Day 11

As You Rise ... Leviticus 15-18

Chapter 15 in mp3
Chapter 16 in mp3
Chapter 17 in mp3
Chapter 18 in mp3

Don't we all love getting a stomach virus? Most people call it the stomach flu, but flu is usually short for influenza which is a viral lung infection. So you should rather call it a stomach virus so as not to confuse the people who get the flu shot ( for influenza ).

Anyway, for the sake of the reader I will stick the Leviticus version of the hated problem we all get to face with the stomach bug: discharges. One word for either the "praying to the porcelain god" kind or the sitting kind. We had the wonderful joy of everyone in the family getting discharges within about two days.

And having the greatest nurse on the face of the planet like I do ... does anyone want to guess the best way to keep others from getting discharges? Consider everything you touch or wear dirty. Wash regularly. Don't touch anything the sick-ie touched or slept on. Keep your food stuff separate. And after they are all done being "sick" expect them to be still contagious for a bit. At the end of all this CLEAN EVERYTHING.

Our problem was that we were on vacation and living much closer than normal. Usually we have the 'sick bathroom' and keep the sick-ie somewhat quarantined. But, we couldn't. Interesting how useful Leviticus would be on keep the stomach virus 'plague of all plagues' from spreading.

As You Walk By The Way ... Leviticus 19-22

Chapter 19 in mp3
Chapter 20 in mp3
Chapter 21 in mp3
Chapter 22 in mp3

Molech, Ba'al, Kronos, or a god by many other names was worshiped far and wide in the lands near Israel. Many years later after the city of Carthage was defeated by the Romans is was said by Cleitarchus ...

There stands in their midst a bronze statue of Kronos, its hands extended over a bronze brazier, the flames of which engulf the child. When the flames fall upon the body, the limbs contract and the open mouth seems almost to be laughing until the contracted body slips quietly into the brazier. Thus it is that the 'grin' is known as 'sardonic laughter,' since they die laughing.

God's commands about love and sacrifice are rather strange in comparison to the lands that surrounded them. But, today are we any different? Today we sacrifice our children to the gods of greed, lust, and wealth. We now have a president who argued as a senator to take newborn children and set them upon a shelf to die. A practice that still goes on today. We take the life of the unborn just because we do not want them. And fathers take the future of their children by leaving the home.

How far we are from loving others as if they are you.

When You Lie Down ... Matthew 27-28

Chapter 27 in mp3
Chapter 28 in mp3

Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani ... My God, my God, why have you forsaken me

If I said the words: "On a hill far away. Stood an old ....". Would you know what came next. How about "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me". Do you know what comes next?

Psalm 22


Why Have You Forsaken Me?
To the choirmaster: according to The Doe of the Dawn. A Psalm of David.

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?
2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer,
and by night, but I find no rest.

...

16 For dogs encompass me;
a company of evildoers encircles me;
they have pierced my hands and feet —
17 I can count all my bones—
they stare and gloat over me;
18 they divide my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.

...

29 All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship;
before him shall bow all who go down to the dust,
even the one who could not keep himself alive.
30 Posterity shall serve him;
it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation;
31 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn,
that he has done it.

Day 10

As You Rise ... Leviticus 11-12

Chapter 11 in mp3
Chapter 12 in mp3

Today we live in a time of refrigerators and anti-bacterial soap. Interesting facts about food and Leviticus ...

Did you know you hunt rabbits after the first really hard freeze? That way all the sick ones will be dead and only healthy ones are left. You really don't want to try and eat them at other times. Good way to get sick.

The gecko, the monitor lizard, the lizard, the sand lizard, and the chameleon? Salmonella.

Huh ... God had some really good food rules for Israel.

As You Walk By The Way ... Leviticus 13-14

Chapter 13 in mp3
Chapter 14 in mp3

At work we had a room with leaky windows. Over time the sheet rock on the wall got mold in it. They tore out a few pieces ... then some more ... and finally to get rid of it they had to seal the room and tear everything out.

Bet you didn't know Leviticus had the same rules for house contamination.

When You Lie Down ... Matthew 26

Chapter 26 in mp3

... send me more than twelve legions of angels?

We have no idea what real power is. I have always disliked how Christ is portrayed in movies. All soft and wimpy.

Christ was the most powerful man to have ever lived or will ever live on the earth. With a single thought all of creation could have been wiped out. With a single word every living man on earth could have been destroyed.

For us power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. And Christ was fully man. For every temptation we have had, he would have felt. Yet Christ chose not to destroy us ... even though we deserved it. Christ chose to save us.

Day 9

As You Rise ... Leviticus 1-5

Chapter 1 in mp3
Chapter 2 in mp3
Chapter 3 in mp3
Chapter 4 in mp3
Chapter 5 in mp3

... without blemish.

How many of us give to Goodwill brand new clothes? The youth at our church worked at a local shelter's store sorting out the clothing people dropped off. Most of it we just threw into the trash. Would YOU want to buy torn clothes with stains? And if you can't sell it you don't put it in the store.

We are not called to give the stuff we should have thrown into the trash. We are not called to give what we do not want anymore. There are uses for items in good condition, but charities are not replacements for the trash pickup.

Is what you give for the LORD without blemish? Or was it what you thought you could do without?

As You Walk By The Way ... Leviticus 6-10

Chapter 6 in mp3
Chapter 7 in mp3
Chapter 8 in mp3
Chapter 9 in mp3
Chapter 10 in mp3

As I listened to the very first part of these verses I thought of all the times I picked up someone else's penny. Or received more than what I was do. I looked in my hand knowing that what I was doing was wrong. Yet, I still closed my fist. As long as I could keep it secret ... maybe no one would know. But, I knew. And God knew.

I pray that we all listen to God when He burdens our hearts with the desire of honesty. And I pray for His forgiveness for every timed I have failed.

When You Lie Down ... Matthew 24-25

Chapter 24 in mp3
Chapter 25 in mp3

Lord, when did we see you ...

I love that question. So often I look first to see what others expect of me. Like most people I tend to treat my boss better than the least of the people I know ( my boss does have the power to fire me ). And, at its heart, the reason I treat him better is because it is better for ME.

Me Me Me. It is all about me. If the person on the phone was your boss and not the co-worker you hate ... would you answer differently? Would you answer at all? Helping your boss maybe a positive for you ... and anyone would do that.

But, God knows our heart. It should not matter if there is a positive outcome for us. We are called to serve. To feed and welcome and clothe and visit and love.

Love them as if they were you.

Day 8

As You Rise ... Exodus 31-35

Chapter 31 in mp3
Chapter 32 in mp3
Chapter 33 in mp3
Chapter 34 in mp3
Chapter 35 in mp3

Ever have a "He made me do it!" moment? Growing up everyone has had lots of "they did it first" comments. And part of growing up is about admitting your mistakes and taking your lumps. None of this ...

So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.

Wow. I never knew gold would form a calf if you threw it into a fire. I so wanted a ... And Moses smacked Aaron over the head with a stick. And the LORD from heaven said: 'Are you stupid?!'

Eventually we all need to grow up and face the music. Part of becoming a new man before God is throwing off the old. Don't point fingers at those around you. Admit you have holes in your coat, take it off, and put on the new life God has given you!

As You Walk By The Way ... Exodus 36-40

Chapter 36 in mp3
Chapter 37 in mp3
Chapter 38 in mp3
Chapter 39 in mp3
Chapter 40 in mp3

Short comment here: You know you have given enough when those that receive tell you to stop. For you have given enough.

When You Lie Down ... Matthew 22-23

Chapter 22 in mp3
Chapter 23 in mp3

Rules are so much easier to follow then the "Law of Nature". This Law of Nature is in the definition given by C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity. It is that voice that God has given us to know right and wrong. It is the nature of us being made in His image, and of tasting of the knowledge of good and evil. Not the law of the physical world and our physical desires as non-Christians like to believe.

Christ lays it out rather easily for us. Love God with all that you are and love others as if they are you. Of course we all already knew this, we just do not actually DO IT.

We like rules and laws because we can still sin and follow the rules. Like the child who points their finger and whines. But in our hearts, where Christ is looking, we know we are wrong.

Day 7

As You Rise ... Exodus 23-26

Chapter 23 in mp3
Chapter 24 in mp3
Chapter 25 in mp3
Chapter 26 in mp3

Be honest in all things. It is obvious to us that we should not join with the wicked. But, at times we also pervert justice with a false sense of righteousness.

You shall not spread a false report .... Yep I can do that.

You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness ... Oh that one is easy. I can do that.

You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice ... There is another one, I'm OK with that.

Nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his lawsuit ... Huh? Well, you know he is poor. I should help him out shouldn't I?

Actually, no we should not be partial. We are called to be honest and stand for the truth. If you lie, cheat, or deny the truth that is sin. For before God everyone is equal.

As You Walk By The Way ... Exodus 27-30

Chapter 27 in mp3
Chapter 28 in mp3
Chapter 29 in mp3
Chapter 30 in mp3

Aaron shall bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the Lord regularly.

As Aaron bore the names of all the tribes over his heart, Christ now bears us before the LORD. His sacrifice and presence before God are the perfection of what is shown within the law in Exodus.

When You Lie Down ... Matthew 20-21

Chapter 20 in mp3
Chapter 21 in mp3

First we aren't supposed to be partial to the rich or poor. Now Christ talks about given guys who worked an hour the same as those that worked an entire day. Where is the fairness?

How fair is it that a servant of God that is saved and then works his entire life for the kingdom ... and an evil man that confesses on his death bed ... both go to heaven?

What we tend to forget is that ALL have sinned. None of us are truly good. We know that the first man is not getting to heaven on his works. For nothing we do earns our way to heaven because only Christ's sacrifice pays our due. Our actions pay nothing and Christ is the perfect sacrifice demanded by God. And that God grants any of us salvation at all is a miracle. So be thankful for your salvation and do not be resentful of someone else coming to God.

So what is the purpose of living for God? Our good works are the way we show Him our thankfulness for His kindness. And what better way to show that than to emulate Him?

Day 6

As You Rise ... Exodus 12-17

Chapter 12 in mp3
Chapter 13 in mp3
Chapter 14 in mp3
Chapter 15 in mp3
Chapter 16 in mp3
Chapter 17 in mp3

And here we see what happens when God softens your heart the hard way. You can continue your life with the illusion that you are in charge. Surrounding yourself with people and ideas that give some semblance of control.

I pray that we understand that we are just men. Before God has to show us that He is in charge.

As You Walk By The Way ... Exodus 18-22

Chapter 18 in mp3
Chapter 19 in mp3
Chapter 20 in mp3
Chapter 21 in mp3
Chapter 22 in mp3

Pride. It can kill you.

We landscaped our house with stones from a friend's field out in the Flint Hills. Every now and then I would get a 200+ lb stone into the back of the pickup just to prove I could do it alone. My father-in-law would offer to help, but I would just have to do it myself. Pride.

I never did blow out my back. But, after moving one or two of those ... I was pretty much worthless for awhile. Getting help is not weakness. Together we accomplish so much more. You just need to swallow your pride, smile, shake your friend's hand, and say thank you.

When You Lie Down ... Matthew 16-19

Chapter 16 in mp3
Chapter 17 in mp3
Chapter 18 in mp3
Chapter 19 in mp3

Chapter 16 verse 17 Jesus blesses Peter and then by verse 23 it is ... get behind me Satan. Don't know if that was the record for quickest turn around, but I'm sure it was pretty close.

All my life I've gone hot and cold. Do what is right and then follow up with sin. It is comforting to know that Christ is right beside me the entire time. Praising the good and correcting the bad. Even if Peter was flawed, Christ still worked with him for good. I pray that He will continue to work with one more flawed man for good.

Day 5

As You Rise ... Exodus 1-6

Chapter 1 in mp3
Chapter 2 in mp3
Chapter 3 in mp3
Chapter 4 in mp3
Chapter 5 in mp3
Chapter 6 in mp3

God said to Moses, "I am who I am."

I was asked today about talking to people who don't believe in God. Is there an argument you can use? Can you prove God? No. God Is. He is above explanation. He is above a single name. We can not box Him into a step by step process to find Him.

God is the I AM.

As You Walk By The Way ... Exodus 7-11

Chapter 7 in mp3
Chapter 8 in mp3
Chapter 9 in mp3
Chapter 10 in mp3
Chapter 11 in mp3

We can not box God into a process to prove Him. And mankind does not want to see Him anyway. The wonder of all creation ... we explain away with evolution. The love of family that acts as a model of God's love ... we explain away with psychology. We wrap ourselves in science and proofs and explanations. We still cry out: It is by OUR hands that this has come to be. We can control it.

Like Pharaoh we have hardened our hearts against God. Pray our hearts soften ... before God softens them for us the hard way.

When You Lie Down ... Matthew 14-15

Chapter 14 in mp3
Chapter 15 in mp3

Hi. Hi. Why are you copying me? Why are you copying me? Stop it! Stop it! AHH! AHH! DAD! Make him stop! Dad! Make him stop!

After that it usually ends up as a fight. To see and then model what we see is one way a child learns. What comes out of our mouth and in our actions is just a model of what is in our hearts. Just like the little brother copying the older, your actions copy your heart. If our hearts are hard dead stones, how dead our actions will be. How cruel and bitter our words will be.

Fixing this isn't about cleaning up your actions. That is just puting red paint on a rotten apple. Fixing this is about looking at your heart. Softening it and shining light within your life.

Day 4

As You Rise ... Genesis 39-44

Chapter 39 in mp3
Chapter 40 in mp3
Chapter 41 in mp3
Chapter 42 in mp3
Chapter 43 in mp3
Chapter 44 in mp3

Run, Run, and Run. The easiest solution to situations that can lead to sin ... don't be there. Joseph was a good example. Get out, even if you have to leave something important behind.

Don't ever think that you can handle temptation while you play around with it. You WILL be burned if you continue. Leave the party. Stop flirting with your co-worker. Get a new job if you have to. Turn off the TV. Turn off the computer.

As You Walk By The Way ... Genesis 45-50

Chapter 45 in mp3
Chapter 46 in mp3
Chapter 47 in mp3
Chapter 48 in mp3
Chapter 49 in mp3
Chapter 50 in mp3

"Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them."

It isn't very often that we get in a position to control others lives like Joseph. And Joseph forgave those who sold him as a slave and cared for them and their children. God gave his only son to be beaten beyond recognition and to death upon a cross. We were the ones who wronged God ... and yet He gives us salvation.

What a little thing for us to speak kindly to those that have harmed us.

When You Lie Down ... Matthew 11-13

Chapter 11 in mp3
Chapter 12 in mp3
Chapter 13 in mp3

There is a trust game that many people go through at retreats. You close your eyes and fall backwards ... trusting the person behind to catch you. I once went to a church father-n-son meeting with my dad when I was little. They did a trust game where you would hold a nail and your dad took a whack at it. Which was fine and all if your dad could swing a hammer.

Actually, my Grandpa Nilson was splitting logs at our house one summer and had me hold the wedge while he swung the sledge. I would quickly let go of the wedge right as he would swing ... "Mark, hold it still. I won't miss!" So I held still.

He nailed my hand on the first swing after that.

God calls on us to commit everything to him. Don't hold anything back from Him by trusting yourself. Like my Grandpa, I'm just a man. Flawed, weak, and prone to mistakes. So why trust in my strength? Lean on God.

Day 3

As You Rise ... Genesis 29-32

Chapter 29 in mp3
Chapter 30 in mp3
Chapter 31 in mp3
Chapter 32 in mp3

Determination is amazing to watch.

Luke was at wrestling practice and they were doing king of the mat. From smallest to largest they would wrestle down/up. The new comer to the mat would start down, the one who stayed on the mat would start up. It wasn't for pins ... just escapes. The king wasn't the largest or the fastest. He was the one who just wouldn't let go. Even with a larger boy's knee on his head while working to free his foot. He never let go.

When you talk with God do you never let go? Do you wrestle with Him from night until morning until He answers?

As You Walk By The Way ... Genesis 33-38

Chapter 33 in mp3
Chapter 34 in mp3
Chapter 35 in mp3
Chapter 36 in mp3
Chapter 37 in mp3
Chapter 38 in mp3

You know there are two ways to make yourself look bigger and better than the Jones. One: actually do something good. Or Two: kick your neighbor to the ground so he is below you. Often we sin in our lives and fall upon the latter rather than strive for the first. When Jesus asked who would throw the first stone ... like Jacob, everyone knew they were in the wrong. They knew they were sinners. So they held their hand.

Maybe, rather then kick a neighbor down we should help them up.

When You Lie Down ... Matthew 9-10

Chapter 9 in mp3
Chapter 10 in mp3

At Christmas we sing about peace on earth. But Christ says he has not come to bring peace, but a sword. The peace promised to us is not for all people, but for those with whom God is pleased.

A Christian should not expect wealth or happiness within the world. Our wealth, our happiness, and our peace is only with the LORD. Not within our families. Only within the LORD. If God has blessed you with happiness within your family ... be thankful. Be eternally grateful for it is a gift. But remember to continue to focus on the giver of that gift, God, not only upon the gift.

Day 2

I'm adding mp3 links for the text as well as the shockwave flash player that I used on Day 1. That way you can listen on data-plan cell phones or just download the mp3 to listen to on the way to and from work.

As You Rise ... Genesis 20-24

Chapter 20 in mp3
Chapter 21 in mp3
Chapter 22 in mp3
Chapter 23 in mp3
Chapter 24 in mp3

Hold nothing back. Leave it all on the field. We use those phrases often for sports. But, when it comes to God we tend to hold what we desire most back from Him. We don't give Him the best of our gifts. Abraham was called to give what he most loved and he didn't hold it back. He was going to leave it all on the field. All of the blood of his only son. God also gave it all ... so why can't we at least work to give our best?

As You Walk By The Way ... Genesis 25-28

Chapter 25 in mp3
Chapter 26 in mp3
Chapter 27 in mp3
Chapter 28 in mp3

After getting a stomach virus last week I didn't think I'd ever be hungry. Then I spent an afternoon helping my father-in-law clean up a hedge tree. After awhile, even with a lot of work to be done, I was willing to cut the work short just to get some supper. How often do we do that with our spiritual life? Just like Esau we cut the work God has given us short just for temporary comfort. Rather, tighten your belt and get back to work. The sun is going down and there is precious little time left to us.

When You Lie Down ... Matthew 7-8

Chapter 7 in mp3
Chapter 8 in mp3

And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region. Matt 8:34

I have been praying. Praying for the healing hand of God to stun the doctors. To reach into a life and leave everyone surrounding those whom I am praying for to just be stunned by healing. That they would go home speechless and confused about a miracle.

I have had that prayer answered before. And it was frightening ... even though I asked for it. Seeing God really work, to really answer us, can be a heart stopping event. An entire city came out to BEG Jesus to leave because of that same fear.

Maybe I'll also pray for the courage to accept answered prayers.