The Chosen Ones - Num. 1-2 & Mark 2:1-19

As we begin the book of Numbers, we are introduced to the different tribes and a census is taken. The census was based on men who were able to fight - that is healthy men who were 20 yrs. of age and older. The numbers are pretty staggering. All together, not counting the women, children, or Levites, there were approximately 600,000 people! Add in wives for each of those men and a couple of children and we're talking about 2.4 million people traveling with Moses through the desert in search of God's promised land. Holy cow! Have you ever imagined that many people when you read these stories? Even if it was just the 600,000 that's a lot of people - and when times were tough - a lot of complaining!

We also see a select group of people in Mark 2. Jesus chooses 12 disciples. Several of these men were fishermen, one was a tax collector, and the others we're not sure about. Not exactly an all-star team. But Jesus obviously knew what He was doing. That rag-tag group of men seemed a little slow when Jesus was teaching them, and a little cowardly when Jesus' time of persecution came, but they sure came through when it mattered. When Jesus was crucified and then resurrected, this small group of guys were filled with power, courage, and wisdom by the Holy Spirit and their witness was so powerful that this Jesus-movement is still very much alive today.

The cool thing is God chooses us in the same way. Just like the Israelites and the 12 disciples, we are ordinary people. But once we get "infected" by God, we become powerful. Our focus is changed and God begins to transform us. If this transformation is missing in your life, you need to check into that quickly, because you, as a Christian, are a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come. You have to realize that you must be active in this process. God works in and through us, but we must be intentional about how we live our lives. May we seek to live for Him and become like Him in the process.

On a side note: I will not be blogging this weekend. Our youth group is teaming up with another youth group to do the 30 Hour Famine. We will not eat for 30 hours in an effort to become more aware of the millions of people who struggle with malnourishment and starvation everyday. Through our fundraising efforts we are working to fight hunger throughout the world. Please pray for us as we take part in this life-changing event and pray for those around the world who battle just to stay alive each day.

Something New - Lev. 26-27 & Mark 2

It's hard to change isn't it? Especially when it involves something that you hold near and dear to you as foundational. But God requires change sometimes. When Jesus came, the religious folks had a lot of problems with Him (as can be seen in Mark 2 - today's passage). Jesus came with something new from God. He came with a relationship to replace laws. He came with forgiveness and grace to replace judgment and punishment and guilt. The Pharisees were very leery of Jesus because of this - they thought God would never "change" things on them like this.

We see a similar thing happen in Acts 10. Peter, a devout Jew, was on the roof praying when he had a vision from God, in which a blanket full of "unclean" animals was lowered down to him. God told him to "Kill and eat." This happened three times. Then some men arrived and asked Peter to come with them to Caeserea to talk with their master (who happened to be Greek). With the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, Peter went. He even told Cornelius upon his arrival that speaking to him was against the law (for Jews). But God led Peter nonetheless. Peter witnessed to them about Jesus and His resurrection and the Holy Spirit fell on them all. Peter was amazed that God was opening up this opportunity to them! But God is not afraid of change.

I wonder what things we are holding so near and dear to us that God wants to change? Are we open to God's leading still?

Catching Up - Lev. 17-25 & Matt. 27b - Mark 1

Wow, sorry about that friends - I slacked off this weekend. I haven't blogged since last Thursday, so we have some catching up to do. I'll try to be brief... :) (yeah right)

Leviticus has talked about all kinds of things that last few days hasn't it? Forbidden sexual practices, holiness in personal conduct, punishments for specific sins, rules for priests, seasons & festivals, just punishment, sabbath years and years of jubilee, and redemption of property and people. Let me just hit a few highlights...

• Forbidden sexual practices - God has a plan for sex. It is NOT a plan to rob us of pleasure. Rather, it is a plan to fulfill us sexually. Our world has tried to teach us that anything goes and that we should live it up. TV shows and movies and music make just about anything look or sound glamorous. But we aren't fooled when we watch the news and hear all of the sickening statistics that come from our screwed up world. By the way, read through these forbidden things. They are probably not things you want to do anyway!!!
  
  
• Holiness in personal conduct - God says, "Be holy because I am holy." This is not something followers of Jesus can leave in the Old Testament. We are only made truly holy by God's grace and forgiveness. But we need to remember that we represent God to this world and the only way they are going to be aware of His holiness is if we are different.
  

• Punishments for disobedience - these are so harsh. Two huge things we can learn from this list is 1) God hates sin and 2) How wonderful it is that God provided grace through His own sacrifice in Jesus.

• Seasons and festivals - How cool that God provides parties and celebrations and special days throughout the year for the people to remember Him and how He has rescued them. Too bad God doesn't still rule on holidays instead of Hallmark...

• Sabbath year, Year of Jubilee, Redemption of people and property - Notice, even back in these days, God's concern for people and His creation. Rest, renewal, and grace are much needed things for everyone. May we practice them more so in our world.

The end of the gospel of Matthew and the beginning of Mark are more than can be covered in one blog. How could I possibly sum up Jesus' death, resurrection, and Great Commission in a timely manner?! Or the importance of John the Baptist, Jesus' baptism, His wilderness temptation, His calling of the disciples, and His healings?!?! Wow. What an awesome God we serve. How is it so easy for us to keep from telling people this Good News?

If you haven't been able to keep up with any kind of Scripture reading this far into the year, here is a good place to start (or start over). We are about to begin Numbers in the Old Testament and we are just starting Mark in the New Testament. Join us!!!