Weights and Measures 

Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the LORD.  Proverbs 20:10

Sometimes it surprises me what matters to God. For instance, the “hairs of your head are numbered” thing—who but God and a few bald guys would care? I just got my hair cut. When she got done, it looked like a fat gray mouse had exploded on the barber shop floor. I think I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Recalculating.”

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Paul’s ministry in Ephesus was accompanied by great power. Not only did he give thorough instruction each day for two years; there were so many miraculous signs and wonders being done through him in the way of healing and deliverance that people got in the habit of taking handkerchiefs or aprons which had touched Paul to their afflicted friends, and they got well! God’s grace was on the apostle. The fertility god Artemis had a pretty hard time keeping up with Jesus, when it came to results! The sense of awe was only magnified when the seven sons of Sceva tried to horn in on the Gospel, and were publicly exposed (in every sense of the word) as frauds!

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Synagogue Fishing

Paul did his homework, prior to engaging the Athenians; he didn’t waltz in assuming an automatic audience. He studied their culture, their poets, their way of thinking, found a place of commonality, and went from there. He didn’t leave out hard concepts like the Resurrection, but he also didn’t begin there. He started where they were: so afraid of leaving something out that they had made an image to “the unknown god,” just in case!

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Illogical Praise

The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

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I wish the Church in America was more Spirit-led, these days. When I look at the way the Church operates, “Spirit-led” is not what comes to mind. We can’t even seem to negotiate a morning worship service without a bulletin. For stuff like mission trips? Forget it! Those are planned by Headquarters years in advance. You just plug in the personnel when the time comes, and make sure they have their money, their passport and their shots.

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Eden Entertainment

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

Here’s the lineup. A new string of shows is coming to television, aimed at the elusive “faith community” which likes to hear stuff on religious subjects, yet which is funny, edgy and true to real life.

First off, we have the show, “Adam and Eve,” with two of the biggest names in Hollywood in the starring roles. Set, of course, in the beautiful Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve are two people who are drop-dead gorgeous, with a wardrobe composed mostly of flora and fauna blocking the camera shot. Filming must have been interesting.

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Abraham, My Friend
But you, Israel, my servant,
Jacob, whom I have chosen,
the offspring of Abraham, my friend;
you whom I took from the ends of the earth,
and called from its farthest corners,
saying to you, “You are my servant,
I have chosen you and not cast you off”;
fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:8-10

In the midst of all God’s comforting promises to His people, what stands out the most to me? “Abraham, my friend.” Talk about honor! God calls Abraham His “friend.” He would do the same for us! God is willing to be our Friend. The accompanying verses are promises of how God takes care of His friends. Not bad! Continue reading »

When God Does a Jailbreak
Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals. And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” Continue reading »

Desperate for Discipline
Discipline your son, for there is hope;
do not set your heart on putting him to death.
Proverbs 19:18

So, discipline is that important? If you don’t discipline your son, it’s the equivalent of killing him?!

The Bible is not given to exaggeration, and this proverb, though it comes off to tender 21st century ears sounding rather like it, probably is not an exception. I’m thinking it means what it says. Continue reading »

Slow Miracles
God seems to like the subtle approach. In Acts 12:25, the odd couple of Barnabas and Saul didn’t leave Jerusalem alone, but purposely brought with them a young protege named John Mark. God will throw as many angels at a situation as required, in order to achieve His ends, but He seems to greatly prefer dedicated, constant service to flashy, inexplicable miracles. Continue reading »