December 21

First Letter by Peter - 1 Peter 1:1-2; The Blessings of Redemption - 1 Peter 1:3-25, 2:1-10; Glorifying God for Redemption - 1 Peter 2:11-25, 3:1-12; Steadfastness in Persecution - 1 Peter 3:13-22, 4:1-19, 5:1-11; Concluding Thoughts - 1 Peter 5:12-14

"Even angels long to look into these things." 1 Peter 1:12

Makes you wonder if the angels watch us like we watch television? What do the angels know about the script ahead of time and how much do they sit and watch in wonder? They know how the shows going to end, but it must be interesting to see the plot twists God introduces along the way. Every once in awhile their Father calls them away from the TV. "Hey, Michael, I've got something I want you to do. Can you run down to earth for me?" I wonder if in God's TV Guide our lives are marked drama, action or comedy?

"For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God." 1 Peter 2:19

I can't help but think of Coach Don Meyer when I read this. He was basketball coach at Lipscomb when I was there. A December 15, 2008, Sports Illustrated article about him, titled The Game of His Life, had this to day about his recent near-fatal car accident:

A Blessing. Even now, three months after the accident nearly claimed his life, Don Meyer calls it a blessing. "You can't look at it any other way," he says. It was a a blessing to crash into a semi that was carrying 90,000 pounds of grain while driving to a team retreat on Sept. 5. It was a blessing to lose his left leg below the knee, to endure eight surgeries, to spend weeks in the hospital fighting pain so intense that he would croak church hymns as tears streamed down his face. It was a blessing, Meyer says, and here's why: If the wreck hadn't happened, if the doctors hadn't performed emergency surgery to remove his spleen and reattach his diaphragm, they wouldn't have discovered the cancer burrowing into his liver and small intestine until it was too late.

It was a blessing to survive, to know what he's facing and now, more than anything else, to coach again. "I just wonder sometimes because I shouldn't be here," says Meyer, the coach at Division II Northern State in Aberdeen, S.D., the man who, with 898 career victories at week's end, needs just five wins to pass Bob knight as the alltime leader among NCAA men's basketball coaches. "There's no realistic way I should be here right now, when you get down to it, unless there's something I've still got to do."

If you haven't read Meyer's story in SI, you can read it all here. It's amazing how what most have perceived as tragedy God and Meyer are turning into a witness to the world on a national stage. Lord knows.

December 20

Letter by James - James 1:1; Preparation for Oppression - James 1:2-18; Consistency Between Faith and Conduct - James 1:19-27; 2:1-26, 3:1-18; 4:1-12; Exhortations for Suffering Saints - 4:13-17, 5:1-20; Letter by Jude - Jude 1:1-25

I'm really struck by this notion of Jesus' brother. Just think about it. Growing up with Jesus. Having him beat you at some kind of ancient Jewish kid's game - kick ball or Yahtzee (that sounds sort of Jesus and ancient and like casting lots). I bet Jesus won all the time and when you did beat him you were always wondering if He let you win. It blows my mind away when I think of it in real terms and not just as a story in the Bible. Someone actually being a brother to the son of God. There'd be resentment, too. Jesus always doing things perfect. Your mom, Mary, telling you to be more like your brother, Jesus. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.

And then it hits me. We are His brother.

I know scholars have difficulty determining just who wrote the book of James. But I believe it was Christ's brother because of the language. James just sounds like his older brother Jesus. So much of what you read here sounds like the Sermon on the Mount. So much of the New Testament outside of the gospel are about doctrine and the church. James, like his brother Jesus, is more concerned about how we live.

Some really, really great stuff in this little book.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord...." James 1:5-7

This is why I think we see so few miracles today in America and in Middle Tennessee and the churches of Christ. We do not believe in them. We believe in miracles in the Bible and that God has the power to do miraculous things. But, even when we pray for someone to be healed, it is typically a prayer for the doctor's skill rather than God's miraculous healing. The exception to this seems to be when they are prayers for our loved ones. At any rate, I don't know why we think that God has gotten out of the miracle business. Because we don't see them? Because sometimes God's answer is "No" to our requests for miracles? I believe God can and does do whatever He wants. Without a doubt.

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27

Don't get me started. In brief: one of the only scriptural reasons for collecting money in my reading of the Bible.

"Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgement!" James 2:12-13

I try to be careful about judging someone else's religious beliefs and rejoice that they have them. I try to preach only Christ and let the rest of the world sort through the instrumental music/hair covering/drinking/divorce issues. I prefer in sermons we talk about what we do that isn't good rather than talk about what we've seen in other congregations. Why? Because I'm looking for a whole lot of mercy.

In Jude, I found the mention in the editor's notes that Jude includes references to "extrabiblical writings (the book of Enoch)" in his letter interesting. I've always wondered if we've got it all, all of what God intended to be in the Bible. And perhaps we had a book or two that He didn't intend to be there. I mean how many classes are taught from or sermons preached from the Song of Solomon? Lord knows.

December 19

Second Letter to Timothy - 2 Timothy 1:1-2; Exhortations to Timothy - 2 Timothy 1:3-18, 2:1-26, 3:1-17, 4:1-8; Concluding Thoughts - 4:9-22

"Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy." 2 Timothy 1:4

"May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains." 2 Timothy 1:16

This murderer of Christians now derives so much joy from his relationships with them. He places so much importance on people. He preaches love and avoiding "quarreling about words" and "godless chatter." How often do our "doctrinal discussions" become "quarreling about words"?

"Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this." 2 Timothy 2:7

Rightly or wrongly, this is how I've approached my reading of the Bible through the year. I've read, reflected and looked to the Lord for my insight. Yes, there is a place for teachers. I've spent a lifetime listening to them and still on every Sunday of my life. But how much time have I given the Lord to give me his sermon, his insight? Here is my resolution for the new year. Listen less to man and more to the Lord in 2010.

Will I fulfill my resolution? Lord knows.

December 18

Letter to Titus - Titus 1:1-4; Concerning Church Leaders - Titus 1:5-2:1; Teaching Various Groups - Titus 2:2-15; The Christian Life - Titus 3:1-11; Concluding Thoughts - Titus 3:12-15

Along with more about avoiding "foolish controversies" and "arguments and quarrels about the law," which echoes yesterday's reading, Paul talks about the real heart of doctrine - how the gospel inspires us to do good. And it is this good that will do far more to convince people of Whose we are than all of the arguments over what we believe. You can argue with words and beliefs but you can't argue with service. Which is why most members of the Church of Christ have great admiration for Mother Teresa.

Writes Paul:

"I want you to stress these things [doing good], so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law because these are unprofitable and useless." Titus 3:8-9

Having said all of this about avoiding quarrels about the law that Paul picks a lawyer out to mention in this letter: "Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer..." Titus 3:13

Ironic? Lord knows.

December 17

First Letter to Timothy - 1 Timothy 1:1-2; Instructions for the Church - 1 Timothy 1:3-20, 2:1-15, 3:1-16, 4:1-5; Instructions to Timothy - 1 Timothy 4:6-16, 5:1-16; Concerning Elders - 1 Timothy 5:17-22; Advice to Timothy - 1 Timothy 5:23-25; Instructions to Slaves - 1 Timothy 6:1-2; Concerning Mercenary Teachers - 1 Timothy 6:3-19; Concluding Remarks - 1 Timothy 6:20-21

There is a good deal of talk here about "meaningless talk," "interest in controversies," "quarreling about words," and "godless chatter." This theme can also be found in tomorrow's reading of Paul's letter to Titus. It might be an apt criticism of this blog where I've highlighted stories and text that seems to fly in the face of the status quo. It is certainly not my intention. But it is a part of our tradition in the churches of Christ. What we honestly consider to be "rightly dividing the word of truth" and rejecting "false teaching" is often, in my estimation, "godless chatter" and "quarreling about words." We think the excellence of doctrine and ability to follow the letter of the law will save us. If we don't think this, well, we at least model in our actions this is what we believe.

But the real goal of sound doctrine is love. Or as Paul begins his letter to Timothy:

"As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work - which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have wondered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. they want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm." 1 Timothy 1:3-7

Do they "not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm" because all of their facts are wrong? Or is it because their doctrine is a "clanging cymbal?" It does not first and foremost honor the command to "love?" Is their teaching and doctrine based on strictly "knowledge?" Or does it come "from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith?" I think we hold up substance too often in our doctrine without love. It's not what's written in the book that matters. It's what's written on our heart.

Lord knows.

December 16

Letter to the Philippians - Philippians 1:1-2; Reflections upon Imprisonment - Philippians 1:3-26; Various Exhortations - Philippians 1:27-30, 2:1-30, 3:1; Various Warnings - Philippians 3:2-21, 4:1; Concluding Thoughts - Philippians 4:2-23

Paul writes in this reading:

"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ...." Philippians 1:9-10

Our knowledge and insight are to be based in love. The three are intimately wrapped up together. What would love combined with knowledge and insight mean for our thoughts and words on issues like divorce and homosexuality? The Bible speaks plainly on these issues but do we speak to issues or do we speak to people?

I'm not saying that what we know about these issues is incorrect. But we must love first and foremost before anyone will ever care or ask out of genuine interest what our stand is. In advertising the first and foremost challenge is not communicating a message. The first and foremost challenge is breaking through all of the noise and getting people's attention. That's true of God and Christ. The first challenge is not preaching the message. It's getting people's attention. Hence miracles and selfless acts of service.

Lord knows.

December 15

Letter to the Ephesians - Ephesians 1:1-2; Revelation of God's Mystery - Ephesians 1:3-23, 2:1-22, 3:1-21; Exhortation Regarding the Church - Ephesians 4:1-16; Exhortation Regarding Personal Righteousness - Ephesians 4:17-32, 5:1-20; Exhortation Regarding Relationships - Ephesians 5:21-33, 6:1-9; Exhortation Regarding Relationship with God - Ephesians 6:10-24

Ah, Jesus is not a big church.

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19

What surpasses knowledge? What is it that Paul prays for this congregation to have? Great programs? A great building? A great preacher and song leader and worship service?

"I pray that you, being rooted and established in a big church building, may have a powerful preacher, together with a large staff, that grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the sermon necessary to know the Truth that surpasses the Truth that the church down the street is preaching - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of self-satisfaction." Ah, but that's not what it says.

To quote the Beatles, "All we need is love, love. All we really need is love." Lord knows.