Luke 17

⁶ He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

Another version of through God all things are possible, we simply need faith.  It seems he even is encouraging us, that if we are new in our faith we can expect great things through our faith.  But the illustration also shows faith as taking an action, actually asking for and expecting something to happen through faith rather than a passive I have faith and sitting around waiting for something good to happen.

just some rambling thoughts--

Merry Christmas if by chance I'm not on again before then.  I hope you are recovering well from your surgery.

knut

Luke 16

²⁶ And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.

There is great pain in the rich man's message, he is in hell can't get out, can't cross over, can't do anything to help his family who are still living and on the wrong track.  We have to live for Christ now, the picture of burning in hell while being in full view and consciousness of heaven for eternity is frightening.  

I'm reminded we don't have time to wait, our friend Gina woke up  a week ago Monday with a Christmas to do list and by the end of the day her work on earth was over and she was in heaven dancing.  I learned being at our memorial service how many people she touched in the most meaningful way possible, she brought many people to Christ.  

I need to learn how to be more like our friend Gina.

knut

Luke 15

What's so great about these parables that Jesus is telling...is that they offer us a glimpse into the the perspective that God sees us in.  We get so wrapped up in our view-point, that we miss the overall picture.  This is something that I'm really working on.  The parable of the lost sheep is the perfect example.  Of course there would be great celebration in heaven in a person that was completely off track, came back to the narrow path....of course.  But, all we can think is "what about me".    When we don't really fit into the equation for that person and their redemption at all.  It all comes back to our selfish point of view.  The older brother of the prodigal son is the perfect example of this

²⁸ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
³¹ “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. ³² But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

I find it very frustrating that I can understand this concept, and know that being selfish isn't the right was to think or act......and I still do it.  But, I'm workin on it.

peace, out!

Luke 14

⁶ “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.

Like you noted before he references the family finding what he knows is probably most important to many people to make it clear where the priority needs to be in our lives, he is first even above our family.  If I'm completely honest with myself I don't know that I could say that's where I'm at in my life.

knut

Luke 13

I really like Jesus' analogy of the Fig tree.

⁶ Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. ⁷ So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
⁸ “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. ⁹ If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

It makes a lot of sense to me.  If you really love figs.....and you plant the tress, in order to get the fruit...and then the tree doesn't produce, you would eventually see that you need to cut it down and start again.  That really made me see humanity from a different perspective.  But the last line..........it reminds me of when Abaraham was trying to make a deal with God before destroying Sodom and Gamorah.  If you can find 10 righteous men living there........just give me a little more time.  From God's point of view, why would he waste the good soil on a tree that isn't producing the fruit.

Theres a lot of really good stuff in here. 

I can't help but draw some questions around the driving out of demons, (that seems to be in all of the gospel books) and all of the mental health issues that are in the news lately.  It makes me wonder if these people have some sort of evil possession going on.  Destroy, and Kill is the devil's mission in this world.  It looks like he is doing a really good job.  We have a couple of kids in our lives that remind me of the connecticut situation.  It makes me wonder for their future.  It also makes me wonder what I should be doing for them now....as a follower of Christ.
I don't know........something to spend some time in prayer about.

Luke 12

⁴⁹ “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! ⁵⁰ But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! ⁵¹ Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.

This isn't the typical portion on the chapter to chat about, but I think its really interesting.  In 3 lines, he says a TON!  To me, he is saying that he is the fulcrom.  He is the tipping point on which the world will forever be divided.  Those for him, and those against.....just like you pointed out yesterday.  He even talked about dividing families, which seems like a strange concept that I'll get to in a sec.  The other thing that hit me here is the weight of the future, on his conscience.  He knows his ultimate fate, and he seems to be dreading it.  Understandable..........but interesting.  It seems that some of his conversations bend in the direction of frustration, when talking to the people.  He called them a "faithless generation", and with all the "woe-to-you's" yesterday.  It must have been difficult to understand it all...from top to bottom, and yet see people missing it all around you......and then to know that you are going to be the one that has to pay the price for the blindness......frustrating.

Back to the other point for a sec.  In our society, we place such an emphasis on familiy and kids.  But, Jesus doesn't seem to value it, to the point that we do.  At least, not at all close to how we are to value our relationship with God.  We've read several passages where he talks about not needing to take the time to say goodbye to your family, or dividing brother against brother........i find it interesting.  Or when the disciples told him his mom and brothers where there to see him, he doesn't seem to care.  Interesting.

have a great weekend!
In 2 days......we will have a teen-ager in our house!  YIKES!

Luke 11

Man, here's another one.  Too much to take in.
I like how Jesus, not only understand every concept of life, of all the people....but, he can put that knowledge into stories that make his point looks so clear.  I can understand why they are getting angry with him.  Its almost like trying to trap your sibling, into getting spanking, but at every attempt, they make you look ridiculous..........the wisdom is epic.

The "woe to you..." portion of the chapter seems really heavy.  I'm not sure I understand the magnitude of what he's saying here

⁴⁷ “Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them. ⁴⁸ So you testify that you approve of what your ancestors did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. ⁴⁹ Because of this, God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’ ⁵⁰ Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world,

anyway, I'm pretty much rambling.....good stuff.....too much to write.  These chapter need a weeks worth of reading/reflection.

Luke 10

I'm not even sure how to break these chapters down.  They seem to not be structured around 1 idea.  They are an assemblage of events.
When I read these chapters, I'm trying really hard to imagine myself in the situation, and try to come up with how I would most likely react to it.  In this chapter I'm thinking about the 72 that Jesus sent out.  They were given a lot of responsibility, and power.  I find myself wondering what that would have been like.  To know that you are literally in Jesus' army.  And that peoples reaction to me is determining their eternal fate.......that's crazy! 
And then, my next thought is that I'm doing the same thing that the disciples did when they were talking about who is greater in chapter 9.  I'm thinking how great it would be for ME to have that power, and mission.....see that?  I didn't even make it 1 day!  DANG!

There's a lot more here.  I have always like the Good Samaritan story.  There's a lot of good life lessons in that parable.  It continues to amaze me that Jesus can tell these simple stories, and 2000 years later, we are still breaking them down, and finding new meaning and insight through them.

have a great one, today!

Luke 9

Just like the last one....there's almost too much here to grasp.  It reads in rapid-fire fashion from one unbelievable event to the next. 
There's a lot that I could write about in this one....from the feeding of the 5000, to the man wanting to say goodbye to his family......but, the thing that really strikes me everytime I read this chapter, is the actions of the disciples.
They are witnessing things that have never been seen before.  Miracles, healings, massive crowds....and all they can think about is, which one of them is the greatest disciple.  I think that completely sums up humanity.  We are so busy thinking about ourselves and our position in this world.....that we completely miss the wonders that God is doing all around us everyday.
I'm going to try really hard for the rest of the holiday season to look for the miracles around me, and not worry about myself so much.  Some days I do pretty well at this, and then I follow it up with a week of completely selfish behaviour.

peace out

Luke 8

What a great chapter, full of images of Jesus teaching and performing miracles.  I don't understand why does he tell the parents of the girl he heals not to tell anyone?  

There many teachings in this chapter, but the following is one that strikes me:

¹⁴ The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 

Out of this parable, I think this is the one that reflects me the most.  I am really trying to be better and again this daily reading is a big part of change for me.  I'm a work in progress and I aspire to be like it says in verse 15:

^'15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.'

I have a lot of work to do, but I do want to be a seed that produces a great crop of Jesus.

knut

New Pastor for Westview - Dec 9 2012

We are in the process of finding a new pastor.  Our potential new pastor who is from North Holland Reformed Church did today's message, he covered a portion of Luke 1.  Fun to hear him teach on something we had just read.

He did a great job, we are praying for him and his wife to clearly discern if God's will is to have them join us...selfishly I hope it is.  But also know if it is it will be challenging for his NHRC home to have him leave.  Please say a little prayer for Josh and Heather, their family and both churches.

Luke 7

⁴⁰ Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, teacher,” he said.

⁴¹ “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,^[c]and the other fifty. ⁴² Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

⁴³ Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”

duh, do you think so...This little exchange between Simon and Jesus struck me today.   In just a couple sentences he is able to draw a picture for Simon that probably humbles him as he recognizes this dirty woman in his eyes loves Jesus more than him. 

I need to remember he has forgiven a huge debt for me and my love of him should reflect that...does it?

knut

Luke 6

⁴⁹ But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

I have heard his words and want to make sure my life is build on this foundation and that I fill in any cracks by continuing to study his word and keep it in my heart.  

On Monday a friend, Gina, from church suffered cardiac arrest.  Her time here on earth appears to doctors that it may be to its end though we are still praying for a miracle for this special family that we know He can make happen.  Her life is absolutely built on Jesus' words and she absolutely will be spending eternity with Him.  ⁴⁴ Each tree is recognized by its own fruit.  ...Gina's fruit is rich and plentiful for anyone who meets her, Jesus please provide a miracle and her stay her with us a bit longer there are so many people that need her here on earth.

knut

Luke 5

<sup>This a very familiar chapter with the recording of what are now well known miracles Jesus had performed and images of people flocking to see him as word was spreading like wild fire of who he was and what he was doing.  Great images to think about.


Jesus addresses the pharisees

22</sup> Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 


He know's whats on my mind and heart I need to make sure both focused on him because while I might be able to fake out people here on earth there is no faking out him.

knut

Luke 4

I pray your recovery is going well, from the reports I've seen it sounds like it is going at least as well as can be expected after such a rough time. I know you had many people thinking of you and praying for you during the past week.  I was praying for you the morning of the surgery before doing my chapter for the day.

Today I don't have any specific verse or key takeaway.  I'm just struck by how powerful God is and what an impression Jesus made in his short time on earth.  Here we are reading about him 2,000 years later because the impression he made on people at that time left them with no doubt about who he was, so much so that someone like Luke documented some of his acts and experiences for us to read years later.  Imagine if he had come during this day and age of technology, he would be going viral on Youtube word would be spreading on chat boards and Facebook.  Even without all this technology He still went viral, amazing.

get well,
knut