Day 25: July 7, 2012- Luke's First Swim!!

Luke's First Swim:

Today was Luke's first swim! We were very excited about it. If you can wade through the following short videos, you can find out just how excited Luke was...



Ok, um, let's try that again.

Take 2:




No, that didn't work. Naturally, the only logical thing to do is try it again.

Take 3:




Aha! Victorious!!

Luke's Take.

It's been a long day. Rest in Christ, little buddy. Or as Great Uncle Mark would say, rest in peace.

Now, while we're all relaxed, preview and listen to the readings!
Genesis 50:1-26, Exodus 1-2:10, Matthew 16:13-17:9, Psalm 21:1-13

Old Testament.
The end of an era. The patriarchs are finally laid to rest. We say good-bye to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. It's been fun! And God is the God of the living, not the dead, so we'll see them again.
But now we're on to newer times, and today's reading introduces a curious young gentleman playing hide and seek down by the river, not knowing he's flirting with death...

New Testament.
A very important question. The time comes when each person must answer it. "Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego" is not the what I was looking for. And no, it's not "What would Jesus do?"
Who is Jesus, really? That's the question. One can be the nicest person in the world, get this question wrong, and be left outside at a wedding to come. That of a Savior and his Bride. Because whether or not you're nice or funny or cool or generous isn't the right question. "Who is Jesus" is it. And therefore it's the answer you need to know. If Jesus is God, then when he came to earth it really meant something. And when he died and rose again, for us, that something became everything. The Bride will be married to him. That's the banquet in heaven. So who is Jesus to you? If he's the Messiah, Son of God, you're on the right path. If  he's the God you are in love with, then you happen to be a Bride who's going to have a happily ever after with her Beloved.
It's time to decide who he is to you. Like popping the question, or answering it, this changes everything from here on.

Psalms.
How often do you celebrate with God? How about worshipping with David's words in the Psalm today. It's always a great idea to pray the Psalms. We can learn how to be worshippers through David. Praise the Lord loudly, whole-heartedly, and often!

Proverbs.
You know the girl. The one with the swagger and that look in her eye. There's something dangerous there. While it might be tempting, it's also dead wrong. Dead. I'll let that sink in.
Watch out for women that are sweet as honey or smooth as oil. If you don't read the signs well, you might be chasing after the immoral woman Proverbs talks about today. There's a crash ending, in case you're curious. Check the last paragraph for the word if it hasn't sunken in yet.
Girls, I guess look out for the smooth talking guy. The end with him can't be much better.




Read along yourself with the podcast above:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2050:1-26,%20Exodus%201-2:10,%20Matthew%2016:13-17:9,%20Psalm%2021:1-13&version=NLT

Day 3: June 15, 2012- The Flood

(Update: the podcasts aren't working with iphones since they are based on flash player. Go to the web browser of any computer and it should work fine. My apologies for any inconvenience.)

Genesis 5-7:24, Matthew 3:7-4:11, Psalm 3:1-8, Proverbs 1:10-19


To read along:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%205-7:24;%20Matthew%203:7-4:11;%20Psalm%203:1-8;%20Proverbs%201:10-19&version=NLT


"And then the waters came."

Mankind was wicked. Why is it always being like that? I wonder often. But apart from God, we often drift.

In the reading today, there was one righteous man, which must have really mattered to God. It was so important his name was mentioned in the Bible; he was singled out. It was so important, he was chosen.

His name was Noah.

He had a simple response to God. He did exactly what God said.

The New Testament reading, coincidentally, is very similar.

As this story develops, one who had been waited for through all the patriarchs and prophets, the heroes and villians, the ups and downs of Israel of old- the Messiah- comes.

His name is Jesus.

Today, both stories start to unfold.

They hinge on one idea:  doing everything exactly as God tells us.

Both men are baptized, one by a flood, the other by a prophet clothed in camel's hair who eats locusts. Both represent cleansing from sin and purifying to God.

And both did as God said. The second, as we shall see later in the story, holds the key to everything.

It's amazing how God's plan all fits together.

And interestingly, after Jesus was baptized, he was tempted. That's the way it often is with faith. Once we declare our righteousness before God in Jesus, once we are cleansed by him, the world tries to jump in and tempt us.

That's just the way it is. Right now anyway. Jesus wasn't surprised by this. And he didn't give in.

David found himself facing enemies, but he stood up to it without fear "of ten thousand...who surround him."

Noah was the only one.

And in Proverbs, today, the focus comes to you. What will you do, when the world comes around, will you listen?

I think Noah has your answer.


"Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means 'God is with us.'"   (Matthew 1:23- Day 1)