From the monthly archives:

December 2009

Bible Reading 2010

by Lon on December 31, 2009

reading-bible-bluewebWhile you’re thinking through your new years resolutions – why not commit to a daily discipline of immersing yourself in the Scriptures afresh? (Note that simply reading the scriptures isn’t the same as engaging God, but it is a great place to start and discipline to develop as we seek God together).

Besides going through the book of John on this blog, I plan to personally be spending the year in the New Testament for 2010 (I plan on doing a full blend of OT/NT the following year).

http://youversion.com has a fantastic online bible reader of many translations – and they have recently also started reading over 20+ different reading plans you can register and subscribe for depending on what you’re looking for this coming year. It fully integrates with your mobile devices/smartphones as well. Specifically I’ll be going through the “M’Cheyne One Year Reading Plan” – you can follow along with me on or choose your own adventure.

For those less tech savvy – for a number of years I simply used a simple printed chapter-by-chapter checklist to keep myself on track. There are many you can find online, here’s one that I’ve used. Bible Reading Checklist

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John 1:35-42

by Lon on December 31, 2009

Continuing our journey through the Gospel of John

35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples.

36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.

38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”
They said, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?”

39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”
So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.
40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus.41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).

42 And he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).

We tend to think of God by his divine will and timing calling people to himself. However we can see by this passage that it was Simon who had brought Peter to Jesus. What if Simon had decided to ‘follow’ Jesus for himself? What if he was only concerned about his own spirituality and personal growth that he had forgotten about Peter?

The good news is that the good news is too good to keep to ourselves. A primary aspect of following Jesus involves connecting with those who have yet to encounter to Jesus themselves.

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Reflection.e.a.l

by dimshie on December 30, 2009

I was reflecting on the incarnation of our Lord and so I took a look at the book of Matthew. The angel of God said that Jesus is Emmanuel “God with us”. Yes, it is through the incarnation of Christ that God can be with us, among us, connect to us in a way that God can’t because we are such sinful finite beings. That we could connect through our suffering. That humans could touch God. Wow, a hug from Jesus would melt me. (To be continued..on Sunday)

On the other hand, I am also wondering about how Joseph connected with Jesus. I can totally understand how Mary could because Jesus was physically in her for 9 months. And their connection deepens even after she gives birth to him. Mary connected with Jesus as if he was her son. Perhaps she became aware of Jesus as Christ when he began his ministry. But how did Joseph connect with Jesus? What was their connection? How did he feel when Jesus was born?…

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John 1:29-34

by Lon on December 27, 2009

Continuing our journey through the Gospel of John

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’

31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”
32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.33 I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’

34 I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.”

When an Israelite heard the word lamb… images of sacrifice and slaughter come to mind.  What is John saying when he looks to Jesus and calls him the Lamb of God?

For the Lamb of God also to be the Son of God is a radically profound idea.  God’s are typically to be offered sacrifices, not to do the offering themselves.  It was as unbelievable back then as it is now.

And if we’re followers of Christ, and children of God… where does that leave us?

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Advent Conspiracy

by Lon on December 23, 2009

This was the advent conspiracy promotional video from last year, but still one of the most effective I think.

Also check out http://www.rethinkingchristmas.com/ for more.

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More than just numbers

by pomankwan on December 21, 2009

I was totally impressed by the commitment of Mosaic people in celebrating the incarnation of Christ through serving the needy this year. Just for the community services at Resthaven and Tendercare, we had more than sixteen brothers and sisters participated which representing more than 30% of the congregation. With the grace of God, there were also brothers and sisters from other church to join in this meaningful celebration. I am so thankful for the transformative power of God. Let’s carry on His mission and make a difference in this world.

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If you needed another reason to end poverty

by Lon on December 21, 2009

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John 1:19-28

by Lon on December 21, 2009

Continuing our journey through the Gospel of John

19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was.

20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Christ.”

21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”
He said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No.”

22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ ”
24 Now some Pharisees who had been sent

25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
26 “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know.

27 He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Who or what do people see when they see you? Do they mistake you for Christ?

It’s intriguing the way John did not allow himself to simply be categorized and instead when pressed chose to describe himself through a quote from Isaiah – ‘a voice of one calling in the desert’. What do you think he might mean by this?

Baptisms are not technically mentioned in the scriptures before this time, however it can be tied back to Jewish purification rites. Why of all the many rituals to draw from did John the Baptist choose baptizing with water?

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