January 30- Anti-Semitism And God’s Glory

Exodus 10:1-12:13
Matthew 20:1-28
Psalm 25:1-15
Proverbs 6:6-11

Exodus 11 hit me today as I was doing my reading. In the story, Pharaoh is given a choice as to whether or not he will let the Israelites go out of Egypt. Of course, Pharaoh chooses wickedness and decides to prevent Israel from celebrating the festivals that God called them to. What I really like though is verse 9 when God says, "Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you—so that my wonders may be multiplied in Egypt." Then, we transition into chapter 12, where God gives the Israelites the celebration of Passover. And as I sit here reading, it occurs to me that the refusal of Pharaoh to allow one festival, ultimately resulted in another festival. Wow! Just to think, that man's rejection of God eventually worked to God's benefit. It get's me to thinking about God and his sovereignty. Isn't it amazing how even evil acts against God and God's people turn out for His benefit. No, I don't desire God's name to be defiled, his people to be persecuted, or his church to be put down. However, I do know this. I do know that no matter what comes our way, God will be ultimately glorified, simply because he is above anything that people can throw at him. So, we turn to God in the midst of crisis and pain. We take hope when hope seems lost. Why? Because as Pharaoh proved, man's best attempts to frustrate God's plans only work to God's favor.

January 29- God's Passion Revealed

Exodus 8:1-9:35
Matthew 19:13-30
Psalm 24:1-10
Proverbs 6:1-5

Have you ever thought to yourself "Why is God so passionate?" Reading through scripture, we see God going the distance for his people, putting his neck out for their salvation, and at times "tossing tables" in their defense. But, why all the passion? What fire drove Jesus?

One answer might be found in Psalm 24. The verse simply states "The earth is the Lord's and everything in it." God cares, because these are God's children we are talking about! Think about the words he spoke to Jonah in Jonah chapter 4. God wraps up his conversation by reminding Jonah, "These people belong to me. That's why I care." To share Christ's passion is to share his responsibility and sense of ownership. I will do a lot for my kids. So, God is willing to do a lot for his children. That fire in his eyes and that drive in his actions comes from a love that only a parent can appreciate. Why the passion? The earth is the Lord's!

January 28- The Lord Is My Shepherd

Exodus 5:22-7:25
Matthew 18:21-19:12
Psalm 23:1-6
Proverbs 5:22-23

Reading the 23rd Psalm today, I was reminded of the good shepherd and the guidance that he gives. The fact is, life's path is not always an easy one. However, peace comes through obedience and trust to Jesus Christ. So, we follow his path, knowing that the road isn't always green. Things aren't often flowery. Sometimes, we just have to walk and trust his direction. Never stop walking with Jesus.

January 27- Let There Be Kids!

Exodus 4:1-5:21
Matthew 18:1-20
Psalm 22:19-31
Proverbs 5:15-21

In Matthew 18, Jesus says "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." As I read these words, I ask myself "What is the secret that little kids hold, which no one else does?" Is it their humility (as the verse indicates)? Their innocence? Their willingness to accept others? Their ability to forgive? Why have children discovered a secret that adults just can't seem to figure out? What makes them so special?

Then, I sit down with my kids and I know exactly why Jesus said what he did.

January 26- So, What Are You Saying Jesus?

Exodus 2:11-3:22
Matthew 17:10-27
Psalm 22:1-18
Proverbs 5:7-14

Matthew 17:24-27 reads-
24After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?" 25 "Yes, he does," he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. "What do you think, Simon?" he asked. "From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own sons or from others?"26"From others," Peter answered. "Then the sons are exempt," Jesus said to him. 27"But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours."

This text has always been amazing to me, not because of what Jesus said about himself, but what Jesus was saying about Peter. Look at it again, and see if you don't notice Jesus' words as they reflect on Peter's circumstance as well. We all know that Jesus was the son of the king. But, what is Jesus saying about Peter? I don't know about you, but this verse is truly amazing... especially in light of this verse in Hebrews 2-

11Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.

January 25- The Difference A Page Makes

Genesis 50:1 - Exodus 2:10
Matthew 16:13-17:9
Psalm 21:1-13
Proverbs 5:1-6

As I read Genesis 50 and then Exodus 1, I am amazed at the difference one page makes. Genesis ends with the Israelites in Egypt, on top of the world, looking optimistically towards the promise. Then, one page later we find the Israelites as slaves in Egypt, abused and misused, with no hope for the future. I guess this just shows how life goes. One day we are concerned about this thing, worried about this plan, and thinking about this dream. Next day, we find ourselves with a whole new set of worries, dreams, and plans. I don't know, I guess sometimes its funny to stop and take a look at it. I just wanna step back and say "Hey... it's all gonna be OK! Yesterday we were worried about _________, and now that this is no longer an issue, we've started worrying about _______. But, we shouldn't stress ourselves too much. After all, didn't God take care of it in the first place?" I guess that's what I feel today, on a day where we find ourselves once again at the mercy of life and its demands. Don't worry! Pray! Fast! Turn to God! And realize that the next chapter is only a page away.

January 24- Jesus Does It Again

Genesis 48:1-49:33
Matthew 15:29-16:12
Psalm 20:1-9
Proverbs 4:20-27

This week as I was reading the One Year Bible, I ran across the story in Matthew 15 about the feeding of the four thousand. Evidently, Jesus decided to miraculously feed four thousand people, just like he fed the five thousand one chapter earlier in Matthew 14. There are lots of things worth noticing here, but I want to pay special attention to the quality of Jesus from the text. Not only does Jesus perform a miracle, not only does he do the job right, but Jesus ends up with baskets of leftovers. In the accounts, after the people eat and are satisfied, the disciples pick up nineteen basketfuls (twelve in one story and seven in the other). Jesus could have just gotten the job done, but instead he goes over board and demonstrates his amazing quality! Such quality will be seen time and again, from the story of the miraculous catch to the turning of water to wine. Jesus brings something to the table that outsiders are simply amazed by. We should seek to live with such a high standard in our lives. Likewise, we should realize that Jesus stands alone. His quality sets him apart.

January 23- You're A Dog!

Genesis 46:1-47:31
Matthew 15:1-28
Psalm 19:1-14
Proverbs 4:14-19

One of the weirdest texts that I ever read as a kid was Matthew 15:21-28. Here, Jesus seems to refer to a woman as "a dog" because she is not of the race of Israel.

25 The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said. 26 He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."

What a strange text of scripture. Even to this day, the verse amazes me. After all, we have seen over and over again God's love for all types of people. Whether it was the time that God in the Old Testament went on a missionary journey through Jonah to save the Assyrians, or as Jesus in the Gospels serves Roman centurions and Samaritans, we see that God is a servant to all who would follow him. Here however, Jesus makes a point to let this Canaanite woman know that she is inferior. I know that there are lots of reasons behind this. I've read the books and I've seen the commentaries. Still, I can't get past the feeling I had as a child when I read this text the very first time. This just seems wrong! And yet, we know that in the end, Jesus served this woman and praised her for her faith.

As I read this, I want to ask the question... "What if she really was a dog?" Hear me out... I mean, we know that God loves all people the same. We know that all have sinned before God. All are unworthy. All have fallen short. In relationship to Jesus, certainly the case could be made that this woman was a wretch, a worm, or even a dog. Calling this woman a dog may be cruel, but it is not unfounded. When the glorious Jesus made his dwelling among human, carnal beings... any of those fleshly creatures standing in God's presence could be refered to as... well, as a dog! And yet, Jesus looking at this wretch doesn't treat her as a dog. He honors this one as (what?).... as a child! So the point here is not to say "Jesus called her a dog, but he was just testing her faith, she wasn't really a dog." No, the point here is to say "Jesus treats dogs like sons and daughters!"

I know a few dogs. There are some folks in this world that aren't worthy of anything. I don't like them. I can't help them. And I really don't need them. But Jesus, turns to those that I would call dogs. Jesus turns to me, just as equally unworthy, and offers me the same deal as he offers them. Jesus calls those who trust "his children." So,yah... I guess that makes me a dog. Who isn't?

January 22- What Can Jesus Do With A Fish?

Genesis 44:1-45:28
Matthew 14:13-36
Psalm 18:37-50
Proverbs 4:11-13

Matthew 14 tells of the story of the feeding of the five thousand. As I read the story, I am reminded of that frustration we all face of feeling inadequate. Am I good enough? Do people value me? While the world might suggest we "pick ourselves up by the bootstraps and believe in ourselves," Jesus paints another picture altogether. Jesus (I believe) argues here "No you can't." Jesus tells the apostles that they can't do it, can't make it, can't figure it out. "You feed them" Jesus says to his friends. But then, when all hope is lost, when there are no answers and little confidence can be found, Jesus shows them what any man (or woman) is capable of with God's power. They hand Christ a couple of fish and a few loaves, and Jesus makes a miracle happen. It's amazing what Jesus can do with a fish! Imagine what he could do with a heart. Just consider for a moment what he could do with a servant. Yes, I know we all want to be seen as important and valuable, I get that. Maybe Christ wants us to realize that value is not found in self worth or in ability. Maybe who we are is more than what we have, what our reputation is, and what we can do. Maybe, just maybe self worth comes from Jesus, who shows all people that those who trust in him will see miracles take place.

January 21- People Can Change

Genesis 42:18-43:34
Matthew 13:47-14:12
Psalm 18:16-36
Proverbs 4:7-10

Do people really ever change? I don't know. I want to believe that people can change... do change. The fact is, most of the time I believe the opposite. Looking at people, I become frustrated with how little change is apparent to me. I'm reading Genesis about Joseph right now. This story strikes me because at the end of the story, we see the decision of Joseph's siblings to act with love and compassion towards one another. You know what happened. Joseph's brothers, starving in the midst of famine, decide to journey to Egypt for food. Little do they know that their brother Joseph, wants to test their loyalty to one another and plays some rather mean pranks on the boys. It wasn't long ago that Joseph had been sold into slavery by these same boys. Now, years later, they have learned their lesson and show genuine love in the midst of trial. They have learned to care for one another. These boys know what it is to show loyalty, even though they once knew nothing of brotherly love.
Do people change? I sure hope that they do! Joseph saw that people can grow... become better.
This story gives us hope in the midst of sometimes doubtful circumstances.

Pray For Our President

Today is a good day to say some prayers on behalf of our new President and his leadership for this country. Please pray that he might live his life for God, act in a manner that reflects the Christian faith that we hold to, and strive for righteousness within his daily decision making.

January 20- Pulling Up Weeds

Genesis 41:17-42:17
Matthew 13:24-46
Psalm 18:1-15
Proverbs 4:1-6

Matthew 13: 24 Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 27 "The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?' 28 " 'An enemy did this,' he replied. "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?' 29 " 'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.' "

Jesus didn't command us to dig up weeds. I guess he believed that we weren't good enough judges of character to know when some members should go, and when some should stay. In my life, I've seen quite a few people that I felt at one point or another "needed to go." Still, many times these people came back to surprise me, as they too had grown in Christ. The systematic eradication of members should never be part of the church's agenda. So, we leave the weed eating to the angels, and we do our job, planting the seed of the gospel!

January 19- Trust His Plan

Genesis 39:1-41:16
Matthew 12:46-13:23
Psalm 17:1-15
Proverbs 3:33-35

Genesis 39 strikes me as I read the story of Joseph once again. Verse 2 says that God was with Joseph and he prospered. However, the story continues and Joseph finds himself in jail. I sit here, thinking about the will of God and what it means to us. Joseph knew the dream, knew who he was destined to be, and yet found himself "burnt" at every corner. I don't understand how God's blessing resulted in Joseph's incarceration, but I am humbled by the road God chose to lead Joseph down. Had Joseph tried to become Pharaoh's number two on his own, he never would have gotten there. Just imagine how hard it would have been for that young Jewish boy to work his way up the ladder of Egyptian success! However, in a cold dungeon, miles away from his destiny, we find Joseph on the right track towards the throne. Why? Because God knew what he was doing. God's ways might not seem right to us, but God has it all under control. I take comfort in the direction of God. Honestly, I get nervous when I consider where the road might lead me. Still, I know God is always there... always making sure everything works out for his will. So, over time we are learning... just trust his plan.

January 18- What Does My Heart Say?

Genesis 37:1-38:30
Matthew 12:22-45
Psalm 16:1-11
Proverbs 3:27-32

Matthew 12- 33"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

If "out from the overflow of my heart, my mouth speaks," then what kind of heart do I have? One need only listen to my words to see me. Evil words come from an evil heart. Jealous words flow from jealousy within. As the text says "As water reflects a man's face, so the man's heart reflects the man." The heart is speaking. What is it saying about me?

January 17- The Standard Is Set

Genesis 35:1-36:43
Matthew 12:1-21
Psalm 15:1-5
Proverbs 3:21-26

As I read Psalm 15, I remember the standard that we are called to. Who can dwell with God? As I read, I see a list of deeds indicating righteous perfection. The standard that has been set is quite high to reach. The funny thing is, many times I find myself believing I have already arrived (needless to say, this is something I have also observed as well). Psalms 15 reminds me that we are called to a standard of perfection. No one has a right to act as if they have met this standard. While all are called to it, we must also humbly acknowledge that perfection comes through Christ Jesus. It is his balance that makes Christians dangerous. Always striving for the goal, while always admitting their need for God's help!

January 16- To Know The Father

Genesis 32:13-34:31
Matthew 11:7-30
Psalm 14:1-7
Proverbs 3:19-20

At the end of Matthew 11, we find Jesus speaking of his intimate relationship with God. Jesus says in verse 27, "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." As I read these words, I think about the deep bond shared between God and Jesus. Jesus clearly knew his father, and was clearly known by him as well. Here is the point that amazes me. Not only does God share such a deep relationship with Christ, but he also promises to share that deep relationship with those "chosen by the son." The idea that anyone could know God as Jesus did is simply amazing. And yet, the verse reminds us that if we desire to know the father, we first must first know the son. May we live our life seeking to know God's son. In finding Jesus, we will indeed find God!

January 15- Just Like Jesus

Genesis 31:17-32:12
Matthew 10:24-11:6
Psalm 13:1-6
Proverbs 3:16-18

Matthew 10:24-25 reads- "A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. " This verse brings me back to Lubbock, Texas. In 1995, as I sat in the classroom downstairs for AIM, I remember Jay Jarboe speaking of this text. His point was simply, "It is enough to be like Jesus." Wow! Talk about a mouth full. Over a decade later and we still find ourselves trying to be like Jesus. When we are happy, we ask if that joy is reflective of the joy he had. When angry, we ponder if that anger is righteous as his. His passions are our passions. His dislikes are our dislikes. Well.... that was the plan anyway. Sadly, thirteen years later and we still find ourselves NOT being like him enough. So, what do we do? Do we give up and move on? As the apostles so faithfully stated, "Where would we go?" Yes, it is still enough to be like Jesus. So, we strive forward, knowing that the journey is making us more and more like him, whether we see it or not.

January 14- The Precious Bible

Genesis 30:1-31:16
Matthew 10:1-23
Psalm 12:1-8
Proverbs 3:13-15

Proverbs 3:13-15 reads

13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who gains understanding,

14 for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.

15 She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.

Why do we (when I say "we" I mean "me") not realize the great value of godly wisdom? Could Daniel interpret Pharoh's dreams without the Word of the Lord? How would Jesus have survived the temptations without first feasting on the bread that is God's word? And yet here we find ourselves, confident to handle life without first reading from sacred scripture. Like soldiers without armor, we march into war and scratch our heads asking the question "What went wrong?" No spiritual war was ever won without the sword of God's word firmly in place. We cannot hope to succeed without first embracing that which is most valued. God's word. May we search for her like rubies and cling to her as silver.

January 13- Harassed And Helpless

Genesis 28:1-29:35
Matthew 9:18-38
Psalm 11:1-7
Proverbs 3:11-12

In Matthew 9:36, Jesus has compassion on the crowds because they are "harassed and helpless." As Jesus then seems to indicate, the source of the harassment is the result of poor shepherding on the part of Israel's leadership. As I read these words, I remember a certain fact that must never be forgotten. We (as leaders) have an amazing ability to help or harm those that we work with. The crowd in Jesus' day, both lacked the ability to rise above their circumstances, and were purposefully being prevented from doing so. Harassed and helpless, they looked for one who would help them. No wonder these crowds so easily cried out "Hosanna son of David" on one day and "Crucify Him" on the next. No wonder he said "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." Poor leadership resulted in poor followers. If the sheep are ill, take a look at the shepherd.

January 12- Seeing Their Faith, He Was Forgiven

Genesis 26:17-27:46
Matthew 9:1-17
Psalm 10:16-18
Proverbs 3:9-10

I've read many times the story in Matthew 9 about the healing of the paralytic. This time what struck me was the detail that Jesus noticed the faith of those holding the mat, rather than simply the man lying on the mat. The faith of those holding the mat caused Jesus to tell the paralytic, your sins are forgiven. Because of their faith, his sins were forgiven. Needless to say, this raises a number of questions. While, we could spend a great deal of time asking the question "why?" I'd like to mention one issue that I see here from the reading. What I believe is worthy of pointing out is the impact our faith can have on others. Your faith (and mine), can cause others to have stronger, more fruitful relationships with God. When we choose to follow God by faith, others are benefited. Wouldn't it be wonderful to know the names of those who grew closer to God because of our faith?!! This is just one of the wonderful messages we can gain from Matthew 9.

January 11- Wrestling With Jacob

Genesis 24:52-26:16
Matthew 8:18-34
Psalm 10:1-15
Proverbs 3:7-8

I really struggle with Jacob. When I look at that man, I see such a strange Bible hero. Most of Jacob’s life seems like a mess to me. I understand why Joseph is a Bible hero, I get why Abraham is a man of faith, and Moses makes perfect sense to me. However, Jacob… well, that’s a horse of a different color. The fact that the Israelites are named after this man is hysterical to me. Jesus referring to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and JACOB makes me feel as if Jacob’s name should be left off that list. Jacob isn’t exactly known for making wise decisions. To his father he was deceptive. To his brother he was dissatisfied. To his father-in-law he was dishonest. And to his wives… well, he got duped. No wander one of Jacob’s finest moments is when he fought all night with God! Needless to say, I’m not a “Jacob fan.” However, in the character of Jacob, we do find a truth about the character of God. I’m really convinced that Jacob shows us that God’s love is not only for the great heroes in scripture, but also for the rest of us as well. Abraham reminds Israel of the standard that they are to reach toward, but Jacob reminds Israel that God is reaching towards them. Abraham shows us the faith we are to have, while Jacob teaches us of God’s faithfulness. So, Jacob may not be a great character. In fact, all that one might say about Jacob is just that he is a character. Still, In the story of Jacob, we find God’s mercy, love, and faithfulness towards one of Abraham’s children. For that reason, we serve the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

January 10- God Can, But Will He?

Genesis 23:1-24:51
Matthew 8:1-17
Psalm 9:13-20
Proverbs 3:1-6

I’ve said it before (and heard it said before), “I know God can, but will he?” This is a common statement when there is a car crisis, when money issues arise, or when health problems come up. “I know God has the ability to heal me, I know God has the power to fix this, I know God can do all things, but will he?” Matthew 8 answers the question clearly as Jesus (in verses 3 and 7) makes it clear that he will serve people when he is asked. Jesus, bound by physical limitations, got the job done when people needed him to. How much more will a spiritual God who is bound by nothing, willingly serve those who ask for his help? Does that mean he will always do as we command? Of course not. God is much wiser than we are and knows what we need and when we need it. What it does mean is that when we trust our God and humbly ask him for help, we don’t need to question if he is willing. Rather, we need to trust and wait for him to do what is best for us.

January 9- The Lord Will Provide

The One Year Bible
Genesis 20:1-22:24
Matthew 7:15-29
Psalm 9:1-12
Proverbs 2:16-22

I suppose that Abraham's faith could be considered "bazaar" by some. After all, if you heard the voice of God tell you to go and kill your children, and you went to act on that command, you would be sent to prison, whether you succeeded or not. For whatever reason, Abraham knows that God is righteous in his command, Abraham knows that God will not allow Isaac to stay dead (Genesis 22:5), and Abraham acts on this conviction. What amazes me in the story though is Abraham's concluding remarks as the story comes to a close. Abraham, about to slay his son, is prevented from doing so by an angel, and then is given a ram for sacrifice instead. As the story concludes, Abraham called that place "The Lord Will Provide." Of all the things to say, Abraham's response is truly unique. Had I been in the situation, I might have called the place "That Time I Nearly Stabbed My Kid To Death" or "The Weirdest Commandment I Ever Received." What amazes me about Abraham is not just that he did what he did (which is truly amazing), but also that he never lost a solid understanding about God in the process. Abraham went up to the mountain with an understanding of his God (22:8), and he came down with that same understanding (22:14). Abraham's faith was not just unwavering when he picked up the knife, but it was unwavering the entire time! So, this is what I like about Abraham. The man of God had nothing bad to say before, during, or after the testing. Abraham just looked at his son and spoke, "It's like I said, God will provide."

January 8- Trust God

Genesis 18:16-19:38
Matthew 6:25-7:14
Psalm 8:1-9
Proverbs 2:6-15

In the One Year Bible there is an interesting (and strange) story in Genesis about Lot and his daughters. The story tells of two young women who had lost their husbands and were forced to "think outside the box" when it came to having children. The ladies, unable to find a suitable mate, turn to the next best option (naturally) and decide to sin as a way to resolve the complicated dilemma (for a more PG-13 explanation, see Genesis 19). When I concluded the story in Genesis, the One Year Bible took me to Matthew 6 (the Sermon on the Mount) and began with the words "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life." As I read those words, I thought about what got Lot into the predicament he was in. Someone (specifically Lot's daughters) didn't trust God. Here two ladies worried so much about the lives they "might not have," that they wasted the lives that they did have. No one in their right mind would do what these women did. Yet, Lot's daughters sunk to a new low, because of fear, worry, and a lack of trust. Stories like these remind us of those faithful Biblical heroes who chose the high ground in difficult times. Mary had the opposite problem of Lot's daughters. In Mary's case, she was pregnant with a child for righteous reasons, yet her world was being turned upside down. Mary trusted in God and he delivered her out of the crisis. Two stories about having children, one with individuals making horrible decisions, the other with a person making wise decisions. What is the difference between the stories? Trust towards God!

January 7- God Loved Hagar

Genesis 16:1-18:15
Matthew 6:1-24
Psalm 7:1-17
Proverbs 2:1-5

One day (over a year ago), my wife Jessica was reading Genesis 16 and saw something she had never seen before. Jessica, with a tear in her eye, came to me and said, "I am so touched by God's love for Hagar." At the time, Jessica's words really didn't strike me. Even as Jessica explained that Hagar was being mistreated by Sarah (at the time Sarai), and that God loved Hagar in spite of all that she would bring into the world, I still didn't see what Jessica was seeing. I knew the story well and at the time wasn't really touched by it. However, as I read the story of Hagar and Ishmael today, I actually did catch a glimpse of what my wife had been speaking about. Sarah had become jealous of Hagar for becoming impregnated by her husband (something Sarah had originally wanted). Then during the pregnancy, Sarah abused Hagar (by Abram's permision), until Hagar was forced to flee. However, God showed love and compassion to Hagar by blessing her.

The story really is obvious when one ignores the characters involved. If there was a story of abuse in the Bible, we would expect a loving God to care for and bless the broken individual who was abused. However, this story is different because the abuser is God's man of faith Abraham and his wife Sarah. Likewise, the abused individual is Hagar, mother of Ishmael, mother to the Muslim faith. Yes, by allowing Hagar to die, Ishmael would have never been born, and neither would the Muslim religion. So, I (playing the Devil's advocate) ask the question, "Why not allow the abuse? Why not bring death?" This is probably a much deeper subject than I can touch here, but my opinion is that God helped Hagar because God truly loves people. This question could be taken in other directions as well. For example, "Why did God create people at all, if he knew they would reject him? Why did God give Adam and Eve the choice to eat of the fruit in the garden? Why did God come to earth, if he knew what people would do to him?" Logically, one could think "God has made some foolish decisions." However, when we consider his great love, the decisions made by God are not foolish, but true to his character. One day, I'll allow my daughter to drive a car, I'll send my daughter to college, and I'll pay for my daughter's wedding. How do I know that Alison won't have a car accident? What makes me think that my little girl won't get into the wrong crowd in college? How do I know that the guy I'm allowing her to marry isn't bad for her? Logically, maybe I should just stick Alison in a box and lock it up tight for safe keeping. Maybe fear could motivate me to never let my daughter see the light of day again. No... rather, I'm gonna show her love, give her healthy freedom, and trust her to make wise decisions. Why? Because that's what God does. God shows love, even if the possibility exists that it could backfire. Maybe God judges individuals for who they are, and not for the fear of what they could become. Maybe God loves individual people in spite of the fear. Perfect love casts out fear, and our God is a loving God rather than a fearful one!

January 6- Love Your Enemies

Genesis 13:5-15:21
Matthew 5:27-48
Psalm 6:1-10
Proverbs 1:29-33

As if Christianity wasn't complex enough, Jesus tells us in Matthew 5-

43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

At some point we ask the question, "What makes Christians any different than anyone else?" Here is a solid answer to that question. Christianity is marked by love! Now, I must confess that this verse is very difficult for me. It is easy (in my humble opinion) to go to church. Anyone can read the Bible. Prayer is not a complex task. But love.... now that's difficult! If Christians love their brothers and sisters, they are no better than anyone else in the world who does that same thing. Likewise, Christians loving their friends is not a remarkable feat. However, to love an enemy... well, that's unusual. I don't have a ton of enemies in my life, but there are some folks that I'd rather not relate to. Needless to say, I need a lot more love with these people. God is calling us to be extreme in our faith. There is nothing more extreme than being patient, kind, and self-sacrificial to someone that we don't like or that doesn't like us. The time has come to love as he has loved us!

A New Look

I thought it was time for a new look on the blog. Since it's a fresh new year, maybe some fresh new colors are in line. Likewise, I'm following the good advice of a friend (Josh Tucker) and making the layout even "easier on the eyes." I have loosened the criteria for making comments, so if you couldn't comment before, now you can. Finally, no blog of mine would be complete without a little artwork. As always, I'm keeping to my "Wizard of Oz" theme. One of these days I'll explain all of the reasons behind my use of this theme, but today you'll just have to come up with your own theories (and no, it's not because I am heartless, brainless, and lacking courage... those are just coincidences). Anyway, I hope you enjoy the website.

- Chris


(Here is the evolution of my blog logo, for those of you who like to see how blog logos evolve)

January 5- So I Wait

Genesis 11:1-13:4
Matthew 5:1-26
Psalm 5:1-12
Proverbs 1:24-28

Today's reading of Psalm 5 caught my attention. I love the words of verses 1 through 3.

1 Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing. 2 Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. 3 In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.

Maybe it's just me but that phrase "wait in expectation" really sticks out. I think a lot about what it is to have faith. Jesus tells his disciples to "believe and not doubt" and speaks of "moving mountains" with such faith. I have asked in my life, "How does one show this level of faith?" David has something here with this "eager expectation" that he speaks of. It seems that David's prayer life is the kind that causes him to constantly sit on the edge of his seat, waiting for the miracles to happen. It's as if David really believes that when he calls to God, the Lord will forcefully and clearly answer his prayers. Even more interesting to me is that David uses the phrase "in the morning" as if to indicate that God's answers can be seen within a time period following David's morning devotional. I don't know if this is the heart of what David is saying. I'm not sure if David's point is to say "I pray by faith to you when I get up, and then I sit and watch you do your work." One thing is for certain. David's faith is truly amazing because David knows that God will answer him. So, like David, we pray and wait in expectation.

January 4- For Those of You With Pain

Genesis 8:1-10:32
Matthew 4:12-25
Psalm 4:1-8
Proverbs 1:20-23

In my reading for January 4^th, I ran across a section that was interesting to me about “pain and suffering.” After reading the section of scripture in Matthew 4:23-25, I got to thinking about what it is to live with pain. One survey that I ran across says that right around half of all people suffer from some type of chronic pain on a daily basis (Elliott, Smith, Penny, Smith, & Chambers, 1999). That number is staggering, when one considers how hard it is to live with the small amount of pain any single one of us experiences daily. From headaches to back spasms, arthritis to sore muscles, pain is…. well, painful! As I read Matthew 4:24, the text makes a note to say that Jesus “healed those suffering severe pain.” At first glance, I think to myself “Sure. That’s what he did.” However, Jesus healing pain causes us to ask any number of Theological questions. Why is there pain in the world? Why would God make pain and then get rid of that pain? What’s God’s will when it comes to suffering? Does God want there to be pain or does he want us to live painless lives? These are complex questions that can never be satisfied. Here’s what I want to point out. For whatever reason, there is pain (many of us have it), and when God came to this world, he was glad to take it away! My question is, “What happened when Jesus left town? Did those people never experience pain again?” I assume that a person who was crippled experienced complete healing from Jesus, and the pain was totally wiped away. But, what happened if they left Jesus that day, climbed on a horse, and got bucked off? What happened if they got out of bed on the wrong side the next day? You want to know what I think? I think they felt pain! Sure, not the same pain as before, but different pain. Pain makes us human. This is why Jesus healed those with Leprosy who had lost their ability to feel. Just think about it! Jesus took away pain from some people and other people he gave pain! He took the unbearable pain from the crippled and gave healthy pain to the lepers. So, pain can be good. What I want to point out from the reading is that not everyone everywhere enjoys life without pain, just for being faithful to God. Maybe this is why Psalm 4:1-2 (also today’s reading) begins with the words “answer me when I call you” and “give me relief.” David seems to be indicating that he too has a life of pain (whether physical or in another form), which only God can heal. Did God relieve David’s pain? Did God relieve Job’s pain? What about Stephen in Acts? What about the pain felt by Paul for killing his brothers and sisters in Christ? What about Jesus’ pain as he hung there on the cross? Talk about a complex topic! One thing is for certain, God has shown us that sometimes he relieves pain, and sometimes he gives it. Sometimes he helps us endure suffering, and other times he knows it is more than we can bear, so he relieves it. Because I believe he is good, I don’t have to question his answer to my prayers. Rather, I just trust that when I call to him for help, he will do what is best for me.

Alison M Elliott, Blair H Smith, Kay I Penny, W Cairns Smith, W Alastair Chambers. (1999). The epidemiology of chronic pain in the community. The Lancet, 354(9186), 1248-52. Retrieved January 5, 2009, from Research Library database. (Document ID: 45662022).

January 3- The Flood

Genesis 5:1-7:24
Matthew 3:7-4:11
Psalm 3:1-8
Proverbs 1:10-19

In Genesis 6 & 7 I notice the story of Noah and the ark. Noah is a neat Biblical character that amazes me. I am amazed at his age (that's an old fellow). It amazes me how Noah took on such a mammoth task of building a boat to house the world's animals. Besides all of that, I am really amazed that Noah remained true to God in a world where he stood alone as righteous. Most of the time I need someone else around me who is also faithful. Without good coworkers in my corner, history has proven me to be quite weak. I can't imagine doing it alone. Noah did it alone. Noah lived a righteous life when the world decided to abandon God. That's more amazing than building a boat! More amazing than putting two of every animal in an ark is the fact that Noah did so in a generation where everyone else was wicked! That's the kind of man this world needs. We need men who will say to family, neighbors, and friends "It doesn't matter what they are doing. It doesn't matter who says 'it's OK.' It doesn't matter if everyone else is against me, because I'm going to do the right thing!" We need more Noah's in this world. However, that's the catch... the reason Noah is Noah is because there aren't more Noah's (that's a mouth full). In other words, the key to being Noah is to live righteously even when others won't. That's the guy I wanna be. That's the guy we should strive to become.

January 2- Out of Egypt

Genesis 3:1-4:26
Matthew 2:13-3:6
Psalm 2:1-12
Proverbs 1:7-9

Reading Matthew 2 this week reminded me of the challenge and blessing that comes from being dependent on God. As missionaries, I always remembered the fear of whether or not financial support would arrive and how those funds would come. In the end, we were always provided for and God gave us exactly what we needed (and many times what we wanted too). I can recall being hit with high electric bills, having major automotive issues, and watching as passport and visa issues threatened to hit Jessica and I in the pocket book. However, in every case, God provided. It actually began to become a game for us. When a need arrived, we would just wait and see how God took care of that need (sometimes still stressed, but with the knowledge that he would not leave us in these hard times). In Matthew 2 when Jesus' parents are gifted gold, incense, and myrrh, I assume it caught them off guard. We know they were not wealthy, we know they were young, and we know that their worlds had been turned upside down. Little did they know at the time that they were just a couple of verses away from taking a costly trip to Egypt! On the run, with new child, and no resources, I assume those gifts came in quite handy. Does God provide? You better believe he does! For those in need who turn towards him, they too enjoy the miracle of watching his provision that is offered, as well as the challenge of living with trust in that provision.

At A Wedding

I'm at a wedding and out of town the next two days, but I'm reading and writing still and will post here again this weekend.
- Chris

January 1- A New Start To A New Day

Genesis 1:1-2:25
Matthew 1:1-2:12
Psalm 1:1-6
Proverbs 1:1-6

The New Year is all about new beginnings. For some reason, humans just seem willing to try new things and move in new directions on January 1st. Needless to say, making a new start is a common theme in the Bible as well. In Genesis 1 we read of God’s new formation of life on earth. Matthew 1 then tells of a new day found in Jesus as God comes to live among humanity. This newness reminds us that God is willing to allow people to make fresh starts in life and seek to reinvent themselves. As long as we are here on earth, the day to start over is always available to us. This may be why Jesus tells Nicodemus in John 3 to be “born again.” Because God loves it when people start over and begin again with him. Today is a new day! Let’s make this day one that will honor God in a fresh new way!