tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35315137297981677462024-03-14T20:05:07.717+13:00Lent @ Cashmere"becoming by grace what God is by nature"
-St Athanasius (De Incarnatione, I).Josh Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06142994341923935784noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531513729798167746.post-78366629722385047742012-04-06T09:24:00.002+12:002012-04-06T09:33:27.071+12:00Mark 15:1 – 41<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGBgMZ29W8r07FoMpXPD-n6qa8W_Gh6cq7-UdbHun1ykD-7zDeL3cESk_gxoU16kMd6abWYkREfltNUxjYAKxrwIkpQ5bJ5W4KgUcygIWGIYYsGq5fZYZbE1PQ1V3KIVGpeSx-xiDOpU/s1600/Cross+icon.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGBgMZ29W8r07FoMpXPD-n6qa8W_Gh6cq7-UdbHun1ykD-7zDeL3cESk_gxoU16kMd6abWYkREfltNUxjYAKxrwIkpQ5bJ5W4KgUcygIWGIYYsGq5fZYZbE1PQ1V3KIVGpeSx-xiDOpU/s320/Cross+icon.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728032863293583026" /></a><br /> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> 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<w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">By Amy Whiting</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Good...if you look up that adjective in our dictionary it has 28 different meanings!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>28 ways of describing what good is...yet on the surface none of them seem to fit the events of the day we call Good Friday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Why do we call it good?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">“Friday is the day that:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">He who was celebrated becomes despised<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">He who was innocent was punished like the guilty<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">He who was the Lion was slaughtered like a Lamb<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">A day of unexpected reversals:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Where the Pharisees thought they got away with premeditated murder<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">But actually it was a predestined sacrifice<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">They thought they were taking His life<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">But in fact He was surrendering it<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Death was their goal,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Yet life was the outcome<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">How is this day good?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Because on this day God had other plans:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">He made one day affect all of eternity<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">He turned the wounds of One into healing for many<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">He transformed our worst acts of hate into the greatest expression of love<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">How is this day good?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Because at the cross: <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">We can hand over our sin in exchange for righteousness<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">We can lay down our burdens and pick up freedom<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">We can come broken and yet leave restored<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">And though seemingly it was the end – <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">It was actually just the beginning<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">The enemy had it planned as a bad day...<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">And we now call it good.”*<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">We call it Good Friday because today we remember and celebrate afresh that we have the privilege of knowing and experiencing that “<span style=" background:white;color:black;">God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">sinners</span>, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">*Text taken from the video clip “Good Friday” by Igniter Media</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Josh Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06142994341923935784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531513729798167746.post-15313782211605207512012-04-05T10:51:00.002+12:002012-04-05T10:54:33.352+12:00Mark 14:12-26<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86PWTt8w5kQOiF4D3GgSA6A8ZgGli9ios1KxMVTI3Cis6CkQpgbwX0UetTiyjXz-iY5Zx74YL_3fdPBSnsQoapLgdSF8sua30d7eP7wE_-czB3amjytruDGUUhudK5AqLB6w1OiK7Zd0/s1600/lent40.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86PWTt8w5kQOiF4D3GgSA6A8ZgGli9ios1KxMVTI3Cis6CkQpgbwX0UetTiyjXz-iY5Zx74YL_3fdPBSnsQoapLgdSF8sua30d7eP7wE_-czB3amjytruDGUUhudK5AqLB6w1OiK7Zd0/s320/lent40.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727682630808796322" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">By Josh Taylor</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Reading this passage is like being a fly on a wall at a very important occasion. The disciples gather to share a meal with Jesus. Why is this passover meal significant?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19px; "><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Here Jesus connects Israel’s past with his mission. He is the one who came to fulfill God’s plans for his world. So the meal that Jesus invites his followers to partake in is a meal that celebrates an ‘exodus’ of sorts (The passover meal celebrates God delivering his people from slavery in Egypt).This ‘exodus’ is a delivery from the slavery of sin and death that in Jesus’ death and resurrection is made possible. The meal that Jesus invites his disciples to take helps explain his death. Jesus breaks the bread saying “This is my body given for you”. Jesus takes the cup saying: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” So this meal that Jesus had with his disciples was all about God’s gift of grace to a broken world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">We celebrate this meal in church when we take communion. When we do this we are reminded that following Jesus is not about mental assent to an abstract theory or belief. Rather we follow Jesus together as a community and this is intimately entwined in everything we do: as we do such a down to earth real thing as eating together we are reminded that we participate in God's grace.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div></span></div>Josh Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06142994341923935784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531513729798167746.post-62296877440918174672012-04-04T09:18:00.002+12:002012-04-04T09:30:22.950+12:00Mark 14:53-65<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0PRg0GxrRT3-qglFp_rAt5lmDRCi4gFVudPXQPrLFTvLuNHWPIPEcCrLN8jeXM-PBbmEIsbaI_FWaMcfAc4EFrBh36dBb77Z_QZosTCffD4jjBevkzKa2i3Vj-rzF6EJ9STNRno02S8/s1600/lent39.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0PRg0GxrRT3-qglFp_rAt5lmDRCi4gFVudPXQPrLFTvLuNHWPIPEcCrLN8jeXM-PBbmEIsbaI_FWaMcfAc4EFrBh36dBb77Z_QZosTCffD4jjBevkzKa2i3Vj-rzF6EJ9STNRno02S8/s320/lent39.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727289810544609874" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br />By Josh Taylor </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">What struck me most about this passage were the opening lines. Jesus has been arrested and is being taken to see the high priest. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">In verse 50 the "disciples cut and run" (as the Message puts it). Here in verse 54 we see that "Peter followed at a safe distance". </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Remember that these are the people who are closest to Jesus. They have spent years with him, eating with him, praying with him and following him. But when it comes to the crunch, when things start to get risky they cut and run. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">The challenge for me was this: how many of us "follow Jesus at a safe distance". This Lent we are reminded of the call to follow Jesus with our whole lives, to give over everything to him. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">A prayer: </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">"Lord Jesus, help us not to be those who follow you at a safe distance. As we approach Easter we are reminded of your life given for us. May we learn to follow you even where it is risky and in doing so may we encounter your grace and love."</span></div>Josh Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06142994341923935784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531513729798167746.post-32747058724957094322012-04-03T08:08:00.002+12:002012-04-03T08:30:10.034+12:00Mark 14:32-52<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx85Qtkk9IkFpFjCYnboy6OdsDm7uUsIe2t0CvIQQgt3ue1z_2Kku6zsHCvUU7js9f5VojpOTLspKw18i74X3T45WrO5OcioS24EpZgkQ8lspEfQ8XBXkE8gtOysU3tsfln0wodD2dRKo/s1600/lent38.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 208px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx85Qtkk9IkFpFjCYnboy6OdsDm7uUsIe2t0CvIQQgt3ue1z_2Kku6zsHCvUU7js9f5VojpOTLspKw18i74X3T45WrO5OcioS24EpZgkQ8lspEfQ8XBXkE8gtOysU3tsfln0wodD2dRKo/s320/lent38.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726903277610919010" /></a><br /> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>155</o:Words> <o:characters>683</o:Characters> <o:company>Cashmere New Life</o:Company> <o:lines>21</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>1086</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.256</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">A prayer by Walter Brueggemann from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth. </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><br /></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">This day of dread and betrayal and denial </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">cause a pause in our busyness </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Who would of thought that you would take </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">the eighth son of Jesse</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">to become the pivot of hope in our ancient memory? </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Who would have thought that you would take </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">this uncredentialed </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Galilean rabbi</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">to become the pivot of newness in the world?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Who would have thought that you – </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">God of gods and Lord of lords – </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">would fasten on such small, innocuous agents</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">whom the world scorns </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">to turn creation toward your newness? </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">As we are dazzled, </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">give us the freedom to resituate our lives in modest, </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">uncredentialed, vulnerable places. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">We ask for freedom and courage to move out from our nicely</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">arranged patterns of security </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">into dangerous places of newness where we fear to go. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Cross us by the cross, that we may be Easter marked. Amen. </span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Josh Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06142994341923935784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531513729798167746.post-15229894165192354852012-03-31T07:00:00.000+13:002012-03-31T07:00:04.235+13:00Mark 14-15:47<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jiBvjAT3Nre4c5VgStM2Wr7pvegjxCwU-MMVVIHbgmzgXXdnSW6UwnG436mUaK5aYRWDHTklWijIzSUFb7TQsQYJ0Kpihprg16Z0AM2_oHSwW2IzyXLUCBE9j0bVRgfcC28F0gV0nuw/s1600/lent37.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jiBvjAT3Nre4c5VgStM2Wr7pvegjxCwU-MMVVIHbgmzgXXdnSW6UwnG436mUaK5aYRWDHTklWijIzSUFb7TQsQYJ0Kpihprg16Z0AM2_oHSwW2IzyXLUCBE9j0bVRgfcC28F0gV0nuw/s320/lent37.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725448758616964738" /></a><div color="transparent" style="background- "> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap; "><span lang="EN-NZ">by Monique </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap; "><span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap; "><span lang="EN-NZ">Wow…. The more and more I look into this passage the more my heart is changed and I become more and more thankful for the beauty of the sacrifice of God’s love for us, but on the other hand I know I will never grasp the true extent of the selfless sacrifice that Jesus made when he came to Earth as one of us, I don’t think anyone could truly grasp how it would have been to endure the agony, suffering, betrayal and loneliness and the mocking chants of the crowds. Sometimes I neglect to remember that Jesus was divine yes, but he was also human, he was perfectly human. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap; "><span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap; "><span lang="EN-NZ">I wonder how he must’ve felt when he knew Peter would disown him, I bet Peter was shocked, he loved Jesus and he was deeply devoted to him (he definitely wasn’t just a fan). But when the time came for Peter to proclaim the name of Jesus and to declare his love for him to this woman, he failed, he denied it in a way that you couldn’t take as a misunderstanding but he clearly said “I don’t know what you are talking about” (14:68) Then the Rooster crowed as Jesus had spoken of earlier and our friend Peter broke down and wept. I wonder how Peter must have felt when he realised what he had done. To have so much determination to never let Jesus down and having been pre warned about it but to still deny him.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap; "><span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap; "><span lang="EN-NZ">This raises up such a challenge in my life, my heart aches when I think of the many times I as a follower of Christ have denied him, when people have talked about me being religious I haven’t jumped up and said “ I am a follower of Christ”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and continued to talk about my Jesus, I simply shrugged it off. So reading of the agony and suffering of Jesus on the cross I sit here and ponder about what it cost him so I could live. I think of the painful sacrifice he made for us, and I find it hard to wonder why I would ever not boast about my Jesus? Why I would not be excited to explain why I’m not simply religious, but a Follower of Christ, a follower of a divine human who loved us so deeply he gave his life on the Cross so we could be rescued, so the world could be rescued. For I know that although I deny him he will never relent, he will never give up on me, he is unconditional on all matters regarding the heart.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap; "><span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap; "><span lang="EN-NZ">So I guess the challenge for myself and anyone else who’s the same is will we sacrifice popularity and what the world thinks of us “religious folks” and speak up when given the opportunity, speak of the Love God has for the people we encounter and try not to deny Gods voice but listen and respond in love as Jesus did? It seems a small sacrifice when I sit here and think about it and I suddenly realise it seems insane to not do it when compared to the sacrifice that was made for us the day the veil was torn.<a name="_GoBack"></a></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div>Josh Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06142994341923935784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531513729798167746.post-18320276130769936802012-03-30T09:33:00.006+13:002012-03-30T10:07:01.339+13:00Mark 11:1-11<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVmLauyECZFAHw1-xYOazKzI8LJE6etfjF28trAKD4kAyNDx4dtkCPpLMy8NQqqw8aDreSePqa1w-E_jRJLSFafSdmrqtxdKsk656nZw4t9JqQx9pBItSLqBZlYiufrqa2CjkG418okk/s1600/lent35.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVmLauyECZFAHw1-xYOazKzI8LJE6etfjF28trAKD4kAyNDx4dtkCPpLMy8NQqqw8aDreSePqa1w-E_jRJLSFafSdmrqtxdKsk656nZw4t9JqQx9pBItSLqBZlYiufrqa2CjkG418okk/s1600/lent35.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVmLauyECZFAHw1-xYOazKzI8LJE6etfjF28trAKD4kAyNDx4dtkCPpLMy8NQqqw8aDreSePqa1w-E_jRJLSFafSdmrqtxdKsk656nZw4t9JqQx9pBItSLqBZlYiufrqa2CjkG418okk/s320/lent35.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725422626105703250" /></a><br /> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>605</o:Words> <o:characters>3449</o:Characters> <o:company>Cashmere New Life</o:Company> <o:lines>28</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>6</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>4235</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.256</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">By Leigh Page <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>605</o:Words> <o:characters>3452</o:Characters> <o:company>Cashmere New Life</o:Company> <o:lines>28</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>6</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>4239</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.256</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><span lang="EN-US">Did you notice all the ‘ones’? Five of them? Five, the number of grace … amazing grace. </span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(240, 248, 255); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Here, in this passage we see an amazing out flowing of God’s grace at work … the revealing of God’s big picture of salvation established from the beginning, the fulfilment of prophecy, the nature of the character of God Himself … all coming together … if only the people had had the eyes and ears to receive it at the time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(240, 248, 255); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">As Eugene O’Neill noted, ‘</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(240, 248, 255); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The grace of God is glue.’ The glue of HisStory, the glue that mends the broken hearted, the glue that binds together communities … grace.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(240, 248, 255); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Jesus comes to Jerusalem, the city that he had wept over, the city that ‘</span><span lang="EN-GB">was to be the radiating heart of a world of completeness and wholeness’ … of peace … of grace …<span style="background:aliceblue"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(240, 248, 255); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Zechariah, the prophet, wrote these words some 480 years before the events unfolding before us …<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background- background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background:white">See, your king comes to you,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br /><span style="background:white"> righteous and victorious,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="background:white">lowly and riding on a donkey,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br /><span style="background:white"> on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background:white"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background:white"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>66</o:Words> <o:characters>381</o:Characters> <o:company>Cashmere New Life</o:Company> <o:lines>3</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>467</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.256</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background:white"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background- background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Jesus, aware of all that is about to unfold in this week of His passion, comes in the grace and favour of God, fulfilling the Word of the Lord bought by the prophets generations before. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background:white"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background- background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">In a lowly manner, on a borrowed colt, over the people’s cloaks and on branches spread out on the road as they did when celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles (the feast remembering God’s provision, the deliverance of the Hebrews from Egypt and the wandering in the desert). <o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--></span></span></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background:white"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background:white"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Compare this approach with the earthly kings of the day who rode into cities upon horses with pomp and all the trappings of human power. Then come the cries of the people, “Hosanna” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>(“save now”), “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” they shout, welcoming his person. “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” and “Hosanna in the highest! Here are prophetic words echoing loudly in the air, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>to the great consternation of the chief priest and scribes. Why? Because this greeting and prayer was to be reserved only for the coming of the Messiah, as declared on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles. How could this Nazarene be the messiah we are expecting? ‘<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">This makes the event of Jesus entering the city in what is called the ‘Triumphant Entry” (on Palm Sunday) come alive for us as we now better understand its significance.’</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background:white"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Jesus went through the city to the Temple, the ‘epitome of the aspirations of Israel and the symbol of its national hopes’ and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>looks around at everything<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>… the Temple, designed to be the place of meeting …man with God …designated to be a house of prayer for all nations (all people groups) … What does He find? A place of peace where the rivers of life flow from the house of God to all nations? <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background:white;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">What does He see? The corrupted fruit the outcome of religious rules, ritual and reckonings? What does He think?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Grief for the people? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Remember<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the zeal (</span><span lang="EN-GB"> to earnestly desire something in a protective sense -- a fierce protectiveness.) for his Father’s house? <span style="background:white;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">But since it was already late … He went out to Bethany with the twelve. Bethany the home of Lazarus, the one Jesus raised from the dead just a few days ago, of Simon the leper, of Mary Magdalene and of Martha … Bethany, </span><span style="background:white">a centre for caring for the sick and aiding the destitute and pilgrims to Jerusalem …<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background- background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Selah.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background:white"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background- background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color:white;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background- background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color:white;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background- background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color:white;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; "><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--><p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Josh Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06142994341923935784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531513729798167746.post-40924374516661653042012-03-29T07:00:00.000+13:002012-03-29T07:00:06.644+13:00Mark 13: 1-23<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBjkBbvQ7UeYfTKwqBr7GoTY6_ZoPRpWAoLwQYLxPIosKt3yCUqSIabmuX6Rv0fqlpbxJTyh3G2lycSsqAzal1Krez0sM1cpnVBw34Bk4KMyi69FBgmpIeNzkXD-ydnRmOhchCoBdAkg/s1600/lent35.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBjkBbvQ7UeYfTKwqBr7GoTY6_ZoPRpWAoLwQYLxPIosKt3yCUqSIabmuX6Rv0fqlpbxJTyh3G2lycSsqAzal1Krez0sM1cpnVBw34Bk4KMyi69FBgmpIeNzkXD-ydnRmOhchCoBdAkg/s320/lent35.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724803922194926178" /></a><br /><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">By Sam Wilkinson</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">This is a pasage sbout sacrifice, and prepardness in our faith. As much as Jesus shares on signs of end times we could easily miss the point due to the fascinating content.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Through the beginning of chapter 13 we are reminded of how fickle our material can be, a temple built to honour the Lord, celarly a magnificent structure in its day. Jesus warns of a fate for the whole city that as residents in Christchurch we probably have a genuinely unique perspective on. “not one stone here will be left on another, every one will be thrown down”.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Prophecies of war, famine, and disasters follow. I am struck by the most improbable section as being the nucleus of what the passage is about, there is certain prophecy that Jesus tells us to pray does not happen in the winter, why? Because he does not know exacly how this end of days will play out. Attempting to disect a time line over these uncertain events is the most challenging puzzle you could ever face, and some love it. But is it the main point to this scripture?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">I remember sitting in class in year 6, terrified listening to these prophecies, convinced they began tomorrow. Why I am not sure but I missed the point back then, doesn't surprise me know I think about it, it seemed like a Christian baseball bat keeping me in line through fear.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">However the many different ways you study or hear this and other end times passages, it is important to remember this, if you study out of devotion and not human imposed fear and you will find the content encouraging. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">We are to remember that our Lord requires not the magnificence of buildings and other material, he requires the magnificence of Christ dwelling in us to spread his goodness. If we sacrifice the material and are prepared for all eventualities in our faith, a specific time frame is irrelevant, the journey will be difficult but the outcome will be stunning.</span></p><div><br /></div>Josh Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06142994341923935784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531513729798167746.post-16625901662294494492012-03-28T09:41:00.004+13:002012-03-28T10:18:18.843+13:00Mark 12:18-27<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1u5UGmn8fOovBZUjU1VvNbdvFRaAbvpYh5LPKE-3KyF-goyfPJzmS5aiZzwBg_wG3yw5AoodgQ8RXoyaMb0RBjg5x6cJZnjfGvLh7PblqIHwSNHe4hLXe19v8srnD6dXR4HY7LShFL-0/s1600/lent34.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1u5UGmn8fOovBZUjU1VvNbdvFRaAbvpYh5LPKE-3KyF-goyfPJzmS5aiZzwBg_wG3yw5AoodgQ8RXoyaMb0RBjg5x6cJZnjfGvLh7PblqIHwSNHe4hLXe19v8srnD6dXR4HY7LShFL-0/s320/lent34.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724687466252470498" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br />By Josh Taylor </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">The Sadducees didn't believe in the resurrection of the body, so they want to make a point of how ridiculous they think it is. They give the example of a woman who marries seven men whom all die. Whose wife will she be at the resurrection of the dead? </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Jesus quickly shows them that they are on an adventure of missing the point. His critique of them is harsh. Jesus essentially tells them that they don't know the Scriptures or the power of God! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Resurrection is at the heart of Christian faith. Sometimes we end up on adventures in missing the point when it comes to life after death. Our western Christian tradition has often emphasized going to heaven, a picture that conjures up images of harps, angels and fluffy clouds. However, biblically the picture of resurrection is at the heart of what it means for God to restore his creation, when we miss this its often because we also don't get the Scriptures or the power of God! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">On this passage Tom Wright says this: </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">"Jesus, like the Pharisees in this respect, taught a <i>two-stage 'life after death'</i>: first, a time of being 'with God', alive in his presence but not yet re-embodied, and then, after that, the newly embodied life of resurrection itself." </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">-Tom Wright, <i>Lent for Everyone, Year B, Mark </i>(London, SPCK, 2012), 126. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">You may be thinking what on earth? If you are, it just goes to show how much we have been on an adventure of missing the point on this one. If you want to read more about the centrality of resurrection for Christian faith check out these chapters in the Bible: </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">-Ezekiel 37</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">-John 5</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">-Acts 17</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">-Romans 6</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">-Romans 8</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">-1 Corinthians 15</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">-Revelation 20</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Another great resource to read is a book called "Surprised by Hope" by N.T. Wright. You can check it out <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Surprised-Hope-Rethinking-Resurrection-Mission/dp/0061551821">here </a></span></div>Josh Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06142994341923935784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531513729798167746.post-41700017531752330402012-03-27T08:14:00.003+13:002012-03-27T08:19:53.625+13:00Mark 12:1-12<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7SdM5l6XgQTXWOMAtpC9wk0CW9ysuqE-KVn2SLYV3fAv2mhgk8pLM9_tDX5E8LiiY7PtAIrHRrFHv9J3SaidCuWOaMNr-O9mQbjAQaY8859abn04UgD_ihje-A2dq3uxgdjIGHQZcp0/s1600/Lent33.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7SdM5l6XgQTXWOMAtpC9wk0CW9ysuqE-KVn2SLYV3fAv2mhgk8pLM9_tDX5E8LiiY7PtAIrHRrFHv9J3SaidCuWOaMNr-O9mQbjAQaY8859abn04UgD_ihje-A2dq3uxgdjIGHQZcp0/s320/Lent33.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724287048715132658" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">By Joanna de Vocht</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>244</o:Words> <o:characters>1395</o:Characters> <o:company>Cashmere New Life</o:Company> <o:lines>11</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>2</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>1713</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.256</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">I think it could be easy to read this passage as a Christian and make the mistake of thinking that it doesn’t really apply to US because we haven’t rejected Christ we have invited him to be king of our lives. Right? </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">But if we look wider than the more obvious message of this passage, the rejection of Christ, and look at the underlying motive for the rejection, this passage speaks to a topic quite different and quite applicable to all Christians – power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Jesus didn’t fit within the Pharisees’ ideals of power, he threatened rather than confirmed or raised their authority. There wasn’t a place for their type of authority in his kingdom. He could warn them with messengers like John the Baptist but they would not submit because he wasn’t the Messiah they were looking for. He elevated the wrong people. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">If we look at our own lives, who are the people that threaten our sense power and how do we treat them? We are probably less likely to commit overt violence like the Pharisees did, but we all feel tempted to fight for our ‘right’ to power over our territory at work or at home. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Recently, when complaining to a friend about someone who I felt was encroaching on my territory of leadership, she told me that I needed to give up my spiritual ‘right’ to lead that project - because God (not group politics) raises and lowers anyway. She was dead right and as soon as I gave up my right to power the whole situation turned around.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Who will you submit to for the glory of God? Maybe it is someone worse than you, someone stupider and less well spoken than you (that was certainly not true in my case) - but truly following Christ means giving up our own power and glorifying His.</span></p> <!--EndFragment--></div>Josh Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06142994341923935784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531513729798167746.post-62961358311390966102012-03-26T08:14:00.000+13:002012-03-26T09:21:10.814+13:00Mark 11:12-25<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRHhyphenhyphengW5IOJtkEK0F6CdthMnGe3Z-4bnyYZOSUaV0WfS-lv_cvC6yW64U0xZ1quYMoto7Ft0-CfQhsCzOVTq_-6_U16KZg6Bg7dHof6utu1I_JUjHY5a2EMCjZxdEX2o2TuxICCeKh1k/s1600/Lent32.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRHhyphenhyphengW5IOJtkEK0F6CdthMnGe3Z-4bnyYZOSUaV0WfS-lv_cvC6yW64U0xZ1quYMoto7Ft0-CfQhsCzOVTq_-6_U16KZg6Bg7dHof6utu1I_JUjHY5a2EMCjZxdEX2o2TuxICCeKh1k/s320/Lent32.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723932161688577410" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">By Josh Taylor </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">In the prophet Isaiah we find these words: </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">"...these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations." </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">(Isaiah 56:7)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Jesus comes and declares judgement on the temple because it has turned inward, serving the needs of those who benefit most from religious observance. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">God is a missional God, a God who reaches out. In Genesis 12 we see where God calls Abraham and makes a promise to bless him. But the blessing is so that Abraham my in turn be a blessing. This is the call of God's people: blessed to be a blessing. The problem we encounter in Mark 11:12-25 is that the people of God: a people called to be a blessing to all the nations have held back on their end of the deal. This temple of all places was to be a place where God's holiness and love were on display, instead Jesus finds what he describes as a den of robbers. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">We, the church are called together in God's name as God's people. We indeed are blessed. But, we are blessed to be a blessing. Would Jesus come in to our midst and praise the way holiness and love is displayed in our local community through our witness, or would he find that we are turned inward? </span></div>Josh Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06142994341923935784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531513729798167746.post-55808255163292687442012-03-24T00:03:00.002+13:002012-03-24T00:04:41.399+13:00John 12:20-33<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxhX2Opc_Nn3io0QZ0S0tlyL3DTpjJhrsi3WvFqywz9kgnTnz-UwWp15bGJbonvywQwDdDJk1CveZqKwenKmQ1CJHZdlDuqWizkKumkKcIZlalQif8sbeSRyURAjh6O7fQ4Ek2k01pIk/s1600/lent31.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 208px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxhX2Opc_Nn3io0QZ0S0tlyL3DTpjJhrsi3WvFqywz9kgnTnz-UwWp15bGJbonvywQwDdDJk1CveZqKwenKmQ1CJHZdlDuqWizkKumkKcIZlalQif8sbeSRyURAjh6O7fQ4Ek2k01pIk/s320/lent31.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723046709511901826" /></a><br /> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>240</o:Words> <o:characters>1008</o:Characters> <o:company>Cashmere New Life</o:Company> <o:lines>25</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>1680</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.256</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">By Amy Whiting </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Following Jesus is often counter-cultural and counter-intuitive.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">The truth is that if we want a full, satisfying, worthwhile life – a life whose influence lives on well beyond us – one that leaves a legacy and inspires others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If we want to be honoured by our heavenly Father (vs 26)...If we want to be that person we must...die, serve and follow.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span>I guess the thing that most captured me in this verse was this – “unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains all by itself.” All by itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Lonely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Isolated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Maybe by our wordly measuring stick successful, but in reality alone.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">I wonder if this is something we have missed – that dying, serving and following ensures that we will be fruitful...and not all by ourselves...both in this world and in the age to come.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">This promise of not being alone is echoed again in( vs 26) With this promise – if anyone serves me, they must follow me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Where I am, my servant will be too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In dying, serving and following we are found right with Him.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span>It goes against everything our world, our intuition, our common sense screams at us – but my prayer is that I could grasp this fully – in choosing to serve & follow, to die to myself...there I am found fruitful & at the side of the One who’s opinion matters in this life, and the one to come.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Josh Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06142994341923935784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531513729798167746.post-38869123243887309822012-03-23T09:56:00.004+13:002012-03-23T10:14:17.303+13:00Mark 10:46-52<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4bjn9VLTItfcPzbc3Fmx5Hzk5uwU7LqNHI8olJZBcucIx6vjppdYUddyE4yXmyp8JjVwHGO9vFgCM3kRbY-6Cmc1lhXbCtUZNY1NTbsdcqBzNgfihQJTUIVnqGi4MZ0DWrZmuhQNh5k/s1600/lent30.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4bjn9VLTItfcPzbc3Fmx5Hzk5uwU7LqNHI8olJZBcucIx6vjppdYUddyE4yXmyp8JjVwHGO9vFgCM3kRbY-6Cmc1lhXbCtUZNY1NTbsdcqBzNgfihQJTUIVnqGi4MZ0DWrZmuhQNh5k/s320/lent30.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722832555949265234" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">By Josh Taylor</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><i>A prayer for the faith of Bartimaeus</i> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Lord, give us the faith of Bartimaeus:</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Who threw off his cloak</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Who yelled out to you without restraint</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">"Take pity on me!" </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Take pity on us </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Who are so scared to trust in you</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Who hold back timidly </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Lord, give us the boldness of Bartimaeus. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">We are broken, just like Bartimaeus </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">We need healing, just like Bartimaeus</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">We need hope, just like Bartimaeus. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">So we pray: make us new, just like Bartimaeus. </span></div><div><br /></div>Josh Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06142994341923935784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531513729798167746.post-5645299736028288412012-03-22T07:57:00.002+13:002012-03-22T08:00:27.147+13:00Mark 10:35-45<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip81_USbNXTUpjUTCc8nKm9HmpHW5Io-eF1ERsYVEvNexvHXEQnbz_oJIPvoWj_wAygnswrGYxX22HdXmMFVSt-Z8vqiaVRMILeGyw21d-tvOBPii8Kg1Bmk9P5VNKreTstG4uuodm8kU/s1600/lent29.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip81_USbNXTUpjUTCc8nKm9HmpHW5Io-eF1ERsYVEvNexvHXEQnbz_oJIPvoWj_wAygnswrGYxX22HdXmMFVSt-Z8vqiaVRMILeGyw21d-tvOBPii8Kg1Bmk9P5VNKreTstG4uuodm8kU/s320/lent29.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722427060916012850" /></a><br /> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>340</o:Words> <o:characters>1942</o:Characters> <o:company>Cashmere New Life</o:Company> <o:lines>16</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>3</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>2384</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.256</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">By Kees Aitken</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">As I read this it makes me chuckle and cringe at the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">The first thing that came to my mind was “are James and John taking the mickey?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In verse 35 straight off the bat they ask, “Teacher, we want You to grant us whatever we ask.” Do they not know Who they are speaking to? </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">But Jesus, rather than laughing at them and walking away like most of us would, turns around and asks, “What do you want Me to do for you?” (verse 36).</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">They ask, at verse 37, “Grant us that when You are there in all Your glory, one of us will sit at Your right, and the other at Your left”!! The cheek of them!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">But at verse 38 Jesus replies, “You don’t understand what you are asking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Can you drink the cup that I must drink?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And can you be baptized with the same kind of baptism that I must go through?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And, at verse 39, they answered, “Yes, we can.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">It seems to me that their ignorance comes off as arrogance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But, ever humble and gracious, Jesus does not put them down or reprimand them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He is gentle in His correction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I love this about Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What I think James and John didn’t understand is that, while they were referring to a place of Glory after death, Jesus knew what lay ahead and those who would accompany Him to the Cross. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">When the ten heard about this they became indignant with James and John. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>You can’t really blame them but yet again Jesus responds with wisdom and grace, and then teaches them what I think is one of the most important lessons in scripture:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:16.0pt; margin-left:36.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace: none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language: EN-US">“</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi- mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. </span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. </span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-US">For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10 vs 42-45).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">“S</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-US">o he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him (John 13 vs 4-5)</span><span lang="EN-US">.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">This is one of the many hundreds of reasons why Jesus is the most amazing King of Kings; any other King would have had slaves, servants, maids, and butlers etc but Jesus came to serve.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size:7;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Josh Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06142994341923935784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531513729798167746.post-44645824648682538372012-03-21T10:56:00.002+13:002012-03-21T11:09:35.493+13:00Mark 10:17-31<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKvE_sQsb-HDayI_2JDiz3272wr1mK17P6MO3rSugsuZh09JSrTmghibmKA88v8lTBur2NxUmhEJycmIfE3UsqaYHZJfAFPm2uYiLX8O0A-FGcz7AlE5-3crSpMNJNP85g6dUaisA1HQ/s1600/Lent28.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKvE_sQsb-HDayI_2JDiz3272wr1mK17P6MO3rSugsuZh09JSrTmghibmKA88v8lTBur2NxUmhEJycmIfE3UsqaYHZJfAFPm2uYiLX8O0A-FGcz7AlE5-3crSpMNJNP85g6dUaisA1HQ/s320/Lent28.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722104546806667922" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">By Josh Taylor</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>253</o:Words> <o:characters>1444</o:Characters> <o:company>Cashmere New Life</o:Company> <o:lines>12</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>2</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>1773</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.256</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">We all have our own proudest possessions, the part of our lives that we are not willing to give away in order to truly follow Jesus. When Jesus calls us to become his disciples, to follow him, there is a cost involved. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" >The challenge that struck me as I was thinking about this passage was what is this cost in my life? What is it that holds me back when Jesus calls me? There is always something that fights for our allegiance.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" >It’s like we all constantly face a big game of tug of war. On one side Jesus calls us to obey him and follow him whole heartedly and on the other side there are the tempting offers and habits that hold us back from fully committing.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" >But the fact is that the choice has to be made. We either follow Jesus or we don’t. There isn’t some pleasant negotiable middle. That is why Jesus says it is so hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of God. It is because they are held back from giving their loyalty fully to Jesus; instead they trust in their wealth.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" >The story of the rich young ruler finishes with an interesting question. The disciples ask Jesus, who then can be saved? Jesus says “with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” The point here is that we don’t just try to make our own lives better somehow and prove to God that we’re not so bad after all, because that is impossible<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">. The point is that relationship is the key element. It is with God that all things are possible.</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" >Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a german theologian who was martyred in WWII said this: </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" >“The cross is laid on every Christian. The first Christ-suffering which every man must experience is the call to abandon the attachments of this world. It is that dying of the old man which is the result of his encounter with Christ. As we embark upon discipleship we surrender ourselves to Christ in union with his death-we give over our lives to death. Thus it begins; the cross is not the terrible end to otherwise godfearing and happy life, but it meets us at the beginning of our communion with Christ. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die</b>. It may be a death like that of the first disciples who had to leave home and work to follow him, or it may be a death like Luther’s, who had to leave the monastery and go out into the world. But it is the same death every time-in Jesus Christ, the death of the old man at his call. Jesus’ summons to the rich young man was calling him to die, because only the man who is dead to his own will can follow Christ."</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;">-Dietrich Bonhoeffer, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Cost of Discipleship, </i>pg89, 90</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">The journey of Lent is one where we remind ourselves of our call to obey Christ above all else. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></p> <!--EndFragment--><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> </span></b></span></p> <!--EndFragment--></div>Josh Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06142994341923935784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531513729798167746.post-2543611210136041702012-03-20T10:48:00.004+13:002012-03-20T11:14:09.445+13:00Mark 10:1-12<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwY9RGB4o33GSaYhDnaIqFBmW888PjM1qwckf2l85uaLcuDsMqPDKZFrM_4B50a0Rzn7mCeaWKPa9QItF4afSMVgn0ZdjQpwQ7l6BBDT410BSSzlJLEVkUFxKnqs9iEUHlfoXH7LCsK6E/s1600/lent27.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwY9RGB4o33GSaYhDnaIqFBmW888PjM1qwckf2l85uaLcuDsMqPDKZFrM_4B50a0Rzn7mCeaWKPa9QItF4afSMVgn0ZdjQpwQ7l6BBDT410BSSzlJLEVkUFxKnqs9iEUHlfoXH7LCsK6E/s320/lent27.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721734504934893026" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br />By Josh Taylor</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">The Pharisees try and catch Jesus out by asking him a hard question about divorce. Jesus turns it around and goes even deeper by getting back to God's intent: </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">"male and female he made them, and that's why </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">the man must leave his father and his mother </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">and cleave unto his wife; so that the two </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">become one flesh." </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Jesus is good at this. They know that he will probably give them a conservative answer, an answer that would get him in trouble politically with Herod who was himself divorced. But Jesus knows better than to fall into their trap, he quickly unveils their hearts. What is this law about? It is about God's intention for marriage. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Divorce is a topic that comes up in Scripture a few times, so let's take a quick tour of this issue in other places in Scripture...(this is a topic deeply personal to my own journey and hence there are fair amount of words to follow!) </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>47</o:Words> <o:characters>269</o:Characters> <o:company>Cashmere New Life</o:Company> <o:lines>2</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>330</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.256</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">In Ephesians 5:22-33 we find Paul’s picture of marriage. This picture is a positive one that affirms mutuality, equality and love. Genesis 2 affirms the relational bond that God created between men and women. Stanley Grenz writes on human relationships and insists that human relationships can reflect God’s triune nature, he says: </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>44</o:Words> <o:characters>251</o:Characters> <o:company>Cashmere New Life</o:Company> <o:lines>2</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>308</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.256</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=" margin-left: 36pt; font-size:large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Personhood, then, is bound up with relationality, and the fullness of relationality lies ultimately in relationship with the triune God. Creating this relational fullness is the work of the Spirit, who places humans “in Christ” and thereby effects human participation in the dynamic of the divine life.<a style="mso-footnote-id:ftn" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3531513729798167746#_ftn1" name="_ftnref" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character:footnote"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[1]<!--[endif]--></span></span></a></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> <div><br /></div><div><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>94</o:Words> <o:characters>540</o:Characters> <o:company>Cashmere New Life</o:Company> <o:lines>4</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>663</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.256</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-size:large;"><span lang="EN-US">Humans are made for relationship with one another. The marriage bond that displays mutuality of love which is beautifully expressed in the act of sex (as described in 1 Corinthians 7) can reflect the nature of God. Marriage is affirmed in the Bible, that man and woman are made as equals and called to exist as one flesh.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-size:large;"><span lang="EN-US">Divorce is a sad reality that Scripture teaches on in various places. Jesus teaches on adultery and divorce in Matthew 5:27-32. Jesus’ words in 5:31-32 are of particular relevance here.</span></p></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p></span><div><p class="MsoNormal" style=" ;font-size:large;"><span lang="EN-US"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>240</o:Words> <o:characters>1370</o:Characters> <o:company>Cashmere New Life</o:Company> <o:lines>11</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>2</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>1682</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.256</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">A Covenant theology reading offers much insight into Jesus’ words on marriage and divorce. Stassen and Gushee in their book “Kingdom Ethics” explore Matthew 5:31-32 from a Covenant theology reading. They highlight that marriage is a covenant and that there is significance in the covenant language of marriage.<a style="mso-footnote-id:ftn" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3531513729798167746#_ftn1" name="_ftnref" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character:footnote"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[2]<!--[endif]--></span></span></a> This covenant requires faithfulness, trust and honesty. Too often it seems that the question that one asks when facing Matthew 5:31-32 misses the point. It seems odd to ask the question of when is it possible for a couple to get divorced. The issue should not be questions of how to wriggle free from a covenant relationship. The truly important theological question that arises is what does God intend for marriage? Christians are to be new creations in Christ. The whole created order groans for restoration. Part of this restoration is the creational intent for marriage being restored. The Bible speaks of marriage and in the Genesis account speaks of man and woman united as one flesh.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character:footnote"><a style="mso-footnote-id:ftn" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3531513729798167746#_ftn2" name="_ftnref" title=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[3]</a></span></span></span></p> <div style="mso-element:footnote-list"><br /></div><p></p></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ">The reason the divorce teaching itself exists is not to give people the room to get out of a marriage that they do not like. The reason Jesus teaches on divorce is because people’s hearts are so hard and sinful that divorce is in fact a reality.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3531513729798167746#_ftn3" name="_ftnref" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span>[4]</span></span></a> People’s marriages break down for various reasons. Jesus sets the boundary for what was acceptable in his 1<sup>st</sup> century Jewish context, however that does not mean that Matthew 5:30-32 gives us prescriptive rules for today. The central theological message that one can take from Jesus’ teachings on divorce is that broken marriages are not the ideal. What God intended for his creation were faithful marriages.</span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" >Divorce is a major issue for pastoral practice. It is important that the Church affirms that divorce is not God’s intention. Every option ought to be explored before divorce is considered. Falling out of love or drifting apart is not a good reason to get a divorce. Perhaps an understanding of love such as the self sacrificial and giving picture found in 1 Corinthians 13 is important in terms of this issue. On the other hand, divorce is a reality and in some cases proves to be the only way to resolve a situation. It is important that the Church does not adopt a ‘one size fits all’ legalistic approach to divorce. Just as Paul applied Jesus’ teaching to his context, the Church today is to do the same.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">The Church ought to be a redemptive place that encourages healing of relationships and hurt from broken relationships.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3531513729798167746#_ftn1" name="_ftnref" title="">[5]</a> Imagine if we at Cashmere could be such a redemptive place: a place of healing and love that displays and supports God's intention for marriage. Maybe then if we were asked tough questions about this issue, we would have a ready answer at hand displayed in the love of our community. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=" text-indent: 36pt; font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character:footnote;font-size:130%;" ><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3531513729798167746#_ftn1" name="_ftnref" title=""><!--[endif]--></a></span></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> </span><div><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--> <hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" style="font-size: large; "> <!--[endif]--> </div></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"></span></span></p><div><div id="ftn"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 36pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3531513729798167746#_ftnref" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US">[1]</span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">Stanley J. Grenz “The Social God and the Relational Self: Toward a Theology of the<i>Imago Dei</i> in the Postmodern Context” in <i>Personal Identity in Theological Perspective</i>, ed. Richard Lints, Michael S. Horton and Mark R. Talbot (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2006), 92. </span></p></div></div><p></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><div><div id="ftn"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 36pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> </div> </div> <!--EndFragment--></span><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"></span></p><div><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--> <hr align="left" size="1" width="33%"> <!--[endif]--> <div id="ftn"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt"><a style="mso-footnote-id:ftn" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3531513729798167746#_ftnref" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-special-character:footnote"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[2]<!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US">Glen H. Stassen and David P. Gushee. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Kingdom Ethics: Following Jesus in Contemporary Context. </i>(Downers Grove IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003), 276. <o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div id="ftn"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-left:36.0pt"><a style="mso-footnote-id: ftn" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3531513729798167746#_ftnref" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-special-character:footnote"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[3]<!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> Genesis 2:24. <o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div id="ftn"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36pt; "><a style="mso-footnote-id:ftn" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3531513729798167746#_ftnref" name="_ftn3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-special-character:footnote"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[4]<!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US">David P. Scaer. The Sermon on the Mount: The Church’s First Statement of the Gospel (Saint Louis, MO: Concordia, 2000), 119. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36pt; "><br /></p></div></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><div><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--> <hr align="left" size="1" width="33%"> <!--[endif]--> <div id="ftn"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 36pt; "><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3531513729798167746#_ftnref" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[5]<!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US">Stanley Grenz, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Sexual Ethics, </i>141-142. </span></p> </div> </div> <!--EndFragment--><p></p> <!--EndFragment--> <hr align="left" size="1" width="33%"> <!--[endif]--> <div id="ftn"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 36pt; "><br /></p></div></div></span></span><p></p> <!--EndFragment--></div><div><br /></div></div>Josh Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06142994341923935784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531513729798167746.post-8313227438731569432012-03-19T12:35:00.001+13:002012-03-19T12:37:29.355+13:00Mark 9:33-41<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2e29pXpC3kzd-c9JYw4n_rEJTwhEafbXayJirib2MMyIgDloABLkpHpXMY5PGDZaGstDykVHtu3jtPuuTen7mq75Y-d_wRcBD9a1KotHlGjUJsNBRV2rgQEyaBSQ84lWMT67_qdQF8wU/s1600/lent26.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2e29pXpC3kzd-c9JYw4n_rEJTwhEafbXayJirib2MMyIgDloABLkpHpXMY5PGDZaGstDykVHtu3jtPuuTen7mq75Y-d_wRcBD9a1KotHlGjUJsNBRV2rgQEyaBSQ84lWMT67_qdQF8wU/s320/lent26.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721385336727896450" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">By Letitia McConnell </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>278</o:Words> <o:characters>1590</o:Characters> <o:company>Cashmere New Life</o:Company> <o:lines>13</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>3</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>1952</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.256</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">I actually found these passages really hard to write on! Seriously, I had been trying to come up with something that wasn’t just retelling the story or copying what another bible resource had said that sounded super awesome. I asked people’s thoughts but I still couldn’t grasp it even though I knew there were great points to be grasped! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">In regards to the first passage I get that in our quests for personal success we sometimes, if not often, strive for status of the greatest among whoever or whatever we long to be greatest among, but that Jesus’ life perfectly models that of a servant. So why do we allow pride to tell us otherwise? Why is there so many people labelled as a minority (in this passage represented by the child) all around us that we are yet to embrace and be of service to? <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">In regards to the second passage I get that as Christians belonging to a particular community, denomination or no denomination, we can become more concerned about our own groups position than in helping others. Yet Jesus welcomes in people from everywhere and anywhere understanding that they share a common goal of building up the kingdom of God and differences should not interfere with this goal. So why do we have feelings of indifference rise in us at times when we feel threatened by others success in growing God’s kingdom just because they aren’t a part of what we are doing or they do things different to how we would have them done? <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">I realised why this was so hard to write on...because it’s so challenging and freaks me out! Yes we fall short of the glory of God. But it is so awesome to see when these things go right! When communities embrace and encourage in Jesus’ name. I found that In what was such a struggle to see into I’m now super challenged to follow Christ’s example, stoked that it’s not an unpathed road we are called to walk on, and thankful that we don’t go it alone, but with Christ and each other. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <!--EndFragment--></div>Josh Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06142994341923935784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531513729798167746.post-76984136668279691692012-03-18T08:41:00.001+13:002012-03-19T08:45:39.111+13:00Psalm 107:1-3<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCX4yOaIA8IJIrLUANIuxpJsQk94OMa1OhdWi6SnfiGerD1auVRhHoOd2mgksvSXQ9t7eFlw7UcIEqi5Z4oYwbr2Y_2Lutd-rZjID8AkJcGsF03mTyP3BdOIQDwvpoZfjnZedSDikx8R8/s1600/lent25.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCX4yOaIA8IJIrLUANIuxpJsQk94OMa1OhdWi6SnfiGerD1auVRhHoOd2mgksvSXQ9t7eFlw7UcIEqi5Z4oYwbr2Y_2Lutd-rZjID8AkJcGsF03mTyP3BdOIQDwvpoZfjnZedSDikx8R8/s320/lent25.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721325389153049186" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px; "><p class="lang-en" size="1em" color="transparent" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; ">Oh give thanks to the Lord , for he is good,</p><p class="lang-en" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 48pt; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; text-indent: -16pt; ">for his steadfast love endures forever!</p><p class="lang-en" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 48pt; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; text-indent: -48pt; "><a datatype=""bible+esv"" reference=""Psalm 107:2"" rel="milestone" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: navy !important; text-decoration: none; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: inline-block; height: 1em; width: 0px; "></a> <span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: super; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background- font-weight: bold; line-height: 0; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color:transparent;">2 </span> Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,</p><p class="lang-en" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 48pt; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; text-indent: -16pt; ">whom he has redeemed from trouble</p><p class="lang-en" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 48pt; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; text-indent: -48pt; "><a datatype=""bible+esv"" reference=""Psalm 107:3"" rel="milestone" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: navy !important; text-decoration: none; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: inline-block; height: 1em; width: 0px; "></a> <span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: super; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background- font-weight: bold; line-height: 0; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color:transparent;">3 </span> and gathered in from the lands,</p><p class="lang-en" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 48pt; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; text-indent: -16pt; ">from the east and from the west,</p><p class="lang-en" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 48pt; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; text-indent: -16pt; ">from the north and from the south.</p></span></span>Josh Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06142994341923935784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531513729798167746.post-62895418172349119992012-03-17T06:00:00.001+13:002012-03-17T06:00:04.755+13:00John 3:14-21<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ffTcmhhztp4RSykjh-9gMuMhZSihtg5cpwk4C4cF07njHiDc-w8v5Ug_5DPj0JwyLgDx-NOM7XcfXq1Ltc2iwot7Aj3q1-yfcPqEMHljq4M4mOGmtBODOCMIr1Gy6Z3PUD5y8qpIFuM/s1600/lent24.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ffTcmhhztp4RSykjh-9gMuMhZSihtg5cpwk4C4cF07njHiDc-w8v5Ug_5DPj0JwyLgDx-NOM7XcfXq1Ltc2iwot7Aj3q1-yfcPqEMHljq4M4mOGmtBODOCMIr1Gy6Z3PUD5y8qpIFuM/s320/lent24.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720287752110629890" /></a><br /> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>217</o:Words> <o:characters>1110</o:Characters> <o:company>Cashmere New Life</o:Company> <o:lines>22</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>6</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>1523</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.256</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">By Jackie Olliver <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">In these verses Jesus is talking to Nicodemus, a highly respected religious teacher. He was probably an elderly man and belonged to a strict sect of the Pharisees. He was also a member of the Sanhedrin – the national religious council of the Jews – and must have known a thing or two. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">However, something he did not know was who Jesus really was. So, he sought him out in the darkness. Nicodemus could have chosen to stay in the darkness like so many others do. Risky business that, as the ability to see clearly gradually diminishes, until even a chink of light becomes irritating – something to avoid. Anyway, he did what was right in coming to the Light of the World. Ultimately the conversation resulted in his conversion. Then he really did know a thing or two! </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Thing One: <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">John 3:16 </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span>“God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">You cannot know thing one unless you know thing two…</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Thing Two: <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Jesus is the Son of God, the Saviour of the World. He is the source of all wisdom, truth and light. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span>John 3:21</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">‘Those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">An elderly, well to do gentleman sought Jesus ought in the dark. A child of God, rich beyond measure left in the light.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Josh Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06142994341923935784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531513729798167746.post-43285331814175720182012-03-16T12:01:00.003+13:002012-03-16T13:35:00.028+13:00Mark 9:2-13<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6nPgGEz4DXg9qMxewS6ixZAQquZuI5CR4TW2m7ctuYQudOXGp80Jw4BLDGFf9ybheg9wq5hTl4L3WcpnTdkrVlsvd2LxTKRBIW22MnZpBviZ9LzQxdHC8_W6k5GcJPvqZKeJ-lB8FSJg/s1600/lent23.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6nPgGEz4DXg9qMxewS6ixZAQquZuI5CR4TW2m7ctuYQudOXGp80Jw4BLDGFf9ybheg9wq5hTl4L3WcpnTdkrVlsvd2LxTKRBIW22MnZpBviZ9LzQxdHC8_W6k5GcJPvqZKeJ-lB8FSJg/s320/lent23.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720264277886007586" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> By Amy Whiting </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>258</o:Words> <o:characters>1317</o:Characters> <o:company>Cashmere New Life</o:Company> <o:lines>26</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>8</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>1807</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.256</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">There is this photo of me from my first birthday – I am sitting in my highchair and there is a huge duck cake in front of me...the cake is almost bigger than I am – and the photo is snapped right at my first reaction – arms flung out and face a mixture of horror/lack of comprehension/wonder.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">It happens to us humans – moments where we have never seen/heard anything like it before and we react without thought!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">I guess that is Peter right here (and several other times in the gospel record) – he is one of my favourite disciples because he so often speaks or acts without thinking...I love his genuineness – his authenticity – his trying to do the best in understanding a Jesus who constantly surprises him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">I love that in these moments Peter often says or does the “wrong”or “inappropriate”thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><br />Yet, Jesus has him as one of his close circle – one of his three.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Us Western Christians sometimes struggle with this aspect of God – he does things that surprise us, that we can’t explain, that puzzle us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In a world where we like to figure things out this can be disconcerting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What do we do with that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>How do we deal with a God that won’t be domesticated?</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Or is our faith only based around the things we can concretely explain...and ignore the other bits?</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Maybe the invitation today is not to be a follower who always has to understand or always respond “correctly”, maybe that’s not what Jesus is really looking for – maybe he is looking for followers who will embrace the challenge of the unexpected, the incomprehensible, who will puzzle and wrestle and not understand all of it...but still stay connected.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> </span></span></p> <!--EndFragment--><p></p></span>Josh Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06142994341923935784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531513729798167746.post-54519880989255263252012-03-15T09:26:00.006+13:002012-03-15T09:59:15.932+13:00Mark 8:22-32<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsttn7zQtRQuVwzQfdCOWCwW59m-WoL68E73JGbEfBgBCepcMOVRStIshVjcO1ekQRo0WwQthQyiz1ygpeyV9D6scSv0zd8vKTBdeAXhxlj__RdR3dCHNKkraiJeGt3IQZd53QJ8PVLo0/s1600/Lent22.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsttn7zQtRQuVwzQfdCOWCwW59m-WoL68E73JGbEfBgBCepcMOVRStIshVjcO1ekQRo0WwQthQyiz1ygpeyV9D6scSv0zd8vKTBdeAXhxlj__RdR3dCHNKkraiJeGt3IQZd53QJ8PVLo0/s320/Lent22.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719859620438586466" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">By Josh Taylor</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div>This passage is rather unique in that Jesus heals the blind man in two stages. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">At first the blind mans vision is fuzzy and to him people look like "walking trees". </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">Why does Mark mention that there are two stages? One biblical scholar<i> </i>suggests this: </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">-As the healing of the blind man requires two stages, we see also in the understanding of the disciples two stages:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">1) That Jesus is the Messiah. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">2) That Jesus must suffer. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"> (Ira Brent Driggers cited in <i>Mark</i> by William C. Placher)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">Miracles such as this healing of the blind man that Jesus performs are signs of the kingdom: a breaking in of God's rule and reign which brings restoration and healing to this good yet broken creation. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">The surprise is that this kingdom that Jesus announces and enacts is brought through Jesus' death on a cross. <b>Mark continually points us toward the cross</b>. Here in this passage we are reminded that like the disciples we don't always comprehend God's way of doing things: like the blind man our vision is blurred. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">Lent is a time where we seek to receive clarity about what it meant for Jesus to suffer and die. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">One understanding of what Jesus did on the cross (theological term= <i>atonement</i>) is that of his substitutionary death: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px; ">The one who represents true humanity, was slain and presented before God on behalf of all humanity so that we may be reconciled to God.</span></span></div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>19</o:Words> <o:characters>113</o:Characters> <o:company>Cashmere New Life</o:Company> <o:lines>1</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>138</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.256</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <!--EndFragment--><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">A poem for clarity of vision:</span></div><div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>94</o:Words> <o:characters>541</o:Characters> <o:company>Cashmere New Life</o:Company> <o:lines>4</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>664</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.256</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%; ">Present, </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%; ">by Luci Shaw (taken from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Proclaiming the Scandal of the Cross: Contemporary Images of Atonement</i>, edited by Mark D. Baker, page 160)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;font-size:medium;">At light-speed, God-speed,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;font-size:medium;">time collapses into <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">now</i> so that</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">we may see Christ’s wounds as<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">still bleeding, his torso,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">that ready sponge, still<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">absorbing our vice, our toxic shame.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">He is still being pierced <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">by every hateful nail<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">we hammer home. In this<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">Golgotha moment his body-<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">chalice for the dark tears<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">of the whole world-brims<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">spilling over as his lifeblood<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">drains. His dying into the earth<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">begins the great reversal-<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">as blood from a vein leaps<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">into the needle, so with his rising, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">we surge into the light. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Verdana;font-size:13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.0pt;mso-bidi-line-height:150%;font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--></div>Josh Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06142994341923935784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531513729798167746.post-44480709370400895912012-03-14T06:00:00.001+13:002012-03-14T06:00:06.767+13:00Mark 7:24-30<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyR7-gEK7cf6KCRW3V_8RjbRnEK2GSdpGkQp5-Ymdbv6GQPp4ZhT8QiCdxzYhzrrxtgMtGD0rhkC4yJeghhVMcnfQDEv_aUvJHgBMlktnyj4ZTHMzMXdeAoF0ofJTRaQXsurFqcwcoaX8/s1600/lent21.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyR7-gEK7cf6KCRW3V_8RjbRnEK2GSdpGkQp5-Ymdbv6GQPp4ZhT8QiCdxzYhzrrxtgMtGD0rhkC4yJeghhVMcnfQDEv_aUvJHgBMlktnyj4ZTHMzMXdeAoF0ofJTRaQXsurFqcwcoaX8/s320/lent21.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719106769645948258" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family:Cambria, serif;font-size:100%;">By Craig Wenmoth <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:Cambria, serif;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:Cambria, serif;font-size:100%;" ><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family:Cambria, serif;font-size:100%;">Here we have a nice simple story, Jesus tries to have some quiet time away from the crowd, and a determined woman wants (needs) his help to heal her daughter, isn’t put off when challenged, and Jesus comes through for her.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:Cambria, serif;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:Cambria, serif;font-size:100%;" >The only complicated part of the story is when Jesus compares this woman, a Gentile, to a ‘dog’, and the Jews to ‘children’. Isn’t that insulting? Would you feel insulted if you were compared to a dog? Wow. What’s going on here? In the cultural belief of the time, this woman belonged to a group of people that Jews referred to as ‘dogs’ in a derogatory manner. What Jesus was saying here was that he had come to firstly feed ‘his people’ (the Jews) and bring them enlightenment. But He agreed with her belief that even the crumbs of bread that fell from the <span>‘</span>children’s<span>’</span> table (knowledge, teaching, understanding, etc etc) was of huge value and she wanted to ‘scoop up’ whatever she could, as she knew that everything that came from Jesus would be enough to bring healing to her daughter. And it was.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:Cambria, serif;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:Cambria, serif;font-size:100%;" >There are many surprises in this story:<u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:Cambria, serif;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 54pt; "><span style=" ;font-family:Cambria, serif;font-size:100%;" >· <b>Surprise # 1</b>. Jesus says something that <u>sounds</u> offensive to our ears (refers to her as a dog), and he says it to someone who is seeking his help.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 54pt; "><span style=" ;font-family:Cambria, serif;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 54pt; "><span style=" ;font-family:Cambria, serif;font-size:100%;" >· <b>Surprise # 2</b> The Woman <u>chose</u> not to be offended.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 54pt; "><span style=" ;font-family:Cambria, serif;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 54pt; "><span style=" ;font-family:Cambria, serif;font-size:100%;" >· <b>Surprise # 3</b> She understood what Jesus meant. She understood that she was not a Jew, that she was not one of the “children of God” but from a group of people that the Jews referred to as “dogs” . Most of Jesus’ listeners up to this point are always missing Jesus’ meaning. They didn’t get the implications with regard to the miraculous provision of bread. But this woman underst<span>ood</span> that Jesus g<span>ave</span> out bread (good things). She was willing to stoop merely for the crumbs she knew she didn’t deserve. She appealed to his mercy, not his justice! Pride appeals to justice. Humility appeals to mercy! I don’t know about you, but I don’t want the justice of God (however I’m sure that I will experience it at some point). I do want and need his mercy. So did this woman.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 54pt; "><span style=" ;font-family:Cambria, serif;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 54pt; "><span style=" ;font-family:Cambria, serif;font-size:100%;" >· <b>Surprise # 4:</b> She accepts what Jesus implies yet is persistent: (she is asking for something that she doesn’t deserve, and is out of order but this doesn’t stop her faith, or persistence.) She is not embittered. In fact she is the first person to speak to Jesus constructively about his mission. Jesus is talking about his mission, and the woman brings out clearly that what Jesus brings will bless everyone—Jew and Gentile. And what she was insisting is that the Gentile doesn’t need to wait. He was there now. All she wanted where the leftovers - the crumbs, the pieces that where tossed away, the pieces the ‘children’ wouldn’t miss at all.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 54pt; "><span style=" ;font-family:Cambria, serif;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 54pt; "><span style=" ;font-family:Cambria, serif;font-size:100%;" >· <b>Surprise # 5:</b> Jesus honours this Gentile’s faith and persistence<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:Cambria, serif;font-size:100%;" >She was saying, "Lord, I know that I don’t deserve Your love; just give me a few scraps of blessings that have fallen from the children’s table, crumbs that they won’t miss." Jesus saw the woman’s faith and healed her daughter instantly.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:Cambria, serif;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:Cambria, serif;font-size:100%;" >Jesus will test you, but we take heart knowing he sent nobody away empty handed except for those who were so full of themselves they could receive nothing from him.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:Cambria, serif;font-size:100%;" >Jesus still offends the proud, and he still tests the humble. But the humble learn something from his tests.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:Cambria, serif;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:Cambria, serif;font-size:100%;" >There’s so much to learn from this. This woman was despised by the Jews, but she did not give up and pushed on to achieve what she knew was good, even though the religious people where being offensive. We now know that Jesus came and died for everyone, but at that time he was directing his teaching toward the Jews. This was God’s plan. She understood this and did not expect a place at the head of the table to get first pickings. She convinced Jesus that she was happy to be in his presence and receive whatever crumbs of his blessing that came her way. She was a humble person, but knew of Jesus’s greatness, and had faith in Him. And He honoured that. <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:Cambria, serif;font-size:100%;" ><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:Cambria, serif;font-size:100%;" >How humble are we to go outside our comfort zones? How willing are we to wait (under the table) for Gods attention? How offended by these religious people would we have been in her situation? In what way may we be offending people today by our religious language and customs? How confident would we be to ‘discuss’ our wishes with Jesus, and not give up at the first sign of a barrier? <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:Cambria, serif;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:Cambria, serif;font-size:100%;" ><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><b><span style=" ;font-family:Cambria, serif;font-size:100%;" >Prayer:</span></b><span style="font-family:Cambria, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"> Lord, I can identify with this woman. I have sought my own ways, <span>limited myself to my own understanding, </span>have done my own thing, and come before you guilty. While I don’t deserve it, I thank you so much for your mercy. You have given me the bread of life, not just the crumbs off the table. Thank you that I can bring my needs and talk to you about them. Thank you that you love me. I am truly humbled by the wonder of your grace.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size:7;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size: -webkit-xxx-large; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:Cambria, serif;"><u></u> </span></p></span>Josh Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06142994341923935784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531513729798167746.post-9712060793806487592012-03-13T09:07:00.002+13:002012-03-13T09:08:25.895+13:00Mark 7:24-30<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJX4GE6-yc0sywbFCMN3UQ8thNZegZx0sbXbuO_pCgLAA1GTCf2YKuE6tEboZzMca-rMI34npCpicIUoEjl6xG0qDBQGDfhG8IMl5Bz4MNbha-hxzfriguzcvQT9G1XPPQNvjCIjWq9U/s1600/lent20.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJX4GE6-yc0sywbFCMN3UQ8thNZegZx0sbXbuO_pCgLAA1GTCf2YKuE6tEboZzMca-rMI34npCpicIUoEjl6xG0qDBQGDfhG8IMl5Bz4MNbha-hxzfriguzcvQT9G1XPPQNvjCIjWq9U/s320/lent20.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719104965300663730" /></a><br /><p><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">By Amber Long</span></span></p><p><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">So is it just me or does this all sound waaaayyyyy too familiar?<span> </span>The Pharisees were out to catch Jesus and The Disciples.<span> </span>If you read this chapter from the start, you can see the Disciples ate without washing their hands.<span> </span>Shock horror!<span> </span>They are clearly breaking the most sacred of laws and eating before they had been through a ceremonious hand-washing.<span> </span>This involved the washing of the person and plates and vessels to be used in the meal.<span> </span>I don’t know much about these ceremonies but I can imagine the Pharisees had them down to a fine art.<span> </span>I’m sure they were long, drawn-out, painful processes designed to make them look extra holy.<span> </span>And for the Pharisees that’s all that counted.<span> </span>What it looked like.</span></span></p><p><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">This seems all too familiar for me.<span> </span>I wish I could say that this was a situation unique to the time of the Pharisees.<span> </span>Its not.<span> </span>People are very good at putting other people down to make themselves look and feel better.<span> </span>We have all been in the firing line of some nasty comment, a snide remark, a cutting raise of the eyebrow, a blatant ignore.<span> </span>These things can be even more prolific in the church.<span> </span>We can be very quick to judge each other.<span> </span>Its too easy to put on our Sunday mask of “Good is great, brother!<span> </span>Lovely to see you Sister”.<span> </span>We are an odd group of people that are together in unique setting – our faith.<span> </span>But that’s also what unites us.<span> </span>Our faith.<span> </span>Our common ground.<span> </span>When we look at our CNLC values, we have authenticity at the very start.<span> </span>If we make the deliberate choice to be authentic in our faith, our faults will become blindingly obvious.<span> </span>But so will our support crew.<span> </span>We will be in the best of company – a God who can enable us to become a whole person and a family who can help us along our way.<span> </span></span></span></p><p><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">God isn’t interested in what we look like or how we compare to the people around us.<span> </span>He is interested in our hearts.<span> </span>Look again at verse 21 - For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come</span></span></p><p><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">Let’s take our eyes of each other’s faults, look inside at our own faults and look to God who can fix our faults.<span> </span></span></span></p>Josh Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06142994341923935784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531513729798167746.post-68345106844246621172012-03-12T11:21:00.003+13:002012-03-12T11:31:36.825+13:00Mark 7:1-13<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNvCBvVOIMZINynXYRd0bruFByik6fLoeFViC5Gm1ntaQZ7AL9fqAe3Jt8YGQYg4f6fTo0_d1mH8SI-kwNIAtBB0aD3s1sU8-nIt3_UBEf85WzFNUOmtlMD3erPNuEC6MsgYDBqjwvjY/s1600/lent19.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNvCBvVOIMZINynXYRd0bruFByik6fLoeFViC5Gm1ntaQZ7AL9fqAe3Jt8YGQYg4f6fTo0_d1mH8SI-kwNIAtBB0aD3s1sU8-nIt3_UBEf85WzFNUOmtlMD3erPNuEC6MsgYDBqjwvjY/s320/lent19.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718770417228890402" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">New Testament scholar Tom Wright offers wise words on this passage saying: </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">"It isn't a matter of 'rules and regulations' on the one side and 'anything goes' or 'do your own thing' on the other, as many today wrongly imagine. It was a matter of God's new initiative in and through Jesus. Like someone triumphantly putting the ceiling on the ground floor of the house they're building, this then creates the floor for the next storey. Jesus was declaring, by his actions as well as his words, that the ground floor was complete, and that it was time to start work on the upper floor, not because the ground floor was a failure but because its job was done. And the view from upstairs would, in some respects, be significantly different." </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">-excerpt from <i>Lent for Everyone: Year B, Mark </i>by Tom Wright (69). </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div>Josh Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06142994341923935784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531513729798167746.post-18148650155538647472012-03-11T13:49:00.003+13:002012-03-11T13:58:36.220+13:00A Lenten prayer #2<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Posted by Josh Taylor</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GD10K79gXwgqz2LYcVvClJqzk2sdIrs5LY54QyOpFlGwD6NOJENp6BgNyc6uABh5ETTVokwr3fZoLnBX64ARpws5tfW0s1oiO9Q6wx-CQor7D5DjSUAV8V-HKEEwcO10b_hvALkGu74/s1600/lent18.jpg" style="font-size: large; " onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GD10K79gXwgqz2LYcVvClJqzk2sdIrs5LY54QyOpFlGwD6NOJENp6BgNyc6uABh5ETTVokwr3fZoLnBX64ARpws5tfW0s1oiO9Q6wx-CQor7D5DjSUAV8V-HKEEwcO10b_hvALkGu74/s320/lent18.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718437278026618962" /></a><br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">God of infinite mercy, </span></i></span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">grant that we who know your pity </span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">may rejoice in your forgiveness </span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">and gladly forgive others</span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">for the sake of Jesus Christ our Saviour. </span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">God our light </span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">make your Church like a rainbow </span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">shining and proclaiming to all the world </span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">that the storm is at an end, </span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">there is peace for those who seek it </span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">and love for the forgiving. </span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Merciful God, </span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">grant to your faithful people pardon and peace; </span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">that we may be cleansed from all our sins </span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">and serve you with a quiet mind; </span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. </span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><i>-</i>from <i>A New Zealand Prayer Book</i></span></div></div>Josh Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06142994341923935784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531513729798167746.post-66489739917990248152012-03-10T20:18:00.003+13:002012-03-10T20:24:50.362+13:00John 2:13 -22<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsHPY_JUPf1-_kFl8p7wXubHmGE3CqYJpu7tQC7M9WEnNvg21mPpMThLgDxOXUkME9XJSkLoBbCv-vRMB7kDpqUftJyOiuL-oYN8_jMcJY7kAjStQyTdYhkrwUOtwK_fekstvI8NaHHw/s1600/Lent+17.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsHPY_JUPf1-_kFl8p7wXubHmGE3CqYJpu7tQC7M9WEnNvg21mPpMThLgDxOXUkME9XJSkLoBbCv-vRMB7kDpqUftJyOiuL-oYN8_jMcJY7kAjStQyTdYhkrwUOtwK_fekstvI8NaHHw/s320/Lent+17.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718164666133653186" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">By Amy Whiting</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>245</o:Words> <o:characters>1402</o:Characters> <o:company>Cashmere New Life</o:Company> <o:lines>11</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>2</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>1721</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.256</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">“Destroy this temple, replied Jesus, and I’ll raise it up again in three days”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">In reading this passage I couldn’t help but think of our own Christchurch temple – our cathedral. 18 months on and the debate still rages, from church-goers and pre-Christians alike…phrases like “it’s an icon” but more than that “it’s the soul of the city” evoke the depth of meaning this building holds for many. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">The same shock echoed with the original hearers of Jesus’ words – for the Jewish people the temple wasn’t just a special building – but “the centre of everything; the centre, they believed of the whole world”…the place where heaven met earth. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The place that housed the presence of God and where sacrifices were made to enable relationship with God. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">In what would of felt like a bolt out of the blue Jesus turns their world (and tables on their head!) he boldly says and demonstrates that it is no longer about a building…the way of accessing God is about to radically change – it will no longer be based around a building, a priest who serves as the intermediary offering your sacrifice to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He will assume that role - His body the temple, the one who becomes the sacrifice to take away the sins of the world – the one who once and for all reconciles man and God. It made no sense at the time – but as the passage records, after his death and resurrection the disciples remembered his words and believed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Sometimes I wonder if we forget that we are now the temple of the Holy Spirit – that we are living, breathing, walking around people through whom others can come into contact with their Creator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That 99% of the ministry of the church happens outside of any church building.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--></div>Josh Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06142994341923935784noreply@blogger.com0