adoption

But it’s not as though God’s word has failed. Not all who are descended from Israel are part of Israel. Not all of Abraham’s children are called Abraham’s descendants, but instead your descendants will be named through Isaac. That means it isn’t the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children from the promise who are counted as descendants. The words in the promise were: A year from now I will return, and Sarah will have a son. Not only that, but also Rebecca conceived children with one man, our ancestor Isaac. When they hadn’t been born yet and when they hadn’t yet done anything good or bad, it was shown that God’s purpose would continue because it was based on his choice. It wasn’t because of what was done but because of God’s call. This was said to her: The older child will be a slave to the younger one. As it is written, I loved Jacob, but I hated Esau. So what are we going to say? Isn’t this unfair on God’s part? Absolutely not! He says to Moses, I’ll have mercy on whomever I choose to have mercy, and I’ll show compassion to whomever I choose to show compassion. So then, it doesn’t depend on a person’s desire or effort. It depends entirely on God, who shows mercy. Scripture says to Pharaoh, I have put you in this position for this very thing: so I can show my power in you and so that my name can be spread through the entire earth. So then, God has mercy on whomever he wants to, but he makes resistant whomever he wants to. (Romans 9:6-18, CEB)

Blood relatives are not always the best relatives. Sometimes the best family is the family you choose. Or the family that is chosen.

God chooses you to be a part of the family, God has grafted you into the family and made you a part. Even if you are not a descendant of Abraham or Isaac, you are a part.

God chose to be merciful to you. Share that mercy with the world and let them know that they too are loved.

Love like Jesus

Loving People. Loving God.

Disciples…

Jesus went up on a mountain and called those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve and called them apostles. He appointed them to be with him, to be sent out to preach, and to have authority to throw out demons. He appointed twelve: Peter, a name he gave Simon; James and John, Zebedee’s sons, whom he nicknamed Boanerges, which means “sons of Thunder”; and Andrew; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James, Alphaeus’ son; Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean; and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus. (Mark 3:13-19a, CEB)

Who are the 12 disciples? According to the above passage they are: Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, Thaddaeus, Simon, and Judas. But as you can see from the below chart from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostles_in_the_New_Testament it is not as easy as saying these 12.

Did some of them have 2 names, like a niche name, or where there different groups of people? This is the problem sometimes with multiple accounts of the same story. Who has the correct list of the 12?

My thought is, it doesn’t really change the story. There were 12 men chosen by Jesus to follow him and learn from him, which was not the way teacher-student relationships worked then. Students had to prove to the teacher they would be good students, teachers didn’t select their students. And they were chosen by God to be a part of the family.

In a sense all of us are disciples. We are all apostles. In the sense that disciple means learner and apostle means one sent. We are all supposed to learn from Jesus and go into the world to share the good news.

So don’t worry about the details of the story and get the point.

God loves you.

God wants you to love God’s creation.

Go and show love in everything you do.

Gospel of MatthewGospel of MarkGospel of LukeGospel of JohnActs of the Apostles
Simon (“also known as Peter”)Simon (“to whom he gave the name Peter”)Simon (“whom he named Peter”)Simon Peter/ Cephas “which is translated Peter”Peter
Andrew (“his [Peter’s] brother”)AndrewAndrew (“his [Peter’s] brother”)Andrew (“Simon Peter’s brother”)Andrew
James (“son of Zebedee”)James (“son of Zebedee”) / one of the “Boanerges”Jamesone of the “sons of Zebedee”James
John (“his [James’s] brother”)John (“brother of James”) / one of the “Boanerges”Johnone of the “sons of Zebedee” / the “disciple whom Jesus loved”John
PhilipPhilipPhilipPhilipPhilip
BartholomewBartholomewBartholomewNathanaelBartholomew
ThomasThomasThomasThomas (“also called Didymus”)Thomas
Matthew (“the publican”)Matthew / LeviMatthew / Levinot mentionedMatthew
James (“son of Alphaeus”)James (“son of Alphaeus”)James (“son of Alphaeus”)not mentionedJames (“son of Alphaeus”)
Thaddaeus (or “Lebbaeus”); called “Judas the Zealot” in some translationsThaddaeusJudas (“son of James,” referred to as brother in some translations)Judas (“not Iscariot”)Judas (“son of James,” referred to as brother in some translations)
Simon (“the Canaanite”)Simon (“the Cananaean”)Simon (“who was called the Zealot”)not mentionedSimon (“the Zealot”)
Judas IscariotJudas IscariotJudas IscariotJudas (“son of Simon Iscariot”)(Judas replaced by Matthias)

Loving People. Loving God.

Can’t stop it

When the council members heard this, they became furious and wanted to kill the apostles. One council member, a Pharisee and teacher of the Law named Gamaliel, well-respected by all the people, stood up and ordered that the men be taken outside for a few moments. He said, “Fellow Israelites, consider carefully what you intend to do to these people. Some time ago, Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and some four hundred men joined him. After he was killed, all of his followers scattered, and nothing came of that. Afterward, at the time of the census, Judas the Galilean appeared and got some people to follow him in a revolt. He was killed too, and all his followers scattered far and wide. Here’s my recommendation in this case: Distance yourselves from these men. Let them go! If their plan or activity is of human origin, it will end in ruin. If it originates with God, you won’t be able to stop them. Instead, you would actually find yourselves fighting God!” The council was convinced by his reasoning. After calling the apostles back, they had them beaten. They ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, then let them go. The apostles left the council rejoicing because they had been regarded as worthy to suffer disgrace for the sake of the name. Every day they continued to teach and proclaim the good news that Jesus is the Christ, both in the temple and in houses. (Acts 5:33-42, CEB)

How many of you ever heard of Theudas, or Judas the Galilean?

One can suppose from this reading they were people who started an uprising that went against the norms of the time. But when they died what they started just fizzled away because it was not true.

The apostles were sharing the truth of God and Gamaliel gave good advice, let them do their thing, because if it isn’t of God it will not continue, and if it is of God, do you want to be fighting God?

I personally do not want to be fighting God, which is why I try to error on the side of grace and love.

God calls us to love all.

In Loving we give grace. So Choose to love all and give grace.

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

What matters is…

Nevertheless, each person should live the kind of life that the Lord assigned when he called each one. This is what I teach in all the churches. If someone was circumcised when called, he shouldn’t try to reverse it. If someone wasn’t circumcised when he was called, he shouldn’t be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing; not being circumcised is nothing. What matters is keeping God’s commandments. Each person should stay in the situation they were in when they were called. If you were a slave when you were called, don’t let it bother you. But if you are actually able to be free, take advantage of the opportunity. Anyone who was a slave when they were called by the Lord has the status of being the Lord’s free person. In the same way, anyone who was a free person when they were called is Christ’s slave. You were bought and paid for. Don’t become slaves of people. So then, brothers and sisters, each of you should stay with God in the situation you were in when you were called. (1 Corinthians 7:17-24, CEB)

What matters is…

following God. This means worrying about how you are doing what God called you to do and not what everyone else around you is doing.

What matters is…

being who God created you to be. This means not being who others or society want you to be but being authentic to who God created you to be.

What matters is…

Loving like Jesus. This means not judging, but loving all unconditionally as we are loved.

So love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

ὀπίσω μου

After John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee announcing God’s good news, saying, “Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom! Change your hearts and lives, and trust this good news!” As Jesus passed alongside the Galilee Sea, he saw two brothers, Simon and Andrew, throwing fishing nets into the sea, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” he said, “and I’ll show you how to fish for people.” Right away, they left their nets and followed him. After going a little farther, he saw James and John, Zebedee’s sons, in their boat repairing the fishing nets. At that very moment he called them. They followed him, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired workers. (Mark 1:14-20, CEB)

I love the calling of the disciples in Mark, Matthew, and I think Luke. I like John as well, but it uses a different word for follow. There are a couple of words in Greek that mean follow and the one that Mark and Matthew use for certain is the most interesting to me.

ὀπίσω μου. Opiso Mou. This is what is used here when Jesus says, “Come, follow me.”

Follow me. We think of this and I have heard it portrayed as a nice let’s go for a walk and hang out, be buddies, and do stuff together. But that is not the connotation of the word.

ὀπίσω μου is used in another part of the gospels where Jesus confronts Peter and says to him, “Get behind me, Satan.” ὀπίσω μου is literally get behind me.

Jesus is calling the disciples to know their place. If you don’t see the back of Jesus’ head, you are not following.

We are not the leaders. We are but followers of Jesus.

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

caught up…

“How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin. How terrible it will be for you, Bethsaida. If the miracles done among you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have changed their hearts and lives long ago. They would have sat around in funeral clothes and ashes. But Tyre and Sidon will be better off at the judgment than you. And you, Capernaum, will you be honored by being raised up to heaven? No, you will be cast down to the place of the dead. Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. Whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.” (Luke 10:13-16, CEB)

We get caught up in seeming to be right for those around us we do not actually do what God has called us to do.

Listen to God and go and love like Jesus.

Do not worry about keeping up your appearances, or doing what makes others happy. Do what makes God happy. Love everyone.

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

When?!?

My dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both letters to stir up your sincere understanding with a reminder. I want you to recall what the holy prophets foretold as well as what the Lord and savior commanded through your apostles. Most important, know this: in the last days scoffers will come, jeering, living by their own cravings, and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? After all, nothing has changed—not since the beginning of creation, nor even since the ancestors died.” But they fail to notice that, by God’s word, heaven and earth were formed long ago out of water and by means of water. And it was through these that the world of that time was flooded and destroyed. But by the same word, heaven and earth are now held in reserve for fire, kept for the Judgment Day and destruction of ungodly people. (2 Peter 3:1-7, CEB)

When is Jesus coming?

Sometime. But we do not need to worry about that. The thing we need to focus on is loving like Jesus.

Do not be concerned about when God will come back, trust in the promises and live love out loud.

Love Like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God

All your glitter and glamour are lost

“The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their cargoes anymore— cargoes of gold, silver, jewels, and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; all those things made of scented wood, ivory, fine wood, bronze, iron, and marble; cinnamon, incense, fragrant ointment, and frankincense; wine, oil, fine flour, and wheat; cattle, sheep, horses, and carriages; and slaves, even human lives. ‘The fruit your whole being craved has gone from you. All your glitter and glamour are lost to you, never ever to be found again.’ “The merchants who sold these things, and got so rich by her, will stand a long way off because they fear the pain she suffers. They will weep and mourn, and say, ‘Oh, the horror! The great city that wore fine linen, purple, and scarlet, who glittered with gold, jewels, and pearls— in just one hour such great wealth was destroyed.’ “Every sea captain, every seafarer, sailors, and all who make their living on the sea stood a long way off. They cried out as they saw the smoke from her burning and said, ‘What city was ever like the great city?’ They threw dust on their heads, and they cried out, weeping and mourning. They said, ‘Oh, the horror! The great city, where all who have ships at sea became so rich by her prosperity—in just one hour she was destroyed. Rejoice over her, heaven—you saints, apostles, and prophets—because God has condemned her as she condemned you.’” (Revelation 18:11-20, CEB)

All your glitter and glamour are lost…

Never to be found again…

The things of this world do not matter.

What matters is love. Love and Following after God’s way.

So love like Jesus and do not worry about all your glitter and glamour…

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

welcome the children

People were bringing babies to Jesus so that he would bless them. When the disciples saw this, they scolded them. Then Jesus called them to him and said, “Allow the children to come to me. Don’t forbid them, because God’s kingdom belongs to people like these children. I assure you that whoever doesn’t welcome God’s kingdom like a child will never enter it.” (Luke 18:15-17, CEB)

Do not keep people from coming to Jesus.

Really why would we think that we should keep people from Jesus?

Children in Jesus’ time were to not be heard or seen. They were property and not good things to have around. That is why the disciples were trying to keep them away. A man in Jesus’ time would not want to see the children.

But Jesus isn’t like other humans.

We need to be like Jesus.

We need to love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

What?!?

However, a man named Ananias, along with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. With his wife’s knowledge, he withheld some of the proceeds from the sale. He brought the rest and placed it in the care and under the authority of the apostles. Peter asked, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has influenced you to lie to the Holy Spirit by withholding some of the proceeds from the sale of your land? Wasn’t that property yours to keep? After you sold it, wasn’t the money yours to do with whatever you wanted? What made you think of such a thing? You haven’t lied to other people but to God!” When Ananias heard these words, he dropped dead. Everyone who heard this conversation was terrified. Some young men stood up, wrapped up his body, carried him out, and buried him. About three hours later, his wife entered, but she didn’t know what had happened to her husband. Peter asked her, “Tell me, did you and your husband receive this price for the field?” She responded, “Yes, that’s the amount.” He replied, “How could you scheme with each other to challenge the Lord’s Spirit? Look! The feet of those who buried your husband are at the door. They will carry you out too.” At that very moment, she dropped dead at his feet. When the young men entered and found her dead, they carried her out and buried her with her husband. Trepidation and dread seized the whole church and all who heard what had happened. (Acts 5:1-11, CEB)

So here is a story of a couple who sold their land and agreed to tell everyone they sold it for a price less than they sold it for and gave that amount to the shared holdings of the group. And the disciples found out, and God struck the couple dead.

Now, we should not be dishonest. We should not say we do not have something we have or in any way portray what/who we are as different than what/who we are, but should these two be struck dead because of this?

This story makes a point of always being honest. I say you be honest because then you don’t have to remember what you said because it is always the truth. Liars have to have good memories, but those who always tell the truth don’t need to worry about remembering.

Love like Jesus and be honest.

Loving People. Loving God.