February 2d

I know, I am a day late... Yesterday was... interesting

Exodus 29 - 30, Matthew 21:23-46

This is probably sacrilege and I will no doubt burn in perdition... but I am having a difficult time with Exodus. It reads like the tax code. As a history teacher, I certainly recognize the significance of it. God is telling His people how to go about properly worshiping. he is very specific. I have only been in a couple of temples in my life. However, I cannot remember seeing one all decorated in gold and all the trimmings that are decreed in Exodus.

In fact I seen fancier "christian" churches that anything specified in Exodus... Whatever happened to "not all that glitters, is gold'?


Matthew 21:23-41

By who's authority do we teach?

I have a degree in Education and a state license to teach... That is my authority for my day job.

The templemorons (Priests, Judges, those guys) had Torah, but they wanted to know from whom did Jesus receive His Authority. This is laughable... they knew the answer, but were so afraid of the truth that they lied... The knew they were lying, everyone assembled knew they were lying... and Jesus certainly knew.

Christians, today, are fortunate to have all the historical proof we need to understand where Jesus' authority came from... but this was just the start of the ministry and though He knew and proclaimed his authority... it wasn't that well known.

That was their excuse... they didn't know... what is ours?

Common Man

Just a little something different to break up the thread a little...


Common Man
by

Barney Millisor

From the jungles of the Equator
To barren desert sand
I’ve seen a hundred sites
and a couple of thousand men

We didn’t all look the same
nor talk a common tounge
but when the rockets flew
Lord, we knew to run

We fought with them for liberty
and did what we saw as just
they fought for their land
as every man must.

We all felt pain and bled red blood
as we battled hand in hand
To light the torch of liberty
In many a foriegn land

They come to our land seeking the dream
That’s been planted in their brian
Of mighty mountins majesty
and purple waves of grain

Of many shades and many hues
they land upon our shore
looking for the lamp, beside the path
and the Golden Door

When you cut us we all bleed
when you hurt us we feel pain
It doesn’t matter where we’re from
So, let me say again

We don’t all look the same
nor speak a common tongue
but we all stand for the privilge
of the time to come

when no man will judge another
but by the work of his hands
his strong clear voice, the joy of his children
the victory of the common man


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February 1st

Exodus 27-28, Matthew 21:1-22

When I was a kid I had a heck of a time saying FEBRUARY....

Exodus... More instructions to the People of Israel... Stay tuned for more... This is all interesting from a historical standpoint... but doesn't do much in the inspiration department... And there is great support materiel, pictures and everything...


My House should be a House of Prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.. Get out Get out! Jesus Christ Superstar

I was in 9th grade when Superstar made its big splash... it was the first album I bought and I memorized it... Which was really kind of prophetic... I later played Judas, Jesus and Herod in productions of JCSS... Don't ask me to sing it now... the pipes are very rusty...

Jesus cleans out the temple and the fig tree is an allegory for people who talk the talk, but cannot walk the walk...

Alas, Alas for you Lawyers and Pharisees, hypocrites to a man... sons of the dogs who murdered the Prophets, Finishing off what your Fathers began... Godspell

In Exodus God is telling his people the forms they are to use in worshiping Him... In Matthew we see the sorrowful conclusion of those instructions...

Jesus came to bring us back to the Father without all the Gold and Jewels and stuff...

Don't get me wrong, my poor knees like soft pads on the kneelers... but I don't need then to worship or believe...

January 31st

Exodus 25 - 26, Matthew 20:17-34

Some days it is difficult to get excited about Exodus... Today's readings are God telling His people how they are to build the artifacts to properly worship Him. I have always understood that religious people need someplace to come together and share their faith. Before I became Christian, I understood this... But... I have always wondered why God wants all the Gold and silver and fine yarn and and and...

The houses of worship need to be supported by the congregation, but... Gold? Silver?

I gotta wonder where the inspired word of God leaves off and greedy leaders picks up...

Were the religious leaders of Jerusalem frightened of Jesus because he is the Messiah or because he threatened their secular way of life?

Matthew

Have you ever noticed that there is a theme running through the New Testament? Just askin'...

The last shall be first and the first shall be last... the greatest among you must be a servant...

The words are often confusing at first reading... and often I have asked the question, 'What does he mean by that?'

I was far too small to play football in high school... so, initially to keep peace in the house I stayed with the football team as a manager and then student athletic trainer... Long hours, ridicule from a majority of the jock/cheerleader types and, unfortunately my picture in the paper my junior and senior years... My picture... not the Star Quarterback or Running Back... me... the kid with the tape scissors.

I did it to appease my father, but stayed because the coaches (whom I greatly respected) convinced me I was making a valuable contribution.

I never asked for anything from the team... but the summer after I graduated Chuck Burner (head coach) asked me to come back and train some new kids... Then away I went to college... That October, Coach Burner called me at college and asked if I was going to be in town for homecoming, and if I was, was I planning on coming to the game? It seems they really needed some help... so of course I came

I got set up...

At half time, after all the Homecoming Queen stuff... The AD & Coach Burner stayed at mid-field and told everybody about what I had really done over 4 years... Kept things running smoothly, kept players healthy, fixed stuff without being told to... just the everyday stuff I had done. Then, in front of 5000 people they pulled me out on the field and presented me with a football signed by all the players and coaches. (I would like to thank my ex-wife for loosing that football) later, back in the locker room they gave me a check for $150, from the players & coaches to say thanks...

I never wanted thanks (then money was nice and it was 1972...) nor sought recognition... but by making myself a servant I followed this gospel... I was the least among them, when I was on the team and they made me first...

My friend Larry Kershner calls it selfless service... doing something because it needs to be done and it is the right thing...