Mission Faithwalk

                 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. (Isaiah 53:3-4)                       One of the benefits of long-distance driving is getting to listen to books, and over the past two days, I listened to the whole New Testament, which means all four gospels – one story told from four points of view. Then this morning, this passage showed up as the verse of the day and I’m wondering about it. The prophecy was applied to Jesus – and it should be – but while it must be true, based on what I read, how was it true?                Some may say that this passage means that Jesus was physically ugly. I suspect that if He had been either exceptionally unattractive or exceptionally attractive as a physical specimen, there would

                      For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. (I Timothy 2:5-6)                Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John  14:6)                  Philosophy: the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when considered as an academic discipline .                  Today’s verses awaken the logician and, therefore the debater in me. For those who aren’t into such things, the fact that I’m on the road and therefore have very little time to write will likely be a welcome benefit. Some folks, particularly the ones who want an excuse to reject any god (especially Jehovah God,) claim that all religions are the same. In a sense, they’re correct. All religions address the nature of the universe, how it came to be, and mankind’s

                 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, (Philippians 1:29)                  Wait – what? It has been granted to us…to suffer for him? That’s a deal-breaker for some. It’s the sort of statement that makes God seem sadistic. He wants us to suffer?                Well, yes, but we need to define the term. To suffer is to “experience or be subjected to (something bad or unpleasant.” So, the person who joins the military must suffer through boot camp/basic training. The person who wants to play a team sport must suffer through hours of practice. A person who wants to go from point A to point B must suffer through planning, prepping, and traveling. If you want to do well in life, chances are good that you will have to do things you won’t enjoy – like having a job. And if you want to write a book,  you must suffer through hours of thinking of bad ideas that don’t work, writing, deleting, rewriting, rev

                 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9)                  Confess: late 14c., transitive and intransitive, "make avowal or admission of" (a fault, crime, sin, debt, etc.), from Old French confesser (transitive and intransitive), from Vulgar Latin *confessare, a frequentative form from Latin confess-, past participle stem of confiteri "to acknowledge," from assimilated form of com "together" (see  con- ) + fateri "to admit," akin to fari "speak," from PIE root  *bha-  (2) "to speak, tell, say."( confess | Etymology, origin and meaning of confess by etymonline )                 Let's  take the etymological meaning of confess just a little farther. If one speaks something together with someone else, one is agreeing. To confess one’s sin, therefore, requires that one agree that it is sin. “Yes, I killed him!” might

                 Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. (Psalm 119:35)                  Hurry up! Not yet! Yes, it’s that time. As I migrate, anxiety creeps in. I want to do what God wants me to do. But what does He want me to do? I think it’s safe to assume that He wants me to live in my house and go to the church I’ve been attending for years. I’m sure I’m supposed to return to work at the garden center. There are other ideas. But what if I’m wrong?                One of the things that Pastor John Ortberg has repeated from Dallas Willard’s books is the idea that our goal is to become the sort of people that God can trust to let do what we want because what we want is in sync with what God wants. Today’s verse asks God to direct us because we find delight in His commands, which means that if we are delighting in what we’re doing, God has directed us there. There’s no room for anxiety.                The problem is that anxiety is energy, and energy

                 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)                  This is one of those verses that you may have learned in Sunday School as a child. As kids, we were probably a little more in tune with the notion of gifts. If someone handed something to us, it was a gift. Eventually, we realized that we were entitled to the things handed to us. It was the responsibility of the givers to provide things to us. I don’t recall when, but at some point, I reached the conclusion that if the thing I was given as a gift was something that the person would have gotten me anyway – like clothes, the thing received wasn’t really a gift. It was just being dressed up to look like a gift so the person giving it didn’t have to spend more money or think. Those gifts were cop-outs.                I think that idea began to change when I was at a retreat. People associated with the retreat made mostly cheap gifts – bookmarks

                 He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate—  bringing forth food from the earth: (Psalm 104:14)                  This goes along with the idea discussed yesterday. We look for blessings that are out of the ordinary and given uniquely to us. How can it be a blessing if our neighbor gets it, too? Or (worse yet) the “sinner” down the road? Yes, we acknowledge that there is common grace and that could describe what God grants in today’s verse, but what is grace other than an undeserved blessing? What is a blessing, other than unearned blessing?                This is not a suggestion that God never gives unique blessings and never withholds blessings from people. Instead, it’s the bold statement that most blessings are what might be considered mundane and commonplace. Most blessings are common. The lack of the spectacular and the drama does not mean a lack of blessing or favor.                In fact, today’s verse brings to mind ways t

                 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12)             Before I started really considering this passage, I pulled almost all the plants out of my vegetable garden and started the process of paving it for the summer. It was time. Since I’m so close to heading north, my mood is nostalgic. I had a busy, productive winter full of blessings and opportunities to bless. There have also been trials, some of which I handled well and some of which I didn’t.           As I consider today’s verse, the thing that I see is that I have a particular, and probably standard definition of “trial.”  A trial is a difficult, unpleasant thing. That leads us  in the direction of Job’s comforters, who saw a trial as proof that one was sinful. But God makes it clear in the book of Job that Job’s trials weren’t because he was wicked. And, the book of

                   I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. (John 17:11-12)               Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. (Ephesians 6:10-11)                  According to the study notes, “protect them by the power” may also be translated as “keep them faithful to” and “protected them and kept them safe by” can be translated “kept them faithful to.”   When we think about being protected, we tend to think in terms of God’s faithfulness in preventing danger or difficulty to us. Jesus seems to be talking about God’s maintaining

            “But blessed is the one who trusts in the  Lord , whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8)             On the one hand, God must be used to people not trusting Him. On the other hand, people have far less reason to trust me, and I know how I feel when they don’t. I also know that at least some of what I do is designed to earn their trust – deserved or not. It’s a good thing that God isn’t as desperate, or as foolish, as I am (or, as I suspect that we are.)             My truck has been telling me for some time that the batteries in my key fobs are getting low. Last week, my main key fob bit the dust. I pulled out my secondary, and then my backup, only to discover that all three would no longer lock my truck’s doors. With the help of a video on th

                   Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)                  Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”                  Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.    Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people .    (John 18:10-14)                  This is one of those times when I am embarrassed to say that I can relate to Peter. Oh, I doubt I would have had the courage to draw one of two swords available to the whole of his side in front of a group of Roman soldiers. That takes a special kind of stupidity – or courage – with which I haven’t been blessed. It tells me that Peter was will

                When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.                Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples.    So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.                Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”                “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.                “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.)                 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.                Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”                “Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.                  Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you

                 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)                  Hope: The conviction that things can and will get better or will not get worse.                 Joy: The conviction that one is cared for by someone who can.                Trust: The conviction that someone not only can, but will act in one’s best interest and/or according to their word. At the very least, behavior will be in accordance with what has been previously demonstrated.                Peace: voluntary submission and agreement                  As you read these definitions, I suspect you get one of three responses. The first is dizziness. Round and round and round we go. The second is equality. A=B=C=D. Hope may not be joy, trust, or peace, but if you’re experiencing one, you probably have all four and being without one likely means you’re without the other three. The third

                      For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esher 4:14)                   For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do . (Ephesians 2:10)                       She was a beautiful girl, taken into the king’s home, granted honors not available to anyone else. As we read Mordecai’s warning to her, we can readily see how she was born for such a time as that. But what about me? You know, the one who Never quite lived up to the news clippings Is 90 lbs. overweight, or 20 lbs. underweight Didn’t win the awards Can’t be called a beauty by any one’s standards Doesn’t have the king, the president, or anyone powerful on speed dial. Is called  “Karen” the moment she opens her mouth               

                 “The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.   I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:1-3)                  or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. (II Corinthians 12:7)                  In 2015, when I decided to quit my job and start traveling with my father, this was the passage that spoke to me. I was leaving my home and going where I didn’t know. As I’m preparing (mentally mostly) to return to the north, it’s not surprising that I consider the past six months. About this time a year ago, I had finished fixing my fence and was putti

  then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. (Acts 4:10)             A guy. A guy lame from birth who was used to being carried to and from a temple gate called Beautiful where be begged for change. The Beautiful Gate, using the Greek word ωραιαν which would be transliterated as Horaian Gate. According to the resources I found, it was probably the Nicanor Gate, which was the gate between the court of the Gentiles and the Court of the Women.           All of that is probably exactly correct. I’m 100% sure they didn’t mean what I’m about to suggest, but in my mind, ωραιαν seems quite similar to Orion. And in Orion’s belt is what is known as the Orion Nebula            Beautiful, isn't it? Did God arrange language just so ? Don’t base your theology on it, but you may find it fun.           So, back to more serious, real Bible c

                 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (II Peter 1:5-8)             Not really the verse I wanted to face today. I’ve dealt with it in the past, but today, I’m not liking the reflection I see in it. Let’s start with a phrase that sums up a lot of my reaction to other people, “You are not my parent, my master, or my God.” So when I say “I’m sick” and people start pushing me with “You have COVID,” and “Here let me get a stick for you to put up your nose so you’ll know,” is it any surprise that I get a little testy? And when (as happened in November) I do take the home test and it comes

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose . (Romans 8:28)   It’s got to be a God-thing, that this would be the verse today. The past for days have been hard. Being sick is always hard. I remember having COVID back in 2021. I remember thinking that the cold I had last November was worse. This past weekend wasn’t a head or chest thing, it was free ranging. My body has been at war, and it’s winning, slowly. But this weekend was my choir's performance and I was supposed to teach some folks how to macrame. Poof – all gone. And Romans 8:28 is the verse that shows up on Biblegateway.com? How could it not be a God-thing? And I know, now that I’m starting to work my way out of this, that it’ll be OK. It’s got to get better in the next two weeks. But today’s verse is a challenge. Is my not being able to sing last night going to work for good? Is my not teaching macrame today going to work for good. Yes, I

  that you may be children 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.  (Matthew 5:45)         Once again, I apologize for the lack of content this morning. I think this morning (the day after I went to the doctor's office) that I've passed the worst and life might resume soon. And, God has blessed my poor gardens with some rain since I haven't been out to water them. 

                 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. (Deuteronomy 7:9)                  How fickle I am. I get sick, and my whole life narrows to my illness. I’ve written about this before, but I’m living it again. The Lord my God is God, well, yeah, of course…sure… but I’m sick. “Please excuse me from doing Your will, Lord, because I’m sick. When I’m better, You can resume Your rightful place as Lord, but right now, I want to crawl into bed. And it doesn’t matter that my symptoms today aren’t as bad as yesterday…” How little it takes for something else to become a lord.                The point is not that God is a taskmaster, and I’m falling short. This illness is something He’s allowed in my life, and I suspect His greatest desire in it is for me to trust Him within it. That means it’s OK if I spend time in bed instead of doin the things I

 My apologies. I'll get back to these as soon as my body will let me.

                 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, (II Timothy 1:9)                  Someone once asked me why God picked the Jews to be the Chosen people. Throughout the Old Testament, God clarifies that He didn’t choose the Jews because of anything they did. I explained that He didn’t choose Israel because Israel was a limo or a muscle car. Israel was a Nova [1] with a broken axle. I explained that if God had called the Celts, or the Jutes, those nations would have become Israel, and the people who think of as Israel would have been some ancient Middle Eastern group that we’ve probably never heard of.                The same is true for Christians. We aren’t Christians because we’re good. We’re Christians because God is good. We were given the grace known as the possibility of a holy life and salvation because God decid