December 14

Letter to the Colossians - Colossians 1:1-14; The Preeminence of Christ - Colossians 1:15-29, 2:1-15; Carnality and Spirituality - Colossians 2:16-23, 3:1-17; Christlikeness in Relationships - Colossians 3:18-4:1; Concluding Thoughts - 4:2-18; Letter to Philemon - Philemon 1:1-25

"Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea and to Nympha and the church in her house." Colossians 4:15

"To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home." Philemon 1:2

A memory I hold dear is church at my Grandmother Hughes' house. I remember having church there and then after church the ladies gathering in the kitchen to make lunch. The whole congregation - just a handful of people - sat down together and eat a meal together. I only have a memory of going once but it is a powerful one. We should try that North Boulevard - try dividing up the congregation and have church in various homes. Because there is something unique about having church at your home. Not just a service with your family, but having others there. It gives church less an air of intimacy, of being a part of our lives rather than a ritual that we go to a "church building" to perform. It makes church feel like we're part of an outpost of Christians rather than the establishment.

I think our massive church buildings and congregations have a tendency to insulate us from our personal relationship with God and the radical nature of Christianity. We come together in these huge programmed, churches that have such a staid feel. Lord knows.

December 13

Voyage to Rome - Acts 27:1-44, 28:1-15; House Arrest in Rome - Acts 28:16-31

Paul's shipwreck on Malta commemorated with Malta stamp.

I guess they don't believe Paul when he says they'll be caught in a terrible storm, but they do put faith in what he tells them once the storm hits. We're that way with God. We don't always heed His warnings until we're suffering the consequences. Then we ask Him to save us.

And what faith in Paul it took to cut the ropes that held the lifeboats. It's counterintuitive in the middle of a storm to let go of the one thing that logically might save you, but they do. The centurion has his soldiers cut them to keep everyone on board. They can only be saved together. Paul says, "Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved." Acts:27:30-32

Is this only because of the practical reason they need the crew to sail the ship? Or is it because God wants us to work together to be saved? They also one by one rid themselves of the things that the world holds dear in order to preserve their lives. They through overboard the cargo - the wealth of the ship. It goes first. Because wealth is really the most unnecessary of the things we carry, isn't it? They've already cut the lifeboats free. Then they through overboard the life-sustaining grain or food. Now the anchors that keep them from dashing on the rocks. Then the rudder that steers them. They've given up any hold and all control over their direction.

Is this just a dramatic metaphor of the only way we can survive the storms of life? Lord knows.

December 12

Paul Before Felix, Festus and Agrippa - Acts 24:1-27, 25:1-27, 26:1-32

Paul before the rulers, witnessing to them as individuals and so, as we say, sowing the seeds of the kingdom. Surely he could see the Lord's hand. The irony of it all is expressed by Agrippa:

"Agrippa said to Festus, 'This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.'" Acts 26:32

Did Paul have an inkling of this? Was his appeal to Caesar spoken in a rash moment, in fear of his life, in desperate move that at first saved but later condemned? Did he ever realize he had sacrificed his freedom and eventually his life? What dark journey of the soul did he take before he was able to write to the Philippians:

"Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ." Philippians 1:12-13

He will accomplish his heart's desire. He will go to Rome. How did he reconcile his prayer's answer? We know how he reconciles it in his writings. He is a step closer to heaven. But how did his heart come to this place of piece. I wonder. I would have rethought, regretted and, perhaps, even renounced God's love in this answer.

How do I resolve to make His will, His gain enough?

Lord knows.

December 11

Acts (Continued) - Paul's Arrest and Trial - Acts 21:17-40, 22:1-30, 23:1-35

Ironically, Paul who preached living quiet lives in peace generates a whole lot of emotion and violent outrage with his views. How much of an uproar and concern does his preaching produce? Consider the Roman guard that travels with him to Caesarea for his transfer to Governor Felix:

"Then he [a Roman commander] called two of his centurions and ordered them, 'Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. Provide mounts for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.'" Acts 23:23-24

That's 470 men...just to protect 1 soldier of the cross.

December 10

Acts (Continued) - Acts 20:3-38, 21:1-16

This pie chart is from urbanministry.org. I don't know how accurate the percentages are but it has been my personal experience that the overall spirit and direction this graph implies is accurate.

It's poignant. Paul knows through the Spirit of his impending imprisonment. It's ironic. He wants to go to Rome. He's told the Christians there that he wants the opportunity to see them. His imprisonment will be that opportunity. Great sacrifice is required to accomplish great things.

Passages I underlined:

"...We must help the weak remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Acts:20:35

I wrestle with the subject of giving a good deal. The giving stressed and commanded in the Bible is largely for the weak, widows, orphans and aliens. What I struggle with is not giving so much as my responsibility in the stewardship of the resources I've been blessed with. How is the money I give used? How much am I responsible for how it is used? If I give 10 percent to a church that only uses 20 percent or less of those funds to take care of the needs the Bible truly outlines as worthy of giving is that a responsible use of my resources? Or is it better to ensure 80 percent or even 100 percent of the money goes directly to the need by giving to Christian orphanages and health organizations and relief? I know those organizations have infrastructure costs, too. But the percentages seem a whole lot better. Would the Church be a charity worthy of our investment if we really analyzed what percentage of our giving actually met the needs outlined in the Bible. I often cringe at the prayer before the offering when we mindlessly and ignorantly (innocently ignorant - but that's my analysis and not necessarily the truth) imply through how the prayer is offered that the money will help those in need. Will it? And how much of it?

I find I give cheerfully if I give to those in need rather than have my resources applied to a church tax of overhead and infrastructure.

The Lord has a whole lot of real estate in Rutherford County...but is that what He wants?

Another passage:

"Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied." Acts 21:8-9

Wow, how progressive for a Church of Christ. Imagine.

December 9

Letter to the Romans (Continued) - Christian Life and Conduct - Romans 12:1-21, 13:1-14; Regarding Mutual Responsibility - 14:1-23, 15:1-13; Closing Remarks - 15:14-33, 16:1-27

Hmmmm, we are best to leave our thoughts on disputable issues between ourselves and God. The kingdom isn't about issues it's about righteousness, peace and joy. We don't need to let minor disputes and issues stand in the way between our brothers and God. I guess I'm lucky there's not that many people logging into this blog.

"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men." Romans 14:17-18

"So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves." Romans 14:22

Lord, let what's important to you be important to me.

Lord knows.

December 8

Letter to the Romans - Regarding the Jewish Experience - Romans 9:1-33, 10:1-21, 11:1-36

There are some tough verses in this reading if you have questions regarding the God Sovereignty/our selection versus our free will/and the question of whether or not God love everyone...really. Verses like:

"...Rebekah's children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad - in order that God's purpose in election bight stand: not by works but by Him who calls - she was told, 'The older will serve the younger.' Just as it is written: 'Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.'

What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, 'I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.'"

"It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: 'I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.' Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden." Romans 9:10-18

The reading of this entire section in the Bible did more for my understanding than anything before. It was hard to read this passage and then later read in this same book by this same author:

"...if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9

"...the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'" Romans 10:12-13

"And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again." Romans 11:23

Wait a minute...so what is it? Does God elect the saved or are those that believe and call on Him are saved?

For me, the lightbulb went off when I realized this book was written to try and reconcile Gentile and Jewish Christians by trying to explain that God has extended his salvation beyond the Israelites. They, the Jews, were His chosen people before. Now he choses all people. Salvation has been extended to the Gentiles. God, the scriptures seem to argue, can save who He wants to. So who does He want to save? Obviously, both Jews and Gentiles. But there is something required of us. Acknowledgement. Acceptance. That's why, Paul explains that even though the Jews were hardened and so rejected and the joy of Christ was then extended to the Gentiles, the Jews can still be recovered. That's why Paul still preaches to Jews as well as Gentiles:

"I make much of my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?" Romans 11:13-15

"For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that He may have mercy on them all." Romans 11:32

Yes, God loves all, wants all and sent his son for all.

Lord knows.