Leader || Preacher || Teacher
When God spoke the Ten Commandments to Moses and the Israelites they were at the base of Mount Sinai. They had consecrated themselves per God’s instructions. God had big plans for them when he told Moses,
“Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” Exodus 19:5–6 (NIV)
Psalm 33 describes a God who is worthy of our trust, hope and worship. God never breaks his promises to his creation. He directs nations, kings, and the hearts of men for his glory and for the hope of the world. As you read this Psalm you will soon discover that God created all things and all things worship him and are submissive to him.
At First Glance – Read Exodus 19-20:21
Moses and the Israelites set up base camp at Mt. Sinai. God’s intentions are to have the Israelites close enough that they can hear Him speak to Moses. The priests are all ready for something to go down. They have been consecrated. God wants them to look but not touch. He names some very specific violent actions that are to be taken against anyone who even touches the mountain. Oh, and you better keep your lamb on a leash. For a time, I thought that God only talked to Moses but here the people can hear God or overhear Him. God’s preparing them to be a kingdom of priests, a Holy nation.
At First Glance – Read Exodus 15:21-18:27
After the Israelites are led in worship by Miriam they quickly realize that life in the wilderness is going to be hard. They are hungry and God provides them manna (bread from heaven) in the morning and meat in the evening. Apparently, they missed the meat in Egypt. They made it sound like they had lots (pots) of meat to eat while living there. I think this is what you might call revisionist history. They didn’t have pots of meat, not even potted meat. “You guys remember back in Egypt we had all the Spam, Vienna Sausage, Lamb Tongues, and Pork Brains in Milk Gravy (ok maybe not that last one) we ever wanted?”
“…One of the deepest longings of the human heart is to be known and loved unconditionally,” says Ruth Haley Barton as she begins chapter six of her book Sacred Rhythms. A common desire among us is that we want others to be authentic and transparent. A byproduct of this desire is that it requires that we be open and transparent with others. We want people to “be real.” We also want to be known and loved for who we are. We fear though, that if we act as we want others to act with us, with openness, then they will reject us. Being open opens us up to unwanted ridicule and judgment.
Continue reading “One Spiritual Discipline You Must Practice”
At First Glance – Read Exodus 11-15:21
The miracles continue! For the Egyptians you could say that the terror continues. The worst of the worst happens to each Egyptian household. Even for those who are in prison their firstborn dies. Even for those who are not directly connected to this battle between God and Pharaoh, there are consequences. Is this an example of communal sin? Slavery and oppression existed in Egypt. They’re infrastructure was built on the backs of slaves. They profit on free labor and the wealthy get filthy rich. But the Israelites are too numerous to control anymore because they have a God who has not forgotten them and is sympathetic to their plight. In fact, being more than sympathetic he fights for his people until the very end. All they must do is be still and let Him do His thing!
Continue reading “Miracle Mayhem, God Wins by Knockout: Reflections from Exodus 11-15:21”
Many people experience prayer as a burden and not as a pleasure.
Even if it is agreed upon as important most people feel guilty about their failure to pray enough. Why does prayer rank so high on surveys of theoretical importance and so low on surveys of actual satisfaction? Why does prayer seem such a struggle?
We may feel as though we lack the words to pray. Could it be that our frame work of prayer needs to change?
Continue reading “Eat This Book: The Christian Diet of Listening”
Read Exodus 6-10
At First Glance
I had forgotten that Aaron appears to be more than just supporting cast in the plagues narrative. God provided Moses with Aaron because of Moses’ many excuses/fears, including “I’m a terrible public speaker,” and “Who would listen to me?” This last concern is validated for Moses when he tells the Israelites of the Lord’s promise to free them. They were not able to receive that message with faith and joy because of the increasing hardship of forced labor due to Moses’ intervention with Pharaoh. “If I can’t get my own people to listen to me why do you expect that Pharaoh would?” Moses is short sighted and all he can see is his weaknesses and fears and not God’s immanence and strength. This is a God versus Pharaoh wrestling match. Moses is God’s tag team partner and Pharaoh does not hold the belt. Even with his army he is outnumbered and outmatched.
Continue reading “I’m a Terrible Public Speaker: Reflections from Exodus 6-10”
Read Exodus 1-5
Initial Thoughts
I love the humanity of the scriptures. In what appears to be good luck, or rather for the believer, divine intervention, Moses is given a great childhood and upbringing in Pharaoh’s household while being cared for by his own mother. Incredible. Moses grows up with a sense of justice for his relatives, the Hebrew people, and tries to take matters into his own hand by stepping in to rescue a slave by killing the Egyptian who is beating him. He seems so brave, or impulsive and reckless. I see him already filled with rage at the treatment of his own people. It’s been building up and comes to a boiling point that day.
Continue reading “Run! It’s a Snake: Reflections from Exodus Chapters 1-5”
“Love is a habit… We learn to love… not primarily by acquiring information about what we should love but rather through practices that form the habits of how we love.” James K.A. Smith
When you choose to gather in worship it reorients your heart towards God.
God is the object of our worship and God does the work of worship. Worship is top-down, not bottom-up.
And what God works in worship is the transformation of our minds. He moves us forward in our commitment to offer our bodies as living sacrifices. This begins with His Spirit and is perpetuated in covenant community.
We learn to worship God through revelation and in community. Our faith community plays an important role in how we choose to express our affections to God. It’s where we learn to put into practice living out our response to God’s initiation of mercy and grace. Continue reading “Learn to Love Out Loud”