ONE THING YOU LACK

Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. – Mark 10:21-22

Like many familiar stories, many miss the main point of this account about the one whom we know as “The Rich Young Ruler.”

This man appeared to have everything: youth, wealth, religion, and position. Yet he still had an empty place in his heart. He ran to Jesus asking what he should do to inherit eternal life. Did he also have the wisdom to realize that

ONE THING IS NEEDED

… Only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her. – Jesus, Luke 10:42

How much of the time do you feel the pressure of expectation? Sometimes, the expectation is from others. Sometimes it is what we expect of ourselves. In either case, feeling someone expects you to do something creates frustration and a sense of inadequacy within us.

ONE THING I KNOW

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see. – John Newton

When Jesus healed the blind man in John 9, the Pharisees put him out of the synagogue. Before they did this, they put him through a grueling period of intimidation and efforts to convince him he was mistaken about Jesus.

He had already identified himself as the man who was born blind when his neighbors said he was only like that man. He had already told them how “a Man called Jesus” had healed him and told them all he knew about Jesus.

Rather than rejoice with him, some of those neighbors brought him to the Pharisees,

SIMPLE CHURCH

Which church is the more likely to be a growing church: A church with a broad-range of programs that have appeal to all ages or a church with few programs but with a

QUESTIONS: Re the Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil

[I received this question through our church web site, www.Plymouth-church.com, where I answer questions from the Question Box.]

I would like to see thoughts on the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:17).  What did that imply and why did God forbid it?   What is wrong with knowing good and evil?  Did Adam and Eve not have the knowledge of good and evil before they ate it?   What did they gain after eating it?  Related to this, why were they not ashamed of being naked before eating it, but after eating it they realized they were naked and covered themselves?  Why was being naked okay at one time but not okay at another time?

I have long considered the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, not as the knowledge of the mind but as the knowledge of experience.

12 Days of Christmas (12): Christmas Songs I Love (Part 2)

CHRISTMAS SONGS I LOVE (Part 2): MESSIAH, JOY TO THE WORLD, &                  J – O – Y

The songs of Christmas are widely varied. Many reflect the secular view of Christmas while others are deeply spiritual. Some are light, whimsical, and ephemeral while others are classical and enduring. In this post, I want to highlight three different works with different styles. All three exalt the Christ and His purpose in coming to the earth.

12 Days of Christmas (11): Christmas Songs I Love: Part 1

CHRISTMAS SONGS I LOVE (Part 1): Hark The Herald Angels and O Come All Ye Faithful

One of the things I love about Christmas is the music. It is festive and joyous – even if some of it is a bit silly. For example, how much sillier can you get than “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer”?

It is also disconcerting, to the say the least, to have carols filled with gospel truth mixed indiscriminately with “Here Comes Santa Claus” and “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.”

12 Days of Christmas (10): The Death of the Innocents

A Communion Meditation…

Death of the Innocents

The Death of the Innocents

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under…. – Matthew 2:16

We often call the event described in this verse “The Death of the Innocents.” King Herod ordered the murder of all baby boys in Bethlehem 2 years old and under.

He did this to kill Jesus.

12 Days of Christmas (9): The Christmas Scandal – The Virgin Birth

THE CHRISTMAS SCANDAL – the Virgin Birth

Some things are so familiar we do not see them for what they are. I believe the story of Jesus’ birth is one of those.

We glamorize this event. Put it in “soft-glow candlelight” with halos all around. The manger may be in a barn, but there is no barnyard smell. Even, “The little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes….” At least, He does not cry according to the song we so often sing.

Moreover, there is scarcely a breath of scandal about the whole thing.

THE MANHATAN DECLARATION

I do not normally address “political” issues on this blog. When, however, politics spills over into ethical issues that have moral and spiritual implications for our entire society, it is time for Christian people to speak out.

This is the sentiment driving “The Manhattan Declaration.”