October 27

The Ministry Continues -- Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-50; Matthew 11:2-19; Luke 8:1-3; Matthew 12:22-50; Mark 3:20-35; Luke 11:14-23, 11:29-32, 11:24-28, 8:19-21, 11:33-36

A drawing of Mary Magdalene rendered by Leonardo DaVinci

After the slow going of the Old Testament, everything seems to be moving so fast.  It's like we were slowly walking through the Bible and now we're hurtling headlong to it's inevitable conclusion.  Jesus' righteousness is just unfathomable and threatening and outright offensive to the religious people of His day.  Are they really trying?  In this reading, a Pharisee invites Him to his house.  And Jesus openly tells him that the woman of questionable character that the Pharisee is uncomfortable with has done the right thing while the Pharisee has failed to.  

The role of women in Jesus' ministry is touched on in this reading, too.  We have Jesus defending the sinful woman at the Pharisee's house and we also have a note on the women who are supporting Jesus financially.  This seems like this would have been controversial in His day.  Herod's got to love the fact his own household is involved.  

After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God.  The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases:  Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others.  These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

Luke 8:1-3

October 26

The Sermon on the Mount -- Matthew 5:1-48, 6:1-34, 7:1-29; Luke 6:20-49

So if God could pre-empt our favorite television show to say a few words, what would they be?  If He could do a public service announcement, pen a rock opera, give a speech, write a letter, txt message 160 words from on high or preach a sermon, what would He say?  He said it all in a word...the word.  Sometimes the best form of communication isn't spoken.  It's body language and just being there.  God sent His son.  

And most of His son's teaching, it seems,  was delivered in small bites served up in poignant moments on the road, in a boat, along the way.  You'd think God would have put together a slew of sermons, a series, a baker's dozen, at least.  But all we have is this one and it's not even recorded in all four gospels.  A sermon shorter than most delivered on Sundays.  A meandering cavalcade of admonitions and advice, wisdom and warnings, poetry and promise, tips and wishes for our brightest future.  Words on how to pray and how to live and how to stay married and how to be salt and light and life and how to ask, seek, knock and keep dust out of your eyes and how to take a punch and how to handle worry and what to consider a treasure.  All of the stuff we really, really, really need.  I am struck by how straightforward and honest it all is.  And so were they, astonished by its authority.  

If we were God is this what we would have said and how we would have said it?  It's brevity, it's simplicity, its focus and subject are remarkable and surprising considering this is God's word to us.

It's interesting that on the same day our reading was the sermon on the mount our church had us go out into the community and minister to our neighbors as part of a program called W.A.T.S. -- We Are The Sermon.  Jesus Is the Word and We Are The Sermon.

October 25

The Rise of Opposition -- Matthew 9:9-17; Mark 2:13-22; Luke 5:27-28; John 5:1-3, 5:5-47; Matthew 12:1-21; Mark 2:23-28, 3:1-19; Luke 6:1-19

It is the religious who oppose Jesus.  Jesus is called into question because He does good on the Sabbath.  Legalism.  We think God wants us to obey rules when what He wants is us to draw close to Him.  And we argue rules among followers instead of coming together as followers in praise of the ruler.

One of the verses I find poignant is in this reading:

"You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life.  These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life."

John 5:39-40

It's not about knowing scripture.  It's about knowing Christ.

October 24

Beginning of the Great Galilean Ministry -- Matthew 4:12-22; Mark 1:14-28; Luke 4:14-30, 5:1-11, 4:31-37; Matthew 8:14-17, 4:23-25, 8:1-4, 9:1-8; Mark 1:29-45, 2:1-12; Luke 4:38-44, 5:12-26

There's a whole lot of miracles going on.  Personally, I do not think the age of miracles has ceased...just our ability to believe.  Certainly God can and does whatever He wants when He wants.  In this reading, Jesus explains to Nazareth why they will not see Him do what they've heard happened in Capernaum.  They think they "know" Jesus but they're not open to knowing the real Jesus.  As Jesus explains, "No prophet is accepted in his hometown. "  [Luke 4:24] And then He gives the examples of Elijah and Elisha who went away to perform their miracles.  We think we know Jesus and God and their abilities.  And so do they go elsewhere in this world to perform their miracles?

October 23

Jesus' Early Work in Judea, Samaria, and Galilee -- John 1:35-51, 2:1-25, 3:1-36, 4:1-54; Luke 3:19-20

Bruce Marchiano's powerful portrayal of Christ as infectiously happy

I wonder why John is the only one to record this part of Jesus' life?  Why did John think it so important and why did the others think that it wasn't?  John includes this portion of Jesus life and leaves out so much that the other writers include.

Were the others embarrassed, as some of us now are, that the savior of the world's first recorded miracle was turning water into wine at a wedding feast at his mother's request?  It seems a bit frivolous on the surface.  It was the last bit of wine and as the master of the banquet remarks to the bridegroom:  "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and the the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink...."  [John 2:10] This remark suggests two things that we might not appreciate from our 21st century abstinence-minded and somewhat puritanical cultural bent.  First of all, the wine of Jesus' day was intoxicating.  Some have argued that the wine consumed was simply grape juice.  Yes, I know there's too much in scripture to suggest otherwise.  As Psalm 104, verses 14 and 15, proclaim: "He [God] makes... wine that gladdens the heart of man...."  Then there is a fact that Jesus has made his wine at a point in the party when they'd had enough to drink that traditionally their senses were dulled.  I'm not suggesting they were drunken, but they had enough to drink that they were feeling the effects.  And it is at this point that Jesus makes His wine.   

I think Jesus was more fun and cooler than we can possibly imagine or allow ourselves to think.  And, if my view of the Christ is flawed, God forgive me.  Someone once said to me when I brought this up that "Yeah, He made wine and like to hang around the beach."  There is also that Toby Keith song, If I Was Jesus.  Here are the lyrics:

If I was Jesus, I'd have some real long hair.

A robe and some sandals is exactly what I'd wear.

I'd be the guy at the party turnin' water to wine.

Yeah, me and my disciples, we'd have a real good time.

Oh and I'd lay my life down for you,

And I show you who's the boss.

I'd forgive you and adore you

While I was hangin' on your cross.

If I was Jesus.

I'd have some friends that were poor.

I'd run around with the wrong crowd.  Man, I'd never be bored.

Then I'd heal me a blind man.  Get myself crucified

By politicians and preachers, who got somethin' to hide.

Oh and I'd lay my life down for you,

And I show you who's the boss.

I'd forgive you and adore you

While I was hangin' on your cross.

If I was Jesus.

If I was Jesus, I'd come back from the dead,

And I'd walk on some water just to mess with your head.

I know your dark little secrets.  I'd look you right in the face

And I'd tell you I love you with amazing grace.

Oh and I'd lay my life down for you,

And I'd show you who's the boss.

I'd forgive you and adore you

While I was hangin' on your cross.

If I was Jesus.

If I was Jesus.

There was a reason some of the Jews thought Jesus and His disciples were drunkards and too fun-loving compared to the more sober John the Baptist in his camel hair clothes and locust-eating diet.  [Matthew 11:18-19] Who are we?  

I love Bruce Marchiano's interpretation of Christ as a laughing, joyous man of passion whose happiness was infectious in the movie, "The Gospel of Matthew."  It's Jesus' happiness that so many critics have pointed out and what makes him the light of the world and what makes His eventual death far more emotionally tragic.  As one reviewer has stated, "Jesus is portrayed by Bruce Marchiano as affectionate and joyful.  As the actor himself has said, 'This is a Jesus who smiles, laughs and rolls up  his sleeves to work and play with those he loves.' "

Here's a little sermon I found called, "The Party's at God's House."  Cheers.

October 22

The Ministry of John the Baptist; Jesus Faces Temptations -- Matthew 3:1-17; Mark 1:2-11; Luke 3:1-18, 3:21-23a; Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13; John 1:19-34

I like John.  He draws people from the cities to the wild.  He is free from the ties of things.  And, he knows how to win friends and influence people.  How is this for an opening line to a sermon?

"You brood of vipers!"  John 3:7

He knows his place and remains humble although the world around him would raise him higher.  John is a rock star content to be a warm-up act.

And he is more than John the Baptist.  He is John the Don't-Just-Get-Wet-Get-Clean-Inside-and-Out.  We get caught up in Baptism as the threshold of entering Christianity.  But there is more than ceremony in John's admonition.  More than baptism there is life.  We must live our cleansing.  

     "What should we do then?" the crowd asked.

     John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."

     Tax collectors also came to be baptized.  "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?"

     "Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told them.

     Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?"

     He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely -- be content with your pay."

John 3:10-14

I find it interesting that the sins John directs them to turn from are all about wealth and one's view of money.  All three of them are variations on this theme.  What we own owns us.

Jesus alone and deprived in the desert is vulnerable and tempted as are we all.  And I wonder are we all attended to by the angels at the end of our trials?

October 21

Visit of the Magi and Flight into Egypt; From Infancy to Manhood -- Matthew 2:1-23; Luke 2:39-52

Believe it or not, this is "The Original Christmas Gift" offered by the Hammacher Schlemmer catalog for $69.95 and is available for immediate shipping.  

This chronological version of the Bible helps me out.  I always wondered why Joseph offered the poor man's sacrifice of two doves or pigeons [Luke 2:22-24] when the Magi had brought such lavish gifts.  According to this chronology, the gifts came later.  I wonder what the family did with the gold, incense and myrrh?  Was it used by the family in their travels from Bethlehem to Egypt to Galilee.  Did Christ use it to support His widowed mother after Joseph died so that He could be about His ministry instead of supporting His family as the firstborn male cultural was bound to do?  Did He give it away?  Did His mother use it as she followed Him on His ministry?  Was it used in the preparation for His burial or that of His father Joseph?  Was it saved... somehow I think not.  Anne Rice suggests in her book Christ the Lord:  The Road to Cana that He used it for the dowery of the bride for whom He will also turn the water into wine.  But the question remains -- what did Jesus or His family do with the riches the Magi brought.  Most likely an inconsequential point.  We know what we need to know.  But we know so little about the youth of Christ.  

Imagine the misery of the women in Bethlehem.  The editor estimates 40 to 50 baby boys slaughtered by Herod.   I'm certain God grieved.  And while Herod tried to preserve his kingdom, he ultimately lost it and those 40 or 50 boys ended up the brothers of Christ in Heaven.  Even at his birth, there is a sacrifice because of sin.

October 20

The Births of Jesus and John the Baptist -- Luke 1:5-80; Matthew 1:18-25a; Luke 2:1-20; Matthew 1:25b; Luke 2:21-38

Love both of these miraculous birth stories together -- John and Jesus.  What a buzz of mystery there must have been in this extended family.  I love the fact that God gave Mary a confidant in her extremely stressful and embarrassing condition.  Mary has Elizabeth and stays with her for three months.  

You always wonder about the gossip surrounding Mary's virgin conception of her son Jesus.  Anne Rice -- yes, of vampire novel fame -- does a wonderful job painting the real life whispering around Jesus that must have plagued the family in her two books, Christ the Lord:  Out of Egypt and Christ the Lord:  The Road to Cana.  They are written from Jesus' point of view a potentially controversial way of approaching the story, but I recommend them both.  

All of the people who recognize His birth:  Joseph and Mary, Elizabeth and Zechariah and the unborn John who leaps in His mother's womb; the Angels who proclaim His birth; the shepherds in the field; Simeon at the temple and Anna the prophetess.  And then, in tomorrow's reading, Herod and the chief priests and teachers of the law whose opinion he calls for and then the Magi.  Wow, what a wide and varied birth announcement list.  Too big a group to have organized to have created this story.

And then there are the heart-wrenching words of Simeon, ironic and prophetic (prophesy seems often ironic):  

"And a sword will pierce your own soul too."  [Luke 2:35]

October 19

The Genealogies of Jesus -- Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23b-38

The two genealogies of Jesus presented here are interesting.  The lineage through Joseph is mostly for the Jews benefits since Jesus' father wasn't really Joseph.  But, hey, the Jews trace lineage through the father so here it is.  Interesting that Tamar is mentioned.  Remember her from Genesis 38?  And Uriah's wife is mentioned specifically, too.

The lineage through Mary is also included.  These folks are actually blood relatives to the Christ (of course, nowadays, all Christians are Christ's blood relatives).  I like the Mary genealogy the very poetic meter of it and the way it goes all the way back to "Seth the son of Adam the son of God."  Even the kind of teasing, "He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph,"

Of course, the genealogy through His true father would have been extremely short:

Jesus the son of God.

October 18

Jesus the Christ -- Mark 1:1; John 1:1-18; Luke 1:1-4

Hallelujah!  We've Reached the New Testament.

Wow, it's quite illustrative -- reading the Bible through in a year it takes you until October 18th to get to the New Testament.  Nine and a half months for the Old.  Two and a half months for the New.  Is the message progressively simpler?  More straight to the point?  Or was it like a football team when they're not able to perform a complex playbook.  The coach strips it down to the simplest plays and spends more time on executing a few things well than understanding the nuances of a complex play book.  Did God strip down the playbook?  

Or have our attention spans gotten progressively shorter.  If he decided to add another section to the scriptures -- the New, New Testament or Post-New Testament would it be one line that would fit on a t-shirt or be short enough to be a single blog post or USA Today piece complete with nifty chart?  Would it be a :30 spot?

It's interesting and maybe I've written this before...I know I've said it to several people.  The religious leaders and teachers of the day, the people who knew the scriptures, mistakenly interrupted scripture and just obviously and naturally thought that Jesus would be a political/military leader.  And so most of them missed Him when He got here.  Do we do the same things about judgement day?  Do we take the scriptures regarding judgement and think they mean what they say at face value?  God's view seems to be different then ours and He's always surprising us.  I think we're in for a surprise on Judgement Day.  What I read on the surface doesn't jive completely with what I've understood to be the true nature of God.  

Can't wait for the surprise.

October 17

Influences on a Dispersed People

I don't know if it's because we're reading the Bible chronologically and I have a greater sense of the history.  Or I'm just concentrating more.  Or I'm just older and I have a deeper more global perspective.  Or it's the Holy Spirit working.  Or something of all of the above.  But the influence of other cultures throughout the Bible has been more evident to me.  Israel wasn't just a slave to the Egyptians.  They were touched and touched by that culture.  Separate but a part.  Joseph was a prince of Egypt and married an Egyptian.  Moses grew up in the house of the Pharaoh. And as, I remember Egyptians were allowed to be a part of their worship.  Daniel advises through the interpretation of dreams, like Joseph did, and becomes respected by the King of Babylonia.  Esther marries the King and Nehemiah and Ezra also play important roles in the culture.  They were part of the cultures yet separate.  As we are in our modern world.  A part of it and yet apart from it.  

Here we read how the Jews become more mystic in their interpretation of God's word, influenced by the cultures they've been apart of.  The rabbinical movement is on the rise, replacing or taking some of the authority of the priests.  Synagogues arise and steal some of the luster of Temple worship.  So Jesus walks into a Jewish culture far different than the one God instituted.  But he doesn't spend His time condemning their tweaks and interpretations of God's instituted religion.  Except in manners that related to how they dealt and treated others and in manners of their heart.  He could have come as a reformer of the organization of the Jewish.  Preached against the perversions to their method and mode of worship.  Instead, he comes to free them and place importance on the heart of man.

The Roman rule at Jesus time is important.  It becomes a conduit for the spread of the faith as does the Greek translation of the people.  I've always pondered why Christ picked this time in history to arise.  Why not now when transportation and communication are far easier.  But maybe walking and really coming into contact with people was important to who He was and what He did.  A broadcast wouldn't have done Jesus justice.  His performance was best viewed live.  And His teaching came so many times on the way, in the midst of a journey.  Would He had as much time to teach in car?  Could He have touched the people encapsulated and separated from the lands and people He passed by in a car or above it all in a plane.

I wonder if He would have been lost and we would have been lost had he waited until now.

October 16

Writings of the Apocrypha

Ok, so when I did a search on Google Images for the word Apocrypha, this is one of the images that popped up.  So I'm going with it.  Seems really apocryphal as far as a Google Image search goes.

I know that discussions on how and why some books ended up in the Bible while other books didn't and are all of the right ones there -- well, it can make some people really, really nervous.  I just figure God made sure we got what we need.  After all, we only use 10 percent of our brain and I imagine we're only able to live true to about an equal amount of scripture.  As a rule, we're not good at using what we've been given.  Thanks be to God and His Beloved Son for grace.  I also think that as far as all the flavors of Christians goes -- we're all a million miles from the truth arguing over who is two inches closer.  Again, thanks be to God and His Beloved Son for grace.

So these books didn't make the cut.  Any others we'd care to vote off the Biblical Island?  Say, Song of Solomon?  Ahhh, but you say, it's a beautiful metaphor for Christ's love of His church.  Yeah, right.

October 15

Historical Interlude [Ca. 425-5 B.C.]

Ok, so is this suppose to be the Bible readers equivalent of intermission?  Act I has concluded and now it's out to the lobby for snacks before we launch into Act II.  Or after an 18-page mind-numbing sea of hard-to-pronounce names has the editor seen fit to be merciful and slip in a one-page palate-cleansing reading?

I suppose it is good to pause, catch our breath and prepare the way for the Messiah.  The story is about to get really, really, really good.  Can't wait to see how it turns out!  Because the story is still being written.

October 14

1 Chronicles 4:24-43, 5:1-17, 6:1-81, 7:1-12, 8:1-1-40, 7:13-40, 9:1-34

Ok, more names.  But not the kind of list you'd be picking baby names from -- Abitub, Hod, Elpaal.  Thought they could be kind of useful in a Scrabble game.

But there is the occasional story that makes you think.  Just a quick verse that God slips in just to tease you, I guess.

Ezer and Elead were killed by the native-born men of Gath, when they went down to seize their livestock.  Their father Ephraim mourned for them many days, and his relatives came to comfort him.  Then he lay with his wife again, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son.  He named him Beriah, because there had been misfortune in his family.  His daughter was Sheerah, who built Lower and Upper Beth Horon as well as Uzzen Sheerah.

1 Chronicles 7:21-24

So, I'd like you to meet my friend here, Misfortune.  So who is going to marry Misfortune?  Thanks, Dad.

Then there's this incredible daughter who is responsible for building three towns?  What?  Hold on there.  Tell me a little more about her.  But, no, it's on to Rephah, Telah, Tahan, Laden, Ammihud and Elishama.

October 13

1 Chronicles 1:1-54, 2:1-41, 4:1-23, 3:10-24

So what are we to do with this genealogical listing?  

I'm sure scholars have a field day with it.  But I mean people like me -- just regular folks.  I think the Bible was written for the common man.  Nothing against scholars, but just look how Jesus felt about the religious establishment.  They tend to do the Pharisee thing -- build a law around the law and hang on the importance of prepositions.  I think the message is plainer than that.   That God makes Himself known and that there's a role for the Holy Spirit in all of it.  Again, nothing against scholarship.  You have that "study to show yourself approved" thing.  But look at the history of scholars and priests and the religious establishment in the Bible.  And in our culture and our tradition, I think we tend to put more importance on heart than head and form than substance.  

I come to the Bible for God to speak to me.  Now and in this time.  Not as a research assignment or a literary text that needs its allusions analyzed.  This is the Living God, using His written word to speak to me right now.  Because the word is a person and not a text.  John 5:39-40

Anyway...sorry that scripture tends to get me up on a soapbox and off on an issue.  

Meanwhile, back at the text.  

What are we to make of this?  The importance of family and race?  Or the unimportance of it?  Pharaoh's daughter makes an appearance in the text.  Imagine having your name in the Bible?  Just a mentioned...obviously not for something bad.  "Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the Lord's sight; so the Lord put him to death."  Want to avoid that.  But a mention.  Just the idea that God knows your name and remembers it and has penned the letters of it.

And maybe that's it.  That's why the genealogy is here.  God knows our names.  He knows mine.  He knows yours.  And I wonder what two lines my story would be abbreviate my life into?

Would it be:

Er, Judah's firstborn was wicked in the Lord's sight; so the Lord put him to death.

1 Chronicles 2:3

Or, this story that comes out of the blue in the genealogy:

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers.  His mother had named him Jabez, saying, "I gave birth to him in pain."  Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!  Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain."  And God granted his request. 

1 Chronicles 4:9-10

What's my story as God tells it?  He knows my name and what is the two-line phrase He'd introduce me to others with?

October 12

Nehemiah 13:4-11, 13:15-31, 12:27-47, 13:12-14, 13:1-3

Once again -- the familiar refrain.  The people get all excited about following God.  Then they drift away.  How many times do we have to do it to learn from our mistake?  

  

Nehemiah goes back to Babylon to find the people have returned to their old ways -- they neglect the temple and they're back to their foreign wives.  Nehemiah sets things straight a second time.  He gets things in order before he rededicates the wall that the people have built.  He understands the nature of God and man's proper priorities.  It's all about building our lives and dedicating our lives.  The building and dedication of a wall is secondary.  It's about the people.  Always.

October 11

Nehemiah 8:1-18, 9:1-38, 10:1-39

There's a concept here in Nehemiah we might be able to translate to our celebration of the Lord's sacrifice during communion.  The people have assembled for the reading of the law.  Apparently convicted of their sin they cry during the reading of God's word.  They are told not to mourn but to celebrate.

Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, "This day is sacred to the Lord your God.  Do not mourn or weep."  For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared.  This day is sacred to our Lord.  Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

Nehemiah 8:9-10

Maybe sitting in quiet solemnity isn't the only way to celebrate the Lord's supper?  Yes, we mourn our sinfulness that required Christ to give His life on the cross.  But shouldn't we also be jubilant because of what Christ's death, burial and resurrection means to us.  Sometimes I fear we're more expressive, excited and emotional over a dramatic touchdown for our favorite team.

Is there any greater show of respect in our culture than to stand and applaud someone or cheer him or her?

I'm also a fan of the Feast of Tabernacles.  There's just something about a religious observance that required the people to raise a tent and live in it that I like (ok, so they were more like booths, but temporary dwellings anyway).  It was to commemorate God's providing for them as they wandered in the wilderness.  They lived in tents.  Even God lived in a tent.  

I thinking living in a tent -- having few of the amenities of modern life around you -- puts you in a place where you are more subjected to the elements and more aware of God's provision.  This year the Feast of Tabernacles is from sunset on October 13th to Sunset on October 20th.

October 10

Nehemiah 7:1-73, 11:1-36, 12:1-26

Patent drawing for singing bible nightlight

Ok, I had to chuckle at one part of Nehemiah's numbering of the people.   

The whole company numbered 42,360, besides their 7,337 menservants and maidservants; and they also had 245 men and women singers.  There were 245 mules, 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys.

Nehemiah 7:66-69

I chuckled at the thought that men and women singers were ranked somewhere between servants and mules.  I wondered where Nehemiah would have ranked drummers?  Do you know what the difference is between a drummer and a savings bond?  One will mature and make money.  Sorry, I can't come up with something "enlightening" every day.

But on a serious note -- singer was one of the few professions that Nehemiah thinks enough to call out in his list.

October 9

Nehemiah 4:1-23, 5:1-19, 6:1-19

Nehemiah has problems from without -- the taunts and threats.  Those are to be expected when you are doing anything that makes a difference.  There are people that will not want to see you succeed.  The only way to avoid this kind of complaining is to do nothing.

The far more serious threats to any undertaking are the problems that inevitably rise from within.  I say inevitably because it doesn't matter the power of the vision, the goodness of the cause, the excitement surrounding the undertaking, there will be problems that arise because we are all people.  Agreement and unity are difficult to achieve in a brotherhood and country that has long promoted thinking and being responsible for yourself.

Nehemiah's internal problems are discouragement of the people in the face of the threats and unfair treatment within the team.  I want to focus on the internal.  Often we can't do anything about external threats but there is usually something we can do about the internal.  

First of all, Nehemiah as a leader listens to the complaints of those he leads.  More than listen, he does something.  It's been my experience that often leaders make a decision and head and treat the people's complaints as just that.  They often just joke about the complaints they get or talk them away.  But Nehemiah doesn't have that luxury.  

He takes care of the discouragement by reminding them of their God and their purpose and by devising a way to protect them in their work.  [Nehemiah 4:7-23]  

The "usury problem" is even more intriguing.  It underscores the slavery that being in debt and the charging of interest entails.  

"You are exacting usury from your own countrymen!"  So I called together a large meeting to deal with them and said: "As far as possible, we have bought back our Jewish brothers who were sold to the Gentiles.  Now you are selling your brothers, only for them to be old back to us!"

Nehemiah 5:7-8

Many churches are enslaved to debt and unable to do the real work of the church -- taking care of the fatherless, the widows and the "aliens" (the NIV's words there) -- because they are trying to pay off a building.  How often have we gone in debt to do God's work other than build a building for ourselves?   And it's difficult to preach about the responsibility of the congregation to avoid the slavery of debt and not to give in to materialism and the temptation to run out and buy a big flat screen television when you're in debt and the church building is festooned with flat screens.

I apologize for the soapbox.  But those with ears let them hear.

October 8

Nehemiah 1:1-11, 2:1-20, 3:1-32

Nehemiah is a powerful little book.  My former boss -- Hank Dye -- used it as a business text.  Here's one commentator's simple outline of the book as a leadership guide:

One lesson on leadership for each chapter of Nehemiah.

1. How do you react when things are not as they should be?

2. How do you set priorities and plan?

3. How do you work together and lead?

4. How do you deal with opposition?

5. How do you deal with problems believers cause?

6. How do you deal with threats?

7. How do you strategically place people in positions?

8. How well do you yield the stage to others?

9. How do you encourage confession?

10. How do you build consensus?

11. How do you build teamwork and unity?

12. How do you dedicate your work and your life and others to God?

13. How and when do you strongly rebuke?

Bible Query from Nehemiah

I, myself, am struck by the beauty, simplicity, sensitivity and humility of Nehemiah's prayer.  This powerful man, cupbearer to the Persian king, sets out on his quest beginning with fasting and prayer.  This is a prayer not for himself -- but for his success in service to others.  And in that prayer, he starts by acknowledging God and His love.  He confesses not only the sins of the people but also his personal shortcomings.  He appreciates what stands in the way of our accomplishing great things -- our sin and separation from God.  There is so much God wants for us and wants to do for us as dearly beloved children.  But we turn our backs.  Nehemiah appreciates the problem of our sin and so confesses his.  Then he acknowledges and appeals to God's nature -- His grace and willingness always to forgive.  Finally, in one single, brief sentence, Nehemiah makes his appeal to God.  The prayer is about so much more than asking.  Most of it is about acknowledgement and taking responsibility and praise.  He closes his prayer by making his request for success with the king.  He leaves it up to God how best that success is achieved and what success means.  And his prayer is answered.

When I heard these things, I sat down and wept.  For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.  Then I said:

"O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel.  I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father's house, have committed against you.  We have acted very wickedly toward you.  We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.

"Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.'

"They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand.  O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name.  Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man."

Nehemiah 1:4-11a

October 7

Ezra 9:1-15, 10:1-44

I wish God would interject himself here.  I know Ezra is a great teacher of the law.  But I'd feel more comfortable if God would just throw in the occasional, "That's right, Ezra.  Preach on."  Just so I knew what's God's view was.  

I'm confident God didn't want them marrying into foreign cultures.  It's written in 1 Kings 11:2 of Solomon's many wives that: 

They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, "You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods."  

I'm confident about the Lord's command.  I'm just not confident that Ezra's solution (actually it's Elam's suggestion to Ezra) to the problem is God's solution.  Elam calls for the men to "make a covenant before our God to send away all these women and their children, in accordance with the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commands of our God."  Ezra 10:3

And so they do.  Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah, supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite, opposed this.  Ezra 10:15

I may have been standing with the wrong camp on this one.  I can't imagine that sending away wife and children is what a loving God wanted.  Especially when the widowed and fatherless are chief among the groups he makes special provision for.  First, he didn't want them to intermarry with certain cultures.  Having done that, I would have thought it enough not to worship those foreign cultures gods.  But to walk away from your family.  I confess.  I would have had to ask God his forgiveness for my willful sin.  For me, this too much like those who profess that to truly repent from remarrying after the sin of divorce, a man must leave his new family and return to his first wife.  It's the letter of the law and not the spirit.  It's solution reasoned with man's head and not his heart.  I know I open myself to criticism with this view that I'm suggesting we follow the whims of our heart which are often contrary to God's will.  But then, what God truly wants is to rule in our heart.

Figure it out.  That's what life is about.

October 6

Ezra 7:1-28, 8:1-36

I like Ezra.  He and about 1,500 Jews leave Babylon as the second group to return to Jerusalem.  He thinks about asking the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect them.  But is "ashamed" by his lack of faith or what the king might think of his faith because of the things Ezra has been spouting off about his God.  I hear you, Ezra.  There are things I'm shamed into doing because of what others might think...things that I should just do because of my faith.  

We need accountability groups -- when being accountable to the Creator of the Universe should be enough.

PRAYER FOR SAFETY.  There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.  I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, "The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him."  So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He answered our prayer.

Ezra 8:21-23

October 5

Malachi 1:1-14, 2:1-17, 3:1-13, 4:1-6

It's ironic to me that the editor placed the little book of Malachi immediately after the book of Esther.  One of the things that Malachi brings to the people's attention is that they have "broken faith" and done "a detestable thing" by marrying into other cultures.  And this is exactly what Esther has done.

There is a verse in this book that continues to convict me.  A series of verses about giving.  It seems the Jews were not giving their full tithe.  Malachi says they are robbing God but if they give their full tithe they will experience tremendous blessings.

...Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

Malachi 3:10

I don't think God gives more wealth in exchange for wealth.  I think His blessings are more eternal, more spiritual, of more true value.  But do I test Him in this ever in my giving?  I'm afraid of not being able to provide for my family.  And can't help ask myself -- is it all an illusion?  Am I the one really providing for my family?  Let the credit fall to the One from whom provision really comes.

October 4

Esther 5:1-14, 6:1-14, 7:1-10, 8:1-17, 9:1-32, 10:1-3

Wow, Esther sure had her influence on the king.  The Jews are not only saved by also allowed to protect themselves.  Good idea but it seems a little bit obsessive killing all of Haman's sons and then killing 75,000 (Esther 9:16).  It's interesting that they didn't take any plunder but that is a massive number of people.  Think of how we'd freak if 75,000 Americans were killed.  Perhaps its just an indication of how persecuted the Jews were in Babylon.  Or was it payback?  

God's hand seems evident in this story but we don't directly hear from Him.  So what was He thinking?  About Esther marrying outside of her people?  Of the 75,000 killed by the Jews in response to the King's edict.  We have to be careful when we look at story and interpret what God thinks or wills.  And we don't know here.  It becomes a huge nationalistic story and celebration for the Jewish people.  But I wonder.  What was God thinking?