What you talkin bout Willis…

What you talkin bout Willis?

Who remembers this?

What was he saying really? I thought of this catch phrase today as I read the lesson from Luke appointed for today. Jesus frees a man from a demon in the temple, and the crowd sees it and says, “What kind of utterance is this?” They don’t understand what has happened. They in unison say what you talkin bout Willis. They are not sure what happened, what was said and that is not a good thing for them.

You see most of us want to understand everything down to the tiniest of details on why something happened. It drives us crazy to not understand why something happened the way it did, or what is going on.

You see though it really isn’t for us to understand. Because a lot of the things that happen are really beyond our understanding. We need to accept them in faith, and walk forward knowing that God will see us through.

excel in this act of grace…

Grace – the final frontier…

Is grace really all it is about? If we could be gracious and merciful giving to everyone as we have been given, no hold on strike that. Giving more grace and mercy to everyone around us than we have been given. That is what Paul tells the Corinthians in the passage for the day from 2 Corinthians.

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints—and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. (2 Corinthians 8:1-7 ESV)

The Macedonian’s are not the wealthiest congregation. They have been through something horrible, Paul does not say what here, but he tells the Corinthians that they are poor and yet they are sending money and more than they can afford to help keep Paul’s ministry team moving forward.  He lifts them up not to show that they are doing this. Paul lifts them up to show that we all can give and even beyond what we have been given. It is about living a gracious life! It is not about what we get or what we have, it is about giving away graciously what we have been given, knowing that all will be taken care of.

Live a gracious life and excel in living graciously!

mourning into dancing

I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up
and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
O LORD my God, I cried to you for help,
and you have healed me.
O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.
Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints,
and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger is but for a moment,
and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.
As for me, I said in my prosperity,
“I shall never be moved.”
By your favor, O LORD,
you made my mountain stand strong;
you hid your face;
I was dismayed.
To you, O LORD, I cry,
and to the Lord I plead for mercy:
“What profit is there in my death,
if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it tell of your faithfulness?
Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me!
O LORD, be my helper!”
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
you have loosed my sackcloth
and clothed me with gladness,
that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!
(Psalm 30 ESV)

The Lord has done great things for us! He has turned our sorrow into joy, and made everything perfect!

Well maybe not perfect as we would think of perfect.  Is there still pain in your life? Is there still hurting around you and confusion in what is happening from time to time? But Psalm 30 tells us that because of His favor He made the mountains stand strong. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. In the light of a new day everything is peachy!

God definitively turned my mourning into dancing; He has loosened my sackcloth
and clothed me with gladness, so I may sing your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

This psalm is very prevalent to me today,as today is my anniversary. God blessed me 16 years ago with the love of my life and a wonderful companion to help me on this journey called life. It has not all been wonderful, or without pain. Life is messy. But we love each other and support each other. She is a beacon of hope that helps me remember how I am loved, and where we are going and whose we are! Together with God we can not fall.

So believe that the mourning will not last in the morning, and God does bring joy from sorrow. And happy anniversary to the woman that I was blessed to spend the rest of my life with.

it is I…

ἐγώ εἰμι

I remember when I learned the ἐγώ. (pronounced eg-o’). It was summer Greek or maybe before, I was an over achiever… All I could think of was Let go of my ego!

But what does ἐγώ εἰμι mean? In our lesson from Mark 6:45-52 it is translated in the ESV as it is I. But does this really help with understanding the text?

You see this text is the one where Jesus walks on water out to the disciples, or actually if you read the text closely it says that Jesus was not going to the boat, but He wanted to pass the boat as to beat the disciples to the other side of the lake. Now remember that He was just asleep on the boat when they were getting killed by the storm, and now He is a ghost walking on the water as they are passing over the lake at night.

They saw something and started to cry in terror and the ESV says that He saw this “

for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” Jesus saw they were terrified and said take heart, do not be alarmed it is I, or it is me? Now have you ever been terrified I mean really scared out of your wits? Can you hear correctly when this happens? Not always. Did the disciples really know who He was from this? I’m not sure but what Jesus really said probably scared them more than seeing a ghost walking on the sea! You see what we miss in translation is something that would not have been missed in the original language.

Jesus said “take heart, I am!” Yes He said “I am.” Which is of course the name of God given to Moses at the burning bush, the name every good Jew would know is the unspeakable name the name of God! In this statement Jesus calms them by saying that He is God. And the text of Mark says He stepped into the boat and they were utterly astounded or more appropriately they were out of their minds beside themselves, or insane! They were going crazy because the person they are traveling with who is doing things no human should be able to do just said He was God!

But that is comfort isn’t it. Jesus came here to know all about us to live as we do, and to help us understand it is possible to do what God wants us to do and still be human.

So take heart, for Jesus is God, and God cares for you.

fear the Lord

Moses said to him, “As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will stretch out my hands to the LORD. The thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth is the LORD’s. But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the LORD God.”
(Exodus 9:29-30 ESV)

Do you fear the Lord God?

I always had problems with this especially now as a father. But I think now as a father I understand it more than I did before.

I love my children and would do anything for them. I am what you would call a momma bear.  You can do what ever you want to me, but the instant you go after or hurt my children, the gloves are off and you had better be ready for the fight of you life. I will do anything to protect them. I want them to know this. I want them to know that I love them.  But I also want them to fear me.

Not fear in the sense of a slasher movie fear, like fear for your life. But a reverence, an understanding that I have control over them for their betterment.  Not that I will lord it over them, but the things I do are for the best in their life.

I tell my daughters almost daily that I am the meanest father in the world. When they ask if they can do something, or we can go somewhere and I have to say no, I will say it is because I am the meanest father in the world.  Thankfully they have not yet agreed with me. And respond that I am not and that they love me.

I love them more than my own life, and that is how God loves us. He gave his only Son so that we could be in a relationship with Him. And Moses knew that Pharaoh did not fear the Lord. Pharaoh did not respect God who controls everything even if you do not acknowledge it.

Do you have a reverential awe for God as the loving father who does everything for the best in your life? He is your daddy and momma bear! He has given His life for you and wants the best for you.

My New Primary Care Physician

Q: Doctor, I’ve heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A: Heart only good for so many beats, and that it… Don’t waste on exercise. Everything wear out eventually. Speeding up heart not make you live longer; it like saying you extend life of car by driving faster. Want to live longer? Take nap.

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: Oh no. Wine made from fruit. Brandy distilled wine, that mean they take water out of fruity bit so you get even more of goodness that way. Beer also made of grain. Bottom up!

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have body and you have fat, your ratio one to one. If you have two body, your ratio two to one.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can’t think of single one, sorry. My philosophy: No pain…good!

Q: Aren’t fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU NOT LISTENING! Food fried in vegetable oil. How getting more vegetable be bad?

Q : Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Oh no! When you exercise muscle, it get bigger. You should only be doing sit-up if you want bigger stomach.

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: You crazy?!? HEL-LO-O!! Cocoa bean! Another vegetable! It best feel-good food around!

Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming good for figure, explain whale to me.

Q: Is getting in shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! ‘Round’ is shape!

Well… I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.

And remember:
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways – Chardonnay in one hand – chocolate in the other – body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “WOO-HOO, what a ride!!”

AND…..

For those of you who watch what you eat, here’s the final word on nutrition and health. It’s a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.

1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

5. The Germans drink a lot of beer and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

CONCLUSION: Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

Presentation of the Augsburg Confession

Today is the anniversary of the presentation of the Augsburg Confession.

So I thought I would share some information about this historic event. Here is a link to some information on the confession Presentation of the Augsburg Confession.

Here is a link to the confession itself in case you would like to read it for the celebration of the anniversary.

Awesome!

Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion,
and to you shall vows be performed.
O you who hear prayer,
to you shall all flesh come.
When iniquities prevail against me,
you atone for our transgressions.
Blessed is the one you choose and bring near,
to dwell in your courts!
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
the holiness of your temple!
By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness,
O God of our salvation,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas;
the one who by his strength established the mountains,
being girded with might;
who stills the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
the tumult of the peoples,
so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs.
You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy.
You visit the earth and water it;
you greatly enrich it;
the river of God is full of water;
you provide their grain,
for so you have prepared it.
You water its furrows abundantly,
settling its ridges,
softening it with showers,
and blessing its growth.
You crown the year with your bounty;
your wagon tracks overflow with abundance.
The pastures of the wilderness overflow,
the hills gird themselves with joy,
the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,
the valleys deck themselves with grain,
they shout and sing together for joy.
(Psalm 65 ESV)

God is due our praise because of the awesome deeds He has done. Psalm 65 goes through some of them, but there are many many more deeds that God has done for all of us. Then there are those things that he has done for the body that we could say He has done just for us. Things we see that He has done for a friend/a loved one/ourselves are things that are really for all of creation, because what effects me, effects you and what effects you effects me…

I recently found a video of the song Awesome God by Rich Mullins from a live recording. I love the introduction Rich gives for this song, and thought I would share it with you today.

to big for your britches

Job 38:1-11 is the beginning of God’s 4 chapter answer to Job who has laid out his complaints against God.  As I read these first 11 verses, in which God begins – “Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to me.” Or my paraphrase – Stand up and get ready for a smack down and you will take this like a man. I’m going to tell you what is going on and ask you if you really understand…

You see God asks Job if he thinks that God isn’t qualified to be the creator of everything and the one who is actually in control of Job’s life. Job is asked where he was when God created. And does Job actually think that he is better qualified than God to be the one in control…

I think we all get to this point. I remember it being called – Being to big for your britches…

Well we all get there and we all know that God is the one who needs to be in control. It made me think of Todd Agnew’s Song Where Were You. I include it here for listening enjoyment…

I thought up all the question that my human mind
could bring and laid them out before the Lord
And demanded a reason for these things
I asked about inequality and about the success of evil men
But what was I to say to Him
When He answered with this question

Where were you when I split the sky and sea
Where were you when I taught the lion to roar
Where were you when I made electricity
Fall from the sky in the middle of a thunderstorm
Where were you

I had no response, I had no reply
As the One who spoke and is the Truth
opened up my eyes
I laid my time of doubt at the feet of the Infinite
But what was left for me to say
When he answered with this question

Where were you when I split the sky and sea
Where were you when I taught the lion to roar
Where were you when I made electricity
fall from the sky in the middle of a thunderstorm

Where were you when I put stars in the sky
Where were you when I taught the eagle to fly
Where were you when I made that little child look just
like her mom but she had her Daddy’s eyes
Where were you

Christian lyrics – WHERE WERE YOU LYRICS – TODD AGNEW

Why?

Have you seen the commercial recently where the little boy is following a man around and asking him why about everything… and finally at the end of the commercial we discover that this boy is not the son of the man but asking him these questions because of the intelligence the man has because of the type of car he drives…

Why is something we all want to know.

Why do good people have to suffer?

Why is there pain in the world?

Why are my prayers not answered?

Why does God allow those things to happen?

Job is a wonderful story of a man who is a devoted follower of God and does not question what happens to him. Even when Satan comes in and gets God to allow him to do anything to Job except kill him, Job still follows God. Even when Job’s friends tell him that he must have done something and needs to curse God if he didn’t Job still follows God. Why?

Because Job knows that following God does not mean that everything will be good, that it is a walk in the park, that life is suddenly always sunshine and moon beams…

Job 37 tells us about the rumbling of the earth at the sound of God’s voice. About snow falling because God said so. How God does not contain the lightnings that come with the thundering of His voice, or He does not contain the stuff that comes with the falling of the snow. Animals must seek shelter, and the ground and all around will freeze. Things change because God commanded the snow to fall. And Why?

“Whether for correction, or for his land, or for love, he causes it to happen.” (Job 37:13)

Why? Because God made it happen. It really does not matter why, for some reason God had to have it happen in just this way. Maybe for our correction, or so that the land could be nourished or returned to some state, or simply because He loves the person or thing that received a special gift… For some reason God had to have it happen, and that is why.

So trust. Trust that God is who we have been promised He is. And do not worry about why.