Author: Norm

THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 5:1-11 “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” (Luke 5:8) Did you notice that Jesus blesses Peter BEFORE Peter repents? In my experience, Christian practice has been the opposite. Before they’re allowed in the boat with Jesus, they must repent. But by this practice, are we not reinforcing the…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 4:42-44 “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns.” (Luke 4:43) Jesus has a sense of urgency to spread the message far and wide. Once He has success, He is not content to settle in and stay. To settle in and stay… this is not…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 72 “Endow the king with your justice, O God, with your righteousness. (Psalm 72:1) Imagine the perfect government, led by the perfect leader. Always striking the right balance between justice and mercy. Leading with integrity, honesty, morality and fairness for all. David is praying that he will be this kind of leader….

THE STORY OF JESUS: Job 25-27 “I will never admit you are in the right.” (Job 27:5) As I read these speeches, I struggle to know what is right. Both Job and his friends speak confidently, as if they are right. In the end, God humbles both Job and His friends. In a sense, none of them…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Job 22-24 “If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored.” (Job 22:23) These words from Eliphaz sound so right: repent, and God will restore you. We use similar words, assuming that it is because we sinned that we suffer. Meanwhile, Job doesn’t think he has anything to repent of. “The upright…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 4:38-41 “Jesus rebuked them and would not allow them to speak…” (Luke 4:41) In my experience, demons are bodyless voices that taunt, torment and tempt. Whatever their spiritual substance is, it’s their spiritual intent that matters. They want to discourage, defeat, distract, or deceive us from God. These dark voices were trying…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 4:31-37 “Amazed at his teaching because his words had authority.” (Luke 4:32) Words are very powerful for shaping or world, for good or for evil. God used words to create, Satan used words to deceive. As a Teacher, Jesus spoke with authority because God stood behind His words. “Be quiet! Come out…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 4:22-30 “Do here… what we have heard that you did (there)!” (Luke 4:23) Have you ever asked Jesus to do for you what He did for others? ‘Lord, heal or help me like you healed or helped them!’ Have you ever doubted Jesus because a miracle didn’t happen? If Jesus cannot heal…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 4:14-21 “The Spirit of the Lord… has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.” (Luke 4:18) Jesus is God’s promised messiah (‘anointed one’), anointed to do God’s work. And this is God’s work… to help the poor, weak, suffering and oppressed. Human history is a litany of misery and injustice,…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 71 “Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God…” (Psalm 71:18) As we reach retirement, we can lose our sense of value and purpose. The old may begin to feel displaced by the young. Some older people may feel lonely, unappreciated, forsaken. Do we ever lose or…