As I said, Peter (and his wife) are very cautious to hide their sins from family and church, in opposite direction taken by John Baptist when baptizing.
A preacher who is struggling with immorality may keep preaching? I have always thought that a preacher immoral behavior would dirty the Word. I asked myself:
- Should I open something to the church? Let us suppose I know someone killed another man. Should I keep silent to the police? In what basis, a christian should denounce a brother's sin to the church? I have been silent, but is it correct?
Perhaps, I must be silent.
I have just read in Proverbs 10:12:
Hatred stirs up conflict,
but love covers over all wrongs.
In Hebrew, "cover" may be "hide". Hatred stirs up conflict in a church but love hides all sins. Hatred shows up all sin and love leads to communion.
Peter sinned against his wife who decided to be silent.
I will live in peace with it.
Let the Lord deal with this problem.
In proverbs 10:18:
Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips
and spreads slander is a fool.
I am quite sure that the couple, Peter and Helen, hides hatred with lying lips and spreads slander against me. Last year, in Sunday School, for instance, Peter didn't attend to the class avoiding my presence saying he had to take care of his health, but as soon as I was relocated to another class this year, he began to teach there. Isn't he concealing hatred with lying lips?
Perhaps, I am lying to myself saying that I want to expose Peter in search for holiness when in fact I want revenge due to Peter and Helen's bad behavior. Anyway, let the Lord be my shield. I won't expose him; Helen should do it, not me.
Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Mummy
Mummy is 84 year's old, with Alzheimer and lack of equilibrium.
She felt on last Thursday and again on Sunday.
I visited her on Saturday, June, 23rd. It appeared to me that she had pain on her left shoulder, but nothing very severe. Anyway, I knew my sister (which is a physician) should look her.
My sister saw Mommy on Monday, taking her to First Aid Care. She had a broken arm and she will need a physiotherapist.
Saturday, I was observing her at her bed. She was sat down, but she couldn't lie nor stand up. She was always smoothing the blanket. I asked her what she would like to do, but she didn't answer. I prayed asking the Lord to take care of her in a loud voice, but she didn't pay attention. Did the Lord?
I must believe so.
I had to preach on the next day, Sunday, about Peter's mother in law cure on Matthew 8. My sermon was on the way that Jesus transformed Peter's house into a micro heaven where diseases and demons were expelled. Let us say it was some kind of triumphalist view: Jesus comes to my life making heaven to me. However, I was looking to my mommy and wondering: where is heaven?
For my mommy, she will be cured from her disease after death in a new body, with a clear brain. I have to write: Why do I believe Jesus will receive Mommy in paradise?
She felt on last Thursday and again on Sunday.
I visited her on Saturday, June, 23rd. It appeared to me that she had pain on her left shoulder, but nothing very severe. Anyway, I knew my sister (which is a physician) should look her.
My sister saw Mommy on Monday, taking her to First Aid Care. She had a broken arm and she will need a physiotherapist.
Saturday, I was observing her at her bed. She was sat down, but she couldn't lie nor stand up. She was always smoothing the blanket. I asked her what she would like to do, but she didn't answer. I prayed asking the Lord to take care of her in a loud voice, but she didn't pay attention. Did the Lord?
I must believe so.
I had to preach on the next day, Sunday, about Peter's mother in law cure on Matthew 8. My sermon was on the way that Jesus transformed Peter's house into a micro heaven where diseases and demons were expelled. Let us say it was some kind of triumphalist view: Jesus comes to my life making heaven to me. However, I was looking to my mommy and wondering: where is heaven?
For my mommy, she will be cured from her disease after death in a new body, with a clear brain. I have to write: Why do I believe Jesus will receive Mommy in paradise?
Monday, June 25, 2018
Feel loved
We are always seeking affection, love, tenderness from others. Diana told me: "I can't see love in your message", "you told what is written in the Bible, but where is love?".
I tried to explain her that love is in someone's head and it is very subjective. I told her:
Sao Paulo traffic is horrible and I only could see hate when going to work or coming back home.
Nowadays, I go by bicycle and pay attention to some blue flowers in the way.
I told to myself:
I will listen the Lord declaring his love to me whenever I see these blue flowers.
I was hoping that they were going to wither and disappear but they not. All long the year, my Lord keeps saying to me: I love you.
What did change? Do people in Sao Paulo stop hating or did I see something I was not paying attention?
She told me that perhaps I am in higher spiritual level. Anyway, the point is:
What is to be loved? Do you have inner capabilities to detect love? Perhaps, your "love sensors" are flawed and the first thing you need is a change of mind.
Yesterday night, at our family gathering, I told to my children this Diana history and also about my sister.
I really think that my sister was dad's favorite child, but despite that, she spent some time, money in psychologists for some traumatic lack of love when child. By opposite, I was the most castigated (hated?) child and today, my father shares his feelings preferentially to me.
I asked my children: what is happening? The problem is not love but some faith in love. I told them:
Please, believe you are loved by me, by your mother and specially by the Lord. If you don't believe you may end like my sister, Diana or worse.
I have just finished the dinner and my older son commented my message. Yesterday, I told that Jesus serve us because he cures as he has cured the Peter's mother in law in Matthew 8:14-17. I asked the congregation: Jesus cured but did he expect to be served? He cured Peter's mother in law but would he expect to be served by her? One old lady answered: "No". I replied with a strong "yes". Jesus expects that everyone who is cured by him, forgave by him, becomes his slave and serves him. My older son told me my direct answer was very funny; perhaps so direct that it was almost rude as showing a rude Master.
Anyway, today I really know that the Lord demands any christian to die for himself. A christian very alive for himself, that takes much care of himself (as I was) needs a lot of patience from the Lord. One day, I have to write something about perceiving the Lord as good or as bad. No one would say in a church that the Lord is bad, but I think that Diana thought something near that after listening to my message. Diana is not questioning my message after all, she is questioning the Lord. I really want to help her how to see kindness in Jesus words, even the harsh ones. She has to meditate on the Bible comparing to her own life and beliefs. The world sees Saint Claus as good and perhaps, Diana is looking for him in a church. She must find someone much greater than Saint Claus, someone to be adored, praised and served. That's the way to redemption.
I tried to explain her that love is in someone's head and it is very subjective. I told her:
Sao Paulo traffic is horrible and I only could see hate when going to work or coming back home.
Nowadays, I go by bicycle and pay attention to some blue flowers in the way.
I told to myself:
I will listen the Lord declaring his love to me whenever I see these blue flowers.
I was hoping that they were going to wither and disappear but they not. All long the year, my Lord keeps saying to me: I love you.
What did change? Do people in Sao Paulo stop hating or did I see something I was not paying attention?
She told me that perhaps I am in higher spiritual level. Anyway, the point is:
What is to be loved? Do you have inner capabilities to detect love? Perhaps, your "love sensors" are flawed and the first thing you need is a change of mind.
Yesterday night, at our family gathering, I told to my children this Diana history and also about my sister.
I really think that my sister was dad's favorite child, but despite that, she spent some time, money in psychologists for some traumatic lack of love when child. By opposite, I was the most castigated (hated?) child and today, my father shares his feelings preferentially to me.
I asked my children: what is happening? The problem is not love but some faith in love. I told them:
Please, believe you are loved by me, by your mother and specially by the Lord. If you don't believe you may end like my sister, Diana or worse.
I have just finished the dinner and my older son commented my message. Yesterday, I told that Jesus serve us because he cures as he has cured the Peter's mother in law in Matthew 8:14-17. I asked the congregation: Jesus cured but did he expect to be served? He cured Peter's mother in law but would he expect to be served by her? One old lady answered: "No". I replied with a strong "yes". Jesus expects that everyone who is cured by him, forgave by him, becomes his slave and serves him. My older son told me my direct answer was very funny; perhaps so direct that it was almost rude as showing a rude Master.
Anyway, today I really know that the Lord demands any christian to die for himself. A christian very alive for himself, that takes much care of himself (as I was) needs a lot of patience from the Lord. One day, I have to write something about perceiving the Lord as good or as bad. No one would say in a church that the Lord is bad, but I think that Diana thought something near that after listening to my message. Diana is not questioning my message after all, she is questioning the Lord. I really want to help her how to see kindness in Jesus words, even the harsh ones. She has to meditate on the Bible comparing to her own life and beliefs. The world sees Saint Claus as good and perhaps, Diana is looking for him in a church. She must find someone much greater than Saint Claus, someone to be adored, praised and served. That's the way to redemption.
a good preacher
I don't think that it's necessary to study in a seminary to be a good preacher, although a good seminary may provide a more solid foundation. However, in this world full of information, it is somehow easy to locate the good basis for preaching. Anyway, I want briefly think about what is a good preacher.
A good preacher must love his attendants as a good teacher. He must teach the Word of the Lord pointing the grace through Jesus. He must provide some illustration in his own life to show how the Word is applied in his own life. He must be some kind of Messiah because the Spirit of the Lord must be upon him. He must importunate his audience to be more Christ-like as he himself is becoming more Christ-like. As a teacher, he must look for his audience growth. He must not look for his audience appraisal but he must please the Lord.
Well, I think that, perhaps, the church doesn't enjoy my sermons.
Do they pay attention?
In general, they don't care to the message. Perhaps it's not the message that I preach, but more broadly, they don't care to the Lord's Word. I really think that they don't touch their Bibles during the week.
I would like to make them pay attention but without distorting the Bible to make it more appealing.
I would like to be more like Timothy Keller or R C Sproul.
Anyway, the Lord is the One who knows how I should preach.
My main church is not my local church.
I am much more focused in saving my own family.
So, a greater question is:
-------------------------------------------------------
how to make my own family love the Word?
-------------------------------------------------------
A good preacher must love his attendants as a good teacher. He must teach the Word of the Lord pointing the grace through Jesus. He must provide some illustration in his own life to show how the Word is applied in his own life. He must be some kind of Messiah because the Spirit of the Lord must be upon him. He must importunate his audience to be more Christ-like as he himself is becoming more Christ-like. As a teacher, he must look for his audience growth. He must not look for his audience appraisal but he must please the Lord.
Well, I think that, perhaps, the church doesn't enjoy my sermons.
Do they pay attention?
In general, they don't care to the message. Perhaps it's not the message that I preach, but more broadly, they don't care to the Lord's Word. I really think that they don't touch their Bibles during the week.
I would like to make them pay attention but without distorting the Bible to make it more appealing.
I would like to be more like Timothy Keller or R C Sproul.
Anyway, the Lord is the One who knows how I should preach.
My main church is not my local church.
I am much more focused in saving my own family.
So, a greater question is:
-------------------------------------------------------
how to make my own family love the Word?
-------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, June 24, 2018
yeast
"Watch out!" Jesus warned them. "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Matt 16:6
A great sin that is present in churches is hypocrisy.
Let my Lord understand how to beware of the hypocrisy and how to deal with it because I don't know what to do.
Another preacher, Peter, told me he had fallen in prostitution. I made what I understood to help him. I urged him to confess his sin to our senior pastor and he did it. I was praying and keeping contact with him in order to help him not to fall again. My idea was that he should call me whenever temptation comes, however, I decided to frequently call him up too. After some time, it became apparent that I was calling him up but not vice versa. I was somehow making him confess his sins in order to set him free. One day he told me he had to destroy his cellular chip because some prostitute was calling him after he had made sex by phone.
Peter didn't confess his subsequent sins to our senior pastor that was keeping him as a preacher as he thought that Peter's problem was solved.
I denounced Peter's new problem to our senior pastor and asked if it was right to keep Peter as a preacher.
Our senior pastor decided that Peter should stop preaching.
Peter asked me if I had told something to our senior pastor and I confessed that I did it.
He became very angry and thought that I envied him and wanted his position. Let me be clear: I didn't attend any seminary and I don't earn a nickel to preach. He isn't paid too although he is a seminarian.
Peter, practically, has never confessed any more sin after it.
In some months (one year?), Peter was restored to his original position, but I never trusted him again. He never confessed his sins to the church.
Should I say something in public?
His wife, Helen, pretended that nothing happened to her family and church. Why? I suppose it was pride. Before I arrived to this local church, Peter was the only one who was preaching once per month with our senior pastor. Peter, the seminarian, was the senior pastor's chosen one to keep the church after his death. I remember that I had a desire of supporting him (I mean, not financially, but in work) in my retirement, preaching with him. I don't know how many times I said this to Peter. So I guess, he trusted in me. Helen seemed very proud to see her husband as our church's future and she seemed to oppose anyone who could take her husband position. Her honor, dignity was in Peter's success as the new preacher. So, she would lose all her dignity if all church had known about Peter's adultery. For her, it was crucial that Peter kept silent. I suppose that now she is very disappointed with him, not only due to prostitution, but also because he confessed his sins to me. I tried to help her husband, but I couldn't. Now, I feel she hates me, perhaps because I couldn't be a great helper to Peter, and also, because now I understand a bit more of her wicked heart. Obviously, it is all camouflaged.
The couple began attending a meeting in another church. The idea is to confess sins but with the explicit rule that no one should comment about other's sins. As I don't trust him anymore, I think that he is not being serious. It is a way to search for some cure by confessing sins in a irresponsible way as the other church has no authority over him. Does it work?
They began to take another member from our church, Diana, with them to this meeting. Coincidentally, Diana was the one who told me I was a bad preacher. She has problems with her daughter. I asked her about her daughter today. After some chat, she said that my sermons where mechanical, without love - the same critics of Helen to my sermons.
They began to take another member from our church, Diana, with them to this meeting. Coincidentally, Diana was the one who told me I was a bad preacher. She has problems with her daughter. I asked her about her daughter today. After some chat, she said that my sermons where mechanical, without love - the same critics of Helen to my sermons.
Perhaps, she was contaminated by the yeast.
Hidden sins weakens the church because it allows the evil acting in darkness.
However is it possible to have really a church in the light, where the sins are exposed?
However is it possible to have really a church in the light, where the sins are exposed?
Sunday, June 17, 2018
Today, Sunday - Christian Sabbath
Today at Sunday School we went on the short catechism from Westminster and read the third and fourth commandments. Following this reasoning, today is the christian sabbath. We (my family) spent almost all day on church related activities although at the end of day, Brazil was playing against Swiss at Russia copa games and my older son, who likes soccer very much, lost half of the game.
My friend preached today about Felipe at Acts 8. He told about daemon exorcism. He illustrated it saying that, according to another pastor called Carlos, "Igreja Universal" really exorcised a daemon from Carlos's mother and after some time, Carlos himself, learned to exorcise daemons. I don't like "Igreja Universal" at all. For me, it follows the prosperity theology and, as many charlatans, attracts greedy and fool people. Jesus said in Matthew 7 that many exorcists will be disappointed at the judgement day and for me, many from "Igreja Universal" will be there. Let us see in future, the Lord knows all things.
As a coincidence, or the Lord's will, next Sunday I will preach about the same subject of daemon possessed men, as I am following Matthew 8 but I will have a different approach. I will talk that in some ways, any person may be influenced by daemons even those who call themselves christians. Nightmares, suicidal thoughts, some kind of depression, anger for no reason, etc. are related to daemon activities. It is the christian obligation to take these things to Jesus as people did in Matthew 8:16 when they led many daemon possessed people to Jesus.
My friend preached today about Felipe at Acts 8. He told about daemon exorcism. He illustrated it saying that, according to another pastor called Carlos, "Igreja Universal" really exorcised a daemon from Carlos's mother and after some time, Carlos himself, learned to exorcise daemons. I don't like "Igreja Universal" at all. For me, it follows the prosperity theology and, as many charlatans, attracts greedy and fool people. Jesus said in Matthew 7 that many exorcists will be disappointed at the judgement day and for me, many from "Igreja Universal" will be there. Let us see in future, the Lord knows all things.
As a coincidence, or the Lord's will, next Sunday I will preach about the same subject of daemon possessed men, as I am following Matthew 8 but I will have a different approach. I will talk that in some ways, any person may be influenced by daemons even those who call themselves christians. Nightmares, suicidal thoughts, some kind of depression, anger for no reason, etc. are related to daemon activities. It is the christian obligation to take these things to Jesus as people did in Matthew 8:16 when they led many daemon possessed people to Jesus.
Saturday, June 16, 2018
affirmation
Yesterday, one student asked me why did I choose to be a professor. The chat turned into how to deal with students. I told her that it took some time, years, to understand my position as a professor and the authority that I should (not optional) exercise.
Today I told this story to my uncle, 87 years old, and compared to what happened to me as a christian. It took some time to take my position as a christian. I witnessed what Jesus made in my life. He changed the way I see things: life and death. I told him that I was always afraid to get some sickness from others. I still am afraid but not as much as before. I told him how I was a stingy because I was afraid of the future, but today not so much because I know that the Lord takes care of my future. I tried to show him that Jesus transformed my life and I asked him to think about Jesus before his death. He began to talk that he didn't go to church for a very long time and suddenly changed the subject completely.
It is not so easy to share the gospel. I think that it is very difficult to make others listen to it.
Today I told this story to my uncle, 87 years old, and compared to what happened to me as a christian. It took some time to take my position as a christian. I witnessed what Jesus made in my life. He changed the way I see things: life and death. I told him that I was always afraid to get some sickness from others. I still am afraid but not as much as before. I told him how I was a stingy because I was afraid of the future, but today not so much because I know that the Lord takes care of my future. I tried to show him that Jesus transformed my life and I asked him to think about Jesus before his death. He began to talk that he didn't go to church for a very long time and suddenly changed the subject completely.
It is not so easy to share the gospel. I think that it is very difficult to make others listen to it.
talking about Jesus
Today I will see my old uncle who is more than 85 years old, perhaps around 90 years old.
He studied sociology, became a history teacher, published many articles in journal and had some sympathy to "Partido dos Trabalhodores".
He is seeing my mother and taking a photo of the cemetery contract. I asked my father about cremation or burying and he decided to burying. I told him that a more pleasant conversation would be about Jesus.
How would I talk him about Jesus?
I would like to talk about:
- the book of Matthew: a jew that shows Jesus as the rejected Messiah to Israel. The Messiah is the one who was promised to reign and carry our burdens, our diseases, our sins.
- the old testament contains prophecies that make sense looking to Jesus but it is nonsense without Jesus. How to understand prophecies about a king like David and the one who carries our sins?
- the challenge to believe due to so many problems in church.
- the challenge of not believing when we face ourselves and ineptitude of pleasing our Creator.
- the belief that He reigns over my heart in a invisible kingdom.
- the belief that He returns and reigns over the elects in a visible kingdom.
How to talk to him in a very direct way so that he believe in Jesus?
He studied sociology, became a history teacher, published many articles in journal and had some sympathy to "Partido dos Trabalhodores".
He is seeing my mother and taking a photo of the cemetery contract. I asked my father about cremation or burying and he decided to burying. I told him that a more pleasant conversation would be about Jesus.
How would I talk him about Jesus?
I would like to talk about:
- the book of Matthew: a jew that shows Jesus as the rejected Messiah to Israel. The Messiah is the one who was promised to reign and carry our burdens, our diseases, our sins.
- the old testament contains prophecies that make sense looking to Jesus but it is nonsense without Jesus. How to understand prophecies about a king like David and the one who carries our sins?
- the challenge to believe due to so many problems in church.
- the challenge of not believing when we face ourselves and ineptitude of pleasing our Creator.
- the belief that He reigns over my heart in a invisible kingdom.
- the belief that He returns and reigns over the elects in a visible kingdom.
How to talk to him in a very direct way so that he believe in Jesus?
Sunday, June 10, 2018
Preparing the next sermon
My next sermon is based on the following text from Matthew 8:
Matthew focus on presenting Jesus as the Messiah, as the king of heaven and not as a normal king from this earth. An earth king searches for power, riches, and demands to be praised. Jesus don't search for power, as He has already power which can be shown by his miracles. An earth king wants power to extend his dominion, Jesus uses his power to heal men. An earth king searches for great things to himself and consequently, talks to other powerful men and despise the weak. By other hand, Jesus deals with the infamous men and women: a leprosy, a roman centurion and now, Peter's mother-in-law and demon-possessed.
The text shows how small things in Jesus hand may turn into a divine intervention. Isn't a small thing to find a woman lying in bed with a fever? Jesus deals with my own small things.
In fact, it is very different to see the sky with Jesus and without Jesus. Now, the clouds say something to me: "The Lord loves you" but it was not like that for most of my days even though I read the Bible and went to church.
It is very different to have fever with Jesus and without Jesus. Perhaps, Jesus don't cure, but his presence fills me with joy even when I am sick.
For me, Jesus sets my mind free from demons. I used to be paranoid as bad things happened to me orchestrated by evil people. Today, I want to discover what my good Pastor wants to teach me through his staff. I am not responsible to be so smart to avoid bad things to me; but my Lord is somehow responsible to me. He loves me and sets me free. He is tender with me.
Matthew reminds us that Jesus healed and exorcised as a fulfillment of Isaiah 53: "He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases".
I must read as a personal prophecy:
He took up my own infirmities and bore my diseases.
He took up my paranoid mind, my nightmares, my insecurity, my sins so that I could belong to Him, to be united with my Creator.
What a blessing!
Jesus Heals Many
14 When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. 15 He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.
16 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
The text shows how small things in Jesus hand may turn into a divine intervention. Isn't a small thing to find a woman lying in bed with a fever? Jesus deals with my own small things.
In fact, it is very different to see the sky with Jesus and without Jesus. Now, the clouds say something to me: "The Lord loves you" but it was not like that for most of my days even though I read the Bible and went to church.
It is very different to have fever with Jesus and without Jesus. Perhaps, Jesus don't cure, but his presence fills me with joy even when I am sick.
For me, Jesus sets my mind free from demons. I used to be paranoid as bad things happened to me orchestrated by evil people. Today, I want to discover what my good Pastor wants to teach me through his staff. I am not responsible to be so smart to avoid bad things to me; but my Lord is somehow responsible to me. He loves me and sets me free. He is tender with me.
Matthew reminds us that Jesus healed and exorcised as a fulfillment of Isaiah 53: "He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases".
I must read as a personal prophecy:
He took up my own infirmities and bore my diseases.
He took up my paranoid mind, my nightmares, my insecurity, my sins so that I could belong to Him, to be united with my Creator.
What a blessing!
Sunday, the Christian Sabbath
Today, at Sunday school, I was reading the third commandment: Keep the Sabbath, rest in the Sabbath, don't profane the holly day.
After Sunday school, we have lunch at our small church and I was waiting for my 2 sons who were called to help in a church program on July vacation. I am at home for one hour, took shower and everybody is watching netflix, but me.
I am wondering what does it really mean to keep the Sabbath for a Christian.
Is it correct to watch netflix?
Do we have to read the Bible, pray, etc. all Sunday?
We are always prone to know exactly what the commandments say, so the Jews think that it is very necessary to have the Talmud and rabbinic teaching to specify very clearly if one may or may not use an elevator on the Sabbath, the maximum weight allowed to carry, etc.
Jesus teaching don't specify things like that. A person may or may not call an elevator on the Sabbath and it may or may not lead to sin.
I should have visited mr Shizuo, who is ill in the hospital, and pray for him.
Writing this blog or prepare the next sermon is another task very suited to Sunday because it put my mind on Him. It is possible to carry some weight with the mind on the Lord as it is possible not to carry anything and sinning altogether.
After Sunday school, we have lunch at our small church and I was waiting for my 2 sons who were called to help in a church program on July vacation. I am at home for one hour, took shower and everybody is watching netflix, but me.
I am wondering what does it really mean to keep the Sabbath for a Christian.
Is it correct to watch netflix?
Do we have to read the Bible, pray, etc. all Sunday?
We are always prone to know exactly what the commandments say, so the Jews think that it is very necessary to have the Talmud and rabbinic teaching to specify very clearly if one may or may not use an elevator on the Sabbath, the maximum weight allowed to carry, etc.
Jesus teaching don't specify things like that. A person may or may not call an elevator on the Sabbath and it may or may not lead to sin.
I should have visited mr Shizuo, who is ill in the hospital, and pray for him.
Writing this blog or prepare the next sermon is another task very suited to Sunday because it put my mind on Him. It is possible to carry some weight with the mind on the Lord as it is possible not to carry anything and sinning altogether.
Saturday, June 9, 2018
Saturday, today.
My mommy is with Alzheimer, lives with my dad and my brother's family.
I visit them every Saturday morning, read the Bible and sometimes have lunch. My sister joins us in less frequent way.
Today is Saturday.
My family: spouse and children went to help a bazaar of a "Pro Poor Children Organization". This organization received donation (toys, clothes) that are selling today for a very low price.
I will take my bike and visit my parents very soon, meanwhile, I was watching some documentaries in youtube. One was https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp4YZdSz2aA about plastic surgery in Seoul, another was about microdosing LSD. What are we expecting from hearts without Jesus? Where may someone find rest in this world?
Time to leave the bed. I will take my breakfast.
I visit them every Saturday morning, read the Bible and sometimes have lunch. My sister joins us in less frequent way.
Today is Saturday.
My family: spouse and children went to help a bazaar of a "Pro Poor Children Organization". This organization received donation (toys, clothes) that are selling today for a very low price.
I will take my bike and visit my parents very soon, meanwhile, I was watching some documentaries in youtube. One was https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp4YZdSz2aA about plastic surgery in Seoul, another was about microdosing LSD. What are we expecting from hearts without Jesus? Where may someone find rest in this world?
Time to leave the bed. I will take my breakfast.
Friday, June 8, 2018
Jesus and The fear of the Lord
The world has a reasoning like that:
- The Lord forgives all my sins in Jesus; so I really do not need to fear the Lord.
In fact, I have already some people say that the word "fear" means respect. Really? I am quite sure that "fear" means "fear". Jesus told in Matthew 10:28:
28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Jesus told that I must be afraid of the Lord because He can destroy me, destroy my soul and body. This is somehow stronger than respect.
Today, as I was leaving my work, my professor (the one who oriented my thesis) made fun of me. He is sick and he was playing that he would transmit me his sickness. Nothing serious, but I began to think if he would play like that to some other guy. Wasn't he showing some lack of respect?
I took my bike and I was looking the beautiful sunset created by the Lord, then I thought:
- Shouldn't I fear much more the Lord than my professor?
The Lord is the one who really may destroy me; not my professor (truly, I think he is not a bad guy) nor any other human being (I know a lot of humans worse than my professor). What have I done to the Lord that I don't deserve to be destroyed by Him?
The only thing I am doing is to look to Jesus on the cross.
Jesus came to the oppressed and not to the oppressor. He came to those who searches refuge on the Rock. Let my wicked heart praise Him when I am feeling bad, when I am feeling oppressed, because He is taking care of me.
Tuesday, June 5, 2018
Bible preaching
I am always trying to preach using three questions that will guide the sermon and I want to make these three points preaching very clear to the congregation. Sometimes, I was very proud that I could make the text much simpler, much easier to understand even though, making hard questions that the text poses. That is why, I got offended when someone said my preaching was wordy.
Pr. John MacArthur is a great preacher that I have been following for years. It is very common that I listen to him when preparing my own sermons. In fact, for studying the sermon of the mount, I tried to listen to Tim Keller whenever he had a message about a certain passage, John MacArthur that preached all verses of Matthew (so, no excuse to not listen him) and mainly Martin Lloyd Jones who was, for me, the higher authority on the "Sermon of the Mount". I am now in Matthew 8, so I am following J MacArthur now.
I watched:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8nVKA2rsPI
I understood that pr. John MacArthur focus the Word and he does not care to divide the text or take three points from it. In fact, it is common that I consider making improvements to John MacArthur sermons when I divide the text in three topics, but perhaps, I should not care so much in clarifying the Bible.
Pr. John MacArthur is a great preacher that I have been following for years. It is very common that I listen to him when preparing my own sermons. In fact, for studying the sermon of the mount, I tried to listen to Tim Keller whenever he had a message about a certain passage, John MacArthur that preached all verses of Matthew (so, no excuse to not listen him) and mainly Martin Lloyd Jones who was, for me, the higher authority on the "Sermon of the Mount". I am now in Matthew 8, so I am following J MacArthur now.
I watched:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8nVKA2rsPI
I understood that pr. John MacArthur focus the Word and he does not care to divide the text or take three points from it. In fact, it is common that I consider making improvements to John MacArthur sermons when I divide the text in three topics, but perhaps, I should not care so much in clarifying the Bible.
Sunday, June 3, 2018
Were all my days written before?
I decided to title this blog as Psalm 139 - NVI due to verse 16:
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
When I read it, I understood that all my days were written in the book of the Lord. A friend of mine explained that "days" are not in Hebrew. In King James, we see "members" instead of "days" which is closer to the original in Hebrew, although "members" are not written too.
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
My friend understood that this divine book is the DNA code which encodes how the members and the whole body will be created. He believes in Free Will so he advocates that the Lord has not written all our days in a book. If a man sins because his will is totally separated from the Lord's will, how would the Lord has written all our days?
Well, now I am somehow convinced that the King James translation is better than NVI, but I still believe that the Lord knows every detail of my future, my decisions and my sins included, that is, the meaning of NVI translation is also correct.
The Lord is outside this finite universe, this finite space and time; and for me, He knows everything, every quantum particle, every electron location of this universe. He knows all my thoughts, all my sins and all my future sins because as a writer outside his own book, He may see things in which time He desires.
He even designed me before creates the Universe, as in Ephesians 1. How? I do not know. Why? He wanted me to have some grasp of who He is and in doing so, adore Him.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
When I read it, I understood that all my days were written in the book of the Lord. A friend of mine explained that "days" are not in Hebrew. In King James, we see "members" instead of "days" which is closer to the original in Hebrew, although "members" are not written too.
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
My friend understood that this divine book is the DNA code which encodes how the members and the whole body will be created. He believes in Free Will so he advocates that the Lord has not written all our days in a book. If a man sins because his will is totally separated from the Lord's will, how would the Lord has written all our days?
Well, now I am somehow convinced that the King James translation is better than NVI, but I still believe that the Lord knows every detail of my future, my decisions and my sins included, that is, the meaning of NVI translation is also correct.
The Lord is outside this finite universe, this finite space and time; and for me, He knows everything, every quantum particle, every electron location of this universe. He knows all my thoughts, all my sins and all my future sins because as a writer outside his own book, He may see things in which time He desires.
He even designed me before creates the Universe, as in Ephesians 1. How? I do not know. Why? He wanted me to have some grasp of who He is and in doing so, adore Him.
Critique
The Diana's critique about my last sermon (last week) lasted in my head despite I have written my last post.
I am really used to receive criticism, so what did last week critique so disturbing?
I concluded that what really offended me was something like: "your message was very confusing, wordy, and the congregation was not apt to digest it".
So, why this critique really offended me?
Because, I take myself as a great professor that can clarify the Bible to the congregation. Surely, I see myself as much better prepared than other teachers and I really mean it.
However, am I responsible to make the audience understand the Bible?
The Bible is not simple. I make some effort to clarify it, but am I doing right?
The book of Mark is full of mysteries and ends with a great question: what happened to Jesus body? (the resurrection was added to Mark).
The gospel says that Jesus was talking to parables so that they hear and do not understand; so that they do not convert. Very strange a statement like that in the gospel...
It is in Matthew 13:14-15:
In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’
If it is all true to Jesus, why on earth should I teach about the Bible in a clear way so that all congregation listens, repents and has a new life? I would like to, but I am not responsible to it. I do not see Jesus thinking like that.
Jesus attracts some people and repels other people, He saves and He condemns.
In conclusion, I am not so responsible to convert people and, I am not so responsible to clarify the message. Perhaps, a great human effort to clarify the sermon may damage the gospel and take away its beauty. There are a lot of mysteries in God's Word. Perhaps, if only I could motivate the congregation to search for answers in the Bible, to dig in its mysteries... then I would have preached well.
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