30-Day Scripture Challenge - Day 9

But Samuel replied,

“What is more pleasing to the Lord:
your burnt offerings and sacrifices
or your obedience to his voice?
Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice,
and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.
Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft,
and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols.
So because you have rejected the command of the Lord,
he has rejected you as king.”

Why is obedience to God's voice than sacrifice and submission to him better than our offerings? And how do we, today, play the same role that Saul played in story?

30-Day Challenge - Week 1

We've finished the first week of the 30-Day Scripture Challenge.

We started with Adam and Eve, living in the perfect environment and yet they still chose to follow their own way rather than God's. Then God blessed Jacob and set his family apart as God's chosen people - Israel. God gives Israel the Law - a perfect law given by God himself. And we see Israel time and time again not be able to keep that law.

Paul writes in Romans 3:20 "For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are"

Hindsight is 20/20 and we can look back and see how right Paul was and how true is statement still is today. Israel was saved but not because they had the law of God and were able to keep it. They were saved because of the relationship they had to God. The same is true for us today.

Perspective

I just read a statistic, actually I re-read it because I already knew it. The stat was in a report from one of our church's Vulnerable Children's Task Force members concerning our work in Kenya, Africa. Here's the stat:

Across Kenya, the unemployment rate is 40 percent and 50 percent of Kenyans live below the poverty line. The World Bank defines the poverty line as people living on less than $1.25 a day.

"Less than $1.25 a day." I'm sitting at Starbucks drinking a $4 latte while I read this. Talk about putting things in perspective.

30-Day Challenge - Day 1

Our church is taking a 30-Day Challenge.  Starting today we'll be reading scripture together for the next 30 days.  If you want to join just click here to view the reading list.  I'd also suggest going to BibleGateway.com and reading from a modern translation like the New Living Bible, Message or the New International Bible.

The challenge is part of a Sunday series we're doing on 5 of the habits we need to establish in order to grow spiritually.  I'll be blogging along the way.

Today (day 1) we read about the fall of humanity in Genesis where Adam and Eve give in to temptation eat the fruit from the forbidden tree.

A couple of observations about the story:

1.  There decision affected a lot of people - actually everyone.  But one thing I think we tend to forget is how their decision to disobey God must have affected God.  I tend to forget about God's emotions.  And the fact it he created Adam and Eve out of love and he loved them more than anything else he created.  It must have been painful when they walked away from him.

2.  No one took responsibility for their choices.  Adam pointed at Eve and Eve pointed at the serpent and the serpent had no where to go.  And really we're not different.  We still tend to point the finger and blame someone else for our poor choices.

So what are your observations from this story?  Did you see anything new when you read it again?

Sacrifice

Our family's on vacation, visiting friends in France.  Yesterday we drove to the beaches of Normandy where the allies landed during World War II.  I was in awe at the sacrifice that was made by so many to regain the world's freedom.  Over 9000 American soldiers gave their lives at Normandy; most of them are buried on U.S. soil there.

This quote seemed to summed it up the best.

"I started out to cross the beach with thirty-five men and only six got to the top, that's all." - 2nd Lt. Bob Edlin

"127 Hours"

Just watched 127 Hours, the true story of Aron Ralston, a rock climber who became trapped while climbing alone.  A small boulder came loose causing him to fall.  When he landed, his arm was wedged between the boulder and the canyon wall.

It's a story of what a human being is capable of doing in order to survive.  It's not for the faint at heart but I highly recommend it.

Always leave a note.

Where Everybody Knows Your Name

One of my favorite shows from the 80's and 90's is the show Cheers.  My college roommate and I used to watch it religiously every night in our dorm room.  Every episode began with Norm walking in and the entire place yelling "Norm!" followed by one of Norm's quick-witted antidotes. 


Cheers captured the idea that there's a place that's a safe haven from the world, a place where people know you and accept you for who you are, where you can be yourself.

It's a little like how I feel when I walk into the Starbucks near my house and the barista says, "Hey David.  You having ice tea or a latte today?"  I love that.   I love that feeling of being in a comfortable place, where someone remembers me and what I like, where I can be myself and there's no expectations from those around me; just acceptance.

That's what I want for the church.   And not just the church that I pastor, but for every local church and for "the church" in general - the body of Jesus followers around the world.  I'm so thankful that I have the opportunity to pastor a church that's well on it's way to being a modern day "Cheers."  I'm also thankful for the the influence that I, and our church, have been given to help other churches get there.