Head-dibs

When my wife and I are away from home, we have a rule for our five kids about calling us, which is “DON’T call unless it is flooding, burning or bleeding.” Any of us who have ever been kids all know that great unspoken and unwritten rule: when no adult is present, there are no rules. It just goes to prove that when we were born, they may have broken the mold, but there is proof that it grows back . . . ((wait a while, you'll get it)) So my wife and I will be out and the phone will ring with "daddy, brother’s looking at me" or "mommy, she’s breathing my air again" or "I got blood in my veins" (actual call, that last one) or some other non-emergency. It makes you wonder about Paul and Timothy. Paul told Timothy "I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long." (1 Tim 3:14) What? You mean that Timothy is left in this church—alone? Without Paul? With all those . . . “church people?” Which brings up another quest...

as I have been preparing for my bible study on Rev. 2:8-11, God has given me this to think about: * my oldest daughter was splashed in the eye with a corrosive chemical last week (she's fine now). She saw the same doctor my youngest son did when he got stuck in the eye with an arrow two years ago. * two days ago my oldest son got his eye smashed with a ball and his eye was bleeding. He saw the same doctor. * the people we have been buying our house and land from decided that we have until the end of July to close the deal move out (they are ditching our 6 year agreement). I will be in Africa at the end of July, which follows June, my most busy time of the year with 86 students coming for two weeks of intensive courses. * my 60 year-old dad got a broken collarbone and a totaled Harley in a motorcycle accident while riding California to Washington D.C. for a Memorial Day celebration. Apparently this truck the convoy was following on the highway slammed on his brakes and dad hit th...

(context for this post comes from "mailbag" posted on 5/12/04) Jesus’ intimacy with his church takes place on two levels: locally and universally. We can get an idea of what this is like when we see Him walking among the candlesticks in Revelation 2. There is no difficulty in seeing one walking among such well-lit fixtures, observing them from all sides, noting the strength of light and length of tallow. The responsibility to burn belongs to the candle, but it is set in place by the same one who can remove it. There is another image of intimacy found in His holding the seven stars in His right hand. I remember my fascination with marbles as a child, holding them in my hand, turning them all around, fingering them, listening to them rub against each other, fascinated by the marks and lines that ribboned through them. Perhaps Jesus considers His churches in much the same way, only by the millions. Hand cupped, fingers together, face close by, touching, turning, fingering, ...

I am seeking God's perspective on some issues so I started a new Bible study last night. Looking at Revelation 2-3 I read through what Jesus had to say to 7 churches and here are my initial impressions: Ephesus (2:1-7) "First Church of INTENTION". This church seems to want to do the right things, but they have gotten off-track. Smyrna (2:8-11) "First Church of IGNORANCE". They are about to face persecution and the things they are rich in will not help them. * Pergamum (2:12-17) "First Church of INTEGRATION". This church has compromised its teaching by mixing things displeasing to God into its ministry. God will war against false teachers! Thyatira (2:18-19) "First Church of ILL-ADJUSTMENT" (a church plant of the "First Church of Integration") They, too have compromised, doing great deeds, but do them with wrong intention, motivation and for the wrong reasons. Sardis (3:1-6) "First Church of INACTIVITY". They are ...

Mat 10:32 "Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven." Mat 10:33 "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven." Mat 10:34 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." Then do this. If "The Passion" showed you what you could not imagine about the death of Christ, then this will show you what to do about it.