Guilt of Sin Mark 6:14-29

Have you ever done something to cover-up your sin.   Usually it takes another sin to cover the first one up doesn't it?   Here we have the account of John the Baptist who was arrested and beheaded by the order of Herodias, the wife of King Herod... why?  Because she was first King Herod's brother's wife first (Philip)  and John had been telling Herod "It is against God's law for you to marry your brother's wife."

First thing that pops into mind was, why was John telling Herod Antipas what to do, under Jewish Law?   But Antipas was an Edomite and of Jewish decent.   So John could expect for Herod to obey Jewish law concerning marriage.

Most importantly, in this telling though, I think I need to look at Herodias ... trying to cover up the shame that she  had inside her, by having this grudge against John the Baptist.   Herod I don't think really cared what John said, though while in prison, John seemed to amuse Herod with his teachings.

When we are corrected, what is our response?   Do we accept the correction and change what we are doing?  Or do we start to feel tense and defensive?    I tend to lean towards the last part, especially if the correction comes from someone I don't respect as much.   But really, isn't that part of Selfish Pride?    When I get into these situations, it's only later that I tend to realize, "you know, maybe they were right."   I think this can be very true in a marriage... on both sides.

It seems harder to admit your wrong, or to be corrected by people, then we do with God sometimes, and yet, we need to learn the lesson of Herodias ... of how hard our heart can become if we don't learn from other people, and let pride get in the way of doing what is right.

Sin begets more sin, unless we take measured step to avoid stepping into the same trap... and that encompasses being more involved with letting go of self, and allowing Christ to work in us.

Mark 6:1-6 Jesus Rejected

In these versus we see that Jesus' ministry was hampered by unbelief, probably due to skepticism of the people. Here Jesus is, going back to his home town... people there were amazed at his teachings, but his family lived there.  Jesus' sisters were living there, and they knew his brothers ... they said "He's just a carpenter, the son of Mary".

Scripture tells us that because of their unbelief, Jesus couldn't do any 'mighty miracles' (vs5).   This is not like the the previous verses were we looked at Jesus healing a woman from bleeding, or raising someone from the dead. It's amazing how faith is essential for God to work in our lives.

In this scripture, Jesus says "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family."   Even Jesus had family issues.   People couldn't come to grips of "Jesus the carpenters son" to .. "Jesus the Messiah".   Jesus was amazed at their unbelief.

Are there times when people you know can't comes to grip with how you changed your life?   Or do some people have trouble believing that you have truly changed?   Not easy especially when they're your family eh?

In the broader strokes of society we have many people, who won't believe that Jesus even existed ... despite all the historical evidence to the contrary.

The good news is that Jesus is alive, that Jesus continues to want to work in our lives, but it comes down to faith doesn't it?   Where do we put our faith in?  In ourselves? In this world?  Or are we willing to give Jesus the chance to do some 'Mighty miracles' in our life?   Do we go for the ordinary? Or the extraordinary?  Our choice.

Mark5:21-43 Faith in action.

In today's reading we have 2 accounts of faith, one from a Jairus, the leader of a local synagogue, who's daughter at the time was dying; and an account of an unnamed woman who had been suffering from bleeding for years.  Both of these are faith accounts ... both of these people had nothing else, and so they put their faith in Jesus.

Jesus was walking toward Jairus' house, to heal his daughter, and of course there was a big crowd gathering around him, and then this woman "came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe For she thought to herself, "If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed."  Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition.   Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched me"".

A few things to point out, first, everyone was touching him because people were crowding around him, but his healing power went out to this woman because of her faith.   (vs 34)   I think this is the only time that his healing power went out without him directing it.   This woman's faith was so deep, that it healed her.

What does this say about our prayer life, and about our own faith?  Take a look at her words again "If I can just touch his robe, I WILL be healed"  -- no doubts, just faith.   

Jesus made his way to Jairus' house, were his daughter was dead, but he said to the people "The child isn't dead; she's only asleep".   Taking Jairus, Jairus' wife, and 3 disciples into were the daughter was lying, Jesus took her hand, and told her to "get up".  and she did.    Now it says that Jesus gave them strict orders not to tell anyone what happened, and he told them to get her something to eat."  Hmm, wondering if girl was diabetic?  Well, whatever it was, Jesus did another great miracle that  day.   I think why he gave the parents strict orders not to tell anyone was so that everyone would ask for him to raise everyone's dead relatives.  But, that's just a guess.   

What great stories of faith, one for themselves, and the other for their daughter.   Both examples of faith in action.   To know Christ is on thing, to put your wholehearted faith in him is another.   

Mark 5-1-20 Swine flew

I had eggs and bacon, and hear I am reading about Jesus casting demons into pigs.   Oh the irony.   Anyway, this is a great account of Jesus authority over the demon spirits, Jesus casting 'Legion' out of a man, who was crazy possessed -- breaking chains and shackles, living in and around burial caves, cutting himself, howling -- crazy stuff.

The demon appealed to Jesus for Him not to cast them out to "some distant place"(vs. 10 -- oh remember, hell isn't made yet, so don't assume that Jesus had been casting demons there ... Check out the end of the book of revelation.), but to be cast into a herd of Pigs.

Really, a strange request especially since once Jesus did do that, all 2000 pigs plunged to their doom into a lake and drowned.   

Check out what happened ... vs. 14 "The herdsmen fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran."   -- herdsmen ... you know, probably the ones that looked after the 2000 pigs!!

Here is the good news, Jesus rescued the demon possessed man, he was free!!  Yet the herdsmen were SO concerned about their herd, that they couldn't appreciate what kind of miracle that Jesus did.   They were only concerned about their loss of livestock.   vs 17 "and the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone."   

It's sad when material wealth and possessions blind us to the work that God is doing in front of us.   You know what, I think the Legion knew what they were doing.   They knew that the people wouldn't want Jesus to stick around once their livestock was gone.   Satan always plans to deceive and destroy.   That's why Legion wanted to get into those pigs.

But wait, Legion didn't win in thwarting Jesus' ministry, because as Jesus was getting back into the boat, "the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him.  But Jesus said, "No, go home to your family and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been."  So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns (gk. Decapolis) of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them."

This now free man wanted to follow Jesus, but instead went throughout these 10 Roman towns spreading the good news ... and people listened, people were amazed.   The demons 'Legion' may of thought that they had the last laugh, or at least thwarted the ministry of Christ .. but they hadn't.

Oh what joy there must of been when this man's family learned that he was free from these demons, what a great testimony.

Blessings.

Calming the Storm Mark 35-41

This is a pretty common piece of scripture, but basically Jesus has been preaching on a boat, and now he says "Let's cross to the other side of the lake".  What I find interesting is that the scripture doesn't say why Jesus wanted to cross to the other side of the lake, but we get an idea of why by the end of the account.   Maybe it was because Jesus knew that there was work to be done on the other side, but it could also of been because he wanted to test the faith of his disciples.    Or it could of been because he was just tired, and needed a nap.

Either way, we have a storm that brews up, the disciples wake up Jesus because they're terrified, and Jesus calms the storm, while saying "Why are you afraid?  Do you still have no faith?"

The disciples experienced miracles .. miracles of healing, driving out demons from people etc.  But this was the first time that they experienced a miracle that controls the PHYSICAL world.   They thought they knew who Jesus was, a good teacher, a good man, miracle worker, but they're eyes were beginning to open to see Jesus as who he is.   Yes this was a test of faith, but this was also an eye-opener for them.

We need to reflect on who Christ is.   In this short account we see Christ as fully man (needing to take a nap), and fully God (calming a storm with 3words 'Silence! Be Still').   Reflect on what that means for us... God fully human took on the cross, and fully God he took away our sins.  All at the same time.   His disciples were starting to get it by the end of the passage, but how about us?

The disciples were terrified at what they saw Jesus do, and today we have people that are scared of what becoming a follow of Christ would mean.    Sometimes I think that the Bible should have a warning label on it ... "Warning: The truth enclosed may change your life".   Expect things to happen to your life when you ask the God of creation, the God of everything seen and unseen to take hold of you, and use you.

Listening Questionaire ...

Yesterday I went to a one day training seminar for my work for Community Living, and it's amazing how many things relate to just everyday life, and things that active Church workers can learn from the same thing.   Interacting with people doesn't change.  The message may be different, but the lessons are the same.  One of the things we looked on was how to actively and Faithfully listen to someone.   In a bible study, group discussion, or even in your marriage, some of these questions are very applicable.   Hopefully this will challenge you, as it challenges me.

1. I interact with a person so that I understand both the facts about what is being communicated and also the feelings that are being communicated to get the whole picture
2. I have a true interest and desire to hear and understand what the person is trying to communicate.
3. I am very much aware of the possible effects of my own attitudes, beliefs, feelings and needs  when I am listening to a person.
4. I pay very close attention to non verbal behaviour, gestures and expressions when listening to someone to help me understand the person.
5. When I become unclear about what is being communicated I immediately ask for clarification INSTEAD of pretending to know and/or responding quickly. (such a guy thing eh?)
6. I confirm my understanding of what I have heard or interpreted by summarizing, paraphrasing or stating back to the person my understanding and seeking  their confirmation.
7. I keep an open mind, suspending  my judgments  or preconceived ideas and feelings about a person when I am called to listen.  (never in the Church  *ahem*)
8. I am able to put myself in the "shoes of the person" when asked to listen.  I can easily empathize with people.
9. I make sure the person knows I am listening by making eye contact, affirming what they are saying by nodding or making an appropriate gesture
10. I first seek to understand what a person is communicating, before I express myself.
11. I allow people to complete what they are trying to communicate, giving enough time, space and sometimes silence so that the person can be heard.

Each of these you can rate on your own, but there may be a couple that you would like to improve upon, and take some actions on how to improve them.

This list was compiled by Community Living Ontario for the "Examining The Purpose of Our Work" seminar.  Er .. with occasional commentary by me. :)

In toady's devotional, we looked at the importance of Listing to the Word of God, hopefully these things can help us reflect on our ability and willingness to listen to God and to others.

Mark 4:21-34

Here we have 3 parables, and after they were taught, scripture says "In fact, in his public ministry he (Jesus) never taught without using parables" (vs. 34a)  Parables really are an unintrusive way to spread the good news, and  it's a way that all of us can use to spread the gospel.

With these 3 parables, there's a few things we need to learn.  

First, the parable of the lamp.   Jesus talks about what is hidden will be brought to light, and considering it's smack dab in the middle of his parables, THAT's probably what he means.  But check this out.  He says in vs. 24-25 "Pay close attention to what you hear.  The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given--and you will receive even more.   To those who listen to my teaching more understanding will be given.  But for those who are not listening even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them."

Listening is so important in relationships, and not IDLE listening, but purposeful listening, listening with the intent that there is something to be learned, and grasped, and embraced.   We in the Church are so guilty of NOT listening to others, but ready to condemn or to judge before we listen.  Aren't we?   But take a look at what Jesus says to those who don't listen .. the knowledge will be taken away!!   Do we know of people who used to be in Church leadership ... or Leaders of the Christian faith, that have fallen away?  

I think it's because they have forgotten to listen to the scripture, find new things in its pages, and in turn, God has withdrawn our understanding of them.   Deep stuff eh?

This leads to the Second parable, the Growing Seed.   The farmer sows the seed, he doesn't know how it grows, but it does, and when the grain is ready, it is harvested.   The farmer I believe is the us who seed God's word into people.   As farmers of the word, we must not forget to harvest what is ready.   Don't be sleeping, and then find out that winter's come and you can't get your crop out of the field!   Look for a harvest that is ripe ... look for the opportunities to show people who our Saviour is.

The third parable ...as time is slipping away, talks about this Kingdom of God.  The spread of the kingdom of God.  I believe that this is the church, that starts off small, and then spreads throughout the earth, like the mustard seed that becomes the largest tree in the garden.   Even birds make nests in it!    Are people able to take rest in our Churches?  Comfort?  I'm not talking about the pews, but what we do.    How we are seen by everyday people.

Time to head to work .. so much to take in.

Blessings

Seeding time Mk 4:1-20

This is the first Parable that we see in Mark (the previous story with the wine skins was and illustration, not a story) and it's about the 3 different types of ground that the seeds fall down into, representing peoples response to the gospel.

First, we have the seed that falls on the footpath,  birds come and pick them up -- representing Satan taking them away, right away.

Second, we have the seed that falls on shallow soil, with underlying rock.   Plants grow quickly, but then soon wither and fade.   This represents "those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.  But since they don't have deep roots, they don't last long.   They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God's word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced."   This is the reason we have Sunday messages.   There are alot of people we know that have gone to Church, experienced a spiritual 'high', but as soon as something happens, they fall away from God.   Really this is where the Church tries to build the strong roots in its people.

Thirdly, the seed that falls on the good soil "represents those who hear and accept God's word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!"   See the main difference between the third and second .. the second one "receives" (the message) "with joy"  .. the Third one "who hear and accept God's word"  there's a difference between being excited about something, and actually accepting it.   It's the difference between being excited about the new "Spicey burger" at A&W restaurants, and actually working and making it.

You will always have the 2nd and 3rd type of soil at Church.   But is our focus on the 2nd type ignoring the potential of the 3rd type ... the good soil.?   Are our Churches more equipped for those that have the joy, or those that know the word?  Is our life and church more excited about the good soil, rather than spending time in the shallowness of fleeting momentary 'spiritual highes?'

I strive for being like that good soil, not tossed by the waves and currents of this world, or the problems I encounter.   I want my roots to go deeper, and I find the more I live this fleeting life, the more I want to grow.   It's not easy, but so worth it.

Blessings

Jesus' Family Mark 3:31-34

Jesus' mother and brother came to see him, Jesus was inside a crowded house talking to the people.   When He heard that his mother and brother were outside wanting to talk to Him, his response was that His brother, mother, sister were those who did the will of God.

In Luke's version of the event says that "my mother and my brothers are those that hear God's word and obey it. 

In Mark's version, Jesus was in a house, and not so in Luke's version (at least the house wasn't mentioned).   In Mark's version Jesus' mother and brother came, in Luke's .. his mother and brothers came.   I'm thinking that these could be two different accounts, but hey, I'm not a scholar, I just read the word.

But the message is the same, to be part of the family of God, is to do His will (basically hear God's word and obey it).

This wasn't a put down on his mother and brother that were waiting to talk to Jesus, I think it was more that Jesus was using this opportunity to tell people what they must do to be a part of God's family.

This is what we need to do .. hear God's word and obey it.   A simple thing to read, but hard to practice sometimes isn't it?

Remember the hymn, "Trust and obey, for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey"    May we do this today, and everyday.

Blessings.

Mark 3:20-30 Unforgivable Sin

How would it be to have Jesus come into your house?   Every time he goes to a house, there's a crowd gathering outside  trying to get inside.   The same thing is happening now, and He never has time to eat.   I like this part when His family tries to take him away saying "He's out of his mind".   His family was concerned about his welfare, and health.  

The in comes the teachers of the religious law, all the way from Jerusalem, and try to accuse Jesus of being possessed by Satan.   Jesus tells them a parable about "How can Satan drive out Satan", and a house divided will fall.  

He also says something interested "I tell you the truth, all sin and blasphemy can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven.   This is a with eternal consequences."  He told them this because they were saying, "He's possessed by an evil spirit."    

Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is the one sin that can never be forgiven ... basically the religious teachers came all the way from Jerusalem, not to talk to Jesus, they new the truth of His words, and really ... I think they knew that  He wasn't possessed by demons, they were just trying to persecute Him because were afraid of his teachings, and the people that were starting to pay attention to him.

In short .. They were calling the work of God a work of Satan... and they knew that.

Let that be a  warning to us.

Missing the obvious Mark 3:7-19

In this reading, we have Jesus being swamped from all sides, and people from all over the coming to see Him do miracles.   So much so that He and His disciples had to get a boat ready to escape the amount of people coming to see Him.

Check this out, people possessed by evil spirits would throw themselves onto the ground, and proclaim, "You are the Son of God!"  But Jesus commanded the spirits not to reveal who He was."

Even the possessed acknowledged who Jesus was, but no one in the crowd seemed to catch on.  

In the later versus, we have Jesus choosing his apostles, and they "were to accompany him, and he would send them out to preach, giving them authority to cast out demons."

Even Jesus needed some help with preaching and doing miracles.   One of the neatest things that you read was in vs. 17 were Jesus gives James and John the nickname "Sons of Thunder"  very cool ... but I wonder why?   Was it their ability to speak with power?  Were they built like Arnold Schwarzenegger??  A neat little thing in scripture that we can speculate on.

If Jesus needed to have help with His ministry, what does that say about us?   Are we the type of person that we like to do everything on our own?  Or do we tackle a task that is big, with help from others?

Lord of the Sabbath Mark 2:23-3:6

These versus covers 2 incidents that happened during the Sabbath.   The first, was when the disciples broke off the heads of grain to eat, the second was Jesus healing a man with a deformed hand.

It was the Pharisees who thought that breaking the heads of grain as the disciples walked by was considered "harvesting" the grain, and therefore evil, because it was done on the Sabbath.   Jesus reminds them of the story of David, who broke the law by eating bread meant for the priests, in order to feed  him and his companions.   I love what Jesus says about this whole thing in vs. 27 "The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath.  So the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath."

Jesus says an equally profound statement in 3:4 when facing his critics, while healing a man with a deformed hand  on the Sabbath "Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil?  Is this a day to save life, or destroy it?"

Now the last statement caused so much resentment that the Pharisees went away to meet with supporters of Herod to plot how to kill Jesus." 3:6

A few things really shine on these scriptures for me.   1) The Sabbath was made to serve us, not us the Sabbath. God created the sabbath as a day of rest, for our bodies, and for our well being, we need  a day to 'chill'.   It was never supposed to be a day that hinders us, but a day of restoration.   Especially when people are working multiple jobs, weird hours, we need a day to recharge our batteries.

2) These scriptures are also a warning against strict religiosity towards others.   We need to make sure that we don't fall into the trap of making others follow OUR religious traditions.   Following the letter of the law, versus the spirit of the law.

3) When we do something that we know is right, not everyone is going to be happy about it.   It's to be expected really ... part of 'carrying our cross'.

4) Jesus used the scriptures as defense, and we (meaning me) need to be constantly absorbing what the Word says.

New Wine skins Mk 2:18-22

Here we have Jesus talking about fasting, and people wondering why His disciples don't fast like the Pharisees do, or like John's disciples did.   Jesus says two things about this  1) Jesus is here now, and when He will be gone, His disciples will have time to fast "Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom?  Of course not.  They can't fast while the groom is with them.  But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast."

2) The old law will change, because Jesus brought in the new Law  and he says this with 2 parables.  You don't patch old clothing with a new patch ... because the one would shrink, and you'll of torn your clothes, and you don't put new wine in old wineskin's, or they'll tear.

The only time fasting is mandatory for Jews is the day of atonement (and repentance), also known as Yom Kippur.   Still celebrated, and one of the most holiest of Jewish celebrations.

Jesus brought the new law, where HE is the source of atonement, to make right with the Lord, not trying by works or fasting, but by faith in Him.   Things were going to change, and the disciples should be the witnesses of the new atonement instead of obeying the LAW for the old one.

Again, salvation by works ain't happening, never truly worked in the past, and won't work now.   Faith in Christ, is what brings us into a right relationship with God.

This is not saying that you shouldn't fast.   Fasting is a great practice (and one I should more regularly do), but even then, we can look at Isaiah 58, and see that God prefers fasting that loosens the chains of oppression, and were we care for the weak, the widows and orphans.

Call to Sinner's Mark 2:13-17

In this piece of scripture calls Matthew to "be my disciple" and this is the first time Jesus uses this phrase in Mark.   Matthew, a tax collector just sitting at his booth, gets a call from Jesus to follow him.  How cool is that.   Mathew then has Jesus come to his home as dinner guests, and what was there ... "many tax collectors and disreputable sinners"

Now there's nothing wrong with tax collectors, but tax collectors were notorious for taking things under the table, tipping the scales and in turn, pocketing extra coin.   But here Jesus is associating with them, and other 'sinners'.  

When the religious tried to call Jesus on who He was hanging out with, that's when we get to vs. 17.  I love verse 17 "When Jesus heard this, he told them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor-sick people do, I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners."

The bible is filled with 'non-perfect' people, anywhere from the lying Abraham, killer Moses, and Adulterer King David.   But what makes them heroes of the faith is that they acknowledged their sin, there were ordinary sinners in need of redemption.

We need the same heart.   I have to catch myself when I look at someone who is deep in sin, and I need to realize that Jesus died for them, and when I look at my own life, and my thoughts and pride, I need to get down on my knees and bow before Christ in humility, and acknowledge that I'm a sinner.

Jesus came to save those who know they are sinners.   I think this is a  stumbling block for some.   And there are people who don't think they have done any wrong.

Sometimes I wish I could see people as Jesus sees people.   Praise be to God that Jesus didn't come to save the perfect, but the He came to me  a sinner, you a sinner.   Doesn't matter if your rich, poor, whatever your ethnicity is, whatever you have done ... Jesus came to save us, and give us the gift of freedom from sin, freedom from death, the gift of victory in our lives, and victory over death.   So freaking cool :)

Oh for a thousand Coffee's ...

Ahh free coffee and McDonald's... 'tis a great time of the year.   I love their coffee much better than Tim Horton's, let bitter, and great tasting.  

It's amazing how people look at this promotional event that is happening until November 28th.   I will be taking full advantage of said coffee, and enjoying it to it's fullest.   But then I look at the amount of people going through the drive-through, and in the store, lining up for this free gift from McDonald's, and I start to think.

Why are people in Tim Horton's sitting down, and just drinking coffee, when McDonald's has free coffee??

I'm all for the free ... but why?  Some people may not like the coffee, but I doubt it.  I think it has something to do about habit, and about being in comfortable surroundings.   Tim Horton's has become an adult drop-in center, and it is a meeting place.    There's donuts, and coffee, yea, but its where people can relax.
Have you ever really felt relaxed in McDonald's?   Do you ever have real long conversations in a burger joint at all, versus a coffee place?  

In our Churches we offer something free as well, the knowledge of salvation.   A free gift.  Much more precious than coffee (though quite a few churches offer both).   We seek out people to bring into the kingdom, but we have a problem much like McDonald's does in getting people to change their coffee habits from Tim Hortons to their stores.

1) Pre-conceived notions - Church has had a bad rap throughout history.  Justified or not, the label of 'Church' can be a hindrance  

2) The atmosphere, the warm of many Churches are lacking.   I'm not talking about color schemes, and promotional posters.   I'm not even talking about how LOUD your hymns are.  How do we greet people?  Are we genuinely interested in the people that come through our doors ... or do we act more like a fast-food restaurant .... 'Here is you meal, chew on the message, then move on so we can get to the next person"

3) Community.   Tim Horton's does alot for the community, more than supporting their own camps, but they offer free ice skating every year at our local arena.   This make them at least have an appearance of being interested in our community.   The Church needs to do one-up, and be GENUINELY interested in their communities, and find way's to bring the relevance of the gospel to everyday people.

The early Church did a way better job than we ever did.  I think one of the problems is that we continue to associate Church with a building, instead of building up the people in our community.  

Anyway, these were just my random meanderings of thought, but maybe we can talk more about it ... over coffee :)

Happy Christmas Volume 5

I love the Christmas Season, and the music, tv shows etc.   I just picked up Happy Christmas Volume 5, which has Demon Hunter on it.   How amazing is this??   Ok, but they don't sing any real Chistmas songs, just like something about the biting wind and there's a reference to a snowflake.   Anyway, I'll smack some o' my favorite songs down here .. like 'Heat Miser' by TFK seriously rocking.




And now Demon Hunter - The Wind




And a very cool tune by Neon Horse ...

Mark 2:1-12

This is a great story of four friends doing whatever they could for their paralyzed friend, even if it means cutting a hole in someone's roof, and lowering him down, for a chance to have Jesus heal their friend.   That's is cool friendship.   I don't know if I was paralyzed if my friends would cut a hole in a roof for me.   But here it is, and I wonder if there was a smile on Jesus's face, as this man was being lowered down right in front of him.   I wonder what the reaction was of the man who owned the house.

This was a last ditch attempt by these guys to help their friend, there was no way they were going to get through the front door, it was packed inside and out (though note how the religious leaders were just sitting there).   Jesus, or how He refers to himself, 'The Son of Man' showed that He could forgiven sins, and heal the man.   He had to show to the people that He had authority to do both.   Pretty amazing.

But thinking about this man, and his friends ... have we ever been in such a desperate state that we would do something extreme like they did?   We have alot in the North American culture, we ARE a culture of Excess.   We have stuff that most of the world doesn't ... car, job, education, welfare, healthcare ...  But when our pride takes a toll, when we would give up our 'comfortable-ness' (yes it's a word, i just typed it ;)  )  to help someone, like these four guys did for the paralytic ... that's admirable ... and it's an act of faith.

The challenge today I think, is to what extent are we willing to give of ourselves so that someone might come into a relationship with Christ?  Humility, forgiveness, loving our neighbor ... praying for our enemies.   It's quite a challenge not only for today, but for our lives.   

Mark 1:25-45 - Giving what we got

Mark 1:25-45 Jesus continues His ministry, speaking in synagoges and healing people of various diseases.   Then He comes upon this man with leprosy, who said “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” The man puts his faith in Jesus, and Jesus out of compassion heals him.   When the man is healed, Jesus tells the man to go to the priest, and give the offering required by the law, and that would be a public testimony that he had been cleansed.

The guy was so excited to be rid of his leprosy, he didn’t do what Jesus asked, instead he told everyone FIRST.   Soon, Jesus was neck deep in people asking for miracles, that He couldn’t get away from him.   Like kids finding out that Santa is just down the street, people were constantly around him.   Jesus couldn’t even find a secluded spot to have some time alone with God, or even to rest.

Now if the man who was healed from leprosy had done as Jesus asked in the first place, what would of happened?   People would hear a legitimate claim of the healing, not only from the man himself, but from the priest … and in turn, even more people would of heard of Jesus’ healing, and who knows how this would of affected the religious leaders at the time.  
Jesus would also have had time to get to other places, and perform miracles, and continue His testimony, and have time to spend alone if needed.

Sometimes we get so bogged down in our emotions, that we forget to follow God’s leading on our heart, don’t we?

If we pray for money, and as an answer to prayer, we get more than we need, do we use it to buy something we really don’t need, or do was ask God how we can bless someone with it?   If we get healed from some ailment, do we just tell our family, or do we testify of God’s healing in our Churches?   It’s about what we do with the blessings that God gives out to us, it’s part of being a “good and faithful servant”.    

To Home we go ... Mark 1:29-34

vs 29 "After Jesus left the synagogue with James and John, they went to Simon and Andrew's home.   Now Simon's mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever."

You know, there are books that you think you've read several times, and then all of a sudden you realized that you had before just 'browsed', instead of trying to understand.   This was the home of Andrew and Peter (called Simon at the time), and Simon's mother-in-law was sick, and living in the same house.   Simon was married, and tradition claims that his wife was eventually martyred for her faith, and they did have children.   For some reason we tend to forget (or at least I do) that these disciples had families, homes, and some even were married.  

In Luke's gospel 4:38-41 it states that Simon's mother-in-law was very sick with a 'high fever'  and He rebukes the spirit and the fever is gone.

In Marks gospel, Jesus sits her up on her bed, and the fever leaves her.   Either way, she is healed by Jesus, and the word of Christ's healing's in the area spread.   He healed many who were filled with diseases and demon possessed right there in Simon's house.

I think about our culture in North America, and how pessimistic people are when we hear of miracles being done.   Some of it is justified, considering how many fake healers can be seen on television, but where do we stand on miracles?   We are a drug induced culture, we like our medications, and most of the time I tend to go with an aspirin or advil first instead of getting down on my knees to ask God for healing and help. 

Christ did an amazing thing in the synagogue, and in Simon's house, and I'm wondering if my heart has become so hardened by 'fake miracle workers' that no matter how sick I was, would I be the one to make the trek on that day to Simon & Andrew's house back then?    If I truly believe that the same Christ who healed way back then, it truly alive in me through the Holy Spirit, and through others ... should we not also see miracles happen?   Or maybe they do happen, ALOT, and we don't acknowledge them as miracles, and God's work happening in us?   

This is why I love the Word of God, because it makes us think, and examine ourselves ... even when sometimes we don't like to be examined.

Take this day as a miracle, don't hold back God from performing a miracle in your life today.  

Mark 1:21-28 (NLT) - New Teaching...

In this passage we have Jesus coming to the town of Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, He went into the temple to teach.   When He taught, vs.22 says that “he taught with real authority--quite unlike the teachers of religious law”.   There is a difference between teaching, and TEACHING.   In College there were teachers that were teaching like they were reciting a manual of some sort, trying to go by the word, but without the passions and confidence of someone who teaches what they really believe.   A sermon without passion on Sunday morning, is just a piece of paper with some good facts, but not much real substance.   I hate listening to those sermons.  

I’m not talking about being overly loud, or even charismatic, but Jesus had an authority that was foreign to the listeners in Capernaum.

Then a man who was possessed by an evil (or unclean) spirit and says “Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth?  Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are-- the Holy One sent from God!”

Jesus was teaching with AUTHORITY, something that the religious leaders did not do, and people were amazed … I find it interesting that the evil spirit didn’t have a problem with the teaching of the religious leaders … I mean he was in the synagogue.   If he was always interrupting speakers, people would know about him, and I doubt that he would have been allowed into the place.

I get the impression that evil spirits don’t mind people who don’t teach with authority.   For me, it’s a warning for when I preach (which I’ve gotta do next Sunday), to preach as the Holy Spirit directs, and to speak with authority.  Satan doesn’t mind preachers who don’t preach with authority.   He likes it when the people in Church (in this case synagogue) go through the motions, and aren’t challenged in their way of life.

Jesus cuts the evil Spirit short telling him to “Be quiet!  Come out of the man.”  

Now the next thing that I notice is that the evil spirit recognized who Jesus was (vs. 24), but the people, even though they saw the power of Christ, and heard what the evil spirit said about Christ .. They didn’t comprehend it.   They thought that the casting out of the demon was a TEACHING??  Vs. 27 “What sort of new teaching is this?”

Some people still think of Jesus as just a great teacher, and though He was a great teacher, He was much more.   I pray that you know Him more than just a teacher today, more than a good man, but as Lord and your Saviour.

This was a great lesson for me, especially when I speak to other people.   To recognize the authority Christ has given me to speak, and to speak with conviction, sincerity, and with authority, whenever it comes to the word of God. 

Fishers of People Mark 1:16-19 (NLT)

Jesus is walking by the shore, and he saw 2 guys throwing a net into the water, Simon (Peter) and Andrew, and all He says is "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!"   and the scripture says... that they "left their nets at once, and followed him."

Peter, throughout scripture, is the first guy to do something, I mean if there's a guy that's zealous in following Christ, it's Peter.   Whether it's walking on water, wanting Jesus to wash him to make him clean, all this stuff.   Here he just drops everything to follow Christ.

There's not much of an explanation whether Peter and Andrew were talking about Jesus before hand, or if they were anticipating a change in their life.   When I first contemplated following Christ, I personally just knew, in my heart of hearts that Everything made sense with Christ, and without Him, nothing did.   For me, I was drawn to Christ, like the song says .. a deer pants for water.   Its didn't take much convincing at all for me to become a believer.

I wonder if it was the same with Peter and Andrew.   Then Jesus goes up the shore, and finds James and John Zebedee.   Calls them.  They follow.   But they didn't just do that, they left their father with his hired men in the boat.   THAT is a leap of faith.   Following Jesus is a life changing thing, and when Christ calls, we need to follow.

As I said, I didn't need much convincing to follow Christ, but I don't know if I would have the complete faith that James and John did, leaving his father on the boat to follow him.   

When I think about this, I think there are I realize that God plants desires in our hearts to follow Him, and we need to make the conscious choice whether or not we will leave the past behind, and trust Him with our future.   I love it that Jesus calls fishermen, just ordinary people, making a living to feed other people... and Jesus wants to use them to tell others about the 'Good News'.   These guys weren't scholars or Rabbi's, but just regular folks that will become his closest friends for the next 3 years of His ministry.

I'm humbled when I see these guys following the Lord so implicitly.   Sometimes its good to be critical, and analytical about stuff, but having complete faith in Christ, to give our lives implicitly to His will.   That takes guts, and real faith.   Our role as disciples of Christ .. His followers remains the same doesn't it?   "Come and follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people."

Peace I give unto you...

Last Sunday a Pastor was talking about Peace, and it sort of floated into the Remembrance Day week here in Canada.   The whole idea of us being peace makers, peace bringers, and bringing peace to our relationships with others.   He (the Pastor) left out one thing that I've sometimes struggled with, was peace with God.


Looking back on my life, there are some regrets, but sometimes I find that our faith pulls us toward a path that isn't so 'straight and narrow'.   I think back on my time in Selkirk Manitoba, and how I went out there out of faith, and at a time when I was starting a relationship with someone here.   Then God calls me back home to run a youth center, and that was JUST as I was starting a relationship in Manitoba.   It's not easy being single.   Being 40 and single is daunting on one's ego, and mental wellbeing.  Oh, and NO I haven't shaved my chest yet ... in case your thinking of a famous Steve Carell movie.


I wonder how at peace with God I am, to where He has led me, and He has led me, of there I have no doubt.  But it isn't easy, and there are deep times of loneliness.   But peace?


I think of the bible story of Jesus being asleep in the boat on the Sea of Galilee, and everyone is panicking, the disciples, who have hung around Jesus for awhile now, wake Him up, and tell him that they are in a storm, and they don't know what to do.   Jesus totally calms the waves, and everything turns out ok.   But these guys, they walked with Jesus, they saw the miracles He did, yet they were nervous about this storm.


Peace is not found in myself.   I have torrents of loneliness, non-confidence, faithlessness, all these things, but then, JUST when I find that things are overwhelming, God through his Spirit gives me a peace about everything, like Jesus makes everything alright.   It's very cool.   Like the old hymn that says "When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul." (by  Horatio G. Spafford)  That's the way it is.


There are alot of times I struggle with my inadequacies, but then I'm reminded that Christ saved me, who I am, all my weirdness and all.  Peace is found not in me, but in the one who calms all the waves in my life.   Thanks be to God for that :)

BTW ...

Just wanted to let you know, that these studies, are not done ahead of time, but done as my own devotionals before work.   Like 20-15 minutes before I have to head for work.  So if the thoughts seem jumbled, that's just me being me.   Basically, I'm just spewing from my brain what I'm getting out of a certain bible passage, and hopefully your getting out of them too.   But realize these are just MY spewings, and that the Holy Spirit will SPEW stuff into your brains that aren't in my brains.   That's why we need to watch out for zombies.... 'cause they eat brains.   mmm ... brains.

The Quiet Lament Mark 1:9-15

In a way, this passage is a very emotional one for me, as I read the first few verses detailing the baptism of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit descending on Him like a dove, that's very cool, and the voice of God saying "You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy."   Then the spirit 'compelled' "Jesus to go into the wilderness, where he was tempted by Satan for forty days" vs. 12-13  Other gospels go into greater detail of the temptation of Jesus, but Mark .. but Mark's gospel goes toward the relationship that Jesus had with John the Baptist, and it's a quiet lament.   John gets arrested, and the first words of Jesus in Mark's gospel is in vs. 15 "The time promised by God has come at last!"  he announced. As an ode to the words of John the Baptist He says "The Kingdom of God is near!  Repent of your sins and believe the Good news."

Jesus had been on that spiritual 'high' of  receiving not only the Holy Spirit, but also an affirmation from God, and then He went into the desert to experience the 'valley's' as it were ... This prepared Him for ministry that would go against the cultural grain, and built his character enough to stand the test of the crucifixion.  

As a believer trials will come at us from everywhere, there will be tests of faith, but God has given us His strength and assurance to overcome those obstacles.  

What I really gained out of this passage as I read it for myself this morning, is Christ's love for John, the fact that His first words in the book of Mark, was re-emphasizing John's message.    John's preaching of those words would land him in jail, and eventually death, and here Christ speaks those words, that would through His ministry eventually lead Him to the cross.   Wild eh?

Yummy, Locusts and Honey

Join me in my devotional as I work through the book of Mark.  Hope I can keep this up, but my Prayer is that we will both learn and grow in our faith.




Today I'm looking at Mark 1:1-8, "¹ The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, ² as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
   “I will send my messenger ahead of you,
   who will prepare your way”—
³ “a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
   make straight paths for him.’"

 ⁴ And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. ⁶ John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. ⁸ I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”  (New International Version)

I like the NLT which says "Clear the road for him" instead of "straight paths for Him", but either way, we have this idea that John is asking people to repent of their sins, and get ready for one who is greater than him (John).  

John is a wild one isn't he?   He's not the sort of guy that you would find in a church, or that you would even invite into a church.   He's smell, dresses bad, and his diet has alot to be considered.   But this is a man who lives what he preaches isn't he?

If there is a visual representation of humility, it's in John.   John isn't this prim and proper Israelite who says "Get close to god, repent" and then drives away on his 'Porshe' made horse.    No, we get the picture of this guy who's repenting himself, and who's sole mandate is to warn people about their sins, and 'Look-out' for the Messiah.   John became the lowest of the low, in order to exhalt, lift on high Jesus.   How do we do in our lives?

I think in todays Christian culture we sometimes made 'buddy buddy' with God/Christ more than we do in humbling ourselves.   I struggle with pride all the time ... we all do.   But what I'm getting from this passage today, is to humble myself, in order to proclaim the message of Forgiveness.

In fact, the more I think about it, I think that there is a direct connection to the effectiveness of our presentation of the gospel, to our willingness to humble ourselves, not only before God ... but before other people as well.   

I'm not talking about wearing cloths made of camel hair, and going around eating locusts and honey, but I am talking about being humble in our approach to people, and to God.

Welcome to my Gospel-tacular page!!

Ok, so I decided to have a page that's dedicated to my love o' God, and this page will include bible studies, commentary and even some music reviews from Christiandom.   Before I get to far, don't forget to check out my other pages at blogger.com, Pojoh - a look at my love for Massively Multiplayer games, and 'Pojoh's world', fan fiction from my burg at Lord of the Rings Online.

Well, while I'm writing this, I'm downloading the newest CD from Group 1 Crew off of itunes.




I'll all for the Hip Hop.  Actually I like various styles of music, from head pounding goodness, to gospel, and jazz.   No country though.

This CD is sounding pretty good at the moment, and I like how well the quality just shines through it.   This is great quality Christian music that'll be played proud.   Also, if you have anyone that works out, exercises, and likes to move around a bit, well, this CD will also fit the bill.  

So check out "Outta Space Love" from Group 1 Crew.  Great hip hop music in the styling of the Black Eyed Peas.