Don’t leave it on the desk…

I received this via email today. Quite a thing to think about, so I thought to post it here. Author unknown…

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There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr. Christianson, a studious man, who taught at a small college in the western United States . Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course his freshman year, regardless of his or her major.

Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery. Despite his best efforts, most students refused to take Christianity seriously.

Happy Resurrection Sunday

The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
John 20:1 KJV

Our blessed hope: Jesus died for our sins and was Resurrected from the dead – counted firstborn over the dead and lifted high as our hope of salvation and eternal life. Our adoption by Father God through the sacrifice and resurrection of His only begotten Son.

Praise Him this day! Praise Him!

Imperfect perfection

Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
Matthew 1:2 KJV

Today I came across three more characters in the royal line to Jesus. Isaac, named after his parent’s laughter, Jacob, the heel catcher and Judah, the son upon whom would be much praise.

Genealogies

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Matthew 1:1 KJV

A couple of weeks ago I received a phone call from my sister. In a calm voice she told me that my mother was in the hospital. Phrases like “congestive heart failure” and “fluid around the lungs and heart” popped up and my anxiety grew. Little did I know that these were just guesses.

My relationship with my mother, really most of my side of the family, has been weak if anything and I have regretted that more and more the older that I get. Past interactions had lead to this situation where I had to come to grips that I didn’t really know much about my side of the family. So while in the hospital I asked my Mother about our history and have begun the task of devising a genealogy.

Meanwhile, I have desired to change my Bible study technique and decided to start with the Gospel of Matthew. What should I find there, but the genealogy of Jesus Christ, ben David, ben Abraham.

Beginnings

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
John 1:1-4 KJV

Beginnings are important. They give us insight into who we are, what we believe, how we were raised. How a person begins a task often determines how they will complete it – if they complete it at all.

Don’t get around much any more

In the time of layoffs, furloughs and financial plunge, I have found myself dealing with everyday things more than not. That said, I’m making a post to prove that I have not passed on, yet.

Until next time…

Yes, I still exist

Life is funny. I’ve been on a particularly wild section of life for a bit now and have not found that I have the time to make an entry.

The wait is now over. This is an entry. Perhaps I will post another…

Someday.

A Time of Uncertainty

O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee. And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.
2 Chronicles 20:12-13 KJV

How many times have I come to a crossroad and find myself asking, “Now what?” Too many times to number.

The problem with this is that I asked myself this question. I am in the situation and yet I question myself as if I could gain some instantaneous over arching understanding and come up with a solution. If I proceed with my choice, I oftentimes find myself in a bigger hole without a rope.

However, if I were to ask someone who did have more knowledge and insight than myself, then a better resolution could be found and followed. Who better to ask than the Creator of all things, the LORD of all?

The Calling

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:1-7 KJV

I spent this morning reviewing my reading of the beginning of Romans. I was struck by Paul’s use of the work ‘called’. He first references himself and then uses the word to identify the readers of the letter as being called.

The underlying Greek word is the same in all three cases: kletos. It means invited or appointed. Paul indicates his calling was to be an apostle or ambassador. He then indicates that the reader – the Romans and ourselves – are called of Jesus. We are called to Jesus through the receiving of His “grace ands apostleship” through obedience or rather submission to His will.

He has appointed us to be saints. The word used for ’saints’ also means ‘holy one’ or sacred. We are invited to be set apart for His will.

I find in these verses a distinctive calling to be His. Set aside. His ambassador. We are invited to this task – chosen for His purpose. What an amazing opportunity to be used by Him.

What is a Bondservant?

A Bondservant

When I first began thinking about creating this website, I began praying for guidance. For the last month a single topic has been permeating my heart: being a servant – in particular, a bondservant. From this topic, the vision for this entire site came forth. And so, this first article is about this topic: on being a Bondservant.

I always like to start with the basics and the most basic I can get to is the individual word. Bondservant is a compound word, so let’s break it up…