tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17998277981032258682012-02-16T22:31:30.963-06:00Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.comBlogger2951100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-5001423218397615992011-09-19T08:18:00.000-05:002011-09-19T08:18:28.772-05:00

If you have come here looking for the INTAKE blog for Church at the Springs, we have moved.  CLICK HERE to be redirected to our new site where we are engaging in The Story.  See you over there.

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Luke 23 From Luke 22:67-70Having already begun the beating, the men in charge of Jesus asked him, "Are you the Messiah?""If I said yes, you wouldn't believe me.  If I asked what you meant by your question, you wouldn't answer me.  So here's what I have to say:  From here on the Son of Man takes his place at God's right hand, the place of power."They all said, "So you admit your claim to be the

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Luke 22 Sorry for my delay yesterday.  Rhonda had big birthday and I got a bit side-tracked.  I'm back today though and there was a lot in the reading this morning.  There is one section that has always stood out to me about the reading today, and it all centers around Peter's denial of Jesus. It's easy for me to look at Peter and see myself or see others I have know that have gone a different

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Luke 21 First, I can't believe no one mentioned anything on Friday about us reading of Jesus' talk about taxes on April 15th.  That makes me laugh a little. Yesterday began what is commonly referred to as "Holy Week" in many circles of Christians.  In fact, on the ABC News last night, David Muir referred to this week as the holiest week of the year for Christians all over the world.  While I do

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Luke 20 Sub-headings in the Bible aren't necessarily inspired, but I really like this one in the Message, between verses 26 and 27: "All intimacies will be with God."  Jesus is asked what is essentially a legal question about marriage, and he answers it with a glimpse into heaven.  In the next life, God occupies His rightful place in human relationships.  All people will know God and be known by

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Luke 19 For those of us who think that God is not personal and keeps his distance from us and basically lets us handle everything on our own, today's chapter has to mess with your head a little.  Our chapter today is full of Jesus stepping into other people's business.  He disrupts their lives to accomplish his purposes.  His disruptions push us, pull us and prod us into being something we

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Luke 18 In today's chapter, we read about faith - the kind of faith that caused Jesus to stop and take note.  First, the story of the persistent widow reveals a consistent, never-say-quit sort of faith that continues to trust even when things are not going our way.  The disciples understood this imagery well because it had been thousands of years since God had promised his people a Messiah.  The

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Luke 17 “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.”-Jesus in verse 37 Reading this, and writing this, I have the same feelings I had when I watched The Passion of the Christ.  It was almost unbearable but I had to watch because in my soul I knew it was true.  Verse 37 is like that.  His followers are trying to find the Kingdom of God, which seems like a beautiful thing, and he

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Luke 16 Today, I had to stop and back up a few times.  These parables are not easily understood by me.  On the first glance, they seem to be a bit out of character for the rest of the Lukan text.  In keeping with the consistent theme of inclusion and welcoming of the unwelcome, we must keep this in mind as we read these stories. In the first story, Jesus is highlighting the manager's shrewdness

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Luke 15 This chapter just might be my favorite chapter in the whole bible.  I love the stories that Jesus tells, but even more, my heart is drawn to the first two verses of this chapter. By this time a lot of men and women of doubtful reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently.  2 The Pharisees and religion scholars were not pleased, not at all pleased. They growled, “He takes in

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Luke 14 In Chapter 14, Luke recounts 4 stories from Jesus' travels.  Jesus would mix in parables, stories with meaning behind the obvious, as he taught those around him  He would use parables get something through the thick skulls of those who he was teaching. He starts with his fourth teaching about the importance of people over the Sabbath - the holy day for the Jews, where they were to do

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Luke 13 Suffering.  Healing.  Sabbath.  Kingdom.  Salvation.  There is a lot in chapter 13 that may have jumped out at you this morning, no doubt.  Centering in on which one stands out the most to me, and the one part I'd like to chew on for the rest of this day is a bit of a challenge - but it's been that way for about 10 chapters for me already! In verse 18, Jesus moves from healing a

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Luke 13 "People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”-Jesus in verses 29-30 The Feast.  It's one of Jesus's favorite ways to describe the Kingdom of Heaven--a huge gathering and a reason to celebrate.  No expense will be spared.  God

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Luke 12 My wife drives a Jeep. It's our family's third Jeep, and over the years we've learned a few things about Jeep life. One of the most important is this: driving with the top down is awesome, but you better get a weather forecast. My first Jeep got soaked so many times that I ripped out all the stinky, mildewed carpet and waterproofed the interior, complete with drain holes. You would

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Luke 11 I was no different than most kids I know.  When I was a kid my mom used to tell me, "If you can't say something good, don't say it at all."  I may have even thought, at one point, that this was one of those "bible verses" that aren't found in the bible.  But Jesus didn't seem to follow this teaching.  At the end of Luke 11, Jesus appears to be fed up with the religious leaders.  His

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Luke 10 My thoughts on Luke 10 came in the form of a Sunday teaching yesterday.  The story that received the most attention from me was Luke 10:25-37.  The story is commonly knows as the Good Samaritan story.  Jesus cuts across the cultural version of love where we reach out to those like us and calls us to a REAL LOVE that risks our lives, offers concrete care and advocates for those most

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Luke 9 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” -Jesus in verse 20 This is not only the central question of chapter 9; it is the central question of Luke's gospel. I can imagine what it was like for the disciples on that day when Jesus started asking who people thought he was. I suspect there was passion and urgency in his voice. Are people figuring it out? Do they understand

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Luke 8 "Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left."-verse 37 Just about everyone who comes to Jesus hopes he'll change something about our lives.  We hope our marriage will be better, or our relationship with our kids or our parents.  We hope something will change at school or at work, or

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Luke 7 At the end of the chapter, Luke recalls a story about a sinful woman, a woman of ill repute, a harlot...a hooker.  Included in this story is a Pharisee, a member of the religious elite, a socialite of all socialites.  The two prove to be an unlikely lesson on the grace of God. The Pharisee has invited Jesus to his home for a meal.  Jesus's acceptance of the invitation shows that he was

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Luke 6 We have a huge back yard.  When we first moved into our house, the yard was in terrible shape, and I only had a small push mower.  It took me forever to mow the grass the first time, and I vowed that I would never do it again.  I got a riding mower, with which I can mow the back yard in about 30 minutes and barely break a sweat.  That's been my habit now for four years. Sunday my riding

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Luke 5 In chapter 5 we see Jesus meeting the deepest needs of people he met. What's more important to a fisherman than to catch a boatload of fish? What could mean more to a leper than to be touched, to be healed? Jesus gave the paralyzed man new legs, and shared a table with social and religious outcasts. But in every instance, Jesus has another purpose beyond meeting the need of the

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Luke 4 Have you ever wondered where to start when you begin reading the bible?  At the Springs, we have opted to help you in this little journey, but many people I have talked with say the same thing, "I just don't know where to start." Today, we see Jesus' first public teaching opportunity.  He picks up the scriptures and starts to read.  He had opportunity to read anything he wanted.  He

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Luke 3 As I read through the first six verses today, I was reminded of these: Do you remember these candies of greatness?  The problem I had with the Now & Later was that when you put the candy in your mouth NOW, you sure weren't going to finish it until LATER.  Those candies were hard.  Now they have soft versions of the candy that is much better.  But what does that have to do with the first

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Luke 2 I have experienced forty-one Christmases.  I could have easily resigned myself to reading through chapter 2 and getting it out of the way early.  But, I wanted something new.  I wanted to see something differently than I had every other time I had read this chapter, or had it read to me during a Christmas Eve service.  I expected something a little more this time.  And I wasn't

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Here are some questions you might want to ask your kids as you read together: 1.  If an angel appeared to you and promised something unusual, would you believe him?  Why? 2.  Mary expected great things.  What did she sing about believing God? Have fun.  If you have some suggestions for others of us reading with our kids, comment below and share the age of your kids, so we can all be better at

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Luke 1 Luke makes special note to his motivation for writing his account of the Good News.  He explains to Theophilus that his desire is to present a detailed account of the "harvest of history" or the fulfillment of things that were promised.  Luke is the third book of what we call the Synoptic Gospels, Matthew and Mark being the other two, which share many of the same stories.  He is clear

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Click here to download your Reading Plan to add to your mobile device.

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Leading up to Easter this Spring, we will be reading through the Gospel According to Luke.  Luke has the most detailed account of the ministry of Jesus and will be an incredible read together.  Right now the plan is to read one chapter per day and finish with the resurrection on Resurrection Sunday. Do you have any suggestions for how we handle the blog during the readings.  Is there anything

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Romans 15:23-END (The Message and TNIV) Whew!  We made it.  I realize that there is one more chapter, but many believe this was the end of Paul's letter.  I like to look at chapter 16 as a long post-script.  Paul ends chapter 15 with "Amen."  So I'd like to end with "Amen." How has this journey through Romans impacted you?  I said yesterday that I have loved and loathed it.  What about you?  We

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Romans 15:17-22 (The Message and TNIV) "I have no interest in giving you a chatty account of my adventures, only the wondrously powerful and transformingly present words and deeds of Christ in me that triggered a believing response among the outsiders." v18 If anyone had reason to tell stories of his adventures, it would have been Paul.  However, it is a bit refreshing to read his words and hear

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Romans 15:14-16 (The Message and TNIV) Paul seems to begin verse 14 with an outright lie.  I mean, I've listened to every word of this letter from verse 1 of Chapter 1, through verse 13 of Chapter 15 yesterday.  For Paul to say he is "completely satisfied" with who they are and what they are doing blows my mind.  So what in the world does he mean? I speculate that Paul, amidst his intense

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Romans 15:8-13 (The Message and TNIV) My reading came a little late today, but I still got there and I'm glad that I did.  I like music and I particularly like songs with a good bridge.  The song I am singing often throughout my days is "I Will Follow" by Chris Tomlin.  We did this song for the first time at our last gathering.  I like every word of the song, but I particularly like the bridge.

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Romans 15:1-7 (The Message and TNIV) Paul is bringing his whole letter to an end and he is ending with how the Church ought to interact and treat one another.  I love this phrase from our reading this morning: May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. v5 First, I gravitate toward the

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Romans 14:19-23 (The Message and TNIV) Paul seems to now make a shift to those who do eat and drink freely, without the hindrance of abstinence.  All food and drink is good, but can be turned badly by the way that we partake.  Just as the strict adherents to the dietary laws could cause problems with others by their insistence on not, those who are free can also cause problems with their freedom

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Romans 14:13-18 (The Message and TNIV) Today is another phrase that was flipped for me when I was growing up.  Whenever someone warned against being a stumbling block, it was always referring to doing something wrong.  Don't drink in public because someone might see you and stumble.  Don't use bad language because you might cause someone to stumble.  Don't speed because you might cause someone

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Romans 14:9-12 (The Message and TNIV) What struck me about our reading today is that when I hear most people quote "Every knee will bow and every tongue confess" it's done full of contempt.  They see someone doing something "unchristian" and they spout this verse as a God-will-take-care-of-them sort of thing.  Paul couches the phrase very differently. We shouldn't look down on others because we

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Romans 14:5-8 (The Message and TNIV) Paul uses a second example today to emphasize his point that we are to "welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things the way you do" (v1).  Yesterday, he used the example of eating food and abstaining food, and today he uses the Sabbath day as an example.  He is arguing for the Sabbath Principle, not the Sabbath Day.  For the Jewish readers of

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Romans 14:1-4 (The Message and TNIV)  1 Accept those whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat everything, but another person, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God

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Day 1 - Romans 14:1-4Day 2 - Romans 14:5-8Day 3 - Romans 14:9-12Day 4 - Romans 14:13-18Day 5 - Romans 14:19-23Day 1 - Romans 15:1-7Day 2 - Romans 15:8-13Day 3 - Romans 15:14-16Day 4 - Romans 15:17-22Day 5 - Romans 15:23-33Come back here for daily blogs on each of the readings.

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Romans 13:8-10 in the TNIV and Message translations On the first reading of verses 8-10, I thought Paul used the "debt of love" phrase to transition away from the citizenship issues he's been addressing and turn to more personal, relational matters.  But I think that's wrong.  His point is that they are one and the same.  My desire is to compartmentalize: this is Christian living, but that is

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Romans 13:6-7 in the Message and TNIV translationsWhen the world watches people who call themselves Christians, they aren't particularly interested in what church we go to or whether we are knowledgeable about the Bible. Often they are looking for the inconsistencies between what they know our faith teaches and how we actually live. And money--because it means so much in the world--is a focal

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Romans 13:3-5 in the Message and TNIV translations "For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good." v.4 TNIV This is how sick I am: when I first read that, I thought, "what if I worked at Dunder Mifflin, and Michael Scott and Dwight Schrute were my bosses?"  Those guys are God's servants? If you haven't yet worked for someone you thought was inept/corrupt/unfair/out to get you, you

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Romans 13:1-2 in the TNIV and Message translations"Question Authority." It's a popular bumper sticker and the mantra of at least one American generation, if not all of them. Defying the government is a part of our national history. Most of our heroes did it, from George Washington to Martin Luther King. Complaining about the government, protesting it and influencing it are a national pastime

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-91673153932187646612011-01-30T17:04:00.000-06:002011-01-30T21:06:18.053-06:00

For this week, here is the breakdown for the daily readings.  Check back here daily for new postings related to each of the daily readings. Monday - Romans 13:1-2 Tuesday - Romans 13:3-5 Wednesday - Romans 13:6-7 Thursday - Romans 13:8-10 Friday - Romans 13:11-14

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-43027207157540104402011-01-28T08:01:00.000-06:002011-01-28T08:01:57.349-06:00

Romans 12:17-21 (The Message and TNIV) 17-19Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."  20-21Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-41511340003451108152011-01-27T05:00:00.003-06:002011-01-27T05:00:08.071-06:00

Romans 12:14-16 in the TNIV and Message translations First, I want to thank Brad for carrying all the load on the Intake blog and so many other things recently, as Elizabeth and I have been attending to family issues during her mother's illness.  We are especially thankful for our community in times like these.  Now, to the text... "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-33481668038689167802011-01-26T07:22:00.000-06:002011-01-26T07:22:50.119-06:00

Romans 12:9-13 (The Message and TNIV) Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. (9-10) How did we get to this point?  How did followers of a man best known for the way he loved people become the people listed in this video?  These perceptions are simply "

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-83733322586385740092011-01-25T07:45:00.001-06:002011-01-25T07:46:06.596-06:00

Romans 12:3-8 (The Message and TNIV) "The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him." v3b I love this passage of Scripture.  I love this entire chapter of Romans, but these verses are particularly important to me.  They are the verses that God used to help me find my place in His ministry, they are the

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-46155233744132652482011-01-24T20:45:00.000-06:002011-01-24T20:45:28.895-06:00

Tonight, I read these quotes from a blog called Missional in Suburbia.  The author quotes another author by the name of Jared Wilson. “To the cultural Christian, there is nothing attractive about a small church that expects relational community, practices regular neighborhood service, highlights the cost of discipleship in every message, has a minimalist menu of programs to partake from, and

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-20490786212075916032011-01-24T07:47:00.000-06:002011-01-24T07:47:28.438-06:00

Romans 12:1-2 (The Message)  Click Here for the TNIV So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.  Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-21676189422283280702011-01-21T07:28:00.000-06:002011-01-21T07:28:18.740-06:00

Romans 11:33-36 (The Message and TNIV) Recently, my age has become more real to me than it has up to this point.  Besides the obvious body failures that remind me of my age, and the social settings where people I admire and respect weren't even in school yet when I graduated from high school, there are positives to becoming more "mature."  Even though they may not be the easiest to find, one

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-40255900146756612272011-01-20T08:10:00.000-06:002011-01-20T08:10:19.259-06:00

Romans 11:25-32 (The Message and TNIV) This morning as I worked through these eight verses, one verse shone a little brighter to me than the others. In one way or another, God makes sure that we all experience what it means to be outside so that he can personally open the door and welcome us back in. v32 In one way or another is probably rendered in the word "for" (TNIV) in many of your

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-732777197074386882011-01-19T09:11:00.000-06:002011-01-19T09:11:15.733-06:00

Romans 11:16-24 (The Message and TNIV) The “holy, God-planted, God-tended root” is the place of privilege with God that Israel first enjoyed.  The natural branches are Israel and the grafted branches are the Gentiles.  The Gentiles were added into the family and are as holy as the core of the tree they were grafted into.  The Israelites who did not believe were considered deadwood and were

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-17370501113332063892011-01-18T07:44:00.001-06:002011-01-18T07:45:24.216-06:00

Romans 11:11-15 Matthew Henry says, “The gospel is the greatest riches of every place where it is.”  Paul is using the Israelite people to show the Gentiles that God takes even the worst of situations and turns them for good.  There failure was not fatal, and God will use it for even greater good when they return to their first love. This is a pattern for God throughout history.  What we think

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-29019994314974089152011-01-17T07:30:00.001-06:002011-01-17T22:57:01.120-06:00

Romans 11:1-10 After listening to Paul for 10 chapters, it might be easy to think that God has no interest in the Israelites, His chosen people, any longer.  Paul assures us this is not the case though.  There have been a select few that have received their gift by faith.  As with any people group, there are some that embrace the gift of God-setting-things-right by faith, and some that do not.

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-41573794723474864352011-01-17T07:24:00.000-06:002011-01-17T07:24:05.165-06:00

I was intent on not opening up my thoughts on the back half of Romans 10 before Sunday.  You can go here to listen to the gathering yesterday.  I had some thoughts on Romans 10:11-17, and some discussion with Brett and Emily Mills about their ministry, Jesus Said Love, in between.  Take a listen and hope it reaches into you. Sunday, January 16, 2011

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-54892227820561051472011-01-12T14:47:00.000-06:002011-01-12T14:47:06.218-06:00

Romans 10:11-13 (The Message and TNIV) This Sunday, I will be teaching from the readings for the next two days.  I'm going to save most of my thoughts until Sunday, but I do want to highlight this verse: “No one who trusts God like this—heart and soul—will ever regret it.” (11) What does this verse mean to you?  Whatever comes to your mind...  The TNIV puts it this way, “Anyone who believes

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-2061633119813990212011-01-11T07:18:00.001-06:002011-01-11T07:19:38.504-06:00

Romans 10:4-10 (TheMessage and TNIV) Moses wrote that anyone who insists on using the law code to live right before God soon discovers it's not so easy - every detail of life is regulated by fine print!  But trusting God to shape the right living in us is a different story... The word that saves is right here, as near as the tongue in your mouth, as close as the heart in your chest. It's the

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-72821403509915771892011-01-10T09:02:00.000-06:002011-01-10T09:02:43.098-06:00

Romans 10:1-3 (The Message and TNIV) Misguided zeal.  This weekend a young 22-year old named Jared Loughner, who has been linked to the American Resistance opened fire on several federal officials and killed a federal judge, a congressional aide and a nine-year-old girl, along with three others.  Senator Gabrielle Giffords is in ICU in a Tucson hospital recovering from a shot to her head.  What

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-64325142033421703512011-01-07T07:40:00.000-06:002011-01-07T07:40:32.826-06:00

Romans 9:30-33 (The Message and TNIV) Bookmark.  Highlight.  Circle.  Underline.  Double-underline.  Do whatever you have to do to remember the truth of todays reading - primarily v.32. Here Paul uncovers one of the largest hijacks of the Christian faith, and it's as real today as it was for the Romans here.  Those who don't pursue righteousness are the ones that fully embrace God's activity in

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-68867726747750019892011-01-06T08:02:00.001-06:002011-01-06T08:03:20.620-06:00

Romans 9:24-29 (The Message and TNIV) "In the very place where it was said to them,    ‘You are not my people,’    they will be called ‘children of the living God.'" How good and pleasant it is to hear these words from Paul.  I am not his people, but I get to be called a child of the living God.  Can't you just see this on a decorative piece in the gift section of the local christian bookstore?

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-17599329989914874502011-01-05T09:18:00.001-06:002011-01-05T09:19:18.223-06:00

Romans 9:14-23 (The Message and TNIV) Today we find ourselves in the middle of an argument.  Not an argument Paul is having, but one that has been raging every since Paul penned these words.  Some of you may have heard people ask questions like, "Are you a Calvinist or Armenian?", "What do you think about predestination?" or "You free-will?"  These questions are part of a larger discussion

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-55573840914691924332011-01-04T07:11:00.003-06:002011-01-04T07:14:30.022-06:00

Romans 9:6-13 (The Message and TNIV) Last night, Rhonda and I went to see True Grit.  Prior to the movie, we again saw the following preview for The Adjustment Bureau... Matt Damon's character had been given a plan that was not to be altered.  He meets a young woman that will change his "plan" and the bureau must not allow that to happen, for they are the keepers of the "plan."  Do you see

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-42825442594228235312011-01-03T07:46:00.000-06:002011-01-03T07:46:59.725-06:00

Romans 9:1-5 (The Message and TNIV) Chapters 9-11 contain Paul's grand argument for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  In the first five verses, he sets the tension that will carry the argument in the following chapters.  Paul unveils the tension in his heart for the Israelite people, of which he is one.  He introduces a question that will carry us through the next several chapters:  What is the

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-78514140076912599262011-01-02T18:56:00.000-06:002011-01-02T18:56:53.343-06:00

Our challenge to Springs of all ages this month is to memorize the following 5 verses from Romans.  Called the "Roman Road," they are the gospel message in 5 short verses. Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 6:23, "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 5:8, "God demonstrates His own love

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-33393226284203569842010-12-10T07:27:00.000-06:002010-12-10T07:27:17.777-06:00

I hope that you are taking some time this season to stop and breathe in the freshness of Jesus.  I know that sounds like a very "churchy" phrase, but think about it.  When you walk into a Starbucks and smell the coffee, don't you just pause and inhale really big?  My wife has a wax figure just like one she grew up with as a child.  The figure is of three carolers and it has a smell that is unique

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-13791678717797494042010-11-28T10:24:00.000-06:002010-11-28T10:24:55.593-06:00

Well, we have made it through the first 8 chapters of Romans - that's half way.  Because of the holidays, we have opted to take a break until January.  We will rejoin Romans then, but until then, we don't want you to just stop reading the bible and discovering the incredible relationship Jesus wants to have with you. A couple of questions for you to consider... 1.  What is the most important

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-82073553921721852822010-11-19T07:42:00.000-06:002010-11-19T07:42:01.071-06:00

Romans 8:31-39 (The Message and TNIV) I love today's reading.  This is one of those passages in the bible that speaks into the darkest place of my heart.  That place where I feel inadequate to handle what is coming at me.  That part of me that feels like I can't go another day.  That part of me that wants to give up the fight.  If it bothers you that one of your pastors has that place in his

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-91946757184528240042010-11-18T06:38:00.010-06:002010-11-18T06:38:00.782-06:00

Romans 8:18-30 (The Message and TNIV) There is much more in these verses than I want to cover in a blog post.  Three main topics make up these ten verses:  environmentalism (v19-21), suffering (v22-28) and election (v29-30).  Due to space here, I want to look specifically into the middle section and our response to suffering.  I may hit another one later today, though. I think we have to back

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-58962027328191316032010-11-17T07:30:00.001-06:002010-11-17T07:31:26.586-06:00

Romans 8:14-17 (The Message and TNIV) As I read through the these verses this morning, something struck me differently than when I wrote the reading plan last week.  What do you think we have to have to be able to fight this fight against our old sinful nature?  What do you need to get up every day and say no to the things that want to kick your butt?  What do you need to pick yourself up when

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-70559752242966527172010-11-16T06:35:00.001-06:002010-11-16T07:10:06.539-06:00

Romans 8:9-13 (The Message and TNIV) When we trusted God to set-us-right-with-him, we were given certain gifts that make it possible to live the life that God has always desired for us.  One of those is the antidote for living a life that is all about ourselves.  Once God takes residence of our lives, he becomes the centerpiece.  Those who do not live in this sort of relationship with God, won’t

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-49468119838361404212010-11-15T07:20:00.000-06:002010-11-15T07:20:09.699-06:00

Romans 8:1-8 (The Message and TNIV) Do you ever have times when you feel like there is a dark, ominous cloud hanging over you?  When you feel like nothing you do is the right thing and everything you touch turns out wrong.  We often beat ourselves up over our failures.  We also let others beat us up as well.  We don’t live up to other people’s standards and we get beat up.  We don’t respond to

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-15391423741081654362010-11-12T07:20:00.001-06:002010-11-12T07:22:37.911-06:00

Romans 7:21-25 (The Message and TNIV) Paul is now bringing this issue to a close.  In these verses he is clearly summarizing what has gone before in chapter seven.  Paul sees two laws at war in his life - the divine law of God and the law of sin.  He sees himself as a captive in this war and that he clearly does not have total victory.  The depths of Paul’s situation can be heard in the

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-46800330511660583152010-11-11T07:34:00.000-06:002010-11-11T07:34:51.080-06:00

Romans 7:14-20 (The Message and TNIV) Does it seem that Paul is reading your email?  Apart from the law, or the bible, to guide us in right and wrong, we fail every time.  But now Paul is uncovering the elephant in the room.  Even with the law, we don’t have a chance.  We know what’s right, but we don’t do it.  We want to do what’s right, but we don’t.  We decide to make changes in our life,

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-70375717757236783172010-11-10T07:29:00.000-06:002010-11-10T07:29:49.531-06:00

Romans 7:13 (The Message) Sin simply did what sin is so famous for doing: using the good as a cover to tempt me to do what would finally destroy me. By hiding within God’s good commandment, sin did far more mischief than it could ever have accomplished on its own.  Think about that for a moment.  If you were handed a gun and told to shoot the next person you saw, you would see that as murder

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-47256747122646119842010-11-09T06:49:00.000-06:002010-11-09T06:49:55.003-06:00

Romans 7:7-12 in The Message and TNIV Suppose you were vacationing at the beach one summer.  Work has been hard this past year and the kids have been a challenge.  You dream about wading out into the clear, cool water and relaxing with no phones and no computers and no kids!  You love the water, you find yourself taking longer baths as you imagine floating on your vacation.  It's going to be

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-60505554932674628622010-11-08T07:05:00.000-06:002010-11-08T07:05:40.998-06:00

Romans 7:1-6 (The Message)   You shouldn’t have any trouble understanding this, friends, for you know all the ins and outs of the law—how it works and how its power touches only the living.  For instance, a wife is legally tied to her husband while he lives, but if he dies, she’s free.  If she lives with another man while her husband is living, she’s obviously an adulteress. But if he dies, she

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-83274811616432614362010-11-01T05:04:00.001-05:002010-11-01T05:04:00.635-05:00

Well, we've made it through 6 chapters of Romans.  Some of you have been right with us the entire time, but most of you are probably at the point where you feel like you are too far behind.  Don't give up.  This week we are going to play catch-up. Since we have a bonus week because of the 5th Sunday, we are not moving forward in the readings.  This week will be reserved for questions you might

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-23320088326793215512010-10-29T05:00:00.111-05:002010-10-29T05:00:03.743-05:00

Romans 6:20-23 in the Message and TNIV translations Romans 6:23 is the third memory verse in our "Roman Road" memory verses, after Romans 3:23 and 5:8.  I encourage you to commit these to memory, and help your kids learn them also.  There are only 2 more after these, and all 5 together are a good summary of Romans and the gospel message. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-50616711414026401422010-10-28T09:39:00.000-05:002010-10-28T09:39:45.174-05:00

Romans 6:19 in the TNIV and Message translations It is de-emphasized in the Message translation, but Paul is using a slavery metaphor in most of chapter 6. It is hard to imagine slavery being anything other than bad.  It is the opposite of freedom, one of our highest values. So it makes sense to us for Paul to describe sin as slavery, and Grace as freedom. We get that. But Paul then describes

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-21594958671122346152010-10-27T10:25:00.000-05:002010-10-27T10:25:07.808-05:00

Romans 6:12-18 in The Message and TNIV So, how do we “throw ourselves wholeheartedly and full-time into God’s way of doing things”?  Does this mean we have to set our preset stations to KSBJ...all of them?  Do we change the way we dress?  Do we change where we eat, where we shop, etc.?  Do we no longer go to movies?  How do we keep from “running little errands that connected with that old way

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-70631850428878702862010-10-26T07:23:00.000-05:002010-10-26T07:23:15.002-05:00

Romans 6:6-11 in The Message and TNIV If my old way of life really was nailed to the Cross with Christ, why does it keep rearing its ugly head?  If I am included in Christ's sin-conquering death, why do I still have to fight with sin?  Other translations say that I am free from the power of sin, but sometimes it really doesn't feel like it. I know in my head that sin speaks a dead language and

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-76322632292529153422010-10-25T07:28:00.000-05:002010-10-25T07:28:58.443-05:00

Romans 6:1-5 in both The Message and TNIV (Today's post was adapted from our Reading Plan) At the end of his football career, the great Emmitt Smith left the Dallas Cowboys to play for the Arizona Cardinals.  After a very long career with the Cowboys, everything changed when he moved to Arizona.  On the day of his first game with the Cardinals, Emmitt arrived  to the stadium and went to the

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-47252861230117464922010-10-22T08:01:00.000-05:002010-10-22T08:01:51.897-05:00

Romans 5:18-21 in The Message and TNIV This morning as I read through our text for today, a few things popped out at me.  First, there is the issue of the phrase "many people in the wrong" (MSG) or "many were made sinners" (TNIV).  Why didn't Paul say, through one man "all people were made sinners."  Another thing that stands out is the idea that the law actually increases the number of

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-4570319376841858462010-10-21T10:05:00.000-05:002010-10-21T10:05:46.415-05:00

Romans 5:15-17 in the Message and TNIV translations On Sunday, Brad challenged us to consider what kind of story we were living. Today, Paul talks about the story the whole world was and is living, and how Jesus changes the story. Every great story has a main character, a hero. In the Hebrew story of humanity, that character was Adam. The first man. The prototype. His name means "man" in

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-20862152692525593342010-10-20T08:29:00.000-05:002010-10-20T08:29:09.097-05:00

Romans 5:12-14 Okay, so one man at the beginning of humanity made a mistake and every person pays for it since then? The baby that comes into the world doesn't even have to commit a sin to be "guilty"? We don't have to do anything to be guilty? How have you reconciled this in your life? We live in a culture that screams for personal accountability. This just doesn't seem right. Does this

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-9414886215340819012010-10-19T06:51:00.000-05:002010-10-19T06:51:28.704-05:00

Romans Reading Plan (Chapters 5 & 6) In Chapter 5, Paul makes a pretty major shift in the letter.  Up to this point, Paul spends all of his emphasis on the universal invitation to salvation - not just the Jews.  God is the one who initiates the reconnection of our relationship and nothing we do could possibly earn us right standing with God.  Trusting in His work to "set us right" is the only

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-27009201118673211672010-10-14T16:05:00.002-05:002010-10-14T16:05:24.128-05:00

Anybody got a thought today about Romans?  I've been swamped and didn't get a chance to really think through the reading today.  To be honest, I haven't even read it today.  Thought maybe one of you might have something to say today...

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-35670099833784810742010-10-13T10:24:00.000-05:002010-10-13T10:24:58.951-05:00

This is why the fulfillment of God’s promise depends entirely on trusting God and his way, and then simply embracing him and what he does. God’s promise arrives as pure gift. That’s the only way everyone can be sure to get in on it, those who keep the religious traditions and those who have never heard of them. For Abraham is father of us all. He is not our racial father—that’s reading the story

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-16235932752205896042010-10-12T10:26:00.000-05:002010-10-12T10:26:10.418-05:00

Romans 4:13-15 in the TNIV and Message translations                Reading Plan If you read Proverbs, you get a lot of "if A then B" statements.  If you live righteously, good things will come to you.  If you turn against God, calamity will fall on you.  If you raise your kids right, they will turn out well.  If you remain faithful to God, you will prosper.  God is on one side of the equation,

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-228003831527856762010-10-11T07:45:00.000-05:002010-10-11T07:45:30.169-05:00

Romans 4:9-12 (The Message and TNIV)          Reading Plan For the past few days, we have camped in one segment of Paul's letter.  What are we to take away from this text?  Is the takeaway "circumcision"?  Or is there something broader Paul is communicating.  I believe that Paul's radical inclusion of the Gentiles as God's people provides the start to a much broader principle that affects us

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-65753107259842414692010-10-08T07:25:00.000-05:002010-10-08T07:25:47.393-05:00

Matthew 4:10-11          Reading Plan (This section should be read with 9-12) Yesterday, I was cleaning up my home office since my dad was coming to stay with us.  Under my desk, I discovered an unused gift card to Esteban's.  If you live here, you know that Esteban's is a staple Mexican food restaurant in League City (It's no Chuy's, but they are good people).  I believe that I have a card.  I

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Romans 4:9 (The Message and TNIV)          Reading Plan My most modern translation of today's verse... "Do you think for a minute that baseball blessing is only pronounced over those Yankee fans who keep their baseball ways and are pinstriped? Or do you think it possible that the baseball blessing could be given to those who never even won a playoff series, who were never brought up in the

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Romans 4:6-8 (The Message and TNIV)          Reading Plan Paul isn't teaching something new.  From his perspective, this is how it's always been.  Works have never made us right with God, but rather our believing that "only God sets things right": FAITH.  In verse 6, he uses David to support this.  David was the king of all kings for the Israelites.  When he says David, everyone's ears peak.  

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Romans 4:4-5 (The Message and TNIV)                               Reading Plan Have you ever received a gift?  I don't mean a gift at a birthday, or Christmas or a gift thanking you for something you did or even from a parent just grateful for whose you are.  I mean a real gift, one that you never expected and absolutely didn't deserve?  As an adult this sort of gift might be hard to receive.  

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-41127184781171440672010-10-04T06:32:00.000-05:002010-10-04T06:32:28.405-05:00

Romans 4:1-3 (The Message and TNIV)                    Reading Plan I think it's a fairly common belief that the New Testament teaches us about grace and the Old Testament is all about obedience - rule following.  The truth is that both the Old and the New Testament point toward faith as the only means to reconciliation with God.  In the Old Testament, Abel brought a sacrifice to God, Noah built

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If you were serving on the other end of the building yesterday or you had to miss for any other reason, here is the link to yesterday's teaching.  Download it or listen to it straight from your computer.  Feel free to pass it along to anyone else who you think might benefit also. Sunday Teachings

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Romans 3:31 (The Message and TNIV) By focusing more on what God does in our reconciliation than what we do, it’s easy to slip into thinking that we don’t have to worry about our actions and obedience.  Paul is stern in warning this is not the case.  When we put this new life into it’s proper place, we actually affirm the ways of God by falling into obedience. The proper place Paul is referring

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-44851587445963521472010-09-30T07:36:00.001-05:002010-09-30T07:39:15.470-05:00

Romans 3:29-30 (The Message and TNIV) Click Here for the Reading Plan I realize that for some of us, it may seem like Paul is beating a dead horse with all this everyone-is-equal talk, and we may be thinking, "Enough already, we get this."  I admit that I lean that way just a little this morning.  The only thing that straightens me back up is putting myself in the shoes of the Gentiles. For the

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05285938719069372135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1799827798103225868.post-64944127636605009972010-09-29T05:00:00.009-05:002010-09-29T05:00:03.076-05:00

Romans 3:27-28 in the TNIV and Message translations Brad's commentary in the THINK section of the reading plan today is excellent.  If you don't have it, you can get it here. Instead of more commentary, I'd like to contribute a few images.  Which one of the pictures below best represents the way you view life and/or your relationship with God? Or perhaps a different image comes to mind. 

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com6