Acts 18

The Acts 18 passage reminded me of the location from my Journeys of Paul tour that stood out for me the most - the Bema (judgment seat) in Corinth, which was likely the example in Paul's mind as he wrote about the Judgment Seat of Christ in his letter to the Corinthians. 

Here was where Paul was dragged before the proconsul Gallio by his Jewish opposition.  But, God intervened, and Gallio ruled in Paul's favor, without him having to even defend himself (Acts 18:12-16). 

In other areas, God was clearly at work throughout the passage as well:

• God provided support to Paul through Priscilla and Aquila who become his life-long friends, and through Silas and Timothy and the financial support they brought from Macedonia
• Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household became believers in the Lord; and based on 1 Corinth 1:1, so did Sosthenes, the next synagogue leader
• God encouraged Paul through a vision
• God used Priscilla and Aquila to disciple Apollos and explain "to him the way of God more adequately", and who in turn, helped other believers.   Apollos was the one mentioned several times in the later letter to the Corinthians, notably in 1 Corinth 3:6  "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow."

Also, in this passage, we catch a glimpse of a side of Paul that we don't often see.   Based on what God said in the vision, Paul was apparently afraid; and he had good reason to be, based on his past experiences with opposition and attacks in many of the other cities so far.  Even in 1 Corinthians 2:3, Paul said "I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling." And that may be why God chose to encourage him through the vision, bring Priscilla and Aquila in his life to provide a support system, etc.   Another likely indication that Paul was going through a difficult time in Corinth; was that at the end, he completed his vow, probably one of consecration and gratitude to God.

Paul then concludes his Second Missionary Journey and spends some time in Antioch, before starting again on his Third Missionary Journey.

I was discussing with a friend on how we are able to persist despite opposition and times when we are so weary that we want to give up,  and just as we see from Paul's example, when we are sure that we are fulfilling God's calling and that we are doing what He wants us to do, that gives us the persistence and motivation to keep doing it.

Gratitude

"Jesus asked, 'Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?'" (Luke 17:17)

This Sunday's passage was a reminder to have a grateful heart.   The Bible often uses leprosy as a picture of sin in our lives.   Only Christ alone can heal us.

When Jesus healed the leper in the Luke 5 passage, He reached out to touch the untouchable.   In the Luke 17 passage, he traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee - going where other Jews would avoid.   And, the indication that he was on His way to Jerusalem is a reminder that this was His last time going to Jerusalem, right before the crucifixion.  When he told the lepers to go show themselves to the priest, it required faith, for only a healed leper would go to the priest. So, if we want to move mountains, we have to MOVE - faith and works go hand-in-hand. (NOTE:  Leviticus 14 gives six steps of Levitical process to be declared cured of leprosy - and each actually relates to how Jesus cleanses from sin)  

Also, the difference in the way Christ healed in Luke chp 5 versus chp17 displays that God doesn't do the same thing all the time, and can work in different ways- for He knows which way is best for us.  But, the main point of the passage is that we shouldn't only be thankful for the things in our lives or even the good things that happen; but to especially be grateful to the ONE Who gives and does them.

It was interesting that during the sermon, I did ask myself why I sometimes feel like a leper - someone going through a sentence of separation and isolation?   I just have to remember that Jesus' healing touch is the best and is the one to be most valued above all.

Acts 17

As in his first missionary journey, Paul persisted despite persecution. He was made to leave Philippi, and as was his custom, went to the synagogues, in Thessalonica, Berea,and Athens.  But, he again was driven out of Thessalonica and Berea by jealous Jews. Yet, he continued reasoning and teaching wherever he went; and received mixed responses - some who rejected, some who wanted to hear more, and some who became believers.

In Athens, Paul actually got invited to speak at the Areopagus in that great cultural center of the world; where he brilliantly tied in references to things the Athenians were familiar with (e.g. altar TO AN UNKNOWN GOD, Greek poetry,etc) to answer the foundational questions of any worldview - WHO GOD IS and WHO IS MAN. He concluded with calling them to repentance in light of the coming Judgment, with reference to evidence by the Resurrection.

What I see in the apostle Paul, is his passion and persistence for his calling; and his compassion for the lost.  He does not give up in the face of persecution and difficulty.

Weekend - COTNI

It was a fairly full weekend. Aside from taking care of "normal" things, I did have a chance to help out at the food packaging event for the Children of the Nations organization.   We were able to put together 40,000 packages of food, each one able to make 6 meals.  It is good to be able to participate in helping others in need.

On Sunday, an interesting story was told about a discussion that went on in an editorial column.  It was initiated by a person who said he did not see the usefulness of going to church because of all the thousands of sermons he has heard, he does not remember a single one.  However, the discussions all stopped when one person wrote that of all the thousands of meals that his wife cooked for him in all their years of marriage, he does not remember the full menu of a single one.   However, he knows that those meals nourished him, and if he didn't have them he would not be alive.   In the same way, going to church provides spiritual nourishment where we are fed from the Word.

After church, a friend and I went to Pho Bolsa on Brookhurst for our annual Birthday lunch celebration.  The gifts we exchanged showed that we were thinking similarly - she gave me a beautiful cut-out of a basket of flowers that she got from her trip to Solvang; and I gave her Olive Oil soap and towel I got from my trip to Greece.

Chicken Dishes

 I made a couple of chicken dishes last night that turned out fairly well:

• Using the meat mix from the Turkish Spice Bazaar, I made a one-pot chicken and rice stew with browned chicken pieces, onion, and broccolli   (I put in the step earlier and the crown pieces toward the end) with rice
• For the baked marinated chicken dish, I added sherry this time; and it seemed to turn out juicier than usual

Acts 16

Though I've heard it before; but, it just so clearly stood out this time as I was preparing the lesson for this study - It is so amazing that while Paul and Silas had been falsely accused, beaten and severely flogged, thrown into prison without a fair trial, and fastened to stocks; they were still able to pray and sing hymns!  And more than that, all the other prisoners listened.  Then, when an earthquake came, releasing them, they stayed in order to witness to the jailer and his household.

This challenges me to evaluate whether I have that attitude of prayer and praise, whenever I am in the midst of difficult trials?   And, it shows me how God can use those situations to reach others as well, in this case, the other prisoners and the jailer. Despite the difficulties they faced in Macedonia, they were able to start the Philippian church; which grew into one in which Paul writes that he always remembers them with joy.

Standing Firm in Integrity

"Where were you when...?"   This was the question God asked Job in Chp 38.   While Job was focused on his defense that he did not sin; his perspective apparently did not include God's.   For essentially, God was reminding him that He is SOVEREIGN; and that He is the Creator who made all things and knows all things.   And in the face of God's sovereignty, we should surrender and worship.  God's perspective is greater than ours; and who are we to question God?

In Pastor Rory's message, he made some really good points:

• As God asked Satan whether he considered his servant Job, it highlighted that Job was considered blameless and upright.   What would God say about me?  If he had said the same thing, and I was put to the test, I know that there are times that I have failed.
• It is interesting that Satan took away every family member from Job's life, except his wife; and she was the one who told him to curse God and die.   Satan may have known that in time of adversity, she would not be one to help him stand in integrity

The thing that stood out the most for me in Sunday's message was a reminder that Job did keep his integrity in the midst of his trials.  Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego said to King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 3:17-18 "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."  Whether or not God takes away our trials, we should continue to stand in integrity.

This was also what I saw as I watched the 2011 version of "Emma".  Emma stood in her integrity, even at great personal cost to herself.  And at the end, she was able to freely love Mr Rochester, when it was right.

Djokovic - Wimbledon '11

What a special moment it was to watch right after Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal in the Wimbledon finals.   That look of amazed joy on his face was priceless.  He seems like such a nice and likeable person.  And, I wonder what went through his mind as he was crossing himself.

Defeating the No. 1 seed in the world at a venue like Wimbledon.  Moments like these are motivational and inspirational.

Vegas '11

It was so HOT in Vegas this weekend... but, I'm primarily talking about the weather.  It was above 100 degF most of the time, even at night.  

And, it felt like we spent most of our time either in the car driving, eating/looking for places to eat, or just waiting around for one thing or another.  I mainly went in order to spend time with my family; but, overall, with the time it takes to travel and the cost, I really would have preferred another destination.

The most disappointing aspect was to learn that some churches in the area seemed to no longer exist.  We tried several different ones, but ended up not finding any that we could attend on Sunday morning.  There was one that looked okay, but no one was around; and it was passed the service time when we found the other one (Calvary Chapel Las Vegas).

Parts of the weekend, we were also rained upon.   Yet, despite all this, there were some okay moments.  We visited the newer areas on the Strip near Aria - most of it was ultra modern and had a "club" feel.   I actually like the architecture of some of the earlier casinos more - like Caesar's or Venetian.  There was also plenty of shopping, with several outlets near by - although, there wasn't all that much on sale considering it was the 4th of July weekend.