Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 1.31- The Good Earth Genesis 1:1-10 Philip Yancey While orbiting the moon in 1968, Apollo 8 astronaut, Bill Anders described the crew’s close-up-view of the moonscape. He called it “a foreboding horizon . . . a stark and unappetizing place.” Then the crew took turns reading to a watching world from Genesis 1:1-10. After Commander Frank Borman finished verse 10, “And God saw that it was good,” he signed off with, “God bless all of you, all of you on the good Earth.” The opening chapter of the Bible insists on two facts: Creation is God’s work. The phrase “and God said . . . “ beats in cadence all the way through the chapter. The entire magnificent world we live in is the product of His creative work. All that follows in the Bible reinforces the message of Genesis 1: Behind all of history, there is God. Creation is good. Another sentence toll softly, like a bell, throughout this chapter. “And God saw that it was good.” Much has changed since that first moment of creation. Genesis 1 ...

 1.30- Let Honor Meet Honor Matthew 6:1-6 Randy Kilgore I’ve always been impressed by the solemn, magnificent simplicity of the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. The carefully choreo- graphed event is a moving tribute to soldiers whose names –and sacrifice- are “known but to God.” Equally moving are the private moments of steady pacing when the crowds are gone: back and forth, hour after hour, day by day, in even the worst weather. In September 2003, Hurricane Isabel was bearing down on Washington, DC, and the guards were told they could seek shelter during the worst of the storm. Surprisingly, none of the guards were interested in doing that. They unselfishly stood their post to honor their fallen comrades even in the face of a hurricane. Underlying Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:1-6, I believe, is His desire for us to live with an unrelenting, selfless devotion to Him. The Bible calls us to good deeds and holy living, but these are to...

 1.29- Who is This? Mark 4:35-41 Arthur Jackson “Remove everything from your desks, take out a piece of paper and pencil.” When I was a student these dreaded words announced that “test time” had come. In Mark 4, we read that Jesus’ day, which started with teaching by the seaside (verse 1), ended with a time of testing on the sea (verse 35). The boat that had been used as a teaching platform was used to transport Jesus and a handful of His followers to the other side of the sea. During the journey (while an exhausted Jesus slept in the back of the boat), they encountered a swirling storm (verse 37). Drenched disciples woke Jesus with the words, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (verse 38). Then it happened, The One who had exhorted the crowds to “Listen!” earlier in the day (verse 3), uttered a simple, powerful command to the winds of nature – “Quiet! Be still!” (verse 39). The wind obeyed and the wonder of fear-filled disciples was displayed with the words, “Who is this?” (ver...

 1.28.21- This is not as uncomfortable on this day but imagine back then Martin Luther King was a prophet. He spoke God’s word in a way that at that time made many people or maybe all people a little bit “uncomfortable”. I read someone wrote that we have domesticated King’s word, made them more comfortable. “we are on the side of the wealthy, and the secure, while we create a hell for the poor” (King, “Beyond Vietnam,” 146; 153). To change course, King suggested a five point outline for stopping the war, which included a call for a unilateral ceasefire. To King, however, the Vietnam War was only the most pressing symptom of American colonialism worldwide. King claimed that America made “peaceful revolution impossible by refusing to give up the privileges and the pleasures that come from the immense profits of overseas investments” (King, “Beyond Vietnam,” 157). King urged instead “a radical revolution of values” emphasizing love and justice rather than economic nationalism (King,...

 1.27.21- When people don't believe in truth bad things happen. Left wing false teachers and right wing false teachers. Over 3,000 years ago it was written. "Be strong and courageous and depart not to the right or left." Joshua 1.   6  Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.   7  Only be strong and very courageous;  [ b ] be careful to do according to all the Law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may  [ c ] achieve success wherever you go.  

 1.26.21- We enter the life of God when we love Him enough to obey Him. Many people want religion that they can control rather than a relationship which only God can control.  It includes obeying God's command to remember to love and support the poor as representatives of God. Matthew 19. 16  And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do so that I may obtain eternal life?”   17  And He said to him,  “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is  only  One who is good; but if you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”   18  Then  he *said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said,  “ You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not give false testimony ;   19  Honor your father and mother ; and  You shall love your neighbor as yourself .”   20  The young man *said to Him, “All these I have kept; what am I still lacking...

 1.25.21- Only God is good.  Jesus was called "good" and pointed out that this term is best reserved for God.  Many good deeds are done my men and women.  Teachers and doctors and nurses and first responders and firemen and women and police men and women do many good deed.  They draw their best powers for this from God who alone is good. Matthew 19. 16  And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do so that I may obtain eternal life?”   17  And He said to him,  “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is  only  One who is good; but if you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”   18  Then  he *said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said,  “ You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not give false testimony ;   19  Honor your father and mother ; and  You shall love your neighbor as yourself .”   20...