Clotheslines

We know that all of the Bible has meaning, but did you know that the use of numbers in Scripture isn’t arbitrary, that every number has a specific meaning? It’s a fascinating study. Here are a few examples: · Number 1 obviously means the beginning. Genesis reads: ‘in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…and there was morning and evening on the first day.’ · The Number 3 stands for the presence of God in the Trinity. Noah had 3 sons which surely points to a rene

How do we handle confrontation, situations with disagreement, where someone ends up being hurt. More often than not, we will say, “Oh he didn’t mean that,” or “I’m sure she didn’t intend to be hurtful,” or the classic response about someone who has just hurt you is, “Oh, that’s just the way she is.” I can’t tell you how often I have said that! Why do we hold ourselves in such low esteem that we accept another’s abuse and move on? Why do we do that? Or the other extreme is one

Last week Jesus’ message was a blessing. Jesus finally feels that his disciples are ready to know—really know who He is. He asks Peter: “Who do you say that I am?” And Peter responds: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!” And Jesus promptly says, “My Father gave you that revelation. Therefore, upon this Rock—upon you Peter—I will build my church!” Jesus proclaims that Peter will be tasked to begin God’s church on earth. And in the next breath, Jesus calls Peter “Sa

Most evenings Joel and I watch On Patrol: Live on television. The interaction between the officer and the person that has been pulled over is priceless. The driver, frequently inebriated, may utter a line or two like: “Do you know who my father is?” Or, “You have no idea who you’re dealing with!” And the big one is: “Do you have any idea who I am?” Well, Jesus isn’t inebriated, but that’s the question he asks Simon Peter today: “Do you know who I am?” Jesus and his disciples

The story of Jesus and the Canaanite woman always gives me pause. “Lord, help me,” she says, to which Jesus replies, “I came for the chosen people, not for you.” Jesus sounds rather unsympathetic and harsh, doesn’t he. “Lord, I need your help.” “Sorry, I didn’t come to help a person like you.” Does this mean that there are some people not worthy of God’s time, not good enough for Jesus’ healing touch? Now that’s a scary possibility! Thankfully, it’s not true. To understand Je

Peter’s relationship with Jesus throughout Scripture gives us much to think about. One in particular—Jesus and Peter walking on the water—it’s much like our relationship with Jesus. Let’s look at it together. Jesus has completed yet another day of teaching and preaching, and he says to his disciples, “Take the boat and go on ahead to the other side of the sea. I’ll meet you later.” Did any of them think to ask Jesus how he was going to meet them if they had the boat! Nope! So

If you could put Jesus’ entire ministry into three words, what would they be? In the story of Feeding the 5,000, Jesus actually tells us…if we look closely enough. The three words are transformation, healing, and prayer. That’s the make-up of the Christian life: transformation, healing, and prayer. Transformation. Jesus was all about transformation. The apostle Paul put it this way: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” Jesus transformed creation and all its element

This week we move from Jesus’ messages of warning to a message of joy. Jesus has been talking a lot about the importance of getting into the kingdom, how our choices have consequences—both good and bad. Now he tells us about the kingdom, and it all comes down to one premise: What’s important to you? Jesus says: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field…” Picture this: You’re hard at work at your job: digging in a field, someone else’s field. And while you’re d

Timing is everything. How often have you heard that or even said it yourself? We hear stories of a man and woman meeting in college, or at a party. One of them was there by accident; the other wasn’t planning to be there at all. But somehow, they meet, and fifty years later they are still married. Someone just happens to be looking at a newspaper in a doctor’s office and finds the job she’s been looking for, and she never would have seen the ad had she not been sick enough to

We all know the Parable of the Sower, about the farmer who scatters seeds in different places…some grow, some don’t. And Jesus himself explains the story. The seed sometimes falls on hard-packed earth where it cannot penetrate…some falls on a weed-choked patch that strangles any growth…and some falls on good soil and flourishes—all of it analogous to spreading the word of God with hearts that accept it… or not. It’s a good approach to look at the soil, but today let’s look at