Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder

If you are HEAVY LADEN, this message is especially for you. God specializes in the unburdening of uncarryable loads.If you are curious about God, this will likely be a driver. He has something for you to PUT ON, but it is light and easy. What you give up is a heavy burden.Consider the weightiness with me today. https://youtu.be/j-OJWqdXe0Q

They meant it as an insult when they said it. They meant it to mock and belittle Him.  Jesus is called "a friend of sinners" .It is the great news. First, it includes all of us.  Second, He treats us not as we deserve, but with mercy that only a very good God can pull off.Join me to hear about this wondrous friend. He is the one who is proud to be called the friend of sinners.Be a friend of this sinner and subscribe, follow, like, share.https://youtu.be/l793Y0B5FGQ

How do I start to follow God? May I suggest 3 easy steps.  Well, maybe they aren't easy but:Regret. This is an activity of the heart. A feeling bad for specifically my own offense before a holy God.Repentance. This is an activity of the MIND. It is changing your considerations to agree with God about sinAction. Perhaps this is repentance step B. It is to change behavior, and the actions of the wayward feet, tongue, zipper, etc.Get started with me in these 6 minuteshttps://youtu.be/Uf9D3a_gZPM

The imprisoned John the Baptist doesn't get release from his earthly bad circumstances.  That doesn't mean he didn't receive the blessings and the promises of God.  He got:Good news of the gospel, access to God Himself, that is preached and available to the poor in spirit everywhereThe resurrection power of GodGod didn't abandon the greatest man to ever live. Yes, I know he literally got his head cut off, but the Lord gave him precious things: 1. Himself and 2. Resurrection from this life to the eternal. https://youtu.be/3iPHRMK8HBs

The greatest person in history is in prison and Jesus knows it.  His imprisonment and soon beheading is pure evil. Why doesn't Jesus stop it?Is it because He is unaware? No.Is it because He is unable? No. The passage emphasized Jesus' power over blindness, lameness, sickness, and even death.Is it because He has forgotten about the hairs on my head? No.At least for today, let's acknowledge that He is able. He is aware. He had not forgotten. Let us be careful of what we are tempted to accuse God of. And, yet He still allows.  https://youtu.be/kMzRFTc6vJE

The encouragement of the tight-end to the running back is different than the encouragement of the guy in the seats to the running back.  To be recognized and appreciated by another in the game has a special meaning. Join me for 7 minutes to think about others in the game and how to receive them in a meaningful, helpful way.            The eternal work of the church here is done by very temporal people. They could probably use some encouragement. https://youtu.be/eSl5qytMJVk

Buckle in, brothers and sisters! Jesus equates following Him to taking up a cross. He means to have us willingly, enthusiastically seizing this very hard thing. It comes as a superior priority to anything, or anyone else.  Yes, even your own mother in comparison!Join me to look for some of the harder side of discipleship.  It is a high call.  If you haven't yet said Yes to Him, come back tomorrow by subscribing and following. https://youtu.be/iZL2Z7kiOZY

Your value can be assessed compared to sparrows and the hair you lose in the shower today.  The good news is that you are of MORE VALUE. God values YOU more than the hair in the drain.The real question is of what value do you hold HIM? Is He more value to you than sparrows or hair? It is important now, but it becomes critical soon. Subscribe if you know your value.https://youtu.be/0OP9IfS9dbw

The famous concluding lines spoken by Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms in 1521 are: "I cannot and will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen." What do you do in circumstances that you do not prefer? Join me for 7 minutes to find out what you should do when you are asked to endure when on the menu of wolves. https://youtu.be/f0o4j7rMKng

Join me for 6 minutes for a perilous canoe trip story. On it, we were LOST long before we KNEW we were lost.Finding your way in the wilderness is tricky. The trick is to know where you are and then know where you are going.  In my story, we were paddling along, being lost, long before we knew we were lost. When Jesus sends a rescue to the LOST SHEEP of Israel, and later to the gentiles, they don't start as knowing they are lost.Subscribe. like. follow. comment.https://youtu.be/4gqw2TaRG-Y

The Kingdom of God is not for sale.  It does, however, need to be financially and logistically supported. It is a Kingdom that offers spiritual treasures for free and then resupplies itself from within. Remember, it cost Him everything to offer it to us freely.Listen for free. As always, treasures are on offer.https://youtu.be/pTAWz29OYdo

DC Comics in 1960 came up with a fictional superhero named ELONGATED MAN.  Elongated man who could stretch his body to impossible lengths after drinking concentrated Yucatan fruit Gingold.         He could have an arm span of impossible dimensions.Jesus tells His disciples that the Kingdom of Heaven is AT HAND. That is, within arm's reach.  Whose arms? Mine or Elongated Man?Listen 7 minutes and find out. Subscribe. Appreciate. ;-)https://youtu.be/0ik8sPml8OQ

There is one thing you will NEVER have to pray for: the numbers of the harassed, sick, afflicted, and shepherdess. Why? Because their numbers are already PLENTIFUL.What is not exactly plentiful are the numbers of those full of compassion and willingness to be sent. Pray earnestly with me to the Lord to send out laborers into His harvest! You don't have to pray for more lost.  There are plenty of those...;-)https://youtu.be/TnQjA8kAtTQ

You are described as being in need of great compassion.You are harassed, helpless, like a sheep without a shepherd.A wise person agrees with the assessment. Why? Because that is a start to get out of this mess. Fortunately, we have a God who has us not only in His "heart", but also in His "GUT"!Subscribe. Follow. Listen:https://youtu.be/erhI8ugZSZI

I hope you are "unstroked" today. I hope you have your faculties and your voice. Let's use our voice now.  Hurry.Don't know how many days I have left.Don't know how many WORDS I have left.Listen. Subscribe. and then get speaking...https://youtu.be/MSwKBidS_3U

Jesus tells 'em not to do it but they do it anyway: They spread His fame all over the region. Somehow, I think Jesus gives them grace, like in so many other circumstances.  Two blind men get their sight back.  This is definitely worth celebrating. We can understand how it spills over.I laughed in delight when I read it. I wonder if Jesus responded similarly.  Tell me what you think. https://youtu.be/DuC3qXellCA

Every funeral you go to is a test. They are a test of your faith.In our resurrection story today, a father's faith in Jesus is severely tested at the death of his 12 year old daughter.He passes the test, the FAITH TEST, with flying colors.Consider with me for 7 minutes how you will do on your next test during your next funeral.Subscribe to study more.https://youtu.be/TbAR9JoRXlM

What SPIRITUAL Zip Code do I find you in ?         Are you trying to move toward  Jesus' zip code? Do you want proximity to God and His people? His Church? His principles? His teaching? His ways? His wonders?         To move into Jesus' zip code is to seek HIS WAYS as well as HIS WONDERS.         “I need a miracle”. But first, I need the MASTER.Listen . subscribe. Enjoy.https://youtu.be/rH_1Nd9Tpe0

How transformative might Jesus be in your life? Is He a patch, or is He the whole?Here, the disciples of John ask the question, but eventually, so does everybody.  Jesus insists: I am not a patch, I am the whole.  It must have rocked the then hearers, I wonder what it might do for you.Please Listen and subscribe to this channel and follow :https://youtu.be/OUs1kG4fJiM

What does God require of me?  It is not a mystery.Today, He'll ask something of me that He has 'required' and exampled of Himself:  faithfulness, mercy, & kindness toward the undeserving. Yes, it is a big ask.This isn't the first day of asking.  Micah 6:8 famously also required it:He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you        but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Join me to consider walking this way together.https://youtu.be/14CkfsMLeKQ

There is a little homework assignment after a statement from Jesus in Matt9:23.  He says, "Go and learn what this means..."What is He referring to? He's referencing the way God treats the undeserving. The Lord extends a covenantal love to those who break His covenants. He gives grace to the undeserving: kindness to the ungrateful.Come watch for 7 beautiful minutes and see what is on offer.  It is THE defining characteristic of God in the Bible. https://youtu.be/nKWSDSrz10w

Jeffrey Dahmer did some evil, "unforgivable" things.  But what if he appropriately said he was sorry? Even more than that, what if he truly repented before the Lord.Apparently, this really happened in 1994 about 6 months before his murder.Will he be in heaven? Will I be with him there? Listen 7 minutes for the shocking answer.subscribe, follow. like. etc.https://youtu.be/0VE0aDKijJg

Four things today:Take heart: be happy about this for an overbold reality is coming my son: I'm going to call you SON & treat you with ongoing family commitmentyour sins : Yup. Bad news. You know it and I know itare forgiven: Can you really do this? Yes. Do you really do this? YES.You should become a Christian if for NO OTHER REASON than this. You should also subscribe and post this good news everywhere. https://youtu.be/FC-iV0ZFsiU

Today Jesus will claim something critical to YOU.Can Jesus really forgive sin?He says He has authority to forgive sins.  If not, we are all in big trouble.  This should blow the mind of every human: That God can make our sins disappear forever.  It is done with great cost, but that is for another day.Does He REALLY have authority to do this?  Listen and find out. Subscribe, and Share and repost. https://youtu.be/ACrHuxD2yio

What if Jesus has complete ultimate authority over the forces of evil? Don't you think it would compel you to believe? Not so in our story today about demons that are dispossessed from a couple of men, and into 2000 pigs.  In witnessing this great power, after they collected their wits and other townspeople, they ask Jesus TO LEAVE. They begged him to leave.I hope we can do better.  Start by subscribing. ;-) https://youtu.be/BGplxJoVHqU

What world-view upheaval would have to happen to ask Jesus to LEAVE?  We'll see that it is about a $1,000,000 for some herdsmen. YOU are worth more than $1,000,000 of pigs.Oh let us not be these people.  Let us invite Him IN not wave Him away. https://youtu.be/Dmhjr60UmOA

Nature is broken, just ask any Tsunami you run into. When spoken to by Jesus, the wind and the waves obey Him.Are we then, as obedient as the wind and the waves? Listen 7 minutes and consider this with me.  Then share if I am right in my https://youtu.be/epcHX-4gEBoconclusion. 

Creation is subject to having storms and thistles and difficulties. In our story today, Jesus REBUKES the wind and the waves.  He corrects it.  It is a little out of whack.It pictures the brokenness of relationship that we too have with God.  He's made a way for the storm to be calmed.  He also makes a way for us to be restored.Join me for 7 minutes to look for the calm AFTER the storm.https://youtu.be/6kluEyKdGxY

Most worth walks have a bit of difficulty. Jesus says today that the path to God and the path with God is going to be difficult.  So then, do not be surprised at the pain points.  Also, do not be discouraged as to the pain points.  There is a cost/benefit analysis ahead. You get a kingdom.  Most importantly, you get a King. Subscribe like follow comment.https://youtu.be/A-48ks1Qe9A

If you lived in Capernaum about 2000 years ago, you could have a real time answer to your wondering of: "I wonder what Jesus is doing today".  Literally, you could go find Him and watch what He's doing.It is a good task to put ourselves on.  His townspeople brought those who could not come by their own power or will.We do the same today in intercession.  Who can you bring to Jesus that will not come or cannot come on their own? Please like, subscribe and follow. https://youtu.be/9bVoy-6lnqs

Let's say Jesus produced a Netflix Special. What is it that Jesus uniquely admires enough to want to share it with the world?We get the answer from His interaction with a soldier. Jesus tells him that he is the #1 example of this characteristic in the whole country! So would it be about money? power? or beauty? Listen 7 minutes to find out who Jesus would feature on His Netflix Special. Subscribe to hear more tomorrow. https://youtu.be/NBwKSlENbCc

Listen to me blab on and on (actually for an extra minute) about Jesus making the FIRST UNITED NATIONS.He starts with a non-Jewish, non-native, gentile Centurion.  He welcomes him to what will grow into a poly-cultural family of God.  The rest of the New Testament opens the doors further to all who have faith, no matter their nationality.It's a great story that I told non-efficiently today. Sorry about that! Subscribe and watch me do a better job tomorrow. https://youtu.be/LknBsPq6RN8

Jesus will rock the ancient world as He welcomes a non-Jew into His Kingdom.  In fact, Jesus praises the centurion for faith that surpasses anyone in the nation of Israel.Come for 7 minutes to meet a man who understands authority, submission, compassion and FAITH.https://youtu.be/9rJI5pESGYg

There is a bigger miracle here than in the healing of the leper.  It is that Jesus touches him.  He grabs hold of him. Jesus lays siege to a leper. It is an aggressive word in the text. IMHO, this is the Lord saying, "I'm here. I see your physical and spiritual disease. I'm here to help."The big question for all us spiritual lepers is: will we let him help us? Will we let Him  grab hold of us?Watch 7 minutes. It is worth it.  You are in trouble.  He can help.https://youtu.be/QlCTJMguR2c 

We all do a pretty good job at loving ourselves. The Lord runs with that idea. He wants us to actually use the love we have for ourselves to set a baseline as to how much love we are to have for those around us.  Self-love can be helpful in quantifying non-self-love. Join me as we remember some of the treasures that make up the Sermon on the mount.  All of them are worth remembering...if you love yourself. ;-)Subscribe on YouTube. Etc. https://youtu.be/WPX-Os4UB5U

You are invited to hear ofyour VALUE to Godthe "direct-ability" of your heartthe courage of being a self-judger rather than an other-judgerwho you really sit in judgment overhow the family of God should be asking of their Father.Thanks for watching.  May this be of particular benefit to you. https://youtu.be/5nIILzlE2Fs

Join me for a run-thru of the essentials of the Lord's Prayer. There is enough truth there for a lifetime, but 7 minutes of attention is a good start.You'll learn:how God wishes to be addressedWhat are His 3 big concernsWhat are Our 3 big concernsWhy we pray a part of "the Lord's Prayer" today that isn't actually in the Lord's Prayer!It is so great to have you here watching and listening. Please Subscribe and like and comment.https://youtu.be/TMzKlsO_jqk

People are liars.  The Sermon on the Mount, words directly from Jesus, ask us to live counter-culturally.  Just speak the truth.Next. What should I do when wronged by an evil person.  Leave room for the wrath of God and the punishment of government.  Meantime, even ask for grace and mercy toward that person.  Why? Because that is the way that God treated the likes of you and me.Finally, when doing some nice thing, leave room for God to sound the trumpet. We get this wrong frequently, so be careful here. Follow, like, subscribe, comment. https://youtu.be/FHCcdiGPEUk

We'll remember two stories today to warn us not to wreck our lives on the twin towers of anger and lust.  We'll listen to Mrs. Potato Head and Rafe, the white-water rafting guide.  They will highlight our lesson from the Sermon on the mount.  Both are worth listening to. Join me for 6 minutes as we glean all we can from these two. https://youtu.be/ZShW3DZmkUc

If I could just remember ONE THING from the sermon on the mount! Well here are three candidates:Mercy: Find somebody who deserves a fistful of JUSTICE and extend a fistful of MERCY instead.  It will change the world.Pure: Being pure is to be unencumbered and READY FOR SERVICE. Gear up. Let's go!Peacemaking: Ironically, our peace with God is made in the most violent of ways: the Cross. There should be a PEACE DIVIDEND that is seen and demonstrable in your life so you can give voice, and legs to the Peace youhave within you.Mercy. Purity. Peace. Pick one. Then Follow on YouTube by subscribing.https://youtu.be/nsrLlueYJ5I

The Sermon on the Mount merits a bit of a review; a 'best of".  Right off the bat it calls us to a beautiful life. It wants us to be living our best life in light of the words of Jesus in the beatitudes. It asks us to be BENT. Meek. Grieved with our sin and relational breach. It is not exactly an advertisement for a spiritual poverty.Yet, this is the pathway to making things right with God.  Listen as we pick all the low hanging fruit from the first half of the beatitudes.  We're doing this for you.  https://youtu.be/QDahteYg28U

At the end of Jesus' famous Sermon on the Mount, they were "astonished." That is, they were knocked a bit off-balance by all of this.  It is not a bad place to start.  However, just being off-kilter is a bad way to end.  There are some cautions in this epic sermon. Don't be that guy who has a great fall. Don't stop at marveling. Believe. Thank you for walking this with me.https://youtu.be/0JWbOA3YelY