SCRIPTURE: Psalm 134 This psalm urges the priests not to stop their duties in the night shift. When no one is around, or no one is looking, or when things are dark and scary. In those times too, praise the Lord and anticipate His blessing. The night shift can represent those times when it’s easy to…
Author: Norm
Follow or resist?
Jesus tapped me on the shoulder and said, Bob, why are you resisting me? I said, I’m not resisting you! He said, You gonna follow me? I said, I’ve never thought about that before! He said, When you’re not following me, you’re resisting me. –Bob Dylan
To know Jesus like THIS!
SCRIPTURE: Philippians 3-4 “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” (Philippians 4:11) As far as his worldly situation and struggles, Paul is content. He doesn’t worry himself about food or money or possessions or being in prison. But when it comes to desire for God’s best and blessing, he is driven. “I consider everything a…
Extolling the greatness of Jesus!
SCRIPTURE: Philippians 1-2 “The important thing is that in every way… Christ is preached.| (Philippians 1:18) Paul doesn’t mind being imprisoned and mistreated, if Christ is preached. Paul is prepared to live or die, what matters is that Christ is preached. I find the picture that Paul presents of Christ here very inspiring. This is the Jesus…
All washed up!
SCRIPTURE: Acts 10:44-48 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water.” (Acts 10:47) I have a very simple view on the symbol of baptism. Grace is not tied to the symbol, the symbol points to grace. There’s nothing supernatural about the water, it is not ‘holy water’. It’s like a wedding…
Open or closed to what He says?
SCRIPTURE: Acts 10:23-33 “God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.” (Acts 10:28) Peter is acting on what God has shown him. Cornelius also acted on what God showed him. What has God shown us, and are we acting on it? Do we treat people differently, based on who or how they…
New testament living!
SCRIPTURE: Acts 10:9-23 “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” (Acts 10:15) In the Jewish Law, there were long lists of ‘clean’ and ‘unclean’. These were object lessons to teach the lesson of holiness vs. unholiness. But these laws were temporary, put in place until Jesus came. Through His death, Jesus has restored God’s…
On their way to Jesus
SCRIPTURE: Acts 10:1-8 “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.” (Acts 10:2) This man was an ethical monotheist, not a Jew: believing in one God and good morals. This is important; his good religion does not ‘save’ him, but it is valued by God. His good heart opens…
Channels of peace
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 133 “For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.” Psalm 133:3) What a joy it is when the family is together, and getting along! I have heard of families where there is tension, even hatred and meanness. Or families where one member hasn’t been heard from or spoken to in years. God’s dream…
The ‘modern’ idea of church
“The ‘modern’ idea of church, or ecclesiology, it seems is that the church exists as a venue to “attract” the lost through dynamic programs, performances and events—the more dynamic the better. What one pastor friend of mine referred to as “theo-tainment.” The problem with emphasizing this approach exclusively is that a disproportionate amount of the…