Take Me To The Other Side

-Mark 4:35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.

1. Jesus goes to the other side.

-The west side of the Sea of Galilee was the Jewish side, Nazareth, Cana, Capernaum.

-The east side Of the Sea of Galilee was the 10 cities of the Gentiles.

-THEY lived on the other side

-Jesus had heard the scream of one of these Gentiles that lived on the OTHER SIDE.  A man that had his many demons, lived in a funeral home next to a pig farm.

2. Consider the Jewish perspective of this man.

-He was the ultimate outcast.
-You couldn’t get more unkosher than this man.
-He is a gentile.
-Demon possessed.
-Lives among the dead, corpses.
-Lives among pigs, are you kidding me.
-He only lived 7 miles from Capernaum, the Town where Jesus based his ministry,  but it might as well been 7 million miles away.


3. Stay on your own side.

-We have a side they have a side.
-Don’t cross over, a traitor if you do.
-I am grieved by our "us verses them" war we fight.
-Which side our you own?
-You must pick a side, be ready to fight those who are on that side.
-That side looks at the world different than we do on this side.
-They don't like us on that side.  And that is true.
-After Jesus helped the man the town people told Jesus, "Go back to your own side."

4. Other side means, "to pierce through."

-Not easy to go the other side.
-Not comfortable on the other side.
-The other side is different.
-THEY dress different, think different, vote different, speak different, believe different on the other side.
-You must pierce through public opinion, your own side's fear, hate, and on and on.
-Jesus goes to the other side to break down dividing walls.
-He is our peace, he has broken down every wall.
-There was a man screaming out for help on the other side.
-There has to be a better way than these wars we are fighting.
-The better way is the Jesus Way.
-The Jesus Way pierces through to the other side.

From Mark My Words Part 5

Communion on the Moon

Communion on the Moon: July 20th, 1969

Forty years ago today two human beings changed history by walking on the surface of the moon. But what happened before Buzz Aldrin (pictured in the LM, left) and Neil Armstrong exited the Lunar Module is perhaps even more amazing, if only because so few people know about it.


I'm talking about the fact that Buzz Aldrin took communion on the surface of the moon. Some months after his return, he wrote about it in Guideposts magazine. And a few years ago I had the privilege of meeting him myself. I asked him about it and he confirmed the story to me, and I wrote about in my book Everything You Always Wanted to Know About God (But Were Afraid to Ask).

The background to the story is that Aldrin was an elder at his Presbyterian Church in Texas during this period in his life, and knowing that he would soon be doing something unprecedented in human history, he felt he should mark the occasion somehow, and he asked his pastor to help him. And so the pastor consecrated a communion wafer and a small vial of communion wine. And Buzz Aldrin took them with him out of the Earth's orbit and on to the surface of the moon.

He and Armstrong had only been on the lunar surface for a few minutes when Aldrin made the following public statement: "This is the LM pilot. I'd like to take this opportunity to ask every person listening in, whoever and wherever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the past few hours and to give thanks in his or her own way." He then ended radio communication and there, on the silent surface of the moon, 250,000 miles from home, he read a verse from the Gospel of John, and he took communion. Here is his own account of what happened:

"In the radio blackout, I opened the little plastic packages which contained the bread and the wine. I poured the wine into the chalice our church had given me. In the one-sixth gravity of the moon, the wine slowly curled and gracefully came up the side of the cup. Then I read the Scripture, 'I am the vine, you are the branches. Whosoever abides in me will bring forth much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing.'

I had intended to read my communion passage back to earth, but at the last minute [they] had requested that I not do this. NASA was already embroiled in a legal battle with Madelyn Murray O'Hare [sic], the celebrated opponent of religion, over the Apollo 8 crew reading from Genesis while orbiting the moon at Christmas. I agreed reluctantly. I ate the tiny Host and swallowed the wine. I gave thanks for the intelligence and spirit that had brought two young pilots to the Sea of Tranquility . It was interesting for me to think: the very first liquid ever poured on the moon, and the very first food eaten there, were the communion elements."

And of course, it's interesting to think that some of the first words spoken on the moon were the words of Jesus Christ, who made the Earth and the moon — and Who, in the immortal words of Dante, is Himself the "Love that moves the Sun and other stars." 

Article From snopes.com

Scared Of Storms

-A storm that could scare professional fishermen rocked the Son of God to sleep. Mark 4:35-41

-That cold front from Mt Hermon hitting that warm front from the Sea of Galilee made quit a squall.  An impressive thunderstorm.

-Living in the south we would say, "It is coming up a cloud."  That meant you better get your clothes off the line quick.

-Professional sailors, Peter, James and John, were scared to death.  They knew they had no control over that storm and thought Jesus didn’t.

-Before the storm, I sense have control. I got this, I have sailed before.  But when the storm hits I realize I really never had that much control. 

-Jesus was asleep, why?  He knew the strength and love of his Father.

-Psalms 62:11-12 One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, ¹²and that you, O Lord, are loving.

-Jesus knew that He and The Father were strong and loving.  The storm was never beyond God's power.  And just because Jesus was in the storm did not mean God didn't care.

-Storms will make you doubt that God is strong and loving.  If he was strong he would have stopped the storm.  If he loved me he would never let me go through the storm.  

-The South goes crazy over snowstorms.  We buy the grocery store out of milk and bread at the hint of a half an inch of snow. The North goes crazy over rainstorms.  We hide in our basments, cancel school, and the news follows rain clouds all across West Michigan for 2 hours interrupting whatever was on television with reports of rain.

-We all have a storm we panic over.

-But Jesus is never panicked.  He whispers to us how much he loves us no matter the storm we are facing.  He is stronger than any storm we go through.

-One day, at just the right time, he will awaken and command the storm,  "Be Quiet, Be Still!"  And the storm like an unruly 3 year old will have to obey and be a complaint child.    

Living Hope's Verse Of The Week- Matthew 5:38-39

Matthew 5:38-39 You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ ³⁹ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 

Living Hope's Prayer Of The Week

Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Delight In The Lord Song Of The Week- Live Like That

-I like Sidewalk Prophets when you get rid of all the marketing stuff.  When It is just them and their musical instruments.

-They can be unique.

-That's why I chose the live acoustic version of this song.

Batman Theater Shooting

-This theater shooting has grieved me. I or any number of people that I know could have been at that movie.

-The shooter was studying to be a doctor. He looks like a normal guy.  He looks like me or one of my friends.  He doesn't look evil.  But maybe the human heart is evil.

-Psalms 64 

¹ Hear me, my God, as I voice my complaint;
    protect my life from the threat of the enemy.

² Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked,
    from the plots of evildoers.
³ They sharpen their tongues like swords
    and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.
⁴ They shoot from ambush at the innocent;
    they shoot suddenly, without fear.

⁵ They encourage each other in evil plans,
    they talk about hiding their snares;
    they say, “Who will see it^[b]?”
⁶ They plot injustice and say,
    “We have devised a perfect plan!”
    Surely the human mind and heart are cunning.

-Is there any answer to this? Yes, a three step process.

    1. Matthew 5: 4  Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 

-Mourn for the injured, the dead, and their families.  Mourn for this guys corrupt soul and a nation where these events seem common.

    

    2. Matthew 5: 6  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

-We desire that our country would be right.  A place where senseless violence is condemned in our homes,  schools, entertainment, and our organizations.  That this person will receive the justice from the law his actions deserve.  Ask the questions, what causes this type of violence?  Seek real answers.Don't bury ourselves in our opinions and refuse to hear all reasons.   And we repent as a nation that these events occur at all.   

    

    3. Matthew 5: 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 

-This may be the hardest one.  Because I don't want to show mercy to this man.  My guess is this guy has a mother and a father who are shocked beyond reason today.  So God I pray for mercy.  Be merciful to every victim of this crime.  Have mercy on this man's soul.

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4 Ways To Have Life

The most relaxing and recreating forces are a healthy religious attitude, good sleep, music and laughter. Have faith in God, learn to sleep well, love good music and see the funny side of life.

1. Know the real Jesus.  Do not recreate him in your image.  Know him and keep doing everything in your power to pursue him.

2. Go to bed. Sleep.  Sleep.  Sleep.

3. Play a really good song and play it LOUD!  Make sure it is good. 

4.  LOL, laugh out loud.  Read this cartoon over and over until you laugh.

Living Hope's Prayer Of The Week

 

Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Living Hope's Verse Of The Week

Matthew 5:36-37
³⁶ And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. ³⁷ Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. 

Friday Favorites

1. I went swimming with my daughter in the neighbor's pool.  It has been so hot.  She is getting a lot more sure of herself as a swimmer.  It is fun to watch.

2. Our library had a program where  kids read to a dog.  It was really fun.  I want a dog bad.

3. Quote of the week, "Never laugh at your wife's choices; you are one of them."  I got more comments and likes about this than anything I have ever said on facebook.  I am not quit sure why it registered with so many people.  Or maybe I do know.

4. I added the book, How To Stop Worrying and Start Living, to my morning devotionals this week.  It is full of scripture and wisdom.  I recommend it to everyone.  I have read the book before but now I am going through it slowly each morning.

5. Tuesday night we went out for ice cream.  That was one of my favorite things with my wife this week.  Great way to beat the heat.  There is something special about going out for ice cream.  Something spiritual.

6. We are getting in the home stretch for "Our Father's Hand."  We had a lot of donations come in this week, thank you to everyone.  I also got a phone call from one Living Hope lady who is desperately trying to reach here neighbors through this ministry.  Please keep on the lookout for people we can help. Please pray for this ministry.

7. What was one of your favorite things from this past week?

New Life

1.'Every day is a new life to a wise man.'"

2. Life is in the living.

3. Gather ye rosebuds while ye may.

4. Today is the day of salvation.

One Day At A Time

1. I can only get one grain of sand through the hourglass at a time.

2. A famous rabbi, on a rocky hill,  told a crowd of people who gathered to hear him speak who were worried they could not make ends meet, "Have no anxiety about tomorrow."

3. I can only eat today's bread, and that's all I should ask for.  Day old bread becomes stale and tomorrow's bread is not made yet and may never be needed.  But if it is needed I will get it the same way I got today's bread, because by then it will be my daily bread.

4. Lead, kindly Light, amid th’encircling gloom, lead Thou me on! The night is dark, and I am far from home; lead Thou me on! Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see The distant scene; one step enough for me.

5. I have enough work, love, patience, concern, etc for this day alone. And that is all I need.

Delight In The Lord Song Of The Week- Bless The Lord Oh My Soul

R.I.P. Andy Griffith

R.I.P. Angy Griffith

Tahquamenon Upper Falls

Psalms 93:4  Mightier than the thunders of many waters,  mightier than the waves of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty!

-The thought of God being mightier than many waters came to my mind as I overlooked the Tahquamenon Upper Falls