” ¹⁵ Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
¹⁶ And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. ¹⁷ He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
¹⁸ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. ¹⁹ And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
²⁰ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
²¹ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”


        In context, this question always blows me away. Jesus just talks about heavy things like blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, and someone from the crowd cries out "tell my brother to split the inheritance with me." This is probably one of those leather-lung guys like at Christian concerts yells out to the band, "We love you Switchfoot" or "Sing, Girl Named Tennessee". It's sort of like teaching kids spiritual truths in Sunday School and in the midst of the best part of the lesson, one raises their hand to ask the question, "What are we having for snacks?" Now maybe I'm being too hard on the guy because Jesus had just been teaching on selfishness, so maybe the guy was tracking with His teaching. Nonetheless, Jesus responds to the guy's question in a couple ways.

      First He says that His function isn't to be a lawyer on Earth. This is interesting because in Heaven He does function as our advocate. Steven, as he was being stoned and about to enter Heaven, sees Jesus standing before the judge of Heaven as if to be his defense attorney pleading His case. We are told we have an advocate on high and He is our Wonderful Counselor. This, however, was not why He came to Earth, to resolve the unfairnesses heaped upon you by this sinful, worldly system. He came to deliver us eternally from that system. Therefore, in the midst of trials, injustices, questions of litigation, remember - you are just visiting this planet, act accordingly.

       Secondly, Jesus gives a warning about excesses. The guy yelling out to Jesus, obviously had enough to keep him alive otherwise he wouldn't have been there. His basic needs were being met. Yet, he wanted more. He wanted an abundance. Inheritances often are like that. You want them so you can buy more stuff or pay for the stuff you have gotten in debt over while living in excess currently. Life isn't a Monopoly Game where you try to get ahead of everyone by owning more properties, having more cash, and building more and more houses and eventually hotels. What is the problem with that? You get rich while everyone else gets poor. The Biblical principle is distribution of wealth so everyone's needs are being met. I sound like a democrat, don't I. Ha. Well, if the rich are too greedy to give their wealth away, I guess we have to go socialistic. Ideally though, the principle seen in this passage is that God gives to some abundantly in order that they can give it away, not hoard, and then receive from God treasures in Heaven and more on this earth to give away because they have been found faithful.

       Today is Dec.24th, the day before we amass treasures in excess. First of all, don't be mad if you gave graciously and someone else didn't. Don't be like Charlie Brown who is mad because no one sent him a Christmas card. Like the man who wanted his brother to give him his equal share, this world isn't fair. We are the ones to extend grace and don't expect others to give it to you. God has given you all the grace you will ever need. He has filled your cup to overflowing. Secondly, this is a good time to add up how much you have given away this year. Let Christmas remind you that you have one week to empty your coffers so God can fill them back up again.

Thoughts From Luke - Day 57

                                                      Luke 12:4-12

⁴ “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. ⁵ But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. ⁶ Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. ⁷ Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
⁸ “I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. ⁹ But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God. ¹⁰ And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
¹¹ “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, ¹² for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”


            Who are you afraid of? Maybe it's your boss who has the power to fire you and totally upend your life. Maybe it's crazy, drugged people who break into houses. Maybe it's terrorists who could blow up a building at any time. Maybe it's gunmen who could go into a mall and start shooting. We hear about all these things on the news and if you spend too much time contemplating them, it can make you paranoid to leave or even unlock your house. Of course then there are things that could happen to your house like fires, Carbon monoxide or Radon poisoning, earthquakes, tornadoes, trees falling that could make you afraid to be in your house. Though most of us don't think this way, a lot of people repress these thoughts along with other fears and drown them out with anti-anxiety pills and sleep medicine in order to cope. Jesus addresses this in this passage as He mentions fear or worry 6 times. Here are some remedies for anxiety.

        First, give your life to Jesus. If you haven't been saved but are still in rebellion to God and running your own life, you have plenty of reason to fear. Your life is totally random. Whatever happens is fate or luck. You can't control anything that happens. Yet, if you are saved, you have entered into the family of God and He has a plan for your life. Nothing can happen that He hasn't ordained and He is a good Father that only wants the best for you. If He cares for sparrows or the lilies of the field, certainly God will watch over you. Not only will He take care of you here on Earth but He gives you an eternal home. If you haven't received Jesus, then you are committing the sin that He doesn't pardon - blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. What is that and why won't it be forgiven? My thinking on that is that if you are still Lord of your own life, then you are closing the door on the finalized plan of the gospel which is the control of your life by and the entering in of the Holy Spirit to transform you. You are telling God, You are not in control of my life - my life belongs to me. If you die in that condition, there is no other plan to unite you with God. You will experience Hell. That is reason to fear, but you don't have to. Just humble yourself before Him.

       Secondly, and I don't even think there should be a secondly but unfortunately Christians still suffer with fear and anxiety. Why is this and what is the remedy? One way is to remind yourself daily and be in fellowship where you can remind each other of your value to God. You are His Children. If He had a refrigerator, your magnet would be on it. He loves you so much He sent His Son to die for you. You are valuable to Him. The safest place to be is in His will. The second safest is my adult Sunday School class where 3 out of 5 people have carrying permits. The second cure is to remind yourself daily and remind others that this world isn't our home. We are just visiting this planet. A deadly occurrence just brings us home quicker - what's to fear in that? The third thing is to surrender your life daily to the control of the Holy Spirit. Don't worry about how to act, what to say, what people think, just let Him be you. It takes all the pressure off.

       Lord, help me to practice what I preach and not be an anxious person. Amen

Thoughts From Luke - Day 56

                                                Luke 12:1-3

Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. ² There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. ³ What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.


            Have you ever been in a situation where you have about been trampled? The whole issue is that everyone in the crowd is looking out for themselves and will run over you if you get in their way. Could it be that this is why Jesus says what He does here, or is Luke just trying to tell us the extent of Jesus' popularity? I'm not sure but his comments here would fit with the first. The people, while appearing to be interested in the spiritual teachings of Jesus, in actuality were showing that His teachings weren't sinking in by pushing and shoving and wanting to get the prime spots to see and hear. This is just what the Pharisees did. They sought the prime spots in society at the expense of everyone else while appearing to be righteous. This is self centeredness and this is hypocrisy and even if you don't see it in yourself others will see it.

          I enjoy contemporary Christian music so much so that I have been to a lot of Christian concerts including a Christian music festival or two where 60,000 people camp out and listen to music and teaching for 3 days. When the main band comes on in the evening, the crowds stake out their positions hours ahead of time to get the prime positions - there are no seats, it's all standing. Some large groups have large colored tarps on the ground for their group to stand or sit on and you best not get on their tarp if you aren't with "Freedom Baptist". But then, when the music starts the fun begins because all those who haven't planned ahead to get the best spots start pushing through people to move to the front. You can see the irritated people yelling at the late - comers and blocking their quest to the front. It's hypocrisy at its best. It's Phariseeism in action. It's me blocking people and holding on to my spot and being so focused on that, that I'm not enjoying the concert. Haha, but true.

          The other manifestation of hypocrisy that Jesus mentions here is acting one way in public but acting and speaking another way at home. This is hypocrisy. It will come out in stressful public situations like standing room only concerts or sporting events, but most of the time we can keep it hidden. You know how it comes out? In the kids you raise. They see you being one way at home and another way in public and it bothers them. They will act and follow the pattern in public that you set at home. They will publically reveal your private home life. I think of, not that they are Christians, the HGTV show Flip Flop. They portray the beautifully rich, happy, successful, in love couple doting over their 2 little children (boy and girl), while turning disastrous houses into show pieces making $50k a pop doing very little work themselves. They are the American dream. However, behind closed doors, all kinds of bad things are happening which is now coming out. Jesus says in the above passage that you can only hide who you truly are for so long. It eventually comes out and if it doesn't, it will come out on judgement day where you can't fool God.

           Lord, deliver me from hypocrisy today. May I not be one way on the outside and another on the inside. Cleanse my inside so I die to self and live for You. Amen.

Thoughts From Luke - Day 55

                                                     Luke 11:47-54

“Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them. ⁴⁸ So you testify that you approve of what your ancestors did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. ⁴⁹ Because of this, God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’ ⁵⁰ Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, ⁵¹ from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all.
⁵² “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”
⁵³ When Jesus went outside, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, ⁵⁴ waiting to catch him in something he might say.


         How do you respond to being told you are wrong? It grates on you doesn't it? It bothers me a lot. My wife is constantly pointing out to me that I'm doing things wrong from where and how I park, how I make the bed, how I take out the garbage, how I pack the dishwasher, packing the car, etc. I call it micromanaging but in effect it's telling me how I'm doing things wrong. My first red flag about marrying her, believe it or not while we were still dating , was as I was washing a car she told me that I was doing it wrong! I mean, is there one right way? I knew that my life would be filled with ,"there is one right way to do things and I know what that is." I had to decide if I could live with this and the answer was I couldn't live without her. It's amazing how after 35 years of marriage this still surfaces on a regular basis. Why does this bother me so much and why did it bother the Pharisees and people of the Old Testament? This is why they were going to kill Jesus, right? This is why they killed the Old Testament prophets, right?

        Christianity is unique to modern thinking. We have come to a point where, in order to get along (because no one wants to be told that they are wrong) we tell everyone that they are right. You believe what you believe and I'll believe what I believe and as long as it works for you and you are sincere it's good. We both have our own truths. Jesus comes into that and says, "I am THE way, THE truth, THE life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." Wow! You mean if you don't believe in Jesus you are wwwwwwrong?  Yes! It appears I'm not the only one who doesn't like being told that they are wrong. The prophets, like Zechariah, told King Joash that he was wrong so he had Zechariah killed. John the Baptist told Herodius she was wrong so she had him beheaded. Jeremiah told people that they were wrong so he was thrown into a well. Elijah told Jezebel she was wrong so she scowered the country looking to kill him. Jesus tells the Pharisees that they are wrong so they are looking for a way to kill him.

       Why do we all hate being told we are wrong? It's a pride thing. We all have this need inside us to be important, to be significant, to be worthy, and so, like my Christmas inflatables, we blow ourselves up. Statements like, "You are wrong" in effect stick a knife in us and let the air out. Suddenly we are flawed. Suddenly we are inferior to the one who is right. Suddenly, the way we reason, the way we have come to do things throughout our whole life, the way we understand reality is wrong. That hurts. That deflates. That makes you less than the one who informed you of this. And this is the crux of salvation that people including the Pharisees stumbled over - admitting we are wrong.

      We must admit that our lives have been wrong - we are sinful. We are not good people but deep inside we are evil to the core. I guess if you have a problem with that, you could ask yourself, "Do I like being told that I am wrong?" That should expose your rottenness if you are denying and repressing it. Not only must we admit we are sinful but we must admit that our efforts to get to Heaven are wrong. Christianity is counter intuitive. Christianity says that trying to be good doesn't get you any closer to Heaven than trying to be bad. Being a good person in order to get to Heaven is wrong. Ouch! You mean my whole philosophy on how I live my life is wrong? Yes. Proverbs says, "There is a way that seems right to man, but the end leads to destruction." Jesus came down from Heaven and paid the price of sin for us and by faith takes us to Heaven. It's not our efforts climbing up Jacob's ladder (Huey Lewis got that one wrong), but Jesus climbing down the ladder and carrying us up.

       People get offended by Christians saying we are right and they are wrong. The fact of the matter is that in order to become a Christian, we have already had to say we are wrong. We beat them to it. We say, "Welcome to the club. Stop hating on me, humble yourself so that He can inflate you."

Thoughts From Luke - Day 54

                                                Luke 11:44-46

 “Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it.”
⁴⁵ One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.”
⁴⁶ Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.


       Numbers 19:16 says that anyone who touches a grave will become unclean for seven days. A lot of the laws had to do with cleanliness and germs. For example, touching a dead body could give you the germs that killed it and in order to keep from spreading disease throughout the camp, the person touching the body should be isolated. This law has to do more with spiritual uncleanness. God is not into death, wasting, dissipation - that was never His plan. Therefore, touching a grave was symbolic with hanging out with death and God says, "I'm not into death, I'm into life - eternal life." Therefore, when Jesus says that the Pharisees are like unmarked graves, He is saying that people that come in contact with them are defiled. How? For one thing their teachings lead to death and secondly, they themselves are dead.

        How did their teachings lead to death? They taught a salvation by following the law and then clarified the law by adding multiple other addendums to it. For example, the afore mentioned tithing on mint, rue, and garden herbs is an addendum to the tithing laws. People would ask, "what should I tithe on? I want to make sure I don't miss out of Heaven because I am forgetting to tithe on something." Therefore the Pharisees came up with a list of things to tithe on. Today, people ask, "Do I tithe on my pre-tax earnings or my post-tax earnings?" I'm not sure that even deserves an answer when everything we own belongs to the Lord. The better question is, how much of the Lord's money am I allowed to keep for myself? The Pharisees and teachers of the law had missed the point and therefore their teachings and their very lives were headed to death and hell. They were teaching, like every other religion in the world other than true Christianity, if you want to go to Heaven, you have to follow a bunch of rules. They were teaching works salvation. Jesus was adamantly opposed to this because if this worked, His very incarnation was a waste of time. The reason He came was because works salvation doesn't work.

        Jesus is teaching here that the law points to the fact that no one can keep it so don't keep adding more laws that no one can keep. The Pharisees are like the guy in the crowd who asks Jesus to specify who is his neighbor that he is supposed to love when Jesus tells people to love their neighbor. The man wants to know, is it the guy on my street or does it include my whole neighborhood? Give me an addendum. Jesus basically answers by saying loving your neighbor in order to get to Heaven is an impossible task, that's why I've come. Jesus has come because the Pharisees' teachings lead to impossible demands and therefore lead to death. Jesus came not only to lift a finger to help but also to have His whole body lifted up to help. He alone gives life by fulfilling the impossible demands of the law on our behalf if we just humbly acknowledge our inability and receive His free payment on our behalf. No wonder Jesus was so upset with the Pharisees - their teachings were leading people to hell. We likewise need to stand up against false religions that teach this and not be worried about offending them. Jesus wasn't because He knew it was a matter of eternal life and death.

       Lord, help me to be bold today in rescuing people from eternal death in Hell. Help me to boldly proclaim the name of Jesus and salvation through faith alone in Christ alone. Amen

Thoughts on Luke - Day 53

                                               Luke 11:43

“Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces."


              Do you like to be noticed at Church? Do you like to be recognized for your acts of service? Do you want people at church to talk about you as being a spiritual giant, a prayer warrior, a sacrificial and cheerful giver, the backbone of the Church, a saint? Whereas all those descriptions are good, to strive for or care about being noticed, moves it into the Pharisee realm. I cringe at churches who offer better parking spots for higher donors, put framed pictures on the wall of the elders over the years, put names in hymnals of people who have donated the money for them, put names of families on bricks that are used to build structures that they have donated money for, etc. I even get concerned when people make extravagant gifts to the church that are earmarked for certain things outside of the general budget like a harp, pipe organ, piano, etc. Not only are these subtle ways of assuring that your style of music/ worship will be continued, but they draw attention to you everytime someone sees them.

          I think we have a vivid reminder of this in Acts. Barnabas sold a field and laid all the money at the Apostle's feet in the early church, and was recognized for it in Acts 4:37. That started the problem. Ideally it should have been done and no one knew where the budget suddenly got all the money from. However, people knew Barnabas did it, so along comes a couple named Ananias and Sappphira who decide to sell some property, keep some for themselves, which was fine, but then to tell the church that they, like Barnabas, gave all the money to the church. Why would they do that? They wanted to be recognized. They had Pharisee in them. They wanted people to say, "There goes Ananias and Sapphira that Godly couple". They wanted recognition from the apostles. They wanted to go out to dinner with the apostles. They wanted a plaque. They wanted their own pew. Whatever they wanted, it was wrong. Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for it and he rebukes us for it. Let's stop it. Face it, we aren't any better than anyone else. We all are sinful to the core and the only good in us is Jesus so if we want to brag on Jesus - well OK, but if we feel it welling up in us that everyone is getting recognized except us, let's rejoice in that because we are beating down the Pharisee in us.

     Lord, deliver me from the desire to direct glory away from You and others, toward myself. You alone are worthy, not me. Amen

Thoughts on Luke - Day 52

                                                    Luke 11:37-42

When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. ³⁸ But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.
³⁹ Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. ⁴⁰ You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? ⁴¹ But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.
⁴² “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.


           We sing a song to the grandchildren called, "I Just Wanna Be A Sheep, Baaa", and one of the verses in it goes, "I don't wanna be a Pharisee, I don't wanna be a Pharisee, cuz a Pharisee is fair I see, I just wanna be a sheep, baaaa"  Jesus, in the rest of this chapter blasts the Pharisees and teachers of the law, so much so that they plan to kill Him. I thought about doing the whole passage in one fell swoop but since I have a tendency to err on the Pharisee side myself, I felt like I should look more closely at each of His accusations to see how they relate to me.

         The first one involves doing everything right on the outside, but inside where no one but God can see, is a mess. Inside you have greed, wickedness, contempt for the poor, and very little love for God. We have been studying David lately in Sunday School and trying to figure out what makes him "a man after God's own heart". David doesn't do a lot of things right on the outside - he lies, commits adultery, fornication, bigamy, murders, has bloodlust, is a bad parent, doesn't deal with issues, and on his death bed he is thinking about revenge. So if you look at the outside of his cup, it is pretty dirty. Yet, as we get a glimpse at the insight of his heart in other passages of Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, and especially Psalms, we see a love for God and a relationship with God that is unparalleled. This is what God wants and in our day, when the Holy Spirit has been given to believers to indwell them, this is paramount because it leads to righteous behavior.

          We are often asked, what rules did you have for your kids in the High School years? What was their curfew? How did you control their friends? Did you let them go to parties where there might be alcohol? Were they allowed to miss Sunday School, youth group or church? Did you let them date unbelievers? When you look at those questions, they are all concerning the outside of the cup. The fact of the matter is that these things never came up because the kids were so clean on the inside (only God knows how clean) that these issues didn't come up. They had no desire to drink, party, hang out with non-Christians as close friends, miss church (because that's where all their friends were and dateable guys and girls) or get in trouble, so we really didn't even need to establish rules. Karen was teaching about this in Sunday School this week about watching out who your kids friends are, and I was thinking as she said this that who kids pick as friends is not an external issue, but an internal issue of the heart.

        As a Pharisee, I need to focus on my heart. If my heart is in love with God, my eyes will be pure. I will seek after the things He wants me to seek after, with feet, hands, mind, strength empowered by the Holy Spirit. Also, I will do thing for the poor because I love them, not because it looks good on my resume or because the Bible tells me to do it. We are continually amazed at the lack of true love for the poor and aliens among Christians. Sure, we do things for them, giving food, money, clothing, but we can see by how easily these programs get forgotten, replaced, displaced, unannounced, under funded, that they are more external shows than driven by an inside love of God and His people. We pat ourselves on the backs for our Spanish ministry and it looks great on our resume, yet they are not even a line item on our budget. We give them a place to meet, that is being unused, put our name on the ministry and proclaim how wonderful we are. I say this not to shame us or diss my church (it is an amazingly good church) but to remind us that we are in danger of being the church in Ephesus that was doing all the right things yet was rebuked by God for losing it's first love. If I didn't get paid for taking care of the aliens in our community, would I? Would I hire bilingual people? I don't know...

      Lord, increase my love for you. Help me to love the people You love. Help me to be more focused on the inside of my cup being pure so that by Your Holy Spirit, the external will also be clean. Amen.

Thoughts on Luke - Day 51

                                         Luke 11:29-36

As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. ³⁰ For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. ³¹ The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom; and now something greater than Solomon is here. ³² The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here.
³³ “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. ³⁴ Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy,your body also is full of darkness. ³⁵ See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. ³⁶ Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”


        Ever been asked, "What's your sign?" Do they even do that anymore? Believe me, it used to be big and Christians, since we believe that God is in control and determines our lives' outcomes not the Zodiac, came up with many witty and lame answers to this. This passage talks about signs - not those kinds, but the signs that come with believing in Christ. In the apostolic days those were healing, prophecies, tongues and supernatural manifestations but now I believe that they are the signs of a changed life.

        Jesus gave them a sign of the power of the Kingdom of God when He died and three days later rose from the dead. Sure, the healings and miracles were signs but when Jesus was asked to do them to prove He was the Messiah, He wouldn't - He just referred to the ultimate sign of who He was - His death and resurrection.

          Jonah was swallowed by a fish, probably bleached and pilocarped by fish stomach acid, spewed out on shore, probably in the sight of on-lookers, and preached to the people of Ninevah to repent - and they did! This passage says that it was not as much his message that made them repent but the sign that a man was vomited from a fish and lived to tell about it. His very appearance was a sign to people of the reality of God's truth.

         Solomon's divinely received wisdom was a sign to people that there is a God and He interacts with man. God gave him this wisdom early in his reign when God appeared to him and told Solomon to ask for anything and the request for wisdom to govern God's people so pleased God that He honored that request and gave Solomon everything else too.The Queen of Sheba came, saw his wisdom and by his words was converted because of the "supernaturality" of Solomon's life.

       What is the sign that people see in your life - the sign that there is the supernatural power of God in your life? What is it that is making you stand out or shine above the rest of humanity? I recently shared a car ride with a guy as we took a 6 hour trip, there and back, to go deep sea fishing. He shared with me his testimony and several stories he told kind of illustrate what I'm talking about. One story was about how he used to love hunting, and killing and skinning animals was fun for him. He said he used to ride a pig, slit it's throat and ride it till it collapsed. After he got saved, he totally lost the desire to kill, in fact he was asked to gut a pig and it made him physically sick. The other instance was that cussing and vulgarity was second nature for him. Now, when people talk like that around him, he uses it as a witnessing tool and tells them his testimony and how that way of life led him to despair. People look at him, that knew him, and he is a sign to them of a supernatural power that recreated him.

        I wonder what people would say about me that is a supernatural demonstration of God's power in my life? I hope there is something! What is your sign? Let it shine!

     Lord, fill me with your power. Transform me into something inexplicable by the laws of human nature. Let me shine it in a dark world that needs Your light so desperately. Amen

Thoughts on Luke - Day 50

                                                           Luke 11:14-28

¹⁴ Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. ¹⁵ But some of them said, “By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.” ¹⁶ Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.
¹⁷ Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. ¹⁸ If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. ¹⁹ Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. ²⁰ But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
²¹ “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. ²² But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder.
²³ “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
²⁴ “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ ²⁵ When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. ²⁶ Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.”
²⁷ As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.”
²⁸ He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”


        In this passage I see 4 qualities of a true believer in Christ. Anyone not fulfilling these qualifications is susceptible to the onslaughts of Satan including oppression, ownership, and possession. The first is lack of division within the Kingdom (17) or positively put, oneness as part of a body and member of the Kingdom of God. This is what Jesus prayed for in His high priestly prayer for us in John 17 - "May they be one, as we are one..." Are you part of a body? Are you serving a body? Do you feel one with them? This is what happens when you are saved and if it isn't, you are in danger of getting picked off like the Amelekites picked off those Israelites who weren't part of the group.

       Second, a true believer "gathers with" Christ (23). What does that mean? (really, this is the first time I noticed this- isn't the Bible great!) The Greek implies a gentle, compassionate, kind collecting of  those stragglers or lost people - putting your arms around them, like an armful of wheat, and bringing them into the fold. This is what true believers, those with Christ, are in the business of doing - collecting the lost. I have been collecting more Pokémon then lost people lately. Satan will get especially mad if we are doing this but there is nothing he can do to us because we are under the protection of the strong man.

        Third, the Holy Spirit has come inside and taken residence (26). It isn't just an external change in appearance conjured up by human efforts of character improvement, but an internal transformation by the power of God, revealing a new external appearance. Any human effort is generated from selfish, prideful motivation if you look deep enough. A person shining the light of Christ is a target of Satan because he wants to put out the light of the real thing - but he can't because the strong man has put his bodyguards around you.

      Lastly, a believer is all about the Word of God - reading it, treasuring it, meditating on it, memorizing it, and obeying it (28). How do we know what behavior is acceptable to Christ without reading God's word? How do we get convicted of wrong behavior without God's word? How do we hear from God and therefore be in a two-way relationship with Him, without the Word of God? As we are studying the life of David in Sunday School, I came across a great verse that I never saw before, yesterday -"Then King David went in and sat before the LORD ..." 2 Sam 7:18  Do you have a time for that? Do you have a place for that? Is that an integral part of your life? (I can't stop my computer from typing in caps so until next time, i'm out!)