I have no idea what to write about this evening. I'm sitting here staring at the blank screen, ready to type, but nothing is really coming out.
I'll simply talk about what's weighing on my heart.
The alarm went off at 5:00 AM, and it was time to begin the routine of getting ready for work, then walking to the bus stop and commuting to the Capitol building for a long pre-session work day. By the time five o'clock rolled around this afternoon, I was emotionally empty and more than ready to leave.
I woke up this morning with the best of intentions; I wanted to honor the Lord with everything I did today. I dressed up in a shirt, slacks and tie for no reason, other than to look my best. I packed plenty of food for the course of the long day, so my mind and body would perform at optimal levels and not be distracted with hunger or fatigue. The Daily Audio Bible podcast was speaking the Word into my eardrums; Everything was on track for success.
At around noon, I simply lost interest in everything and began to shut down. My productivity trailed off and I was just trying to pass the time with various tasks. God would not have been proud this afternoon. I totally blew it.
Please Lord, give me the strength and motivation to do my best tomorrow. Please extend your grace, mercy and opportunities for a new beginning, and the discipline to do what's right. Amen.
Good Night
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Take A Step
After church service this weekend, I had a heart to heart talk with a friend of mine regarding the future. As with another mutual friend of ours who is turning the page in his career, my friend was telling me of his intentions to return to school to pursue a degree. The more we spoke, the clearer his vision became for his next "new thing".
I'm also looking for something new in my life. Whether it's the beginning of something else in my career, or breathing life into my current daily routine, it's important to do something. Anything to escape the "rut". (It was once said that "a rut is simply a grave with the ends kicked out".)
Positive change begins with a single step.
Romans 12:2 (The Message)
Place Your Life Before God
1-2 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step. -C. S. Lewis
When you feel that you have reached the end and that you cannot go one step further, when life seems to be drained of all purpose: what a wonderful opportunity to start all over again, to turn over a new page. -Eileen Caddy
Good Night
I'm also looking for something new in my life. Whether it's the beginning of something else in my career, or breathing life into my current daily routine, it's important to do something. Anything to escape the "rut". (It was once said that "a rut is simply a grave with the ends kicked out".)
Positive change begins with a single step.
Romans 12:2 (The Message)
Place Your Life Before God
1-2 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step. -C. S. Lewis
When you feel that you have reached the end and that you cannot go one step further, when life seems to be drained of all purpose: what a wonderful opportunity to start all over again, to turn over a new page. -Eileen Caddy
Good Night
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Happy Birthday, Sissy!
I'd like to wish my baby girl a very happy 8th Birthday! I love you, sweetie! I hope you enjoyed your party with friends and family this afternoon. You're such a big girl now, I can hardly believe how quickly the years have passed by.
God Bless you.
Good Night
Friday, January 28, 2011
Challenger
If you're in your thirties or older, chances are that you remember the tragic events that occurred the morning of January 28, 1986. 73 seconds after liftoff, flight STS-51-L's Space Shuttle Challenger exploded at a velocity of 1,977 miles per hour, at an altitude of approximately 46,000 feet.
It was both painful and defining.
A piece of innocence was lost that day. As a child of the late 1970's and 1980's, space program tragedies were a virtual unknown. Unless you were a space geek like I am, the loss of human life in NASA's various programs was not exactly cultural knowledge to the average teenager.
I was sitting in Spanish class at Waldo Middle School- I was barely older than my middle son is now. It was mid-morning, and I still remember the aide wheeling the AV cart into the classroom for the "teacher in space project" special event. We watched in disbelief as this exciting event turned into a nightmare right before our eyes. Some students and teachers fell mute, while others cried. Rumor had it that one of our science teachers let loose with uncontainable sobbing for hours.
My parents' generation celebrated the moon landing in 1969, however that glorious moment (and the ones that would follow) owed its' successes to the initial salvo of the Apollo program. Sadly, Apollo 1 claimed the lives of its three astronauts, set back the entire space program months of progress and dealt some painful engineering lessons exploited through serious design flaws.
Almost 19 years to the day later, Challenger was our Apollo 1.
"This is truly a national loss," "We mourn seven heroes ... who escaped the surly bounds of Earth to touch the face of God." - Ronald Reagan
After nearly two years of investigation, redesigns and testing, the shuttle program resumed flight and the process became "routine" once again. Regrettably, 17 years after Challenger, Columbia and her crew would also be lost at the close of flight STS-107.
Lord, please bless the families of these fallen heroes, who gave their lives for the exploration of space and the development of the human race. I'm certain the mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, spouses and children of these astronauts could use your comfort and peace, as these painful anniversaries transpire. Amen.
Good Night
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Happy Birthday, iPad!
It's hard to believe that it's been a year since the debut of the iPad. The idea for the revolutionary device actually preceded the iPhone, having it's roots in ideas stemming back to 2004. After years of passionate design, iPad materialized on January 27, 2010.
365 days later, I still want one.
"First comes thought; then organization of that thought, into ideas and plans; then transformation of those plans into reality. The beginning, as you will observe, is in your imagination." - Napoleon Hill
"Everybody uses a laptop and a smartphone. And a question has arisen lately: is there room for a third category of device in the middle? Something that’s between a laptop and a smartphone. And of course we’ve pondered this question for years as well. The bar’s pretty high. In order to really create a new category of devices, those devices are going to have to be far better at doing some key tasks. Better than a laptop. Better than a smartphone.
Now, some people have thought…that’s a netbook. The problem is, netbooks aren’t better at anything. They’re slow, they have low quality displays and they run clunky old PC software. So, they’re not better than a laptop at anything. They’re just cheaper. They’re just cheap laptops. We don’t think they’re a new category of device. But we think we’ve got something that is. And we’d like to show it to you today for the first time. And we call it…the iPad." - Steve Jobs
Personally, I can't wait to see what the second generation iPad will be like. I envision a slightly faster (perhaps dual-core) Apple processor, additional RAM and the addition of front and rear-facing cameras for FaceTime. What an amazing device...
We live in such an exciting time. I'm thankful that the Lord has blessed humanity by creating us in His image. In turn, we're free to innovate and create all form of beautiful, useful technology.
Good Night
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Another Interesting Parallel
As I listened to today's podcast from the Daily Audio Bible, this section of verses in the book of Psalm caught my attention. Although not exactly the same situation, I couldn't help but compare David's experience with that of Jesus' on the cross. While not in the same league of suffering, I thought about Jesus as David poured his heart out in the Old Testament.
Psalm 22:1-18 (New International Version)
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?
2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, but I find no rest.
3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
you are the one Israel praises.
4 In you our ancestors put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.
5 To you they cried out and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
6 But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
7 All who see me mock me;
they hurl insults, shaking their heads.
8 “He trusts in the LORD,” they say,
“let the LORD rescue him.
Let him deliver him,
since he delights in him.”
9 Yet you brought me out of the womb;
you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast.
10 From birth I was cast on you;
from my mother’s womb you have been my God.
11 Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.
12 Many bulls surround me;
strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
13 Roaring lions that tear their prey
open their mouths wide against me.
14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax;
it has melted within me.
15 My mouth is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
you lay me in the dust of death.
16 Dogs surround me,
a pack of villains encircles me;
they pierce my hands and my feet.
17 All my bones are on display;
people stare and gloat over me.
18 They divide my clothes among them
and cast lots for my garment.
Sometimes, we'll find ourselves suffering and seemingly all alone. Not every life experience will be a mountaintop event, and you can't always feel the presence of God. However, when times are tough, it's important to stand firm and not lose faith in the fact that the Lord is always with us, and is fighting on our behalf. The victory isn't always accomplished on our time table- but it is coming. Sometimes, you're bruised and battered in the process of waiting on the Lord. Persist. It's worth it.
Good Night
Psalm 22:1-18 (New International Version)
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?
2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, but I find no rest.
3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
you are the one Israel praises.
4 In you our ancestors put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.
5 To you they cried out and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
6 But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
7 All who see me mock me;
they hurl insults, shaking their heads.
8 “He trusts in the LORD,” they say,
“let the LORD rescue him.
Let him deliver him,
since he delights in him.”
9 Yet you brought me out of the womb;
you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast.
10 From birth I was cast on you;
from my mother’s womb you have been my God.
11 Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.
12 Many bulls surround me;
strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
13 Roaring lions that tear their prey
open their mouths wide against me.
14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax;
it has melted within me.
15 My mouth is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
you lay me in the dust of death.
16 Dogs surround me,
a pack of villains encircles me;
they pierce my hands and my feet.
17 All my bones are on display;
people stare and gloat over me.
18 They divide my clothes among them
and cast lots for my garment.
Sometimes, we'll find ourselves suffering and seemingly all alone. Not every life experience will be a mountaintop event, and you can't always feel the presence of God. However, when times are tough, it's important to stand firm and not lose faith in the fact that the Lord is always with us, and is fighting on our behalf. The victory isn't always accomplished on our time table- but it is coming. Sometimes, you're bruised and battered in the process of waiting on the Lord. Persist. It's worth it.
Good Night
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Doogie
There's a new channel on our DirecTV which plays many of our favorite television shows from the 1970's, 1980's and 1990's. It's called "The Hub" and it's gaining popularity in our household. One such program in the rotation is Doogie Howser, M.D. Do you remember that show? The main character was a teen-aged genius who happened to be a doctor.
As I was sitting at the keyboard, wondering what to write, the familiar scene at the end of each episode appeared on the television screen next to my desk. Doogie always expressed his insights, or the moral to the story in digital format on his computer. It was in an archaic DOS-based format that was period-correct, although it looks silly today.
His journal entries were always faithfully produced each day, no matter what. Sometimes the content was lengthy and insightful, while other times, a simple phrase would do. I think logging our own life experiences works in this way, too.
Good Night
As I was sitting at the keyboard, wondering what to write, the familiar scene at the end of each episode appeared on the television screen next to my desk. Doogie always expressed his insights, or the moral to the story in digital format on his computer. It was in an archaic DOS-based format that was period-correct, although it looks silly today.
His journal entries were always faithfully produced each day, no matter what. Sometimes the content was lengthy and insightful, while other times, a simple phrase would do. I think logging our own life experiences works in this way, too.
Good Night
Monday, January 24, 2011
There Will Be Pain
Sometimes the paths that the Lord takes us on aren't easy, happy, or pretty. We can't always envision the outcome for our lives, even though the Lord can clearly see. Often, we can't predict the course that we'll take and it often doesn't appear as we think it ought to. However, God knows what He's doing.
In the continuing story of Joseph, we find that a seven year famine has caused the surrounding people to barter their money and livestock for provisions. They didn't die from starvation, but they've becomes slaves in the process. (If you read carefully in verses 18 and 19, you'll see that it was the peoples' idea to willingly become slaves. This blows my mind.) I suppose I'd be willing to do the same, if my family were literally facing starvation.
The scriptures give us the unique ability to "zoom out" and see where a person's been, where they are and where they're going (Don't you wish that we could do that?). We'll see that the Lord strategically placed Joseph in Egypt, so that his father Israel and nearly 70 direct descendants could seek refuge during the famine. It was all part of a larger plan, although it likely didn't appear that way at the time.
Genesis 47 13-26 (The Message)
13-15 The time eventually came when there was no food anywhere. The famine was very bad. Egypt and Canaan alike were devastated by the famine. Joseph collected all the money that was to be found in Egypt and Canaan to pay for the distribution of food. He banked the money in Pharaoh's palace. When the money from Egypt and Canaan had run out, the Egyptians came to Joseph. "Food! Give us food! Are you going to watch us die right in front of you? The money is all gone."
16-17 Joseph said, "Bring your livestock. I'll trade you food for livestock since your money's run out." So they brought Joseph their livestock. He traded them food for their horses, sheep, cattle, and donkeys. He got them through that year in exchange for all their livestock.
18-19 When that year was over, the next year rolled around and they were back, saying, "Master, it's no secret to you that we're broke: our money's gone and we've traded you all our livestock. We've nothing left to barter with but our bodies and our farms. What use are our bodies and our land if we stand here and starve to death right in front of you? Trade us food for our bodies and our land. We'll be slaves to Pharaoh and give up our land—all we ask is seed for survival, just enough to live on and keep the farms alive."
20-21 So Joseph bought up all the farms in Egypt for Pharaoh. Every Egyptian sold his land—the famine was that bad. That's how Pharaoh ended up owning all the land and the people ended up slaves; Joseph reduced the people to slavery from one end of Egypt to the other.
22 Joseph made an exception for the priests. He didn't buy their land because they received a fixed salary from Pharaoh and were able to live off of that salary. So they didn't need to sell their land.
23-24 Joseph then announced to the people: "Here's how things stand: I've bought you and your land for Pharaoh. In exchange I'm giving you seed so you can plant the ground. When the crops are harvested, you must give a fifth to Pharaoh and keep four-fifths for yourselves, for seed for yourselves and your families—you're going to be able to feed your children!"
25 They said, "You've saved our lives! Master, we're grateful and glad to be slaves to Pharaoh."
26 Joseph decreed a land law in Egypt that is still in effect, A Fifth Goes to Pharaoh. Only the priests' lands were not owned by Pharaoh.
C.S. Lewis once said "We were promised sufferings. They were part of the program. We were even told, 'Blessed are they that mourn'" and "We're not doubting that God will do the best for us, we're wondering how painful the best will turn out to be"
It would appear that he was right.
Good Night
In the continuing story of Joseph, we find that a seven year famine has caused the surrounding people to barter their money and livestock for provisions. They didn't die from starvation, but they've becomes slaves in the process. (If you read carefully in verses 18 and 19, you'll see that it was the peoples' idea to willingly become slaves. This blows my mind.) I suppose I'd be willing to do the same, if my family were literally facing starvation.
The scriptures give us the unique ability to "zoom out" and see where a person's been, where they are and where they're going (Don't you wish that we could do that?). We'll see that the Lord strategically placed Joseph in Egypt, so that his father Israel and nearly 70 direct descendants could seek refuge during the famine. It was all part of a larger plan, although it likely didn't appear that way at the time.
Genesis 47 13-26 (The Message)
13-15 The time eventually came when there was no food anywhere. The famine was very bad. Egypt and Canaan alike were devastated by the famine. Joseph collected all the money that was to be found in Egypt and Canaan to pay for the distribution of food. He banked the money in Pharaoh's palace. When the money from Egypt and Canaan had run out, the Egyptians came to Joseph. "Food! Give us food! Are you going to watch us die right in front of you? The money is all gone."
16-17 Joseph said, "Bring your livestock. I'll trade you food for livestock since your money's run out." So they brought Joseph their livestock. He traded them food for their horses, sheep, cattle, and donkeys. He got them through that year in exchange for all their livestock.
18-19 When that year was over, the next year rolled around and they were back, saying, "Master, it's no secret to you that we're broke: our money's gone and we've traded you all our livestock. We've nothing left to barter with but our bodies and our farms. What use are our bodies and our land if we stand here and starve to death right in front of you? Trade us food for our bodies and our land. We'll be slaves to Pharaoh and give up our land—all we ask is seed for survival, just enough to live on and keep the farms alive."
20-21 So Joseph bought up all the farms in Egypt for Pharaoh. Every Egyptian sold his land—the famine was that bad. That's how Pharaoh ended up owning all the land and the people ended up slaves; Joseph reduced the people to slavery from one end of Egypt to the other.
22 Joseph made an exception for the priests. He didn't buy their land because they received a fixed salary from Pharaoh and were able to live off of that salary. So they didn't need to sell their land.
23-24 Joseph then announced to the people: "Here's how things stand: I've bought you and your land for Pharaoh. In exchange I'm giving you seed so you can plant the ground. When the crops are harvested, you must give a fifth to Pharaoh and keep four-fifths for yourselves, for seed for yourselves and your families—you're going to be able to feed your children!"
25 They said, "You've saved our lives! Master, we're grateful and glad to be slaves to Pharaoh."
26 Joseph decreed a land law in Egypt that is still in effect, A Fifth Goes to Pharaoh. Only the priests' lands were not owned by Pharaoh.
C.S. Lewis once said "We were promised sufferings. They were part of the program. We were even told, 'Blessed are they that mourn'" and "We're not doubting that God will do the best for us, we're wondering how painful the best will turn out to be"
It would appear that he was right.
Good Night
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Ugh
I don't have much to go on tonight. I don't feel like blogging. I don't feel like talking. I don't feel like praising.
This afternoon, there was a knock at the door. It was our new neighbor, Ashley. We'd seen her about a week before for the first time (she came over not once, but twice to use a cell phone- barefoot and slightly rude), but now she was back to ask for a phone charger, or to use my phone again. Odd. You would think that anyone who has been settled for more than about 2 days would have access to a telephone.
Here is a girl who couldn't be more than about 18 years old, smoking a cigarette and looking completely strung out. She moved in to a guest house in the back of a "compound" down the street, where several questionable characters are [unfortunately] taking up residence- including the man who rear-ended our car in 2008, and then tried to keep it from being reported. Just as her first impression, this encounter with Ashley was equally awkward. She began asking strange questions about my age, whether or not I smoked, went to see bands in the bar, if we could be friends, etc. Very strange.
The best part (Worst part?) of the story was her immediate request to have me take her to Woodburn, a town about 20 minutes away, to meet up with "some guy" on the other end of my cell phone. I'd had it. Boundaries were crossed. There would be no ride, sorry.
I had to watch my words, and held every thought captive. I wasn't afraid of her, but some of the people that come in and out of that house appear to be up to no good. There are people believed to be using drugs in that house, and their numbers are growing. To make things worse, many of the wholesome neighbors and homeowners on our street are leaving our neighborhood due to layoffs, foreclosure, or other reasons. It just seems like our wonderful neighborhood is taking a dive. It no longer feels safe for our children.
We've instructed the kids to never answer the door, nor speak to anyone from that house. Surely, if there was an emergency, we'd be there to help, but I don't want such negative influences around my family. I cannot stress how "wrong" it felt to interact with her. She could be harmless, or she could have agendas. We'll pray for her.
I don't know what God is allowing to happen, yet I'm confident that things will be looking up in the future.
Good Night
This afternoon, there was a knock at the door. It was our new neighbor, Ashley. We'd seen her about a week before for the first time (she came over not once, but twice to use a cell phone- barefoot and slightly rude), but now she was back to ask for a phone charger, or to use my phone again. Odd. You would think that anyone who has been settled for more than about 2 days would have access to a telephone.
Here is a girl who couldn't be more than about 18 years old, smoking a cigarette and looking completely strung out. She moved in to a guest house in the back of a "compound" down the street, where several questionable characters are [unfortunately] taking up residence- including the man who rear-ended our car in 2008, and then tried to keep it from being reported. Just as her first impression, this encounter with Ashley was equally awkward. She began asking strange questions about my age, whether or not I smoked, went to see bands in the bar, if we could be friends, etc. Very strange.
The best part (Worst part?) of the story was her immediate request to have me take her to Woodburn, a town about 20 minutes away, to meet up with "some guy" on the other end of my cell phone. I'd had it. Boundaries were crossed. There would be no ride, sorry.
I had to watch my words, and held every thought captive. I wasn't afraid of her, but some of the people that come in and out of that house appear to be up to no good. There are people believed to be using drugs in that house, and their numbers are growing. To make things worse, many of the wholesome neighbors and homeowners on our street are leaving our neighborhood due to layoffs, foreclosure, or other reasons. It just seems like our wonderful neighborhood is taking a dive. It no longer feels safe for our children.
We've instructed the kids to never answer the door, nor speak to anyone from that house. Surely, if there was an emergency, we'd be there to help, but I don't want such negative influences around my family. I cannot stress how "wrong" it felt to interact with her. She could be harmless, or she could have agendas. We'll pray for her.
I don't know what God is allowing to happen, yet I'm confident that things will be looking up in the future.
Good Night
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Focus On The Long Game
All too often, we get caught up in the details of life. How are we going to pay the mortgage this month? How will we feed our family this week? Why did the car break down, when we have no money to pay for it? Why did I receive that poor report? Why did a friend betray me? Why doesn't it look like God is going to show up? It's these stressful experiences in life that can demand our focus for a very long time. They're truly bumps in the road when compared to the whole scheme of life, but we can be consumed by bitterness through these events and lose sight of what's truly important.
Let's take a look at Joseph in Genesis 37 and 39-41.
Here's a guy whom was betrayed by his own brothers, dropped into a well and sold into slavery. He could have been bitter, but chose not to be. And, the Lord was with him.
He was sold to Potiphar, a high ranking official in the country of Egypt. At first, his life appeared to be coming together; Joseph was put in charge of everything in Potiphar's home, nothing was off limits to him. However, a bomb detonated in Joseph's life once again, when he declined the repeated advances by a lonely, adulterous house wife. He could have been bitter, but chose not to be. And, the Lord was with him.
While dwelling in the pit of a prison for years, Joseph assisted a royal cup bearer and baker into freedom (One man was freed, the other was freed from his head!), yet quickly became forgotten. He could have been bitter, but chose not to be. And, the Lord was with him.
After a divinely arranged meeting to interpret a series of nightmares, Joseph was quickly elevated from prisoner to high-ranking official. He was placed in charge of everything in the land, second in command to Pharoah himself. And, the Lord was with him.
Joseph endured many trials, most of which occurred before he was 30 years old. He had plenty of opportunities to become outraged at the Lord due to the situations that played out in his life. He could have been angry at his relatives, swearing to claim vengeance. He could have taken advantage of a lustful situation, or simply shut down and given up when things got too rough. The world surely wouldn't have blamed him if he did any or all of these things.
However, the fact that Joseph maintained his integrity and chose to follow the Lord in all things, no matter where it took him (literally), led to the great success story that became his life. Joseph was instrumental in leading the first generation of Israelites into Egypt.
Mere pages later (and hundreds of years), Biblical history tells us that the Israelites become enslaved to the Egyptians. This nation eventually would depart from that country under the leadership of Moses. However, without Joseph, none of this portion of scripture would exist.
What would have happened, if Joseph hadn't trusted that the Lord had his best interests in mind? Would opportunities come his way? Would God have elevated Joseph from impossible situations? Who knows what other avenues the Lord would have used (or people) to accomplish his purposes. Let's be sure to focus on the Long Game of life and not get caught up in the Short Game. There's no telling what the Lord is lining up for those who trust in Him.
Genesis 37 (The Message)
1 Meanwhile Jacob had settled down where his father had lived, the land of Canaan.
Joseph and His Brothers
2 This is the story of Jacob. The story continues with Joseph, seventeen years old at the time, helping out his brothers in herding the flocks. These were his half brothers actually, the sons of his father's wives Bilhah and Zilpah. And Joseph brought his father bad reports on them.
3-4 Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons because he was the child of his old age. And he made him an elaborately embroidered coat. When his brothers realized that their father loved him more than them, they grew to hate him—they wouldn't even speak to him.
5-7 Joseph had a dream. When he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. He said, "Listen to this dream I had. We were all out in the field gathering bundles of wheat. All of a sudden my bundle stood straight up and your bundles circled around it and bowed down to mine."
8 His brothers said, "So! You're going to rule us? You're going to boss us around?" And they hated him more than ever because of his dreams and the way he talked.
9 He had another dream and told this one also to his brothers: "I dreamed another dream—the sun and moon and eleven stars bowed down to me!"
10-11 When he told it to his father and brothers, his father reprimanded him: "What's with all this dreaming? Am I and your mother and your brothers all supposed to bow down to you?" Now his brothers were really jealous; but his father brooded over the whole business.
12-13 His brothers had gone off to Shechem where they were pasturing their father's flocks. Israel said to Joseph, "Your brothers are with flocks in Shechem. Come, I want to send you to them."
Joseph said, "I'm ready."
14 He said, "Go and see how your brothers and the flocks are doing and bring me back a report." He sent him off from the valley of Hebron to Shechem.
15 A man met him as he was wandering through the fields and asked him, "What are you looking for?"
16 "I'm trying to find my brothers. Do you have any idea where they are grazing their flocks?"
17 The man said, "They've left here, but I overheard them say, 'Let's go to Dothan.'" So Joseph took off, tracked his brothers down, and found them in Dothan.
18-20 They spotted him off in the distance. By the time he got to them they had cooked up a plot to kill him. The brothers were saying, "Here comes that dreamer. Let's kill him and throw him into one of these old cisterns; we can say that a vicious animal ate him up. We'll see what his dreams amount to."
21-22 Reuben heard the brothers talking and intervened to save him, "We're not going to kill him. No murder. Go ahead and throw him in this cistern out here in the wild, but don't hurt him." Reuben planned to go back later and get him out and take him back to his father.
23-24 When Joseph reached his brothers, they ripped off the fancy coat he was wearing, grabbed him, and threw him into a cistern. The cistern was dry; there wasn't any water in it.
25-27 Then they sat down to eat their supper. Looking up, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites on their way from Gilead, their camels loaded with spices, ointments, and perfumes to sell in Egypt. Judah said, "Brothers, what are we going to get out of killing our brother and concealing the evidence? Let's sell him to the Ishmaelites, but let's not kill him—he is, after all, our brother, our own flesh and blood." His brothers agreed.
28 By that time the Midianite traders were passing by. His brothers pulled Joseph out of the cistern and sold him for twenty pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites who took Joseph with them down to Egypt.
29-30 Later Reuben came back and went to the cistern—no Joseph! He ripped his clothes in despair. Beside himself, he went to his brothers. "The boy's gone! What am I going to do!"
31-32 They took Joseph's coat, butchered a goat, and dipped the coat in the blood. They took the fancy coat back to their father and said, "We found this. Look it over—do you think this is your son's coat?"
33 He recognized it at once. "My son's coat—a wild animal has eaten him. Joseph torn limb from limb!"
34-35 Jacob tore his clothes in grief, dressed in rough burlap, and mourned his son a long, long time. His sons and daughters tried to comfort him but he refused their comfort. "I'll go to the grave mourning my son." Oh, how his father wept for him.
36 In Egypt the Midianites sold Joseph to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's officials, manager of his household affairs.
Genesis 39-41 (The Message)
Genesis 39
1 After Joseph had been taken to Egypt by the Ishmaelites, Potiphar an Egyptian, one of Pharaoh's officials and the manager of his household, bought him from them.
2-6 As it turned out, God was with Joseph and things went very well with him. He ended up living in the home of his Egyptian master. His master recognized that God was with him, saw that God was working for good in everything he did. He became very fond of Joseph and made him his personal aide. He put him in charge of all his personal affairs, turning everything over to him. From that moment on, God blessed the home of the Egyptian—all because of Joseph. The blessing of God spread over everything he owned, at home and in the fields, and all Potiphar had to concern himself with was eating three meals a day.
6-7 Joseph was a strikingly handsome man. As time went on, his master's wife became infatuated with Joseph and one day said, "Sleep with me."
8-9 He wouldn't do it. He said to his master's wife, "Look, with me here, my master doesn't give a second thought to anything that goes on here—he's put me in charge of everything he owns. He treats me as an equal. The only thing he hasn't turned over to me is you. You're his wife, after all! How could I violate his trust and sin against God?"
10 She pestered him day after day after day, but he stood his ground. He refused to go to bed with her.
11-15 On one of these days he came to the house to do his work and none of the household servants happened to be there. She grabbed him by his cloak, saying, "Sleep with me!" He left his coat in her hand and ran out of the house. When she realized that he had left his coat in her hand and run outside, she called to her house servants: "Look—this Hebrew shows up and before you know it he's trying to seduce us. He tried to make love to me but I yelled as loud as I could. With all my yelling and screaming, he left his coat beside me here and ran outside."
16-18 She kept his coat right there until his master came home. She told him the same story. She said, "The Hebrew slave, the one you brought to us, came after me and tried to use me for his plaything. When I yelled and screamed, he left his coat with me and ran outside."
19-23 When his master heard his wife's story, telling him, "These are the things your slave did to me," he was furious. Joseph's master took him and threw him into the jail where the king's prisoners were locked up. But there in jail God was still with Joseph: He reached out in kindness to him; he put him on good terms with the head jailer. The head jailer put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners—he ended up managing the whole operation. The head jailer gave Joseph free rein, never even checked on him, because God was with him; whatever he did God made sure it worked out for the best.
Genesis 40
1-4 As time went on, it happened that the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt crossed their master, the king of Egypt. Pharaoh was furious with his two officials, the head cupbearer and the head baker, and put them in custody under the captain of the guard; it was the same jail where Joseph was held. The captain of the guard assigned Joseph to see to their needs.
4-7 After they had been in custody for a while, the king's cupbearer and baker, while being held in the jail, both had a dream on the same night, each dream having its own meaning. When Joseph arrived in the morning, he noticed that they were feeling low. So he asked them, the two officials of Pharaoh who had been thrown into jail with him, "What's wrong? Why the long faces?"
8 They said, "We dreamed dreams and there's no one to interpret them."
Joseph said, "Don't interpretations come from God? Tell me the dreams."
9-11 First the head cupbearer told his dream to Joseph: "In my dream there was a vine in front of me with three branches on it: It budded, blossomed, and the clusters ripened into grapes. I was holding Pharaoh's cup; I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh's cup, and gave the cup to Pharaoh."
12-15 Joseph said, "Here's the meaning. The three branches are three days. Within three days, Pharaoh will get you out of here and put you back to your old work—you'll be giving Pharaoh his cup just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer. Only remember me when things are going well with you again—tell Pharaoh about me and get me out of this place. I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews. And since I've been here, I've done nothing to deserve being put in this hole."
16-17 When the head baker saw how well Joseph's interpretation turned out, he spoke up: "My dream went like this: I saw three wicker baskets on my head; the top basket had assorted pastries from the bakery and birds were picking at them from the basket on my head."
18-19 Joseph said, "This is the interpretation: The three baskets are three days; within three days Pharaoh will take off your head, impale you on a post, and the birds will pick your bones clean."
20-22 And sure enough, on the third day it was Pharaoh's birthday and he threw a feast for all his servants. He set the head cupbearer and the head baker in places of honor in the presence of all the guests. Then he restored the head cupbearer to his cupbearing post; he handed Pharaoh his cup just as before. And then he impaled the head baker on a post, following Joseph's interpretations exactly.
23 But the head cupbearer never gave Joseph another thought; he forgot all about him.
Genesis 41
1-4 Two years passed and Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile River. Seven cows came up out of the Nile, all shimmering with health, and grazed on the marsh grass. Then seven other cows, all skin and bones, came up out of the river after them and stood by them on the bank of the Nile. The skinny cows ate the seven healthy cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.
5-7 He went back to sleep and dreamed a second time: Seven ears of grain, full-bodied and lush, grew out of a single stalk. Then seven more ears grew up, but these were thin and dried out by the east wind. The thin ears swallowed up the full, healthy ears. Then Pharaoh woke up—another dream.
8 When morning came, he was upset. He sent for all the magicians and sages of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but they couldn't interpret them to him.
9-13 The head cupbearer then spoke up and said to Pharaoh, "I just now remembered something—I'm sorry, I should have told you this long ago. Once when Pharaoh got angry with his servants, he locked me and the head baker in the house of the captain of the guard. We both had dreams on the same night, each dream with its own meaning. It so happened that there was a young Hebrew slave there with us; he belonged to the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams and he interpreted them for us, each dream separately. Things turned out just as he interpreted. I was returned to my position and the head baker was impaled."
14 Pharaoh at once sent for Joseph. They brought him on the run from the jail cell. He cut his hair, put on clean clothes, and came to Pharaoh.
15 "I dreamed a dream," Pharaoh told Joseph. "Nobody can interpret it. But I've heard that just by hearing a dream you can interpret it."
16 Joseph answered, "Not I, but God. God will set Pharaoh's mind at ease."
17-21 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile. Seven cows, shimmering with health, came up out of the river and grazed on the marsh grass. On their heels seven more cows, all skin and bones, came up. I've never seen uglier cows anywhere in Egypt. Then the seven skinny, ugly cows ate up the first seven healthy cows. But you couldn't tell by looking—after eating them up they were just as skinny and ugly as before. Then I woke up.
22-24 "In my second dream I saw seven ears of grain, full-bodied and lush, growing out of a single stalk, and right behind them, seven other ears, shriveled, thin, and dried out by the east wind. And the thin ears swallowed up the full ears. I've told all this to the magicians but they can't figure it out."
25-27 Joseph said to Pharaoh, "Pharaoh's two dreams both mean the same thing. God is telling Pharaoh what he is going to do. The seven healthy cows are seven years and the seven healthy ears of grain are seven years—they're the same dream. The seven sick and ugly cows that followed them up are seven years and the seven scrawny ears of grain dried out by the east wind are the same—seven years of famine.
28-32 "The meaning is what I said earlier: God is letting Pharaoh in on what he is going to do. Seven years of plenty are on their way throughout Egypt. But on their heels will come seven years of famine, leaving no trace of the Egyptian plenty. As the country is emptied by famine, there won't be even a scrap left of the previous plenty—the famine will be total. The fact that Pharaoh dreamed the same dream twice emphasizes God's determination to do this and do it soon.
33-36 "So, Pharaoh needs to look for a wise and experienced man and put him in charge of the country. Then Pharaoh needs to appoint managers throughout the country of Egypt to organize it during the years of plenty. Their job will be to collect all the food produced in the good years ahead and stockpile the grain under Pharaoh's authority, storing it in the towns for food. This grain will be held back to be used later during the seven years of famine that are coming on Egypt. This way the country won't be devastated by the famine."
37 This seemed like a good idea to Pharaoh and his officials.
38 Then Pharaoh said to his officials, "Isn't this the man we need? Are we going to find anyone else who has God's spirit in him like this?"
39-40 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "You're the man for us. God has given you the inside story—no one is as qualified as you in experience and wisdom. From now on, you're in charge of my affairs; all my people will report to you. Only as king will I be over you."
41-43 So Pharaoh commissioned Joseph: "I'm putting you in charge of the entire country of Egypt." Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his finger and slipped it on Joseph's hand. He outfitted him in robes of the best linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He put the second-in-command chariot at his disposal, and as he rode people shouted "Bravo!"
Joseph was in charge of the entire country of Egypt.
44 Pharaoh told Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, but no one in Egypt will make a single move without your stamp of approval."
45 Then Pharaoh gave Joseph an Egyptian name, Zaphenath-Paneah (God Speaks and He Lives). He also gave him an Egyptian wife, Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On (Heliopolis).
And Joseph took up his duties over the land of Egypt.
46 Joseph was thirty years old when he went to work for Pharaoh the king of Egypt. As soon as Joseph left Pharaoh's presence, he began his work in Egypt.
47-49 During the next seven years of plenty the land produced bumper crops. Joseph gathered up the food of the seven good years in Egypt and stored the food in cities. In each city he stockpiled surplus from the surrounding fields. Joseph collected so much grain—it was like the sand of the ocean!—that he finally quit keeping track.
50-52 Joseph had two sons born to him before the years of famine came. Asenath, daughter of Potiphera the priest of On, was their mother. Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh (Forget), saying, "God made me forget all my hardships and my parental home." He named his second son Ephraim (Double Prosperity), saying, "God has prospered me in the land of my sorrow."
53-54 Then Egypt's seven good years came to an end and the seven years of famine arrived, just as Joseph had said. All countries experienced famine; Egypt was the only country that had bread.
55 When the famine spread throughout Egypt, the people called out in distress to Pharaoh, calling for bread. He told the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph. Do what he tells you."
56-57 As the famine got worse all over the country, Joseph opened the store-houses and sold emergency supplies to the Egyptians. The famine was very bad. Soon the whole world was coming to buy supplies from Joseph. The famine was bad all over.
Good Night
Let's take a look at Joseph in Genesis 37 and 39-41.
Here's a guy whom was betrayed by his own brothers, dropped into a well and sold into slavery. He could have been bitter, but chose not to be. And, the Lord was with him.
He was sold to Potiphar, a high ranking official in the country of Egypt. At first, his life appeared to be coming together; Joseph was put in charge of everything in Potiphar's home, nothing was off limits to him. However, a bomb detonated in Joseph's life once again, when he declined the repeated advances by a lonely, adulterous house wife. He could have been bitter, but chose not to be. And, the Lord was with him.
While dwelling in the pit of a prison for years, Joseph assisted a royal cup bearer and baker into freedom (One man was freed, the other was freed from his head!), yet quickly became forgotten. He could have been bitter, but chose not to be. And, the Lord was with him.
After a divinely arranged meeting to interpret a series of nightmares, Joseph was quickly elevated from prisoner to high-ranking official. He was placed in charge of everything in the land, second in command to Pharoah himself. And, the Lord was with him.
Joseph endured many trials, most of which occurred before he was 30 years old. He had plenty of opportunities to become outraged at the Lord due to the situations that played out in his life. He could have been angry at his relatives, swearing to claim vengeance. He could have taken advantage of a lustful situation, or simply shut down and given up when things got too rough. The world surely wouldn't have blamed him if he did any or all of these things.
However, the fact that Joseph maintained his integrity and chose to follow the Lord in all things, no matter where it took him (literally), led to the great success story that became his life. Joseph was instrumental in leading the first generation of Israelites into Egypt.
Mere pages later (and hundreds of years), Biblical history tells us that the Israelites become enslaved to the Egyptians. This nation eventually would depart from that country under the leadership of Moses. However, without Joseph, none of this portion of scripture would exist.
What would have happened, if Joseph hadn't trusted that the Lord had his best interests in mind? Would opportunities come his way? Would God have elevated Joseph from impossible situations? Who knows what other avenues the Lord would have used (or people) to accomplish his purposes. Let's be sure to focus on the Long Game of life and not get caught up in the Short Game. There's no telling what the Lord is lining up for those who trust in Him.
Genesis 37 (The Message)
1 Meanwhile Jacob had settled down where his father had lived, the land of Canaan.
Joseph and His Brothers
2 This is the story of Jacob. The story continues with Joseph, seventeen years old at the time, helping out his brothers in herding the flocks. These were his half brothers actually, the sons of his father's wives Bilhah and Zilpah. And Joseph brought his father bad reports on them.
3-4 Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons because he was the child of his old age. And he made him an elaborately embroidered coat. When his brothers realized that their father loved him more than them, they grew to hate him—they wouldn't even speak to him.
5-7 Joseph had a dream. When he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. He said, "Listen to this dream I had. We were all out in the field gathering bundles of wheat. All of a sudden my bundle stood straight up and your bundles circled around it and bowed down to mine."
8 His brothers said, "So! You're going to rule us? You're going to boss us around?" And they hated him more than ever because of his dreams and the way he talked.
9 He had another dream and told this one also to his brothers: "I dreamed another dream—the sun and moon and eleven stars bowed down to me!"
10-11 When he told it to his father and brothers, his father reprimanded him: "What's with all this dreaming? Am I and your mother and your brothers all supposed to bow down to you?" Now his brothers were really jealous; but his father brooded over the whole business.
12-13 His brothers had gone off to Shechem where they were pasturing their father's flocks. Israel said to Joseph, "Your brothers are with flocks in Shechem. Come, I want to send you to them."
Joseph said, "I'm ready."
14 He said, "Go and see how your brothers and the flocks are doing and bring me back a report." He sent him off from the valley of Hebron to Shechem.
15 A man met him as he was wandering through the fields and asked him, "What are you looking for?"
16 "I'm trying to find my brothers. Do you have any idea where they are grazing their flocks?"
17 The man said, "They've left here, but I overheard them say, 'Let's go to Dothan.'" So Joseph took off, tracked his brothers down, and found them in Dothan.
18-20 They spotted him off in the distance. By the time he got to them they had cooked up a plot to kill him. The brothers were saying, "Here comes that dreamer. Let's kill him and throw him into one of these old cisterns; we can say that a vicious animal ate him up. We'll see what his dreams amount to."
21-22 Reuben heard the brothers talking and intervened to save him, "We're not going to kill him. No murder. Go ahead and throw him in this cistern out here in the wild, but don't hurt him." Reuben planned to go back later and get him out and take him back to his father.
23-24 When Joseph reached his brothers, they ripped off the fancy coat he was wearing, grabbed him, and threw him into a cistern. The cistern was dry; there wasn't any water in it.
25-27 Then they sat down to eat their supper. Looking up, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites on their way from Gilead, their camels loaded with spices, ointments, and perfumes to sell in Egypt. Judah said, "Brothers, what are we going to get out of killing our brother and concealing the evidence? Let's sell him to the Ishmaelites, but let's not kill him—he is, after all, our brother, our own flesh and blood." His brothers agreed.
28 By that time the Midianite traders were passing by. His brothers pulled Joseph out of the cistern and sold him for twenty pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites who took Joseph with them down to Egypt.
29-30 Later Reuben came back and went to the cistern—no Joseph! He ripped his clothes in despair. Beside himself, he went to his brothers. "The boy's gone! What am I going to do!"
31-32 They took Joseph's coat, butchered a goat, and dipped the coat in the blood. They took the fancy coat back to their father and said, "We found this. Look it over—do you think this is your son's coat?"
33 He recognized it at once. "My son's coat—a wild animal has eaten him. Joseph torn limb from limb!"
34-35 Jacob tore his clothes in grief, dressed in rough burlap, and mourned his son a long, long time. His sons and daughters tried to comfort him but he refused their comfort. "I'll go to the grave mourning my son." Oh, how his father wept for him.
36 In Egypt the Midianites sold Joseph to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's officials, manager of his household affairs.
Genesis 39-41 (The Message)
Genesis 39
1 After Joseph had been taken to Egypt by the Ishmaelites, Potiphar an Egyptian, one of Pharaoh's officials and the manager of his household, bought him from them.
2-6 As it turned out, God was with Joseph and things went very well with him. He ended up living in the home of his Egyptian master. His master recognized that God was with him, saw that God was working for good in everything he did. He became very fond of Joseph and made him his personal aide. He put him in charge of all his personal affairs, turning everything over to him. From that moment on, God blessed the home of the Egyptian—all because of Joseph. The blessing of God spread over everything he owned, at home and in the fields, and all Potiphar had to concern himself with was eating three meals a day.
6-7 Joseph was a strikingly handsome man. As time went on, his master's wife became infatuated with Joseph and one day said, "Sleep with me."
8-9 He wouldn't do it. He said to his master's wife, "Look, with me here, my master doesn't give a second thought to anything that goes on here—he's put me in charge of everything he owns. He treats me as an equal. The only thing he hasn't turned over to me is you. You're his wife, after all! How could I violate his trust and sin against God?"
10 She pestered him day after day after day, but he stood his ground. He refused to go to bed with her.
11-15 On one of these days he came to the house to do his work and none of the household servants happened to be there. She grabbed him by his cloak, saying, "Sleep with me!" He left his coat in her hand and ran out of the house. When she realized that he had left his coat in her hand and run outside, she called to her house servants: "Look—this Hebrew shows up and before you know it he's trying to seduce us. He tried to make love to me but I yelled as loud as I could. With all my yelling and screaming, he left his coat beside me here and ran outside."
16-18 She kept his coat right there until his master came home. She told him the same story. She said, "The Hebrew slave, the one you brought to us, came after me and tried to use me for his plaything. When I yelled and screamed, he left his coat with me and ran outside."
19-23 When his master heard his wife's story, telling him, "These are the things your slave did to me," he was furious. Joseph's master took him and threw him into the jail where the king's prisoners were locked up. But there in jail God was still with Joseph: He reached out in kindness to him; he put him on good terms with the head jailer. The head jailer put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners—he ended up managing the whole operation. The head jailer gave Joseph free rein, never even checked on him, because God was with him; whatever he did God made sure it worked out for the best.
Genesis 40
1-4 As time went on, it happened that the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt crossed their master, the king of Egypt. Pharaoh was furious with his two officials, the head cupbearer and the head baker, and put them in custody under the captain of the guard; it was the same jail where Joseph was held. The captain of the guard assigned Joseph to see to their needs.
4-7 After they had been in custody for a while, the king's cupbearer and baker, while being held in the jail, both had a dream on the same night, each dream having its own meaning. When Joseph arrived in the morning, he noticed that they were feeling low. So he asked them, the two officials of Pharaoh who had been thrown into jail with him, "What's wrong? Why the long faces?"
8 They said, "We dreamed dreams and there's no one to interpret them."
Joseph said, "Don't interpretations come from God? Tell me the dreams."
9-11 First the head cupbearer told his dream to Joseph: "In my dream there was a vine in front of me with three branches on it: It budded, blossomed, and the clusters ripened into grapes. I was holding Pharaoh's cup; I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh's cup, and gave the cup to Pharaoh."
12-15 Joseph said, "Here's the meaning. The three branches are three days. Within three days, Pharaoh will get you out of here and put you back to your old work—you'll be giving Pharaoh his cup just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer. Only remember me when things are going well with you again—tell Pharaoh about me and get me out of this place. I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews. And since I've been here, I've done nothing to deserve being put in this hole."
16-17 When the head baker saw how well Joseph's interpretation turned out, he spoke up: "My dream went like this: I saw three wicker baskets on my head; the top basket had assorted pastries from the bakery and birds were picking at them from the basket on my head."
18-19 Joseph said, "This is the interpretation: The three baskets are three days; within three days Pharaoh will take off your head, impale you on a post, and the birds will pick your bones clean."
20-22 And sure enough, on the third day it was Pharaoh's birthday and he threw a feast for all his servants. He set the head cupbearer and the head baker in places of honor in the presence of all the guests. Then he restored the head cupbearer to his cupbearing post; he handed Pharaoh his cup just as before. And then he impaled the head baker on a post, following Joseph's interpretations exactly.
23 But the head cupbearer never gave Joseph another thought; he forgot all about him.
Genesis 41
1-4 Two years passed and Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile River. Seven cows came up out of the Nile, all shimmering with health, and grazed on the marsh grass. Then seven other cows, all skin and bones, came up out of the river after them and stood by them on the bank of the Nile. The skinny cows ate the seven healthy cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.
5-7 He went back to sleep and dreamed a second time: Seven ears of grain, full-bodied and lush, grew out of a single stalk. Then seven more ears grew up, but these were thin and dried out by the east wind. The thin ears swallowed up the full, healthy ears. Then Pharaoh woke up—another dream.
8 When morning came, he was upset. He sent for all the magicians and sages of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but they couldn't interpret them to him.
9-13 The head cupbearer then spoke up and said to Pharaoh, "I just now remembered something—I'm sorry, I should have told you this long ago. Once when Pharaoh got angry with his servants, he locked me and the head baker in the house of the captain of the guard. We both had dreams on the same night, each dream with its own meaning. It so happened that there was a young Hebrew slave there with us; he belonged to the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams and he interpreted them for us, each dream separately. Things turned out just as he interpreted. I was returned to my position and the head baker was impaled."
14 Pharaoh at once sent for Joseph. They brought him on the run from the jail cell. He cut his hair, put on clean clothes, and came to Pharaoh.
15 "I dreamed a dream," Pharaoh told Joseph. "Nobody can interpret it. But I've heard that just by hearing a dream you can interpret it."
16 Joseph answered, "Not I, but God. God will set Pharaoh's mind at ease."
17-21 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile. Seven cows, shimmering with health, came up out of the river and grazed on the marsh grass. On their heels seven more cows, all skin and bones, came up. I've never seen uglier cows anywhere in Egypt. Then the seven skinny, ugly cows ate up the first seven healthy cows. But you couldn't tell by looking—after eating them up they were just as skinny and ugly as before. Then I woke up.
22-24 "In my second dream I saw seven ears of grain, full-bodied and lush, growing out of a single stalk, and right behind them, seven other ears, shriveled, thin, and dried out by the east wind. And the thin ears swallowed up the full ears. I've told all this to the magicians but they can't figure it out."
25-27 Joseph said to Pharaoh, "Pharaoh's two dreams both mean the same thing. God is telling Pharaoh what he is going to do. The seven healthy cows are seven years and the seven healthy ears of grain are seven years—they're the same dream. The seven sick and ugly cows that followed them up are seven years and the seven scrawny ears of grain dried out by the east wind are the same—seven years of famine.
28-32 "The meaning is what I said earlier: God is letting Pharaoh in on what he is going to do. Seven years of plenty are on their way throughout Egypt. But on their heels will come seven years of famine, leaving no trace of the Egyptian plenty. As the country is emptied by famine, there won't be even a scrap left of the previous plenty—the famine will be total. The fact that Pharaoh dreamed the same dream twice emphasizes God's determination to do this and do it soon.
33-36 "So, Pharaoh needs to look for a wise and experienced man and put him in charge of the country. Then Pharaoh needs to appoint managers throughout the country of Egypt to organize it during the years of plenty. Their job will be to collect all the food produced in the good years ahead and stockpile the grain under Pharaoh's authority, storing it in the towns for food. This grain will be held back to be used later during the seven years of famine that are coming on Egypt. This way the country won't be devastated by the famine."
37 This seemed like a good idea to Pharaoh and his officials.
38 Then Pharaoh said to his officials, "Isn't this the man we need? Are we going to find anyone else who has God's spirit in him like this?"
39-40 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "You're the man for us. God has given you the inside story—no one is as qualified as you in experience and wisdom. From now on, you're in charge of my affairs; all my people will report to you. Only as king will I be over you."
41-43 So Pharaoh commissioned Joseph: "I'm putting you in charge of the entire country of Egypt." Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his finger and slipped it on Joseph's hand. He outfitted him in robes of the best linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He put the second-in-command chariot at his disposal, and as he rode people shouted "Bravo!"
Joseph was in charge of the entire country of Egypt.
44 Pharaoh told Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, but no one in Egypt will make a single move without your stamp of approval."
45 Then Pharaoh gave Joseph an Egyptian name, Zaphenath-Paneah (God Speaks and He Lives). He also gave him an Egyptian wife, Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On (Heliopolis).
And Joseph took up his duties over the land of Egypt.
46 Joseph was thirty years old when he went to work for Pharaoh the king of Egypt. As soon as Joseph left Pharaoh's presence, he began his work in Egypt.
47-49 During the next seven years of plenty the land produced bumper crops. Joseph gathered up the food of the seven good years in Egypt and stored the food in cities. In each city he stockpiled surplus from the surrounding fields. Joseph collected so much grain—it was like the sand of the ocean!—that he finally quit keeping track.
50-52 Joseph had two sons born to him before the years of famine came. Asenath, daughter of Potiphera the priest of On, was their mother. Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh (Forget), saying, "God made me forget all my hardships and my parental home." He named his second son Ephraim (Double Prosperity), saying, "God has prospered me in the land of my sorrow."
53-54 Then Egypt's seven good years came to an end and the seven years of famine arrived, just as Joseph had said. All countries experienced famine; Egypt was the only country that had bread.
55 When the famine spread throughout Egypt, the people called out in distress to Pharaoh, calling for bread. He told the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph. Do what he tells you."
56-57 As the famine got worse all over the country, Joseph opened the store-houses and sold emergency supplies to the Egyptians. The famine was very bad. Soon the whole world was coming to buy supplies from Joseph. The famine was bad all over.
Good Night
Friday, January 21, 2011
Not Quite Ready
There's something on my heart that the Lord is telling me to write, but I'm not quite ready to post it. This insight is based on the story of Joseph and his attitude during the unjust trials he experienced in his twenties (found in Genesis 37 and 39-41). My thoughts were inspired by the audio commentary shared by Brian Hardin of the Daily Audio Bible reading from January 20th.
Perhaps I'll have the story put together by tomorrow evening, but for now I'm going to simply say "Happy Friday" to each one of you. It's getting late, and my body requires some sleep. I pray your weekend will be productive and blessed.
Good Night
Perhaps I'll have the story put together by tomorrow evening, but for now I'm going to simply say "Happy Friday" to each one of you. It's getting late, and my body requires some sleep. I pray your weekend will be productive and blessed.
Good Night
Thursday, January 20, 2011
The Green Hornet
Okay, so this blog entry has literally nothing to do with my Christian walk, but I wanted to share something fun.
A group of three guys from our church and I went to the local Cinerama to see The Green Hornet in RealD 3D this evening. There we were; three middle-aged men in silly plastic glasses ducking and dodging special effects in the middle of a dine-in theater. The soundtrack was loud and special effects were captivating. However, the largest surprise was that the movie was funny! Aside from some undesirable language in places, the movie was very entertaining. I'm very glad I was able to go.
A good movie and great company. These are two blessings I'm very thankful for.
Good Night
A group of three guys from our church and I went to the local Cinerama to see The Green Hornet in RealD 3D this evening. There we were; three middle-aged men in silly plastic glasses ducking and dodging special effects in the middle of a dine-in theater. The soundtrack was loud and special effects were captivating. However, the largest surprise was that the movie was funny! Aside from some undesirable language in places, the movie was very entertaining. I'm very glad I was able to go.
A good movie and great company. These are two blessings I'm very thankful for.
Good Night
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Yes, There Is A God (No Plan B)
Over the past two days, I've been home from work in order to care for my wife who became unexpectedly ill during the wee hours of Tuesday morning. She truly couldn't do anything but sleep, so I had to function as Mother Pro Tempore for all things domestic. In between some light duty chores, fetching drinks and hot packs for my wife and getting the kids to and from school (Thanks again to the family who helped with this!), I had a couple of hours collectively to watch some television (I've taken an eclectic approach to the programming I choose to view, thanks to Netflix streaming and the DirecTV DVR).
Although a bit radical, I wanted to share a few things with you:
When watching "Pee Wee's Big Adventure", you learn a few things: First, the movie was a whole lot funnier to my teenage self, as compared to my adult self (although I did enjoy some parts this last go 'round). Secondly, the acting was terrible and the plot was ridiculous, however prepubescent boys have a tendency to overlook such things in the theater. When the title character departed on a journey to find his stolen bicycle, he quickly became stripped of his meager resources and often found himself wandering into (or being delivered from) hopeless situations without adequate provision or any form of backup plan. Pee Wee simply operated in faith (work with me here) that his actions would eventually reunite him with his beloved bike. It's corny, but it was enlightening to watch with that perspective in mind.
Luke 9:1-6 (New International Version)
1 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. 5 If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.
"Expelled: No intelligence Allowed" was a sobering flick. I literally had no idea that professors, journalists and other professionals from all over this great country of ours have been effectively "blacklisted" from their lines of work and in academia, simply because they posed the question that perhaps life as we know it could have come from Intelligent Design, rather than non-directed Evolution. Although I hate to admit
that this problem exists, I'm not surprised at all. You should really watch this for yourself to fully understand what I'm talking about- Ben Stein is great.
1 Timothy 1:3-4 (New International Version)
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith.
2 Timothy 3:12-13 (New International Version)
12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
However, what gripped me the most was an old "Family Ties" rerun from 1987. The plot of this particular episode was based on the death of a young friend of Alex P. Keaton (Michael J. Fox). As the opening scene alludes to the events at the funeral service, Alex begins to grieve and quickly unravel. The remainder of the show was centered around Alex' interaction with vivid, often painful memories and an off-screen psychiatrist. I've taken the liberty of posting the portion of the script which touched my heart. If you'll remember, the character Alex is very much a left-brained analytic, whose core values are typically centered around self and money. Knowing this, the script carried some heft.
PSYCHIATRIST: Do you believe in God, Alex?
ALEX: That's what this all comes down to, right? Doesn't it?
That's what I'm trying to figure out here.
[Alex walks to OFFICE]
ALEX: Because if there is a God, somehow this all makes sense
I mean, there's gotta be a reason. Some master plan
in which Greg's dying and my living makes sense.
PSYCHIATRIST: What do you think?
ALEX: The analytical side of me says no. On a straight
cost-efficiency basis you can't prove it. There's no
annual report. There's no pictures of the board of
directors. I mean recent ones. And, ah, there are a
lot of things that just cannot be accounted for.
[KITCHEN lights up]
[Alex walks to KITCHEN]
ALEX: But then there are these miraculous things. Phenomena
of nature like, uh, like mountains and oceans and
Skippy getting dressed by himself.
[CLASS lights up]
[Alex walks to CLASS]
[Kitchen goes dark]
ALEX: And you gotta think that somebody's helping out with
that. ...The answer is yes...I do believe in God.
[JENNIFER'S ROOM lights up]
[Alex walks to JENNIFER'S ROOM]
[CLASS goes dark]
ALEX: But not a mean, not a mean, angry God, like the God
you see on TV, with the preachers, and, and, and always
asking to send them money.
[MALLORY'S ROOM lights up]
[Alex walks to MALLORY'S ROOM]
[JENNIFER'S ROOM goes dark]
ALEX: And, um, and not a groovy God, like Mallory's God.
Matching sweat-pants and headband.
[Alex walks to CENTER]
[MALLORY'S ROOM goes dark]
ALEX: And not a God like Brother Timothy's God either, 'cause
I just can't believe that God meant me to stay away
from girls. If He did He wouldn't have made me so cute
I think God is gentle and forgiving and not one
special form, you know? One day He's a dolphin, the
next day He's trading shares on Wall Street. It would
be funny if one day He got mixed up and went to Wall
Street as a dolphin.
PSYCHIATRIST: You surprise me, Alex, I didn't think you really would
believe, a bottom-line guy like yourself.
ALEX: Yeah, well, well, part of me is a little nervous about
it. I mean, I like to know what I know. See it. Be
able to prove it on a test. To know it, learn it, and
be done, and I just got a feeling I keep getting
tested on this one.
John 20:25-29 (New International Version)
25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
In summary, the collective message I've gathered from this media collection is that God is very real. He's warm and loving and although we can't physically see him, we can see his fingerprints on everything He's created. We also have to learn to "unplug" and trust that His ways are the best ways to live out our lives, one day at a time. We don't need to amass things, or come up with a "Plan B" in case He doesn't show up. All we really need is Jesus. And, when things take a turn for the worst, we need to remember that God is present and cling to Him.
Without the Lord, there is no hope at all. And that's a very dark and depressing existence.
Good Night
Although a bit radical, I wanted to share a few things with you:
When watching "Pee Wee's Big Adventure", you learn a few things: First, the movie was a whole lot funnier to my teenage self, as compared to my adult self (although I did enjoy some parts this last go 'round). Secondly, the acting was terrible and the plot was ridiculous, however prepubescent boys have a tendency to overlook such things in the theater. When the title character departed on a journey to find his stolen bicycle, he quickly became stripped of his meager resources and often found himself wandering into (or being delivered from) hopeless situations without adequate provision or any form of backup plan. Pee Wee simply operated in faith (work with me here) that his actions would eventually reunite him with his beloved bike. It's corny, but it was enlightening to watch with that perspective in mind.
Luke 9:1-6 (New International Version)
1 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. 5 If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.
"Expelled: No intelligence Allowed" was a sobering flick. I literally had no idea that professors, journalists and other professionals from all over this great country of ours have been effectively "blacklisted" from their lines of work and in academia, simply because they posed the question that perhaps life as we know it could have come from Intelligent Design, rather than non-directed Evolution. Although I hate to admit
that this problem exists, I'm not surprised at all. You should really watch this for yourself to fully understand what I'm talking about- Ben Stein is great.
1 Timothy 1:3-4 (New International Version)
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith.
2 Timothy 3:12-13 (New International Version)
12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
However, what gripped me the most was an old "Family Ties" rerun from 1987. The plot of this particular episode was based on the death of a young friend of Alex P. Keaton (Michael J. Fox). As the opening scene alludes to the events at the funeral service, Alex begins to grieve and quickly unravel. The remainder of the show was centered around Alex' interaction with vivid, often painful memories and an off-screen psychiatrist. I've taken the liberty of posting the portion of the script which touched my heart. If you'll remember, the character Alex is very much a left-brained analytic, whose core values are typically centered around self and money. Knowing this, the script carried some heft.
PSYCHIATRIST: Do you believe in God, Alex?
ALEX: That's what this all comes down to, right? Doesn't it?
That's what I'm trying to figure out here.
[Alex walks to OFFICE]
ALEX: Because if there is a God, somehow this all makes sense
I mean, there's gotta be a reason. Some master plan
in which Greg's dying and my living makes sense.
PSYCHIATRIST: What do you think?
ALEX: The analytical side of me says no. On a straight
cost-efficiency basis you can't prove it. There's no
annual report. There's no pictures of the board of
directors. I mean recent ones. And, ah, there are a
lot of things that just cannot be accounted for.
[KITCHEN lights up]
[Alex walks to KITCHEN]
ALEX: But then there are these miraculous things. Phenomena
of nature like, uh, like mountains and oceans and
Skippy getting dressed by himself.
[CLASS lights up]
[Alex walks to CLASS]
[Kitchen goes dark]
ALEX: And you gotta think that somebody's helping out with
that. ...The answer is yes...I do believe in God.
[JENNIFER'S ROOM lights up]
[Alex walks to JENNIFER'S ROOM]
[CLASS goes dark]
ALEX: But not a mean, not a mean, angry God, like the God
you see on TV, with the preachers, and, and, and always
asking to send them money.
[MALLORY'S ROOM lights up]
[Alex walks to MALLORY'S ROOM]
[JENNIFER'S ROOM goes dark]
ALEX: And, um, and not a groovy God, like Mallory's God.
Matching sweat-pants and headband.
[Alex walks to CENTER]
[MALLORY'S ROOM goes dark]
ALEX: And not a God like Brother Timothy's God either, 'cause
I just can't believe that God meant me to stay away
from girls. If He did He wouldn't have made me so cute
I think God is gentle and forgiving and not one
special form, you know? One day He's a dolphin, the
next day He's trading shares on Wall Street. It would
be funny if one day He got mixed up and went to Wall
Street as a dolphin.
PSYCHIATRIST: You surprise me, Alex, I didn't think you really would
believe, a bottom-line guy like yourself.
ALEX: Yeah, well, well, part of me is a little nervous about
it. I mean, I like to know what I know. See it. Be
able to prove it on a test. To know it, learn it, and
be done, and I just got a feeling I keep getting
tested on this one.
John 20:25-29 (New International Version)
25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
In summary, the collective message I've gathered from this media collection is that God is very real. He's warm and loving and although we can't physically see him, we can see his fingerprints on everything He's created. We also have to learn to "unplug" and trust that His ways are the best ways to live out our lives, one day at a time. We don't need to amass things, or come up with a "Plan B" in case He doesn't show up. All we really need is Jesus. And, when things take a turn for the worst, we need to remember that God is present and cling to Him.
Without the Lord, there is no hope at all. And that's a very dark and depressing existence.
Good Night
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Crazy Sick Day
Tonight's entry comes from my humble little iPhone. As I touch type these words, I'm not on vacation, or in some remote place. Rather, I'm sitting in a love seat on the downstairs level of our home, while the remainder of the family are upstairs.
My wife has been terribly sick all morning, I'm literally wiped out in terms of nerves and energy and my children are supposed to be settling down to sleep (however, one of my kids insists he's getting sick, too). I hate stomach bugs. There's almost nothing as gross or more inconvenient in terms of common illnesses.
Because of this fiery dart, we've missed the kickoff of a Gatekeepers class at church, and had to conduct a scheduled appointment over the telephone, which originally was to be accomplished in person. However, the Lord's grace afforded family and friends to step up and help shuttle our children home from school (and to the store for some supplies).
Please agree with me in prayer for healing of my family: "Dear Jesus, Help." "You know how sickness has taken a foothold in our household, and it isn't in alignment with your best. It isnt welcome in our home or bodies, so please heal the sick in our family, and preserve the health in those who are well. Amen"
Good Night (I hope)
My wife has been terribly sick all morning, I'm literally wiped out in terms of nerves and energy and my children are supposed to be settling down to sleep (however, one of my kids insists he's getting sick, too). I hate stomach bugs. There's almost nothing as gross or more inconvenient in terms of common illnesses.
Because of this fiery dart, we've missed the kickoff of a Gatekeepers class at church, and had to conduct a scheduled appointment over the telephone, which originally was to be accomplished in person. However, the Lord's grace afforded family and friends to step up and help shuttle our children home from school (and to the store for some supplies).
Please agree with me in prayer for healing of my family: "Dear Jesus, Help." "You know how sickness has taken a foothold in our household, and it isn't in alignment with your best. It isnt welcome in our home or bodies, so please heal the sick in our family, and preserve the health in those who are well. Amen"
Good Night (I hope)
Monday, January 17, 2011
Everything Old Is New Again
As I journey through the Bible in 2011, the stories literally come alive. I've been through the Scriptures before via podcast, but there's something different this time through. The characters seem to take on a life of their own; there's dimension, depth and relevance that I'd never noticed before.
Everything old is new again.
Each story is meaningful and exciting. Imagine your favorite television show; each week you anticipate what the new episode will hold. What will the characters say? What will they do? What will happen in such a way, as to test their mettle? Before you know it, the show is over; leaving you to reflect on the goodness you've just witnessed. Reading the Bible is similar to that experience, only much better. Each word of the Bible is absolutely true and applicable to our daily lives. There are countless adventures to be had, and lessons to learn. Let's fill up on this great stuff together.
Good Night
Everything old is new again.
Each story is meaningful and exciting. Imagine your favorite television show; each week you anticipate what the new episode will hold. What will the characters say? What will they do? What will happen in such a way, as to test their mettle? Before you know it, the show is over; leaving you to reflect on the goodness you've just witnessed. Reading the Bible is similar to that experience, only much better. Each word of the Bible is absolutely true and applicable to our daily lives. There are countless adventures to be had, and lessons to learn. Let's fill up on this great stuff together.
Good Night
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Date Night!
My wife and i just enjoyed a much needed date. We didn't go "all out", rather we simply enjoyed some Subway sandwiches and watched a Netflix DVD. When you've been married as long as we have (almost 16 years) it's important to have regular dates- even if it's just dinner and a movie at home. I'm so very thankful that God has given me the freedom and ability to enjoy such simple pleasures with the best lady on the planet!
Good Night
Good Night
Saturday, January 15, 2011
In Each Of Us, There Is A Hole...
I'm certain you've heard it said that "there's a God-shaped hole in each of us". While anatomically incorrect (and slightly cliche), there is some truth in the statement. While we are physically intact, we were created in the image of the Almighty, to walk in companionship with our Lord daily. As it says in Genesis 3:8, God was walking through the Garden of Eden, to be with Adam and Eve. Just as you may go for a walk with family or friends, the Lord quite literally "hung out" with His creations! When man fell into sin, this relationship changed, however our fundamental design never changed. At the deepest levels, we still yearn to be with God.
Often, the need for that specific relationship is substituted by acquiring money, success, houses, cars, food, animals, clothes and television sets. It varies in item, scope and intensity, however some people experience such anguish (and are gripped by disorder), as to take collecting things to the extreme. However, no amount of possessions will ever satisfy our souls.
Fortunately, we can become reunited with God through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Through the salvation purchased on the cross, we're once again permitted to "walk and talk with God".
If you don't yet know Jesus, you can begin your journey by praying this simple prayer: "Dear Jesus, I don't know you, but I know you know me inside and out. I choose to believe that you are the Son of God and that your work on the Cross was for me. Please come into my heart and become my Lord and Savior. Please help me grow in relationship with you. Amen"
Good Night
Often, the need for that specific relationship is substituted by acquiring money, success, houses, cars, food, animals, clothes and television sets. It varies in item, scope and intensity, however some people experience such anguish (and are gripped by disorder), as to take collecting things to the extreme. However, no amount of possessions will ever satisfy our souls.
Fortunately, we can become reunited with God through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Through the salvation purchased on the cross, we're once again permitted to "walk and talk with God".
If you don't yet know Jesus, you can begin your journey by praying this simple prayer: "Dear Jesus, I don't know you, but I know you know me inside and out. I choose to believe that you are the Son of God and that your work on the Cross was for me. Please come into my heart and become my Lord and Savior. Please help me grow in relationship with you. Amen"
Good Night
Friday, January 14, 2011
I Know What I Don't Like
After work this evening, nearly all of the Operations Team decided to meet for dinner and drinks (for those whom wanted) at a local bar and grill, in order to blow off some steam and ring in the upcoming three day weekend (Thank you, Dr. King!). While sipping my RC cola at the bar, I began to look around and observe the attitudes and actions of the patrons.
While it was great to hang out and enjoy dinner and conversation with my colleagues, the experience reaffirmed that the whole "bar scene" is definitely not for me. I missed my wife and children while I was away, and was grateful when I was able to walk through the front door and see them.
I know what I like, and what I don't like. Thank you, Lord for the ability to compare and contrast.
Good Night
While it was great to hang out and enjoy dinner and conversation with my colleagues, the experience reaffirmed that the whole "bar scene" is definitely not for me. I missed my wife and children while I was away, and was grateful when I was able to walk through the front door and see them.
I know what I like, and what I don't like. Thank you, Lord for the ability to compare and contrast.
Good Night
Thursday, January 13, 2011
It's Thursday Night, but Friday's coming!
This week has been agonizingly long. Extra hours at work gave rise to sheer exhaustion and I'm in dire need of a weekend. Surely, there are chores to be done around the house, as well as some errands to run. However, I'm looking forward to at least a little down time. There's just one more day to go.
Let's give it our best tomorrow and persevere through the challenges and obstacles that life will try to throw our way. Let's finish the work week in strength. God bless you.
Good Night
Let's give it our best tomorrow and persevere through the challenges and obstacles that life will try to throw our way. Let's finish the work week in strength. God bless you.
Good Night
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Blessings Are Important
What does a blessing mean to you? If you're like most people, it's a kind gesture or deed, or perhaps a prayer over a meal. Most believe a blessing is positive, but a true 'blessing' doesn't seem to carry the weight that it once did.
In Genesis Chapter 27, Isaac is nearing the end of his life and his two sons, Esau and Jacob are about to fulfill the Lord's prophecy from Genesis 25:13 and set history in motion through the act of a blessing.
Genesis 25:23 (New International Version)
23 The LORD said to her,
“Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples from within you will be separated;
one people will be stronger than the other,
and the older will serve the younger.”
If you recall from Genesis 25:31, Esau sold his birthright to his younger brother for a serving of stew. It would appear that the younger brother (Jacob) shrewdly took advantage of his older brother's (Esau) situation. And now in Chapter 27, he's at it again. Only this time, he had the help of his mother.
Genesis 27:1-45 (New International Version)
1 When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see, he called for Esau his older son and said to him, “My son.”
“Here I am,” he answered.
2 Isaac said, “I am now an old man and don’t know the day of my death. 3 Now then, get your equipment—your quiver and bow—and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for me. 4 Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my blessing before I die.”
5 Now Rebekah was listening as Isaac spoke to his son Esau. When Esau left for the open country to hunt game and bring it back, 6 Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “Look, I overheard your father say to your brother Esau, 7 ‘Bring me some game and prepare me some tasty food to eat, so that I may give you my blessing in the presence of the LORD before I die.’ 8 Now, my son, listen carefully and do what I tell you: 9 Go out to the flock and bring me two choice young goats, so I can prepare some tasty food for your father, just the way he likes it. 10 Then take it to your father to eat, so that he may give you his blessing before he dies.”
11 Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “But my brother Esau is a hairy man while I have smooth skin. 12 What if my father touches me? I would appear to be tricking him and would bring down a curse on myself rather than a blessing.”
13 His mother said to him, “My son, let the curse fall on me. Just do what I say; go and get them for me.”
14 So he went and got them and brought them to his mother, and she prepared some tasty food, just the way his father liked it. 15 Then Rebekah took the best clothes of Esau her older son, which she had in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob. 16 She also covered his hands and the smooth part of his neck with the goatskins. 17 Then she handed to her son Jacob the tasty food and the bread she had made.
18 He went to his father and said, “My father.”
“Yes, my son,” he answered. “Who is it?”
19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your blessing.”
20 Isaac asked his son, “How did you find it so quickly, my son?”
“The LORD your God gave me success,” he replied.
21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Come near so I can touch you, my son, to know whether you really are my son Esau or not.”
22 Jacob went close to his father Isaac, who touched him and said, “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” 23 He did not recognize him, for his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau; so he proceeded to bless him. 24 “Are you really my son Esau?” he asked.
“I am,” he replied.
25 Then he said, “My son, bring me some of your game to eat, so that I may give you my blessing.”
Jacob brought it to him and he ate; and he brought some wine and he drank. 26 Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come here, my son, and kiss me.”
27 So he went to him and kissed him. When Isaac caught the smell of his clothes, he blessed him and said,
“Ah, the smell of my son
is like the smell of a field
that the LORD has blessed.
28 May God give you heaven’s dew
and earth’s richness—
an abundance of grain and new wine.
29 May nations serve you
and peoples bow down to you.
Be lord over your brothers,
and may the sons of your mother bow down to you.
May those who curse you be cursed
and those who bless you be blessed.”
30 After Isaac finished blessing him, and Jacob had scarcely left his father’s presence, his brother Esau came in from hunting. 31 He too prepared some tasty food and brought it to his father. Then he said to him, “My father, please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your blessing.”
32 His father Isaac asked him, “Who are you?”
“I am your son,” he answered, “your firstborn, Esau.”
33 Isaac trembled violently and said, “Who was it, then, that hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it just before you came and I blessed him—and indeed he will be blessed!”
34 When Esau heard his father’s words, he burst out with a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me—me too, my father!”
35 But he said, “Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing.”
36 Esau said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob[a]? This is the second time he has taken advantage of me: He took my birthright, and now he’s taken my blessing!” Then he asked, “Haven’t you reserved any blessing for me?”
37 Isaac answered Esau, “I have made him lord over you and have made all his relatives his servants, and I have sustained him with grain and new wine. So what can I possibly do for you, my son?”
38 Esau said to his father, “Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!” Then Esau wept aloud.
39 His father Isaac answered him,
“Your dwelling will be
away from the earth’s richness,
away from the dew of heaven above.
40 You will live by the sword
and you will serve your brother.
But when you grow restless,
you will throw his yoke
from off your neck.”
41 Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
42 When Rebekah was told what her older son Esau had said, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him, “Your brother Esau is planning to avenge himself by killing you. 43 Now then, my son, do what I say: Flee at once to my brother Laban in Harran. 44 Stay with him for a while until your brother’s fury subsides. 45 When your brother is no longer angry with you and forgets what you did to him, I’ll send word for you to come back from there. Why should I lose both of you in one day?”
Did you catch verses 27-29? Isaac used his words to bless and effectively elevate his youngest son over his older brother- it was a pretty big deal. Although Jacob was an impostor, Isaac's blessing carried so much weight and influence that it actually sculpted much of Jacob's adult life! So much positive energy and authority was poured upon Jacob, that Isaac literally had nothing left for his other son!
How are we blessing our children today? What kind words of influence are we speaking into their lives, which will help define who they are?
Good Night
In Genesis Chapter 27, Isaac is nearing the end of his life and his two sons, Esau and Jacob are about to fulfill the Lord's prophecy from Genesis 25:13 and set history in motion through the act of a blessing.
Genesis 25:23 (New International Version)
23 The LORD said to her,
“Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples from within you will be separated;
one people will be stronger than the other,
and the older will serve the younger.”
If you recall from Genesis 25:31, Esau sold his birthright to his younger brother for a serving of stew. It would appear that the younger brother (Jacob) shrewdly took advantage of his older brother's (Esau) situation. And now in Chapter 27, he's at it again. Only this time, he had the help of his mother.
Genesis 27:1-45 (New International Version)
1 When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see, he called for Esau his older son and said to him, “My son.”
“Here I am,” he answered.
2 Isaac said, “I am now an old man and don’t know the day of my death. 3 Now then, get your equipment—your quiver and bow—and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for me. 4 Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my blessing before I die.”
5 Now Rebekah was listening as Isaac spoke to his son Esau. When Esau left for the open country to hunt game and bring it back, 6 Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “Look, I overheard your father say to your brother Esau, 7 ‘Bring me some game and prepare me some tasty food to eat, so that I may give you my blessing in the presence of the LORD before I die.’ 8 Now, my son, listen carefully and do what I tell you: 9 Go out to the flock and bring me two choice young goats, so I can prepare some tasty food for your father, just the way he likes it. 10 Then take it to your father to eat, so that he may give you his blessing before he dies.”
11 Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “But my brother Esau is a hairy man while I have smooth skin. 12 What if my father touches me? I would appear to be tricking him and would bring down a curse on myself rather than a blessing.”
13 His mother said to him, “My son, let the curse fall on me. Just do what I say; go and get them for me.”
14 So he went and got them and brought them to his mother, and she prepared some tasty food, just the way his father liked it. 15 Then Rebekah took the best clothes of Esau her older son, which she had in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob. 16 She also covered his hands and the smooth part of his neck with the goatskins. 17 Then she handed to her son Jacob the tasty food and the bread she had made.
18 He went to his father and said, “My father.”
“Yes, my son,” he answered. “Who is it?”
19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your blessing.”
20 Isaac asked his son, “How did you find it so quickly, my son?”
“The LORD your God gave me success,” he replied.
21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Come near so I can touch you, my son, to know whether you really are my son Esau or not.”
22 Jacob went close to his father Isaac, who touched him and said, “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” 23 He did not recognize him, for his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau; so he proceeded to bless him. 24 “Are you really my son Esau?” he asked.
“I am,” he replied.
25 Then he said, “My son, bring me some of your game to eat, so that I may give you my blessing.”
Jacob brought it to him and he ate; and he brought some wine and he drank. 26 Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come here, my son, and kiss me.”
27 So he went to him and kissed him. When Isaac caught the smell of his clothes, he blessed him and said,
“Ah, the smell of my son
is like the smell of a field
that the LORD has blessed.
28 May God give you heaven’s dew
and earth’s richness—
an abundance of grain and new wine.
29 May nations serve you
and peoples bow down to you.
Be lord over your brothers,
and may the sons of your mother bow down to you.
May those who curse you be cursed
and those who bless you be blessed.”
30 After Isaac finished blessing him, and Jacob had scarcely left his father’s presence, his brother Esau came in from hunting. 31 He too prepared some tasty food and brought it to his father. Then he said to him, “My father, please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your blessing.”
32 His father Isaac asked him, “Who are you?”
“I am your son,” he answered, “your firstborn, Esau.”
33 Isaac trembled violently and said, “Who was it, then, that hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it just before you came and I blessed him—and indeed he will be blessed!”
34 When Esau heard his father’s words, he burst out with a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me—me too, my father!”
35 But he said, “Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing.”
36 Esau said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob[a]? This is the second time he has taken advantage of me: He took my birthright, and now he’s taken my blessing!” Then he asked, “Haven’t you reserved any blessing for me?”
37 Isaac answered Esau, “I have made him lord over you and have made all his relatives his servants, and I have sustained him with grain and new wine. So what can I possibly do for you, my son?”
38 Esau said to his father, “Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!” Then Esau wept aloud.
39 His father Isaac answered him,
“Your dwelling will be
away from the earth’s richness,
away from the dew of heaven above.
40 You will live by the sword
and you will serve your brother.
But when you grow restless,
you will throw his yoke
from off your neck.”
41 Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
42 When Rebekah was told what her older son Esau had said, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him, “Your brother Esau is planning to avenge himself by killing you. 43 Now then, my son, do what I say: Flee at once to my brother Laban in Harran. 44 Stay with him for a while until your brother’s fury subsides. 45 When your brother is no longer angry with you and forgets what you did to him, I’ll send word for you to come back from there. Why should I lose both of you in one day?”
Did you catch verses 27-29? Isaac used his words to bless and effectively elevate his youngest son over his older brother- it was a pretty big deal. Although Jacob was an impostor, Isaac's blessing carried so much weight and influence that it actually sculpted much of Jacob's adult life! So much positive energy and authority was poured upon Jacob, that Isaac literally had nothing left for his other son!
How are we blessing our children today? What kind words of influence are we speaking into their lives, which will help define who they are?
Good Night
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Do You Know How Difficult This Is?
The commitment to writing something meaningful each evening is sometimes difficult! Although I was able to chew on some Scripture today, I'm literally sitting here with a vacuous gaze. What does the Holy Spirit want me to say tonight?
Let's pause for a moment and listen, shall we?
Personally, I believe the Lord is telling me to "try harder tomorrow". Other than this simple phrase, I'm not hearing or feeling an awful lot right now. Perhaps that's all I'm meant to meditate on this evening- the thought of doing better tomorrow.
Thankfully, this means a couple of things:
1. I will be allowed to live another day.
2. The situations in which I've come up short may well afford a "do over" tomorrow.
3. I'm not defined by the failures of the past (even the extremely recent past).
4. God sees the end-product of the work He's started within me.
Lamentations 3:22-24 (New International Version)
22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”
Now, let's get some sleep. I can't wait to experience tomorrow morning!
Good Night
Let's pause for a moment and listen, shall we?
Personally, I believe the Lord is telling me to "try harder tomorrow". Other than this simple phrase, I'm not hearing or feeling an awful lot right now. Perhaps that's all I'm meant to meditate on this evening- the thought of doing better tomorrow.
Thankfully, this means a couple of things:
1. I will be allowed to live another day.
2. The situations in which I've come up short may well afford a "do over" tomorrow.
3. I'm not defined by the failures of the past (even the extremely recent past).
4. God sees the end-product of the work He's started within me.
Lamentations 3:22-24 (New International Version)
22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”
Now, let's get some sleep. I can't wait to experience tomorrow morning!
Good Night
Monday, January 10, 2011
Interesting Parallel
In Genesis Chapter 22, we are greeted with the familiar story of Abraham and Isaac; where Abrahan and his son set out to Mount Moriah in order to offer a sacrifice to the Lord. Unbeknownst to his son, Abraham was wrestling with the sacrificial offering that God had requested- it wasn't a lamb, per se. Read on, for an interesting parallel.
Genesis 22:1-19 (New International Version)
1 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”
3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”
“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.
9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”
15 The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”
19 Then Abraham returned to his servants, and they set off together for Beersheba. And Abraham stayed in Beersheba.
Now, Let's fast forward to John 3:16, where God the Father gave His only son as a sacrifice for us. Just as Abraham bore the anguish of having to lose his own son, God the Father must have felt the same way, as Jesus was offered on the cross.
John 3:16 (New International Version)
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
I'm very thankful that Jesus died for my sins, in order to offer eternal life. Although I cannot fathom being called to sacrifice my own children for anything, I'm appreciative of the Father's permission to allow the sacrifice of Jesus to take place.
Good Night
Genesis 22:1-19 (New International Version)
1 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”
3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”
“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.
9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”
15 The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”
19 Then Abraham returned to his servants, and they set off together for Beersheba. And Abraham stayed in Beersheba.
Now, Let's fast forward to John 3:16, where God the Father gave His only son as a sacrifice for us. Just as Abraham bore the anguish of having to lose his own son, God the Father must have felt the same way, as Jesus was offered on the cross.
John 3:16 (New International Version)
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
I'm very thankful that Jesus died for my sins, in order to offer eternal life. Although I cannot fathom being called to sacrifice my own children for anything, I'm appreciative of the Father's permission to allow the sacrifice of Jesus to take place.
Good Night
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Extra Sleepy Weekend
I'm not quite ready for the weekend to be over. It was pretty uneventful, and I really didn't accomplish a whole lot, but somehow the time just slipped away. I'm lacking energy and feel unprepared for the week ahead. Tomorrow kicks off more long days at work and this week is certain to exact enormous amounts of energy and effort. I'm simply not ready for Monday morning.
One thing I've been lax on this weekend, is my one on one time with the Lord. I'm a couple of days behind in my Daily Audio Bible podcasts, having not listened since Friday. I have high hopes to catch up in the days ahead and ultimately, spend the weekend days in the Bible as well. I crave the Word.
It's off to bed, as 5:00 AM arrives early! God bless you.
Good Night
One thing I've been lax on this weekend, is my one on one time with the Lord. I'm a couple of days behind in my Daily Audio Bible podcasts, having not listened since Friday. I have high hopes to catch up in the days ahead and ultimately, spend the weekend days in the Bible as well. I crave the Word.
It's off to bed, as 5:00 AM arrives early! God bless you.
Good Night
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Eight Pound Sledge
Tonight's worship music and sermon were tailor-made for me. God has a way of knowing what we need to hear, when we need to hear it. I can't remember the last time I cried during service. The song selection spoke to my heart in a way that addressed some deep seated feelings of fear that I've been carrying around for a very long time.
However, it was these particular lyrics which penetrated my heart:
"And I will fear no evil, for my God is with me. And if my God is with me, whom then shall I fear? Whom then shall I fear?"
Really. Who, or what should we be afraid of, if the Lord is with us, protecting and guiding our steps? We've sung this song before, but tonight, the words took on life and ministered to my spirit.
After worship, the team displayed a short video titled "Regret". My goodness, it felt as though it was my life on display for all to see. I live with so many regrets, and this film seemed to shine a spotlight on all of the personal failures and sorrows of my soul. It hit me like an eight pound sledge hammer.
As if that weren't enough, our pastor delivered one of the best sermons of his career (in my humble opinion). He spoke of Jesus' feeding of the 5,000 in John chapter 6. In that portion of scripture, Jesus and Philip are having a conversation about where to procure food for the gathering crowd. Catch the worldly answer Philip delivers to Jesus' inquiry about where to buy food in verse 7. Jesus wanted Philip to look to Him for a solution to an impossible problem; feeding hordes of men, women and children with meager resources. Jesus delivered with miraculous provision, and the crowd was satisfied (and then some!).
John 6:1-13 (The Message)
1-4After this, Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee (some call it Tiberias). A huge crowd followed him, attracted by the miracles they had seen him do among the sick. When he got to the other side, he climbed a hill and sat down, surrounded by his disciples. It was nearly time for the Feast of Passover, kept annually by the Jews.
5-6When Jesus looked out and saw that a large crowd had arrived, he said to Philip, "Where can we buy bread to feed these people?" He said this to stretch Philip's faith. He already knew what he was going to do.
7Philip answered, "Two hundred silver pieces wouldn't be enough to buy bread for each person to get a piece."
8-9One of the disciples—it was Andrew, brother to Simon Peter—said, "There's a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that's a drop in the bucket for a crowd like this."
10-11Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." There was a nice carpet of green grass in this place. They sat down, about five thousand of them. Then Jesus took the bread and, having given thanks, gave it to those who were seated. He did the same with the fish. All ate as much as they wanted.
12-13When the people had eaten their fill, he said to his disciples, "Gather the leftovers so nothing is wasted." They went to work and filled twelve large baskets with leftovers from the five barley loaves.
You have to wonder, were the crowds satisfied with the Lord, or with what he did? If I'm honest, it would seem that I've been far more interested in what God can do for me and my family, rather than seeking a meaningful relationship with Him personally. If all I'm seeking are His blessings, how can I even dare to say that I love Him?
We need Jesus because He's Jesus. We don't need "Jesus plus" anything else. Let's turn this around for a second. Does Jesus love us because of what we can do or give to Him? Obviously, the answer is "no". God loves us just as we are; rich or poor, happy or broken. He loves us solely for who we are; It's genuine and personal. It's an example that we should strive to mirror.
I could go on about the other attributes of the sermon, but I won't. I'll just leave you with the insight that it's all going to work out. God has our best interests in mind. He'll love and protect us and help us along the path of this life. We need Jesus.
Good Night
However, it was these particular lyrics which penetrated my heart:
"And I will fear no evil, for my God is with me. And if my God is with me, whom then shall I fear? Whom then shall I fear?"
Really. Who, or what should we be afraid of, if the Lord is with us, protecting and guiding our steps? We've sung this song before, but tonight, the words took on life and ministered to my spirit.
After worship, the team displayed a short video titled "Regret". My goodness, it felt as though it was my life on display for all to see. I live with so many regrets, and this film seemed to shine a spotlight on all of the personal failures and sorrows of my soul. It hit me like an eight pound sledge hammer.
As if that weren't enough, our pastor delivered one of the best sermons of his career (in my humble opinion). He spoke of Jesus' feeding of the 5,000 in John chapter 6. In that portion of scripture, Jesus and Philip are having a conversation about where to procure food for the gathering crowd. Catch the worldly answer Philip delivers to Jesus' inquiry about where to buy food in verse 7. Jesus wanted Philip to look to Him for a solution to an impossible problem; feeding hordes of men, women and children with meager resources. Jesus delivered with miraculous provision, and the crowd was satisfied (and then some!).
John 6:1-13 (The Message)
1-4After this, Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee (some call it Tiberias). A huge crowd followed him, attracted by the miracles they had seen him do among the sick. When he got to the other side, he climbed a hill and sat down, surrounded by his disciples. It was nearly time for the Feast of Passover, kept annually by the Jews.
5-6When Jesus looked out and saw that a large crowd had arrived, he said to Philip, "Where can we buy bread to feed these people?" He said this to stretch Philip's faith. He already knew what he was going to do.
7Philip answered, "Two hundred silver pieces wouldn't be enough to buy bread for each person to get a piece."
8-9One of the disciples—it was Andrew, brother to Simon Peter—said, "There's a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that's a drop in the bucket for a crowd like this."
10-11Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." There was a nice carpet of green grass in this place. They sat down, about five thousand of them. Then Jesus took the bread and, having given thanks, gave it to those who were seated. He did the same with the fish. All ate as much as they wanted.
12-13When the people had eaten their fill, he said to his disciples, "Gather the leftovers so nothing is wasted." They went to work and filled twelve large baskets with leftovers from the five barley loaves.
You have to wonder, were the crowds satisfied with the Lord, or with what he did? If I'm honest, it would seem that I've been far more interested in what God can do for me and my family, rather than seeking a meaningful relationship with Him personally. If all I'm seeking are His blessings, how can I even dare to say that I love Him?
We need Jesus because He's Jesus. We don't need "Jesus plus" anything else. Let's turn this around for a second. Does Jesus love us because of what we can do or give to Him? Obviously, the answer is "no". God loves us just as we are; rich or poor, happy or broken. He loves us solely for who we are; It's genuine and personal. It's an example that we should strive to mirror.
I could go on about the other attributes of the sermon, but I won't. I'll just leave you with the insight that it's all going to work out. God has our best interests in mind. He'll love and protect us and help us along the path of this life. We need Jesus.
Good Night
Friday, January 7, 2011
Long Friday
It was after 10:30 PM when I arrived at home, after working since 7:30 AM. It's been a very long day of tasks and maintenance items. Thank God it's finally over! I'm looking forward to some rest and relaxation with my family this weekend. All too soon, it will be back to the daily grind.
I hope that your Friday night is going well; that you're blessed in whatever you're doing.
Good Night
Thursday, January 6, 2011
I Love Psalms
As I listened to the reading of the Bible this morning, I felt myself speaking along with the writer of the Psalms.
Psalm 6:1-10
1 O Lord, don’t rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your rage.
2 Have compassion on me, Lord, for I am weak.
Heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.
3 I am sick at heart.
How long, O Lord, until you restore me?
4 Return, O Lord, and rescue me.
Save me because of your unfailing love.
5 For the dead do not remember you.
Who can praise you from the grave?
6 I am worn out from sobbing.
All night I flood my bed with weeping,
drenching it with my tears.
7 My vision is blurred by grief;
my eyes are worn out because of all my enemies.
8 Go away, all you who do evil,
for the Lord has heard my weeping.
9 The Lord has heard my plea;
the Lord will answer my prayer.
10 May all my enemies be disgraced and terrified.
May they suddenly turn back in shame.
For months, I've been fighting hopelessness, worthlessness and feelings that I'm simply wasting my life. I don't regret being a husband or father, but I could certainly do a better job in each role. It's the career and where I've chosen to spend my waking hours that I'm most uncertain of. It pays the bills. For that blessing, I'm thankful. However, with each passing day, it gets more and more difficult to keep going. I keep feeling as though I'm missing the purpose of my existence. I hope the Lord continues to work on this issue, because all I want is to be doing what I'm meant to do- and live under His will.
Good Night
Psalm 6:1-10
1 O Lord, don’t rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your rage.
2 Have compassion on me, Lord, for I am weak.
Heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.
3 I am sick at heart.
How long, O Lord, until you restore me?
4 Return, O Lord, and rescue me.
Save me because of your unfailing love.
5 For the dead do not remember you.
Who can praise you from the grave?
6 I am worn out from sobbing.
All night I flood my bed with weeping,
drenching it with my tears.
7 My vision is blurred by grief;
my eyes are worn out because of all my enemies.
8 Go away, all you who do evil,
for the Lord has heard my weeping.
9 The Lord has heard my plea;
the Lord will answer my prayer.
10 May all my enemies be disgraced and terrified.
May they suddenly turn back in shame.
For months, I've been fighting hopelessness, worthlessness and feelings that I'm simply wasting my life. I don't regret being a husband or father, but I could certainly do a better job in each role. It's the career and where I've chosen to spend my waking hours that I'm most uncertain of. It pays the bills. For that blessing, I'm thankful. However, with each passing day, it gets more and more difficult to keep going. I keep feeling as though I'm missing the purpose of my existence. I hope the Lord continues to work on this issue, because all I want is to be doing what I'm meant to do- and live under His will.
Good Night
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
I Don't Want To
I'm exhausted tonight. Work hours are ramping up, late evening and weekend work is on the horizon and I'm trying to step up and help my kids with their homework once I make it home in the evenings. (Among fixing meals, packing lunches, etc.) It's after 10:00 PM and I'm just now sitting down at the keyboard for "free time".
After a quick journal entry, I plan on going to bed. Lord give me the strength to get through the next few days, weeks and months.
Philippians 4:13 (New Living Translation)
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Let's hope you're having a great evening, whatever you're doing.
Good Night
After a quick journal entry, I plan on going to bed. Lord give me the strength to get through the next few days, weeks and months.
Philippians 4:13 (New Living Translation)
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Let's hope you're having a great evening, whatever you're doing.
Good Night
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
A Recurring Theme
I got to snack on the last little bit of The Daily Audio Bible podcast tonight. Obviously every shred of the Word is valuable, but sometimes, certain chapters or verses pronounce themselves.
A couple of things came to my mind, but let me share some of the Psalms with you:
Psalm 4:4-8 (The Message)
4-5 Complain if you must, but don't lash out.
Keep your mouth shut, and let your heart do the talking.
Build your case before God and wait for his verdict.
6-7 Why is everyone hungry for more? "More, more," they say.
"More, more."
I have God's more-than-enough,
More joy in one ordinary day
7-8 Than they get in all their shopping sprees.
At day's end I'm ready for sound sleep,
For you, God, have put my life back together.
As I brought up last night, it's less about material things and greed. It's all about our relationships with Jesus, and our fellow man.
Another thing that struck me, was the commanding presence and charisma that Christ must have possessed. In Matthew chapter 4, we see Jesus approaching what would soon be four of his disciples. He simply called for them to follow Him, and they dropped everything to follow Jesus! What would that look like today?
Matthew 4:18-22 (The Message)
18-20Walking along the beach of Lake Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers: Simon (later called Peter) and Andrew. They were fishing, throwing their nets into the lake. It was their regular work. Jesus said to them, "Come with me. I'll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I'll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass." They didn't ask questions, but simply dropped their nets and followed.
21-22A short distance down the beach they came upon another pair of brothers, James and John, Zebedee's sons. These two were sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, mending their fishnets. Jesus made the same offer to them, and they were just as quick to follow, abandoning boat and father.
Good Night
A couple of things came to my mind, but let me share some of the Psalms with you:
Psalm 4:4-8 (The Message)
4-5 Complain if you must, but don't lash out.
Keep your mouth shut, and let your heart do the talking.
Build your case before God and wait for his verdict.
6-7 Why is everyone hungry for more? "More, more," they say.
"More, more."
I have God's more-than-enough,
More joy in one ordinary day
7-8 Than they get in all their shopping sprees.
At day's end I'm ready for sound sleep,
For you, God, have put my life back together.
As I brought up last night, it's less about material things and greed. It's all about our relationships with Jesus, and our fellow man.
Another thing that struck me, was the commanding presence and charisma that Christ must have possessed. In Matthew chapter 4, we see Jesus approaching what would soon be four of his disciples. He simply called for them to follow Him, and they dropped everything to follow Jesus! What would that look like today?
Matthew 4:18-22 (The Message)
18-20Walking along the beach of Lake Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers: Simon (later called Peter) and Andrew. They were fishing, throwing their nets into the lake. It was their regular work. Jesus said to them, "Come with me. I'll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I'll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass." They didn't ask questions, but simply dropped their nets and followed.
21-22A short distance down the beach they came upon another pair of brothers, James and John, Zebedee's sons. These two were sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, mending their fishnets. Jesus made the same offer to them, and they were just as quick to follow, abandoning boat and father.
Good Night
Monday, January 3, 2011
This Got To Me Tonight
Proverbs 1:10-19 (Amplified Bible)
10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
11 If they say, Come with us; let us lie in wait [to shed] blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause [and show that his piety is in vain];
12 Let us swallow them up alive as does Sheol (the place of the dead), and whole, as those who go down into the pit [of the dead];
13 We shall find and take all kinds of precious goods [when our victims are put out of the way], we shall fill our houses with plunder;
14 Throw in your lot with us [they insist] and be a sworn brother and comrade; let us all have one purse in common--
15 My son, do not walk in the way with them; restrain your foot from their path;
16 For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.
17 For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird!
18 But [when these men set a trap for others] they are lying in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives.
19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy of gain; such [greed for plunder] takes away the lives of its possessors.
As Christians, we all know we're supposed to reject and shy away from people whom insist on dishonest gain. In the most dramatic form, we imagine mobsters, or other criminals robbing others to get rich. It seems so far off, or extreme. Then again, a quick flip through the news on any given day can reveal a CEO exiting with a golden parachute, as the company they've shepherded goes down in flames.
This hit me pretty hard tonight because of verse 19. Think about it- What is the American Dream? In our country, it's considered "normal" to accumulate education, wealth, possessions and status above all else- at the cost of everything else. We're encouraged to seek these things out from a very early age.
That's horribly mixed up.
Good Night
10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
11 If they say, Come with us; let us lie in wait [to shed] blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause [and show that his piety is in vain];
12 Let us swallow them up alive as does Sheol (the place of the dead), and whole, as those who go down into the pit [of the dead];
13 We shall find and take all kinds of precious goods [when our victims are put out of the way], we shall fill our houses with plunder;
14 Throw in your lot with us [they insist] and be a sworn brother and comrade; let us all have one purse in common--
15 My son, do not walk in the way with them; restrain your foot from their path;
16 For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.
17 For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird!
18 But [when these men set a trap for others] they are lying in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives.
19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy of gain; such [greed for plunder] takes away the lives of its possessors.
As Christians, we all know we're supposed to reject and shy away from people whom insist on dishonest gain. In the most dramatic form, we imagine mobsters, or other criminals robbing others to get rich. It seems so far off, or extreme. Then again, a quick flip through the news on any given day can reveal a CEO exiting with a golden parachute, as the company they've shepherded goes down in flames.
This hit me pretty hard tonight because of verse 19. Think about it- What is the American Dream? In our country, it's considered "normal" to accumulate education, wealth, possessions and status above all else- at the cost of everything else. We're encouraged to seek these things out from a very early age.
That's horribly mixed up.
Good Night
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Fun Time Is Over
Tomorrow, it's back to work and back to school. It's happy and sad at the same time, but it's a reality. The Holiday Season is finally through. Keep your chin up and focus on one day at a time (it's what I'm planning on doing).
Earl Nightingale once said "A lifetime is composed of days, strung together into weeks, months, and years. A successful life is nothing more than a lot of successful days put together. As such, every day counts.
Just as a stone mason can put only one stone in place at a time, you can live only one day at a time. And it's the way in which these stones are placed that will determine the beauty, the strength of the tower. If each stone is successfully placed — with care and quality — the tower will be a success. If, on the other hand, they're put down in a hit-or-miss fashion — irrespective of quality — the whole tower is in danger. Seems simple. Yet, how many people do you know who live like this — focused on "just getting through" each day instead of on the "success" of each day."
It doesn't sound like magic, does it? It's a matter of finding your focus, doing your best and living one day at a time- today. I plan to keep my sights on the Lord, and do my very best each day.
Matthew 6:33-34 (New International Version)
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Good Night
Earl Nightingale once said "A lifetime is composed of days, strung together into weeks, months, and years. A successful life is nothing more than a lot of successful days put together. As such, every day counts.
Just as a stone mason can put only one stone in place at a time, you can live only one day at a time. And it's the way in which these stones are placed that will determine the beauty, the strength of the tower. If each stone is successfully placed — with care and quality — the tower will be a success. If, on the other hand, they're put down in a hit-or-miss fashion — irrespective of quality — the whole tower is in danger. Seems simple. Yet, how many people do you know who live like this — focused on "just getting through" each day instead of on the "success" of each day."
It doesn't sound like magic, does it? It's a matter of finding your focus, doing your best and living one day at a time- today. I plan to keep my sights on the Lord, and do my very best each day.
Matthew 6:33-34 (New International Version)
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Good Night
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Happy New Year! (2011)
Welcome to the beginning of another year! For those of you whom followed me through 2010, it's great to be with you again. For anyone who's new to my blog, welcome aboard! I don't have some radical mission statement, or cliche to kick off with. What I can promise, is to be completely honest with what's going on in my life, one day at a time.
Let's start with today.
After downloading the latest podcast from the Daily Audio Bible at around midnight, I set off to sleep. After waking up and sipping a cup of coffee, the morning and early afternoon were lazily spent with my wife. We accomplished nothing, but the kids were content playing video games, reading to us, or watching Netflix. My wife and I also needed the down-time together.
Church was pretty amazing. Instead of the prepared message this evening, Pastor John shot from the hip (and threw together artwork for the multimedia slides) at the last minute. The thrust of his message? 2 questions:
1. How are things between you and Jesus?
2. How are things between you and other people? (family, friends, coworkers, etc.)
What happened next was "all Holy Spirit". During the worship set after the message, our worship pastor Cory appeared to be breaking down. Although I can't be certain, it appeared as though the words he was singing were actually coming from his heart. About one-third of the way through the song "Mighty to Save", he simply stopped singing. The backing vocals were still present, and the instrumental swells were powerful, but the silence- that was pretty humbling to witness.
I've seen the man occasionally miss a word here or there, or get caught up in the lyrics on a slide, but he's an absolute professional. I've never seen him stop. After a few slides, there was a designed break from the vocals, as the musicians and congregation marinated in the music. It was during this time that an impromptu solo from one of the female backup singers began. It was unplanned, unscripted and beautiful. Low light, no words on a screen, just pure and intimate sincerity. I was moved.
After a great date night with my wife (with four children, even a DVD at home qualifies as a "date"), I honored my commitment to step through the Bible again in 2011. I began with Genesis 1:1, but also kicked off Matthew, Psalms and Proverbs. If you haven't committed to making the journey through the Bible, it's never too late to begin. You can begin with today- you don't have to worry about making up, or catching up. Just dive into the Bible in printed form, read it online, or listen to it each day, like I do.
Something caught my attention tonight in Matthew. It was in chapter 1, verses 1 through 17.
Matthew 1
The Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah
1 This is the genealogy[a] of Jesus the Messiah[b] the son of David, the son of Abraham:
2 Abraham was the father of Isaac,
Isaac the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,
Perez the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,
4 Ram the father of Amminadab,
Amminadab the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,
5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,
Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,
Obed the father of Jesse,
6 and Jesse the father of King David.
David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,
7 Solomon the father of Rehoboam,
Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
Abijah the father of Asa,
8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram,
Jehoram the father of Uzziah,
9 Uzziah the father of Jotham,
Jotham the father of Ahaz,
Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,
10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh,
Manasseh the father of Amon,
Amon the father of Josiah,
11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah[c] and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.
12 After the exile to Babylon:
Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel,
Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
13 Zerubbabel the father of Abihud,
Abihud the father of Eliakim,
Eliakim the father of Azor,
14 Azor the father of Zadok,
Zadok the father of Akim,
Akim the father of Elihud,
15 Elihud the father of Eleazar,
Eleazar the father of Matthan,
Matthan the father of Jacob,
16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.
17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.
Interesting. That's basically 42 generations, from the time God made the promises to Abraham, to Jesus' birth through the tribe of Judah. 42.
That number reminds me of something. If you are a fan of the original, or the remake of "The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy", one of the more random and catchy elements of the film was the concept of the "Deep Thought" computer calculating an answer to a question over 7.5 million years.
"What is the meaning of life?" The answer? "42".
It would appear to me, that the Lord has a sense of humor. It's pretty neat from this Christian's point of view, that the meaning of life is perfectly addressed in the simple answer "42". It's Jesus. He's the meaning of life.
Good Night
Let's start with today.
After downloading the latest podcast from the Daily Audio Bible at around midnight, I set off to sleep. After waking up and sipping a cup of coffee, the morning and early afternoon were lazily spent with my wife. We accomplished nothing, but the kids were content playing video games, reading to us, or watching Netflix. My wife and I also needed the down-time together.
Church was pretty amazing. Instead of the prepared message this evening, Pastor John shot from the hip (and threw together artwork for the multimedia slides) at the last minute. The thrust of his message? 2 questions:
1. How are things between you and Jesus?
2. How are things between you and other people? (family, friends, coworkers, etc.)
What happened next was "all Holy Spirit". During the worship set after the message, our worship pastor Cory appeared to be breaking down. Although I can't be certain, it appeared as though the words he was singing were actually coming from his heart. About one-third of the way through the song "Mighty to Save", he simply stopped singing. The backing vocals were still present, and the instrumental swells were powerful, but the silence- that was pretty humbling to witness.
I've seen the man occasionally miss a word here or there, or get caught up in the lyrics on a slide, but he's an absolute professional. I've never seen him stop. After a few slides, there was a designed break from the vocals, as the musicians and congregation marinated in the music. It was during this time that an impromptu solo from one of the female backup singers began. It was unplanned, unscripted and beautiful. Low light, no words on a screen, just pure and intimate sincerity. I was moved.
After a great date night with my wife (with four children, even a DVD at home qualifies as a "date"), I honored my commitment to step through the Bible again in 2011. I began with Genesis 1:1, but also kicked off Matthew, Psalms and Proverbs. If you haven't committed to making the journey through the Bible, it's never too late to begin. You can begin with today- you don't have to worry about making up, or catching up. Just dive into the Bible in printed form, read it online, or listen to it each day, like I do.
Something caught my attention tonight in Matthew. It was in chapter 1, verses 1 through 17.
Matthew 1
The Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah
1 This is the genealogy[a] of Jesus the Messiah[b] the son of David, the son of Abraham:
2 Abraham was the father of Isaac,
Isaac the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,
Perez the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,
4 Ram the father of Amminadab,
Amminadab the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,
5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,
Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,
Obed the father of Jesse,
6 and Jesse the father of King David.
David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,
7 Solomon the father of Rehoboam,
Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
Abijah the father of Asa,
8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram,
Jehoram the father of Uzziah,
9 Uzziah the father of Jotham,
Jotham the father of Ahaz,
Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,
10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh,
Manasseh the father of Amon,
Amon the father of Josiah,
11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah[c] and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.
12 After the exile to Babylon:
Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel,
Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
13 Zerubbabel the father of Abihud,
Abihud the father of Eliakim,
Eliakim the father of Azor,
14 Azor the father of Zadok,
Zadok the father of Akim,
Akim the father of Elihud,
15 Elihud the father of Eleazar,
Eleazar the father of Matthan,
Matthan the father of Jacob,
16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.
17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.
Interesting. That's basically 42 generations, from the time God made the promises to Abraham, to Jesus' birth through the tribe of Judah. 42.
That number reminds me of something. If you are a fan of the original, or the remake of "The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy", one of the more random and catchy elements of the film was the concept of the "Deep Thought" computer calculating an answer to a question over 7.5 million years.
"What is the meaning of life?" The answer? "42".
It would appear to me, that the Lord has a sense of humor. It's pretty neat from this Christian's point of view, that the meaning of life is perfectly addressed in the simple answer "42". It's Jesus. He's the meaning of life.
Good Night
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