I am writing this post a week early because I will be out of town this week.  But I hope that you enjoyed reading about the resurrection once again from the gospel of Luke (if you are reading along with us on our read through the Bible.)  I cannot get enough of this idea that Jesus is alive unlike every other world religion.  Yet it is true.  We serve a RISEN SAVIOR!

No fooling.  Jesus is alive!

As we start this holy week leading up to Jesus’ death, let us remember hos foolish it was for Jesus to die for sinners and the ungodly (Rom 5:8).  And yet without his love and sacrifice, we would not be celebrating the most glorious day in all history next Sunday.  We would not know the hope of a future with God and the relationship we can have now as we live here on earth.  The foolishness of the cross brought us new life and a future in heaven.  For that reason, I will never hesitate to be a fool for Christ because he became a fool for me.

Today’s Bible reading ties in nicely with yesterday’s sermon.  In Deuteronomy, we read that God wants his people to serve him when they move into their new country.  That he is the one who rescued them and wants them to prosper.  But he cautions them about being tempted away from him.  And we know from reading the Bible that they were indeed drawn away from God.  They had every blessing of God, yet they foolishly turned their back on him.  This is why later on in the prophets, the nation of Israel were called fools.  In Jeremiah, God is speaking and says, “My people are fools; they do not know me. They are senseless children; they have no understanding. They are skilled in doing evil; they know not how to do good.”  I sometimes I wonder how a people who actually saw God and knew his power in his acts, turned to idols and other gods.  But then I look at myself and how little I trust God.  I often try to do things on my own and yet I too have seen God work.  My idols are money and self.  But how much more can I do with God blessing me.

Pride is a tough subject.  Like I said in my sermon, it is not always a bad thing.  It is only bad if you are exalting yourself higher than you aught.  But even with that you have to be cautious because without God we can do nothing and our works amount to nothing.  We can only do and be what God has allowed us to do and be.  So remember, if you boast, boast in the Lord and what He has done in your life.  And he has done great things in your life!

Well, we are in the book of Numbers this week in our read through the Bible.  And the theme that you will see time and time again is complaining.  Even with the cloud of God’s presence visible night and day and directly directing them, they still did not see God’s provision and presence.  But complaining is something that is in the nature of all of us.  You do not have to look far to see it in our own lives.   So how do you keep yourself from complaining.  Something we learned (indirectly) on Sunday.  Count your blessings.  Blessings are more fun to count than complaints any way!  And best of all you will never run out of blessings to count so you will never have time to complain.

Another week of wisdom.

This week is Valentines Day and it is a special day to show love.  But this Valentines Day is extra special because it is also the start of Lent.  And while I church does not do much to observe Lent, it still is an important event on the church calendar.  Lent is the 40 days before Easter that helps prepare us for the passion of Christ and the celebration of his resurrection.  So this Valentines Day, do not forgot to express your love to the one who first loved you and sent his Son Jesus to die for you.