ABC September-23-2008

Luk 24.28-35;Heb 12.14-29;Pro 29.15-27;Isa 59-61 Analysis: Jesus chose to reveal himself in the breaking of the bread. Best Verse(s): Isa 60.19-20 The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended. Contract/Prayer: You are Bread and Light. Feed me, Lord, help me walk in the light.

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ABC September-22-2008

Luk 24.13-27;Heb 12.1-13;Pro 29.1-14;Isa 56-58 Analysis: Jesus chose to reveal himself individually. To just a few of his followers. I wonder why? Perhaps to get at the heart response more quickly? Best Verse(s): Heb 12.10b ... he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness Contract/Prayer: Help me remember discipline is not always a wall - but, that, perahps, it's a road to you.

ABC September-08-2008

Luk 22.24-30;Heb 5;Pro 22.1-16;Isa 21-23 Analysis: Luk:I'm amazed at the ease & manner with which Jesus corrects His disciples, vs. 22.27 For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves. Best Verse(s): Luk 22.27 Contract/Prayer: Help me serve.

ABC September-09-2009

Luk 22.31-38;Heb 6.1-12;Pro 22.17-29;Isa 24-26 Analysis: Luk:Jesus foretold Peter's denial. Why? To take his pride in himself & turn him to true strenth? vs 22.32 "...but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail." Best Verse(s): Luk 22.32 Contract/Prayer: Please help me, Lord.

ABC September-10-2008

Luk 22.39-46;Heb 6.13-20;Pro 23.1-18;Isa 27-28

Analysis:

Luk: Jesus prayer Father if you are willing...not my will but yours.

Best Verse(s):

Luk 22.46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

Contract/Prayer:

...not my will but yours.

Lord, Liar, Lunatic...

I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: "I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God." That is the one thing we must not say. A man who said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic--on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg--or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.

Mere Christianity
By C.S. Lewis

ABC September-08-2008

Luk 22.24-30;Heb 5;Pro 22.1-16;Isa 21-23

Analysis:

Luk: Jesus: what a wonder. He resolves the desire for supremacy amongst His followers by giving His example. He was a s servant.

Heb: 

The high priest was: appointed - one of the people so that he could relate. So Jesus.

Re: the Scripture. We have to keep in practice, that is, read it, learn it, pray over it, apply it. Then, we can use it as the Lord intends.

If we don't move on and mature we won't have the spiritual strength/wisdom to do what God intends.

Pro: Interesting. Saying of the world is "the rich get richer-the poor poorer." (which by the way may have made a circuitous journey from the new testament though not intended in an economic sense there). But, we're told here generosity to the rich ends in poverty and that "whoever is bountiful will be blessed"

Isa: 22.11...But you did not look to him who did it, or see him who planned it long ago.  This is probably key to my understanding of the passage.  The Lord is judging and wanting to bring people to their senses, that is, back to Himself.

Best Verse(s):

Luk22.27(b)[ESV] But I am among you as the one who serves

Contract/Prayer:

God keep me close. Help me imitate you in service & generosity.

Invitation to the Classics - "Canon" vs. "Classic"

I've begun reading. Worthwhile insights even in the forward / front matter.

• Distinguishing characteristic of a "Classic" vs. an individual entry in a "Canon": a classic is perennial.

Reminded of Throeau's observation: "Read the best books first, or you may not have a chance to read them at all..."(citation needed)

ABC September-07-2008

Luk 22.14-23;Heb 4.12-16;Pro 21.17-31;Isa 17-20 Analysis: Luk 23: Jesus earnest desire was fellowship(vs. 14-15). To strengthen His disciples and spend time with them before His ordeal. This seems prescient of our need / focus as a church. Heb 4: God/Jesus is not only an omniscient Judge - but, an incarnated priest. He's seen our live from our perspective. Is able to relate and offer help. Pro 21: Kindness produces live(vs. 21), spend time considering your life. Don't be too proud to think you don't need to change(vs. 29), in the end it's God who decides winners/losers (vs. 31). Best Verse(s): Heb 4.13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account... Heb 4.15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Pro 21.21 Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor. Pro 21.29 A wicked man puts on a bold face, but the upright gives thought to his ways. Pro 21.31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord. Contract/Prayer: Help me remember your desire is to meet with me and to speak to my needs.

ABC September-06-2008

Luk 22.1-13;Heb 4.1-11;Pro 21.1-16;Isa 14-16 Analysis: Luk : Jesus declares his Omniscience here? He predicts beforehand that the disciples will meet a man carrying a water jar. Heb : teaches that we're to look to enter God's rest. That is, his mercy and grace in Christ, and life in the Spirit? Pro 20: Actions are louder than words(vs 3), God observes our ways & will judge (vs 12), strive to be wise consequences of foolishness are deadly(vs. 16) Isa 14-16: God judges pride. Best Verse(s): Heb 4.11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. Pro 21.3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. Isa 14.13,15 13 You said in your heart,‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit. Contract/Prayer: God help me remember my place and purpose.

ABC September-04-2008

Luk 21.20-28;Heb 2.10-18;Pro 20.1-16;Isa 9-10 Analysis: Luk tells us to be watchful. Not to be weighed down. If we live by His example - he spent the days teaching. Heb tells us to not be hardened (fighter verse for the week contained in passage!). Pro tells us the "spirit" of a man is the lamp of the Lord. Our conscience/emotions? Isa tells us of the Glorious One. Who judges with righteousness. He is the forgiving Savior and Lord. We should witness/share this while we can. Isa also says He'll make a final end the wicked and the tyrannies of this world. Best Verse(s): Luk21.34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. Heb3.12-13 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Pro20.27 The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts. Isa 12.1-4... Contract/Prayer: God, thank you for being merciful to me. Help me today to share your goodness with others.

ABC September-05-2008

Luk 21.29-38;Heb 3;Pro 20.16-30;Isa 11-13 Analysis: Luk tells us to be watchful. Not to be weighed down. If we live by His example - he spent the days teaching. Heb tells us to not be hardened (fighter verse for the week contained in passage!). Pro tells us the "spirit" of a man is the lamp of the Lord. Our conscience/emotions? Isa tells us of the Glorious One. Who judges with righteousness. He is the forgiving Savior and Lord. We should witness/share this while we can. Isa also says He'll make a final end the wicked and the tyrannies of this world. Best Verse(s): Luk21.34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. Heb3.12-13 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Pro20.27 The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts. Isa 12.1-4... Contract/Prayer: God, thank you for being merciful to me. Help me today to share your goodness with others.

ABC September-03-2008

Luk 21.1-19;Heb 2.1-9;Pro 19.15-29;Isa 6-8 Analysis: Luk . God/Jesus measures our heart when we give. He's given us the word ahead of time. Don't go after fals messiahs. Heb . We're to pay close attention. Pro . Best Verse(s): Contract/Prayer:

ABC September-02-2008

Luk 20.41-47;Heb 1.10-14;Pro 19.1-14;Isa 3-5 Analysis: Luk 20 Jesus the Son and the Lord. The scribe & the pharisee receive greater condemnation since they ascribe righteousness but are actually hypocrites. Heb 1 Again, Jesus the nonpareil. He's the creator, yes? The attributes of being eternal are given him. Again, greater than the Angels. Pro 19 Isa 3-5 God is angry at the mistreatment of the poor - and judges Israel for it. Their riches are removed, there freedom replaced by oppression. God promises the Branch. God promises to care for the remnant and to watch over it and be with it. Best Verse(s): Heb 1.10-12 And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; 11 they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, 12 like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.” pro 19.1 Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool. 2 Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way. Isa 5.4 What more was there to do for my vineyard,that I have not done in it? When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes? Contract/Prayer: God, when I think on you I'm overwhelmed. At the thought of eternity, at the depth of your wisdom, at the promises of refreshing & renewal. Please, Lord, let me see your way today.

ABC September-01-2008

Luk 20.27-40;Heb 1.1-9;Pro 18;Isa 1-2 Analysis: Luk 20: ...the wisdom of God. Jesus points them to the Scripture to answer the question about resurrection. And, declares that the resurrection will be a new thing in terms of relationships. Heb 1: ...Jesus is a nonpareil. Pro 18: Relationships: isolation breeds selfishness vs. 1? Being a bore cuts you off from what may be a growth opportunity - what are others opinions vs 2? Know when to be quiet/when to shut-up vs. 6-7. We're less than we think we are-are imagination may make us think we're rich when we're not vs. 11,12. Learn. Seek out answers and truth/knowledge vs. vs 15. God/Jesus are there for you vs. 10 & 24 Isa 1-2. By God's Spirit, Isaiah saw the spiritual state of his people. He saw the days to come. God seeks our penitence - a conversation about our failure and his mercy/grace. vs. 1.18-20 Best Verse(s): Isa 1.18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. Contract/Prayer: God, please help me to not isolate. Please help me to know when to be quiet. Please guide me in your path/truth.