Mission Faithwalk

                 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. (II Timothy 2:1-2)              If you read Scripture, you’ll notice a theme of education and discipline. It’s a pattern for the development of individuals, communities, and nations. It’s a theme some of us would prefer to ignore for one reason or another.  One reason is our history. We haven’t fared well with community. We assume it’s our fault, and it might be. But we have learned that we “run with scissors and don’t play well with others.” Sometimes, it’s that we’re doers. It’s easier to step in and just do it rather than teach someone else. It might be more convenient. Others may not step forward when they should and take the responsibility that i...

                 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:9-10)   “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’   But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. (Matthew 5:21-22) When Paul discussed love in 1 Corinthians 13, he listed many words that described what love does or doesn’t do. When he discussed love in Romans 13 (memory a...

                 Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished . (Proverbs 17:5) Mock: tease or laugh at in a scornful or contemptuous manner Mockery runs rampant in our society. Some would justify themselves with the notion that they don’t mock the poor . They mock stupid people who think to highly of themselves. They mock the “Kool-Aid” drinkers, the sheeple, the evil and idle rich…you know, Those folks. The ones who deserve to be mocked, shamed, ridiculed, isolated, relieved of their children, sterilized, forced to do what’s “right,” and perhaps locked away. Those aren’t the poor. Aren’t they? Are they not, in the eyes of their mockers, lacking the essential currency that would make them acceptable? If they are not the equals or the betters of those who mock them, are they not poorer, no matter what category of poverty the mockers might want to establish? And...

                 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  20  So then, you will know them by their fruits.   “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.   Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I ...

                   What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.   Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  (Romans 8:31-35) The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die!   For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5) John Or...

                  Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. (3 John 2 NSAB1995)                   Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. (3 John 2 NIV)                 Same verse, two versions. Normally, I share NIV, but I learned this verse with the word prosper in it, and it seems to be missing something without it. I have to begin by saying that I’ve been experiencing this verse for the last seven to ten years. I will admit that I have prospered, at least according to the judgment of some, but I didn’t feel prosperous. It always felt as if I were under someone’s heel or thumb. I won’t bother with the d...