Musings with PWC

I've been reading through the Old Testament.  Solomon is one fascinating individual.  Here Solomon is  portrayed as the richest, smartest, most brilliant person ever to live.  When you read his story you are in awe.  This guy is brilliant.  He is passionate about his faith.  He is faithful and just in his dealings.  He is brilliant in his leadership.  He is generous with his  people.   He has success.  He has style.  He has wealth.  He has led Israel in the construction of history's most fantastic temple for worship.  On the day of the dedication of this facility they gave up counting how many sacrifices were made.   The Bible tells us that the glory of God filled the temple--so much so that "the priests could not perform their service (1Kings 8:10-11)."  This is one terrific person.  This is one awesome piece of history for the Jewish nation. Kings, leaders and people around the, 'then known world...

Jesus told a parable in Luke chapter 14 concerning the Great Invitation.  "A certain man gave a great supper and invited many (Luke 14:16)."  As the invitation went out a series of excuses were offered.  Apparently people did not want to come to the supper and offered a few excuses. 1.  One guy bought some 'ground' and wanted to go and see it.  Now, THAT'S exciting!  'Hey honey, look at this awesome piece of ground.' 2.  Another bought five yoke of oxen.  Again, excitement plus. ' Wow Honey, look at those oxen.  They pull that cart so well.  Better than anyone could ever have imagined!' 3.  Another just got married.  Here's an idea brain-ianic.  Bring her! As I read to feeble excuses I started to think of some feeble excuses we have in our culture.  We just studied Am I A Fan or A Follower at our church--and I'm thinking that it was a 'nice' series but life changing?  Church changing?  Hmmm--Maybe not! We ar...

I'm sure you have noticed this.  Life is busy and very complicated.  Time schedules, appointments, lists to accomplish and even vacation times fill our lives to the max!  Imagine with me how this next phrase jumped off the page.  I was just reading a morning prayer from my Puritan Prayer Book (The Valley of Vision).  Here is the phrase that jumped  off at me:  "May I cherish simplicity and godly sincerity of character."  Wow really?  Can I still do that?  Better question:  'Am I even capable of doing that?'  Can I stop the rush, the bombardment of things to do, accomplishments, people to meet, stuff to fix, buy and paint--change, change, change-- and cherish simplicity?    Why can't I do that?  What would it take to do that?  Is it even important to do that?  The early church fathers often took a vow of simplicity.  I found, for example this: Vow of Simplicity  (VowofSimplicity) on Twitter htt...

Matt 9:29 "Do you believe I am able to do this? Yes, Lord...Be it done to you according to your faith." This is the story of two blind men who are crying out to Jesus for healing. The 'usual' paradigm for healing in the gospels is this. "Be it done to you according to your faith." That is the usual way healing flowed in the gospels. The gospels, more than any other portion of scripture teach us about healing--for the gospels reveal the Father's will demonstrated in the person of Jesus. Christ reveals the Father. The more we focus on Jesus, the more we ultimately focus on the Father's will and ways. MOST people found Jesus--sought Him out--and came to Him. Healing was THEIR idea. Think of the woman with the issue of blood. SHE decided that if she touched the hem of Jesus' garment (probably his tzitzi --see Mal 4:2 where 'wings' is best translated tzitzi). It was not Jesus' idea to heal the woman--it was the woman's ...

You've all seen it--on the T.V. I mean. The following scene that is. The detective is required to follow the suspect--staying close enough to NOT lose him--but far enough back, NOT to get noticed. Following at a distance would bring potential disaster. Peter did that! Recall his proud and arrogant statement in Matthew 26:33 ff. Peter boast: 'Jesus, I'm with you--no matter what!' Then Peter sleeps when he should have been praying. He misreads Jesus comments about a sword and take his sword and chops off the ear of Malchus. But the real mistake of Peter is this; he followed at a distance. Matthew 25:58 "But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest's courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end." The lesson is clear! Jesus I do NOT want to follow you at a distance. I want to stay as close as I possibly can. I want to know more about you, eternity and my Bible than I do about sports, my job or my car. I wan...

While this is, no doubt, a negative example--there is a lesson here. Matthew chapter 14 tells the story of John the Baptist's beheading. John apparently could not leave well enough alone. He judges (must not have read Matthew 7:1) that Herod's relationship with his brother Philip's wife was adulterous. Herod is ticked off at the prophet John and wants to kill John. Matthew 14:7 tells us that the reason why Herod did not kill John was "he fears the multitude... because they counted John as a prophet." Fear of the crowd paralyzes Herod. As the story goes, on Herod's birthday his wife's daughter dances so amazingly Herod is mesmerized and makes a huge and dumb statement. He is so out of his mind he makes an oath and promises 'anything' the little gal wants. She, consults her mother and mom says: 'Get Johnny's head!' So the king reluctantly sends off a guard to do the chopping. The reason? Matthew 14:9 "And the king was s...

There are a lot of scriptures that speak about persistence and link that to faith. The idea of pressing on in faith until you see the answer. 1. What we must not imagine is the twisting of God's arm until He cries "uncle" and gives us what we are crying for. Don't misunderstand the parable for instance of the unjust judge. Jesus admonishes us: Luke 18:6-8 Then the Lord said, “ Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” I NO LONGER believe (note the change) that my crying out to Father is changing Him in any way. 2. Persistent faith is changing me. It is focusing MY attention on Jesus the miracle worker. It is stirring something in me. So, when I keep praying and praying and praying for the same thing--I keep focusing more and more an...