The House You're Building

        Orient  John 6:22-69 Today’s scripture reading is best understood connected to the previous section, so feel free to read the entirety of chapter six if it puts it in context.  In this section, Jesus is able to explain the significance of providing a meal for thousands out of one boy’s lunch.  It is the first of the famous “I am statements,” where Jesus speaks in metaphor to compare Himself to an object to teach his followers about Him.  We also find figurative language where Jesus talks about his salvation in abstract terms.  Following a common pattern we’ve seen, His teaching confuses those who miss the spiritual metaphors in His teaching and as a result, many of His followers leave.  The 12 disciples are first mentioned as the core group that will remain with Christ till the end of passion week.     Introduction I love food!  When I first got married, I didn’t know how to cook ...

  Orient   John 3:22-25 John the Baptist Exalts Christ    Beginning with a transition of travel, the story interacts once again with John the Baptist defending Christ, this time to his disciples.  We learn more about the superiority of Christ and his ministry over any human agent.  Starting in verse 35, scholars dispute the origin on the teaching starting in verse 31, is John the Baptist still speaking or is John the author of the book and apostle interjecting? Checking the quotation marks in your translation will indicate what the editors of your translation believe.  This section contains teaching about our role in ministry in comparison to Christ and the validity of the testimony of Christ in representing the Father.     Introduction In the age of social media, envy is a vice on the rise.  Constantly we are bombarded with perfect images of beauty, fashion, home decor, meals, and trips.  No matte...

A few weeks ago I met with my ministry team (don’t get excited, over Zoom of course) and collectively we were at a crossroads.  How do we minister to people we can’t be with?  A lot of our talk was focused on methodology—in a virtual world, how to we make the greatest impact.  Worried about the spiritual strength of those we were shepherding, how to we intervene and encourage their faith?  If you are in ministry right now, you may be wrestling with the same questions and problems.  Though you may not consider yourself “in ministry,” meaning a church body has designated you in a pastoral role over others, you have connections with other believers.  There are some farther along the road of faith than you, and some further behind.  Paul compares the spiritual journey to a race in 1 Corinthians 1:24, a single-minded focus on where we are headed that must be approached with intention.  If you’ve been runn...

For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel - Zechariah 4:10 I have a tendency to get excited about things.  I've always been that way about ideas or plans.  When I learn a new skill, I start planning 10 new projects to make.  When I go on a trip, I  immediately try to start learning the language.  I can spend hours on Pinterest planning things I want to cook.  I do make new things every week to the chagrin of my family...can't we just have tacos again...but for every new recipe I try I have 5 more that I sit on my "making soon" board.   This year God has given me the challenge of getting to know myself, my limits and abilities and owning who I am right now.  With that knowledge, I'm to embrace my capacities and make choices that reflect balance for my life.  Last week my busy season came to head with multiple thin...

What do you say to a woman who just found out she has terminal cancer?  How do you respond when this woman is a complete stranger? How to you encourage when she begins opening up to you about her currently reality and the trauma from her past that has caused her to drift from God.   This past Collide event I had a divine encounter on a carpet-worn step.  I noticed something in her face that bespoke her burden.  I sat down.  She told me a fraction of her story but the Spirit within me revealed that she was carrying much more.  I knew she had fear and needed answers.  Was she going to be okay?   Inside I started to panic a bit—for how do you proclaim to a hurting woman that God is still good when He allows that impending diagnosis over your life? Especially when your own cancer story was early detection, outpatient surgery, and regular dermatology checks to make sure it hasn’t returned?   ...