June 9, 2009
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 9-10 and 2 Corinthians 11
Today’s reading is about Elisha going to a man named Jehu, and he anoints him to be king. Sometimes this doesn’t go well. Saul was the man who hid from the anointing of God, but Jehu takes it to the other extreme.
In fact, he makes certain that anything that is touched by Ahab is completely eradicated. He knocks off seventy heads for gosh sakes, then he goes for the entire family. Then he goes for Baal worshipers, and takes out a whole temple full of them.
Jehu says that he has “zeal for the Lord”, but it really isn’t. You see, zeal is willingness to go all the way for God, and this man did not. Jehu left the golden calves of Jeroboam at Bethel and Dan active.
Isn’t that just the way? Have you ever done a job for someone, like your employer, and then they say “it’s not good enough”. Yeah, I have had that happen to me before. It’s always “we love your work, but we need some more of it done”.
Of course, but here is the thing about doing works. We can never do enough of them. This is why it is so interesting to see Paul boasting about his works. Actually, he wasn’t really boasting, but more as laying out a bulleted list about the things that makes him weak. Don’t ask me why he does this. Maybe it’s because Paul knows how useless works are.
Not only that, we have a way of doing all of the wrong things. Haven’t you ever noticed that on a day where you have a ton of things to do, you end up doing the things that often have little to do with your to-do list?
Yeah, that happens to me, a lot. Life is too darn short, and you just can’t do a lot of stuff in the time that you are allotted, seriously. I suppose you could give up, and not try, but that really isn’t what you want to do.
The point is to keep track of what works are really important, and don’t try to do them all at once. God knows how limited life is, and He will be there. Now, God is really great that way, knowing what we have to do in our life. It’s all planned out, and there is nothing we can do about it. So, we should do as much as we can, and don’t get frazzled that we can’t do enough.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
That Whole Economy Thing
June 8, 2009
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 7-8 and 2 Corinthians 10
These days, everyone is talking about the “huge financial crisis”. I suppose this is the thing that makes it hard to find a job for many, including myself.
I suppose that I could let this whole economy thing put me down, and I suppose that I could use it as an excuse for not bothering to look for work. I’m sure there are a lot of people who are using the present economy as an excuse for many a thing now.
There has probably never been an economy as bad as the siege of Israel from the nation of Aram. Man, if people had to sell a donkey’s head or a cup of bird poop in order to keep fed, than there is a serious need going on.
So here comes Elisha who says that food will be at record low prices by the end of the day. Sometimes I don’t know what is worse, the prophet to says there will be bad times when things are good, or the prophet who says there will be good times when things are bad. Elisha was the latter guy, and a certain officer of the king hated him for it.
Then the next day, four lepers dare to approach the enemies camp. They find out that the Aramities have left, for some odd reason. I actually think it was a huge miracle that they left, by the way.
So then what happens? The Israelites discover that they can raid all the Aramite treasures, and that officer that can’t stand Elisha gets trampled. I suppose you could call that a happy ending, for most of the characters.
I suppose that we would like to see this type of ending for the current economic crisis, sudden and full of riches. If there is one thing that I have discovered about life, it is its unpredictability. One day everything looks hopeless, and in the next, suddenly everything is okay.
This is why I don’t worry about the “economic crisis”, and this is not because I have a stable job is always in demand. It is because you never know how things are going to turn around. This is why you don’t put a gun to your head and pull the trigger, because fortune could very well be on its way.
So hey, you don’t want to completely lose it over this whole economic thing. Sure, you can prepare, but things have a way of turning around.
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 7-8 and 2 Corinthians 10
These days, everyone is talking about the “huge financial crisis”. I suppose this is the thing that makes it hard to find a job for many, including myself.
I suppose that I could let this whole economy thing put me down, and I suppose that I could use it as an excuse for not bothering to look for work. I’m sure there are a lot of people who are using the present economy as an excuse for many a thing now.
There has probably never been an economy as bad as the siege of Israel from the nation of Aram. Man, if people had to sell a donkey’s head or a cup of bird poop in order to keep fed, than there is a serious need going on.
So here comes Elisha who says that food will be at record low prices by the end of the day. Sometimes I don’t know what is worse, the prophet to says there will be bad times when things are good, or the prophet who says there will be good times when things are bad. Elisha was the latter guy, and a certain officer of the king hated him for it.
Then the next day, four lepers dare to approach the enemies camp. They find out that the Aramities have left, for some odd reason. I actually think it was a huge miracle that they left, by the way.
So then what happens? The Israelites discover that they can raid all the Aramite treasures, and that officer that can’t stand Elisha gets trampled. I suppose you could call that a happy ending, for most of the characters.
I suppose that we would like to see this type of ending for the current economic crisis, sudden and full of riches. If there is one thing that I have discovered about life, it is its unpredictability. One day everything looks hopeless, and in the next, suddenly everything is okay.
This is why I don’t worry about the “economic crisis”, and this is not because I have a stable job is always in demand. It is because you never know how things are going to turn around. This is why you don’t put a gun to your head and pull the trigger, because fortune could very well be on its way.
So hey, you don’t want to completely lose it over this whole economic thing. Sure, you can prepare, but things have a way of turning around.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Naaman wants it his own way
June 7, 2009
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 5-6 and 2 Corinthians 9
We have all heard that expression “beggars can’t be choosers”. In other words, if a person receives help, they cannot choose what form the help comes in.
Take Namaan, for example. This was some big shot commander in Aram, who just happened to have leprosy. Now I’m sure that having this disease was a real burden for this guy’s position, and he probably didn’t want to spend the rest of his life in a leper colony.
So along comes Elisha, who says he can cure him, but Naaman assumes that it will be done in a certain fashion. In fact, he expects Elisha to come to him. Instead, Elisha wants Naaman to come to the Jordan river. I suppose that I could get an atlas and check out how far these places are on the map, but I’m certain it was quite far. No one had any cars or phones, so it probably took months of correspondence before these two could be in the same room.
I’m not certain why Naaman didn’t see fit to visit Israel and get this healing going on. I think Naaman thought his river was better than Israel’s river. Either way, I have to admit that yeah, God could have healed Namaan from any river.
The issue is would Namaan have it if it wasn’t his way. I mean, we have all been in positions where we needed help. The other day, I had a terrible problem with my teeth, and I couldn’t stop the pain. I wanted help, and I wanted it in a particular way. Sadly, God did not answer my prayer.
I had to do some things to help make the tooth pain go away. God didn’t make it go away on my terms, which would have been right away, in some act of God. No, He decided to use people called dentists. I’m still not “out of the woods” as far as this problem is concerned, by the way.
Why is it that whenever we receive help, it is always in a form that doesn’t seem to help us? It just doesn’t seem to work that way. Do you want to know why? It is scary to be in a place where you need help. Very scary. Especially when you are a Christian, because technically, we are the ones that should be helping people.
However, we need to accept whatever help that comes from wherever. We have to be willing to be helpless, no matter how scary it is. Don’t try and make stipulations about how the help comes, just take it.
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 5-6 and 2 Corinthians 9
We have all heard that expression “beggars can’t be choosers”. In other words, if a person receives help, they cannot choose what form the help comes in.
Take Namaan, for example. This was some big shot commander in Aram, who just happened to have leprosy. Now I’m sure that having this disease was a real burden for this guy’s position, and he probably didn’t want to spend the rest of his life in a leper colony.
So along comes Elisha, who says he can cure him, but Naaman assumes that it will be done in a certain fashion. In fact, he expects Elisha to come to him. Instead, Elisha wants Naaman to come to the Jordan river. I suppose that I could get an atlas and check out how far these places are on the map, but I’m certain it was quite far. No one had any cars or phones, so it probably took months of correspondence before these two could be in the same room.
I’m not certain why Naaman didn’t see fit to visit Israel and get this healing going on. I think Naaman thought his river was better than Israel’s river. Either way, I have to admit that yeah, God could have healed Namaan from any river.
The issue is would Namaan have it if it wasn’t his way. I mean, we have all been in positions where we needed help. The other day, I had a terrible problem with my teeth, and I couldn’t stop the pain. I wanted help, and I wanted it in a particular way. Sadly, God did not answer my prayer.
I had to do some things to help make the tooth pain go away. God didn’t make it go away on my terms, which would have been right away, in some act of God. No, He decided to use people called dentists. I’m still not “out of the woods” as far as this problem is concerned, by the way.
Why is it that whenever we receive help, it is always in a form that doesn’t seem to help us? It just doesn’t seem to work that way. Do you want to know why? It is scary to be in a place where you need help. Very scary. Especially when you are a Christian, because technically, we are the ones that should be helping people.
However, we need to accept whatever help that comes from wherever. We have to be willing to be helpless, no matter how scary it is. Don’t try and make stipulations about how the help comes, just take it.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Not like ours
June 6, 2009
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 3-4 and 2 Corinthians 8
I believe that there is a saying that “you’re ways are not like mine”. I will have to say that is completely true. Sometimes it is comforting to know that God has this plan for my life which concludes with a great eternity in heaven. And sometimes, that just confuses the hell out of me.
There are times in which God asks for things, and it doesn’t make sense to do them. Worse yet, we are usually asked to do it anyway. Take the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom. Their armies were all assembled to meet with the armies of Moab. Nobody knew what to do, and people generally tend to call out for God in desperation in times like these.
So naturally, people turned to Elisha. What happens then makes little sense when it happens, but crescendos into quite a conclusion. First of all, Elisha calls for a harpist, which is just odd. I guess that worked for Saul.
Then, during the music, Elisha has a great idea: there is going to be water. Granted, they were out in the desert, and water is a concern, but it there was some armies due to arrive and quenching your thirst should be the least of your worries.
So what do they start doing? Elisha orders them all to dig ditches. That would make sense in trench warfare, but that hadn’t been invented yet. Can you imagine all the soldiers who probably thought they were dead because their leaders don’t have a plan. It’s like the workers who are worried that the business is going to go under.
Well, they didn’t strike oil, but they got water. And it was not just any water, because when the sun hit it, it looked like blood. And then this blood was enough for Moab to let their guard down, because they thought the armies had destroyed each other.
Then the Israelites yelled “surprise” and just attacked and won. Now, how in the world did a simple digging of ditches win a battle. From what I can tell, there didn’t seem to a plan beyond the ditches for Elisha.
There wasn’t the planning scene like in Independence Day, where the heroes know the stage of their plans. Then something goes wrong, and the heroes have to improvise. No, this entire plan was based on improvisation.
At least on the heroes part. God tends to work like an Author, building suspense and taking the characters to the limits of themselves for one of the most exciting endings.
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 3-4 and 2 Corinthians 8
I believe that there is a saying that “you’re ways are not like mine”. I will have to say that is completely true. Sometimes it is comforting to know that God has this plan for my life which concludes with a great eternity in heaven. And sometimes, that just confuses the hell out of me.
There are times in which God asks for things, and it doesn’t make sense to do them. Worse yet, we are usually asked to do it anyway. Take the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom. Their armies were all assembled to meet with the armies of Moab. Nobody knew what to do, and people generally tend to call out for God in desperation in times like these.
So naturally, people turned to Elisha. What happens then makes little sense when it happens, but crescendos into quite a conclusion. First of all, Elisha calls for a harpist, which is just odd. I guess that worked for Saul.
Then, during the music, Elisha has a great idea: there is going to be water. Granted, they were out in the desert, and water is a concern, but it there was some armies due to arrive and quenching your thirst should be the least of your worries.
So what do they start doing? Elisha orders them all to dig ditches. That would make sense in trench warfare, but that hadn’t been invented yet. Can you imagine all the soldiers who probably thought they were dead because their leaders don’t have a plan. It’s like the workers who are worried that the business is going to go under.
Well, they didn’t strike oil, but they got water. And it was not just any water, because when the sun hit it, it looked like blood. And then this blood was enough for Moab to let their guard down, because they thought the armies had destroyed each other.
Then the Israelites yelled “surprise” and just attacked and won. Now, how in the world did a simple digging of ditches win a battle. From what I can tell, there didn’t seem to a plan beyond the ditches for Elisha.
There wasn’t the planning scene like in Independence Day, where the heroes know the stage of their plans. Then something goes wrong, and the heroes have to improvise. No, this entire plan was based on improvisation.
At least on the heroes part. God tends to work like an Author, building suspense and taking the characters to the limits of themselves for one of the most exciting endings.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Wiped Out by God
June 5, 2009
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 1-2 and 2 Corinthians 7
Imagine if you knew that today you were going to die. I suppose the next obvious and most often asked question is: “what would you do that is different”. I’m certain that some of us, including myself, would probably repent as much as possible. However, I wouldn’t really have to if I truly repented in the first place.
I suppose that I could talk about Elijah, because he actually knew when he was going to die. However, he never really experienced death, did he? He was carried aloft by some whirlwind. He is only one of two people known that went to God without dying.
No, I’m talking about the fifty men who came to see Elijah and were incinerated. I can imagine that the soldiers who had come to get him probably thought: “well, fifty men to get one guy, this is overkill”. Of course, the only overkill that happened was with the men.
I can’t help but wonder what the second group of men were thinking when they went to get Elijah. Did they think: “Fire from heaven? Right. Let’s just go get these guys and make fun of the guys that didn’t do it right the first time.” And then they all died.
So we have, what, one hundred lives that were lost all because Ahaziah fell down and wanted to consult someone. You know, if he went to Elijah in the first place, this never would have happened. But he didn’t, he went to consult Baal-zebub. Isn’t this the same as Beelzebub? So, instead of going to God, you go to the devil?
I suppose there was some sort of complication with this, and why Ahaziah chose to go to this ungodly counselor is not mentioned. Fortunately, there was one wise leader of fifty men who begged Elijah to come with him.
I feel sorry for this guy. He probably wanted to do his job, but he didn’t want to get torched in the process. At least, he had to beg for help.
And let’s talk about the boys who made fun of Elisha’s bald head. Bears came and killed forty two youths who were just doing what most boys would do. Now the toll is up to about 150.
Sometimes I wonder how God can see fit to sacrifice lives in his plan for humanity. I suppose that one hundred men is probably a small fraction of all humanity, but it certainly feels like a terrible price to pay for it.
The lesson here is: don’t disobey the Lord. If you think it won’t lead to death, maybe you’re right. It may not lead to your death, but man, be mindful as it leads to others dying.
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 1-2 and 2 Corinthians 7
Imagine if you knew that today you were going to die. I suppose the next obvious and most often asked question is: “what would you do that is different”. I’m certain that some of us, including myself, would probably repent as much as possible. However, I wouldn’t really have to if I truly repented in the first place.
I suppose that I could talk about Elijah, because he actually knew when he was going to die. However, he never really experienced death, did he? He was carried aloft by some whirlwind. He is only one of two people known that went to God without dying.
No, I’m talking about the fifty men who came to see Elijah and were incinerated. I can imagine that the soldiers who had come to get him probably thought: “well, fifty men to get one guy, this is overkill”. Of course, the only overkill that happened was with the men.
I can’t help but wonder what the second group of men were thinking when they went to get Elijah. Did they think: “Fire from heaven? Right. Let’s just go get these guys and make fun of the guys that didn’t do it right the first time.” And then they all died.
So we have, what, one hundred lives that were lost all because Ahaziah fell down and wanted to consult someone. You know, if he went to Elijah in the first place, this never would have happened. But he didn’t, he went to consult Baal-zebub. Isn’t this the same as Beelzebub? So, instead of going to God, you go to the devil?
I suppose there was some sort of complication with this, and why Ahaziah chose to go to this ungodly counselor is not mentioned. Fortunately, there was one wise leader of fifty men who begged Elijah to come with him.
I feel sorry for this guy. He probably wanted to do his job, but he didn’t want to get torched in the process. At least, he had to beg for help.
And let’s talk about the boys who made fun of Elisha’s bald head. Bears came and killed forty two youths who were just doing what most boys would do. Now the toll is up to about 150.
Sometimes I wonder how God can see fit to sacrifice lives in his plan for humanity. I suppose that one hundred men is probably a small fraction of all humanity, but it certainly feels like a terrible price to pay for it.
The lesson here is: don’t disobey the Lord. If you think it won’t lead to death, maybe you’re right. It may not lead to your death, but man, be mindful as it leads to others dying.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
How Micaiah Avoids Groupthink
June 4, 2009
Today's Reading: 1 Kings 21-22 and Psalm 27-28
When I was in psychology class, I learned a lot of odd words that are quite applicable. For example, the concept of groupthink. I suppose the meaning of this word is pretty self-explanatory, as it happens in business board rooms and church meeting places all the time.
This is when there is a feeling amongst a group of people that there is a majority rule on a certain issue, despite the fact that there hasn’t been an official election. When it comes time to make that decision, those who are undecided or even those who are opposed to the perceived way the crowd is turning vote for it and not against it.
I am told that this is how the space shuttle Challenger was pushed to launch despite the doubts NASA had about its left thruster. Of course, who really wants to scrub a launch date for a problem that “probably isn’t there anyway”. Of course, we all know how that ended up.
This is the sad state that a lot of us live in. We just sort of go with the crowd and are afraid to make waves. I’m betting there have been a lot of great decisions that have occurred simply because of groupthink. We would like to think that all the Nazis hated the Jews and wanted to seem them in concentration camps, but I think the literal truth would be that some of the Germans were horrified at what they did to the Jews, but they felt they were under orders.
I wonder if groupthink works for good decisions as well. I’m sure most of us would say that the Declaration of Independence was a good thing (for America, at least). I wonder if any of those founding fathers just signed because George Washington and Benjamin Franklin were doing it.
Such is the case with Macaiah the prophet. This guy has a lot of conviction and will only say what the Lord tells him, and he has to be the one who tells everyone that there will be a lying spirit in the prophets. Man, how would you like to be the bearer of that news?
Well, you all know how the story goes: Macaiah was right. I suppose the lesson to be learned here is to be a wave-maker, but hey, is that any guarantee that you will be right. Of course not. However, Macaiah proves that sometimes being the guy who stands up in the crowd can be a good thing. You have to like the calm way Macaiah stood up. He just said what God put on his heart, and had no self-righteousness about him. This is how you go against the flow, if you need to.
Today's Reading: 1 Kings 21-22 and Psalm 27-28
When I was in psychology class, I learned a lot of odd words that are quite applicable. For example, the concept of groupthink. I suppose the meaning of this word is pretty self-explanatory, as it happens in business board rooms and church meeting places all the time.
This is when there is a feeling amongst a group of people that there is a majority rule on a certain issue, despite the fact that there hasn’t been an official election. When it comes time to make that decision, those who are undecided or even those who are opposed to the perceived way the crowd is turning vote for it and not against it.
I am told that this is how the space shuttle Challenger was pushed to launch despite the doubts NASA had about its left thruster. Of course, who really wants to scrub a launch date for a problem that “probably isn’t there anyway”. Of course, we all know how that ended up.
This is the sad state that a lot of us live in. We just sort of go with the crowd and are afraid to make waves. I’m betting there have been a lot of great decisions that have occurred simply because of groupthink. We would like to think that all the Nazis hated the Jews and wanted to seem them in concentration camps, but I think the literal truth would be that some of the Germans were horrified at what they did to the Jews, but they felt they were under orders.
I wonder if groupthink works for good decisions as well. I’m sure most of us would say that the Declaration of Independence was a good thing (for America, at least). I wonder if any of those founding fathers just signed because George Washington and Benjamin Franklin were doing it.
Such is the case with Macaiah the prophet. This guy has a lot of conviction and will only say what the Lord tells him, and he has to be the one who tells everyone that there will be a lying spirit in the prophets. Man, how would you like to be the bearer of that news?
Well, you all know how the story goes: Macaiah was right. I suppose the lesson to be learned here is to be a wave-maker, but hey, is that any guarantee that you will be right. Of course not. However, Macaiah proves that sometimes being the guy who stands up in the crowd can be a good thing. You have to like the calm way Macaiah stood up. He just said what God put on his heart, and had no self-righteousness about him. This is how you go against the flow, if you need to.
Monday, June 22, 2009
A Superhero in fear
June 3, 2009
Today's Reading: 1 Kings 19-20 and Psalm 25-26
I have a confession to make: I have always wanted to be a superhero. However, the lack of radioactive spiders, gamma bombs, cosmic rays, and all other pseudo-science has been absent in my life. Granted, I have had some tragic things happen in my life, but my parents divorce has never driven me over the edge to motivate me to get into a spandex suit and fight crime.
I think the appeal of superheroes is the power of God in the hands of man. Of course, if there is one thing that comic books have taught us is that having power isn’t easy. Sure, you may be able to take out the ordinary bad guys, but there is always a limit. Just like Superman has a Kryptonite, I’m pretty certain that most super-powered good guys would not stand a chance if all the villains in the world ganged up on them.
In fact, that was happening with Elijah. I mean, this guy made fire fall from the sky like he was some Human Torch, then he outran the king to Jezreel like the Flash. And before that, he made oil multiply. Man, I don’t know any superhero that could do that? If there was one, I would imagine he would be pretty popular right now with oil prices going up and all.
Okay, that was a stupid contemporary commentary, I admit it, but I couldn’t believe the reading today when Elijah was afraid. Man, he had done some pretty amazing stuff, and now he was scared? I mean, this is the guy who had ravens bring his food.
Then Elijah learns a valuable a lesson as God sends earth(quake), wind, and fire on that mountain that Elijah was dwelling in. Then there was the whisper, a voice of God that was more powerful than powers.
By the way do you know what happened to Elijah? As far as I know, nothing. In fact, the story seems to go away from Elijah after he finds an assistant. Yeah, I know, he’s probably going to be killed, and he gets a secondhand man. Man, that’s like Batman getting Robin after the Joker, Riddler, and Penguin put out a hit on him.
So, what can we learn? Problems are never as bad as we think, and even if they are, then God will give us the power we need to get over them. Until then, we need to remember who we are, and that we can do some pretty cool stuff.
Today's Reading: 1 Kings 19-20 and Psalm 25-26
I have a confession to make: I have always wanted to be a superhero. However, the lack of radioactive spiders, gamma bombs, cosmic rays, and all other pseudo-science has been absent in my life. Granted, I have had some tragic things happen in my life, but my parents divorce has never driven me over the edge to motivate me to get into a spandex suit and fight crime.
I think the appeal of superheroes is the power of God in the hands of man. Of course, if there is one thing that comic books have taught us is that having power isn’t easy. Sure, you may be able to take out the ordinary bad guys, but there is always a limit. Just like Superman has a Kryptonite, I’m pretty certain that most super-powered good guys would not stand a chance if all the villains in the world ganged up on them.
In fact, that was happening with Elijah. I mean, this guy made fire fall from the sky like he was some Human Torch, then he outran the king to Jezreel like the Flash. And before that, he made oil multiply. Man, I don’t know any superhero that could do that? If there was one, I would imagine he would be pretty popular right now with oil prices going up and all.
Okay, that was a stupid contemporary commentary, I admit it, but I couldn’t believe the reading today when Elijah was afraid. Man, he had done some pretty amazing stuff, and now he was scared? I mean, this is the guy who had ravens bring his food.
Then Elijah learns a valuable a lesson as God sends earth(quake), wind, and fire on that mountain that Elijah was dwelling in. Then there was the whisper, a voice of God that was more powerful than powers.
By the way do you know what happened to Elijah? As far as I know, nothing. In fact, the story seems to go away from Elijah after he finds an assistant. Yeah, I know, he’s probably going to be killed, and he gets a secondhand man. Man, that’s like Batman getting Robin after the Joker, Riddler, and Penguin put out a hit on him.
So, what can we learn? Problems are never as bad as we think, and even if they are, then God will give us the power we need to get over them. Until then, we need to remember who we are, and that we can do some pretty cool stuff.
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