the garden-view is always 20/20...

...I'm thinking it's always between Jesus and us. Directly. And on purpose.

As I read the verses describing the apostles' actions below, it's not hard imagine myself in their shoes. I mean, I know what He wants from me, it's pretty clear. And sometimes it requires uncomfortable, inconvinient effort.

In the disciples' case, they were just supposed to stay up and pray. In our case, it could be anything. We are supposed to live in accordance with His word, especially when that guy cuts us off in traffic, or in the grocery store.

The clear relevance of God's word in modern times is just awesome.

...check this out...

Matthew 26:36-46 (NLT) : Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said,

“Sit here while I go over there to pray.”

He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. He told them,

“My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death.

Stay here and keep watch with me.”
He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying,

“My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me.

Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? 41 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed,

“My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it,

your will be done.”

When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping,

for they couldn’t keep their eyes open.
So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. Then he came to the disciples and said,

“Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come.

The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Up, let’s be going.

Look, my betrayer is here!”

So what do we do? I think it's worthy of a time out...

FIRST THINGS (FIRST... and ten)

So now that football season is upon us, I ask myself "Do I really honor the Sabbath"? ...and what do I do when a personal desire conflicts with it? (at this point I realized that rationalization and the remote control were running the show... so I went to the Word with an open heart...)

Isaiah 58:13-14 (New Living Translation) says to

“Keep the Sabbath day holy. Don’t pursue your own interests on that day, but enjoy the Sabbath and speak of it with delight as the Lord’s holy day.

Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day, and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly. Then the Lord will be your delight. I will give you great honor and satisfy you with the inheritance I promised to your ancestor Jacob. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

Now, does this mean we're supposed to "religiously" lock ourselves in our closets all day? Of course not. Jesus didn't. He did good things that glorified His Father.

Does it mean we are backsliding if we watch the game, cut the grass, or both?

Not necessarily. But I believe it could be a good indicator of what, or Who comes on "first-and-ten" on our our day of rest, focus and thanksgiving to the Lord.

Like skipping a workout, focusing on the "other things" in that special time only leaves us weaker for the battles of the upcoming week.

When our pastor spoke about his personal sabbath day, on Monday's being his time of "waiting on the Lord", it was clear that it's where he gets his charge and mission from, and caused me to reconsider that sanctified, or "set aside" place in time and purpose where God speaks, we wait and listen up, and then we have this radical realtionship that changes lives.

UnLeaded

I have prayed these words throughout my youth, and now I am wondering a little bit about the translation...

"Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil". (And being from the east coast, those fearful of the New York Railway System would say jokingly "lead us not into Penn Station")...

But, seriously, would God ever, or has He ever, lead anyone into temptation? I mean, does His character or His Word show that anywhere?

My New Living Translation says it like this "...and don't let us yield to temptation..." (Luke 11:4) But the Greek "literal" translation* and King James both read the same, "lead us not into temptation"...

Now I am not going LUTHER on anyone... I will not be staple-gunning my little "thesis thingy" here to any church doors this weekend, but I am scratching my head and not afraid to ask your opinions...

...was Jesus led into the desert to be tempted? ...and are we led into temptation? (not to be confused with being tested by trials).

I don't think so. He went face to face with temptation for the sole purpose of defeating it on it's own turf. For us.

And, so, we are also free and powerful and victorious to walk away from temptation, because of not only what Jesus did on the cross, but what He did in the desert...

As always thanks for your comments, it's "our walk", not mine!

*(from the Interlinear Greek-English New Testament, Jay P. Green, Sr.)

You had to be there...

Peter was more than likely not videotaped when he stepped onto the sea with his faith on his sleeve, but here we have Capt. Jack Sparrow illustrating that sinking feeling pretty well!

On the subject of "being there", the on-scene witnesses in the boat, the ones Jesus specifically wanted to witness this testimony of faith vs. fear, it was the crowd he chose to be on the scene...




There is no doubt in my mind that He could have arranged a whole fleet of ships to watch Him walk on water, and to see Peter sink, but it was a select audience, a powerful moment, and enough to make His point. "Disciples Only", if you will...

What if this could have been covered by CNN? Peter could have been humiliated to the degree of his faith being busted. And Jesus could have been seen as a "showman". So with no intent of disrespect to well-intentioned ministers who televise to the masses, I often wonder if this kind of televangelism is true to the Christ seeker who hasn't yet come to know the Lord... (???)

Can a TV show where there are miracle healings or speaking in tongues without interpretation be a "stumbling block"? I'm inclined to believe that some things are meant to be private, kept personal, to ensure context is kept in perspective. I guess you could parallel this to anything in life, even a simple, private conversation between two friends; when broadcast to a stranger, it can be intelligently, and perhaps dangerously, misunderstood.

Referring to Matthew 10:30-31, after a miraculous healing, Jesus sternly warned them "Don't tell anyone about this" but instead, they spread His fame all over the region. Because of their previous unbelief? Because of their not truly understanding? Because he was not boasting about His miracles? Probably all of these and more.

But you see, it was just too amazing and true to keep to themselves, but in those days, there was no mass media. Guess you really have to know the source to believe the story...

Know The Source: know Jesus!

PS as always, friends... this is an "open forum", so go ahead and add a comment below if you feel it could add some good "meat and potatoes" to the discussion plate here... anonymous or otherwise...

Tom in Haiti

Meet a hero. Mr. Tom Osbeck, and you can visit his site (below). Great words from a man serving God, one kid at a time, in Haiti. We are running too!

This is a picture of Tom's house in Haiti. (Just kidding... I selected this image because often in Tom's letters to us, he tells us of the many "attacks" he faces, and how he overcomes these obstacles in Christ, and it's pretty awesome. But no flying sharks. Yet.) God bless you Tom and thanks as always!

Dear friends,
Last night I shared the story of the boy who was running a race. He kept falling but his father who was watching, kept telling the boy to get up, keep going, don't quit. Several times the boy fell and a couple times he was going to quit but his father kept telling him to get up, keep going and don't quit. The boy finally crossed the finish line, dead last and his dad was waiting for him to hug him and let him know how proud he was of him for finishing the> race.

I shared with the folks how this is exactly like the Christian life, and the race we run. We all fall, or get tripped and at times don't want to get back up but........... our Heavenly Father is prodding us on, get up, keep going, don't quit. As I was thinking about this story today, I thought of how many of you reading this have done exactly that. I thought about my dear friend who lost her son a few weeks ago in a boating accident....she got up and is still running. A dear man in Alpena sitting in a wheel chair, able to use not much more then his fingers....he is still running his race.

My dear friend involved in her church, running Bible studies, involved with people, been hurt, knocked around, lied about....she's still running her race. A couple who got as devastating news as you can get, their son sentenced to 10 years in jail, leaving two infants and a wife on the outside, they got up and are still running their race. My dear pastor friend having to fire some of his staff, deal with the after mess but still running his race.

A friend living in Amish country, her husband cheated and left her and she was down. She got up, raised her family, a Christian family all running their own race, she never stopped, she's still running.

A supporter whose son's dad died of drug overdose a year ago leaving her a single mom. She moved into what she thought was a good neighborhood, turned out to be gang infested. She wrote me wondering how to reach these folks. With God's help, she reached out and has a relationship with several that hang outside, she is running her race.

A dear friend whose husband of 27 years walked in and said, "I don't love you anymore, see ya". She got knocked down, but got up, she didn't quit, she is running her race with grace.

A pastor who does prison ministry. The Muslims didn't like his message and put out a hit on him in the prison. He didn't stop, he continued to run his race in the face of a horrible threat.

A man in his 80's, who lost his wife, his health is failing but he never stops, never stops running, preaching, loving, helping, giving. He understands the race doesn't end until he reaches his Savior.

Another 80 something year old supporter who just learned the Spanish language, so he can share the gospel with the many Spanish people moving into his town. He understands the race.

A dear woman 5 years ago who was thinking about ending her life. How I handled one of my children made her re-think things, she is running her race as strong as ever.

Just a few examples of you folks who have been knocked down. I could mention many dozens more who got up and continue to run your race. Sadly, everyone doesn't get up. Even in Scripture at one point it says many disciples turned away from Jesus to go their own way. To all of you who have been so faithful and such an example to me of staying strong, of running your race, thank you! Your example has helped me keep running.

To those of you who are struggling in your race. Keep the faith. The God who created you special, the God who loved you, the God who sent His only Son to> die for your sins, the God who has a great plan for your life, is cheering you on.

The greatest of all things to remember is that at some point, the race will end, and standing there with nail pierced hands, clapping louder then anyone will be your Savior. Don't ya think it will all be worth it at that point? I do and you know it also.

I'm always here if you want to talk. Your pastor is there, other believers are around. Share your burden but the most important thing is: Get up, keep going, don't quit!

God's Best, tom in haiti

2nd Timothy 4:2, 5 Proclaim the message, persist in it whether convienent or not, rebuke, correct and encourage with great patience and teaching. Keep a clear head about everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

NEW WEBSITE: http://www.jesusinhaiti.org/
JESUS in HAITI MINISTRIES
8645 Lake Michigan Drive West
Olive, Michigan 49460

This is the Truth

Signs and Wonders

John the baptist said "Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins and turned to God"
according to Matthew, 3:8.

I don't know about you, but I have my share of times when I act too quickly, (i.e. don't check in with the Lord for a moment) do the wrong thing, and then repent of it.
No excuses.

Jesus set the example and said "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect..." a little later on in Matthew, 5:48

So what do we do when we represent God, we have that fish sticker on our bumper or that cross dangling from our neck, and we mess up? I think we move on. I think the other followers in Christ out there have been in your shoes, and although we can at times be a stumbling block to non believers, maybe there is the greatest reason to listen to the words of Jesus and John the Baptist before we do anything.

Then our signs will really cause others to wonder, and ask us open-heartedly what causes us to "fight the good fight"... Then you have a platform to share the real-time reasons you believe, like an apostle.

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.

Do what it says".

James 1:22