Where you live…

‘And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword: ‘I know where you are living, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you are holding fast to my name, and you did not deny your faith in me even in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan lives. But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling-block before the people of Israel, so that they would eat food sacrificed to idols and practice fornication. So you also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent then. If not, I will come to you soon and make war against them with the sword of my mouth. Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To everyone who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give a white stone, and on the white stone is written a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it. (Revelation 2:12-17, NRSV)

Another text that brings us comfort!

Not that we are comforted by the fact that we are residing where Satan’s throne is, but we are comforted by the fact that God understands where we live!

You see there is nothing He hasn’t seen. There is no where He has not been.

He has been everywhere and experienced all of the things you will ever go through. He knows the suffering you are going to face, and then some.

Take solace in the peace that God has given you. And trust that He has been there and will be able to bring you through everything.

 

Fear of suffering

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of the first and the last, who was dead and came to life: “I know your affliction and your poverty, even though you are rich. I know the slander on the part of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Beware, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Whoever conquers will not be harmed by the second death. (Revelation 2:8-11, NRSV)

“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” Yoda.

I read this passage from Revelation today and was comforted…

Comforted by a synagogue of Satan? No!

I am not comforted by the fact that there are those in the body who are supposed followers of Christ yet actually do their best to work against God. We all actually fall into this category at some point. But this is not comforting…

What is comforting is that God knows us. He knows that we are poor even in our riches. He knows the suffering we are going to face. He knows what we are going to face and has it all under control. He has our lives in His hands and we do not have to fear what might come because He will see us through!

We do not have to fear what we will suffer, just know that in the valley He is always with us!

The Bible summary you may have wanted but never took the time to compile…or maybe you didn’t want it. Regardless, here it is.

Good Read!

Timothy Brown's avatarReluctant Xtian

This past Sunday at my church we started a new adult education series called, “The Bible: What is it?”images

I wanted to name it, “The Bible: What the Hell?” but my editors decided against that.

Overall, the first day of the class went OK.  I say just “OK” because, well, we talked about some boring stuff on Sunday like how the Bible came about. Basically some Bishops of the ancient church started proposing that there should be a particular “plumb-line” for what is acceptable to use as scripture…mostly in reaction to some interesting suggestions (they called them “heresies” but, whatev) from some other Bishops like Marcion.

So in the year 331 they arrived at what we commonly call our Biblical canon (“canon” is a fancy word for “ruler”…as in, what something is measured by).

So the Christian Bible (of the Protestant flavor) contains 66 books with histories, myths, poetry…

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What possess you?

Then someone came to him and said, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother; also, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “I have kept all these; what do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions. (Matthew 19:16-22, NRSV)

This man went away form Jesus grieving for he had many things he could not sell…

What do you have in your life that you can not sell? What thing or things, possess your time, your love, your honor, your devotion? What is it that Jesus would peer into your soul and say, “If you wish to be perfect, go and…”

Jesus is waiting for you to allow Him to be the possession you give your time, your love, your honor, your devotion to…

What is it He would ask you to give up?

And can you give it up,to get the life that only He can give you?

Church Basements, Government Shutdowns, Kitchen Tables and the Kingdom of God

Words worth your time to read!

geoff sinibaldo's avatarsinibaldo.wordpress.com

folding.chairI’ve spent some time in church basements and meeting rooms listening to people talk about their church. Faithful and faith-filled people have been part of each gathering. Some people are hopeful; some people are scared; some people have grand plans and visions for the future while others wonder if their community can survive. I’ve sat with colleagues at meetings, lunch dates and coffee shops having similar consultations.  In each of the three churches I’ve served as pastor we’ve had cottage meetings, retreats and planning days to think about our work as a congregation and where God is calling us a community.

These conversations are important. The insights shared are helpful. The community-building that takes place as a result of these gatherings creates common vision and understanding.  In these discussions we re-center our ministry on the work of being the church – gathering for worship, opening the scriptures, praying together and…

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Who’s driving your car?

Since the days of Gibeah you have sinned, O Israel; there they have continued. Shall not war overtake them in Gibeah? I will come against the wayward people to punish them; and nations shall be gathered against them when they are punished for their double iniquity. Ephraim was a trained heifer that loved to thresh, and I spared her fair neck; but I will make Ephraim break the ground; Judah must plow; Jacob must harrow for himself. Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you. You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped injustice, you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your power and in the multitude of your warriors, therefore the tumult of war shall rise against your people, and all your fortresses shall be destroyed, as Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel on the day of battle when mothers were dashed in pieces with their children. Thus it shall be done to you, O Bethel, because of your great wickedness. At dawn the king of Israel shall be utterly cut off. (Hosea 10:9-15, NRSV)

What is it about our power to make our lives what we want that we put so much trust in?

It is kind of like riding shotgun after you have been driving for a while…

Have you ever grabbed for a handle above the window that wasn’t there?

Have you ever applied the brake, when there was no pedal?

We cringe and make faces and try to maneuver the car, but we can’t. We have to trust in the one behind the wheel.

Hosea tells Israel because they trusted in their own power and their own armies, they will have war and not peace. If we trust in our own power and or own armies we will have war and not peace.

So let God drive and trust that He will bring you peace, even in the wildest of rides!

Spit out

“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” (Revelation 3:14-22 ESV)

You are neither hot nor cold. You have no emotion what so ever.

Have you ever felt this way in life? Like you were not hot or cold, just kind of there?

Sometimes it is good to be just there, but where our faith is concerned, just there is not enough!

God gave His all for us, and asks that we do the same. If you are cold in your faith and actions you think you have it all together and don’t need God, and if you are hot you are seeking what God has for you. You will be living the way that God has in store for you to live and will follow where He leads.

So don’t be lukewarm, or cold. Realize the place God needs to be in your life and follow where He leads!

Satan falling….

The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:17-20 ESV)

Jesus tells the 72 that He saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning…

Satan was an angel, and thought he needed to be higher than God, so he was removed from heaven.

The 72 were amazed that the demons listened to them. But they shouldn’t have been, because all things are subject to God and if we actually have God in us then the God in us will make all things subject to Him.

The interesting thing in this passage for me is the original la gauge of the falling. Jesus really says I saw Satan fall over and over and over and over and over again… Satan falls, the falls again, then falls again… It is an action that happens over and over again.

So does that mean that Satan repents and is accepted back into heaven? And then goes off the deep end again?

Just like us…

So allow the God in you to lead you where He needs you and when you fall from heaven, repent and return to God.

Trust

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long. Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help. When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish. Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord! (Psalm 146, NRSV)

What do you trust in?

Do you trust in your job?

Your money?

Your community?

Any of these things could be pulled out from under you at any moment. None of these things are sure and able to withstand time. Everything in our world will change but one.

To put your trust in anything but God is futile. It will not stand and is something that is fleeting…

Trust in God and follow where He leads, and rejoice in Him!