Fasting!!!

Think about it. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you here the word fasting? Drum roll please........... FOOD!!! Am I right? Food is just one thing that you can fast. One more thing fasting is much more then giving something up. You have to replace the time you spend doing what you are fasting with prayer and meditation. This week we are going to be looking at fasting found in the sixth chapter of Matthew. I hope that everyone will be praying this week for God to speak to them about something they can fast. Any comments please share!!!

Eye for an Eye!

This a topic for good discussion. Here is some of the research I found on this topic.

Jesus appears to make some stark, seemingly impossible demands: God’s people should never use force in self-defense (Matt. 5:39); they should never contest a lawsuit they should comply with every type of demand and they should lend without reserve (Matt. 5:42). Could Jesus possibly be serious? In this part of the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord is addressing the issue of justice. He was alluding to the Old Testament Law dealing with public vengeance. The Law limited damages in criminl cases to no more than the loss suffered—“an eye for an eye” (Matt.5:38; Ex. 21:24–25). Nevertheless, as might be expected, people tended to justify personal vengeance by appealing to the same texts. We would call it “taking the law into your own hands.” But Jesus’ morally challenged that. To be sure, some circumstances call for resistance and self-defense. The Law specifically sanctioned self-protection when there was no other apparent recourse (Ex. 22:2). Likewise, Jesus Himself protested when He was slapped (John 18:22–23). But He warned against the needless use of force, particularly in revenge. In self-defense the alternative to resistance may be injury or death. But in vengeance one inflict harm even though immediate danger is past. A slap on the cheek is little more than an insult. There’s no place for violence in response to that. Furthermore, vengeance belongs to God (Deut. 32:35; see Rom. 12:19–21), who often uses governing authorities to carry it out (Matt.13:4). In the case of lawsuits (Matt. 5:40), the Law permitted demanding a tunic (or shirt) in pledge for a loan, but prohibited taking a cloak (or coat) overnight, because it was needed for warmth (Ex. 22:26–27). However, Jesus’ listeners commonly pressed for the cloak—for ruinous damages—almost literally “suing the pants off each other,” as we would say. But Christ’s point was that if lawsuits have to go to extremes, they ought to be in the exteme of charity. (Paul argued similarly in 1 Cor. 6:1–8.) What about going the second mile (Matt. 5:41)? The word “compels” is a technical term meaning “to requisition or press into service.” Ancient Persian law permitted postal carriers to compel private citizens to help carry their loads. The Romans were no different; for example, Roman soldiers compelled Simon of Cyrene to carry Jesus’ cross (Matt.27:32). So Jesus was speaking of someone with legitimate authority who might compel one of His followers to go a “thousand paces,” or one Roman mile, roughly nine-tenths of an English mile. How should a believer respond to such requests? With resistance? Perhaps complying grudgingly, but only to a minimum degree? Again, Jesus challenged His followers to grace and integrity. Imagine the reputation that Christians would have if we always did twice what the law required! What would tax auditors think if we not only followed the rules, but paid more than the law required of us? What would our employers think if we consistently rendered double the expected service? Throughout Matt. 5:17–48, Jesus speaks in stark contrasts and strong hyperboles (overstatements for the sake of emphasis). The key to understanding this section is to keep in mind the major thrust of His teaching: good not evil, grace not vengeance, love not hatred. That is the morality of Christ.

One thing that we must do is look at this in context of the time it was written. So many times we take what the Bible says completely wrong due to the fact that it was written so many years ago. We have to look at the day and age of when it was written, as well as who it was written to and for what purpose it was written. Try looking at you devotions in this light. Share anything that comes from this!

Its about HIM!!!!

A group of Christian laymen involved in missionary work approached a small village near an Amish settlement. Seeking a possible convert, they confronted an Amish farmer and asked him, “Brother, are you a Christian?” The farmer thought for a moment and then said, “Wait just a few minutes.” He wrote down a list of names on a tablet and handed it to the lay evangelist. “Here is a list of people who know me best. Please ask them if I am a Christian.” (Taken from “In Living Faith,” by Jimmy Carter)

If I was to ask you for some names of the people that know you the best what would they say about you? Are we living every minute of our day for Him? Are you treating your spouse the way that Jesus treats you? Is your day all about Him? How can I lift Him up today?
I for one have not been the husband that God has called me to be. I have let my wife down and myself. I also have not been the father that God has called me to be. He wants everything to be about Him!!! Not about me or my wants and needs, it is all about Him!!! I have tried to do the right thing by going to church, teaching a class, even went as far as going to Colorado to go to Nazarene Bible Collage, But I missed it. All he wants from me is me. He wants me to give every part of my life to Him.
Its like bringing your friends over to your house for the first time and showing it to them. You show off the living room, the kitchen, the bedrooms and maybe even the bathrooms. The one place you don't show is the closets, laundry room, the garage, the shed!!! The house is like our heart. We tend to give Jesus the majority of the square footage, but there is that one little space that we keep for ourselves. I believe that we must open up all the house to him or nothing at all.
I am not sure what all this means and why i felt lead to share this on this blog, but God is moving!! I am asking for all of your prayers. That I will be the father that God has demanded me to be, the husband that he has called me to be, and to be the leader that he has called me to be. Please share anything that God may lay on your heart!

You can not judge a book by its cover!!!

If you have been watching the news lately you may have heard the name Susan Boyle. The star of Britain's got talent TV show. I have heard so many people talking about this. Take a look at the video for yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PPlkOyaqaQ&feature=bz303
What do you think? The one thing I can not get past is how much the people are making fun of her. After she sings the people have a completely different take on her. Is this right? The Golden rule, treat people with the respect that you would want to be treated with. The hype over this just shows our kids that its OK to make fun of people. The minute that they realize that this person has a special talent then they take back what they have said or done. As Christians we need to stand up and be the pillars of our nation. Lets show our kids that making fun of people or judging people and their abilities before we know who they are is wrong. Not only is it wrong but it is sin. I my self have fallen into the trap of making fun of people but through this event God has spoken to me! Just thought that I would share.

Oaths Matthew 5:33-37

Matt. 5:33-37

The Pharisees developed elaborate rules governing vows, and only those employing the divine name were binding. Jesus teaches that a vow is binding regardless of what formula is used. The use of oaths is superfluous when one’s word ought to suffice. Oath-taking is an implicit confession that we do not always tell the truth.

Spirit filled life study Bible. 1997, c1991 (electronic ed.). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Questions to think about
1. How much does swearing on the Bible guarantee that a legal witness will tell the truth?
2. Why do we swear?
3. In what situations do people typically swear?
4. What are some ways that our society takes the name of God Lightly?
5. What statements of assurance do you hear most often? ("trust me," "would i lie to you?" " I mean it this time," ect)
6. How does lying in the name of God affect the reputation of God?
7. How should we respond when people try to get us to make promises or extra assurances?
8. What does it imply when people don't take you at your word?

In this day and age we have to be people of our word. If nothing else, we should always be able to be counted on. As Christians this is a very important part of your daily ministry. If non-believers can not count on our word then how are they going to respond to God? They look to us for guidance.
What can you do this week to be a person that means what they say and says what they mean? I don't know were our country is headed, but this is the time as Christians and as Americans to stand up and be the people that God has created us to be.