Revelation 20-22

We’ve come to the end. Not the end of His story, but the end of His Book.

John attempts to describe the incredible sights before him of what eternity will be like. I can only imagine how poor he found his command of language to paint an adequate picture of God and His Son in glory.

Ever felt truly welcome? You moved to a new place, went to work or school or church for the first time, and someone there took an interest in you, showed you around, remembered your name, introduced you to others.
Your apprehension eased as you became more comfortable, seeing yourself working/learning/worshipping here, believing you really could make some new friends and fit in here after all.

I believe John portrays heaven as a welcoming place – for some. For those washed in the blood of the Lamb it is a place of great diversity, where all are loved, all are valued, all are welcomed. A place where our fears and anxieties melt away. Where pain, suffering, sorrow, heartache, disappointment, and grief are unknown. Where God will personally wipe away every tear of hurt. Where the fear of death can’t touch us. Where there are endless possibilities of enjoying and serving and worshipping God face-to-face in community.

For those who don’t submit their lives to the reign of the King, well, it’s a different ending.

No wonder those who longed for Christ’s return, who suffered for His name, who were ridiculed, beaten, cheated, abused, mistreated, persecuted, and martyred cried out “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (Rev 6:10, ESV). They still eagerly anticipate the overthrow of the enemy and the victory of the King.

The Spirit and the Bride say “Come” (Marana tha in Aramaic). John said “Come”. Let the one who hears these words say “Come”. All the earth groans and longs for His return.

Do you?



Lee Thrasher
May 24

Revelation 18-19

What shines for you? I mean, what really shines? I am talking about the kind of shiny that makes you draw in your breath and distracts you. We all have shiny things. For some it may be golf clubs or sporting events; for others it may handbags, travel, or – dare I say it – shoes!

I am certainly not a scholar of John’s revelation, but chapter 18 does mention a lot a shiny objects. It seems that Babylon was a city that dazzled everyone with her treasures. Her cargos of gold, silver, jewels, silks, marble, and spices still manage to get our attention today. We might add fancy cars and technical gadgets to a modern list, but much of it would remain the same. Alarmingly, the mighty angel does not have good things to say about Babylon’s destiny.

All of Babylon’s neon pales in comparison when the next chapter proclaims the wedding feast of the Lamb. Heaven is opened and John sees the white horse whose rider is called Faithful and True. The contrast of these images reminds me that I need to guard the deepest caverns of my heart for the things that are eternally dazzling. I am thankful for the many joys, comforts and beauty that the Father has so graciously provided, but I don’t want to let the roots of those things grow too deep.

I want to set my hope on the day when Jesus will return for His church. The glorious hope of this fills my soul with joy and longing. Soaring moments of worship and quiet whispers of meditation on the Word lead me into those places that God wants me to reserve only for Him. I pray that we will be a church that rejoices in our blessings while we remind each other of the feast that is to come.


Kathleen Tatro
May 23

Revelation 15-17

Let me just confess right at the beginning that Revelation is a book I’m pretty shy about. As a young believer, I was taught that it really didn’t matter what was figurative or literal in Revelation. What mattered was that I was walking with God whenever and however He decided to end things with me OR the earth. I realized not too long ago that I had taken that same approach to my entire walk with God. Life was not mine to seize and enjoy, but to endure until my demise or His return. And I better have it all together when that time came! Whew…..what a load to bear! Then I read that Jesus said “my yoke is easy and my burden is light”. This did not describe the yoke and burden I had taken upon myself. My yoke kept waiting for the other foot to fall – ON ME! It left me praying for Him to return quickly, not because I was anxious to see Him, but because I wanted to be done with this life before I could mess it up anymore! Ouch, it hurts to put that down in words!

Thankfully, God did not leave me burdened and ready to just get this life over! He taught me that the abundant life began when I accepted Him. He doesn’t want me to “grin and bear it” here, He wants me to fully enjoy every aspect of my life with Him! I’m not saying this life still doesn’t get me down sometimes and I still don’t know about the seven angels with seven plagues and seven bowls and the woman on the beast, it’s all a complete mystery to me! But this I know: the focus shifted. I LIVE OUT LOUD for my Lord now, with gusto and joy and love! It’s a fabulous life and I intend to enjoy every minute I have left to His glory!

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m still just as ready for the Lord to bring me fully into His radiant beauty, but in His timing. I read a quote by Erma Bombeck that has become a favorite: “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me".” I want to use every bit of me to bring Him glory.


Julie Hallman
May 22

Revelation 12-14

Brethren, God is awesome. He shows us once more in the book of Revelation how Satan, the dragon or whatever name he has, will try to defy Him and deceive us; but again and again the good news are the defeat of Satan through our Lord Jesus Christ prevail. "The great dragon was hurled down-that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray" Revelation 12:9 and "Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accusers of our brothers, who accuses them day and night, has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Therefore rejoice you heavens and you who dwell in them! Revelation 12:10-12

God continues in the book of Revelation to give us words of encouragement and protection. "Then I looked and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion and with him 144,000, who had his name and his Father's name on their forehands." Revelation 14:1 and continues in verse 4, " They were purchased from among men and offered as first fruits to God and the Lamb. No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless". Praise God. He has reserved an special seat for those who follow and obey Him. He has made us blameless, not because of our actions, but because of His grace. Praise our Lord Jesus Christ!
Brethren, let us strive for the hope we have in Him to be in heaven for eternity. During the short time we spend on this earth let us not be hearers but passionately let us be doers. Let us humbly accept the word that has been planted in our hearts to be a testimony of love and with certainty we'll be saved as He has announced that we will be with Him forever. Praise God for giving us Christ Jesus!


Armando Perdomo
May 21

Revelation 7-11

Ok, let me give this my best shot.

When God begins to reign it’s gonna be really scary, especially for people who have not revered Him.

I think that sums it up.

Oh, wait!

God is it! He is the King! His name is worthy of all our worship now and in the ages to come.

These chapters raise all sorts of questions for me. I wonder why I’m not more motivated to share my faith in light of God’s awesome power which will be displayed at the time of judgement and fulfillment of the kingdom. And why is this so crazy? Is it crazy? Maybe I’m just limited by what I see day to day.

As I read this I’m convicted again about the passion of my heart. God has put it all on the line for me, for us. I want to be more passionate for Him. What I can’y get past is how over and over those who know God are moved to worship. They are turned away by God’s awesome power on display. The followers of God are inspired to honor Him with their bodies and with their mouths.

As you see God on display in your life and in the community around may you be moved to worship. And when the church gathers to celebrate what has done and what God is doing may you inspire others to worship.


Nathan Tillotson
May 20

Revelation 4-6

OK, so be honest. Is anyone else out there just a little weirded out by the creatures with all the eyeballs?! I mean-I know that everything God made is beautiful, but I guess you just had to be there to see them in person! Human words trying to describe heavenly events. Isn’t that really the biggest problem with the entire book of Revelation? John with his human intellect and words trying to explain this amazing vision of something that “the created” obviously have no words to describe. Think about it. More angels than the stars in the sky singing “worthy is the Lamb.” Scrolls and horses and earthquakes and elders and the Lamb. It’s Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Avatar rolled together with one BIG twist. Those flying, eyeball creature never stop worshiping day and night saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” It’s all about GOD. The focus never shifts. “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”


Jim Bales
May 19

Revelation 2-3

Dear Lord,
We are so broken, human, and incomplete. We confess we are selfish, incapable and so small-minded and yet we are your church -- your bride, your masterpiece, your embodiment. We are so undeserving of that title…of that role. Why have you trusted us in all of our messiness to make your name known throughout the world? Why have you given us the opportunity to be your people, knowing that we would mess it up?
God, forgive us when we misrepresent you. Forgive us when we distort your word. Forgive our judgmental hearts. Forgive us when we undo what you did on the cross. Forgive us when we don’t let you be you. Forgive us when we try to fit you into neat, easily understood boxes as you sit and wait patiently for us to realize that you are the God who created our boxed-up minds and weary hearts.
God, may we be a church that listens to you. May we confess our sinful hearts to you. Lord, tear down the pride and conceit that lives in us -- that plagues our minds, and replace it with faithfulness and fervor for you. Lord, change us from the inside out. Transform us. Convict us with your Spirit and teach us to be yours alone. Make it our hearts desire to please you and bring you glory.
Father, make us into a passionate body of Christians. Take our indifferent hearts and breathe your life, your Spirit into them. Convict us when we settle for half way and uninspired and remind us that you are the God that brings life to the DEAD. Make your power known among us. Interrupt stale lives and uninterested minds. Lord, sanctify us and draw us near to your heart. Give us patience and stamina to endure our trials. Bring us your joy in the midst of our struggles. May your hope prevail over our worry.
We are in awe of your relentless commitment to our wandering hearts, God. You give us purpose and forgiveness day after day though we are undeserving. We are sinners. We are your church.
Awaken our ears that we may hear what the Spirit says to the churches.


Jenna Thomas
May 18

II John - III John - Jude - Revelation

If I had to pick a gospel that I prefer, it would have to be the gospel of John. I love how John focuses on the motivation behind things. That motivation is always the four lettered word LOVE.

In his gospel, John quotes Jesus in red letters when he says John 14:15 NIV, "If you love me, you will obey what I command.”

It has been said that commandments given by God serve two purposes: to provide and to protect us. It is similar to a fence that holds cattle. When the cattle stay within the parameters of the fence, the cattle can be kept safe (protected) and fed (provided for). Life can exist outside of the fence, but it is risky. Cattle could be exposed to wild animals and not have the shelter of the barn.

In 2 John 1:4-6 NIV, he writes:
“It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. {5} And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. {6} And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

We have all heard about cattle that end up outside of the pin by eating a tuft of grace here and a tuft of grass there and then a tuft of grass that is beside a hole in the fence which leads to a tuft of grass that is outside the fence.

So how do you stay within the fence where God can provide and protect you? Or how do you obey the commands. It all goes back to John’s motivator – LOVE.

Got LOVE? Need more LOVE? Read on and pray for more LOVE as you ask God what is NEXT for you.


Brad Childers
May 17

I John 3-5

Dear one… Stop it!

Ok. Everybody knows who the most loved apostle was: John. He’s the writer of love. He stalks about love more in his 3 little letters than all of Paul’s epistles. So I’m reading through the love letter that is I John and its keeps hitting me: This guy has a subject he’s not really all that loving about. He comes back to it again and again. In the middle of all these mushy labels like Dear ones, My little children, and Beloved, John wacks the reader up side the head with a simple command:

Stop it!

I’ll give you three guesses about what he wants us to stop… and the first two don’t count.

Sin.

John is really focused on getting you and me to face the fact that sin is a serious problem we need to address. Over and over he says “You must not sin.” Look at all of these challenges he packs into just 4 verses! (3:6-10)

No one who lives in him keeps on sinning.
No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.
He who does what is sinful is of the devil…
No one who is born of God will continue to sin…
Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God…

This guy is serious and passionate about this. Now, you need to know he has already said it’s impossible to completely quit sinning. He explained in the first chapter of his letter that anyone who claims to be sinless is nuts or a liar.

But don’t let that take you off the hook. John thinks we need to set our sights on living without sin… even if we can’t fully do it. We ought to think of sin as an affront to God, a slap in Christ’s face, as spitting on the Holy Spirit.

Sin is a big deal! Even with the grace and love of God surrounding us, John brings it down with the big hammer:

STOP IT! JUST STOP SINNING!

So, there’s your challenge for the day… straight from the most loving of all the apostles!


Jeff Walling
May 16

II Peter 3 - I John 2

When God determined to destroy the world in the days of Noah, Noah was commanded to build an ark. It took him 120 years and during that time he tried to convince people to turn from wicked ways and serve the only true God. The people laughed, ridiculed and made fun of him for years. They had never seen rain and storms because the world was watered differently than it is today. What seemed like forever in man's eyes was less than a day to God. 120 years to Noah probably crept slowly before seeing God's hand actually bring destruction of the existing world. In 2 Peter 3, Peter compares Jesus' Second Coming to the 1st time God destroyed the world, except this time it would be through fire. Its been 2000 years since the 1st coming of our Lord and we beg for the 2nd coming to happen soon. Sometimes it just seems so far away, doesn't it? But we all need to be reminded that it is a one-time event. Once it happens, all things will be changed and judgment will take place for those who do not know Jesus and we all will stand before Him to answer for the things we have done- good and bad. This is why Peter urges us to be holy and blameless before Him during the brief time we are on this Earth.

Let us deliberately remember the past and eagerly look to the future to help us live godly and holy lives in the present.

2 Peter 3:10-14
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.



Jack Exum
May 15

I Peter 4 - II Peter 2

Second Chances

Peter knew a lot about second chances.

Each time Peter put his foot in his mouth during Jesus’ earthly ministry, Jesus would correct him (sometimes gently, sometimes harshly), but He never kicked Peter out of the inner circle.

Even when Peter denied Him three times, and He looked at Peter, He still loved him.

And when Jesus reinstated Peter and commissioned him to be the chief spokesperson of the church in its early days, Jesus called Peter to love Him and serve Him faithfully.

By the time Peter writes these letters, he is a different man than the hot-headed, ready-fire-aim, rough disciple we read about in the gospels. Korey did such a great job portraying Peter in his old age, talking with His Lord, and remembering how His grace had changed him forever.

And at the very end of his first letter, we learn Peter extended that same mercy and grace to Mark, also called John Mark elsewhere in the New Testament. Peter calls him his son, who is apparently by his side as he preaches and serves each day.

This is the same John Mark that Paul wrote off after he balked at facing the difficult trials Paul and Barnabas experienced on the road sharing the gospel (Acts 15:36-40). But Barnabas still believed in him, saw his potential, and took Mark with him to continue to preach and minister when he split from Paul. And, apparently, Mark served so well that Paul changed his mind about him, and wanted to again work side by side with him
(2 Tim 4:11).

This is the same Mark at whose house a group of disciples gathered to pray for the release of Peter from prison (Acts 12:12).

And it’s the same Mark, Peter’s spiritual son, who wrote the gospel, presumably coached by Peter.

Barnabas, the “son of encouragement”, and Peter, both took Mark under their wing and invested their time, energy, and wisdom in him. And he went from a scared little kid (Mark is the only one who records the story of the young man who fled the scene of Jesus’ arrest; Mark 14:51-52; not a particularly flattering account!) to the right-hand man, indispensable to the two greatest founders of the church after Jesus Himself.

Who invested in you, took you under their wing, to help you become who you are today? Have you thanked them?

Who are you investing in? God just might use you to shape the life of a mighty, though unlikely, warrior for the Kingdom.



Lee Thrasher
May 14

Peter 1-3

For me, holiness has always conjured up visions of wise souls whose actions are filled with kindness. I picture a holy life as one that is lived in either constant, sacrificial service to the needy, or as an isolated life of contemplation. Holiness seems to be more than “set apart.” It often seems lofty and unattainable.

This is not the picture that Peter paints in his letter, however. Peter’s brand of holiness is an everyday, get-your-hands-dirty-and-get-on-with-it, kind of holy. I guess that’s not too surprising since God used a fisherman to preach about being holy.

Peter describes holiness using strong action words. He urges us to prepare our minds for action, to be self-controlled and to set our hope on grace. Peter is adamant that we live as obedient children by not conforming to the evil desires that used to control us. He wants us to focus on this simple equation:

Jesus called you + Jesus is holy = Be holy

Even I can understand that kind of math. I also love the promise that is imbedded in it. Jesus is holy. Jesus lives in my heart. So, I can rely on His holiness to flow into every area of my life. Maybe today it will be enough for me to ask Him to remove any “holiness barriers” that are lodged in my heart. What about you?


Kathleen Tatro
May 13

James 2-5

I am once again amazed at God’s providence. James is one of my very favorite books of the Bible. In Hebrews 5, the writer admonishes us to move on in our maturity from spiritual “milk” to “meat”. That’s the theme I see in James: Maturity! Every verse is significant in its challenge to get us to live the faithful, righteous life. Written by (believed by most scholars) the brother of Jesus, James did not always believe in his older brother (see John 7) but it is evident he was listening! James makes many allusions to the Sermon on the Mount. His former Jewish legalism stands out: He uses over 50 imperatives (commands) in these 5 short chapters. James makes a clear distinction between a trial and a temptation, listening and doing, faith and deeds, judgment and mercy, worldly wisdom and wisdom from God; I could go on, there is so much MEAT! He repeatedly admonishes us to WALK the talk, and WATCH the talk (many references to keeping our words in check)! He challenges our motives, our pride, and our prayer lives! James is not a book for the one who wants to stay in comfort! It is a book for the one who wants to move on to the maturity God has waiting for us. There are many, many “NEXTS” in the book of James. As you read today, ask God “What’s next for me in these words from YOU, written by the brother of my Lord?” What do I need to leave behind and move toward? “Do not merely listen to the Word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 2:22)


Julie Hallman
May 12

Hebrews 12 - James 1

Brethren, God is awesome. He has given us His own Spirit to the ones who really believe in Him and love Him. In our struggles against sin, we have not yet resisted to the point of shedding our blood, as quoted in Hebrews 12:4. We forget the word of encouragement that addresses us as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son" Hebrews12 5. God wants us to be like Him and he will give us the strength and wisdom to overcome temptation. On our side we need to humble ourselves and accept his sovereignty. It is all about Him and not us. God disciplines us for our own good that we may share in His holiness. Our submission to God and His ways must be complete if we want to be really blessed. "See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks" Hebrews 12:25

We tend to believe that God tempts us. No, as it is written: "For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed." James 1:13-14. We are all short of the glory of God and only though Him we can endure hardships. When we face trials, we might be in pain, but God tells us to be in joy whenever we face trials of many kinds, knowing that the testing of our faith will develop perseverance. Brethren, let us strive for the hope we have in Him to be in heaven for eternity. What difference would it make to be in a permanent trial on this world if we know that we will be with Him forever? Our Lord gives us hope and ways to overcome trials by trusting and obeying Him. Praise our Lord!

During the short time we spend on this earth let us not be hearers but passionately let us be doers. Let us humbly accept the word that has been planted in our hearts to be a testimony of love and with certainty we'll be saved. Praise God for giving us the Spirit of power in Christ Jesus!

Armando Perdomo
May 11

Hebrews 10-11

Faith is trusting in the blood of Jesus sacrificed once for all time, for all people. We often read Hebrews 11 in wonder. We should read Hebrews 11 with a gentle nod of confidence knowing that the moments and days will come when we will exercise the same kind of faith in the face of persecution.

The moments and days are now.

A popular theme of Christian books right now is about reclaiming Christianity. Books like Unchristian and Jesus Wants to Save Christians Too reveal the lackadaisical faith so prevalent in our “Christian” communities. It seems that we’ve gotten so good at fitting in with the world that is hard for the world to tell us apart.

This should not be.

What God did in Jesus is forever final. Through Christ God gives us full assurance of the real life to come when the kingdom of God is fully come.

So, what would it take to get your name in the 2010 version of Hebrews 11? Would it be living debt free? Would it be serving the community, the hungry, your neighbors as much as you serve yourself? Would it be giving away at least ten percent? Would it be actually talking about Jesus to people in your world?

The last time I checked no one showed up at church with flesh and blood wounds as the result of persecution like those listed in Hebrews 11. I haven’t yet attended the funeral of someone killed for their faith. But maybe our wounds run deeper. Are we dead in other kinds of ways? What is holding you back from fully giving yourself to God? Can you you release that thing? Can you get help for that addiction? Can you trust a friend to share your burden?

As you live in full confidence in the mercy of God expressed through Jesus Christ, may you fully give yourself to the will of God.



Nathan Tillotson
May 10

Hebrews 6-9

Priests and covenants and sacrifices everywhere. (The Bible is a really bloody book, huh? Can you imagine if we still had the old covenant and had to sacrifice and burn animals and sprinkle blood and all that stuff? Wow-the germ-a-phobes would not survive!) How cool is it that Jesus is all three in one: He’s the high priest, the guarantee of a better/new covenant, and the ultimate sacrifice! So, it begs the question—“if Jesus is all that, what can I do?” Answer: absolutely nothing! We can’t do a thing. And yet we keep trying so often to be better people, to give more, to “please” God. It can’t be done-let it go! Let God save you once and for all and quit trying to do it yourself! Now, I’ll get off my soap box and try to practice what I preach...



Jim Bales
May 9

Hebrews 1-5

This whole blog-writing thing has been a bit of a journey for me. I’ve always loved writing. When I graduated from college back in the day [4 years ago] I tried to start writing a blog. I thought it would be a good way to keep up with friends…really I was just having a quarter-life crisis and I thought writing would relieve my despondence. Writing did prove to alleviate my post-college confusion but it was writing in a journal to the Lord not on a public web domain. As I scripted my first entry I was burdened with this realization that blogging assumes that others CARE about what you have to say. My fingers jumped around on the keyboard in attempt to explain why I was beginning a blog and half-way through my first letter to the world I decided authoring a blog wasn’t in my future.

This is my second encounter with blog-writing. Knowing my previous affair, I was a bit apprehensive when Jeff mentioned “blogging through the New Testament.” But I sat down at the computer with my first assignment and I found myself in a familiar position…fingers hovering over the alphabet, wondering if it was presumptuous to assume anyone cared about my thoughts on life. Not only were my measly thoughts going public, but now it was also my inadequate summary of God’s AMAZING gift to us: His Word.

Every week I sit down to write about my selected chapters from the New Testament and I confess to God that I am not even worthy of trying to explain His word. Those adjectives that God uses to describe His Holy Bible flood into my head: living, active, sharp, able to penetrate the heart. Next come the adjectives that describe my words: fleeting, unsure, incomplete, obtuse. I ask God to use me despite myself.

That whole exercise took place yesterday when I opened to Hebrews. As I read verse by verse and attempted to soak up God’s direction, I was confronted with those powerful adjectives…“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” I stopped reading. I thought for a while about just writing those words as my blog entry this week. If I really believe that His words are living, active, and powerful should I not just let them speak for themselves?

But I think God gave me this personal battle to share with you. Recently, I’ve been consistently confronted with scriptures in the Bible concerning transformation – “do not conform to the world, rather be transformed by the renewing of your mind”… “it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart”… “But when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.”
When I read scripture like this, I am hungry for that seemingly life-altering change. I don’t want to settle for the watered-down version. If God says in His word that we will be guided and transformed and convicted deeply by a relationship with Him…then why are we not? Why does His word seem more like boring and outdated than alive and penetrating to the soul? This may not be your battle, and if it’s not then excuse me for being so lame.

I have asked God why His Word isn’t penetrating my heart and why I am not being transformed and recently God gave me the answer and it was in just a few verses of Psalm 119 that I’m sure I’ve read before….and you probably have too, but I encourage you to click it and take part in the desperation of the Psalmist.

God is still the same as He was when those words were written in Hebrews. He still uses His word to divide the soul and spirit. I think we are the problem [what’s new?].

Have you ever told God that you meditate on His precepts? Or that you rejoice in following His rules? Or asked Him how you can keep your way pure? The Psalmist is in a passionate pursuit of God. He is so beaten and burdened by his own sin. He desires nothing more than to keep his way pure and to hear from God…to know Him, not to have an education about Him but to KNOW Him.

If any of you are still reading, you are probably wishing I had opted to write those two sentences from Hebrews. I don’t know if there is anything I can write that will convince you to open God’s Word with the kind of desperation noted in Psalm 119. Pray today that God will teach your heart how to feast on His Word and that the Spirit will guide you. May His Word become living, active, and sharp to you.


Jenna Trapasso
May 8

II Timothy 4 - Titus - Philemon

Earthquakes

Can you believe the number of earthquakes we have experienced in the last few months?

January 12 – Haiti 7.0
March 2- Chili 8.8
April – Mexicali 7.2
April 13 – China 7.1

Wow all of this makes you think about Jesus words in Mark 13:7-9 NIV

…Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. {8} Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. {9} "You must be on your guard.…

That passage is enough to make you think that the end times may be near, but read the passage that is in today’s reading from 2 Tim 3:1-7 NIV:

…But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. {2} People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, {3} without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, {4} treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- {5} having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. {6} They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, {7} always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.

I am not sure which is more convicting?


Brad Childers
May 7

I Timothy 6 - II Timothy 3

Passing the baton

Do you know what relay runners practice more than anything else? It’s the 1.5 seconds it takes to pass the baton to the next runner. Now think about this: A 400 meter relay racer will run for several minutes all by themselves. They are running solo much longer than they are passing the baton. But experience tells them that the moment things are most likely to go wrong is in the hand-off. That’s the moment everyone is watching for and the moment about which they are the most tense.

As I read his last letter to Timothy I can feel Paul’s passion about the hand-off he is making. This is Paul’s last letter to his young apprentice and probably the last thing he wrote in scripture. Paul’s getting along in years and he knows two key things: There are false teachers, argumentative members and down-right nasty folks who will try to derail the young man. And he knows that he will not be there to help him. Mortality is a pain. I get that. It bugs me that I may not be able to see my grandchildren’s children. (I know. I know. I don’t have grandkids yet… but you start thinking about these things as the years start to pile up. Can I get an “Oh, yeah!” from the wrinkled crowd?)

So Paul gives Timothy one last “Stay true” speech from his old mentor. He warns him and challenges him. He reminds him of the people like his mother and grandmother who passed the faith on to him. These godly ladies made sure the baton was safely in Timothy’s hands. And Paul wants Timothy to remember the gift they gave him and the training he had given him.

But the real question on Paul’s mind is… What’s NEXT? Will Timothy pass on the baton of faith to those coming after him. Paul won’t be around to do it. Its up to Timothy and his generation. That’s why Paul says…

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. 2 Tim. 2:2

Strange how the reference for that verse worked out. Did you notice: 2nd Timothy 2:2. A lot of two’s there! Its almost as though God worked through the king’s editors to put the verse marker right there to underline the point.

It takes two: One to hold the faith. One to receive it.

So who are you handing the baton to?


Jeff Walling
May 6

I Timothy 1-5

I Tim. 1: 15-17-
15Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

These verses connect with me a lot. Especially the part where Paul says that Christ Jesus displays His unlimited patience with me. He is so perfect and works through us- temporary earthen vessels- for His purposes and glory. These verses remind me that in response to such awesome grace and mercy toward me to show this same love, mercy, and unlimited patience to others... This is not easy for me who can be critical many times of others. It is funny how easy it is to be like the ungrateful servant who was forgiven by his master for a large debt and then he in turn does not forgive the small debt that someone owed him. Aren't you glad God is so patient with us as He molds us into His image? A lifetime does not seem to be long enough to do this.


Jack Exum
May 5

I Thessalonians 4 - II Thessalonians 3

Discernment

Ever worked with someone who wasn’t pulling their fair share of the load? Ever felt like you were giving more than 50% in a relationship, where the other person made you carry more of the burden?

I confess, my first inclination in those situations is to assume the other person is lazy, and I resent the fact I’m doing more than they are.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:14, Paul helps us see there might be more than one reason why someone is falling down on the job, and we need to apply the right action to the right cause. He says “warn the idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, and be patient with all men.”

Know what? All three of those people look the same on the outside – no output! But if I’m not careful, and if I take the wrong action, I could cause worse problems.

If I warn the timid or weak, they’ll just wither up and melt away. They don’t need me jumping down their throat or berating them. A harsh word will drive them further into their shell, and they won’t come out again for fear of getting their head chopped off.

And if I encourage or help the idle, they’ll just continue to lie around doing nothing while feeling even better about themselves, because I obviously don’t mind they aren’t producing. They don’t need a gentle, kind word – they need a fire lit under them!

And if I help the timid, they’ll be offended. It’s not that they don’t know how to do the task at hand, but rather they lack the motivation or confidence to see it through. They just need someone to believe in them.

It’s so easy for me to judge another’s heart, and jump to the wrong conclusion about why they are acting the way they are. But no matter the root cause, Paul says I am to be patient with all men. That’s the hardest thing for me to do! Why can’t they pick up the pace? Work longer hours? Crank out more deliverables? Do more, better, with less?

It might just take an investment of my time to dig deeper into what is going on in someone’s life in order to correctly discern the core issue. God forgive me when I lack discernment, love, and patience!


Lee Thrasher
May 4

Colossians 3 - I Thessalonians 3

Spring flowers! Fresh air! Warm breezes! New clothes! Yes, I’ll admit that the change of seasons does cause my thoughts to drift towards new outfits. This is not a year that will be punctuated by many shopping trips, but Paul’s exhortations in the third chapter of Colossians did jump out at me.

It is a chapter that is full of activity: setting our hearts, setting our minds, putting to death, getting rid of, taking off, putting on, clothing ourselves. It sounds like a spring closet cleaning to me. Perhaps what God really wants me to do is to look into the closet of my heart and see what is hanging around. Are there old habits, wants, sins, and grudges that are filling the shelves?

Am I committed to setting my heart and my mind on the things above and not on earthly things? If my life is truly hidden with Christ in God, then the recesses of my heart should be like a window thrown open on a warm spring day. The Holy Spirit should be able to easily reach in to clothe me with compassion and kindness. Perhaps today will call for a lovely shawl of gentleness or a warm coat of patience. No outfit will be complete without the finishing touch of a gossamer veil of humility.

Paul reminds me of the trappings that I want to be wearing when I tell others about my Savior. When my heart is dressed in love and unity, then nothing will detract from the truth of His message. I bet Paul didn’t intend to preach about shopping!


Kathleen Tatro
May 3

Philippians 4 - Colossians 2

One theme runs consistent throughout the book of Colossians: ALL . Paul uses this three letter word more than 30 times in four short chapters! All of the following are from chapters 1-2. Jesus is the “firstborn over ALL creation”; He is “before ALL things”; “ALL things hold together in Him”. “God was pleased to have ALL His fullness dwell” in Jesus and “to reconcile ALL things to Himself” through Him. “ALL the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” are hidden in Christ. He forgave ALL our sins. Stop the truck….did you notice the past tense in the last one? Colossians 2:13 doesn’t say “He FORGIVES ALL my sins…It says He FORGAVE ALL my sins! It has already been done in the work of Jesus on the cross! Gives new meaning in my heart to His words from the cross, “It is finished!” One more ALL: Colossians 1:28-29: “We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with ALL wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with ALL His energy, which so powerfully works within me.” Wow! We have ALL Christ’s wisdom and ALL His energy working within us. Jesus is truly my ALL in ALL! Lord let me live it!


Julie Hallman
May 2

Ephesians 6 - Philippians 3

"Honor you father and mother" is the first commandment with a promise. God wants us to be an example and testimony if His love to our children and the generations to come.

Paul asks for prayers, as we should do, that whenever we open our mouths, words may be given to us so that we may fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel. It is all about God and not about us. If we follow the Lord's commands in the words of Paul in Philippians 3:13 "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead" we will be richly blessed. "Our citizenship is in heaven" Philippians 3:20. We belong to Him and he wants us to be with Him forever. Praise our Lord!


Armando Perdomo
May 1

Ephesians 2-5

One of the key verses for me in this text is Paul’s admonition to, “Live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (4:1). In light of all that Christ has done for us shouldn’t this be our goal?

The privilege of being one of God’s people comes with responsibility. God has created one new and holy community that He calls to honor Him in all things. The essence of Paul’s writing address day to day living -24/7 worship of God. I don’t know about you, but I tend to struggle when life is mundane, methodical and normal. Paul says, “we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe” (3:14 NLT). On this day or that Houston is a ‘daddy’s boy’. But on other days it’s Mom he wants. You and I belong to Jesus every moment of every day and forever. In our faith we are to be like children, but in our living for God and following His example we are to be grown-ups.

And because we belong to God, we belong to one another. God acted in pure unselfishness and love in giving us His Son. We should also act unselfishly in our love for all others. Paul refers to this as a great mystery, “it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one” (5:32 NLT). It is not within our grasp to treat others less than the love shown to us by God through Christ.

The simplicity of Ephesians strikes me as I strive today to “live a life worthy” of my calling. May God bless you as you do the same.


Nathan Tillotson
April 30

Galatians 4 - Ephesians 1

I am sitting in a waiting room, having just dealt with a stressful situation, and I’ve decided to “knock out” my BLOG for the week rather than pay $10 (the financial penalty we all agreed to in the beginning of the 99 days to hold ourselves accountable to blog on time.) Bottom line---I’m compliant and cheap! So, I pulled out my list and I realized I got...Ephesians chapter one. Holy Guacamole! God continues to amaze me, and I’m ashamed of it. Just when I needed it most-God reminds me that, “He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love, he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” Ephesians 1.

Why is this sooooo significant for me today? Well, Ephesians chapter one has been my “go to” passage for a long time. I’m an adopted kid that is proud to be twice adopted; once by fantastic earthly parents and once by the living God. When I was younger I stumbled across this scripture from Paul and it helped me see that being “adopted” is not strange or different or weird. Well, maybe it is---but at least WE’RE ALL strange and different and weird together...and loved and saved and filled by GOD! Hallelujah! Just for that---I might just pay the $10 for grins!


Jim Bales
April 29

II Corinthians 13 - Galatians 3

I love working with teenagers. The place they are in life is entirely contradictive – so pure and content with being a child, yet so fascinated by who they could be and usually willing to rebel to find out. It’s like popcorn and M&M’s or french fries dipped in milk shakes [don’t knock it ‘til you try it]. They don’t really belong together but the union of the two creates something so wrong that it’s right.

I am so intrigued by kids in this mixed-up state because of the potential for discovery of self, and more importantly the discovery of self’s deep need for God’s mercy. Teenagers are so prematurely thirsty for an education on life so that they can make decisions about what they believe, who they are, and their place in the world. Sometimes it’s scary [I know there are parents out there saying AMEN right now] that they have all this cerebral freedom to determine their own path, but such little experience with which to choose wisely for themselves. This internal ambiguity results in a spiritual struggle for most teens as they attempt to establish a personal faith in God. It is a classic picture of self vs. the Spirit. Sometimes it doesn’t even make it to the self-stage…the battle stays in that dreaded teenager dungeon of conformity to the crowd. Then it becomes pleasing men vs. gratifying the Spirit.

Unfortunately, it’s not quite as fascinating nor accepted when we continue to have the same “men vs. Spirit” struggle as adults [though it is the reality of our sinful condition]. I love the light that Galatians sheds on this eternal issue… “For do I now persuade men, or God? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” It doesn’t get any simpler than that. Ya better choose. Pleasing men AND being a servant of God is not an option. Sometimes it works out that serving God is pleasing to men but Paul makes it clear that if you want to serve God you’re going to have to be o.k. with stepping on some toes.

Paul continues to tear down my misconceptions about needing to please man and indulge self, “For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

Paul pleads with us to give the law up. He tells us that when we believe we can just abide by the laws we are practicing self-righteousness and to embrace the full power of Christ’s death on the cross we must believe that our justification comes from HIM alone. I want to crumble onto the floor as I read that Christ died in vain if we believe righteousness comes from the law.
We are all probably pretty quick to say, “Of course we know that we are saved only by Christ’s death on the cross.” But do we live that way? Do we live like we are walking in the grace of God or do we live like we can earn it if we try harder or we’re just better. God so desires full access to us. Paul reminds me today that the goal is not ultimate goodness. The goal is not to sin the least or have the cleanest record but to daily renounce living for self and living to please men. God is glorified when we say in all our sinfulness, “It is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me.”


Jenna Trapasso
April 28

II Corinthians 9-12

What are you when no one is looking?

This past week was the first time in many years that spring breaks aligned for Union and Cabarrus counties. It afforded us the opportunity to take our 11th and 12th grade mission trip over the Easter break – and what an awesome time it was! When we left Charlotte it was chilly, drab and grey. However, when we returned at the end of our trip an explosion of green had taken over the city. Spring had sprung, God’s beauty abounded. Looking down from the plane as we approached home was a breathtaking experience. What was once drab and grey in just a few short days had been transformed into something warm, beautiful and vibrant.

In 2 Corinthians 9-12 Paul is talking to the church about their support (financially) for the work of God. He is also talking to them about their character (who they are in Paul’s absence). I love the metaphor that Paul uses in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7. It is apropos for the season we are in and my life. It reads:

(2 Cor 9:6-7 NIV) Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. {7} Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Paul uses this concept also in Galatians when he says in chapter 6 and verse 7 “A man reaps what he sows.”

When you look at the lawns of Charlotte, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know who has taken time to and money to aerate, seed, and fertilize their yard in the fall. It shows up in the spring time – right?

Well, not always, what if you didn’t have the time or the money to fertilize in the fall, as was my case last year. Your yard should look drab, grey and be full of a lot of weeds – right?

Mine should, but it doesn’t! Why, because while I was out of town on an earlier mission trip to Haiti someone CHEERFULLY showed up and applied weed and feed to my lawn!

I did not have the money, but someone else did. I didn’t have the time, but someone else CHEERULLY gave it. While I wasn’t looking someone gave (the very definition of character)! When we serve others, they reap what they did not sow! Isn’t that the grace I receive everyday from Christ? His grace given on the cross affords me reapings, that I did not sow!


Brad Childers
April 27

II Corinthians 5-8

A Divine Fund-Raising Letter?

OK… Confession time: I don’t like II Corinthians. I hope you don’t think that’s blasphemy, but after reading the New Testament up to this point you can’t help but notice the difference. Paul is so defensive and harsh in this second letter to a church with tons of problems. (See I Corinthians!) In his first letter he handled one question after another and was pretty good about covering a broad range of topics with an even hand. But what happened in this letter? Paul sounds tense, nervous and upset – to quote an old TV commercial. He is constantly defending himself and trying to prove that he really does care and he really hasn’t cheated anybody. Consider these clips from chapter 5:

“What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience…”
“We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again…”
“If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God…”

The confusing fact is that we know that the guy behind these defensive rants has gone through Hades for the gospel. We watched him suffer and stand strong in Acts and heard him explain the story of redemption beautifully in Romans. He’s a hero! He’s Paul, the Apostle! So maybe part of the purpose of this letter is to let us see the human part of Paul. He gets his feelings hurt. He defends his character. He fights to be heard.

And here’s another strange fact: In the middle of all this he writes some of my favorite verses:
We live by faith, not by sight.
We fix our eyes not on what is not seen, for what is seen is temporary.
As long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.
If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation.

So what is driving these impassioned pleas and this beautiful prose? The answer is one more strange-but-true fact: Its about fund-raising! Paul is trying to get this church to step up and support the ministry of the gospel. In some ways the whole letter leads up to chapter 8 where he challenges them with the example of the Macedonian church. That group so believed in the Gospel of Christ that they gave generously though they were in poverty. Paul knows that it takes money to fund missionaries and keep spreading the word. For that reason he pulls out all the stops to get the members of this presumably wealthy church in this prosperous port town to dig deep. He even uses some semi-Communist language to get the job done: “Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.” Hard not to hear some socialist overtones in that! But Paul’s not thinking politically. He’s thinking missionally. It’s all about spreading the Good News. It’s all about showing love in Christ. For him, our giving is nothing less than a “proof of our love” for the Lord.

“You’ve got it and you know it! Now give it to advance the Kingdom!” That’s his message to Corinth in a nutshell.

I can’t help but wonder if he wouldn’t write the same message to us.


Jeff Walling
April 26

I Corinthians 16 - II Corinthians 4

Jesus reveals His will to us in numerous places and they do not have anything to do with things I have prayed for His will to be done about in the past. For example, where should I live next, should I buy this car, house, who will I marry, how will I be able to afford retirement. So I ask that He would reveal His will for me in this areas, and because of His abundant mercy, He does and has always provided. However, here in Scripture, I see clearly some of what God's will is for us:

- Purity and sanctification- I Thess. 4
- To suffer for doing good in Jesus name- 1 Peter
- To love one another- I John

In 2 Corinthians, when I read through chapter 4, I am so encouraged by Paul's words that though we are outwardly wasting away (our bodies are wearing out, suffering injury and hardships), we are being renewed in our spirits on the inside through God's Holy Spirit. Maybe I need to pray that God will allow me to suffer for His Name and lead me through those hard times? Peter thought himself unworthy to die like Jesus did and so he was crucified upside down. Maybe I need to ask for the strength to be pure and live a holy life before the holy God who gives me life? Maybe I need to focus on loving others and let God take care of the rest and trust in Him by asking for help in faith without doubting him... Sounds like the verse in Matthew- Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.


Jack Exum
April 25

I Corinthians 13-15

Love is in the air… and the water…. and the pizza!

We Americans use the word love to describe almost anything we enjoy. I love hand-tossed Supreme pizzas. I love NCIS. I love Jamocha Almond Fudge ice cream. And I just love that outfit on you.

But Paul stops in the middle of his multi-chapter rebuke of the Corinthian church to paint an amazing picture of what true love looks like. The Corinthians were exhibiting anything but love – they were selfish, proud, impatient, elitists who focused their attention on themselves – not on others. Paul puts forth an image of a follower of Jesus that is much, much different than how they were behaving.

Love is patient – always used in reference to people, not circumstances, and even used to describe how God treats man. It describes someone who is wronged, who has the power to avenge, but chooses not to. Love never says “I’ve had enough”. Given up on anyone lately?

Love is kind – much of our Christian heritage shows we are good, but not necessarily kind. When’s the last time you not only gave something away or served someone, but did it slowly, intentionally, with a genuine interest in the individual you were helping? It’s hard to be kind when we practice “drive-by philanthropy”.

Love does not envy – this isn’t just a feeling that I wish I had what you do, but I wish you didn’t have it, either. I begrudge you your blessings, because I think I deserve them just as much (well, more, actually) than you do.

Love does not boast – the word describes one who struts around with their chest puffed out. While I might not blow my own horn loudly and frequently, do I talk about how humble and loving and serving I am, and hope someone rushes to agree?

Love is not arrogant - am I inflated with my own sense of self-importance? Napoleon once said, "I am not a man like other men. The laws of morality do not apply to me." I may not go that far, but do I look down on others around me? Do I just know I’m better than they are – and I try to hide my smirk while I mull it over?

Love is not rude – the same Greek word is used for both grace and charm, and this is its opposite. Am I graceful – or graceless? Am I blunt and brutal in my criticisms, or do I show others courtesy and tact?

Love does not insist on its own way – since this doesn’t apply to any of us (certainly not me), we’ll just skip it and move on (a-hem!).

Love is not irritable – provoked, easily angered, exasperated, flies off the handle, has a temper – sounds a bit like Peter, doesn’t it? Anybody else you know?

Love keeps no record of wrongs – an accounting term for making an entry in a ledger that will not be forgotten (“this is going on your permanent record”), it refers to storing up a memory so you throw it in someone’s elses face in the future. Do you have a bucket of these just waiting for the right time to bazooka a loved one?

Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth – even when I don’t care much for the truth? When it hurts, or makes me look bad, or puts a spotlight on my sins and struggles?

Love bears all things – this is the word for “to put a roof over”. It’s not that I grudgingly carry around this heavy burden of all the injustices I’ve suffered, but rather hide them, never again to see the light of day.

Love believes all things – believing the best about people is tough, especially when you know them well (your family, for instance). Can I stop second-guessing their motives?

Love hopes all things – sees the possibilities instead of the faults in someone. Doesn’t crush or dash their aspirations, but speaks words of encouragement. Am I “realist”, placing undue barriers and restrictions on someone based on what I think they can accomplish?

Love endures all things – not just passive resignation, but triumphant conquering. Not with a too-loud murmur, but with a song of praise.

So, how well are you loving?

Trying to recognize I am well-loved more often, so I can love well more often, your brother,

Lee Thrasher
April 24

I Corinthians 10-12

For the last two years I have been struggling with a condition that has caused chronic pain in my left shoulder. It has impacted my life in ways that I could not have predicted. Beyond the constant trips to the doctor, limited mobility, and sleepless nights, I have experienced a new level of acceptance.

I have come to accept that pain cannot stop me from hearing God’s voice or from being His instrument. I accept that part of His merciful provision for me is to use pain to prepare me for different, deeper pain. I have accepted the reality that the stronger parts of my body must compensate for those that do not function well.

As I read Paul’s words in I Corinthians 12, my heart mourns that I am often slow to apply these lessons of acceptance to my brothers and sisters in the body of Christ. My impulse to care for, forgive, and protect the weak should far exceed my levels of frustration and judgment.

When I am tempted to speak ill of another part of Christ’s body, I pray that I will remember that He has called us to put on our armor because we are at war. And because, when we speak about the parts of Christ’s body, our Enemy is listening. He does not want our church to be a hospital for the spiritually wounded and dying.

It is my prayer that our fellowship would be one in which the hurting can heal and be nurtured. Let us begin by guarding the gate of our speech.


Kathleen Tatro
April 23

I Corinthians 7-9

Paul gives lots of directives in these 3 chapters. Some are apparently in answer to specific questions asked of him by the people of Corinth. It’s easy to get bogged down in all the “I, not the Lord” and “The Lord not I” parts of these chapters and miss the overall point I think Paul is trying to show us. The point is that time is short and we are here for a purpose. EVERYTHING we do should have that purpose in mind. He shows us that our status in life has nothing to do with our purpose. We can be married, unmarried, slave, free, circumcised, uncircumcised, eat certain foods or refrain…..the list could go on. Paul says “Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone to win as many as possible.” His single mindedness amazes me. Everything he did had the goal of bringing others to Christ. He was unconcerned about rights. He was concerned about the lost and how demanding our rights might affect them. It’s like I can almost hear Paul say, “Focus church. Let’s get this job done so we can go home!” I’m with him: “Get right church and lets go home!”


Julie Hallman
April 22

I Corinthians 2-6

Brethren, God is great. He has provided to give us His own Spirit to the ones who really believe in Him and love Him. It is the same Spirit that was part of the creation of the world, and the same one that raised Jesus Christ, our Lord, from the dead." we have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely give us" I Corinthians 2:12.

God is all, "So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow." I Corinthians 3:7 and he wants us to be like Him. "for God's temple is sacred and you are that temple" I Corinthians 3:17

God is powerful, by His Spirit, we become like Him, "when we are cursed we bless, when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world. I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children" I Corinthians 4:13. By this Spirit of humility we can understand the way our Lord Jesus Christ is pleased. "God oppose the proud and gives grace to the humble" James 5:6

God has given us His Spirit to be led by what is pleasant to Him. In the letter to the Corinthians, God is clear in warning us against arrogance, sexual immorality and anything that opposes the Spirit of the Lord, since our body is called to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? I Corinthians 6:19

Praise God for giving us the Spirit of power in Christ Jesus!


Armando Perdomo
April 21

Romans 15 - I Corinthians 1

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13 NIV).

This is a huge prayer. In the previous verses and those following Paul instructs and encourages us to to do some amazing things. He says those who are stronger should “bear with the failings of the weak,” we should, “accept one another, “ we should be of, “one heart and mouth” so that God is glorified. As I’m reading this I’m thinking, “Yes, yes! This is awesome Paul! We can do this.” But then reality sets in.

Yeah, you caught me. What reality am I living in? God’s or mine? God’s or the church’s? Aren’t they one in the same?

Over and over Paul emphasizes that this is the work of God. He even says that all he has talked about and done is part of a great mystery kept for “long ages past” (16:25). Over and over Paul points to Jesus Christ who accomplished all those awesome things in which the people of God should participate, practice and pursue. Reality is God’s reality. The world as it is supposed to be is a place where our strength, endurance, acceptance, longings, motives of the heart, encouragement, generosity and hope all flow from God the Father to His people where we then overflow out into a hurting and dying world.

And so this is our prayer today: May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in Him, so that we may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus name, amen.


Nathan Tillotson
April 20

Romans 11-14

How do your write only two paragraphs about these four chapters!? Where do I begin? Do I start a firestorm by talking about “election” or continue the age old argument about celebrating “special days” on the calendar? Anyone that knows me knows that I like to talk about “taxes”, but maybe instead I’ll throw out an argument about whether Christians should drink or not based on chapter 14? So many good talking points and issues for the everyday Christian to consider---so little space to write!

Maybe I’ll just say summarize the whole thing by saying this (with the help of Eugene Peterson’s The Message), “Take your everyday, ordinary life—and place it before God as an offering. Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Don’t quit in hard times. Pray all the harder. Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.”


Jim Bales
April 19

Romans 8-10

Forty days. Moses went up on the mountain for forty days, Elijah was in the desert for forty days, and Jesus spent forty arduous days in the wilderness fasting and being tested. I’m no Moses or Elijah…and I’m definitely not Jesus but this year as the period of 40 days that lead up to Easter approached, I felt convicted about renouncing something for Lent. I grew up attending Catholic Church so I’m a veteran Lenter. When I was 9 I gave up riding my bike…I’ve given up chocolate, ice cream, every non-water beverage. I tried coffee once and failed. Actually, the vice I surrendered this year is one I attempted to relinquish a few years ago and I’m ashamed to say Lent only lasted two days.

This year, though, God has blessed me with my most meaningful 40 day stint. Here are the terms and conditions: I’ve given up radio/Ipod /cd’s -- any music in the car for the duration of Lent. The only solace in the whole effort is my self-given permission to listen to music when I have passengers -- of course only for the benefit of my company. The first days were detox. I would get in the car and inadvertently begin rotating the volume knob clockwise, only noticing what I was doing after prolonged silence and a realization that no sound was coming out. Sometimes I would turn the key in the ignition, put the car in drive, and then go for the power button on the radio. I’d start singing with Billy Joel and then throw my hand over my mouth like an eight year old who accidentally just said a swear and then I’d immediately press the button again…but this time shamefully.

I knew the Spirit had laid it on my heart to give up a little noise in my life. Quickly, I began to comprehend that my brief abandonment of consumerism was giving birth to a deeper hunger for the Lord. In the silence I discovered a desire to confess…I can’t imagine that any human desires this without prompting from the Spirit. Every morning on the way to work I would confess my inequities. Sins would pour from my heart and into God’s able hands. There is an intimacy that exists between creator and created when personal piety is relinquished.

In the name of my new found appreciation for confession…let me acknowledge that I half-expected to run out of sin to bring to God [which I think might be sinful]…but it was this sanctimonious idea combined with a substantial amount of solitude that became the perfect recipe for discovery.

This is what I learned about SIN. Sin is not just an individual act of disobedience and when we view it that way we feed this illusion that we can just avoid sin and be “good people.” We have so many preconceived notions about sin. When we hear the word we think of particular things that “bad people” do. Sin has been manipulated and used against us by believers and non-believers.

Sin is none of those things. Sin is the state we are in. It is human nature. It is our desire to rebel – or to just do it ourselves. It is the pursuit of self and our cheap, unfulfilling culture. It is living out of rhythm with our maker.

Romans 8 says it more powerfully than I ever could. I wanted to copy and paste the whole chapter from The Message but I refrained…here is the meat:

“In his Son, Jesus, God personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to set it right once and for all. The law code, weakened as it always was by fractured human nature, could never have done that.

The law always ended up being used as a Band-Aid on sin instead of a deep healing of it. And now what the law code asked for but we couldn't deliver is accomplished as we, instead of redoubling our own efforts, simply embrace what the Spirit is doing in us.”

These days I don’t even think about music when I’m driving. I just think. I pray. I confess. I’m healed. I’m thankful. I rediscovered God’s mercy and my desperate need for it. I’m happy.

Jenna Trapasso
April 18

Romans 4-7

ab•o•li•tion•ist
–a person who advocated or supported the abolition of slavery…

When I was in school, I loved when I had just finished my last exam. There are not many feelings in life that can rival having all those burdens lifted and knowing, for at least a few days, you are free.

Freedom is something we all long for. One of my favorite movies is Mel Gibson’s Braveheart. I love William Wallace’s speech about FREEDOM. The question is what are we trying to get freedom from. The answer lies in, what are we a slave to!

Zach Hunter is a modern day abolitionist. When Zach began his program he was only 12. His goal is to rid the globe of modern day slavery. Thus far, Zach has raised millions and has built schools for children who would have been slaves. Zach is now 17.

Romans 6:20-23 says, “When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. {21} What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! {22} But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. {23} For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Folks we are free from SIN! With Christ living in us sin has no control over us. The payment has been paid. Are you living today with the FREEDOM of your burden being lifted and eternity with God is yours?


Brad Childers
April 17

Romans 1-3

And Now… the TRUTH!

You’ve seen him on “Survivor” and “The Great Race”… now, read his book!

That’s what it feels like when you turn the page from Acts to Romans. We’ve watched Paul go from a religious terrorist to a persecuted missionary and the travelogue of his missionary trips read like scenes from “Castaway”. But then, after all the excitement of shipwrecks and midnight escapes; of facing screaming crowds and miraculous releases from prison, we turn to the next book in the New Testament and get… theology?

Don’t let this scare you!

In fact, Paul would be saying: Hurray! You finally got to the good stuff! For him, his story was always secondary to the truth for which he was willing to die. And now he lays that truth out in style.

Romans, the first non-narrative book in the New Testament, is as close as we get to a “Christianity for Dummies”. In many ways it’s a non-gospel gospel. You see, many of the folks who would read this letter have never read any of the gospels we all just finished reading two weeks ago. These Roman Christians didn’t have Matthew or Mark to learn from yet so their first taste of a written presentation of Christ’s message was this pamphlet sent by Paul from Corinth. In it he lays out the big picture of the meaning of Jesus’ death and resurrection and the life-changing power of our faith in that act. It is the single most complete theological survey of Christian doctrine in the Bible.

Now doesn’t that excite you? OK: Now the good news… there’s a Reader’s Digest version. It’s the first three chapters and it goes something like this: Mankind has fallen down and we can’t get up.

Paul starts by making it clear that neither the Jew’s law-keeping nor the Gentile’s smarts will solve the problem. The only hope is a “righteousness from God.” Note the direction. It’s important: “a righteousness from God.” The whole book is written to underline that we receive hope, grace and forgiveness through God’s work, not ours. By faith is Paul’s mantra and he makes sure we know that this is faith in Christ… not our goodness, nor the law, nor even the church. Because of the gift of grace through faith in Christ we are free from the law of sin and death.

The rest of Romans will get challenging. (God bless the blogger with Romans 10 & 11!) But remember the core message – Our righteousness is from God. It’s the greatest gift one could ever receive.

And that’s the TRUTH!


Jeff Walling
April 16

Acts 27-28

We do not know much about the death and martyrdom of the Apostle Paul. We know he made 1 trip to Rome and ended up in prison and was released. Most resources believe he made a second trip and died in Rome. This is probably the when the book of II Timothy was written. I am constantly amazed at the life of Paul. He had such zeal and enthusiasm for Jesus, shared his faith, grew and cared for the Body of Christ. Wouldn't you like to tap into that zeal? In Acts 27-28, we see Paul suffer a shipwreck at sea, get bitten by a poisonous snake, and is stuck under house arrest for 2 years. His attitude is what strikes me! Positive, forward-looking, Christ-centered, an attitude that said, "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain".

He knew Jesus personally and intimately. Jesus was not just a part of his life...He was his life! I pray that God will make us all like Jesus and to be filled with His love so we can share it with others!


Jack Exum
April 15

Acts 25-26

Paul’s NEXT


Paul gives the fourth of six defenses of his faith journey in these chapters. He’s been held in prison for two years after last sharing the incredible story of God at work in his life with Felix, Festus’ predecessor. When King Herod Agrippa II, comes to town, Festus hopes he can hand off this hot political case to somebody else.

This Agrippa is the great-grandson of Herod the Great, who was in power when Jesus was born (you’ll recall he had all the boys two years and under killed in hopes of eliminating the Messiah as a threat to his throne). His great-uncle, Herod Antipas, was in power during Jesus’ ministry, stole his brother’s wife, and has John the Baptist beheaded. Agrippa I (his Dad) kills James and imprisons Peter. He then accepts the praises of the crowd shouting that he has “the voice of a god”, and an angel promptly kills him and his body is eaten by worms and dogs. According to historians, Agrippa II had an incestuous relationship with his half-sister, Bernice. So this Agrippa has a long family track record of being gentle, righteous, understanding, men of great integrity who are sympathetic to Jesus and his followers – NOT. And you thought sharing the gospel with your grumpy co-worker was hard!

In the course of Paul recounting his story, he says that Jesus commissioned him to be “a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’ (Acts 26:16-18, NASB)

What an amazing privilege it is to be God’s partner in his redemptive work! Paul still recalls Jesus’ charge to him as many as 26 years later after first hearing those words on the road to Damascus with incredible clarity. Of course, if Jesus appeared to me on I-85, I’d probably remember it pretty well, too.

Paul had no doubt what God called him to do. Elsewhere (1 Cor 9:16-17) Paul said he was entrusted with a stewardship to preach the gospel, and woe be to him if he didn’t preach.

Paul declared to Agrippa he was “not disobedient to the heavenly vision”, and that is evident even as he tries to convert the king. How often do I ignore the promptings of the Holy Spirit, skip over parts of His Word I’d rather not deal with, shut out the voice of God so I don’t have to do what is hard, inconvenient, even costly?

What vision has God given of who you are to become in Him, and what He has charged you to do? What call on your life is so clear to you that woe be to you if you don’t pursue it wholeheartedly and passionately?
What, though you may not like it, has God called you to NEXT?





Lee Thrasher

April 14

Acts 22-24

Waiting. I don’t know about you, but I find it hard to wait. I can manage to be fairly patient while waiting in line, for an appointment, or for a friend who is running late. I can usually settle in and enjoy a rare moment of peace. I can take a deep breath because I know that eventually, I will get my turn, see the doctor, or catch up with my friend.

No, the waiting that troubles me is the type in which I do not know what is going to happen next. If I am honest with myself, I would have to admit that I never really know what will happen next, but it is in times of waiting that I am acutely aware of my inability to predict the future. This kind of waiting can be faith-stretching and scary.

That is why I am stunned and humbled when Scripture reveals a situation like Paul’s. In Acts 24 we learn that, in the face of false accusations and pending inquiries, Paul had to wait – for two years! How did he spend his “waiting time”? Did he bring a good book or catch up on some knitting? No, Paul did what he always did. He spent his time telling folks about the good news of Jesus Christ. For two years, while Felix was hoping for a bribe, Paul spoke time and again about faith in Christ.

Paul’s example challenges me to remember that God’s timing is not my timing. Perhaps, while I am waiting on Him, there is someone who needs to hear about the grace and hope that can be found in Jesus.


Kathleen Tatro
April 13

Acts 20-21

Have you ever met a really INTENSE individual? That’s how I think of Paul. He never seemed to lose focus. Can you imagine the scene? He’s preaching [actually the text says he talked on and on…is that where Jeff gets it from? :) ] Does he not notice how late it is? Anyhow, Eutychus certainly notices. I can just imagine him struggling to keep those eyes open. Finally he falls into a deep sleep, falls out the window and dies. Who could have predicted this? I never thought of listening to a sermon as a particularly dangerous activity. I guess it depends on who is preaching! Paul’s intensity never waivered. He healed the young man, went back upstairs for a food break and continued talking until daylight. I think I would have told everyone to go home and get some sleep! He was just as intense in his goodbyes. He tore himself away from the elders at Ephesus. Why? I would have lingered. He knew Jerusalem held the same fate for him as it had for his Lord. And yet we are told “he was in a hurry” to get there. In this “hurry up” world I live in, I hope the thing I am most in a hurry to do is fulfill the calling God has on my life!

Julie Hallman
April 12

Acts 17-19

Paul set up an example of being focused in preaching the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was intentional in this purpose. Whenever he went into any city he first looked for opportunities at the synagogues to preach the gospel and teach about Jesus Christ. Paul took the opportunity in Athens, where they had an altar with the inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. From here he went and said: "Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you." Acts 17:23. This is important sine he related to this altar to have an opportunity to exalt God, the one and only living God and from here he was driven to go to talk about Jesus Christ, when he cites: "He has given proof of this to all men by raising Him from the dead" Acts 17:31 . Paul was not afraid in proclaiming the good news of Jesus our Lord. What an example and teaching we have. "I can do everything through him who gives strength" Philippians 4:13. Praise Him!



Armando Perdomo
April 11

Acts 14-16

Ok, let me get this straight. They beat Paul and then he and whoever he is with encourage the believers. Someone else beats or stones Paul and he encourages. Yet another beats Paul and he encourages. It’s like a fairy-tale gone terribly wrong. This isn’t the way it’s suppose to be, is it?

Or is it?

Mark Moore said, “The Holy Spirit does what it wants, when it wants, how it wants, where it wants and it doesn’t need your permission.” So when did beatings become divine?

I’m afraid. If I listen to the Spirit, if I really put my best effort into following God is this what happens?

I’m sorry. This text raises more questions for me than answers. I hope it does for you. I hope it puts in you the kind of hope I see in some men who put their earthly lives on the line day in-day out. I hope you see that the Gospel we live for is worth dying for. I hope you see that what we physically see is not what awaits us. This kingdom of God is really worth whatever it takes.

I want to do better. I want to live like Paul (though not getting a beating would be awesome!).

God, help me trust You again for the first time. Let me love you regardless of what may come my way or what cost I might pay. You have paid the ultimate price and whatever it takes to tell Your story to the lost and dying is worth it. Lord, help me today. In Jesus name, amen.


Nathan Tillotson
April 10

Acts 11-13

Chapter 11-Isn’t it interesting how Luke re-writes the exact same story as in Chapter 10 about the animals on the sheet? Do you get the impression that is an important story? I think for the Jewish people-it obviously was. The whole issue of clean food is such a HUGE part of life still today for the Jewish people. This passage is the very spot in the Bible where we---the non-jews---are ‘officially’ invited to the party in heaven! Woohoo!!

Chapter 12-This chapter is bookend-ed by deaths. At the beginning, James (the brother of John) is killed by King Herod. I think it’s the first account of one of the 12 apostles being martyred. Then, at the end of the chapter, King Herod is struck dead by an angel. I think the lesson is clear---don’t mess with the 12 apostles!!! Or is it--don’t think yourself greater than GOD?!?! Either way---Herod messed up big time! Of course, this chapter also has the cool story of Peter’s daring jail break with yet another angel. Isn’t Rhoda a great name for a girl who gets all excited and forgets to let Peter in off the street?

Chapter 13-Barnabas and Saul (whose name changes in this chapter to Paul) set out on their mission trip. I can’t imagine teaching the gospel, getting rave reviews & saving lots of people, and then getting kicked out of town by the leaders. Crazy! Sounds like the leaders aren’t very in touch with the people, but that’s a political discussion we won’t have here!!!!


Jim Bales
April 9

Acts 9-10

Acts. Woah. I know by now we’ve been in Acts for a few days but I’m still thanking God for not closing up shop after Jesus’ death. Acts is like a slap across the head. The gospels are wonderful and I am perpetually educated on the ways of our Lord from spending time with Matt, Mark, Luke and John but as I turn the page from John 21 to Acts 1 I suddenly become one of them. Peter, James, John, you and I are now pursuing a God that we know in our hearts and minds but we can’t go over to his house for breakfast and advice. At the beginning of Acts my heart breaks a little for the disciples as they are seemingly directionless without their Savior, but as Acts begins to unfold I rejoice at the beauty of true faithfulness. I love identifying with those that walked with the Lord as they sit now and pray for God to reveal the next part of their journey. I love that the same Holy Spirit that arrived on the scene in Acts to knock everybody’s socks off lives in you and me.

I’ve been reading Acts 9 and 10 over and over and marveling at God’s wisdom and willingness to interrupt stale lives. He imposed blindness on hard-hearted, religious Saul to eventually reveal a humble and devoted servant of Jesus Christ. And He gave Peter just enough vision to expose his haughty, prejudiced heart.

Saul’s encounter with the Lord convicted my 18 year old heart the first time I read it. God’s sovereignty in choosing such an undeserving, unexpected man to fearlessly make known His gospel made me want to trade my indifferent religion for a passionate relationship with the Lord.
Somehow Peter’s vision of four-footed animals never made it into the reading I was doing as I pondered the nature of God and a commitment to living for Him. Maybe the gracious lady that I was studying the bible with decided to omit it from my reading list on account of verse 13, “Get up Peter, kill and eat,” or maybe it was the many confusing references to the Simons…one called Peter and one who’s a tanner and lives by the sea. Sounds like a children’s book: Simon the Tanner Who Lives by the Sea.

Acts 10 doesn’t get the publicity that Acts 9 does, but then God’s not about popularity and ease…He’s about humility and heart. I’m sure there are commentaries written by very wise and intelligent people that dissect the number of times Peter saw the vision and the reasoning behind the clean and unclean animal analogy but it is Peter’s obedience to the Spirit that I think is note-worthy.

The scripture says, “While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three men are looking for you…do not hesitate to go with them.” Peter was still thinking…but he didn’t let that stop him. He didn’t say, “Sorry Lord but I can’t go because I’m not exactly sure what to think about that sheet full of four-footed animals and birds I just saw.” He was just obedient.

I’m ALWAYS still thinking. I love contemplating the importance of things…but I am reminded today that God knows the importance of things and He knows when I need to know and when I just need to be obedient. I love what happened when Peter went with the three men. He spoke truth through the Spirit. He began by saying, “…I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.”

Peter was finally living it. He had walked with Jesus and he heard Him preach about acceptance and love. He already knew in his head that God’s grace was for everyone; but the time had finally come for Peter to “Go and make disciples of all the nations.”

I hope Jesus was sitting with the Father exchanging high fives as they watched their mission unfold.


Jenna Trapasso
April 8

Acts 6-8

Metanarrative - any story told to justify another story.

Don’t you love a good story? Every night my son Charles wants me to tell him a story. Did you know that the Bible is a story? It is actually referred to as being a metanarrative. A metanarrative is defined as any story told to justify another story.

What we read in Acts 6-8 is a great example of a metanarrative. We are introduced to amazing characters of faith like Stephen, Philip and Saul (aka, Paul). Aren’t their stories great. Stephen full of the spirit tells God’s story from the beginning all the way to the death of Jesus which gets him martyred. Philip obeys the prompting of the Spirit shares the Gospel beginning with prophecy in Isaiah and baptizes the Eunich. And don’t forget we meet Saul the killer of Christians, whose name is changed to Paul and he preaches the gospel to the Gentiles and the world. The best part of these stories is that they are true!

Did you know that you are as much a part of God’s story as Stephen, Philip, and Paul? You have the choice to allow your story, your life, to be as much of a testimony to God’s story as Stephen, Philip, and Paul. Your story want be exactly like theirs. In fact, it will be as different as each of their stories is different. However, it will be just as powerful! How are you living your life? Who is the author of your story? Is it you, or is it God? Be the best _______________ (fill in the blank with your name) you can be. Allow God to use your life to justify His story. After all, all of history really is HIS STORY! The choice is yours to be a part of the story!


Brad Childers
April 7

Acts 3-5

Follow the Money… Twice

It's almost sad: The first gospel sermon has just been preached. Thousands have found eternal life. The church has begun its rapid spread through the city. And then the money problems start. Its funny how much power money has over us:

A lame man is in the presence of people who can actually deal with his problems. The news of the miracle of Pentecost must surely have been swirling around near the temple. But what does he ask Peter and John for: Money. When Peter said, “Silver and gold have I none…”, he must have turned up his nose like a pan-handler in the supermarket parking lot. Was he thinking “Sure you don’t have any money. You expect me to believe that?”

It’s only by grace that Peter doesn’t just pass this fellow by. But instead, Peter drops everyone’s jaws as he helps this man drop his crutches. His healing not only gets Peter and John arrested but it shows that the money this guy was begging for is what really counts. In many ways he’s just like us. This poor short-sighted beggar gets not what he asked for but what he really needed: Healing. Isn’t that us? We ask God for blessings and health and possessions when what he really wants to give us is healing from our past and hope for our present.

But this guy isn’t the only one following the money: Ananias and Sapphira disprove the notion that the first Christians were all perfect. Didn’t you used to think so? If we could just restore the church to its original ideal state – like it was right after Pentecost we’d have reached our goal. Unfortunately, the church then, like the church today, had issues with money. The first major problem and the first terrible loss came because of money.

It’s a strange contrast that today’s reading shows us two people who were following the money: A poor beggar who got more than he could have imagined and rich couple who lost all that really mattered. Surely there’s a lesson there for you and me today. Take your pick.

If you just follow the money, you might miss the even greater blessing that God has for you NEXT.


Jeff Walling
April 6

John 21 - Acts 2

Isn't it amazing the change the apostles went through from struggling in their faith to believe that Jesus could calm the storm, running away at during His trial and crucifixion, and being scared and locking themselves in a room away from those who considered Jesus an enemy, to the point where they were in Acts 1-2? They proclaimed with boldness what the crowd did to Jesus and how this event was really foreordained by God to show His love to us and justify us through the sacrifice of Jesus, His Son. When it comes to the proof of the Christian faith, this is certainly one piece of evidence to consider. Why would these 12 apostles die for something that was not true? Have you read how many of them died? Here are some examples:
- Peter- Crucified upside down- He said he was not worthy to be crucified as His Lord was.
- Andrew- severely scourged & tied by ropes on x-shaped cross where he hung 2 days to expire
- James- beheaded with sword
- Thomas- lanced by
idolatrous priests & burned up in an oven
- Paul- beheaded in Rome

People will not die purposefully for a lie, but rather, for truth.

What a Savior we serve! I am indebted to Him always- it is a privileged to be His bondservant.


Jack Exum
April 5

John 20

John’s telling of the resurrection is very different from those recorded in the other gospels - because he was an eyewitness. You can tell when someone has first-hand knowledge of an event. The details are sharper, the words painting a vivid picture of what happened in your head as you read.

You can sense the fear in John as he and Peter run to the tomb. They are out in the open, exposed, vulnerable to any soldier who might see them. After all, they expect to be arrested at any moment. They were hiding in a locked room, afraid to even open the door.

You can sense their confusion. Is Mary delusional? Is her mind playing tricks on her? Where in the world is Jesus’ body? Did the Jewish leaders take it so they could put it on public display in the city, confirming that Jesus was just a man? Has the last three years been a lie? What made me think He might be the Messiah, the Promised One?

But then, you can sense the slight glimmer of hope as they approach the tomb. Maybe He really isn’t dead after all. Look, the stone has been rolled away. Could He really be the Son of God? Maybe I really did hear that voice on the Mount of Transfiguration after all.

And then, you peek in and stare the truth in the face. There’s no denying it - the body really is gone! The burial cloths are still here! I can’t explain it, I don’t know how it happened, but now I know – I’ve seen it with my own eyes – He’s Alive!

We wrestle with those same emotions as we find our way to the empty tomb. Won’t people think I’m a fool if I believe a man was raised from the dead? How can I know this is true? But maybe, just maybe, there is something more to life than I’ve been willing to admit. Dare I hope that God could really love me? After all, He knows me, and there’s not much that’s lovable about me. But on the remotest, slimmest, slightest chance He does, can I keep on ignoring Him? I just have to peek!

And then you stare the truth in the face. There’s no denying it - God does indeed love me! His Son really did die for me! He’s Alive – and therefore I, too, am Alive!

BTW, here’s a link to my most favorite Easter song - maybe it will become yours.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIndrry40Ks



Lee Thrasher
April 4

John 19

“If only…”
“I wish I had…”
“I almost…”
I know that I have uttered these words. Have you? Often I have tasted regret when I did not heed the gentle whispering of the Holy Spirit. I could sense His leading and yet I failed to act. My journey with Christ teaches me to listen carefully and act promptly as the Spirit leads.

As I read Pilate’s story in John 19, I am overwhelmed by the tragedy that unfolds as Pilate almost does the right thing. We are told that he was convinced of Christ’s innocence. He attempted to distract and placate the crowds, but he was not bold enough to defend his own conviction. If only he had not succumbed to the pressure of power and politics. If only he had stood his ground…

I wonder what pressures cry out in your life? I am convicted by those that hold too much sway in mine. I pray that they will not be able to drown out the voice of the
Spirit. May He grant us courage as we follow where He leads.


Kathleen Tatro
April 3