MIND OF TRUTH

Some thoughts on a paper I was reading on the Resurection... John records four distinct episodes in which Jesus reveals Himself to others. The second episode in Jh 20:11-18 is very interesting. John tells us that Mary went to the tomb early on the first day of the week and found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty and then ran to tell the disciples (20:1-2). Peter and the beloved disciple run to the tomb to find it empty and the grave clothes folded neatly inside (20:3-9). Then John says that they ran back to where they were staying (20:10). Mary however waited outside the tomb weeping in deep greif (20:11). This is when she sees the angels and hears Jesus call her name (20:12-17). Here's my thought. Why didn’t Peter and John see the angels or why didn’t Jesus speak to them as He did with Mary. The text does not say, but I think it may have been that Mary’s heart was focused on Jesus in an intimate personal way. She was not thinking about what to do next or how to contin

I am most thankful and greatful to my God for the family He has blessed me with. Especially my wonderful, amazing wife whom I have been married to for 14 years as of yesterday. We have been through some challenging days, but nothing has ever come between us. Everyday together with her is better than the last. My advice for those who want a great marriage - Jesus Christ. He is the reason for everything. He is the answer and the strength and the substance of all things and He is at the center of our marriage. Jesus was right when he said a man must loose his life to find it. Marriage is not about giving up everything for my wife and family, but its about me giving up everything for Jesus. Then He comes in and He is a husband through me, He is a Father and a teacher. He is the one who share the message of the Kingdom with my kids and raises them up as He desires. He is the one who cares for my wife and loves her beyond what I could ever imagine. In the fourteen years we have been marri

The parable of the Sower found in Mt 13, Mk 4, and Lk 8 is a critical parable for believers today. The sower is anyone who shares the word. Its anyone who spreads the good news of the Gospel. Our life is the soil so what kind of soil in in your heart? It the ground hard and resistant to the seed? Do you quickly receive the word, but then lay it down again when things becaome difficult? The seed is meant to grow deep into our lives. That requires a yielded heart. Are there thorns in your life choking out the word? The seed was not sown among weeds, but into soil that contained weed seeds. What things have you allowed to be planted in your life that will soon grow up as weeds and choke out the truth God has placed in your heart. The seed has all the power to procuce a great harvest, but it requires our obedience. Conditioning the soil of your life takes time, discipline, and an open heart to allow the Holy Spirit to examine your life and change whatever He desires. Having our life be

I love this quote from "The Return of the King". Its the eve of battle for the army of Rohan, and the men are feeling the hopeless of the battle to come. I was sharing something with my son last night and he reminded me of this quote. My son is a warrior and he will be mighty in the kingdom of our God. Gamling : Too few have come. We cannot defeat the armies of Mordor. King Theoden : No. We cannot. But we will meet them in battle nonetheless. This is the life of a disciple. Yes, our God reigns and He will be victorious over all things. Yes, we are more than conquers in Christ Jesus our Lord. Yes no weapon formed against us can prosper. But, most of the time we stand facing the cross and know that we must take it up and suffer and allow our life to slip into the ground and die. We resolve ourselves to the fact that we must loose our life to find it, we must die to live a transformed resurected life. We do feel hopeless when the heavens seemed to be closed, and al

Images from ( http://stuffilearnttoday.blogspot.com/2010/05/worship.html ) I thought today about how God is always God. He is always good, righteous, and always in control in spite of what I do or how I respond to Him. He hears my prayers even if I feel like He doesn't. He has a plan for my life whether I walk in it or not. He is still a wonderful, amazing, loving God even if I never hear His voice again. Even if He never does another thing for me, He is still worthy to be praised and lifted up above all things. He will be faithful to His promises and fulfill every Word He has ever spoken whether I see them accomplished in my lifetime or not. I think too often we view God from the lense of our own life. We think He must not answer prayer since He did not answer mine. We think God must not care about me since my desparate situation has not changed. Too often we teach people this in the church. We orient them wrong. We say "Why pay your tithe? because God will bless you.