This news article was written by Paola Messana:
“Thousands of people who lost their life savings in a multi-billion dollar scam will discover on Monday the fate of Wall Street swindler Bernard Madoff, who at 71 could face a 150-year jail term. Among his victims were Hollywood celebrities, international movers and shakers, some of the world's most famous banks and even Jewish charities, many of which were forced to close after Madoff's scheme evaporated in a puff of smoke. But many of his investors were also ordinary, elderly retirees who thought their life savings were in safe hands, and now face financial ruin. The sums were shockingly large -- bigger than the gross domestic product of countries such as Luxembourg, and more than the external debt of several poor African nations.
On Monday, several selected victims will be allowed to address judge Denny Chin and say what they believe Madoff's fate should be. Earlier this month some 113 victims flooded Chin with letters and emails and almost all in no uncertain terms called for a life prison term, with some going even further. "Please make sure the facility in which he rots is extremely uncomfortable," wrote Jesse Cohen, a businessman from New Jersey, who lost all his savings. Summarizing the views of many, Ron Weinstein, 62, wrote: "This scum should never again see the light of day."
From: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090625/ts_alt_afp/usfraudfinancemadoff
These are very natural reactions to what we consider grave offenses.
What do we consider grave offenses?
Which is worse, murder or genocide? Gossip or slander? Theft or deceit? Adultery or blasphemy? Where does child-abuse or neglect rank with these?
We often like ranking offenses because as long as we can rank them, we can list how we are better than others.
“Sure I embellish my taxable donations, but I’ve never hit my spouse.”
“I may gossip a little, but unlike most people I know, I never go more than five mph over the speed limit.”
Feels good doesn’t it?
As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.” (Romans 3:10-12)
We’re all screwed up.
What is amazing is that regardless of our screw-ups, God still loves us. This is vividly revealed in the story of Zacchaeus found in the gospel of Luke 19:1-10.
To give an idea on how well tax-collectors were thought of in first century Palestine, I’m substituting Bernie Madoff’s name for Zacchaeus.
“Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Bernie. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.
When Jesus came by, he looked up at Bernie and called him by name. “Bernie!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”
Bernie quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.
Meanwhile, Bernie stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”
Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
How far will God let someone go before He turns His back on them?
Where do we stand with our own lists?
Redemption is the process of God taking our “junk” and turning our lives into what they were really meant to be. What would it take for you to be able to hear God call your name and accept His invitation for redemption?
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Sprouting Out of the Mud
What does a seed need to grow?
Water, nutrient-rich soil, and light. Right?
Well, soil is not actually essential. Hydroponics (growing plants without dirt) uses special materials to ensure that the plant receives the nutrients it needs. The result is higher crop yields as well as the ability to grow plants where they would not naturally be found.
This is great for horticulture.
But, it doesn’t apply to us.
You see, we grow out of the mud.
The mud of family, relationships, circumstances and choices (ours and others).
Those who claim life isn’t messy are living in a hydroponic bubble of their own creation.
I call it a casket.
Just as a seed fights for its life when it is awaked by water, we fight for our souls when God waters our hearts with His Spirit.
Paul wrote to the Philippians, sharing; “Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”
Jesus shared with the crowds at the Festival of Tabernacles that “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”
This seed, this thing called “our present life” for many of us is in the process of awakening.
God plants the seed of life within us; but it’s our choice if we want it to grow.
So often, all we can see is the mud.
We don’t realize that if we’re not in mud, we’re cloaked in dust.
Without the mud, our lives are parched.
It is through the mud that we gain appreciation for the life that is growing within us.
Paul wrote in his second letter to the Corinthians; "That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever."
What mud surrounds our circumstances at this moment?
How can we feel God’s work within us as He waters our spirits?
How would my life be different if I stopped asking to be transplanted into a hydroponic casket?
Related Verses
John 7:37-39
On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)
Philippians 2:12-18
Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
Water, nutrient-rich soil, and light. Right?
Well, soil is not actually essential. Hydroponics (growing plants without dirt) uses special materials to ensure that the plant receives the nutrients it needs. The result is higher crop yields as well as the ability to grow plants where they would not naturally be found.
This is great for horticulture.
But, it doesn’t apply to us.
You see, we grow out of the mud.
The mud of family, relationships, circumstances and choices (ours and others).
Those who claim life isn’t messy are living in a hydroponic bubble of their own creation.
I call it a casket.
Just as a seed fights for its life when it is awaked by water, we fight for our souls when God waters our hearts with His Spirit.
Paul wrote to the Philippians, sharing; “Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”
Jesus shared with the crowds at the Festival of Tabernacles that “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”
This seed, this thing called “our present life” for many of us is in the process of awakening.
God plants the seed of life within us; but it’s our choice if we want it to grow.
So often, all we can see is the mud.
We don’t realize that if we’re not in mud, we’re cloaked in dust.
Without the mud, our lives are parched.
It is through the mud that we gain appreciation for the life that is growing within us.
Paul wrote in his second letter to the Corinthians; "That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever."
What mud surrounds our circumstances at this moment?
How can we feel God’s work within us as He waters our spirits?
How would my life be different if I stopped asking to be transplanted into a hydroponic casket?
Related Verses
John 7:37-39
On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)
Philippians 2:12-18
Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
A Seed is Planted
We had a garden in my backyard when I was growing up.
It was huge (at least to my recollection).
We grew beans (lots of beans), boniatos (a type of white sweet potato), yucca, and carrots.
I remember the carrots.
I remember them because I remember planting them in rows and going through the motions to make them grow.
It took a while, but they did.
Where you plant a seed is crucial. Different kinds of seeds NEED different conditions in order for them to thrive and become the plants they are designed to be.
If you plant mushroom spores next to a row of corn seedlings, they aren’t going to do very well.
This is where things get interesting.
People too, are planted.
Sometimes our choices help determine where.
Sometimes our circumstances do.
Sometimes we are planted against our will.
There are those who are happy where they are; and many who are miserable. To them, the grass always appears greener on the other side.
But what remains is this: we are all planted somewhere.
What do we do with this?
Do we fight against it? Do we strive to get out?
What are our motives for transplantation? To be happier? To have an easier life? To find freedom from our responsibilities? To have more money?
Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 says “Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth—except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers! People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich seldom get a good night’s sleep.”
So very true!
The writer of Ecclesiastes concludes in the last verses of that chapter, “Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past. “
Our lot in life.
Are we unsettled because we realize that we’re not living the full life that God created us to live? That we’re living in the shadow of false dreams? That we are cheating ourselves and those around us?
What are we here for anyways?
Oswald Chambers once wrote “God’s ultimate purpose is that His Son might be exhibited in me.”
We are called to BLOOM wherever we’re planted!
As we begin this series “Bloom Where You’re Planted”, we hope to wrestle with these questions and perhaps come up with some answers as we strive to find contentment and fulfillment wherever it is we’re planted.
Related Verses
Ecclesiastes 5:10-20
Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth—except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers!
People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich seldom get a good night’s sleep.
There is another serious problem I have seen under the sun. Hoarding riches harms the saver. Money is put into risky investments that turn sour, and everything is lost. In the end, there is nothing left to pass on to one’s children. We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we were born. We can’t take our riches with us.
And this, too, is a very serious problem. People leave this world no better off than when they came. All their hard work is for nothing—like working for the wind. Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud—frustrated, discouraged, and angry.
Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past.
Philippians 4:10-13
How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
It was huge (at least to my recollection).
We grew beans (lots of beans), boniatos (a type of white sweet potato), yucca, and carrots.
I remember the carrots.
I remember them because I remember planting them in rows and going through the motions to make them grow.
It took a while, but they did.
Where you plant a seed is crucial. Different kinds of seeds NEED different conditions in order for them to thrive and become the plants they are designed to be.
If you plant mushroom spores next to a row of corn seedlings, they aren’t going to do very well.
This is where things get interesting.
People too, are planted.
Sometimes our choices help determine where.
Sometimes our circumstances do.
Sometimes we are planted against our will.
There are those who are happy where they are; and many who are miserable. To them, the grass always appears greener on the other side.
But what remains is this: we are all planted somewhere.
What do we do with this?
Do we fight against it? Do we strive to get out?
What are our motives for transplantation? To be happier? To have an easier life? To find freedom from our responsibilities? To have more money?
Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 says “Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth—except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers! People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich seldom get a good night’s sleep.”
So very true!
The writer of Ecclesiastes concludes in the last verses of that chapter, “Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past. “
Our lot in life.
Are we unsettled because we realize that we’re not living the full life that God created us to live? That we’re living in the shadow of false dreams? That we are cheating ourselves and those around us?
What are we here for anyways?
Oswald Chambers once wrote “God’s ultimate purpose is that His Son might be exhibited in me.”
We are called to BLOOM wherever we’re planted!
As we begin this series “Bloom Where You’re Planted”, we hope to wrestle with these questions and perhaps come up with some answers as we strive to find contentment and fulfillment wherever it is we’re planted.
Related Verses
Ecclesiastes 5:10-20
Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth—except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers!
People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich seldom get a good night’s sleep.
There is another serious problem I have seen under the sun. Hoarding riches harms the saver. Money is put into risky investments that turn sour, and everything is lost. In the end, there is nothing left to pass on to one’s children. We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we were born. We can’t take our riches with us.
And this, too, is a very serious problem. People leave this world no better off than when they came. All their hard work is for nothing—like working for the wind. Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud—frustrated, discouraged, and angry.
Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past.
Philippians 4:10-13
How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Stuck
Have you ever been stuck?
Stuck at a job?
Stuck with a chronic disease or condition?
Stuck with a problem?
Stuck?
When I was in 10th grade, I was injured in an accident that sprained the ligaments of my sternum.
I felt pain with every breath I took for eight months.
I saw my doctor several times. He prescribed everything from mega-doses of ibuprofen, to chest wraps, to heat packs that would stick to my skin (that one was REAL fun when it had to be yanked off).
I was stuck.
Eight months into my ordeal, I saw a bone specialist who prescribed a medicine I’d never heard of: Naprosyn.
My body responded immediately and I was healed in a month.
I sometimes look back and wondered what if I had been given this medicine (which you can now receive OTC as Naproxen Sodium, aka Aleve).
Why are we sometimes stuck, when the answer unknowingly lies tantalizingly close?
We are preparing for a message series titled “Bloom Where You’re Planted”. As a prelude, we’re going to look at the story of Joseph, sold into slavery by his own brothers, found in the last few chapters of the book of Genesis.
Joseph too, had to wait.
Genesis 39:1-41:1
Joseph in Potiphar’s House
When Joseph was taken to Egypt by the Ishmaelite traders, he was purchased by Potiphar, an Egyptian officer. Potiphar was captain of the guard for Pharaoh, the king of Egypt.
The LORD was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master. Potiphar noticed this and realized that the LORD was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did. This pleased Potiphar, so he soon made Joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned. From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the LORD began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished. So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing—except what kind of food to eat!
Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man, and Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded.
But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.”
She kept putting pressure on Joseph day after day, but he refused to sleep with her, and he kept out of her way as much as possible. One day, however, no one else was around when he went in to do his work. She came and grabbed him by his cloak, demanding, “Come on, sleep with me!” Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house.
When she saw that she was holding his cloak and he had fled, she called out to her servants. Soon all the men came running. “Look!” she said. “My husband has brought this Hebrew slave here to make fools of us! He came into my room to rape me, but I screamed. When he heard me scream, he ran outside and got away, but he left his cloak behind with me.”
She kept the cloak with her until her husband came home. Then she told him her story. “That Hebrew slave you’ve brought into our house tried to come in and fool around with me,” she said. “But when I screamed, he ran outside, leaving his cloak with me!”
Joseph Put in Prison
Potiphar was furious when he heard his wife’s story about how Joseph had treated her. So he took Joseph and threw him into the prison where the king’s prisoners were held, and there he remained. But the LORD was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the LORD made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden. Before long, the warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison. The warden had no more worries, because Joseph took care of everything. The LORD was with him and caused everything he did to succeed.
Joseph Interprets Two Dreams
Some time later, Pharaoh’s chief cup-bearer and chief baker offended their royal master. Pharaoh became angry with these two officials, and he put them in the prison where Joseph was, in the palace of the captain of the guard. They remained in prison for quite some time, and the captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, who looked after them.
While they were in prison, Pharaoh’s cup-bearer and baker each had a dream one night, and each dream had its own meaning. When Joseph saw them the next morning, he noticed that they both looked upset. “Why do you look so worried today?” he asked them.
And they replied, “We both had dreams last night, but no one can tell us what they mean.”
“Interpreting dreams is God’s business,” Joseph replied. “Go ahead and tell me your dreams.”
So the chief cup-bearer told Joseph his dream first. “In my dream,” he said, “I saw a grapevine in front of me. The vine had three branches that began to bud and blossom, and soon it produced clusters of ripe grapes. I was holding Pharaoh’s wine cup in my hand, so I took a cluster of grapes and squeezed the juice into the cup. Then I placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.”
“This is what the dream means,” Joseph said. “The three branches represent three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift you up and restore you to your position as his chief cup-bearer. And please remember me and do me a favor when things go well for you. Mention me to Pharaoh, so he might let me out of this place. For I was kidnapped from my homeland, the land of the Hebrews, and now I’m here in prison, but I did nothing to deserve it.”
When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given the first dream such a positive interpretation, he said to Joseph, “I had a dream, too. In my dream there were three baskets of white pastries stacked on my head. The top basket contained all kinds of pastries for Pharaoh, but the birds came and ate them from the basket on my head.”
“This is what the dream means,” Joseph told him. “The three baskets also represent three days. Three days from now Pharaoh will lift you up and impale your body on a pole. Then birds will come and peck away at your flesh.”
Pharaoh’s birthday came three days later, and he prepared a banquet for all his officials and staff. He summoned his chief cup-bearer and chief baker to join the other officials. He then restored the chief cup-bearer to his former position, so he could again hand Pharaoh his cup. But Pharaoh impaled the chief baker, just as Joseph had predicted when he interpreted his dream. Pharaoh’s chief cup-bearer, however, forgot all about Joseph, never giving him another thought.
Pharaoh’s Dreams
Two full years later, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing on the bank of the Nile River.
…
The story continues with the cup-bearer remembering about Joseph and Joseph being freed from prison. Through shrewd management, he foresees a coming famine and not only saves Egypt, but his family (who sold him into slavery to begin with) as well.
Two years. Yikes…
This raises all sorts of questions. Why did God allow the cup-bearer to forget about Joseph? How does God’s timing differ from our own sense of what should be? How is it possible to keep on walking when it seems that the world has forgotten you and your pain? Do you believe that God has forgotten you?
Joe
(Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.)
Stuck at a job?
Stuck with a chronic disease or condition?
Stuck with a problem?
Stuck?
When I was in 10th grade, I was injured in an accident that sprained the ligaments of my sternum.
I felt pain with every breath I took for eight months.
I saw my doctor several times. He prescribed everything from mega-doses of ibuprofen, to chest wraps, to heat packs that would stick to my skin (that one was REAL fun when it had to be yanked off).
I was stuck.
Eight months into my ordeal, I saw a bone specialist who prescribed a medicine I’d never heard of: Naprosyn.
My body responded immediately and I was healed in a month.
I sometimes look back and wondered what if I had been given this medicine (which you can now receive OTC as Naproxen Sodium, aka Aleve).
Why are we sometimes stuck, when the answer unknowingly lies tantalizingly close?
We are preparing for a message series titled “Bloom Where You’re Planted”. As a prelude, we’re going to look at the story of Joseph, sold into slavery by his own brothers, found in the last few chapters of the book of Genesis.
Joseph too, had to wait.
Genesis 39:1-41:1
Joseph in Potiphar’s House
When Joseph was taken to Egypt by the Ishmaelite traders, he was purchased by Potiphar, an Egyptian officer. Potiphar was captain of the guard for Pharaoh, the king of Egypt.
The LORD was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master. Potiphar noticed this and realized that the LORD was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did. This pleased Potiphar, so he soon made Joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned. From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the LORD began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished. So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing—except what kind of food to eat!
Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man, and Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded.
But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.”
She kept putting pressure on Joseph day after day, but he refused to sleep with her, and he kept out of her way as much as possible. One day, however, no one else was around when he went in to do his work. She came and grabbed him by his cloak, demanding, “Come on, sleep with me!” Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house.
When she saw that she was holding his cloak and he had fled, she called out to her servants. Soon all the men came running. “Look!” she said. “My husband has brought this Hebrew slave here to make fools of us! He came into my room to rape me, but I screamed. When he heard me scream, he ran outside and got away, but he left his cloak behind with me.”
She kept the cloak with her until her husband came home. Then she told him her story. “That Hebrew slave you’ve brought into our house tried to come in and fool around with me,” she said. “But when I screamed, he ran outside, leaving his cloak with me!”
Joseph Put in Prison
Potiphar was furious when he heard his wife’s story about how Joseph had treated her. So he took Joseph and threw him into the prison where the king’s prisoners were held, and there he remained. But the LORD was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the LORD made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden. Before long, the warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison. The warden had no more worries, because Joseph took care of everything. The LORD was with him and caused everything he did to succeed.
Joseph Interprets Two Dreams
Some time later, Pharaoh’s chief cup-bearer and chief baker offended their royal master. Pharaoh became angry with these two officials, and he put them in the prison where Joseph was, in the palace of the captain of the guard. They remained in prison for quite some time, and the captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, who looked after them.
While they were in prison, Pharaoh’s cup-bearer and baker each had a dream one night, and each dream had its own meaning. When Joseph saw them the next morning, he noticed that they both looked upset. “Why do you look so worried today?” he asked them.
And they replied, “We both had dreams last night, but no one can tell us what they mean.”
“Interpreting dreams is God’s business,” Joseph replied. “Go ahead and tell me your dreams.”
So the chief cup-bearer told Joseph his dream first. “In my dream,” he said, “I saw a grapevine in front of me. The vine had three branches that began to bud and blossom, and soon it produced clusters of ripe grapes. I was holding Pharaoh’s wine cup in my hand, so I took a cluster of grapes and squeezed the juice into the cup. Then I placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.”
“This is what the dream means,” Joseph said. “The three branches represent three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift you up and restore you to your position as his chief cup-bearer. And please remember me and do me a favor when things go well for you. Mention me to Pharaoh, so he might let me out of this place. For I was kidnapped from my homeland, the land of the Hebrews, and now I’m here in prison, but I did nothing to deserve it.”
When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given the first dream such a positive interpretation, he said to Joseph, “I had a dream, too. In my dream there were three baskets of white pastries stacked on my head. The top basket contained all kinds of pastries for Pharaoh, but the birds came and ate them from the basket on my head.”
“This is what the dream means,” Joseph told him. “The three baskets also represent three days. Three days from now Pharaoh will lift you up and impale your body on a pole. Then birds will come and peck away at your flesh.”
Pharaoh’s birthday came three days later, and he prepared a banquet for all his officials and staff. He summoned his chief cup-bearer and chief baker to join the other officials. He then restored the chief cup-bearer to his former position, so he could again hand Pharaoh his cup. But Pharaoh impaled the chief baker, just as Joseph had predicted when he interpreted his dream. Pharaoh’s chief cup-bearer, however, forgot all about Joseph, never giving him another thought.
Pharaoh’s Dreams
Two full years later, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing on the bank of the Nile River.
…
The story continues with the cup-bearer remembering about Joseph and Joseph being freed from prison. Through shrewd management, he foresees a coming famine and not only saves Egypt, but his family (who sold him into slavery to begin with) as well.
Two years. Yikes…
This raises all sorts of questions. Why did God allow the cup-bearer to forget about Joseph? How does God’s timing differ from our own sense of what should be? How is it possible to keep on walking when it seems that the world has forgotten you and your pain? Do you believe that God has forgotten you?
Joe
(Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.)
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Just a Moment
It was a hectic morning.
Last Sunday, I was in the early-stages of an eventually full-blown sinus infection. While I could talk, my throat wasn’t feeling too well.
To top it all off, I was getting ready to translate for a Cuban pastor who was visiting a local Methodist church. He would be preaching THREE times that morning, meaning I would be translating three times. He had clued me into what verses he’d be using, but I was still a bit nervous.
You see, for those of you who don’t know me well, I was raised in Miami by Cuban parents. I understand Spanish well enough (even though I have great difficulty speaking it with correct grammar). However, one thing that makes translation difficult for me is that my brain is wired a little funny (it’s called Central Auditory Process Disorder). In a nutshell, CAPD makes it difficult for me to hear and understand ENGLISH, let alone other languages.
Imagine a little secretary sitting in my head who listens to you asking me, “What are we eating tonight?” Imagine this secretary turning to my brain and translating it as, “When are you feeding Mike?”
That’s what I hear.
This drives my poor wife nuts.
So not only was I suffering from a sore throat, I was about to spend the next several hours translating what I thought he said from one language to another.
Oh, and we Cubans are known for talking real fast.
Several hours later, after the three services, I was convinced that God had temporarily gifted me with the ability to interpret foreign tongues. I was able to keep up with him even when he was jumping up and down in the aisles.
But that wasn’t the highlight of the morning for me.
After the last service, most of the congregation had emptied out (presumably heading for lunch). One of the choir members came down to hug the Cuban pastor. She had me share with him that she could sing like he could preach (with great passion). They then began singing the chorus of the hymn “How Great Thou Art” together; him in Spanish, her in English.
Full throttle.
It was a moment.
Realizing what I was beholding, I stood there, transfixed, and let the experience wash over me. I felt sorry for those who didn’t witness it. When it was over, I thanked God.
Starting this following Saturday (June 6th), we are going to begin exploring the concept that we’re to bloom wherever it is that we’re planted.
When we start blooming, we become more aware of God at work around us. His sweet grace becomes more evident. His purpose for our lives becomes natural.
We walk with Him, and He points things out to us along the way.
Like two voices singing one song.
And despite our circumstances and the distractions that surround us; we experience life to the fullest, peace that lasts, and joy that is contagious.
Last Sunday, I was in the early-stages of an eventually full-blown sinus infection. While I could talk, my throat wasn’t feeling too well.
To top it all off, I was getting ready to translate for a Cuban pastor who was visiting a local Methodist church. He would be preaching THREE times that morning, meaning I would be translating three times. He had clued me into what verses he’d be using, but I was still a bit nervous.
You see, for those of you who don’t know me well, I was raised in Miami by Cuban parents. I understand Spanish well enough (even though I have great difficulty speaking it with correct grammar). However, one thing that makes translation difficult for me is that my brain is wired a little funny (it’s called Central Auditory Process Disorder). In a nutshell, CAPD makes it difficult for me to hear and understand ENGLISH, let alone other languages.
Imagine a little secretary sitting in my head who listens to you asking me, “What are we eating tonight?” Imagine this secretary turning to my brain and translating it as, “When are you feeding Mike?”
That’s what I hear.
This drives my poor wife nuts.
So not only was I suffering from a sore throat, I was about to spend the next several hours translating what I thought he said from one language to another.
Oh, and we Cubans are known for talking real fast.
Several hours later, after the three services, I was convinced that God had temporarily gifted me with the ability to interpret foreign tongues. I was able to keep up with him even when he was jumping up and down in the aisles.
But that wasn’t the highlight of the morning for me.
After the last service, most of the congregation had emptied out (presumably heading for lunch). One of the choir members came down to hug the Cuban pastor. She had me share with him that she could sing like he could preach (with great passion). They then began singing the chorus of the hymn “How Great Thou Art” together; him in Spanish, her in English.
Full throttle.
It was a moment.
Realizing what I was beholding, I stood there, transfixed, and let the experience wash over me. I felt sorry for those who didn’t witness it. When it was over, I thanked God.
Starting this following Saturday (June 6th), we are going to begin exploring the concept that we’re to bloom wherever it is that we’re planted.
When we start blooming, we become more aware of God at work around us. His sweet grace becomes more evident. His purpose for our lives becomes natural.
We walk with Him, and He points things out to us along the way.
Like two voices singing one song.
And despite our circumstances and the distractions that surround us; we experience life to the fullest, peace that lasts, and joy that is contagious.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Starting with the End
Life is about change.
Beginning. Middle. End.
Our lives are never static. We rush to one appointment, and then head off to another.
And as our calendars and homes fill up, so do our stress levels.
Is this what it’s all about?
More appointments? More stuff? More stress?
Jesus said in Matthew 25:34: “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”NLT
Why do we worry so much when we already know it doesn’t do us any good?
Maybe there’s an answer in Jesus’ message. In this entire teaching about not worrying, Jesus throws out this line in the preceding verse: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”NLT
How do we seek out the Kingdom of God? How do we know when we find it?
Is it as easy as slipping into a pair of sweatpants, or does it require you to live on a mountain top and stare at your belly button for twenty years?
And. Jesus throws in an and. He says we must seek the Kingdom and live righteously.
What does that look like? WWJD? How does one live right with God and others?
We start with the end, because the end holds the answers.
The last part of our vision focuses on how we perceive God’s Kingdom looks like. This gives us a vision to pursue, a road to walk, and a dream to realize.
It reads as follows:
A kingdom where the poor are rich and the lonely find family. Where justice and mercy slow dance. Where hearts, souls, and minds are opened and wisdom expands. Where we pour love on Jesus’ tired, dirty, beautiful, aching feet whenever we serve another person. A kingdom where we receive our name and engage our calling. Where shattered lives and fragmented dreams find the hope that leads to restoration. We have caught a glimpse of this kingdom and we have found it captivating. We as the church have been called to get this kingdom started on earth as it is in heaven. The keys to this kingdom are in our hands. When are we going to unlock these gates? Who will help push the boundaries of this kingdom until it swallows up all that causes disconnection and suffering? As this River bursts forth we will flood our community with the tangible presence of Jesus Christ.
Related Verses
Matthew 6:19-34“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
“Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Beginning. Middle. End.
Our lives are never static. We rush to one appointment, and then head off to another.
And as our calendars and homes fill up, so do our stress levels.
Is this what it’s all about?
More appointments? More stuff? More stress?
Jesus said in Matthew 25:34: “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”NLT
Why do we worry so much when we already know it doesn’t do us any good?
Maybe there’s an answer in Jesus’ message. In this entire teaching about not worrying, Jesus throws out this line in the preceding verse: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”NLT
How do we seek out the Kingdom of God? How do we know when we find it?
Is it as easy as slipping into a pair of sweatpants, or does it require you to live on a mountain top and stare at your belly button for twenty years?
And. Jesus throws in an and. He says we must seek the Kingdom and live righteously.
What does that look like? WWJD? How does one live right with God and others?
We start with the end, because the end holds the answers.
The last part of our vision focuses on how we perceive God’s Kingdom looks like. This gives us a vision to pursue, a road to walk, and a dream to realize.
It reads as follows:
A kingdom where the poor are rich and the lonely find family. Where justice and mercy slow dance. Where hearts, souls, and minds are opened and wisdom expands. Where we pour love on Jesus’ tired, dirty, beautiful, aching feet whenever we serve another person. A kingdom where we receive our name and engage our calling. Where shattered lives and fragmented dreams find the hope that leads to restoration. We have caught a glimpse of this kingdom and we have found it captivating. We as the church have been called to get this kingdom started on earth as it is in heaven. The keys to this kingdom are in our hands. When are we going to unlock these gates? Who will help push the boundaries of this kingdom until it swallows up all that causes disconnection and suffering? As this River bursts forth we will flood our community with the tangible presence of Jesus Christ.
Related Verses
Matthew 6:19-34“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
“Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
My Brother's Keeper
Growing up, I loved going to Miami Metrozoo.
Thanks to my dad’s annual pass, we went there lots of times. I thought working there would be a cool job. I even remember looking at volunteer forms.
I lived too far away, unfortunately.
I might still have a documentary on the zoo on one of my old, fading, VHS tapes. I watched it over and over in my teens. It showed the daily life of a keeper.
Keeper. Now that's an interesting title.
Dictionary.com has twelve definitions for “Keeper”. The first two go as follows:
1. A person who guards or watches, as at a prison or gate.
2. A person who assumes responsibility for another's behavior.
As a zookeeper, you’re responsible for the lives in the zoo. The animals can't fend for themselves in their artificial habitats; they depend on you for food, water, shelter, care, everything (I don't know from direct experience, but this sounds a little like parenting to me).
Responsibility is a tall order for some. There are people who don't like the idea of being responsible for another.
You see, when we take care of another, we have to put our own wants aside.
Jesus said, “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
Do you ever feel like a keeper? Who is under your care?
What situations cause you to wish that your responsibilities consisted solely of taking care of your own needs?
How do we overcome our own selfishness?
Related Verses
Genesis 4:1-9
Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man.” Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.
Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it. ”
Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let's go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”
“I don't know,” he replied. “Am I my brother's keeper?”
John 15:11-17
I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.
Thanks to my dad’s annual pass, we went there lots of times. I thought working there would be a cool job. I even remember looking at volunteer forms.
I lived too far away, unfortunately.
I might still have a documentary on the zoo on one of my old, fading, VHS tapes. I watched it over and over in my teens. It showed the daily life of a keeper.
Keeper. Now that's an interesting title.
Dictionary.com has twelve definitions for “Keeper”. The first two go as follows:
1. A person who guards or watches, as at a prison or gate.
2. A person who assumes responsibility for another's behavior.
As a zookeeper, you’re responsible for the lives in the zoo. The animals can't fend for themselves in their artificial habitats; they depend on you for food, water, shelter, care, everything (I don't know from direct experience, but this sounds a little like parenting to me).
Responsibility is a tall order for some. There are people who don't like the idea of being responsible for another.
You see, when we take care of another, we have to put our own wants aside.
Jesus said, “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
Do you ever feel like a keeper? Who is under your care?
What situations cause you to wish that your responsibilities consisted solely of taking care of your own needs?
How do we overcome our own selfishness?
Related Verses
Genesis 4:1-9
Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man.” Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.
Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it. ”
Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let's go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”
“I don't know,” he replied. “Am I my brother's keeper?”
John 15:11-17
I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
