Many of you know that I am a participating member of Willow Creek Community Church. Yesterday I received an email from Bill Hybels pertaining to the Easter Service. The email included a link to a short video clip from Bill.
While I was viewing the clip, I started to "explorer" a bit. Willow has a fairly extensive library of multimedia content on their website. I came across this piece from the Willow Creek Leadership Summit call A Thousand Questions. Enjoy!
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Friday, April 10, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
One Year Bible reading - Update
I believe that I mentioned earlier that I began a One Year Bible reading plan the first of the year. This morning, I want to reflect a bit on the Old Testament portion. Keep in mind, I am not a theologian, a biblical scholar or any sort of authority on the subject. I'll admit, that I haven't even done any independent research on what I am about to say. These are simply MY thoughts.
I am now a couple of chapters into Leviticus. How many of you have read Leviticus? From the intro in the NLT version that I am reading, it is essentially the "Priest's Manual" for the Levites.
The books I have read so far, Genesis, Exodus and Leviticus have all been written by Moses. One observation I have made is how the "style" has changed. What I mean specifically is the level of repetition has increased as we move along.
In the book of Genesis, Moses tells God's story of creation. Genesis is essentially the historical accounting of the beginning and a description of the lineage of the human race. Very little repetition.
Exodus, is largely autobiographical. It covers the bulk of Moses' live and focuses on how God saves the Hebrew people from Pharaoh and leads them out of Egypt. We start to see some repetition here. Indirectly, in how God deals with Pharaoh and his instruction to Moses for doing so. We really start to see it a the end of the chapter, when God is providing Moses with plans for the tabernacle.
By the time we get to Leviticus, we are into full "Lather, Rinse, Repeat" mode! The reason for various offerings and the manner in which they are done is described in detail... over an over. Why is that?
Historians tell us that written language was rare in ancient times. Most stories were spoken from one person to another. Apparently they were spoken in considerable detail and with minimal variation or embellishment. Back then, when it came to history class, students were good listeners with equally good memories. If you think about Genesis, some of that had to be reveal or inspired to Moses. There is no way that the story of creation or the Garden of Eden could be passed down from generation to generation. But certainly, everything from Noah on was probably "known" to Moses by historical "retelling."
So, if folks could remember a "good story" why all of the repetition in some and not others? I suppose in today's times we would attribute the repetition to some aged infirmity. I don't know the amount of time between the three books, but certainly, by the time that Leviticus was written, Moses was an old man. Do you think that he repeated himself because he forgot what he said? Remember, is was in the parchment days... He didn't just do Ctrl-C, Ctrl-V to move his words around.
Perhaps it was something really important! Perhaps God REALLY wanted to deal with this Sin issue. The reason that the Priests, the Tabernacle and the offerings were necessary in the first place. Maybe there was nothing more important to God than to try and redeem His people, who through their own free will had chosen to leave Him.
I don't think that God intended Leviticus to be a cure for insomnia. I really do think that he wanted us to understand that the wages of sin are death! In this case it was the substitutionary death of various animals, depending on the sin. I know many people gloss over the book of Leviticus but I would encourage you to "dig in." Read each and every word. Let it sink in. Understand WHY all of this was necessary. Imagine all of the BLOOD (I will try to cover that tomorrow). Leviticus is in the Bible for a reason...
I am now a couple of chapters into Leviticus. How many of you have read Leviticus? From the intro in the NLT version that I am reading, it is essentially the "Priest's Manual" for the Levites.
The books I have read so far, Genesis, Exodus and Leviticus have all been written by Moses. One observation I have made is how the "style" has changed. What I mean specifically is the level of repetition has increased as we move along.
In the book of Genesis, Moses tells God's story of creation. Genesis is essentially the historical accounting of the beginning and a description of the lineage of the human race. Very little repetition.
Exodus, is largely autobiographical. It covers the bulk of Moses' live and focuses on how God saves the Hebrew people from Pharaoh and leads them out of Egypt. We start to see some repetition here. Indirectly, in how God deals with Pharaoh and his instruction to Moses for doing so. We really start to see it a the end of the chapter, when God is providing Moses with plans for the tabernacle.
By the time we get to Leviticus, we are into full "Lather, Rinse, Repeat" mode! The reason for various offerings and the manner in which they are done is described in detail... over an over. Why is that?
Historians tell us that written language was rare in ancient times. Most stories were spoken from one person to another. Apparently they were spoken in considerable detail and with minimal variation or embellishment. Back then, when it came to history class, students were good listeners with equally good memories. If you think about Genesis, some of that had to be reveal or inspired to Moses. There is no way that the story of creation or the Garden of Eden could be passed down from generation to generation. But certainly, everything from Noah on was probably "known" to Moses by historical "retelling."
So, if folks could remember a "good story" why all of the repetition in some and not others? I suppose in today's times we would attribute the repetition to some aged infirmity. I don't know the amount of time between the three books, but certainly, by the time that Leviticus was written, Moses was an old man. Do you think that he repeated himself because he forgot what he said? Remember, is was in the parchment days... He didn't just do Ctrl-C, Ctrl-V to move his words around.
Perhaps it was something really important! Perhaps God REALLY wanted to deal with this Sin issue. The reason that the Priests, the Tabernacle and the offerings were necessary in the first place. Maybe there was nothing more important to God than to try and redeem His people, who through their own free will had chosen to leave Him.
I don't think that God intended Leviticus to be a cure for insomnia. I really do think that he wanted us to understand that the wages of sin are death! In this case it was the substitutionary death of various animals, depending on the sin. I know many people gloss over the book of Leviticus but I would encourage you to "dig in." Read each and every word. Let it sink in. Understand WHY all of this was necessary. Imagine all of the BLOOD (I will try to cover that tomorrow). Leviticus is in the Bible for a reason...
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Sunday Morning Prayer Request
This morning I come before you and the Lord with a couple of prayer requests. I know the power of prayer and I ask you to join me in praying for the following:
I pray for healing, miraculous healing for two young men, Nolan and Scott. Nolan was the victim of a terrible auto accident on January 9th. He sustained injuries has include numerous broken bones but more importantly there was trauma to the brain. He is in stable condition but our prayer is for complete and TOTAL healing for this 25 year old man, with his whole life ahead of him.
Scott recently visited the doctor for some fairly common, but persistent symptoms. I don't have many of the details but apparent the diagnosis revealed that he may have a rare form of cancer with limited treatment options. He is still undergoing some additional tests. I would pray the same thing for Scott, complete and TOTAL healing. As he submits to the tests and treatment, I would pray that he and his family be granted a sense of Peace, knowing that God is in control.
I am leaving for a full week of "business" in Dallas. I am praying for safe passage and that throughout the week, the business that gets done is God's business! HTG is a collection of business owners and key business leaders formed into 20 groups of 12 member companies each. There will about 220 companies represented with over 325 people in attendance during the course of the week. I lead HTG19 and participate in HTG13. Please pray that the Power and Presence of God is felt by all... all week long.
I also lead a faithful group of Christian in my neighborhood, called a Table group. We meet monthly for dinner and fellowship. They are meeting later today. As I will be in Dallas, I will be unable to join them. I KNOW that God has a standing appointment to be present when that group gathers, but I pray for them none-the-less.
God is GOOD!
I pray for healing, miraculous healing for two young men, Nolan and Scott. Nolan was the victim of a terrible auto accident on January 9th. He sustained injuries has include numerous broken bones but more importantly there was trauma to the brain. He is in stable condition but our prayer is for complete and TOTAL healing for this 25 year old man, with his whole life ahead of him.
Scott recently visited the doctor for some fairly common, but persistent symptoms. I don't have many of the details but apparent the diagnosis revealed that he may have a rare form of cancer with limited treatment options. He is still undergoing some additional tests. I would pray the same thing for Scott, complete and TOTAL healing. As he submits to the tests and treatment, I would pray that he and his family be granted a sense of Peace, knowing that God is in control.
I am leaving for a full week of "business" in Dallas. I am praying for safe passage and that throughout the week, the business that gets done is God's business! HTG is a collection of business owners and key business leaders formed into 20 groups of 12 member companies each. There will about 220 companies represented with over 325 people in attendance during the course of the week. I lead HTG19 and participate in HTG13. Please pray that the Power and Presence of God is felt by all... all week long.
I also lead a faithful group of Christian in my neighborhood, called a Table group. We meet monthly for dinner and fellowship. They are meeting later today. As I will be in Dallas, I will be unable to join them. I KNOW that God has a standing appointment to be present when that group gathers, but I pray for them none-the-less.
God is GOOD!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
I've fallen, will I get up?
We are rapidly approaching the end of 2008. For most of us, we will be happy to see it go. To be honest, it is about this time every year, that I just want it to be DONE. Its not so much that I am looking forward to the coming year, in this case, I'm not sure that 2009 is going to be any better. By most accounts it is likely to be much worse. I just get to the end of the year, throw my hands up and say, "It's Finished..."
Does that sound a little depressing? Perhaps, but the reality is, I have been blessed and I have a great deal to be thankful for. I know that. But like everyone else, I sometimes forget. Remember Job? He had it ALL! He was a righteous man before God and was blessed richly. Then what? At what appeared to be the "top of his game", he lost it all. I mean everything. I'm sure that some who read this can identify with that feeling. Its not too long ago that many if not most Americans were feeling "pretty good." I believe that the term was "irrational exuberance." The "tech bubble" burst. We survived. The air wasn't fully out of that balloon before we started inflating the "housing bubble." Won't we ever learn? POP!
I'm going to avoid the temptation to go too "deep" on this, but let's just say that the "Lord givith and the Lord taketh way." Are you feeling even a little bit despondent? Do you really think that your life is that bad? Well tell me this, how would your life be if you were born with no arms and no legs? Meet Nick Vujicic and let him teach you about the importance of "getting back up."
Nick did it. Job did it. What about you? Can you get back up?
Does that sound a little depressing? Perhaps, but the reality is, I have been blessed and I have a great deal to be thankful for. I know that. But like everyone else, I sometimes forget. Remember Job? He had it ALL! He was a righteous man before God and was blessed richly. Then what? At what appeared to be the "top of his game", he lost it all. I mean everything. I'm sure that some who read this can identify with that feeling. Its not too long ago that many if not most Americans were feeling "pretty good." I believe that the term was "irrational exuberance." The "tech bubble" burst. We survived. The air wasn't fully out of that balloon before we started inflating the "housing bubble." Won't we ever learn? POP!
I'm going to avoid the temptation to go too "deep" on this, but let's just say that the "Lord givith and the Lord taketh way." Are you feeling even a little bit despondent? Do you really think that your life is that bad? Well tell me this, how would your life be if you were born with no arms and no legs? Meet Nick Vujicic and let him teach you about the importance of "getting back up."
Nick did it. Job did it. What about you? Can you get back up?
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Marketplace Ministry
Join Stuart Crawford, Jeff Wood, Brad Schow, Arlin Sorensen and me (all HTG members) on Friday at noon eastern on blogtalk radio. All of these guys are veterans of the "Go Giver" retreat that Arlin hosted this past Summer. Their membership in HTG ensures that they are serious about their business, but tomorrow's discussion will focus on their commitment to God and His Business. We will be talking about ministry in the workplace and how faith and business do not have to be separated and kept apart. Join us on Friday at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/smb and join the conversation. The session will be recorded, so if you can't make check back and listen when you can. For that matter you can download is an listen at your convenience.
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