Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder

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

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