A Parable for Teachers

A farmer planted seed and as he scattered the seed:
Some of it fell on the road and birds ate it.
Some fell in the gravel; it sprouted quickly but didn't put down roots, so when the sun came up it withered just as quickly.
Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled by the weeds.
Some fell on good earth and produced a harvest beyond his wildest dreams.

The seed the farmer scattered on the road - When anyone hears the news of the Kingdom and doesn't take it in, it just remains on the surface and so the Evil One comes along and plucks it right out of that person's heart.
The seed cast in the gravel - this is the person who hears and instantly responds with enthusiasm. But there is no soil of character and when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives there is nothing to show for it.
The seed cast in the weeds is the person who hears the Kingdom news but weeds of worry and illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard and nothing comes of it.
The seed cast on the good earth is the person who hears and takes in the News and the produces a harvest yeilding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

No - this parable isn't designed to acknowledge the narrator/teacher, his gifts or his ability to communicate the Word. Jesus told this parable to a hard-hearted, blind-eyed, deaf-eared audience. A people He knew from ancient times would reject the truth He came to live out and offer. This parable described His audience - and anyone who would hear the Word from that day forward. Not all will be hard hearted though.

Because we know the many paths a person can take upon hearing Jesus' Story of Reconciliation, paths chosen by the hearer and known by the Creator, I like reading this and seeing how it affects the heart of those called to teach the Word:

the depths of the responsibility and honor laid upon (James 3:1),
the spiritual knowledge and hermeneutical work involved in (Titus 2:7),
and the creativity infused within the spiritual gifts to publicly proclaim the Word.

Yes, the Spirit convicts, convinces and converts a mans heart...but He does it through mere men and women. Sinful men and women. It is a postition worth double honor and a heavier dose of accountability to God Himself.

Plant well. With love and grace, seasoned with spiritual salt so that is desired by the listener.

Taken from Matthew 13

(D)evolution of a Beard

'So Hanun seized David's men, shaved off half of each man's beard, cut off their garments in the middle at the buttocks, and sent them away...' (2 Samuel 10:4)

  

The humiliation that comes with the loss of a beautiful beard is hard to endure...at least I still have my good looks...

Mission

Now if the mission is to make disciples of Jesus who make more disciples of Jesus - and that mission is the result of the Kingdom of Heaven meeting earth upon Jesus' incarnation - then the mission of the Christian is really to grow the Kingdom of God one disciple at a time.

If you and I are given the power and authority to grow the Eternal Kingdom...what is stopping us?

If the power and truth and authority of the Eternal Kingdom are inside us...why does fear stop us?

Fearing God should bring knowledge (Proverbs 1:7) - purpose and obedience (Ecc. 12:13) - ultimately the truth of salvation (Philippians 2:12).

Our hearts, minds, souls, and strength are swallowed up in the Kingdom of God...our mission should be founded on the thrill of being part of such a Holy and Loving God and yet fearful of His awesome power.

Be on Mission. Meet someone new, love someone old, share Life with a friend, live Life with a neighbor.

Be on Mission.

LWBC: Not Yet...But Soon 2

So this Watchman, Ezekiel, is called by God and begins his wild journey.

A mysterious hand from Heaven appeared before Zeke with a scroll in it. Front and back it was covered in words. Words of lament - mourning - woe...words of sadness - gloom - emitting the feeling of death.

God said to Zeke, 'Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll...' Seriously. Eat the paper?

God said, 'eat this scroll...fill your stomach with it.' So he did.

It tasted like honey. Honey was like candy to the ancient middle easterners. No chocolate. No Twinkies. No Jelly Bellies tasting like strawberry, popcorn or puke. Gods word was the sweetest flavor in existence.

This exiled Priest. A spiritual watchman yet a physical prisoner in Babylon. A slave-laborer working on the waterways. This man was called by God to preach a word of warning and he would take at least 22 years to live out and write down his prophecy, the Book of Ezekiel.

Zeke tastes the sweetness of the word in a ridiculously weird way. Once he eats it God simply says, 'go now to the Israelites and speak my words to them.' Zeke eats a scroll and all of a sudden knows what God wants him to say! That's crazy talk. How is it possible?

This God works in very interesting ways. He leads His people in fresh and exciting ways even in the midst of slavery, depression and frustration.

Are you reading the Word - trusting His promises of love and salvation - fearing the Word that speaks of separation and judgement...

Have you tasted this kind of Honey in your faith?

Read Ezekiel 2:9-3:4

LWBC: Not Yet...But Soon 1

Last summer I shaved my beard in front of a group of students. Why? Let me explain.

Ezekiel was called by God (1:2). He was called the 'Watchman' (3:17) - a man who was morally bound to sound the alarm of impending doom to the Israelites. His job was to listen to God and reveal Gods plan to the people...whether they wanted to listen or not...and they didn't.

Zeke didn't have a choice. He wasn't asked to do this job...the Spirit literally raised him off his butt and onto his feet in order to listen to and do what God had planned (2:1-2). Though how God gave Zeke the words to speak wasn't normal. Nor was just about anything Zeke would eventually do in the name of God.

Follow Zeke's journey.

Will He Find?

'However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?'

In a parable about a persistent widow Jesus describes a god-less, arrogantly dis-compassionate judge who inevitably is willing to see that the widows hopes and requests for justice are fulfilled.

If such a judge is able to show mercy, isn't God all the more eager and capable of doing so for His people, the body of Christ?

Jesus even has the guts to say that God will answer our prayers 'Quickly!'

Jesus said quickly....But He follows up with a sobering clarification - Jesus quickly defines 'quickly' as = 'when the Son of Man comes...' Everyone will receive a Divine response to their prayers, particularly injustice, without fail but true fulfillment is in Christs return.

Several notes about this parable:
1) Ask, seek, knock - without a bitter and defeated soul, in hope and trust, plead with God to your hearts desire and beyond. Persevere in your prayer life as the widow did.

2) Keep watch - He will answer our righteous prayers, it's what He desires...keep you're eyes, ears, hands and heart open expecting a response just as the widow waited for a response daily from the judge - it's His timing that matters.

3) Ultimately, all injustice will be wiped away and all prayers answered when Jesus finally and holistically redeems His people around the world to Himself.

4) Jesus finally says what He is looking for in the widow (and ultimately the earth) - faith. The believer prays assuming God will answer. In their continued prayers they diligently watch for the Lord to act. Yet their hope isn't in 1 or 1000 answered prayers...the believers hope and faith are in Jesus and His promise of redemption...final redemption. Will He find faith on earth?

Ask, watch, hope.

Luke 18:1-8

Should Faith...

Should Faith override material need?
Should Faith overcome gut reaction?

Should Faith push beyond that sinking feeling that brings anxiety?
Should Faith push us beyond how others in our community live?

Should Faith guide us to the Path of Least Resistance?
Should Faith alter our attitude as Paul claims?
Should Faith encourage, hope, love and proclaim?

Should Faith melt a frozen heart and create a willing soul?
Should Faith matter?
Does Faith matter?
Faith Should be seen and felt by those around you,
Even if Faith is in the Unseen One.

Live by Faith...sight never fulfills.