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Romans 12:3-21             The scriptures use several figures to explain God’s design for His people.  There is the husband and wife relationship, the family, a kingdom, an assembly, a body, the shepherd and the sheep, an army, a priesthood, etc.             Although these are different in many respects, a common and most important theme is present in each figure given by the Holy Spirit.  And that element is fellowship or joint participation.  The church is a group of individual Christians living in community.  The church is a fellowship of believers.  Now, hardly anyone would disagree with this concept, but few people seem to grasp what this looks like as it is worked out on a day to day and week to week basis.             Some believe that fellowship is nothing more than having the same beliefs, wearing the same name and attending a church service once a week with the same people.  Granted these are foundational elements of fellowship, but the scriptures plainly teach that the community of the church is much more than that.             In our text, Paul is using the figure of the body (vv 4-5).  Let’s do some logical examining of what he is teaching.  If some have been given the gift of teaching (v 7), whom would they teach if not others in the church?  If someone has the gift of leadership (v 8), whom would he lead if not those in the church?  To whom would this genuine love (v 9) first be shown if not to the others in the church?  And how would you do that except through some deed of kindness?  Who is the “one another” to whom we are all to be devoted (v 10) if not other church members?  And how would that be accomplished except by some kind of personal interaction?  To whom would a Christian “give preference” (v 10) except to another church member?             As you can see, the church is a love-bound community who live out their lives in close harmony, supporting each other, serving one another, and sharing their God-given gifts for the benefit of everyone.  There is a give-and-take in which the various members look out for each other as they travel the road of life.             Fellowship - what a beautiful thing!

Ecclesiastes 12:11             Here is another selection of the sayings and quotes which I’ve assembled over the years.  Read, consider, enjoy and be blessed!   >                    Nobody is as blind as a person who refuses to see.   >                    Never judge a person by their worst day.   >                    Worship: God deserves it - We need it.   >                    We are always complaining that our days are few, and at the same time, acting as if they would never end.                                                             – Seneca   >                    When you do well, give God the glory.  When you do badly, take the blame.   >                    You can protest against the evil in the world only if you believe in a good God.  Otherwise the protest doesn’t make sense.                                          – Miroslav Volf   >                    What your heart possesses, your life expresses.   >                    God sometimes removes people from your life to protect you.  Don’t run after them.   >                    Worldly peace is based on fixing our troubles, and Jesus’ peace is based on trusting Him when our troubles can’t be fixed.                                          – John Smith   >                    One of the world’s greatest deceptions is to convince a man that he has truly achieved something when he gets to do nothing.                                                             ><>  Jeff

Matthew 28:5-6             Our scripture here is one of the most powerful in the Bible. When the women came to Jesus’ tomb, they were fully expecting to find His body because they had purchased spices for anointing Him ( Mark 16:1 ).  Scriptures tell us that they were amazed and even frightened to find an angel there.  More than likely, they were more surprised to learn that Jesus’ body was not in the tomb.  And they were probably even more amazed to hear that He had risen from the dead!  As we would say today, it was too much information to process!             However, they processed what information they could in the moment and ran to tell the disciples what they had found and what they had been told.  It seems that before they got very far, Jesus met them and talked with them.  When they finally told everything to the disciples, they did not believe them.  Would you?             We have the benefit of the entire New Testament now, and a legacy of almost 2000 years of people believing in the resurrection of Jesus.  We can now “process” what happened that day and learn many valuable “take-aways” to strengthen our faith.   >                    Jesus kept His word.  He said He would be crucified but be raised back to life, and He was.  Jesus can be trusted. >                    Death can be beaten. >                    Believing in the resurrection of the dead is not an easy thing. >                    There must be “another world” besides this one. >                    God is not to be trifled with.  He has the power. >                    There is real hope for people to live on the other side of the grave.  This hope is in Jesus Christ. >                    This good news is something that people would want to hear.               In about thirty-three years, Jesus conquered sin in the flesh, offered Himself as a sacrifice for sin, disarmed the power of heavenly forces ( Colossians 2:15 ), took control of the keys of death and Hades, was resurrected to life, and now rules in His kingdom.             “He is not here.”  What incredibly powerful words!                                                             ><>  Jeff

Psalm 23   The Lord is my real Boss, and I shall not want. He gives me peace when chaos is all around me. He gently reminds me to pray before I speak and to do all things without murmuring and complaining. He reminds me that He is my Source and not my job. He restores my sanity every day and guides my decisions that I might honor Him in everything I do.   Even though I face absurd amounts of emails, system crashes, unrealistic deadlines, budget checks, gossiping co-workers, discriminating supervisors, and an aging body that doesn’t cooperate every morning, I will not stop – for He is with me!   His presence, His peace and His power will see me through. He raises me up, even when they fail to promote me. He claims me as His own, even when the company threatens to let me go.   His faithfulness and love are better than any bonus check. His retirement plan beats every 401K there is. When it’s all said and done, I’ll be working for Him a whole lot longer and for that, I bless His Name.                                                 –  via mikeysfunnies.com               Indeed, the Lord is our Shepherd where ever we go and in whatever we are engaged.  Many of us have experienced the work place situations presented in this “psalm.”  Others have found such circumstances on athletic teams, in classrooms, in public service, etc.  The world is often a difficult, demanding and unforgiving place, but the Lord has promised to help us cope with what the world throws at us and bring us through to a peaceful place.             He will indeed overflow our cup if we just hold it out for Him.                                                             ><>  Jeff

1 Timothy 2:5-6             Following the death of a loved one, you have probably heard someone make a statement similar to this: “Well, I know she’s up there right now and is going to do all she can to help us out down here.  She’ll be looking out for us.”  Heard something like that?  Have you ever said anything like that?  Hmmm?             Where people get such notions I personally do not know.  Wishful thinking?  Unbearable grief?  Religious beliefs not found in the Bible?  Tradition?  There is nothing in God’s holy book which even remotely supports such an idea.  The body of the deceased goes into the ground, and the spirit of the deceased returns to God to Hades, the place for the spirits of the dead.  It is worthy to note that when Saul had the medium at En-dor “bring up” Samuel his response was “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” (1 Samuel 28:15).             Some religions hold that after certain pious persons die they can be given some special status whereby they can intercede with God and affect events on earth.  Mary, Jesus’ mother, is also seen by some to be able to do this.  Again, we find nothing in God’s word to support such beliefs.             The scripture is plain.  “...there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”  He has mediated a new and better covenant between man and God by means of His blood.  Jesus has been designated as High Priest, and He is the One who continually makes intercession for His people (Hebrews 7:23-25).  Jesus is also our Advocate with the Father whenever we sin (1 John 2:1-2).  He lived a life without sin and overcame death through His resurrection.  Jesus, and only Jesus, has “earned the right” to be designated by God as mediator, intercessor and advocate for humanity.             Just before the cross, Jesus said this to His disciples: “...if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you.  Until now you have asked for nothing in My name...” (John 16:23-24).  He was anticipating His place as mediator and intercessor between God and mankind.  We come to the Father through the Son, and through the Son only.  He is the only One qualified for the job.                                                             ><>  Jeff

Deuteronomy 6:1-12             Before Israel crossed into the promised land, they were warned about the dangers they would encounter among the Canaanite nations and also the dangers that would arise due to the Lord’s abundant blessing.  Moses instructed them to teach all his words “diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.”  God was to be spoken in the home.  In doing this, two things would result (at least).  First, the Lord God would receive the glory due Him.  Secondly, not only the children but the entire family would continually keep God before them as the One who protects and sustains them.             Moses’ instruction is sound and wise, even for today.  How many Christian parents actually speak “God” in their homes?             When the day is beautiful, the sun is warm, and a nice breeze meanders its way through your neighborhood, who gets the credit?  Is it simply a lovely day which the meteorologist on TV happened to forecast correctly?  Is Mother Nature the one who is thanked?  Or do you acknowledge that God has blessed you with a glorious day?             When someone in the family has been ill, and they have made full recovery, who is praised in your home?  Is it the doctor?  The medication?  All well and good, but does God receive any credit for a healing or for making such medical marvels possible?             When one of the children needs corrected, how is it done?  Is it strictly your rules that were broken and your heart which was grieved?  Or was God brought into the conversation as Someone who also had a vital interest in what happened?             When one of the kids wins a competition or gets an award, who is credited?  Is it only because of the child’s hard work and talent, or is the Creator of us all also acknowledged for His gracious gifts?             If we walk with God, we also live with God.  When the storm comes or the rainbow graces the sky; when there is plenty or when there is just enough; when the birds sing or when the wolves howl - is God spoken?  Is He praised and thanked for the blessing?  Is He looked to and called upon for relief?  Is God spoken in your home?                                                             ><>  Jeff

Matthew 5:17-18             For various reasons, many people continue to question whether some of the events recorded in the Old Testament really happened.  They believe that some are legends which have grown out of real events but over time have been embellished to supernatural proportions.  Others are believed to be pure myths which were fabrications of men’s imaginations to explain various phenomena and happenings in life.             Did God really create everything from nothing?  Did God create the world in six days?  Was there only one man and one woman in the beginning from whom all people descended?  Was there a great global flood which destroyed all living except one family and all the animals aboard a large boat?  Were Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed by fire and brimstone?  Did the Red Sea really part for the Israelite nation to cross on dry ground and escape the Egyptian army?  Did David kill a giant with a single stone from a sling?  Was Jonah in the belly of a great fish for three days and three nights?             Although we could present numerous arguments to support the veracity of the Hebrew scriptures (as they are often called), we want to put forward this one.  There is one individual who would have known whether or not the things recorded in the Old Testament were true.  He was Jesus of Nazareth.  Here’s the thought.  Jesus was the word of God become flesh (John 1:1-3, 14).  He was truth embodied (John 14:6).  He came to testify to the truth (John 18:37).  If any person would have known that what was written in those scrolls was not true, it would have been Jesus!             In the gospel of Matthew alone, we find Jesus quoting from Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, 1 Samuel, Psalms, Isaiah, Daniel, Hosea, Jonah, Zechariah and Malachi - all Old Testament.  If He had known any of them to contain error, would He not have told the scribes?  Since truth was so central to Him and His mission, would He not have corrected the mistakes?  Yet, He let every book and every word stand, and affirmed that everything in them would be accomplished.  Do you stand with Jesus?                                                             ><>  Jeff

Mark 12:28-34             People have different views of God.  These views are taken from bits and pieces of thought drawn from a conglomeration of sources: mythology, old wives’ tales, speculations of religious thinkers, catechisms and creed books, your parents’ teaching, one’s own musings, etc.  The picture which many people have of God is a patchwork of ideas and concepts, many of which are contradictory and unsupported by the Bible.             Who is God to you?  Is He like the ER doctor?  Whenever you get into trouble you come running to Him to fix it - illness, financial difficulty, family problems, etc?  You don’t pay much attention to God unless you get into a panic mode - then it’s time to look Him up!             Who is God to you?  Is He a being to be worshiped in a building?  You “go to church” once or twice a week to stay in His good graces.  You pay your respects, sit through the service and leave Him within those four walls until next time.             Who is God to you?  Is He like a genie in a bottle?  Whenever you want something, then you put on your best prayer face (maybe a rug, shawl, rosary, prayer book, etc.) and ask God real nice.  Maybe you even make some promises to Him if He will give you what you want.  But otherwise, God is not part of your daily living.             Who is God to you?  A harsh taskmaster who doesn’t want you to be happy?  A judge who keeps track of all you do wrong?  A Santa Claus who just passes out gifts and laughs off everything bad?             Who is God to you?  It truly matters that we have the correct view of God, the one presented in His book.  Otherwise, we cannot have the right relationship with Him.  The scriptures confirm that God is the Life-Giver and Creator of all things, even ourselves.  He is spirit and exists outside of creation.  He is all-powerful and all-knowing.  He is love.  He is holy.  He is good.  In the person of Jesus, God entered His creation to save us and to draw us into a covenant relationship by His blood - to offer eternal life to every person.  God loved us to the death in order to give us life.  He calls us in turn to love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength.  Who is God to you?                                                             ><>  Jeff

Ecclesiastes 12:11             Here we go with another serving of the sayings and quotes I’ve collected over the years.  Read, ponder, enjoy and be blessed!   >                    When an honest man discovers he is mistaken, he will either cease to be mistaken or cease to be honest.   >                    Beware.  Nothing breeds trouble like success.   >                    We’ve drifted away from being fishers of men to being keepers of the aquarium.                                                 – Paul Harvey   >                    Everybody has their weaknesses.  Perhaps the worst weakness is being unable to see one’s own weaknesses.   >                    The heavens declare the glory of God, but the streets declare the sinfulness of man.                                                 – Marvin Olasky   >                    Two things in life I have learned: 1) There is a God;                                      2) I’m not Him.   >                    Blessed are those who can give without remembering and receive without forgetting.   >                    Helping the thinker believe.  Helping the believer think.                                                 – Ravi Zacharias   >                    You are not finished when you lose.             You are finished when you quit.   >                    God is in the restoration business, not the replacement business.  Thank God!                                                             ><>  Jeff

Luke 7:23             Many people believe in a “sweet” Jesus, and some churches teach this kind of a Savior.  Such a Jesus is one who offends nobody.  He is so kind and ingratiating that He speaks only the sweetest words and accepts everyone as they are.  Yet the gospels reveal a different Jesus: One who offended many, even His own disciples.  He didn’t do this just to cause hurt but because people needed to hear the truth.             With all of the mental health problems out there today, Sweet Jesus would never tell anybody he had to hate his own life, deny himself, and take up his cross.  How insensitive.             With all of the sexual images on the internet and social media, and lewd conduct on TV and movies, Sweet Jesus would never dare say that if you look at a woman to lust after her that you’re committing adultery with her in your heart.  So unreasonable.             With the high prices and struggling economy these days, Sweet Jesus would never say that you had to forsake all that you have to be His disciple.  Would He even dare to say that it’s hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven?  How unrealistic.             With all the emphasis on lifestyle choices, Sweet Jesus would hardly think to recall the creation of a male and a female to remind His hearers that God made them to be husband and wife, and that two men and two women do not meet this criteria.  How calloused.             With all the focus on visual display and self-image, Sweet Jesus surely would not warn folks about parading their religion by wearing robes and such, and using special titles.  How restrictive.             With all the knowledge men have accumulated over the years, Sweet Jesus would never suggest that to devise rules which are not found in the Bible and bind them on people would be harmful and directly contrary to God’s will.  Truly out of touch.             The real Jesus, who is sweet but also salty, is revealed in the gospels.  He said this: “Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”  He loved us enough to tell us the truth about ourselves and the way things are.  And for doing that, He paid with His life.  Jesus wasn’t crucified for being sweet.  He was crucified for being Jesus.                                                             ><>  Jeff

Ezekiel 14: 1-8 In the days of Ezekiel, idolatry was a huge problem with Israel, and the Lord God had some extremely strong words for His people who had “set up their idols in their hearts.”  (Please see our text.)  Even though these idols were real objects of stone, or wood, or molten images of silver or gold, they were first erected in the hearts of each person.  This is where idolatry begins and flourishes - in the heart.             As it relates to our discussion, Webster defines an idol as “any object of ardent or excessive devotion or admiration.”  We all have objects in our houses: paintings, photographs, maybe some decorative figures.  But we aren’t into giving them any kind of devotion or worship.  We may admire them for beauty or appreciate the memories they might bring, but we do not “idolize” them.             However, this is where the true danger lies.  We can and often do begin to give excessive admiration to certain persons or entities in our lives.  It’s quite easy to do without realizing it.  One of the best examples of this is, as we’ll call it, “the ol’ school spirit.”  The school wants everyone on board to champion its programs, its academics, its athletics, its everything!  This is OK, but people begin to idolize the school.  Everything about your school is best.  All other schools are inferior.  If your team loses, the other team cheated, or the officials made bad calls.  It’s excessive admiration.             We do this with political parties: send our money, vote a straight ticket, espouse every program it puts forward without batting an eye.  That’s an idol in our heart.  We can do this with companies, unions, our country - virtually anything can be idolized.             People, too.  Spouses, parents, children, our family, sports heroes, your doctor, some celebrity, et al.  Anybody can be raised to a place of excessive devotion in which they take on unrealistic qualities: only good is noted.  The faults are overlooked and/or minimized.  They can do no wrong.  “How great he is!”  “She is the absolute best!”  They now rival God in their goodness.  They compete with God Himself for our devotion, our time, our hearts.             Beware the prophet’s words.  Beware of idols in the heart.                                                             ><>  Jeff

John 11:35             As youngsters, we soon learned that the shortest verse in the Bible was “Jesus wept.”  This was a great accomplishment for little beginning Bible students, but over the years how much time has been invested in understanding the importance of that little verse?  Never has there been so much meaning packed into two words as those two recorded by John.             “Jesus wept” means that Jesus’ love was deep and genuine.  The text indicates that when He saw Mary and the others weeping that “He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled.”  He was grieving with Mary, Martha and the others, but He was also grieving FOR them.  He knew their heartache.  He had loved Lazarus, but He also loved them.             Those two words mean that God had fully identified with humanity, our sorrows and grief.  God was not on the sidelines watching the battle play out in front of Him.  As Jesus, He had entered the fray with vigor, accepting the title of Captain of mankind’s salvation, ready to take on the forces of darkness to effect humanity’s freedom from the clutches of Satan.             “Jesus wept” means that now there is real hope.  Jesus has just said to Martha: “I am the resurrection and the life.”  Lazarus, a man like the first man into whose nostrils God had breathed the breath of life, now lay dead - lifeless.  Jesus is moved (and has planned - John 11:4 ) to preview His coming victory over death and Hades through Lazarus’ death and raising.  The time has come.  The gloves are off.             “Where have you laid him?”             “Remove the stone.”             “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”             “Father, I thank you that you have heard Me ... so that they may believe that You sent Me.”             “Lazarus, come forth.”             “Unbind him, and let him go.”             Jesus wept.   Aren’t you glad He did?!                                                             ><>  Jeff