Mission Faithwalk

When I say to a wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself (Ezekiel 3:18-19)          A year ago as I was listening to the Bible in my car, I heard these verses. God says this to Ezekiel again in the next two verses, and twice again in chapter 33. We have a similar idea today. If an emergency responder sees an emergency and does not respond within the scope of their training, they are legally liable. This is one of the reasons I speak out about things that I believe are wrong. I'll grant I'm far from perfect about it, and I may not have the delicate hand people want me to have, but if I say nothing because I can't say...

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.(II Corinthians 9:8-12)             I'm reminded of the story from Mark in which the widow threw two mites into the treasury. Jesus commended her faith because it was all she had to live on. People often talk about   their talents. In Israel, a tal...

            The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?             "I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.” (Jeremiah 17:9-10)              Riding my bike the other morning, I thanked God for guiding me in the past. I thanked Him for guiding me in the future because if there is one thing I believe that I really believe (I said) it is that God will guide me. I have three weeks before I relocate and have to set up my other half-life, with many questions about what that is supposed to look like, but I know God will guide.            I got off my bike and decided to get the breakfast dishes out of the way. In the midst of scrubbing oatmeal "glue" from a...

                 Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar as a time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. he wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor.(Esther 9:20-22)            Purim begins at sunset today. This concert is music associated with that celebration. While the words aren't in English, I hope you'll still enjoy it MisheNichnas Adar (Ta'anis 29a)           MisheNichnas Adar Shoshanas Yaakov (Purim Liturgy)       ...

  “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD . (Jeremiah 1:17-19)           All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes (Matthew 10:22-23)           That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will perse...

I will pronounce my judgments on my people because of their wickedness in forsaking me, in burning incense to other gods and in worshiping what their hands have made. (Jeremiah 1:16)             "Double, double, toil and trouble." That's what the witches in MacBeth said as they stirred the cauldron. That's the image that came to mind as I read the verses just before today's passage. Judah had turned its back on its contract (covenant) with God and God was going to pour out a boiling pot that was tilting away from the north. Judgment was coming to Judah because they were burning incense to other gods and worshipping what their hands had made.            There are people who reject Christianity in favor of "spirituality." There are people who claim that all religions are the same or that all roads lead to God. That's not what God says in Jeremiah 1:16. He makes it very clear that for those...

                The word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”              “Ah, Sovereign LORD ,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.”                 But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD . Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “Now, I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” (Jeremiah 1:4-10)    ...