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It's Just Not Fair! - February 25

One of the most beautiful and unique things about our faith in Jesus, especially when you compare our beliefs to those of all of the man-made religions of the world, is that it's just not fair!  At least, one could say that it's not fair in terms of its "merit system".

Read what Jesus has to say about who gets to enter heaven in "The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard" in today's reading from Matt. 19-20 (ESV)

It’s the Olympics… set a new record! February 24

 Do you ever remember watching Guinness book of world records and seeing the type of stuff people would do to break records? How many hula hoops can you hula? How many hot dogs can you eat in a minute (I can’t watch that kind of stuff).  

Feb 23 Private God-Time

With a very active high school senior as the last child at home, my wife and I have been spending more time together...alone.  I must say that I am enjoying it.  This private time alone is taking our marriage to a whole new level.

Similarly, in today's reading Jesus is shown treasuring his private time alone with the Father.  In Matthew 14:13, Jesus "withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place."  In Matthew 14:23, Jesus "went up on a mountainside by himself to pray."

Are You a Sower or a Grower? - February 22

Witnessing about our faith to other people, especially those who are closest to us, can be one of the scariest things that we do as Christians.  We often psyche ourselves out beforehand with so many "what ifs" that we become too paralyzed with fear to ever open our mouths in the first place and share Christ with those people around us who need Him most.

On the Job Training - February 21

So often I think the image of the disciples falls into one of two extremes.   On one end we’ve got the 12 as bumbling, argumentative, unskilled workers that wouldn’t have made it into a boat let alone part of the elect if Jesus hadn’t chosen them himself. Then the other extreme is the 12 (minus Judas) transformed into spirit filled apostles ready to reach the world for Jesus.  

Feb 20 Powerful for Prayer

A young boy was sad because he desperately wanted a new bicycle.  Though he had done yardwork for neighbors, he didn't think that he had enough money in his bank account.  Imagine how surprised and joyful he was, when his Dad checked his bank account and discovered that he had accumulated more than enough to buy the bicycle. 

In a way that is how I felt as I worked through this section of the Bible.  The bank account of powerful Jesus is more than enough to handle anything that I am facing.

"You Christians are so narrow-minded!" - February 19

Have you ever heard someone say that about you or another Christian - "You Christians are all so narrow-minded"?

When Jesus is under attack - February 18

Jesus experiences a spiritual high in baptism and immediately encounters a spiritual low in Chapter 4.  Call it gravity “What comes up must come down.” Or call it the sinful influence of the world.   Whatever we label it we encounter the evil whether we like it or not. How we respond is the key Matt.

An Ash Wednesday Look at Jesus-Feb 17

The Lenten season is a wonderful time to intentionally "grow closer to and more like Jesus," especially as we listen/read through the Gospels (first four "books" of the New Testament).    I desperately long for this to result in a deeper relationship with Jesus for you and for me.  Here is today's Scripture Reading:  Matt. 1-3 (ESV)

Four for 40: A church-wide plan to grow closer to and more like Jesus

Have you ever taken a drink from a fire hose?  I haven't, and I don't think I'll try.  Sometimes, I think people are afraid to read the Bible because they feel that it will be like "drinking from a fire hose."  It's easy to feel that there is so much content that it will be impossible to digest.
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