Archive for October, 2008

The Word 10.26.08

Matthew 4:12-25 (ESV)

4:12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people dwelling in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
on them a light has dawned.”

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

Parental Advisory

My folks have been in town since Friday night so my blog posting has been sparse. We have really enjoyed our time with them running around town, visiting plantations, eating at lots of our favorite spots, and just enjoying each other’s company. I’ll try to post a few pics in the coming days. Needless to say, I won’t be doing much on here until after they take off. For this week, let’s continue on with last week’s Monday Muse discussion on struggles since I didn’t even post my own response to the question. So carry on my friends…and I’ll see you in a few days.

The Word 10.21.08

I’ve always found it comforting to know that Jesus understands our temptations having been tempted himself. In fact, Jesus relates to us because he came down to be one of us. I am constantly trying to wrap my mind around that truth.

Matthew 4:1-11 (ESV)

4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,

“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,’

and

“‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.’”

11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

The Monday Muse: Struggles

I am going to get back on schedule with the “Monday” Muse eventually. I’ve been a little bogged down in other things recently so it’s been hard to stay on top of things here. Nevertheless, I do have a question that crossed my mind last night.

What are some consistent struggles you face as a Christian?

Now…I’m not asking you all to reveal your deepest, darkest secrets necessarily. But I do think it is helpful to share our struggles with one another, to bear each other’s burdens, and to encourage each other to press on toward godliness. I know that often my weak spots are other people’s strengths. So I benefit greatly from the wisdom and experience of others who have dealt with my struggle and overcome it. And if you have overcome a struggle that was lingering for some time, I would love for you to share what has been helpful in winning that battle.

I will post my thoughts on this topic in the comments soon. I look forward to being edified by our discussion. I hope you will find it helpful as well.

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The Monday Muse

Do you think churches should have regular evaluations of the worship gatherings? Why or why not?

Join the discussion!

Annie’s Music


You can pick up my wife's album on iTunes or Amazon. Interested in booking her for a show? Visit her contact page at www.annielash.com.

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