ONE MORE STORM AT SEA

MUSINGS- October 15, 2018

ONE MORE STORM AT SEA

Mark 6:45-52

Jesus quickly made his disciples get into a boat and cross to Bethsaida ahead of him while he sent the people away. After saying goodbye to them, he went up a mountain to pray. When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on the land. Jesus saw that they were in a lot of trouble as they rowed, because they were going against the wind. Between three and six o'clock in the morning, he came to them. He was walking on the sea. He wanted to pass by them. When they saw him walking on the sea, they thought, "It's a ghost!" and they began to scream. All of them saw him and were terrified. Immediately, he said, "Calm down! It's me. Don't be afraid!" He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped blowing. The disciples were astounded. (They didn't understand what had happened with the loaves of bread. Instead, their minds were closed.)

Once more Jesus sent his disciples across the sea. If you'll recall, the last time he was with them, when the storm arose, and they were terrified. He called them cowards for their lack of faith. (Mark 4:35-41)

This time, after feeding and teaching the 5,000, here stayed behind to pray. The disciples were alone and battling the sea and the wind.

Here is the part I've overlooked every other time I've read this passage: from his view point on the mountain, Jesus could see that they were having trouble. That was in the evening. However, he waited until early morning to take his stroll through the waves. And then ... and then, "He wanted to pass by them."

It appears to me that, though he was watching over them, it was his intent that they continue to struggle under their own power ... or use the power he, had given them. The author said that they still did not understand, that their minds were closed.

How many storms in our lives do we have to go through before our minds are opened and we understand what Jesus had been teaching us?

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THE PRICE OF FAME

MUSINGS - October 13, 2018

THE PRICE OF FAME

Mark 6:30-34
The apostles gathered around Jesus. They reported to him everything they had done and taught. So he said to them, "Let's go to a place where we can be alone to rest for a while." Many people were coming and going, and Jesus and the apostles didn't even have a chance to eat. So they went away in a boat to a place where they could be alone. But many people saw them leave and recognized them. The people ran from all the cities and arrived ahead of them. When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw a large crowd and felt sorry for them. They were like sheep without a shepherd. So he spent a lot of time teaching them.

"Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”* Jesus, the Servant King, has no time to rest, to eat, or be alone with the twelve students he is training. His fame is spreading and huge crowds are following him or running ahead to where they know he will be next.

In Mark's narrative there were at least 5,000 people here. They were drawn to this man for many reasons including his healings and amazing explainations of the scriptures. Some came just so that they could say that had seen this famous person. Whatever their reason for being here, they all came needing something from him. And Jesus could not turn them away because these were the lost sheep he had come to rescue. The price here was paying for his fame is nothing compared to the price he has paid for his love of humanity. His love for me and for you.

John 3:16-17
God loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but to save the world.

*King Henry IV, Act III, Scene I,

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DON'T KILL THE DOCTOR

MUSINGS - October 12, 2018

DON'T KILL THE DOCTOR

Mark 6:14-29
King Herod heard about Jesus, because Jesus' name had become well-known. Some people were saying, "John the Baptizer has come back to life. That's why he has the power to perform these miracles." Others said, "He is Elijah." Still others said, "He is a prophet like one of the other prophets." But when Herod heard about it, he said, "I had John's head cut off, and he has come back to life!" Herod had sent men who had arrested John, tied him up, and put him in prison. Herod did that for Herodias, whom he had married. (She used to be his brother Philip's wife.) John had been telling Herod, "It's not right for you to be married to your brother's wife." So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she wasn't allowed to do it because Herod was afraid of John. Herod knew that John was a fair and holy man, so he protected him. When he listened to John, he would become very disturbed, and yet he liked to listen to him. An opportunity finally came on Herod's birthday. Herod gave a dinner for his top officials, army officers, and the most important people of Galilee. His daughter, that is, Herodias' daughter, came in and danced. Herod and his guests were delighted with her. The king told the girl, "Ask me for anything you want, and I'll give it to you." He swore an oath to her: "I'll give you anything you ask for, up to half of my kingdom." So she went out and asked her mother, "What should I ask for?" Her mother said, "Ask for the head of John the Baptizer." So the girl hurried back to the king with her request. She said, "I want you to give me the head of John the Baptizer on a platter at once." The king deeply regretted his promise. But because of his oath and his guests, he didn't want to refuse her. Immediately, the king sent a guard and ordered him to bring John's head. The guard cut off John's head in prison. Then he brought the head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When John's disciples heard about this, they came for his body and laid it in a tomb.

Jesus cried, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you kill the prophets and stone to death those sent to you!"* Things seldom go well for those who go against the will of those in power. Modern day "whistle blowers" may not be physically destroyed, but those with power will certainly seek to destroy their credibility and attempt to censure them or imprison them. This was true in the past, is still true today, and will remain true until the LORD comes.

We humans don't like to have our faults cruises and secrets exposed. However, admitting our sins is the first step that each of must take on the road to salvation. Understanding that "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 2:23) includes yourself isn't an easy pill to swallow. If you deny the sickness you will never see the cure. Don't kill the doctor who diagnosed the disease but seek his help.

*Matthew 23:37, Luke 13:34

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FROGS

MUSINGS ,- October 12, 2018

FROGS

Mark 6:7-13

He called the twelve apostles, sent them out two by two, and gave them authority over evil spirits. He instructed them to take nothing along on the trip except a walking stick. They were not to take any food, a traveling bag, or money in their pockets. They could wear sandals but could not take along a change of clothes. He told them, "Whenever you go into a home, stay there until you're ready to leave that place. Wherever people don't welcome you or listen to you, leave and shake the dust from your feet as a warning to them." So the apostles went and told people that they should turn to God and change the way they think and act. They also forced many demons out of people and poured oil on many who were sick to cure them.

Jesus had been training the twelve to be servants completely relying on the Master. At this time they are to be emissaries for the Master, acting as the Master and with all of the authority of the Master. And, as in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30 and Luke 19:12-27), they are expected to bring an increase into the kingdom of God.

Now they are commissioned to go into the world and tell everyone the Good News while curing them. It is the same command that he will repeat to them in his last few earthly moments. (Mark 16: 24-18, Matthew 28:16-20, Acts 1:8)

They are to go with nothing but the clothes in their backs. They are to be Fully Reliant On God. It is the samething Jesus requires of all his followers: be willing to abandon everything and everyone that would keep you from serving God. (Mark 8:34)

Are you ready to be a F.R.O.G.?

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2018 October 10 Wednesday

2018 October 10 Wednesday in Liberty Hill, Texas

67° that reached 75° under a cloudless sky.

Grandies met from 9-12 including the time for a game.

Some of us had lunch at Hobo Junction. Gotta love that chicken fried steak done right.

After lunch we came home so that I could get that patch on the roof. We need to wait 24 hours to for the sealant to cure. After that I'll paint it with elastomeric roof coating. I may need to apply some caulking also

While I was working on the roof, Ella was missing up some laundry detergent. It contains, washing soda, borax, Oxyclean, and Fels-Naptha. We've used it for years now and it works great.

We had time for a nap before going back to the church for choir practice.

Choir was a little shorter than usual so that we could go to the fellowship hall and celebrate Donna's 90th birthday.

Birthday party

G’nite y’all!

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BACKHANDED COMPLIMENT

MUSINGS - October 10, 2018

BACKHANDED COMPLIMENT

Mark 6:1-6
Jesus left that place and went to his hometown. His disciples followed him. When the day of worship came, he began to teach in the synagogue. He amazed many who heard him. They asked, "Where did this man get these ideas? Who gave him this kind of wisdom and the ability to do such great miracles? Isn't this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" So they took offense at him. But Jesus told them, "The only place a prophet isn't honored is in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own house." He couldn't work any miracles there except to lay his hands on a few sick people and cure them. Their unbelief amazed him. Then Jesus went around to the villages and taught.

Do you know what a backhanded come is? It sounds like a compliment with a zinger attached. Examples: "You are very attractive in an obese sort of way." "I always feel smarter when I'm around you."

Jesus received these backhanded compliments from the people of his home town. "He sounds amazing ... for a carpenter." Jesus have them the message of life. But they couldn't hear it because of their familiarity with the messenger. They remembered him as the kids who played in the dirt and the rocks into the sea. That filter of familiarity blinded them to the eternal truths of his message.

An expert is someone from fifty miles away, a prophet isn't honored at home, and familiarity breeds contempt. These are all truths and proofs of the world in which we live.

I would hate to be forever judged by the things I did as a child. I thought as a child and I spoke as a job. But I'm no longer a child. By God's grace I am a new creation with my pay forgiven and my future secure.

How are you perceived by those who have known you the longest? How is your witness to them?

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STEALING A HEALING

MUSINGS - October 09 2018

STEALING A HEALING?

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Mark 5:25-34
In the crowd was a woman who had been suffering from chronic bleeding for twelve years. Although she had been under the care of many doctors and had spent all her money, she had not been helped at all. Actually, she had become worse. Since she had heard about Jesus, she came from behind in the crowd and touched his clothes. She said, "If I can just touch his clothes, I'll get well." Her bleeding stopped immediately. She felt cured from her illness. At that moment Jesus felt power had gone out of him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?" His disciples said to him, "How can you ask, 'Who touched me,' when you see the crowd pressing you on all sides?" But he kept looking around to see the woman who had done this. The woman trembled with fear. She knew what had happened to her. So she quickly bowed in front of him and told him the whole truth. Jesus told her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace! Be cured from your illness."

This story comes in the middle of, and indeed interrupts the story of Jesus restoring life to the young daughter of the synagogue Leander. Here is the setting, Jesus it's in the midst of a moving mob of people. He is on the way to save the life of the daughter of a synagogue leader. And then the unexpected happened.

He stopped. He stopped and looked around as if he'd lost something. His disciples were concerned and confused. They were on the way to save a life. Why did he stop? What was he looking for? And then he said the strangest thing, Who touched my clothes?"

The answer to that was, "Everybody!" This wasn't a stationary sit-on-the-hillside-and-teach situation. They were on the move. Everyone was follow him to Jairus's home to see him heal a child. And, if course, everyone wanted to be as close to the action as they could get. They were talk touching him.

However, one touch was different. One touch was with a purpose. One person wanted a healing, but on their own terms. They didn't want to beg for it nor did they want to be made a public spectacle like what was happening with Jairus's daughter. And it appeared to have worked because the bleeding stopped and she felt better.

That, however, wasn't enough for Jesus. He stopped this surging crowd and demanded to know who had touched him. In fear, she knelt before him and confessed. In love, he blessed her faith in him and then ... and only then, he said, "Be cured from your illness." The bleeding had stopped when she touched him, but the cure only came after coming face to face with the Master.

I gate to admit it, but I have at times been like this woman. I wanted a miracle on my terms. But it is only when you can say, "Not my will, not my way, but Yours, my Lord," that God is able to provide what I truly needed.

Have you come pleading with the Lord or have you come to take it without acknowledging his Kingship?

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All content (except quotations) © 201p Thomas E. Williams