Malachi 1:8 For when you offer blind animals as a sacrifice, is that not wrong? And when you offer the lame and sick, is that not wrong as well? Indeed, try offering them to your governor! Will he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the Lord who rules over all. Whenever I […]
Ezra 8:35 – Abundance and God's Restored People
Ezra 8:35 At that time those who had come from captivity, the returned exiles, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and as a sin offering twelve male goats. All this was a burnt offering to the Lord. It’s pretty awesome to note that they […]
We Think We're All or Nothing, but We're Really Just Selfish
John 13.6-9 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‚ÄúLord, do you wash my feet?‚Äù 7 Jesus answered him, ‚ÄúWhat I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.‚Äù 8 Peter said to him, ‚ÄúYou shall never wash my feet.‚Äù Jesus answered him, ‚ÄúIf I do not wash you, […]
The Risk of Generosity and Con-(wo)Men
It‚Äôs been quite a week in our neighborhood. Tuesday night we had about 50 Jr. High kids come down and help out on our street. They picked up tons of sticks and bundled them all up and raked a lot of grass and leaves into bags. It was good to walk down the street and […]
Jesus and the Ubiquitous Poor
When Jesus said, “You will always have the poor with you.” He was not giving an excuse or being overwhelmed. Many people read this like it’s Jesus’ commentary on how we should care for the poor. “Aware of this, Jesus said to them, ‘Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing […]
Leftovers and the Tithe
I was just reading Rick’s notes on John 6.1-13 and the recurring theme of God giving in abundance and there being leftovers comes up over and over again. When Jesus handed out the bread, there were leftovers, when He turned the water into wine, I HOPE there were leftovers!, when they caught all of the […]