Author: Norm

THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 123 “As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master…” (Psalm 123:2) In one sense, we are like slaves to God… and yet not. Slaves to humans are usually treated with contempt. But in this psalm, God is not the one who abuses humans. Humans, not God, are the…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Proverbs 6 “Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched?” (Proverbs 6:28) In our sad messed up world, even this needs to be stated. I recall speaking to a woman who had married someone else’s husband. She was in tears because he had subsequently cheated on her. She was…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Proverbs 5 “You will say, “How I hated discipline! How my heart spurned correction!” (Proverbs 5:12) Wisdom is constantly calling us to stop and think, and to stay away from trouble. Since the words here are written to a young man, the ‘trouble’ is sexual temptation. But the tempting trouble can be anything;…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 2:23-28 “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27) The phrase ‘son of man’ for the Jews meant God’s promised messiah. Ever since Adam and Eve, humanity has been looking for a ‘hero’. Someone to establish rest, peace, justice, blessing… the good life. God had promised that…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 2:18-22 “And no one pours new wine into old wineskins.” (Mark 2:22) Why do I not try to fit my life into the Law of Moses? Because as helpful as it was in its time, we are no longer under that Law. The primary purpose of the Law of Moses was to…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 2:13-17 “Many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples.” (Mark 2:15) The church is not a gathering of saints, but of sinners that God accepts as saints. What we really have in common in the church is our desperate condition and need for Jesus. It strikes me often…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 2:1-12 “The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” (Mark 2:10) The teachers of the law were partially right, only God can forgive sins… AND… those that God gives the authority to forgive for Him. In Genesis 1, God assigned His authority to Adam and Eve as His appointed rulers….

THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 122 “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” (Psalm 122:6) When this Psalm was written, the old covenant temple was in Jerusalem. Today, the new covenant temple (believers) are everywhere. “For God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:17) As Jesus followers, our Jerusalem is wherever Jesus followers are. Pray…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Proverbs 4 “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23) The physical heart is central to human health, we need to take good care of it. The spiritual heart is central to human health, we need to take good care of it. Many people are finding…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Proverbs 3 “Wisdom is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; Those who hold her fast will be blessed.” (Proverbs 3:18) God places two choices before humans, symbolized by the two trees. A choice that leads to life, and a choice that leads to death. Everyday we face the…