THE STORY OF JESUS: Micah 4-7 “Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.” (Micah 7:8) Micah is bringing hope to a shamed and desperate nation. He envisions a day when everyone will love and serve God. God’s anointed king will rule over all nations, and everyone will welcome it. No more war, violence,…
The leadership challenge!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Micah 1-3 “Listen, you leaders of Jacob. Should you not embrace justice.” (Micah 3:1) Things go really bad for the people whose leaders go corrupt. Justice refers to what is good, right and fair. When leaders focus instead on what is easy, or in their own interest… Or when leaders make their own…
Jesus still teaches me!
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 14:25-31 “The Holy Spirit… will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26) The Spirit of Jesus is still with us, even if He is not physically with us. As I contemplate Jesus through the gospels, the Spirit of Jesus teaches me. He reminds me of what Jesus said,…
My invisible friend!
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 14:15-24 “The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14:17) Let’s be honest, God is invisible to us, so is Jesus, so is the Spirit. Yet so many people claim to ‘see’…
The Jesus way for everyone!
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 14:5-14 “I am the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6) Some people dislike the narrow-mindedness of these words. They want to affirm that there are many ways to find God. I will grant that there are many ways to TRY to find God. But that does not mean that…
God’s dream home!
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 14:1-4 “My Father’s house has many rooms…” (John 14:2) ‘My Father’s house’ is another way of saying God’s family. God created a family to live in His ‘very good’ creation. He prepared this place (creation) for us, but we ruined it. God sends Jesus to repair and prepare this place for us….
Waiting for the Lord’s reward!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 119:73-96 “How long must your servant wait?” (Psalm 119:84) Trusting in and obeying the Lord does not make like easier. We find ourselves fighting against the current, against the wind. We commit to doing the right thing, and then the situation worsens. Telling the truth at work can make things better… or…
For people who need hope!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Nahum 1-3 “Woe to the city of blood, full of lies, full of plunder, never without victims!” (Nahum 3:1) Do you remember the stories about life under ISIS control? Citizens describe it as hellish: beheadings, stonings, forced conversions. Rape, men forced to fight jihad, young girls forced to marry ISIS soldiers. Nineveh in…
Our gracious and compassionate God!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Jonah 1-4 “I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.” (Jonah 4:2) Nineveh is the capitol of Assyria, a occupying nation over Israel. Jonah hates Assyria (like a Palestinian might hate Israel today). But God uses fishy…
Jesus asks hard questions
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 13:31-38 “Will you really lay down your life for me?” (John 13:38) When we talk with Jesus, He asks really hard questions. Peter is talking big about his commitment to Jesus. Jesus probes deep, ‘do you really love me that much?’ (see John 21:15-19) Do you experience the Spirit probing your heart like…