Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder

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

We are to "build our Christian houses" on the "rock".  What is the rock you may reasonably ask.  Here, it means the rock of OBEDIENCE.         Obedience is the rock that the wise man builds upon. There is more to Christianity than the hearing of His words, there is the doing. Join me as we solidify our foundation.https://youtu.be/aaIbQFtiOp4

Join me to hear some of the worst words that will ever be spoken by God: "I never knew you."Oh, dear podcast watcher, don't let this be said to you!  You have everything to say about this. To hear those words isn't a death-sentence.  It is worse than that. It is a sentence of separation.Of all the things in your life, don't get this wrong. Upon the reality of your current relationship with God falls an eternal location and an eternal relationship. https://youtu.be/NrT2thbxxZI

Wolves do wolfy things.  This is how they are eventually recognized as wolves.In this way, we are to be "fruit-inspectors." By watching the "fruits" of the character and characteristics of wolves, they are identified and protected against.  watch 7 minutes as we look for these wolf clues.https://youtu.be/_4RrQzZxLZQ

You may have heard it said, "All roads lead to heaven." If so, run run run. Run from the person, and run from the notion.Watch 6 minutes to hear the warning about what the road is really like. Hear about where the majority of the roads end up. Today is about a call to clarity and a call to hopefulness.  Just be on the right road...If you'd like another step on the right road, subscribe and follow: https://youtu.be/6fVYJumJ_ik

Everybody wants to be treated well. That desire serves as the foundation, along with love, of the "Golden Rule". You know it: do unto others as you'd have them do to you.There might be a skooch of work to be done as we "measure" our motivations, our thoughts and ultimately our ACTIONS by this wonderful ruler. Join me to think about it. https://youtu.be/ZLQd1Ixw87I

When you play hide and seek with a 3 year old, the main point isn't to HIDE. The joy of the game is in the FINDING. Similarly the Lord wants to be found as we are asked to : ASK, SEEK, and KNOCK.Join me for 7 minutes as we enjoy the God who wants to be found.https://youtu.be/MzCZM3bgU4o

Oh that we could all be so spiritually sensitive as to cry out "Oh, I've got something in my eye! Can you help me?"The ridiculous picture is this: There are some with a TIMBER in their eye, yet they have no real awareness of it.  Join me for a 7 minute wonder about who should  I sit in judgment over? I'd be interested in your thoughts as you watch.https://youtu.be/_UpX_ld8SRE

For non-believers, this is the most popular verse quoted from the Bible..."Don't judge me.  I want to do what I want to do." In other words, I'm going to (try to) act as my own judge.It's a bit more complicated than that. We've already failed at not judging.  So now what. Listen for a few minutes to hear of a friend that understands MERCY, and then is able to gift it to the World. Please subscribe and follow and comment. Have some mercy. https://youtu.be/euppDRkLXFs

We know the value of something by what is exchanged in place of it. Note to self: God gave something of the highest value for me.Meantime, should I be focusing my attention on the little stuff or the big stuff? Watch for 6 minutes to find out how valuable you really are and what would be best to be majoring on in our own little acres of life. https://youtu.be/0UjiUV9Tv68

Finally! A Podcast about money! We'll invest 6 minutes to think about how our treasure (money) serves as a marker for what we treasure with our heart.We'll find that to have a heavenly heart, one best start by having a heavenly hand. That is, if you want a treasure in heaven when you get there, demonstrate such a desire now by what you do with your finances here. The answer is YES, I can have treasures in heaven. Like subscribe after you watch. https://youtu.be/be8ZOcCD5XQ

You might remember the classic face of Weary Willie the clown. He performed for decades with Ringling Brothers Circus.  He's a great example of what not to do with our faces as we fast and pray.We are not to put ash on our FACE where people can see it.We are to put "ash" on our HEART, where the secret eyes of God can see it.Follow. Subscribe. Like. Help a poor clown out. https://youtu.be/4HxIjVGQSmE

When we pray the Lord's Prayer, we pray a line that is NOT in Matthew chapter 6. The rest of the Our Father is a direct quote from Jesus' lips. So where does the line: "For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, for ever and ever" come from? It is a great story.Join me for 7 minutes to find out what a Polysyndeton is!https://youtu.be/cA7RRcBibmY

Is it possible that I can play a hand in "delivering from evil?" Well, if you believe the words of Jesus,  the answer is YES.  He asks US to pray for US. Specifically ..."but deliver us from evil". Perhaps you know those who have been delivered. The call today is to identify individuals who most need the rescue from the Lord. Then, intercede for them by begging the Lord for help. Yes, we can indeed help others be delivered from evil.  Follow me. Let's help each other. https://youtu.be/psUFeQuG4dE

In the Lord's Prayer, we are reminded to pray:Matt 6:13  "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."Why do we pray? Because what is required is beyond our abilities.Why do we act? Because what is required is the full force of our abilities.Join me for 7 minutes to see what God asks us to do regarding evil. Join me for 7 minutes to see what God does for us in regards to evil.https://youtu.be/IRiNs6jMadI

Forgiveness is an act and exercise of FAITH, in the future justice of God.  The forgiveness that you require is paved on the reps of the forgiveness that you have demonstrated. Demonstrate first that you are ready for it.You must Pry your fingers off offenses against you. Why? So that other humans and God can pry their fingers off of the offenses you commit. Our charge today is to go live with a heart that is already bent to forgive. Like comment and share. https://youtu.be/2MWmjvfD434  

3 year olds are some of my favorite people. They come to the truths of this podcast honestly: they frequently wrong each other. But, they also quickly ask and extend forgiveness.  If only the adults in the room did equally as well.Forgiving and being forgiven is the greatest of life-skills. If there is another, please let me know what it is.  It is so important it occupies a huge chunk, of the very short Lord's Prayer.If you asked around, would forgiveness characterize your life?  If not, start with these 7 minutes. Then, forgive as well as a 3 year old.Hit the follow, like, or subscribe button. https://youtu.be/_7k9_BTOAWE

This is a spiritual podcast that is launched into the reality of the daily struggles of provision that each of us face.We have real needs in real time. "Give us this day, our daily bread."That is: give me the bread sufficient for the day so I can be sufficient to the day.https://youtu.be/3V2XbBsBGHQ

The Lord asks us to take an interest in what interests Him, namely: The holiness of His name, the coming of His Kingdom, and the accomplishment of His will.Of interest, He asks us to care about the things He cares about.To pray for these things is music to His ears.Let's let the priorities of God's name (reputation), God's kingdom (real estate) and God's will(rule) infiltrate your prayersSubscribe. Like. Admire and share. ;-) https://youtu.be/WQTzpGT3Q5w

How might I start to pray? Fortunately, Jesus Himself gives us a roadmap to follow to the Father.  Get ready for the best teaching on prayer in the whole Bible. The good Lord invites us into communication with Himself.  He reminds us who He is. He has both the familiarity of family, and the holiness of heaven.We come to Him in our prayer closets, but we are not alone there. The whole world is also speaking the same prayers to the same God. Welcome to the Lord's Prayer.Start like this: Our Fatherhttps://youtu.be/JafA8VGj-TQ

We have a not-so-secret invitation to reach out to the sometimes-frustratingly-secret God. At least to start, He asks us to approach Him with the right heart: reverential, respectful and yes, secret. He says to go into your room and shut the door first. Stand before Him undistractedly. But wait there's more: He will also ask us to take this right attitude, and bring it together with others who also have the right attitude. This leads into the "OUR" Father prayer, AKA the Lord's Prayer. Join me for one extra minute today to think about this together. Thanks.https://youtu.be/VHrjEtNl6y4

What would happen if you were invited into a conversation with God Himself? What if you knew you would be seen, known, and truly understood in it?Join me for just 6 minutes to be summoned to a secret chat room with God the Father. He has made the invitation. He has made the pathway. Will you RSVP yes? He'd love to hear from you today. https://youtu.be/DDTb88WAT6A

We can even ruin generosity by congratulating your right hand of giving with your left hand of pride.We must be careful, because thinking of ourselves too highly, is maybe just ½ a step away from thinking about God too lowly.Don't ruin generosity by what can happen when your personal pr department starts tooting its own trumpet.Listen 6 ½ minutes to get this right. https://youtu.be/B6EcjlIBFuE

We live in the world of Trumpeting. That is, we live around a people "Blowing their own horn". Unfortunately for us, we are one  of those people. Watch for 6 ½ minutes as we hear what the good Lord would have for us when we leave the trumpeting to Him. https://youtu.be/ovyj1LGW-pY

The Bible says the strangest things.  You must be PERFECT. This will merit about 6 ½ minutes of our consideration.  There is a goal of maturity and completeness to shoot for.  There is a purpose behind the "perfection".Christians are called to a high standard because: People are gonna notice.https://youtu.be/-Z5lStArnJQ

What might compel me to not act like Clint Eastwood in practically every justice/revenge movie he's ever done? Maybe there is another hero I should be following.Join me as we look at who exactly I should be extending grace to. Also, we'll examine the why of the motivation. Without it, not a bit of this will make sense. Thank you for being here for 6.5 minutes with my dog Asa.https://youtu.be/tak_EzfCq-E

When evil comes, should I respond with "an eye for an eye?" Perhaps the justice system has a societal job, and I have a personal job. Perhaps I should give this some thought. If an "eye for an eye" is given personally, doesn't this leave everybody blind metaphorically?  Do not let evil overcome you by you becoming evil.When you encounter evil against you: throw goodness at itLeave room for wrath. Not yours, but God's. Trust Him that He's got this.https://youtu.be/Pr7Mxc_-SRw

Why do we sometimes attach oaths to our words? Why might we be tempted to add an oath, for example, "I swear on the grave of my mother?" Why would something I say, merit the calling upon the support of the burial plot of someone dear to me? This is such a strange thing: that adding an OATH somehow increases the likelihood of a statement being TRUE. The fact that there are oaths at all tells us one thing: that often, our words aren't true. Join me for 6 minutes to see what Jesus has to say about it. https://youtu.be/VR3iVyroWw0

The Bible has some things to say about the marriage promise. It also has some things to say about the ending of the marriage promise, that is divorce. Jesus speaks clearly and protectively about marriage in the Sermon on the Mount. There is not a person watching/reading this who has not been touched somehow by divorce. This is a no-shame-podcast. My hope is that it will help you "keep your troth."Join me for 6 minutes as we go to the source https://youtu.be/N-YpRn6CvHY

Sex is serious business. To say that it will characterize and define your life is putting it mildly.  To change your sexual trajectory is likely to be difficult.  Jesus has some things to say about how aggressive to be in rooting out errors in sexual thoughts and sexual behaviors.  Join me in listening and considering. https://youtu.be/Lcik2TrN5VQ

Humans have been attracted to each other since Adam's "Eureka!" exclamation in the garden. So we are not the first generation to try and get it right.Jesus expands adultery to include even lustful thoughts in Sermon on the Mount. Mostly today we'll turn to Proverbs of 3000 years ago to steer us into truth.  Remarkably, it will tell us exactly which breasts to be intoxicated by. It will clarify which "cistern" ;-) to drinking from. Proverbs wants joy for you, if you do this right.  Watch for 6 minutes. subscribe. https://youtu.be/mpACkK8bkg0

You know that moment when you are standing in the parking lot of the outfitter,  just about ready to get in your raft to go white water rafting?         Your crew is assembled. Life jackets are on. Wetsuits are on because it is the spring thaw and the river is high. . Paddles are in hand.Then your guide: Rafe (with the good arms) will  be your guide. He'll instruct you on the commands you need not to die on your day.  He'll instruct you on how to have appropriate fun without suffering the occasional fatal consequences of the river.Such is our passage from the good book today.  Please watch. Like, subscribe and survive: https://youtu.be/Pf-BE2RqwwI

In Toy Story, Woody is in trouble. Before the other toys embark on their rescue mission, Mrs. Potato Head packs Mr. Potato Head's bag.  "I'm packing you an extra pair of shoes and your ANGRY EYES, just in case" .Should we welding our ANGRY EYES upon our relationships?Listen 7 minute to find out if we should also be packing our ANGRY EYES!Share. Retweet. Like. Subscribe. Just don't be angry about it. https://youtu.be/1yNbNJ4agzE

God takes anger seriously.  Deathly seriously.Anger=Murder as a rule in our human interactions. There just isn't much daylight between the intent of the two. Our Scripture passage is a call to immediately go and fix this breach before someone is harmed: YOU! Drop everything and make this right. If you have been angry, you probably have been murderously sinful.  Take these 7 minutes as seriously as if your life depended upon it. https://youtu.be/1mmR3x4eeFs

All the good stuff in the Bible serves to tell us about how we make it into heaven.  We're tempted to think we can earn our way in. The good book will shut our mouths and disabuse us of such notions. We'll will never enter heaven by being good.We'll only enter heaven by HIS GOODNESS.Join me for 7 minutes right now to see if you are going to make it. Of course, we'll let Him decide.https://youtu.be/GOm50eCm_IM

Jesus teaches that at least one of the goals of Christianity IS TO BE SEEN. Your salt is to be tasty, your light is for the world. Your city is to be on a hill. Your lamp should be on a stand, not in a basket.The goal is to be seen. Why? For me? Nope. It is for Him. He is the one that is ultimately glorified and worshipped.  Join me for 7 minutes to assess whether your lamp is under a basket. ;-).https://youtu.be/n728z28Acw8

The Beatitudes are a GREAT WAY TO LIVE: bent before God, mourning over sin, working in this world towards peace, being poor in spirit, thirsting for righteousness, & extending a fistful of mercy towards those who deserve a fistful of justiceIn so doing,  you'll get a reward NOW and LATER too: You'll be a son of God, demonstrating His character, receiving mercy yourself, & being spiritually satisfied. You'll be getting a KINGDOM and best of all: The KING.Like. (what's not to like?) Share. Send money.(Just kidding)https://youtu.be/VC6VsfJj3sw