Category: Luke - Jethro TOOLS

Christmas Time: Past

12/7/2025

Micah 5:2
The popular Christmas song, Over the River and Through the Woods, was originally written as a Thanksgiving poem by Lydia Maria Child who published it in 1844. Through the years the words have been slightly adjusted to reflect a Christmas theme. Included in the words of the song is the purpose, a holiday trip to see grandparents. There is a joy and expectation as the travelers await the promise of being with loved ones and enjoying time with them. Promises; we like it when they are kept and we become frustrated when they are broken. On a human level some will say promises are made to be broken. However, God always keeps His promises. Seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus the prophet Micah foretells the coming birth of a baby who will rule as king. As Micah records God’s words, under God’s inspired direction in chapter five, he predicts a specific place, Bethlehem, and a specific person who will rule (2). This child yet to be born will have a permanent rule as king who has been sent from God for a specific purpose. Micah 5:2 is one of the prophetic references that points to Jesus. Yet, it was years between the time of this writing and the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem; still, God kept His promise and brought about the incarnation through the birth of Jesus. As we enter the Christmas season, I hope that you experience joy as you reflect on God’s faithfulness in keeping His promises. We are called to believe God’s Word, trust that He will fulfill His promises and bring us to a joyous reunion in His home. That is only possible by believing that Jesus came to save us (Luke 19:10). The rule of Jesus as King in our hearts and lives will bring true peace. Are you trusting the King and His timing to bring you to His home?

For More See MICAH

Members Who Serve

8/24/2025

Romans 12:1-8
What motivates you? We may be motivated by hunger so we begin a search for food. We may be motivated by self protection so we live life fearing many things. We may be motivated by greatness so we live a life focused on our fantasy of self elevation. There are many things that may motivate us. Satan even used hunger, pride and self preservation as motivating factors to tempt Jesus (Luke 4:1-13). But a temptation is only a temporary motivation, because once we yield the temptation we find that it does not satisfy. Even John, one of the disciples, mentions the fleeting nature of our worldly desires (1 John 2:17). So where should we look to find something worth living for, a lasting motivation? In Romans 12, Paul urges his audience to present themselves wholly to God because He is worthy (1-2). In other words, the believer is to be motivated serve God because of what Jesus Christ has done for them. Sin and self are no longer master of the believer. Christ has saved the believer to be conformed to Him and changed by Him. The believer is to be dedicated to God alone (1-2) and serve God’s purposes alone (3-8). Worldly thinking says that our purpose and motivation in living should be found in what we gain for our self. Ion the other hand the believer in Jesus Christ, who has been transformed by Christ, marches to a different drum beat and follows a different master. As a member of Christ body, the church, the believer in Jesus finds their significance in serving others and building the body. Self is removed from the center and Christ now rules the body, mind and action of the believer. Christ has not only saved us from sin, but He has saved us for His purpose of being a blessing that builds others for His kingdom. What motivates you?

For More See ROMANS

Guarantee of One

4/20/2025

Luke 24
From my childhood, many years ago, I recall playing with the canned goods in my mother’s kitchen. The metal cans were perfect for hauling in trucks, stacking in pyramids or rolling across the floor. For Mom, the cans filled with food were a good way to keep track of mischievous boys. To this day I clearly remember the dented cans and the fun that was had in that kitchen. The problem was that after several uses the labels on the cans were no longer attached, either intentionally or unintentionally. My brothers and I did not care, but for Mom that made meal preparation interesting. I can still remember Mom shaking the cans to try and guess the contents. Wanting canned corn Mom would open a can to find peaches, or finding baked beans instead of green beans. The menu would then instantly change and the conversation at the dinner table became very interesting. On Easter morning, approximately two thousand years ago, a tomb was opened. In Luke 24 the reality regarding the contents of Jesus empty tomb challenged the disciples, because dead people do not move (1-12). However, in searching the scriptures (13-27), their eyes were opened (28-32). The disciples now faced the reality that God’s work of salvation that had just been completed. They could not keep silent regarding their encounter with Jesus (33-36). My mother did not know the contents of the cans, but her experience upon opening them changed her conversation around the table. The same was true for the disciples of Jesus. But what about us? We live in a world that is governed by human expectation and measure. Like the disciples we struggle with beliefs when God changes the reality. The resurrection of Jesus should challenge our reality, change our beliefs and clarify our conversations. The open tomb and the resurrection point to the guarantee that we can have new life through belief in Jesus.

For More See LUKE

Belief in One

4/13/2025

Luke 23:26-48
Good news and bad news are on the opposite spectrum. The doctor calls and says the health report is not good, or you get a call about the birth of a grandchild. We enjoy the good, but our life is build around the bad. Our brain has a way of paying attention to what is bad and looking for a solution out of the predicament. Very simply we become people that want to find the good in the midst of the bad. God has intentionally created us to be searchers. Why are we like that? We are born into a broken world as people needing answers to life and we spend a lifetime working to provide those answers. We think, read, and search for God’s good in the bad. In the crucifixion of Jesus we see the bad news play out. Some mourned (27-28) while rulers and soldiers mocked Jesus (35-37) as he was placed on a cross between two thieves (32-33). The bad news and the reality of death seemed hopeless. Yet Luke records the change that occurred in one of the thieves , the centurion and even the crowd. God was at work bringing His good out of the worst bad that could ever happen. 1 Peter 3:18 states that, “Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous to bring you to God.” The broken world of Jesus day contained people looking for something better. The centurion found a righteous man in the midst of corruption and death (47). The thief found new life at the end of his own life (42-43). God even worked in the crowd to change their thinking (48). The good news is that Jesus has taken the bad news of our sin for us. Our broken world can only show us more brokenness and death, yet Jesus came to be the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). Belief in Jesus is good news for a broken world.

For More See LUKE

Prayer of One

4/6/2025

Luke 22:39-46
Perhaps you have seen over tired children have an emotional meltdown. It is not a pretty sight. All they will do is stand there and cry. If you ask them what is wrong they just cry and say, “I don’t know.” If you tell them that it is time to go to bed they will say through their tears, “But I’m not tired.” It is then that parental psychology along with great patience kicks in. As adults, we are just grown up children. We have learned how to manage the pressures of life by implementing what we have learned as children. God has designed the human body to respond to life’s pressures in various ways. The disciples of Jesus were no different. They were emotionally and mentally worn out with sorrow over Jesus coming death (45). Their natural response was to sleep to gain the strength to deal with the upcoming problem. Yet Jesus challenged them not to respond to life’s problems by not doing the first natural thing. In verse 46 He asked “Why are you sleeping?” Jesus wanted the disciples to know the power found in prayer to deal with the pressures. The temptation is to do what is natural. For a child it is stand there and cry. For the disciples it was sleep. When we pray we do what is unnatural to our human sensibilities. When we pray we find God strengthening us so we do not give into temptation of believing that God is incapable of working in the situation. Through prayer we can find God’s strength to stand under the pressures of life’s problems. Jesus showed the disciples the importance of responding on a spiritual level and gain God’s strength for life’s problems. Likewise, we need to do what is unnatural and pray for God’s strength rather than cry about the problem or trying to sleep off the problem.

For More See LUKE

Hope for One

3/30/2025

Luke 19:28-40
Words have meaning and sometimes the smallest words have greater meaning. Scripture mentions three important words by stating, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love (1 Corinthians 13:13).” We often talk about faith and love, but what about hope? What is the significance of hope? Little girls are given the name Hope and towns are named Hope. Why? In hope there is a belief and desire that something better will happen. Thus, little girls are named Hope and towns in new locations are named Hope. We as people are looking for and hoping for something better. The same was true in Jesus day. The people had correctly understood the Old Testament prophets as they spoke about a coming savior (e.g., Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-8; Micah 5:2). Now, as Jesus entered Jerusalem in Luke 19, the people saw Him as the king that had come to save them. They recalled the miracles that Jesus had performed and began praising Him (37). The crowd praised Jesus as the king who had come to save them (38), while Jesus acted as a king by giving commands (28-31), riding into the city (35) and accepting the praise (39-40). Hope moves us to act. Yet why do we lack hope and become hopeless? Perhaps we believe only what can be seen rather than in God who is unseen and at work. Perhaps we believe that nothing will change because even God has not done anything about the problem. Faith in Jesus changes our perspective by helping us see beyond the problems to the new life and hope filled reality that God offers. Hope challenges us to believe differently in the midst of hard times. That is why we name children Hope, and live in towns called Hope, and have hope in only one Savior. Jesus is the saving king who has come to give hope to a world that puts hope in all the wrong places.

For More See LUKE

Rescued

3/2/2025

Luke 15
In 1878 Margaret Wolfe Hungerford first penned the phrase, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” This old saying describes how each person will see things differently. Thus, what one person finds beautiful another may find bland. I was reminded of that fact this week during a walk where I saw a small table placed on the side of the road. Alongside the table was a sign that read “FREE.” Who does not like free things? Yet free often means that the item no longer has any value to the owner. After years of use and perhaps abuse the table was discarded because it lacked beauty and value. In Luke 15 Jesus, confronts the criticism of the religious leaders who questioned the value of His time spent with sinners. In response, Jesus told three parables that outlined His clear value of the sinner who is lost and in need of rescue. He uses the story of a lost sheep that is returned (4-7), a lost coin that is recovered (8-10) and a lost son who is restored (11-32). Each portrays their helplessness and need for grace from the savior who steps in and does what only the savior can do. In the end there is a celebration as the lost has been found and the sinner rescued. Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). Over the years I have fixed old tables, worn out chairs and beat up cabinets using glue and screws. I then cleaned, sanded and painted or varnished them and the piece again displays its beauty. All because the rescuer saw value and beauty in what others viewed as trash. God does the same for us. He calls us to Himself, rescues us from ourselves and sin, then cleans us up and makes us useful for His purposes. Jesus sees the rescue of sinners as a valuable thing of beauty that is worth doing and celebrating.

For More See LUKE or SHEBA

The Disciple's Vision

1/26/2025

Luke 19:1-10
Have you lost something? We have all lost something at some point in time like keys, glasses, or that important paper. But what about the times when we realize that what we have is something we don’t really desire like an old shirt, a broken chair, or out of style shoes. Our focus shifts from the invaluable things of the present, to a desire for some other thing. All too often we assign too much value to power, positions, and possessions, that we miss what is truly valuable. That is the story of Zacchaeus. Luke 19 tells us that he had power, position, and wealth (2), yet above those things he was motivated to see Jesus (3), and nothing was going to stop him (4). He had everything that a man could possibly get in this world, and yet he was an outcast searching for answers to the deep longings of his heart. He desired to be known and accepted. Zacchaeus had come to the point where he knew his life was not right. Yet, regardless of his sin, Jesus sought him out. He knew exactly where Zaccheus was in the tree and noted the change that faith had brought to his life (9). Jesus came to seek and save the lost (10). His focused vision for coming into this world was to save sinners (1 Tim. 1:15). Today, God works in us and through us to seek out the lost around us. We must believe and accept the salvation offered only through Jesus. It is His sacrifice on the cross that makes us right with God. As disciples of Jesus, we are to adopt His vision for the lost. Zacchaeus desired a new way to live with new values and a new vision for life. That drove him to search for answers and seek out Jesus. May we believe in Jesus as Savior, adopt His way of living, and help others do the same. Has Jesus found you and radically changed you?

For More See LUKE or 1 TIMOTHY or DISCIPLESHIP

The Disciple's Commitment

1/5/2025

Luke 9:23-26
This summer I watched the population of rabbits grow in our neighborhood. At first we only saw a few adult rabbits and then, little by little, there were a bunch of little bunnies that began to emerge from their nesting area. It was comical watching as the little ones come out of their nest and scurry about on their tiny legs. What we saw in our neighborhood is a natural process from conception to birth, to immaturity and finally maturity. This is the life process that you and I go through. We are born to grow and be productive members in our family and society. We grow as people through learning, nurturing and guidance of those who are older. The same is true on a on a spiritual level. The Bible describes this process as being a disciple which simply means learner. However, this is more than just learning head knowledge, this involves knowledge and practice of what is learned. In Luke 9:23 Jesus lays down the challenge to be committed to following Him by stating, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Today the symbol of the cross has been popularized in the form of a necklace of an artistic graphic design on a shirt. In reality the cross is a sign of commitment even to the point of death. Jesus and His audience understood that clearly. That kind of total commitment is the sign of a mature believer in Jesus who lives, as Jesus says, without regard for one self, but is instead dedicated to the advancement of His kingdom. As in the natural life process the mature are used to nurture and grow the young. Are you willing to grow in your knowledge of Christ and be used by God to grow His family just like the rabbits in my back yard?

For More See LUKE or DISCIPLESHIP

Message of Joy

12/29/2024

Isaiah 6:1-3
The Christmas letter… Long or short, it has turned into an annual feat that tests our writing skills and organization. As we attempt to summarize a year in words, or even photos we find ourselves being forced to become even more concise. What is the main idea that we want to communicate? What happened this year? What matters most that others need to hear? How can we communicate those key, life defining highlights of the past year? Have no fear, Christmas cards are here. If you are like me you will notice that many of the Christmas cards carry a theme of peace, hope or joy. Notice that the card companies do not promote happiness. Why is that? Happiness is a short term pleasure, whereas joy is long term sense of satisfaction that all is well. As we turn to Isaiah 61, we find that message of joy. This chapter opens with God’s select servant declaring the message of good news that He will bring (1). This people centered savior will bring joy that is found in God’s favor (2) to those who are broken, and held captive in the darkness of sin (1). That is definitely good news of great joy that is worth celebrating. The people looked forward to the day when this savior would come and deliver them from sin and restore His joy to their life and their land. Fast forward and we see Jesus quote these same words in Luke 4:14-21 as he began His earthly ministry. In His own words He stated that He is the promised one spoken of in Isaiah 61. Jesus brought God’s good news of salvation to all people. For us, that good news should still bring a deep sense of satisfaction. That is joy worth writing about in the annual Christmas letter. The joy that we have in Jesus as our savior needs to be heard from us all year.

For More See ISAIAH or CHRISTMAS

Transformation: Can God Change Me?

3/31/2024

Luke 24
If you want to spark a conversation try asking this question… “What would you do if I gave you a million dollars?” The answers are as varied as people and their individual personalities. However, underlying the answer is a root belief that something will change because of this new reality. This gift has the ability to remove concerns and worries. It changes ones perspective. The same is true of Easter. In Luke 24 the followers of Jesus were confronted with the resurrection of Jesus and that changed everything. The disciples who first saw the empty tomb (1-12) were confronted with God’s reality and the choice to believe that Jesus is alive. The troubled men walking on the road were presented the open Scriptures (13-27). The searching of the scriptures changed their perspective. The death of Jesus was necessary for true change to be offered and salvation to be a reality. Jesus opened the eyes of these men to see (28-32) that he died and returned to life. The reality that Jesus is alive and that he accomplished salvation moved these men to excitedly tell others of this new reality (33-36). Not only did they hear about Jesus being alive, they believed because they saw him. They were filled with joy and that changed their communication with others. For us today, it is easy to talk about what brings us joy. However, the joy of these disciples moved them to tell others who doubted about Jesus. The opening of our mouth as a witness naturally occurs because of our joy in Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus should challenge our doubts; change our beliefs about salvation; our understanding of God’s word; and our communication about Him. Jesus is alive and our belief in Him changes everything.

For more see LUKE or EASTER

That is Good

3/24/2024

Luke 23:26-48
There is an old story, from an unknown author, about an old king and his friend. This friend always had the habit of saying, “This is good,” in response to any and all situations. One day the king and this friend were out hunting and the gun exploded blowing off the king’s thumb. As expected the friend replied, “This is good.” The king became angry and sent his friend to jail. About a year later the king wandered into enemy territory and was captured. However, upon examination the enemies found him to be unacceptable because he was missing his thumb and thus not whole. So, being superstitious, they decided not to kill him and instead released him. On his way home the king thought about his life and his old friend. He immediately went to the jail and apologized to his friend. His friend replied, like normal, “This is good.” The king became upset, “How can being in jail be good?” The friend replied, “If I was not in jail I would have been with you.” Just like that story, the bad of Jesus crucifixion is good. His forgiveness changed people and changes us. In Luke 23 we read of the changed criminal (39-43) as he believed that Jesus was sinless, unlike himself. We also see the change in the hardened centurion (47) as he watched a righteous man die. Finally, we see changes in the crowd (48) as they return home with remorse having witnessed the Savior die. Jesus displayed grace to those in sorrow (28), forgiveness to the soldiers killing Him (34), and pardon to the convicted criminal (43). All this was accomplished in the moments before His death. It was His sacrifice and pain that purchased our pardon from sin. Jesus died for us and that is good. We can be forgiven and find release from the burden of sin through believing that His death was for our good.

For more see LUKE or EASTER

Service: What Must I Do?

3/10/2024

Matthew 26:6-16
The other day my yard was invaded by a bunch of kids, and I enjoyed every minute of it. We started with games like tug of war, and ended with a big fire. The definition of a fire is a spark that ignites oxygen and fuel. On a cold day the warmth of a fire is nice. But, have you noticed that a fire on a warm day also draws you in? Why? What is it about a fire that attracts us? The movement of the flame is intriguing; the light from the flame is illuminating; the warmth of the flame is inviting. Is that not also true about Jesus? What He does in our world is intriguing. The truth of His words illuminate the darkness of our lives, and His presence invites us into the warmth of a relationship with Him. Like a fire we see that Mary was repeatedly drawn into a relationship with Jesus her Savior. She sat at Jesus feet, listening to Jesus, while Martha made the meal (Luke 10:38-42). She bowed down at Jesus feet, grieving the death of her brother Lazarus (John 11:28-32). Now, at the meal with the disciples, she worships at the feet of Jesus (Matthew 26:6-16; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-8). Mary willingly gave her most valued possession in service to Christ. She had a passion to be with, to worship and to serve Jesus, her Savior. In much the same way our love and worship for Jesus should fill the air around us like Mary’s perfume. Do we have that same passion to be with Jesus and sit at His feet and serve Him? We can sit at Jesus feet by spending time listening to His word, responding in prayer and doing what honors Him. Mary’s love for Jesus, and faith in Him, filled the room. Like a fire, may our faith in our Savior draw others into the warmth of His love for them.

Fore more see MATTHEW or EASTER

Being vs. Doing

2/29/2024

Luke 10:38-42
Have you ever experienced fog? Fog is caused when warm air makes contact with cooler ground. The cooler ground causes any moisture that is in the air to condense into fine water drops that form a low lying cloud. Fog often settles into a low lying valleys, but can also cover large open areas. The solution to fog is the heat of the sun that warms the air and wind that moves in to break up the low lying cloud. The problem with fog is that it obscures what is important. If you are driving in foggy conditions it limits visibility and hides the corners ahead. In a way we can also have a personal fog in our lives that obscures what is really important. We can become so busy with the things and events of life that we miss what is truly important. In Luke 10:38-42 we see such an event illustrated for us in the home of Mary and Martha. These women, along with their brother Lazarus, were close friends of Jesus. In the process of traveling, Jesus stopped at their home for a meal. Martha became distracted with all the preparations of the meal (40), while Mary sat and listened to Jesus (39). Finally, Martha lost it and told Jesus to tell Mary to get into the kitchen and help (40). Jesus turned, and instead of chiding Mary, corrected Martha. He said that Mary had chosen what is better (42). How often are we like that? How often do we loose our bearings in the midst of all the activities of life that we neglect the important thing of being with Jesus and simply listening to Him? We have been trained to be people who get things done. However, Jesus invites us to be with Him, learn from Him and be the people He wants us to be. Don’t allow the fog of doing the things of life obscure the most important thing of being with Jesus and becoming what He wants you to be.

for more see PRIORITY of PRAYER or PRIORITY of PATIENCE

What is Prayer?

2/4/2024

Luke 11:1-13
When we think of prayer I believe that we often have three basic responses. First is the emergency prayer. This is treating God like the emergency room in a hospital or calling 911. We only pray in an emergency and about emergencies in our life. The second type of prayer is the memorized prayer. This is the bed time prayer that we might have been taught that is said every night or a repetition of the Lord’s prayer. This is simply a memorized prayer just moves through the words that are always said without seeking a real connection with God. This leads us to the third type of prayer and that is the relational prayer. This type of prayer is where the communication is open, honest and thoughtful. This is what Jesus wanted to teach His disciples about prayer. As we look at what is known as the Lord’s prayer in Luke 11 notice that the disciples asked to be taught how to pray (1). That opening statement is important because what follows is clearly an example of how to pray not what to pray, as in just repeating the words. In teaching the disciples how to pray Jesus noted that prayer is relational (1-2) and practices dependence (3-4), persistence (5-8), confidence (9-10) and faith (11-13). So, let us pray using what Jesus taught… Father, we come today declaring our relationship with you as the one who rules our life. We depend on you for all things because we believe that you are reliable. Help us to persist in prayer because we know that you care. Strengthen our faith to declare in confidence that you are in control even when we may not see what you are doing. Thank you, for displaying to us your consistent goodness. Thank you for guiding us by your Spirit in all things because you desire a continual relationship with us. We have all that we need in you because of what Jesus has done on the cross for us, amen.

For more see LUKE or QUESTIONS & ANSWERS or PRAYER

What is the Church?

1/28/2024

Matthew 16:13-20
“Throw the rocks into the woods and listen to the music they make… rock music!” We all groaned at the joke that our gym teacher had just made. It all started as the weather began to warm, the rocks began to show up and our Jr. High teacher who was also the track coach saw a need. The problem that needed to be addressed was that the gravel running track around the school was full of rocks that would cause tripping or twisted ankle hazards for the track team. His simple solution was to get each and every gym glass outside to throw rocks into the woods and thus clean the track for the runners. However, multiple rocks making multiple thuds is not music in any form. Yet, often we think of the church in that way. We look at what the church does and use that to define what the church is. The function of the church can never define the church. Instead the church finds its source in who God is as one who has a passion for people (Luke 19:10) and a desire for true worshipers (John 4:23-34). Out of that passion and purpose God created something new through the new promise given in the blood of Christ to create a new community of worshipers who are connected through belief in Christ and under the direction of the Spirit. A proper understanding of who God is leads to a correct definition of the church. This in turn directs the function of the church, one that has a passion to whole heartedly follow and worship God. In Matthew 16:13-20 Jesus states that He will build His church (18). Many people have misapplied this passage to historical or present day people. Notice however that Jesus words are a reference to Himself and His action of building His church. Still today we struggle with the idea that our actions are what build a church. In doing so we define the church by what the church does rather than by who the church is founded on. It is just like saying that rocks make music. When we believe that our actions build the church that is not music to God’s ears… it is just a dull thud, like rocks falling in the woods.

For more see MATTHEW or QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

What is a Disciple?

1/21/2024

Luke 14:25-35
Summer camp was fun. It was the anticipated annual event that I remember attending as a kid. There were many activities and things to learn and do, but my favorite was the skill class, and for that I always chose archery. I was, and still am, intrigued by the skill needed to shoot an arrow and get it to hit the center of the target. It is actually harder than it looks. In the skill class the teacher helped us learn the technical side of archery and the form needed to shoot correctly. However, there was much more. We were required to memorize safety rules and implement them at all times in the class. I quickly learned that listening to the teacher and doing what he taught really helped my efficiency in using the bow and the accuracy of shooting the arrow. As I progressed in skill and knowledge the teacher gave me the task of helping others learn the technicalities of archery and do it safely. The same is true for a disciple of Jesus Christ. We begin our spiritual life when we not only believe, but accept that Jesus has paid the price for our sin. It is from that point forward that we are given the challenge to “hear the word of God and obey it!”(Luke 11:28). A true disciple of Jesus is literally a committed follower who accepts His teaching as valuable for all of life and puts it into practice. In Luke 14:25-35 Jesus gives several key characteristics of a disciple. It all begins with a relationship with Him (26) and a commitment to Him (27). Like in archery, when we depend on Jesus and listen to Him as our teacher we will have something of spiritual value, that can be passed on to others, that will guide them in their daily walk with Him.

For more see LUKE or QUESTIONS & ANSWERS or DISCIPLESHIP

Truth That Changes You

12/31/2023

Isaiah 61:1-2
Today, a common statement is, “My truth is my truth and your truth is your truth.” The problem is that does not provide for a consistent standard or measurement of truth. It also does not line up with what we see in nature. For example, we know when water freezes. Water does not freeze at one temperature for you and 20 degrees different for me. Gravity does not hold one person down and push another up. What we know to be true impacts our beliefs and lifestyle. We wear shoes because gravity hurts our feet and we take a canoe to the lake in the summer not ice skates. However, beyond the daily activities of life what we know to be true will impact our faith. How do we know what to base our faith on? Hebrews 11:1-2 tells us that faith believes even if the outcome is not seen. The problem is that we as people have developed a personal view that we know it all and any changes or challenges to that view are rejected as not true or real. That was the problem that Jesus faced from the people in His home town. Luke 4:16 records that it started as Jesus entered the temple and read a passage from Isaiah 61. As he finished he stated that the words He read had been fulfilled that day (21). This passage in Isaiah was understood to look forward to God’s promised coming savior. Yet as Jesus continued to teach, the audience could not accept the truth that He was presenting. In short they became so angry that they tried to kill him (29). Jesus was challenging his home town audience to see Him for who he really is as savior and God. I leave you with this challenge. Do not dismiss Jesus but instead examine His claims. He came as God to be your savior. Faith in Him alone will change your measurement of truth and your life.

For more see ISAIAH or SONGS of CHRISTMAS

Song of Celebration

12/24/2023

Luke 2:29-32
Puzzle games, you know the ones… they are intriguing wood or wire shapes that are intertwined as one and yet can be taken apart and reassembled. You have probably seen them or perhaps bought them for the inquisitive minds in your family. I remember one Christmas as a kid sitting on the floor after being given a set of heavy wire ones, and eventually figuring them out. It took quite a while, but when I solved the puzzle, I remember thinking, “Wow, so that is how it is done.” Fast forward a number of years and I was given a small wood block with only one hole in it. Inside, apparently, there were several passage ways for a small ball to roll. The goal is simple, just remove the ball from the hidden maze using nothing but your sense of sound and imagination of where the ball is rolling. Again, after a bit of time, I was able to solve it. I remember thinking, “Wow, so that is how it is done.” In a similar way in Luke 2 we see a similar unsolved puzzle. This puzzle is different as it does not require human effort to solve, only careful observation of God’s action. We pick up the story of an old man named Simeon in verse 25 where he is described as a faithful godly man. He had been promised that he would not die until he had seen the savior that God had promised (26). Simeon had been looking, but the savior had not been revealed to him until Joseph and Mary walked into the temple with the baby Jesus (27). When Simeon sees Jesus he bursts forth in a song of celebration (29-32) for God’s faithfulness and His perfect plan of salvation. It is almost as if he says, “Wow, so that it how it is done.” Like Simeon, we can have the same response as we see that Jesus is the promised savior and believe that He is our savior.

For more see LUKE or SONGS OF CHRISTMAS or SALVATION

Questions of Peace

12/17/2023

Luke 2:14
I have four questions for you. First, Have you thought about the word peace recently? The simple word is often used as a greeting or parting wish. The words that we use show the deep desire for what we seek. Our words reflect our heart desire for what is calm and tranquil, without conflict. We desire our relationships and our world to be peaceful. We desire peace, but all too often it is only temporary.

Second, Have you thought about world peace recently? We are surrounded with all that is not peaceful. There is the tension with the family member, the ongoing problem with the neighbor, the clash with others at the worksite followed by what we see on the news with conflicts between nations. We long for peace within and without, but our surroundings and circumstances seem to keep peace at an unreachable distance.

Third, Have you thought about your peace recently? We all strive for peace. Some may seek peace through escaping society and heading out to the wilderness and quiet of nature. Others may seek peace through their opposition and protest of conflict that has erupted. Still, some others seek peace through their own dominance and tightfisted control, while others seek peace through possessions that will insulate and isolate them from the world. None of these will give lasting peace. To be completely fair, these may bring a form of temporary peace but nothing that is permanent.

So, Fourthly, Have you thought about God’s peace recently? Our desire for peace is not born within us and our own conscious desires for self preservation and comfort. So where does the desire for peace come from? We as created beings are a reflection of God who has made us. He is the one who has made us, and created peace. It is through Him that we can know true peace. In Luke 2:14 the angels are sent to the shepherds to announce the birth of the promised savior who will bring peace (Isaiah 9:6). This is a peace between God and mankind as God gives His peace through His son Jesus. This is based on God’s gracious display of His favor toward all who believe in His son, born as a baby to be the savior of the world. Do you believe that? Are you experiencing His peace in the midst of chaos in our world?

For more see LUKE or SONGS OF CHRISTMAS

Faith Over the Impossible

12/12/2023

Luke 1:67-80
The unbelieving priest. That sounds like something that is completely opposite of what it is supposed to be. Zechariah was the religious leader who was to lead the nation in the worship of God, yet his belief faltered. Why? In Luke 1:5-25 God sent an angel to tell Zechariah that he and his wife Elizabeth would have a son. Up to this point they were childless. From the text we understand that their inability to have children had been a matter of prayer. So when the angel announced that their prayer had been answered, Zechariah’s faith wavered. He wanted to know how they could have a child since they were old. All Zechariah could see was the human physical impossibility and not faith in the all powerful God despite the seeming impossibility. Have you ever been there? You know, the situation that you have prayed about and nothing changes. We may start out believing but when the answers do not come we easily move from discouragement to disillusionment and perhaps even distance from God. Remember, just because God does not provide the answer in our timeframe, does not mean that God is not at work or capable to work. Zechariah seemed to allow the dark cloud of despair to distort his view of God and doubt His word. Because of his unbelief the angel Gabriel pronounced God’s judgment on Zechariah. He would be silent, unable to speak until the birth of his son (Luke 1:20). Following later in the chapter Luke records that people had to use gestures to communicate with Zechariah (61-63) leading us to believe that he was deaf and mute. Imagine, at least nine months in the solitary confinement of your own thoughts. It seems that God used that time to do His work in old Zechariah’s heart, because the first words out of his mouth were praise to God (68). The life of Zechariah reminds us that we must live by faith believing that God is at work to save us from our sin and self centered pity and trust Him. If you find yourself in the doldrums of despair try praising God for His past and present work. It will change your focus and reignite your faith.

For more see LUKE or SONGS OF CHRISTMAS

Magnification

12/11/2023

Luke 1:46-56
Have you ever picked up a magnifying glass? At various times I remember finding one and being amazed at how large the letters on a page can be. However, in using the magnifying glass all that is enlarged is only within the frame of the glass. If you want to see more you need to move the glass. For example, you might use a magnifying glass to see an ant in greater detail, but you would not need one to see an elephant. In Luke 1:46 Mary begins her song that magnifies or exalts God. She is not describing God as small, instead she sings of His greatness and grandeur by drawing attention to His work as the Mighty One on her behalf (49). This is a contrast of power. Mary is weak but God is mighty. God worked on her behalf and accomplished that which was humanly impossible. Mary was the willing servant that God used to bring about the greatest impossibility, the birth of Jesus, God’s son, to be the Savior of the world. Today’s culture is often absorbed with self. It is seen in the gathering of attention and perhaps followers to be seen as great. That view and practice is much like taking a magnifying glass to an ant and making it look big. In contrast to that, Mary magnifies God through her song. She describes the greatness of God and His work in her life and world as she has submitted to Him. She is not attracting attention to herself. Instead, Mary describes the greatness of God and His salvation and blessing that only He could make possible through the birth of Jesus. Mary’s belief of God’s greatness directed her life, her joy and her speech. From her song she desires that others would know God’s greatness. Are we doing the same with our life?

For more see LUKE or SONGS of CHRISTMAS

What Will You Do With Jesus?

4/10/2023

Luke 24
It all began a week ago. There was a thump on the window and then thrashing and scratching. This continued for days until I finally caught a glimpse of a Robin staring at the window and then attacking the window in defense of its territory. The problem is that the Robin was fighting the reflection of its own image. Research has informed me that eventually the love sick Robin will stop, and tend to caring for his nest. In his angry little bird brain the Robin only sees a rival and a threat, not reality. We approach Easter and the resurrection in much the same way. On Easter we come face to face with the intersection of divinity and humanity. Jesus as a man died, but as God He was raised from the dead and returned to life. That is the dilemma the people in Luke 24 faced. At the resurrection of Jesus there were questions of belief (1-12). However, His followers publicly proclaimed that the resurrection is a reality. That was followed by the searching questions from two of His followers. However, Jesus met them, and pointed them to the Scriptures and the necessity of His death to pay for sin (13-27). Salvation is possible through belief in Jesus Christ alone. Ephesians 2:8-9 makes it clear that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ and not by anything we can do on our own. Jesus paid our debt of sin and because He lives we can have new life through Him. Our faith and hope are based on Christ and His love for us. On Easter Sunday, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. As in Luke 24, Jesus wants to change us from doubters to ones who tell others of Him (33-36). What will you do with Jesus? Have your eyes been opened to the reality that that Jesus is alive (28-32)?

for more see LUKE or EASTER

Why Pray?

1/29/2023

Luke 18:1-8
You hear the screaming child before you see them. You know, the one in the store in the next isle over that throws a temper tantrum because a wise parent just told them, “No.” There was the certain type of food or specific treat that was just refused and the result is a vocal show complete with flailing arms. The child has gone completely out of control screaming for what they desperately think they need. We groan when we see that play out, but do we not do the same thing with God at times? We think we know what is best and exactly what we need, so we proceed to tell God what He must do for us. Our request turns to a loud demand and then to a scream and God refuses to answer. James 4:3 states that we do not receive from God because we ask with wrong motives. Instead, our prayer should be like the woman in Luke 18:1-8 who persistently asked the judge to do what is right. Her persistence is faith in action. But, what keeps us from prayer and seeking God’s righteousness in our life and our world? The main issue is a lack of faith that displays itself through our response to pain, problems, and pride. When we are in pain we incorrectly think that God is distant and does not hear. When we face problems we attempt our solutions rather than His, because in pride we say that we do not need God. At times we simply do not pray because we do not believe that God hears or is powerful enough to work. Prayer is our communication of faith to our loving heavenly Father who is able to work. God sees, knows, has the solution, and is able to work. Will we let Him? Will we pray?

For more see LUKE or DISCIPLESHIP

The Disciple's Commitment

1/8/2023

Luke 9:23-26
Recently I was reviewing some of my illustrations and came across a computer file titled Confidence Control and Trust that contained a letter from some long time family friends and believers in Jesus Christ. They wrote about the recent passing of a family member and those now left behind. The letter continued by stating that three days before that loss the boss had called the husband in for a difficult conversation which led to him being laid off from his job. I saved the letter because of the second to last paragraph where their commitment to Christ was restated regardless of how dark and difficult their present situation looked. Their stated desire was to be sensitive to what God would have them do and respond accordingly. For the disciple of Christ commitment to Christ is not just when life is easy. Commitment for the disciple means following in the difficult times. In Luke 9:23 Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” This verse speaks of the sacrifice of self and the imitation of the selfless attitude and action of Christ. There is also the sacrifice of service as we are challenged to pick up our cross. The cross was well known in Jesus day as a source of suffering that would lead to death. Jesus notes that sacrifice and suffering are marks of those who chose to be committed followers of Him. Jesus says that this is a daily practice, as illustrated by my friends. A disciple of Christ is a committed follower of Christ who practices what Christ has taught and follows the model of how Christ lived. Commitment to Christ counts the cost of following Him in the present and unashamedly follows Him each day, even in the difficult ones. Are we disciples of Jesus who completely believe only in Him and are committed to living only for Him?

For more see LUKE or DISCIPLESHIP