June 30

June 30

 

2 Chronicles 31 & 32

LUKE 1; 1-38

 

We were pleased to read about King Hezekiah who followed and honored God. He wasn't perfect but nor are we. A leader who inspired his people to work hard, volunteer, giving gifts.

 

Whenever an angel appears to humans, the first thing said is "do not be afraid." It must have been an awesome and exceptional occurrence. We are continually blessed by God's acts when those acts are beyond our comprehension. But we must remember, that in Luke, there is nothing beyond God being able to do.

June 29

June 29           

 

2 Chronicles 29 & 30

Ephesians 6

 

Everyone pitched in and once again worshipped God. As people were put right with the Lord, people volunteered and brought more than required. What a grateful response. King Hezekiah followed the Lord. This was a wonderful reading compared to many readings before. What's this with Kidron Valley? Seems that many useless things get dumped there. Is it the local dumpsite?

 

Put on the whole armor of God. We need this 24/7. If not so equipped, sin and evil can infect our lives. But with Jesus with us, we possess huge powers to live correctly. Keep alert, never give up and pray unceasingly.

June 28

June 28

 

Oh boy, here we go again…4 TONS of silver. I have no idea where it was mined or who did it or how they hauled. Where's Kip, Andy or Rob when you need them? I guess we should look and feel a little differently about those valuable pieces we have. Is some of the gold, silver, etc. from these times? Thanks Ranchmom.

 

Chapter after chapter, we read that the Kings continued to sin against the Lord. That they were more impressed with idols and other sinful living. Those that followed the Lord were rewarded with longer reigns and lives.

 

Psalm 74, asking the Lord to not forget His people when they wander to sinful living. In fact, I notice some angry words in that prayer. I believe that is it OK to be angry. To tell the Lord about our frustrations and be truthful in our prayer (He knows about it any way). 

June 27

June 27, 2010

 

2 Chronicles 24 – 25

Ephesians 5

 

An overall question reading Old Testament readings so far…Who is mining all of this gold? How do they haul it around? Where do they get it? I.e. Solomon received 25 TONS of gold each year. 25 TONS of gold covered the walls in the temple. 20 OZ of gold used to make nails (really neat nails).

 

Readings for June 27.

In the Old Testament, the Jews couldn't keep to their beliefs when in other lands or surrounded by pagan worship. If they did not have a strong leader, they wandered. Isn't this like us today? We have a tendency to "wander" when surrounded by sin or not keeping God in our priorities. Human nature is to gravitate to the "easy way." However, God does not give up!! He continually pursues us and makes himself available so when we come back, we rejoin His fellowship.

 

In Ephesians, Paul writes that we should not be deceived by foolish words. We need to separate ourselves from sinful ways. This is the same message that we received from 2 Chronicles; maintain strong beliefs and life style to shield ourselves from evil.

June 25 & 26

June 25

2 Chron 18-20/Eph 3

June 26

2 Chron 21-23/Eph 4

June 25

The student edition of the NIV bible calls the prayer in 20:6 of 2 Chronicles a "model prayer." This is a model prayer because Jehoshaphat begins with the adoration of God, reminded him of his promises, set forth a problem, and asked for help. Jehoshaphat was so confident that he even thanks God for the answer before it came! Perhaps this week you could follow Jehoshaphat's model prayer when you pray to God.

In Ephesians we are also reading a prayer, this time written by Paul to the church at Ephesus. Paul's hope for the church applies to the mission of First Presbyterian Church in Williamsburg, IA today as well:

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. Now to him who is able to do immeasurability more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church an din Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Amen!

June 26

I thought the most powerful passage from the readings for today is the one issued by Paul in 4:29-32. Its a nice challenge to try to live up to his words for tomorrow.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Its been great blogging with you this week!

June 23 & 24

Please forgive my tardiness . . . my wireless network & I were having a disagreement!


Readings for June 23: 2 Chron 13 - 15/ Eph. 2
Readings for June 24: 2 Chron 16, 17/ Ps. 73

June 23
In verse 8 of Ephesians, Chapter 2 Paul highlights one important fact of the gospel . . . eternal life come not by any ritual of rule-keeping (sometimes called works), but by the grace of God. But God intends for us to do good works as a way to show our love for Christ.

In what ways are you showing your love for Christ through your good works?

June 24
Did you know that the physicians that are written about in 2 Chron 16:12 were actually thought to be Pagan? This is why the verse points out that the king did not trust in God.

The Psalmist for today is writing about something that many of us have probably experienced . . . envy of people's lives who are not living out the word of God. Why are we envious? Does leading a "bad" life in the sight of God, mean people are unhappy? They may be happy on Earth, but as Christians we know that there is much more to life than simply the one we live on Earth.

June 22

Old Testament Reading: 2 Chron 10 - 12

New Testament Reading: Eph 1

First, I need to apologize, because I posted the wrong New Testament reading yesterday. The second reading should have been Psalms 72. I'm sure you caught the error! Anyway today we get to start reading Ephesians.

Yesterday I asked for posts of the "meatiest" texts from Ephesians, so today I'll post the text from the first chapter that I thought was meaningful.

Eph 1: 4 - 8

For he chose us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will--to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

I thought this was particularly meaningful because it openly and powerfully states what it seems like we all know (or have been told, or think we know), but don't ever really say. I think it's a reminder of all of the things God has done for us, through his son.

June 21

Old Testament Reading: 2 Chron. 8, 9

New Testament Reading: Eph. 1

It is interesting to note that the Queen of Sheba was not, in fact one of Solomon's lovers. The king had 700 wives and 300 concubines, but the Queen of Sheba was not one of them. The visit from the queen illustrates Jerusalem's reputation as the showpiece of the Middle East. She was probably on a diplomatic trip, more than anything else as Solomon's large kingdom posed a great threat to her own.

The version of the Bible I'm reading from (NIV) says in the introduction to this book that this is Paul's summing up book. He's giving an overall view of the grand scheme of the gospel and bringing God's hidden plan to light. This is also supposed to be the book that brings good news to those who feel abandoned and unloved. The NIV Bible also cautions that the "meat" of the book is in the first three chapters and that each paragraph in the first three chapters should be read very carefully.

Please leave a comment below, if you happen to find one of the meatiest paragraphs that speaks to you!

June 20

The reading for today is 2 Chron. 6,7 and Gal. 6.

In the old testament reading for today we read Solomon's Prayer of Dedication. According to the NIV Student Bible Solomon's prayer show the depth of his wisdom & spiritual sensitivity. Sadly, from this point on Solomon, who had the potential to be the greatest of all of Israel's leaders embarks on a downward slide of selfishness and overindulgence. His failings lead the nation's civil war. This marks a sad point in the career of Solomon, as the insightful prayer show his potential that was never reached. How does this apply to our lives?

The new testament reading today fit nicely with the old testament reading for today.

In 6:7 - 10 he says:

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life [As with Solomon? I don't know, I'm asking]. Let us not become weary in doing good, for a the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers.

June 18th

June 18^th

            As we begin our reading in 2 Chronicles we find Solomon king over Israel.  He gathers the people of Israel where God’s Tabernacle is to consult the Lord. Then he sacrifices a thousand burnt offerings on it. That night God appears to Solomon in a dream and says, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!” 

            Solomon’s then asks only for wisdom and knowledge to rule God’s people realizing that God alone is their true King.  God alone is my true King when I go to him seeking his wisdom and knowledge.  If that is all I ask for he will always guide me in his ways.  But when I let the things of this world surround and take me in. Many times things don’t always go the way they should. I find myself sometimes confused, flustered and not at peace.  When I finally go back to my God and King and seek him He is always there. He will always take me to a place of peace.

 

June 17th blog

June 17^th

            In the end of our reading from 1 Chronicles we find David transferring his Kingship and the building of the Temple to his son Solomon.  David had plenty of ups and downs in his life and his faith. But the principles he gave his son Solomon in 1 Chronicles 28:9 are principles we would be wise to follow today.

"And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.”

When we get to know God personally, learn his commands and discover what he wants us to do, when we worship & serve him with a whole heart and a willing mind our lives our filled with peace and joy. You would think that would be easy, seeking God. I find myself after this reading really desiring to seek God, to know him more fully.  I want always to be found by Him.

How blessed we are to have a God whose love for us is so great.  The same God of Abraham, David and Solomon is the same God of today. May we seek him always for there is no doubt he is ready to find us!

 

June 16th blog

June 16^th

            I love how Paul starts the 3^rd chapter in Galatians. He begins with, you foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly exhibited as crucified! He goes on to ask if they received the Spirit by doing works or by believing what they had heard.  It got me thinking how sometimes amidst all our denominations and different religions we to get bewitched into thinking certain rules, creeds or whatever are the way to God. We get caught up in our own denominations way of doing things.  Not that those rules or laws or whatever are always bad. But it is in those religious and denominational guidelines we seem to become slaves to a certain way of doing things. We lose the focus on what Jesus does for us. He frees us from being slave to anything.  He makes us all one in Christ.

 I think if Paul walked into our church today he might say the same thing to us, you foolish people! Who has bewitched you?

As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.   Galatians3:27-28

I praise God for the promise he made so long ago freeing us from the law and giving us the freedom that come with knowing  Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

 

June 15th

June 15^th

            In today’s reading David is preparing the people and supplies for building the temple. Because of all the blood that was shed David was not allowed to build the temple.  It is interesting how sometimes war and bloodshed may sometimes be necessary, but that is not God’s ideal plan. When God created the world he placed us in a perfect paradise. Harmony and peace were what God wanted for his creation.

When I think about the wars throughout history, how each group of people were fighting for what they believed in. The people of Israel believed in the one true God and to follow other Gods was wrong.  If they did not fight for what they believed where would the Christian Faith be today? Would faith in a, One True God exist today? How do we share God’s ideal of peace and harmony when around us evil exits?  How do you stop something or fight for something without shedding blood when bloodshed is all around you? It has always been a struggle for me. For I believe and know the God that I worship wants peace and harmony with all His creation.  And yet even in Christ’s death blood was shed so that we would know and understand Gods great love for his creation. That he died for our sin and our salvation.  I praise God that Christ is able to live in me and with Christ I have a peace that wars or bloodshed can never take away.

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me.   Galatians 2:20

 

June 14: Denise Hartnett

June 14^th

Oh God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you, (Psalm 69:5)

David seemed to have a way of getting himself into trouble. In Chronicles19-21 we see King David constantly at war, ravaging the land and making the people who lived in those lands his slaves. Then Satan enters into the picture causing David to take a census of the Israelites. I believe, but I am not sure on this, this census was taken to see how many men were left to fight. Whatever the reason God was not pleased with David when he took the census and he punished the Israel people. God sent a plague and 70,000 Israelites died and even Jerusalem was going to be destroyed. David finally goes to God pleading on behalf of the Israelites. He finally takes responsibility for his sin and God spares Jerusalem. David’s story is somewhat my story; it made me realize how my sin can affect others. In our reading today we have a King who is to govern and take care of the people of God but the outcome is sad. In his actions he brings death to those he is to watch over and govern. My sin also affects others what I do and say every day has outcomes.

“Do not let those who hope in you be put to shame because of me, O Lord God of host; do not let those who seek you be dishonored because of me O God of Israel. (Psalm 69:6)

To know God and walk with God daily, to know his will and his ways is not always easy. No matter how hard I try to know and walk with God I fall short and sin. But like David when I go to God with a repentant and right heart He hears me. With each day I live I strive to be the witness that honors God, knowing that I will always fall short. I praise and thank God that his love is so great, that he sent his Son. In Christ my sins are forgiven. Amen

Week of June 12: Guest Blogger Denise Hartnett

n today’s reading from 1Chronicles we find David ready to bring the Ark of God to a place that had been prepared for it in Jerusalem. But this time he is going to do it the way God had instructed the Ark to be moved. God had given specific instructions to Moses and the people of Israel (Numbers 4:5-15) that only a Levite was to carry the Ark of God. In our reading, two chapters before, we find God striking down Uzzah, ( who was not a Levite), for just trying to steady the Ark when the Ox stumbled. I find it hard to understand sometimes God’s reasons for striking down people. I would have probably done the same thing as Uzzah, it seems that trying to steady this Holy Ark of God would be the natural thing to do if you thought it was going to fall.

But we don’t always follow the instructions that God give us the correct way. Sometimes our focus is not completely on God, or we haven’t taken the time to listen to what God is really trying to say to us, or we simply forget how Holy our God is. Our vision becomes what we think God wants us to do. We rush into things not really listening to God. We think we have it all worked out but we really only see part of what God is trying to tell us.

I find myself like David sometimes, ready to do what I think God wants me to do. Then I realize how great God is, how Holy God is, and how important it is to hear and know the word of our Lord. To put total obedience and trust in a Holy God who’s wisdom is always complete. .

One thing that I do know is that God’s wisdom is always complete. In 1 Chronicles 16:36 all the people shouted “Amen!” and praised the Lord. When David followed the instructions that God had given for moving the Ark of God he and the people with him were able to say “Amen!” When I follow the instructions that God gives me I know how Great and Holy He is and I to praise God and say “Amen”.

June 13

In our reading from Galatians 1, Paul is writing to the churches in Galatia. In his letter he asked them this questions, “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God?”

Paul seems astonished that they can so quickly desert the gospel of Christ. They seem to be changing the gospel to something that is confusing and getting them off track from the true gospel. He writes to the Galatians telling them that he did not receive this revelation from men but Jesus Christ himself. I thought to myself, if Jesus himself would have talked to me on a road like he had done to Paul (Acts 9:4-5) I probably would have had a better grasp of the gospel. It would seem pretty clear that Jesus was the real deal. One day Jesus dies on a cross and then later he is right there talking to me.

All in all as I thought about this chapter it made me wonder how many times does Jesus try to speak to me. How many times have I gotten confused and lost my focus. Do I listen to what others say and believe it because it seems like it makes sense. Do I live and share that gospel in a way that doesn’t confuse others. How often do I share the gospel of Jesus Christ, of a God who loves us so much that he sent his only son to die on a cross. It is through Jesus death and resurrection our sins are forgiven. We are free because of what God has done through Jesus Christ. The same gospel that they were getting confused about back then is right here in front of us. Jesus daily reveals it to us. We just need to remember to share it.

June 11

In his book A Grief Observed, CS Lewis writes about the death of his wife, Joy. One of the ideas from that book that has stuck with me is Lewis saying that the hardest thing about the death of a loved one is that they are no longer there to remind you that they aren't who you think they are. We have a tendency to construct an image of people in our minds, and it is in interacting with them that we are reminded that our mental image of them is never perfect. Even with those people we know best, our image of who they are is constantly being adjusted, usually in small, subtle ways, but sometimes in big ways.

One of the events in today's reading in 1 Chronicles reminds me of this. Uzzah is helping to move the ark and he reaches out his hand to steady it on the cart – and God kills him. David doesn't understand and he gets angry. David is reminded that he doesn't know God as well as he thought he did and it makes him mad.

We all do that too. We construct an image in our minds of who God is and what God is like and that image is always deficient. That's one of the reasons why it is so important for us to read our Bibles. We need to be reminded of who God is, not who we've constructed him to be in our own minds. Sometimes as we read the Bible we are shocked at God's holiness, his otherness. God doesn't think about things the way we do. Other times we are shocked at God's love and mercy. The vineyard workers who only work an hour are paid the same as those who work all day.

That's another thing that CS Lewis wrote. In Mere Christianity he points out that the salvation story we read in the Bible must be true because it's too strange for us to have made up. As Isaiah records for us "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord".

June 10

In our Old Testament reading in 1 Chronicles we have finished with the genealogies <sigh of relief>. I have to imagine that you find the long lists of names as befuddling as I do. But as I was reading name after name it got me thinking. I find even this rather short list of names a bit tedious, but God doesn't. God knows each of us by name. God calls us by name. It makes me grateful that God is less easily distracted than I am.

The Chronicles reading ends with the story of Saul's death that we read previously in 1 Samuel. It's all rather gruesome – heads hung in temples and bodies left in open view – and it's easy for us to shake our heads at how barbaric people were then. We find ourselves put off with their violence and phrases like that in today's Psalm about bathing our feet in the blood of the wicked.

But don't you wonder how movies like Braveheart and Gladiator would have played if they had a movie theater in Jerusalem then? I don't think they would have done very well. I have to wonder if the people of that time and place wouldn't look at us as barbaric. I can imagine them saying, "Well sure, we have to be violent people. We have to be violent to survive, but watching it for entertainment? That's repulsive!"

I have to wonder how far we've really come.

June 9

As I was slogging through more genealogies in 1 Chronicles this morning, my wife reminded me of how important these genealogies were to the Jews returning to the Promised Land following the exile in Babylon. As we will read in July, following the fall of the Babylonian empire, the Jewish exiles were allowed to return home. Of course, after decades in exile, they had the problem of determining who was really a Jew and had the right to recover their property and who wasn't and didn't. Because of this it was extremely important to be able to trace your ancestry and thus your right to the land.

No, this doesn't make reading genealogies exciting, but it does remind us of their importance.

As we continue in 2 Corinthians in our New Testament reading, we hear Paul continuing to explain why his testimony is credible. Paul acknowledges that he is not a trained speaker, but that his other training, in knowledge and experience, is more important.

It is tempting to read this passage and to begin to think of Paul as an example for us to emulate. What would it mean to be as faithful as Paul, to be so dedicated to being a Christian that you would be willing to suffer as Paul did. But even though Paul is willing to hold himself up as an example, I think his real intent is to get us to focus on Christ.

There's an old Buddhist saying that the student gets lost looking at the dirt under the fingernail of the master's finger that is pointing at the reflection of the moon in a muddy puddle. What the master wanted the student to do was to look up at the moon. Often we get caught up in looking at the disciples when what we should be doing is focusing on Jesus Christ as the example of what it means to be truly human. One of the challenges in reading Paul (or any of the people we read about in Scripture) is that we tend to spend our time looking at the dirt under the fingernail.

June 8

First of all: an apology for the typo(s) in yesterday's blog. The bit on the Grinch should have read, "He took" not "He too".

Today we begin the book of 1 Chronicles. 1 and 2 Chronicles recap much of the same material we've covered recently in 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings. They provide a different slant on the same events. It's kind of like Fox News and CNN – the same general facts but a different take on what those facts mean.

The first several chapters of 1 Chronicles are genealogies and are tedious reading for mot of us. Nevertheless, I think there are some important lessons from these genealogies. The first is one that Frosty discussed in his blog of June 2. Our God is a God of history who was active in the history of our forbears and is active in our lives which will be the history of our descendants.

The second is a reminder for our modern, individualistic culture. These genealogies remind us that the Israelites, like the vast majority of human beings up until recent times, understood their place in life in terms of family rather than as individuals. There was no individual honor, no individual glory, no individual shame, and no individual salvation. What mattered was your family and clan. If you brought shame on yourself, you brought shame on all your relatives. If you brought honor to yourself, you brought honor to all your relatives. (This is why the early Christian practice of referring to other believers as brother and sister was such a big deal.)

How would our lives be different if we thought more in terms of community and less about our own self-image and self-worth?

In may seem a contradiction, then, as we read our New Testament passage that Paul talks about himself so much. It is easy in reading Paul to be put off by the way he holds himself up as an example. However, it's important to recognize the source of this practice. One of the important elements of ancient argumentation (i.e. rhetoric) was establishing yourself as a reliable source. If your practice didn't fit with what you said, why should anyone else listen to you? On the other hand, if your practice and your words went together, that provided strong support for what you were saying.

We don't see this kind of approach too often. We tend to be more impressed with apparent humility than with someone willing to highlight her own success. However, we do still see this approach used in law. When I was a professor and was asked to write letters in support of a foreign national receiving permanent resident status in the United States, I was advised that my letter should begin by emphasizing my own status as a successful scientist and academic. The immigration officials would not be impressed by the advice of a person who couldn't get their research published. If I was going to say that someone else's research was important to our national interests, I had to establish myself as a reliable source first. So next time you read Paul holding himself up as an example of how to live as a Christian, keep the law courts in mind.

June 7 blog

June 7, 2010
Today we finish the book of 2 Kings and, in doing so, the historical
record that includes 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings. There is no doubt
that this historical record ends on a distressing note. Even though
King Josiah enacted incredible reforms in Judah and got rid of the
idolatrous practices that had existed throughout the monarchy, it was
too late. It's a reminder that no human effort can cleanse us from
sin. Judah is taken into exile, the temple is destroyed and the walls
of Jerusalem are torn down.

The anguish of the people is evident as we read the writer's detailed
account in Chapter 25 of the destruction that occurred.
(Unfortunately, I tend to hear the voice of the narrator from How the
Grinch Stole Christmas reciting these verses "He too their all their
pots and their snuffers and dishes, their pillars and sea and he
dashed all their wishes…") If God's salvation story ended here, it
would be beyond depressing. The lament that is Psalm 137 captures the
mood perfectly, "By the rivers of Babylon – there we sat down and
there we wept when we remembered Zion…"

God's salvation story doesn't end with destruction and exile. The
prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah remind us of the hope we have in God even
in the midst of the most trying circumstances. Still, it is good not
to move past the distress of exile too quickly. Israel's sin did as
sin always does. It leads to separation from God from neighbor and
from our true selves. It leads to exile. The history of Israel as a
nation is also our history as human beings created in the image of
God. It is exile from Eden. It is exile from God. And even though we
know God's promise that even in exile we have a future with hope (Jer.
29:11) we shouldn't minimize the significance of sin and its results
or try to rush past them too quickly. Otherwise we miss how incredible
God's love and mercy are.

On the other hand, our Psalm readings today are Psalms of praise
rather than lament. They are Psalms that celebrate God for who God is.
If the Psalms are a school for prayer, these Psalms teach us about
prayers of praise and thanksgiving. Praise is, in essence,
complementing God on God's character. It is highlighting God's glory
and power and majesty and creativity, etc. Thanksgiving, on the other
hand is thanking God for what he has done.

I don't know about others, but praise and thanksgiving are often
neglected parts of my prayer life. I often move right into prayers of
supplication (bringing my own needs to God) or intercession (bringing
the needs of others to God) without praising and thanking him first.
The Psalms are a good reminder and example of the importance of praise
and thanksgiving in our life of prayer.

Sunday, June 6
In our Old Testament reading today we're nearly finished with 2
Kings. The two chapters we read today are a study in contrast. Chapter
21 recounts the reign of Manasseh, one of the worst of the Judean
kings while chapter 22 recounts the reign of Josiah, one of the best.
I find it kind of odd the way the generations can change. I would
expect that a good king would raise up his son to be a good king, but
Manasseh was the son of Hezekiah, one of the better kings who "did
what was right in the sight of the Lord".
In contrast Josiah's father was nearly as bad as Manassah and
abandoned the Lord. How is it that he raised up a decent son? Of
course, Josiah was only eight years old when he began to reign.
Regardless, these stories remind us that raising up a child is no easy
task and there is no guarantee that a child will follow in the
parent's footsteps. Sometimes the acorn falls quite far from the tree
indeed.
The other fascinating part of today's Old Testament reading is the
discovery of the "Book of the Law" in the temple by Hilkiah. Scholars
disagree on what the "Book of the Law" was. Some think it was the book
of Deuteronomy. Others think it was the entire Pentateuch, the first
five books of our Bible. Regardless, it emphasizes how far the people
of Israel had strayed from their inheritance. It also reminds us of
the value of cleaning house now and then, both literally and
figuratively.
The other notable aspect of this story is that the priest and other
officials go to the prophetess Huldah to inquire whether the book is
authentic or not. Think about that. These ancient Israelites went to a
woman to find out whether this book was from God or not. For me, at
least, it's very hard to understand how people can interpret Scripture
to say that women should not have authority in the church when we have
within the Bible so many clear examples of women in positions of
authority over God's people.
Our New Testament reading for today is 2 Corinthians 9. As a pastor,
it's encouraging to know that even the apostle Paul had to deliver a
stewardship sermon on occasion! Although Paul's approach might not
meet with great success in today's churches, there are some important
lessons about stewardship that apply to us today as much as they did
to the Christians in Corinth.
One lesson is that we often forget is that we should not give out of
guilt. Although the first part of the chapter might be interpreted as
trying to guilt the Corinthians into giving, it's more about
encouraging them to follow through on their promise (their pledge if
you will). But Paul is quite clear that giving is voluntary.
Nevertheless, giving is an act of faith in the God who is able to
provide and giving is a ministry that glorifies God. And glorifying
God is what discipleship is all about. Remember that the first
question in the Westminster Catechism is "What is the chief end of
humanity?" and the answer is "To glorify God and enjoy him forever."
We shouldn't give because there are bills to pay. We shouldn't give
because we're ashamed not to. We should give because we are grateful
for all God has given us and because giving is an act of discipleship
that helps us to grow in our faith.

Week of May 30 Continued Guest Blogger: Frosty Krummel

June 2

If you are like me, you have struggled with the serial readings in II Kings. There seems to be a lot of brutality, killing, revenge and pillaging. Where is the "good news?" In reading these middle chapters of II Kings I was reminded of something that an Old Testament professor told me in seminary. It may have been a "passing remark", an "off the cuff" remark but often those are the words that have the most impact upon us. Dr. A.B.Rhodes once said "Not everything in the Bible is for our imitation. Some things are for our information!"

It is easy for us to forget that the Old Testament is the "faith history" of a particular people. It is their "history", and it reflects their growing understanding of who God is. When I consider this simple fact I realize that God is a god involved in history AND, if God is involved in history, the Almighty in also present in the events of today for Today is Tomorrow's history. God's involvement does not mean that the Lord is an eternal cosmic director of events and we are but players going through "our" lines. It means, I believe, that God speaks that "still small voice" that Elijah first heard in the opening chapters of II Kings still whispers to us today.

John Mulder, the former president of Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary once said that "God's call is not a blueprint for our lives, but a call to the pilgrimage in the wilderness, sustained by God's love and grace. I do feel called to be the president of this seminary, but I pray for the humility to know how God will lead this institution." You may have been "called" to your particular place in life or you may be "called" to a new place but in either case, you and I both need a healthy dose of humility as we seek to follow "the still small voice." ("Call" and "vocation", but the way come from the same root word. Literally your vocation is your "calling.")

Two brief words on the reading from II Corinthians. "As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain." (Verse 1, chapter 6) We are partners with God. One of my professional mentors from "afar" was the late Rev. Dr. David H.C. Read. He wrote a three volume spiritual autobiography, one of which was entitled This Grace Given. By grace God invites us to be co-labors in the Holy's vineyard called "the world." We are not to waste this opportunity. Many of Jesus' parables remind us of this. The opening verses of II Corinthians 6 reminds us that we are not to put obstacles in the paths of others seeking God and being sought by God. We are to have hearts that are "open wide."

The second word has to do with verse 14. It has been misappropriated on so many occasions. Some study bibles say that this verse encourages believers to separate themselves from non-believers. I find this to be an overly simplistic approach. Christians are not to be separate islands but oceans that wash up against every human shore. It is true, especially with couples considering marriage, that there are special difficulties to be addressed if they come from quite different spiritual backgrounds or traditions. It is better to address those issues up front rather than think that the other person will "change." Religious beliefs are the most deeply held and unexamined parts of our nature. Paul's word of caution, though, (Do not be mismatched with unbelievers), is simply a call to the Corinthian community to be clear about what they believe--or more accurately, in Whom they commit their lives. One of the ancient Israel's temptations throughout the Old Testament, and one of the temptations that we still fall prey to today is the belief that the faith is a smorgasbord buffet; "it doesn't make any difference what you believe as long as you believe in something" or "that all paths lead to the same place." We cannot pretend precisely to know how God works in this world. It is entirely possible that both of those statements may be accurate, BUT the belief or path can make us very bloodied and bruised. When Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life" he was saying that if we want to know who God is, we need to only look to Him, for in the words of Colossians "He is the image of the invisible God." (1:15)

June 3

Psalms 64 and 65 are an interesting pairing. In Psalm 64 we have the writer asking for God to save his life from "secret" enemies. The power of rumors, innuendo and half truths are acknowledged. Your mama may have told you that sticks and stones may break you bones but that words will never hurt you, but that is simply not true. Many a reputation has been destroyed by accusations. As a matter of fact, it seems that we live in balkanized time when making "innuendo with the spirit of conviction" passes as truth. The psalmist asks God to step in. Whether or not God does is not stated. This psalm-prayer is a wish, a wish that everyone who has ever been the subject of malicious talk can appreciate. It expresses faith in the Lord. As Hebrews 11:1 reminds us, Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. (New Living Translation).

Psalm 65 is an acknowledgment of God's power and worthiness to be worshipped. Praise is due to you...When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us, you forgive our transgressions...you answer us with deliverance. This is a good Psalm to read as you get ready for church. It reminds you why you worship. We worship God because the Almighty alone is worthy of our gratitude.

June 4

Actions have consequences. Sometimes the consequences are irrevocable. This is one of the insights provided in II Kings 17 and 18. The nation of Israel to the Assyrians under the kingship of Hoshea. This was not unexpected. Their fall was a natural consequence of their actions. The prophets warned the ten tribes of the northern Kingdom that they were on a course of internal strife that would lead to their demise. They were either incapable or unwilling to change course. (One of the interesting things that the Bible study The Mighty Acts of God points out is that the prophets did not "foretell" the future as much as they pointed out that if a nation or people continued on a particular course, there would be natural consequences.)

It is both odd and tragic that the southern Kingdom of Judah did not learn from what happened to Israel. They, too, merrily went on a path of self destruction--a path paved in corruption in courts, increasing disparity between the rich and the poor, lack of spiritual discipline and a spirit of selfishness ("boot-strap" social values and an "I've got mine" attitude.)

Many years ago I attended a workshop lead by church consultants Easum and Bandy. I took two things away from that workshop. One was their prediction that within 50 years 80% of the churches in existence today will not be here either because they would not or could not change. An example of "could not change" deals with those communities where the population base is in population demise. "Would not change" addresses churches that have grown too comfortable in their way of doing things. A strange paradox is that doing the same thing in a changing world is NOT really doing the same thing. The second thing that I took away from the workshop was a prayer the relates to what I just wrote. It is a prayer that is taped to the wall near my desk. "Lord, put me in the path of what you are doing in this world. Show me where You are working. Run over me by your Presence and guide my path to the Other Side."

We do well to consider whether or not we are on the road or in a rut. We need to be willing to have God to "run us over" with Divine Presence.

June 5

On the way out of church one day a parishioner said to a pastor who had just delivered an impassioned sermon on stewardship, "It seems to me all that this church is about is 'give, give, give.'" The pastor looked surprised before a smile swept across his face. "My, what a wonderful definition of what it means to follow Jesus!"

In Second Corinthians 8 the apostle Paul is encouraging the Corinthian spirit of gracious giving. There are essentially two kinds of givers; those who give by reason and those who give by revelation. Those who give by reason ask themselves “How much can I afford to give?” Those who give by revelation ask themselves, “How much can I give away?” The difference is whether a person looks at the meagerness of their resources or the greatness of God’s grace. We need to ask ourselves, "What is my modus operandi?

The author Maya Angelou in her book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings once observed,

I find it interesting that the meanest life, the poorest existence, is attributed to God's will, but as human beings become more affluent, as their living standard and style begin to ascend the material scale, God descends the scale of responsibility at commensurate speed.

As we make our stewardship decisions we need to do so with two things in mind. As we dedicate your stewardship intentions today, I want us to do so with two things in mind.

First, whatever we give, we need to do so with a joyful heart. If we’re tempted to make your commitment grudgingly, then we’re better off not making a commitment at all. God loves a cheerful giver because that cheer comes from a contented heart that knows God’s grace can meet all of their needs.

Second, give in response to God’s blessings. If we are honest with ourselves, most of us have been extravagantly blessed—good health, loved ones, good jobs, nice cars and nice homes. All of us have the spiritual blessing of the church, salvation, the forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life.

The opportunity of stewardship is not a time of obligation but one of opportunity. It is a time when you have a chance to say thank you to God for God’s grace in our lives by setting aside a portion of our income to do God’s work through the hands of a particular congregation.

In the words of the old hymn, We give Thee but Thine Own, Whate’r the gift may be; All that we have is Thine Alone, A trust, O Lord, from Thee. May we Thy bounties thus As stewards true receive, And gladly, as Thou blessest us, To Thee our first fruits give.

Week of May 30: Guest Blogger Frosty Krummel

May 30

One of the hardest things for followers of Jesus to understand is that we have been "saved to serve." Jesus washed his disciples feet and in doing so reminded them that a servant is no better than the master AND, that if He, their master, washed their feet, they must be willing to do likewise. In II Corinthians 4 the writer reflects upon giving ourselves away for the love of Christ--in response to the love of Christ. Too often we begin to tread down the Christian road of discipleship all the while thinking to ourselves "What's in this for me?", "How will I be enriched?", "Won't people be impressed with me?" This mindset is sure to disappoint us.

This chapter in II Corinthins reminds us that as followers of Jesus we will be "afflicted", "perplexed", "persecuted," and "struck down." But these things will not--they cannot--have the last word. Each is paired with a "Christian" response; affliction is coupled with not being crushed, perplexed with not being driven to despair, persecution with knowing that God never foresakes us, struck down, with not being destroyed.

As the manifestation of the Body of Christ a local congregation finds its life--its true life, its Christ-life--when they are intent on giving themselves away tin service beyond themselves.

The writer of II Corinthians clearly understood what Jesus meant when he said that we can only find our life--both what it means to be alive and our purpose in life--when we give ourselves away.

May 31

I have always found the Psalms difficult. They just didn't speak to my spirit. Recently, though, I while attending a continuing education event led by the Rev. John Bell of the Iona Community in Scotland I was given a different view of the Psalms, a greater insight into how I can use them in my devotional life. The Psalms are to be "lived with". Racing through them in order to "get through them" takes away their richness. We need to live with a particular Psalm for a week or more at a time. You may only read a verse or two a day or you may read the whole Psalm every day for a week, but no matter how you do it, live with a particular Psalm.

The 62nd Psalm touches me at different points when I read it over and over. The first thing that jumps out at me is how temporary each one of us truly is, no matter what our station in life may be. People of low estate are but a breath, and individuals of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are lighter than breath. (Verse 9).

I once read that Charles DeGaulle had a handicapped daughter who died as a youth. As the old leader of the French Resistance in World War II and President of France road with his wife to the cemetery to place their daughter in her final resting place, DeGaulle reflected upon his wife's most cherished wish for their daughter. She had always wished that their little girl could be "like everyone else." Looking at the neat markers he turned to his wife and whispered, "Now our little daughter is 'like everyone else'". Death is the great leveler. No matter what we achieve or fail to achieve in life, life comes to an end for each one of us.

This can be a frightening thought. It can be a frightening thought, unless,...unless we also hear the word of hope that opened this particular Psalm. "For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be moved. (verses 1,2) Only when bolstered with this hope can we face the truth reflected in this Psalm.

Psalm 63 picks up this torch with its reference to a parched spirit that can find life and refreshment in the knowledge of God's unfailing presence.

June 1

"Seeing is believing" we are told. "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" the old adage advises. Such worldly wisdom is not biblical--or at least not New Testament biblical. For we walk by faith, not by sight the apostle Paul wrote in II Corinthians (5:7). The greatest things in life cannot be hoarded, held on to, or captured. No the greatest things in life can only be felt, experienced, sensed. Security is a feeling. To be cared for is both a feeling and a sense. To be loved cannot be adequately described. Security, care and love cannot be proven--at least not scientifically but we know them when we experience it.

In II Corinthians 5 Paul reflects upon how we are swallowed up in life and in death. Both can make us forget who we are. In life we can let accolades go to our head. Or we can let the cruelty of others diminish our spirit to the point that we have the "Eeore complex". The fear of this life coming to its final end can so paralyze us so that we never really live. I have fallen to each of these temptations at one time or another. Perhaps you have, too.

The apostle Paul, in this chapter, also talks about being swallowed up in something else; love or more specifically, the love of Christ that "controls" us (verse 14). This love sets us free from keeping score--rights and wrongs--and enables us to live as true children of God. When we allow this Christ-love to swallow us we find ourselves transformed. (Many years ago I had what I consider a divine insight. My father had been estranged from a sister of his for 15 years or more. Their estrangement was over some feelings and perceived slights that resulted from something very insignificant. I remember talking to him one day about this estrangement and said, "You know, if we take Jesus seriously, forgiveness is his most important teaching. He even gave it from the cross. At times I think that God never excludes us from heaven but we exclude ourselves because with God's sense of humor--yes, God had one--I think that when we die we will discover that the doorkeeper at the pearly gates will be the one with whom we are estranged from on earth. We will have to be willing to have them welcome us into heaven--without apology." I don't know if my "insight" had any affect on Dad but I do know that by the time he died a little over a decade later, reconciliation among all of the surviving siblings was realized.)

Grudges, slights, hurt feelings and pay-backs seem so silly when we consider how brief our time here really is. We would do well to ask ourselves "Is this really how I want to live?" Unfortunately it really is true that pride goeth before the fall. (Proverbs 16:18, KJV)

In this reading the apostle is writing about a better way, a Christ-like way. By Christ-love we are commissioned to set our agendas as well as the world's agendas aside in order to become advocates of God's agenda of a love that will never let us go--no ifs, ands or buts. We are commissioned to be ambassadors of God's Kingdom, entrusted with this message of love's reconciliation.