When you’re dealing with a frustrating person, who just won’t understand.

When you get cut off in traffic, and want to make a certain hand gesture and say words that are “cursing”.

When you see someone trip and fall morally, and all you want to do is to say how stupid they are.

When you hear a “leader” say something stupid, and don’t try to find out the context.

When someone sets you up for the greatest verbal smackdown in the world, and you so desperately want to take the opportunity.

When you see someone proud and hope that they fall flat on their face.

never forget that God loves you, and that Jesus died for you failures…

When you realize you’re the person that won’t understand…

When you cut someone off in traffic…

When you trip and fall morally…

When you say something stupid…

When you set yourself up for the biggest verbal smack-down in the world and take it right in the teeth…

When you let your pride trip you up and get to taste some dirt…

never forget that God’s grace wasn’t just meant for you

but be glad that it is meant for you

in Christ,

Isaiah

Anyway, we’re all also on teams, which hopefully means healthy competition that leads to more weight loss. Merle and I are together on a team, so if you see either of us eating some of the candy at the college – call us on it. (slap Merle’s hand!)  However, if you see any of the other faculty or staff – you know what to do…

I look forward to seeing us all becoming healthier. May the best team win!

in Christ,

Isaiah

¹⁰ For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.

I want to be like Ezra.  I want to have my heart set on studying the Word, and to do it – to put it into action.

Who do you want to be like?

in Christ,

Isaiah

Why is this strange?  Read Leviticus 13:45-46

⁴⁵ “The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, ’Unclean, unclean.’ ⁴⁶ He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp. (ESV)

Lepers were outcasts, left to the outside of the culture, literally having to yell “unclean” so that the “clean” wouldn’t come near to them to be infected.  He is as hopeless as a man can get… until he meets Jesus.

This leper knows that Jesus can heal him, and his statement, “Lord, if you will you can make me clean,” shows tremendous faith.  But what really hit me is that sometimes I don’t even get that far.  I’ll have something I struggle with and I’ll try to take care of it myself.  I’ll do the best I can but I keep failing.  Maybe its time for all of us to give it over to Jesus.  Let go of the burden of trying to do it ourselves and just say, “Lord, if you will, you can heal me.”

Note that he doesn’t say, “Heal me now!” as if to treat Jesus as we sometimes do, a cosmic genie who grants our wishes.  Instead he knows that Jesus can do it, but is resigned to His will.

What does Jesus do?

Matthew 8:3 – And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will, be clean.” (ESV)

Two thoughts:

#1 – He touched him – it sounds silly until you realize he probably hasn’t had any form of physical contact since he was labeled unclean.  Jesus doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty, doesn’t care how clean or unclean we are… He still loves us.

#2 – “I will, be clean.”  Two words and the man is healed, his hope is returned.  No longer an outcast, no longer unclean, no longer burdened by this disease, he leaves his encounter with Jesus with hope for the future.

As we start this new year, remember that Jesus is ready to help us… no matter how dirty, unclean, and sinful we are… and that because of Jesus we have hope for the future.

In Christ,

Isaiah

I’m behind.  Instead of a 1 year Bible plan (NT twice and OT once), I’m more like at the 18 month plan.

At some point in the OT I got behind, over the summer, during camps… I was “busy”.

We all can make excuses, but I guess it just shows how much a commitment to God means.

We all get up on time for work, or get the kids to school, reading a novel about vampires who love younger girls (or whatever fiction you’re into) or definitely make time for our favorite TV show…

but when it comes to reading God’s word, going to Church, serving those he loves…

What makes it different?  Why do we not follow through?

I’m not saying you’re a horrible person if you don’t read the Bible in a year, or anything like that.

I’m asking if we’re actually committing ourselves to the ONE we say we are.

How about you?  Any one out there have trouble with the 1 year  er, 18 month plan, or maybe a different type of commitment?

Maybe we can pray for each other and encourage one another (Hebrews 10:23-24), and thank God for his grace.

In Christ,

Isaiah

I understand where it comes from, I do. I believe that Jesus is the reason for the season, that it should be Merry Christmas… but I’m sick and tired of seeing Christians show what we’re against.

We’re always seen protesting, whining and picketing.  Why aren’t we seen serving, loving and praying?

Why don’t we start showing what we are for.

Instead of spending a few minutes forwarding that happy holidays angry forward… take that time to pray for someone. Instead of picketing, donate your time to a soup kitchen. Instead of whining, help people and love them as Jesus loved them.

Do what you want with your money… but give Jesus your heart.

Maybe when we all do this… people will know what we are for, and see that Jesus IS the reason for the season.

Just a thought,
in Christ,

Isaiah

Acts 26:24-29 (NIV)

24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.” 25 “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.” 28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” 29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

When was the last time someone called you insane?

When was the last time you were “out of your mind” for Jesus?

Kind’ve makes you think…

in Christ,

Isaiah

…And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ

It seems that we really like to measure things… comparing houses, tv screen sizes, cars that get better gas mileage, or can hold more people, even neighborhoods that make sure your grass is mowed often – 3″ and no taller!  We are constantly in search of measuring up in the more or less department, yet we never seem to be able to grasp the more important measurements…  like the one above.

How Wide, Long, High and Deep is the love of Christ!

Stop and think about that right now.

Compare God’s love to what you’re worried and anxious about… to the fear that you’re holding… to the sin that you think you can’t be rid of…

Which is wider, longer, higher and deeper?

Which matters more?

God loves you more than we can ever measure… hold on to that.

in Christ,

Isaiah

¹ Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.

² But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

So, even before the beginning of the new year and all the resolutions, I’m trying to change.  I want to be able to meditate on the law of the LORD, on his Word, day and night.

That somewhat begs the question though, how do we meditate?

I’m reading some of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Meditating On The Word to find out how…

We’ll see how this goes.

in Christ,

Isaiah

p.s. How do you meditate on His Word?

John 5:39-40

³⁹ You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, ⁴⁰ yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

Interesting that Jesus talks about people who study the Scriptures that talk about him, but won’t come to Jesus to get the eternal life they’re looking for.  This reminds me that even in studying the Bible we can miss out on the big picture.  Where’s our focus today?

in Christ,

Isaiah