Faith + Life

Have Better Relationships Through “Blessed are…”

// April 24th, 2010 // Comment now! » // Formation

In the next few weeks I want to discuss a famous bit of the Bible with you.  Before we do that, I want you to read it for yourself in as many versions and revisions as you need to…

While you do that… Think about this list of sayings as they impact our relationships with God, self, and others.  The passage is Matthew 5:1-12.  Here it is from the NIV:

¹Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ²and he began to teach them saying:
³“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
⁵Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
⁶Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
⁷Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
⁸Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
⁹Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
¹⁰Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹²Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

I’m looking forward to the conversation and to better relationships in my life and yours!

Blessings,

Michael

How Worthy Do You Have to Be?

// April 9th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // Giving Thanks

Take a moment to compose a scene in your head of the most horrifying, gruesome, inhumane torture possible.

Got it?

Play the scene again.  You need to remember it.

My scene has involved lots of things over the years.  Pliers and finger nails.  Flogging.  Flaying.  Scalding oil or water.  Cuts filled with salt and vinegar.  Electrocution.  Drowning.  Bankruptcy.

Remember your scene?  Good.  Play it again…

Now answer this question:  Of all the people you know, for whom would you endure everything you just imagined? Click here to continue…

In Which Box do You Belong?

// March 29th, 2010 // Comment now! » // Incidental Thoughts

It was a really uncomfortable feeling.  My wife and I worshipped on Sunday with a new gathering and….  Well… Some of the things we experienced there were really great.   I can say that, as a group, the people gathered there love God, each other and strangers (who won’t be strangers for long).  What could be uncomfortable about that?
Click here to continue…

How Jesus Wasn’t Tempted

// March 26th, 2010 // 3 Comments » // DevoThoughts

We usually read this text to see how Jesus was tempted and how he responded. Let’s do that again, together, but with a goal of seeing what’s missing from the temptation experience.

Jesus was hungry, thirsty and tired. Stop for a moment and think about your own hunger. How do you act toward food when hungry? What about thirst? On a hot summer day or during a ball game or a workout, how do you react to thirst? What about fatigue? How do you act when tired? Click here to continue…

Why Be Guilty and Angry When You Don’t Have to Be?

// March 21st, 2010 // Comment now! » // DevoThoughts

Innocent.  Those big blue eyes are filled with it.  Not a sin or an hateful thought anywhere around.  Pure.  Clean.

Innocent.  That’s the best word I can think of to describe what I see in my infant (3 weeks old) son’s eyes.  Pure.  Clean.

Yes, I am well aware of the doctrine of Original Sin.  Yes, I know that Jesus’ atonement and God’s grace must be the foundation of my little boy’s future. Click here to continue…

Free Book by Brian Tome

// March 14th, 2010 // Comment now! » // Reviews

Christianity isn’t free.

That’s not a financial statement.  It’s an assessment of the state of the movement started almost 2000 years ago by Jesus and how it seems to have been turned on its head. Christianity is no longer about freedom. Click here to continue…

Breathe In, Breathe Out – Gen 1:2

// March 2nd, 2010 // 4 Comments » // DevoThoughts

And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. – Gen. 1:2b, ESV

Inspire. What’s that mean…literally? It means “to breathe into…” If I give you CPR, I inspire you in a very concrete way.

A friend of mine who is an orthodox rabbi tells me that God’s speech in creating is God breathing, for there can be no speech without breath. He continues to explain that the Hebrew text lacks vowels because it isn’t the word of the LORD until spoken… breathed… in community.

Oh…and the “Spirit of God” is literally the “Breath of God”… The transliterated Hebrew is Ruach HaKodesh, IIRC.

Application:

1. How & Where is God giving you CPR … that is, breathing LIFE into you?
2. How & where are you exhaling God’s breath? Who benefits? (Remember…exhaling is a subtle thing… not necessarily breaking your favorite guitar over someone’s head! ) Are you giving away what you’ve been given?
3. Part of the principle that the text is just a dusty old book until read in community leads us to the fact that the Bible is a Community story. It should be discussed, understood, and lived in a community that includes you, God, and others. (It doesn’t have to be a church, btw…) How are you including the Bible in your community (family, friends, etc)? How are you at trusting God to breathe into your community an understanding of how he interacted with others and will interact with you?

Join the conversation!

I look forward to hearing from you about how this one sentence weaves its way through your experience.

Blessings.
/jmt

YouVersion.com: a Video Review of a Bible Community Site

// February 18th, 2010 // Comment now! » // Reviews

YouVersion.com is a feature-dense and benefit-rich Bible study community site. After you watch this review, be sure to leave a comment about your impression of YouVersion.com.

Enjoy!

To view a larger HD version, click here.

_________

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have no material connection to YouVersion.com or to LifeChurch.tv as of the publication of this review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

7 Reasons to Walk Down That Aisle… and Forgive

// January 29th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Featured Post

There she is.  She’s just down the aisle.

There’s that familiar feeling, too… Click here to continue…

Book Review: Lead Like Jesus

// January 27th, 2010 // 3 Comments » // Featured Post, Reviews

Everyone who influences someone else is a leader. Whether you lead at home, at work, at church, or in another community organization you are a leader.
Click here to continue…