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 theContinue reading “excel in this act of grace…”

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 thisContinue reading “it is I…”

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 thatContinue reading “fear the Lord”

Fruit

“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and theContinue reading “Fruit”

vengeance upon them

But the LORD is with me as a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble; they will not overcome me. They will be greatly shamed, for they will not succeed. Their eternal dishonor will never be forgotten. O LORD of hosts, who tests the righteous, who sees the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you have I committedContinue reading “vengeance upon them”

Boast in your greatness…

See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who are circumcisedContinue reading “Boast in your greatness…”

see but not perceive…

Today we have the parable of the sower from Mark 4:1-20 and Jesus explanation of this to the disciples. At one point Jesus says that he teaches in parables so that those outside the circle “may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.” This is an interesting reason, wouldn’tContinue reading “see but not perceive…”

cedars of Lebanon…

These are magnificent trees… Here is a little history from Wikipedia.org: Once Lebanon was shaded by thick cedar forests, so it is no coincidence that the tree is the symbol of the country. After centuries of persistent deforestation, the extent of these forest has been markedly reduced. The trees survive in mountainous areas, where they are the dominant tree species.Continue reading “cedars of Lebanon…”

2 trees or not 2 trees – that is the question

We get so hung up on the fruit and the tree and the serpent being the devil and a bunch of stuff that we learned in Sunday School that simply isn’t in the Bible. I wonder sometimes why the apple got the short straw on being the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. Was thisContinue reading “2 trees or not 2 trees – that is the question”

keep it!

A house divided against itself can not stand! Have you ever been there? Luke 11:14-28 tells us the story we heard from Mark last Sunday of the reason Jesus can cast out demons according to the Pharisees and the scribes is because He does it by the chief of demons… Yet a house divided against itself can notContinue reading “keep it!”