Finishing a Chapter . . . Well several

Today I finish a journey I set out on almost a year ago. I blogged my way through the gospels and the book of Acts, asking two questions. What is the Gospel? What is the Kingdom of God/Heaven?

I entered into the study with the humility to recognize that I may not completely know what the Gospel and the Kingdom is despite a Bachlors in Biblical Studies, a Masters of Divinity, and a few Doctorate of Ministry courses under my belt. Amazing huh?

In hind sight I understood a piece of the Gospel well, and I understood aspects of the Kingdom, but there were too many verses that my understanding did not know what to do with.

Not that I have it all figured out, but I understand enough that I know what God would have me do (rather than just what God would have me believe). I think if those who claim to be followers of Jesus where crystal clear on those two questions, our world would be a different place.

Those three days

Nearing the end of John's gospel and reading about the crucifixion makes me wonder how the disciples felt. Here they have put everything on the line for Jesus: They left their homes, jobs, lives, and followed Jesus all over the country side. When they were hoping to see the kingdom of heaven come, all they saw was the death of the King. The person they placed there hopes in gone. Dreams shattered, hopes gone, I wonder if they resented following Jesus.

It makes me think that some of our lives are lived in those 3 days. The days the disciples had where Jesus was dead, hope was gone, and they did not understand the mind of God. They did not understand God's bigger plan.

When the bottom falls out of our lives, and we can't see the bigger plan, we can't see what God has up his sleeves, may we remember the disciples during those three days. And may we wait trusting and hoping in the character of God to make things right, to have a plan that is better than we could have foreseen.

Golf Ball Picture

So by now you have noticed I have a new picture (header)on my blog. I thought I would explain it's significance a little.

I took this picture on a round of Golf I was playing with my Dad (that is actually my Dad's ball if he hasn't lost it yet.) I thought it was significant as it was not a new ball. It had just finished the hole before, and was resting as it was about to be sent on another journey. I liked the imagery of an open fairway, with a ball ready to be hit . . . Again.

That is a little how I feel about my blog. Moments of rest where I can reflect on the journey I have been on, and a as I reflect there is a feeling of being ready to be sent on a new journey. The ball is far from perfect, but it will fly (especially if my Dad is hitting it).

Anyway, that is the idea, and no he doesn't have a jonknapp.net golf ball, that was thanks to a little Gimp magic.

Faith

Only 5 more chapters in the quest I set out on a long time ago. Blogging through the Gospels and Acts asking the question what is the kingdom of God? What is the Gospel? I feel like this one study has been the best most life changing study I have been a part of.

But getting back to today's reading, all looking at the theme of belief. All throughout the book of John the disciples have believed. Here in John 17, the disciples respond to Jesus' words, "This makes us believe that you came from God." Three years of following Jesus, seeing miracles, living with him, listening to him, and now this comment?

Jesus responds, "You believe at last!" But a time has come and is here when you will be scattered.

Faith is a tricky thing, isn't it? I think the Gospel of John is showing us that faith isn't just a you have or don't have . . . Period. It is a process, a journey, or pursuing something you believe in. It has steps forward, and set backs, but I guess that makes it living . . . A living faith.

hmmm. "The righteous shall live by faith."

Faith is not static, it is dynamic. Faith in Jesus is life . . . life to the full.

Creative Pictures

These are pictures of a light post in Sherwood. I took them on Sunday using a long shutter speed and moving the camera so that it would write out my name.

I thought they were creative, but then I remembered the words of poet Odgen Nash, "Here's a good rule of thumb, too creative is dumb."

I guess I will let you decide.

Love

In John 14 Jesus develops the theme that if you love him you will obey him. Just as Jesus was about to follow his Father's desires in going to the cross, out of love for his Father, so to are we to follow Jesus desire and in doing so show our love for him.

It is amazing how backwards we get things sometimes. Love for Jesus is demonstrated through obedience. Period. That is it. But part of the problem is that we always want to make sure somebody else is obeying Jesus, so we can avoid our own lives.

It is easy to obey when it is convenient, but what about when it isn't? What about when following Jesus starts to mess up our lives? It is then that our love for the Lord is truly tested.

My Dog

I just got up some new pictures of my dog. To see them, you can click on Pictures I have Taken on the left, then click on My Pets.

Can't believe how big my dog is getting! She is almost 6 months old.

Photography

Recently I have been getting into photography. I have just added a new section to my blog called. Pictures I've Taken. You can see the link on the left. I am beginning to post some of my best work.

It is definately a work in progress, but it is a start.

Check it out.

Our King

The Gospels are astounding to me. What king throughout history would do the things that the lowest servant in the house would do? King's have a set way of ruling, a way that makes them look powerful and in control. That there is something different about them that should invoke awe and distance.

But here (John 13) Jesus, the king of the universe, rather than adding to his glory, he takes on the job of the lowest servant in the house (washing the feet of his guests). Now back then when you walked everywhere on dusty roads wearing sandals, that meant something.

So he washes there feet and says these words, "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you."

To be in the kingdom, to follow the example of the king, means to humble yourself. To serve each other in the ways that no one else wants to. This is our king. Who wouldn't want to serve a king like that?

Moving from heaven to earth and taking the form of humanity was a huge step in humility. But that wasn't enough, he also took the place of the lowest of human (the lowest servant).

What's Wrong Part 2

The fact that you can buy Rev. Jerry Falwell's shoes on ebay.

What's Wrong?

I hear people talking frequently about how bad the culture has gotten. About the evils of America, and we begin pointing fingers at the groups we feel are responsible for this.

But what has gone wrong with the world? Who is responsible?

I am . . . We are . . . Us . . . The Church.

John 12:24, "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds."

Jesus said this just before he as about to die. It contains the nature of the kingdom. How does the kingdom spread? When one person says I am willing to give my life for it (it began with the King being willing). When they die to themselves, only then does their seed begin to multiply.

Our problem is that to many of us are in love with the world. To many of us like money. To many of us have our concern set on our own seed. Trying to baby our seed, and see how good we can look. We forget that we must die (get brown and ugly). And that is the secret to the kingdom.

If I could fully grasp this. If we all (the church) would fully live this, America would be a different country. It would be a place of goodness, and mercy, and joy.

Fear

When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, some of the people believed in Jesus, others went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.
The Pharisees talked about what to do with Jesus, "If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation."

They decided to kill him.

I think one reason for unbelief is fear. Fear that we will lose something by following Jesus, whether it is something political, or position, or fear of just putting trust in something beyond yourself. You could get hurt. But perfect love casts out fear.

We see this love from Jesus in John 11, and many were willing to follow him.