January 7, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 12:9-14 OBSERVATIONS This story follows the previous one, where Jesus has explained that God desires mercy more than sacrifice, ie keeping the Law is not the goal, but obeying the intent of the Law, namely mercy. Jesus points out that if exceptions are made for animals in distress, how much more…
living in fellowship with God
January 6, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Psalm 15 OBSERVATIONS One of the struggles we face as Christians is how we balance God’s will (to be blameless, righteous, to speak the truth, to not wrong our neighbour, to keep our word, to help the poor and reject bribes) and God’s mercy (forgiveness for our failure and inability to obey…
The idolatry of God
I am intrigued by this video book promo for a book by this title. Peter Rollins is suggesting that we reduce God to an idol when we turn God and faith and life into a system that works, that makes sense. He is urging us to embrace mystery, dissatisfaction and uncertainty, to admit that life…
Peace in His Presence
When I was a teenager, I had a paper route. I remember one occasion when there was a vicious looking dog – a doberman pinser, normally in the back yard behind a gate – sitting on the front step, watching me approach with teeth bared, a barely audible growl coming to my ear. I had…
seeking God, not just the gifts
A.B.Simpson wrote this hymn entitled “Himself”, which reveals the shift from seeking spiritual blessings to seeking the Blesser Himself, and the resulting blessing that comes from knowing and seeking Him. Sometimes I can get so busy, so focused on “spiritual things and activities”, that I lose sight of what they are all about, or where…
God is bigger, better than we think
January 4-5, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Exodus 32-40 OBSERVATIONS What is God like? How do you experience God? Can each person decide what God is like for themselves… “God as we understood Him.” (from AA Twelve Steps, Step 3). For centuries in Egypt, the Israelites were exposed to the worship of gods in the form of statues, including Apis…
what is the kingdom of God?
The kingdom of God is this world as God created it to be, with all it’s beauty and order and purpose. In the beginning, God entrusted this world to humans, His appointed rulers (kings and queens, princes and princesses). The bible begins with this picture of the kingdom of God, of humans male and female…
what really matters to God
January 3, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 12:1-8 OBSERVATIONS The Jewish Bible (what Christians call the Old Testament) is filled with religious symbols and rituals, and several of them are mentioned here: the Sabbath Day, the Law of Moses, the house of God/temple, the consecrated bread, and the priests. In addition David, the prototype of the coming Messiah…
what is ordinary spirituality?
Some people think that spirituality is a dimension of life outside of ordinary reality. We interrupt our normal activities to do something spiritual: pray, reads the bible, go to church, be still. But this is not true, not real; every part of life has a spiritual dimension. Walking, breathing, creating, imagining, copulating, parenting, conversing, eating,…
“this year with Jesus!”
January 2, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 11:25-30 OBSERVATIONS God seems to prefer the weak over the strong. He chooses to reveal Himself to little children (not the wise). He chooses to reveal Himself through a nobody from Nazareth, a weak leader that is eventually crucified. He chooses to help people who admit that they are weary and…