I follow a daily Bible reading plan that takes me through the Bible in a year. This blog is a collection of my thoughts on the assigned mid-week (Wednesday) readings - my Daily Bread. http://jaredtaylor.authorweblog.com http://jaredtaylor.authorweblog.com/articles/2012/05/54433/im-a-big-kid-now
Maybe this is completely out of context but as I read those verses yesterday, [April 26th, 2012] they made me think of mothers who breast feed big kids. I know who Paul is speaking to and the point he is making, but I just could not escape the imagery of a parent looking at their 5 year old and choosing to breast feed him/her because he/she is not ready yet for fruits and veges! [Go figure that Time Magazine posted THIS image as their cover as few weeks later!] If a child isn't ready for solid food at 5 when will he/she be ready? And if the child is not ready at 5 who's fault is it? The child or the parent / guardian? Or do they both share responsibility for the child not being ready?

Since Paul was waxing spiritually when he referenced infancy, milk and solid food, it made me wonder if the same is true about chronological Christian young adults. I'm not talking about new converts, I'm talking about "lifers" - folks who been in the church before they could walk! Are we still spiritually breast feeding?

Children who breast feed, do so by relfex. The sucking action doesn't require thought or co-ordination - it's instinctive. They also are not responsible for feeding themselves, they just have to open wide and say aaaaaaaaaah. They are consumers, not producers. Breast feeders are dependent on the breast and understand their NEED to feed. They fuss and cry when they are not fed or nourished by what they are given. However, they lack either the knowledge, skill, ability or, in the case of the big kid, the willingness to feed themselves. If the breast is not available, no feeding occurs - just a lot of complaining.

How much of our spiritual feeding is like that? How much do we depend on a preacher, service or youtube video to be fed? How often do we complain when the preacher or service is borin...sorry I mean, not "nourishing" us spiritually? Do we find the Word itself to be too challenging to grasp and so need to have it broken down into Twitter sized chunks in order to be nourished? Do we prefer to spend 30 mins consuming spiritual videos with colorful dancing, moving, entertaining pictures, where someone else is breaking down the word for us than to study the Word and prayerfully consult the Spirit so that we can understand it for ourselves?

How much effort should be involved in the “spiritual feeding” of someone who's a 10 year + veteran in the faith?

For those of us responsible for feeding others: are we impairing those under our care by indulging their consumerist nature and not creating opportunities for them to be producers? Are we inadvertently breast-feeding big kids?

It feels like Paul was telling the Corinthians "It's time to grow up. It's time to get of the breast." I believe the same is true for those of us who've grown up in this message. Big kids on breasts is NOT a good look. I also think that it's time for those of us responsible for "feeding" others to take the breast off the menu and start requiring our "kids" to feed themselves - teaching them the skills necessary to do so.

Thank You Lord for Daily Bread!

jesusonmtv.com
]]> Fri, 11 May 2012 13:37:22 PST http://jaredtaylor.authorweblog.com/articles/2012/05/54433/im-a-big-kid-now http://jaredtaylor.authorweblog.com/articles/2012/02/51185/be-like-mike
"Sometimes I dream, that he is me, [you've] got to see that's how I dream to be... (pom papom pom pom...) " As I read Acts 11 that song came to mind. Naturally I went to youtube when I was done and took a listen. Man I love the music in that song. Surprisingly I never noticed the quality of the recording. That was a GREAT AD campaign! I caught myself grinning a couple of times and I'm likely to be singing this song ALL day! But I digress...

It is blowing my mind as I read through the book of Acts how much Peter has become like Jesus. This cuss-bud, fisherman, who denied his friend and Master is healing the sick, raising the dead, having visions in prayer, hearing the Holy Spirit audibly, preaching with power, brought before the Sanhedrin, publicly beaten and criticized for his not so righteous affiliations! Many of those things (healing sick, raising dead etc.) people say Jesus was able to do because He was God. But in Acts the same things are being done by Simon-Peter, John and Paul! We know for CERTAIN they aren't begotten son's of God from virgin births, neither are they Messiahs. So that begs the question, how the heck are they doing that? The obvious easy answer is, by the power of the Holy Spirit!

Throughout the book of Acts we see tangible manifestations when a person receives the Holy Spirit. According to Luke's descriptions, there is a marked difference / noticeable change in a person when the Holy Spirit comes on them that the people around at the time notice. In addition we also see where people can accept the Word and be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, but not receive the Holy Spirit. Receipt of the Holy Spirit doesn't seem to be automatic upon baptism, but when it does come on you, it's not in secret and everyone around you at the time can tell.

Stop and think for a moment, do you remember when you were baptized? How about when you received the Holy Spirit?

In some religious circles, Michael, as mentioned in Revelation 12 and Daniel 12, is considered to be another name for Jesus. For the purposes of this post...I'm going along with that belief! :)

“I wanna be, I wanna be like Mike!” Do you? Then together let's pray EARNESTLY to receive the Holy Spirit! Contrary to what the folks at Gatorade would like us to believe, that's really the ONLY way! ;) It was the Holy Spirit that enabled Peter, John, Phillip, Stephen, Paul and the others to have the character of Jesus / Michael and do miraculous things like he did. If we desire to be like Mike, we too NEED the Holy Spirit. The same power that was available to Him is available to us! Peter's experience demonstrates that indeed we can (and should) be like Mike!

A word of caution, being like Mike doesn't just mean the ability to perform miracles! It also involves being persecuted and ostracized for His name's sake. A servant isn't greater than his master. If He did it, we can do it. If He went through it we will too!

"Sometimes I dream, that he is me [you've] got to see that's how I dream to be..."

Thank You Lord For Daily Bread and Gatorade! :)

jesusonmtv.com]]> Wed, 8 Feb 2012 09:22:21 PST http://jaredtaylor.authorweblog.com/articles/2012/02/51185/be-like-mike http://jaredtaylor.authorweblog.com/articles/2012/02/50877/re-calculating
"Why did it happen this way? Why does it have to be like this? Couldn't He have found another way to deal with this issue and deliver me? Why is this journey to what God promised taking so long?" Do those questions sound familiar? Have you ever found yourself wondering the same thing? Ever prayed for deliverance, saw evidence of God's benevolence, yet question His approach? I have.

That's why I was really excited today to get this glimpse into the mind of God. Moses reveals something in Exodus 13 that I found to be very encouraging when I reflect on my own experience. As God leads me along my Christian journey He takes into consideration the condition of my faith and relationship with Him when determining the route. If He were to take me on the express route to my destination / place of promise, I won't be spiritually equipped to handle the challenges associated with the "express lane" and would likely bailout, give up or turn around. This means that the delay resulting from taking the "long way around" is actually His loving concern for my well-being! The drama at the Red Sea is actually the "lesser of two evils". Rather than complain about it, or being afraid of it, I should really be thankful for it, since it really could be much worse!

I can't imagine though, that the Israelites could picture anything more distressing than just being liberated from Egypt only to be stuck at the Red Sea with nowhere to go and the Egyptians in hot pursuit! Most times, in our own situations, neither can we. Who hasn't wondered "why did God provide X and then turn around and then lead me to this place that threatens to make it useless or take it away?" when trapped at the Red Sea? According to today's verse He does this because we are better able to handle the Red Sea than the alternative. God has power to deliver in either situation but in the land of the Philistines being unprepared spiritually might prevent us from sticking around long enough to actually experience it.

I am soooooo grateful that in His loving wisdom and despite my vociferous protests, God leads me on the roundabout route EVEN when it is through the wilderness. It's not at all comfortable and at times can be incredibly challenging, but it's never been more than I can bear. Like the children of Israel, my limited perspective doesn't allow me to know that this is better suited for my current condition; there's no way I can see that. But God sees and knows and lovingly guides me through congruous challenges until I'm prepared and ready to face my Philistine Giants! I will face the Philistines eventually, they are on the way to the Promised Land, but in His mercy it won't be until I'm ready to trust Him enough to stay the course.

Thank You Lord For Daily Bread!

newlensesbook.com]]> Wed, 1 Feb 2012 12:09:14 PST http://jaredtaylor.authorweblog.com/articles/2012/02/50877/re-calculating http://jaredtaylor.authorweblog.com/articles/2012/01/50625/keep-on-writing
Gonna keep it short today. Short and to the point. The story of Joseph, particularly these 3 verses, provided a timely reminder to me that despite my circumstances God is working it all out for my good. As Daryl Coley sang "He's preparing me for something I cannot handle right now. He's making me ready just because He cares. He's providing me with what I need, to carry out the next matter in my life."

Joseph’s responsibilities in Potiphar’s household and his being in charge of all those held in the prison prepared him to be the Egyptian prime minister and save many lives. He served twelve years in jail until he completed his training managing both abundance and scarcity. God allowed Moses to be raised in Pharaoh’s house as one of his children, an experience that prepared him to manage a society. To learn how to manage stubborn people effectively, God had him tend Jethro's sheep. God didn’t "promote" either Joseph or Moses until they were ready. In Moses' case the bush didn’t burn for forty years; that’s how long it took him to get ready. If Joseph and Moses had not been faithful with the few seemingly menial tasks with which they had been entrusted, neither would have been adequately equipped to fulfill God's purpose for their lives.

“Let me encourage you while I encourage me.” If you're like me and feel like your training experience might be going on a little too long, perhaps it's because we’re not paying attention in class. God won’t graduate us until He determines that we’re ready. Much of our readiness comes from being faithful regardless of where we are and what we've been given to do.

Paul E. Miller in the book A Praying Life offers encouragement to those of us currently serving time in an Egyptian prison or tending Jethro's sheep. He says, "If God is sovereign, then He is in control of all the details of my life. If He is loving, then He is going to be shaping the details of my life for my good. If He is all-wise, then He's not going to do everything I want because I don't know what I need. If He is patient, then He is going to take time to do all this. When we put all these things together--God's sovereignty, love, wisdom and patience--we have a divine story."

God is the architect, the designer. Nothing happens to us that doesn't get His approval. He's writing our story--line by line. Our role is simply to be faithful with the responsibilities entrusted to us while continuing to trust Him. It is my prayer that we endeavor to remain faithful in those little things as we allow God to keep on writing every line of our lives.

Thank You Lord For Daily Bread.

newlensesbook.com
]]> Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:35:59 PST http://jaredtaylor.authorweblog.com/articles/2012/01/50625/keep-on-writing http://jaredtaylor.authorweblog.com/articles/2012/01/49981/whatchu-talkin-bout-willis
Why have I never noticed this verse before? Ok...that's not quite true, it's highlighted in my Bible so that means it registered in my brain at some point in time before today. So let me re-phrase...Why does this stand out to me today?

Re-stated simply this verse said to me this morning, (general, non-specfic application) "Thanks for your well meaning, logical, rational, for all intents and purposes, wise advice. But ahhhhmmm...I trust in God for protection, so there is no reason to run away from this. That action would directly contradict my belief. Yes I know it's dangerous and potentially hazardous to my health to stay here, but ahhhmmmm.... doesn't "The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them." Psalm 34:7 (KJV)

Now here's the specific application, to me, Jared. Sure it seems crazy and unwise to quit my job so that I can attend classes for my Master's in Youth Ministry Leadership program because I can't get my leave approved. I just got this job. Quitting a job in this job market over a class? Not the best idea you had there Jared. There is no guarantee you will get another one. What are you gonna do? You're about to get married. You have a son. You've got bills! C'mon now dude...don't be a ninny. There's nothing wrong with taking a break from the program, withdrawing from the classes and maintaining the safety and security of your job. Plus you love federal holidays! Do you really want to go back to having to work on Thanksgiving and Christmas? Really?

No I don't, but...I trust the Lord for protection. This isn't just a class. Plus it is written..."do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:31-34 (NIV) Kingdom Business...let's go. www.youtube.com/watch

I know for some...my application may seem a little extreme. But is it really? According to the verse above, is flying to the mountains wise or cowardly? Is it smart or a lack of faith? Take my man Abraham in Genesis 22 today. He was asked to sacrifice his son of promise, the one he waited 25 years for, the one it took a miracle for his wife to conceive! Was the request God made extreme considering He regards the sacrifice of children detestable? Uhhhh...heck yeah! Plus, it's not like Sarah had anymore ticks on her clock! Abraham could have yielded to logic, reason, emotions, human wisdom, and fear. But He didn't. He didn't even allow Sarah to suggest "flying to the mountains" because he didn't consult her for her opinion. He just trusted God and obeyed. So what was the point of God's request? It's simple... "Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." Genesis 22:12 (NIV)

What do you believe about God? Do you fear Him? Do you trust Him? Do you make time for Him? Is He your protection? Your Provider? Your Comforter? Your friend? Is He #1 in your life? How have you shown Him lately that you believe/love/trust Him? That you trust His Word? That it is living and active in your life; the lamp to your feet and the light to your path? Have you refused to compromise? Stood up for what you believed? Stepped out on faith? Have you been willing to give up that thing He asked you of you? Have you held on to what He's entrusted to your care even when everything inside of you wanted to and felt that it was best, to let it go? Did you stick it out or run away? Have you taken the "smart" road, the easy road or the narrow road?

Saying we believe/love/trust in God is easy. Proving it with our actions? Not so much! Knowing the right thing to do can be even more challenging! Praise God, for giving us His Spirit so that "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)

As we encounter those situations which will require us to tangibly manifest what we say we believe, I pray that the Spirit will give us wisdom to recognize dubious counsel and empower us with courage to boldy declare, "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:17-18 (NIV)

Thank You Lord For Daily Bread.

newlensesbook.com]]> Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:51:16 PST http://jaredtaylor.authorweblog.com/articles/2012/01/49981/whatchu-talkin-bout-willis http://jaredtaylor.authorweblog.com/articles/2012/01/49715/lullaby-and-good-night
I have a friend, a dear friend who has sleep issues. This person has a list of rituals that they believe have to be done and things they need to have in order to secure a good night's sleep. Lotion for the feet, a fan blowing on those feet, ear plugs, particular sleeping attire...just to name a few. If one or more of those things is unavailable, this person's capacity for sleep is severely impaired. God forbid there are noises and movement nearby, insomnia is inevitable.

Not being one to have sleep issues--I can sleep anywhere, through anything and be dead to the world, except when there's a lot on my mind--I really couldn't grasp the concept. I understood cognitively, but I was unable empathize; that is before today.

As I processed the scripture above this morning, it dawned on me that although I don't have a list of physical requirements that need to be in place before I can "sleep in peace", I do have a list of intangible, situational requirements. I can sleep in peace, when I'm sure the rent and other bills are paid and I have no concerns about my health or my family. When I'm pretty confident that I will have a job for the foreseeable future and that a cheque is coming on the 1st and the 15th, sleep comes easy. When I don't have to choose between my job, my relationships and my ministry, I can sleep quite comfortably. For me the absence of worry, fear, doubt, anxiety and uncertainty are crucial requirements for a good night's sleep.

But what truly is the source of my comfort? What gives me security? I had to stop and consider that this morning. What I discovered is that my comfort level depends primarily on my circumstances. When the equilibrium of my life is disturbed I am seldom able to "lie down and sleep...in peace". If the boat of my life is tossed by a "furious squall" like the disciples experienced in Mark 4, I highly doubt that I could, as Jesus was able to do, sleep in those conditions. Yet He was able to. How was He able to do that? How can I do likewise? How can I have peace of mind that allows me sleep despite my circumstances?

In the Psalm 4:8 above David gives us the answer. He was able to lie down and sleep in peace because he came to terms with and accepted the fact that ONLY the Lord allows Him to dwell in safety. Although the "rod" and the "staff" in Psalm 23 comfort him in "the valley of the shadow of death", his trust isn't in them. He "fears no evil" only because God is with him. The rod and staff, (which aren't David's by the way), comfort him because they serve as reminders of God's constant presence. In fact the use of the pronoun "Your/Thy" when referencing the “rod and staff” seems to suggest that David didn't even select these items by himself. It seems to imply that they were given to him. If I were David and I had to provide myself with items of comfort for the journey through "the valley of the shadow of death", I'm likely to have chosen a sword, a shield, a helmet, 3 slings and a bag of extra stones...just in case! I would insist on having all of them near me at all times because without them, I would feel helpless, naked and maybe even hopeless. I'd trust more in the "rod and staff" type items than the God who provides them as a comfort for me. Their presence would provide me just enough peace to sleep and then as an afterthought, I'd ask God to protect me.

Rituals and comfort items may help for a time, but what happens to us when they're not available? In order to have peace of mind for a good night's sleep we have to trust God. Period. It's just that simple. Isaiah 26:3 says, "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you." Our minds can't stay steadfast and so have peace, in the absence of trust in God. We don't trust what we don't know, and trust is developed based on knowledge and experience. Is it possible then, that our ability to "lie down and sleep in peace" in the midst of a "furious squall" is a direct indicator of the depth of our experience with, knowledge of and trust in God?

It is my prayer today that those of us with "sleep issues" would consider replacing our rituals and requirements with the approach Paul recommends to the Philippians.
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ...Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4, 6-7 (NIV)

May we all seek deeper knowledge of and relationship with our Heavenly Father, by spending quality time in prayer and His Word. They are key ingredients to a good night's sleep!

Thank You Lord For Daily Bread.

newlensesbook.com]]> Wed, 4 Jan 2012 14:07:38 PST http://jaredtaylor.authorweblog.com/articles/2012/01/49715/lullaby-and-good-night http://jaredtaylor.authorweblog.com/articles/2011/12/49386/be-my-friend
"You cannot correct servants just by talking to them. They may understand you, but they will pay no attention." Proverbs 29:19 (GNT)

"A servant can't be corrected only by words. Even if he understands, he won't obey." Proverbs 29:19 (NIRV)

"Words alone will not discipline a servant; the words may be understood, but they are not heeded." Proverbs 29:19 (NLT)

Servants of God they call us; knowledgeable about the instructions of our Master. We can quote them, reciting them backwards and forwards. We understand them. We can even explain them to others. Yet, for some reason, we're stubbornly disobedient. "Stiff-necked" the Bible calls us.

Maybe we inherited it from our Mom--Eve. In Genesis 3, when the serpent misrepresented God's instructions to her, she was able to correct the serpent and then relate God's actual command to it. On the other hand, Solomon could be right, our inability to respond solely to verbal correction could just be due to our nature as servants.

As servants of God, we also seem to require more than words; more than just The Word. Sermons are nice, but somehow for us, they don't seem to be enough. Songs hit us, touch us to the core, but yet they prove to be insufficient. Messages sent through friends and family are easily disregarded. We can even read the Bible day and night and still somehow not receive an incentive to comply.

Like children, many Christians seem to respond best to the administration of the "rod of correction". Smh... It never makes any sense to me why the unpleasant discomfort of discipline seems to be the most effective means of eliciting our compliance. It's quite unfortunate that we suffer through this, since life could be way more serene, if we would only submit. But hey, at least discipline lets us know we're loved right?

In John 15:15 Jesus says, "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." (NIV) Jesus switches up the metaphor and elevates us from servants to friends. Why is that? I would like to believe it's because He understands that friends respond to each other out of love, relationship and mutual respect. Between friends, choices are not made out of obligation as can be the case with servants.

Jesus chooses to consider us His friends, not just His servants. Could it be that He desires that we change our motivation? What has been your response to His friendship? Did you remain a servant, or have you become a friend that serves?

"Even when servants are smart, it takes more than words to make them obey." Proverbs 29:19 (CEV)

"If you love me, keep my commands. You are my friends if you do what I command." John 14:15, 15:14 (NIV)

Thank You Lord For Daily Bread.

newlensesbook.com]]> Wed, 28 Dec 2011 12:42:09 PST http://jaredtaylor.authorweblog.com/articles/2011/12/49386/be-my-friend http://jaredtaylor.authorweblog.com/articles/2011/12/48854/lions-and-tigers-and-bears-oh-my
I know that the book of Revelation isn't that popular these days but please hear me out. Today's post is not an apocalyptic message, neither is it one of woe, doom and destruction. Yes, the reference text above contains that dark imagery--it’s hard to miss! But there's something else in there that can easily be overlooked. I know that the last 3 times I read these verses I definitely missed it. I don't want you to as well.

The first thing (right quick) is a throwback to my last post on water and the "thirsty". (If you haven't already read it you may want to check it out below for context). The Alpha and Omega gives Water for FREE to the thirsty. The verse goes on to say that the victorious inherit the spring / the source of the Water. I can't help but wonder, does that mean that the thirsty become victorious because they're "thirsty"? How much does their thirst influence their pursuit of the Water and does that lead / contribute to their victory? What's most interesting to me is that the "Alpha and the Omega" recognizes their thirst and gives them Water to satisfy it. Not milk, not honey, not wine, but Water--for free. Milk, honey and wine have their place. I'm sure they also have their uses, relevance and benefits. Life however comes from Water.

Ok. With that out of the way, here's what I saw today. I saw that the COWARDLY and UNBELIEVING are listed in the same company as the murderers, sexually immoral, liars and those who practice witchcraft. Their fate is the same.

I also saw that the cowardly were listed FIRST. Maybe God picked a random order. Maybe the sequence doesn't matter. But then again, maybe it does. I don't know. What I do know is that given the "esteemed" personnel on this list, those of us who struggle with FEAR and unbelief need to get it together!

I looked up the Greek word used for cowardly in this text to see if the NIV translators added their own spin to it. The word used in this verse is "deilos" which means "timid, fearful". It's an adjective derived from "deido" which means "fear-driven". It's the SAME word used in Matthew 8:26 by Jesus, on the boat with His disciples, just before He calmed the storm and said “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” (NIV)

Hmmm.... That's a great question Jesus. So guys...why are we?

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 (NIV) For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

God COMMANDS us not to be afraid. It's NOT a request and neither is it okay! The Bible demonstrates very clearly that fear is a spirit that's NOT from God. As Keith Kirk would say, "fear is 'demonic'". Revelation 8 shows us that God views people who are fearful / cowardly, the same way He views unbelievers, murderers, the sexually immoral and people who practice witchcraft! It's THAT serious.

The question is why does He feel that strongly about it? Why are all these groups of people lumped together? What do they all have in common? One simple answer is that they all refuse to believe in God enough to do what He says. It doesn't matter whether fear impairs them (the cowardly), they don't trust His Word (the unbelievers) or they willfully choose to disobey (all the others), to God, it's all the same.

Additionally, IF the order is at all significant, it would appear that fear tops the list of ways to profess that we don't believe that God is in control and that He is able to keep His promises. The presence of fear suggests that we don't believe that God is God. To make matters worse, by being fearful Christians WE are taking God's name in vain.

Today I want to encourage anyone stymied by or wrestling with Fear to take a page from Kirk Franklin, look it in the face and say "Hello Fear! Farewell! Goodbye! So long!" I've even included a few verses below to help get you started.

When I'm afraid, I will trust in you. I trust in God. I praise his word. I trust in God. I will NOT be afraid... I praise God for what he has promised; Yes, I praise the Lord for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?... I WILL fulfill my vows to you, O God, and will offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help. For you have rescued me from death; you have kept my feet from slipping. So now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light." Psalm 56:3-4 (NIRV) / 56:10-13 (NLT)

"The fig trees might not bud. The vines might not produce any grapes. The olive crop might fail. The fields might not produce any food. There might not be any sheep in the pens. There might not be any cattle in the barns. But I will still be glad because of what the Lord has done. God my Savior fills me with joy. The Lord and King gives me strength. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer. He helps me walk on the highest places." Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NIRV)

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!...Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4, 6-7 (NIV)

If you have any verses that are a special encouragement to you please share them in a comment below so that others reading this can be further encouraged!

Hello Fear! Farewell! Goodbye! So long!
www.youtube.com/watch

Thank You Lord for Daily Bread.

newlensesbook.com]]> Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:04:01 PST http://jaredtaylor.authorweblog.com/articles/2011/12/48854/lions-and-tigers-and-bears-oh-my http://jaredtaylor.authorweblog.com/articles/2011/12/48602/until-its-vegas-everywhere-we-are
I really like it when the assigned readings for a given day in my Bible reading plan line up and provide specific context, insight and illumination for each other. Today is one of those days. If you haven't done so already, when you're finished with this, please check out Proverbs 8, Revelation 14, and Nehemiah 8-9.

Over the weekend I was a part of a conversation about program development for young adult ministry. Using thirst as a metaphor, we all agreed that each person has a degree of "thirst". We also agreed that "Water" was the best solution for thirst. Differences arose with regard to how distribute the water. Bottle? Glass? Bowl? Water cooler? Hose? Reservoir? There was also disagreement about what to do with those who weren't fond of just plain water, regardless of the vessel. It was suggested that in order to help quench the thirst of such persons we should add color, flavor and/or fizz to the Water. At the very least the packaging should be attractive. The rationale was that if persons won't source plain Water from us, we should make the Water more attractive / appealing to catch their attention so at least they won't die of thirst. Then we could work to wean them off the additives and get them to appreciate pure Water.

Today's readings gave me pause about such an approach and caused me to consider an alternative a perspective when contemplating an approach to the task of delivering the "Living Water" to people with varying degrees of thirst. It began with Proverbs 7 & 8 where Solomon personifies Adultery and Wisdom as women offering wares and highlights a sharp contrast in their approaches.

Proverbs 7 presents "Adultery" as a woman who seeks/pursues victims, imposes herself on them, dresses up/decorates herself and her environment, adding trimmings, conveniences, and attractions to seduce, lure, entice, persons to choose her venue and offerings. These efforts are meant to appeal to the senses, emotions, instincts, impulses, appetites and carnal nature of those she courts. She makes temporary disposable offers to them, lurking in dark places with crafty intent. She is wayward, unruly, defiant, always on the go, in search of something new and fresh.

Wisdom on the other hand, in Proverbs 8, positions herself to be seen and heard clearly by all and calls out / cries aloud to passersby explaining the benefits of getting to know her as well as the consequences of ignorance. She appeals to reason / logic / cognitive thought, encourages acceptance and participation based on value, makes enduring offers and proves / demonstrates her credibility, authority and value. She knows her worth and desires to be invited in / chosen. She makes herself available to be found, but finding her requires an active search.

Some parents often argue that to get kids to eat their vegetables it’s helpful / effective to mask it, dress it up so that it’s more appealing. While I will agree that by doing that at least they are eating their vegetables, I have to wonder, what lessons are we teaching them in the process? When they grow up, what will be their position towards undressed vegetables? They may eat them today, with the dressings provided but what about tomorrow when the dressings are absent? What habits / tastes have we helped them form? Are we in danger of inadvertently nurturing within them an unwillingness to partake in anything they perceive as bland even though it might be good for them in its raw form? I know this approach seems "wise", but is it patterned after "Adultery" or "Wisdom"?

In Revelation 14:8 (the 2nd part of today's reading) the angel says that "Babylon the Great...made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.” (NIV) Her adulteries? Nice. Babylon made the entire world partake in her adulterous behavior. How'd she do that? By getting them to adopt her way of thinking and allowing that thought process to guide / influence their behavior. Psalm 1:1 says "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers." (NIV) When we follow the counsel, advice, logic, rationale, thinking, approach, pattern, example of anything that is not in line with the Word of God no matter how "wise" it may seem, we are pretty much drinking the wicked, ungodly, maddening wine of Babylon's adulteries.

David Platt, in his book "Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream", tells of an experience he had in an Asian village where 60 people, whose ages ranged from "precious little girls to seventy-year-old men" were crammed in a dark room, sitting on stools or on the floor, with Bibles in their laps. There was one light in the ceiling, no sound system, no band, no entertainment, no cushioned chairs, no heat / air-conditioning. Just people and the Word of God. That's all they needed for close to 11 hours. Living Water, in whatever container they could find. He then goes on to say "God's Word is enough for millions of believers who gather in house churches just like this one....But is his Word enough for us? ...What if we take away the cool music and the cushioned chairs? What if the screens are gone and the stage is no longer decorated? What if the air conditioning is off and the comforts removed? Would his Word still be enough for his people to come together?" (Platt, 27)

Nehemiah 9:3 (the last section of today's reading) answers that question. It says "They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the LORD their God." (NIV) A quarter of the day STANDING and reading the Bible? That's like what...6 hours? How long on average is your devotional time? Your church service? Could you do 6 hours of nothing BUT the Word? For the people of God in Nehemiah's time it appears it was more than enough. How about for you? Folks you know?

The truth is truly thirsty people don't care what the water is in. All they know is that they're thirsty and they need water. They don't need fizz, color or flavor. Just water. When that thirst becomes strong enough, all of a sudden packaging doesn't matter and they will search for it like treasure. Maybe here in America, we're just not that thirsty, or have become so used to the "wine of the adulteries of Babylon" we don't really have a taste for plain Water or the time and desire to search for it!

"In their hunger you gave them bread from heaven and in their thirst you brought them water from the rock;" Nehemiah 9:15 (NIV).

"Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For those who find me find life and receive favor from the LORD. But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death." Proverbs 8:34-36 (NIV)

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD." Jeremiah 29:13-14 (NIV)

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Matthew 5:6 (NIV)

Thank You Lord For Daily Bread.

newlensesbook.com]]> Thu, 8 Dec 2011 11:56:18 PST http://jaredtaylor.authorweblog.com/articles/2011/12/48602/until-its-vegas-everywhere-we-are http://jaredtaylor.authorweblog.com/articles/2011/11/48273/who-you-calling-stupid
I read the New International Version (NIV). That's just what I prefer. With the NIV, I don't get lost in the thee's, thou's and so forth of the King James Version (KJV) and I don't get led too far down into the "modernized" readings of translations like the Message Bible (MSG). Whenever a verse stands out to me from the daily readings, I use biblegateway.com to check other versions in order to get a fuller sense of what's being said. Today I want to share with you what I found. You just HAVE to read this yourself.

"Sin and self-satisfaction bring destruction and death to stupid fools. But if you listen to me, you will be safe and secure without fear of disaster." Proverbs 1:32-33(CEV)

"Childish people go down the wrong path. They will die. Foolish people are satisfied with the way they live. They will be destroyed. But those who listen to me will live in safety. They will not worry. They won't be afraid of getting hurt." Proverbs 1:32-33 (NIRV)

"Fools will die because they refuse to listen; they will be destroyed because they do not care. But those who listen to me will live in safety and be at peace, without fear of injury." Proverbs 1:32-33 (NCV)

"Inexperienced people die because they reject wisdom. Stupid people are destroyed by their own lack of concern. But whoever listens to me will have security. He will be safe, with no reason to be afraid." Proverbs 1:32-33 (GNT)

“Gullible people kill themselves because of their turning away. Fools destroy themselves because of their indifference. But whoever listens to me will live without worry and will be free from the dread of disaster.” Proverbs 1:32-33 (GW)

"For simpletons turn away from me—to death. Fools are destroyed by their own complacency. But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm." Proverbs 1:32-33 (NLT)

Did you just see what I saw?

The Bible (through Solomon and the various translators) refers to people who are aware and understand what the Word says (or the Spirit told them) yet CHOOSE do something else, as simple/simpletons, wayward, childish, fools, stupid fools, inexperienced and gullible. That's some strong language there! A little harsh if you ask me! It goes on to add that being a wayward, childish, stupid, gullible fool will get you killed. (It's likely that death is not just physical, but spiritual and eternal.) Then all versions unanimously refer to complacency - being satisfied with the way you live, not caring, lack of concern and indifference - as destructive and equally foolish / stupid.

But it doesn't end there. The Bible also promises that those who heed its instructions and don't reject wisdom (whether from the Word or Spirit) will live in safety, have security, be at ease, have peace, be without worry, not be afraid of getting hurt, have no reason to be afraid and will be untroubled by fear of harm.

It would seem that the smart / wise thing to do would be to listen to what God says to us through His Word and do whatever He instructs by His Spirit even if it makes us uncomfortable or doesn't seem to make sense.

But we know that already...right? We're already living at ease, in peace, without worry and fear. We're not stupid...

Thank You Lord for Daily Bread.

newlensesbook.com]]> Wed, 30 Nov 2011 09:41:11 PST http://jaredtaylor.authorweblog.com/articles/2011/11/48273/who-you-calling-stupid