So I found this awesome new Web application called Jott. It allows me to narrate my thoughts and have them posted on the blog. It’s really, really, really cool. It works with Twitter, Google Calendar, Remember the Milk and I’m still working on ways to make it work even better but I think it’s a fantastic way to increase my productivity and allow me to accomplish more things. It’s awesome. listen
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Commentary on Matthew 9.
That’s such a lame cliche. Anyway… something really stuck out to me in this passage. It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. That’s very true, unless you’re Mike Huckabee. But I won’t get into preventative healthcare. The point is that I feel sometimes we spend too much time with eachother. We hang out in our groups, be it small group, sunday morning, SI, whatever, and we’re perfectly comfortable talking about God. And that’s wonderful. It’s very important for us to continually grow in our faith. The problem is that we, or I at least, have trouble converting that fervor into something I can use around nonbelievers. I spend so much time with the healthy that I don’t mess around with the sick. There’s something wrong with that. That’s actually one of my biggest concerns about college. I think I need to branch out of my comfort zone a little. Talk about God with the ones who really, really need him. It’s a call to arms.
What is with these stupid thoughts in my mind? As I go through my daily readings… stupid things keep popping up. Distrustful, unfaithful things. A part of me, like Karma in Himalaya, wants to think that religion is old-fashioned. But I know that’s wrong. Gah. But I can’t seem to stop these thoughts. As I read the section in Matthew about Jesus healing a paralytic, my mind right off jumped to (in a less clear fashion) ‘there must be some kind of trick, coincidence, or medical explanation.’ Why? I believe in Jesus, I have my whole life. I develop complicated arguments to use at the lunch table but they don’t work on myself. And right after I read the you of little faith verse. Why am I so unbelieving, so quick to jump against the defining characteristic of my life. What am I doing wrong? What changes need to be made to my life? God, help me to not feel this way anymore. Even as I type this, my mind flirts on the border of disbelief. Help me, God, cause I’m no good at this, obviously, on my own. Please, I want to believe.
Commentary on Matthew 6 and Romans 4.
That’s a nice word. Faith. To trust in something completely. I have faith that when I sit on a chair, it will support me. Pretty simple. The Bible calls us to have faith in God. Seems more powerful than furniture. But yet, this is the hard part. The Matthew section talks about how we constantly worry about things – perhaps we in our everyday lives don’t worry about food and water, but what about clothes? That hits closer to home. What about other things. Acceptance, security, belonging. Has God not provided this for us? But why do we not trust him. Abraham trusted God completely. Even though God’s promise was not fulfilled during his lifetime, he still trusted that God would be true to his word. Why do we have so much trouble with that? We should trust God for everything.
Commentary on Matthew 5.
If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
That’s rough. But it’s so powerful. There are things in all of our lives that cause us to sin. Friends, the internet, the television, whatever. Would it not be better to cut out those things? It’s a basic concept, but it’s difficult. If that friend is causing us to sin, should we really be spending that much time with him?
Commentary on Matthew 5 and Romans 3.
So much goodness in this section, I can’t think of a unifying theme. I’ll just talk about everything.
The Beatitudes. What to do. This is where the Bible lists the heroes. But they are not the heroes we’d think of, who are strong, fast, intelligent, persuasive, or have laser eyes. No, these are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted. Strange how not one of those agrees with our spirited, happy, strong, evil, self-centered, sexual, warring, bandwagon society. But these, who society distastes, will inherit the kingdom of Heaven. Pretty sweet. It’s good to go against the norm. Cause God is against the norm. Great is your reward in Heaven. We’re a Light. Let’s show others the way.
Oh snap! All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Well that sucks. But ya’ know what? There’s a loophole. A way around the suckyness of an eternity in hell. That’s why Jesus is here. We all know that, but I know that I often take it for granted. He saved my life. I should be eternally greatful.
Commentary on Matthew4 and Romans 3.
That’s such a great term, Screwed Up. Something is so wrong that it’s convoluted and twisted so much that it doesn’t work. It also works great when you manage a Screw Attack kill in SSBM. Anyway, that’s they way our lives are. That’s some pretty harsh language Paul uses in Romans. There is no one who does good, not even one. Thier throats are open graves, their tongues practice deceit, the poison of vipers is on their lips.” Ouch. That’s not talking about the bad guys. That’s us. That’s me. That’s everybody. We define Screwed Up.
But Jesus’ answer is so clear in the Matthew passage. Repent, for the kingdom of God is near. Simple. We’re messed up. Horribly terribly convoluted. But we need to repent. Tell God our wrongdoings, ask for forgivness… and we get it. That’s awesome.
So what to take away. I’m not good I’m not righteous. No matter how many good things I think I do, I’m Screwed Up. I can’t get arrogant about my supposed right-doings. I simply have to repent for my wrongdoings, which are more numerous than I realize.
Commentary on Matthew 4 and Romans 3.
Jesus was tempted unlike any of us have ever been tempted before, and he made it. None of us have ever fasted for 40 days, and none of us have been offered to be leader of the world, or at least I would hope not. That’s pretty big temptation. A lot bigger than a quick laugh or a bit of pleasure, I’d think. But Jesus, who was 100% man, managed to overcome it. That’s pretty awesome. That gives hope that when we encounter temptations, of a lesser but still formidable nature, that would be able to overcome them and do what God wants us to.
The Romans verse points out, among other things, some lame excuses for not obeying God’s law. It points out our nature to do evil that is oh-so-evident in our world today. Comments like “God just wants us to be happy” come to mind. So we’re all screwed up. Luckily, in this depressing passage is a message of hope, a Pandora’s box of sorts. Yup, though we break the law, Jesus is here to give us hope. He’s saved us, propitiated us (word wall!), now we have the ability to live forever. Pretty awesome.
Commentary for Matthew 1 and Romans 1.
…I want this faith in me to grow, I’m not ashamed to speak the name of Jesus Christ. – Newsboys
The Magi came to Jesus, who they knew to be the king, to worship him and give him gifts. They knew they couldn’t get anything in return – the king was a baby and the parents were poor. They simply wanted to worship their savior. Why is that so hard for me? To worship for the sake of worship, out of love and thankfulness. I’m good about morality and adoration… but worship and giving are my two biggest fault areas. Definitely something that needs to be worked on.
Furthermore, we are told by Paul not to be ashamed. Worship not only in church with everyone, or in the comfort of your own home… but everywhere? So that others may see you? That’s hard, because I always think people like that are being holier-than-thou. I should never be embarrassed about the facts I define my life around. Any friends who think less of me because of it aren’t really my friends.
So worship, and don’t be ashamed of it. Simple to think of, harder to put into action.
Commentary on Matthew 1 and Romans 1.
Jesus was born of a girl. Her name was Mary. She wasn’t really anything special. Sure, she was a good Christian, a virgin, but she wasn’t perfect. She was a teen, just like the proverbial you and me. But God used her. Amazingly. God’s use for her shaped the next 2000+ years! And she was just a girl. We could do that! God can use us, he will use us. I just have to keep my mind open. Please though, if you spontaneously conceive, get it checked out.
The second passage shares the same idea. Paul wanted to go to Rome, so he could hang with the Romans and witness to them. How did he end up getting there? By going to prison. That’s a position few would see as a positive (unless you’re playing endgame Monopoly). But he made the best of it, and you know what? He got to Rome safely and was able to hang with and witness to the Romans. Pretty cool. Perhaps we may think God doesn’t know exactly what he’s doing… but he’s a tad bit smarter than we are. Perhaps I should trust him a bit.
I can do great things in strange ways. Haha, the future is so unpredictable.
Commentary on Matthew 1 and Romans 1
Matthew mentioned 46 people in the first few verses of his chapter, beginning with Adam and leading up to Jesus. Some of these people were biblical heroes… others were less heroic, even evil. But God used them in miraculous ways. We’re all a part of God’s plan. No matter how insignificant we feel at times. Why am I using We? No matter how insignificant I feel at times. I’ve got a purpose. I’m here for a reason. That’s pretty cool.
Romans tells the same thing! –, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God…. We received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. I didn’t put Paul’s name in for a reason. Cause I could put my own name in there. I’ve been called. Called to do what? To be an apostle. What’s that? To call other people to faith. Bam. Day one – you’re special, go out and share the good news. It’s not as hard as it seems.
It was a beautiful letdown
When I crashed and burned
When I found myself alone
Unknown and hurt
It was a beautiful letdown
The day I knew
That all the riches this world had to offer me
Would never do
In a world full of bitter pain
And bitter doubts
I was trying so hard to fit in
Fit in, until I found out
I don’t belong here (I don’t belong)
I don’t belong here (I don’t belong)
I will carry a cross and a song
Where I don’t belong
I don’t belong
It was a beautiful letdown
When You found me here
Yeah, for once in a rare blue moon
I see everything clear
I’ll be a beautiful letdown
That’s what I’ll forever be
And though it may cost my soul
I’ll sing for free
We’re still chasing our tails
In the rising sun
In our dark water planet still spinning
In a direction no one wins
No one’s won.
See, I don’t belong here (I don’t belong)
Well, I don’t belong here, I don’t belong
I will carry a cross
With a song where I don’t belong
I don’t belong
I don’t belong here (I don’t belong)
No, I don’t belong here, I don’t belong
I’m gonna set side
And set sail
For the kingdom come, kingdom come
Your kingdom come
Won’t you let me down, yeah
Let my foolish pride forever let me down
Ah, Easy living, you’re not much like the name
Easy dying, you look just about the same
Would you please take me off your list
Easy living please c’mon and let me down
We are a beautiful letdown
Painfully uncool
The church of the dropouts
The losers, the sinners, the failures, and the fools
What a beautiful letdown
Are we salt in the wound
Hey, let us sing one true tune
I don’t belong here (I don’t belong)
It feels like I don’t belong here, yeah
It goes like I don’t belong here
I don’t belong (I don’t belong)
Won’t you let me down (I don’t belong)
C’mon and let me down (I don’t belong)
You always let me down (I don’t belong)
So glad that I’m let down (I don’t belong)
C’mon and let me down (I don’t belong)
‘Cause I don’t belong here
Won’t you let me down!
And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.
I had the pleasure of going to Fellowship’s House Group tonite, and I really had a great time. We talked a bit about doing quiet time, and the importance of thinking about things after we read them. So I figure I’ve been slacking lately, so even though it’s late I’m going to try to write up a commentary for this passage.
Back in Matthew it says ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ I think that this is a very easy thing to do – to tell God “if you do this, then I’ll do that.” That’s wrong. The Pharisees and Sadducees are a constant example of what we’re not supposed to be doing. These guys are saying ‘do something amazing, then we’ll believe you.’ But they are completely ignoring all the miraculous works that Jesus had been doing for a long time.
It seems ridiculous to us. Jesus had just fed 2 huge groups with a couple loaves of bread. He’s healed hundreds of people. And yet these guys still want him to do something before he believes them.
They didn’t really need a sign to decide on thier position about Jesus. They were simply testing Jesus. Do we ever do that?
It’s tough. I’ve said things before like ‘I’d do this if God just tells me he wants me to do it.’ But is that really the issue? Or has God been telling us all along and we’re just trying to ignore it. One more, God. Give me one more sign that you want me to do this, and I promise I’ll do it.
In fact, I’ve done that with things outside of the Bible too. Yeah, I need to get up, but I’ll wait until the next time my mom tells me. Yes, I should do this essay, but I’m waiting till the last minute.
Why do we always need 1 more assurance? If we know we should be doing something, why do we wait to be told another time? What are we waiting for?
O you of little faith, why did you doubt?
I really gotta get to bed, but I haven’t posted in a long time and I really want to make a very short point.
We’re all doubters. All of us know that Jesus can save us, but all of us doubt and try to take matters into our own hands. That’s wrong. We’re gonna sink.
Solution? Trust. Think about it, I’m not going to write out an explanation.
Noeo Commentary for Matthew 12.
“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”
That’s depressing. We’re doing something wrong, a terrible habit that we can’t seem to break. We think we’ve got a hold on it, but it comes right back at us, 7 times as strong, and we’re forced to our knees again. Psychology calls it spontaneous recovery. It’s a bad thing, and I’m sure we’ve all experienced it. I’m sure it’s happened to most of us with our new years resolutions. Humans suck at breaking habits. We’ve got an entire section of our brains dedicated to doing the same thing over and over again – it’s called procedural memory. It’s good when you’re riding a bike… not so good when you’re trying to stop smoking. To stop doing drugs. To stop stealing or swearing or lusting or disobeying. The desires’ going to come back.
I’ll write about a friend of mine. I’m not going to mention his name or the specific habit he was trying to break. We were talking, and he says, ‘I was doing so good on breaking this habit, but Christmas break really did me in.’
It’s rough. Those kinds activities give us pleasure. They release dopamine and endorphines, they make us want to do it again. The habit left, but when it stopped by during Christmas break and found nobody home, he gladly waltzed back in with his buddies. So what are we going to do about this. I’ll now post the paraphrase of another one of my friends, in response to the last quote…
‘You just gotta keep busy, man. You gotta keep your mind off of it.’
That’s the key. When that habit, that evil spirit, walks back to your house with his friends, you’re place has gotta be packed. Learn from the poker players – go for the full house. Nobody robs you when you’re home.
But what do you fill your house with? Invite over your Christian friends. Tell ‘em to burn you some good music. Do a read-the-bible-in-a-year study. Study for Spanish, do some SAT prep. Go sledding, skating, or skiing. Grab some friends and chase geese. Work. Work out. Play baseball. Play Wii baseball. Make a post in your blog.
The same applies to hunger, to pain, to boredom. If you don’t pay attention to it, you won’t do it. When you’re doing good stuff, you’re not going to be thinking of bad stuff. Keep your mind off it. Keep the house full.
It works.
Today’s Song: Ghostbusters – Ray Parkey Jr. (apparently)
