EXODUS 8-9, MATTHEW 19

 Here's what I don't like about Pharaoh - he put himself in front of others.  Did he ever think that maybe the people in his land didn't like the frogs or the gnats?  Did he even stop to think about all the people who were going to lose their cattle?  What about the hail - the loss of lives and property damage, did he think about any of that?

If you want to be "tough" and are willing to accept things - good on you.  But, when you have been put into a position of authority, there are others you have to think about.  It can not be about you.  It has to be about what is best for the people you are put in authority over.  

Great leaders are not people who get things done or force others to do what they want.  Great leaders think about what is good for the people they have been put in charge of, make the tough decisions to help that happen and always sacrifice their comfort for the comfort of others.  

I don't know a lot about politics or current events - not the kingdom I'm focusing on.  But, the one thing I do know is this.  These people are not in charge, and the one leader who is does all these things.  That's my kind of leader.

EXODUS 4-5, MATTHEW 18

​No offense, but I think whoever wrote Exodus was a bad writer.

Dang it!  Something Jesus said really inspired me….oh wait.

Conflict - I’m not good at it!  He talks about how if you see a person sinning you should talk to them privately.  Then, if they don’t listen bring two or three people.  What’s wrong with just ignoring it and focusing on fantasy sports?  That’s seemed to work for 54 years.

Or has it?  I guess I struggle with confronting someone about their sin when I’ve got a lot of work to do on my own.  And who am I to judge them anyway.  Maybe a family member, but I feel like I’d have to be pretty close to someone to talk to them about their sin.  Or it would have to be a really big sin.

That could be it.  One, Jesus may just expect us to have close relationships with other followers.  And two, He is probably not talking about little white lies here.

Instead of focusing on the conversations, maybe I should focus on building relationships for when the conversations are needed.

GENESIS 50, EXODUS 1-2, MATTHEW 16-17

​Do you ever feel like God is trying to give you a message?  Yesterday, in our Chosen Bible Plan, it showed the clip of this verse.  Today, same passage - in words.

So, is He asking me, “Who do you say I am?” Or telling me that I am part of the foundation of the church?  

For the first one, easy.  I’m with Peter - You are the Christ (and my best friend).  If it’s the second one, I’m ready.

My brother just texted me yesterday, “Do you disciple anyone?”  I thought about it, and I used to think about who I could do that for, but that thought isn’t crossed my mind for ten years.  

Maybe it just did again.

GENESIS 48-49, MATTHEW 15-16

 I want to give my kids a fortune telling right before I die.  How did he know though?  Did God tell him what was going to happen to his kids or did he just take a shot?  I really would like to know what happens when Jesus or Jacob or anyone knows what is going to happen.  Does God show them in a vision or tell them while they are talking to the person?  Is it almost an out of body experience where God just kind of takes over?  That would be interesting to find out.

OK, moving on.  What about the yeast of the Pharisees, huh?  Loud and clear.  We really have to pay attention to who we listen to.  But, don't you kind of feel for the Jews at that time?  These were the religious leaders - the ones who were supposed to advise them about spiritual matters.  And they were way off!  

Makes me kind of think I've been doing it right all along.  I have never done something just because a pastor or preacher told me to (OK, maybe not never, but not a lot).  I've always kind of done my own thing - which I hope was actually doing what God told me to do.  In fact, a lot of my beliefs wouldn't line up with any theology, but they just make sense to me.

I know that can get a person in trouble, but it seems like you get in a lot more trouble following a "religious leader" just because they are a religious leader.

GENESIS AND MATTHEW SOMETHING

I have this bad habit.  Maybe it's not a habit - a character flaw.  Something wrong with me.  When I face conflict, I can't stop thinking about it, but I never do anything about it.  I think about what I should say and I go over in my mind how to respond (usually negatively - like how can I punish them), but I never actually do any of the things that come up (maybe because I know they would not be productive).

Literally, as I'm typing this, I'm thinking about what I should do.  It kind of consumes me and I fear facing it.  It affects my actions, my thoughts - but hey, I'm starting to think of productive things to do at least.  

Why is that?  Maybe it is because I have never actually stood up for myself, like maybe in my life.  Maybe it is because I don't want to look at what I did wrong.  Maybe it is because I am afraid of having a conversation, or think I already know how that conversation would go.  Maybe it's because I don't trust God - didn't You say You would give us the words for our adversaries?  Does that mean in general life too?

That's true.  Maybe my worries and fears about facing the people come from two things.  One, I forget that God can tell me what to say when I need it.  Two, it's not always my fault.  I don't have to take the blame. 

GENESIS 42-43, MATTHEW 13-14

 I have the same problem that Joseph's brother's had.  I always think the worst is going to happen.

Bad, worse worst.  Never let it burst, till the bad gets worse and the worse gets worst!

They thought they put the silver in there to trap them.  They thought he was inviting them in to do something horrible to them.  They thought that he would kill their little brother.  

I remember one of my trips to the Cincinnati Open.  I was driving on the.way to the tourney and started to think about all of the bad things that could happen.  What if I got a flat tire?  What if the car broke down?  What if? What if? What if?  I do this all the time.  I wake up and immediately start thinking about what could go wrong.

But, as I pulled into Speedway - God's holiest of holies, I seemed to hear God remind me, "I am not out to get you."  In fact I even felt like God was telling me, "I am here to help you.  I want good things."  

Even though I have a life of good things stacked up in God's favor, even though I can look to where I am today and see how God has always been for me, even though I have read about a good God for like 40 years at this point - still to this day, it's hard for me to even write the above.  

But, God is for us.  God wants what is best for everyone.  God is on our side.  Sorry I forget that A LOT!

GENEIS 41-42, MATTHEW 13

​Do you ever wish Jesus would come back just for the parables?  I mean, I get the ones he told, but I bet they would have hit a lot harder (like the kids say) back then.  

Like the wheat and the weeds - I bet, for a farmer who made his living on wheat, that would have meant a lot more.  What if Jesus told some parables with cell phones or WiFi or Netflix or the Australian Open?  (OK, nobody would get the Australian Open one!)

Oooh, I just had a thought. What if we are the ones who are supposed to tell those parables?  

GENESIS 37-38, MATTHEW 12

 Maybe I didn't read the story well enough, but why would Tamar pretend to be a prostitute and sleep with this guy.  She obviously had a plan in mind; because she took his stuff.  But why?

Was it to have children?  They were really serious about having children.  I mean they wanted her to sleep with the brother so that the dead brother would have kids.  He's dead - does he need to have a family line?  

But, I will say, I always like these stories where someone is thinking a couple of steps ahead of someone else.  When they're like, "Burn her!" and she's like, "Well, here's who the guy was." Genius!  

Maybe it's because I wish I was smart like that.  Especially in high school, I would say and do things and then think of ways I could have done it better.  Oh, and if it was someone who I thought had treated me poorly, than I wish I could have been like, "Oh yeah, well..." (and then had something totally cool to say.

As I've gotten older, I think I've gotten a little less concerned over what I say or how I can put people in their place.  But, it's only less, not gone.  And even though I know that comes from a place of not realizing how valuable I am and how much God and others love me, I still can't quite shake it.

GENESIS 35-36, MATTHEW 12

 I was talking with a coworker last week and she said, "We don't take no sacrifices here."  That line really stuck with me.  We do take sacrifices.  Jesus sacrificed His life for ours.  My parents sacrificed a lot so that we could stay in Romeoville and could play sports.  I sacrificed a lot of time and money (and some of my sanity) so that my kids could come out of college without a massive amount of debt.  Sacrifice is a good thing.

But, then Jesus says, "I desire mercy not sacrifice."  According to Google, mercy is compassion or forgiveness shown to someone that could be punished.  Yep, that's a good thing too - especially to the audience He was talking to at the time.  Sacrifice means to give up something for something else regarded as more important.  Yep, that sounds right too.

What I think Jesus is saying here is not - don't give up anything for something else more valuable.  He's saying, "Don't just make a sacrifice for the sake of making a sacrifice."  If it's not helping anyone, why do it?  

Spoiler alert: They are talking about the Sabbath.  So, He's saying don't follow the rules of the Sabbath and not help someone.  In fact, He goes even further - stop trying to punish people because they are not "following the rules."  How about we try to help them instead?

GENESIS 32-34, MATTHEW 11

 If anyone ever offers me a gift of 540 animals, I think I'm saying, "No!"  But, that was Jacob's gift.  In today's times it would have been worth anywhere from $100,000 to $1 million.  Later, Jacob sends his brother along and builds an altar on a piece of land.  So, he bought the land!  How rich was this guy?

When God decides to bless someone, He blesses them.  Money is not the problem.  Love of money is a problem - to have it can be from God.

Did you ever notice that all of the "great" kings God sent were "great" because they had a lot of money and a lot of land?  Sure, there was some killing (Jacob's kids wipe out a whole town because of what one guy did to their sister.) and some people didn't make the best choices.  But, they were remembered.

There's really no point here.  OK, maybe one.  Who knows why or who God chooses to bless financially?  Most of his best friends on earth weren't.  But, some of the prophets before Him were.  The people I have been impressed with weren't.  But, there are plenty of Christ followers I know who are.  

I guess my message to myself is - don't be jealous.  Be thankful for all that God has given to me.  And just know that God blesses everyone in different ways.

GENESIS 30-31, MATTHEW 10

 There was one whole chapter about who Jacob was sleeping with and who got pregnant - so many children!  But, it was kind of cool to see how Joseph came from Rachel, who had Jacob sleep with her servant because she couldn't have kids.  Then, it was like a contest between Leah and Rachel to see who could have more kids.  And you can see how there would be twelve brothers and an incredible musical!  

Back then, women were judged solely on how many kids they had!  That's it!  That's where they got their worth.  At least we've progressed in that regard - education, position, financial status, motherhood.  There are a whole bunch of ways to find value. 

But, what about us?  How do we judge our value?  I know for me personally, it's how other's perceive me.  Am I a great teacher?  Right now, the judgement may be mixed.  Do I do great things for my kids?  Great may be a stretch.  Am I helping the community in any way?  People would probably say, "Not really."  Honestly, I think I need a better value system.

One, I can't control the thoughts of others.  Two, who cares what they think.  I feel like, if I was doing it right, I would realize that my value couldn't be any higher.  I am just who You created me to be - that's enough.  There's really nothing I could do to be more valuable.  You know what You are doing.  You have everything under control.  So, in all reality, all I have to do is just be in Your presence and be reminded constantly that I am Your creation.

Hey, that's pretty good!

GENESIS 26-27, MATTHEW 9

 This blessing and curse thing intrigues me.  Rebekah thinks it's so important that she makes Jacob trick her husband.  Esau thinks it's so important that he plans to kill his brother for tricking his father.  But, it's just a blessing, right?  Does it really have any power?

It's not like if someone gave a blessing it would definitely happen.  Or was it?  Or is it?  

Our words are powerful.  Our words backed by God are even more powerful.  Now, I'm not in the habit of giving blessings out, but maybe our prayers don't "work" because we really don't believe they will.  

Isaac believed in the blessing.  He believed it so much that he couldn't give out a second one - he only had one.  Maybe we should also believe that the blessings we send out have that much power too.

GENESIS 24-26, MATTHEW 8

​Let the dead bury their own dead.  Does that even make sense?  Not physically, but spiritually it does.  Jesus was not really in the habit of saying stuff that was crazy - crazy in the way people lived their lives maybe, but it all made sense.

But, that’s not the point.  He’s talking about following Him, and if we let stuff get in the way it won’t work.  He has to be first- not money, not pride, not pickleball, not pleasure, not trips, not sporting events, not food, not pop - Him. 

As I go through the day, He is first priority.  I make all decisions with a “What should I do Jesus” lens.

Do I actually do that?  No one does. But, that’s what He’s saying.  Unless He is the main priority, it’s not gonna work.

GENESIS 23-24, MATTHEW 8

 I was praying the Lord's Prayer this morning and I thought to myself, "It is not really important what we say or the words we use.  What's most important in prayer is just being with God."  Then I read 3 passages that showed me what an idiot I am.

Abraham asks his servant to find a wife for his son (why he has to pick someone from his own family, I don't know), but the servant asks God to show him who to pick by having her water the camels.  She does!  Then, Jesus meets a leper on the street.  He says, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."  Jesus is willing.  Finally, a centurion has a son who is sick.  Jesus asks if he wants Him to go to the house.  The centurion says, "Nope, You can just say it and it will happen."  Jesus commends him on his faith.

Now, I don't know how prayer works.  And I am still a big fan of not worrying what you will say but just spending time with the Father.  But, it does seem that God is still in the prayer answering business, and we should still ask for some things directly!  Who knows what He will do?

GENESIS 20-22, MATTHEW 7

Two people were willing to sacrifice their own children.  I mean, I guess there were some religions that did that regularly back then so a lot of people were willing to and went through with it - wow, now that I think about it, that is horrible.  How could someone just willingly sacrifice their own child?  How could you take your child somewhere and lead them to their death?

Now, I'm starting to think about God.  He literally asked Abraham to do just that.  Seems like a cruel test - a little bit over the top.  Sure it proves his love for God, but can you imagine Abraham's thoughts as he is building that altar?

I have to come clean - halfway through the first paragraph I got it.  It is cruel and that is horrible.  No father or mother should have to go through that, but THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT GOD WENT THROUGH!  No, God was not trying to show us how He feels - he never actually made them do it, but to think of what You did - incredible.

GENESIS 13-18, MATTHEW 5-6

​The winter Metra crowd is a lot different!  People plying music without headphones, talking loudly - it’s like the L!

I was looking forward to a nice quiet ride where I could read the Bible and just kind of focus.  That was not to be the case, but as I was reading - that will never be the case.  We live in a world that is crazy (and I feel like it was even crazier back in OT days).  But, what Jesus calls us to be is peace and love in that craziness - not by showing off our spirituality or by impressing people with our knowledge.  

Let’s just be real, be simple, and amongst the craziness, see God.

GENESIS 13-15, MATTHEW 5

I think our attitude on war has changed.  In Genesis 14, everyone was at war.  Heck, when one of the kings captures Lot, Abram gets 300 soldiers and "goes to war" against that king.  War seemed to be a natural part of expanding the land you owned.  

And I have to admit, I've got a little war in me.  When I read the Psalms about punishing my enemies, I don't cringe.  There is definitely a part of me that wants to see the people who don't like me suffer or to see bad things happen to them.  I would never do anything physically (too much of a wimp), but I think a lot of the anger that builds up inside of me is from people who have hurt me and wanting to see them hurt.

I guess there's also a part of me that wants to expand my territory.  There's part of me that wants more power, more respect, more popularity....just more!  

And I guess that was the root of the problem back in Old Testament days.  People were willing to do anything for what they thought was important.  Power, respect, Cash.

Then Jesus comes along and reminds us what is really important, and He also says to be willing to do anything to get it.  But, His list includes people.  That's it!  That, He might even say, is willing to go to "war" over. 

GENESIS 11-13, MATTHEW 5

 The Beatitudes are weird.  They make no sense.  Blessed are the poor in spirt.  Blessed are those who mourn.

I think I am living my best life when I am happy, when there is a lot of joy flowing.  I look forward to things like trips and special sporting events.  Basically, I live for pleasure.

Oh, now it makes sense.  Jesus is teaching us that life is more than fun and parties and going on trips.  There will be down times.  We will not always happy and joyful.  That doesn't mean that there is anything wrong with us.  That is life.  That is what happens.  

And if we are living for Him and living for others, it will not be this glorious life that everyone else envies.  Nobody says, "I want to be like him - look how much he has sacrificed."

Honestly, I think I have become way more worldly over the years - valuing rest and money and things.  But, The Beatitudes remind us that there are more important things, and those things are what are important to You.  There will be joy, there will be even be happiness - some now, and a lot more in the future.  But, we can't live for that.  Our goal is to live for You.

GENESIS 8-10, MATTHEW 4

​To a pre-Jesus Jew what would have been important was how many sons you had and how much territory you owned.  How do I know that?  Look what’s recorded.  Whenever they talk about someone they tell how many kids they had, who their offspring was and what their territory consisted of.

What would we mention today?  How much money we have, our recognitions, the stuff we own?  Maybe, if you were trying to impress “the world.”

But, in Your eyes, what’s important?  How we’ve loved?  Wow!  I think that’s it.  Tony Melton - he loved well.

GENESIS 5-7, MATTHEW 3-4

 Weird how some people take some things in the Bible as literal and some things not so much.  "Homosexual" (which wasn't even translated that way until 1960) - oh, that is exactly what is meant.  Divorce - not so much.  Look at Genesis.  These guys lived like 900 years.  I've heard that years were different back then.  I hope so.  Can you even imagine living for a century?  Then, there were two of every animal on the ark.  Really?  Two of every animal?  Noah found two of everything?  

Why is it that when we read stuff like this or "If your eye causes you to sin, cut it out" we know that it might not mean exactly that and we are ok with it.  We get the general meaning.  People lived longer, God doesn't like violence, He wanted to start over.

But, then some things that are in the Bible, people get all crazy about.  Homosexuals are going to hell.  If you "confess with your mouth" you'll be saved.  

I am not saying that a literal or liberal interpretation of the Bible is right or wrong.  What I'm saying is, "What really matters?"  What is God trying to tell us, or maybe, just maybe, He just wants us to read it to spend time with Him.  Maybe what it means is not as important as Who gave it to us.  

Love God and Love People - start with that.  And then just read it.  God will help us understand.

GENESIS 3-4, MATTHEW 2-3

 (Side note: I do not know what your belief about the creation story is.  It may have happened like it says in the Bible, or it may not have.  To me, it's not that important.  But, if it did....)

So, people were talking to God directly at the beginning.  Adam and Eve are having direct conversations with God.  Cain has a straight up conversation with Him (and lies to Him and makes himself look like the victim after he killed his brother).  Then, at the end of Genesis 4, it says that people began to seek the Lord.

This year, my goal is to spend time with You.  It seems to be the way.  The wise men did it and kept Jesus out of trouble.  Joseph did it and saved his family.  Heck, Proverbs even says to listen to Your wisdom today.  

Sure, it would be a lot easier if we just had the audible conversations that You had with the early folks, but I believe there is still wisdom there.  I believe that we can still hear from You.  But, it's kind of on us these days.

And I'm going to test this theory.  It's not so much about how you do it or what you do, it's mostly about just spending time with You and You'll do the rest.

THE BIBLE IN A YEAR

 I'm doing it!  I kept on thinking, "Maybe I should read the whole Bible again."  As New Year's Resolutions popped into my mind, the only thing that stuck was, "Spend more time with God."  Well, reading the whole Bible will help me do that, so here we go!

Today, I read Genesis and Matthew (I'm not counting the Psalms and Proverbs because I think I do those every day!).  I was kind of amazed by the water.  It said that God separated the water from the sky from the water from the ground.  The whole thing started as water.  And water really does flow in an everlasting circle.  Water gives us life, and water refreshes us.  In baptism, we go into the water and come out of the water.  

There is meaning in water.  I feel like every time I shower, every time I drink, every time I wash my hands - I should use that as a reminder of the life we've been given.  The new life.....everyday!  And the cleansing of our souls.  Water - pretty important.

Another thing that got me was Genesis 1 starts with Adam and Eve. Matthew 1 gives the genealogy of Jesus.  It's always perplexed me.  Why does that matter?  But it must.  The people that come before us prepare us to be who we are to become.  Now, I'm not so sure it's the same with Jesus,  but it does seem there is some significance in who He came from.  Prophecy wise - sure, but I do think even the Rehohabs of the world mean something.  Just like us.  

Sure, it may seem like we are not doing much, but if you zoom out and look at the totality of our family history, who knows?  There may be some pretty impressive people that come after us, and they may just have been influenced a little bit by who we were.