tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15624437675299792982024-02-07T05:10:12.959-06:00Thirty-threeAt the age of thirty-three, Jesus died for the salvation of every person in the history of the world. A thought occurred to me on my 33rd birthday... what will I do in that same year of my life? What if I spent the year focusing on His 33rd year, and allowing it to change me?
Join me as I embark on a study of the life of Jesus through his final year... and try to apply it to my own life during that same year.Lori Tays Eastephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273976149763487302noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562443767529979298.post-48490435014765697402011-11-14T22:02:00.000-06:002011-11-14T22:02:05.519-06:00Day 85: What Do Your Whispers Say About You?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFIzxt3MLliN8Jf2rH_ClZBZRxZF1rzsFGLMrFkZF9GbEAxGHueCt_d4o3ymxmKVKUAUyqvmXR88rQqJ-AmwCAvd-dqvJHpmWUxLHEBG0yhWSmZy8GaYnb4B0FN7KqbB92_Z7T2Kn1SG0/s1600/whispers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFIzxt3MLliN8Jf2rH_ClZBZRxZF1rzsFGLMrFkZF9GbEAxGHueCt_d4o3ymxmKVKUAUyqvmXR88rQqJ-AmwCAvd-dqvJHpmWUxLHEBG0yhWSmZy8GaYnb4B0FN7KqbB92_Z7T2Kn1SG0/s320/whispers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><h4 style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Luke 12</h4><h5 class="passage-header" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25461" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">1</sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="woj"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“Be</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 5px;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25462" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">2</sup> There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25463" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">3</sup> What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.</span></span></span></h5><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yowza. I read this scripture, and I won't lie. My heart pretty much sunk into my stomach. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What if everything I "whispered in the ear" this very day was published in the newspaper tomorrow? That is, in fact, a general rule in the PR world... never write an email for your business/organization that you wouldn't want to see on the front page of the paper, because it could happen.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jesus says it <i>will</i> happen. Every secret thing is going to come to light, and the things we've said "secretly" will be proclaimed from the roofs. That, my friends, is a scary, scary thought. And it makes it want to change everything about my life. I don't have a lot to add to this scripture... it speaks for itself. It's a matter of acting on the knowledge that, one day, I'll be held accountable for every careless word I've spoken. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, if you'll all excuse me, I have a lot of praying and changing to do.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="22" cellspacing="0" class="mainbk" style="background-color: #b9e3ff; font-family: Times;"><tbody>
<tr valign="top"><td class="bluebk3" style="background-color: #f9fdff; background-image: url(http://scripturetext.com/lline.gif); background-repeat: no-repeat repeat;" width="98%"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td class="btext" colspan="2" height="20" style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td class="btext" style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;" valign="top" width="50%">Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14</td></tr>
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</tbody></table></span></div>Lori Tays Eastephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273976149763487302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562443767529979298.post-62589563821808345952011-11-06T21:26:00.000-06:002011-11-06T21:26:56.665-06:00Day 84: No Teachers, Please<div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_K3fs_hp-h18WEcJTO73HjZpDA3SFzEihxCwSiy1974n8InzWhu-y_qwXBXxI-owG11Q_fJ_JQJNtva32QRz1-a2C1KC0YO-CH4PO6ojBO_tXJ12X10hlm4SYtZFrmPIYYNIUOgx8dQK/s1600/royal_tombs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_K3fs_hp-h18WEcJTO73HjZpDA3SFzEihxCwSiy1974n8InzWhu-y_qwXBXxI-owG11Q_fJ_JQJNtva32QRz1-a2C1KC0YO-CH4PO6ojBO_tXJ12X10hlm4SYtZFrmPIYYNIUOgx8dQK/s320/royal_tombs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25451" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Luke 11</span></sup><br />
<div style="font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">45</sup> One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.”</div></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25452" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">46</sup> Jesus replied, <span class="woj">“And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25453" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">47</sup> “Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them.</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25454" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">48</sup> So you testify that you approve of what your ancestors did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs.</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25455" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">49</sup> Because of this, God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25456" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">50</sup> Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world,</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25457" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">51</sup> from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25458" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">52</sup> “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25459" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">53</sup> When Jesus went outside, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25460" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">54</sup>waiting to catch him in something he might say.</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">*Deep breath* Sooo... what I'm about to say is what I categorize as the "tough stuff". I've been thinking about it for a while now, and when I saw that this particular passage was the thought for the day, I knew I had to bite the bullet and talk about it. I'll categorize myself in this, so please don't think I'm being accusatory. I'm just trying to be up front with myself and others.</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I shall now stop procrastinating and go forward.</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The question we must answer is: are <i>we</i> these "teachers of the law"? I'm sad to say that when I stop and consider it, the similarities are... horrifying. It actually makes my stomach turn to think about it. Here's why.</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">"You load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them." I'm afraid we've become a people of much talk and little action. Someone will mention someone without work, or who needs "benevolent help", and we'll say that they could find a job if they tried harder. We assume that they're lazy. Guilty until proven innocent. The unspoken rule is if they were more like <i>us, </i>they wouldn't have problem X.<br />
<br />
These "teachers" had forgotten - or maybe never knew - what it was like to be on the other side of the line. To be the adulteress caught in her own shame or the lame man who just wanted to be healed. Maybe we forget, too. I've walked a few hard paths - days when it was all I could do to get up in the morning and stumble through. Forget being super-righteous, or even somewhat-sort-of righteous, for that matter. The goal of the day was survival. We've all had those days. For some of us, they've stretched on into months or weeks or years. And we mustn't forget how that feels when we see someone who isn't where we feel they need to be. We don't know their pain story, and we must be awfully careful not to put a load on them that they can barely carry. They might just give up the fight.<br />
<br />
"You have taken away the key to knowledge." Possibly the scariest passage of all to me. We have the key to knowledge, and we have the capability to hold it over people's heads to the extent that <i>both they and we</i> lose our salvation. Read it again. Isn't that the image? Dangling those precious keys of the kingdom, and judging whether someone is "worthy" to hear it, based on their clothes/attitude/language/what have you. God forbid.<br />
<br />
God help us all never to become "teachers of the law".</div>Lori Tays Eastephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273976149763487302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562443767529979298.post-72113295498197220752011-11-01T20:11:00.000-05:002011-11-01T20:11:12.761-05:00Day 83: Evaluating Our Purpose<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzdnFwhEFEC2KJHJYfTiYImWd6sy6qHf1j5iMCZK8Y29cQQybLapo_MgJ8pWItPQE2A36VJP_fugE2GM5e7LaV0HDWY84YvIznuF5c5JDpTQl7bEdL89RFXcVjEsN-jiDR8z9NtHmNTy4/s1600/teaching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzdnFwhEFEC2KJHJYfTiYImWd6sy6qHf1j5iMCZK8Y29cQQybLapo_MgJ8pWItPQE2A36VJP_fugE2GM5e7LaV0HDWY84YvIznuF5c5JDpTQl7bEdL89RFXcVjEsN-jiDR8z9NtHmNTy4/s320/teaching.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25448" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">Luke 11:42-44</sup></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25448" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">42</sup> “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25449" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">43</sup> “Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25450" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">44</sup> “Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it.”</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I'm officially designated myself the worst "daily blogger" in the world. Between a child with croup/visit to the emergency room, a weekend retreat without internet capability, and a few sleepless nights, I have once again been weighed and been found wanting. But I've been thinking about it, and the thing is that this whole project was not intended to be a burden for me. It was intended to be enlightening... a spiritual journey. There's not one thing enlightening about forcing yourself to ramble out some incomprehensible blog-like drivel after getting in from the ER with a croupy baby at 1:30 in the a.m., and I've decided that I'm okay with that. I'm okay, too, with missing a couple days of blogging while retreating with a group of growing teenagers. It's part of the journey, and that's all right.</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Now, on with the show. Our retreat this weekend focused on unity, and I can truly say that I saw God this weekend. I saw Him in the way the girls poured their hearts out to each other on Saturday night, and in the way the kids left with a renewed determination and purpose. And as I think about the weekend, and think about these verses, it occurs to me that the concept of unity and these verses have much in common.</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">There was much discussion about what the church was designed to be - a family. A living, active body that shares the hurts, the sorrows, and the joys of all the other members. So why do we fail so often at that? Because we are like the Pharisees in v. 42: we follow the letter of the law, tick off the boxes (Go to Bible class: check. Sit through Sunday night sermon: check. Write visitation team cards: check.), and "neglect justice and the love of God". We do that when we see someone sitting alone and yet we pass them by. When we know that someone is struggling but deem ourselves "too busy" to help, or even when we're too busy to notice that they're struggling in the first place.</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">And v. 43 is quite the kick in the pants. We do love to get the "most important seats", don't we? What I mean by that is this: we all want to be in the "in" crowd... even at church. It's just the way it is. We want people to stroke us and tell us how great our VBS room looks and how essential we are to the fill-in-the-blank program. It's a good idea to look at our motives from time to time, and remember why we started doing whatever-our-thing-is in the first place. If our motives are pure, awesome. If not, maybe some fixin' is in order.</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Last, notice that Jesus doesn't say it's wrong to "check off the boxes". In fact, he says we should. "You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone." Go to Bible class, but remember why you're going. Write the visitation cards, of course, but be prayerful of their purpose. </div>Lori Tays Eastephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273976149763487302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562443767529979298.post-77533616388300204922011-10-26T20:51:00.000-05:002011-10-26T20:51:22.072-05:00Day 82: Every Person is a Person<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Rkr2JxFT2HUC0Qw5BIu7Z9nADg7hSevaKy-eZYOg3Hhp_XAH-yRLqFsiO3f5-pcEn5d1LznpHF0SGc0B8QQFSCP-qOciktS842wc70Au61YC_ecti_wGvEN9b6WX-3Q1YcIw2T_qPX_z/s1600/cg_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="90" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Rkr2JxFT2HUC0Qw5BIu7Z9nADg7hSevaKy-eZYOg3Hhp_XAH-yRLqFsiO3f5-pcEn5d1LznpHF0SGc0B8QQFSCP-qOciktS842wc70Au61YC_ecti_wGvEN9b6WX-3Q1YcIw2T_qPX_z/s320/cg_logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25443" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">Luke 11:37-41</sup></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25443" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">37</sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25444" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">38</sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25445" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">39</sup> Then the Lord said to him, <span class="woj">“Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25446" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">40</sup> You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also?</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25447" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">41</sup> But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj">Well, well, well. First off, I <i>love</i> that Jesus went in and reclined at the Pharisee's table. As far as I can find, He never rejected an offer to dine with someone - anyone - or denied anyone who requested the chance to spend time with him. We could learn from this. I think that sometimes when we have issues with people who don't hold the same values as we do, we lose our minds a little bit. We forget that every single person on the face of this earth is made in the image of God, and that makes them worthy of our respect, compassion, and kindness. Does that necessarily make them right? Nope. Does it make it okay to treat them poorly? Nope.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj">Now. When Jesus tells them to get rid of their greed and wickedness, he tells them how: be generous to the poor. What? Those two things don't quite jive at first. But when you think about it, <i>true</i> generosity can only come from the heart. From the inside. The goal here is to get to the point where we see every single person on the face of this earth as a person, as a soul. To realize that each of them has a story and, quite possibly, a reason why they have the problems and issues that they do. And when we do that, we won't be able to help being generous and kind to them. How wise.</span></div>Lori Tays Eastephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273976149763487302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562443767529979298.post-56156163195709411382011-10-24T22:21:00.001-05:002011-10-24T22:25:45.983-05:00Day 81: You Put the Light In Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-tr5zn980tcNGolfFdd1NcjTdzURCRdjUT98_WvQUdVJLKgrb_cacI2yaSyjEMcajrYPLqD-4P_c38FMVDXJ6vPASXGQPgdDB6wQTXldLYPR3LbBeJDDnfYpzAreVIvESok0jdwcHTpr/s1600/you-are-the-salt-of-the-earth-the-light-of-the-world_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-tr5zn980tcNGolfFdd1NcjTdzURCRdjUT98_WvQUdVJLKgrb_cacI2yaSyjEMcajrYPLqD-4P_c38FMVDXJ6vPASXGQPgdDB6wQTXldLYPR3LbBeJDDnfYpzAreVIvESok0jdwcHTpr/s320/you-are-the-salt-of-the-earth-the-light-of-the-world_3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><h5 class="passage-header" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Luke 11:33-36</h5><h5 class="passage-header" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The Lamp of the Body</h5><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25439" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">33</sup> “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25440" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">34</sup> Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy,<sup class="footnote" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-25440g" title="See footnote g">g</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2011&version=NIV#fen-NIV-25440g" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none;" title="See footnote g">g</a>]</sup> your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy,<sup class="footnote" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-25440h" title="See footnote h">h</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2011&version=NIV#fen-NIV-25440h" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none;" title="See footnote h">h</a>]</sup> your body also is full of darkness.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25441" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">35</sup> See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25442" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">36</sup> Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine..." We sing it from the time we're preschoolers, but what does it <i>mean</i>? For the longest time, I would have said that it means we're supposed to show our Christianity to others, or not be afraid to speak out, or something-or-other like that. And that's true, I suppose, but in reading these passages I realized that is something much, much bigger. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as..." Whoa. We've gotta put the light in so the light will come out. And we've got to get rid of the darkness so that the light can come in. "See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness." The negativity? Out. The gossip? Out. The sarcasm and the smart remarks? Out. None of those things show the light within me. In fact, that's the light within me that's really darkness. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think about the few people I've known in my life who are truly "a light on a hill", and this is true of them. They have gotten rid of the bad so that all that's left is positive. And they shine. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I want to shine. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For extra fun, here's an awesome song by Brandon Heath... Light In Me. </span><br />
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</span>Lori Tays Eastephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273976149763487302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562443767529979298.post-22941718635983570372011-10-22T22:53:00.000-05:002011-10-22T22:53:17.768-05:00Day 80: Who Will Rise In Judgment Against You?<div class="heading passage-class-0" style="color: #5c1101; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-top: 10px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2qN3GodjAyFzVoWKaK98_LPrXr-dxS9ozW_UhDHm_HGtjbzGEWj3DaGs_cWI4WYwbxWnbrYVi4cT2WCwKK5-XCqsEP0cvkN02KjYmgULv2OGweP4FZwOVUCqRSlmNuPeaCTZyWDSuLJj/s1600/jonah-in-the-stomach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2qN3GodjAyFzVoWKaK98_LPrXr-dxS9ozW_UhDHm_HGtjbzGEWj3DaGs_cWI4WYwbxWnbrYVi4cT2WCwKK5-XCqsEP0cvkN02KjYmgULv2OGweP4FZwOVUCqRSlmNuPeaCTZyWDSuLJj/s320/jonah-in-the-stomach.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Luke 11:29-32</h3><div class="txt-sm" style="font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">New International Version (NIV)</div></div><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
<h5 class="passage-header">The Sign of Jonah</h5> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25435" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">29</sup> As the crowds increased, Jesus said, <span class="woj">“This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25436" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">30</sup> For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation.</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25437" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">31</sup> The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom; and now something greater than Solomon is here.</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25438" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">32</sup> The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here.</span></div><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj"><br />
</span></div><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The book of Jonah, for me, is one of the most beautiful passages of Scripture. Here's a city, supremely wicked, and so much so that Jonah runs in the opposite direction. He'd heard the rumors. He probably feared for his life. But when the people heard the message, they repented... an awesome display of the power of God.</div><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Here, Jesus points out that we have something greater than the preaching of Jonah. And yet the people refused to listen and repent. This is one of those brilliant points where Scripture weaves perfectly together. The mental image of the men of Ninevah rising against Jesus' generation on judgment day makes the hair stand up on my arms. In the same way, the Queen of the South, a minor and often overlooked figure in the Old Testament, will rise in judgment because she sought wisdom (the implication being that Jesus' generation was <i>not</i> seeking wisdom). </div><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">So the question is, who will rise in judgment against us? Is it fair to say that the men of Ninevah or the Queen of the South will rise in judgment against us? What about Naaman (II Kings 5), who dipped in the Jordan seven times even though to be healed even though that seemed like a silly thing to do... simply because the Lord had commanded it? Would he condemn our constant questioning of God's laws? </div><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">What about Esther, who risked her life on behalf of God's people? Would she condemn our apathy?</div><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">What about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who refused to yield to societal norms (<i>But everyone else is bowing!</i>), even on penalty of being thrown into a fiery furnace? Would they condemn our conformity to the world?</div><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I'll be thinking of all these things as I go to bed tonight, and thinking of ways to thin the list of those who will rise in judgment against me when the time comes.</div>Lori Tays Eastephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273976149763487302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562443767529979298.post-5239080282208359912011-10-19T22:17:00.000-05:002011-10-19T22:17:06.707-05:00Day 79: How To Be Blessed<div class="heading passage-class-0" style="color: #5c1101; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-top: 10px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwN1EjM_bRvXiMCJsoVQUsSWhTAK0w5kTGqE5PcisOeSTwqfyK0nbpGaeE_1ph1ch8HTI9fMLvElb9_7IVIXIEwGFP_nY9KdtFoM-UeE5fIjX8HGwAgkxXoBpkWcNBLjBWf5gbFcLhwaXw/s1600/blessings.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwN1EjM_bRvXiMCJsoVQUsSWhTAK0w5kTGqE5PcisOeSTwqfyK0nbpGaeE_1ph1ch8HTI9fMLvElb9_7IVIXIEwGFP_nY9KdtFoM-UeE5fIjX8HGwAgkxXoBpkWcNBLjBWf5gbFcLhwaXw/s320/blessings.gif" width="320" /></a></div><h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Luke 11:27-28</h3><div class="txt-sm" style="font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">New International Version (NIV)</div></div><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25433" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">27</sup> As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.”<br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25434" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">28</sup> He replied, <span class="woj">“Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”</span><br />
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<span class="woj">It always amazes how <i>focused</i> Jesus is throughout his life. His comments sometimes seem a little... harsh. The natural thing to do when someone compliments your momma is to agree. But instead, he uses the comment to make a point, and that point is focus.</span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
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I don't believe he meant any disrespect here. Jesus loved his momma, and that is evident throughout scripture. But he never, ever forgets his purpose, and his purpose was to call people to seek the truth and obey it. So his words are to the purpose: you don't have to be chosen to raise the Son of God in order to be blessed. All you need is to hear the word of God and obey it. And that is truly a blessing!</div>Lori Tays Eastephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273976149763487302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562443767529979298.post-91459883837897202532011-10-18T21:59:00.000-05:002011-10-18T21:59:17.363-05:00Day 78: Clean House<div class="heading passage-class-0" style="color: #5c1101; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-top: 10px;"><h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtskQWhY6S5j2lcDOX0EeqwyFEIWNoIiKw_Yp4R0iUfrDyYRKS05bkK70_Es0LeA7uP7HYXGeTiX1oAgMjd2QRMe1StKDdKUpiHReeG7W571bHCzxFgG2ko7Fjp1Omgu6yo0-khkFuKL3V/s1600/cleaning+house.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtskQWhY6S5j2lcDOX0EeqwyFEIWNoIiKw_Yp4R0iUfrDyYRKS05bkK70_Es0LeA7uP7HYXGeTiX1oAgMjd2QRMe1StKDdKUpiHReeG7W571bHCzxFgG2ko7Fjp1Omgu6yo0-khkFuKL3V/s320/cleaning+house.gif" style="cursor: move;" width="315" /></a></span></h3><h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Luke 11:24-26</h3><div class="txt-sm" style="font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">New International Version (NIV)</div></div><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
<span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25430" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">24</sup> “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25431" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">25</sup> When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25432" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">26</sup> Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.”</span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">I know, I know. It's been a while. No excuses, but a few explanations: first, I've had a hard time over the past couple of weeks, and I guess I just needed some time to figure things out. No major life issues or anything like that, but I started looking back at my life, at all the things I *thought* I would have accomplished by now, and all the things I haven't done, and it hit me pretty hard. It's not easy to realize that so many of your life goals haven't come to fruition. (Second: I wrote this blog last night, but the cosmos ate it. Trying again and crossing my fingers)</span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">But I prayed a lot about it, and as usual, God answered in a bigger and different way than I ever expected. We are so blessed to serve an Almighty God who cares about us, even in the small things!</span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">Soooo... I'm back. I've been revitalized, refocused, and I'm recommitted. Now, for this passage. I have to admit that this has been a super hard one for me. I studied for a week, and read it over and over again, and never felt that I was "getting" it. I read commentaries about it, but I wasn't satisfied with the answer. Many of them said that this passage refers to filling our lives with good; that the evil spirit came back to the house because it wasn't filled with good things. I feel that concept is refuted by the statement that the house is "swept clean and put in order". The owner of the house isn't negligent, and he hasn't left it in disarray. He's made positive changes to it.</span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">I asked one of the wisest people I know, and he pointed something out to me that I should have paid attention to before. In Matthew 12, the parallel passage adds a clear explanation: "That is how it will be with this wicked generation." As always, <i>the answer is there</i>. And that answer is that Jesus is saying that, even though he's been falsely accused and wearied and harassed by the Pharisees, things will get worse. </span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">They do get worse... to the point that they murder the very Son of God. And it reminds me of the generation that we live in today. I see things now that I never would have dreamed of when I was in high school (which wasn't that long ago, thank you very much). The times, they are a'changin', and our society will accept almost anything. The mind reels to think that it could get worse. But it will.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</div><span class="woj">Even so, there were some who believed through it all. There were some who loved Him, followed Him, even died for Him. We are looking for the some.</span></div>Lori Tays Eastephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273976149763487302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562443767529979298.post-14740206972545517242011-10-04T21:45:00.000-05:002011-10-04T21:45:17.766-05:00Day 76: We Can't Handle The Truth<div class="heading passage-class-0" style="color: #5c1101; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-top: 10px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Q7wW3lpx52eVxNX45H8cL7xIIWYDQAWU2lpYKKwzl1-ONoe0XgASu-kKdOYrB9du5gwGXYxVJ73n6vy62yBZrhMkHeaiXW4Kp3n9_v9PgNQ5FHsKE0719FMOeNDC-9BtCuwkgMQpp5m-/s1600/you-cant-handle-the-truth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Q7wW3lpx52eVxNX45H8cL7xIIWYDQAWU2lpYKKwzl1-ONoe0XgASu-kKdOYrB9du5gwGXYxVJ73n6vy62yBZrhMkHeaiXW4Kp3n9_v9PgNQ5FHsKE0719FMOeNDC-9BtCuwkgMQpp5m-/s320/you-cant-handle-the-truth.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Luke 11:21-23</h3><div class="txt-sm" style="font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">New International Version (NIV)</div><div class="txt-sm" style="font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="txt-sm" style="font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25427" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">21</sup> “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe.</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25428" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">22</sup> But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder.</span></span></span></div></div><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="font-size: 16px;"> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25429" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">23</sup> “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.</span></div><div style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-size: 16px;">Was Jack Nicholson right? It is true that "we can't handle the truth"? I have to admit that for the past few weeks, I've been thinking about something that is really bothering me. The more I talk/listen to other Christians, the more I realize that we as a people are fearful. We're fearful of offending. Fearful of standing up for the truth. Fearful that someone will think that we think they're wrong and accuse us of "judging" them. To a certain extent, I think we've given in to postmodern society that we live in... the one that tells us that there is no truth and that you can believe whatever you want as long as it's true <i>for you</i>.</div><div style="font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 16px;">Satan loves relative truth. But God has always taught that 1) truth exists, and 2) that there is only one. Jesus was merciful and compassionate, but He was also upfront. He didn't compromise. And here He tells us that if you are for Him, you are against Him. Period. Bottom line.</div><div style="font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 16px;">There was an alumnus visiting HCU today who has spent nearly thirty years establishing a church in his home country of Switzerland. He said that he thought it would take 4 or 5 years; it's taken 27. But he also said that the congregation is small but very faithful. They encourage everyone to "count the cost" before they make a decision to become a Christian; if they aren't willing to change their lives and live as a Christian, they don't encourage them to go ahead with it. (This is a biblical principle, by the way; see <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2014:25-33&version=NIV">Luke 14:25-33</a>). I'm not sure that we'd be bold enough to do this here in the States. </div><div style="font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 16px;">There is only one truth. And Jesus taught that truth. In fact, Jesus IS that truth. Sometimes the truth hurts, but it's also the only way to salvation. But if we're not willing to stand up for it, to teach it, to live it, we are against Him.</div></div>Lori Tays Eastephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273976149763487302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562443767529979298.post-65677386396809711002011-09-29T23:03:00.000-05:002011-09-29T23:03:14.081-05:00Day 75: The Truth Will StandLuke 11<br />
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14 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. 15 But some of them said, “By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.” 16 Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.<br />
17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. 18 If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19 Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.<br />
<br />
So, I just got home from the debate between Kyle Butt, renowned Christian apologetics scholar, and Blair Scott, renowned atheist. It was... faith affirming.<br />
<br />
There are a few things that I was reminded of tonight. 1. My faith is based on truth and reason. 2. I have studied and continue to study the issues to the best of my ability, and my faith stands. 3. God's commands for my life always, <i>always</i> turn out for the best. Every time If he says it, it works. If infallible wisdom isn't proof, I don't know what is.<br />
<br />
What does this have to do with these verses? It seems to me that what Jesus is saying here is that the truth will come out in the wash. People will deny it, defile it, and try to crush it. They'll even look right at the truth and attribute it to a lie. But in the end, the truth stands. Always. And that is worthy of my praise.Lori Tays Eastephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273976149763487302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562443767529979298.post-51169974112774771022011-09-27T22:23:00.000-05:002011-09-27T22:23:42.342-05:00Day 74: Better Than Christmas (And That's Saying A Lot!)<div class="heading passage-class-0" style="color: #5c1101; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-top: 10px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItjj_cj-iGLTW42OTWYOTjBRA9vHPquc2iwdimdnQjBFHIUeR5Tns9Q2DyoFStpsi8b9JramkYypZ4dOLG_E2cz0IktmGzULkgNakfrevVY18rJT_G1FRQEr0h8NxkWBA3mttS8qKF1v8/s1600/gifts11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItjj_cj-iGLTW42OTWYOTjBRA9vHPquc2iwdimdnQjBFHIUeR5Tns9Q2DyoFStpsi8b9JramkYypZ4dOLG_E2cz0IktmGzULkgNakfrevVY18rJT_G1FRQEr0h8NxkWBA3mttS8qKF1v8/s1600/gifts11.jpg" /></a></div><h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Luke 11:5-13</h3><div class="txt-sm" style="font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">New International Version (NIV)</div><div class="txt-sm" style="font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25411" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">5</sup> Then Jesus said to them, <span class="woj">“Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread;</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25412" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">6</sup> a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25413" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">7</sup> And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25414" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">8</sup> I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity<sup class="footnote" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-25414e" title="See footnote e">e</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2011:1-13&version=NIV#fen-NIV-25414e" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none;" title="See footnote e">e</a>]</sup> he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.</span><br />
<span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25415" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">9</sup> “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25416" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">10</sup> For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.</span><br />
<span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25417" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">11</sup> “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for<sup class="footnote" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-25417f" title="See footnote f">f</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2011:1-13&version=NIV#fen-NIV-25417f" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none;" title="See footnote f">f</a>]</sup> a fish, will give him a snake instead?</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25418" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">12</sup> Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25419" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">13</sup> If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”</span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">Whoa, whoa, whoa... back. the. truck. up. </span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">For the past... oh, thirty-three years or so, I've thought that verses eleven and twelve talked about how the Lord gives good gifts to those that ask him. In fact, it's a little ironic that I reflected on these verses just today. I was feeding Brennan supper, and Jess was gone to band practice, and I started thinking how fun it would be to see his little face light up if I gave him some orange sherbet. So I did, and it did, and it was great fun, and I thought, "If we know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more will our Father give good gifts to those who ask Him."</span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">Well, that's not what it says, now, is it? What it says is, "how much more will the Father give the <b>Holy Spirit</b> to those who ask Him"! It compares the Spirit with those great, beaming-smile-producing gifts you give your kids! In my mind, that's huge. I don't know why I'm only now beginning to see how jam-packed the gospels are with references to the Spirit and His power in our lives. </span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">Also, I think it's interesting that this teaches us to ask for the Spirit. I think we have a tendency to think of the Spirit's entrance into our lives as happening at baptism, per Acts 2:38, and from that point He's just kind of... there. But it seems to me that we can be granted more and more of the Spirit's presence in our lives, and I think too that His presence grows as we get rid of more and more of the sins of our hearts and allow Him more and more room.</span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">I, for one, intend to start praying fervently for more of the good gift of the Spirit in my life. Yay... it's like Christmas morning here!</span></div>Lori Tays Eastephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273976149763487302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562443767529979298.post-3290042964038699042011-09-26T21:36:00.000-05:002011-09-26T21:36:41.276-05:00Day 73: First World Pains<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdpH7EIvp7cTLYklHriGb05TL00XOgT5JJxKKpOszNcgeJSQ5YsSlQc9wUafphDk0mleYyfyYbeDkt899X8X6DM9fCVWZZO2u5svoD_PbNwvnBS2gLoBK92T9V2j1Asax8gkPmmWAIR0U/s1600/00005595_FWP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdpH7EIvp7cTLYklHriGb05TL00XOgT5JJxKKpOszNcgeJSQ5YsSlQc9wUafphDk0mleYyfyYbeDkt899X8X6DM9fCVWZZO2u5svoD_PbNwvnBS2gLoBK92T9V2j1Asax8gkPmmWAIR0U/s320/00005595_FWP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><h4 style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Luke 11</h4><h5 class="passage-header" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25407" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">1</sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”</span></span></h5><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25408" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">2</sup> He said to them, <span class="woj">“When you pray, say:</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span class="woj">“‘Father,<sup class="footnote" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-25408a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2011&version=NIV#fen-NIV-25408a" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup></span><br />
<span class="woj">hallowed be your name,</span><br />
<span class="woj">your kingdom come.<sup class="footnote" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-25408b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2011&version=NIV#fen-NIV-25408b" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none;" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</sup></span><br />
<span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25409" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">3</sup> Give us each day our daily bread.</span><br />
<span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25410" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">4</sup> Forgive us our sins,</span><br />
<span class="woj">for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.<sup class="footnote" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-25410c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2011&version=NIV#fen-NIV-25410c" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none;" title="See footnote c">c</a>]</sup></span><br />
<span class="woj">And lead us not into temptation.<sup class="footnote" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-25410d" title="See footnote d">d</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2011&version=NIV#fen-NIV-25410d" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none;" title="See footnote d">d</a>]</sup>’”</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj">This is the third day that I've read/contemplated this passage. And I admit that the last two days, I've read it, stared into space, thought a lot, sighed... and then closed the computer. For reasons I couldn't quite put into words, this passage was just a little bit overwhelming to me. But tonight, Jess, Brennan, and I were on our way to Logan's to use a gift card, and suddenly it hit me what was making it hard.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">"Give us each day our daily bread." I don't live in a world where people pray for this. I live in a world where abundance is the norm, where we pray instead for self control to keep from eating <i>so much</i> of the daily bread. Hmm. I've honestly never thought about this before, but I have to admit that just the thought sort of made me want to throw up. </div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">There's a hashtag on twitter that, honestly, has really made me think about the things I complain about. It's #firstworldpains, and it's full of the nonsense that rotten Americans like me gripe about all the time (seriously!). Things like, "I'm so thirsty, but I'm too tired to go get the case of water out of my trunk. #firstworldpains". Or, "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;">I'm slightly warm with my hoody on, but slightly cold with my hoody off.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;"><a class=" twitter-hashtag pretty-link" href="http://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23firstworldpains" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2fc2ef; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;" title="#firstworldpains"><s class="hash" style="color: #2fc2ef; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; opacity: 0.7; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">#</s><b style="color: #2fc2ef; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; white-space: normal;"><strong style="font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">firstworldpains</strong></b></a>". Or, "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;">McDonald's was out of ice cream and I drove all the way out there for a milkshake. :(</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;"><a class=" twitter-hashtag pretty-link" href="http://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23firstworldpains" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2fc2ef; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;" title="#firstworldpains"><s class="hash" style="color: #2fc2ef; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; opacity: 0.7; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">#</s><b style="color: #2fc2ef; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; white-space: normal;"><strong style="font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">firstworldpains</strong></b></a>". You get the picture. We're spoiled.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;">So how do we apply a verse like, "Give us this day our daily bread"? Well, I've been thinking about it all night. First, we need to be <i>aware</i> that many, even most, of our concerns are "first world pains". I couldn't count the number of times I've said I was hungry, but I've never known hunger. I need to be consistently more aware of that fact. Second, we need to be genuinely and constantly grateful that we have all we need. No more yapping because the McDonald's girl gave me a Filet-O-Fish instead of a Big Mac. I have everything I need, and that is enough. Third, we need to be content with what we have. I'm realizing that what this means is a sense of peace that I've been given all I need for life and godliness. That should give us a quiet and constant joy.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;">We have enough... more than. And that is enough.</span></span>Lori Tays Eastephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273976149763487302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562443767529979298.post-77234949664447578682011-09-23T23:29:00.000-05:002011-09-23T23:29:31.362-05:00Day 72: Martha to the Max<div class="heading passage-class-0" style="color: #5c1101; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-top: 10px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4n_9QBCN9pGk4ewLlrHBfYtRK1oYwh99te5YN3as3oF9FD9DLv6C_qdMGieqiahOtR6wPUEY5CVD5LxFVbx3liAIuo7f5H8IfYYQUAVfOxap8s_Keh_oWUdPjWvthOr6ZOhB5AlbvLYa3/s1600/Martha-to-the-Max-e1303126975613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4n_9QBCN9pGk4ewLlrHBfYtRK1oYwh99te5YN3as3oF9FD9DLv6C_qdMGieqiahOtR6wPUEY5CVD5LxFVbx3liAIuo7f5H8IfYYQUAVfOxap8s_Keh_oWUdPjWvthOr6ZOhB5AlbvLYa3/s1600/Martha-to-the-Max-e1303126975613.jpg" /></a></div><h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Luke 10:38-42</h3><div class="txt-sm" style="font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">New International Version (NIV)</div></div><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="font-size: 16px;"></div><h5 class="passage-header" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25402" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">38</sup> As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25403" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">39</sup> She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25404" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">40</sup>But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”</span></h5><div style="font-size: 16px;"> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25405" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">41</sup> “Martha, Martha,”</span> the Lord answered, <span class="woj">“you are worried and upset about many things,</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25406" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">42</sup> but few things are needed—or indeed only one.<sup class="footnote" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-25406a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2010:38-42&version=NIV#fen-NIV-25406a" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup>Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”</span></div><div style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj">Well, here it is... the story that defines my life. I am a recovering hard-core Martha. After only three months at our last congregation, the church secretary gave me a copy of the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Martha-Max-Balanced-Living-Perfectionists/dp/0802453899">Martha to the Max: Balanced Living for Perfectionists</a>. I'm not sure, but I think that was a hint. Ahem. </span></div><div style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj">The truth is that she was absolutely right. I have always tried to do everything. Be everywhere. Go everyplace. And many times, this has been at the expense of my personal relationship with God. </span></div><div style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj">That's where Martha found herself: working, going, doing, but not being, learning, experiencing. She was so caught up in the event itself that she missed the whole point. Jesus, the Lord Himself, was in her home, and she was so busy washing dishes that she couldn't be bothered to stop and pay attention to Him. </span></div><div style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj">What a lesson for us... or for me, at least. And the interesting thing is that Jesus says that Mary has chosen what is better... Mary, who looks suspiciously like a lazy bum. Jesus knew her heart, though, and He knew that she saw an opportunity of a lifetime and seized it.</span></div><div style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj">See your opportunities for spiritual growth. Seize them. And don't get so busy <i>doing</i> for the Lord that you forget how to sit at his feet. It's not laziness. It's maturity.</span></div></div>Lori Tays Eastephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273976149763487302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562443767529979298.post-5786430398371827202011-09-22T22:55:00.001-05:002011-09-22T22:55:22.144-05:00Day 71: Would You Save A Drowning Man?<div class="heading passage-class-0" style="color: #5c1101; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-top: 10px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqcZPbAwH9-wFACfGrUpPFD-E4nvrEtEtUOTanP2DlkV6dSKAk9Z1EtbK7crwZNaMqNApMpl-In1na7jbT8nsC1EIIh1irgjCpxkrEnGsGewV5CoL-DWNKgtCQ1u2gjJdv8SnQuFZ3AHGK/s1600/drowning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqcZPbAwH9-wFACfGrUpPFD-E4nvrEtEtUOTanP2DlkV6dSKAk9Z1EtbK7crwZNaMqNApMpl-In1na7jbT8nsC1EIIh1irgjCpxkrEnGsGewV5CoL-DWNKgtCQ1u2gjJdv8SnQuFZ3AHGK/s320/drowning.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Luke 10:29-37</h3><div class="txt-sm" style="font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">New International Version (NIV)</div></div><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25393" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">29</sup> But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”<br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25394" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">30</sup> In reply Jesus said: <span class="woj">“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25395" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">31</sup> A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25396" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">32</sup> So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25397" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">33</sup> But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25398" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">34</sup> He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25399" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">35</sup> The next day he took out two denarii<sup class="footnote" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-25399a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2010:29-37&version=NIV#fen-NIV-25399a" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’</span><br />
<span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25400" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">36</sup> “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”</span><br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25401" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">37</sup> The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”<br />
Jesus told him, <span class="woj">“Go and do likewise.”</span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">How many times have I read this story? How many times have you? And yet, thinking about it tonight, I have a not-so-good feeling that I haven't taken the message to heart nearly as much as I like to pretend that I have. </span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">Just like these guys, I have been guilty of not choosing to put myself in a situation because I was afraid. Just like these guys, I have been guilty of not going out of my way because I "didn't have time". Just like these guys, I've hurried on by.</span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">Have you seen this article? http://hypervocal.com/news/2011/police-firemen-look-on-as-man-drowns-off-ca-coast/ It's about a bunch of policemen and firemen in California who chose to look on while a man drowned himself. When they're interviewed after, they say that "policy" prevented them from intervening. And the scary thing is that that <i>almost</i> sounds reasonable to me.</span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">I'm sorry to say that I could see myself standing on the shoreline, telling someone how much I *wished* I could do something to help. That's not the person that I want to be. I want to be the person that, when faced with the opportunity to save someone, doesn't stop to think "what are the possible ramifications for me"? Who finds it impossible to stand on the shore and watch someone drown - physically or spiritually. Who says, this person is more important than my job/my rules/my life. </span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">If you had been on that shoreline, what would you have done? There are moments in life that tell who you are. The good Samaritan of this story found his defining moment on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. Where will you find yours? </span></div>Lori Tays Eastephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273976149763487302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562443767529979298.post-46255937914276468802011-09-21T21:40:00.000-05:002011-09-21T21:40:44.726-05:00Day 70: Do This And You Will Live<div class="heading passage-class-0" style="color: #5c1101; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-top: 10px;"><h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Luke 10:25-28</h3><div class="txt-sm" style="font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">New International Version (NIV)</div></div><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
<h5 class="passage-header"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25389" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">25</sup> On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”</span></h5> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25390" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">26</sup> “What is written in the Law?”</span> he replied. <span class="woj">“How do you read it?”</span><br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25391" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">27</sup> He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’<sup class="footnote" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-25391a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2010:25-28&version=NIV#fen-NIV-25391a" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup>; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’<sup class="footnote" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-25391b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2010:25-28&version=NIV#fen-NIV-25391b" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none;" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</sup>”<br />
<span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25392" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">28</sup> “You have answered correctly,”</span> Jesus replied. <span class="woj">“Do this and you will live.”</span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">Short and sweet tonight: "Do this and you will live." What a short and sweet statement. If you a) love the Lord will all your heart and soul and strength and mind and b) love your neighbor as yourself, you will live. So easy. So hard. </span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">The principle couldn't be more simplistic. The practice... well, that's another story. It's that little "all". If it said that you must love with <i>part</i> of your heart, or <i>some</i> of your heart, even <i>most</i> of your heart, okay. But all... that means you have to get rid of every single other thing that has laid down roots. You must give them up. If it takes away a single ounce from your strength, love, knowledge for God, it has to go.</span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">Do this and you will live.</span></div>Lori Tays Eastephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273976149763487302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562443767529979298.post-69888066594824580312011-09-19T22:54:00.000-05:002011-09-19T22:54:34.440-05:00Day 69: Why Time Travel Rox My Sox<div class="heading passage-class-0" style="color: #5c1101; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-top: 10px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRloQPUmwazInv-d2__UMGvVZvPcT_fGh91KI9VxSlE4Ryx-Arv9ur7YrAn8PksT376uGFh2EPr9WvRGBRsKNScNpJC4ZNYGfoDcfzpU97aQFbuebzpbY_ywKmrolr_5RaqWydc_aRr6r/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRloQPUmwazInv-d2__UMGvVZvPcT_fGh91KI9VxSlE4Ryx-Arv9ur7YrAn8PksT376uGFh2EPr9WvRGBRsKNScNpJC4ZNYGfoDcfzpU97aQFbuebzpbY_ywKmrolr_5RaqWydc_aRr6r/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div><h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Luke 10:23-24</h3><div class="txt-sm" style="font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">New International Version (NIV)</div></div><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25387" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">23</sup> Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, <span class="woj">“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25388" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">24</sup> For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”</span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">For those of you who don't know, I'm an aspiring author. I have (for years, actually) been working on a middle-grade novel about two super cute and wonderful kids who discover that they're time travelers. Tonight, like many nights, I've spent a couple of hours working to perfect a scene in said novel. I say that to say this: I spend lots of time thinking about <i>time</i>.</span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">Maybe that's why, when I read this passage, my thoughts immediately turned to time travel. (Yes, I know, but still. They did.) How awesome would it be to get to travel back in time, to actually see these events with our own eyes? The prophets and kings that Jesus refers to... what would they have given to travel forward in time and see these events with their own eyes? Why, oh why do I not have a flux capacitor of my very own?</span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">In effect, this is what Jesus is trying to get across to his disciples... how incredibly, amazingly, indescribably lucky they were to get to see him, walk with him, witness his marvelous works. They were about to witness the one event that would change the world forever. Everyone who ever lived before them, and everyone who ever lived after them, would long to see what they saw.</span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">I do wish I could travel back in time. I would love to know for sure what Jesus looked like, instead of having to imagine Him. I would love to see His facial expressions when he speaks, hear the tone of his voice. </span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">And one day, I will. Until then, I can be grateful that God saw fit to leave his Word with us, and that I'm blessed enough to know how to read it. God is good, all the time.</span></div>Lori Tays Eastephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273976149763487302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562443767529979298.post-83596722273885133092011-09-18T21:45:00.000-05:002011-09-18T21:45:03.063-05:00Day 68: J-O-Y Down In My Heart<div class="heading passage-class-0" style="color: #5c1101; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-top: 10px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK7-_zWLwOoYIgPJpwJBpiA31tHwj9StbvudlEW0jc7f8AHMuDiJcMfhIk6WfYGA8NZRO4_hja7MCCekGIfM7mz6zZIX-TA7L5BBF5GVu3oIV52ZxzU5Vkmf2CIHjEvo5vHACZI3-JwoWi/s1600/joy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK7-_zWLwOoYIgPJpwJBpiA31tHwj9StbvudlEW0jc7f8AHMuDiJcMfhIk6WfYGA8NZRO4_hja7MCCekGIfM7mz6zZIX-TA7L5BBF5GVu3oIV52ZxzU5Vkmf2CIHjEvo5vHACZI3-JwoWi/s320/joy.gif" width="320" /></a></div><h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</h3><h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</h3><h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Luke 10:21-22</h3><div class="txt-sm" style="font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">New International Version (NIV)</div></div><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25385" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">21</sup> At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, <span class="woj">“I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.</span><br />
<span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25386" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">22</sup> “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”</span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">At some point I'm going to have to go back and see how many times the Spirit is referenced over the course of this study. It's going to be an interesting statistic. Here's another reference to the Spirit that I've never noticed before: Jesus is full of joy <i>through the Holy Spirit</i>. Have you ever realized that your joy comes through the Spirit?</span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">I don't believe this is a giddy sort of joy, or a hyper sort of joy, or a "everything all perfect all the time" joy. Instead, it's that deep knowledge that God is in control, and that He will make all things perfect in their time. It's that joy that keeps you from blowing up at the fast food cashier who keeps getting your order wrong. You're able to back up and look at the bigger picture... and smile.</span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
Spirit-led joy is a wonderful thing. Here, Jesus sees the Pharisees and teachers of the law twisting his words, plotting against him, and generally making his life miserable, and he is filled with...joy??!!? Yes, because he sees the bigger picture. He sees the irony in the fact that little children can see God when these "teachers" can't. I can almost picture him shaking his head, a tiny smile on his face. Nothing but Spirit-led joy could take such a negative and allow it to be viewed as a positive.<br />
<br />
I want, covet, desire that joy. But I realize that it starts with me. To get it, I have to allow the Spirit to be active in my life, and to follow His lead in each and every situation. It will take discipline. But the payoff is JOY! (Right now I'm picturing Perry Taylor singing, "J-O-Y, down in my heart, deep deep down in my heart!") And that is a payoff worth working for.</div>Lori Tays Eastephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273976149763487302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562443767529979298.post-53547509866369927342011-09-15T22:30:00.000-05:002011-09-15T22:30:48.218-05:00Day 67: Learning From the Devil<div class="heading passage-class-0" style="color: #5c1101; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-top: 10px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtk3fST6oD_1_Xh8fsBfGSyTlygBvPhFtdJDudPycVy6kdVWPFqQPxNq71vLPgU7Q9YJ-zvRPy4zFFatlIGsuKPVDP2nyTO_thMTCuwE8DEbBKUED6xYuzMY6TYnPQcuffa3br3uCKjnZX/s1600/micah-6-8-iphone1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtk3fST6oD_1_Xh8fsBfGSyTlygBvPhFtdJDudPycVy6kdVWPFqQPxNq71vLPgU7Q9YJ-zvRPy4zFFatlIGsuKPVDP2nyTO_thMTCuwE8DEbBKUED6xYuzMY6TYnPQcuffa3br3uCKjnZX/s320/micah-6-8-iphone1.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Luke 10:17-20</h3><div class="txt-sm" style="font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">New International Version (NIV)</div></div><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25381" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">17</sup> The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”<br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25382" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">18</sup> He replied, <span class="woj">“I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25383" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">19</sup> I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25384" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">20</sup> However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”</span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">Wow. Wow wow wow wow wow. I'm not sure I've ever heard a sermon on this passage, or even read an article on it, but, well... this is <i>something</i>. I got a sort of chill when I read it. There's a lot to ponder here.</span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
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<span class="woj">First, the ones who were sent out have gotten a charge out of the fact that they have power over demons. And who could blame them? I can only imagine what watching someone who was demon possessed must have been like (I've seen a few kids that have made me wonder, but I digress). And then to realize that you could do something about it? It must have been quite the experience. </span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">But you see, that's the thing. They <i>couldn't</i> do anything about it - on their own, anyway. Only Jesus could. And that's what he is trying to get across when he points out that he saw Satan himself fall from heaven. He's saying that while their "authority" is just a shadow, his is the real thing. It's a proclamation that He Was, and Is, and Is To Come. He was there when Satan went from an angel to the devil. I have often wondered what that moment was like. It must have been terrible.</span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
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<span class="woj">In any event, it seems to be a serious business to Jesus, with good reason. Just think of all the harm that Satan has done. I can't count the things he's done to me personally, and Jesus has watched every one of them unfold, multiplied by every person who has ever lived. When he tells the disciples not to rejoice that the spirits submit to them, he's teaching a valuable lesson. He knows why Satan fell... because he coveted the power of God. He got a taste of power, and that taste grew until it was insatiable. Jesus doesn't want to see that again. And so He says, don't exult in the power. Exult in the fact that you have salvation.</span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
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<span class="woj">Keep your focus. Keep your humility. As Micah 6:8 says, "Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly with your God." Learn a lesson from the devil, and don't follow in his path.</span></div>Lori Tays Eastephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273976149763487302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562443767529979298.post-51797400865153903842011-09-14T22:23:00.001-05:002011-09-14T23:47:10.427-05:00Day 66: A Road Map For Missions<div class="heading passage-class-0" style="color: #5c1101; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-top: 10px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CWnOFyusMelfMkqObVZB1c9sU7bARFHH7VxhtPSaXp5GJzhBNnvQL5IxyzMbkPyKo6-eSVS2W74DyOAGgbsPrBKhwjgHqig5xPEndryla1m8JJIWI6MmeaI14L3Jp-uDvQDcTsbeW_dt/s1600/Christmas-Island-Map.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CWnOFyusMelfMkqObVZB1c9sU7bARFHH7VxhtPSaXp5GJzhBNnvQL5IxyzMbkPyKo6-eSVS2W74DyOAGgbsPrBKhwjgHqig5xPEndryla1m8JJIWI6MmeaI14L3Jp-uDvQDcTsbeW_dt/s320/Christmas-Island-Map.png" width="320" /></a></div><h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Luke 10:1-16</h3><div class="txt-sm" style="font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">New International Version (NIV)</div></div><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
<h4><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two</span></h4> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25367" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">3</sup> Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25368" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">4</sup> Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25369" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">5</sup> “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25370" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">6</sup> If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you.</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25371" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">7</sup> Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.</span><br />
<span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25372" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">8</sup> “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you.</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25373" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">9</sup> Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25374" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">10</sup> But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say,</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25375" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">11</sup> ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25376" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">12</sup> I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.</span><br />
<span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25377" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">13</sup> “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25378" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">14</sup> But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.</span><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25379" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">15</sup> And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.<sup class="footnote" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-25379b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2010:1-16&version=NIV#fen-NIV-25379b" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none;" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</sup></span><br />
<span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25380" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">16</sup> “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”</span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">We've been meeting lately with a group that's planning a mission trip to Christmas Island next summer. Some of us have been on many missions; some have never been before. It's interesting to see the differences in the attitudes toward the trip and the differences in what people are concerned about. This passage is a good one to consider before going anywhere "foreign" (read: outside of your normal realm of experience) with the gospel. </span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
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<span class="woj">I have to say that I never have, and still don't, understand why they were to greet anyone on the road. But the rest of the passage is an excellent road map for missions.</span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
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<span class="woj">1. Eat and drink whatever they give you (mentioned in both v. 7 and v. 8). In other words, be grateful for what others are giving you out of the goodness of their hearts, and be considerate of the fact that they may have different cultures or customs. Don't lose your influence and look like a jerkface because you don't like fill-in-the-blank. Don't be a diva.</span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
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<span class="woj">2. Do not move around from house to house. Honestly, I'm not sure of the original purpose behind this one, but I know a good purpose for it now. I have actually known people staying in homes on mission trips who have asked to stay with someone else because they didn't want to sleep in the floor, or because the person didn't have food they liked. Umm... no. Again, don't be a diva. Remember that your purpose is to proclaim the message of Jesus, and he had "no place to lay his head". It's pretty hard to proclaim his message when you're not even willing to sacrifice a little bit of comfort for a few nights. As my college instructors always said, "No complaining while campaigning!" <i>Your attitude will show people the way to Christ... or not.</i></span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
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<span class="woj">3. Heal the sick (meet their needs). People cannot listen to you if there's an enormous need smacking them in the face while you're trying to talk. Think about the last time you had to sit through a class while you were super hungry... it's no different with those you're trying to teach. If they're hungry/cold/sick/worried, they can't focus on your message. First, heal their physical need to the best of your ability. Then you can begin to meet their emotional need. Which leads us to...</span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">4. Tell them, "the Kingdom of God has come near to you". Share what you know! Everyone has a personal story of faith. I've found that it's good to start there. Be excited... you know the most exciting story that has ever been told. The kingdom of God has come near to you! <i>Amazing!</i></span><br />
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<span class="woj">5. When you enter a town and are not welcomed... not everyone will listen. It's a fact of life. And it's okay. Don't feel like you have failed personally. The decision to follow Christ is one that every person has to make individually. Not everyone who heard Jesus followed Him; in fact, most people didn't. Why should it be any different for us? Shake it off and move on.</span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">These are simple thoughts, but we proclaim a simple gospel. Sweet.</span></div>Lori Tays Eastephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273976149763487302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562443767529979298.post-64486581151550082672011-09-12T22:00:00.000-05:002011-09-12T22:00:57.309-05:00Day 65: My Personal Harvest Worker Hall of Fame<div class="heading passage-class-0" style="color: #5c1101; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-top: 10px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTafc-iHLgNfwCcWrE55wz_lVcD1nxbI72cgz4u40N_vYObXpPDwQV_aYl3nWY0rATAecMbJIFZb3pSfz9CVTwXblCNZ-mX8VEQM7LJtmQqmVEF2O3f0fzXMuGrMrmIqToNRHXZp1sTbfi/s1600/FallHarvest_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTafc-iHLgNfwCcWrE55wz_lVcD1nxbI72cgz4u40N_vYObXpPDwQV_aYl3nWY0rATAecMbJIFZb3pSfz9CVTwXblCNZ-mX8VEQM7LJtmQqmVEF2O3f0fzXMuGrMrmIqToNRHXZp1sTbfi/s320/FallHarvest_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Luke 10:1-16</h3><div class="txt-sm" style="font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">New International Version (NIV)</div></div><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
<h4><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25365" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">1</sup> After this the Lord appointed seventy-two<sup class="footnote" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-25365a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2010:1-16&version=NIV#fen-NIV-25365a" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-25366" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">2</sup> He told them, <span class="woj">“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.</span></span></h4><div>I thought and thought about what to say about this passage that hasn't already been said. And then I realized... I can't. What I can do, though, is share a personal account of a few of the few... harvest workers who are answering the call and inspiring others to do the same. Each of them are working in their own unique ways and with their own unique talents, and each of them have been a personal inspiration to me. I want to be more like them. If I had just a little bit more of each of them in me, I would be a much, much better person, and an incredible harvest worker.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I want to be more like my dear friend <b>Whitney Burgess</b>, who is a true prayer warrior. When I am concerned about something - anything - I know that Whit is the number one person I want to approach the throne room for me. I feel so blessed every time I get a message from her saying, "I've been praying it up for ya." (Not to mention that she takes Hebrews 13:2 more seriously than anyone I've ever known.)</div><div><br />
</div><div>I want to be more like my mother, <b>Dianne Tays</b>. No one will ever know how much she had done and given and sacrificed for other people. She's the very definition of service, and she has spent her life washing feet. Sometimes I feel discouraged because I know I will never be the wonderful example, encourager, and servant that she is. But I just keep trying because Brennan deserves a mother like I have.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I want to be more like <b>Cory Collins</b>, whose gentle spirit and positive attitude infects everyone around him. He always knows what to say and when to say it, and he never has a harsh or bitter word for anyone. His words and his life make people understand what Christianity is all about.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I want to be more like <b>Joey Krieger </b>and my father<b>, Mike Tays</b>, who give 100% every single day to the calling to which they've dedicated their lives. They give all of themselves to the children who have been placed in their care, and challenge them to be more than they ever thought they could be. I want to have that kind of focus and dedication in my own life.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I want to be more like <b>Nicole Hagood</b>, the sister of my heart. She has faced the trials of life with a beautiful grace and an unshakable faith. Everyone who knows her loves her, because she has a heart big enough for each one of them and it shows. She is the woman of God that I pray to one day be.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I want to be more like <b>Anne Russell</b>. She's the busiest person I know, but she always, always makes time for more ministry, more serving of others. She always has time for <i>me</i>, and I know a hundred other people who feel the same way about her. There is no limit to her giving. </div><div><br />
</div><div>And these are only just a few of the hard, hard workers who have blessed me. What about you? Who are the harvest workers who have influenced your life? Are you the harvest worker that others can look to?</div></div>Lori Tays Eastephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273976149763487302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562443767529979298.post-31577621415082175982011-09-10T23:03:00.000-05:002011-09-10T23:03:36.570-05:00Day 64: Stark Raving Mad<div class="heading passage-class-0" style="color: #5c1101; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-top: 10px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqAFCCbJdjrsgvVjWtlWrmlxk12NZkl9vKrBJVEEHFLcXoO0WU12FOZXG1Mm7qtanLZQz8tBKVgTwv2WqwblqJleoEE-QfCu7GvscXLRElXefubOvrSgV2p8pXAPg8iKUvMo4kgAGhEDer/s1600/logo4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqAFCCbJdjrsgvVjWtlWrmlxk12NZkl9vKrBJVEEHFLcXoO0WU12FOZXG1Mm7qtanLZQz8tBKVgTwv2WqwblqJleoEE-QfCu7GvscXLRElXefubOvrSgV2p8pXAPg8iKUvMo4kgAGhEDer/s320/logo4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">John 10:19-21</h3><div class="txt-sm" style="font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">New International Version (NIV)</div></div><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26501" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">19</sup> The Jews who heard these words were again divided. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26502" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">20</sup> Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”<br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26503" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">21</sup> But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”<br />
<br />
Raving mad. I have to admit... the first time I read this, I found this a little bit shocking. I mean, after all, this is the guy who healed Legion (you remember him... the guy who lived in a cemetery, naked, and ran around screaming and cutting himself and scaring people all day). And yet, the old Jews are calling Jesus "raving mad"?<br />
<br />
Seriously?<br />
<br />
It just goes to show you that no matter what you do, some people are going to have a problem with you. I'll say that again: no matter what you do, some people are going to have a problem with you. These guys looked at the Lord God Himself, and said, "Look at all the amazing stuff he's done. He must be demon possessed." They took what was good and twisted it into something evil.<br />
<br />
I'm sure this has happened to you, because it happens to all of us. Someone takes something you meant for good and twists your words, or your actions, or both, and uses it to attack you. Just remember that the Lord truly understands. He's been there. And remember that some people saw the truth: "Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?" If he was stark raving mad, then all I have to say is, "Gimme some of that!" I want to be too.<br />
<br />
What a blessing to have a savior who truly knows our sorrows. Blessed be the name of the Lord.</div>Lori Tays Eastephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273976149763487302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562443767529979298.post-88509650785447380692011-09-09T21:17:00.000-05:002011-09-09T21:17:15.793-05:00Day 63: I Am A Sheep<div class="heading passage-class-0" style="color: #5c1101; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-top: 10px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSP8UjRhy6qyKHM2HeZ3kNMEGfLu7H8eMkwU5z0aB8CfQlq1UYJUGrhMKpxWFpipAbCobh5IxU14tSNOasUldo0CJDf87TZGmVZgf-JaoVO0xCzFvYFjS0D8wCeNPT8LU_4Mxi6nz_4gy/s1600/Make-A-Sheep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSP8UjRhy6qyKHM2HeZ3kNMEGfLu7H8eMkwU5z0aB8CfQlq1UYJUGrhMKpxWFpipAbCobh5IxU14tSNOasUldo0CJDf87TZGmVZgf-JaoVO0xCzFvYFjS0D8wCeNPT8LU_4Mxi6nz_4gy/s320/Make-A-Sheep.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">John 10:7-18</h3><div class="txt-sm" style="font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">New International Version (NIV)</div></div><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26489" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">7</sup> Therefore Jesus said again, <span class="woj">“Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26490" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">8</sup> All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them.</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26491" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">9</sup> I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.<sup class="footnote" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-26491a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%2010:7-18&version=NIV#fen-NIV-26491a" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> They will come in and go out, and find pasture.</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26492" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">10</sup> The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.</span><br />
<span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26493" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">11</sup> “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26494" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">12</sup> The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26495" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">13</sup> The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.</span><br />
<span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26496" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">14</sup> “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26497" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">15</sup> just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26498" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">16</sup> I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26499" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">17</sup> The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again.</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26500" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">18</sup> No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”</span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">Well, it's been a rough week in the Eastep house. A baby with bronchitis (plus taking steroid meds which made him C-R-A-Z-Y), a hubby in serious pain, stress on the job... all made for a tired mommy/wife/employee/person. I don't know many times I've said (usually while rocking Brennan in the dead of night or making yet another pot of chicken soup) that I didn't think I'd make it through the week. And yet... here I am!</span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">I had planned to write a post tonight about relative truth; about the fact that Jesus claimed to be <i>the</i> gate, <i>the</i> way of salvation. I had planned to focus on the way the world has perverted truth to the point that by claiming that one gate, we are labeled closed minded at best, bigots at worst. </span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">But as I come to the end of a long, hard week, I find myself wanting to focus only on the great love that the Great Shepherd has for me. I want to remember that He came for me, his sheep. Because He loves me. I just want to be led by the still waters of His grace. </span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj">I'm reminded of the beautiful devotional song, I Am A Sheep. Following are the lyrics and even a recording of it. The words are perfect.... He is constantly watching over me.</span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="woj"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #446688; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; white-space: nowrap;">I am a sheep and the Lord is my shepherd<br />
Watching over my soul.<br />
My soul to keep guarding over me ever,<br />
Watching wherever I go.<br />
<br />
And when the winds blow He is my shelter<br />
And when I'm lost and alone He rescues me.<br />
And when the lion comes He is my victory<br />
Constantly watching over me<br />
He is constantly watching over me<br />
<br />
We are his children and he is our Father<br />
Watching over our souls.<br />
Great is His love for His sons and His daughters,<br />
Watching wherever we go.</span></span><br />
<span class="woj"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #446688; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; white-space: nowrap;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/qP7BxLcJRSQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><span class="woj"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #446688; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; white-space: nowrap;"><br />
</span></span></div>Lori Tays Eastephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273976149763487302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562443767529979298.post-55514035094378498352011-09-06T23:17:00.001-05:002011-09-06T23:17:26.194-05:00Day 62: Navigating the Land of the Grey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWyYDJ-H7bONw5SgQMjfI7SPHLAICek17eW8u2fO89AVufPG3XIqNOek3EozXgv39VM-oU_3Kyo2-eKGQoYi0IISWXleFy2Hu69IF9dHuRftYrnnjifaEcir3yBBJZVzOHx3QDh5clQOq/s1600/tumblr_le6zpkIFB81qcgzw1o1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWyYDJ-H7bONw5SgQMjfI7SPHLAICek17eW8u2fO89AVufPG3XIqNOek3EozXgv39VM-oU_3Kyo2-eKGQoYi0IISWXleFy2Hu69IF9dHuRftYrnnjifaEcir3yBBJZVzOHx3QDh5clQOq/s320/tumblr_le6zpkIFB81qcgzw1o1_500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26480" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">John 9:39-41</span></sup></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26480" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">39</sup> Jesus said,<sup class="footnote" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-26480a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+9&version=NIV#fen-NIV-26480a" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> <span class="woj">“For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26481" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">40</sup> Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26482" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">41</sup> Jesus said, <span class="woj">“If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj">As far as hard sayings go, this is one that, for me, tends to slip under the radar. But it's certainly food-for-thought, and one that I'll be mulling over in the days to come.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Kids (and when I say kids, I mean teens) will often ask about this very thing. Obviously they don't use this language, but the gist of the question is: At what point does something become "wrong"? And it's a valid question. This is usually brought up somewhere amidst the how-far-is-too-far/how-short-is-too-short discussion. Some things are black and white, sure, but what about the many (many!) gray areas? </div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Well, for me, these verses are a good, valid answer to that question. Jesus is talking to the Pharisees about their own hard hearts, but I certainly think the principle applies today. Our maturity, our understanding, our growth is something that the Lord keeps in mind, and it's something he takes into account when he views our lives. Some things are not clearly right or wrong, but we must constantly be striving to be something better. To mature in our faith. And as we do, we will find more and more things to change about ourselves and our actions. It's not necessarily that we were doing "wrong", per se, before; it's just that we find a more excellent way. And when your eyes are opened to that more excellent way, it is God's intention that we never revert to our former ways.</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">When I was in college, I wore clothes that were much shorter than what I wear now. I was a naive kid... honestly. I would have denied - vehemently - that it was even possible that what I was wearing could "cause my brother to stumble". (I've been challenged on this: "Come on. You know you knew what you were doing." I submit to you that I was so absurdly naive that I didn't think anyone ever lusted after anyone, period. It was that bad.) One day, and I don't remember what was said or who said it, but I came home to my dorm room and looked at my clothes, and I realized that some of them had to go. I could "see", so to speak. And from that day on, it would have been wrong for me to keep wearing those clothes. I had to get rid of them, that very night. A few months later, I purged again, more this time, because I had matured some more. </div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">That's the process. Do I believe that I would have been condemned for the clothes I was wearing prior to that night? No, because I was "blind" to their inappropriateness. But would I be judged if I took to wearing those same things now? I believe I would, because "now that you... can see, your guilt remains". Now, is this an excuse to never learn/grow/mature? Of course not. We must grow. But growing is good. A great experience. </div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">As the song says, I will never be the same again. And that's a good, good thing.</div>Lori Tays Eastephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273976149763487302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562443767529979298.post-46070422657537291682011-09-05T22:53:00.000-05:002011-09-05T22:53:30.751-05:00Day 61: Living Miracles<div class="heading passage-class-0" style="color: #5c1101; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-top: 10px;"><h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">John 9:34-39</h3><div class="txt-sm" style="font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">New International Version (NIV)</div></div><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26475" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">34</sup> To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.<br />
<h5 class="passage-header">Spiritual Blindness</h5> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26476" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">35</sup> Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, <span class="woj">“Do you believe in the Son of Man?”</span> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26477" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">36</sup> “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”<br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26478" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">37</sup> Jesus said, <span class="woj">“You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”</span><br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26479" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">38</sup> Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.<br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26480" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">39</sup> Jesus said,<sup class="footnote" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-26480a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%209:34-39&version=NIV#fen-NIV-26480a" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> <span class="woj">“For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”</span><br />
<span class="woj"><br />
</span><br />
Boy... in some ways, don't you envy this guy? He saw (literally!) the work of God with his very own eyes. He saw it in a powerful and undeniable way. It sort of makes you think, why does God not do miracles like that today? Then everyone would believe! They would have to believe!<br />
<br />
But the truth is, that lots of people saw this miracle with their own eyes. Even the guy's parents saw it - firsthand - and yet it didn't result in a lifechanging faith. It's difficult for me to fathom, but as usual, the Lord was right... some people's hearts are rocky and unfertile.<br />
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The good news is that this man did respond to what he saw. When he realized the power of God, he acknowledged it, and he worshipped God. Even so, the fruits of our lives as Christians will result in action in those whose hearts are "good ground". The question is, do we produce fruit for others to see? Or do people view us any differently from the world around us? There was no question in this man's mind that Jesus was of God. Is there any question that we are of God to the people around us? It's a question worth asking ourselves. We are the only "miracle" the world will ever see.</div>Lori Tays Eastephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273976149763487302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1562443767529979298.post-28358015647574359882011-09-03T21:51:00.000-05:002011-09-03T21:51:51.141-05:00Day 60: Sold Out Parenting vs. Sell Out Parenting<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRH35YMje51QCMWZ1CvNcRGQnXbEdqQbV3Uq7cYauLLKL8MR96DXaSuZ0yWttiZqSD-g71EuV5ERE_awTOU2XI-KiGXF8mXcAuZ-G5UQExD3SpU4t__GomhyOZIYrnq_eFJmnm9fbJkKA/s1600/soldout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="84" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRH35YMje51QCMWZ1CvNcRGQnXbEdqQbV3Uq7cYauLLKL8MR96DXaSuZ0yWttiZqSD-g71EuV5ERE_awTOU2XI-KiGXF8mXcAuZ-G5UQExD3SpU4t__GomhyOZIYrnq_eFJmnm9fbJkKA/s320/soldout.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">John 9:8-25</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26449" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">8</sup> His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26450" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">9</sup> Some claimed that he was.</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26451" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">10</sup> “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26452" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">11</sup> He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26453" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">12</sup> “Where is this man?” they asked him.</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> “I don’t know,” he said.</div><h5 class="passage-header" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The Pharisees Investigate the Healing</h5><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26454" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">13</sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26455" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">14</sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26456" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">15</sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”</span><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26457" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">16</sup> Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided.</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26458" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">17</sup> Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.”</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> The man replied, “He is a prophet.”</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26459" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">18</sup> They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26460" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">19</sup> “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?”</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26461" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">20</sup> “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26462" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">21</sup> But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26463" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">22</sup> His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26464" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">23</sup> That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26465" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">24</sup> A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26466" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">25</sup> He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Long passage tonight, but I couldn't really see a way to break it up... it's too important. Lots of material here - lots and lots and lots - but there's one thing that has always gotten me about this passage. It's the cowardice of the parents, and it's heartbreaking. </div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Of all the people on earth, this man's parents were the two who knew full well what Jesus had done. When other children were discovering the world around them, mimicking the actions of their brothers and sisters or copying a goodbye wave, their son was locked in a world of darkness. They tried unsuccessfully to describe a sunset, and the way moonlight reflects beams across the waters. They watched him struggle to find work, and maybe to find a wife. They wept for him.</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">And then he met Jesus.</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Suddenly, he could see. Their son could see! What an incredible, indescribable gift! And yet, go back and read verses 2-23. They deny the power of Christ, and even sell out their son, for fear of being ostracized by their collective community. When the rubber met the road, they sold out. Devastating.</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">And yet, the truth is that I see this all the time. Maybe not to this extent, and certainly not this exact situation, but sell out parents are commonplace in our society. You'll know them when you see them. They let their daughters wear tiny little bikinis to the class swim party because it's not worth the fight. Their kids don't come to Bible class or devotionals or youth activities, and when asked they'll say, "I don't make them come because I don't want them to resent the church." They're the first to rebuke you when things aren't going their way, but the last to jump in and help.</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">On the other hand, I also know some 100% sold out parents. They're the ones who pick their kids up early from practice so that they won't be late for the service project. Their kids never ask, "Are we going to Bible class tonight?" because they already know the answer. One sold-out parent I know just threw away a pair of her (college-age) daughter's brand new shorts because they were too short. You know how well that went over, and she knew too, but she did it anyway, because it was the right thing. She reminded me that the tough decisions, where the rubber meets the road, are the ones that define us. They're the ones that separate our kids from the world. And we just can't afford to be like these parents, who were sellouts when that defining moment came.</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Rock on, sold out parents. Rock on.</div>Lori Tays Eastephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273976149763487302noreply@blogger.com0