June Monday:
Today’s Monday Message is coming to you from the “Faith Lift” conference in Lakeville, Minnesota. They’re teaching about how to take “church” outside the church building, and into our communities. It’s great. The speakers have also referenced world events: the recovery in Haiti, the terrorism attacks on the United States, and the oil spill tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico. Let’s look at that one.
I cannot think of any other environmental disaster that tops the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The oil has already reached Florida, and meteorologists are predicting that it will turn the corner and begin moving up the Atlantic coast. Our stewardship of planet earth has been bungled.
Both the government and BP have told us repeatedly that the mile-down underwater oil leak would soon be under control. They were both wrong – it’s still leaking a month and a half later. So far, the spill has cost BP $1.25 billion, a number that increases daily. Our President spoke last weekend, saying that everything possible was being done. That too is incorrect, because the oil is still leaking. Understand that someone will stop the oil spill eventually, and THAT solution will be everything that needed to happen. Our President further stated that BP would take care of the cleanup. The fact is that this mess cannot be cleaned up, and I wish our government would tell us the truth. The environment is impacted and the damage is done. The truth would be that the Gulf of Mexico is ruined for the remainder of my lifetime.
Fortunately Jesus has a solution. As we approach the end times, the Bible says that there will be, “a new heaven and a new earth.” Rev. 21 The old earth will pass away. He who is seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new.” Praise the LORD! As usual, He knows just what we need, and when we need it. Next week we’ll look at the new heaven, the new earth, and other places to be when we die.
Blessings to you this week!
Norton Lawellin
Monday, June 7, 2010
Monday, May 31, 2010
Memorial Day Monday:
Jesus instructed his disciples as he sent them out with the Good News: “As you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons.” Matthew 10:8 Those two sentences outline a huge task for the disciples. Let’s look inside.
Since Jesus starts his instructions with, “as you go,” we are not to limit our message to one place. We are to GO! Now, some people are called to go and preach, while others are called to send people with the message, to facilitate those who do go. Nowadays missionaries in the field wouldn’t survive too long without support from a home church, and God needs each of us to hold up our part of the missionary deal, as we are called.
Jesus tells us to preach. When people are languishing spiritually, they’re willing to listen to a messenger with Good News. Jesus tells us to not just council them. We are to preach! Preach not only to an individual seeker, but also preach to several people, a small group, or even a large group, again as each of us is called. 2000 years ago, preaching was accomplished through oration, by making a speech in the Synagogue.
“The kingdom of heaven is at hand,” places a timetable on the “repent and return” message, preached ever since mankind fell from grace. Today is the accepted day to return to the LORD.
Jesus also empowers his disciples to follow in his footsteps, performing sign and wonders just like he did. Jesus taught the laying on of hands to heal the sick and cleanse those with skin diseases. And you can cast out demons by invoking the holy name of Jesus. But raising the dead? I don’t know…
Raising the dead seems like a wonder best left to the messiah; and yet Jesus himself told his followers to do this. The concept was foreign to many at the time, and certainly controversial. The Pharisees believed in some kind of resurrection and afterlife, but the Sadducees did not. Most Jews were uncertain. However followers of Jesus were totally convinced of an afterlife, since they had seen Jesus return from the dead, rising in three days just as he said he would.
Raising the dead was later fulfilled in both Acts 9 where Peter resuscitates Tabitha (Dorcas), and in Acts 20 when Paul raised Eutychus. It doesn’t seem to be common, but the Bible doesn’t say that the authority to raise the dead has been withdrawn either. Therefore it is wise for us to believe in God’s power to do such miracles through His people.
Through Him all things are possible!
Norton Lawellin
Jesus instructed his disciples as he sent them out with the Good News: “As you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons.” Matthew 10:8 Those two sentences outline a huge task for the disciples. Let’s look inside.
Since Jesus starts his instructions with, “as you go,” we are not to limit our message to one place. We are to GO! Now, some people are called to go and preach, while others are called to send people with the message, to facilitate those who do go. Nowadays missionaries in the field wouldn’t survive too long without support from a home church, and God needs each of us to hold up our part of the missionary deal, as we are called.
Jesus tells us to preach. When people are languishing spiritually, they’re willing to listen to a messenger with Good News. Jesus tells us to not just council them. We are to preach! Preach not only to an individual seeker, but also preach to several people, a small group, or even a large group, again as each of us is called. 2000 years ago, preaching was accomplished through oration, by making a speech in the Synagogue.
“The kingdom of heaven is at hand,” places a timetable on the “repent and return” message, preached ever since mankind fell from grace. Today is the accepted day to return to the LORD.
Jesus also empowers his disciples to follow in his footsteps, performing sign and wonders just like he did. Jesus taught the laying on of hands to heal the sick and cleanse those with skin diseases. And you can cast out demons by invoking the holy name of Jesus. But raising the dead? I don’t know…
Raising the dead seems like a wonder best left to the messiah; and yet Jesus himself told his followers to do this. The concept was foreign to many at the time, and certainly controversial. The Pharisees believed in some kind of resurrection and afterlife, but the Sadducees did not. Most Jews were uncertain. However followers of Jesus were totally convinced of an afterlife, since they had seen Jesus return from the dead, rising in three days just as he said he would.
Raising the dead was later fulfilled in both Acts 9 where Peter resuscitates Tabitha (Dorcas), and in Acts 20 when Paul raised Eutychus. It doesn’t seem to be common, but the Bible doesn’t say that the authority to raise the dead has been withdrawn either. Therefore it is wise for us to believe in God’s power to do such miracles through His people.
Through Him all things are possible!
Norton Lawellin
Monday, May 24, 2010
May Monday:
Christians celebrated Pentecost this past weekend, and most of us know the story by heart. “Open your Bibles to Acts chapter 2…” We know about the sound like wind, the descending tongues of fire signifying the arrival of the Holy Spirit for each person, the believers speaking in tongues, foreigners hearing the message each in their own language, Peter giving his best “Christ crucified” message, people becoming believers, and over 3000 baptized that day. Hallelujah!
But Acts 2 begins, “When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.” It worked out well that they were all in one place, all in the same room, praying. But why were they there? What caused them to all gather on that particular day? The answer: Shavuos.
Shavuos (sometimes Shavuot) remembers the day God gave the Torah to His people on Mount Sinai. It is significant that the Torah was given following the Exodus from Egypt, not before. God had rescued His people; now He was teaching them His ways. Similarly, after Jesus died to rescue us from our sins, we were given the New Testament. Our celebration of Pentecost now seems to overshadow Shavuos. I wish we could have both.1
Obtaining the Torah was no small thing. God had to serve it up twice! The first time Moses brought the tablets down the mountain, he found the Israelites had built a golden calf to worship, forsaking God. Exodus 32 In his anger, Moses threw the tablets, smashing them into smithereens. He then challenged the people: "Whoever is FOR the LORD, come to me." Those FOR the LORD were armed with swords, and then put to death those who were NOT for the LORD. That day, about 3000 people died.
Finally, Moses had to return to the mountain and (hopefully) atone for the sin of God’s people. In the end, the LORD said he would punish the people when it was time, but He would not abandon them. He told Moses to make new stone tablets, and He, God, would write on them the words that were on the first tablets. Exodus 34
Since then, the history of the Hebrew people, wisdom, worship and prophets were combined with the original Pentateuch. Christians then added Jesus’ time on earth (Gospels), the beginning of the church, letters of instruction and encouragement to the new congregations, and the apocalyptic Revelation.
Christians believe that ALL scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching and correction. The Bible is our history, the instruction manual for how we are to live now, and how we are to teach our children to live in the future. Be thankful that God equips us for His work, by giving us His Holy Word.
Norton Lawellin
1. A day of thanksgiving. Shavuos also celebrates the firstfruits of the new harvest.
Christians celebrated Pentecost this past weekend, and most of us know the story by heart. “Open your Bibles to Acts chapter 2…” We know about the sound like wind, the descending tongues of fire signifying the arrival of the Holy Spirit for each person, the believers speaking in tongues, foreigners hearing the message each in their own language, Peter giving his best “Christ crucified” message, people becoming believers, and over 3000 baptized that day. Hallelujah!
But Acts 2 begins, “When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.” It worked out well that they were all in one place, all in the same room, praying. But why were they there? What caused them to all gather on that particular day? The answer: Shavuos.
Shavuos (sometimes Shavuot) remembers the day God gave the Torah to His people on Mount Sinai. It is significant that the Torah was given following the Exodus from Egypt, not before. God had rescued His people; now He was teaching them His ways. Similarly, after Jesus died to rescue us from our sins, we were given the New Testament. Our celebration of Pentecost now seems to overshadow Shavuos. I wish we could have both.1
Obtaining the Torah was no small thing. God had to serve it up twice! The first time Moses brought the tablets down the mountain, he found the Israelites had built a golden calf to worship, forsaking God. Exodus 32 In his anger, Moses threw the tablets, smashing them into smithereens. He then challenged the people: "Whoever is FOR the LORD, come to me." Those FOR the LORD were armed with swords, and then put to death those who were NOT for the LORD. That day, about 3000 people died.
Finally, Moses had to return to the mountain and (hopefully) atone for the sin of God’s people. In the end, the LORD said he would punish the people when it was time, but He would not abandon them. He told Moses to make new stone tablets, and He, God, would write on them the words that were on the first tablets. Exodus 34
Since then, the history of the Hebrew people, wisdom, worship and prophets were combined with the original Pentateuch. Christians then added Jesus’ time on earth (Gospels), the beginning of the church, letters of instruction and encouragement to the new congregations, and the apocalyptic Revelation.
Christians believe that ALL scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching and correction. The Bible is our history, the instruction manual for how we are to live now, and how we are to teach our children to live in the future. Be thankful that God equips us for His work, by giving us His Holy Word.
Norton Lawellin
1. A day of thanksgiving. Shavuos also celebrates the firstfruits of the new harvest.
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