Luke 13:16 SàThis dear woman, a daughter of Abraham, has been held in bondage by Satan for eighteen years. Isn’t it right that she be released, even on the Sabbath?” HàHere Jesus steps out of the religious status quo to accomplish God’s will in the world. In doing this Jesus confronts the religious status [...]
Archive for September, 2008
Confronting Religious Idolatry: “Jesus’ healing on the Sabbath”
Posted: September 30, 2008 in discipleship, Faith, new church0
Let the light shine: “My responsibility in the world.”
Posted: September 25, 2008 in discipleship, FaithLuke 8:16 SàNo one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house. HàJesus has just finished explaining the parable of the sower to his disciples and here [...]
Luke 7:13 SàWhen the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. “Don’t cry!” he said. HàThis chapter is full of miracles from Jesus. It is full of Jesus stepping into the brokenness of those He encounters and bringing wholeness out of their brokenness. With this widow, Jesus is overwhelmed with compassion for her. [...]
Today i am headed to preach at a church in West Virginia that was instrumental in praying me through the hell of my life. This church never gave up on me but lived out their baptism to bring me before the Lord in prayer as I was swimming with the pigs. I come back there [...]
Circumcision and Surrender: “The requirements for entering God’s presence”
Posted: September 17, 2008 in discipleship, grace, JusticeSàSo this is what the Sovereign Lord says: No foreigners, including those who live among the people of Israel, will enter my sanctuary if they have not been circumcised and have not surrendered themselves to the Lord. (Ezekiel 44:9) HàWe’ve just heard a few chapters earlier of the promise to bring Israel back from [...]
Knowing who God is: “the cycle of being sent away and called back home”
Posted: September 16, 2008 in FaithTags: exile, ezekeil, home, journey, knowing God
SàThen my people will know that I am the Lord their God, because I sent them away to exile and brought them home again. I will leave none of my people behind. (Ezekiel 39:28) HàI’ve heard the story so much that is doesn’t occur to me how bazaar it really is. Israel will know [...]
Proclaming Hope in the midst of Hopelessness: “The task of the faithful”
Posted: September 10, 2008 in Faith, HopeTags: call, exile, god, Hope, hopelessness, jesus, judgment, peace, proclaim, questions
SàRestore us, O Lord, and bring us back to you again! Give us back the joys we once had! (Lamentations 5:21) HàAs I read Lamentations this morning it was amazing how the author went from speaking about how God had destroyed them, left them, ignored them, abandoned them and then all of a sudden [...]
Leaving a Legacy: “Which one will it be?”
Posted: September 8, 2008 in Justice, leadershipTags: legacy loyatly god family racism exile promised land
SàThen all the women present and all the men who knew that their wives had burned incense to idols—a great crowd of all the Judeans living in northern Egypt and southern Egypt—answered Jeremiah. We will not listen to your messages from the Lord! AàThis scripture brings to mind my upcoming sermon series, “Once upon [...]
Hanna came through last night and the remnants are leaving right now. I am reminded of the “eye” in the midst of the storm. At times, my life feels like a hurricane and it is easy for me to get caught up in the winds, rain, despair, and destruction. I often forget that there is [...]
Belonging to Jesus: "Exile as a reminder is in the playing field"
Posted: September 3, 2008 in UncategorizedEzekiel 20:5 “Give them this message from the Sovereign Lord. When I chose Israel—when I revealed myself to the descendants of Jacob in Egypt—I took a solemn oath that I, the Lord, would be their God.” Ezekiel opens up a door here for a thought that we need to be reminded of. The thought is [...]
