the awkwardness of the Psalms

Sometimes when I read through the Psalms I have these moments of awkwardness.  Some of the language makes me absolutely uncomfortable.  It's downright creepy in parts.  The emotion is so heightened that a casual read could leave one feeling out of sorts.

The extremes of emotion and the almost unfiltered commentary brings a deep realness to the pain and struggle of the writer.  There is deep praise and deep anguish.  There are calls for God to take care of 'business' concerning their enemies.  There are moments of great trust and assurance.  I find that the Psalms speak to the moments of life where we do not seem to have the language.  Isn't that what a good song does?  This is what the Psalms are - songs.

So if you are feeling like you cannot express what you really want to say or you feel like your emotions are heightened due to a circumstance beyond your control-  then step in line with the Psalmist.
I'll try not to feel to weird around you.  But hey - we all have those moments from time to time.  Be thankful for the Psalms today.

Ministry

Gospel and Mary Poppins - 

Matthew 22 

Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and God what is God's.  

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Miracles

Gospel and Mary Poppins

Mark 2: 1-12

the miraculous is proof of Jesus' authority to forgive sins.  The miraculous is a sign of God's kingdom breaking in. 

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Understanding Revelation

On Wednesday, January 15^th we begin a new bible study.  After many requests we are going to study the book of Revelation.  This is often a confusing if not troubling book for many.  With all of the symbols and language many become weary in its reading.  Others feel they have such a grasp upon the meaning that you can easily tell they are trying to have the text say what they want it to say rather than listening to what it actually says.  Somewhere in the middle we find ourselves.  Here are some questions that may be running through your mind about the subject and some of my responses.  This is more than the simple question – should I come?  My answer is – yes.   See you at 7 p.m.

Here are some others…Why do we study eschatology? What is the purpose of trying to understand the book of Revelation?  How does this really connect or help me in my faith with Christ?

1.     The Bible teaches eschatology (last things).  We cannot get around the message from Scripture about the soon to be kingdom and the expectation and anticipation of God’s people.  Revelation 1:3 also says – “Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it…

2.     Our human hopes, fears, and curiosity inevitably turn to future events.  Does God have something to say about our unfulfilled human longings?

3.     Ethics and Eschatology – The hope of seeing Christ causes us to purify ourselves (1 John 3:33).  The prospect of judgment causes us to pause and evaluate whether our lives are lived according to the true principles of the Gospel and its call for love and justice.

4.     Evangelism and Social Justice – Our eyes are often turned toward the heavenly spiritual realities that we often ignore.  God has often used these concepts to help bring people into the kingdom.

5.     Eschatology affects our worldview.  If the world is going to burn up – you may have different priorities.  If you believe Jesus could return today then there is a different urgency about life than if we believe that we must prepare for tribulation, or the ushering of the kingdom through the church.  There are different views on this, all of which will be discussed without preferential treatment of one or another.  (Although I think that my view is the best by the way – lol.)

6.     Our understanding of time – we look back to see from where we came from.  We look forward to see where we believe we are going.  In the middle we find ourselves living a life ‘in between the times’.  The desired future of the kingdom of God into the present is pulled through the work of the church.  All of this affects our understanding of salvation, the church, and above all our understanding of who Jesus is. 

My hope is not to provide you with answers.  You will probably leave with more questions actually, but I believe that God’s presence will be with us as we pray and study together.  Please join us, bring your cluelessness.  We will all be in the same boat.  My hope is that we can hear it, understand it, and live it together. 

The Perfect Nanny (Savior)

Gospel and Mary Poppins - 

Jane and Michael Banks have clear expectations of their nanny.  

"You must be kind, you must be pretty, etc." 

What are our expectations of God?  Does Jesus meet them? 

Luke 4 - Jesus' Sermon at Nazareth.  He surpasses and let's down the expectations of his listeners in one sermon.  

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2014.

Happy New Year.

Discover what you love to do and go do it.  May you have the courage you need to make the changes you want for the sake of the future.  Shake the dust off of your sandals from 2013.

Here is to a new year.